Freshly Made Sketches 358

If you like circles you will love our new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our designer this week is Karren and she assures me that if circles aren't your thing then by all means use the sketch as a jumping point and show us what you've got with whatever shapes you've got up your sleeve!

My fellow design team member Jen Brum unwittingly helped me with my card this week.  Often when I'm challenged by a sketch I'll peek at what the design team has put together to see if I can find some inspiration there.  In this case I was pretty sure I wanted to use a wreath as my big circle but the stamp set that I had intended to use was much too small for my card (even after deciding to do a 4 1/4 inch square card).  Then I spied Jen's card with her die cut wreath and I remembered that I had something similar in my stash.  So I cut my wreath in a dark brown then added some wee stitched leaves in fall colors to take the place of the three other circles and I was done! 

There are a couple of other challenges that are getting into the autumn mood so I'm playing along with Muse this week as well as Global Design Project.

Thanks for stopping by!  My fellow Freshly Made Sketches design team members have created some beautiful cards with this weeks sketch so be sure to check them out.  I hope to see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Fall Colors (Precious Remembrance Shop)
Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Truffle, Jungle (Avery Elle); Cajun Craze (Stampin' Up!); Honey Nut (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Truffle (Avery Elle)
Accessories:  Whirl Wreath die (Penny Black); Stitched Leaves die (Lawn Fawn)

Freshly Made Sketches 356

Well hello!  If it is Wednesday it must be time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is the lovely Jen Brum.

As is well documented here when I see a sketch with three of something like those long tall panels I tend to go straight into panic mode.  But I usually recover by stamping a wide image and cutting it up into three distinct layers.  So that's what I did here inspired by the colors of Michelle's card for Muse Card Club.  And I actually dug deep into my stash here for some grosgrain ribbon - which I used for that black horizontal layer.  It feels good to use some of that old stuff in my stash!

I hope that you are inspired to join us at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our design team has made some great cards to get your creative juices flowing so I hope to see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:  Blueprints 20 die (My Favorite Things)

Freshly Made Sketches 349

It's Wednesday so it's time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week Karren is our hostess and her sketch is classic!

I had SO much trouble with this sketch!  All that wide open space had me stumped until I saw the current challenge at Muse. I liked how Anita framed her card with floral images so I attempted to recreate that with these lilies.  The vertical layer was done with vellum.  I'm not crazy about this card.  The lilies look a bit like fireworks to me!

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

Supplies
Stamps:  Layered Lily (Altenew); Celebrate Big (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  White (Gina K); Vellum (Stampin' Up!)s
Ink:  Jet Black (Stazon); Frosty Pink, Coral Berry, Grapevine (Altenew)
Accessories:  rhinestones (KaiserCraft)

CAS(E) This Sketch 239

Christmas continues here!  My card for the latest CAS(E) This Sketch is another Christmas themed one - that's two this week!  The holiday mailing season will be here before we know it and I want to be ready.  Luckily I saw a Christmas card within that sketch.

I have a mantra:  when in doubt use vellum.  That long horizontal layer had me stymied for a bit.  I had already decided on the striped patterned paper and the wreath image layered on top of it, but I wasn't sure about that thin layer with the sentiment.  Vellum proved to be the answer.  It didn't cover up my wreath or the patterned paper and provided a nice spot to heat emboss a sentiment.

At Muse this week Tracey McNeely gave us a Christmas card with a wreath and it's "anything goes" at the Merry Christmas Challenge.  Since Christmas is much closer than I care to admit, I'm throwing my hat in the ring at these challenges in the hope that it will spur me to make more of the same very soon!

Thanks for stopping by!  And please join us at CAS(E) This Sketch.  Our design team has got some great cards to inspire you!

Supplies
Stamps:  Wreath For All Seasons (Papertrey Ink); Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R Stamps)
Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Real Red, Vellum, Merry Moments DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Accessories:  black embossing powder; rhinestones (KaiserCraft)

Live the Life You've Imagined

I needed a sentiment that ran subway-style for the card I'm sharing today.  "Live the Life You've Imagined" fit the bill and I will add the disclaimer that I do not, most days, fancy that I want to be a dragonfly.  With that being said here is the card:

I actually think that dragonflies are very interesting creatures.  They look vaguely like a helicopter and despite their size seem to fly around in a very elegant manner.  When I was a kid my sisters and I somehow thought that long body was some kind of sewing needle and if one of these fellows landed on you nothing good would come of it - you'd be sewn up like Frankenstein, I guess.

The colors for my card are inspired by the current challenge at Muse - pinks, green, and white are predominant in the inspiration so that's what I chose for my card.  The layout comes from the Mojo challenge and the dragonfly is a nod to the "winged creatures" challenge at Global Design Project.

I had an enjoyable long weekend, but it's back to work today.  The weather here the last few days has been decidedly spring-like but I try not to get too excited about that.  It's only February and warm days are an aberration here at this time of year.  But I'll enjoy it while I can.  The week ahead is looking good too so I'm hoping to get back to my lunch-hour walk!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Life's Possibilities (Tim Holtz)
Paper:  Pixie, Lemongrass, Raspberry, The Sorbet Collection (Avery Elle); Whisper White, Vellum (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Jet Black (Altenew)
Accessories:  Blueprints 21 die, Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX (My Favorite Things); Libellules die (4enscrap)

Freshly Made Sketches 189

Hello, hello!  I am typing this post on Tuesday night and it's quite cold.  Up until Sunday spring around these parts was pretty good.  Temperatures in the 80's, no rain (which is not always a good thing) and lots of sunshine.  But suddenly a cold front moved in along with some rain and now I wish the heat was on.  Things can only get better from here!

But enough of the weather, what you really came for is to see what I've been up to in my craft room.  It's Wednesday so that, of course, means I'm showing you my card for the latest challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!  Narelle is our hostess this week and the intrepid lover of layers has given us a beauty!

I got some further inspiration from the colors and the butterflies used in the Muse challenge this week.  My burlap circle is actually one of the MFT doily dies but I chose not to punch out the little details on it that would actually transform this from a scallop circle to a doily because the burlap unravels too much and it would have ended up looking like a big mess!  I'm not sure it's entirely visible in the photo but I stamped a little grungy image behind the butterfly because all that white space on the tag was giving me the heebie jeebies!  I even threw in a little enamel dot to shake things up!

There are some fantastic cards to be seen from the design team at Freshly Made Sketches so make sure you check them out.  I hope you can join us in the gallery this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Ink Splats (Indigo Blu)
Paper:  Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Island Indigo, Regal Rose, Calypso Coral, Whisper White (SU)
Ink:  Sea Glass (Avery Elle)
Accessories:  Dizzy Doily Duo die, Traditional Tag STAX, Pierced Traditional Tags STAX (My Favorite Things); Cheviot Butterfly die, Delaney Butterfly die (Poppystamps); enamel dots (Doodlebug Desings, My Mind's Eye) 

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)

Freshly Made Sketches 178

Happy Wednesday everyone.  I hope you all survived the St. Patrick's Day festivities, if you had them!  St. Patrick's Day is a big deal where I live.  There's parades, and parties, and corned beef & cabbage dinners, and drinking, and singing and even a breakfast where local politicians get together and pretend they like each other for a day!  It's all in good fun!

Today we've got a new sketch for you at Freshly Made Sketches designed by Narelle.  She's got such an eye for color and design and she always tries to make a sketch for us that's a little easy on the layers.  I'm sure it kills her to do it, though!

I whipped out my favorite Super Girl for my card and the little ka-pow bubble behind her is pointy like the banner in the sketch and also round-ish like the circle, so it's doing double duty here.  I actually began this card with a bright yellow layer that I embossed with clear paste using a starry stencil.  But I couldn't figure out where to put the sentiment.  Then I found this starburst paper in my stash and knew it was a better choice for a background.

The colors for my card are inspired by the colorful creation that is the inspiration this week at the Muse Challenge.  I started with the bright yellow background then pulled in several other colors as well.

There's lots of fantastic inspiration from your friends at Freshly Made Sketches.  I hope you have time to play along with us this week!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  You're Super (My Favorite Things)

Paper:  Soft Sky, Pacific Point, Real Red (SU); X-Press It Blending Card

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

Accessories:  Bam Bubbles die (Paper Smooches)

Just Us Girls 284 Guest Designer

Today I'm showing you the second card that I made as Guest Designer at Just Us Girls.  The challenge this week is SPLATTERS!  Be still my heart.  Who loves splatters more than me?

I had an idea about how I wanted my card to look, I just needed some colors.  Enter the latest challenge at Muse.  I knew the yellow and black that are so prominent in the inspiration photo would be perfect for what I had in mind.  Some fussy cut flowers, a couple of die cut leaves, splatters, coffee stains and a few enamel dots and I was done!  I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you join the challenge over at Just Us Girls!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid (SU); Hasthags (Tim Holtz); Ink Splats (Indigo Blu)

Paper:  White (Spectrum Noir); Basic Black (SU)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight (SU); Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Curvy Leaves die (Elizabeth Craft); enamel dots (Doodlebug Designs)

Watercolor and Three Challenges

You might want to put your sunglasses on for this one!  Last weekend was a long one so I had plenty of time to check out some challenges and get crafty.  I made this card on Monday and saved it until today to post.  Since I've been on a bit of a watercolor kick lately it should be no surprise that I tried it again on today's card.

I've got a challenge three-fer going on here since I was inspired by the colors, the watercolor background and the butterfly on Vicki's Muse card as well as the layout of the latest Mojo sketch.  (Incidentally I knew it had been a long time since I joined in the Mojo challenge so I looked it up and September 18th of last year was the last time I played along!  I can't believe it's been nearly a year!  Will work on rectifying that because they've always got terrific sketches).  And finally, the icing on the cake, is the AAA Cards challenge which is, you guessed it, watercoloring!

This card came out much brighter than I thought it would.  I used Melon Mambo and Tangerine Tango to watercolor the bigger layer.  Then I used a lot more water with the same colors to create a softer look on the second layer.  Then while it was still wet I put a stencil over it so that the ink would pool around the pattern of the stencil.  That was a little trick I learned the first day of the watercolor Online Card Class and the look is very cool.  The layered butterfly was created with a bit of the leftover watercolored paper and some black card stock.  I love how the bits of black add some nice contrast to the bright colors.

Well that's it for me.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Words of Wisdom (Verve)

Paper:  Soft Stone (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black (SU); Strathmore watercolor paper

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Delaney Butterfly die, Cheviot Butterfly die (Poppystamps); Dot Fade stencil (Tim Holtz); Basic Rhinestones (SU)

Freshly Made Sketches 143

Happy Wednesday everyone!  There's a new sketch reveal over at Freshly Made Sketches today.  This week our hostess is the supremely talented Cindy Lovell.  Every time I visit Cindy's blog I add a little something to my stamping supplies wish list!  She's got this wonderful clean stamping style and she's always using something on her cards that once I've seen it I've got to own it!

I fret for two days over the colors to use on my card before deciding on the colors of the inspiration card at Muse.  I used a new floral stamp set that I got because I decided I didn't have enough floral  images in my stash.  I think I put the leaves down when I had my eyes closed because they look a whole lot off kilter and unbalanced to me but they're stuck down with glue dots and there not going anywhere now!

Be sure to pop on over to Freshly Made Sketches and see the amazing cards from the design team.  They will surely knock your socks off!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Garden (Simon Says Stamp); Distressed Background Blocks (My Favorite Things); New Day (Precious Rembrance)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Solar White (Neenah); Chocolate Chip (SU); Vellum (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi (SU); Black Licorice, Hot Fudge (My Favorite Things); Copics

Accessories:  Pierced Circle STAX (My Favorite Things); washi tape, clear embossing powder, sequins

Freshly Made Sketches 138

Hello and welcome to another edition of Freshly Made Sketches!  This week the sketch is brought to you by the super talented Jen Timko.  She's a very busy stamper these days and always manages to wow me with her cards!  The sketch she designed has a nice layer on it that is wide open to interpretation.  I thought it looked rather like a tag so that's what I put on my card.

I love a long weekend off from work because I get to spend some relaxing time in my stamp room.  Usually my weekends are spent crazily making cards for upcoming DT work, but when I have an extra day it's like winning the lottery!  So on Monday I was able to make my FMS card with inspiration from the current Muse challenge.  I didn't have quite the same bright colors as in Cornelia's card but I used the brightest colors I could find to make my card.  The vague chevron shape of her colors had me reaching for this new background set from WPlus9 with it's modern looking chevrons.

The Freshly Made Sketches design team have got some great cards to show you (don't they always)!  So head on over there to check them out.  I hope you can join us in the gallery this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  So 80's, Borders and Backgrounds 4, Hand Lettered Hello (WPlus9)

Paper:  White Linen (Ellen Hutson); Basic Black, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Hand Lettered Hello die (WPlus9); Enamel Dew Drop Stickers (Freckled Fawn); black seam binding ribbon, baker's twine

Freshly Made Sketches 129

Hello hello!!  Today I'm the hostess at Freshly Made Sketches and as per our usual, the sketch is fresh and clean!  Of course there's lots of room to let your creativity soar and I can't wait to see how you interpret the sketch.  On my card I inked up some new Jofy stamps that have been on my wish list since I spotted them ages ago.  I stumbled across a retailer in the US who sells them and snatched up a few sets.

My card is further inspired by the gorgeous card Lyndal Higgins has created for inspiration at Muse.  The beautiful shades of blue combined with the pop of yellow inspired me to dig out my Crushed Curry, Midnight Muse and Vellum.  I colored the images with pencils and I love how it turned out.

ETA:  And thanks to Cornelia who pointed out to me that the button on my card qualifies me for the CAS challenge at House of Cards.  Thanks Cornelia!

You have GOT to check out the cards the amazing Freshly Made Sketches design team has created with my sketch.  They will blow you away!  I can't tell you how fortunate I am to be a part of this group who inspire me so much every day.  And I'm quite sure they inspire you too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Jofy 12, Jofy 14 (Jofy)

Paper:  Crushed Curry, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Vellum (SU)

Ink:  Crushed Curry (SU); Tuxedo  Black (Memento); Onyx Black (Versafine); colored pencils (American Crafts)

Accessories:  Woodland Park button (October Afternoon); clear embossing powder, crochet thread

Thank You for CTS46 and Muse35

Friday was the last official day of my vacation (I don't count Saturday or Sunday because I have those days off anyway), so I decided to celebrate by taking a little trip to Michael's, Super Joann, and Marshall's.  It was a good day because I managed to buy something at each store!

At Michael's I got a new stamp set and inked it up for the sketch challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch and latest Muse challenge.

For the Muse challenge I was inspired by the background stamp, which created such lovely texture, and by that big, beautiful flower.  For my card I created some texture with the grungy dotted stamp, then stamped a flower over it in Rose Red (which also echoes the colors of the Muse challenge).  Finally I added a sentiment stamped in black.

I've got a busy day today capped off by an art show reception tonight at Borderland State Park (if you live in the neighborhood you should stop by and say "hi")!  But I hope to be back in the old craft cave on Sunday to get ready for a busy stamping week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Agapanthus Thank You (Stampendous); Textures 2 (Florileges Design)

Freshly Made Sketches 93

This week I decided to combine Allisa's fabulous sketch from Freshly Made Sketches with the inspiration to be found at Muse.  The colors of Laurie's card just reached out and grabbed me at a time when I needed some inspiration.  I had started to make an entirely different card for this sketch, but happily scrapped it when faced with the gorgeous colors and clean lines of the Muse inspiration.

And lucky for me, a box of brand new goodies arrived in the mail Monday just in time to finish this up!  I was on vacation a week or so ago and I discovered that vacation is a great time to go Internet shopping at the dozens of online stamping retailers {insert sheepish smile here}.  This box was the last of the fun stuff I ordered so I immediately retreated to my stamp room to try some of it out!

Now, the design team at Freshly Made Sketches have got some real treats for you to see this week so hop on over there and check them out.  We sure hope you can find some time to join us in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Truth Is (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps); Textures 1 (Florileges Design)

Accessories:  Linen Thread (SU); black sequins (Darice)

Muse #15 Guest Designer!

I've been nervous and anxious for a few weeks now.  Why you ask?  Well, ever since I was asked to be the guest designer at Muse this week!

I had no trouble accepting the offer.  After all, the design team over there is top-notch and I was beyond honored that they even asked me to join them.  But once the initial euphoria wore off, I realized that I was now responsible for providing the members of Muse with a card that had to be inspiring in some way.  Wow.  This was taking my card-making to a whole new level!

So I sat down and thought about what sorts of things inspired me and the first thing I came up with was color.  So I picked out some colors that were complimentary and threw in some black because I love the contrast that always provides.  The next thing I thought of was texture, so I embossed one layer and used some baker's twine on another.  Then I thought of embellishments and used a button and some fun math washi tape.  And that's how my card was born!

If you're not familiar with the Muse challenge, the rules are really quite simple.

1. Use the Muse card as inspiration for your project.  Explain your inspiration and link back to Muse.
2. Provide supportive comments to at least three of your fellow member's submissions.
3. Vote for three of your fellow member's submissions that you find inspiring.

So now all that's left is for me to offer huge thanks to Ardyth and the entire Muse team for asking me to join them and to hope that I've left you with a little something that inspires you to get into your crafty space!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri (SU)

Accessories:  Polka Dots embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); Pool Party baker's twine, Pool Party button, White baker's twine (SU); washi tape

Freshly Made Sketches 79

This week at Freshly Made Sketches, Rita has given us a sketch that seems straight-forward but I found to be a little tricky.  I'm sure she didn't mean it that way (right, Rita?), but tricky is what I saw.

To complement the sketch I was inspired by the current Muse challenge which features a card designed by Ardyth Percy-Robb and features a lot of circles.  I wanted to incorporate circles onto my card where the scallops on the sketch were and got it in my head that interlocking circles would look pretty cool.  In the end I think they look like the Olympic rings gone bad, but what do I know?  Here's Ardyth's very cool card:

I can assure you that the Freshly Made Sketches design team has created some excellent cards for your viewing pleasure, so head on over there to check them out.  See you in the gallery!

Supplies

Stamps: Funky Florals (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories:  washi tape; 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, 1-inch punches; Dimensionals