CASEing Genius: Michelle Williams

 

It's Monday again! You know what that means?! 

A new Genius!! Whoop whoop!!

Introducing the endlessly talented 

Michelle Willams!!!

If you don't know Michelle you are in for a treat :) Her blog Amusing Michelle (sidenote, I think this is the cutest blog name ever!) is truly an endless feast of creative inspiration. I first saw Michelle's fabulousness on CAS(E) This Sketch. I absolutely adored her projects week after week and eventually (it probably took me to damn long) I went over to her personal blog and began to die immediately. Seriously, I poured over her blog for hours. She has such a wonderful style. At some point Michelle and I began a little blogland friendship and she is just as amazing as her projects. Sweet and wonderful. She was one of the first people I thought of when I decided to start this feature :) I hope you'll go over and visit her blog to see for yourself how awesomely incredible she is. That's a thing, honest. 

Before you go let's learn some more about Michelle shall we?

Interview:

1. Who are you and where do you live?

I am Michelle Williams and I live in Brisbane, Australia, the home of hot and humid Summers and blue skies all year round.

2. How would you describe your style?

My style is predominantly Clean and Simple (CAS), but I like to experiment. I haven't worked out how to use patterned paper or layers very well yet!

3. Name one product you're completely crushing on right now?

So many to choose from! Probably the wPlus9 multi-step stamps - Fresh Cut Florals and Pretty Peonies - for the infinite possibilities from just one set of flowers and leaves!

4. What is was your first crafty purchase? Would you still buy it now?

I've been crafting my entire life! I remember buying everything needed to make a big macrame owl wall hanging (back in the 70s). I'm not sure if I ever finished it... If I saw a cute owl wall-hanging macrame kit, I might be tempted to buy it again today. ;-)

Fun stuff:

5. What is your current favorite song?

That's a hard one. I love all music. I have very eclectic tastes. But, while I may know all the words and the music, I usually don't know the name of the singer or the song! I have to ask my daughters if I want that information.

6. Who would play you in a movie?

I had to ask my family this one. My eldest daughter said Julia Roberts, which had me and the hubby laughing thinking about "Pretty Woman", but she was thinking "Eat, Pray, Love" for the character (who she thinks is like me). My hubby said Kate Winslet or Cate Blanchett. I think maybe Jodie Foster.

7. One random thing about you that people would never guess?

I worked as a service station (garage) attendant through my teens, pumping petrol and checking oil and water in cars.

Blue skies all year long? Now I'm jealous of her location and her design skills ;) 

Wait . . .didn't she just say she isn't good at layering?! What in . . . I adore all her layered images and that color palette is gorgeous. 

Gah. I die. That flower, what a show stealer! 

Such a sweet and simple card but the multi colored stamping keeps it from looking like anything simple. The arrangement gives this card such a good flow. Your eye just goes seamlessly. 

The CASE:

No big shock here, I'm using a flower. I loved the large bloom from the second card. Michelle let the flower stand alone and it shines as the centerpiece of the card. I always want to add leaves but I decided to take Michelle's lead here. I thought the color scheme from the first card was fabulous and last but not least she used bold sentiments in both card two and three. I adopted those too :) 

First, you may or may not recognize that flower. It's Hero Arts Sketch Flower. I think they released it back in like 2010. I still love it. I knew the large bloom would be perfect to stand on it's own. No leaves ;) I colored it with copics. I created a two tone look to combine Michelle's colors into one flower. I also wanted the flower to have more detail so I extended the shading lines in the original stamp to continue through each petal. I added some highlight with a white gel before die cutting the Simon Says Stamp Big Hello right through the middle. 

I used Jennifer McGuire's trick to create faux chipboard to pop up the sentiment but instead of adhering the piece die cut from the flower flat I left it off center. This gives it a white drop shadow. I think it makes the "Hello" more readable. Originally I was going to leave it fat and do an inlay. I colored a light blue/green border around the edges but I didn't like it. I cut the whole thing out and adhered it to a white card base accented it with the same color instead. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and to Michelle for playing along! Now go over and see her blog and be inspired. I always am :)

XoXo