Dynamic Duos #13

Hello!

I made a card for Dynamic Duos quickly tonight. I didn't want to miss out on these colours. I love browns and earthy colours. :-)

This is my card.

And a close up to show how sparkly this card is.

I used Hero Arts Collage Music Background, PTI Stylish Sentiments: Holiday. PTI Dies - Tiny Tags, Fillable Frames #10, Mat Stack #1. Colours are Crumb Cake and Early Espresso. Twine is Cappuccino from The Twinery. 

The colour scheme at Dynamic Duos #13 is monochromatic. I think monochromatic might be my favourite week... I'll probably say something different next week, LOL!

I'm a bit weary tonight. It was a busy day at work today, and tomorrow is looking busier, so I'd better get some sleep.

Thanks for coming by to visit.

Michelle
xxx

Retro Fruit

Hello!

I'm fighting for time these days. It seems I have too many things to do and definitely not enough time to do them! Finding time to stamp is seeming almost impossible!  Today I spent most of the day at the garden shop, the hardware shop, and then in my garden repotting roses and lemons and then making new pots for my girls to plant sunflowers. Today was a perfect "spring" day (in the middle of winter) - shorts and t-shirt weather, beautiful!

Anyway, I really AM here to show you a card. Here it is.

I used PTI Strawberry Patch stamps. Ink is SU! Poppy Parade, Garden Green, Green Galore. The patterned paper is (I think) Cosmo Cricket In the Garden. Card is PTI basic white.

This card is in response to two challenges. The layout is from Retro Sketches #22.

A really nice sketch, and I think I'll keep it to use another day. :-)

And the other challenge is CASology #3 with the theme FRUIT this week.

Just before I go, I have to share a recipe. I found this over at Laurie Willison's blog yesterday and promptly repinned the recipe on Pinterest and made the recipe for dessert last night.

Perfect Lemon Bars

The picture and recipe are from Baking Bites blog. I didn't photograph mine, but I can tell you, they looked exactly the same. This recipe is EASY and DELICIOUS (if you like lemon).
I altered the recipe slightly (reducing the sugar a bit).

This is the Baking Bites recipe (with my notes where I changed it):

Perfect Lemon Bars

Crust

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp lemon zest (I used the zest of one lemon)

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

Filling

4 large eggs

1 1/3 cups sugar (I used 1 cup of sugar)

1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed and strained (I used the juice of two lemons, which was about 190ml, because that was all I had)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 9×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.

Make the crust. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Cut butter into chunks and add to flour mixture. Blend in with an electric mixer at low speed until mixture forms coarse, sandy crumbs. Pour into pan and press mixture down (with your fingers or the back of a spoon) into an even layer.

Bake for 16-19 minutes, until just lightly browned around the edges.

While crust is baking, make filling. Whisk together all filling ingredients in a large bowl.

When the crust comes out of the oven and is still hot, pour in filling mixture.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until filling is set and does not jiggle when the pan is gently shaken.

Cool completely before slicing.

Top slices with confectioners’ sugar to serve.

Makes about 24 bars.

Thanks for coming by today.

Michelle
xxx

iSpy Sketches 26

Hello!

Just a quick one, it's past my bedtime. The new iSpy Sketches Challenge was released today with a sketch based on Therese Calvird's card. I fell in love with the card straight away and I had already seen Danielle Daws' card using the sketch (a gorgeous card), which had me excited about the idea of using my pencils today. In the end I pretty much exactly CASEd Therese's card, just because it was so beautiful, and I wanted to see if I could come anywhere close to the prettiness using my Derwent Inktense pencils. I didn't come close, but it turned out okay anyway. :-)  I definitely need more practice using pencils.

I used Jane's Doodles Pretty Peonies (flower) and PTI Think Big Favorites #16 (sentiment). I stamped the image in versamark, and then drew over it and coloured with Inktense pencils. Card base is PTI Fine Linen, and panel is SU! Soft Suede. Ink is Soft Suede. The string is kitchen string.

I love this sketch. I think I might need to make another card (or five) using it!

See you later! Thanks for stopping by to visit me. :-)

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge - take 2

Hello!

Well, another idea took hold, so I'm back for a second go at the Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge! I don't usually enter challenges twice, but I like this card better, so I thought I'd share. :-)

I used PTI stamps - Pretty Peonies (sentiment), Rosie Posie, Turning a New Leaf. I also used Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background stamp over the PTI Hexagon cover plate to add a bit of texture.  Colours are SU! Old Olive, Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral. 

Still using the beautiful inspiration, and the same colours as the last card, but as I said, I like this one better.

I'm also entering this one into Moxie Fab World's Hooked on Hexagon's Challenge.

Now, off to hang washing out, ferry my little girl to gymnastics and music lessons, and then to collect the big girl from school before coming home to collapse briefly before getting dinner underway. So glad I took some time to do some stamping this morning. It's good for my mental health. :-)

Thanks for dropping in!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

Hello!

It's Blog Hop time over at Papertrey Ink! And what a beautiful inspiration they've given us this month!

I wish I had that beautiful bunch of flowers here in my home, they're so pretty!

I made two cards, because I couldn't decide on exactly how to place my colours. Here they are:

and

I used PTI Pretty Peonies (flowers) and Happy Hexagons (border), Hero Arts Say It All (sentiment). Card base is PTI basic white. Colours are SU! Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Pretty In Pink and Cameo Coral. And I used those fabulous Pretty Peonies dies that save me from that nasty fussy cutting. :-)

Both cards are made using the rock'n'roll technique on the leaves and flowers. They are both made with exactly the same supplies. Looking at these photos, I think I'll add a little bling before I send them out. :-)

I'm a bit stuck for words (and creativity) today. My Type A, Perfectionist personality is causing my anxiety levels to hit the roof (due to a few minor challenges these past couple of weeks) and the more anxious I get, the more anxious I get, if you get what I mean! Argh! I'm not a worrier, so when I get like this I get totally frustrated with myself, and then you know what happens.... vicious circle, LOL!

Anyway, you probably are more interested in my cards than my crazy issues, thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

CAS happy in black

Hello!

Whew! I've had a busy week-end this week-end. I have managed to squeeze one more card out of my limited time. I really didn't want to miss the opportunity to enter these three challenges. Too often I miss out because I run out of time, despite feeling inspired!

This is my card.

I used SU! Basic Black and Crumb Cake card. Ink is Real Red and Certainly Celery. Stamps are PTI -  Happy Hexagons (sentiment) and Flower Fusion #11. Twine is Twinery Maraschino (the twine is where I get the white for the colour challenge!). Embossing Folder is Swiss Dots. And dies are PTI - Flower Fusion and Mat Stack #3.

It is really difficult (for me) to photograph black cards! The card in real life actually looks black, and that red is really Real Red, I promise!

I am entering CAS-ual Fridays #62 which asks for a black card base.

My colour combination comes from ColourQ #146 which is too yummy to resist!

And last, but not least, I am entering CASology #2. I missed the inaugural challenge because I ran out of time. I didn't want to miss the second one. My card is a HAPPY birthday card. :-)

Okay, perhaps I'll sneak one more card out of the week-end if I can get the kiddies into bed early enough tonight!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

Sweet Birthday

Hello!

I have another five year old girl birthday this week-end. I didn't go quite as "little girl" this time. But it is still girly. :-)

Here is the card.

I used Stamps (PTI) - Strawberry Patch, Strawberry Patch Sentiments, Happy Hexagons; Dies (PTI) - Cover Plate: Hexagon, Strawberry Patch, Perfect Patches; Card - PTI White, SU! Pretty in Pink; Ink (SU!) - Barely Banana, Cameo Coral, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede; Twine - Twinery Blossom.

The editing doesn't show this card as soft as it is. It's so pretty I don't want to give it away. I was playing around with my new hexagons, which arrived today. I'm in love already! I decided to just start by using the whole plate and fill it. I'll get more creative a bit later. ;-)

The colours were from this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #141.

I also intend to enter this over at Moxie Fab World for the Stamp It! Cards Birthday Challenge and the Hooked on Hexagons Challenge.

I made another frame as a present. I used bolder colours in the frame than in the card.

I'm photographing at night again, so it's a bit difficult to get a good photo, especially with the glass on front! I haven't shown my little girl yet, as she is asleep. I hope she AND her friend like it!

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #34

Hello!

It's time for another For Your Inspiration challenge. Challenge #34 this time. :-)

This is the inspiration.

It's quite a busy picture. Lots of inspiration there! I took the natural feel and made a flowery card. I also used the colours, because I love these autumny colours. :-)

This is what I came up with.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies. I used the PTI canvas/linen impression plate to add texture to the bottom panel for interest. Unusually for me, I used the canvas side of the plate. Colours are SU! More Mustard, Really Rust, and Old Olive. The ribbon is PTI Fine Linen.

Why don't you go and visit the rest of the FYI DT, they've done some awesome work again. ;-)

Debbie

Debby
Rudlis
Karen

Rochelle

Sara

Steph
Sylvia

Vicki

This week I travelled to Cairns in far north Queensland for work. Cairns is a 2.5 hour flight from Brisbane. Further away than Melbourne! While in the southern regions of Australia it is in the depth of cold winter, and in Brisbane it is cool, Cairns is delightfully fresh and almost warm. I certainly only needed a light pullover when I went walking in the evening. People were swimming in the town pool, so it was definitely mild. I thought I'd share a couple of photos.

I stayed at the Mantra Trilogy, which was comfy! I had a lovely room with a wonderful view. This is the evening view from my balcony.

And this is the morning view.

In the evening I went walking along The Esplanade. I love that walk. In the middle of town on The Esplanade, there is a big pool (which they call The Lagoon). It is free for use and is open with no fences. It's really beautiful. This is just a portion of that pool.

And here is a view looking back along the Esplanade.

When I've had a chance to edit some more of my photos, I'll add them over at my Photo Blog.

Thanks for dropping by. I hope I see your entry at For Your Inspiration soon.

Michelle
xxx

Allegro strips...?

Hello!

A quick one tonight. It's late, and I was up super early to get my big girl to her swim meet. Definitely didn't get all the week-end jobs done this week-end!

I did squeeze in making a card this afternoon, as I have yet another birthday coming up this week. :-)

I used SU! Everyday Enchantment paper, PTI Pretty Peonies stamps, SU! ink Cameo Coral and Old Olive. Card base is PTI White and rhinestones are SU!

I made this card for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #61 and Tuesday Trigger: Allegro con Brio over at Moxie Fab World.

CAS-ual Fridays is asking us to use strips of some type on our card.

The Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World is this image.

This image had me stumped all week. I played and played with patterned paper today, and finally came back down to a very simple card using three strips of striped paper, offset from each other to create a bit of interest.

I must get to bed. I'm about to collapse asleep on my computer desk!

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

Happy 200, Color Throwdown!

Hello!

My little girl is attending her friend's 5th birthday party tomorrow. This called for some thinking about little girl presents and cards. With my own little girl by my side, I created both today.

This is the card.

What I used: Colours - SU! Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, and Chocolate Chip. Card base is PTI Vintage Cream. Image panel is watercolour paper. I used Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background stamp, and SU! Pony Party (I think this one is retired, but I still love it).

Bright, hey? The colours come from this week's Color Throwdown, which happens to be their 200th challenge! Woo hoo! When I first saw the colours, I thought that I would never be able to use these five colours on one card, with four of them being so bright. What did I know? I LOVE how these colours work together. :-)

I don't use Pink Passion very often. Or Tempting Turquoise, for that matter. The Brights probably don't get a fair go in my cardmaking. And look how happy they make my card look. :-)

The layout is from Mojo Monday. I didn't follow it faithfully. The three little dots at the bottom became three flowers around the central image, and the sentiment flag at the top became sentiment grass at the bottom.

And now on to the pressie! I made an 8" x 10" frame, using Pony Party and some gorgeous Pebbles papers, and a bit of SU! and a bit of Pink Paislee.

I sparkled up Stella's name with Dazzling Diamonds glitter (just quietly, I sparkled myself up quite a bit, too!). Those little clouds are Memory Box Puffy Clouds. The pony is coloured in PTI Fine Linen and SU! Pretty in Pink, and has liquid pearls brushed over. She's very pretty. I hope Stella loves it. I know my little girl does.

Thanks for coming by.

Michelle
xxx

Runway Inspired #15 - man card

Hello!

Sometimes a card will give me no end of trouble. This is one of those cards. I think I've ended up with a half decent card at the end of it, but it was a challenge to get to this point! Phew! I probably should show you my rubbish pile on this one (no, too embarrassing!) - that sentiment panel had three different versions, all stuck ON THE CARD, so that I had to pull things off and try not to upset my weaving, eek!

This card is for our nephew, a young man who is definitely not into bling or flowers or love hearts... someone tell me an AWESOME stamp set for men (all ages), please! I want to make groovy man-cards!

This is my effort.

It was in response to the Runway Inspired Challenge #15.

I worked the weaving in. I used the colours. I think I got the general feel of the outfit into my card.

I used SU! Not Quite Navy, Real Red, and Crumb Cake. Dies were all PTI - Chevron stripes, Mat Stack #1, Framed Out #3. The sentiment is from Framed Out #3. Oh, I ought to point out, those skinny chevron stripes are from between the two dies - when I die cut the two together, there is always a skinny bit in between that I quite like. :-)

Thanks for coming by! Now I'm off to sleep. :-)

Michelle
xxx

Tuesday Trigger - Poppy

Hello!

I am going to go on record and say that this is one of my very favourite cards that I have ever made. I've been pondering the Tuesday Trigger photo for a few days now. I really wanted to make crepe paper poppies, but I don't have any red crepe paper, and I didn't get to the shops. :-)  So, I was making another card, inspired by something completely different when the idea for this card appeared in my head. I love it when that happens.

This is my card.

And this was the inspiration - A Plateful of Poppies.

I used the PTI Heart Prints die to cut out 8 hearts in Poppy Parade and folded them over to create the petals. The leaves are Sizzlets Little Leaves in Old Olive. The sentiment is Think Big Favorites #12. Card base is PTI White. The brad is SU! Everyday Enchantment.

Thanks for taking a look at this card.  :-)

Michelle
xxx

Silver and Gold Peonies

Hello!

It is amazing what a colour challenge will do to stretch me way beyond my normal choices. At the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week we are invited to use the colours Gold, Silver, and Nude. Nude?? I decided to use vanilla/cream/pearl as my "nude".  I will sometimes use some silver. I will sometimes use some gold. I NEVER have used silver and gold in the same card before, until now.

This colour combination is a bit hard to photograph. Here is a little close up to show you the layers, texture, and shine of the images.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies and Think Big Favorites #13. I used Vintage Cream card, silver embossing powder, and gold embossing powder, finishing off with some pearls.

This is the colour story. So pretty!

I have a few more birthday cards to make today, so I should be back with more later. It is the start of birthday season here. We have non-stop birthdays from June through to October with only a few sprinkled elsewhere in the calendar. It makes for a very busy second half of the year!

Thanks for dropping by. 

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #98 - baby shower

Hello!

Did I tell you that I am going to be a Great Aunty? My eldest nephew and his fiance are going to have a little girl in a few weeks. Since most of my nieces and nephews are younger than my own children (who are 9 and 4), I believe that I may not get many more great nieces and nephews for several years. I plan to thoroughly enjoy this little girl (and any siblings she may be lucky enough to have). It's almost like I get to play at being a Grandma, LOL!  I am going to the baby shower in a couple of weeks, so I made this card.

My card uses PTI Baby Button Bits, and Limitless Labels. Colours are SU! Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, and Memento London Fog.

The inspiration for the card came from CASE Study #98, where Kristii Lockart is muse this month. Kristii's cards are gorgeous, and I have only just discovered her. If you haven't seen her work, please take a moment to visit her blog. 


This was her card.

From Kristii's card, I took the baby theme, I stamped my hearts and stars surrounding my central image, and I used the basic layout. It's a bit of a looser interpretation than I usually do on CASE Study challenges.


Oh, and one more little photo. For those of you who don't know, this is Coco. She is my photography assistant. When I sit on the floor to take a photo (to get the best light near the window), she gets right in there beside me (in front of the lens if she can at all squeeze in there). 

Thanks for coming to visit me.


Michelle
xxx

CAS-ual text

Hello!

I've checked my inbox. I've even taken a couple of looks at my junk folder. It's true. None of my submissions to Paper Crafts were selected. Again. I can't really be surprised. I never submit many cards (2 to 4, usually). And I usually leave it to the last minute to think about what I might like to make in response to the themes. Maybe I need to get more serious about this? LOL! One day it will happen. Lucky I make cards that I like, so that when I get to keep them it is still good news. :-)

This card was made for the submission (using a sketch), but I thought I'd give it an outing despite not being picked. CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 60 is asking  us to use text on our cards, and the text background is one of my favourite bits of this card, so here it is:

My other favourite bit is the colour combination. PTI Vintage Cream card base, Fine Linen text and one of the hearts, the other colours are SU! Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Real Red. The sentiment is Waltzing Mouse French Country. The little heart is PTI Heart-2-Heart #3.

On a completely unrelated note, the other day I had a visitor just outside my window next to my computer. My big camera was nowhere near me, but I did have my iPhone sitting next to me, so I captured a shot of this gorgeous guy.

I totally LOVE kookaburras. LOVE. I love their laughter. I love the way they look. We are lucky to have quite a few kookaburras living around us. We don't usually get them visiting us on our veranda. This was a special occasion.

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #33

Hello!

It's time for another For Your Inspiration challenge! The entries into challenge #32 were awesome, I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with this time around. :-)

This is the photo.

Beautiful, yes? I looked at this scene for a while, thinking about how it made me feel. It feels peaceful to me. A place of reflection. From the photo I took the colours blue, green, and white, and attempted to give them a soft feel that portrayed the feeling it gave me.

This is my card.

Colours are SU! Almost Amethyst (retired) and Certainly Celery. The stamps are Jane's Doodles Pretty Peonies, PTI Turning a New Leaf, and Hero Arts Say It All.

I used a sketch from My Favorite Things to get my layout.

I have to say, it is very dangerous going over to the MFT blog, especially at release time!  My wishlist just got a lot longer, sigh!

Now, why don't you take a little tour of what the rest of the design team came up with before creating your own beauty to enter into the challenge. :-)

Debbie

Debby
Rudlis
Karen

Rochelle

Sara

Steph
Sylvia

Vicki

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx