MUSE 90 - red and yellow celebration

Hello!

I love the inspiration at Muse Card Club this week. I would have loved to have completely copied Marion's gorgeous, fun card from top to bottom... but I didn't. ;-) I used the colour scheme and scattered my images "bursting" around the sentiment, as in the inspiration.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs and Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments. Colours are SU! Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight.

We have the most amazing day here in Brisbane today. Hot and a little windy. The wind takes the heat away just enough to enjoy it. In our front yard we have a jacaranda flowering purple and in the back yard is a giant oleander covered in pale pink. The sky is clear blue. It's my hubby's birthday and it's turned into the perfect day for it. :-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study 190 - some amazing news!

Hello!

I have some amazing news. Well, it's amazing to me... and completely exciting... and completely overwhelming! I've been invited to join the CASE Study Design Team! I'm still pinching myself!

The icing on the cake for me is that I get to start in the month when Wida Miller is the Muse! Wida is one of the nicest, friendliest, talented card makers out there. She inspires me all the time, not just when she's the muse at CASE Study. :-)

To celebrate joining the team (as of this coming week), I have made a card to join in this week, too! In Wida's card I saw black, grey, and yellow, stripes, flower, and a window.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs and Doodlie-Do stamps. I've forgotten the brand of the grey striped paper. The yellow card is SU! Daffodil Delight. 

Thanks for coming to visit me and share in my news!

Michelle
xxx

Birthday Party Balloons!

Hello!

I'm bringing you a card that I've had in my head for quite a while. I fell in love with these pandas the second I saw them. I knew they belonged with a big bunch of balloons! :-)  Doesn't the panda look so happy?

I used Mama Elephant Pandemonium and Party Kit, and PTI Sentiment Signs stamps. Colours are SU! Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I'm entering this card into The Paper Players challenge where we are invited to use three of something. I used three balloons. I also used three colours (if you ignore black and white).

I'm also entering Simon Says Stamp Birthday Party.

Not so many words today. I'm still unwell. I'm into my fourth week of having a cold. The doctor thinks it has been repeated infections rather than one infection hanging around. Whatever it is, I wish it would go away. My head is exploding.... whinge whinge whinge...

Thanks for visiting me! I really love to have you pop by.

Michelle
xxx

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 3 - Stamp Layering

Hello!

Today I sat down to play with Laura Bassen's Stamp Layering technique from Day 3 of Clean & Simple Card Making. I didn't have a big, bold sentiment like Laura, so I had to improvise a bit. I made my background from PTI Sentiment Signs repeat stamped in Mama Elephant Blush. Then stamped my sentiment, and then everything else around it.  Using pigment ink gives a different effect to using dye inks with this technique, and while it is different, I still like it.

Stamps are PTI Ruby Rose and SentimentSigns. Inks are a mix of pigment inks from Mama Elephant and Memento Luxe.

Tonight I'm going out to dinner with one of my lifelong best friends who I have not seen anywhere near enough over the past couple of years. We live around the corner from each other, and yet our busy lives often mean we don't see each other, crazy! I'm really looking forward to a couple of hours together with our families.

Thanks for coming to visit me. No chicken or dog photos today... perhaps next time. ;-)

Michelle
xxx

Party!

Hello!

I was just wandering through my photos and found a card I absolutely love, but that I didn't share. How did that happen? I'm not sure, probably because I made it for fun, and no other reason. :-)

I used PTI Sentiment Signs and Mama Elephant Party Kit stamps. Die is Mama Elephant Femme Frames. Inks are Memento Luxe (Rose Bud and Lilac Posies) and Memento (Tuxedo Black and London Fog). Card is PTI Hibiscus Burst and SU! Whisper White. Twine is Twinery.

Those balloons have been so much fun. Party Kit is an awesome stamp set. And this sentiment set, although it looks like it might not be so versatile, I have found it so easy to use!

I signed up for the new Online Card Classes - Clean & Simple #3. It's all about one layer cards (which this one is not). I LOVE one layer cards. A few years ago now I made my first one layer card for One Layer Wednesday (now One Layer Simplicity). It took me forever, but I was hooked! One layer cards are the ultimate canvas for uber-CAS cards, and I love a fabulous CAS card. :-)  I hope I can find some time to join in real-time. I aspire to create the perfect one layer CAS card... one day...

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle

xxx

Sunflower Wishes

Hello!

Tonight I snuck to my craft desk right after I tucked the kids into bed to make a card for CASE Study #157 and Curtain Call challenges. I've been staring at the CASE Study inspiration card by Kathy Racoosin since it went live last week, and sifting through various ideas. Tonight this card came to me.

I used PTI Rosie Posie and Sentiment Signs stamps. Ink is SU! Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, PTI Fresh Linen, Delicata Gold, and Ranger Archival Black. Twine is from the Twinery.

My take on Kathy's card uses pretty much every element as inspiration. Firstly, I went with the big bright flower. I was pondering the stripes and the vellum, and I decided to reflect those in the sentiment lines stamped on vellum, and I also added a little bit of striped washi tape up the side of my card. My little green twine bow is a nod to Kathy's ribbon.

For Curtain Call, I was responding to the Sunflower theme. I would have loved to have used burlap and raffia, but I had neither. I did make a big, luscious sunflower bloom, though!

Before I go, I'll share a little close up of my card, which hopefully shows to golden highlights on my flower.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #151 and ColourQ #199

Hello!

I had a non-stop day today. Mostly housework, which is not finished due to the huge need for a big spring clean! I also took my daughter to an eisteddfod where she played her violin beautifully. She always amazes me. I was always able to play my piano beautifully in the privacy of my home but would crumble during performance. My daughter can have us wondering if we should actually take her along to her performances, and blossoms as soon as her feet hit the stage. AMAZING.

Tonight I bring you a card for CASE Study #151 where Jocelyn Olson is the muse. Jocelyn makes the most amazing cards, and I couldn't resist playing along. While I used Jocelyn's awesome layout, I changed the colours and used the colour scheme from ColourQ #199.

I used Hero Arts Zig Zag background stamp, PTI Sentiment Signs, and PTI Ruby Rose. Colours are SU! Really Rust, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, and Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe.

Now, I must go and get some sleep. More housework tomorrow, and I'm taking my little girl to her friend's birthday party.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

I'm a MUSE!!

Hello!

I'm so excited! I'm a Guest Designer over at Muse Card Club!

In making my Muse card I wanted to use my own style, which is usually super-CAS, but also add some extra interest so that there was something for everyone to work with. My card is one-layer, but I'd love to see some layered versions of this one! I've been wanting to try this folk-art inspired style for a while, and this was my chance. :-)

I used PTI Birds & Blooms, and Sentiment Signs. Colours are PTI Berry Sorbet, Memento Pale Tomato and Tuxedo Black, SU! Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Blushing Bride.

I'd love to see you joining in with Muse this week! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Muse #16

Hello!

I received the most awesome little package in the mail today from one of my blog friends. It held chocolates, stamps, and a gorgeous card. The chocolates are ones that are not available here in Australia, and I was curious about how they would taste. Now, I'm not really a chocolate person, but I was wondering about these ones, and today I tasted Turtles for the first time... they are DELICIOUS! I gave one to my little girl and she announced, "I LOVE American food!"  For those of you who don't know, Turtles are pecans and caramel covered in chocolate, a perfect combination!  So to my friend, I say THANK YOU, your thoughtfulness really made my day.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs stamps, and Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments (stars). The star dies are WPlus9. Twine is Caribbean by The Twinery. The border is washi tape. Colours are SU! Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Memento Tuxedo Black, and PTI Hawaiian Shores (patterned paper).

My card was made for Muse Challenge #16, where the Muse is Laurie Willison. Laurie is an amazing card maker who truly is one of my muses every day. I adore her work. Laurie's card is this one. I kept the red card base, and the basic layout, making minimal changes in my own card.

And now, it is time to get some beauty sleep.

Thank-you for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Paper planes = happy

Hello!

I squeezed in a little crafting time right at the end of the day today. This "simple" card took a bit more effort than it looks...

I used PTI Sentiment Signs, and Stylish Sentiments: Birthday. I also used Mama Elephant So Breezy. Colours are SU! Daffodil Delight, Memento Grey Flannel, and Hero Arts Pale Tomato.

The inspiration came from the colours at The Play Date Cafe Challenge #178.

and I used the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch #24  (really, I did! I turned it on it's side, and then got a little creative with my interpretation, LOL!)

Now I must run off and get to bed (after making some lunches and packing some school bags...)

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Runway Inspired #34

Hello,

I'm here to share a card for Runway Inspired Challenge #34.

I used Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend, PTI Sentiment Signs. Ink is Memento Tuxedo Black. 

I wanted to mimic the flow of the flowers up the side of the dress and also the stark black and white. At the same time, I couldn't miss the model's bright red lips, so I added a little bit of red bling.

Here is the inspiration.

I wanted to add some words regarding the bombing in Boston, but everything I write doesn't sound right. Suffice to say that I am horrified at the people who would choose to target innocent bystanders when making their "stand" against whatever they are against (an nothing is worth this). Intolerance breeds intolerance, hate breeds hate, and this is not how I want the world to be for my children. My heartfelt sympathies to the friends and families affected by the bombing, and to the people of Boston.

Michelle
xxx

Retro Sketches #49

Hello!

A quick post (I'm in the middle of making dinner and sneaking a blog post) to show you an entry to Retro Sketches #49.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs. Memento Tuxedo Black ink. PTI White card. SU! Daffodil Delight card.

The sketch is this one.

Thanks for coming 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

Retro Sketches #45

Hello!

I'm back to work today, so the cards will slow down considerably now. But the good news for me (and maybe for you, if you like seeing my cards) is that I have another couple of weeks off work when school returns for the new school year  at the end of January. Yay! In between school runs and doing a spring clean on my house, I envisage several hours spent crafting. :-)

This is my card that I made for Retro Sketches this week.

I used PTI Sentiment Signs and Tag Sale #7 die. Card is PTI Basic White. Colours are SU! Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Real Red. Black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black. Twine is Twinery Maraschino.

This is the sketch for Retro Sketches #45.

Thanks for popping by!

Michelle
xxx