Some random thoughts

Hello!

I've been pondering my cards and what I like about them, what other people say they like about them, which ones get visited when they're first posted, and then which ones gain attention in the more anonymous world of Pinterest.

I've almost given up on making cards with a view to pleasing anyone but myself. I would never be able to predict which cards will end up being popular, so I just play with my stamping for my own satisfaction these days. :-) It's quite liberating. That doesn't mean that I'm not still attempting to be published, or that I don't plan on entering challenges (I LOVE challenges), but it does mean I'm not second-guessing other people's opinions and tastes while I create.

What I find a little frustrating sometimes is when something I submitted for publication is not selected and then it goes on to be loved by my readers, loved on Pinterest, loved everywhere, except by the publishers. (It's okay, I know that lots of AWESOME projects are not accepted, it just frustrates me that I haven't yet cracked the challenge of publication even once.) I'm not going to tell you which ones were not selected and then became popular. ;-)

So let's talk about cards.  Here is one that I don't think I shared yet. It was submitted for Paper Crafts Magazine July/August issue (and not selected).

It's simple, but I really like it. :-) It still appeals to me as much as when I made it. That's the good part of creating cards that I like myself.

Now let's look at the card that has been repinned so many times I couldn't tell you where it now lives in the internet. It keeps coming back. It still sits at the top of my traffic count every week most weeks. It is the top post of all time on my blog, thanks to Pinterest.

I loved it when I made it, but I wouldn't call it my best card ever, and yet here it is, my most popular card ever. Go figure!

The next most popular card is this one. It took a while to take off, but again it was Pinterest that brought in the traffic, and it is still being pinned, crazy!

This one was a CASE of Laura Bassen, (who I would CASE everyday if I could get away with it) and I'm still in love with it. I just LOVE this card. I'm glad other people like it.

A couple of other cards that have gained attention are... Most recently this one.

I do like this card. I love how the glitter adds texture and interest. I love the black stars on the bright orange watercoloured background.

From last year this one.

I do like this card. I really love the watercoloured butterflies. But, the card as a whole never really grabbed me. But other people LOVE it. A lesson in "always share your work, even when you aren't totally happy with it".

And before I go, some cards that I like most from my collection (but not all of them, I do like quite a few).

Yep, definitely a CAS girl at heart. I'd better stop there, or you'll get worn out with all the scrolling.

Anyway, it is way past my bedtime, so I'll sign off for the night.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope I'll be back with something new very soon.

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop - Part II

Hello!

Good morning! This is my second card for the Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop where the theme is Marvelous Monograms. I have a limited selection of alphabets in my supplies. One set of dies and one set of stamps. I used the dies for my two cards, and promised myself I would buy more alphabets sometime VERY soon!

I used Lovely Layers and Think Big Favorites #13. The "F" is from Block Alpha Lowercase dies.

My friend loves purple and black. I hope she loves this card.

Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx

PDCC#170 and Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop

Hello!

Another weather update. I think I prayed too much for rain to break the unrelenting heat yesterday. It has been pouring down all day, and I think we've had more than 20cm (6-7 inches) of rain today (the pool is overflowing). The rain would have been beautiful if I didn't have to make my way through it to get to and from work!

Tonight I bring you a card for Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop, where we've been given the theme "Marvelous Monograms". I have actually made two cards, they are a matching pair, for friends who are celebrating their birthdays soon. They are husband and wife, and the cards are masculine and feminine of the same design. Tonight I'm putting up the BOY version, and then tomorrow I'll post the GIRL version when I link these up to the PTI Blog Hop (which goes live right in the middle of my beauty sleep). :-)

I used Lovely Layers and Think Big Favourites #13 stamps. The letter "A" is from the Block Alpha lowercase dies. 

The colour scheme I took from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #170.

Thanks for coming by to visit! I'll be back in the morning with my second card. ;-)

Michelle

xxx

Designer Strawberries!

Hello!

After I put the kids to bed tonight, I was determined to sneak in a little bit of "me" time before retiring myself. I achieved this, and while I was playing at my craft desk, I tried out a "new to me" technique. I'm a little excited! :-)

I used PTI Strawberry Patch and Strawberry Patch Sentiments. I inked up in PTI Fresh Snow and used SU! pastels. Card base is PTI Fine Linen, Card panel is SU! Night of Navy (night time photography makes it look a bit bluer than it is).

The new technique is a very OLD technique of white pigment ink coloured with pastels (using sponge daubers). I've never, ever tried this, and I was amazed at how well it worked. I sprayed over it with a fixative when I was finished, because I wasn't convinced the pastels would stay put. The fixative brought out the colours beautifully.

This card was made in response to two challenges. The first was Runway Inspired Challenge #30.

When I first saw this picture, I wasn't sure I would be able to come up with anything in response. The colours and designs are bold and dramatic, and not really in a style I usually work in. But I was struck with the creative problem/challenge, of getting bright colours to pop out of navy, so I've been working on this in my head for several days. I'm still working on how to make a card using the graphic yellow and black pattern. ;-)

The other challenge is being run by Lucy Abrams. Lucy has given us four sketches to consider, and I've been wanting to respond since the first one was released, but life has been a bit busy.  The sketch this card is based on is her second sketch.

All four of the sketches are down on my craft desk, waiting for some attention. I'm not sure I'll get to them all, but I'll give it a go. 

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle

xxx

Retro Sketches #52

Hello!

It's hot and sticky here today. So uncomfortable. I'm praying for a big storm to bring some relief.

Retro Sketches #52 is inviting us to choose one of the past 51 sketches to use for our entry this week.

This is my card.

I used Mama Elephant Nursery Deco and Basic Borders (those spots on the giraffe), and a PTI Think Big Favorites (not sure which number). Ink was Memento Grey Flannel, SU! Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue.

The sketch I used was this one.

Off to try to squeeze in another card or two before I finish the week-end. We've had such a busy week-end, I've found crafting time non-existent! This working five days a week gig is very bad news for the crafting life, LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #40

Hello!

It's time for another beautiful inspiration photo at For Your Inspiration!

For Your Inspiration challenge #40 has this gorgeous scene on offer.

So pretty!

It took me a little while to figure out what I'd make because I just wanted to fill my card with pink! But, at the same time, this picture has a delicate feel - small flowers, fine branches. There is a lot more to use which I didn't even get to, the road lined with pink, the forest feel... oh, I could go on!  In the end, I went with my impression of a Japanese scene and used my cherry blossom from SU! Eastern Blooms.

I used SU! Eastern Blooms, Hero Arts Say It All (sentiment). Colours are SU! Early Espresso, Real Red, Pretty in Pink. Since I don't own any markers, I used a blending pen to pick up the colours and colour the stamp. 

The rest of the team have come up with some beauties, why don't you pay them a visit too?
Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

Thanks for coming by! I hope to see you over at FYI very soon!

Michelle
xxx

CASology - RED

Hello!

I'm about to head off to sleep, but I wanted to squeeze just one more card out of the week-end.

CASology #31 has the theme RED this week. I made this card with RED in mind. I couldn't get past red berries, so I made my card with what was in my head. But, I can't help thinking that the CASology team had a little more RED in mind than what I have used on this card, LOL!

I used PTI Harvest Berries stamps, Mat Stack #1 and Mat Stack #1 Layerz dies. 

Colours are Memento Tuxedo Black and SU! Real Red.

Edited to add: This card also qualifies for CAS-ual Fridays #90, so I'm entering this as a second entry over there. :-)

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Black and white and a pop of blue!

Hello!

Phew! What a week! I was back to work this week, and spent a couple of days in Canberra, which left me with zero time for crafting. The trip to Canberra involved a 3am wake-up, 4am taxi, and 5am flight - exhausting! I flew home late the following day, and the next morning was 5am start to get my daughter to swim training. I am ready to sleep for a week, but I'm about to launch into another week of work and I haven't recovered from the last, LOL!

Anyway, today I prioritised a little time at the craft desk and came up with this little card.

I used PTI Little Hot Rod, SU! Tempting Turquoise, and Memento Tuxedo Black. Simple!

This card was made in response to three challenges. Less Is More #107 has the theme UP IN THE AIR. My little plane is up in the air at the top of the card.

Dynamic Duos #40 brings us Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black, with a dessert option (which I only noticed after making the card) of Clouds.

CAS-ual Fridays #90 asks us to use Black and White and one other colour.

I hope to sneak back to the craft desk later today, but I have a tonne of housework and grocery shopping to do first... running out of time!

Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple Card Making 2, Day 9

Hello!

Day 9 over at Clean & Simple Card Making 2 included a couple of tutorials by the fabulous Julie Ebersole about using glitter to create texture. Julie demonstrated using distress paints to create a watercoloured background. Since I don't have distress-ANYTHING, I had to use what I have, so I used an Inktense pencil (and a liberal application of water with the water brush) to create my background. Cadmium Orange to be precise. I used my glitter to be my star trail, and it sparkles SO MUCH in real life!

The stamps are from Papertrey Ink Star Prints.

My husband got all technical on me and told me you don't usually see shooting stars at sunset. I told him that I have seen them at sunset before. His reply was, "Not black ones..."  Smarty pants!  I love it, regardless of the colour technicalities. ;-)

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Hearts and Smiles

Hello!

I am bringing you a couple of cards in this post. The first is this.

I used Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Background, and PTI Botanical Silhouettes sentiment. It's hard to see but I used the PTI Linen impression plate. Colours are Berry Sorbet & Real Red (mixed on the heart), Bashful Blue, Night of Navy. I forget the name and brand of the twine.

I made this card in response to Tuesday Trigger: Cross My Heart

 and also Addicted to CAS Challenge #5

and I'm putting it into the A Passion For Papertrey challenge where the theme is Love Is In The Air.

My second card is my homework for Day 8 of Clean & Simple Card Making 2 where we received a video tutorial on plaid stamping from the super-amazing Laura Bassen.  This card was also going to be homework for Day 7 (since I'm running behind), but my one-layer card had a massive stamping error (the masking worked at the edges, but my mask leaked through and left some splotches on my lily-white card). I really need to get some masking paper!

Yesterday Jen Rzasa told us to not look too closely at her plaid stamping (go and take a look if you haven't already seen her awesome card). I think she really has nothing to worry about, mine is the one that you shouldn't look too closely at!  I used some older inks from my stash and it wouldn't lay down evenly, so I had to over-stamp several times (hence the leaking mask). The sentiment is made from SU! "sticky strip" that I die cut. I left the orange backing on it while I stamped, then took it off at the end and rubbed in the only glitter I own (which was not really opaque enough). It is a very glittery sentiment over a very bright plaid. I die cut a new card front and stuck it on top to cover the splotchy card front. Pretend it's one layer - that's what I intended, LOL!  Colours are all Stampin' Up! from the old Bold Brights collection.  By the way, I'm never die-cutting sticky strip sheets ever again, they don't cut through properly, argh! I had to hand cut half of those letters.

That's a lot of words! If you read them all, thank-you. I'm just having a whinge! Getting it all off my chest. I was up late last night trying to finish this card, and had such high hopes for it. I'll have to make another... when I get some masking paper. :-)

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary - Printables part II

Hello!

Here is the second card I made with the Papertrey Ink 6th anniversary printables contest.

I very simply cut out the teacup, matted it on SU! Daffodil Delight, stamped a portion of a sentiment from Little Hot Rod, and wrapped around a SU! ribbon.

Simple, but cute!

Thanks for coming by!

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #39

Hello!

It's For Your Inspiration Challenge time!

Here is my card.

I used PTI Guide Lines II and Botanical Silhouettes (sentiment), Mama Elephant Basic Borders. Colours are SU! Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Night of Navy.

This is the inspiration photo for For Your Inspiration #39.

There is lots to work with there. I took the blue and yellow, and I picked up the geometric shapes and light. If I had a triangle stamp, I think I would have used it!

The rest of the team have come up with some great cards, too! Why don't you pay them a visit?
Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

We had lots of entries for our last challenge, I look forward to seeing yours sometime soon!

Michelle
xxx

PTI 6th Anniversary - Printables

Hello!

Papertrey Ink are celebrating their 6th Anniversary with some super contests. This one is using one of their free printables to create a card. I made two cards, I will come back later with the second one.

This is my first card.

The printable is the centre image. I matted it on Fresh Linen card and created the background using Hexagon Cover Plate and stamped with Embellishments in Fresh Linen and SU! Bashful Blue.

I don't usually use digital images in my cardmaking. I don't find that I have much success with my printer. My new printer seems to have done an awesome job, and I'm quite happy with the outcome on this one. ;-)

If you want to give this a go, you can pop over to Papertrey Ink and grab the freebies for yourself.

Thanks for dropping by!  I'll be back after another mad rush around the countryside collecting children from various activities!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple Card Making 2 - Day 6

Hello!

A very quick post before I make a mad rush to do school pick-up and somehow coordinate delivering and collecting my kids to and from ballet and swim carnival at the same time in different locations. This is part of my homework for Day 6 of Clean & Simple Card Making 2. Tone-on-tone stamping.

I used Hero Arts Large Flower Background and Say It All, and PTI Tiny Tags II. Colours are PTI Vintage Cream, Fresh Linen, Fresh Snow, and SU! Soft Suede.

Thanks for coming by! I hope to be back later tonight.

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple Card Making 2 - Bonus Day

Hello!

Over the week-end, the bonus day for Clean & Simple Card Making 2 was about die-cutting. JJ Bolton provided me with a heap of inspiration, but my die collection is pretty limited, so it took me a while to think up an idea!

This is the card I came up with.

I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles and Memory Box Puffy Clouds dies. The sentiment comes from PTI Heart-2-Heart #6. The clouds have SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter to add a little sparkle.

Thanks for coming by to visit! I'm off to bed and I'll be back tomorrow to play catch up on these classes. :-)

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches #49

Hello!

A quick post (I'm in the middle of making dinner and sneaking a blog post) to show you an entry to Retro Sketches #49.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs. Memento Tuxedo Black ink. PTI White card. SU! Daffodil Delight card.

The sketch is this one.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle 

xxx