Freshly Made Sketches: Hello Lovely Anniversary

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

  

 

I send one anniversary card each year and it's this weekend, so the theme of my card was a given.  The Hello Lovely flower image from Concord & 9th was just right for my sister-in-law. She's way into black and white so I loved the idea of not coloring the flowers and having them cross the stripe in the sketch which I turned into three colors to give it some extra pop.  

The stripes are not on top of the white background because that always causes problems with some of the stamped image not showing right at the drop-off between the stripes and the white.  So I took the time to cut the top white panel, the three stripes and the bottom. My stamp positioner was critical because I could line them up and use some temporary adhesive down the left side.  Plus it allowed me to stamp it a couple of times to get the vivid black. 

Thanks to Jacquie for the inspiration! I hope to see all of you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Hello Lovely

Dies: Poppystamps Simple Happy Anniversary (ret)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green

CAS(E) this Sketch: Thankful

I love the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch. There's a big bouquet and the sketch has a transparent overlay so you can see all of the details.  I don't do a lot of big stamps but I have a set I've wanted to use with a big bouquet.  Then I flipped through my sentiment dies, saw two other dies I hadn't used it and went in an entirely different direction.  I always have to embrace inspiration when it hits because sometimes that mojo takes a long vacation!!   (Never fear - the big bouquet is on my FMS card for tomorrow!)

I think these two dies from Poppystamps and Memory Box are stunning.  The Poppystamps Gentle Leaf Collage is retired; however, my go-to for older dies (and brand new!) is starlitstudio and it is there as I type this. It's such a graceful set of leaves.  I first fell in love with it on this card. It's an entirely different look and it made me think it would be perfect for sympathy cards. 

The sentiment is from Memory Box and is part of the Jotted Script series of dies.  I love the bold look and have a number of them.

I added a little sparkle to the sentiment to make it pop.  And if can't see it well, the little brown pieces are brushed metallic so give it even more shine.

Thanks to CAS(E) this Sketch for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Gentle Leaf Collage, Memory Box Thankful Jotted Script

Other: Simon Says Stamp Autumn Leaves sequins, Tsukineko Sparkle Shimmer Stix

CAS Colours & Sketches: Give Thanks

I love the fall color palette CAS Colours & Sketches and they've included Mango Melody which might be at the very top of my favorite colors right now. Recently I did a card using Stampin' Up's Stitched Leaves and I mentioned that I love their versatility - that they also create stitched window openings. So I decided that's what I'd do with these colors!

I'm not sure the branches were a great choice.  I like the idea of them and I needed to add some Cinnamon Cider, but I wanted to stick with Stampin' Up products and this is all I could find. I colored a few gems because as much as I love the colors of autumn, I also love the "sparkle" at the end of the day at the golden hour - or in the morning when there's a bit of frost.

SUPPLY LIST

All products by Stampin' Up

Stamps: Jar of Love (the branches), Arrange a Wreath (sentiment)

Dies: Everyday Jars Framelits (the branches), Stitched Leaves, Layering Squares

Paper: Plaid Tidings dsp, Cherry Cobbler and Mango Melody cardstock

Ink: Cinnamon Cider

Poppystamps: An Autumn Hello

 I am thrilled to announce that I am now part of the Poppystamps design team.  I definitely love dies and I love all of their products.  Here are other recent cards that I've made using Poppystamps' stamps and dies.

I posted a "hello" card on the Poppystamps blog today.  It is all about my favorite things - clean and fresh, little groupings of dies, and autumn colors.  Here it is, but check out all of the details on the blog.

I love all the detail on these dies.  I didn't do any coloring or highlighting and they still stand out.  I did add lots of dimension by not adhering the ends of the leaves and by using two different thicknesses of pop dots.

I'm looking forward to many future posts using these fabulous dies!!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Brush Hello, Colwell Label Set, Orchard Leaves, Whittle Squirrel, Pile of Pumpkins

Freshly Made Sketches: In Sympathy & Friendship

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!

  

 

This card was not my original plan but I had an unexpected need for a sympathy card.  A friend's father-in-law passed and now there are so many complications.  Dealing with his death and an elderly mother and travelling the 700 miles there during this time of COVID with high-risk factors themselves - they need prayers for strength.  The sentiment is a very old sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly. It was just what I needed for my friends, plus the coordinating inside says "Our hearts, our prayers and our love are with you."  I wish I knew how to send it where they are right now - but I am sending prayers. 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly

Dies: Memory Box Jovial Wreath, Birch Press Genevieve Butterfly Layers A, B and C

Other: Studio Katia Magnolia Flowers, Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder

A Bright and Cheerful Birthday

 I have a friend's birthday coming up. This card needed to be particularly bright and cheerful.  I had this charming die in my stash for just such an occasion. 

I like this die, even more than I thought I would when it just popped into my shopping cart one day. It's so delicate and the details are very nice. It's from Paper Rose. It's an Australian company and the die is called "Native Birds" so I'm quite certain these aren't birds I'd see here in Colorado!  But it does make them fun with the bright rainbow of color behind them!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: My Favorite Things Bitty Birthday Wishes

Dies: Paper Rose Native Birds Border, Neat and Tangled Celebrate, The Greetery Sentiment Suite Basics

Ink: Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Cracked Pistachio

Color Hues: The First Challenge!

There's a new challenge out there. It's called Color Hues. The idea is they give colors and you can use any hues of those colors.  The design team is amazing - and it's going to be popular because the gallery has a huge response.  It's the last day of the first challenge and I had to play along (because someday I'll be reminiscing about being part of the first!)

I adore unique sentiments and fonts. The "happy birthday" is brand new from Taylored Expressions. I love the way the "happy" has a dimensional look.  It also stacks well simply by moving the paper 1" for each new "happy".  The birthday is from one of their Building Block sets that has a variety of add-on words and one giant die that cuts them all at once. 

This is a funny post.  I don't love yellow yet I went pretty much straight yellow for this challenge (vs. a golden yellow which I do like).  I've often wondered about people's preferences since I know other people who pick yellow as their favorite.  I also don't love purple, but while I had the new "happy" stamp out, I decided it would be fun for a workmate whose birthday is today and she does love purple.

I had a busy day yesterday so I had to take these photos earlier than usual when the natural light was flat.  You have to look closely but there's confetti embossing sprinkling down under the banners.  Also that top banner isn't really black, it's eggplant!

Congrats to Color Hues on their first challenge - I'm looking forward to many more!

SUPPLY LIST

Green/Yellow

Stamps: Taylored Expressions On the Block - Happy, Building Blocks - Happy Additions, Fall Florals

Dies: Taylored Expressions Building Blocks and Fall Florals

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Peapod and Pineapple

Ink: Taylored Expressions Peapod, Granny Apple Green, Pineapple, Lemon Meringue

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream Gems

Purple

Stamps: Taylored Expressions On the Block - Happy, Building Blocks - Happy Additions

Dies: Taylored Expressions Building Blocks, Skinny Mini Party Borders

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Jelly Donut, Lavender Glaze, Eggplant

Ink: Taylored Expressions Jelly Donut, Lavender Glaze, Eggplant

Other: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles Embossing Folder, Simon Says Stamp Orchid sequins