Pretty Pastel Birthday

Hello!

When I saw the colours at The Play Date Cafe this week, I couldn't resist making a card. Added together with the sketch at Seize the Birthday, and I had a plan!

I used PTI Lovely Layers and Stylish Sentiments:Birthday. The inks are SU! Pretty in Pink, Orchid Opulence, Hero Arts Pale Tomato, and Ranger Archival Black. I textured the front panel with PTI linen impression plate.

I think I've found a new favourite black ink. Stamping the Ranger Archival Black onto vellum was the easiest EVER stamping on vellum I've done. Crisp, black, and no smudging. :-)

The colour story for The Play Date Cafe Challenge this week is so pretty.

The sketch for Seize the Birthday is so much fun. I've made a card using a similar sketch previously, but the end result was completely different!

I'm still fighting my cold. Today's a little busy. Tomorrow I plan to lay back and relax the whole day!

Thanks for popping by!

Michelle
xxx

A missed deadline!

Hello!

I made a card for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #186, but failed to upload it before the deadline. I loved the colours so much, I decided to share anyway. ;-)

I used Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend, stamped in Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe and Memento Tuxedo Black.

The centres of the smaller flowers are black rhinestones, and add just the right amount of bling.

I hope I can find some time to make and share some more cards this week. Things a little busy in my life right now, and my crafting time is suffering. :-(

Thanks for visiting.

Michelle
xxx

More Filigree

Hello!

I've been playing a little more with my new stamp set. This time I added a bit of sparkle in the way of Perfect Pearls and rhinestones.

I used Mama Elephant Filigree and So Breezy. Stamped in Versamark, PTI Hawaiian Shores, SU! Raspberry Ripple. White embossed sentiment. Card base is PTI Soft Stone. Ranger Perfect Pearls brushed across the doily.

The colour combination I took from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #185

It is so dreary today. We have a public holiday for the Queen's Birthday. We are inside, staying dry. Unfortunately I have quite a few loads of washing that are not drying.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Starry birthday

Hello!

I'm sneaking in a quick blog post while my little one dilly-dallies around instead of getting ready for school. I've nagged 500 times, so now I'm holding my breath before exploding.

My card:

I used wPlus9 Star Stax, Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments. Colours are SU! Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, and Perfect Plum.

My card is made in response to two challenges. The Play Date Cafe Challenge #184 colours.

And the sketch from Seize The Birthday Challenge #18.

I've been meaning to join in at Seize The Birthday since the beginning, but keep missing the deadline. I think I've squeezed in in time this time! :-)

Thanks for visiting.

Michelle
xxx

I'm celebrating!

Hello!

Some of you will have already seen me jumping up and down and screaming all over Facebook, and some of you may have missed the news. I'll shout it here, too! This morning I received my very first ever acceptance email for publication of one of my cards! Yippeeeee!!!

I'll calm down now, and show you the actual reason for this post. I made a card.

I used PTI The Sweet Life and Stylish Sentiments: Birthday. Colours are Black and SU! Raspberry Ripple. I used watercolour paper for the front panel.

There were three inspirations for this card. Firstly, I saw Marion's Vagg's cards this morning, and was totally in awe. My card is a little different from hers, but I was definitely inspired by the watercolouring.

Secondly, I've been pondering the CASE Study #139 inspiration for a couple of days. This month our muse is Maile Belles. I'm seriously swooning! I LOVE Maile!! From Maile's card I took the layout, although I changed the orientation) and the flower theme. I may give this particular CASE study challenge one more go, because I would actually like to do more of a COPY of this card (Shhhh! I'll call it CASEing, if I do it, LOL!).

My colours I took from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #180.

Thanks for coming by to visit!

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

Soft and pretty CASE

Hello!

I found some crafting time today, yay!

I made this card.

I used PTI Harvest Berries, Background Basics: Circles, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday. Colours are SU! Barely Banana and Pale Plum. Card base is PTI Vintage Cream.

This is a very literal interpretation of Julie Ebersole's gorgeous card over at CASE Study #134. The design was so beautiful, I really wanted to give it a try. (Everything Julie makes is beautiful, I could CASE her all day long, every day).

 I used the beautiful soft colours from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #175

The weather is coming over all stormy again. I am wishing I'd hung out that second load of washing earlier...

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Happiness!

Hello!

Well, you know how I was telling you how much I love Mama Elephant stamps, and how I had another set on its way to me?  It arrived! Yay! This set (So Breezy) and I are going to have some fun together. :-)

I used the colour scheme from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #171.

Short and sweet tonight. I have much to do before the work/school day tomorrow.  Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

PDCC#170 and Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop

Hello!

Another weather update. I think I prayed too much for rain to break the unrelenting heat yesterday. It has been pouring down all day, and I think we've had more than 20cm (6-7 inches) of rain today (the pool is overflowing). The rain would have been beautiful if I didn't have to make my way through it to get to and from work!

Tonight I bring you a card for Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop, where we've been given the theme "Marvelous Monograms". I have actually made two cards, they are a matching pair, for friends who are celebrating their birthdays soon. They are husband and wife, and the cards are masculine and feminine of the same design. Tonight I'm putting up the BOY version, and then tomorrow I'll post the GIRL version when I link these up to the PTI Blog Hop (which goes live right in the middle of my beauty sleep). :-)

I used Lovely Layers and Think Big Favourites #13 stamps. The letter "A" is from the Block Alpha lowercase dies. 

The colour scheme I took from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #170.

Thanks for coming by to visit! I'll be back in the morning with my second card. ;-)

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

Blue Birthday

Hello!

A couple of quick posts today. I have to get my little one to her ballet concert and am still yet to do hair and make-up or get myself ready, eek!

This card is my entry to CAS(E) This Sketch #8 and Play Date Cafe Challenge #160.

I used Jane's Doodles Pretty Peonies, and PTI Strawberry Sentiments, and Hero Arts Envelope Pattern Background stamp. Colours are SU! Not Quite Navy and Bashful Blue, and PTI Fresh Linen.

The sketch over at CAS(E) this sketch is this one.

And the colour scheme at The Play Date Cafe is this one.

Thanks for coming 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

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

Is my deer overdressed for Christmas?

Hello!

A new deer came home this week, to keep Dasher company. He's named... Christmas Deer! I couldn't resist him. Apparently he can't help overdressing himself on his first outing. Way too many ornaments on this fellow tonight. This card started as something completely different, but, here it is anyway, the way it wanted to be. :-)

The stamps are SU! Christmas Deer, and PTI Stylish Sentiments: Holiday. The colours are SU! Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, and PTI Fine Linen. Pearls are SU!

I used The Play Date Cafe Challenge #150 colours.

I have to admit to something. I love Christmas. I love tinsel. I love Christmas carols. I love Santa. And when all those Christmas stamps are released, I go into a frenzy of attempting to resist, while still buying WAY TOO MANY.  Does anyone else have this problem? I love reindeer. I love snowflakes (even though Christmas is in Summer here, and it never, ever snows, EVER). I love baubles. I love Christmas trees. I love nativity scenes. Oh dear! All I can think to do to make up for this love of everything Christmas is to make hundreds of Christmas cards to make these stamp purchases worthwhile. ;-)

Michelle
xxx

Sweet Birthday

Hello!

I have another five year old girl birthday this week-end. I didn't go quite as "little girl" this time. But it is still girly. :-)

Here is the card.

I used Stamps (PTI) - Strawberry Patch, Strawberry Patch Sentiments, Happy Hexagons; Dies (PTI) - Cover Plate: Hexagon, Strawberry Patch, Perfect Patches; Card - PTI White, SU! Pretty in Pink; Ink (SU!) - Barely Banana, Cameo Coral, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede; Twine - Twinery Blossom.

The editing doesn't show this card as soft as it is. It's so pretty I don't want to give it away. I was playing around with my new hexagons, which arrived today. I'm in love already! I decided to just start by using the whole plate and fill it. I'll get more creative a bit later. ;-)

The colours were from this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #141.

I also intend to enter this over at Moxie Fab World for the Stamp It! Cards Birthday Challenge and the Hooked on Hexagons Challenge.

I made another frame as a present. I used bolder colours in the frame than in the card.

I'm photographing at night again, so it's a bit difficult to get a good photo, especially with the glass on front! I haven't shown my little girl yet, as she is asleep. I hope she AND her friend like it!

Thanks for dropping by.

Michelle
xxx

Silver and Gold Peonies

Hello!

It is amazing what a colour challenge will do to stretch me way beyond my normal choices. At the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week we are invited to use the colours Gold, Silver, and Nude. Nude?? I decided to use vanilla/cream/pearl as my "nude".  I will sometimes use some silver. I will sometimes use some gold. I NEVER have used silver and gold in the same card before, until now.

This colour combination is a bit hard to photograph. Here is a little close up to show you the layers, texture, and shine of the images.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies and Think Big Favorites #13. I used Vintage Cream card, silver embossing powder, and gold embossing powder, finishing off with some pearls.

This is the colour story. So pretty!

I have a few more birthday cards to make today, so I should be back with more later. It is the start of birthday season here. We have non-stop birthdays from June through to October with only a few sprinkled elsewhere in the calendar. It makes for a very busy second half of the year!

Thanks for dropping by. 

Michelle
xxx

Hello!

Hello!

I have made a super-CAS card for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #137 which is calling for a colour splash this week.

This is my card.

This is the first time I've used my new little PTI Heart-2-Heart #4 set. I think it will get a bit more use! Simple PTI White base, Tuxedo Black telephone, and SU! Brilliant Blue heart and sentiment.

It is a grey, dreary day here and getting colder by the minute. A fantastic day for some stamping!

Michelle
xxx

Starry Birthdays for CFC49 and PDCC128

Hello!

I'm here today with two cards, one of which is for the Play Date Cafe Challenge #128 and CAS-ual Fridays #49.

I will admit, I was stumped with the colours at PDCC this week. Bright orange and bright pink together aren't usually my style, LOL! When I made my Tuesday Trigger card, I thought to myself, "That almost fits the PDCC challenge, I can do it!"  I was also a little bit intimidated by the sketch at CAS-ual Fridays. But, I was making a card for my Dad's birthday (my second card today) and I realised that I had an idea for that sketch! Isn't it wonderful what your imagination will come up with while you are working on something else? :-)

Here is my entry to CAS-ual Fridays and The Play Date Cafe.

I borrowed PTI Star Prints from a friend, and I have now decided I need to buy it for myself. I love it! The sentiment is from Think Big Favorites #13. Colours are Stampin' Up! Pixie Pink and Pumpkin Pie.

My second card used the same stamp sets, but different layout and different colours. It is for my Dad's birthday, and he's not really a "blingy" type of guy. This one's a bit more "manly".

This card uses the same stamp sets as the previous one. The colours are SU! Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, and Real Red.

My little girl gave them both her stamp of approval. I quite like them, too!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx