Freshly Made Sketches: Trick or Treat

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Linda and here’s what I did with it!

I'll be honest. I do not need another Halloween card (although I do have someone to give it to) but I was flipping through my stash and saw these three already-made pumpkins left over from a past project.  How could I possibly walk by a trio of pumpkins when the sketch has three circles on a hill?!!  

Given to whom it is going, I had to find a somewhat snarky sentiment. I have a shockingly large collection of boozy Halloween sentiments that could have worked but I didn't have a small enough beer mug or wine glass for these guys which was needed if I wanted to use the sentiment. (I'm very matchy-matchy that way.)  So I just went with a childhood classic sentiment although I will admit to being really bothered by the fact that pumpkins don't have feet to smell!

I added "wind" in the background then corrugated the ground to give it some interesting texture. I was thrilled to find a big moon in another set that also has stitching just like the pumpkins. It all came together easily and I'm thrilled those sweet little pumpkins found a place!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins & dies, Photoplay Trick or Treat Halloween & word dies

Dies: Poppystamps Whittle Rainbow Unicorn (the moon), Photoplay Sentiment Strips

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Highland Heather and Crushed Curry, Taylored Expressions Candy Corn

Other: Taylored Expressions Twirls and Swirls EF, Stampin' Up Mini Corrugated 3D EF

Freshly Made Sketches: Miss You

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Mitchell and here’s what I did with it!

 

The idea for this card came to me almost immediately when I saw the sketch (which is rare for me!) I originally intended to use an actual banner, as per the sketch, instead of a branch then emboss/stamp/cut a woodgrain into it to look like a branch. I couldn't make that work without it looking super heavy which was not what I wanted for this card. I had the little bird picked, then needed a sentiment and when I saw "miss you", it just seemed perfect for the single bird.

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Kristina Werner with Concord & 9th Big Type Greetings, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch, Taylored Expressions On a Limb - Branches and On a Limb - Leaves
Other: Spellbinders Head in the Clouds Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Peace, Hope & Joy

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko and here’s what I did with it!

At this time of year, anything round looks like a wreath to me - whether it be a fall, winter or Christmas wreath. I was determined to be different with this sketch, but obviously I couldn't get past the wreath. I tried, but as I was flipping through my not-yet-used stash, I started realizing this card could be a real stash-buster with multiple products, including at least one of my many wreaths, that could be moved into my regular stash after I used them. (As I decrease my not-yet-used stash, I can enjoy shopping, although it could be a year from now before I make a big enough dent to bring too much new stuff home.)

Since I didn't challenge myself with the wreath, I decided to jump out of my comfort zone with colors - or at least with the greens. It's a big step for me but I'm sure it won't be noticed by anybody else. I decided to use the cooler greens that I never use - Stampin' Up's Shy Shamrock and Shaded Spruce. I am always about yellower greens; Granny Apple Green is my favorite. I'm looking at the picture and thinking I could branch out of my comfort zone more often! 

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Pinkfresh Basic Banners: Christmas
Dies: Poppystamps Stitch Wreath and Nordic Bird Bunch, Sizzix/Tim Holtz Christmas Minis (the ornament), Pinkfresh Basic Banners
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, Shy Shamrock, Flirthy Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Real Red
Other: Studio Katia Red Hearts

A Christmas Hello

I was surprised recently to realize I didn't have any embossing folders with trees. I immediately remedied that when I found this Christmas Tree 2D folder by Chloe's Creative. I wanted to use it right away by adding a trio of bright and graphic trees in front of that forest of white, snowy trees!

I want to give credit to last week's 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Had my order arrived in my mailbox before the challenge ended, I had intended to play along with their sketch. When it didn't come in time, I changed my card up a bit from the sketch - but still wanted to give credit as due.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Stamp Market Heaps of Holiday Words
Dies: Neat & Tangled Scandinavian Prints Christmas, My Favorite Things Mountain High (the snowy ground)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Summer Splash, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Michaels glittery white
Other: Chloe's Creative Christmas Tree 2D embossing folder, Memory Box Fairy Jewels

The Paper Players: Spooktacular Halloween

Just after last Halloween, I got a set of dies specifically for a card for my son and girlfriend. After a year, they were buried in the stash, so a big thank you to the challenge at The Paper Players as it helped me remember that I had the perfect Halloween costumes for the challenge and for my son, girlfriend AND their cat!

I found some Halloween paper that wasn't too somber and then added a starry sky and a big sentiment. Easy peasy! I love it when the real fun on the card is all about a great die set.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Photoplay Trick or Treat Halloween
Dies: Simon Says Stamp Trick or Treat Ghosts, Photoplay Trick or Treat Halloween
Paper: Catherine Pooler Sweet-n-Spooky, Taylored Expressions Mushroom, Stampin' Up Berry Burst and Pumpkin Pie
Other: Simon Says Stamp Shimmering Starfall Embossing Folder, Stamp Market Silver Glitter Stars

Freshly Made Sketches: Sweater Weather

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Judy and here’s what I did with it! 

I knew right away that this would be fall-focused card but I planned to use fall patterned paper in the squares for a cozy quilt look. Before I started I was looking through my fall stash and saw this sentiment. It's perfect for my son and his girlfriend. I plan to use this as a Thankgiving card with the "Happy Thanksgiving" on the inside and I'll add something like "We're so thankful you found each other"! With that idea coming together, I stepped away from patterned paper and just added sweater-like stripes and a cable knit embossing folder.

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Just Sentiments: Happy Fall
Dies: Taylored Expressions Sentiment Stackers, Sweet & Sassy Hearts
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Darling Duckling, Timid Tiger, Pear Pizzazz, Lost Lagoon, Crumb Cake
Ink: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie
Other: Sunny Studio Cable Knit embossing folder, Stampin' Up 2025-27 In Color Flat Pearls

The Paper Players: To You and Yours

I have been doing a better job this year at using new products within a week or two of their arrival into my stash. I actually don't have a lot of new stuff coming in right now because before I implemented that requirement, my not-yet-used stash got out of control and I'm having a wonderful time rediscovering that stash. But I did recently get the Christmas tags in the new Stampin' Up mini catalog. The idea was that I would use them as true tags (I love simple gift wrapping paper with gorgeous tags and bows) but I saw this week's challenge at The Paper Players and the sketch made me imagine two of the patterned tags layered up on a card.

Thank you to the team at The Paper Players for helping me stick to my goal of actually using products!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Brightest Glow
Dies: Stampin' Up Patterned Tags
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Crumb Cake
Other: Stampin' Up Tasteful Textiles, Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels