CAS(E) This Sketch 228

Hold onto you hats folks there's a swirly new challenge starting today at CAS(E) This Sketch!  You might look at the sketch and think of a long winding road.  I looked at the sketch and thought "Christmas!"

I actually had no idea how I was going to interpret this sketch until I saw the white on white challenge at Addicted to CAS.  That put me in mind of a simple card, all layered in white, with a white Christmas sentiment.  Then I thought one of those layers should be white glimmer paper for a bit of pizzazz and that got me thinking about shimmery snowflakes.  So I put all those things together all the while worrying that none of it would show up properly in my photo.  The pic doesn't look too, too bad but in real life this is a looker!

My CAS(E) This Sketch teamies have all interpreted this sketch in really fun ways so be sure to check them out.  You won't be disappointed!  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Dotted Curve die (Poppystamps); Lindemon Snowflake die (Memory Box); "snowflakes" die (White Lotus); Merry Christmas die (Simon Says Stamp); white thread

Freshly Made Sketches 294

Apparently I am in a Christmas mood because I've made two Christmas cards this week!  The first one is for the latest challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  (You'll have to wait for Thursday to see the other one)!  Our hostess and sketch designer is Amy and she's cooked up an instant classic you are going to love.

I was channeling my inner Narelle with this one because I had it all made with the topmost layers sitting on a vanilla card base but I felt like it needed something.  So I added the Chocolate Chip layer topped with some more Very Vanilla.  Just what the doctor ordered!

I changed my card to a square instead of rectangle so that I could play along with The Challenge this week.  And my wreath theme was inspired by the inspiration at Christmas Card Challenges.

It's a bit chilly here and I've got a sweatshirt on as I sit to type this post.  I was positive that summer had arrived but apparently I spoke too soon.  I am assured that the hot weather is coming back at the end of the week and all will be right in my world!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the inspiration from the Freshly Made Sketches design team.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Wreath for All Seasons (Papertrey Ink); Peace on Earth (Verve)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)

Seriously Fabulous

I'm not sure how this happened but I found myself with some free time Sunday night and I managed to make it into my craft room and actually make a couple of cards.  One I'll be posting later in the week but the other is right here!

I made this for the sketch at As You See It using the colors at CAS-ual Fridays and it was super easy to put together.  Once I found an appropriate circle stamp, that is.

Short and sweet for me today.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Fonds Grunge (4enscrap); Brushed Cheers (The Ton)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Hawaiin Shores (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Basic Gray (Stampin' Up!); Hawaiin Shores (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Seriously die (Lil' Inker Designs); enamel dew drops (Freckled Fawn)

CAS(E) This Sketch 227

Hello, hello!  It's time for a new sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch.  It's a classic one for sure designed by N@ Ali.

It's been a while since I used this grid image stamp to take the place of a rectangular "layer" on a card and figured it was high time I took it out and showed it some love.  It's actually one of my favorite images to use for that purpose.  Then I inked up this butterfly image that I've had for ages and never used.  And I am pleased as punch that my wee sentiment fit exactly between the lines of the grid.  And I mean exactly!  Serendipity, that is.  The colors I used come from The Challenge.

The first day of summer here was glorious!  The sun was shining, the temperatures were warm and I enjoyed both of those things when I went for a walk on my lunch hour.  Hopefully there's a lot more where that came from in the days ahead!

Well, that's it for me today.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a chance to check out the inspiration from the design team at CAS(E) This Sketch.  Join us in the gallery too!

Supplies
Stamps:  Off the Grid (Stampin' Up!); A Better You (Clearly Besotted); Hello Hello (The Stamp Market)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah)
Ink:  Hawaiin Shores (Papertrey Ink); Crisp Cantaloupe, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!); Jet Black (Altenew)
Accessories:  enamel dots (Doodlebug Designs)

Freshly Made Sketches 293

Today is the first day of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and I couldn't possibly be more happy about that!  Summer is my favorite season and I am really looking forward to the long, hot days and, hopefully, squeezing in a trip or two to the beach.  Today is also the day where we get to see a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is my friend from the Southern Hemisphere, Karren.  Take a look at her awesome sketch and my inspiration from it.

I went with a square card partly because the die I had to cut that rounded shape was just big enough for my square layout and I had it in my head that I was going to use the umbrella-holding man and I liked how he fit perfectly onto the white layer.  The colors that I used come from the Just Us Girls challenge and originally I had the base of this card being yellow.  But as I was experimenting with how to best add in the aqua color I realized that the card looked a whole lot better with an aqua base.  The yellow I added by a few Nuvo drops.  (And I'll just add that Karren, enabler extraordinaire, was the one who convinced me that I needed Nuvo drops in the first place)!

I hope you can find time to join us at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our always-amazing design team has cooked up some beautiful cards to inspire you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Life's Possibilities (Tim Holtz)
Paper:  Hawaiin Shores (Papertrey Ink); Solar White (Neenah)
Ink:  Hawaiin Shores, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Stitched Basic Edges die (My Favorite Things); Dandelion Yellow Nuvo Crystal Drops (Tonic Studios)

Tag You're It 72

I always love when Friday comes around.  It's the end of the work week, the start of a little weekend rest and relaxation, and it's also the day when you get to see some new inspiration at Tag You're It.  This month our Guest Featured Artist is Lindsey Larsen and I love the crisp, clean lines of her tag.

I used a big square tag so that I could accomodate that big die cut sentiment and I used basically the same colors as our inspiration tag.  I didn't have an intricate cover-up die so I improvised by cutting a big leafy image and wall papering the front of my tag with it.  Then it was easy peasy to stick on the sentiment and add some gold organdy ribbon tied with a bit of gold cord.   I think I'll put this tag on a cardbase for a quick and easy thank you card.

Thanks for stopping by and there's still plenty of time to play along with us.  Check out all the details at Tag You're It.   I'm sure you'll be inspired by the DT to play along!

CAS(E) This Sketch 226

It's Thursday so that means there's a brand new challenge over at CAS(E) This Sketch!  I decided to do a little one layer number this week.

I recently got this pretty stamp set and was anxious to ink it up.  I masked the flower so that I could stamp the leaves then drew a border around all the images with a glittery black pen.  For that little half moon shape I subsituted a couple of home-made "enamel" dots.  I was going to add a bold sentiment stamped across the images but decided in the end that this flower was just too pretty to cover up!

Well that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you've got some time to check out the inspiration from the CAS(E) This Sketch design team.  And I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Peony Bouquet (Altenew)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  Frosty Pink, Coral Berry, Grapevine, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Evergreen (Altenew)
Accessories:  Black atyou Spica pen; Nuvo crystal drops

Freshly Made Sketches 292

We had a little heat wave earlier this week.  It had been 90+ degrees since Sunday and I loved it!  I was built to live in a hot climate but for some reason I got stuck in a place where it's hot only for part of the year.  I'll have to remedy that some day!

But on to bigger and better things.  Today is Wednesday so that means we've got a brand new challenge for you at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our friend across the pond, Cécile, has give us a fantastic graphic sketch.  I can't wait to see the gallery light up with your designs!

I used these dotted circles in ever darker shades of purple (hope you can see the big one, it's a bit light in the pic).  I chose this color for no other reason that I just got the ink pads and I wanted to take them for a test run!  This is an uber CAS one layer card and I love how it came out.

My Freshly Made Sketches fellow teamies have cooked up some great cards for you this week.  I loved seeing how everyone interpreted the sketch.  I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Halftone Circles (Altenew); Keep it Simple:  Just a Note (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris, Jet Black (Altenew)

CAS(E) This Sketch 225

It's that time again where I all of a sudden need a graduation card.  And I mean suddenly because the four years it took my nephew to finish college positively flew by!  I don't need a card for him until July so I've got loads of time to experiment with just the right design.

Today I've got a card using the latest sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch designed by yours truly.  Originally I no plans make a graduation card but that idea took root in my mind and I ran with it.

The school colors are purple and white so I had to incorporate those into my card and the black is a nod to the traditional color of the gown graduates wear.  I used a stencil that is sort of grungy in look with some jumbled up numbers in the corners.  That's what actually gave me the idea to put the 2017 on my card in place of the square on the sketch.  Kind of like the numbers tumbled around then arranged themselves into the year on the opposite corner.  Ha!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

There's a graduation theme at Addicted to CAS and a masculine theme at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge so I'll pop this card over there as well.

Thanks for stopping by!  The ladies at CAS(E) This Sketch have made some amazing cards using my sketch so be sure to check them out.  I hope to see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Paper:  Black (Simon Says Stamp); Solar White (Neenah); Grape Jelly (My Favorite Things)
Accessories:  Trame Tissues et Chiffres stencil (Carabelle Studio); Numbers Set Medium die (KaiserCraft); black embossing paste (Wendy Vecchi); sequins (The Ton)

Freshly Made Sketches 291

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week Jen Brum is our hostess and her sketch made me think of patterned paper.....at first.

I totally intended to use some patterned paper for those two rectangle layers and accent them with some flowers (the "circle") but then I stumbled upon an old stamp set with bowling balls and thought "that would work!"  That negated the need for patterned paper and I was able to make a one layer card instead.

I hand-drew the rectangle layers and just drew the bottom one around the bowling pins.  I've had this stamp set since my mother joined a bowling league a few years ago and I think I've only used it once before today.  I'm pretty sure I intended to send her punny cards, but oh well!  Now it's good for the challenge at Retro Rubber.  I think I'll also join the masculine challenge at Stamp Ink Paper.

Thanks for stopping by.  My Freshly Made Sketches teamies have made some beautiful cards with this sketch so be sure to check them out!

Supplies
Stamps:   Balls to You (Unity Stamp Company)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Copics

CAS(E) This Sketch 224

The calendar says June 1st but the weather doesn't!  Spring has been very slow to make an appearance around here.  It's been cold and rainy a lot lately and I really would like to see the sun and go outside without a jacket!

Luckily, being Thursday, there's a new challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch that will make me forget all about the un-May-like weather!

I took a liberal interpretation of Hannelie's sketch this week.  Instead of squares I used some sprigs of greenery.  I chose these warm colors and a burlap impression plate to make this a bit rustic looking for the Merry Monday Christmas challenge.

Be sure to pop on over to CAS(E) This Sketch and check out the amazing cards from the design team.  I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Sketchy Christmas (Precious Remembrance)
Paper:  Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Holiday Greens Mini die (Tim Holtz); Rustic Burlap impression plate (Papertrey Ink)