Freshly Made Sketches: #BLESSED

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

I consider myself a clean and layered stamper.  I love lots of open space, usually white, with a detailed grouping of stamps and dies in one small area.  That's my favorite thing to do.  However, when autumn comes around, suddenly I embrace patterns and colors.  I've spent way too much time thinking about why I change - and I think it makes sense.  Winter is white/gray and pristine.  Spring is soft and fresh.  Summer is bright and sunny.  But fall is a riot of colors and falling, blowing leaves.  So my card for today may not completely embrace "fresh" but I think it is fairly "clean-lined"!!


The die is from the Spellbinders Small Die of the Month Club - October.  Every month, I see people creating with their monthly dies and I love them - I just never got around to signing up.  But when I saw this fall acorn, I signed up immediately.  I've seen samples where it stands alone on a truly CAS card; it has enough detail to do that with gorgeous results. But the other part of fall that I love is curling up in warm, comfy quilts so I added that too with the patterned paper!


I'm looking forward to next month's die surprise (and I'm really wishing I had signed up earlier!)

I hope to see you playing along with this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and be sure to head over to the blog for more inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp You Got This
Dies: Spellbinder October Small Die of the Month Club, Taylored Expressions Double-Ended Banners (cut down a bit)
Patterned Paper: a scrap from Simple Stories
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and More Mustard, My Favorite Things Primitive White
Ribbon: Stampin' Up More Mustard Scallop Dots

CtS and City Crafter: Silver Bells

Twice this week, I saw mention of a new-to-me challenge, City Crafter.  I figured that was a sign that I needed to play along!!  Particularly when I checked it and the current challenge is Silver Bells.  The challenge isn't necessarily bells - but you do have to use silver.  I also had earmarked the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch as a must-do.  The two of them came together for this card....


I've had this die in my not-yet-used stash for a few years - it's the Holiday Bell by Echo Park.  My original plan was to do some shading and highlighting but then I decided to keep it simple and modern.  The silvery paper is all from Michaels.  It's hard to see but the strips have a herringbone pattern on them.


This is  a rare time that I did not adhere everything - I wanted the pine branches to tip up for some dimension.  But I'm fairly certain that I'm going go back and adhere it all because I'm quite worried about mailing.  I love when people make their die cuts look like they are floating, but I don't know how those cards survive the post office, let alone even getting it into an envelope.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Christmas
Dies: Echo Park Holiday Bells, Cottage Cutz Spruce Stems, CC Designs Conversation Hearts
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Gray Granite, Bermuda Bay, Michaels glitter cardstock
Ink: Stampin' Up Gray Granite

Freshly Made Sketches: Hip Hip Hooray

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

Not to get all whiny about it, but it seems like the majority of my friends and family have birthdays in the next few months when I need to focus on making Christmas cards!!  I'm sure I could plan ahead - but I say that every year and here we are in October and I've planned nothing.  I had all those birthdays on my mind when I saw the sketch and decided those little leaves would make fabulous balloons and confetti!


I used some favorite colors in blue, yellow and orange - I like the fresh look.  (Besides...it matches my fake cupcake in the background!)  I love the fonts in the sentiment - they have the same look and shapes as the confetti and balloon strings.  I think I obsess over sentiments more than most anything on each card so I am absolutely thrilled when they work.
I hope to see you playing along with us this week.  Be sure to check out the amazing inspiration from the design team.
SUPPLY LIST

The Paper Players: Wishing You Well

I totally love fall colors so any challenge out there with fall colors is high on my list.  Today I am playing along with The Paper Players and made this card.


And here are their colors...

I'm not 100% in love with my card but given it was attempt 1,001, I wanted to post it anyway.  This simple little card almost filled up my waste basket with failures.  Ugh.  I don't know why I just didn't give up and move on.  I had a light bulb moment though and realized I don't like Mossy Meadow - so I don't think there's any card I could have made that made me happy.  

I am fascinated with personal preferences for color.  I would have preferred a more yellow-toned green. For me, olives are more "alive".  On a different note, I am not in love with the new Stampin' Up colors but this weekend, I had other crafters in my craft room and as they wandered through my obsessively large cardstock collection, guess which colors they loved and pulled out to use - those new colors!  I'm also not a fan of yellows - and other people list it as their favorite color!  Having said all of that, Mossy Meadow may never again come out to play in my craft room!!

Anyway, here's a different angle on my card.  I got this stamp set for that little sheer bow - LOVE it.  I wanted to give it a little shine so covered it with Wink of Stella.  It spread the ink a bit and darkened it but I still love the look.  I also added a few glitter drops in the center of the flowers.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Wishing You Well

Ink: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Patterned Paper: unknown - a scrap that was in my Stampin' Up stash

Other: Wink of Stella

Freshly Made Sketches: Boo-Tastic

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Narelle.  (Narelle is the undisputed expert at creating stunning floral cards - be sure to check out her card this week - and every other week for that matter!)

I have a sweet little niece who just isn't into the spooky stuff for Halloween.  As I was browsing my stash, I stumbled on this charming couple.  I thought a princess would be absolutely perfect.


Of course, she needed a "prince" and little Dracula was just cute enough to be it.  Then a sprinkling of gems for the princess and it's Halloween but definitely not spooky!

I was also inspired by the Fusion Card Challenge.  I love the pastel Halloween - I wouldn't have thought that direction without the inspiration!!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Mama Elephant Bootastic
Dies: Mama Elephant Bootastic dies
Other: Hai Rainbow Rhinestones

Color Throwdown: Blessings

I absolutely adore fall colors so how could I not play along with this week's challenge at the Color Throwdown.



And here's the challenge...

I love the wreath die set from Pink & Main.  I did this Halloween card last week but I wanted to do one with the fall dies from the same set.  Plus I wanted to fill up the wreath a bit more than the last one.  I'm also excited because I got the Winter Wreath Decor set in the mail this past weekend so you'll see more wreaths from me!


I spritzed the wreath itself with some shimmer spray.  Not only do I love fall colors but I love the sparkle of frost each morning.  I thought the "Blessings" die from Paper Smooches had exactly the right look. I wanted some interest in the background so added Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Woodgrain.  I tucked the "Blessings" in so the heart in the stitched background would show.

Thanks for the inspiration Color Throwdown!!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Pink & Main Wreath Base, Fall Wreath Decor, Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Woodgrain, Paper Smooches Blessings
Other: Simon Says Stamp Stay Gold Sequins

Freshly Made Sketches: Ghostly Greetings

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

I recently added some seasonal wreath dies to my stash.  They are by Pink & Main - there is the Wreath Base die and also the Fall Wreath Decor dies (which includes both Halloween and general fall).  I also have the Winter Wreath Decor dies on order.  The wreath seems sized so that the images decorate the wreath by going all of the way around but I just added a trio at the bottom per the sketch.  Although it worked perfectly for this little owl on a branch.. 


Since I talk about it often - I'm sure you know that we recently moved after 27 years in a house on fenced acreage.  So I haven't had trick-or-treaters in 27 years.  Now I'm in a neighborhood and I've been excitedly planning for Halloween.  I work with someone who lives just a few blocks away so I asked how much candy I would need. Apparently - not much.  It seems that Halloween has changed in those 27 years I've been away.  Back in the olden days (when we walked to school up hill both ways in 3 feet of snow!), Halloween was a big neighborhood street party.  Now the neighborhood community center throws a big party the weekend before and our cute little downtown area hosts trick-or-treaters on Halloween. I get it.  But I still miss the good old days.  I have one giant bag of candy from Costco and my coworker says I will have leftovers.  I do like candy so perhaps that's the silver lining!
I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Cutting Edge - Ghosts
Dies: Pink and Main Wreath Base Dies and Fall Wreath Decor Dies

The Card Concept: Sunflower Serenade

Stampin' Up's Painted Harvest is a beautiful multi-step, very dimensional sunflower.  I cannot believe I haven't inked it up. So when The Card Concept came out with their Sunflower Serenade challenge - it was a perfect opportunity.

I was inspired in many ways by their graphic.  Clearly - the sunflower.  But I added a sprinkling of blue for the sky and a piece of "barnwood" for the sentiment.  My card isn't exactly Card Concept's definition of "Clean and Simple" since it does have more than one main image and it's not particularly easy to recreate.  So I'm going to call it "Clean and Layered".  If I had to design my comfort zone for styles, it's definitely "Clean and Layered"!

Isn't that just a fabulous graphic?  I want to enlarge it, frame it and hang it on my wall!!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Painted Harvest, Artisan Textures, Woodgrain, Versamark

Cardstock: SU Cherry Cobbler

Ink: SU Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pool Party

Dies and Punches: SU Layering Squares Framelits Dies, SU Leaf Punch

Miscellaneous: SU Iridescent Sequin Assortment

Taylored Expressions Release Day: Leaping Deer and a Snowman

It's the big day! All the Taylored Expressions products you've seen through sneak peek week are now available - and I have a few more to show you. Be sure to head over to the Taylored Expressions blog for a few more peeks - and to see if you've won a prize.

I may have a new all-time favorite background stamp.  Not that I don't love everything I've shown you, but as someone who grew up in her Grandma's kitchen learning the proper way to make lefse (although I avoided the lutefisk) how can I not love the Scandinavian Background?!!


This card is so full of wonderful products.  Obviously that background!!  I kept it soft in pink, but how wonderful would it be in classic red and white!  I then added the silhouette from Woodland Silhouettes 1 (I used the moose from Woodland Silhouettes 2 yesterday).  I am passionate about word dies and Merry Script is no exception.  (There's also a Merry Script Backer die and the Make it Merry stamp set with coordinating words.)


Here's the supply list for this card but keep scrolling because I have one last peek!

SUPPLY LIST


I also want to show you Flip the Script - Snowman Tag. (FYI, there's also a Tree Tag set!).  Just by the name, you know he's a tag, but he also works on a card!  I love things that coordinate!


These two snowmen were done in different ways just to show the options.  The sets has a solid stamp with the words in negative - I used that on the card and heat-embossed him.  It also has the words alone as a stamp - thus the "flip the script" part!


I used another of the brand new background stamps - Buffalo Plaid Background - a must-have along with the Scandinavian background above!  I used it an angle to give my snowman some ground but he still look a bit like he was floating on the card so I found a long skinny sentiment from an older set to create the banner.

The coordinating die has a hole cut out of the snowman so it's easy to tie him on to packaging, but the hat can cover it if you prefer.

I've used two wonderful background stamps today so want to remind you that for a limited time, you can earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS on the Big Background Bundle! Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll receive 120 Crafty Points when you purchase our Holiday Big Background bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CDT on Thursday, October 4, 2018 and 11:59 pm CDT on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made at www.tayloredexpressions.com. 

I should stop typing - because the store is open! Have fun and be sure to check the TE blog to see if you've won a prize.

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions Day 3: Trees and a Moose

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the October release from Taylored Expressions and it's Christmastime!  Monday was faith-based.  Tuesday was cute.  Today is nature - I have trees and a moose. Everything you see this week will be available tomorrow at 9 a.m. CDT. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

I adore silhouettes and there are two new die sets with this release Woodland Silhouettes 1 and 2.  I used the moose from Woodland Silhouettes 2 and created a wintery night scene.


Isn't he fabulous?!  I added a collar using dies from Little Bits - Holiday Bloomers.  The ground is the cut with the new Build a Scene - Snow Drifts dies with the bottom layer using the new Sea Salt cardstock, a wonderful soft gray!


The Simply Stamped - Moon in the background was from the August release.  It was perfect on Halloween cards; it also includes loving sentiments (such as "I love you to the moon and back") and now I used it on a Christmas card.  I only used two of the layers, one in the new Sea Salt ink and the top uses Versamark and the new Fine Detail Diamond Embossing Powder for a bit of sparkle.  I also cut the snowflakes from Little Bits - Snowflake Confetti, coated the top with Versamark and embossed them with the same embossing powder.

There are actually three new colors on this card.  I pointed out the Sea Salt.  The sky and the sentiment are in Blueberry and the holly is Cilantro - such lovely and rich colors!

Here's the supply list for this card.  Keep reading for a chance at prizes and another sneak peek.

SUPPLY LIST



Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

In this release, we have an addition to the Cutting Edges series - now we have Cutting Edge - Trees.  These are all long images with a die that cuts all the way across the card.  

I used the long border, plus a couple of the extra trees and a sentiment, all embossed in Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder.  I also added some snow with the new Snow Flurry Stencil and Nuvo Glimmer Paste to make it super sparkly.  I framed it all with some Gold Foil Cardstock.

The inside of this card has a nice item too - the Gift Card Pop Up.


You cut the shape and then adhere it with the fold in it.  So it closes flat and then pops up with the card in it.  It's super simple to use and what a fun surprise for the recipient!!  (Do you like the gift card?  I was ready to go to the store and buy a gift card just so I could photo this and my husband reached in his wallet and found these puppies!!)

Everything is available tomorrow!!!  Come back first because I have two other peeks of items perfect for the holiday season!!

SUPPLY LIST

Freshly Made Sketches: Praying for You

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

I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to force an idea with this sketch that just didn't work.  Then I ditched the idea and started cleaning up the piles of failed stamps, cardstock, dies, etc.  As I was cleaning up, I saw another stamp set and ta-da! This new idea came together in about 10 minutes.  I really need to learn to give up on bad ideas sooner and move on to better ideas!!


I love this bouquet.  It's a new-to-me set from Pink & Main and actually is meant to go the other way.  It's a frame of flowers with one bouquet at the top and one at the bottom.  Such fun flowers!
I don't have many long sentiments but was thrilled to find this one in my stash (also never used!) from Simon Says Stamp that's just right. I think this all just perfect for brightening somebody's day!
I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!
SUPPLY LIST Stamps: Pink & Main Thinking of You Always Dies: Simon Says Stamp Praying for You Paper: the pinkish cardstock is Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo with the pink in the flower the coordinating Copics that I selected (chart on the side bar).  The patterned is long-retired Stampin' Up.

Taylored Expressions Day 2: Jingle Bells and a Santa Suit

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the October release from Taylored Expressions.  Yesterday was faith and adoration - today is jingle bells and a Santa suit!  Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, October 4.  Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

The Halloween release was the premier of the On the Hinge series. It's a fun die concept that lets the image's legs wiggle.  (Check out my disco witch.)  Of course, this release brings us a Santa suit in On a Hinge - Merry.  Do you see which ways his legs are hanging?


Here he's dancing the other way!


These are really fun to work with.  It's just a simple hinge on a disc (like a track card) that swivels back and forth.  You can shake him and he really gets moving.

Do you see the glitter on his cuffs?  I scribbled with a Versamark pen, then I embossed using the new Fine Detail Diamond Embossing Powder which has wonderful shine and sparkle.

The previously released Sweater Weather Cutting Plate is one of my all-time favorites.  I wanted something wintery/Christmasy behind my Santa but I wanted all the focus on him so I kept the background white on white.  Since he's on a hanger, I added a line from On the Line North Pole (actually all the On the Line series have hanging lines).  A few banners in cheerful Christmas colors allowed me to add the "ho ho ho".

Here's the supply list for this card, but keep reading for the Jingle Bells and a chance at prizes.

SUPPLY LIST
Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

I love any products that looks extra special, but is easy to create with.  That is the case with the series of stamps in the Bubble Greeting series - including this month's Bubble Greetings - Jingle Bells and the pre-printed borders {Boxed In} Christmas.

I picked the Christmas border with lights because I wanted the border to be careful.  I stamped Jingle All the Way then cut it with an oval from the Stitched Oval Stacklet and put that on top of the brand new Petite Scallop Oval Stacklets.  I had to add a jingle bell so used the previously release Little Bits - Jingle Bells along with some Christmas "ribbon" from last year to add the silvery sparkle.

I deliberately didn't spend a lot of time on my coloring - just a bit of minimal shading at the bottom of each letter.  This card came in under 10 minutes!!  And that can be very important in making Christmas cards!  Of course, you can go the other way on this and make it very detailed - check out the other design team members to see some amazing variations!

Yesterday I made Christian Christmas cards, today was Santa and jingle bells, tomorrow I'm focusing on nature!!  There's plenty more to see on the TE blog and be sure to come back tomorrow!

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1: Faith and Adoration

It's day 1 of sneak peeks for the October release from Taylored Expressions and it's Christmastime!!  As usual with the fabulous variety of products from Taylored Expressions, there are products ranging from Christian to Santa and gingerbread to cocktails plus everything in between.  You'll see quite a variety over the next four days. Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, October 4. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

I always plan to have individual cards for every single person on my Christmas card list, but I always end up mass-producing the last few. I don't want cards that I mass-produce to look...mass-produced!! So I try to find a product or a technique that makes them look unique and special.  Here's a sample.


And here's the entire group.


I think the subtle variation in colors gives them a unique and special but with a Misti or other card positioning product, it's incredible easy.  Use a full piece of cardstock and position the Twiggy Background stamp to stamp on the front. First ink and stamp the entire stamp in the brand new Sea Salt which is a subtle gray which is essential in any ink collection.  Don't move the paper or the stamp, because now you'll dab just spots of the stamp with Salt Water Taffy and stamp it.  Then do the same with Mint Julep.  (It's even easier to do this if you have the mini ink spots.)  If you think a spot needs a little more color, add either the blue or the green and stamp it again.  This is what you get.  You can push out quite a few of these in no time before you move on to the next step.


I added drops of Nuvo Holiday Cheer Glitter Drops as berries.  This is a subtle almost plum color with red/green sparkles.  It's another fast and easy step that gives the card a little extra something.  You can let these dry while you move to the next step.

I used the new Petite Scallop Oval Stacklets and the new Words of Faith - Christmas for my centers.  (I wanted to show you the four fabulous sentiments in the set, but if I were actually mass-producing, I'd probably just do one of the sentiments.)  I inked each sentiment in toffee, then dabbed on Peapod and Confetti Cake as shown.  (These are darker blues and greens than the base so they pop.)  Because the entire card has random color variations, I didn't worry about the blues and greens splashing over onto the Toffee (Like on the "S" in Silent Night.)  Not having to be precise speeds it up too.


I used foam adhesive to adhere the centers.  Just that bit of dimension makes them look extra special.  Here are the remaining three.




The key to all of this is using a wonderful background stamp. There are quite a few new stamps in this release that will work perfectly for Christmas.  For a limited time, you can earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS on the Big Background Bundle! Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll receive 120 Crafty Points when you purchase our Holiday Big Background bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CDT on Thursday, October 4, 2018 and 11:59 pm CDT on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made at www.tayloredexpressions.com. 

Here's the supply list for these cards but definitely keep reading because I have another sneak peek and a chance to win prizes!

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Truth be told, my second card could be easily mass-produced also.  This is the new set Let Us Adore Him.  The branches of the tree fit perfectly around the sentiment making it very easy to create this amazing detail.

I used Clarity Stencil brushes to add a very light "glow" of Cupcake ink in the center of the card.  Then stamped the greenery in another new color that's just perfect for Christmas.  It's called Cilantro and is a wonderful, rich Christmas green.  I wanted to add a little extra interest so I embossed the sentiment using Rose Gold Embossing Powder.  (When you use embossing powder after you've already added ink - but sure to use some sort of powder tool or embossing buddy to keep the powder from sticking to the other ink.)

The frame is from the previously release Frame in Frame 2 Cutting Plate.  It gives it a soft look without overwhelming the image.
The new set The Inside Scoop - Christmas had the perfect sentiment for the inside plus we have a new Little Bits - Manger die.  Here's the inside - I love how well it all coordinates!

It may be October 1 - but I am definitely feeling Christmasy!  Although I have to admit to something - I literally had Christmas music playing while I was working on these cards!!  There's plenty more to see on the TE blog and be sure to come back tomorrow.  Tomorrow's cards have a slightly different look - Jingle Bells and a Santa suit!
SUPPLY LIST