ATCAS103 and CASology232 - Make a Wish

Hello!

I had a little bit of time today to create a card. Yippee! I created a black and white masked floral arrangement and topped it with a die cut sentiment. I love the simple elegant beauty of the monochromatic colour scheme.

I used Altenew Adore You stamps and PTI die for the sentiment.

I'm entering this into CASology where the theme is CUT - I used a die-cut sentiment.

 I'm also entering into Addicted to CAS where the code word is WISH - sentiment is Make a Wish

Thank-you for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Love

Hello!

I've had this little idea in my head forever, since I bought PTI Square Prints (which is a LONG time). Someone else has probably already made the same card, the idea has been hanging around in my head for so long, lol! But, finally I decided it was time to put ink to paper and get it out of my head.

I used PTI Square Prints and Mama Elephant So Breezy. Inks are Memento Luxe Rose Bud and Memento London Fog.

I'm entering this into Addicted to CAS where the code word is LOVE.

I'm also entering this as my second entry into the One Layer Simplicity challenge where the challenge is to repeat stamp. I love how these squares make such pretty patterns when repeat stamped, they were made for cards like this!

Thanks for coming by. Today I am attempting to mow the lawn, take the Christmas tree down, do some loads of washing, clean the bathrooms, and vacuum the floors... all before school pick up. Wish me luck!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #170 and some cockatoos

Hello!

I didn't want to miss CASE Study this week. The inspiration is a delicious-looking cupcake! So I sat down quickly before bed tonight to make a card. My card does have sparkles, gold, and glitter, but it didn't photograph well.

A relatively literal interpretation of the inspiration photo.

I also thought I'd join in at  CAS-ual Fridays (Let It Snow)

and Addicted to CAS (Snowflakes)

 Before I go, I thought I'd share some cockatoos. I took my daughter for her first horse-riding lesson last week-end, and at the pony club I found a flock of cockatoos feasting on some sort of tree seeds. I adore cockatoos. They are very noisy, but they are very beautiful! This group were about 10 birds together. Gorgeous!

Thank-you for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Muse #13

Hello!

Just a quick one tonight. I'm a bit tired, and ready for some sleep. I just didn't want to miss out on this week's Muse Challenge #13, and it will be closing soon.

I used PTI The Sweet Life. Inks are SU! Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and PTI Fine Linen, Memento Tuxedo Black.

The inspiration comes from the always amazing Marion Vagg.

For my card, I stamped the central flower and then used masking to stamp the rest. This was a little tricky with the layered stamps in this set, maybe it's just me, but I found finding the correct position while masking almost impossible.

I'm also entering this into Addicted to CAS #11 where the code word is flower.

I hope you like the card. Thank-you for coming 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

Blue Birthday with a tiny bit of embossing!

Hello!

Turns out you CAN whip up another card while dying of heat exhaustion! (Joyce, I'm in Brisbane, Australia, and it is about 35.5C = 98F?). I heard that yesterday Sydney had its hottest day ever at 45C. When it's that hot, it's a different heat. It's DRY. I'm not sure if I prefer our sticky, humid heat or the dry heat... probably neither, I'd rather snow!!

This card started with a lot of embossing, and a little  bit of blue. But then it just didn't work, so most of my embossing ended up covered in blue! You can still see the embossing at the top. The whole bottom section of the card is embossed, but I covered it up with die cuts. ;-)  Can someone tell me what die will cut the right size star for Papertrey Ink Star Prints? I really don't like hand cutting them!

I used PTI Botanical Silhouettes (sentiment), Star Prints, Background Basics (Circles) stamps. I also used PTI Chevron Stripes dies to emboss and die cut. I hand cut the star. Colours are SU! Bashful Blue and Night of Navy. Card base is PTI Basic White.

This card was made for Addicted to CAS #4 and CASology #27

Thanks for coming to visit!

Now, I might just jump in that pool!

Michelle
xxx

Christmas Baubles

Hello!

It's Christmas card season. I have to get some of these posted this week. I do want some of my overseas friends and family to actually receive cards from me this year, and BEFORE Christmas would be great!

I made this card for three challenges.

I used PTI Peace, Love, Joy, and Snowflake Serenade, as well as SU! Ornament Keepsakes. Colours are SU! Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla. I embossed the sentiments in gold. Twine is Twinery Cappuccino. 

I can't tell you how long I have been watching Papertrey Ink's Make-It-Monday, and I don't think I've ever entered, despite being endlessly inspired! This is challenge #93, and it is all about splitting die cuts. For these baubles, I stamped the baubles, then I cut top and bottom of the centre strip, and then I die-cut (and the centre fell out). By doing this, I wasn't trying to hold that little bauble in my paper-trimmer and keep a straight line.

Over at Addicted to CAS, for their challenge #2, the code word is BAUBLE. I don't think further explanation is necessary on this one. :-)

And just before I made this card today, the new inspiration board was published at Jay Gee's Nook. This is challenge #26. I loved those coppery-gold baubles, and the creams, and hot chocolate. I couldn't resist!

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

A simple Christmas card

Hello!

Long time, no see! I've had such an overwhelming few weeks. The last six weeks of school always involves several concerts (solo violin, solo piano, string ensemble, choir showcase, choir carols... and it goes on), lots of activities (swim carnival, junior school graduation, chapel), and add on top of this a couple of swim meets and three music exams (piano, violin, theory) - and that is all just for one child... Luckily for me, the smaller child only has a few things - ballet concert and Christmas concert at Kindy. That will change when she starts school next year, I'm sure. Anyway, that is my long explanation for why it has been a little quiet around here lately.

This week-end we will put the tree up and the kids and I will trim it while my hubby climbs all over the house putting lights up (weather permitting, crossing my fingers right now). That is the start of our relaxation for the holidays. Even though I am still working, there are no more school lunches to make, no more concerts, and we can spend lots of time in the pool soaking up that Summer sunshine. :-)

Anyway, onto the reason for my post. I made this card for three challenges.

I used PTI Snowflake Serenade and Happiest of Holidays, SU! Christmas Deer, and Hero Arts Collage Music Background. Colours are SU! Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, and Pretty in Pink. Die is PTI Fillable Frames #10. 

Addicted to CAS is a new challenge blog, and this is their challenge #1 - SNOW. I have made a snow white card, added snowflakes to the stamping, and have stamped snowflake ornaments on the sentiment panel.

I used a sketch from Retro Sketches #39. I had to swap the sketch to the opposite direction due to a stamping error...  As soon as I saw this sketch, I had my idea in mind. I'm amazed how well the idea translated to reality. :-)

The colour scheme comes from Just Add Ink #146. I couldn't resist, they are so soft and pretty!

Thanks for coming by and brightening my day!

Michelle
xxx