Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Freshly Made Sketches: Christmas Stained Glass

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!

Christmas Stained Glass


The first step was looking for something in a big circle - preferably in my Christmas or Thanksgiving stash. I found this nativity and couldn't believe I hadn't used it. Then I started picking colors.  I quickly settled on Stampin' Up's Petal Pink and then I decided to use the two coordinating colors from last year's in-colors - Starry Sky and Orchid Oasis.  When they came out, I thought they would be the most perfect Christmas colors ever, although more from the winter aspect not really for a nativity! Then when last year's holiday catalog came out - they weren't there at all.  And they aren't there this year.  I feel like they added two in-colors that none of their designers liked.  But I like them - even on a nativity scene!

The plan was to do the actual stripe from the sketch with a sentiment but even with my large stash of sentiments, I just didn't have the right sentiment for the stripe.  So I went with a longer straight sentiment but not on a stripe. 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Paper Rose Christmas Stained Glass Circle, Echo Park Merry Christmas

Paper: Stampin' Up Petal Pink, Starry Sky and Orchid Oasis, My Favorite Things In the Buff, Taylored Expressions Toffee

Other: Stampin' Up Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Freshly Made Sketches: Wishing You Joy

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!

Wishing You Joy


I started with great intentions to follow the sketch exactly - right down to the leaf.  It wasn't working for me so I changed ideas...then changed again...and again.  I finally settled on a reindeer but after all the changing, now I'm feeling like I have to struggle a bit to see the sketch. I was definitely inspired...the sentiment along the bottom with two small strips of color above it is not something I would have thought to do without the sketch. I moved my main image off center at the last minute when I decided he really needed to be looking at a star.

The cute little reindeer is from Impression Obsession and there's actually a second one in the set - you can see him in the dies in the corner of the photo. Or leave the antlers off and you have a reindeer couple! The sentiment is from Mama Elephant. Nothing in the set is Christmas-related so this one probably isn't either, but it worked! The set comes with one plain banner to put behind the words, but I cut it in silver and blue, then moved the die and cut a thinner strip for my two narrow stripes. 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Impression Obsession Two Folk Deer, Mama Elephant Banner Greetings, Alexandra Renke Snowflake Cloud, Memory Box Postage Square Layers and Star of Wonder

Paper: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie, Crumb Cake, Granny Apple Green and Coastal Cabana cardstock plus Brights 6x6 dsp; Memory Box Majestic Hues Glitter Pad and Polished Foil Pad

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Freshly Made Sketches: Playful Pumpkins

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!
 
Playful Pumpkins


This fairly new set from Concord & 9th has both fun stamps (and dies to cut those stamps) and also some stand-alone dies. Last week, at the last minute, I needed a few leaves and flowers so pulled just those out of the set (since it had just arrived in the mail and was still sitting on my desk). But right then, I put this card together.  I couldn't just pull a few leaves and flowers when all of these fun little pumpkins and sentiments were waiting to be used! I don't make a lot of Halloween cards - really just my two older teenage nieces and probably my son's girlfriend.  So the cards can be cute but not too young - I thought these jack-lanterns were just perfect.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins and dies
Paper: Catherine Pooler Sweet-n-Spooky 6x6, Taylored Expressions Strawberry Milkshake, Candy Corn and Mushroom
Ink: Taylored Expressions Mushroom, Strawberry Milkshake, Candy Corn and Plum Punch


Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Freshly Made Sketches: Thankful & Blessed

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

Thankful & Blessed


I created this sketch with the idea of something I do often on my cards and that is just a hint of patterned paper. (Of course, if you are playing along with this sketch, you can use any amount of patterned paper that you want - I just added a splash!)  I found a vibrant fall paper. I love the surprise of the blue.  Then I added a pumpkin (by Taylored Expressions).  At that point, it needed a bit more and while I was certain I could find appropriate flowers and leaves in my Taylored Expressions collection, I also happened to have a brand new set from Concord & 9th already out on my desk.  It also has pumpkins, but I skipped past those and used the leaves and flowers.  (I was having a fun card-making afternoon so later I did use those pumpkins - but that's for next week!) I needed a sentiment to fit the sketch and found one by Papertrey Ink.  Finally I used my all-time favorite background - Stitched Woodgrain from Lil' Inkers.  The company has closed and I don't know what I'll ever do if I need to replace my woodgrain die. 

I love fall cardmaking - maybe even more than Christmas.  The days are still hot here, but the nights are cooling off already.  Last night was in the 40s.  So I'm sure the leaves are starting to think about changing - I can't wait!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Blessed

Dies: Taylored Expressions Layer It - Pumpkins, Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins die (the leaves and flower), Lil' Inkers Stitched Woodgrain

Paper: Sunny Studio Colorful Autumn, Taylored Expressions Mango, My Favorite Things Orange Zest, Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green and Azure Afternoon

Other: Trinity Stamps Glowing Garnet Embellishment Mix