Freshly Made Sketches: oh frap!

Edited to add: This is last week's sketch. Be sure to check out 

the Freshly Made Sketches blog for the newest sketch.

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Mitchell.

I like the quirky look of the angled panel so I decided I needed to add another card to my stash for my college student.  I had this "oh frap!" that I hadn't used and it seemed like the perfect fit.

I then went looking for a coffee cup (or a frappuccino mug!)  I almost hit a roadblock there.  Most of mine were either too big for the card or they were too "nice" for the sentiment. I finally saw this very old set by Papertrey Ink.  It also has cute little swirls of steam and my original card used them until I remembered that frappuccinos are cold.  Bummer, because it was a nice design element.

I hope to see you playing along!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Warm Happiness (I think it's retired)
Dies: Stamplorations Oh Frap, PTI Warm Happiness, Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Woodgrain and Stitched Squares
Cardstock: PTI Tropical Teal, Dark Chocolate
Ink: PTI Tropical Teal, Summer Sunrise, Taylored Expressions Sugar Cube
Other: Doodlebug Glitter Dots Bumblebee

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Surf's Up

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge:

trendspanama.nu

Be sure to check out our guest designer for this challenge: Lenae at SugarGem

I was inspired by the curved edges and the variety of blues (although I didn't realize until I saw my card photo how much more turquoise my card is than the inspiration photo!)  First I did the curved edge then I had to figure out a sentiment.  I realized that my son heads back to college in less than a month and he has said repeatedly how much it meant to him that I sent regular cards of encouragement.  So I decided I had better work on my stash.

Unfortunately, I think I blew it for my son at the end.  I had stamped the little asterisk type things then decided to add some dimension with white Nuvo Crystal Drops.  Now they look like funky little flowers!  Darn.  With the picture taken and posted, I'm going to try to scrape off those dots - or maybe do some die cut stars - or something to get rid of the flowers!  Fingers crossed I don't ruin it all!

I hope to see you playing along!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Neat and Tangled Awesome

Dies: Neat and Tangled Awesome, Simon Says Curved Edge

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles and Salt Water Taffy, Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise and Island Indigo

Ink: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles, Stampin' Up Island Indigo

Other: Simply White Nuvo Crystal Drops

Freshly Made Sketches: Flashy Florals

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jennifer Timko.

Last week I talked about having been in my current job long enough now to know my office mate's personalities and being able to create cards specifically for them.  Then I checked the calendar and realized the next birthday was for our department director who started just a few weeks ago!  I have absolutely no idea what she likes - so I played it safe and went with flowers (but fun flowers).


I wanted a very rich look so I used my Misti and double-stamped the base colors. It makes the top layer a bit harder to see, particularly on the red flower, but I love the intensity of the colors.  These flowers have such a bold and quirky look, I just added a strip of diagonal black stripes to finish it off.
I hope to see you playing along.  I love to browse the FMS gallery and see all the different directions you all take the sketch!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: My Favorite Things Flashy Florals (with coordinating dies), Birthday Greetings Dies: Taylored Expressions Stitched Square Stacklets Ink: My Favorite Things Red Hot, Electric Red, Jellybean Green, Olive, Daffodil; plus I used Stampin' Up Crushed Curry for the top layer of the yellow flowers

Taylored Expressions Farewell Sale

Taylored Expressions is bidding a fond farewell to over 120 products as we retire some of our favorite items with an amazing SALE. Choose from a variety of stamps and dies at prices up to 85% off -- but hurry, once they're gone, they're gone forever! Visit the SALE HERE.Plus, for a limited time, you can receive additional savings on these soon-to-be collector’s items. Additional discounts expire 11:59 pm CST on July 16, 2017.

There's one retiring set that I got specifically to make cards for a sweet-tea-loving friend and it still hasn't seen ink.  So I had to pull it out and show you Hey, Sweet Tea along with the Mason Jar Glass & Lid die.  I also pulled out the rounded rectangle and the flag from the retiring die set Pockets & Pages - Stitched Essentials.

Here's the supply list for this card - but keep scrolling because I have flashbacks to six different cards using the retiring products.

Hey, Sweet Tea	Mason Jar Glass & Lid	Pockets & Pages - Stitched Essentials	Embossing Folder - Braided
TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Build a Scene	Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Bumblebee	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Lemon Meringue

LinkDeli.com

There are so many more products that I have used and loved but are now retiring.  Here's a sampling of some of my favorites.

Chevron Cutting Plate

I just used this die during the May release - click here.  I think it does a wonderful job of highlighting a sentiment!

Potty People Border
I adore this row of people holding hands with their little hearts.  See three versions of this card here.


Hi, Hey, Hello die set
Way back before I was even on the Taylored Expressions team, I did this card that use the Hi, Hey, Hello dies.  (There is also a really cute old-fashioned telephone die with this set, a set of quotation marks and some nice basic banners.)


Little Bits - Schoolhouse
This card uses the Little Bits - Schoolhouse for a fun teacher thank you.


Smarty Pants
I love the Smarty Pants set for encouragement cards for my 17-year old and 21-year old sons. The stamps are very cute, but not cutesy.  (The sentiment on this card is from Talk Nerdy to Me.)


Fancy Banner 2
This is a beautiful set with a floral banner and a variety of sentiments that fit inside.  Here's the card I did when it was first released.

As much as I hate to see these products - it is a GREAT sale.  Head over to Taylored Expressions and have fun!

Freshly Made Sketches: Mermaid Birthday

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Narelle.

I started a new job a little over a year ago and right from day one, I made birthday cards for the people in my department. But a year ago, I didn't know them very well. Now I'm starting to figure out everybody's likes and dislikes.  I learned that one lady has a passion obsession with mermaids.  This sketch seemed like the perfect time to get her card made because I saw those little dots as bubbles!


As I was shopping for a mermaid stamp, the sentiment was the first thing that I saw at Impression Obsession.  It's made me laugh out loud!!   (I know my workmate well enough by now to know that she will enjoy this!)


I think the mermaid is lovely and so fun to color.  As a last touch, I colored her tail and the little fish with some clear Wink of Stella.

I am excited for making these birthday cards over the next year.  A huge part of the joy of cardmaking is the ability to tailor the card precisely to the recipient - images, colors, sentiment - and this year, I have most of my workmates figured out!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Impression Obsession Martha Mermaid, If Your Thighs. PTI Happy Harlequin ("birthday")
Dies: Avery Elle Wonky Stitches, Clearly Besotted Happy (but they no longer sell dies, sorry)
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Cookie Monster
Copics: BG13, BG05, BG0, YR31, YR20, YR23, YR65, YR68, V15, V17, E51, E11, R20
Other: Clear Wink of Stella, Pretty Pink Posh Clear 4mm Clear Droplets

Taylored Expressions: All Shook Up Snowman

It's July and I don't have a single Christmas card done!  And I think it's really sad that I just strung "July" and "Christmas" in a single sentence!!  I decided I need to start working my way through my Christmas NBUS stash before all the new Christmas products start coming out!  I also had so much fun making yesterday's shaker card (after my belated discovery of foam adhesive sheets - see yesterday's post for a full description!) that I started my July Christmas card push with a snowman shaker.


I made the background using a narrow brayer.  There are actually three strips - the top is a darker ink. The next two are the same color - just rolled off once for the bottom.
He made me smile.  And seeing him is helping me to survive the 90+ degree weather this week (I HATE HEAT).  Hopefully you are feeling just a bit cooler too!
SUPPLY LIST

Snowman Shaker	Little Bits - Snowflake Confetti	Stitched Rectangle Stacklets	Stitched Circle Stacklets
Baby, It's Cold Outside	foam adhesive sheets	TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Double the Joy	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube
TE Premium Cardstock - Oreo	TE Premium Cardstock - Sprinkles	TE Premium Cardstock - Salt Water Taffy	TE Premium Cardstock - Toffee
TE Premium Cardstock - Candy Corn	TE Premium Cardstock - Granny Smith	TE Premium Ink - Oreo - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Sprinkles - Full Pad
TE Premium Ink - Salt Water Taffy - Full Pad	TE Sequins - Snow Flurries

InLinkz.com

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Red, White and Blue

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Red, White and Blue.

landeeseelandeedoo.com

Be sure to check out our newest Guest Designer: Hannelie Bester at Desert Diva.

Here's my card!  I went with two different blues.  When I had just the navy as is in the challenge graphic, it had such a patriotic look that it didn't shout "thank my lucky stars for you".  I wanted to brighten it up a bit but still stay within the challenge.

This star stamp set was great stamp to work with.  The stamp includes 9 patterned stars and the die cuts them all at once.  So it was very easy to fill up my jar!  
I've become a much bigger fan of shaker cards since I discovered foam adhesive sheets.  I'm sure I'm late to the party, but I used to try to cut foam tape to fit the shape.  It also helps that the die was made to cut out the center.  I cut a piece of acrylic using the ouside die (without the center).  I stamped, then cut the paper and foam with the center of the die in place. (BTW - this is the one time that I don't try to trim down those pesky metal tabs on a die.  You know what I'm talking about - the ones that stick out after you cut a die set apart and can draw blood because they are so darn sharp.  If you cut the center piece from the die set and leave the tabs on both sides - you can easily line up the inside with the outside to cut them at the same time which you want to do to get the paper and the foam exactly the same!)
I hope to see you playing along!
SUPPLY LIST

Lucky Stars Stamp & Die Combo	Mason Jar	Mason Jar Dies	foam adhesive sheets
Stitched Banner Stacklets	Embossing Folder - Bead Board	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Blue Corn
TE Premium Ink - Earl Grey - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Blue Corn - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Cookie Monster - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Cherry Pop - Full Pad
TE Sequins - Snow Flurries

LinkDeli.com