Freshly Made Sketches: Forgiven

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!

The die down the side actually has one more layer to it so it can be very dimensional. I played with it for quite a while in white and a variety of colors, but decided I wanted as much of that ink drop paper to come through as possible for the look of stained glass colors. 

Funny story though.  I like the idea of this card more than I like the actual card and I think it's because of that very ink drop paper that I worked so hard to let shine through.  There's nothing wrong with the paper and I've seen others use it and it can be spectacular.  But I am such a fresh and clean kind of cardmaker that I'm thinking I should have stuck with all the die layers in basic cardstock in beautiful colors then a grass green cardstock behind the church. I think I would have liked it better.  Oh well - we all have to stretch some times even if the results aren't exactly to our liking!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Creative Expressions Triple Layer Collection Tina (the border), SImon Says Stamp Churches, Impression Obsession Easter Words, Reverse Confetti Stitched Rays

Paper: Craft Consortium Ink Drops Vivid, Memory Box Graceful Garden Glitter Pad, 

Global Design Project: Hoppy Easter

It might be due to the 60 degree weather we are having in February (I'm in Colorado - it's supposed to be winter!) - but I am definitely in the mood for spring and Easter cards!!  So when I saw the colors at Global Design Project, they became Easter eggs!

I had this new-to-me set of three eggs from Alexandra Renke. I love the detail in them so that was an obvious choice.  I also have three of their "Artist Rabbit" dies so I picked the one that was facing toward the eggs. These rabbits are just the sweetest. There are fabulous cards out there with multiple rabbits and that top layer is slightly askew and not completely adhered and they are absolutely charming!

After that I just found things that fit the theme and also matched the eggs.  The scalloped background is Waffle Flowers Lazy Stitch Layers die.  It actually has more detail beyond what you see but I trimmed the white panel so just the dotted scallops showed - with the dots coordinating with the eggs.  I found a small Easter sentiment from the Spring Words set by Impress.  I used Sentiment Suites by The Greetery which also has the dots to cut the sentiment but trimmed it a bit after cutting.  

A big thank you to the Global Design Project for inspiring me to play with these fabulous products with their very pretty colors.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Impress Cards and Crafts Spring Words

Dies: Alexandra Renke Fab Eggs and Artist Rabbit 3, Waffle Flower Lazy Stitch layers, The Greetery Sentiment Suite

Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight, Simon Says Stamp Fog and Smoke

Other: Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms (February Embossing Folder of the Month)

Freshly Made Sketches: Easter Blessings

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

When I drew this sketch, my plan was a baby card. I was going to do stitched stripes and a quilted background with the cutest little stuffed elephant. But when it came time to sit down and do it, it just wasn't coming together.  I didn't like the colors or the patterns or any sentiments that I had.  Actually I'm sure the colors, patterns and sentiments were just fine - but my mood didn't match the card. Probably because I had this paper pack out on my desk from last week's card and it just kept calling my name! When mojo calls, I must follow!

Then the issue was what kind of card was I going to make with the paper? Easter is creeping up, so that seemed like an obvious decision.  I pulled out a variety of older dies and my mojo was right - this was the card that I wanted to make!

The cross is a retired die by Taylored Expressions. It's simple but it's one of my favorites for Easter and will stay in my stash forever. I used Stampin' Up's Subtle embossing folder to give it a woodgrain look. The sentiment is from La-La Land Crafts. It hurts me a little that "Easter" isn't capitalized so I'm kind of surprised that I bought it - but it does fit the space on the card and perhaps I'm the only one who cringes a little?!! 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Taylored Expressions Old Rugged Cross, La-La Land Crafts Easter Blessings

Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Walk 6x6 dsp, cardstock in Shimmer White, Wild Wheat and Mossy Meadow

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder and Fine Sparkle Adhesive-Backed Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Adorable Array

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!

I was actually looking for something else in my not-yet-used stash. I knew it was there and I was getting frustrated.  So I pulled all the dies out of the drawer started sorting them by company when - surprise - up came this sweet Paper Smooches die! How old is the stuff in my not-yet-used stash given this company is closed?!! Particularly dies like this that are absolutely charming.

The oval on the sketch put me in classic mood.  A decade or so ago (I don't remember, I've been doing this a long time), every card had an oval but not so much now. So I embraced my classic mood and added some older products, a quilted stitched background and a stitched ric rac border. The patterned paper is newer (although also not available!) - it's Garden Walk by Stampin' Up and one of my recent favorites with unique colors and both dainty and bold floral prints.  And just to continue with my theme of using products that are unavailable, the sentiment is from a retired Stampin' Up set.  (In fairness on that one, the sentiment was all about what fit in the space but wasn't so small it got lost.)

I don't have a plan for this card but I have a lot of people in my life who will definitely appreciate the classic look (they are old like me!!!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Circle of Spring

Dies: Paper Smooches Adorable Array, My Favorite Things Stitched Ric Rac border, Lil' Inker Designs Quilted Stitched Pattern die, Taylored Expressions Stitched Stacklets Oval and Petite Scallop Oval

Ink: Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock

Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Walk dsp, cardstock in Poppy Parade, Garden Green, Pretty Peacock, Calypso Coral, Wild Wheat

Other: Stampin' Up Opaque Faceted Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Consume Coffee

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!

 

My stash of masculine all-purpose cards has gotten very low and with two single adult sons negotiating job hunts, new jobs, various life disappointments and also successes - I need a stash. I figured this one would be for my job-hunting son on the day of an interview probably with a coffee gift card inside.  So I went very basic with the card because neither son appreciates even a hint of bling (a word which they always say with contempt - mostly when they realize there's some form of bling stuck to their shoe or to the cat's tail!)

I'm not in love with the card I ended up with - but I love the idea of it.  I should have backed it with kraft so it had the warm look of coffee.  It feels a little cold with the white and a "coffee" card definitely should not feel cold!  But I love that die - it's from the old (and very much missed company) of Paper Smooches.  I paired it with a coffee sentiment and die from Stampin' Up. 

I tried to honor the sketch with my sentiment across the middle of the coffee cup and then instead of the scallops, I used a narrow oval as a shadow (probably a bit of a stretch but that oval was definitely inspired by the sketch!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Nothing's Better Than

Dies: Paper Smooches Cozy Coffee, Stampin' Up Love You More Than dies, My Favorite Things Oval Shadows, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches