Uniko Studio Challenge Guest Designer: Things with Wings

Hello!

I am super excited to be here today as Guest Designer for the Uniko Studio Challenge: Things with Wings. When Beverley invited me to join in as GD, I think she could hear me squealing with excitement from the other side of the world. I've been a long-time fan of Bev's, she is not only an amazing CAS stamper, but an amazing stamp designer, as well as being an all-round nice person (with the cutest little boys in the whole wide world).

For my card I used Uniko Studio Bright Butterflies Stamps. I had an image of a silhouette butterfly against a watercolour background in my head. Having planned this card, I had the patience to await the drying of the very watery card. It took a day. ;-) What you can't see in the photo is the lovely shimmer spray, it's so pretty!

This stamp set is fabulous! And what can I say? You can never have too many butterflies!

Thank-you for visiting me! I hope you join in on the fun at this month's Uniko Studio Challenge!

Michelle
xxx

P.S. Thank-you to the lovely ladies who helped me over that "99" on my Facebook Page! I feel much better now, lol!

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 118

Hello!

I'm here with my card for CAS(E) This Sketch. When I saw the inspiration sketch, I was wishing that I had a stamp of the world. But then I started thinking more laterally. :-) I ended up making a card with a very subtle background and simple sentiment.

I used SU! Regarding Dahlias, which I stamped in PTI Soft Stone. The sentiment is from PTI. What is not visible in the card is the Wink of Stella on the flower.

I'm listening to my budgie speak to me. He only says a few words, but he whistles to me, repeating random tunes that I've whistled to him over time. He's 8 years old. I worry about him living in a smallish cage. But he seems so happy while I talk to him and whistle with him. :-) He sits next to my computer, near the kitchen, in the middle of the action in the house. 

Must go and get some sleep. So tired! I hope you are inspired by this week's sketch, and I'll look for you in the gallery!

Michelle

xxx

Fusion - blue and red

Hello!

I hope you all had a happy Easter. I had a couple of extra days off work which allowed me some time with my kids and their friends. The weather started off as wet as wet could be, but by the end of the week-end, it was beautiful! Now, today, we had what I would call our first real taste of Autumn - a beautiful, blue, crisp, cool day. Yay! :-)

I'm here with my card for Fusion Card Challenge. This week's inspiration is beautiful. I used both photo and sketch to come up with my card.

I'm having a mental blank on the stamp set. The flowers are Stampin' Up! and the sentiment is from PTI Ruby Rose.

Isn't this inspiration beautiful? Please join us in the fun this week. I'd love to see what you create!

I've had a busy week at work. My kids are on school holiday. I'd really love to be spending time with them, but they have about 15 weeks holiday each year and I have four. So I'm suffering "mother guilt" momentarily. My kids are having a ball, between visiting grandparents, vacation care, visiting friends, they don't notice that I'm not around. It's just me worrying, not them, sigh!

Thank-you for visiting me! Please visit my design team buddies as well. :-)

Michelle
xxx

Light it up Blue for Autism Awareness Blog Hop

Hello!

There is a fabulous Blog Hop underway at the moment that I just had to join in. It is the Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness Blog Hop and has been organised by Veronica Zalis and Tenia Nelson for World Autism Awareness Day, which was yesterday 2 April 2015. Like many of you, I have friends on the spectrum, children of friends on the spectrum, and my kids have friends on the spectrum. Everyone's journey with autism is different, and it is often challenging. A little awareness and compassion from all of us can go a long way.

I didn't have the right blue for my card, but I made it as blue as I could. :-)

I used Avery Elle Thanks a Bunch and Modern Leaves stamps and did a little watercolouring in and around the images. Dies are Mama Elephant Femme Frames.

I'm also going to enter into Avery Elle's Challenge: Watercolour.

If you are in Australia and would like to learn a little more about autism or make a donation, you can check out Autism Awareness. In the US, Veronica and Tenia recommend Autism Speaks.

Thank-you for visiting. 

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 117

Hello!

It has been raining here. The volume of water coming from the sky makes me wonder if there is any left in the ocean. My backyard is a big puddle. The poor chickens have nowhere dry to stand. My dog keeps bringing the mud into the house after a wander in the rain... she just loves the water! Our tank is overflowing. All that water just running down the hill. I'm pretty sure the last time it rained like this in April was around 1996 when we were building our first house. Somehow Summer has forgotten to leave properly. The temperature is now bearable, no longer super hot, but the rain remains. Oh well, I think this Easter week-end will be spent mostly snuggling with the family inside. :-)

I'm bringing you my card for CAS(E) This Sketch. The sketch is a super CAS design so I made a super-CAS card.

I just love this giraffe from Mama Elephant's Nursery Deco stamp set. Such a cutie!

We recently had a new great-niece arrive in the family. She looks just like her big sister, and just as beautiful! We are yet to meet her, and I'm looking forward to the day we do. :-)

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have the time to visit the rest of the CTS team and then to join in on the fun! Have a wonderful Easter.

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