Freshly Made Sketches 184

Happy Wednesday everyone.  Today is the day we reveal a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Kim is our hostess this week and she's challenging us to hang off the edge a bit!  As you will see I am not hanging off the edge, but I'm pretty sure that's ok.

This is the second card that I made for this challenge.  The first one I was not happy with at all so I went shopping for some bunny images and picked up this cutie from Zlatoena's shop on Etsy.  Now that I see this card altogether I don't know what I was thinking when I made it.  There's the bunny sitting on the moon fishing for a star and in the sky are some puffy clouds.  Not to mention that the sentiment is about a bright day!  Talk about an oxymoron!  I think I was a bit tired when I put this together and even though the images and sentiment are a bit mixed up I still like it!

The Freshly Made Sketches design team had no trouble going over the edge so be sure to check out their creations.   And we've even got an old friend joining us this week.  Lesley, who created this challenge four years ago, is filling in for Rita.  I'm so grateful that she brought this group together so that we all could become the good friends we are today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Cute Bunny on the Moon (Zlatoena Designs); Bright Days (Avery Elle)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Sea Glass, The Every Day Collection (Avery Elle); X-Press It Blending Card
Ink:  Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Onyx Black (Versafine); Copics
Accessories:  Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box)

colourQ 289

Happy Tuesday everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from your colourQ friends.  This one is based on this jewelry box.  I just love the bit of Early Espresso in the inspiration photo.

I decided to make a shaker card based on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  One of the design team members there, Barbara Anders, made a shaker card and that inspired me to make my own!

I loved the idea of a predominately white card with some Early Espresso accents so those colors make up the main design of my card.  Then I filled the shaker with sequins in all the other colors of the challenge.  I love the little pops of color from the sequins!

As you can expect, the colourQ design team has made some fantastic cards with these colors this week so be sure to check them out.  And we also bid a fond farewell to Silke who is leaving us after this challenge.  We sure will  miss her beautiful creations each week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  DIY (Precious Remembrance)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Early Espresso (SU); Vellum (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Early Espresso (SU)
Accessories:  Blueprints 20 die, Fishtail Flags Layers STAX (My Favorite Things); Early Espresso button (SU); sequins (Avery Elle); crochet thread

Imagined Life

A funny thing happened on the road to making this card.  When I saw the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge I knew immediately that I wanted to use Tim Holtz's "umbrella man" image.  I don't know why I just knew that was what I wanted to use.  Then yesterday I checked out the Friday Mashup challenge and guess what they wanted on our projects?  If you guessed an umbrella you win the prize!  That's what I call serendipity!

I used the colors again from Color Throwdown for no other reason than I LOVE them!  There's just something about black, white and a pop of color that really appeals to me!

Well, that's it for me.  I've got a sick kitty in the house and I may need to take him back to the vet this morning so I've cleared my schedule.  I was going to go in to Boston to see my nephew's band play at Faneuil Hall later today, but depending on how things go with the kitty I may or may not go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Jumbo Abstract Art (My Favorite Things); Grunge Me (Papertrey Ink); Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds (Stamplorations); Life's Possibilities (Tim Holtz)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  So Saffron, Hello Honey (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  enamel dots (Freckled Fawn)

Tag You're It 20

Happy Friday everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from Tag You're It.  This is my first time providing the tag inspiration for everyone to play along with and to say that I'm nervous would be a huge understatement!  It's always a little nerve wracking when you are charged with providing inspiration for other crafters - will people like it?  will people play along?  I guess we'll find out!

The inspiration comes from this tag that I created using a little emboss resist along with some sponged colors.  My redux of this tag is sort of the opposite.  Take a look:

I love the color combo on my original tag but instead of using the same cool colors I wanted to use some warm ones.  And instead of a white emboss resist I used some black die cuts.  And instead of a black sentiment, I went with white.  Talk about polar opposite!

The Tag You're It design team has created some spectacular projects so be sure to check them out.  I hope you have time to join us in the gallery with your tag or your tag on a card.  We love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Paper:  Neenah Solar White; Basic Black (SU)
Ink:  Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey (Distress Ink)
Accessories:  Traditional Tags STAX (My Favorite Things); Palm Fancy die (Hero Arts); Cheviot Butterfly die, Delaney Butterfly die (Poppystamps); Thanks die (Simon Says Stamp); black rhinestones (KaiserCraft); jumbo eyelet (We R Memory Keepers); black seam binding ribbon, black crochet thread

Painted Butterflies Thank You

I'm on vacation this week from work and I've discovered some wonderful things:  time to sleep in and time to craft!  I don't like to sleep too late but I will admit it's nice to not have to be up and ready to leave for work by 8:00 in the morning.  I've been working outside to clean up the patio, spray the weeds (I can't believe they're here already) and get the veggie garden ready for planting.  And guess what?  After all that I STILL have time to get crafty.  If this is what retirement looks like I can't wait!

Yesterday I made a card for a few challenges.  The sketch at Hand Stamped Sentiments was combined with the colors at Color Throwdown and it was easy to add in a "thank you" for the ShowCASE Your Style challenge.

I did cheat a little and put my sentiment in a different place than the sketch but I wanted my butterflies to appear to be flying up and to the left which would have put the sentiment in a weird spot to my eye.  So I put it down and to the left.  I hope that doesn't get me kicked out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Painted Butterflies (Altenew)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  So Saffron, Crushed Curry (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  enamel dots (Studio Calico)

Freshly Made Sketches 183

It was with some horror that I realized that I had not made a Christmas card since January!  I hate scrambling around at the end of the year making holiday cards so I figured I better get going making those cards.  Freshly Made Sketches to the rescue!  Linda's sketch was perfect for what I had in mind!

This is the second time this week I've flipped a sketch - I'm not usually such a rebel.  But the little pooch fit better that way!  Incidentally, the challenge this week at Merry Monday is to use a cat or a dog on your Christmas card.  Hence the impetus to make a Christmas card and the use of this little hot-dog!

The always-amazing Freshly Made Sketches design team has some fun takes on the sketch this week so be sure to check them out.  See you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Santa Paws (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Jolly Holiday DSP (SU); Neenah Solar White; X-Press It Blending Card
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (SU); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Copics
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangle die (Lawn Fawn); enamel dots (Doodlebug)

colourQ 288

It has been a dog's age since I set foot in my craft room and got serious with some ink and paper.  Last week was oddly busy for me and I just didn't have time to do any creating.  Thankfully, a new palette from colourQ called a halt to my hiatus!  And this color combo happens to be a favorite of mine.  Who's kidding who?  Anything with Kiwi Kiss is a favorite of mine!

It's also been a dog's age since I used this splotchy flower stamp.  I forgot how fun it was!  I love how it can be layered with the two sizes of the flower image.  I used the latest Sketch Saturday as my layout, although I flipped it around.  I have this weird thing about using horizontal sentiments vertically and I didn't have any vertical sentiments so the easiest thing for me was to flip the sketch!

There are some fantastic cards to see from the amazing colourQ design team so be sure to check them out.  We'd love to see you in the gallery this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Awesome Blossom (The Alley Way Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White (SU)
Ink:  Bermuda Bay (SU); Simply Chartreuse, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Pierced Square STAX (My Favorite Things); Make It Merry button (October Afternoon); black thread

Freshly Made Sketches 182!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new sketch from your friends at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week Rita is our hostess and I love her sketch.  It's absolutely perfect for any ideas you might have swimming around in your head!

I was in a super hero mood again, especially after I saw the latest Cupcake Inspirations challenge :)  so I grabbed this super girl and a bright yellow layer that I had previously embossed with stars.  I colored her up, stuck her in front of an exploding star, layered some fun primary colors and I was done!

There are flowers and balloons and airplanes to be seen at the Freshly Made Sketches blog brought to you by our always amazing design team, so be sure to check them out.  I can't wait to see you in the gallery this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  You're Super (My Favorite Things); Label Love (Altenew)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Whisper White (SU); X-Press It Blending Card
Ink:  Night of Navy (SU); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Copics
Accessories:  Starry Night stencil (Memory Box); Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (SU); Bam Bubbles die (Paper Smooches); translucent embossing paste (Dreamweaver)

colourQ 287

This week the palette at colourQ is one of my favorite kinds.  A little dark, a little light and a POP of color (inspired by these mugs)!  For my color I chose red, because my friend Jen said I should!

I thought the inspiration this week at Muse was perfect for my monochromatic + some color card.  Never mind that I made a very similar card a few weeks ago.  (I think I may have CASEd myself)!  Sue me - I love this stamp set and it's perfect for this sort of layout.

I can't wait to see the colourQ gallery this week.  This kind of color combo always inspires some gorgeous cards!  And if you take the time to check out the cards from our design team you'll see a preview of what I mean!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes (Papetrey Ink); Texture Stamp (Darkroom Door)
Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); White (Spectrum Noir); Basic Black, Real Red (SU)
Ink:  Going Gray, Real Red (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangle die (Lawn Fawn); enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

HB2U

I had some extra time last night so I sat down at my desk to get crafty and managed a rare four-fer.  That's right.  I made a card combing four challenges!  That doesn't happen very often around here!

This is a pretty simple card, but also colorful.  The challenge this week at Less Is More is one layer with splatters.  Easy peasy with a stencil by the exact same name!  And speaking of stencils, that just happens to be the challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  Next I chose my colors from the Color Throwdown and finished it up with the layout at CAS(E) This Sketch!

Whew!  That was exhausting!  Actually this was a pretty simple card to put together.  Splash down some color, add a bold sentiment and DONE!  I wish all my cards came together so easily!

Yesterday the weather was absolutely glorious!  The sun was shining, the temperatures were warm and I'm convinced that spring is here to stay!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Big Words (Mama Elephant)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake (SU); Canyon Clay, Simply Chartreuse (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Splatters stencil (Tim Holtz)

Bird Crazy

One of my crafty goals for 2015 was to try some things that were new to me.  One of those was coloring with pencils.  I had some cheap pencils in my stash, but they were pretty awful at coloring (which is odd since that's what their #1 job was) so I bought some quality pencils to replace them.  I watched some videos on how to use them and then tried them myself.  What you are about to see is my first attempt!

Not great, but not horrible I say to myself.  The layout comes from the latest sketch at The Challenge. You will notice that I stamped the bird too low and had to move the sentiment "banner" to the top of my card instead of where it should be on the sketch.

Incidentally, what you see here is only half of the sentiment.  On the inside of the card it continues "and the possibilities are endless."  I couldn't get the whole thing to fit on the front of the card without it looking too ridiculous so I had to settle for an "inside and out" card!

The sun hasn't been shining here in what feels like forever and the forecast is for a warm, sunny weekend so I am really looking forward to having the sun shine on my face!  Hopefully I can sneak in some crafting too while I'm enjoying the good weather!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Bird Crazy (Tim Holtz); Say It How It Is (Dyan Reaveley)
Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Sweet  Pea DSP (SU); Solar White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black Licorice (My Favorite Things)
Accessories:  Prismacolor Pencils; Pierced Rectangle STAX (My Favorite Things)

Freshly Made Sketches 181

Hello all!  It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week I am the hostess with the mostess and I hope there aren't too many groans out there when you see the sketch because it's got a tilted layer!

I really don't know what came over me when I designed this sketch because I'm not usually a tilted layer kind of person.  I guess I just wanted to mix things up a bit.  And, of course, I used a little poetic license for the horizontal layer on my own card by using this big die cut sentiment in its place.  I put two layers of black together then layered a pink layer on top slightly askew so that the black was visible behind it.

Once again our Freshly Made Sketches design team has done wonders with my little sketch and I know that everyone who joins us this week will too.  I love to see the many different designs in the gallery so I hope you'll make some time to join us.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Abstract Poppies (Rubbernecker Stamps)

Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Basic Black, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla (SU)

Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  The Big the Bold and You die (Winnie & Walter); Pierced Rectangle STAX (My Favorite Things)

colourQ 286

Hello everybody!  What a busy time I've been having the last few days.  Who knew that Easter would throw me for such a loop and severely curtail my crafty time!  But I'm back today with a brand new palette from colourQ.  This week our palette is inspired by this insulated tote bag.

Am I the only one who loves seeing bold, rich colors at this time of year?  Usually spring time cards are full of soft, pastel colors but those aren't the colors I normally reach for.  So whenever I see a challenge with colors like these I'm in heaven!

For this card I used a brand new stamp set (new to me anyway).  I love the artsy feel of these images and I thought they would be perfect to show off these colors.  I think I was right!

The challenge this week at Just Us Girls is "spring" and since flowers are such a powerful spring time image for me I'm entering this card over there as well.  After the long, snow-filled winter we've had I'm really looking forward to seeing the first buds of spring.  Here's to their imminent arrival!

As usual, our colourQ design team has got some beautiful cards for you this week using our beautiful palette.  So please head on over there to check them out and I hope that you can join us in the gallery this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  3 Flowers (Rubbernecker Stamps); Much Appreciated (SU); Textures 1 (Florileges Design)

Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)

Ink:  Hello Honey, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Freshly Made Sketches 180

Happy Wednesday!  Yay, we're half way through the work week and, of course, that means a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week the always amazing Jen Timko is our hostess and she's designed an amazing sketch for us!

When I sat at my desk to make my card I had a vague idea to use this super hero guy.  So I stamped him, colored him and hoped for a fabulous idea for the rest of the card.  The rest came much more slowly and had lots of iterations before I settled on this version.

As you can see I took some *ahem* liberties with the sketch but since I got the okay from my Freshly Made Sketches teamies  I forged ahead.  My cityscape takes the place of the horizontal layer and "twine" and with apologies my sentiment is not in the right place.  But I think it's pretty cute and the end result embraces the spirit of the sketch!

I'm also playing along with the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge.  I've never joined them and since this week is "anything goes" and my super dude is a Paper Smooches image I wanted to join in the fun.

The Freshly Made Sketches design team has created some amazing cards for you this week.  Their interpretations of the sketch will get your creative juices flowing for sure.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Super (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Welcome Neighbor (SU); X-Press It Blending Card

Ink:  Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Onyx Black (Versafine); Copics