Freshly Made Sketches #413

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Our hostess this week is Cécile, and she has designed a sketch that is open to your interpretation!

I am using one of my favorite fall sets with colors for a winter feel. We had a lovely fall day of 54 degrees on Tuesday and yesterday my entire town was shut down due to the snow that started about 7 AM and didn't quit until late last night. So I was inspired by frosty colors, but am so grateful for all the blessings in my life. 

I chose Concord and 9th's Lace Leaf and the coordinating dies, along with CutCardStock's Curious Metallic CS and SU!'s Going Gray for a card base. I love how it turned out!

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

#Buzzed

I adore this bee! Doesn't he have the cutest expression? He obviously hasn't had his coffee yet! This is Caffeinated Bee and the matching die from The Rabbit Hole Designs. The sentiment is perfect for both coffee and the bee!
 

Other supplies used:
Inks: VersaFine Clair Nocturne and Copics for coloring
Paper: Gold Metallics (CutCardStock), Yellow Textured (DCWV), Patterned (Doodlebug), Kraft, White
Accessories: Enamel Dots (MME), Wonky Stitched Circles (MFT), Embossing Folder (Sizzix), banner die (TE)

Merry Tag Making for Christmas

I am having a ton of fun making tags this season. Today's tag is made with dies from Impression Obsession, designed by Anna Wight.

I started off with cutting out my tag from a brayer cleaning sheet (where I run my brayer to get acrylic paint off). I used the adorable Stitched Tag DIE798-Y. The Small Snowman DIE899-Q makes up most of the tag, with the "merry" from Typewriter Sentiments DIE905-Y cut in silver metallic cardstock.

The hat and two snowballs are popped up. I added a few different fibers at the top. I love how it turned out! If you wish to purchase these dies, I would love if you would use my affiliate link, at no charge to you: http://shrsl.com/1ywoy

I'm playing in the Holiday Wishes Challenge at the IO Stamps blog with this tag!

Mixed Media Fall Leaves Tag

Today I am excited to share a beautiful new set from Visible Image from the Autumn Release called Ericka's Maple. The trees here are just holding on to the last leaves, but yesterday was a windy day, and there were many falling leaves! 
I also used one of my favorite background sets, Mesh-ellaneous.

I started with a large bookmark tag shape from watercolor paper. On my craft sheet, I dropped three different colors of dye ink, and then spritzed with water, dabbing my tag in the ink. 
When dry, I stamped my leaf and sentiment images with VersaFine Clair Nocturne. I felt it was missing something, so added a bit of the ripped fish net in a raspberry ink in various places on the tag. Just what I was looking for! 
To finish, I used three different fibers for my tag top. I love how it turned out. You can't go wrong with these gorgeous images!

Be watching for an AMAZING (and I mean the best ever) Black Friday Sale from Visible Image! You won't want to miss it. Coming SOON!

Freshly Made Sketches #412

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jen B. is our hostess today. Wait until you see all the beautiful designs my teamies have for inspiration!

I am using new to me products this week. My background is a Darice Crafts embossing folder that I picked up on a recent craft shop, and the images are from WPlus9's beautiful Winter Woodland (with matching dies!). Although the ink looks black, it is VersaFine Clair Morning Mist (almost black but with a tinge of dark blue - not quite as dark as Nocturne). The snowdrifts were cut with an edger die by Whimsy Stamps. Simple and stark, and can't you feel the cold of the snow?

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

November Release Day at Picket Fence Studios

It's an exciting day for Picket Fence Studios - the November Release! There are so MANY amazing products in this release - new stencils, stamps, and coordinating dies - plus foiling plates! 

Today I am sharing two of the new stamps sets: One Year Older and Charlotte the Chameleon. Both sets have such fun sentiments and images.

I used my Life Changing Brushes to make the water circle with Distress Oxide ink, and then stamped the images with VersaFine Clair Morning Mist. I colored the larger fish with Copic markers.

Aren't they cute? Speaking of cute, here's Charlotte the Chameleon!

Stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and then colored with Copic markers, Charlotte is nestled into the All About Triangles Stencil, which has Abandoned Coral and Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink blended in with Life Changing Brushes. A few sequins for a little bling, and she is a beautiful creature!

It's a fabulous release, so head over to Picket Fence Studios to see it all! There is so MUCH MORE to check out! And I will see you back tomorrow for more cardmaking ideas!

Freshly Made Sketches #411

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Kim is our hostess today. The challenge police may be after me, as I took some liberties with the sketch :)

I am using the adorable Whimsy Stamps' November Paper Door Kit called Christmas Hoo, which includes stamps, cardstock, patterned paper and die. You can see the kit contents HERE.
I used Copics to color my owl.

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

25 Days of Christmas Tags with Picket Fence Studios!

Today Picket Fence Studios is joining Tracey McNeely and her spectacular 25 Days of Christmas Tags blog hop.You can find all the details over on Tracey's blog, as well as the link to all of the Picket Fence Studios tag inspiration. There is so much festive fun!

I am using one of the precious and cute reindeer, as well as a sentiment, from Santa's Sleigh Ride. The embossed snowflakes are also from the same stamp set. My watercolor background gives hint of the lights below, and the dark night skies when the reindeer are frolicking and happy to be on their way soon!

I added some twine, eyelash fiber, and a cute little jingle bell for the tag topper ties.

There are also coordinating dies available for this set! Makes layering easy peasy!

Whimsy Stamps' November Paper Door Kit: Christmas Hoo

The November Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is here! Christmas Hoo has so many cute owls! This is just one of them:

I adore the patterned papers that are with this kit too; my favorites of all the kits that I have so far! PLUS some other really cool stuff is in the kit that I am showing off later this week, like stand alone dies! 

I stamped my images using VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and colored with Copic markers. I also made a peekaboo card with my owl peeking through the front of the card. 

She is popped up with foam tape to have her stand out even a bit more. I added sequins and rhinestones for some fun coordinating bling.

Here are the kit details:

• BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10th of each month
• Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
• EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
• TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
• SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Christmas Hoo" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• COMPLEMENTING "Christmas Hoo" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• SPECIAL EDITION "Mountain Majesty" die introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
• PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects

Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Be sure to check out the Whimsy Stamps and Inspiration Facebook page for so many beautiful samples using the Paper Door Kit! Thanks for stopping by!

Working With Infusions Watercolor Powders

Hello friends!
Today I am sharing a card using a technique I learned from @understandblue at her October retreat. I have Brushos and Color Burst powders, but Infusions are by far by favorite because of the walnut stain in each bottle. Click the above link for all the info on this product by Paper Artsy. 

I chose one of my favorite stencils from Visible Image, COUNT ME IN, and a sentiment from GO TO WORDS. I think they are perfect for each other!

I used Magenta, Golden Sands, and a little Sunset Beach for my Infusions colors. You can see in THIS VIDEO, starting at 1:30 how this look is achieved. 

For a little sparkle, I added some metallic thread along the bottom third of the card.

Happy Birthday to my son tomorrow!

Freshly Made Sketches #410

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Linda is our hostess this week with a sketch that is really open for creativity. I love what my teammates have made.

Today's card features a sentiment from Create A Smile Stamps called Don't Worry. It has the big, bold main sentiment, and then many, many smaller sentiments for ANY occasion. I love it! I paired it with some bold patterned paper that shows off the sentiment.

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Other challenges:

The Card Concept: I loved the colors in the photo, especially with the pop of blue/green. (Clean & Layered)