CAS[E] this Sketch #311

I've taken Brian's Sketch this week and had a little 'out of the box' fun with it...

Armed with Beautiful Heart from Altenew, and a few Distress Inks, here is my card for CTS #311:

I'm hoping that gorgeous orange will blind you to the fact that my panel is a little not-on-purpose wonky!  ha!  Right now, I hope YOU have a little idea for what you'll put in Brian's box this week... have fun with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

Distress Inks:   Orange Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Citron, and Cracked Pistachio DOX.
Sentiment:  Altenew:   Label Love
MFT: Wonky Stitched Squares

Inspired By #61 ... modern quilt

 

It has been years since I've quilted. When I did quilt, it was all done the old-fashioned way - fabrics were cut by hand, pieced by hand, and quilted entirely by hand.  I will be the first to say the modern quilt might be much more durable, and thoroughly gorgeous!

 

Today, I piece with paper - but that machine of mine is still not behaving!!  so today's quilting is done with a die!!  and I've been inspired by the pattern in our photo.

[My friend Bobby may have the proper name

of my tattered quilt blocks!]

 

 

If you've never quilted before, I do hope you'll be

Inspired By #61 to give it a go!

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:  Pinkfresh Studios Felicity DSP; MFT Stitched with Love stamps, and dies.

Peace - CAS Christmas Challenge

Okay... I know I've already popped in once today!  I promise to leave you alone all weekend!!  I just had to share this little number with CAS Christmas Peace Challenge...

Even added my favorite shade of polish today-

of course it's gray!!  he hee

 



EBE Hand combo, Altenew's Leaf Canopy stamps, and dies

to create my 'olive branch'

and Poinsettia set

for the perfect Peace sentiment

 

That's it, my friends... I'm out - thanks for spending a bit of your week with me!  Have a wonderful weekend!  xx

 

=]  Michele

 

a little bit of Altenew love!

I've been spending a little extra time using sets that I love, and loving them like they deserve to be loved … you know the ones, right?  My Altenew florals are right at the top of my list of stamp sets that just keep on giving... here are a few of my faves, and how I've enjoyed them!

First up:  Handpicked Bouquet... water colored with my  newest favorite palette...

 

Just as beautiful stamped:

Next, a set that makes the most beautiful patterned paper:  Story of Us.  you may remember this one...

 

This time

in the four-cube mini Red Cosmos set...

Can you tell I'm looking forward to Spring?
Perhaps a few Morning Glories will join our beans 
in our new garden bed...

 

One more for the road... my newest addition to my Altenew collection:  Beautiful Heart!

Two-color stamping at its simplest, and prettiest,
if I do say so myself!

How would you like to plant a few new Altenew blooms in your own craft rooms?  There are plenty to choose from, and so many on SALE!  right now!  Don't forget to add the code to your basket, please!  Happy shopping!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #310

Sometimes the simplest Sketch can be the toughest for me to see!  Do you ever feel this way?  Here is an example for CTS#310:

I decided to keep my card CAS and play with patterns - this time via the MFT rose covered background stamp: Roses all Over!  and a really pretty neutral mocha-ish ink from Catherine Pooler, called Over Coffee. [silly Catherine... who could ever get over coffee?]

So.  You can see that the simplest of Sketches can indeed be a little tricky... and really pretty, too!  Hope to see a little something from YOU this week!

=]  Michele

Inspired By #60 ... time to write

 

I'm happy to send cards on a regular basis, but it has been an age since I've written a letter.

 

This week, for Inspired By #60, Laurel has reminded me how much I used to love to correspond with friends … it is indeed time to write again! 

I do hope that my penmanship is still legible!

 

My letter will be tucked inside this [airmail] card!

 

Do you see a few elements from the photo?  the frame, and the letters strung on string - even a little clock!  [thank you to Michelle Leone for her wonderful embossed panels]

 

Will you be inspired to write a letter, too?  I do hope you'll make a little card to tuck it into … and

add it to our Inspired By gallery!

 

=]  Michele

CAS Watercolour Challenge February 2019

Marcia is asking for Red & Pink for the CAS Watercolour February 2019 Challenge. I sure hope she'll accept shades of Red & Pink, because that's the best I could offer from my Zig collection!  Specifically:  Carmine & Light Pink!  [okay, did anyone else just think of Laverne & Shirley?] 

Here's the end result, using Altenew's Cherished Memories stamps, and dies:

Okay.  I'll admit... it all looks pink to me!  lol  Well.  It was fun to practice with my Zigs - those grey leaves were much easier!

=]  Michele

CAS Mix Up Challenge February 2019

Dies have always been one of my favorite tools … from word dies, to coordinates to stamp sets - the sky's the limit for adding fun, and dimension to a card front.

Today, I combined the two for the CAS Mix Up Challenge - February 2019!  I hope you won't tire of my use of this Leaf Canopy!  Today, I've stamped, and water-colored one of those die-cut branches, lifting it up off of my panel with foam squares for added dimension.

You'll also notice a 'new to me' Spellbinder's Hemstitch Die - I may wear out my ancient Cuttlebug using it ... I'll chance it!  Popping it up on a gray [vs white] card-base makes it shine even brighter.

Thanks for the visit - it always makes me...
=]  Michele

Edited to add such a wonderful surprise... thank you!

Sharing!

Sale time!!!  Do I take care of you,

or what?  =]

 



Twofer [super] Stars #13

I was reminded of this oldie-but-goodie MFT set the other day.  There was one little stamp in the set that works perfectly to use as the star of my duo for Twofer Stars challenge #13!  See if you agree...

 

I used a three-dip process with clear embossing powder for her shield on this 'get well' card!

 

My friend Bobby told me about

Ultra Embossing powder, which I used for my

Badge of Honor for this Thank you version:

 

 

 

So, there you have it!  I hope you're looking forward to having a little fun this weekend … maybe you'll find a star or two in your own craft room!

 

Thanks for stopping by!
=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #309

A very interesting Sketch this week at CAS[E] this Sketch #309 … Chrissy, I can hardly wait to see the card that inspired this Sketch!

I made three cards for you today... sometimes I have a try, try again day in my craft studio … this was one of those!  I ended up being pretty pleased with each try!  Let's start with the card that brought you by today...

Some really simple pencil coloring - and my attempt to add those

little squares from Chrissy's Sketch!

 

And THEN... a little chat with a friend about gingham brought these two to life!  Thanks, Bev!

Why not fill in those squares with fun sentiments?

 

This gingham was created on gray with my newest

Catherine Pooler ink: Over Coffee!

 

So that was a pretty fun day of stamping, right?  I can't wait to see what you will see within Chrissy's Sketch... now let's go see her card, shall we? 

 

Thanks for the visit!!  xx

=] Michele

Supplies:
Altenew Leaf Canopy stamps
SSS Gingham background stamp 
SSS Artful Flowers
Winnie & Walter Hello Cutaway

Inspired By #59 ... cacti

 

I know it's Valentine's Day … but love can be prickly sometimes [like my legs]  lol

 

My card for Inspired By #59 is all about those gorgeous cacti in Laurel's inspired by photo … we hope you're inspired to play along!

 

Happy Valentine's Day to all who are kind enough

to spend a bit of your day with me today!

xoxo

=]  Michele

CASology #331 Wave

It's been ages since I've had a chance to play cards at CASology... #331 spoke to me...

It's probably a total fail in the CAS-white space-un-cluttered department … but fun... so what the hay, right?!  Do people still do the wave at baseball games? lol

I promise not to barge into your computer again... today! ha!

=]  Michele

EBE Hands and Hang On combo

Valentine's Eve!

You will be inundated with all-things LOVE tomorrow, so I thought I'd sneak in one day early to share a few wee little
3.5 x 5 inch Valentines I made for my friend to share with her loved ones.

Dolores is one of my biggest cheerleaders, confidantes, and caring shoulder-to cry-on kind of friend one needs in life - for which I love her dearly.  Bonus?  She actually sends cards!!!

It all started with this card -

… inspired by a patterned paper used by @rebeccascreativelife shared on Instagram!  I just fell in love with the paper she used - umm hello!  it had dots!

Armed with a random stamp [it might be a flower but, this time, I used the reverse side of the stamp! ;]  and my favorite Juniper Mist ink, I produced my own patterned paper!

Then my creative juices just took over, and I found that there were many stamps in my stash that would be great for pattern-paper-production!  Like this fun EBE High Five set...

  My sewing machine cooperated! yay!

 



 Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all!

 

I do hope you have a day filled with time spent, or memories of, those you love the very most … happy gal-entine's day, my friends!

=]  Michele

EBE High Five and dies
Catherine Pooler inks:  Juniper Mist, and Polished 

Altenew February Inspiration Challenge

. . . need I say more?  I was OH so happy to get my Altenew Ranunculus set out again!!!  and my newest Leafy Canopy and dies gave me the perfect swag of leaves! 

My entry for the Altenew Inspiration Challenge February 2019... I've clear heat embossed the images, water colored them with Distress Inks:  Faded Jeans, Forest Moss, for those blue-green leaves, and Abandoned Coral, and Festive Berries, for that gorgeous bloom!  splattering all that left over ink for fun!

 a few little dew drops are left to dry!

 

Thanks for the opportunity to play cards, Altenew!!  thanks to all of you who stopped by, extra thanks for leaving a comment!  Always makes me smile...

=]  Michele

Links in text are affiliate links [thank you for your support]… here are the links to Altenew directly:

Build-a-flower Ranunculus set
Leaf Canopy combo set of stamps and dies - special pricing today!