CAS(E) this Sketch: Hugs and Coloring

I want to send regular cards to my tween and teen nieces while they are stuck at home. They love to make cards with me so they have some idea of the process.  I saw the unique sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch and decided to use it a little differently that it might be intended.  Here's my card.


Notice how it doesn't look like I got the panels adhered all the way?


That's because I made the inside a coloring panel for her!!


She loves to sketch, doodle, journal and color!  I'm hoping that not only will this be a nice surprise in her mailbox but will also fill some time.
Thank you to CAS(E) this Sketch for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Big Hugs, Taylored Expressions Color Me Background
Dies: Birch Press Design Big Lingo Type
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Over the Rainbow
Other: Studio Katia Red Hearts

Poppystamps: Hugs and Daisies

I wanted to make a warm and cheerful card to send to my MIL who is very unhappily stuck in her house in Virginia.  In these times, even a surprise in the mailbox adds some interest to the lonely days. Normally, she is an extremely social and busy woman. I can't say I can relate.  I find these stay-at-home days perfect for introverts. Maybe extroverts finally understand the struggle we introverts face having out to go out into their world day after day!

I already had the Scribble Daisy Heart Frame by Poppystamps. I knew that some of their other heart dies fit nicely in the center. As it became clear over the last month that I wanted to send many cheerful hugs, I found an online store that was still shipping and got the Hugs Heart die.


Thank you to the Poppystamps Floral Fantasy challenge for the inspiration to pull out my Scribble Daisy and to purchase this charming Hugs Heart and to inspire my colors!!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Poppystamps Hugs Heart, Scribble Daisy Heart Frame, Taylored Expressions Petite Scallop Square
Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Taylored Expressions Pineapple, My Favorite Things Pineapple, Doodlebug Design Dot-Grid-Daisy-Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints
Other: Stampin' Up embossing folder, Pretty Pink Posh Citrus Mix Gems

The Card Concept: A Woodland HEY

One of my sons elected to stay in his college apartment for this pandemic vs. being at home with the rest of us.  I don't think he realized how stir-crazy he'd get sheltering in place.  On the other hand, my youngest did come home and he regularly lets his friends know that he is so bored he's doing a puzzle with his family or he is so bored he's on a walk with his mom so I'm not sure being at our home is all that much better!  (One of his friends posted a video of his 746 attempts at flipping a KCup across the kitchen into the Keurig, with 747 actually being successful so my son is not the only one who is bored.)

I wanted to send a card to my oldest to brighten his day.  I wanted it to be cheerful but not cutesy. The cute graphic at The Card Concept led me toward animals.  I'm not sure I'm exactly right for the challenge since the title is "Woodland Nursery" and I am not making a "nursery" card!  But I love the unique look of the charming animals in the graphic.  I used Flopsy Forest Friends from Ink Blot Shop which also has a unique look.

The ground and clouds are from a different Ink Blot set - Get Grounded.  I added just some very small splashes of color around the clouds, his tail and the grass.  I was afraid if I fully colored it would become cute, not quirky.  The big "hey" seemed appropriate and the inside simply says "consider yourself hugged".

I went for a Clean & Layered look with just a hint of patterned paper, a layered die - but still lots of white space. Thank you to the Card Concept for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps:Ink Blot Shop Flopsy Forest Friends, Get Grounded
Dies: The Stamp Market Hey
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Sweet on You

Memory Box: Easter Blessings

I got totally excited when I saw the newest designer papers and glitter papers from Memory Box - especially the soft, pastel colors for springtime.  It turns out I wasn't the only one, because it seemed to be sold out everywhere I looked.  (Of course, as I browsed all of my favorite stores, I managed to order plenty of other products!)  I did finally find it and got it this past week. With everything going on right now, it was an incredible stress-reliever to play with glitter, beautiful colors and spring flowers!


While I was on my hunt for the glitter paper, Memory Box came out with a glitter paper or glue challenge.  I was already excited about the paper - but the challenge spurred me on to keep looking and not wait until it was in stock at my usual places.  Hmmm...I guess I can blame them for the multiple packages that arrived this last week!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Memory Box Springtime Typewriter Sentiments
Dies: Memory Box Stitched Tulips, Butterfly Delights (retired?)
Paper: Memory Box Springtime Bouquet Stripes and Dots 6x6 pad and Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

CAS(E) this Sketch: Back to the Beginning

This is a retro week at CAS(E) this Sketch and when I saw it was the first sketch ever, I had to play along!!  I was on the team at that time so that first sketch is full of memories (mostly of nerves wondering if my card would be good enough!!)  But my time on the team was absolutely fabulous and honestly, if I hadn't been overwhelmed with some tough college classes as I was getting a second college degree late in life, I'd never have let it go.  It's just so sad when real life gets in the way of this hobby!!!

Here's my card and the sketch.

I know this isn't the most exciting card that I've ever made, but I just got that tulip on a big sale at Concord & 9th.  It had been on my wishlist forever. I love the sweet and simple look. With some cheerful patterns, I thought it would work well as a happy card to send to my brother and his family who are going absolutely stir-crazy stuck in their home.  They are a family who travel at least three months every year plus lots of weekend trips - they do not sit around (vs. me who has to charge my Kindle very, very regularly right now with all the fabulous time I've had to read!) In fact they spent a month in Italy last fall, before their big floods and of course the pandemic.

Just for fun - here's my first card for CtS using this sketch.  I try very hard not to look back at my early cardmaking, especially clear back to 2012 but I actually don't hate this!


SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Concord & 9th Tulip Label
Paper: Sunny Studio Dots & Stripes Pastels, Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green
Other: Taylored Expressions Lemon Meringue Enamel Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: Hope

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

Although I am still going to work every day and I have one of my college-aged sons unexpectedly home, I find myself with lots of free time - no movies, no restaurants, no shopping, etc.  What better use of that time than to create cards for those in senior living facilities with no outside contact.  I made a number of these in different colors using Amy's sketch, although on most of them, I switched out the "hope" for "hugs" for a slightly more cheerful card.  I love these flower dies from Stampin' Up - and I love the detailed little bee so they had to come together on a card!  I tried various dsps in the background but then remembered the dimensional leaf folder also from Stampin' Up. It's a beautiful 3D folder - you don't get the full impact with just the edges showing, but I like it with the flower.

I hope you are all safe and well - and that this sketch helps you relax with some crafting time!  I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Honey Bee
Dies: Stampin' Up Poppy Moments, Sunshine Wishes, Detailed Bee
Paper: Stampin' Up Perennial Essence Vellum Cardstock, Grapefruit Grove, Petal Pink and So Saffron Cardstock
Other: Stampin' Up Layered Leaves Embossing Folder, Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins, Wink of Stella (on "hope", the flower centers and the bee's wings)

CAS Christmas: Winter Flowers 2

The dies for the Honey Bee Stamps Rejoice set that I used yesterday has coordinating dies for the stamps and also one word die. While the set was out I used the die to cut a golden "Holy Night" - then was inspired by the Winter Flowers challenge at CAS Christmas Card Challenge to pull out one of my favorite die sets from last year - also from Honey Bee Stamps.


The stamp set also has a stamp for the "Oh" in "Oh Holy Night" but I didn't realize it until after everything was put together then I couldn't make it fit without looking like it was too high.  So you'll have to imagine the "oh"!  I used a combination of white and vellum to layer the poinsettia and the greenery; I wanted a very soft look next to the shiny gold.

It truly is wonderful to have this hobby to fill up some time during this period of fear and worry.  Thank you to CAS Christmas Card Challenge for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Rejoice dies (the sentiment), Winter Bouquet
Paper: Concord & 9th Neutral Foil

CAS Christmas: Winter Flowers

The current challenge at CAS Christmas Challenge is Winter Flowers.  I have a lovely set in my not-yet-used stash so I definitely couldn't pass up the challenge!


I love the look of these flowers.  The sentiment is attached to the flowers making it very easy - literally one stamp!  However, there are also dies to cut just the flowers and then there are multiple other sentiments that could be used.  I pulled out my Copics and did some simple coloring.  There is Wink of Stella on the flowers - but I never had good light this weekend to photograph the sparkle. I tried this entire stamp right in the middle of the card, but I love things going off the edge so when I realized I could center the sentiment portion and have the rest off of the edge, it was perfect!

I just popped over to the Honey Bee website and realized my card looks a lot like a card that was made as a sample of this stamp set even down to the gems.  I didn't deliberately CASE anything - I don't even remember seeing it - and I should probably take this card down - but it is such a lovely stamp set and it made me so happy to do it, that I'll leave it here.  Plus - it tells you that it is a perfect set for these quick and clean Christmas cards!!  But credit definitely goes to Carly Minner's card.

It was wonderful to be thinking Christmas during this stressful time! Thanks to the CAS Christmas Challenge for the inspiration to pull out this set!

I hope everybody is doing well and that each of you are able to use this fabulous hobby for some stress relief!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Rejoice
Other: Pretty Pink Posh Marigold gems, Wink of Stella, Copics

Freshly Made Sketches: Joyful Day

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

The lily is a recent purchase from The Greetery.  There's the large lily that is on this card and a smaller version, along with a cheatsheet as to how they are put together to get the dimension.  They are quite easy to make.  If you haven't seen them, you'll have to check them out along with the incredibly detailed versions that are possible.  I think it's lovely even in my simple version with a little brushed on pink! 

I used my trusty Mini Strips from Taylored Expressions.  This is the Easter set and has joyful, Christian sentiments and also some cute and fun sayings.  I wanted a little shine and sparkle so I did the sentiment in gold and added a few gold sparkles!

I hope to see you playing along this week.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Mini Strips - Easter
Dies: The Greetery BotaniCuts Lily, Taylored Expressions Mini Strips
Ink: Stampin' Up Blush Blossom
Paper: Taylored Expressions Daffodil, Papertrey Ink Spring Moss, Memory Box Springtime Strips and Dots 6x6 pad
Other: Studio Katia Gold Sparkle Crystals

Christmas Card Throwdown: Merry Colors

I wanted to play along with the current 52 Christmas Card Throwdown before it ends this week because it such a classic color combo - green, kraft and white.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but I saw in my not-yet-used stash that I had the Winter Wreath Decor dies from Pink & Main to go along with their wreath base.  I have all the seasons and thought I had used them all - but this one was still waiting. I must have run out of time at Christmas.  Given some of them such as the reindeer and the gingerbread man were perfect for kraft - and others like the snowman and the snowflake were perfect for white - it was meant to be!!

The sentiment is a Concord & 9th sentiment that I picked because it was bold enough to stand out from all of the detail on the wreath.  I did play around with adding some sparkle to the sentiment and various other elements, but I kept coming back to the classic look of the plain cardstock.
Thanks to the fine group at Christmas Card Throwdown for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST Dies: Pink & Main Winter Wreath Decor dies, Wreath Base, Concord & 9th Merry Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green and Crumb Cake Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh

Tic Tac Hippity Hop

I had a Taylored Expressions set from last year picked out for an Easter card for one of my college-aged sons.  It's not necessarily an Easter set although it does have bunnies - but I added a few Easter eggs and I'll use an Easter-focused inside sentiment.  I think it turned out just quirky enough that my son will tolerate the fact that it's cute.


I had the set out but I was a little unsure how to do the card - especially with the requirement of quirky, not cutesy.  I've been oblivious to a fun challenge out there, but now that it has caught my eye I'll be playing along more often. I had a wonderful timing scrolling through their past challenges including the inspiration from an amazing design team. Here's this week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge.

I saw the bunny option.  I couldn't go sideways because that would require flowers, but when I looked down the column, I saw stencil and yellow. I thought bright yellow ink and a fun stencil would also help to make it quirky.

Whichever son gets this card will definitely roll their eyes but they will still know I was thinking of them!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Hip Hop Bunny
Dies: Taylored Expressions Hip Hop Bunny, Little Bits Easter Confetti (retired)
Ink: Taylored Expressions Potato Chip and Lemon Meringue
Cardstock: Lemon Meringue, Confetti Cake, Granny Smith, Candy Corn
Stencil: Confetti Toss

CAS(E) this Sketch: A Bloomin' Good Day

I am thrilled to be a guest designer this week at CAS(E) this Sketch. I am inspired by every sketch from this group and by the creations from the design team. This week's sketch is no exception.

I love trios of elements. And I love that this sketch gave me a chance to use a bright patterned paper yet still have a clean and fresh card.  I had so many ideas for this card. I decided on the paper first - I love the bright colors, the cheerful stripes and the fun little polka dots. The look of the paper made it fairly easy to decide on the stamps. The Everyday Doodles and Punnies from Ellen Hutson had a style that worked well with the paper.  

I have a notebook of stamped samples of all of my inks so I can find matches (I am seriously matchy-matchy!)  I paged through that until I found the best matches for some of the colors in the paper, although I did end up going darker on the leaves when I realized they would be on top of the green stripe. Then I popped the images at various heights.  I find that a little dimension is a simple way to add interest. Often before I put a card together and it's just laid out on my desk, it looks boring - but by simply adding some dimensional tape, it comes alive.

Thanks so much to the group at CAS(E) this Sketch for letting me guest today and for the weekly inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Essential By Ellen Everyday Punnies and Everyday Doodles
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Over the Rainbow
Ink: Simon Says Orange Peel, Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Taylored Expressions Guava
Other: Pretty Pink Posh Glossy Black Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: Easter Blessings

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

I'm definitely on a roll this week with Easter cards.  The last two days have been soft and gentle cards, but today I went for bright and joyful.  I love these quirky little stitched flowers from Impressions Obsession. I got the circle element made, then found some unique paper behind it.  I still felt like it needed something else, so I added a thin frame in the background - just white on white as an accent.  The sentiment is a new Mini Strips from Taylored Expressions along with their recently released Asymmetrical dies that match all the Mini Strips sets.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Mini Strips - Easter
Dies: Impression Obsession Stitched Flower and Stitched Tulip, Taylored Expressions Mini Strips - Asymmetrical, Simon Says Stamp A1 Thin Frames
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Over the Rainbow

CAS(E) this Sketch: Easter Blessings

Yesterday's card included a die cut palm that I ordered from The Greetery.  While I was ordering, I picked up a stamp set that had been on my wishlist for a long time (with my love for it reignited by my friend Jen Timko who has used it a number of times in the last months).  Summer Sketches includes wonderful delicate flowers with stamps to fill them in and layer the colors (the flowers have two different yellows)


I was totally inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.  I tried to honor the sketch with those balloons going off the edge. I just couldn't cut the tops off of my sweet flowers, so I trimmed the card slightly and let them go over the edge.  I tried very hard to use a bold sentiment as is in the sketch, but everything I tried seemed too heavy for those flowers so I left the sentiment panel big but added a delicate sentiment from Ink to Paper.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Greetery Summer Sketches, Ink to Paper Just Sentiments: Easter

Ink: Taylored Expressions Granny Smith and Pineapple, My Favorite Things Pineapple

Gems: Pretty Pink Posh Harvest

CAS Colours & Sketches: He is Risen

The colors at CAS Colours & Sketches included a very soft pink and a soft green.  I wanted to incorporate these colors into an Easter card.  I had new dies from two different companies that I bought believing they would work well together - and happily they do!


The "He is Risen" is new from Ink to Paper - it's a bold die but it's a sentiment that I want to be big and bold.  The palm is a set of three from The Greetery. 

To incorporate the colors, I brushed Blushing Bride on the background so the sentiment would stand out.  I used Soft Sea Foam for the palm frond.  Shaded Spruce was probably the "right" color for the palm but I wanted to keep it soft.  I did try some smaller palm fronds with Shaded Spruce but they seemed heavy so I finally settled on some simple gems colored with Shaded Spruce.  I like the way they ground all the soft colors.

I do quite a few Easter cards so I managed to justify more than a few recent purchases just for Easter.  They are all really speaking to me right now. Maybe because it's been a beautiful, spring-like weekend - although being from Colorado, I know spring is just toying with us.  We'll see snow before it's over. I definitely took advantage of the weather, both by being outside (my cheeks are a bit sunburned!) and by working on Easter cards with the craft room window thrown open for the fresh air.  It's been a lovely weekend!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: The Greetery BotaniCuts Palm, Ink to Paper To Die For Sentiments: Risen
Ink: Stampin' Up Blushing Bride
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Soft Sea Foam

Freshly Made Sketches: Hey Hi Hello

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 love Cécile's sketches. They are always so unique and my card always feels so trendy and fresh. I recently got the Concord & 9th Hey Hi Hello dies as a freebie with an order. Originally I wasn't going to use the "oh", just the three dies so my shapes were the same size. But I couldn't figure out the sentiment to the right. The "oh" just wasn't right because it wasn't right to say "hey, hi, hello, oh" - it had to come first.  Then I found a different size word bubble and at least got the words in a better order.

Thanks to the inspiration from CAS on Friday I loved the fresh colors and they were perfect for the look that I wanted..

I hope to see you playing along at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Concord & 9th Hey Hi Hello dies, Spellbinders Four Seasons (butterfly), a mix of word bubble dies
Gems: Pretty Pink Posh Marigold