Freshly Made Sketches: Layered Poinsettia

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

 

A poinsettia seemed like a great choice for the middle element and I had the Waffle Flower Layered Poinsettia die in my not-yet-used stash.  I knew it could stand alone because it has wonderful details in each petal. 

I played with a patterned stripe, but I decided on greenery so I used a sprig from the Waffle Flower Spotlight Elements. The set comes in a handy-dandy predesigned layout for spotlighting - I know that's obvious by the name! So the sprig and that sentiment are actually on one stamp with the idea that you can spotlight portions of it.  But since I do like sticking with the same company when possible and since the look of the sprig seemed right with their poinsettia, I cut the stamp apart and used the sprig and the sentiment separately. I used the sprig to the right fairly close to the edge, then I flipped it and used just a few pieces (it overlaps in the middle but hidden by the poinsettia.)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Spotlight Holiday Elements

Dies: Waffle Flower Layered Poinsettia

Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Whimsy & Wonder dsp

Ink: Stampin' Up Mint Macaron

Poppystamps: Sweater Weather

I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this reminder to play along with the current challenge: Sweater Weather. Sweater Weather can go in a lot of directions from fall to Christmas and winter. I took one last chance to do a fall card before the unofficial end of fall. Isn't it odd how as a cardmaker, you can make Christmas cards all year round, but autumn cards have a very short window which in my mind ends tomorrow!

I started with the idea of a window and windowsill and then I just started cutting all of my favorite dies including the charming Whittle Forest Squirrel, a Pile of Pumpkins and some Orchard Leaves. 

I added some rustic "curtains" and a sparkly yellow glow coming from inside.  I walk almost every day and one of the sure signs of fall (besides being able to swear a sweatshirt/sweater) is that it gets dark earlier and the lights in each house glow through the windows.  It is such a warm and happy time!

There are many more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog.

For those who celebrate - have a Happy Thanksgiving!!  Eat too much! Nap long! Enjoy the family!!!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Small Madison Window, Whittle Forest Squirrel, Orchard Leaves, Pile of Pumpkins, Brush Hello, Swaying Birch

Paper: Memory Box Glitzy Glitter, Delicate Pastel Glitter, Woodsy Plaid, Kraft Woodgrain, Cream Woodgrain, Earth Neutral, Sunny Orange

Other: Autumn Fairy Jewels

The Card Concept: Wrapped in Love & Joy

There’s a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept and the theme is Rustic Holiday. My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the warm and rustic colors, patterns and textures.

With the inspiration in mind, I paged through my not-yet-used Christmas stash and quickly decided these trees were just right.  They are from an older Stampin' Up set but are still in the catalog.

Because of the wide variety of patterns and textures in the inspiration photo, I decided to use three of the trees for variety on my card. Then since I tend toward clean and fresh cards, having that much pattern in the trees led me to a simple white woodgrain background.  I just got this tag set and realized one of the sentiments from the stamp set fit so it seemed a perfect base to my trees!

Using them had an important side-purpose too.  This is a Stampin' Up set and it uses a punch and punches take lots of space and I'm totally out of room in my not-yet-used Christmas stash box and using this today frees up some room for some new shopping.  Whew!

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Perfectly Plaid

Punch: Stampin' Up Pine Tree Punch, Tailor Made Tag dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Cinnamon Cider, Garden Green

Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Cinnamon Cider, Garden Green

Other: Stampin' Up Simply Elegant Trim (the gold for the tag), Gold Glitter Enamel Dots and Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Holiday Sprigs

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! This week's sketch is by me and here’s what I did with it!

 

I was clearly thinking Christmas when I added the tree to the sketch and I did do a Christmas card, but no tree! (Although I do think it would be really cute with a tree!) Sometimes a mood strikes and I have to go with it - in this case, the stamp set with the poinsettias and the greenery was calling my name.

I do surprisingly few green, red and white cards even though that's classic Christmas. I find that it can be a somewhat stark or harsh combination.  I do like red and green with kraft. Then in the case of this card, I found paper that had a blue base and I also used that blue color on the pine sprigs and a few sequins and for my eye, that was enough to tone down the red and green.  Isn't it funny how all of our eyes perceive things differently?  Colors that I truly dislike, others name as their favorites and vice versa.  And seriously, who doesn't like red and green? (Other than me!)

I do love this stamp set and will have to do more with it.  It's fun that there are solid and outlined images for different looks.  I used both for the poinsettia and for the leaves to the right.  I left them as outlines (vs. coloring them) just for the contrast and I love the look.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I'll be checking out all the cards in the gallery and I'm sure many of them will go into my inspiration files...they always do!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Essentials by Ellen Holiday Sprigs (and dies)

Paper: LDRS Creative Peace & Joy, Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and Shaded Spruce

Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and Shaded Spruce, Papertrey Ink Ocean Tides (the pine sprigs)

Birthday with an Abstract Mountain

My brother's birthday is next week. He and his family recently moved from Colorado to Georgia. They have a beautiful home and the move made sense for them (although how dare they take my teenage nieces that far away from me!)  But my brother does love the Colorado mountains so his birthday card from me here still living in Colorado had to reflect our mountains!

This is the Abstract Mountain die from Ellen Hutson.  It's like a jigsaw puzzle so the scene just happens! I knew I wanted to use that cork paper as one of the layers, then after I had it in place I realized I needed to balance it with some other textured layers so I embossed the snow-topped mountain.  I tried a number of options for the sky but found the perfect solution in a paper pad that blends multiple colors so it gave me a hint of sun. (Details of all in the supply list.)

I put the sentiment at the bottom simply because it was one of the darker panels so my white embossing showed up the best.  That left me a lot of empty sky so I filled it with a single bird.

With the help of the die, this card came together very quickly. And do you know how every once in a while you make a card that you are especially happy with - this is one of them! In fact I already made two more just like it (without the sentiment) to use for them as needed - probably during college finals in just a few weeks. 

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Essentials by Ellen Totally Random Sayings Vol. 2

Dies: Essentials by Ellen Block Words and Abstract Mountain, Paper Rose Flying Birds - Small

Paper: Studio Light Essentials Paper Pad Multicolors (the sky), Stampin' Up Cork Specialty Paper 

Other: Stampin' Up Tasteful Textile Embossing folder

Poppystamps: A Whittle Christmas Scene

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with a Whittle Christmas Scene.

If you follow my blog, it's no secret that I love the Poppystamps Whittles series!!  They are so cute with absolutely charming expressions.  The two little animals on this card are the babies in sets of two. The snowman is an older snowman in the series (there's a brand new one that's bigger with a scarf).

Then notice the frame.  It's a newly released set and what's great about it is that the inner frame and the scalloped frame are separate so for my card I layered up the outer frame three times.  The die set also comes with three different sizes - this is the middle size.

There are lot more details and pictures but you'll have to head over to the Poppystamps blog to see it all!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Christmas Quotes clear stamp and diet set

Dies: Poppystamps Evergreen Trio, Whittle Snowman, Whittle Hedgehog Duo, Whittle Squirrel, Chirping Birds and Scallop Stitch Frames

Paper: Memory Box Frosted Glitter Pad, Earth Neutral cardstock, Berry Red cardstock

Other: Poppystamps Christmas Fairy Jewels and Christmas Fairy Crystals

Freshly Made Sketches: Season's Greetings

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

 

This sketch seemed like a great sketch to show off a beautiful paper or a beautiful embossing folder! I find the 3D folders absolutely amazing, especially those by Altenew. I had their Perfect Poinsettias waiting to be used so out it came to be shown off.

Then it needed a bit of decoration.  Hello Bluebird has a couple of die sets that include greenery beautiful bows. I have both of them because you never know which will work the best. I saw the set with the skinny bow and it inspired me to do it in gold then add a mat of skinny gold to coordinate with it.  Then I added just a touch of greenery and red berries behind

I wanted to bring a little more green in with the sentiment (those are the same greens no matter what they look like in the photo!) so I decided to heat emboss in gold. I used Simon Says Stamp Good Cheer set which includes simple, classic greetings. I like how it looks on the busy background!! (That's my clean and simple brain - if something is busy, something has simple has to counteract it!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Good Cheer (and dies)

Dies: Hello Bluebird Pine Boughs die

Paper: Concord & 9th Neutrals Foil Paper Pack, Taylored Expressions Sweet Basil and Cherry Pop

Other: Altenew Perfect Poinsettias 3D Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Gold Glitter Enamel Dots

Poppystamps: Magic of Christmas

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this card that uses the new Holly Ring along with woodgrain and plaid for the warm and "magical" Christmas card!

It's a Christmas card so it still needed some shine and sparkle! The ring is cut out of gold foil, then I added Fairy Jewels on the berries and some gemstones around the circle.

There are more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog - I hope you check it out!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Peaceful Christmas Greetings

Dies: Poppystamps Holly Ring

Paper: Memory Box Polished Foil, Madras Plaid Coral and Green, Lush Green 6x6 pack, Kraft Woodgrain

Other: Open Studio (Memory Box) Pastel Jewels and Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones

Freshly Made Sketches: Be Very Merry

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

 

I kind of ignored the Gingerbread dies in the Stampin' Up holiday catalog until I started seeing people use them in ways that weren't gingerbread.  Don't get me wrong - I LOVE gingerbread and the first card that I made with these dies was definitely about the gingerbread (and the peppermints) - but I love flexible products.  I fell in love with this paper set because of the unique Christmas color combos. So it made sense to bring them both together.

I'm not really certain how all of the pieces in this card go together.  I have snow embossing and a snowflake - although it's a green snowflake?!  Then holly in the background.  Then a bell??  Let's just say it's all "Christmas" and we'll leave it at that.  But the mix led me to my sentiment.  This is an old sentiment that was sold as a single stamp and I'll never part with it! 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Be Very Merry (a very old single)

Dies: Stampin' Up Gingerbread Dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Whimsy & Wonder, cardstock in Mossy Meadow and Polished Pink

Other: Stampin' Up 2021-2023 In Color Jewels, Glittered Organdy Ribbon, Softly Falling Embossing Folder

The Card Concept: Beautiful Bounty

There’s a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept and the theme is Beautiful Bounty. My Classy and Elegant style card was inspired by the white pumpkin and the black/white tablescape.  I used all of the colors as accents.

I love this new pumpkin from Honey Bee Stamps.  I previously used it on this card, but had only used the top two layers. I set it aside to be sure to use it again with all layers and this inspiration photo was perfect for it. I'm normally all about the fresh white backgrounds, but the photo pushed me into the black and the patterns - and I love it!!  The colors pop beautifully.

I used a variety of Honey Bee Stamps besides the Patchwork Pumpkin. The yellow flowers and stem for the "berries" are from Fall Bouquet. Although the photo didn't have pine - I love the look of it so got those sprigs from the Lovely Layers: Pinecone set. "Blessed" is from Bitty Buzzwords - I ADORE the font they use with these sets.

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Patchwork Pumpkin

Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Patchwork Pumpkin, Fall Bouquets, Lovely Layers: Pinecone (just the pine sprigs) and Bitty Buzzwords

Paper: Bazzill Basics Licorice Prints, My Favorite Things Pineapple and , Stampin' Up Mint Macaron and Sahara Sand, black glitter paper from Michaels

Other: Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls colored with YR18 Copic, Stampin' Up Antique Ivory Embossing Powder

Inspired By: Oh So Merry

 I recently spontaneously purchased these cute little Christmas Mini dies by Sizzix/Tim Holtz (Hobby Lobby - on sale - couldn't pass them up!)  I had a few minis cut out and laying on my desk waiting for inspiration to hit - a green wreath, a green tree, a stocking.  Then I saw the challenge at Inspired By... and inspiration hit! Instead of green, I went for the tans, reds, grays and blacks from their Christmas inspiration photo. I LOVE IT!!

For interest, I used pearls for the berries, the ornament hangers are silver foil and there's a twine bow on the candy cane. 

The sentiment is from a new-to-me set from The Stamp Market. It's Merry and Magical. I love the emphasis on "magical" in most of the sentiments, but for this card, it was this smaller sentiment tucked into a corner that seemed just right! I tend to obsess over sentiments - the right saying, the right size, the right font - but this sentiment took no time to decide on.

Thank you to Inspired By for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Stamp Market Merry & Magical (and dies)

Dies: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Christmas Minis

Paper: Papertrey Ink Fine Linen CS and dsp, Stampin' Up Gray Granite, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake

Other: Little Things Glossy Berries