Freshly Made Sketches 399

It's hard to believe but we are at sketch #399 at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  That's a lot of sketches!  This week our sketch designer is Jen Brum and she has given us a sketch with three squares.....my favorite - NOT!  I think she is punishing me for a big circle I put on a sketch a few weeks ago! LOL!

But never fear.  After much contemplation I figured out how to tackle this sketch.  I chose this small poinsettia image which I stamped onto small squares.  Then in the fourth space I stamped a simple holiday message.  I put all of that on a layer with a running border of punched dotted circles around the edge.  I like this card way more than I thought I would! LOL!  After I made this I realized it would fit the Less is More challenge of "small images."  As per their guidelines each image here is less than 2 x 2.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm so happy that I was able to add to my Christmas card stash with this card.  I wonder how you will be inspired to join us at Freshly Made Sketches with this sketch!

Supplies
Stamps:  Joyous Noel (Verve)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah)
Ink:  Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Dual Dotted Square die (Lil' Inker Designs)

CAS(E) This Sketch 332 Meets Fusion

It's that time again when I combine the sketch challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch with the inspiration challenge at Fusion.  This time around the inspiration at Fusion was a groovy tie dye with a kindness twist.  Try as I might I had nothing in my stash that resembled tie dye and had no ideas on how to create it so I went for the next best option:  watercolor!

However, I did manage to incorporate a kindness theme using this beautiful sentiment from the now defunct Verve.  That vertical watercolor is not something I created myself - it's beautiful patterned paper from My Favorite Things - but I did get a little creative by utilizing it as negative space.  The two white layers on either side are popped up on foam tape to give some dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!  We've got some great challenges at CAS(E) This Sketch and Fusion so I hope you have time to check them out!  My fellow design team members have made some great cards with their respective challenges so I hope you check them out.

Supplies
Stamps:  Kind Words (Verve)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black Licorice, Watercolor Wash (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)

Freshly Made Sketches 398

Helloo!  It's time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our hostess is Cècile and can I just say that I was in love with her sketch as soon as I saw it!

I used a stencil and embossing paste to make those angled lines then put a daisy on top.  Done!  My daisy was inspired by the challenge at Addicted to CAS and those lines were inspired by the stencil challenge at CAS on Friday. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Our Freshly Made Sketches design team have created some fantastic cards with this sketch so be sure to check them out.  I hope you'll join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Summer Starfruit (Stampin' Up!)
Accesssories:  Daisy die (La-La Land Crafts); Stripes stencil (Tim Holtz); white embossing paste (Dreamweaver); enamel dot (My Mind's Eye)

Tag You're It 92

I am pleased as punch to say that I am the hostess at Tag You're It this fortnight!  Since it is July and only 159 days until Christmas (!) I thought I'd give everyone some incentive to get cracking on those Christmas tags!

I'm a sucker for evergreens and berries paired with a warm color like the color of the basket in this photo.  So when I sat down at my desk to make my tag I wanted to stay as close to those design elements as possible plus I threw in a little buffalo plaid as well.

I'm still amazed at all the Christmas in July challenges that I keep finding.  So, or course, I joined in the fun!  The colors at Christmas Card Throwdown were perfect for my tag.  And the sketch at Global Design Project allowed me to show off the greens plus my sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!  My fellow Tag You're It Challenge teammates have made some incredible tags to inspire you so I hope you will join us.

Supplies
Stamps:  Sending Joy (Papertrey Ink); Fa La La (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Truffle (Avery Elle); Desert Storm (Neenah); Real Red, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Truffle, Jungle (Avery Elle); Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:  Traditional Tag STAX, Pierced Traditional Tags STAX (My Favorite Things); linen thread, jumbo eyelet (Stampin' Up!); enamel dots (My Mind's Eye); burlap thread

CAS(E) This Sketch 331

It's time for a new challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch!  This week our sketch is designed by the super talented Brian.  I'll admit those vertical layers gave me pause but I ended up finding a scrap of patterned paper with some long stripes in my stash so I separated the stripes into the correct sizes a-la the sketch and away I went!

I also wondered about the bottom layer and as I often do when I'm in a card-making pickle I go to vellum to save the day.  So I ripped a couple of strips and they became that bottom layer on the sketch.  Then I added this little gnome and a Christmas sentiment as I was done!

There are Christmas challenges all over the place so I'm going to play along with the Crazy for Challenges this week.  You know what's really crazy?  Thinking about Christmas when it's 90-degrees outside!

Thanks for stopping by!  My CAS(E) This Sketch teammates have made some fabulous cards with this sketch so be sure to check them out.  I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  A Gnome Winter (Picket Fence Studios); Travelers' Journal December Typed Words (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Vellum, Ski Slope DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Nocturne (Versafine Clair); Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); Copics

Freshly Made Sketches 397

I'm on vacation this week (yay!) and I've got a big to-do list that I'm working on.  I'm convinced that homeownership is nothing but a series of things that need to be fixed!  But I took a break from that list to make my card for our latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Our hostess this week is Kim and she put three circles on the sketch that had me thinking of anything else but circles!

I actually first thought of using something like checkboxes in place of those circles, but the stamp sets that I have with check boxes were much too small.  So I had a look through some other sets and stumbled upon these keyboard images and knew that they would be perfect.  There were a couple of long sentiments in the same set that took the place of the vertical layers on the sketch.

Once I had the design down I kept thinking it was too plain so I decided to add the grid stamp behind the sentiment stamps.  I wanted the grid to be subtle and experimented with a couple of soft grays before I settled on this one.  Then I added a slim layer in a dark, mustard yellow around the whole thing.  The challenge this week at Just Us Girls is to let the sentiment be the focal point and I think this fits the bill.

Thanks for stopping by!  My Freshly Made Sketches teammates have made some beautiful cards with this sketch so be sure to check them out.  We hope you'll join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Off the Grid (Stampin' Up!); Tech Talk (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Honey Nut (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Going Gray (Stampin' Up!); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)

CAS(E) This Sketch 330 Meets Fusion

Well here I go combining the latest challenges at CAS(E) This Sketch and Fusion!  Since it's July I decided to go with a Christmas theme! LOL!  I don't know how "Christmas in July" became a thing but I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon - especially if it helps me with my Christmas card stash. 😉

The Fusion inspiration is "ombre" so I started with this big "JOY" stamp and carefully sponged on some colors in shades of pink and red in ombre fashion.  Then to make sure I was following the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge I added a slim sentiment strip. Easy peasy!

There are a couple of other challenges that I played along with too.  AAA Cards is looking for "maxi" white space and Christmas and Watercooler Wednesday is an "all about occasions" challenge.  This was obviously a sign to dig out those Christmas stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!  My teammates at CAS(E) This Sketch and Fusion have made some amazing cards to inspire you to play along with our challenge!

Supplies
Stamps:  Joy (Concord & 9th); Stained Glass Greetings (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah)
Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Strawberry Slush, Rose Red (Stampin' Up!)

Freshly Made Sketches 396

It's hard to believe that another week has rolled around and we are set to reveal a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our hostess is Linda and I swear I've got those cross hairs on my card!

I embossed some lines horizontally and vertically on my card a-la the sketch but they are really hard to see in the picture.  Trust me, they are there!  Then I cut a layer smaller then those embossed lines and stamped a bokeh design in bright yellow on it (so I could play along with the Cupcake Inspiration "shades of yellow" challenge).  I added a big ol' sentiment and was done! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Our Freshly Made Sketches design team has got some great cards to inspire you to play along with us.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Text & Texture Bokeh (Papertrey Ink); You Matter (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Harvest Gold (Papertrey Ink); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)

CAS(E) This Sketch 329

Happy Independence Day to all my American friends!  I hope you are enjoying a day off work, some hamburgers and hot dogs in the back yard, and all the fireworks you can handle!

Today is also the debut of a new sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch!  The sketch has three rectangles on it which gave me an excuse to dip into my never-ending supply of patterned paper.

I was also inspired by the light and airy colors at CAS on Friday and so arranged my rectangles in those colors in a mix of patterned paper and colored card stock.  I added a simple birthday sentiment and this card was done!  Easy peasy!  I celebrate those cards because they don't happen all that often!

My fellow CAS(E) This Sketch teammies have made some amazing cards with this sketch so be sure to check them out!  I hope you'll join us in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Sentimental Birthday (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Pool Party, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay, Walk in the Park DSP, Welcome Neighbor DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Bermuda Bay (Stamin' Up!)

Freshly Made Sketches 395

It's my turn to be the hostess at Freshly Made Sketches and, as I frequently do, I designed a square card!  I just love those because they are somewhat unexpected!  For my card I did a bit of a "fancy fold" which presented some challenges when I had to take pictures of it, so I apologize in advance for the lousy pics!

As you can see from the next two pictures, this card opens in thirds.   I had a terrible time getting the folded version to stay in place long enough to snap a picture.  Temporary tape was useless so I added a tiny bit of permanent tape and crossed by fingers that I could unstick it when I was done!  The next two pics were almost as difficult, but I just snapped a couple of quick picks with my phone and called it a day.

I played along with the tic-tac-toe challenge at The Paper Players - the last row across - although my "wood" is of the faux variety!  And the fancy fold idea came from Just Us Girls .

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you are inspired to play along with my sketch.  As always our Freshly Made Sketches design team has created some amazing cards for you to see.  See you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps: Splendid Sunflower (My Favorite Things); Sentimental Birthday (Winnie & Walter); Make A Wish Quotes (Fiskars)
Paper:  Desert Storm (Neenah); Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Harvest Gold, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Splendid Sunflower die (My Favorite Things); Old Olive ribbon (Stampin' Up!)