Fusion - Autumn Leaves

Hello!

It's time for a new Fusion Card Challenge and our inspiration is autumn leaves. I've chosen to make a Christmas card using the colours from the inspiration photo and basically used the sketch (squint your eyes to see it).

I used a Hero Arts music background stamp and Wplus9 Be Merry stamps.

Such a beautiful inspiration. I just know we'll have a gorgeous gallery. :-)

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

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

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

Shimmer, Shine, and Sparkle!

Hello!

This is my second card today.

It was a challenge to photograph, so here is the other angle.

I used PTI Happiest of Holidays, Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Background, and Hero Arts Collage Music Background. Colours are PTI Fresh Linen and SU! Soft Suede. I used Silver paper for the sentiment frame. There are pearls and rhinestones all over, and the card itself sparkles with glimmer mist (although you can't see that in the photos). That beautiful button is SU! The ribbon is from my stash.

This card is in response to three challenges.

Tuesday Trigger this week is: Shimmer and Shine. My silver frame is that tray, and I've added gold, silver, rhinestones, and pearls.

CASology is SPARKLE

and CASE Study #120 is this gorgeous card by Windy Robinson. I used the central die cut and the bow and the symmetrical layout.

Okay, now I'm off to do the ballet preparations!

Thanks for visiting.

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

Teachers' Gifts

Hello!

Today has been a last minute crafting day. School ends for the year for my daughter in a couple of weeks. I have been slowly making cards for teachers over the past few weeks (there are a few teachers to consider!) and today I covered some notebooks for classroom teachers and music teachers.

First, a music teacher card.

The background stamp is Hero Arts Collage Music Background. The sentiment is PTI. The die is Sizzix for SU! Colours are SU! Eggplant, Perfect Plum, and Pale Plum.

Now for the notebooks. These notebooks are a little bigger than A5 and have a clear plastic cover, so the decoration had to be flat, which suited my one-layer, CAS-loving style. The photos aren't so great, but you'll get the idea. :-) I used PTI Teach & Inspire stamps to create all of these.

Now, back to work for more teacher cards...

Thanks for coming by to visit.

Michelle
xxx

Tuesday Trigger - Ready For Red

Hello!

I am at home, waiting for a doctor's appointment to see about an allergic reaction I had over the week-end. Don't you just love the puffed up face and eyes that accompany the maddening itch of allergy? Ugh!

Anyway, other than putting on a load of washing while I wait, I thought I'd whip up a card for this week's Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World, Ready for Red.

I embossed Hero Arts Collage Music Background in cream, the SU! Ornament Keepsakes are clear embossed. Colours are PTI Fresh Linen, SU! Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Real Red.

After cutting about five different card bases, the Fresh Linen was the winner. In the photo, it doesn't look like it quite matches, but trust me, in real life it does. :-) None of the dark card bases worked, which is what I was imagining during my design phase on this one.

Anyway, this is the trigger photo. So elegant!

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx