Freshly Made Sketches: Love U

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


The sketch has a big circle - but when I realized that I had to mail Valentine's in a couple of weeks, the circle quickly became a heart!

This one is for my oldest son. Both my sons are of an age where I tend to get an eye-roll after they walk all the way to their campus mail center only to get a card from their mom. But I also know they would wonder what's wrong if they didn't get that card - so I know it does mean something. I took the new-to-me Simon Says Rainbow Hearts die and did the rainbow in masculine colors, patterns and textures.  Then I found a chunky sentiment.  It was a bit plain so I had to add a tiny little bow and some black nailheads - even though "bling" is a bad word with them!

I have a January goal of cleaning out my Feedly blog lists (we won't talk about how many blogs I read).  I'm very happy with Feedly, but I got a sudden whim to try something different.  I believe the vast majority of people are using Bloglovin' so I gave it a try.  It's giving me a chance to re-organize everything in a brand new space.  What can I say - if I could make a career out of "organizing" (or finding typos in restaurant menus and road signs) - I'd be rich!  But I do need someone to click on that top link so Bloglovin' knows I'm me - thank you!!!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Altenew Label Love
Dies: Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Heart, Lil' Inker Stitched Squares, Waffle Flower Tiny Twine bow
Paper: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Pretty Peacock, Stampin ' Up old dsp, Simon Says Fog and Smoke, Bazzill Basics Licorice patterned paper
Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder, black nailheads

Freshly Made Sketches: Thinking of You

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

I'm not sure I love the direction I took with this. I had the image of a tablecloth in my head - so I was thinking of a lacy and elegant look.  In retrospect, I wish I would have gone for quirky.  I don't dislike this card, but I think it would have made more sense with regular lines vs. the angled panel.


I do like the various elements of this.  I hadn't yet used the sentiment - but I adore every card that I've seen on various blogs.  The cover plate is one of my favorites from Taylored Expressions.  And aquas are at the very top of my very favorite list!!  I do like sending "thinking of you" cards.  Sometimes I just feel a need to send one to a faraway friend and it's always surprising how often they tell me it arrived exactly when they needed it most.
And the other very exciting thing on this card are the black speckles.  Most of you are now rolling your ideas but I stress over speckles.  I recently watched this video by Jennifer McGuire which is her "other crafty favorites" video from 2019 and lo and behold she demonstrates a variety of products to add speckles.  This is the Spellbinders Silk and is oh-so-easy to use!  I got the three colors that she recommended but I might be going back for more.  I also got the Brutus Monroe White Aqua Pigment that she recommended for white speckles but haven't used it yet.  I love anything that improves and de-stresses my crafting life!!

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

SUPPLIES
Stamps: The Stamp Market A Few Words and the coordinating dies
Dies: Taylored Expressions Bold Lace Cutting Plate, Lil' Inker Designs Of the Heart
Paper: Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy CS, Echo Park Black Polka Dot with a little sparkle added to it
Ink: Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy, Sprinkles and Cookie Monster, Altenew Obsidian Black Pigment
Other: Honey Bee Marine Dream sequins with a little gem plopped in the middle of it, Spellbinders Black Licorice Silk

Freshly Made Sketches: Lift Me Up

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

I am using a set that I've had for a number of years - so many years in fact that the person I was going to use it for has gone from a bright-eyed child to a moody tween and the set definitely no longer works.  But it was sitting in my not-yet-used stash and I needed to let it see ink!  I do watch for calls for cards (are you all in the Because Kindness Facebook group?) so I'm sure this will be used.

I haven't colored in longer than I can remember.  Nothing fancy here - I went back to the early days of my coloring - I did a little highlighting, added a bit of shadow around the outside and called it good. I had SO much fun!!  I plopped on a few sequins as sun spots so it sparkles a bit more IRL.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  This sketch really lets your creativity shine!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Simon Say Stamp/Clearly Besotted Lift Me Up (a limited edition Simon Says Stamptember release from years ago - no longer available), sentiment from an old Papertrey Ink set - Everyday Button Bits
Dies: Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Over the Rainbow
Other: Honey Bee Stamps Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Confetti

Freshly Made Sketches and New Year Changes

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

I have a friend's birthday coming up (so sorry friend because my timing was off and you'll see this before you receive the card!)  I wanted it fresh and simple - preferably with a flower because she lives in a very wintery climate.  I had this flower die in my not-yet-used stash; I love its graceful look.  Then I had to use my favorite new sentiment sets - the "suites" from The Greetery.

A new year brings some changes for me. My husband and I became empty-nesters last fall but I was surprised that it didn't feel all that different.  I realized that I still had so many "have-tos" in my life - and I wanted more "want-tos".  I still have to go to work and I still have to pay bills.  And I'm not paying for a house cleaner or a chef - so I still have to clean and cook.  But many of the things that I enjoy in life had also become "have-tos" - the main one for this post is my cardmaking.  I have been serving on various design teams since 2011. I've loved it all, but it definitely means I have to make certain cards even when I'd rather make something else.
I decided to let go of the Taylored Expressions design team.  That was a very hard decision because I adore their products. They have such a fun mix of sweet, elegant, sarcastic, Christian and so much more.  I was with them for four years so definitely some regrets; however, it's not like I'm banned from their store!!  (They had a new release yesterday! Did you see the new Mini Strips sentiments and the new die?!)  So you will definitely see their products regularly on my blog.
But I am staying on with the Freshly Made Sketches team!  It's a "have-to" but it doesn't feel like it - because I can use the stamps, dies, and themes that I want to use for that week.  I felt very fresh and simple this week - and it shows in the card.  Besides, it's an amazing group of designers who have really bonded over the years.  They are friends - and that definitely keeps it in the "want-to" category!
I want to create cards as much as I ever have but you may not see quite as many posts from me or you might see more when the mood strikes. And that's how I envision my empty-nester years!!
SUPPLY LIST Stamps: The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday Dies: The Greetery Sentiment Suites Basic Die, Simon Says Stamp Floral Bundle Paper: Sunny Studio Dots & Stripes Pastels