Freshly Made Sketches: Llama Fun

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

I'm not sure what got into me with this one.  I had a nice, respectable circle-like element on my desk all ready to go - actually an apple die-cut but close enough.  Then I saw a Zulily ad with a llama coffee mug (I think) and a really close up llama looking at it.  I was inspired!  And my circle became a llama!!


This is such a fun die set. It's a little bit like playing with paper dolls with all of the options to dress him up!  I took my colors from the paper but avoided the pink since I think this might eventually be a birthday card for my oldest son (if I remember it when his birthday rolls around again).  He's not a huge tequila fan but he is a college student and has over-imbibed (once or twice anyway!!)  I used a sentiment for the inside from the same stamp set - "Hope your birthday is a whole llama fun".  I thought about using "Happy birthday party animal" but I didn't want to give him any ideas!!  
 
I've loved this guy since he was released in February but haven't had a chance to use him.  The rest of Taylored Expressions design team came up with amazing examples but you have to check out this particular card by Jill Hawkins.  I fell in love with him in his sombrero.  FYI the sombrero is actually from a different set - but what a perfect fit!!
I hope to see you playing along with us this week!
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A Big Butterfly Birthday!

Lil' Inker Designs just released a fabulous full-size butterfly die.  I had that thing ordered the day it came out.  It had to be in my collection because it's perfect for those cards that you have to create very quickly but still need to be special.  And I've already used it.  I spontaneously decided to take a vacation day tomorrow, but late last night, I realized my vacation day is also my boss' birthday.  I haven't missed anyone's birthday in the three years I've been in this office - and I don't want to start with my boss - so out came the butterfly!

When I ordered the butterfly, I had envisioned an even quicker card with a gingham patterned paper in the background and a brightly colored butterfly.  But that wasn't the right look for my boss - the card needed to be bold and more modern.  So I spent a few extra minutes with distress oxides.  They really are quick and easy too because they blend so easily - the hardest part is picking colors! I used black acrylic ink for some splatter.  Then a simple sentiment strip and this works!!

I've had the new challenge AAA Birthday Card Challenge bookmarked to play along with. I've played along with their sister challenge AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges a number of times so wanted to be sure to do their first ever birthday challenge!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Neat and Tangled So Many Sentiments
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs Cover Up Die: Butterfly
Ink: Distress Oxides in Mustard Seed, Broken China, Seedless Preserves
Other: Black Acrylic paint

Freshly Made Sketches: Never Alone

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

My card was entirely based on a what I got in the mail last week.  I love this die by Hero Arts.  There's so much sweet detail.  With the sketch, I put a sentiment in strips across it, but I actually got it because it would be perfect to frame a stamped sentiment.


The stamps are from an order just before Easter.  (I tell you about my orders because somehow it justifies in my mind that I'm actually using those orders!)  It has some great sentiments for Easter and other Christian holidays - but also encouraging words for those difficult situations. It's in the Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words line - this one is Faith.
I sponged on some Distress Oxides with some soft green around the edges and a couple of blues for the sky.  The leaf was so perfectly shaped for the circle I just couldn't make it point the other way to match the sketch.
I hope to see you playing along!

Supply List

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith
Dies: Hero Arts Garden Fancy Die, Taylored Expressions Bloomers Greenery, Memory Box Butterfly Delights
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Key Lime, Cookie Monster
Ink: Distress Oxides in Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Salty Ocean

Taylored Expressions: Celebrate Strips

One of my favorite things from the last Taylored Expressions release was the Simple Strips stamps and the coordinating die.  The stamp is a full-size background stamp with row after row of sentiments.  Then the die is a full-size set of strips to cut them all out at once and you have a quick and easy set of sentiments for your stash.

This card uses it all slightly differently.  I took advantage of the die and cut stacks of plain banners out of four different masculine colors.  Then I used the stamp to mask off the sentiment I wanted and created one sentiment off to the edge of the strip (they typically line up in the center).


I lined the strips off down the edge and cut the front slightly smaller than a standard front.  (I didn't actually trim off the banners first - I adhered them as is and then used a paper trimmer to cut off the straight edge.)  I added itty-bitty stars from Little Bits - Celebration Confetti. I also used the Star Fall Background to add interest on the gray panel on the side. I thought this all gave it a great look of celebration but still very masculine.

I love how the die works for this card! So much detail, but so easy to do!
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Freshly Made Sketches: Hello

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

I recently received my April Small Die of the Month Club from Spellbinders and what do you know... fun layered flowers that are perfect for this sketch!!

There are a lot of layers on each flower - luckily I have enough cardstock to layer up in the same color families!  There was even one more layer in the die set - but I used enamel dots for a bit of sparkle and shine instead of the top layer.  The "hello" is also from the set.  I added the solid black strip to help it stand out more.  The leaves have another detailed layer on top but I wanted to keep the focus on the flowers so I left them at the base layer.  
I hope to see you playing along this week!
SUPPLY LIST
Dies: April 2019 Small Die of the Month (Layered Colorful Blooms) Cardstock: Flowers are all Stampin' Up: Blush Blossom (retired), Petal Pink, Grapefruit Grove, Calypso Coral, Soft Sky (retired), Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay. Leaves are Taylored Expressions Granny Smith Patterned Paper: My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes

Taylored Expressions: A Boo-Boo

My son who is away at college called a month ago and started the conversation with "Are you sitting down? I don't want you to panic."  That's never good.  The next sentence was "I was riding my bike and was hit by a car." I realized immediately he was in good enough shape to be calling me so I did not panic.  And as it turns out, he had a minor case of road rash and the bike was totaled - but otherwise, all is well.  After being a good, sympathetic mother - I did end the call by explaining why he should never start a conversation that way ever again!!

Interestingly, he and the driver of the car were moving very slowly - but both had looked over to a severe crash that was happening on the other side of the median.  I think he was more shaken up by seeing the other crash up close and personal.  I wanted to send a card but I wanted it to be a bit silly - just to bring a smile.  I knew I had a sentiment that had just the right tone in Taylored Expressions Listen to Your Heart, then I flipped through my Taylored Expressions collection and found a "grumpling" in Grouchy Grumpling that had just the right expression.


For the background, I used the Triangle Toss stencil.  I masked off a square area, then I lightly brushed on Granny Smith, Salt Water Taffy and Confetti Cake.  I put the stencil on top and put a heavier layer over it of the same colors. It gave my little goat some ground and sky but with a quirky look.

He's OK.  I visited him a few weeks ago.  I could still see the scrapes on his legs - but he's already purchased a new bike.  I picked him up for lunch, then dropped him off at a friend's house where he had left his bike the day before and I last saw him pedaling back to his apartment!
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Freshly Made Sketches: Sharing in Your Sorrow

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

I had intended to follow the sketch exactly with banners.  I love the celebratory look.  But at the last minute, I needed a sympathy card for the death of a friend's mother.  I didn't know her and it was expected, but it doesn't matter what age or the reason, the loss of a mother is difficult. I was flipping through my stash and found this bird die with three little birds and knew it would be my sympathy card and work for the sketch with the three little tails!


The sketch inspired me to add a leafy branch in a soft green. Then I decided to go monochromatic using the soft green in the background also. I 'floated' the die cut with some dimensional adhesive to keep it very dainty.  Usually I layer up dies to give it the dimension because it's sturdier that way, but I'll be hand-delivering this one so figured I could just add a few pieces of adhesive and let it float.

I hope to see you playing along this week.  I always browse that gallery and I am always inspired!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Hero Arts Remember
Dies: Cutplorations For the Birds (Stamplorations), Verve Sprightly Sprigs
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mint Macaron
Ink: Stampin' Up Mint Macaron and Tranquil Tide
Accessories: Cartwright Pale Leaf Sequins.

Taylored Expressions: Dadisms

Taylored Expressions is having a May Mini Release just for Dad!  Everything is available right now - you can find it all here.

I fell in love with the set Dadisms.  I seriously did not know that my husband was so much like other dads that an entire sentiment set could be devoted to their quirks!!   Here's what I did with Dadisms and the previously release die set Caps Lock - Dad.


I figured with the steak and potatoes reference, I should add a grill - so I substituted the "A" in "DAD" with a grill. To add dimension on the grill I rubbed the center edges with Poppy Seed  ink.  Then I brushed on a little sky above the Wispy Grass Border die.


I cannot believe how perfect this sentiment is. After laughing hysterically, my 19-year old son has already claimed this card to give to dad! 

My other favorite sentiment is says "He likes starry skies, the glow of a campfire, and stories told without emojis".  This might even be more perfect for my husband, except that I wasn't entirely certain he's understand the reference to emojis!  He still mourns the fact that his flip phone finally died a few years ago.

There are two more sets perfect for dads coming out - check out the Taylored Expressions blog tomorrow to get a peek at those!

SUPPLY LIST

Freshly Made Sketches: Thinking of You

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

I flipped through my not-yet-used stash looking for inspiration and it occurred to me that a new flower that I had was in a somewhat triangular shape which would work for that corner.


I played around with adding a butterfly for the circle in the corner. I liked it (maybe even a bit better than what I ended up with) but to get it big enough to show up on the lovely flower, I thought it hid too much.  So I decided to keep the full floral and spotlight it.  

Jen has given us a wonderful sketch - wide open for your creativity!  I look forward to see what you create.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: STAMPlorations Best Mom Ever by dee's Arsty Imprssions
Dies: CUTplorations Thinking of You, Stampin' Up Layering Circles Framelits
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Pineapple
Patterned Paper: Sunny Studio Dots & Stripes Pastels