Freshly Made Sketches: Give Thanks

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!

I saw the sketch and I remembered that I had a simple little die set from Stampin' Up named Label Me Grateful dies. I got it for the dainty little leaves and acorns but hadn't used it yet. It was clearly all coming together perfectly so I created a Thanksgiving card even though I technically have all that I need. Just preparing ahead for next year I guess!

I cut out the elements in the same colors that I used a few weeks ago on this card. I really liked the blue in the mix (and also the cardstock was still out on my craft desk!) I used a wood plank embossed background and then lightly rubbed it with white to make the grain stand out.  

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Arrange a Wreath (sentiment)
Dies: Stampin' Up Label Me Grateful dies
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Lost Lagoon, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Crumb Cake and Summer Sun (long retired)
Ink: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie
Other: Stampin' Up Pinewood Planks embossing folder

Freshly Made Sketches: 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! 

I got the leaf die years ago when I saw a number of the design team samples included wreaths. I loved the way this sprig of leaves could build up to a layered wreath. One of the samples was in the same shape as the wreath on my card. I never got around to building any layered wreath so as I was designing this sketch, I put it together to build a wreath. I did toy around with some other sprigs but none of them rounded just right for this wreath. Although I added a banner on the sketch, when it came time, I didn't want to cover any of the leaves so I used a nicely-shaped sentiment.

I also used one of very favorite background dies from a long-gone company. I use it often but in all recent cards, the other elements on the card hide the cute little heart. I immediately thought of this die when I realized that on this card the heart would be shown off beautifully. Then I went one step further and added a sweet little bird right by the heart!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Greetery Blessed Blooms and dies
Dies: Simon Says Stamps Olive Leaves and Layered Bird Bunch, Lil Inkers Stitched Woodgrain
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Lost Lagoon, Old Olive and Crumb Cake
Other: Stampin' Up Streaked Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: Sweater Weather

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 knew right away that this would be fall-focused card but I planned to use fall patterned paper in the squares for a cozy quilt look. Before I started I was looking through my fall stash and saw this sentiment. It's perfect for my son and his girlfriend. I plan to use this as a Thankgiving card with the "Happy Thanksgiving" on the inside and I'll add something like "We're so thankful you found each other"! With that idea coming together, I stepped away from patterned paper and just added sweater-like stripes and a cable knit embossing folder.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Just Sentiments: Happy Fall
Dies: Taylored Expressions Sentiment Stackers, Sweet & Sassy Hearts
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Darling Duckling, Timid Tiger, Pear Pizzazz, Lost Lagoon, Crumb Cake
Ink: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie
Other: Sunny Studio Cable Knit embossing folder, Stampin' Up 2025-27 In Color Flat Pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Autumn Blessings

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!

It hasn't quite cooled off enough here to be perfect fall weather (although any drop in temperature from the horribly hot summer is welcome). But the huge red maple outside my craft room window is showing signs. Each leaf stem is red and the tips of many of the leaves are starting to turn. Throughout the neighborhood, there's a few leaves that I have fallen that I can crunch through in my walks. Autumn is by far my favorite season. I'd make autumn cards all year long - but have you ever noticed that no one raises an eyebrow when you put up a Christmas card in the spring, but it looks wrong when you pull out fall colors in the spring. So I'm jumping on my fall cards now. 

I had planned on a big leaf for the circle but I didn't have a big leaf that came with the detail that I also wanted so I pulled out the Hero Arts Autumn Leaves which are smaller, but have the detail, and an acorn! I love the cut-outs throughout each die cut; it just took a trio of leaves/acorns to fill the space. I love how it turned out. The back panel was giving me a bit of a headache until the lighbulb came on and I knew I wanted a warm quilt. I found a simple quilt die cut and filled it with fall colors and a pop of blue. Then in a nod to the sketch, I added the edge with scallops.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips - Fall
Dies: Hero Arts Autumn Leaves, WPlus9 Quilt Cuts 2, Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips, My Favorite Things Mini Scallop
Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake plus miscellaneous small prints
Other: Stampin' Up Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, Cajun Craze & Gold Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: May God Bless Your Day

It's time for 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!

My brother and sister-in-law were married at the end of September in an old stone church in the mountains of Colorado fully decorated with fall so my card to them will always have a fall theme. You just don't see any fall-themed anniversary cards at the store so I love that I can make it.

I had the idea for the open heart right away and planned to tuck an appropriate anniversay sentiment into it but I don't have a lot of anniversary stamps. I knew they would appreciate a blessing and this one fit perfectly. I'll add the "anniversary" on the inside. I added some splatter which I want to try to do more than I do because it adds a nice texture. Plus in this case, it added a little more white so the white sentiment doesn't look lonely (and I like a little cool and wintery look on my fall cards because I am a huge fan of the crisp weather). Splatters are hard for me because I have to give up control. Even with the bitty splatters I added, some of them ended up in or near my sentiment so it doesn't look as crisp as it should - I hate that but I'll keep trying.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith

Dies: Ellen Hutson Essential Hearts, Sizzix/Tim Holtz Funky Foliage, Stampin' Up Textured Notes

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Timid Tiger, Crushed Curry, Pecan Pie

Freshly Made Sketches: Thanks & Giving

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

I was struggling a bit with the sketch. I had an idea in my head but after more attempts than I care to count, I just couldn't make it work. So I was getting a little frustrated and flipping through my stash when it hit me that pumpkins are round! Of course, not necessarily the pumpkin I ended up using but at least I had an idea. I wanted to stick with the sketch more and be different on the bottom half of the "circle" than the top half but that sketch difference did give me the idea of having flowers on one half and a butterfly on the other. FYI: The actual die isn't quite this tall. I made the pumpkin then cut it in half across the middle so I could stretch it on both sides of the banner.

I don't have many words today. I'm writing this as I'm running around packing for a trip to Virginia for my mother-in-law's 90th birthday. I am completely obsessive about packing and not forgetting anything so my mind is not on this post. My son just rolls his eyes and reminds me that there are stores where we're going so it's not a disaster if I forget anything. But he doesn't understand how hard it is for a woman-of-a-certain-age to find clothes if I forget clothing or how I wouldn't have time to order the special shampoo that works for my hair. So I'm already in a tizzy and as of the time this posts, I'll only have 8 more hours(!) to get it all done before we leave for the airport. 

You might notice that this is sketch #699 which next week being #700. Be sure to come back for the excitement! I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips Fall

Dies: Picket Fence Pretty Pumpkin, My Favorite Things Boxed in Banners, Stampin' Up Textured Notes, Birch Press Simple Butterfly Contour Layer, Taylored Expressions Little Bits Flower Pots

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Cloud Cover, Granny Apple Green, Pecan Pie and Crumb Cake

Other: Stampin' Up Opaque Faceted Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Grateful

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 noticed that one of the clearance products at Stampin' Up was their Autumn Leaves die set. I hadn't gotten it when it was originally out because it turns out there really is a point where you can have too many leaf dies - but I'd always liked the set, particularly the dies for the leaf veins. When I saw they were $11 (that's REALLY cheap for Stampin' Up and it's a big set!), it was meant to be. They showed up the day I was going to make the card for this sketch and obviously, those circles are supposed to be leaves!

I actually started out with true autumn colors.  Then after I cut two of the leaves, it just felt wrong to me to post an autumn card. I always feel like autumn cards only happen in autumn . (Oddly, while I have posting "rules" for autumn cards, Christmas can be posted any time!) So I switched directions and created the first card with brighter colors (even though it will be for Thanksgiving) and I felt much better posting it. But I just couldn't leave the first one undone!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: sentiment from Stampin' Up Falling Leaves (long retired)

Dies: Stampin' Up Autumn Leaves (retired), Tasteful Labels (retired)

Cardstock: Bright: Granny Apple Green, Berry Burst, Timid Tiger, scrap of gold

                    Rich: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Pretty Peacock, Pecan Pie, Oxidized Copper

Other: Stampin' Up embossing folders: Pinewood Planks, Distressed Tile 3D

Autumn Greetings

I have one more new-to-me stencil to try and I want to live in fall for just a bit longer (even though we got 30" of snow last week!)

If you've followed my blog the last few weeks with my attempts at stenciling, you will be surprised when I say I thoroughly enjoyed working on this card! I was in such a good "mental" place that when I got the stenciling done, I actually was comfortable stamping the postage stamps onto it.  That's a big deal because I find stenciling so stressful worrying about making a mistake after multiple layers. I always froze and could not handle the risk of adding a stamp to it.  It might smear or it might only partially stamps.  I know I could get out the stamp positioner, but I took the risk without it!

I decided my enjoyment might be because all the spaces are small. When I do big spaces, I typically get some sort of darker spot in the shape of a brush.  I understand that's part of the unique beauty of brushing on color but I prefer having control!  (It's the same reason that I don't love watercoloring.)  The small spaces on these postage collage stencils are easy to use and might be the turning point for me on using stencils.

BTW - this is Waffle Flower's older fall stencil; they have a newer one for this year named Harvest. I do love fall colors and I'm thinking it might need to come into my stash so I can mix and match the little scenes from the two sets.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Postage Collage for Fall Stamp Set

Dies: Waffle Flower Postage Collage die, The Greetery Let's Have a Word Autumn

Other: Stampin' Up Subtles embossing folder

Thanksgiving with Nordic Leaves

I got this big Thanksgiving die by Photoplay but hadn't found a way to use it. I generally like big sentiments because they can look so good on a great piece of dsp or an embossed background - and it's so easy. But so far I hadn't found the right way to use this one. Then Poppystamps added leaves to their Nordic collection and I knew what I needed to do! (BTW - with a last name like Singdahlsen and my mom's maiden name being Gustafson - I definitely have an affinity for anything Nordic!)

You gotta love the pink tone to all of my fall cards. All of my pictures are natural light - I've never invested in any kind of photo set up. But there's a massive and absolutely gorgeous red maple outside my craft room window so the light that filters in is pink! I do color correct the photo but I can only go so far before all the other colors start changing.  Here's how it started!

This will be the last of my daily posts. I made a great dent on the pile of products that I wanted to remember to use, reuse or destash. The pile isn't gone but it is manageable. I made multiple cards for upcoming holidays. I made decisions about destashing. And it was great because for a week, I didn't have time to cook dinner, clean house or pay bills!! (Although I did manage to get to work every day, so no one can say I'm totally obsessed.) For sure, I'll still be here every Wednesday for Freshly Made Sketches and also whenever another card or challenge calls my name.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Photoplay Happy Thanksgiving, Poppystamps Nordic Oak Leaves and Nordic Maple Leaves

Paper: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Peach Pie, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lolly, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Pecan Pie and Lost Lagoon, Taylored Expressions Granny Smith and Candy Corn

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder, Paper Rose Ben's Plaid Embossing Folder

Harvest Blessings

 I am very late to the world of stencils. Actually that's not quite true. I bought dozens and dozens of them when they first started coming out and then I stenciled once or twice but just didn't enjoy it. I think it's a little bit like cooking dinner - I say I don't enjoy cooking but what I really dislike is cleaning up.  Ditto with stencils. I get ink everywhere and then there are the brushes to clean and don't get me started on how much the permanent stains made by red ink stress me out.

But the newer generations of stencils are absolutely amazing and they create works of art.  I feel like I'm missing all the fun of stencils. I went through my current stash of stencils - most of which are the simple background stencils that came out with the first generation of stencils- but I found this two layer Leaves Wreath by Simon Says and thought I'd give it a try.  

You can see I'm very simplistic although I'm quite proud that there are actually 7 colors on this card all blended together - two oranges, two yellows, two greens and the brown. I definitely groaned heavily when it was time to clean up so I'm fairly sure that stencils still won't be my thing but I like the results and I just might be able to justify bringing a few of the newer amazing artistic stencils into my stash.

The sentiment was done on a banner simply because I refused to stamp directly on my stenciled background with the potential to mess it up!

(Hey Carol - this is the second card this week and I already have #3 ready to go! You are a good motivator!!)

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Right at Home Be Thankful

Stencil: Simon Says Stamp Leaves Wreath

Ink: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Peach Pie, Pecan Pie (hungry yet?!), Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder, Pinkfresh Gold Glitter Drops

Freshly Made Sketches: Thankful

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!

It looks like Honey Bee Stamps has four sets of dies with Itty Bitty in the name and I have three of them. (The fourth just went on my wishlist since I clearly missed it!)  All three are on the above card. When I saw the sketch I imagined a row of pumpkins but when I saw the Itty Bitty Pumpkins, I realized I could change it up and use the Itty Bitty Leaves and the Itty Bitty Fall Flowers. I really love fall elements and colors so this was a fun series of 7 elements to make!

Then I got a little stuck at finding a sentiment that filled the space so I cheated a bit and made the card a mini slim so a single "thankful" would fill the middle. Since the "thankful" was a die, it gave a chance to add plaid to the background which always feels like fall to me. (This particular plaid also helped me line up my 7 fall elements.)

After this post, my family is running away to the mountains for our last mini-trip.  We've had a lot of problems getting away this summer between the work schedule for my husband and I, the interview schedule for my son, and an elderly cat - so we decided to do one-day mini-trips.  It's been quite successful.  The highlights have been the best pizza I've ever had at Pizza Rio in Salida, CO plus it's on a deck overlooking the beautiful Arkansas River. We went during the Salida Fiber Festival so I have a few (or maybe more than a few) new balls of yarn to use over the winter. Last week we discovered Howlin Wind Brewery and Blending in Rollinsville - a town of just 189 people but it has the brewery, a distillery, a wood-fired pizza place and a food truck (with amazing fried oyster mushrooms!) The entire front of the brewery was garage doors - all thrown open to the colors and smell of fall. And it was as friendly as it gets with the locals bringing even us city folks into conversations (horror movies and tattoos). I think the horror movies were because the locals are converting a defunct restaurant into a haunted house and based on the conversation, it would definitely be too much for me. The trip this week is actually going to stretch 2 days and we're going back to Summit County which was our stomping ground while the kids were growing up.  So probably nothing new, just a lot of fabulous memories!

Enough chatter - you have a card to make! I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Trinity Stamps Scripty Thanks; Honey Bee Stamps Itty Bitty Leaves, Itty Bitty Pumpkins and Itty Bitty Fall Flowers

Paper: Stampin' Up Balmy Blue, Lemon Lime Twist, Peach Pie, Pecan Pie, Daffodil Delight, Moody Mauve and the long-retired Confetti Tan

Other: Paper Rose Winter Plaid Embossing Folder, Pink & Main Thankful Enamel Glitter Dots

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

Freshly Made Sketches: So Very Thankful

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!

It's my very first Thanksgiving card of the year!  Why is it that we can make Christmas cards all year, but you don't see many fall cards being made in winter or spring?!  For me, this card is a bit of a stretch from the sketch. I'm a pretty literal person. But as I was contemplating what to make, my phone dinged that a package had been delivered to my mailbox and that package included this wonderful Autumn Inlay die from Concord & 9th! So the three panels on the sketch became three rows of fall colors!!

I added shimmer to the leaf above the sentiment. I like a little shine on my autumn cards because there is nothing more beautiful than frost on autumn leaves!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins and dies

Dies: Concord & 9th Autumn Inlay die 

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Taylored Expressions Sweet Potato Pie 

Ink: Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock

CAS Colours & Sketches: Blessed

I have not done a slimline in ages and I actually enjoy doing them so when I saw the challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches, I knew I had to play along. 

The "good" reason for this card is that it will go out to the son who moved to Michigan and his girlfriend.  It's somewhat cute for her, but the rich fall colors keep it from being to feminine.  I also want to remind him that he's blessed - he has a good job, a nice apartment and this girlfriend seems sane!!  The very selfish reason for this card is that I have my Thanksgiving cards ready to go so my unused fall products are going back into a basket under my rolling cart and this tall slimline stamp set just doesn't fit!!  Selfish or not, I love that my two needs came together!! 

Doing this card, or actually photographing this card, reminded me why I hadn't done a slimline in a while. It's very hard to get a tall card in a square photo.  I compounded my problem by using gold embossing powder. In the photos I took with my normal set-up, the sentiment just looked like a dull brown - so I ended up directing a light at it to get a bit of shine. The struggle continued with the pinkish cast to the right (although you should have seen the picture before I used photo editing software and got rid of the pink cast that was over most of it).  But that's due to the glorious red maple - which is currently a blazing red color - that sits right outside my craft room window and I can only complain about the pink/red color so much because the tree is utterly gorgeous. Of course instead of whining, I could actually learn about photography - but I think I'd rather be making another card!!!

Thanks to the inspiration from CAS Colours & Sketches because this slimline ended up being exactly what I needed.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Trinity Stamps Slimline Woodsy background (and dies), The Greetery Blessed Blooms (the sentiment) and dies

Dies: Trinity Stamps Modern Embossed Rectangle Stack and Slimline Modern Embossed Frames

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie, Mango Melody

Hand Stamped Sentiments: Blessings

I thought the current colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments would be great on a fall card with a bit of a unique look. I also was in the mood to truly challenge myself and there are a couple of colors in the challenge that I'm not in love with. (I'm not naming names!)  I just got some fall dies from Lawn Fawn so decided to do a gourd and pumpkin grouping.

The layout and the sentiment took a number of turns but I finally settled on grouping the gourds on top of a die cut sentiment. With the Stitched Gourd and Pumpkins that I just got, I also ordered the Harvest Crate set which also has a signpost.  I had already cut the Blessings (by Photoplay) before realizing that the coordinating stamps for the die were just too small for the signpost - so found a retired Lawn Fawn set that happened to have "thanksgiving"!

I'm still not loving a couple of the colors, but I do like the uniqueness of this combination.  Thank you to Hand Stamped Sentiments for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Happy Feast - retired ("thanksgiving")

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Gourds, Stitched Pumpkins and Harvest Crate, Photoplay Say It With Stamps Blessings

Paper: Stampin' Up Cardstock in Calypso Coral, Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss and Pebbled Path, Playing with Patterns 6x6 dsp (retired)

Ink: Stampin' Up Blackberry Bliss

Other: Stampin' Up Tinsel Gems 3-Pack, Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Thankful Grateful Blessed

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!

I originally imagined this sketch on a more modern card with bright, fresh color palette.  Obviously I didn't end up that way. For me, autumn brings out a classic old-fashioned look and I was definitely feeling it when I made this card! 

The background paper drove the entire card - it's from an old paper pad but it felt like a quilt print to me and that's the mood that I was in. (Of course, it might be that we haven't turned on the furnace in the house yet because it is still getting quite warm during the day, but the early mornings are quite frigid and anything quilt-like is welcome!)  Then I found leaves that fit in little circles. I got this Taylored Expressions die set for an entirely different look - I wanted a variety of fall colors in each little cut-out area - but I like the way it turned out.  Not colorful, but very eye-catching! The sentiment was selected only because it fit in the square! It actually comes from a Gina K Wreath Builder set.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Gina K Autumn Wreath Builder (the sentiment)

Dies: Taylored Expressions Mosaic Beech Leaf, Stitched Circle Stacklets, Stitched Square Stacklets, Stitched Rectangle Stacklets and Petite Rectangle Scallop Stacklets

Paper: Simple Stories Hello Fall, Stampin' Up Crushed Curry and Misty Moonlight, Taylored Expressions Sweet Potato Pie

Other: Stampin' Up Wonderful Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Thankful

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!

The oxidized paper from Stampin' Up might be the prettiest paper I've ever seen.  However, it's very hard to photograph.  I wanted to get a little shine on it but in so doing, the rest of the card just isn't a vibrant white.  Hopefully you get the idea.  One of the oxidized papers comes with some pretty peacock in it; the other paper is just basic colors. I went with the peacock just for the fun of a peacock leaf and sentiment.  

The leaves are an older Stampin' Up die set. I really wanted this year's leaf die set that had the veins of the leaves as a separate die so each leaf is beautifully accented - but it's almost impossible for me to justify another leaf die in my stash.  I do like these retired stitched leaves so I guess I'm OK letting the leaf veins go!!

I needed a smaller sentiment than anything I had in my Stampin' Up stash so I used "thankful" from the Altenew Celebrate us set. It's not a set that you would think would have a word like "thankful" but it does.  Then the white background needed a little something - so I used Papertrey Ink's Stitched Border Bling for just a hint of detail. 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Stitched Leaves, Altenew Celebrate Us ("thankful"), Papertrey Ink Border Bling: Stitched

Paper: Stampin' Up Oxidized Copper Specialty dsp, cardstock in Copper Clay and Pretty Peacock

Other: Stampin' Up Adhesive-Backed Speckled Dots

Atlantic Hearts Sketch: So Very Thankful

I saw the sketch at the Atlantic Heart Sketch challenge and I had a new-to-me leaf die on my desk along with some new fall papers - and it all came together!!

Fall, my favorite season, is very late this year.  We were in the mountains last week. We were there almost exactly a year ago and saw the most amazing fall colors that I had ever seen (at least in Colorado!)  Even today, my glorious red maple tree outside my craft room window has one red branch - the rest is solidly green. So I'll have to celebrate fall through cardmaking. 

I got the leaf die because of a variety of cards that I saw with this branch from PinkFresh cut multiple times for a large bouquet of leaves - it's a wonderful look. But when I saw the sketch, I thought it would work well dangling from the top with a little bow.  The sentiment is new from The Greetery in their August release - Thanks All Ways. It's a fabulous stamp/die set with large "Thanks", "Thankful" and "Thanksgiving" along with alot of little sentiments to fit those words.  Exactly the kind of set that I adore!

Thanks to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Greetery Thanks All Ways and dies

Dies: PinkFresh Fall Leaf

Paper: LDRS Creative Songbird Fields, Taylored Expressions Blue Corn cardstock

Ink: Taylored Expressions Sweet Potato Pie

Other: YNS Sugar Rush Gumdrops

Freshly Made Sketches: Thankful & Blessed

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

I created this sketch with the idea of something I do often on my cards and that is just a hint of patterned paper. (Of course, if you are playing along with this sketch, you can use any amount of patterned paper that you want - I just added a splash!)  I found a vibrant fall paper. I love the surprise of the blue.  Then I added a pumpkin (by Taylored Expressions).  At that point, it needed a bit more and while I was certain I could find appropriate flowers and leaves in my Taylored Expressions collection, I also happened to have a brand new set from Concord & 9th already out on my desk.  It also has pumpkins, but I skipped past those and used the leaves and flowers.  (I was having a fun card-making afternoon so later I did use those pumpkins - but that's for next week!) I needed a sentiment to fit the sketch and found one by Papertrey Ink.  Finally I used my all-time favorite background - Stitched Woodgrain from Lil' Inkers.  The company has closed and I don't know what I'll ever do if I need to replace my woodgrain die. 

I love fall cardmaking - maybe even more than Christmas.  The days are still hot here, but the nights are cooling off already.  Last night was in the 40s.  So I'm sure the leaves are starting to think about changing - I can't wait!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Blessed

Dies: Taylored Expressions Layer It - Pumpkins, Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins die (the leaves and flower), Lil' Inkers Stitched Woodgrain

Paper: Sunny Studio Colorful Autumn, Taylored Expressions Mango, My Favorite Things Orange Zest, Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green and Azure Afternoon

Other: Trinity Stamps Glowing Garnet Embellishment Mix

The Card Concept: Happy Thanksgiving

 It's a double inspiration week at The Card Concept!!  I am playing along with the inspiration for Happy Thanksgiving but check out the gorgeous Merry Christmas option at the end of this post.

My Clean and Simple card was inspired by the colors, the leaves and the texture in the fireplace. I knew before I even looked at the inspiration that I needed one more Thanksgiving card, specifically for my 26-year old son.  Typically I go humorous, but the colors and the texture in the inspiration took me in a different direction.  I found leaves that were modern and chunky then used the rust and orange colors. Then the fireplace in the background led me to the texture on the card. I'm sure from his point of view, I messed up the masculine vibe with the sequins - but I think a truly lovely part of fall is the brilliant colors with a touch of frost. 

The sentiment is from The Stamp Market. It has multiple ways to layer fall greetings. This card uses "Happy Fall" from the same set. The branch and leaves I think are actually trees - at least that's what it shows on the packaging! They are from the set Windy by Penny Black.

If you aren't inspired by the fall graphic, check out this amazing inspiration for Christmas! You can play with either one this week.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Stamp Market Filled With Thanks (and dies)

Dies: Penny Black Windy

Paper: Stampin' Up Gray Granite, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Stampin' Up Gray Granite, Cajun Craze

Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder