Playing Cards with Michele!

Good morning!  Today is such a fun day.  My dear friend Michele has invited me to play cards with her. Isn’t that the best idea?  Michele has got to be the friendliest kid on the block.  I sure hope you’ve had the chance to connect with her.  Her whit, laugh, sincerity, and hugs are second to none.   I’ve had the absolute pleasure of meeting her in person, so I thought of her happy smile and heard her voice in my mind while I was making my card.  I couldn’t stop smiling!

We are both creating cards with the theme “Giving Thanks + Leaves”.  I was delighted when she told me the theme because leaves are my favorite.  I combined older, retired, and brand spankin’ new products on my card. I started with Concord & 9th’s Thankful Leaves die and die cut it 3 times being careful to not pop out any of the pieces.  I pulled out some Pigment Craft Co inks (SO excited about these!) and blended on Seagrass, Glow, and Monstera inks using a very light hand.  As a reference for colors, the leaves in the photos not on my card are those same colors with a heavier hand blending.    One of my favorite parts about the leaves that fall in autumn are the speckles and splotches of color on them, so I used the same inks + Quince ink to add speckles onto my leaves.

Next I pulled out Pigment's Festive Fonts stamp set and dies and stamped "thanks" in their Quince, Fig, Seagrass, and Monstera inks.  I cannot tell you how much I love these colors and stamps! They are technically my Christmas present from my parents and my husband, but both gave me permission to use them early.  I just couldn't wait!  But no worries, I'll wrap them and put them under the tree when the big day arrives.  

At this point I felt like the card needed just a little something, but I have very few slimline products.  I pulled out an old (but still loved) Lil' Inker Designs Pieced Chevron die and partially die cut it, then I scooted it over and die cut again, which allowed me to cover the whole 3.5x8.5" size I needed.  And finally I splattered on some fig ink toward the edges of my card.  Such a small step, but honestly the card isn't complete without it.  

Well, that's all for me folks!  I hope you like it as much as I do!  Now make sure to head over to Michele’s blog to see her card.  It’s a surprise for me, too, and I can’t wait to see what she made.  I’m sure it will knock your socks off! :)