Graphic and Flowers

Hello!

I love the mix of a graphic pattern with flowers. I love the contrast of the sharp lines against the curves of nature. This week's collaboration between Runway Inspired Challenge and CAS(E) This Sketch provides me the opportunity to play in this way.

I used PTI Square Prints and Pretty Peonies. The sentiment is wPlus9 Strictly Sentiments II.

It took me a while to work out how I was going to reflect this inspiration. All the design team members have done such beautiful work already and I didn't want to just make a card "just like theirs". I think I've managed to make something a little different, but still close enough to the inspiration. What do you think?

We have the most beautiful Easter week-end here. The sun is shining. It is still a bit too hot during the days, but we are finally getting some lovely Autumn nights. I look forward to the night temperatures dropping just a bit more so that I can really enjoy my doona without having to leave a foot or leg outside. ;-)

Thanks for coming by to visit!  Happy Easter everyone!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #76

Hello!

Well, the day has arrived, my last day on the Design Team at Dynamic Duos Challenge <sob!>. I am going to miss being on this team so, SO much. Lesley and Anne Marie are so easy work work for, and the rest of the ladies on the team are so fabulous! It's been fun and I've loved every single minute. Meeting my weekly commitments has been a huge pleasure. I've made friends that I hope to keep. I'm going to feel lost for a little while, I think. I may need to join in at the challenges (since Dynamic Duos was always one of my favourite challenges anyway!)

This week's challenge happens to fall on my hubby's birthday, so my card was made for him. His favourite colour happens to be purple, so it was wonderful that this week's colours are Perfect Plum and Wisteria Wonder. The story of how I came up with the card's design is - I found a card over on Jen Rzasa's blog that she used a sketch by Maile Belles from a Studio Calico challenge. I loved the sketch, and wanted to use it straight away, so I did. ;-)

I used PTI Sending My Love stamp. Colours are SU! Perfect Plum and Pale Plum.

I also made a second card, still CAS, but a different style.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies and Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banners. As well as Perfect Plum and Pale Plum, I used PTI Soft Stone.

The Dynamic Duos team celebrating our last week are:

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches #82

Hello!

I am finishing a very lovely four day week-end. Today I drove up to the Sunshine Coast to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday. It was a lovely celebration, and great to spend some time with family. The hard part was driving up and back in the one day. I'm a little weary now. That didn't stop me from making a card tonight quickly before bedtime. ;-)

This card is made using the sketch over at Retro Sketches Challenge #82. I did use the sketch, but instead of creating an actual split in the card, I made a virtual/implied one that may or may not be visible to you, depending on how abstract your thinking is, LOL! I made a 5 1/2 inch square card. An unusual size for me, but I quite like it! I sat staring at this card for a long time, wondering what to add, and in the end, I couldn't bring myself to add anything because I like it as it is - stark CAS. :-)

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps. Card is PTI Fine Linen, SU! Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Ink is SU! Soft Suede and PTI Fine Linen. Sequins are Avery Elle.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Summer Card Camp 2 - Day 5

Hello!

On Day 5 of Summer Card Camp 2 we have been given some new colours to work with. I deliberately chose combinations that were different to the bright colours we've used previously. I made two cards.

The first card I made, I used the colours from Summer Card Camp 2 and the sketch from Birthday Creations Week: The Birthday Sketch Challenge. The big sentiment and the main ticket are stamped in gold and shine brightly in real life!

Stamps are MFT Just The Ticket, Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Background, and PTI Think Big Favorites #16. Colours are SU! Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Hero Arts Pale Cantaloupe, Delicata Golden Glitz, Memento Tuxedo Black.

My second card I used another colour combination from Summer Card Camp, and used the inspiration provided by Kristina Werner. Kristina told us about using an acetate window. I don't have any acetate to make a window, so I used vellum with the same concept. The card layout is a combination of Kristina's and one that I saw Joyce use this week (Joyce's card is much nicer than mine).

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps and dies. The colours are SU! Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, and PTI Hibiscus Burst. The vellum is embossed with PTI linen impression plate.

While I've been concentrating on lessons, my girls have been inspired also. My little girl decided to play along, but she didn't want to use the sketches or colours provided, LOL! This card was designed and produced 100% by my 5 year old. In fact, she told me off for even thinking of helping! I would like to point out that she pasted the sun on with the rough side out on purpose because "I like the texture". She also decided to paint white leaves with a green ink pad, even after I told her we could cut her green leaves to save her the trouble. Apparently that was a design feature!

My 10 year old came in, looked at the card, and said, "Maybe she's going to be your stamping kid."

Since I'm showing off my little kid, I'll show you one of my big kid's photos, which she took of the little one doing her homework. I think it's a nice study. :-)

Thanks for coming by today!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop

Hello!

It's way past bedtime, but I couldn't resist making a card for this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.

Gold embossed sentiment, gold embossed flowers, distressed papers, splatters of gold perfect pearls... ooh, it's something different from me!

The inspiration was beautiful. I was going to go with the blue, but this card called for me first. ;-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #45

Hello!

I'm here with my contribution to For Your Inspiration Challenge #45.

I used PTI patterned paper, Pretty Peonies stamp embossed in silver. Card is Soft Stone.

This is the gorgeous inspiration photo.

The photograph is a lighthouse in Gloucester, Massachusetts and is taken by Mike Buchholz. It is worth wandering over to his blog for more amazing photography. He's given me wanderlust! He's also inspired me to work harder at my photography.

I used the sketch from Retro Sketches #61

Why don't you pay the rest of the For Your Inspiration design team a visit and check out their awesome work, too? :-)

Debbie
Karen
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Vicki


Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx

Watercolours for Mothers Day

Hello!

I had just finished my card for Runway Inspired Challenge the other day when I saw the Tuesday Trigger for this week over at Moxie Fab World, and I thought I would give the Large Flower Background stamp another run while it was out. :-)  I love this stamp so much.

Stamps are Hero Arts Large Flower Background and PTI Pretty Peonies (sentiment). I white embossed and then watercoloured using Inktense pencils (Fuschia, Cadmium Yellow, Bark).

The Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger this week is Magnificent Magnolias. Oh. So. Pretty!!!

I was also inspired by the Hero Arts April Challenge, using both the theme "Just For Her" and the sketch. My card was definitely based on the sketch, but it wandered slightly away in the final product. ;-)

I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp April Showers or Spring Flowers.

Thanks for coming by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple Card Making 2 - Day 5

Hello!

I'm a little behind with my homework for Clean & Simple Card Making 2, but I've made double use of my time by entering a couple of challenges at the same time. :-)

Day 5 was about stretching your stamps. I have two cards using the same stamps here. I plan to play around a bit more to see what else I can come up with. The stamp set is Papertrey Ink Pretty Peonies.

First card.

Colours are Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede. I made this one for Dynamic Duos #38.

Second card.

Colours are Daffodil Delight and Memento Tuxedo Black. The patterned paper is Stampin' Up!

This one was made for CASE Study #126 using this amazing inspiration from Amber Kemp-Gerstel.

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Mobile Blogging...

Hello!

It's been a few days without home Internet, and I'm becoming quite frustrated, like most blogging addicts would! Here in Brisbane, and Queensland generally, we have experienced some wild weather. Unfortunately that has left about 260000 without power and about 400000 without phone or Internet services. We've been lucky - we won't flood (although many are), we still have power, and my mobile phone has had service most of the time. But, we don't have home Internet, and the whole family are feeling it - modern day problems, LOL!

This brings me to today's attempt at mobile blogging. I've added my photos, but I'm not sure how they'll show up in the post because they aren't inline with the text, so confusing.

One card is for this week's Dynamic Duos where we've been asked to use Soft Suede and Crumb Cake. My other card is one I made yesterday to while away the time stuck at home while the wind and rain howled outside.

Hopefully this works. If it doesn't, I'll be back to fix it when my Internet service returns. :-)

Michelle
xxx

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #163

Hello!

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #163 has a gorgeous colour scheme this week, which I probably wouldn't have chosen if left to my own devices, but which I will use again. That is one of the benefits of playing along with challenges - being forced into trying something new. :-)

This is my card.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies, Hero Arts Dots and Flowers background. Colours are SU! Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, PTI Fine Linen. The blue panel has been embossed with PTI impression plate linen.

This is the colour scheme.

Thanks for coming by!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink December Blog Hop

Hello!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas! I have had a fabulous week of family celebrations!

It's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop time again!  This time the theme is White & White. Oh dear! White on White (WOW) cards are a nemesis of mine. I can't say that practice has made perfect yet... it looks so simple, and beautiful, and how I struggle to get my own versions to look simple and beautiful, too!

This is my effort.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps and dies. The grey is Memento Grey Flannel. Card base is PTI Basic White.  

My white butterfly looked naked without something stamped on its wings. So now it isn't as white as it once was, LOL! The butterfly is actually four die-cuts layered on top of each other to create depth.

This is the inspiration board.

So much inspiration there. So many ideas to use. I am going to be dreaming ideas all night tonight as a result. Perhaps I'll wake up in the morning with a second card to create. :-)

Right now I'm off to sleep. I'll link up in the morning when the Blog Hop is well and truly underway. ;-)

Thanks for coming by to visit. I look forward to coming by to look at everyone else's contributions to the hop this time... and perhaps pick up a few ideas on how to do these WOW cards! :-)

Michelle
xxx

RIC #25

Hello!

If you've beaten me to my editing, forgive the raw post. I made it with about 10 seconds to spare to enter Runway Inspired Challenge #25. Editing now. ;-)

Phew! That was another example of my speed card-making skills! This card was made, photographed, uploaded, and linked within 20 minutes.

Here is a closer look at the card, with my unglamourous sofa and cushion background, LOL!

I used PTI Pretty Peonies, Filigrie Border, and I forget where that little sentiment came from. The leaves are Sizzix small leaves. Colours are SU! Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Tempting Turquoise, and PTI White.

Inspiration was provided by this delicious outfit.

Isn't it cute? :-) I'm not sure about those socks/tights and flippers, but the dress itself screams PARTY to me!

Now, back to writing out those Christmas cards... some might arrive before Christmas...

Thanks for coming by!

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches #34 - a study in speed stamping

Hello!

What do you do when you have 30 minutes between gymnastics pick up and ballet drop off? Make a card, of course! Well, no sane person would try to do this, take the photo, and then blog it... but I do try to push the boundaries of time-management on a regular basis!

Here is my card for Retro Sketches #34

The deadline is fast approaching and I didn't want to miss out this week like I did last week. :-)

This was the sketch:

Pretty, isn't it?

I used PTI Rosie Posie, Turning a New Leaf, and Pretty Peonies. Colours are Vintage Cream card base, Berry Sorbet, SU! Pure Poppy, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, and Early Espresso.

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Wedding Day!

Hello!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of some very good friends. They had the ceremony at their beautiful home in Mapleton, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, with a view right out to the ocean. They managed to obtain special dispensation from the church to have their priest perform a full catholic mass at their home. It was beautiful. This is the view from their deck, in real life the view is about 300 degrees of gorgeous countryside.

So that is the prelude to these two cards. I made two cards for my husband to choose from (these friends were his first). They used the same design, just a couple of different colour schemes. For the layout I CASEd Debby Hughes (I just love her CAS style).

One card I made using The Play Date Cafe Challenge #152

Coincidentally, the image for the colour scheme was wedding themed. :-)

Stamps and dies are PTI Pretty Peonies. Colours are SU! Basic Black and Perfect Plum. Black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black.

The other card, I made using ColourQ #157

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps and dies. SU! Eastern Blooms. Colours are SU! Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Black, Memento Grey Flannel, PTI Berry Sorbet. I also embossed the pink panel with PTI Linen.

Thanks for coming by to look at my cards!

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches 29

Hello!

My littlest daughter is attending a friend's birthday party today. I whipped up a present and card very quickly and the good news is, the little one approves both. :-)

This is the card.

Stamps used were PTI Pretty Peonies and Strawberry Patch. Colours are PTI Berry Sorbet, SU! Pretty in Pink, and Poppy Parade. Card base is PTI white.

I feel like I may have gone too plain here. I used the Retro Sketches #29 sketch, which I followed pretty much exactly. I WAS aiming at plain, but I may have gone too far, LOL!

The card was made to match the present, which is a frame. The weird photograph angle is an attempt to avoid reflections.

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge - take 2

Hello!

Well, another idea took hold, so I'm back for a second go at the Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge! I don't usually enter challenges twice, but I like this card better, so I thought I'd share. :-)

I used PTI stamps - Pretty Peonies (sentiment), Rosie Posie, Turning a New Leaf. I also used Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background stamp over the PTI Hexagon cover plate to add a bit of texture.  Colours are SU! Old Olive, Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral. 

Still using the beautiful inspiration, and the same colours as the last card, but as I said, I like this one better.

I'm also entering this one into Moxie Fab World's Hooked on Hexagon's Challenge.

Now, off to hang washing out, ferry my little girl to gymnastics and music lessons, and then to collect the big girl from school before coming home to collapse briefly before getting dinner underway. So glad I took some time to do some stamping this morning. It's good for my mental health. :-)

Thanks for dropping in!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

Hello!

It's Blog Hop time over at Papertrey Ink! And what a beautiful inspiration they've given us this month!

I wish I had that beautiful bunch of flowers here in my home, they're so pretty!

I made two cards, because I couldn't decide on exactly how to place my colours. Here they are:

and

I used PTI Pretty Peonies (flowers) and Happy Hexagons (border), Hero Arts Say It All (sentiment). Card base is PTI basic white. Colours are SU! Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Pretty In Pink and Cameo Coral. And I used those fabulous Pretty Peonies dies that save me from that nasty fussy cutting. :-)

Both cards are made using the rock'n'roll technique on the leaves and flowers. They are both made with exactly the same supplies. Looking at these photos, I think I'll add a little bling before I send them out. :-)

I'm a bit stuck for words (and creativity) today. My Type A, Perfectionist personality is causing my anxiety levels to hit the roof (due to a few minor challenges these past couple of weeks) and the more anxious I get, the more anxious I get, if you get what I mean! Argh! I'm not a worrier, so when I get like this I get totally frustrated with myself, and then you know what happens.... vicious circle, LOL!

Anyway, you probably are more interested in my cards than my crazy issues, thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx