Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Hearts Day

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!

 

Although I don't use stencils very often, I have an overly-large stash.  Obviously I plan on using them and I like the results, but when the chips are down I like nice, clean (literally) diecuts.  I don't end up with the colorful fingers I often get when I stencil.  BUT I knew I had a large heart-shaped stencil in my stash so if there was ever a time when a stencil got used, this sketch was it!

I didn't want to cover all of the stenciled background so I started with the sparkly see-through ribbon.  It wasn't quite wide enough and didn't look balanced so I added a couple of other strips. Then I added a fun "love" die that I recently purchased and I tucked a little black sentiment into it.

All of the pinks are a better match than what the photos show. My natural light in the winter is very blue so I always have to edit it to get rid of some of the blue. But in this case, editing it changed the pinks.  So I went halfway and now I'm not happy with any of it - the photos has a blue cast and the pinks don't match!  I'm so not an expert at this. I probably should learn more about it - but I'd rather spend my time making the cards!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Impress Rubber Stamps Valentine Word Set

Dies: PhotoPlay Say It With Stamps Love and Sentiment Strips

Other: Picket Fence Studios Heart of Flowers stencil, Trinity Stamps Black Heart Jelly Drops, Stampin' Up Tasteful Textiles embossing folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Serene Bird

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!

 

I always have a basket on the corner of my desk that's filled with products appropriate for any upcoming holiday or just new stash that I want to be sure to use. Over the weekend, I finally changed out the Christmas products for Valentines. This bird die was part of the holiday release at Memory Box but I didn't get a chance to use it for this Christmas.  I think it's lovely so before it left my desk I decided to give it a try on a non-Christmas card.

I cut him out from a golden-yellow and added two of the branches. I added a small white frame behind him then decided that rays of sunshine were perfect for him. The sentiment is also from Memory Box (Open Studio).  I spend a lot of time picking the sentiment because it had to be in that shape to fit with the branches but I also loved how this card was all coming together so the sentiment needed to be something I'd be sure to use (vs. going into my stash of cards to maybe be used in the future.)  (Yes...I definitely obsess over my sentiments!!!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Memory Box/Open Studio Joyful Moments

Dies: Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch, Ellen Huston Essential Squares, Reverse Confetti Stitched Rays Cover Panel

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Bumblebee, Mint Macaron

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Marigold Gems

The Card Concept: Cuppa Coffee

 It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept: Cuppa Cocoa or Coffee. My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the theme and then the colors led me toward a masculine card.

I did change up the green from the inspiration colors. I struggle with classic red and green - my eye sees the combo as cold and I did not want this coffee card to be cold.  I know it's odd given they are traditional Christmas colors.  But it's always better for me if I can warm up one or the other - either lean the red toward an orange tone or use a green with a more yellowish tone.

Both of my sons are just moving into the world of "adulting" - although perhaps a bit slower than I would like!  Having said that, I know I am underestimating the challenges of college life over the last few years. Back in my day (when we walked to classes up hill both ways in 3 feet of snow!), it was a transitional time - it was the start of adulting but in a protected environment.  You knew you'd have a job and you knew it would likely be in an office cubicle somewhere. So college was a time to thoroughly enjoy life and have some innocent fun before entering the real world.  Now my sons have to deal with so much - obviously COVID but so many other things that simply don't allow for "innocent fun". As a distraction from it all, I regularly send them cards. I'm sure they roll their eyes each time, but I also know at least one of them always keeps the most recent card on their desk. Along with my constant prayers, I want them to know that I'm always in their corner!  

And that was a serious sidetrack, but I had all of this in mind when I got this stamp set from Stampin' Up!  It had a quirky look and lots of sentiments that I knew would work for my sons. Not only did it include coffee but also cookies, chocolate and cocktails which also worked!! I've had the set for a while but it got put aside in the Christmas chaos so expect to see more in the coming weeks!

A big thank you to The Card Concept for pointing me in this direction!  I hope to see you playing along with us for our Cuppa Cocoa or Coffee challenge!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Nothing's Better Than

Dies: Stampin' Up Love You More Than

Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Fresh Brewed

Poppystamps: Hugs and a Happy Fox

 I am on the Poppystamps blog today with Hugs and a Happy Fox!

During the pandemic,  I have been sending cards every week to my almost 90-year old mother-in-law who stayed completely isolated in her home. She's always been an active and extroverted lady so I wanted to provide her a small bright spot in her mailbox. That's a lot of cards but the interesting thing is, she never says a word about them, unless I send her a card using any of the Poppystamps Whittles. Then she texts saying how much she loves my cards! Obviously she is as charmed by the Whittles as I am - so today's card was created for my next mailing to my MIL.

This Whittle Happy Fox is one of my favorites just for his expression. On this card I gave him a friend and some sunshine! The background is the Scribble Daisy Heart Frame and the Hugs is from the Marzipan Alphabet. I cut stripes of cardstock going from the ground to the sky!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Scribble Daisy Heart Frame, Marzipan Alphabet, Whittle Clouds, Whittle Sunshine, Whittle Birds, Whittle Happy Fox

Cardstock: Memory Box 6x6 packs in Sunny Orange, Lush Green, Fresh Aqua and Earth Neutral

Freshly Made Sketches: Get Well with Spring Flowers

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!

This was a 10-minute card which never EVER happens for me.  I might be the slowest cardmaker on the face of the earth.  I have to see everything (I can't visualize it) so I cut and re-cut, change colors, re-arrange and don't even get me started on how long bling takes to add. But I belatedly realized that I needed to send a card along with my husband who was heading to the airport to go help his mother through a surgery.  He was packing and I was in a panic. I hadn't made a card for this sketch yet and I thought that a gorgeous flower die in the corner would be just right for both my MIL and the sketch.

I was flipping through dies and saw this cover die and the skies opened and the birds sang! I don't think I've ever had quite this strong a moment of total mojo overload. So much sweet detail for MIL and a flower in the corner for the sketch.

Is it a perfect card? No. If I had had time to obsess, it would probably have a different sentiment and probably a different flower center and maybe different bling.  Do you see what I mean? I am such a slow cardmaker. But sometimes it just feels good to get it done and be happy with it!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments (and die)

Dies: Pretty Pink Posh Spring Corner Frame

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy and Granny Smith , Stampin' Up Pale Papaya and Pumpkin Pie

Other: Stampin' Up Tasteful Textiles Embossing flder, Studio Katia Apricot Glaze Pearls

Poppystamps: Birthday Fishes

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today using a variety of fun Whittles to make a "birthday fishes" card for one of my sons.

I cut the Whittle Seascape Background out of the center of a white panel. Then I cut it in the blue - and layered both on top of another blue panel.  The fish are glittery with a few a clear drops for bubbles. I used the Word Balloons with the Whittle Sealife Sentiments and happily there were three punny sentiments that were just right! (FYI - if you look closely at the third balloon I had to doctor it a bit. I used the balloon that fit the sentiment but the little curved part went the wrong way. So I cut it off and adhered part of a second balloon that went the right way behind it.)

There are many more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog - be sure to check it out!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Whittle Sealife Sentiments

Dies: Poppystamps Whittle Fish Trio, Whittle Seascape Background, Word Balloons

Paper: Memory Box Frosted Glitter pad, Fresh Aqua 6x6 pack

Other: Clear Fairy Drops

Freshly Made Sketches: Hello in Squares

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

 

After taking a few weeks off over the holiday, I felt very rusty sitting down to make a card. I did have an earlier post this week, but the card for this post was actually the first card I made after taking a few weeks off for the holiday.  Thank goodness for the sketch. If you look carefully, I followed it almost exactly with the shapes and the angles - it really helped get me going again!

I thought the quirky layout just begged for a classic Paper Smooches die from the Hello Words set.  Then I just needed a cute little flower an a gem to decorate it.  Completely quick and easy but the fun sketch gave it all the interest it needed!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Paper Smooches Hello Words, My Favorite Things Flower and Leaf Trio

Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Marigold gem

The Card Concept: Fresh New Year

It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept!  Check out the amazing tablescape in the photo!  My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the fabulous colors, the bold stripes and the hint of metallic!

Can you even imagine dining at that table? Maybe I've just become too accustomed to living with a husband and sons because in my household, I'm thrilled if dinner isn't on paper plates!  Actually that's not fair of me to say - both my sons love to cook and understand that plating it well is an important step. Plating isn't quite the same as a full tablescape, but I'll take what I can get!

I'm challenging myself to use more of my cover plate dies.  They are not exactly cheap and I have a few too many of them. This cover plate die was an obvious choice for this challenge. I started with black stripes but as the card came together I wanted the softness of the pink.

Then I needed something bold and centered as is the plate - and pulled out this fabulous You Are Loved die. Then it looked a little lost on the stripes and patterns so I was inspired by the metallics in the inspiration photo to create a tiny little frame and add some hearts (although I did go with silver simply because I don't seem to have gold heart gems.)

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept.  It's always fun to see what inspires each of our players!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp You Are Loved and A2 Thin Frames, Paper Trey Ink Cover Plate Stripes Horizontal

Paper: Honey Bee Stamps The Bees' Knees, Simon Says Stamp Assorted Holographic, Taylored Expressions Pink Champagne

Other: Studio Katia Magic Heart Gems

Poppystamps: Gilded Birthday

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with the Poppystamps Gilded Plate and a rainbow of Bright Jewels!

This is such a quick and easy card, but with a lot of impact.  The background die is wonderfully delicate. (FYI - this die can layer with the Lattice Plate to give it a bit more detail and weight. You can see a sample here.)

The jewels are backed with adhesive - so very easy to plop on the corners of each square of this die.  The sentiment is the Happy Birthday Poe Script which is my favorite font used by Poppystamps. It can be elegant but it also works for fun cards.

Be sure to check out the Poppystamps blog for more pictures and details.  Also - the challenge this month on their blog is "happy birthday" with a prize for a random winner - details are here. 

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Happy Birthday Poe Script, Gilded Plate

Other: Poppystamps Bright Jewels