Happy Easter!

Hello!

Happy Easter to you all! I hope you are having a wonderful time surrounded by those that you love.

I just spent a few days with family at the Sunshine Coast. We got two great days of weather, and one day of torrential rain. I was thrilled with the blue skies and the swim at the beach. :-)  You can see a few photos over at my other blog Happy Snap Michelle, if you are curious. I also popped a couple of shots on my Facebook page (the link is in my sidebar ---->).

These are the tags I made for my eldest daughter to take to school for her friends last week. She gave a tag and an Easter egg to each of her classmates. These bunnies are so cute! I don't usually do Easter cards, but I couldn't resist these guys. :-)

Before I go, just in case you didn't want to wander over to my other blog, here is a picture of Noosa River during our evening stroll.

Ahhh, I relax just looking at it.

Thanks for coming by.

Michelle
xxx

Ooh, I love it when a new technique works!

Hello!

I was watching the Make It Monday #109 video and thinking to myself that I've tried this idea before and it didn't really work out... but then I thought, why not give it another go? I am so glad I did. Messy ink with nice, neat embossing over the top on a crisp white background appeals to me SO much. :-)

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps, SU! Poppy Parade and Barely Banana inks sprayed with champagne mist. The sunshine is stamped in gold. Card base is SU! Poppy Parade and panel is PTI White.

Do you recognise the stamp set? LOL! If you've been visiting me on my blog for a while, you'll know that when I get a favourite stamp set, I tend to use it and use it and use it... until everyone is tired of seeing me using it. This is one of those stamps that I think I'll use forever. I just love the typeface, it's so happy!

As well as Make It Monday, I'm also entering this card into the Moxie Fab World Card Creations Ombre Challenge. I'm not great at ombre, but I managed to create an ombre effect with these inks. Amazing what happens when you start playing around with inks. ;-)

For those of you curious about how parent-teacher interviews went, they went well. My girls make me proud. The weather, after some wild rain this morning, fined up this afternoon, so I am still crossing my fingers that the heat continues at least for two more days and we get some beach time this week-end. After the Easter holidays, I'll be well and truly ready for the cooler Autumn weather to commence.

Thanks for coming to visit. I'll be back in a few days.

Michelle
xxx

Tuesday Trigger: Pretty Pastels

Hello!

Just a quick one this morning. I'm off to parent-teacher interviews, and I don't want to be late!

I zipped up a card the moment after I saw this week's Tuesday Trigger.

I used PTI Polka Dot Parade #1 stamps. PTI Soft Stone, SU! Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight. Twinery Twine.

The Trigger is this cute pastel image. I think they are sugared almonds, but they brought to mind candy Easter eggs, so I made a row of bunnies with pastel tails. :-)

I hope to be back later today, but if I'm not, I'll be back later over Easter. Tomorrow I'm off to the Sunshine Coast to visit family. Fingers crossed for some sunshine so that we can go to the beach.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop - sequins

Hello!

Today I bring you my contribution to the Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop. The theme is sequins. This created a bit of a challenge for me in itself. I don't own any sequins, yet! I scoured the house from top to bottom, checking all of my kids' art boxes, and I found a little packet of sequins hidden in one, yay! I can play along!

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello die, Woodgrain impression plate. SU! patterned paper in Regal Rose. Card is SU! Pretty in Pink. Sequins were scavenged from my kids' stash. ;-)



















I took my colour scheme from Dynamic Duos #45  monochromatic challenge, in pink!

These colours are so pretty! I couldn't resist! :-)

Now it is way past my bedtime. I'll link this up in the morning when the hop will be well underway.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Runway Inspired #32

Hello!

I'm bringing you a card that was a bit of an experiment in colour, shine, and glitter.

This card was made in response to Runway Inspired Challenge #32 where this outfit was the inspiration. I think I need to add this jumper to my wardrobe, it would probably be a great conversation starter. :-)

 

I was struck by that question mark and the shiny red skirt. I immediately thought of embossing black on black and a red shiny ribbon. The only problem with that was that I don't own any red satin ribbon, LOL! And black on black wasn't quite the look I had in my head.  Sooo, what did I do? I embossed clear "psychedelic" glitter onto black (which happens to be almost impossible to photograph). I embossed red glitter onto the red panel - shiny and sparkley all at the same time (and also impossible to photograph, argh!).  To finish off I added some black rhinestones to the flowers. The stamps are Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend. The dies are PTI Mat Stack #6.

Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx

A pocketful of candles (CQC181 and CTS20)

Hello!

Today it is hot. I'm wondering when Autumn will decide to arrive. I'm about to melt! I keep looking at those beautiful snowy Spring photos from everyone in the USA and Europe, who are wondering when the heat will arrive, and I think we should swap!

Today I bring you this card.

I used a WPlus9 die Love Notes, SU! Create a Cupcake stamps, Studio Calico brad. Colours are SU! Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I made the card in response to two challenges. ColourQ #181

and CAS(E) This Sketch #20

Last night I attended my daughter's Swim Club Presentation Night. It was the end of the competitive swim season for the kids who aren't going on to the Nationals. They were presented their trophies by the Olympic Swimmers from our club. We have ten of them, yes TEN Olympic swimmers in our one club. Our little kids are blessed to have such amazingly talented team mates swimming alongside them.  The end of the competitive season doesn't mean an end to swim training. They get the month of April off, but then it is back into the pool all the way through Winter until the comp season starts up again in Spring.

This photo is my daughter collecting her Club Night trophy from Mitch Larkin (who is one of her favourite swimmers).

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Oh, I meant to mention, if you would like to follow me on Facebook, I have set up a page for Amusing Michelle. I haven't quite figured out exactly what I'm doing there yet. I'm definitely sharing cards, but I hope to make it something a little more than that... feel free to come along for the journey while I work it all out. :-)

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #42

Hello!

Today is For Your Inspiration day!  Today's inspiration is bold, and so I have made a bold card, using colour blocking. For me, there was no other way to combine the colours and the feeling of the image. ;-)

For this card I used a brand new stamp set (which I won at Clean & Simple Card Making 2 class, yay!) Hero Arts Tall Flowers. I created a colour-blocked card base using SU! Brilliant Blue, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, and Chocolate Chip. I stamped in Versamark and white embossed. I coloured the flowers a little with Delicata Gold.

The inspiration photo for For Your Inspiration #42 is this one. What's your take on it? I'd love to see your interpretation over in the gallery.

Check out the rest of the Design Team contributions, beautiful work as always.
Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Vicki

I will admit, that I used some other inspiration in making this card. I am entering this into Muse Challenge #9, where Marion Vagg has brought us this beautiful card. I loved the coloured stripes with the white images and sentiments. Marion make the most beautiful cards!

And also A Blog Named Hero Challenge #22 where the theme is Freestyle - we can make anything, so long as we have fun!

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Blog readers and more

Hello!

I'm following up the options on what to replace Google Reader with, and have been playing with Feedly and now Bloglovin'  Does anyone have any opinions on these, or other options yet?

You'll find the link to Bloglovin' on my sidebar if you want to follow me there. :-)

I'm also looking into other options for my followers, if they need them, and have set up a Page in Facebook - Amusing Michelle I have no idea about Pages, so it might take me a little while to come up to speed there.

Hopefully in the next few months I'll settle into a new routine with my new browsers, and maybe I'll learn something about administering my Facebook page, LOL!

While I'm here, I'll share a card that I submitted to Holiday Cards, which wasn't selected for publication. I didn't expect publication on this one... it was the one card that I dashed off at the last minute, and I wasn't 100% happy. (Bad photo, too!)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

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Birthdays!

Hello!

Today we had a family birthday celebration. My little niece turned 2 this week. My other little niece is turning 3 in 10 days. I made some cards for them.

The first came after a frustrating several hours working on an idea that JUST WOULDN'T WORK. So I changed tack, and pulled out my brand new Simon Says Stamp set Flower Friend and played. This is the result.

I also played with washi tape for the first time ever. I used Mama Elephant So Breezy for the sentiment.

I'm entering this card into the Moxie Fab World Washi Tape Challenge.

The second card is for my little niece who turns 3 soon.

The stamps are Mama Elephant So Breezy (love, love, love this set). The silhouette and sentiment are stamped in Early Espresso (looking black here), and that string is shiny golden goodness. :-)

Since I was giving cards and gifts to the girls, there was one little fellow who was going to feel left out. My 18month old nephew (the brother of the 3 year old), so he got a present "just because". (I love being an Aunty.)

So Breezy again. I was in a rush and didn't double-stamp the silhouette, but I'm sure he'll forgive me. :-)

I love getting together with all the family. One sister lives on the other side of town, with her husband and daughter. The other sister lives up the Sunshine Coast (about 1 1/2 hours away) with her husband, daughter and son. My Dad and step-mother live half the year here in Australia on the Sunshine Coast and the other half in Italy at their bed and breakfast. My brother lives in London (England), so usually misses the family gatherings here in Australia. My girls adore their cousins and love when they all get together to play. Today's get together was in Summer heat, even though it is supposed to be Autumn. What's up with the weather lately??

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Hello!

Hello!

I've made a card for another three challenges today. I also made a batch of berry muffins, but that is another story, LOL!

This is my card.

I used Mama Elephant Basic Borders stamps. PTI Wonderful Words: Hello die. Cardstock is SU! Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White. Ink is Primrose Petals, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I know that as soon as you've seen this card, you've realised it is responding to Runway Inspired Challenge #31. When I saw this outfit, first I smiled (I love that bright yellow skirt and those taxi shoes), and I knew I needed to make a card.

My layout came from (CAS)E this Sketch #18.

And I added that lovely negative die-cut sentiment in response to the Moxie Fab World Card Creations #11 Emphasise the Negative challenge.

Thanks for coming by to visit! See you again soon!

Michelle
xxx

One card, three challenges

Hello!

Just a quick hello today. I have snuck to my craft desk in between housework and going out for a friend's birthday. I might start running late any moment now... depending how fast I can type!! ;-)

I made this card.

I used Jane's Doodles Pretty Peonies and Mama Elephant So Breezy stamps. Colours are Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Cameo Coral, Early Espresso, Primrose Petals (I don't have Cherry Cobbler or anything like it), and PTI Fresh Snow.

I entered into three challenges.
The colour scheme comes from ColourQ #179.

The card design comes from two different inspirations. Julie Ebersole's card at CASE Study #131

and Laurie Willison's card at MUSE #7.

I love both Julie and Laurie, so I couldn't resist joining in!

Thanks for coming by to visit! I hope to be back tomorrow with more cards to share. :-)

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #41

Hello!

For Your Inspiration Challenge #41 brings you a photo that is perfect for a masculine project, so that I what I made!

I used PTI Square Prints, and Stylish Sentiments:Birthday. Colours are SU! Really Rust, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, PTI Fresh Linen.

This is the photo.

Amazing colours and ambience!

Please stop by my fellow DT blogs to take a look at what they've come up with.

Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

I hope that I see your entry over at FYI sometime soon. ;-)

Michelle
xxx

Happiness!

Hello!

Well, you know how I was telling you how much I love Mama Elephant stamps, and how I had another set on its way to me?  It arrived! Yay! This set (So Breezy) and I are going to have some fun together. :-)

I used the colour scheme from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #171.

Short and sweet tonight. I have much to do before the work/school day tomorrow.  Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Mama Elephant Sketch Challenge #2

Hello!

On this rainy week-end, I am loving a little extra time at the craft desk. Today I bring you my entry to Mama Elephant's Sketch Challenge.

I used Mama Elephant Nursery Deco stamps. Patterned paper is SU!. Card is PTI White and Soft Stone. Ink is Soft Stone. Sentiment is white embossed.

I really love how this card turned out. Using a baby set, I managed to create a card that isn't necessary "baby". :-)  It's so soft and pretty!  I'm loving Mama Elephant stamps. I have another set on its way to me. If I had the budget, I'd buy all of them!

This is the sketch.

I didnt' even notice until after I loaded this page that I mirrored the colour of the sketch, LOL! I really chose the patterned paper for the pattern, not the colour in particular, I promise!

I'm also popping this one into this week's CAS-ual Fridays - wallpaper. My wallpaper was made using a circle frame, and I love how it turned out.

And last, but not least, CASology - Circle

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Spread the Love...

Hello!

Over on Amber's Blog, Damask Love, you will find Clear & Simple Stamps' Spread The Love Campaign. The idea of it is that we reveal our "Blog Crush" and create a project using the colour schemes provided. We are encouraged to use Clear & Simple Stamps, but the sad truth is that, although my wishlist has a number of C&S stamps on it, I don't yet own any. :-(

I think it will be no surprise for people to find that I have several Blog Crushes, and they aren't all card makers. Amongst card makers, I have quite a few crushes... but today I've singled out one of my crushes. If you follow my Pinterest Board, you'll know that one of my biggest crushes is on Laura Bassen. I love Laura's clean style, I love her rainbows of colour, I love her plaid, I love her big flowers, in fact I don't think there are any cards of Laura's that I don't like. Along with that, I like Laura the person, too! If you've seen some of her recent videos, you'll know she's funny. She makes me smile!

Today I tried something new for me, but very classic Laura. I worked on Big Flowers. When Laura made a flower out of cloud dies, I was amazed, and I've wanted to try it ever since. This one isn't perfect, and I will have to go back to try this again. But I do like the feel of this card.

I used PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday stamps. The flower is made from Memory Box Puffy Clouds dies. The background panel was cut using PTI Mat Stack #6 and embossed with Woodgrain. Colours are PTI Soft Stone, SU! Daffodil Delight, and another yellow that I forget the name of. Ink is Memento Grey Flannel.

I used this colour scheme.

While I was channeling Laura, I CASEd another of her cards. Just quietly, I like this one I've made better than the first that I showed you. ;-)

I used PTI Lovely Layers and Birds & Blooms (sentiment). Colours are PTI Vintage Cream base, Fresh Linen, Berry Sorbet, Melon Berry, and SU! Red (retired, and I've forgotten the name, it must be too late at night for my brain to work). Ink is SU! Early Espresso, and PTI Berry Sorbet.

Now it is time for me to get some beauty sleep. Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

MUSE #6

Hello!

At last!! MUSE Challenge is into it's 6th week and I finally managed to make a card before deadline! Yay!! :-)

Today is so rainy - dull grey, non-stop rain, water everywhere. I decided to make a card instead of the rest of my usual Saturday activities (other than taking the little one to her gymnastics training). I snuck off to my friend's place this morning to collect my latest Papertrey Ink order. Being Anniversary month, I didn't hold high hopes for speedy delivery (PTI usually takes 3-4 weeks to arrive to us in Brisbane) but this month they exceeded all expectations and the order arrived within two weeks - it's a miracle!!

Here is the first card from the new stamps. Bright and cheery to lighten up my day!

I used PTI Birds & Blooms and Stylish Sentiments: Birthday. Colours are PTI Berry Sorbet, SU! Poppy Parade, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, and Memento Tuxedo Black. Card base is PTI white.

The MUSE card is this one by Deanna Jean (who I happen to admire hugely!). If you want to pin this photo, please follow the link to Deanna's post and pin from there.

 

I had intended to draw a box around my sentiment to the image, but I changed sentiments at the last minute and the line frame just didn't work, so I've used my rhinestones to frame the sentiment instead. I stayed close to Deanna's colour scheme and image/sentiment placement.

While I type this post I am being serenaded by fourth grade violin practice. :-)  It's beautiful to listen to some days.

That high chair is there for a baby doll and baby visitors, not for us! We only have a 10 year old and a 5 year old in this house. ;-)

Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx