Freshly Made Sketches 42

Happy Independence Day to all my American friends!  July 4th is one of my favorite holidays.  There are parades and fireworks, hot summer weather, cookouts with family and friends, and hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill!  I can't wait for all the festivities to start!

But first things first.  Today is also the start of a new sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  I decided to go a little patriotic with my card to celebrate this special day.

My red, white, and blue colors were a no-brainer but I added a bit of Daffodil Delight to symbolize some of the color of fireworks.  In fact that's what that little flourish is supposed to represent!  (That's what you thought it was, right)?  I added some wide Real Red grosgrain ribbon tied with some red baker's twine (that I got for a real bargain at TJ Maxx.  You never know what you're going to find at that store)!  A cute little Real Red button balances the whole thing off nicely!  The stars are from Seeing Stars (both SU! and Verve).

Our super-amazing Freshly Made Sketches design team has created some fantastic cards to spur your imagination so be sure to stop on by.  Then link up your own fantastic card so we can all see!

And have a safe and happy 4th of July celebration!

Cindy Hall

Tui Nathan

Jennifer Timko

Allisa Chilton

Jen Sannes

Ann Schach

Linda Suarez

Jennifer Brum 

colourQ 143

Over at colourQ, the color palette seemed a bit patriotic and since Independence Day is just around the corner, I thought I'd make something with fireworks.

I ended up using the retro sketches challenge for my layout and I went a bit subtle on the fireworks in favor of making the stars be the focal point.  I think you can just see the fireworks from July Fourth are there, stamped in Poppy Parade on Poppy Parade cardstock.  One of the stars is from that same set and the others are from Seeing Stars.  

I hope you have time to join us this week at colourQ.  The design team has been busy creating some great cards to inspire you so be sure to head on over and check them out.  You have until Sunday, July 1st at noon CST to link up your project and be considered for colourQueen.  You know you want to.

colourQ 134

I've got to admit the colors that Arielle has cooked up for us this weeks colourQ challenge were a bit of a stumper for me.  I made a couple of cards before I decided that this one was the one I would show everyone.

I went with the pretty CAS design for this weeks CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  I drew the squares with a ruler in Bravo Burgundy and Calypso Coral, then stamped the stars from Seeing Stars in Pumpkin Pie and Pool Party.  For some reason I always associate stars with wishes, dreams, or even achievement so I chose the Verve sentiment to go along with that theme.

Day II of my vacation and the rain has stopped so I really must get outside and start raking.  It's a bit chilly and overcast so I hope the sun will come out soon and warm everything up.

I hope you have time this week to head on over to colourQ and join in the challenge.  The Design Team has once again out-done themselves and I know you'll find some inspiration there!  

colourQ 132

I will confess that I made a couple of cards for this week's color challenge at colourQ.  And I'm still not entirely sure that I like either one all that much.  Don't you hate when that happens?

Anyway, this is the one I decided on.  The layout is courtesy of the latest retro sketch.

I'm not sure why I had trouble with this one.  The colors are gorgeous and I when I see green I usually think of leaves which makes me think of flowers.  I can do flowers.  But I've been trying to use some of my neglected non-floral stamps lately so I was a little flummoxed about this at first.

I ended up using the stamp set Seeing Stars from Verve and for some reason I got it in my head that I needed to fussy cut the star with the swirls.  Not fun, I can assure you.  But after all that effort, it does look pretty cool!

I hope you have a chance to check out the challenge this week at colourQ.  The design team has, once again, cooked up some inspiration for you that you don't want to miss.  So, pop on over and play along with us!