Freshly Made Sketches: Big Hugs

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!

I recently got the Just Say More set from Concord & 9th (the big heart and sentiment). The samples that I've seen are all bold and contemporary and I wanted to have something like that in my collection for cards for my adult sons. As I was picturing this sketch and trying to figure out whether I'd put a big sentiment at the top or along one of the stripes, I realized that I could still follow the sketch but add something big behind a sentiment - and that sent me to this die set. Then after I picked the flower (also from Concord & 9th), I decided I wanted bright, almost tropical, colors. So I ended up going big with the Just Say More set, but with the colors and the ricrac borders, I definitely didn't go contemporary!

I used a couple of embossing folders to fill in the open space. This sent me down the rabbit hole of sorting and weeding out my embossing folders. I'm at the point where I have no idea what I have or don't have. You wouldn't believe how many polka dots and stripes that I have. Of course, they are different sizes and spacing so I couldn't take any of those out of my collection!  Funny story - I weeded everything out, realized what I didn't have, and ordered more from the weekend embossing folder sale at Simon Says Stamp!!  And now I never have to buy another embossing folder!!! (I don't even believe myself on that one!)

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Concord & 9th Just Say More and Fresh Cut Florals 3, My Favorite Things Stitched Ric Rac

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Lemon Lime Twist

Other: Taylored Expressions Leafy Vine EF, YNS Sugar Rush Gumdrops

Strawberry Love

I am quite certain that my son's girlfriend is a keeper. When she came into his life and thus ended up in my card rotation, I asked him what her favorite things are that I could use on cards. He said strawberries and bunnies. So I immediately upped my stash of those two things and what better for a Valentine than some beautiful, red strawberries?!

I spent summers on my grandparent's farm in eastern South Dakota. They sold it when I was very young so I don't have truly strong memories. I do know that my grandfather took great joy in pointing to horses and telling me they were cows and vice versa. It took me years to get over that trauma. I also have memories of a cool, shady and very green strawberry patch. It was a magical place especially because the rest of the farm was all sunlight and openness. (I'm not a gardener - for all I know strawberries need bright sunlight and my memory can't possibly be right. Don't tell me - I like my memory.)  I started pulling out the deep greens I associate with the strawberry patch but the longer that I played around with this card, the more I wanted it to be light and cheerful.  I went for brighter greens (although the strawberries stayed bright red). The sentiment and flower centers are a pearlescent yellow. And just a little basket weave in the background.  It's no longer my magical strawberry patch, but I think it will work for "love day"!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Spellbinders Strawberry Patch (Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Aug 2022), Concord & 9th (Kristina Werner) Happy Love Day and Basket Weave Card Front

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Poppy Parade and Shimmer White (the little flowers), Recollections Shimmer Yellow

Freshly Made Sketches: Love You

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!

 

This was created for my teenage niece (not the college-aged one I've done cards for the last two weeks.) When I saw those dies by Simon Says Stamp, I knew they would be perfect for either niece (and maybe my sons, although definitely not in these colors!)

I picked the paper for its funky look next to the dies. I like it - but it's a little pink for my niece. I'm hoping she'll forgive me given Valentines are all about the red and pink! Simon Says has lots of good examples for Circle Sentiments on their website - I'm modeling off of one that did the two types of letters. They also have other ideas for those letters (plus there is an "h" and an "i") so you could do "hey you" or even "ho ho ho"!  Plus "LOL" or "YOLO" and there are two samples of those that I will copy at some point!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Circle Sentiments, Spellbinders Postage Edge Rectangles

Paper: Stampin' Up Sunshine & Rainbows dsp (retired), cardstock in Mango Melody, Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo and So Saffron

Freshly Made Sketches: Let's Celebrate

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

I probably cheated a little on this sketch with two balloons and a sentiment vs. the three circles but I thought a third balloon at the bottom of the card had the sad look of the day after a party when the balloons have all deflated!! I really need birthday cards and the balloon idea was so strong in my head that I just couldn't change it so I opted for a second sentiment at the bottom. (Of course, two of my teammates used balloons with one at the bottom and it actually looks fabulous!) 

I used to play along with multiple challenges at once, but one of the sad downsides of getting older is that multi-tasking becomes harder!!  I can't remember the last time that one of my cards was for more than one challenge.  This card was for the same college-aged niece as last week's card and I wanted something unique. I had seen the colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments and realized I never use any of the colors so they defnitely seemed unique (at least to me!) and they were very bright and cheerful for a birthday card.

Thanks to both challenges for the inspiration!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Birthday Banners and die set

Dies: My Favorite Things Party Balloons, Waffle Flower Balloon Ties, Paper Rose Happy Birthday Chunky Layered

Paper: Stampin' Up Gingham Gala, cardstock in Petunia Pop, Lemon-Lime Twist and Highland Heather, Taylored Expressions Sea Salt

Other: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles embossing folder, YNS Stamps Garden Sparkly Gumdrops

Freshly Made Sketches: Pop Heart

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!

This one was a stretch for me and I'm still cringing a little. It's intended for my college-aged niece so I wanted to use a unique color scheme. I pulled out an older paper pack from Stampin' Up named Playing with Patterns that has very unusual color pairings (in my opinion). I've used many of the single color or two-colors patterns from the pack but this is the first time I used one that put them all together.  Not sure I love it. I don't hate it or I would have made something else to show you.

I do like the big heart die - it's Pop Heart from Concord & 9th. It has the fun look that I wanted for my niece. That's probably what pulled the card together for me. I don't really like the card - but I LOVE the heart!  

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Concord & 9th Pop Heart Dies, Taylored Expressions Postage Stamp Edger

Paper: Stampin' Up Playing with Patterns and cardstock in Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Night of navy and Purple Posy

Other: Stampin' Up Playing with Patterns Resin Dots 

Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Balloon Wishes

Happy New Year!!!  And what better way to start the year than with a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by the fabulously creative Cécile and here’s what I did with it!

I love Cécile's sketch exactly as it is with snowflakes, but before I saw the sketch I had scared myself a little by looking at all of the upcoming birthday cards that I need to make. I had already decided that no matter what the sketch was, I had to make it work for a birthday - thus the balloons!!

The patterned balloons are from Paper Rose. I love their "sparkly" decorations! I found a bigger plain balloon and surrounded it with the decorative balloons. Then following the sketch, I pulled out a pre-printed sheet of sentiments and I closely trimmed the "birthday wishes".  I struggled a bit with the background although it's hard to tell when you see how simple I went. I tried colors and dsp and stitched borders and more. I like where it ended up though. It's fun but the balloons are still the showcase. 

I hope you decide to play along with us. Maybe this will be your first card of a year full of crafting enjoyment!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Paper Rose Balloon Trio, Scrapbook.com Nested Stitched Balloons (the big orange one), Essential by Ellen Square Frames

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist

Other: Taylored Expressions Embossing Folders: Sprinkles and Diagnoal Stripes, Creative Expressions Birthday Wordies Sentiment Sheets, Pink & Main Enamel Dots