Cardabilities 95 and Dynamic Duos 95

I'm back from my recent Scottish adventure and figured I better get back into my craft room before I forgot how to make a card!  Cardabilities is on sketch 95 and coincidentally Dynamic Duos is on their 95th challenge too so I thought that was a very good reason to put them together.

Cardabilities sketches always make me wish I was a different kind of card-maker.  While I tend to a more clean and simple style their sketches make me want to grunge and layer it all up!  I did a little bit of that here with some sponged and stamped images plus some added leaf and butterfly dies.

I feel like I'm all turned around since I got home from my trip.  Yesterday I basically got nothing done except a quick trip to the grocery store.  Today I've got to get my act together and then it's back to work tomorrow.  It's so hard to come back to reality after vacation!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Take Note (Verve); Stitched Together (Close to My Heart); JM16 (Jofy)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Neenah Solar White; Rich Razzleberry (SU); Lavender Moon (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  Soft Sky, Rich Razzleberry (SU)

Accessories:  Dot Fade stencil (Tim Holtz); Lorelai Leaf die, Lorelai Outline Leaf die (Poppystamps); Leanna Butterfly die (Simon Says Stamp); Banner Trio die (WPlus9); Metallic Art pencils (SU)

Freshly Made Sketches 125

This week is our 125th challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  That's quite a milestone, don't you think!  This week's sketch is designed by Narelle and although it is curiously devoid of layers, I somehow suspect that she sneaked a few onto her card anyway.  You better pop on over to her blog to check and make sure!

It's probably no surprise that I kept my CAS card pretty close to the sketch.  The vibrant colors at Dynamic Duos provided the palette and, of course, the always amazing Gorgeous Grunge set the stage for the background.  How did I ever live without that stamp set?  

An awesome sketch, awesome cards from the design team and loads of inspiration!  I hope you have time to join us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU); Funky Florals, Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  White Linen (Ellen Hutson); Wild Wasabi, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango (SU); Pitch Black (Adirondack)

Accessories:  Cute Enamel Dots (My Mind's Eye)

Freshly Made Sketches 121

I really wanted to put some of the things I learned at my stencil class to good use for Linda's sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I wanted to gently spritz some color on the background of my card and then layer some embossing paste over it with a fun stencil.  But I don't own any spritzers in the color that I wanted and I was too chicken to make my own so I used a well-loved splatter stamp instead.  It wasn't quite the look I was going for, but it's close.

Don't you just love this sketch?  I predict that the gallery will be chock full of fun and interesting cards this week!  For my card I stuck with the colors over at Dynamic Duos because I loves me some hot pink and black together!  Throw in a butterfly and I am ALL SET!

So now it's your turn to wow us with your creations in the Freshly Made Sketches gallery.  For some fantastic inspiration check out the beautiful cards from the design team first, then link up!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Papillon Potpourri (SU)

Paper:  White Linen (Ellen Hutson); Neenah Solar White; Basic Black (SU)

Ink:  Melon Mambo

Accessories:  Chevron stencil (Heidi Swapp); embossing paste (Dreamweaver); black rhinestones (KaiserCraft); enamel dew drops (Freckled Fawn)

Freshly Made Sketches 118

And we're back!  That's right after a little holiday hiatus, the gals at Freshly Made Sketches are back and raring to go with a brand new sketch and a brand new gal!  I am fortunate enough to be the hostess for this first sketch of 2014 and I kept it simple for you.  I love seeing how you all take a simple sketch and create something fantastic out of it!  We are also welcoming the newest member of the Freshly Made Sketches design team Karren Johnson!  We love her work and know that if you don't already, you soon will too!

I was oddly stymied as I attempted to make my card this week.  I started out making something altogether different with this sketch before I scrapped it, and made this using the colors from Dynamic Duos.  I dug out a favorite flower stamp and layered it over a favorite flourish die.  The other day I came across a die that I had forgot that I had and realized I probably have a lot of stuff that I don't use simply because I've forgotten all about it.  So I've started an unofficial crafting resolution to make an effort to use long-neglected supplies.  This flower and flourish fit that bill!

As you can imagine the Freshly Made Sketches design team are ready and raring to go with this first sketch of the new year.  They've created some awesome designs with very creative interpretations of the sketch so make sure you check them out.  I can't wait to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Another Thank You (SU); Dream Big (Verve)

Paper:  Summer Starfruit, Garden Green, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP (SU)

Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Garden Green (SU)

Accessories:  Fancy Flourish die, Circle STAX, Pierced Circle STAX (My Favorite Things); Scallop Flowers die (Verve); Garden Green button (SU); crochet thread

I Heart You!

I've been so focused on Christmas lately that it's nice to take a break every so often.  The other day I was contemplating a few challenges and decided that the colors at Dynamic Duos and the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch would make a nice Valentine once I added in the wee hearts from True Colors and the sentiment from Mad Gab. 

The horizontal layer is some stripes made with embossing paste.  I can't stop using that stuff!  I wish I had angled the hearts in a more interesting way, but they are stuck fast and not moving now!

I suspect I'll be back to my regular Christmas programming next.  I still can't believe we're only a week away.  All the gifts are bought, they just need wrapping now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  True Colors, Mad Gab (The Alley Way Stamps)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White; Kraft (Avery Elle); Marina Mist (SU)

Ink:  Marina Mist

Accessories:  Stripes stencil (Tim Holtz); embossing paste (Dreamweaver Stencils)

Eep Op!

When I was a kid I loved to watch The Jetson's.  And in my mind one of the more memorable episodes was when Judy Jetson wrote a song to win a contest and it was sung the by pop star Jet Screamer.  The song was Eep Op Ork Ah Ah and that meant "I Love You!"  My card today is a little homage that hit song!

I used a couple of brand new stamps from The Alley Way Stamps called Gabfest and Meltdown and I played along with the sketch challenge at Sunday Stamps and the colors at Dynamic Duos.  And I have a confession to make.  After I made this card I googled the song title and found out that the second word is actually spelled "Opp."  Apologies to Judy Jetson.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gabfest, Meltdown (The Alley Way Stamps)

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Lucky Limeade, Lucky Limeade DSP (SU)

Ink:  Midnight Muse (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics

Accessories:  Pierced Square STAX, Nesting Squares die (Lifestyle Crafts)

Merry Christmas DD#79 rs90

I tried to knock out another Christmas card using the colors at Dynamic Duos and the sketch from retro sketches.  This one looked better in my head than in the execution.

I used Brushed Silver card stock instead of Smoky Slate because I wanted this to be a bit more sparkly.  I had a bit of trouble getting the "merry" die cut out of the die before I remembered that putting some wax paper between the die and the card stock helps to get it out.  It worked really well.

My mother is taking me bowling with her tomorrow (she's in a league and practices on Mondays).  I'm a little afraid because I think I've been bowling a total of three times in my life and once was when I was a little kid so I'm not counting that one.  What's worse is that we're bowling candle pins and according to my niece, who went bowling with my mother a few weeks ago, Nana is a hard task master when she gets in the lane.  Oh boy.  Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Paper:  Basic Black, Brushed Silver, Vellum (SU)

Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Expressions Thinlets (SU); Burlap stencil (Tim Holtz); silver embossing paste; Midnight Blend sequins (Avery Elle)

Freshly Made Sketches 112

This week at Freshly Made Sketches our hostess is Jen Brum and she's got a very cool sketch for us!  When I first saw it I couldn't decide whether I should use patterned paper, washi tape or what!  I finally decided to use good old-fashioned stamps!

I used the colors at Dynamic Duos and although I should have used them to make a Christmas card to add to my paltry supply I couldn't resist making this instead.

The Freshly Made Sketches design team have once again knocked it out of the park with their cards so head on over and check them out.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Textures 1, Textures 2 (Florileges Design); Grunge Star (Impression Obsession); Take Note (Verve)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Kraft Blend sequins (Avery Elle)

Freshly Made Sketches 111

Today is not only the day to reveal the newest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches it is also only three more days until I'm on vacation!  Yay me!

And yay for our newest sketch designed by the talented (and modest) Linda Callahan.  When I first saw the sketch I had a pretty clear idea what I wanted to do, but then I saw the color challenge at Dynamic Duos and totally scrapped my original idea and went with this.

I can't seem to stop reaching for Gorgeous Grunge and for this card used it to create a little grungy background which I then highlighted with the chevron images.  The accent is this gorgeous butterfly that I stamped in Bermuda Bay then clear embossed.  I like doing that because it give the card stock some substance and creates a pretty shiny image.  A few enamel dots later and I was done!

Christmas cards abound at Freshly Made Sketches, but you'll also find a birthday and a breast cancer awareness card so make sure you head over there to check them out!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Great Friend (SU); Sketchy Chevron Border (Impression Obsession); Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Real Red, Bermuda Bay (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  My Girl Enamel Dots (My Minds Eye); clear embossing powder

Hey There for DD#71, and Unscripted Sketches 223

I think it's been a dog's age since I played along with the ladies at Unscripted Sketches.  And this week as soon as I saw that row of chevrons the old wheels started turning and I knew exactly what stamp sets to use on my card.  I combined the sketch with the colors at Dynamic Duos because Crumb Cake and Basic Black are a dynamic duo indeed!

I started by stamping one of the polka dotted stamps from Pointers (FREE with a $40 purchase in September) on a Whisper White background, then I stamped some flowers from Awesome Blossom and a sentiment from Calypso.  I added a few sequins because I have discovered there is practically no better way to take up white space!  The chevrons are from Good Point.

Be sure to come back tomorrow because I've got a card for the October release sneak peeks from The Alley Way Stamps that I want to show you!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Awesome Blossom, Pointers, Calypso, Good Point (The Alley Way Stamps)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink:  Crumb Cake; Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Kraft Blend sequins, Midnight Blend sequins (Avery Elle)

Shiver Me Timbers

I know that parrots can be taught to speak a little, but with this card I think I've officially got the smartest pirate parrot there is.  He can speak in complete sentences!  He is from Black Beard's Loot and he gets his famous sentence from Treasure Island.  Both can be found at The Alley Way Stamps.

I used the soft colors at Dynamic Duos and paired it with the Mojo sketch.  For the circle on the sketch I used a bit of burlap and it wasn't until I went to photograph the card that I thought the burlap called to mind a bird's nest.  Not exactly, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Welcome! For DD#68 and rs79

My first reaction when I saw the color challenge at Dynamic Duos was to combine Perfect Plum with something like Old Olive and do up some flowers.  But then I had second thoughts and decided to use Lavender Moon from PTI and do a little monochramatic card.  Once I decided on colors it was a short leap to the challenge at retro sketches and the fab new stamp set from The Alley Way Stamps called Calypso.

I was trying to create the "brick wall" effect by sponging around the edges of the horizontal layers, but I don't think I applied enough "sponge!"  I also went off sketch when I decided to round the edges of these layers of card stock.  But the rounded edges just  looked right with these softly doodled images.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Calypso (The Alley Way Stamps)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White; Lavender Moon (Papertrey Ink); Whisper White (SU)

Accessories:  Perfect Plum button (SU); crochet thread