Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Happy Birthday

We're back after the holidays with a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Amy and here’s what I did with it!

I decided that that fun angle of the sketch would allow me to go very simple with the rest of the card. I added a scrap of bright stripes along the bottom then embossed the main panel with sprinkles. I picked a sentiment die that was bold enough to fit across the front and unique enough to be eye-catching. Then I added a "happy happy" and a few glitter dots. 

And this is a perfect example why I love sketch challenges. Basically I used one patterned paper, an embossing folder and a die cut. The card could have been boring. But I think the angle on the sketch gave it a fun and celebratory look. 

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Neat & Tangled So Many Sentiments
Dies: Trinity Stamps Simply Sentiment Birthday, Stampin' Up Tasteful Labels
Paper: Stampin' Up Sunshine & Rainbows dsp, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody and So Saffron cardstock
Other: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles embossing folder, Doodlebug glitter enamel dots

Atlantic Hearts Sketch: Thank You

 My friend and Stampin' Up demonstrator gave me a wonderful Christmas gift - the Enduring Beauty stamp set along with stencils and dies! So the first thing that I had to do was make her a thank you card. A big thank you to the team at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge for giving me the creative idea of splitting the bouquet of flowers into each corner.

I don't do a lot of stenciling probably because I find it very stressful. Adding the first color is OK but my anxiety level grows with each new stencil. What if it slips and all my previous work is ruined?! Then I can't tell you how carefully I line up the die and obsessively tape it down before I cut it out. This one really peaked my anxiety because then I had to cut it in half to fit each corner. My friend and SU lady loves stenciling so she'll never understand the stress that this card caused me.

Funny story. She's been my "dealer" for 25 years. For many of those years, we would meet up in my church parking lot when she had an order to give me. One time, her husband was along and as we were exchanging the order and the payment, he burst out laughing and said he was SO glad he knew what was going on. Think about it. An empty parking lot. One car window opens and hands an envelope to the other car. Then the second car hands over a large bag. Wouldn't it have been hysterical had the police shown up thinking they were taking down an illicit deal?! 

I went all Stampin' Up for this card although some of the supplies are long retired.

A big thank you to the team at the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Enduring Beauty (including stencils and dies), Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green

Ink: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green
Other: Stampin' Up Layered Leaves Embossing Folder, Brushed Brass Butterflies