Freshly Made Sketches 284 - I Adore You

Hello!

This week-end my eldest daughter is away at music camp and my youngest daughter is lazing away her Sunday, leaving me with a little extra crafting time. I wish my mojo would jump to attention when I get spare time, but sometimes it takes a few cards before it returns, haha!

I made a card for Freshly Made Sketches 284. My original card was one-layer, but there were some unfixable smudges, so I got creative to save what I could. ;-) I love it in its new format as well.

I used Altenew Adore You stamps and coloured with Copics.

I'm also joining in with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Showers and/or Flowers.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Little Stampers - Christmas Song

Hello,

The September Christmas Challenge at Happy Little Stampers has the theme "song". I just love Christmas and I'm a big fan of Christmas carols, so I had to join in the fun!

I used Mama Elephant Alpine Carolers stamps and coloured with Copics. 

I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's CAS this week.

I am so far behind in my Christmas card preparation. I really need to get a wriggle on and get some cards made. Before I know it, school will be in the last crazy flurry of the year and I'll have missed the boat!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Something new - butterflies!

Hello!

I received a brand new set of stamps in the mail last week, from Happy Little Stampers. I have to say, I experienced the most wonderful service! Happy Little Stampers is based in my little corner of the world here in Queensland, Australia, so postage was FAST. What a lovely change. After ordering most of my stamps from the USA and waiting many weeks for my orders, receiving an order in a couple of days was pure luxury! (Thanks, Kylie!) I ordered Butterfly Birthday stamps. I've been admiring these butterflies and decided I couldn't live without them. ;-)

This is the first card I made using these stamps. There are sure to be many to follow!

I'm entering this card into the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes challenge.
I'm also entering Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Something New (new stamps!).

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Unstoppable Super Boy!

Hello!

This card was going to be something completely different, but this unstoppable Super Boy had other ideas. :-) He wanted to be ultra-CAS with lots of white, so I let him have his way.

Stamps are My Favorite Things Super Boy, You're Super, and Blue Skies.

I was trying to make red hair with the Copics I have on hand (which are very few). I got close to what I wanted. I think I only need two or three more colours to effectively make red. Yay! (Thanks, Kelly, for the guidance!)

I'm entering this over at Simon Says Stamp where the Wednesday Challenge is to make a CAS card.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Exploring Striped Florals

Hello!

I had a couple of days off this week leading into the Easter week-end. My kids started school holidays on Wednesday and I decided to take a couple of days off and have a couple of my girls' friends over. We don't get many play dates because life is usually a bit too busy, so this was special. My littlest (7 years old) had her first friend sleeping over last night. They did pretty well, considering the excitement level. They remembered their manners, went to bed at 9pm (a late bedtime as a treat), and finally went to sleep at 11pm when I roused at them for too much activity and giggling. ;-)  My eldest had her friend over today and I didn't see them except when they emerged for food, and when I decided I wanted to make a card and they had taken over the rumpus room (where all my crafting gear is kept). It was a lovely couple of days and I think my girls really enjoyed themselves. A good start to the holidays.

When I did finally get allowed back near my craft desk, I made a couple of cards using Altenew Striped Florals. I'm still not finished experimenting with this set. I really love it!

The first card I made for The Card Concept. It is a clean and simple card that I stamped and coloured using Copics.

Stamps are from Altenew Striped Florals and the sentiment is from Altenew Label Love.

I'm also entering this card into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the inspiration is "Happy Birthday".

I also made a card for The Challenge #28 which happens to be the one year anniversary challenge. I can't believe The Challenge has been going for a whole year and I haven't joined in yet! It's not that I haven't been inspired, I have, but I've never made the deadlines. :-(  Since it is a special occasion, I made a special effort and made a card to join in, in time. ;-)

Stamps are again Altenew Striped Florals and Label Love. I added a bit of gold twine for some extra texture and interest.

I'm also entering this card into Virginia's View Challenge #14. My card is a CAS version of layers and dimension. ;-)

Thank-you for visiting! I hope that I find some more time for stamping over this Easter long week-end. I'll definitely be back in a few hours with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch card. :-)

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 

Winter beadwork

Hello!

Virginia's View Challenge this month has the theme "Clean Slate". That sounds right up my alley! I love a good  expanse of white on my cards. :-) I was also inspired by the photo at Curtain Call Challenge which is all white and ivory and beige, yum! The sponsor at Curtain Call is Altenew, so I couldn't resist pulling out my Altenew stamps. I settled on using Modern Beadwork with Label Love for the sentiment.

Once I had finished this card, it gave me the feeling of marble mosaic tiles and I was whooshed off to Italy in my imagination! :-) Colours are PTI Soft Stone, Fine Linen, and Hero Arts Wet Cement.

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

Today I had a mole excised from my face. It was only a little mole, but it appeared right where I had previously had mole removed through a shave biopsy and found pre-cancerous cells. The fact that a shave biopsy had already been done meant they had to do the excision this time. I really don't like local anaesthetics. I don't like the numb feeling, I don't like the tingling and itching as the feeling comes back, and then I don't like the pain that arrives later on. :-(  I'm such a sook! I have two friends this week with their gallbladders removed, and I'm sooking over a little mole removal, lol! You can check my Instagram account if you'd like to check my sooky face. ;-)

I will be back with more entries to Virginia's View challenge. I just love Virginia's challenges and I am off work this week, so I plan to make good use of my time and make multiple entries.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

P.S. I have started updating my other blog again. I'm putting some of my daily life photos (not professional, just snapshots) and some of my art practice over there. Feel welcome to take a look.

Exploring Modern Beadwork

Hello!

I had a package take the slow boat to Australia recently. Most of the time the mail between US and Australia takes two to three weeks, this time it was five or six weeks. Every single day was an agony of anticipation awaiting two new stamp sets that I was extremely eager to try out! Today I sat down to play with the first of the two sets! Yay!

The stamp set used here is Modern Beadwork by Altenew. I have only just begun with this set... the possibilities are endless!

For this first card I took inspiration from this week's Colour Q Challenge - the colours as well as the picture.

Then I moved on to a Scandinavian cross stitch influence to create this next card. I need to play around with the patterns I can create, because this Scandinavian theme has some promise!

And for the last card, I moved back to American Indian theme. I created a feather. Can you see it?

Oh, I am going to have some fun with this set!

I am also joining in with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme this week is Anything Goes.

Thanks for coming to visit! :-)

Michelle
xxx

Happy Birthday!

Hello!

I know, I know... I haven't been here for a couple of weeks and then I post twice in two seconds. It isn't fair! The problem is that a deadline is approaching, and it is now or never. Sorry about that! ;-)

This sweet little card is being entered into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where they are having a birthday celebration.

I used Mama Elephant Pandemonium, Party Kit, and PTI Sweet Speech. Inks are Mama Elephant, Memento Luxe, and Memento.

Yes, I had those pandas out, and I was determined they'd have a fruitful outing. Brace yourself, they may show up again soon. Don't you love my panda's little pink bow?

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Wishing You Love

Hello!

Today I'm bringing you another love-themed card. I was pondering this month's Mama Elephant Challenge when I saw the new CASE Study challenge and my idea went POP! Because they are featuring Mama Elephant over at Simon Says Stamp this week, I'm joining in there too.  I don't think that it is any secret that I am in love with everything Mama Elephant, so I couldn't resist. ;-)

The Mama Elephant inspiration was making me think lace and bling and I had my Filigree set out when I saw Donna's beautiful card on CASE Study. If you squint your eyes, my card could look like a direct copy. I just loved the whole card so much I couldn't move very far away, oops! I really love Donna's work, she's amazing!

I used Mama Elephant Filigree and So Breezy stamps. Sentiment is silver embossed. Ink is Memento Luxe Rose Bud.

Thank you for dropping by to see me!

Michelle
xxx

Blingy New Year!

Hello!

I know, we have a little more time until we reach the new year, but I have a couple of challenges I wanted to play along with, and the deadlines are looming. ;-)  I'm playing with my new stamps from Mama Elephant - Flashy Letters - Aren't they marvellous? So are those snowflake fireworks (PTI Snowflake Flurries)!

I have been inspired by a few different challenges in creating this card. Firstly was the colour scheme from Dynamic Duos.

Then the theme at CAS-ual Fridays and 10 Minute Craft Dash, who are running a joint challenge this week. I didn't make the 10 minute time limit. It turns out that adding glitter to the dots in the lettering takes a long time, and then when I decided to add a strip of glitter, all was lost, LOL!

And lastly, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge calls for us to Bling It On! In real life, my card is BLINGY. :-)

Thanks for dropping by! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Birthday, Tracey!

Hello!

Two posts in one day? Well, this one couldn't wait, because it is my friend Tracey's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Tracey!!!  

The queen of party-planning, that would be Joyce, has done it again, and organised a super party to celebrate!

I used Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend and Sketchy Banners. Colours are PTI Hibiscus Burst and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I used the sketch from Seize the Sketch for inspiration. I turned it on its side.

I'm also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.

Tracey, I hope you have a fabulous day! I'll be thinking of you!

Michelle
xxx

Flowers galore!

Hello!

I have some new flower stamps. I think I may never have enough flowers... LOL!  Today is the first day of a few days off work for me, and the sun is valiantly attempting to shine through the clouds, the temperature is very warm for mid-Winter, so I think it is a day for flowers!

My first card I made for Retro Sketches #70.

The stamps are PTI Ruby Rose. The background is stamped using Delicata Gold. The other inks are SU! Real Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, and PTI Melon Berry. Card base is PTI Fine Linen and patterned paper is Fine Linen.

My second card I made just for fun, while I had the new stamps out, and I'm entering it into Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes. In the same order that Ruby Rose arrived, I received a mega-pack of Hibiscus Burst cardstock. I can see pink cards galore in my future! I love this colour. I'm lucky to have two girls who love pink, too!

Card base is PTI Hibiscus Burst. Ink is Memento Tuxedo Black. 

A very simple, but striking, card. I love the way the sentiments in this set are designed for a corner. And I love how the flowers, leaves and dots sprinkle so easily!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Pink Party Animal!

Hello!

A little while ago I spied a cute little stamp in blogland. I can't even remember who I saw using it first, but I was hooked immediately, and wanted that stamp set for myself! This is a one-of-a-kind stamp that makes me smile, a great BIG smile. :-)  Who can resist a balloon dog? Not me. The stamp set is Avery Elle Party Animal.

I used Avery Elle Party Animal stamps. Inks are PTI Hibiscus Burst and SU! Pretty in Pink. Card and patterned paper are PTI Hibiscus Burst. Twine is Strawberry from The Twinery.

I used the sketch from this week's CAS(E) This Sketch.

I'm also entering this over at Simon Says Stamp for their Anything Goes challenge.

When I showed my eldest daughter this card, her face lit up. I think I'll be making Party Animal cards for a little while yet. ;-)

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Sequins!

Hello!

I'm slipping in at the last minute with an entry to Muse #23 where the Guest Designer is Anita (in France). I love Anita's work, and I couldn't resist playing along. This is my card.

I used PTI Round Repeats and Avery Elle Modern Leaves (sentiment) stamps. Colours are SU! Daffodil Delight, Memento Grey Flannel and Tuxedo Black. Sequins are Avery Elle.

This is Anita's card.

You can see that I pretty much took the layout and turned it on its side. I changed the colour scheme to work with the sequins that I own, because I just HAD to use sequins when CASEing this gorgeous blingy card! :-)

I have another shot of my card, to show you that my sequins really do shine.

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.

Before I go, I'll show you a quick couple of photos I took this afternoon. All day it has been rainy and very cloudy here. At sunset, the sky was still covered in low grey clouds, but at the horizon was a small gap where the sun was shining through. The sun lit up the clouds so that they shone orange, turning everything around orange for about 15 minutes. A beautiful colourful end to a dreary day. This photo is unedited, so not showing perfectly what I saw, but it's close.

And this is my daughter turned orange while she edits her own sunset photo on her iPod.

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #59

Hello!

Dynamic Duos this week brings us the colour combination of Basic Grey and Your Choice of other colour. How cool! I had a hard time choosing which way to go. Front runner with grey for me is always yellow, so I wanted to challenge myself to something different. I thought about orange. I thought about green. I ended up at Poppy Parade. :-)

I used Mama Elephant Filigree stamps. The sentiment is from Uniko Studios. Inks are SU! Poppy Parade and Memento Grey Flannel. Rhinestones are SU!

I think everyone on the team chose a different colour this week. It makes for some gorgeous samples!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.

Thanks for coming to visit. I hope you can find some time to join us in the fun this week!

Michelle

xxx

Retro Sketches #59

Hello!

I had a wonderful time stamping with my friends on Friday. I only got one card made, but I loved the company. I'm probably more of a distraction than necessary to my friends, because I tend to chat non-stop (so excited to get some time with them...). I must learn to be a little quieter. ;-)

This morning I played with a set I borrowed from Cassandra, and I'm in love. Oh my goodness, this set is awesome (if you can line up the images correctly, which I found a little challenging).

I used PTI The Sweet Life and Stylish Sentiments: Birthday stamps. Colours are SU! Primrose Petals, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and PTI Berry Sorbet.

I was trying a little bit of stitching a la Leigh Penner, whose cards I just adore. My tension and stitch length were wrong, but other than that, I love the detail the stitching adds to the card. I stitched a layer of vellum over my background to soften it up.

The card is made using the sketch from Retro Sketches #59. I turned it upside down.

I'm also entering this card over at Simon Says Stamp Spring Flowers challenge.

I'm enjoying a sunny, warm day which is a huge contrast to the last two cold and rainy days. I'm happy to get the washing done before we go back to school and work tomorrow!

Thanks for coming by to visit me.

Michelle
xxx

New Baby - a splash of pink

Hello!

This morning I have a new baby card to share, using a splash of pink.

I used Mama Elephant Nursery Deco stamps, PTI Basic White card, SU! Pretty In Pink, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and a little Blossom Twine.

I am seriously in love with this Mama Elephant stamp set. I can't wait for more babies to arrive so that I can make MORE baby cards, LOL!

This card is for two challenges.

Less Is More challenge #101 - black and white with a splash of colour. It has been so long since I've played along at LIM! It's good to be back. :-)

Simon Says Stamp - new something.

EDIT: I'm adding this as a second entry to CAS-ology #25

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Last minute entries. . .

Hello!

When I saw the Color Throwdown colours this week, I immediately knew I wanted to use them. BUT, I had a 4th birthday party to organise and NO time over the last week to do much card making. I also have Fathers Day coming next week-end, so had to find a little time to help my eldest daughter make a card for her Daddy. My card for him is yet to be created, eek. I also need to get a card sent off to my own Dad. It most definitely won't make it to him in time (he lives a long way away) but at least I made it before the day. . .

On Sunday evening, we sat down to make some cards. The big girl and I had chosen the colour scheme, we had chosen the papers and card stock, we had chosen the images, but the layout was eluding me.  We finally got the first card made, but I was still struggling. So last night I went looking for a sketch to use, because my own inspiration was sadly lacking. I found Dawny's Sketch at Simon Says Stamp, and I liked it.

So my card uses, Color Throwdown #156, which is these lovely colours:

and Simon Says Stamp, Dawny's sketch:

And my card looks like this:

 I used:
Stamps - Garden Friends by Jane's Doodles
Card - Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum, Barely Banana
Patterned Paper - So Saffron pattern from Washington Apple
Ink: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Barely Banana, Memento Tuxedo Black
Googly eyes came from my stash

My daughter's card is this one:

It took us ages to come up with this design. My girls take after their Mummy a little with their perfectionism, sigh!  She wasn't happy with her colouring, but I think she did a great job. She's 8 (going on 18).

I hope you like the cards. You can see that my love affair with Garden Friends has not yet ended. It is such a lovely set of images, and the stamps work SO WELL. I'm really enjoying them.

What do you think?

Michelle
xxx