CAS(E) this Sketch: Merry & Bright

For today's Christmas card, I decided to work with a charming set of ice skating critters. I picked the polar bear and decided he needed to be skating in the corner with a big open sky but then I couldn't figure out what else to do.  CAS(E) this Sketch to the rescue!! LOVE their new sketch with the banner in the corner!

I started by creating a background using a variegated wash technique that I learned in Deepti Malik's Craftsy class - Watercolor Cards Made Simple. It is so fun to apply a line of color at the top and then apply water line by line watching the color move down, fading as it goes.  

I love the little smile on the ice skating bear!  

I am such a cold weather person.  I am thrilled that there is snow in the forecast next week.  Of course, depending on the source - it might come on Tuesday, or Thursday, or a snow mix on Saturday. That uncertainty tells me that it's not going to happen - but I'm waiting and I'll be smiling just like this little guy (but my ice skating days are long gone!)
SUPPLY LIST

TE Critters on Ice	TE Critters on Ice Dies	TE Share the Light	TE Build a Scene - Rolling Hills
TE Build a Scene - Central Park	TE Make a Snowflake	TE Little Bits - Snowflake Confetti	TE Banner Stacklets 1
Doodlebug Lily White Sprinkles	Sakura Koi Watercolors	Canson XL Watercolor Paper	Versamark
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder

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CAS(E) this Sketch: Christmas Greetings

I had this sinking realization this morning that if I made a Christmas card on every day that I didn't have another card due - I still wouldn't get them all done.  I've never been in quite this bad a shape before. Luckily I have plenty of unused supplies calling my name so I'm taking on the challenge!!

The first one came about easily. I had been eyeing the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch and now with an hour until it closes, I decided to use it.

It also came about easily because I just received an order including a Washi Paper Tape Sheet. First, I haven't generally used washi tape. Second, I had no idea what a tape sheet was. But I knew I liked the patterns and the 6x6 paper pad had been out of stock forever, so I thought I'd try the sheets. They weren't quite what I expected - really short - but look how well they work with this sketch!!


I'm being a little braggy here, but I really like this card. (If I end up duplicating cards just to get done in time for Christmas - this is the card!) My style has changed over the years. I went from really busy cards, to really clean and simple, and now I seem to have settled somewhere in the middle - a Clean & Layered style.  Clean & Layered doesn't necessarily mean easy to do; it's just a fresh and clean look at the end.  I think I've forgotten how really refreshing it is to do "simple". I do like this card and it was a five minute card. The strips were in one packet so I didn't worry about coordinating, then one die cut, one stamp - ta da!  Big thanks to CAS(E) this Sketch for the inspiration!
SUPPLY LIST

PTI Wet Paint Holiday	PTI Wet Paint Holiday Die	Simple Stories Claus & Co Washi Paper Tape Sheets	MFT Red Hot CS
MFT Whip Cream CS	Doodlebug Ladybug Glitter Sprinkles	Doodlebug Gold Dots Sprinkles	Doodlebug Sprinkles, Fall Dot

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Freshly Made Sketches: Celebrate

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

I am in such an autumn mood.  As I was working on this card, our local heat wave finally broke - we actually broke heat records with temps at 90 degrees...in Colorado...in October!!  I am so not a hot weather person - so when rain and cold weather moved in, I was ecstatic! It was a fairly dramatic change to highs in the 40s. The rain is unusual but it will pass then I can revel in the crisp fall temperatures and the beautiful colors. 

The colors on my card for today are a little unusual. I'm still trying to decide what I think about them. They are basically fall colors but I wanted them to be a little unique because of those fun acorns.  

I love the little wooden leaves to wanted to balance it with a wooden sentiment. It's a little big but it just needed to be used!  Now that I'm looking at the picture I'm wishing I would have made the strip of acorns a little narrower. The sentiment is in an awkward location - it's not exactly in the middle and it's not in the magical 1/3 area which the human eye loves. I don't dislike this card - and I will definitely use it as a Thanksgiving card - but I think it would be a little more pleasing if it were broken into true thirds!
I hope to see you playing along at with us at Freshly Made Sketches.
SUPPLY LIST
The twine is a thick baker's twine that I got from the $1 bin at Michaels, then I frayed it. I saw a friend doing this with the thick Stampin' Up baker's twine and I love the look!

SU Acorny Thank You	SU Acorn Builder Punch	SU Expressions Natural Elements	SU Into the Woods Elements
SU Woodgrain Embossing	SU Crumb Cake CS	SU Tangelo Twist CS	SU Tangelo Twist Ink
SU Crushed Curry Ink	SU Rich Razzleberry Ink

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Merry Monday: Christmas Lights & Glitter

This week's challenge at the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge is Christmas Lights & Glitter.

As luck would have it, I saw the challenge right after I brought the mail in with a package of new dies including Paper Smooches Holiday Lights!!


I love these funky little lights.  I've seen a lot done with them by other cardmakers - patterned papers, little snowflakes in each one, a sponged glow behind each light.  I'm looking forward to playing with them some more!!

I hate iridescent sequins - at least for photography. The sequins above are red, gold and green - the one is really not pink. I'm not sure this photo is any better. The one sequin looks more gold now but the bottom sequin looks blue!  Oh well - they look just fine in real life.



SUPPLY LIST

The red is Stampin' Up Poppy Parade; the aqua is Coastal Cabana. These are two colors that will never leave my collection!

Paper Smooches Joyful Greetings	Clearly Besotted Diagonal Stripes	Paper Smooches Holiday Lights	MFT Limelight CS
SSS Sunshine CS	Versamark	SU Heat & Stick Powder	Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter
Craft Medley Rouge Sequins	Craft Medley Rhythm 'n Blues Sequins	Doodlebug Bumblebee Sequins

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