Sketch Saturday: Warmest Wishes

I have just a couple of Christmas cards left to do but they are the ones that are personal. In this case, my son's girlfriend whom I haven't met, but many months ago when my son suggested this one was serious enough for me to send a birthday card, also told me that strawberries and bunnies would be a great theme.  So I decided to use the bunny theme for Christmas too!

I wasn't quite sure how to make the card special, then happily Sketch Saturday came out with a fun sketch that I think really made the card unique and special.

The image is from Paper Rose. It must be older because I got the stamp at one online store (that didn't have the die) and the die at a different online store (that didn't have the stamp).  Isn't it amazing how far I'll go to not have to fussy cut something!!?  Then at one of those stores, I saw the paper and thought the soft colors and patterns would be just right.  And the paper happened to have a coordinating flower die! Finally, I had seen the Ink Blot Shop Holiday Times Sentiments and knew the look of them would be just right for this card so into my cart that went.  For those of you who are adding up all of these purchases - just stop - I don't want to know - this ended up being a very expensive card!!

A big thank you to Sketch Saturday for the inspiration that made this card special.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Paper Rose Bunny & Guinea Snowman and die, Ink Blot Shop Holiday Times Sentiments

Dies: Echo Park Cozy Bunch (from Winterland collection), Memory Box Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Paper: Echo Park Winterland 6x6, Stampin' Up Blushing Bride, Soft Succulent and Smoky Slate

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Snowflake Mix

Freshly Made Sketches: Ornamental Trees

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!

As hard as I tried to limit the amount of new Christmas stash this year (given the surprisingly large box of not-yet-used stash from previous years), these trees by Gina K just had to be added!  They are so fun and unique, they add all the detail for you. Literally three trees (and a hint of patterned paper to fit the sketch) and I have a wonderfully detailed card that appears to have taken a lot more work than it did!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Gina K Designs Wishing You

Dies: Gina K Designs Ornamental Trees

Paper: Reverse Confetti Very Merry 6x6, Taylored Expressions Blue Raspberry, Cilantro and Lime Zest

Ink: Taylored Expressions Cilantro

Other: Trinity Stamps Disco Ball Embellishment Mix, Taylored Expressions Dotted Lattic Embossing folder

TGIF: Merry Mistletoe

 I had the Lawn Fawn Merry Mistletoe set out on my desk and then saw that the sketch at TGIF Challenges would fit it perfectly!

I got this Lawn Fawn mistletoe set based on a card on the Doodlebugs blog, My intent was to copy it but I don't think I could have gone in a more different direction when I sat down to make the card. I found some old unused paper in my stash that for some reason today just called my name. So I sat down to match colors, etc. based on the paper.

The die set is very basic and very cute. I layered the two greenery dies and added some bright red berries on top. I accented it all with a sparkly blue bow.

Thanks to TGIF Challenges for giving me an idea for this die before it got lost in my not-yet-used Christmas stash just waiting for next year to roll around!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Christmas

Dies: Lawn Fawn Merry Mistletoe

Paper: Kaisercraft Mistletoe (from deep in the stash!), Papertrey Ink Simply Chartreuse and Limeade Ice, Stampin' Up Pecan Pie and Poppy Parade, Stampin' Up Soft Shimmer (lagoon)

Ink: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie

Hand Stamped Sentiments: Birds of the Season

I didn't get many new Christmas stamps and dies this year.  At least until Black Friday/Cyber Monday - those sales killed my budget.  I already couldn't fit my unused Christmas stash back into its current box, but then even more showed up.  One of those was Altenew's Birds of the Season and it was going to get tucked away into that stash until I noticed the sketch at Hand Stamped Sentiments. It was meant to be!!

This was on odd purchase for me because I tend towards dies and not stamps. Making this card reminded me why.  SO many stamps that had to be lined up - and of course, any mistakes always happened toward the end requiring starting over from the beginning. Dies are more forgiving - especially using liquid glue so that I can nudge the various dies around on the card until they are exactly in the right spot.  Stamps aren't forgiving at all even carefully using stamp-a-ma-jigs, etc.  But you know what? I still think it's a gorgeous set and it will come out to play again.  It has three birds - there's a dove, a cardinal and a partridge (and the partridge has a pear to hang) so lots of possibilities.

I picked the sentiment because it fit the sketch but there are multiple fun sentiments.  I drew the line hanging it just to fill the space above the circle. 

Thanks to Hand Stamped Sentiments to keep this set out of the not-yet-used stash!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Altenew Birds of the Season (and dies)

Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red

Ink: Stampin' Up Parakeet Party, Granny Apple Green, Sweet Sorbet and Real Red, Altenew Obsidian Black Pigment In

Freshly Made Sketches: Holiday Centerpiece

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 ventured a little further from the sketch that I normally do. I almost didn't play along this week.  I spent a week with the flu and still feel totally run down - so not a lot of mojo.  I played around with the sketch exactly as is and instead of enjoying it, I got frustrated. So I decided to go with dies that I really wanted to use - and hope you can see still see the sketch in it!

The dies, except for the sentiment, come from Photoplay's Holiday Centerpiece.  It's a gorgeous set! The picture does not do this card justice. (To top off the lack of mojo, it was a gloomy, snowy day for pictures so it looks rather dull and flat.  Wow - could I whine any more??!)  Not only did I use gold foil for various elements, the paper has gold speckles in it.  So here's a quick snap just to show a little bit of the shine. 

I ended up having fun with this card and I have the perfect receipient in mind.  So I may be whiny - but my craft room brought me out of my post-flu slump - so I promise to stop complaining.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Photoplay Holiday Centerpiece, Spellbinders Make It Merry Sentiments 

Paper: Lawn Fawn Spiffier Speckles, Stampin' Up Real Red, Garden Green and Pecan Pie, Taylored Expressions Shimmer White and Buttercream Frosting, Papertrey Ink Cocoa Bean, Concord & 9th Gold Foil

Other: Pinkfresh Gold Glitter Drops