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 101

Hello!

We had the craziest storm yesterday. About 3.30pm the sky went black. I checked the weather bureau website and decided that it was time to head towards my kids. By the time my train reached my destination station at 4pm, the rain was so heavy there was flash-flooding. Walking to my car, I was drenched, even with my umbrella! I was glad to not be struck by lightning (a real risk walking with an umbrella in an electrical storm). I collected my girls and drove them home. I decided that I didn't want to go back out in the storm to do the ballet run, so my youngest daughter got an unusual night off. I think we had about 10cm rain in about 30 minutes. Our pool won't need filling for a while. My chickens were lucky to not float away in the flooded back yard. ;-) My dog was wet, and happy. She's a crazy, happy, dog, lol! It was our first big storm of the season. We've had no rain for about two months. Everything is dead, my lawn is completely brown, so the rain was very much needed, but perhaps not 10cm in 30 mins? Living in Brisbane, Summer storms are the norm. Some are bigger than others and this was a big one!

So, beyond storm news, I'm here with my card for CAS(E) this sketch Challenge #101. Did you join in last week? There were some amazing entries in our 100th challenge. This week I wandered off on a tangent with the sketch. Seriously, some sketches are so easy to just replicate, and for some reason my brain comes up with alternate ideas! Maybe I should make a second card, lol! I always hope that my crazy tangents provide someone with some extra inspiration.

I made this card for my brother. It was his birthday this week. My brother already has an amazing life, so I don't really need to encourage him much, but I thought the sentiment worked for him. He's visiting from London at the moment. London is so far away from Brisbane. I miss him, but he has so many opportunities over there on the other side of the world, so I'm also happy for him.

 I used PTI Mighty Oak and Building Blocks stamps.

Now it is late, and I must get some sleep. Thank-you all for continuing to visit while my life is crazy busy and I don't have much time to visit back. My Christmas holidays rapidly approach, and I plan on doing some serious visiting then, I promise!

Michelle
xxx

The Cutting Edge 10

Hello!

The Cutting Edge challenge this time has a most remarkable die-cut scene on the inspiration card. I looked at that card and thought there was NO WAY that I would be able to create a card to enter, it was just a little too much of a challenge for me, lol! My dies don't tend to be things I can create into a scene. They are generally shapes, or the outlines of stamps that I own. There are a couple of silhouette dies I have on my wishlist, but they haven't come home yet.

Anyway, after thinking about it a little longer, I thought I had found a solution. I could use the same form of block colouring without any stamping (except sentiment). I used PTI Mighty Oak die and the "grass" at the bottom is a MFT die. I hand cut a couple of little birds, based on the shape of a bird stamp I own from PTI Birds & Blooms. The only stamping is the sentiment, just like the inspiration.

Nowhere near as gorgeous as the inspiration, but closer than I thought I could get! Don't you just love that dog die? I think I would frame this dog and bird card if I received it!

Before I go, I thought I'd share a photo with you. Spring school holidays have begun. I took a couple of days off work to let the kids just laze around at home for the start of holidays (the rest of the time they go to vacation care, where they are busy, busy, BUSY all day long). My little girl had collected all of her dog toys (plus a jaguar, because there weren't enough dogs for the party, apparently) and put together a picnic of dried apricots, strawberries, and raisin toast. She called it her "puppy dogs' picnic" (like "teddy bears' picnic"). Our real-life dog, Coco, decided to join in and guard the food from the chickens. When I looked over the back balcony, this is what I saw.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle

xxx

A New Year and a New Team!

Hello!

Happy New Year!!  I am currently on holidays at the Gold Coast, Australia. Hopefully we have blue skies and hot days to fully enjoy the week at the beach!  While I am holidaying, I have some exciting news to share (well, it's exciting to me!). I have been invited to join the amazing team at Fusion Card Challenge, yay! We will be starting the first challenge of the year this coming Thursday, and I hope you will join us. :-)

While you wait impatiently for Thursday to arrive with the new challenge inspiration, here is a card to keep you happy. ;-)

Yes, it's PTI Mighty Oak, with some Teach & Inspire apples added. To make this card I made a mask with the Mighty Oak die and sprayed with gold Smooch Spritz. Then I stamped over the top of the sparkly tree with Ranger Archival Black and Mama Elephant Mojito pigment ink. I can't remember the colour I used for the apples. The card mat is made using Mama Elephant Femme Frames.

Here is a different angle to show you the golden shine.

I'll be back on Thursday with my first submission as Design Team member with Fusion.

The team I am working (playing) with is this wonderful group of ladies:

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Williams (that's me!)

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu

Stephanie Severin

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #171

Hello!

I just love the inspiration at CASE Study this week. I've had a hugely busy week, firstly finishing up for the year at work, and then preparing for my family Christmas celebration, which we had on Sunday. My card making has taken a very far back seat. I've had an idea sitting at the back of my head since I saw the inspiration last Thursday, and I thought I'd get it out onto a card before the deadline! :-)

I used PTI Mighty Oak stamps and coverplate die. Colours are SU! Ruby Red, Pacific Point, Gumball Green, Pumpkin Pie, and Ranger Archival Black. I also sprayed with gold Smooch spritz.

I used the Mighty Oak coverplate to create a template to paint the tree and leaves. Then I stamped over the leaves in black.

The inspiration was this:

I have hopes that I will be back before the end of today with a card to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Fingers crossed that I make it back! I do have a little last minute shopping left to do.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Stormy Weather

Hello!

I have a friend who is going through some stormy weather in her life right now. As much as I would like to help, it is her own journey, and I can only offer my support from the sidelines. I am her hand to hold, her shoulder to cry on, and her ear to bend any time she needs. Because I am inarticulate when it comes to offering support, I made a card. I hope it helps.

I used PTI Mighty Oak stamps and cover plate die. I made my card base slightly larger to provide the red border. Colours are SU! Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade.

I will admit that I'm not sure how helpful this sentiment will be when in the middle of the storm. I know that when I'm having a difficult time, I don't much care how much stronger it is making me, I just wish it was over and all better... now. With hindsight, I appreciate the struggles I've had, but not so much when living through them!

I used the current (revived) Fusion Challenge inspiration board for this card. I used the photo inspiration only. I'm not sure if you can see in the photo, but the card is sparkly. The tree in my card is a reflection of the deer silhouette in the inspiration photo (that's the inspiration for me, not sure if anyone else can see how I got here, LOL!) and I used the colours.

For my friend - you are one of the most amazing women I know. Your endless patience, your never-ending helping of others, your amazing energy for getting things done, and doing them so well, are all inspirational. Never doubt your abilities, you are one of the best.

For everyone else, thank-you for visiting! I love having you here on my blog, and I love visiting you back!

Michelle
xxx