Freshly Made Sketches: Poinsettia Peace

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Cécile and here’s what I did with it. I definitely took some liberties!!

 

I normally stick pretty close to the sketch but I recently sorted my not-yet-used Christmas stash (which is still overflowing and some products date back years) and I pulled out those that I am absolutely definitely for-sure going to use this year. Then I looked at the sketch and realized I hadn't pulled out anything close to a those circles.  But I had pulled out a poinsettia that's roughly circular.  Of course, the leaves aren't close to circles but I got the right number of them in the right directions and even the right sizes!  So I'm going with it.

The die set is a recent addition to my stash, but definitely not new. I hadn't noticed the Seasonal Sketches set before it retired but I'm glad I did. LOVE the look and, retired or not, it will be used over the years.  (Greta's card is what caught my eye - a totally different look with gorgeous results.)

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches (whether you use circles or not!)

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Seasonal Sketches

Paper: Stampin' Up Sweet Sorbet and Flirty Flamingo, Taylored Expressions Peapod and Granny Smith

Other: Stampin' Up Petals a Plenty embossing folder (old), Simon Says Christmas pre-printed strips, Studio Katia Gold Foil Pearls

The Card Concept: Christmas Greetings

 There's a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept: Christmas Greetings. My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the wreaths, the colors and textures, and the wintery feel.

I thought about using a big wreath with lots of decorations, but I was taken by the simplicity of the wreaths in the photo. So as I looked further in my stash, I found the Joyful Snowman Etched Dies by Photoplay. It includes the "J" and the "Y" plus the simple wreath for the "O" and that sweet little snowman for the center.  

 I love the look of the wreaths against the red door and the pop of the white skates so I tried to recreate that look. I added the brown - although a lighter brown - with a woodgrain paper inspired by the sled. The door in the photo adds a lot of texture and while I didn't do a door on my card, I was inspired to add texture with a gingham embossing folder. Then with the wintery feel of the skates and the sled, I added a variety of snowflakes around my little snowman.

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Photoplay Joyful Snowman Etched Dies

Paper: Taylored Expressions Cilantro, Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and Balmy Blue, Poppystamps Kraft Woodgrain

Other: Stampin' Up Gingham and Winter Snow embossing folders, Hero Arts Snow & Berry sequins

A Magical Christmas

I sorted out all of my Christmas cards yesterday and joy oh joy - I have enough cards!!  BUT, I don't have exactly the right cards for everybody. Am I the only one who makes Christmas cards with no one in mind and then crosses fingers at the end that the stash matches the recipients?? I was really close this year and to me this is a great scenario.  I can totally relax because I do have enough, but I can still stay in Christmas mode and make a few more that are just right!  In this case, I needed cheerful colors.

I had this idea in my head after I used the same die to make this more classic card. I envisioned a rainbow of bright stripes with the icons flipped. It didn't stand out enough after I got it done so I glittered them. I have used shockingly little glitter this Christmas season which I realized when my husband commented for the first time in a long time that I had glitter in my eyebrows!  No matter how careful I think I am, it ends up everywhere!!

This is a retired die from My Favorite Things but I recently noticed that Sizzix/Tim Holtz has words that are equivalent (although in a Tim Holtz style) - the Christmas Cutouts die. It even has a few little houses and trees! For both of my cards using the MFT die, I didn't trim the words apart so that they stayed perfectly aligned.

I have to admit that I am feeling the "magic" already! It's been a very relaxed Thanksgiving since neither of our sons came home and my husband worked. So I took the opportunity to decorate for Christmas.  I don't do it Hallmark movie style (although if anybody ever wants to come over and do it for me - and take it down - you would be welcome!) The simplest but most amazing decoration we do are candles (LED) in all of our windows.  The come on at sunset and once they start twinkling every night - the magic is here!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Holiday

Dies: My Favorite Things Joy, Peace, Love (retired)

Paper: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, My Favorite Things Pineapple, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, SU Coastal Cabana, SU Flirty Flamingo, Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party and Granny Apple Green

Poppystamps: Joy Throughout the Year

I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with joy throughout the year!

My card was inspired by this sentiment from the Christmas Sparkle stamp set. I used the inside letters from the Stacked Joy die and then was thrilled to find a variety of die for each season in my stash!

There are many more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog.

Both Poppystamps and their sister company Birch Press Design are having fabulous sales right now - have fun shopping!

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving - hope you have stretchy pants and time for a long nap!!  Here's to Thanksgiving joy!!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Christmas Sparkle

Dies: Poppystamps Stacked Joy, Adelaide Snowflakes, Intricate Cut Butterflies, Fanciful Fall Leaves and Layered Holly Leaf Trio

Paper: Poppystamps/Memory Box Kraft Woodgrain

Freshly Made Sketches: I Regret Nothing

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

 

I already knew that one of my sons was going to get a card with this Santa and this sentiment so when I saw the sketch I knew it was meant to be.  Plus it gave me the extra idea of having him peek from the frame since the circle in the sketch is behind the frame! I struggled a bit with how to use him because he actually doesn't come with a die for the face. I didn't want to put him on a white background because since he's mostly beard, I thought it wouldn't pop.  So I tried a darker cardstock. I like the look.

The sentiment comes from Impression Obsession's Dear Santa.  If you have any older "kids", it's a must-have! I used a different sentiment on this Santa card.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week!  If you celebrate Thanksgiving, enjoy your meal!!  But then make everybody else clean up and hide yourself away to make some cards while they nap.  It's definitely my plan.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Impression Obsession Dear Santa

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Santa Man, Ink to Paper Diagonal Banners

Paper: Concord & 9th Neutral Foils Paper Pack, Photoplay It's a Wonderful Christmas 6x6 pad, Stampin' Up cardstock in Poppy Parade, Evening Evergreen, More Mustard

Other: Stampin' Up Softly Falling Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Christmas

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

This simple little card is a really big deal in my crafting life.  (Not that you could tell by looking at it.) This is the first colored ink that I've used since I broke my wrist two months ago!!!  A lot of my colored ink is from Stampin' Up and they are hard to open even without a broken wrist.  With a broken wrist? Impossible!  I'm not going to say it was easy, thus the reason I have about 2 more months of physical therapy in front of me.  But this is a huge step!!

And on the broken ankle - I started going on short walks last week...and driving!!  So I'm no longer feeling trapped (nor is my husband who was my chauffeur). The driving is better than expected. The doctor advised that I leave extra space between me and the car in front of me. In fact he said enough space so people honked at me.  So I'm being careful but I've always been a cautious driver and I'm not at all concerned (so no worries if you are from Colorado and are reading this.)

I love the whimsical look of this set but it's flexible too.  Here's a more elegant card that I did with just the dies. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team on the FMS blog. I had envisioned this sketch with patterned papers on the strips - but there are so many other possibilities that the team came up with! I look forward to seeing what you create.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Spruced Up

Dies: Stampin' Up Spruced Up Outline dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Sweetest Christmas dsp and Garden Green cardstock

Ink: Stampin' Up Garden Green, Real Red, Sweet Sorbet and Pool Party

The Card Concept: Happy Thanksgiving

 It's a double inspiration week at The Card Concept!!  I am playing along with the inspiration for Happy Thanksgiving but check out the gorgeous Merry Christmas option at the end of this post.

My Clean and Simple card was inspired by the colors, the leaves and the texture in the fireplace. I knew before I even looked at the inspiration that I needed one more Thanksgiving card, specifically for my 26-year old son.  Typically I go humorous, but the colors and the texture in the inspiration took me in a different direction.  I found leaves that were modern and chunky then used the rust and orange colors. Then the fireplace in the background led me to the texture on the card. I'm sure from his point of view, I messed up the masculine vibe with the sequins - but I think a truly lovely part of fall is the brilliant colors with a touch of frost. 

The sentiment is from The Stamp Market. It has multiple ways to layer fall greetings. This card uses "Happy Fall" from the same set. The branch and leaves I think are actually trees - at least that's what it shows on the packaging! They are from the set Windy by Penny Black.

If you aren't inspired by the fall graphic, check out this amazing inspiration for Christmas! You can play with either one this week.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Stamp Market Filled With Thanks (and dies)

Dies: Penny Black Windy

Paper: Stampin' Up Gray Granite, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Stampin' Up Gray Granite, Cajun Craze

Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder