Freshly Made Christmas: Trimmed Trees

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!

This is my last Christmas card!!  I've had a tough time getting them finished up because it just hasn't been winter yet in my part of Colorado. After I finished this card, I walked to my favorite brewery and sat on their patio - in short sleeves - drinking a cold beer - and it was still too warm. I live in a state that is supposed to have winter and the weather puts me in the Christmas mood but it might as well be spring right now (and for the rest of the 10-day forecast). Some of you may think that sounds fantastic, but I'm a winter person. In fairness, Denver doesn't typically have white Christmas (one in 2022 and prior to that it was 2015). Our big snow comes in February and March, but that doesn't mean there isn't typically snowy days by now and I use those days to play Christmas music and make Christmas cards. We've had one good snowy day this year and that's not enough for my cards.

This one started out being made for my friend and Stampin' Up demonstrator. It was supposed to be all Stampin' Up but took a left turn fairly quickly. I picked the paper but then none of my Stampin' Up Christmas tree dies fit in the space and stamped trees didn't work because it turns out my old Mint Macaron ink pad that matched the paper had dried up. I just gave up at that point and used products from three other companies!

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches. We'll be taking a break after this one and won't be back until January 7th.  Since I may not be posting between now and then - I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Waffle Flower Holiday Cheer
Dies: Echo Park Three Trimmed Trees
Paper: Stampin' Up Whimsy & Wonder dsp, Mint Macaron CS
Other: Concord & 9th Berries & Boughs embossing folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Peace, Joy & Love

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

This is a very fun set of dies by Spellbinders. Not only does it include the beautiful poinsettia, a wide variety of greenery and that sweet bird with his hat, but there's also a big candy cane! I'll definitely have to keep the set near the top of my stash until I've used the candy cane.

I had so many different color options cut out that I realized it wouldn't take much to make a second card!  But I still didn't use the candy cane!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettia, My Favorite Things Stitched Jumbo Fishtails
Stamps: Waffle Flower Classic Holiday Sentiments
Ink: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow
Red Poinsettia:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Old Olive, Lucky Limeade, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Snowflake Specialty Vellum
Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Gold Glitter Enamel Dots
Pink Poinsettia:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green and Daffodil Delight, Taylored Expressions Peapod, Granny Smith, Sprinkles and Salt Water Taffy
Other: Taylored Expressions Diagonal Stripe Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Hand Stamped Sentiments: Cardinal Joy

I'm playing along with the inspiration at Hand Stamped Sentiments using products from the Nordic series at Poppystamps.

Obviously there was a cardinal in the inspiration photos and that is what caught my eye given I have this Nordic Resting Cardinal in my not-yet-used stash. (There's also a Perched Cardinal facing the other way but I didn't have space for him.) Since I was going Nordic, I also pulled out the Nordic Holly Sprig and the Nordic Layered Joy.

The color choices also came from the inspiration. Red and green were clear choices but when I decided to do the "Joy" in metallic colors, I originally had golds out. Then I looked at the photos and realized something I really liked about them were the cool white and gray backgrounds which really made the colors pop - so I switched to silver. 

Thanks to Hand Stamped Sentiments for giving me the inspiration to pull out these fabulous dies.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Poppystamps Nordic Resting Cardinal, Nordic Holly Sprig and Nordic Layered Joy, Taylored Expressions Diagonal Stitch Rectangle Stacklets
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Pecan Pie and Granny Apple Green, Taylored Expressions Cilantro and Peapod, My Favorite Things Pineapple, both silvers are unknown scraps

Freshly Made Sketches: Joy

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Be sure to pop over to the blog because we haev a couple of fabulous new members on the design team!  Today we have a sketch by Karren and here’s what I did with it!

I love this fun "joy" and decided it was basically circular and would work for the sketch. I was thrilled when I stumbled on the paper that surrounded the "joy" with Christmas lights. From there, I just wanted to add joyful Christmas elements so used some candy cane stripes and candies and a background of embossed Christmas ornaments.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (now Creative Worship) Peace and Joy word dies, Taylored Expressions Banner Stacklets 2
Paper: LDRS Creative Peace & Joy, Photoplay Brights, Stampin' Up Poppy Parade
Other: Simon Says Stamp Heirloom Ornaments Embossing Folder, Dress My Craft Carnival Candies, Imagine Sheer Simmer Stix

Inspired by...Christmas Trees & a Bunny

 I am playing along with the current challenge at Inspired by... (but see my caveats below).

I was inspired by the challenge at Inspired By but I took quite a few left turns. I knew right away that I was going to use the Heirloom Ornaments embossing folder to decorate the trees. I started out with rich greens and reds as in the photo inspiration but the embossing just didn't stand out on those dark colors. So I set it aside and waited a day. The next morning, I stepped away from the challenge picture and decided to go with my favorite lighter colors in a more frosty look. At that point, I was still using three really tall and skinny trees per the challenge but I couldn't find the right sentiment. One more day went by before this sentiment started calling my name as the look that I wanted but it required shorter trees so one more step away from the challenge. The final step away came this morning when I realized that I could easily add one of my son's girlfriend's favorite things - a bunny!  Even though it might be a bit of a stretch at this point, I definitely wanted to give credit to Inspired By because this card wouldn't have happened without them!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Stampin' Up Stitched Triangles, Impression Obsession Bunny Buddies, Poppystamps Merry Christmas Cheerful Script
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo and Balmy Blue
Other: Simon Says Stamp Heirloom Ornaments embossing folder, Simon Hurley/Spellbinders Sparkling Snow embossing folder