Penny Black Sketches #3 and #4!

There is something really soothing about water coloring Penny Black images - and having a guide like Jill Foster can't hurt!  It truly took my mind off of the weather - don't ask!

Here are two cards for her Sketch #3 using Big Bold Sentiments as the 'stage' for a few more of those darling PB kids...

My list is growing very long indeed - but I just can't get enough of

these sweet PB Little Guys!

Here I've used an alpha set from The Cat's Pajamas to cut the

word AHOY then added a little fun wavy texture using my die cut machine and a cover plate from Alex Syberia Designs called Mermaid's Melody.

The other Little Guy in that PB set is fishing - for a Valentine in this case! lol

The XOXO die from Lawn Fawn was cut using cardboard, and I added the rectangle of color to the card base using PB's Background Basics Stencils set and a few CP inks.

Last one... for Sketch #4 using PB's Classy Frames:

If you have treated yourself to those videos, you will see that Jill uses the Sketch in several different ways using an embossed panel, the Classy Frames background cut, and either characters or florals.  This little frog-kisser was begging to play!  I obliged and this time used my Copics to color while watching 'IF' on Prime... a must-watch, my friends!

An old Cuttle Bug embossing folder an ink blended background and 

a 'stickled' little heart sealed the deal!  I'll keep the sentiment for the inside.

I'd bet money she found her Prince!

Just like that, I have a new video and Sketch #5 waiting for me in the wings!  Tell me if you're playing along, too - and if you have a favorite today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

=] Michele

Second helpings anyone?

I'm back with second helpings this morning!  While it was a no brainer which photo 'grabbed' my attention yesterday, today that sweet, lonely little cabin in Bobby's mood board over at Just us Girls #758 needed some cheering up ... 

I had just the set [and it hadn't seen the light of day before! OY!] one that I HAD TO HAVE from MFT and designed by Stacey Yacula.  I think it managed to add a little bit of cheer... looks like this little snow dude likes it!  The backdrop is embossed with SSS Forest Border, and it looks as if they had the same weather as we have had - 

I added a bit of Christmas welcoming to it - can you find it?

Speaking of NBUS - another of SSS's little snowmen came to live with me!  I think Oliver looks very dashing with his lime hat and scarf - that sky is a bit more twilight than navy, but I don't think the girls at Color Hues [or my seniors] will mind!

Meet Oliver and his new abode Classic Cloche Duo - also SSS.

I added the starry sky with a gel pen but this sentiment is from that 

aforementioned MFT set, too!

I'll be back very soon with a few more Penny Black cards - thanks SO much for all of your kind comments... so appreciated!

=] Michele

edited to add one of these to Darnell's fun NBUS challenge!

I missed my mittens!

Hello, friends!  Are you staying warm?  I have a darling collection of mitten stamps and dies - you shouldn't be surprised as I do live in The Mitten state!

Just us Girls #758's Mood Board by Bobby gave me the perfect time to bring a pair out to play.  There have been many iterations of this card over the years - wink.

See if you can find the photo that inspired my card here:

There's no doubt it's that cup of coffee, right?

I couldn't help but add that little pinecone to the end of my tea bag string!

It is from my newest sale-buying-binge from 

Spellbinders: Hemlock, Cones, and Chickadee.

Would you like to see it closeup?

We are experiencing bitter cold temperatures - accompanied by some pretty fierce winds: not a good combination!  Thankfully we haven't had much snow!  All that white outside does make for a pretty good photography session... always find the bright side, right?

I have a few more cards up my sleeve - see you again soon-ish!

=] Michele

EH Pop-up Mittens die set

The Cat's Pajamas: This Could be Vodka coordinating dies [cup]

SU! Subtle Texture on cup

Richard Garay: knitted embossing folder

SSS Tall Pines embossing folder

Pigment Craft Co.: These Hands Warm Easily for the sentiment; and die set for the 'steam'

A few hearts from those snippets!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Santa must have thought I had enough already, so I only got one new PB set for Christmas - wait until Cupid sees my Valentines' list!

The second image included in their Growing Love set is equally as darling and perfect for Jill's Sketch #2 from her new series at PB&J.  I did take a few liberties with it - tell me if I took it too far?  Here is Jill's Sketch...

However, you should really do yourself a favor and watch the video - you'll see

how brilliantly Jill uses her own Sketch differently!  

Ready for my card?  Here's a closeup...

Frame - check!  Interest in the background - check! Image off the edge - check! 

Then I ran out of room within the rectangle for the sentiment - boo!  

But don't you love the heart-snippings from his topiary clippings?

Of course there had to be seconds!  I really went off the grid here - but look closely and you'll see that Sketch!

While searching for a similar cover die as Jill used, I came across this HoneyBee plate and tried to make it work as a background... alas, it just didn't make me happy there.  The answer?  Make it the frame which was easy using another of those EH rectangle dies to cut a panel AND the opening in the cover panel I had cut.  Plus, now you can see where all those teensy hearts come from! wink.  I found just enough space for my sentiment at the top this time.  It comes from The Stamp Market's Kindness Matters set.

Jill encourages us to use what we have and though I have a wish list a yard long, I'm being very mindful of all that I have!

I'll be sharing one of these with the gals at Penny Black Saturday Challenge sans the optional Winter twist - I've had enough of cold for a while!

Have a wonderful day!

=] Michele

A trio of cards for a trio of challenges!

Happy weekend eve, my friends! I have a few cards for you today - they couldn't be any more different!

First up a little tweetie for Freshly Made Sketches #669 by Narelle!  Hopefully she will see that the head and body represent the two circles at the top right? ha!

Isn't he a cutie?  I found this card base just waiting for him in my snippets box!

SSS: Layered Berry Bird cut from watercolor cardstock and colored with these Ohuhu markers:

 

My second card is for Color Hues #102 Navy and Lime - I have had my eye on this Altenew Balloon Flower for a while!

The hardest part of layered inking is keeping the top ink from blending.

I dried my layers this time, but it didn't seem to help much.

My friend and DT member Marcia influenced the argyle embossing [Spellbinders: Argyle Socks] on the left - thanks, sweet friend!

Last one!  Just another gorgeous Betterpress plate I added to my Christmas stash - yes, I am continuing to add to my Senior cards for 2025 so there is never a question of making just one!  This particular card will be sent over to Christmas Kickstart #94: Bring on the Baubles!  His baubles are tiny but really do make him festive!  The baubles were treated to a bit of sparkly Stickles!

Spellbinders: Dashing Reindeer on white BP cardstock; Hemstitched Rectangle Frame

This one is pressed on cream BP cardstock and framed by using one of my old EH Essential Rectangle dies.  BTW these are the BP inks I've used in case you're wondering.

I'm slowly getting back to a rhythm around here - it feels great!  hmmm I'm already wondering if you're tired of me again? lol

=] Michele

As you See it! #339

I could be wrong, but I think this might be my very first card for the As You See It Challenge?  Leave it to my friend LeAnne to show me the way to adding more fun to my day!  But seriously... did you think there was a chance that I could resist these colors and inspiration photo?

I don't have these particular SU! inks but I did find a few inks that will stand in for them... I did try so hard to capture the silvery bits I added to the leaves!

Here are the inks I used for the layered stencil coloring of this

Altenew: Graceful Gardenias.

You know my rule... when I have a new set, why not make three?  

Here's a fun tri-fold card where I've pencil colored it in a more appropriate white...

and one other that was water-colored using Distress inks:

SEE!  I have been a little bit crafty!  Now let's see if I can remember how to link a card...

=] Michele

Hey, friends! I'm alive!

I've had a few friends wondering where in the world I am!  Nothing to worry about - just tucked in as is my usual Winter routine!   But the slump is real!

Leave it to Jill Foster to get me out of my slump... she released her first in a new Sketch series yesterday at the Penny Black YouTube channel.  Nothing like watching Jill watercolor those adorable PB kids to kick-start my creative juices!

Enter PB Growing Love:

If I were writing a sentiment for this one, it would read:

'thanks for being the teeter to my totter!' =]

Here are the products used for my layered Sketch #1:

Growing Love - stamped in Versafine Smokey Gray on Canson watercolor paper

PFS Stitched Scallop Rectangles

Penny Black Triangle Pattern EF

PTI Just Sentiments: You're on my Mind.

And because there was a little piece of that embossing left over, 

seconds were in order:

I just switched out the frame this time to use PB Classy Frames

Thank you, friends, for holding me in your thoughts while I take my little January break!  btw I miss YOU, too!

=] Michele