My "Not Square Card"

Hello dear friends and welcome!  We had a beautiful, sunny day here today and I spent some time in my flower gardens, which, of course, wore me out.  So, I didn't make dinner (Praise God for leftovers!) and I laid on the couch for a couple hours.  But, now the second wind has hit and I am ready to post!

I have a card for the challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's where the challenge is to not make a square card.  Not a problem, right?  Right!  Sort of.  There's more than 1 way to get from point A to point B.  The direct route and any number of scenic routes.  Mine was definitely scenic.  At least in my head.  I started with one idea.  Which got me thinking about the pros and cons.  Which led to another idea.  And another.  Until I came up with my card.  But then, being the perfectionist that I am, my brain had to keep working out the details til I was happy with it.  (And my brain doesn't like heavy duty thinking lately!)  First, let me show you the image I chose.  She is Sweet Little Avery.  I have used her before and she is so adorable!

Don't you just love her?  I used my Prismacolor pencils to color her sweet little self.  What a cutie!  I inked the edges of the image with a SU ink pad and added some pearls.  But, remember the scenic route?  This isn't just "Not a Square Card".  You ready for this?

TA-DA!  It's a purse!  (Please don't ask how I got from point A to point B.  I'm sure I've forgotten all the twists and turns!)  I used my new embossing folder from Cuttlebug called Tiny Mosaic.  I see great possibilities with this one!  The button is from my stash as are all the beads I threaded on some necklace size memory wire.  It will keep its curved shape permanently (just like me I'm afraid!).  The yellow around the edges is actually bias tape from my stash.  I was looking for some Velcro to close the purse (don't ask what happened with the magnets I bought) when I found the bias tape!  Score!!  I adhered it with my Scortape although the seamstress/quilter in me desperately wanted to sew it on.  But given the embossed paper I knew the presser foot would smoosh it (yes, I have smooshed some before!), so I settled for tape.  Ready for the inside?

Isn't that DP delicious?  Its from a K&Co stack by Susan Winget called Spring Blossom.  Can you see how glittery this sheet is?  Love it!  The sentiment comes from a set I purchased from Papertrey Ink.  Their sets come with an empty CD case, a clear label to put on the front and room inside to mount the stamps.  They stay neat and clean and I think they're great!

Here's another look at Avery and all that glitter!

Here's the back.  That purple box is not part of the purse  ;)  The button on the front made it tip over and this was the only way it would stay up for it's picture!

I am entering my "card" in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - Not a Square Card

Shopping Our Stash - Bingo (diagonal from top left corner: yellow, pearls, free, ribbon, pink)

Divas by Design - Tickled Pink

Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

I think that's about it.  Did you make it through all my ramblings?  You deserve a prize for that!  Thanks for taking a peek today!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Tickle My Funny Bone

Hello again and Happy Tuesday!  I hope you are having a blessed day today, where ever you are.

Today I have a card for the challenge over at Mo' Digital Challenge Blog where the theme is Tickle My Funny Bone.  I chose this little guy, Biker Babe, who makes me laugh every time I look at him.

Isn't he adorable?  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.  I love his shades and tattoo!  All he needs now is a bike!

I LOVE this paper!  I found it at Hobby Lobby and since I love all things patriotic it had to come home with me!  The only embellishment I added was ricrac.

Here's the inside.  The DP looks so amazing!  I may have to go back for more!!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Challenge Blog - Tickle My Funny Bone

Divas by Design - One for the boys

Totally Papercrafts - No Pesky Girls Allowed

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Sketch

Catered Crop - Use Ric Rac

Top Tip Tuesday - CAS (if you have looked at any of my other cards you will know this IS CAS for me  lol)

That's about it.  I gotta scoot!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

A Bright Mother's Day Card!

Hello again!  Happy Day!  My children and I are getting near the end of our school year and I have a little more free time.  WAHOO!

Today I have a card for the challenge over at Tiddly Inks where the theme is Mother's Day.  (yeah, I know, that was yesterday, but there's always next year, right?)  For my card I chose Wryn - Spring Bling.  She is so sweet.  I think she picked those flowers for her mommy.  What do you think?

I used my Prismacolor pencils to color her.  She has such a sweet face.  My green pencil was very bright!  It matches my DP very well  :)

I bought the DP at Michael's last week.  So bright and cheerful!  I had to use it right away!  The ribbon is from my stash and the flowers are from Wild Orchid.

See?  Now you can tell it's for Mother's Day!  lol  :)  The sentiment at the top was supposed to go on the outside, but, somehow I forgot and stuck it to the inside.  And if you have ever used Scor-tape you will know that stuff is not to be moved once you stick it down!  So..... it's on the inside!  I used an old stamp from SU to decorate the writing panel.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Tiddly Inks - Mom's Day

Ribbon Carousel - also Mom's Day  :)

Creative Inspirations - Sketch

Papertake - Cute cute cute (Isn't she cute?  I think so!)

The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

SSiC Challenge #139

Hello again dear friends.  I hope you have been blessed since we last met together.  I am realizing more and more how blessed I am and how great our God is.  I hope you know that too.  We have a new challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our lovely Peggysue is our hostess this week.  Her verse is:

 "Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive."   Genesis 6:20

This is, of course, from the story of Noah.  What a great testimony to the faithfulness of our God when we choose to follow Him.  If your heart is seeking that kind of faithfulness please contact any of us on the Design Team and we would love to tell you about our great and awesome God.

Peggysue's challenge this week is to put an animal or bird on your card.  Laurie over at Doodle Pantry is our sponsor this week.  If you haven't been over there you must check out her adorable images.  I'm sure you'll find something you love!  I chose Fireworks Birdie for my card this week.  This cutie comes with 2 sentiments and was so much fun to color.

I colored the image with my Prismacolor pencils and added plenty of Stickles to the fireworks!  I brushed the edges of the image with a matching ink pad and used a small star from an SU set to fill in the blank areas on the edges.  (If you look at my cards you'll notice I'm not a huge fan of blank spaces.  Why is that?)

This is actually the front of my card.  The picture you just saw is the inside.  I'll show you more of that in a minute.  I didn't use any DP on the outside of my card.  I tried to dry emboss the red paper, but I have decided I NEED the Grand Caliber for that.  hmmmm Mother's Day is tomorrow....  ;)  Anyway, the ribbon is from The Paper Studio.  I found it at Hobby Lobby this morning.  It matches the DP I used inside.  All my flowers are from Wild Orchid.  I think they have the most beautiful flowers.  Great prices, great selection, great shipping prices from the UK.  I don't look anywhere else for my flowers.  They do a great job!

I added glitter to the larger flowers.  I think you can actually see it in this photo!

I told you I would explain the inside.  Here it is; part of it anyway.  I used a Nesty (from Spellbinders) to cut the circles in the front.  I added silver star brads to the corners.  Where do you write your message?  Right here:

The image is mounted on its own card on the inside.  The sentiment came in the file from Doodle Pantry and the small sparkler is from an old set from Close to My Heart.

I think that's about it.  Make sure you stop by the other DT member's blogs to see their beautiful cards.  I know you'll be blessed.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

I Love Raggedy Ann!

Hello and welcome!  I'm so glad you are here today.  I hope the sun is smiling down on you where ever you are.  Or maybe its a sky full of stars like it is here right now.  ;)

Today I have a card for the challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's where the challenge is A Stitch in Time.  I have to admit this was a very easy one for me.  If you've ever been here and looked at my cards you will know I ALWAYS stitch all my layers.  (between you and me, my cards look naked without the stitching.  I just can't skip it)  A few weeks ago I bought the image Sassy Sally and Her Raggedy Ann.  This is the first time I have used her.  I loved Raggedy Ann as a little girl.  I still own a set of sheets, a blanket, all my dolls, a metal waste can and a candle holder  :) 

Here's this cutie  :)  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.  Look at Ann's face.  Almost smug, huh?

The DP are from a stack from MME called Penny Lane.  These papers are so fun.  Lots of glitter although you can't see it in this picture.  The red was a perfect Raggedy Ann color.  Kinda vintage.

Here's my embellishment.   The buttons are all from my stash.  Instead of gluing them on I threaded some taupe pearle cotton through the holes of each button.  I poked a hole in my card below the bow and pulled all the ends to the back and adhered them with Scor tape.  They all just dangle.  I really like how it looks.  My ribbon is seam binding from Wild Orchid.

Here's the inside.  I inked the edges of the writing panel with a stamp pad....funny how colors look different when you are really tired  :(  oh well.  Sally and Ann like pink too, I hope.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - A Stitch in Time

Shopping Our Stash - Use 3 or More DP

Digi Tuesday - Ribbons & Buttons

Sketch & Stash - Sketch (& buttons from my stash)

I think that's about it.  I hope you enjoy your travels in blog land.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

SSiC Challenge #137

Hello ladies!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I am so excited!  If you are here from Stampin' Sisters in Christ you know that I have been asked to be on the Design Team over there!  I want to thank Kris for this great opportunity!  I love making my cards and I love the Lord and I am so blessed to be able to combine the two.  My prayer is that my involvement with this blog will be a blessing for everyone who stops by my little corner of blog land.

I have a card for the challenge this week.  Our beautiful Meisje chose the challenge this week.  She wants us to to put something natural on our cards.  Something not man-made.  She chose this verse for this week:

1 John 2:4-6 - "Whoever says, “I know him”, but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. "

As soon as I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to use an image from Tiddly Inks called Wryn - Pick Up Sticks.  It comes with several extra images and she is so cute!

I have colored sweet Wryn with my Prismacolor pencils.  She was so much fun.

The sketch is my own.  The DP are from Heidi Grace and the cardstock is Bazzil.  My natural elements are the twigs from my back yard and the raffia.  She has a real "out-doorsy" feel.  Kinda rustic, so I wanted to keep the embellishments simple.  The swirl and brads are from my daughter's stash that has been living in my studio for over a year so they are free for the taking as far as I'm concerned!!

Here's the inside.  It was fun coloring the elements in here too.  I've said it before, but I really enjoy coloring my images.  And even though I have done nearly every craft under the sun coloring ws never a big deal for me as a child.  Who knew?

The sentiment came with dear little Wryn.  It's perfect, huh?  I used the same basic sketch, just reversed.

This image also came with Wryn.  Really ladies, go on over to Christy's site and grab this one!  It's a great deal!

And, here is the back.  I like to give all 4 sides of my cards full treatment.  I think it's disappointing to decorate the front so much and the inside or back is a letdown.  It's such a great treat that all 4 sides are done.  Yes, it takes longer, but I do this because I love it, not to get them done as fast as possible.  Anyway, at the bottom I put the verse to go along with this challenge (actually, after completing the card I realized it was the verse from last week, but it actually fits with this challenge too, so WAHOO for me!!  Thank you, Lord for covering me on that one!  lol and FYI the challenge is correct, I just looked at the wrong verse.)

So, I guess that's about it.  Thanks so much for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Tiddly Inks - Thank You

Hello again!  I should really spread out my posts, but I don't seem to get my cards made during the week.  So, I'm on here on the weekends!  Here's number 2 for today.

I chose this sweet image, Wryn & Emmy, from Tiddly Inks.  They are so cute.  I used them a couple months ago I think it was, right here, and gave the card to my best friend.  She rushed to the hospital after my accident and helped take care of me.  She is such a dear friend and I wanted to thank her somehow.  (She loved the card btw)

The challenge on the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is to say Thank You.  (I just realized both cards I made with this image were Thank You's.  Must be a good image for that, huh?)  I colored these cuties with my Prismacolor pencils.

I have quite a few challenges I am entering this card in and they gave me all my inspiration for this card (see the list below). 

My beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid.  I added Stickles to the flowers.  This is a girly card for sure!

The heart charm hanging from beads was inspired by the challenge over at Cooking It Up With Katie. 

The inside top.

The writing panel.

The back.

Another view.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog - Thank You
Shopping Our Stash - Mom's Day

City Crafter - Text & Tulle

Cooking It Up With Katie - Happy Hanging Heart

Truly Scrumptious - Distress, Dies and Punches (I used all 3!!)

The Shabby Tea Room - Pink, Green, Polka Dots & Hearts

The Paper Shelter - Sketch

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Mother's Day

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

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle