Fusion #7

Hello!

It's time for a new batch of Fusion inspiration! This week I used both inspiration photo and sketch to come up with this card.

I used such a big selection of products, I'm not sure I can remember them all! Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Background and Collage Music Background stamps; PTI Teach & Inspire and Building Blocks. I also used PTI Dear Jane patterned paper. Card is SU! More Mustard and Soft Suede and PTI Vintage Cream. Inks are SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, More Mustard.

This week the team have all been inspired in quite different ways, it's wonderful! If you haven't visited the others yet, here are the links to their blogs.

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

This week I've been in Canberra for work for a couple of days. My schedule was non-stop from when I landed to when I took off to return home. Crazy! I'm back in Canberra again next week, too. Another non-stop schedule. I miss my hubby and my kids when I travel (and my dog and the chooks). Work travel is definitely not glamourous or exciting. I much prefer to stay at home. :-)

Thank you for visiting! I hope to see you joining us at Fusion sometime very soon!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 7 - Watercolour

Hello!

I'm here with my homework from Day 7 of Online Card Class Clean & Simple #3. After watching Jennifer Rzasa drawing and watercolouring her image, I decided that tonight was the night for me to finally draw that bird I have been thinking about.

I have never drawn a bird before, not really, not where I actually tried to make the bird look like a particular type of bird... but on the week-end I was looking at the art of Geninne, and in particular her birds, and I was overcome by the desire to draw and watercolour a bird. So, tonight, after Jen inspired me, I looked up photos of robins, wrens, and jays and decided to draw a robin redbreast. I looked at about three different photos of the birds to figure out the colour variations, and the various shapes in different positions and then gave it a go.

The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Fine Feathers. The bird was painted using Derwent Inktense pencils and a water brush.

So what do you think?

I know it isn't perfect. It is a first try, after all. But I will admit to being so excited and encouraged by this first version that I just might try drawing and painting some more! I'm not sure I can replicate this to make a set and Jen suggested. I'm pretty happy that I even made one, lol!

Thank-you for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 6 - Graffiti Stamping

Hello!

I made this card for a lovely friend of mine who has just turned 40. I was inspired by the Graffiti Stamping technique as demonstrated by Kryssi Ng of Mama Elephant fame. I did use Mama Elephant stamps. I also threw in some Stampin' Up! and Papertrey Ink as well.

It's a night-time photo, so not great, but I think you can get the idea. ;-)  This was a really fun card to make. It took some time to select and place the stamps, so not really something I could whip up quickly. It's definitely a technique I'll throw into my bag of tricks.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 5 - Iron-Off Embossing

Hello!

I'm slowly working my way through the Online Card Class Clean & Simple #3. I am so glad that the format this time has two days per set of techniques. It allows us slowpokes to keep up, sort of. I still have lots I'd love to try. But time is not on my side at the moment, so I am thrilled to at least make one card for each set of techniques! I am definitely being given plenty of inspiration, so I will be kept happily experimenting for quite some time.

This card uses masking and the iron-off embossing technique. Jennifer demonstrated the iron-off embossing technique with watercolouring. I like that, but for this card, I used sponging of distress inks, a bit of water splattering, and a little distress paint in bronze. The colours are not ones I'd usually use together, but I wanted to make a card with a bit of visual impact, so I got experimental with colour. It reminds me of a picture of space.

The beauty of the iron-off embossing technique is that it makes my card super flat again, no matter how I treat it while making it, lol! I'm definitely recruiting the iron for future card making endeavours. Lucky for me, the iron has stopped steaming and my husband (the ironer) desperately needs a new one, so I may just have a "craft iron" waiting for me to claim it... just as soon as I get to the shops to buy that new iron. ;-)

Stamp is PTI Wonderful Words: Hello. Inks are Distress Inks Walnut Stain and Broken China. I also used Versamark and clear embossing powder, but they were ironed away.

This card was inspired not only by Jennifer's work, but also by Joni's card over at CASE Study. Isn't it amazing?

Edit to add: I linked up to One Layer Simplicity also, where Just Add Water is still open.

Thanks for coming by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 3 - Stamp Layering

Hello!

Today I sat down to play with Laura Bassen's Stamp Layering technique from Day 3 of Clean & Simple Card Making. I didn't have a big, bold sentiment like Laura, so I had to improvise a bit. I made my background from PTI Sentiment Signs repeat stamped in Mama Elephant Blush. Then stamped my sentiment, and then everything else around it.  Using pigment ink gives a different effect to using dye inks with this technique, and while it is different, I still like it.

Stamps are PTI Ruby Rose and SentimentSigns. Inks are a mix of pigment inks from Mama Elephant and Memento Luxe.

Tonight I'm going out to dinner with one of my lifelong best friends who I have not seen anywhere near enough over the past couple of years. We live around the corner from each other, and yet our busy lives often mean we don't see each other, crazy! I'm really looking forward to a couple of hours together with our families.

Thanks for coming to visit me. No chicken or dog photos today... perhaps next time. ;-)

Michelle
xxx

Fusion #6

Hello!

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!

Oops! I forgot to schedule my post for this week's Fusion Challenge. So here I am, finally!

I used PTI Rosie Posie (both sides of the stamps) and Simon Says Stamps Sketchy Banners. Inks are SU! Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Mama Elephant Mojito, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I took my inspiration directly from the picture. It reminded me of the kitchen in the house I grew up in, which was apple green and yellow, very 70s. :-)

I hope you can find some time to join in with us this time! The rest of the design team have made some wonderful creations, and are well worth a visit, too. :-)

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 1

Hello!

It's Day 1 of Clean & Simple Cardmaking #3 - One Layer Cards. At the beginning of class there was a note for us "purists" (I think they were talking to me) about the various definitions of a one-layer card. I've revised my definition for this class to be "flat card". The exciting part of this new definition is that I'll have MANY more options when making cards. :-) It also frees me up for nights when I really don't have much time to craft (which is most nights) but want to make a card for class - sometimes one-layer can take a LOT more time!

We were shown three techniques today, and I've used one of them so far. The technique I chose was die-cut inlay as demonstrated by Debby Hughes (who I adore). I didn't stray too far from Debby's design due to lack of time to consider my design options. I will definitely explore this technique further, it's so effective!

I'll probably bling this one up later on. Tonight it's after bedtime, and my blinging can take me quite a while! I have used PTI Sweet Speech dies, Wonderful Words: Friends stamp and die. Paper is SU! Watercolour Wonder. Card is SU! Smokey Slate and PTI Basic White. Ink is Mama Elephant Smoke.

And before I go, another picture of my chickens. I have heard chicken-owning bloggers calling their hens "fluffy butts" and I used to wonder what they were talking about. It turns out that chickens really do have fluffy butts, lol!

Thank-you for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

A boy card

Hello!

A quick post for a quick card tonight. I played with my new die Papertrey Ink Text Block: Birthday. This has to be the quickest way to make a birthday card! This card was made for a friend of my daughter's. He's an 11 year old boy, so no bling or flowers allowed. ;-)

The tricky part was figuring out how to stick down the little pieces. I have come to the conclusion that I need a Xyron. The patterned paper is Stampin' Up! It's current, but I forget it's name...

Tonight I baked banana and raspberry cupcakes for the kids' afternoon teas. I usually make banana cake, but I was short on bananas, so I added raspberries to bulk out the fruit content. Oh YUM! :-)

Thank-you for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

A little bit of sunshine

Hello!

I have made another one-layer card. Stretching my one-layer thinking prior to starting Online Card Classes, Clean & Simple #3. This one was for my Mum's birthday this week. She loved it!

I used PTI Doodlie-Do stamps. Colours are Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils. I added SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the centres of the large flowers, adding a little extra texture and interest.

I'm entering this into:
Make It Monday - add texture to one-layer cards, 
One Layer Simplicity - just add water,
and Cure For The Monday Blues - I couldn't resist the yellow :-)

I'm a little tired today. My eldest daughter had a friend over for a sleepover last night. They were great, but... My littlest girl decided she should have a sleepover too... in my bed... in my space... sigh!

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

A little bit of green

Hello!

I have some new stamps. I couldn't wait to try them out. I had to wait DAYS before I got a spare moment. It was an agonizing wait, lol! Here is the first of the cards I made.

I am so happy with this card! It worked better than I had hoped. The green and espresso brown speech bubbles really pop off this one-layer card in real life. I'm not sure if you can get the effect on the computer, or not. This card involved a little masking to create the effect. I used PTI Doodlie-Do and Sweet Speech stamps. Inks are SU! Early Espresso and Mama Elephant Mojito.

I hesitated to get Doodlie-Do, even though I loved it at first sight. The hesitation was that some of the most striking examples I've seen are coloured with Copics, and I don't have Copics. But, it turns out that it works without being coloured, and in another card I made, I coloured with Inktense pencils and that worked too. :-) I am in love with this set!  I have several ideas brewing.  The Sweet Speech set fills a little gap in my stamp collection very nicely. They really are sweet!

I am entering into three challenges. In no particular order, I have entered:

The Card Concept. I'm not sure what style this is, CAS or CAG. Is it even clean with all those flowers? It was relatively simple to make.

CAS(E) This Sketch.

Make It Monday. We were asked to add texture to a one-layer card. I have used masking mixed with bold speech bubbles against a doodle background.

Today I had my Mum over for lunch to celebrate her birthday, which was yesterday. We had a lovely morning of playing cards (500) and a light lunch of salad and meats. It was really nice to spend some relaxed time together.

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Party!

Hello!

I was just wandering through my photos and found a card I absolutely love, but that I didn't share. How did that happen? I'm not sure, probably because I made it for fun, and no other reason. :-)

I used PTI Sentiment Signs and Mama Elephant Party Kit stamps. Die is Mama Elephant Femme Frames. Inks are Memento Luxe (Rose Bud and Lilac Posies) and Memento (Tuxedo Black and London Fog). Card is PTI Hibiscus Burst and SU! Whisper White. Twine is Twinery.

Those balloons have been so much fun. Party Kit is an awesome stamp set. And this sentiment set, although it looks like it might not be so versatile, I have found it so easy to use!

I signed up for the new Online Card Classes - Clean & Simple #3. It's all about one layer cards (which this one is not). I LOVE one layer cards. A few years ago now I made my first one layer card for One Layer Wednesday (now One Layer Simplicity). It took me forever, but I was hooked! One layer cards are the ultimate canvas for uber-CAS cards, and I love a fabulous CAS card. :-)  I hope I can find some time to join in real-time. I aspire to create the perfect one layer CAS card... one day...

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle

xxx

Sunshine and Happiness

Hello!

I have a card for One Layer Simplicity, Virginia's View, and for Curtain Call.

This card was quite tricky! I usually do my watercolouring on watercolour paper. This time I just painted directly onto my regular cardstock (PTI Basic White). My card ended up a little warped, and the solution was to run it through my Big Shot (no dies, no impression plates, just the card with a rubber mat and the regular plates). It worked! My card was ironed flat. :-)  Stamps used were Mama Elephant Party Kit and So Breezy. Inks were PTI Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet. Sentiment was white embossed.

I have wanted to use these sentiments in this way since I first got So Breezy. I can't believe it's taken me this long to find a way to do it!

One Layer Simplicity calls for us to Just Add Water.
Curtain Call is Perfectly Peach.

And Virginia's inaugural challenge gives us lots of watercolour inspiration. Virginia tells us she misses Tuesday Triggers. I do too, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what inspiration she brings us as the challenge grows. :-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle

xxx

Thank-You Berry Much

Hello!

I found a little time this week-end to play at my craft table. It seems that everyone is on a watercolour theme this week! I made a card that mixed the watercolour background of Make It Monday with the inspiration photo over at Taheerah's blog for Cure For The Monday Blues. I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch.

I created my little watercolour panel by washing watercolour paper with water and then brushing over PTI Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet Inks. Then I white embossed the strawberries (PTI Strawberry Patch). I added the sequins to pick up some of the sparkle from the inspiration photo.

I also found some time to go out into my back yard and let my chickens have some free range time. I had my dog on the leash, because she seems to think that the chickens look like fun playmates. I'm pretty sure the chickens aren't keen on playing with a bouncy dog. ;-) The chickens are now 8 weeks old and they have grown!

This is Daisy and Peggy, our light sussex hens.

And this is Ozzie. Ozzie is our shyest chicken and I don't usually capture her in photos. This one was a bit of a miracle!  Ozzie is a Black Australorp hybrid (mixed with Isa Brown).

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx