Freshly Made Sketches 597

We've got a great new challenge for you at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our hostess is Jacquie and she gave us this great landscape-oriented sketch that I accidentally turned to portrait!  Oops!

I'm pretty sure at one point I knew this card was supposed to be landscape, but somehow I turned it around in my head.  I didn't even realize my mistake until I went to add this card to our design team blog.  By then it was too late to fix, but I think it works anyway!  My flowers represent the two vertical layers and for the horizontal layer I used washi tape and a thin sentiment strip.  These fun colors are inspired by the Cupcake Inspiration challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  As always our Freshly Made Sketches design team has cooked up some amazing cards to inspire you to play along with us!

Supplies
Stamps:  Simple Sentiments (Avery Elle); Truth Is (CAS-ual Friday Stamps)
Paper:  Lemon Grass, The Everyday Collection (Avery Elle); Taken With Teal, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Nocturne (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:  washi tape

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)

Freshly Made Sketches 347

I'm back after a little stamping hiatus!  I'm actually halfway through my second week of vacation and up until now I've been so busy crossing things off of my vacation to-do list that I had no time do any crafting.  But I've traded in my paintbrush and pitchfork for some cardstock and ink and I got busy in my craft room just in time for our newest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week our hostess is Kim and her sketch is an instant classic!

I recently discovered that I like to use this particular floral stamp set!  It's been in my stash for a while but had remained un-inked for a long time.  I like the shape of the tropical leaves and the flower is fun, so I've used it a couple of times recently.  For this card I used the colors from the latest Sunday Stamps challenge to create my little floral spray. 

Sadly, I'll be back in my office in a few days - vacation will be over {insert sad face here}.  But I'm happy to say that I've had a productive couple of weeks and accomplished quite a lot around the house.  But I will say it's nice to be back in my craft room getting all inky!

Thanks for stopping by!  Our amazing Freshly Made Sketches design team has created some awesome cards to inspire you to play along with us.  And this week we say farewell to our July guest designer Caly Person.  It's been such a treat having her along with us and seeing her fabbo cards!

Supplies
Stamps:  Tropical Flowers (My Favorite Things); WTF (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); So Saffron, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  So Saffron (Stampin' Up!); Lagoon (Altenew); Nocturne (Versamark Clair)

CAS(E) This Sketch 266

Initially I had a lot of ideas swirling around my head when I sat down to make my card for this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge.  Those three circles made me think of lots of things:  flowers, coffee stains, abstract grungy images, just to name a few.  But in the end I was inspired by a stamp set that I spied as I was looking through my stash for some of the other aforementioned stamps!

Sometimes this "sentiment" is just the thing to make me smile after a long day at work.  This card is uber CAS with just a simple white and black background and is one-layer to boot.  At Just Us Girls they are looking for CAS so I'm pretty sure this fits the bill there!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can join us at CAS(E) This Sketch!  Our design team has got some fantastic cards to inspire you!

Supplies
Stamps:  Tech Talk (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  White (Catherine Pooler)
Ink:  Jet Black (Altenew)

Freshly Made Sketches 301

Today we've got a new sketch debuting at Freshly Made Sketches.  But before I get to that I'd like to thank everyone that played along with last week's sketch.  It was #300 and that's a milestone to be proud of.  Week in and week out there is inspiration to be found over there (both from the design team and from the participants in the gallery) and that's what this card-making hobby is all about.  So thank you for supporting Freshly Made Sketches.  Here's to 300 more!

This week our sketch is brought to you by Jen Brum.  I had a little trouble with the angle of that diagonal layer.  Mine ended up being a mirror image but I think you get the idea!

I wanted a simple Christmas card and this sketch was perfect to show off that big, elegant snowflake.  There's a "peace on earth" challenge going on at Jingle Belles and luckily I had a sentiment that fit perfectly on that diagonal layer.  Both the snowflake and the sentiment were heat embossed in gold.

Thanks for stopping by!  And do be sure to check out our 301st challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!

Supplies

Stamps:  Star of Light (Stampin' Up!); Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Taste of Textiles (Stampin' Up!)

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Stitched Basic Edges die (My Favorite Things; gold embossing powder

Freshly Made Sketches 289!

It's time for another great challenge from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week Linda has designed our sketch and you are going to love it!

The "flowers" in the sketch turned into squares on my card which gave me an excuse to call this a "man-card."  I'll confess that the color challenge at Just Us Girls was real incentive to that end.  And in keeping with a no-frills masculine theme I followed the AAA Challenge and turned the square on the sketch to a square of embossing paste using a new-to-me stencil, and the shapes I've used are quite geometric which follows the latest Less is More challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.  There's loads of inspiration over at Freshly Made Sketches so be sure to check out the design team cards.  I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Supplies

Stamps:  WTF (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Paper:  Cloud White (Reverse Confetti); Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!)

Ink:  Jet Black (Altenew)

Accessories:  Mosaic stencil (Tim Holtz); white embossing paste (Dreamweaver)

CAS(E) This Sketch 197!

I'm on a little bit of a Christmas kick this week.  The challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch gave me another opportunity to add to my stash!

I went digging deep into my stash for this card.  I was rooting around for some patterned paper when I happened upon some specialty paper that was in shades of kraft and brown.  The brown in particular was special because it was a nice heavy weight and had subtle speckles all through it.  The kraft had subtle stripes that gave the illusion of texture.  I opted to use the kraft paper for a solid background and to accommodate the  sketch I created some angled "layers" using some burlap twine.  The Christmas tree was die cut from the brown speckled layer and it's really hard to see in the pic but that paper is absolutely gorgeous....which explains why I've barely cut into it.  #paperhoarder

You'll find me at Christmas Card Challenges with this one too.  Along with the other 200+ entries.  I suppose that means everyone is starting to get worried that Christmas card mailing deadlines are not that far away!

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to check out our latest CAS(E) This Sketch challenge for lots of inspiration.  I hope you can join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Cocoa Bean (Papertrey Ink); Taste of Textiles (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Sketch Tree die (Memory Box); burlap twine

CAS(E) This Sketch 194!

Another Christmas card done!  Whew!  This one I made for the latest challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.

I was going around and around in my craft room trying to find the right supplies to use for those horizontal layers.  I finally stamped the line and dotted image that you can see through the washi tape just so that I could put something on the front of my card.  So then I sat and stared at what I had done and wondered how I could make it better.  My endless supply of washi tape started calling me so I put some silver striped tape down over the stamped line and luckily that line still showed through.  Then I thought some shimmery paper would be just thing to jazz things up so I cut a small sliver then stuck that down.  A pink Christmas sentiment and I could join the pink challenge at Jingle Belles!

My CAS(E) This Sketch teamies have got some fabulous cards to show you using this challenge so I hope you check them out.  I hope to see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Handwritten Holidays (Tim Holtz); Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Silver Glimmer (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Coral Berry (Altenew)
Accessories:  Love Glitter Sprinkles (Doodlebug Design); washi tape

CAS(E) This Sketch 188

Happy Thursday!  I am one day closer to a long weekend and I am really looking forward to it.  But before that happens we've got a new challenge for you at CAS(E) This Sketch.  This week our design comes to you from Sam Simpson.

The color challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is an old favorite of mine:  black, white, and a pop of color.  More often or not when I see a challenge like this the color I choose is something bright - like Daffodil Delight.  I kept the rectangle layer simple - just some splatters and an outline floral image.  Enamel dots take the place of the three little flags.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have time to join us at CAS(E) This Sketch this week.  Our amazing design team has made some beautiful cards to inspire you!

Supplies
Stamps:  Truth Is (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps); Gorgeous Grunge (SU)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Basic Black, Daffodil Delight (SU)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight (SU); Jet Black (Altenew)
Accessories:  Thanks Script die (Mama Elephant); Enamel Dew Drops (Freckled Fawn) 

CAS(E) This Sketch 178!

This week at CAS(E) This Sketch we've got a perfectly clean and simple layout for you.  I went one layer with this one using the colors from Can You Case It and the CAS celebration challenge at the Paper Players.

Over at the Paper Players they are celebrating their 300th challenge!  Can you believe it?  That's an amazing milestone to achieve and I couldn't be happier for them. My celebration card features some dandelions that are doing double-duty as fireworks and the coolest celebration sentiment there is!

Many, many years ago Lesley, who created the Paper Players, asked me to be a guest designer over there for a month.  Once I got over the shock that someone who wasn't related to me actually liked some of the cards I created, I replied with a resounding YES!  That was the first time I got to share some of my projects with a new audience and the experience gave me confidence to realize that what I was creating was pleasing to people.  What a cool thing that was.  Well fast forward a few years and here I am celebrating with them again.  Some of the faces have changed over there, but the inspiration and craftiness prevails!  So ladies, congratulations on this wonderful achievement and here's to 300 more!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I'll get to see you in the CAS(E) This Sketch gallery this week!

Supplies
Stamps:  Dandelion Dreams (Clearly Besotted); Exclamations (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir)
Ink:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Real Red (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  sequins

colourQ 347!

There was something very cool that appealed to me about the colors this week at colourQ.  Despite the blouse-wearing model in the inspiration pic I could see these colors as masculine.   And yet I could also see them as very warm and not-so-masculine.  As is my habit when I see colors I go looking for a sketch and stumbled across this great one from Match the Sketch which tipped me into the masculine camp.

I used some translucent embossing paste to create some texture on the brown layer then dug into what I believe is the last piece of Blush Blossom card stock I own to cut those little squares.  I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of Blush Blossom but it is pretty and I confess to feeling a little twinge when I cut it.  It's like the end of an era because I know of no color that is similar to it.  Do you?

As you will not be surprised to read, our colourQ design team has created some really beautiful cards using these colors so be sure to check them out.  I hope we get to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Tech Talk (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Smoky Slate, Peach Parfait, Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White )SU)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Distress Grid stencil (Sheena); Pierced Square STAX (My Favorite Things); translucent embossing paste (Dreamweaver)

Merry Monday 125

It's Monday so that means it's time for a new challenge at Merry Monday.  This week Debbie is challenging us to use a vehicle or some kind of transportation on our card.  Well that was a stumper for me as I didn't have anything like the cute images the design team used.  But as I perused my stash I stumbled on an image that is connected to transportation in a fictional, fantasy-land kind of way.  Don't judge me!

The image you see is a reindeer.  And reindeer are what Santa use to pull his sleigh all over the world on Christmas Eve.  And a sleigh, of course, is a type of transportation.  And this particular reindeer is so good at what he does that he won first place, as is evident by the red ribbon he wears!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The layout for my card comes from the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and my only regret with my interpretation of the sketch is that I wish my circle was a bit smaller.  I think it would have shown up my reindeer friend a little better.  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get the chance to add to your Christmas card stash by joining us this week at Merry Monday.  The design team has got some great cards to inspire you so be sure to check them out!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Brushed Silver, Ski Slope DSP (SU)

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Pierced Circle STAX (My Favorite Things); Large Stitched Rectangle Stackable (Lawn Fawn); Christmas Reindeer Silhouette (for Silhouette Cameo); gold embossing powder

Freshly Made Sketches 140

A funny thing happened on the way to making my card this week for Freshly Made Sketches.  The instant, and I do mean the instant, that I saw Linda's sketch I thought of this slightly raunchy stamp set.  Now, this in no way should be a reflection on Linda.  She's one of the most quiet and introverted stampers I know and would never endorse the use of a stamp like this.  Ha ha.  Fooled you!  She's actually one of the funniest, hippest and coolest people I know and I'm pretty sure she won't mind that I used this set for her sketch.

One of my sisters is turning the big 5-0 on the 19th of this month and I'm certain that she's not too happy about that.  Todays 50 is a lot different than when my own parents were 50 (gosh, did they seem old), so my sister really doesn't have much to be afraid of.  She tends to be a little on the serious side so I enjoy giving her a little shock now and then and this little stamp set fits the bill!  I think I might actually re-do it and stamp the "who's turning fifty" part on the inside of the card to not give away the punch line too soon.  She also favors fun, bright colors that are reminiscent of summer and, lucky for me, the challenge at Cupcake Inspirations was perfect for that.

So you know the drill.  The Freshly Made Sketches design team has got some fantastic cards to inspire you so on the off chance that you arrived here before there then I highly encourage you to take a moment to check out the inspiration from the design team and then, appropriately challenged, get ready to ink up some stamps and join us in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Stamps:  WTF (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink); Pool Party, Calypso Coral (SU)

Ink:  Calypso Coral (SU)

Hash Tag Life is Good

I really loved the simplicity of the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch and thought it would look especially good when paired with the monochromatic challenge at Colour Me.  But in order to create what I was envisioning in my head, I had to turn the sketch upside down, something I don't normally do!

I actually tried another image first before going with this billowy outlined flower.  But the first image was too chunky and after I popped it up on foam it looked like a giant pimple on the front of my card.  Definitely not the look I was going for.  

Monochromatic often means simple to me and I wanted to do justice to all the white space on the sketch so I kept the design rather minimal.  But to prevent the washi tape from looking lost amid all that space I added a bit of texture with some grungy images stamped behind it.  I love how adding random images like that seems to give a card texture.

It's a beautiful day here just in time for Mother's Day.  I hope you mothers out there have a wonderful, relaxing day!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU); Truth Is (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps); #Hashtags (Tim Holtz)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Solar White (Neenah); Basic Black (SU)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (My Favorite Things)

Accessories:  washi tape

colourQ 233 and Seize the Sketch 16

Happy Tuesday!  Today I've got an exciting blend of color and sketch!  The colors are the latest gorgeous palette from colourQ inspired by this bedding and the sketch is brought to you by the uber talented Jen Nelson for Seize the Sketch.  So let's get to it!

My supply of Going Gray is dwindling and I don't know where to find a substitute.  (If you know of one, I'd love to hear about it).  It's a lovely gray and I chose to use it for my card base here.  I thought that Indigo Island looked pretty fantastic next to it, especially once I added the stripes done in translucent embossing paste.  However, in true form, I discovered that once my card was made I had left off the banners on the sketch so improvised by using some hardware and ribbon on the opposite side of the square layer.

My teamies at colourQ and Seize the Sketch have got some projects that are designed to amaze and delight you into joining us this week in our challenges.  And this week we welcome two new designers to our Seize the Sketch team!  Katie Melhus and Lee Ann Barrett!  Be sure to pop on by their blogs and say Hi!!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes (SU); Truth Is (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Paper:  Going Gray, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Basic Gray (SU)

Accessories:  Diagonal Stripes stencil (Simon Says Stamp), Translucent embossing paste (Dreamweaver); Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Mistletoe ribbon (SU); Gray baker's twine (Doodlebug Designs)