The Card Concept 69 - Hello Friend

Hello!

The inspiration over at The Card Concept challenge is so beautiful that I just had to join in the fun! I was inspired by the distressed chair and the gorgeous roses.

I used SU! Woodgrain background, PTI The Sweet Life, and Wplus9 sentiment stamps.

Isn't this a beautiful inspiration? So pretty!

Before you go, I thought I'd show you a quick photo I took yesterday afternoon. We had a storm come through and afterwards the cockatoos were all out with their wings held out from their bodies as they attempted to dry off (they don't usually sit like this). It was hilarious to watch them. It's not the best photo, given that I was taking the photo directly up into the sky so the lighting wasn't great, but I think you can see them.

For those of you who visit me on my Facebook Page - Amusing Michelle. Have you been seeing my posts? Recently it seems that the people who actually see my post has quartered (according to FB stats) and I wonder if the evil algorithms are at play? If you would like to continue to see my posts, please consider a visit to my page to interact in some way (like/comment) so that FB knows you want me in your feed. :-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

The Card Concept 68 - Have a Super Day

Hello!

I have the birthday of one of the little people in my life approaching. I decided to make her a Super Girl card using the lime and aqua colour inspiration from The Card Concept Challenge 68.

I used MFT You're Super stamps in a clean and graphic style. Colouring was done with Copics.

Such a pretty inspiration! I did almost go with the flowers in a jar, and I may still make that other idea one day.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Exploring Striped Florals

Hello!

I had a couple of days off this week leading into the Easter week-end. My kids started school holidays on Wednesday and I decided to take a couple of days off and have a couple of my girls' friends over. We don't get many play dates because life is usually a bit too busy, so this was special. My littlest (7 years old) had her first friend sleeping over last night. They did pretty well, considering the excitement level. They remembered their manners, went to bed at 9pm (a late bedtime as a treat), and finally went to sleep at 11pm when I roused at them for too much activity and giggling. ;-)  My eldest had her friend over today and I didn't see them except when they emerged for food, and when I decided I wanted to make a card and they had taken over the rumpus room (where all my crafting gear is kept). It was a lovely couple of days and I think my girls really enjoyed themselves. A good start to the holidays.

When I did finally get allowed back near my craft desk, I made a couple of cards using Altenew Striped Florals. I'm still not finished experimenting with this set. I really love it!

The first card I made for The Card Concept. It is a clean and simple card that I stamped and coloured using Copics.

Stamps are from Altenew Striped Florals and the sentiment is from Altenew Label Love.

I'm also entering this card into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the inspiration is "Happy Birthday".

I also made a card for The Challenge #28 which happens to be the one year anniversary challenge. I can't believe The Challenge has been going for a whole year and I haven't joined in yet! It's not that I haven't been inspired, I have, but I've never made the deadlines. :-(  Since it is a special occasion, I made a special effort and made a card to join in, in time. ;-)

Stamps are again Altenew Striped Florals and Label Love. I added a bit of gold twine for some extra texture and interest.

I'm also entering this card into Virginia's View Challenge #14. My card is a CAS version of layers and dimension. ;-)

Thank-you for visiting! I hope that I find some more time for stamping over this Easter long week-end. I'll definitely be back in a few hours with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch card. :-)

Michelle
xxx

The Card Concept - 1st Anniversary!

Hello!

It's the first anniversary of The Card Concept and I just had to play along! I love the team and I love the inspiration. :-)

I used wPlus9 Fresh Cut Florals, Strictly Sentiments, and PTI Postmarks stamps. Colours are SU! Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Barely Banana, and PTI Hibiscus Burst.

I had originally made my card in a very pure CAS version, but added the little edge stripes after going back to look at the inspiration photo again. I ummed and ahhed about it for a while and couldn't decide which one I prefer. I'll show you the original, and you tell me what you think. :-) If you visit me regularly, you will know I lean towards the huge amount of white on the second, but those diagonal stripes seem to give a little something extra.

I think I'll add this version to Virginia's View Clean Slate Challenge.

Okay, back to housework for me!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Two simple CAS one-layer cards

Hello!

I'm bringing you two cards tonight. Both are made using the Retro Sketches #126 sketch. I've used colour schemes from One Layer Simplicity #8 and from The Card Concept #15. Both cards are Clean and Simple one-layer cards. The cards I've seen so far using this week's Retro Sketch have been layered and absolutely gorgeous, but I was attracted to the opportunities for CAS that I could see.

The first card is a simple birthday card.

I used the colour scheme from One Layer Simplicity. There are quite a few to choose from. I will try to go back and use another before the month is finished!

The second card is also a birthday card, made for a little boy. I shadow-stamped the sentiment, which my little girl thinks is totally cool. She swears it looks like the words are popping right off the page. :-)

I used the colour scheme from The Card Concept.

And this is the superb sketch used for both cards.

Thank-you for visiting me. I'm off to seek some beauty sleep.

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