Freshly Made Sketches: Amazing and Fantastic

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

 

When I saw this die in my stash - I knew the sketch and die would be just right! And I definitely need some cards in my stash for my sons in college. This is probably destined for my youngest son.  He's been home this summer and it's the first time he's been around since he turned 21. We've thoroughly enjoyed visiting various breweries and Colorado is definitely big on breweries so we've done a lot of "visiting"!!

I'm using two rectangle dies from Stampin' Up's Rectangle Stitched Framelits but I had to do "surgery" on both of them. The narrow one is stretched - I cut half, moved the die (making sure the stitching lined up), then cut from the other side.  The wider one is a single cut but then I moved the die and cut it about 2/3 of the way to get the two pieces. 

I'm wishing I would have shaded the edges of the bottle and the mug to give them both a rounded look.  I'm afraid I'm guilty of keeping cards to my sons fairly simple - they are much more interested in the gift card I might have tucked inside.  That's not entirely fair, because I know my oldest keeps the most recent card that I've sent over his desk - but they still would not notice details.  

Of course, only I know whether the amazing, fantastic, extraordinary and wonderful thing is my son - or is it a good beer???

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Avery Elle Framed Fonts (retired)

Dies: Paper Rose Beer Bottle 1

Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Pacific Point (plus older dsp)

Poppystamps: A Happy Fox for a Birthday

I am on the Poppystamps blog today with this Whittle Happy Fox and the wonderfully detailed Marzipan Alphabet!

I LOVE the detail on the alphabet - it gives even a clean and fresh card so much eye-catching detail. I started out intending to create a masculine, outdoorsy card so I used Kraft Woodgrain for the letters but then I started envisioning tiki huts. So I surrounded my fox with bright foliage and gems with the colors pulled from the patterned paper. 

There are many more pictures and much more detail on the Poppystamps blog!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Marzipan Alphabet, Whittle Happy Fox, Orchard Leaves, Garden Leaves and Berries, Small Blooming Poinsettia

Paper: Poppystamps Kraft Woodgrain, Memory Box Garden Folly and cardstock pads in Earth Neutral, Berry Red, Lush Green and Sunny Orange

Other: Memory Box Bright Jewels

52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Pinecones

The 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge theme for July is "pinecones".  It reminded me of a beautiful layered pinecone by Honey Bee Stamps that I had in my not-yet-used stash!

I cut each layer of the pinecone out of various browns. Then I dragged the edge across a Versamark pad, applied heat and stick powder, then added some clear glitter to the edges - just to give it a hint of frost. I made the card a mini slimline because I felt that the smaller size kept the pinecone dominant so it was the star of the card. 

Pinecones and forests and snow all make me feel peaceful so I was thrilled to find the large Joy die in my Honey Bee Stamps stash that also included the stamp "and peace". To tie it all together, I cut some snowflakes from glittery white paper.

As I type this, I can hear my family starting to get up.  We are heading out early today to spend the day in the world of pinecones and forests - unfortunately with heat instead of beautiful, peaceful snow - but it's still going to be wonderful!

Thank you to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Joy

Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Joy Buzzword dies, Lovely Layers Pinecone and Layering Snowflakes

Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Holiday Cheer, white glitter from Michaels, Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow, and misc browns

Ink: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow

Freshly Made Sketches: Funky Festive Christmas

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!

This was the ultimate scrap card. I had made those bitty poinsettias to add some decoration to the photo on this card.  Usually I have a few scrap diecuts to use in a photo but there weren't any on that card.  I tried taking photos without anything but it was just so white, so (not at all obsessively) I made the little poinsettias as decoration!  But it was clearly meant to be since the three little poinsettias worked for the three little circles on this card!

Since the poinsettias were by Sizzix (Tim Holtz), I looked through my stash and found this sentiment.  Because they were all a bit funky, the washi tape from Altenew seemed like a good fit.

The colors on this card were a bit of a leap for me. I have difficulty using discrete colors without some connection. It's hard to explain but typically if I use blue on the sentiment and coral on the flowers, I'd have some patterned paper or something to tie it together.  I know most people do not have that same difficulty and I love the results. So I went for it. I had tried a black sentiment but it was too heavy.  I tried a white sentiment but it got lost.  I even adhered the white to the black for a bit of a shadow - still not right.  Then I tried white glitter and it was pretty good - but next in my glitter stash was this blue.  I just kept thinking it looked right.  This card stretched my cardmaking skills (even if by accident!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Sizzix Funky Festive (poinsettias) and Christmas Ribbon (sentiment)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Petal Pink, Groovy Guava

Other: Altenew Painted Grid Washi Tape

AAA Cards: Christmas in July with Twinchies

 I love to put together small little groupings of stamps and dies so when I saw the "twinchie" challenge at AAA Cards, I had to play along.  The "Christmas" part was optional but when I was creating this card, I had already stamped the tree from the stamp set (Stampin' Up's Tree Angle) that included red poinsettias and green leaves before I decided I didn't want any green on that card. That little tree was still sitting on my desk and happily it fit perfectly in a 2" space!!

I wanted something subtle in the background. I used an older embossing folder by Stampin' Up but it wasn't subtle enough.  After I embossed it, I ran it through again under the embossing folder (between the flat plate and the flat side of the folder) to press it out just a bit.  I actually do that quite often - I love the embossed look but as a background, I don't want it to take over. 

Everything on this card is from Stampin' Up except for the sentiment - I just didn't have anything small enough. I was thrilled to find this Christmas tree sentiment in a set by Hello Bluebird!

Thank you to AAA Cards for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Tree Angle, Hello Bluebird Typed Christmas

Dies: Stampin' Up Stitched Triangle dies, Layering Squares framelits

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, unknown yellow

Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce

Other: Stampin' Up Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Gold Glitter Enamel dots

Fab Friday: Stampin' Up Season's Blessings

The sketch at the Fab Friday challenge has three strips along the bottom.  I thought it would work perfectly as a base behind the gorgeous basket in the Stampin' Up Season's Blessings stamps and Seasonal Basket dies.

What's kind of funny about this card is that just on Monday I posted a clean and fresh Christmas card in white and corals and I strongly stated that I just wasn't ready for the bold greens and reds of Christmas even though I really need to star creating Christmas cards. So what do I do on this card? Reds and greens!!  I don't know what changed?!  But I toned them down by using the brighter Poppy, the muted Jade and a hint of Flamingo - that did help my mental outlook on Christmas colors. 

I also used these stamps and dies yesterday and mentioned that it's in the Christmas section of the catalog but it's fabulous all year-round.  Yesterday's card was in Mango and Granny Apple Green - very bright and cheerful and not at all Christmas.  I also used this set on this card using richer colors, but still not Christmas.  I adore this set - it might even be my favorite in the catalog - but I think because it's in the Christmas section, it's not getting much attention.  I've set out to give it some love! The two cards linked earlier are not Christmas, but it seemed time to use it for a Christmas card!

I'm not putting this set too far away because it's going to be wonderful for autumn cards!

Thank you to Fab Friday for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Season's Blessings

Dies: Stampin' Up Season Basket dies

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Just Jade, Flirty Flamingo, Crumb Cake

Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Just Jade, Flirty Flamingo

Other: Stampin' Up Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Gold Glitter Enamel Dots and Frosted Sequins (retired)

Freshly Made Sketches: Stampin' Up Season's Blessings

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!

This set has to have been one of my favorites in the current Stampin' Up catalog but I don't see it getting a lot of love across social media.  Maybe my tastes are different, but I'm guessing it's more so because it's hiding in the Christmas section.  Yes, it does have poinsettias and a Christmas saying (stop back tomorrow because while I had it out I used those too.)  But there are many other options with the set - the catalog has three amazing cards for various seasons.  I've already used the set on this post with darker greens and the amazing basket in the die set (which might be worth the price of the set alone!)  Today I went for brighter fresher colors.

The leaves come on one stamp but the die cuts them into two so I was able to squeeze them together into the little vertical window. (The window uses one of the Rectangle Stitched Framelits but I extended it by only cutting half way, then moving the die (making sure it "clicks" into place with the stitches already cut) and then cutting the other half.) The bouquet wasn't quite tall enough for the window so I used one of the other stems in the set and cut it for that very top flower. I found the "happy birthday" with the look and size that I wanted in an older set and it fit nicely inside a banner from Tasteful Labels. 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Season's Blessings, Sunshine Sayings (the sentiment)

Dies: Stampin' Up Seasonal Basket dies, Tasteful Labels (the banner), Rectangle Stitched Framelits (I extended the rectangle by cutting half, moving it being sure that the stitching "clicks" into place, then cutting the longer half)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake

Ink: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake

Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder

Just Add Ink: Stampin' Up Tree Angle

 I'm finally in the mood for Christmas cards and it's mostly due to all of the fun Christmas challenges out there including the current inspiration at Just Add Ink.  Here's my card.

And here's the inspiration.

The different patterns on those ornaments reminded me of a Stampin' Up set still sitting in my not-yet-used stash - Tree Angle.  I really just wanted the Stitched Triangle dies that cut them out but then it made little sense not buy the stamp set (I can justify any purchase!)  

Beside the patterns in the ornaments, I was also inspired by red and white, and even by the wooden stairs and vertical railings that translated to the embossed background I used.

Thank you to Just Add Ink for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Tree Angle

Dies: Stampin' Up Stitched Triangle dies, Tasteful Labels dies

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, silver glitter paper from Michaels

Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade

Poppystamps: Hey How Are You

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today using brand new stamps and dies!  I adore alphabets and when the alphabet is very unique - all the better!!

I created a line of speech bubbles down the center.  I played around with flowers and with embossing folders but I though the speech bubbles were unique enough to stand with the alphabet.

Besides the alphabet, there's also a new set that uses the same alphabet in pre-made words with corresponding mini sentiments. Plus there's a separate stand-along alphabet die set with the same look.  I love all of them. I did this card for a girlfriend - but that alphabet is going to work just as well with the masculine cards that I do for my sons. 

Be sure to check out the Poppystamps blog for more details and pictures.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Marzipan Alphabet Outline and Background clear stamp and die set (or you can get just the stamp set), Poppystamps Word Balloons

CAS Christmas: Poinsettia Peace

The current challenge at CAS Christmas is "poinsettias". I have a number of not-yet-used poinsettias so just had to play along.  I used the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Poinsettia Pieces. Although I do need to start seriously focusing on Christmas, I'm not at all ready to starting working with rich reds and greens - so I went with dusty corals. It's a Christmas card but fits my summery mood!

I had planned on a standard-sized card but as I started laying out my pieces, I felt like there wasn't enough white space on the standard size. I changed to a full slimline - they are narrower but much longer and I like that the card has a lot of fresh and clean white space. 

The leaf dies from the set are also inlay type just like the poinsettia but I wanted some dimension.  So I cut them then hand-trimmed around them.  I only adhered the based of each leaf and kept some curl at the tip.

A big thank you to the CAS Christmas challenge for continuing to inspired (and push) me to prepare my Christmas stash!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Sizzix Poinsettia Pieces, Tim Holtz Block Holiday Words

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Petal Pink, Groovy Guava, Champagne Foil

Other: Stampin' Up Champagne Rhinestone Basics

Freshly Made Sketches: Coffee = Happiness

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 hit upon the idea of coffee cups fairly quickly.  My stash of cards for my college-aged sons is totally gone and I like to have a few ready.  A card like this is just perfect to send with a small coffee gift card!  I fell in love with the sentiment but it's a bit small to fill in the space so I offset it and added some stripes and gems. My original plan was to use a plaid paper in the background and that's where the colors were picked from, but as I worked on it, it just seemed really busy (I don't use a lot of patterned paper and it's hard for me!) So I replaced it with the textured kraft. In retrospect, had I started with the kraft I would have toned down all of the colors, maybe even kept them all neutral.

The next school year starts in about 5 weeks and I want to have lots of cards ready to go.  One son is just starting higher-level stressful classes plus he's in a house this year so mail goes directly to him instead of his having to walk across an entire campus to the mail center just for a card from his mom - the horror - so I can send more without getting complaints!  The other son is hopefully in his last semester (graduation in December - fingers crossed!!!)  He's actually happier and doing better with his super-high end math and physics classes than he did with all of his 101 classes, but he's also having to deal with the final classes while worrying about jobs and real life! I would expect to need a number of encouraging cards for both of them!  Now I have 1 card in the stash!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Essential by Ellen Latte Love (sentiment)

Dies: Taylored Expressions Joe To-Go Stamp and Die Combo (retired)

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder, Little Things Bronze Mix Jewels

TGIF: Floral Squares

I just got the Stampin' Up Floral Squares die set. I ordered it on free shipping day. I had regretted not ordering it on my very first new catalog order so free shipping justified it for me!!  Then I saw the color challenge at TGIF.  I knew these colors would pop beautifully with one of the Floral Squares!

I also used what has to be my favorite new Stampin' Up stamp set - Biggest Wish.  I can't really explain how basic sentiments could be my favorite amongst all of the other stunning new sets - but I love the layered sentiments and all of the ways they can be used.  (Full disclosure - the "happy" is not stamped in Granny Apple Green ink.  My Granny Apple pad comes up so dark that I knew I couldn't layer the "birthday" on it.)

I love how bright and cheerful colors pop on kraft but I didn't want the entire card front to be kraft.  So I cut a scalloped window using the Layering Square set - then embossed a scrap of Crumb Cake with Pinewood Planks inked with white to add behind it.  I always like some dimension so I found an older wooden elements set that had butterflies - then I needed some sparkle and pulled out the old Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed sentiments (I think the sequin is actually Highland Heather).

Thank you to TGIF for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Biggest Wish

Dies: Stampin' Up Floral Squares and Layering Squares Framelits

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink, Fresh Freesia

Other: Stampin' UP Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, Gingham Gala sequins, wooden elements

The Paper Players: Peace

 I have a 4-day weekend in front of me with virtually nothing planned.  I'm thrilled!!!  I've been at my craft desk all morning.  I did two cards that I needed to do, then I decided to sort my not-yet-used Christmas stash (mostly because I'm already seeing companies releasing Christmas stuff and I needed to be very familiar with what I already have before I bought more of the same!!)  So I was flipping through my Christmas stuff and see this ornament die by Penny Black - then remembered The Paper Players sketch challenge has a circle!

I knew I was starting with that ornament and then I went to the Christmas paper stash.  I love the Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries 6x6 paper pad that came out last year - and I loved it even more when I found a piece that would give me a golden glow at the bottom.  (FYI- this also drove the size of my card.  I was seeing the sketch as possibly a mini slimline card, but I needed the paper to be tall enough to show snowflakes and the golden glow so I went with a standard size to fit it all.)  The glow also led me to the golden paper - I initially just backed the 'peace' with gold, but then realized I wanted the deer to pop so carried the gold through to the ornament. I wish I had some gold twine instead of the white that I 'hung' it with.  We moved three years ago and the only thing lost in the move was my small box of twines (who remembers the silver, gold, and copper twines from Stampin' Up??!)  I'm still bitter about it - and I still haven't found anything that compares.  

A big thank you to The Paper Players for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Penny Black Moonlit, Memory Box Peace Jotted Script

Paper: Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries, Tonic Studios Honey Gold Satin Effect, Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock

Other: Stampin' Up Winter Snow Embossing Folder, Pretty Pink Posh Sea Glass gems