Freshly Made Sketches: Decorative Trees

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!

Even though I immediately envisioned trees when I saw the sketch, I planned to challenge myself to do something else. But then my Stampin' Up order with these new dies showed up on my doorstep the day before I was making cards, so what choice did I have?!  I adore these trees.  They will definitely be my go-to for this year's Christmas stash.

I didn't like the full picture that I got above but I hadn't looked at it before nighttime and I rely on natural light so I was stuck with it. Now I look at the picture and the white tree gets lost so the whole card seems out of balance.  I don't feel like it's that bad in real life so I took the close-up below (then had to edit out of all my yellow room light since there was no natural light!) It's a little closer to what I think the card looks like. (I guess I should have taken the full picture in the yellow room light because the close-up doesn't look half bad - but I didn't think of that until this moment.  It's hard getting older!) The white tree is probably still not quite right but I just had to use my favorite dies from the set right away.

I think they assume you'll do gem/pearl berries because there's even a set available in trios like these berries but I don't have those. I just found a small hole punch and punched my berries.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I wonder how many cards will show up without trees?!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Decorative Tree Dies

Paper: Stampin' Autumn to Remember Two-Tone cardstock (the light side of the olive piece), Old Olive Glimmer Paper (along with Berry Burst and White), Gingerbread and Peppermint dsp (retired)

Freshly Made Sketches: Peace on Earth

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!

I think I might have brought you the most boring sketch ever but I hope you don't look at it that way. Maybe it's just me, but I buy big sentiment stamps or dies and then I can never quite figure out how to use them. It seems too lazy just to plop them on a great piece of dsp or on a sponged wash of color or on an embossed background - but it isn't.  And I want to get over that feeling because those big beautiful sentiments can stand alone.

For my card, I added a big "Peace on Earth" sentiment from A Pocket Full of Happiness.  I toyed with paper-piecing the background then I remembered the feeling I was challenging myself to get over - so I just did a simple embossed background.  I sprinkled on just a few bright white snowflakes and I think it all works. That big sentiment stands alone!!

I hope to see you play along with us at Freshly Made Sketches. Use a big sentiment and then do what you will in the background.  Keep it simple or go crazy! I look forward to seeing your creations.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: A Pocket Full of Happiness Peace on Earth

Paper: Stampin' Up Boho Blue

Other: Simon Says Stamp Fir Tree Branches Embossing Folder, Taylored Expressions Snowflakes

Freshly Made Sketches: Blessed

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!

The mornings are already cooler even though the days top 90 every single day.  I'm feeling autumn on the way!  It's my favorite season so I just could not resist a big fall leaf for the circle on the sketch. This is Honey Bees Lovely Layers Maple Leaf.  I used softer colors than I typically use for fall and then some pops of gold. I used a gray background because I like vivid fall colors with a cool, frosty look.  I'm regretting it though, I think it all would have been better on a warm kraft but after adhering all the little pieces, it was too late to go back! The sentiment is a from a set by scrapbook.com. I started out with every letter being a different color to mirror the leaf but it took the focus from the leaf. 

Now if the days would just get a little cooler around here - life would be perfect!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Honey Bee Lovely Layers Maple Leaf, Scrapbook.com Grateful Sentiments, Memory Box Wrapped Stitch Rectangles, Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/4" Patterns

Paper: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Peach Pie, Calypso Coral and Lemon Lime Twist, Simon Says Stamp Fog

Other: Stampin' Up Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder, Studio Katia Gold Foil Pearls

Atlantic Hearts Sketch: Happy Holidays

 As I was flipping through my favorite challenges, I perked up at the sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge because I have recentlyr realized how many Christmas poinsettia dies that I have that I have never used.  Notice what I didn't use.

I was flipping through to get to the poinsettia dies and saw this little tree.  I realized that I could use the sketch and the little tree and a package of fun Christmas papers to create a flat card that would be easy to mail. I don't do flat very often; I love dimension. But with five fun papers, I think this works.

The tree is Mod Tree by Simon Says Stamp - I think it's just a couple of years old. The paper is Cozy Christmas by Simple Stories. I was looking around to see if it was still available but discovered it is a decade old!!  I must really like it because I've cleaned out my stash multiple times and this pad of paper is still there. Actually I must truly love it because I have a lot left. (I refuse to use my favorite papers becaue I might have a better card to use it on in the future!  And don't tell me you can't relate!!)

Thanks to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: My Favorite Things Cool Christmas Greetings

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Mod Tree

Paper: Simple Stories Cozy Christmas

Other: Stampin' Up Pinewood Planks embossing folder, Stamp Market White Glitter Stars