Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Holidays

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've used that border die a number of times now - here and here - so many different looks with one die set!!  The sentiment is one of the Easy Expressions sets from The Ton.  I fell in love with the basic Easy Expressions set - used here - when one of my teammates used it (looking at you Linda). And now I've added the Holiday set to my collection. They also have a "Thanks" set which I think I'll manage to avoid but the Birthday set is calling my name!  I adore sentiments - if I could only buy one thing going forward - definitely sentiments!!

On a side note, the Easy Expressions stamps come in two large stamps so for this card I stamped all of the black words at once, then the second stamp lines up perfectly and stamps the blue (then the die cuts them all at once). I've also purchased a few slimline stamps recently.  Unfortunately I cannot find my large Misti anywhere.  I would not have thrown it away but I've searched my craft room from top to bottom and it's missing.  So I needed an alternative to be able to use all of these stamps.  I did find a slimline acrylic block at rubbernecker.com but then I browsed Amazon and came up with an alternative - the Bira Craft Easy Stamp Platform. It's less than half the price of the Misti and gets good reviews that look legit.  I'm not here to formally promote it - I've only used it a couple of times - but I am excited by it. For those that just can't find room in the crafting budget for the Misti, it could be a good alternative. It's a spring loaded platform that's held by magnets. You line up the stamp on the paper, add the cover, push down to pick it up - ink it and push down to stamp.  The little pink things in the picture are magnets - they have a lifted edge so it's easy to pick them up!!!  (You can buy them separately at the link above - and I'm getting a few more for my other tools!)

As you read this, I'm actually off to visit my home state of South Dakota - I should be in Wyoming when this posts! Just a mini vacation in the Black Hills.  My husband wants to try some fishing spots and I'll drive around and probably get lost in the memories.  It's a beautiful area - somehow most of it has managed to stay simple and just a bit old-fashioned. It will be a very relaxing trip.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

Dies: The Ton Holiday Border dies

Paper and Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Michaels silver glitter paper

Other: Stampin' Up Enamel Dots, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkline Clear Snowflakes, Trinity Stamps Silver Stones