Dynamic Duos #72

Hello!

What an amazingly quick week this last one was! We're back to another week of Dynamic Duos inspiration! This week we have Primrose Petals and Blushing Bride as our colours - pink, pink, pink!

So... of course... automatically... my mind turned to Christmas! Doesn't yours when faced with pink? LOL!

Stamps are PTI Snowflake Serenade. Colours are SU! Primrose Petals, Pretty in Pink, Memento London Fog.

I made two cards this week. I had made the card above when I was struck by additional inspiration while looking at the CASE Study Challenge #159 inspiration for this week. I saw the repeated circle pattern and thought of my Guidelines II stamps, and this card was born.

Stamps are Guidelines II and Botanical Silhouettes (sentiment). Colours are Primrose Petals and Pretty in Pink. The sentiment is white embossed. The tiny pearls are SU! 

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Insider - Day 3, Take 2

Hello!

Here is my second card for Day 3 at Insider Class. This card is a great way to use up that patterned paper that I have been "storing". By using papers from the same set, my card front and gift card envelope match beautifully. Another surprise bonus (if you would call it that) is that this card didn't use any stamping. I didn't realise until I was finished and taking photos, LOL!

The patterned paper is My Minds Eye (Snowed In?). Card is SU! Real Red and Early Espresso. Twine is Maraschino from The Twinery.

The inside holds an envelope which was made using the Envelope Punch Board, which conveniently has a "gift card" size listed. :-)

This card has already been selected for use by my hubby. He saw it, and immediately asked if he could use it. I'm thinking this one is a winner.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Insider - Day 3, Take 1

Hello!

The Day 3 lesson over at the Online Card Classes Insider Class is about surprises inside the card - little pockets and envelopes! After watching Laura's video (entertaining as always), I set to work straight away.

Is it just me, or are these "Insider" cards difficult to photograph? It's probably just me!

The envelope is made using the Envelope Punch Board. The paper is My Minds Eye Kraft Funday. The stamps are Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments. I cut the hole in the front of my card using my paper trimmer (I don't own any square dies). I added a red panel inside the card, which contrasts beautifully with the brown. Colours are SU! Real Red and Early Espresso.

I haven't added a sentiment yet. I may do so when I decide who this card is going to.

On another note, my almost 11yo daughter was playing along with me while I learned the watercolouring techniques yesterday, and she decided she would start a blog to share her "stuff". If you would like to visit her, she is Liv For Dreams (not a typo on the "Liv", that's her name).

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Insider - Day 2

Hello!

Day 2 of Insider at Online Card Classes brought so many amazing ideas, that it will take me a while to work through them all. There was a real focus on using acetate, and as I don't have any, I couldn't use it! One idea was immediately workable for me, and that was Jennifer Rzasa's window card. This is my version.

I used PTI Strawberry Patch stamps. Colours are Hero Arts Pale Tomato, SU! Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Memento Tuxedo Black.

The technique called for carefully aligning the outside and the inside and then colouring the inside. I only had one stamp that was big enough (and not a background stamp) to work with this technique, so Strawberry Patch it was. :-) The inside is BRIGHT.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Insider - Day 1

Hello!

Online Card Classes are running Insider at the moment. I'm so behind in class, but looking forward to finding time to really sit down and work on the ideas. The ideas are fantastic! My time is limited. :-(

For the first day, there were a number of watercolouring ideas shared by Jennifer McGuire. I watched the videos intently. I took my (11yo) daughter to the rumpus room to give her a lesson on watercolouring with distress inks (since the Distress Inks are actually hers). I did practice on watercolour paper, but then I was working in my art journal (on this gorgeous little fox), and decided to just make a one-layer card. This is it.

Stamps are PTI Hello Foxy. Colours are SU! Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, and Delicata Gold.

The inside looks like this:

It's simple, but pretty. My photography at night time leaves a lot to be desired.

My daughter is in love with this card, so I'm thinking I may make a version of it for her birthday next week-end. ;-)

My other watercolouring practice, with Distress Inks on watercolour paper, included this:

I will have to work on how I can incorporate these types of images into my cards.

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop - Take 2

Hello!

My second card for the Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop looks more like an actual wreath. ;-) I had thought I would use Autumn colours, to blend in with my Northern Hemisphere friends, but the reality is that while I am actually in the very beginning of Spring here, it feels like SUMMER. Today was 34 degrees Celsius (approx. 93F). I ended up using Spring colours on this one. Perhaps the positive thinking will work and the hot weather will disappear, maybe. Or maybe we're really in for a stinker of a Summer.

I used PTI Rosie Posie, Turning a New Leaf, Think Big Favorites #16, and Harvest Berries (the smaller dot). Colours are Hero Arts Pale Tomato, Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Olive, Wet Cement, SU! Soft Suede.

Thanks for visiting me. I'm out of steam tonight, so not much chatter (I'm sure some of you are sighing in relief right now, LOL!).

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop - Take 1

Hello!

The September Blog Hop for Papertrey Ink has a WREATH theme. I had grand plans of making wreaths galore, and then got caught up in my life again. My first wreath is a little non-traditional...

I used PTI Heart-2-Heart #6 stamps. Inks are SU! Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Memento London Fog and Tuxedo Black. Card base is PTI Basic White.

Apologies for the dodgy photography. It is the result of a mixture of nighttime clicking and my absolute tiredness preventing me taking enough care with the lighting.

This is the magnificent inspiration:

Thanks for visiting! I hope to drop by a few blogs over the next few days to return visits. :-)

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #158

Hello!

I WAS going to get an early night, but I was sitting here pondering flowers and why I hadn't yet made a card for CASE Study this week, when this (non-flowery) card popped right into my mind and asked to be made immediately, LOL!

I used Avery Elle Party Animal stamps. Colours are PTI Hibiscus Burst and SU! Daffodil Delight.

At CASE Study Challenge #158 we still have the amazing Kathy Racoosin as our muse. Kathy is such a great card maker, very inspiring! From her card, I took the layout, the bright colours, the stamping on the background. I didn't stamp flowers because these balloon dogs really wanted to come out to play. :-)

And now, I am going to go and try to get a good night's sleep. It's slightly later than I planned, but I still have 8 hours before I have to be awake again, so that's a good thing! :-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches #82

Hello!

I am finishing a very lovely four day week-end. Today I drove up to the Sunshine Coast to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday. It was a lovely celebration, and great to spend some time with family. The hard part was driving up and back in the one day. I'm a little weary now. That didn't stop me from making a card tonight quickly before bedtime. ;-)

This card is made using the sketch over at Retro Sketches Challenge #82. I did use the sketch, but instead of creating an actual split in the card, I made a virtual/implied one that may or may not be visible to you, depending on how abstract your thinking is, LOL! I made a 5 1/2 inch square card. An unusual size for me, but I quite like it! I sat staring at this card for a long time, wondering what to add, and in the end, I couldn't bring myself to add anything because I like it as it is - stark CAS. :-)

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps. Card is PTI Fine Linen, SU! Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Ink is SU! Soft Suede and PTI Fine Linen. Sequins are Avery Elle.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #71

Hello!

Oops! I'm a little late with this card today! Naughty Blogger forgot to post it.

Today I'm bringing you my card for this week's fabulous Dynamic Duos Challenge. The colours are Crumb Cake and Black with the option of using wet embossing.  My card is made using ALL wet embossing. The only ink used was Versamark to hold the embossing powder in place. ;-) The embossing powder is Ranger Super Fine Detail - my goodness this is awesome embossing powder! Definitely good for detail!

I used PTI Ruby Rose, Background Basics: Text Style II, Avery Elle Modern Leaves (sentiment). Card is SU! Basic Black and Crumb Cake. Embossing powder is Ranger Super Fine Detail Black.

The other ladies on the team have come up with some fabulous cards this week, too.

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Ooh, I almost forgot to show you... I have signed up for the Insider class over at Online Card Classes (starting in a few days), and so I thought I'd try decorating the inside of my card. I'm terribly inexperienced at this, and really have no idea - which is why I signed up to the class, LOL! I didn't emboss the inside, I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Thanks for coming by to visit me! I hope that you join in the fun with us this week!

Michelle
xxx

Avery Elle September challenge and a CASE

Hello!

I was wandering through some blogs this morning and was reminded that the September challenge is still on over at Avery Elle. I have had an idea floating around in my head for a while for this one, so I decided to sit down and make it today.

I used Avery Elle Modern Leaves stamps. Ink is PTI Fresh Snow, Hawaiian Shores, Versamark, SU! Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Crushed Olive. SU! White embossing powder. Twinery twine in Caribbean. Sequins are Avery Elle.

The inspiration photo had a lovely retro feel, and I tried to mimic that with my blended background. For the chairlift, I created a string of party lights by stamping white pigment ink and then overstamping with dye ink (because I don't yet have coloured pigment inks).

Before I wandered downstairs to my craft desk to make the above card, I popped over to see what the amazing Laura Bassen had made recently. I was so inspired that I CASEd her card immediately. My card isn't quite as bright, but I like this technique so much I think I may make several more using a variety of papers. Thanks for the fantastic idea, Laura!

I used Ranger Archival Ink, SU! Ornament Keepsakes die, My Minds Eye paper, PTI basic white card.

Thank-you for coming by to visit.

Michelle
xxx

Sunflower Wishes

Hello!

Tonight I snuck to my craft desk right after I tucked the kids into bed to make a card for CASE Study #157 and Curtain Call challenges. I've been staring at the CASE Study inspiration card by Kathy Racoosin since it went live last week, and sifting through various ideas. Tonight this card came to me.

I used PTI Rosie Posie and Sentiment Signs stamps. Ink is SU! Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, PTI Fresh Linen, Delicata Gold, and Ranger Archival Black. Twine is from the Twinery.

My take on Kathy's card uses pretty much every element as inspiration. Firstly, I went with the big bright flower. I was pondering the stripes and the vellum, and I decided to reflect those in the sentiment lines stamped on vellum, and I also added a little bit of striped washi tape up the side of my card. My little green twine bow is a nod to Kathy's ribbon.

For Curtain Call, I was responding to the Sunflower theme. I would have loved to have used burlap and raffia, but I had neither. I did make a big, luscious sunflower bloom, though!

Before I go, I'll share a little close up of my card, which hopefully shows to golden highlights on my flower.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #70

Hello!

Dynamic Duos Challenge #70 brings us the colours So Saffron and Pistachio Pudding - a soft and subtle combination of yellow and green. When I was making my card, I was searching for inspiration, and failed to notice the proliferation of wattle flowers all around me. You'd think my sneezing and sniffling would have given me a hint, but no, I searched high and low and completely missed this amazing opportunity to share the national flower with the blogging world. ;-)

Instead of a wattle card, I made a butterfly card.

I used Harvest Berries and Hello, Foxy stamps. Inks are SU! Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, and Memento Wet Cement.

Edit to add: I forgot to add that I actually used the CAS(E) This Sketch #45 sketch for this card! Oops! This sketch is great! So many ways to use it. :-)

The Dynamic Duos team have made some amazing cards this week.

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

And because I can't resist, here is a picture (copyright S.D. Searle) of a wattle. I love them, despite their hayfever-inducing properties. :-)

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Birthday, Kara!

Hello!

Today is Kara's birthday, and I'm joining in a fun blog hop in honour of her day. :-)  If you haven't seen Kara's work before, you should pop over and visit, because it's fabulous! Not only does Kara make beautiful cards, but she is also such a lovely person as well. A fab combination!

Happy Birthday, Kara! I hope you have a wonderful day!

I used PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday, Boutique Borders: Thanks, and Strawberry Patch stamps. Ink was PTI Fresh Snow and Versamark. Chalks and rhinestones are Stampin' Up!

I got a little experimental on this card. I wanted to use the colour scheme over at Just Add Ink, because it sounded just so pretty. And I've had the idea of trying another blackboard card this month to join in at the Paper Crafts Magazine Gallery Challenge. Trying to get colour onto black (for me) is a bit tricky. Firstly I didn't have Bermuda Bay embossing powder or chalk, so I put my thinking hat on. By mixing chalks (aqua and blue), I came up with the perfect colour! It was a miracle. The little silver tendrils are dusted with Perfect Pearls. The frame is silver embossed. The sentiment is white embossed and then sponged with white ink. The whole card ended up as a sparkly, dusty blackboard. :-)  Oh, and for those of you wondering, I used a spray fixative to stop the chalk and dust from moving around any further.

There are many more birthday wishes for Kara today, why don't you join in the blog hop and check out the cards that her other friends have made as well. :-)

Joyce
Cathy

Christina

Jeanne

Jill

Kelly G.

Kelly S.

Kim

Leigh

Lisa

Lynn

Marybeth

Michelle (that's me!)
Nancy

Renee

Sharron

Tracey

Thank-you for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Fusion #17

Hello!

I was sitting at my craft desk tonight, trying to work on a card that I HAVE to make, and having no luck... so I did what any self-respecting crafter would do, and made up the OTHER card that's been floating around my brain for a few days. ;-)  Maybe now that this card is out, I will have more luck with the other tomorrow night, fingers crossed!

I used Stampin' Up! Christmas Deer, Hero Arts Music Collage Background, and PTI Stylish Sentiments: Holiday stamps. Ink is SU! Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight. Card is Early Espresso and Vanilla.

My inspiration came directly from the Fusion inspiration photo this week. That deer, the images with the background music and text, the colours. Totally irresistible.

Now I'm off to bed for a little beauty sleep before another busy day at work tomorrow.

Edited to add: I'm taking Geri's suggestion and entering into Festive Friday #16 (at the last minute! Thanks for the reminder, Geri!).

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

An Apple for the Teacher

Hello!

I'm back! With a simple card that I just love. I cannot begin to explain how happy a really crisp one-layer card makes me feel. :-)

I used PTI Teach and Inspire (apple) and Wonderful Words: Teacher (sentiment). Colours are SU! Poppy Parade and Gumball Green, along with Memento Tuxedo Black.

I know that in the Northern Hemisphere you are all just now back to school, but here in Australia, we are just ending third term and winding up for the last blast before Summer holidays. After Spring break, we only have about 7 weeks left (filled with concerts, exams, and other end-of-school activity). This means I need to start getting organised so that I'm not running around like a mad chook in the last few days of school having forgotten to organise cards and presents for the hoardes of teachers that my girls have, LOL!

I made this card in response to three challenges. This is my first entry over at Curtain Call. I plan to enter many more times in the future. ;-)

I'm also entering CASology, where the theme is Apple.

And last, but not least, CAS-ual Fridays where the theme is also Back To School.

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #69

Hello!

I have a rare week-end at home this week-end. I'm loving it! I did have to do the gymnastics run (twice), I did a grocery run, and I took my dog for her Spring haircut, but other than that I've been home doing a little housework, attempting to catch up a bit after the past month of non-stop activity.

Saturday was election day here in Australia. Since voting is compulsory here, we were all out in force. I didn't realise so many people lived around here, LOL! It's highly likely we'll end up with a change of government, but I'll be deep asleep before anyone claims victory, I'm sure. I usually love watching election night commentary, but tonight I'm out of steam.

What I'm REALLY here for is that we have a fun colour combination for you this week at Dynamic Duos Challenge #69! Old Olive and Pacific Point. Something about these colours combined together really sings to me. :-)

I used Avery Elle Modern Leaves stamps. Ink is SU! Old Olive and Pacific Point, PTI Fresh Linen. Card is PTI Fresh Linen.

The Dynamic Dynamos have some amazing work again this week. Consider paying them a visit!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for dropping by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx