12 Kits of Occasion - April 2018

The wonderful Lisa Elton of My Paper Tales is our Host for April!  It's Spring, and the card-making was easy ... thank you Lisa for your My Little Chickadee!  homage to your hubby!

Here is a peek at all the lovely goodies we received from Lisa:

Hope you like my cards - let's start with the one from the 12 Kits blog ... you'll find a cute connection with all but one of my cards today... see if you can find it!

Happiness means lilacs, and YOU!  Happy Summer!

 

Now I'll just add the others... hope you enjoy!  OH all Lisa's supplies will be listed on the 12 Kits of Occasions site!

 

Even more wonderful because you are in it!

 

... the egg has hatched!!!  Congratulations on your new arrival!

 

... peanut butter & jelly, Laurel & Hardy... you get the picture. 

I wouldn't be ME, without YOU!

 

Last but not least - I'm so happy to finally own this PPP die!!

 

You'll fill it with love, I know it!

 

So... have you found the connection?  That PTI twine was the only thing I added to Lisa's supplies!  BUT it's those darling little wooden birds that brought the flock together!  Thanks for including them, Lisa!

 

Now, off you go to visit my 12 Kits of Occasions sisters ... they never disappoint, and ALWAYS make me smile!  We also have a wonderful guest this month!

 

=]  Michele







Pinkfresh Studios April Challenge

I have just one more card in my pocket for you this week ... I'm caught up, and really wanted to play cards with the April Pinkfresh Challenge.

I added to my stash at Christmas and found a few images from their December Days, and Simple Joy sets of stamps and dies, that could easily be used all year... tell me what you think:

I may have take a bit of artistic license with the 'layout' of their Sketch, and my colors aren't exact, but I'm really happy with the look of that kitty's pile of 'puffy envelopes!'   Could there be anything more joyous that opening the mailbox to find one?  I certainly don't think so!

Thanks for spending time with me this week ... let's do it again next week, okay?  xx

=]  Michele

Time Out #108 WIld!

Talk about Wild... this card is about as wild as I've made in ages - you know by now that I'm a pretty CAS card maker, right?  But when a card-dream wakes you at 3 a.m. and won't allow you to get a song out of your head, you pay attention!

Perfect timing for Time Out's request for Challenge WILD #108:

Are you ready for this?

This card will have a long, long journey to a friend who recently visited Cuba - that in itself is a WILD idea to me ... maybe it was Karin all along who entered my dreams!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
Waffle Flower Greenery, and Cutaway Alpha dies.
Reverse Confetti Lacy Scallop frames dies
Anna Griffin design paper:  Olivia Collection circa 2013!

For your listening pleasure:  Havana!

CAS[E] this Sketch #269

I'm pretty sure N@ Ali had something leafy in mind when she created this Sketch #269 for us ...

I just branched out in a different way, with a family tree...

 

I'll be giving this one to my daughter, for her MIL on Mother's Day!  [though if honest, she might not recognize her son with all this hair!]

 

Okay... I can't wait another minute to see how my CTS team interpreted this Sketch... let's go!!!  Hope you join us this week!!

 

=]  Michele

Inspired By ... #17 - time to garden!

I must tell you that, though the temperatures are finally warm enough to garden, we don't dared to taunt Mother Nature until after Mother's Day - often Memorial Day, in Michigan! 

I had way too much fun today ... using Laurel's gorgeous photo.  I was inspired to create the idea of her apron, with a few pockets full of posies!  =]

Sometimes one card just isn't enough!  So I created a little chambray shirt  [and for those of you who know I've been searching for a buttonhole die - this little one from W&W's Take a Bow nearly does the trick!] and made my own little pearly heart buttons using a die, and glossy accents. 

It was fun playing with these Wplus9 Doodle Buds again!  This time, I stamped them with Versafine Smoky gray ink onto MFT's Primitive White cardstock, and did a bit of very simple coloring with Zigs.

Now.  you know we cannot wait to see your gorgeous gardens come to life on paper, so don't keep it a SECRET garden ... join us in the Inspired By gallery, won't you?

=]  Michele

I nearly forgot to remind you!

well.  I didn't forget, I might have just jumped the gun with my reminder last week ... hope you don't mind me dropping by again today!  I have two cards that say hello Spring beautifully!

Now, how do you say Spring?  We're waiting to see your take in our TCP Tuesday gallery!!

=]  Michele

The Cat's Pajamas:  Big Blooms and Butterfly Trio dies, Versafine Smoky gray, and Distress Oxide inks [for watery stamping!  =]

The Cat's Pajama's April Release day!



I hope you are as excited as we are for this April release ... you should have arrived from Brenda's blog, who has [as usual] amazed me!  Here is what I have to offer - I've been SO excited about this card!

I used vellum for my frosty little Martini glass, and made it 'extra dirty' with a bit of Copic coloring on the back side of it!  Yes, this is exactly how I like my Dirty Martinis - more olives, less booze!  ALL of these little dies: the glasses, the olives, and even that little toothpick, are included in this Wine & Martinis die set:

Alma even produced the perfect sentiments for these fun dies... which is the 'free with purchase' set for this release!

The graduation season will be upon us before we know it, right?  TCP is ready for it?   I always have the perfect gift...

 

I used our Luggage Tags dies to create my pocket, and added my own 'tassel-like fringe' cut with scissors,

to the edge for fun!

 

 

Okay, my friends, as much as I love your visits, it's time to send you back to The Cat's Pajamas' blog to take another look at all the ways these new products might inspire you to create, too!   Remember these products, and so much more, are available NOW at The Cat's Pajamas shop! 

 

Thanks for hopping with us!

 

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #268

Goodness, I think I've been traveling too much ... is that even possible?  My brain has needed to rest, alongside my mojo! 

Chrissy's Sketch #268 is so fun, and I really had hoped to make a card that would please her, and you ... well.  we'll see, won't we! 

You know I don't peek at the Team cards before I post, right?  I can't tell you how I was tempted ... but I resisted!  Here's my card... then I'm running to the blog...

I've used two little house dies from Alexandra Renke ... I really love the 'siding' lol, I think hand-written messages on a card can add a bit of playfulness ... but what do you think of my wonky card shape? 

Hope I've been able to spark a little creativity today ... we  do so love seeing your interpretations in our CTS gallery!

=]  Michele

Inspired By ... #16 ... hung out to dry!

Okay, my friends ... it's April 19th.  As I write this [April 17th] the scene outside my window does NOT invoke Springtime or this gorgeous Inspired By photo:

I surely hope you feel it in my card ... this photo brought to mind a collection of American Crafts designer papers I've had since I first started making cards!  Dear Lizzy came to my rescue today!  I simply used a few dies to dress it up!

 

A few tiny little artistic touches ... like a glossy accented

clock face...

 

and tiny little tags to complete the message, were all the embellishments I've added!

Now I know this is going to cause a few folks ear worms ... I had a much snarkier tone of voice than Lionel Richie used when singing Hello!

I am totally sincere when I ask you all to play along with IB#16, and hope your Spring is in much better condition...

=]  Michele

Supplies:
EH Brushstroke Hello die
MFT Pinking Edge dies - sorry to say, I cannot find them in the MFT store!
W&W Audrey cutaways

The Cat's Pajama's Sneak Peek Week!

Hello my friends!
It's my day for a few Sneak Peeks of the latest products in  The Cat's Pajama's April release!  Are you ready?  Alma is helping out with our Father's Day cards - masculine cards are often serious ... see if you recognize your Dad among these guys from Welcome to the Funny Farm!

[Don't we all think 'ours' is the 'best!'  ;]

 



These next two cards use the new Asian Spring set, and Mountain dies ... they are a bit more on the serious/artistic side ... I've purposely left them without a sentiment at this time,  but wouldn't they make wonderful thinking of you, or sympathy cards?

 

The mountain dies were used to emboss the impression of Mountains onto my water color cardstock, and provided a wonderful guide for my simple landscape painting with Distress Inks.

 

 

 

 

There's even more to share!  In fact, there are four stamp sets, and three dies in the April Release! 

I cannot wait until I can share more on April 24th!

Until then, are you commenting along the Sneaks?  Could gain you $10 TCP cash!!

 

 

 Good luck ... and thanks for stopping by today!!

=]  Michele

TCP Tuesday Challenge #345 Spring Reminder

I'm back to give a little nudge, and a reminder that there is a $50 gift card to our store waiting for this month's winner of The TCP Tuesday Challenge #345!!

Here is my card ... hope you have enjoyed Spring-like weather ... we're still seeing snow flakes - ugh!  But I'm hopeful for plenty of sunshine, heading my way... and a zippity doo dah kind of day!

From our March release:  Family Forever! 

I personally would love a pair of these shiny red boots!

 



See you in the gallery!!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #267

Donna Mikasa is our Sketch artist this week ... my friend, you really tested me - in a fun way!

I had a cute little die cut in my snippets box that just seemed to fit Donna's Sketch... see if you agree:

You'll see a bit of embossing inside the square, "Congrats" stands in for the stripe of the Sketch, and I'm so happy to finally get these little MFT bandstand bunnies inky!  It was fun to make the cymbal player march across the card!

Can't wait to see how you are inspired by Donna's Sketch #267 ... now let's go see Donna's, and my team-mate's cards!

=]  Michele

Inspired By... rainy day fun! #15

Who doesn't remember jumping into puddles as a child?  Laurel has chosen the perfect photo for this memorable event, hasn't she?  I can guarantee my boots were never this cute!

I was Inspired By:  those darling pink dotted Wellies, and the puddle - even the brown brick wall had a hand in the color of my sweet bear ... here is the resulting card:

My little pink Wellingtons, splashes, and rain drops are wet, and glossy with Nuvo clear enamel. 

I know you'll find inspiration from this darling photo, too ... can't wait to see your cards in the Inspired By gallery #15 - and thanks for dropping by!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
The Cat's Pajamas:  Family Forever
MFT Stitched Speech Bubbles
PTI Harvest Gold Bitty Big patterned paper
simple Copic coloring

Alexandra Renke in the House!

I was so very excited when Ellen Hutson, LLC announced that Alexandra Renke products were going to be added to their [already] fabulous brands!  I have been teased by several fabulous card artists that I follow on IG! 

Here are my first cards using a few die sets ...  I may have been inspired while driving through John Mellencamp territory last weekend ... and my favorite Pink cardstock!

Happily all three House sets [No. 1, No. 2, No. 3] and the Wish you were Here die, fit onto one magnetic sheet, in one storage envelope!  You can see the possibilities are endless using these dies!

One more ... influenced by my favorite Disney movie: UP!

 

It's so fun to use a few of those snippets of patterned paper we can't let go of!  My balloons are using the die from EBE Up the Happy - quite appropriate, right? 

Hope you have a chance to take a peek at all the wonderful Alexandra Renke products now available at Ellen Hutson, LLC.

=] Michele

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