CAS(E) This Sketch 237 - Happy Father's Day

Hello!

It's time for a new CAS(E) This Sketch challenge and this week I've created a super-CAS card for Fathers' Day, which is this coming Sunday. I may have gone a little too CAS and in the wrong colour for my hubby, so I might still be heading back to make more Father's Day cards before Sunday morning. ;-) I do have a birthday party for my daughter this week-end also, so time is getting a bit tight!

I used PTI Round Repeats and PTI sentiment. I don't think I've actually used this particular Round Repeats stamp before. I love how it stamps and I might need to take it out again for some more cards, perhaps a full set!

This sketch is so cool. I have a few ideas still waiting to be tried with this one, a couple of them in rainbows.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 222 - Bugs!

Hello!

I have a new stamp set. I couldn't resist it. My family think I'm crazy and can't imagine who might want the cards I make with this set. I'm sure there are other bug lovers out there other than me, haha! Using Stampin' Up! Beetles & Bugs I created my card for this week's CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge.

I added a little shadow using a cool grey Copic to make the bugs stand out. My eldest daughter asked to touch the card after I told her the trick, she couldn't believe it was a flat card with no raised bits. :-)

This sketch is a great one for the ideas bucket. So easy to work with and so many ways to interpret it.

Thank-you for coming by to visit.

I hope you are inspired to join us in the fun this week!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop

Hello!

It's been a while since I took part in a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop, and I thought I had better rectify that right away! :-)  I've used the beautiful inspiration to create a birthday card for my lovely husband who happens to love orange.

I used PTI Turning a New Leaf and Stylish Sentiments: Birthday stamps, PTI Plain Jane paper, and PTI woodgrain texture plate.

I'll link up first thing in the morning (the hop goes live at midnight here, and I'm a bit tired to wait up that late!).

Thank-you for visiting! I can't wait to hop along with everyone.

Michelle
xxx

VVC23 and LIM292 - Happy Father's Day!

Hello!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there today. I'm sneaking in a quick post as the hubby has a LONG Father's Day sleep in. I think a sleep in is the one thing all Mums and Dads love as their number one present on their special day, haha! Later on we'll go out for lunch and then do my hubby's second favourite thing - eat gelati!

I was stumped for a card this year. My darling has very peculiar taste in cards (according to me) and I always struggle to find just the right design. But then I saw two ideas out there in blogland that got me thinking - peacock colours and mist/spray/splatter. That was all I needed to get started and this is what I came up with.

I used Stampin' Up! Celebrate Today stamps and dies for the balloons. The background is Distress Inks in multiple colours, lots of gold Smooch spray, and bronze paint splatters. The gold cord is from Kikki-K.

I'm entering this into Virginia's View Challenge #23

I am also entering into Less Is More Challenge #292 where we are invited to use Peacock colours.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 160

Hello!

I had some fun with this week's sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch! While I fully intended to make horizontal lines, I completely fell in love with the vertical lines, so kept them this way. :-)  To make up for my diversion from the sketch, I kept the horizontal sentiment lines.

I used SU! Hardwood Background stamp and PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps. Colours are SU! Gumball Green and PTI Smokey Shadow.

Yes, Chrissy has come up with another fab sketch! This one is going to have regular use, I think.

I hope you're inspired to join in the fun with us.

Thanks for visiting.

Michelle
xxx

Happy Father's Day!

Hello!

Today is Father's Day here in Australia. It took me forever to think up a card for my hubby, but I thought over the cards that he's liked recently, and they tend to be bold colours and graphic. My hubby loves the colour orange. He also loves purple, but I didn't have the perfect purple for this design. ;-) Looking at this card makes me think of Penguin Books. What does it conjure in your imagination?

I used PTI Square Prints stamp set. Every time I pull out this stamp set I have a heap of fun creating patterns. I'm not fantastic at lining the squares up perfectly, but I actually like the roughly aligned squares. This card may drive some of you crazy though, with those wonky lines, haha! (I am also one of those people who straighten picture frames in other people's houses, so I completely understand...)

I am entering this card into Virginia's View Challenge #18 where the theme is GEOMETRIC patterns. I hope I can enter again. I love this theme!

For those of you who saw the card I made for my Dad for Father's Day, I can happily report that the Italian mail surprised me at just the right time. Dad told me his card arrived in the mail on Friday. Yay!

Now, I'm off to prepare for celebrating my gorgeous husband's awesome fathering of our children. We're going to find the best gelateria in Brisbane to eat gelati and other Italian goodies. As well as loving purple and orange, my darling is a gelati addict.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 137 - Happy Father's Day!

Hello!

For those of you in Australia, this serves as your reminder - Father's Day approaches! If, like me, you have a Dad who is overseas, you need to get cracking and send that card! I think I may be too late. Italian mail is notoriously slow. I usually allow three weeks for a card to get there from here. I used the CAS(E) This Sketch sketch for my Dad's card.

I used SU! Crazy About You stamps and Hello You dies. Colours are Blackberry Bliss, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, and PTI Hawaiian Shores.

I took the colours from last week's Colour Q. I wish I'd made a card in time to join in, it was a great colour combo! Something completely different to my usual style, and I loved being stretched in this direction. :-)

Thanks for dropping by to visit me! I hope you join us at CAS(E) This Sketch this week!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 125

Hello!

This week for CAS(E) This Sketch I decided to attempt a masculine card. This card started off as super-CAS, but then I wasn't satisfied so I added more, and then I decided I liked it the way it was originally, lol! Oh well, it's still pretty CAS. ;-)

I used PTI Note Niblets and Mama Elephant Basic Borders (the diagonal stripes). Colours are SU! Real Red and Night of Navy.

I must rush. I have some attention to give to my little girl while her big sister is away at school camp! :-)

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Unstoppable Super Boy!

Hello!

This card was going to be something completely different, but this unstoppable Super Boy had other ideas. :-) He wanted to be ultra-CAS with lots of white, so I let him have his way.

Stamps are My Favorite Things Super Boy, You're Super, and Blue Skies.

I was trying to make red hair with the Copics I have on hand (which are very few). I got close to what I wanted. I think I only need two or three more colours to effectively make red. Yay! (Thanks, Kelly, for the guidance!)

I'm entering this over at Simon Says Stamp where the Wednesday Challenge is to make a CAS card.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 119

Hello!

This week I'm going green for CAS(E) This Sketch! I looked at that tree on the sketch and a tree is what I made. :-)

I used PTI Mighty Oak stamps.

I've been trying to figure out a birthday card for my Dad. He turns 70 shortly. I thought this might be it. The hubby was underwhelmed. Back to the drawing board... (unless I decide my no-frills Dad would really like this no-frills card, regardless of what the hubby says, lol!)

I'm also trying to figure out what you give a 70 year old as a present. Any ideas? It needs to be posted overseas, so needs to be easily posted. All ideas gratefully accepted.

Just one more thing before I leave. This is crazy... but... my Facebook page has been sitting at 99 likes, and my OCD is getting out of control with that number just sitting there! So close to 100, but not 100, lol! Will anyone (who isn't already a liker) take pity on me and "like" Amusing Michelle on Facebook for me? Pretty please? :-)

Thanks for visiting! I'll be back again soon!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 103

Hello!

I'm here with my card for this week's CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge! I still haven't finished writing and sending my Christmas cards. I'd say I'm about one third of the way through my list... at least I'm one third of the way through my list. Last year I think I sent about two cards! That's disgraceful for a card maker, lol!

Despite needing a few more Christmas cards, I couldn't resist making a birthday card with this sketch this week. I needed a masculine birthday card and I NEVER have those in my stash. So I made this one. It made my husband laugh. I call that success. :-)

I used PTI On The Farm. This set has been around for a long time. It's been on my wishlist just as long. I finally gave in and bought it because my love did not waver or wane. ;-)

This sketch is a classic design that works well in so many ways. I can't wait to see what everyone makes with it!

Thank-you for visiting me! I've been away this week for work, which means my blog visiting has been a bit lax. I hope to make up for that over the next few days.

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 beautiful (feathery) life!

Hello!

My hubby asked me to make a birthday card for his runnning coach. Masculine cards are not my forte, but each time I make one I get a little bit better, and a little less apprehensive about the next one! I suggested that I make a "feather" card, since I  am currently having a love affair with Fine Feathers. Hubby gave me one of those wobbly yes's - ye-e-e-sss - but I kept going, and I think he's pretty happy with the end result.  I will admit that this card is not my own original design in any way. I CASEd Claire Brennan. I KNOW, what was I thinking? CASEing the stamp designer? LOL! Claire's card is amazing. My card is slightly different, but pretty much I made a card with what I remembered from her card - a wreath of feathers with sentiment in the middle. :-)

I made a stamping smudge - the bane of the one-layer card-maker's life! It's too late in the night for me to go back and fix it. Hubby is taking it to his running group in the morning. At least they'll know it was handmade. ;-)  The feathers are Waltzingmouse Fine Feathers. The sentiment is from PTI Meadow Greens. This card is big, so that the whole running group can sign. It's 7.75" x 5.5". Colours are SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, and Delicata Golden Glitz.

Here is a little closer look at the shine of the golden feathers.

I almost don't want to give this card away. It's really delicious and warm.

Thank-you for visiting! I have a big week-end of major housework planned (we have our family Christmas party here next week-end), but I hope to sneak off to make some cards at some point. Fingers crossed!

Michelle
xxx

Feather crazy!

Hello!

I may have fallen totally in love with Waltzingmouse Stamps Fine Feathers... I can't get enough of them!  Today I made a little bouquet for a birthday card - yes, out of feathers! :-)

I just love how well these feathers layer over each other! And they're so elegant! The top (dark blue) feather, I stamped in pigment ink so that it sat properly on top of the other two feathers. The other two are in dye ink.

As well as Fine Feathers, I used Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banners. I stamped the "Wishing You" in Delicata Golden Glitz, which was hard to photograph. Here is a closer shot.

The problem was that if I showed you the full intense shine, you couldn't see the sentiment. You may just have to trust me that that little banner is SUPER glitzy! :-)

My kids are off on adventures tomorrow. Vacation care is taking the little kids to Lone Pine Sanctuary, where they get to feed kangaroos and emus, pet koalas, and hold snakes, amongst other things. The big kids are going to Dreamworld (a theme park). We are lucky to live within a reasonable distance (about one to one and a half hour drive) from a number of theme parks. My eldest daughter isn't so keen on rollercoasters and other rides, so I'm not sure how her day will go.  I hope she tries some of the rides out. ;-)

Now I'm off to bed for a little beauty sleep!

Thank-you for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Hello, Hello!

Hello!

I needed to make a card for a young man, just to say hello, and to let him know that we're thinking of him. I'm not great at "young man" cards, but I think I've done okay with this one.

I've had this kraft patterned paper for ages. When I ordered it, I didn't realise quite how dark it was, and I've struggled to use much of it. I think it works perfectly here. :-)  To make this card I used no stamps. I used PTI die Wonderful Words: Hello and PTI impression plate Woodgrain. Card base is SU! Crumb Cake.

Thanks for coming to visit me.

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #41

Hello!

For Your Inspiration Challenge #41 brings you a photo that is perfect for a masculine project, so that I what I made!

I used PTI Square Prints, and Stylish Sentiments:Birthday. Colours are SU! Really Rust, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, PTI Fresh Linen.

This is the photo.

Amazing colours and ambience!

Please stop by my fellow DT blogs to take a look at what they've come up with.

Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

I hope that I see your entry over at FYI sometime soon. ;-)

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

Bicycle Thanks

Hello!

I have a card to share with you... surprise, surprise!

I used Hero Arts/Sizzix Bicycle stamps and die set. Colours are SU! Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, and Old Olive.

I am most impressed with the fact that I managed to get that stamped bicycle on the card base in the correct position to fit in the die cut hole in the top panel. It's a miracle! I managed it with a little help from my Stampamajig.

My card is in response to three challenges, CASE Study #115, CAS(E) this Sketch #4, and A Blog Named Hero #15.

This week's CASE Study has had me intrigued. The muse this month is Angeline Yong, who happens to be a super-talented stamper who inspires me regularly! Her card was so superb, that I was feeling a bit intimidated.  This is Angeline's version. I went with the blues and greens, the stripes, and the die cuts.

CAS(E) this Sketch had this sketch to offer us. My interpretation is a bit loose, but I  still went with three different sized shapes focused on the bottom left corner.

And over at A Blog Named Hero, we are asked to use die cuts or punches.

Thanks for popping in to visit!

Michelle
xxx

One for the boys

Hello!

This week I received a couple of new stamp sets in the mail. They're from Mama Elephant. Today I've used Basic Borders for the first time. And I CASEd Laura Bassen, who is the queen of plaid, as well as being superwoman of CAS.

This is my card.

Now, I realise that my sentiment is a bit low. I thought about adding that top strip, then I thought I wouldn't, and stamped the sentiment, and then decided I needed that brown strip. Argh! Anyway, you get the idea!

I masked off the top section of the card and stamped the stripes to create the plaid. I did create a nice, neat line, but the card was missing something, so I added that brown strip.  Colours used were SU! Early Espresso, Really Rust, Sage Shadow, and PTI Fresh Linen. I think Mama Elephant Basic Borders might be the solution to my "man card" creativity problems for a while. I love these stripes! Sentiment is Hero Arts Say It All.

The colours come from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #156. They're so rich and scrumptious, aren't they?

Perfect colours for the theme over at CAS-ual Fridays #77 where we've been asked to make a masculine card.

Before I go, I have a couple of photos for you. One is my constant companion and photography assistant, Coco.

The other, I thought about NOT showing, because it shows a bit too much leg for comfort, but it is fun, and it makes me smile, so I'll show you. :-)  Last week-end I attended a Halloween party, and dressed up in the costume I've wanted to wear since I was about 8 years old (that's a long time ago!).

Not bad for a 40-something Wonder Woman, hey? Oh, and sneaking at the back of the photo is my littlest witch.

Thanks for dropping by today, and please don't laugh too hard at my dress-ups photo. ;-)

Michelle
xxx

Some ultra-CAS cards

Hello!

Now we move to my ultra-CAS cards I made today.

First is a birthday card that I made for one of my daughter's young friends (a boy, so no sparkles or flowers allowed). The simplicity of this card delights me... am I allowed to say that about my own card? ;-)

For colour inspiration I turned to the Dynamic Duos colour choice for this week. I didn't have Tangerine Tango, so I used Pumpkin Pie. The stamps are Hero Arts - Bicycle and Say It All.

And I just realised that I have fit into the theme over at A Blog Named Hero this week as well, yay!

The other card I made was more experimenting with PTI Teach & Inspire. I'm thinking this might do for one of my littlest girl's kindy teachers at the end of the year. They're doing marvellous work with my little acorn. :-)

I used Early Espresso, More Mustard, and Really Rust on a Vintage Cream card base.

Inspiration came from CAS-ology #14 theme - LEAF.

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx