Warm Wishes

Scroll down to see my sketch card for Freshly Made Sketches! 

Good morning! We are halfway in our November challenge at The Flower Challenge and I am here today with  inspiration and an invitation to join us! I was inspired by teammate Nancy’s card two weeks ago, and decided to make a Christmas card with a poinsettia!

 

I started with a vellum layer on the bottom of the floral, and then built it up with two more layers of yellow cardstock. I did some slight shading with Copics and added the die cut black berries. Some white seam binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon) and black gems (Picket Fence Studios) finishe the card. I wish the photo showed the glossy black and white stripes on the patterned paper (Kaisercraft)! 

Our challenge is open until November 25, and I hope you will join us! Find all the details and more amazing inspiration from the DT HERE.

Freshly Made Sketches #563

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! The incredibly talented Jen B is our amazing hostess today with a fun sketch!

I love the stitched snowflakes from Stampin' Up in pale pink! My sentiment is from IO Stamps and is cut from silver shimmer metallic cardstock. I have teeny tiny gems on the snowflake centers. The cute winter background paper is from Stampin' Up!

I hope you will join our sketch challenge, and add your creations to our gallery! I would love to see what you make!

This challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, November 28. Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have created on the FMS blog to inspire you! There are some beautiful designs there! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Freshly Made Sketches #547

Happy August! It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! It is my pleasure to be hosting this week.

You can hardly go wrong with the Forever Fern set from Stampin' Up! I used several different Distress Oxide inks to stamp and blend my panels. Metallic thread and rhinestones added bling. The word die is from Altenew, and one of my favorites! And, as you can see, I decided to flip the sketch, as it fit better with my stamping.

I hope you will join our sketch challenge, and add your creations to our gallery! I would love to see what you make!

This challenge will end at 3:00 EDT time on Monday, August 8. Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have created on the FMS blog to inspire you! There are some beautiful designs there!

Freshly Made Sketches #534

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches! The amazing Cécile is our hostess this week!

I just got this new Cup of Tea Bundle from Stampin' Up! Such a fun bunch of images. I used Blueprint Sketch, Faded Jeans, and Mowed Lawn DOX. I have decided that horizontal stripes (which I love to wear) DO make you look wider. This card is A2 size, but looks wider than 4.25"! Ha! I love this sketch and plan to use it a lot in the future! 

I hope you will join our sketch challenge, and add your creations to our gallery! This challenge will end at 3:00 EDT time on Monday, May 9. Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have made on the FMS blog to inspire you! 

Freshly Made Sketches #516

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! The oh-so-talented Narelle is our hostess today!

I am a sucker for pink Christmas cards. Pink, anything, really! I love all the stitching on these snowflake dies from Stampin' Up! And the matching designer paper makes it easy to whip up a pretty card! Now the issue is just getting my cards in the mail. But -- I think it's fun to get holiday cards all month long, even through the new year. So hopefully the recipient of this one will enjoy it no matter when it arrives.

I cut the Joy die (Peace & Joy - SU!) four times (three with white and one with silver) to add dimension and make it stand out among the busy background. I like how the white gives it a little bit of an outline when you see it from an angle. I added little clear gems on two of the snowflakes, and a third gem on the card base below the white snowflake (for that "rule of three" - ha!).

I hope you will join our sketch challenge, and add your creations to our gallery! This challenge is the last for 2021, will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, January 3. Tons of play time! Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have made on the FMS blog to inspire you! 

Freshly Made Sketches #515

 Today is Wednesday and it's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Our friend on the other side of the world, Karren, is our lovely hostess today! 

I love this Whimsical Trees Bundle by Stampin' Up! There are so many more shapes and sizes than the two trees I have used here, but I can see I will be using this bundle a lot! 

I cut the trees out using four different colors of cardstock to coordinate with my alcohol ink background. Guess what? That's just some gorgeous paper from the Honey Bee Stamps' Team Tie-Dye pack! The sentiments are from the Stampin' Up! Peace & Joy Bundle. I stacked the "Bright" three times and backed it with vellum, and included a small vellum snowflake for the two smaller words, "MERRY AND." The snow is cut from silver cardstock (CCS) and a die from Whimsy Stamps.

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery! This challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, December 13th. Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have made on the FMS blog!  

Freshly Made Sketches #512

Today is Wednesday and it's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! The lovely Kim is our hostess today!

While you can use any shape for the tree in the sketch, I decided to stick with trees for a holiday card. I am using products from Stampin' Up!

I love all the stitching on these dies! I am not one that likes to create multiples, but I could see me making a few of these!

This week I took some time with my husband and traveled to see our son, his wife, and our three grandchildren. They live over a thousand miles away, and we haven't seen them in a year! We are enjoying our short time with them so much! (That, and amazing seafood!)

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery! This challenge will end at 3:00 EST time on Monday, November 22nd. Be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous cards my teammates have made on the FMS blog! 

Freshly Made Sketches #453

Hello everyone! It's Wednesday, when I get to share the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! It is my pleasure to be hosting this week, and I hope that you will join us and play along!

Today I am using products from three different companies on my card. I had intended to use my new Detailed Dove dies from Stampin' Up, and make an all white card, but the beautiful Fancy Kaleidoscope  stencil from Picket Fence Studios was on my desk from a previous project, and I thought it would be perfect for the large circle background in the sketch.

Using my Life Changing Blender Brushes, I blended Tumbled Glass DOX over the stencil, with a circle stencil as a mask to keep the shape of the sketch. I then cut my dove from Hammermill 110# cardstock and popped it up with dimensionals. I added the little circle of hope from Tim Holtz's Christmas Circle Words dies in the corner, and three sequins from Pretty Pink Posh for sparkle. A "quick for me" card, and I love how it turned out!

I hope you will join our sketch challenge this week, and add your creations to our gallery! You have until Monday, September 21, at 3 PM Eastern time to join us!

 

Be sure to stop at the Freshly Made Sketches blog, and click on the names of my teammates to see what beauty they have created this week!

 

Freshly Made Sketches #444

It's Wednesday, and July 15, and it's my birthday! Wednesday also means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! The lovely Jen T is our hostess for this week, and she has a classic square sketch for you to try.

I got some new goodies from Stampin' Up, and hadn't had a chance to ink them up yet, so I pulled out the Forever Ferns Bundle. The patterned paper was so pretty that I made it the focus, and my little stamped eucalyptus was the accent!

I used some gorgeous Metallic Peacock cardstock (CutCardStock) for the little piece at the bottom. It really adds sparkle in the light. The card base has a Canvas texture (Core'dinations).

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 lovely things my teammates have created on their blogs!

Other challenges:

• A Place To Start - JULY - FLOWERS (FLOWERS, FLORAL PAPER, ETC.)
• Dream Valley Challenges - ALL OCCASIONS

Freshly Made Sketches #438

It's Wednesday, and that means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Karren is our hostess for today, and has created a wonderful sketch for you to try!

Today I am using some new goodies from Stampin' Up -- the World of Good Suite Collection with Beautiful World stamps.

I used a vellum panel for the sketch triangle so the patterned map paper would show through. This is a perfect graduation card!

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 lovely things my teammates have created on their blogs!

Color Throwdown #591

It has been my pleasure to be the April Guest Designer for the Color Throwdown. This is my last post, and I had a ton of fun! It's already Wednesday in the East, so my post is right before midnight in my neck of the woods! This week Amy Rysavy is our hostess and has chosen a fun color palette to play with: plum, pink, peach, and white.

I have been sending out cards to friends and family every day for a couple of weeks now (I am terrible at mailing things. So this is a big deal to do it every day ha!) and I wanted to make a cheery greeting for a friend to send out tomorrow.

 

I used the balloon from Party Pants (Stampin' Up!) for my background, and drew my strings with the A614 Azteca Everblend marker and a ruler. My sentiment (Stampabilities) is inked with VersaFine Clair Nocturne. My cute cloud is the Stitched Cloud from Whimsy Stamps. Enamel dots are My Mind's Eye. A little of everything today! My card is totally inspired by Maile Belles.

Now it's your turn to play along over at the Color Throwdown Challenge. Be sure to also visit with each of the CTD Design Team members and leave them some love:

** Amy Rohl **  Amy Rysavy ** Barbara ** Broni ** 

 ** Jodi ** Lisa ** Lynn ** Vickie ** Wanda **

Freshly Made Sketches #432

It's Wednesday, and that means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jen T. is our hostess for today, with a fabulous sketch you will love.

I decided to go very CAS with my design today, and keep it really clean and simple. I chose a set from Stampin' Up! that I hadn't inked yet: Painted Poppies. It's a super popular set, so maybe you have seen the images around. 

I chose the smaller poppy for the "circle" image in the sketch. I colored in using Copic markers, and then stamped the little graphic stamp with LDRS ink. The sentiment (and poppy) were stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne.

For the sketch lines, I decided to score part way across the panel. I love the simplicity! I added a bit of patterned paper (SU!) to peek out behind the image and pick up the green in the leaves. 

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 lovely things my teammates have created on their blogs!

It's Brazenly Black Month at the Rainbow Card Challenge!

Every first of the month, The Rainbow Card Challenge posts a new graphic for inspiration to create. It's always fun to see others' ideas, and to share your art! Take a look at this month's challenge, and then come join us! You have almost a month to create!

Today I am sharing a fun card I made with scraps on my desk:

Images are by Stampin' Up! And I used decorative scissors! Are yours collecting dust, too? Come check out the challenge details and see more "Brazenly Black" inspiration at The Rainbow Challenge blog!

Freshly Made Sketches #378

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at FreshlyMade Sketches! Amy is our hostess today, and she has a fun collage sketch for you to try out! The team came up with some awesome designs and variations, so be sure to check them out HERE.
 

I embossed my leaves (Stampin' Up!) with Clear Embossing Powder, and then painted them with Brushos, using different colors for each leaf. The middle panel is a watercolor wash of yellow and green, with purple flecks of ink spattered after the base was dry. 

I popped up the middle leaf, and stamped my sentiment (Picket Fence Studios - Rustic Floral) in VersaClair Nocturne using my MISTI. With the textured white cardstock, it took about three times to ink completely.

Check out what the rest of the team did - they are so creative! And then come play along with us. Our challenge is open until 3 PM EST on Monday!

I am also linking up with:

AAA Cards - One sentiment, one matted layer, stamped image

Crazy for CAS - #15 WATERCOLOR

Use Your Stuff - #349 RAINBOW

Come Join the March Rainbow Card Challenge!

Happy March, Cardmakers! Have you seen the new challenge at the Rainbow Card Challenge? This month is Yummy Yellows!

I stamped five bees in a row on Heavyweight White CS (Hobby Lobby), using the two-step stamping technique. I stamped the gold bodies first, then the overlay of black detail and wings. I used a stencil and lightly (and randomly) sponged over the bees in different directions with a brighter yellow ink. The fifth bee I cut out using the matching die (Dragonfly Dreams from Stampin' Up!) and layered it on my second bee above. You can see a little shadow underneath from being popped up using 3D Foam Tabs.

I adhered all my panels using Scor-Tape (I like the 1/4" and 3/8") and then stamped my sentiment. It is three separate words from a retired stamp set by The Alley Way Stamps. I love the play on words with "bee." I then wrapped my Metallic Gold Baker's Twine several times around the left side (this card opens like a book), added a heart charm (that matches the bees' gold), and tied a simple bow.

And it's ready to mail!

Be sure to join us and play along. It's so fun to see what everyone makes, and what wonderful ideas you all have!

Freshly Made Sketches #375

(Please scroll down to see my card from the adorable February Paper Door Kit by Whimsy Stamps!)

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at FreshlyMade Sketches! Cécile is our hostess today, and has a wonderful sketch for you to try out! The team came up with such fabulous designs, so be sure to check them out HERE.

I decided to go with some tropical heat for my design. The flowers are cut from a monoprint I made with my Gel Press. The middle "panel" is sponged with Memento ink, and has a vellum strip on the left side. The ferns and little flower are also sponged with Memento, then cut. Some brightness for this winter month!

 

You really have to go see what my teamies made - there are some amazing ideas for this sketch! Come play along with us. Our challenge is open until 3 PM EST on Monday!

Stamps: Botanical Blooms (SU!)

Paper: GP White, SU! Vellum, Only Orange, Rose Red

Ink: Memento Inks, Liquitex acrylic paints

Accessories: Botanical Blooms dies, Kaiser pearls, Gel Press

Techniques: sponging, monoprinting

Rainbow Card Challenge #2 - One of My Favorites!

Hello, friends! It's February 1 and a new challenge at The Rainbow Card Challenge! I have always enjoyed color, and am excited to share my creations with you each month based on the photo prompt! Can you guess our color for February by looking at my card?

February is Orange Opulence! I happen to LOVE orange. I think it's a bright, happy color, and it makes me smile. That being said, my card has more of a muted, natural orange color today as I used Stampin' Up!'s Pumpkin Pie color. :)

I first embossed the fern from Butterfly Basics (Stampin' Up!) using VersaMark and White EP. Then I created my wash with a brush using PP. I stamped the fern again in PP, as well as the postmark and hive stamps. The butterfly was watercolored using thinner colors, then cut out using the Thinlits die, and then sprayed with Gold Glimmermist. To get a more muted color, I soaked up some of the color as I went with a paper towel. I added a vellum leaf and strips of the Copper paper. 

I hope you will come check out {this new monthly challenge} and play along with us! Be sure to check out what my teamies made too!

Jacqueline | Cohenna | Em | Mynn | Lee Ann | Sue