My Favorite "Mo" Make of 2014

First off, to be fair, I only made a handful of cards early this year.  I think maybe 6 of them were with Mo's images.  It doesn't feel like I should be entering this challenge but I LOVE Mo's images and I've decided its time to start making my cards again because I love it so much and have been missing it.  I scrolled back through my blog (it truly only took a couple minutes) and picked this cute guy as my favorite.  I need to see if I still have this card because I don't remember if I gave him away or not.

 I made this card in January.  It's like seeing an old friend :)  He is called Dream.  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.  Gosh, I miss those things.  I'm going to dig through my boxes and pull them out. 

 Here's the front of the card.  I will save you from the whole description again.  If you are interested you can visit the original post here.

I will be trying my hand at coloring again.  If all goes well I will post a card in a few days.  If not, it might be a while longer.  If you have stopped by after all this time I thank you.  I am slowly making my rounds to all your blogs as well.

I am entering my card in the challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Green and Purple Fairy

Hi friends!  Welcome to my little place on the world wide web.  Thanks for stopping by!  Today I have a card to play along with one of my favorite challenge blogs, Mo's Challenge Blog.  I am a huge fan of Mo's images and I have quite a collection of them!  This is one of my favorites:

 This is Winter Fairy Talva.  I have colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added crackle medium to the frost on her wings, fine glitter to her snowball and tinsel glitter to her clothes.  I also sewed silver-lined beads to her skirt.

 My favorite color scheme would have to be purple and green so that is what I used.  I stamped small snowflakes around the image and on the edges of the white vellum which I sewed down because it is impossible to adhere that stuff without your adhesive being seen.  The green panels are embossed with a snowflake folder which I hope you can see in the photo below.  I also sewed some beads to the green panels but my very, very fluffy feathers are covering most of them.  I added the feathers to mimic the fluffy head-covering and leg warmers she is wearing.  I added the glittery berries to go along with her snowball.

 I use a Spellbinders die to make the snowflake.

 I also added some snowflakes to the back.

Here you can see the embossing a little bit on the green panels.  You can also see the beautiful pearl and rhinestone swirls I added.  I mounted the image on foam to sit above the elements in the background.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Favorite Color Combo

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Tutu Cute!

Hello, hello and welcome!  I have a card today (tonight) that I made just for fun so I could join the challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog.  This week the challenge is Ribbon and/or Bows.  No problem!

 I chose this most adorable image, Odette.  Isn't she the cutest thing?  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils and I added some tulle for her little tutu.  I gathered it by hand and hand sewed it to the paper.

 Here's my card.  I used DP from MME (my favorite) and the sketch from Sketch & Stash (I hope you can see the sketch, my cheesecloth is somewhat hiding the elements).  I embossed the pink panels with a Swiss dot folder and inked the edges of all layers.  I added lots of pearls including some really tiny ones on the corners of the image that my son gave me for Christmas.  The lace I used for the bow has been in my stash for a very long time.  I used beads from my daughter's stash to decorate the pins behind the feathers.

 Here you can see I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

 Here you can see the layers which is what the lovely people at Papertake would like to see this week.  That is, of course, very easy for me.  How often do my cards not have layers….?

And here you can see the tutu she is wearing!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's - Ribbon and/or Bows

Papertake Weekly - Lovely Layers

Sketch & Stash - Sketch

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Joy

Hello friends.  I have made another card just because I wanted to enter a few challenges.  

I love the images from Mo Manning and this one is called Georgia.  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.  The challenge at City Crafter Challenge Blog was a photo inspiration.  The photo was black and white with a splash of red.  I thought I would give it a try.  My coloring could be better, its been so long since I've colored very much!

 I really loved the black and white with a splash of red in the inspiration photo so I stayed with that idea.  The flowers are all from Wild Orchid.  Joy was the word that I thought of for Mo's challenge and Georgia is very joyful to me!  She looks so happy!

 I added some paisley images and a fun sentiment to the inside.

I think you can see the embossing on the black background panels.  The left panel has a paisley pattern and the right panel has Swiss dots.  Here you can also see the black flowers.  They really blended in in the above picture.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - J is for…

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Color Splash

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Dream of Flying

I have missed making my cards and blogging!  I haven't made a card for fun in so long!  I woke up Monday morning wanting to color and make one of my many-layered cards.  It took until Wednesday to actually get to it!

I have always loved the images by Mo Manning.  I was determined to use one of her many images I already own, but my muse had different ideas!  So, we bought Dream and I am so glad we did!!  I had the perfect paper from MME to go with this image!

 I colored this adorable guy with my Prismacolor pencils as usual.  Its been so long since I colored but I think I did ok.

 Do you see the DP?  With vintage planes on it?  How perfect is that?  I also used the dotted paper from the same collection (Portobello Road) because the challenge at Mo's challenge Blog is Spots and Dots.  Perfect!  I used the sketch from Papertake Weekly which was just what this image and card needed!  It's hard to tell but the really dark vertical lines are actually steel grey vintage seam binding.  I bought old packages (they are labels 19cents…no lie!) for a song at an antique shop.  The cool thing is since they are so old the colors are naturally vintage!  Fits perfectly with this paper!  I used a great trim behind the image that I've used before.  It's wired and you can pull it apart as you can tell on the right side and you can also shape it.  I added 4 matte silver brads to the corners of the image.

 Here's where you can see how everything really came together!  I had remembered the DP with the planes but I didn't remember the page with the plane pulling the banner…just like the banner shape under the image on the sketch!  I decided not to use this part of the paper on the front since it would be covered by my image.  Instead I cut it in half and used it inside.  I love how it looks!

 More spots and dots on the back!

Here you can see my stitching.  I purposely sewed crooked and added zig zag stitches in various widths.  I even sewed around the edge twice, going over the stitches already there.  The quilter in me was rebelling but the artist was having a great time!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Spots and Dots

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

God Bless the USA

Hello friends!  It has been a gorgeous day here.  I spent some time in my neglected flower beds.  I hope you have had a marvelous day as well!  Today I have a card I made to join in the challenge over at Mo's Challenge Blog.  This week the challenge is Red, White & Blue.  Since I love all things patriotic this was perfect for me!

 Quite honestly I love pretty much all of Mo's images.  I love looking through her shop and picking one out.  This one was already in my stash.  She is called Waiting for the Parade and I just love her.  I especially love the doll next to her as I was a huge Raggedy Ann fan when I was little.  In fact, I still have all my dolls and random other things including a metal waste basket that sits under my stamping table.  Ann is on one side and Andy is on the other.  I colored this sweet image with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added a tiny rhinestone to the center of the pinwheel.

 I used some wonderful patriotic paper I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  I inked all the edges with TH Vintage Photo.The vintage lace is from my stash.  Behind the image I added a piece of needlework fabric from my scrap stash.  The paper with text I actually created on my computer.  I used the words from the Lee Greenwood song "God Bless the U.S.A.".  I have always loved that song and decided it would be great on my card.  I made my own pinwheel and added a rhinestone to the center and some feathers behind it.

 Look at this great paper!!!  I love it!  I used the same sketch on the writing panel.  On the other side I printed the sentiment from my computer.  I used a MS border punch to make the frame and sized the text to fit with a small mat.

 The back shows off this great paper.

Here you can see my pinwheel a bit better.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Red, White & Blue

CLP Challenge Blog - Sketch

I am also entering my card in the challenge at Mo's Dream Team for the design team call.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

May Calendar

Yes, I have been absent again.  Must be the beautiful weather that has finally decided to arrive!  I finally have a piece for the challenge over at Mo's.  I have missed coloring her sweet images!  The challenge is "Anything Goes" with a Mo's image this week.  And, since it's the beginning of the month it's time for another page on my calendar!

 I used the super cute Teen Fairy Mia again.    I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils in some spring-y colors.

 I made and printed the calendar on my computer.  The DP and card stock were all from my recently organized scrap box.  That was the last bit of the floral piece.  I added rhinestones in various sizes and textures to the corners.

Here you can see the gorgeous holder a friend's husband made me for my calendar pages.

I am entering my calendar in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Divas by Design - Add a Number (I hope my calendar numbers count)

Cute Card Thursday - Come Fly With Me

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

A Little Green To Go With My Pink

Hello friends.  I was so proud of myself earlier this week, getting on track with my cards.  And I haven't posted since Tuesday.  Ah well.  Keeps me humble I guess  ;)

Today I have a card for the challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog.  This week they want to see "Things With Wings".  Well yeah for me!  Because my most favorite images from Mo are her fairies!  And they all have wings!  

This cutie is from the set 3 baby fairies.  She is "baby with ladybug" and I think she is my favorite.  I love her belly!  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils and added some pink Stickles to her wings.  I also added some tiny rhinestones to the corners of the image.

The DP papers are all from stash.  I didn't have much left of either paper, but there was enough for this great sketch from Sketch & Stash.  I inked the edges of the layers.  I also used a beautiful butterfly stamp from an old set from Close to My Heart and stamped on the striped paper.  I used some tulle I reclaimed from a baby shower favor under the image.  The corners are embellished with these cute "Twinkle Goosebumps" from Queen & Co. that I picked up at AC Moore.  They are so fun!  The beads, ribbon, flowers and stick pins are all from my stash.

I used the same sketch on the inside and repeated the butterfly stamp on the writing panel.

(There are so many shadows in my pictures because the sun finally decided to come out!!)

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Things With Wings

Sketch & Stash - Sketch

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Bingo (I used the bottom row:Blooms, Ribbons, Gems

Divas By Design - Flowers

Cute Card Thursday - Butterflies

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

April Calendar

Hello friends!  I haven't posted much lately and I think I figured out why.  I make my cards and other things because I love it.  It's my quiet time.  My "me" time.  I LOVE to sit and color.  I love poking through my stuff to find the right things to embellish with.  A while back I had people telling me what I "should" be making because people would buy those things....  Now, I have to admit the cards are piling up.  I can only use so many of them.  But honestly, my hobby supports itself.  I occasionally sell some of my cards and I use that money to buy more stuff.  I don't do this to make money.  I do it because this is how I was made.  I love to create!  It's my passion.  It's my escape.  And I forget to turn off the well-intentioned voices sometimes and just do what I love.  But, I am back!  I worked on this project last night til I hit a small roadblock.  On my run this morning the perfect solution came to me and I finished it up!  So here ya go:

I used the CUTEST new image from Mo.  If you've been here before you probably know how much I love her images!  LOVE her images.  And when I saw this cutie it took me about 2.5 seconds to buy her!  True story!  That face!!  Those chubby legs!!  She makes me smile every time I look at her!  I colored her with my Prisamcolor pencils and I loved it!

Then I really had fun and dug into my quilting stash!  I poked around til I found fabrics to match the colors then I got busy!  I cut small squares and pieced a small quilt.  I layered it with batting and backing and even hand-quilted part of it.  I have to admit the quilting was a bit difficult because the piece was way to small to put in a hoop and I couldn't quite get the motion right but I do love hand quilting as well as coloring!  I didn't finish quilting though.  I left the needle and thread in there because I thought that would look like my dear little fairy friend would be back to finish her work!  I struggled with what embellishments to add and settled on a few small flowers.

Here you can see the whole calendar.  The bottom section is what I was struggling with.  I didn't want to add paper or lace.  Running must be good for my creativity because that's when I came up with idea of digging through one more stash in my studio and finding these tiny wooden spools.  (Yes, I have many many stashes!)  I wrapped matching thread on them, leaving the white thread longer to reach across the bottom.  I kinda like how it all turned out!

So, there ya have it!  Loved working on this piece!

I am entering my calendar in the challenge over at:

Mo's - Add Fabric (check!!)

I thought you might like to see some of the quilts I have made, so here ya go!

 This "Trip Around the World" hangs in my foyer and is still one of my favorites.

 The "Double Irish Chain" hangs in my stairwell.  The outer border really should be removed, doesn't quite work.  However, the muslin squares are quilted in a cross-hatch and embellished with butterflies made with pearl cotton and seed beads.

I can't remember the name of this one.  I made it 17 years ago and I still love it.  It was probably beyond my skills at the time and I ripped out plenty of seams, but the perfectionist in me would not accept points being chopped off.  I am still proud of this quilt.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

It's Your Day

Howdy friends!  I haven't been very creative lately but I did manage to finish a card for a new young friend.  He had a birthday a couple weeks ago and turned 10!!  I decided to make him a little card with a treat inside.  It's also time for me to play along with the next challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog

I found out my new friend loves super heroes, so this great image from Mo is perfect!  He even looks like my friend!  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.

I added a small sentiment from PTI.  These circles can be perfectly cut with my Spellbinders circle die and they have several sentiments to fit inside.

I made a band to go around the card to keep it closed.  It stays on but easily slides off.

 Here's the inside.  Lots of fun, bright papers and a pocket for some candy I understand he really likes!  I only added a small writing panel since I figure he will be more interested in the candy!

The papers are all from Basic Grey and I have almost used them up!  I didn't add embellishments, he's 10, I don't think he wants any!

I am entering my card in the challenge at:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle