CAS(E) This Sketch 194 in Red, Orange, and Yellow

Hello!

I've had some issues this week with photography/computer uploads, so please forgive the not-so-perfect iPhone photo of my card! This is my card for this week's CAS(E) This Sketch.

I used Mama Elephant So Breezy and Wplus9 Pretty Peonies stamps to create my card.

I selected the red, orange, and yellow colour scheme in response to the One Layer Simplicity challenge this month.

I'm a bit tired today. I have a FitBit and I've been joining step challenges with my workmates for the Workweek Hustle. Some of my workmates are unstoppable! I decided to try to keep up. Even with over 10,000 steps a day, I'm lagging behind in last position. I'm determined though. One day I'm going to make it to the top of the ladder, haha! Today I'll pass 14,000 steps before I hit bed. The good news is that I'm getting fit very quickly. ;-)

Thanks for visiting! I hope you join us at CAS(E) This Sketch this week.

Michelle
xxx

One Layer Colour Splash

Hello!

I love colour challenges with one or two colours, and this week there are TWO challenges with this theme. The restriction of using a single colour (plus neutrals) gets the creative juices flowing and I just love the effect.

I used MFT Delicate Pretty Poppies and coloured with Copics.

I'm entering this into ColourQ

I'm also entering Color Throwdown

and last, but not least, I'm entering One Layer Simplicity where the theme is Friends

Thank-you for coming by to visit me!

Michelle

xxx

Birthday balloons!

Hello!

I really love stamping balloons! They make me happy!

I masked and stamped SU! Celebrate Today stamps. I used silver embossing powder to create a little bling.

I'm entering this into One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #18 - sparkle and shine!

and Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Celebrate!

and also Virginia's View Challenge #16 - 100% Stamped!

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

MFT Challenges - sketch and colour

Hello!

With Susan Opel leading an awesome team of designers on the newly launched MFT Challenge Blog, I couldn't resist joining in the fun. I will admit that my stash of MFT products is very limited. I think I own one stamp set (which I couldn't get to work with these challenges) and two little die sets (flowers). That doesn't mean that I don't love MFT, it just means that my limited budget has not allowed me to buy all that I love (yet). But, I wanted to join in anyway, and so here I am! :-)

My first card is for the sketch challenge.

I used Hero Arts Bicycle stamps and dies, Memory Box Puffy Clouds, Mama Elephant Femme Frames and Banner, and MFT Die-namics flower. Whew! That's a collection of product for one little card!

My second card is for the colour challenge.

These cute little bugs (Clearly Besotted Build a Bug) were another present from my secret santa. They're so sweet!! The sentiment is PTI Ballerina Beauty.

Because the bugs are new, I'm joining in with Darnell's NBUS Challenge, again (2nd entry). :-)

Edit: Because Ardyth tells me this card meets the definition of "attractive opposites" (white/black, red/green), I'm entering into One Layer Simplicity as well! :-)

I've been enjoying my holidays, being able to relax and play with my craft and art. I'm back at work on Monday, and I really would rather stay home! ;-) The kids have another two and a half weeks of holidays before school starts back. They get to stay home with Dad having fun while I toil away in the City.

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Hippo Birdie!

Hello!

My crafty secret santa this year sent me a lovely selection of stamps, including this cute hippo and birdie set. I have been itching to put these cuties onto a card, and I finally found some time to actually do so! Yay! I have been admiring this pair in blogland for a while now. I'm so happy they've come to live with me. :-)

This card uses Lawn Fawn Hippo Birdie stamps and is coloured using a mix of Copics and SU! Blendabilities.

I'm made this card for a few challenges. Firstly was Darnell's NBUS challenge.

Also, One Layer Simplicity where the theme this month is Attractive Opposites - I used a big hippo and a small bird, and coloured them in complementary colours, yellow and purple.

And finally, this is my second entry to Virginia's View Challenge 11 - clean slate. 

I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes.

This card didn't even make it into my stash. It seems it made the cut to be used for one of my husband's friends. I might need to make another. It makes me smile. :-)

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

P.S. My 12 year old daughter has started blogging (all sorts of 12-year-old interests) and yesterday she made a lovely watercolour painting that she shared. I'd love you to take a look and leave some love if you have a little time. :-) Liv Chronicles 

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

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

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

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

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