Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Wishes

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!

 

My posts for Freshly Made Sketches get the most views - so I'm making an announcement!

With all the changes in my life (retirement and moving), I've had to do some serious thinking about where this hobby is going. I actually considered letting go of it entirely for a number of reasons. First, I've been doing it for 30+ years and change is not a bad thing. Second, we are planning on buying a cute little house when we move to Idaho that may not have room for my stash. Third, without a job (and the exhaustion related to that job) I've had time for other hobbies and projects and I'm loving them! Fourth, without the large number of workmates to whom I gave birthday and holiday cards, my card needs have decreased substantially. And my last thought (in a negative moment) was the realization that people don't send cards much anymore so I'm feeling a bit old-fashioned. But - as normal with big and even small decisions - God saw fit to throw three people in a row at me that commented on how much my cards mean to them. Isn't it wonderful how that works?  So I'm not letting this hobby go.

However, I do feel a need for change to keep myself enthused. My plan, at least for the short term but probably longer, is to stop posting on this blog. Blog posts are just one more step after I've finished a card when all I really want is to move on to the next project. So many people have already stepped away from blogs both as authors and as reader/commenters. As I look back, I realize I've been essentially stepping away from it for years. I used to post pictures and stories of my family, but no longer. I used to subscribe to something like InLinkz so you could get directly to the products, but no more. I used to maintain multiple Copic charts for various companies, but no more.  This decision has clearly been coming for awhile. 

Thank you to all of my blog readers over the last 15 years. You have stuck with me through various design teams and through the evolution of my style. You have commented on my personal posts and have been such an inspiration. The blog will still stay open if anybody needs to look back at supply lists, etc.

You will still be able to find my cards on Instagram and Facebook. I hope to see you there.

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Simon Says Stamps Birthday Wishes Circle, Concord & 9th Make a Wish
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Peach Pie, Petunia Pop, Summer Splash, Daffodil Delight
Other: The Stamp Market Delicate Details Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up 2024-26 In Color Flat Pearls

Birthday for an Aspiring Actress

I almost didn't post this card, mostly because virtually everything on it dates way, WAY back. But as I've said over and over, I love this hobby because it allows us to create cards that are perfect for the recipient. In this case, it's for my teenage niece who adores being on the stage. I'm thrilled that I had products, no matter how old, that allowed me to put this together for her. (Notice that I'm giving myself and all of you an excuse for huge stashes and keeping old products!)

The old die set by Taylored Expressions - Center Stage - includes the curtains and stage as a frame along with the tiebacks and the lights. I filled the stage with another old TE die - Potty People Border. The "happy birthday" is Arched Happy Birthday by My Favorite Things (which of course is closed now). I gave it all some texture with embossed stars in the background and a corrugated panel for the stage. 

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Sentiment Staples: Birthday
Dies: Taylored Expressions Center Stage Cutting Plate, Taylored Expressions Potty People Border, My Favorite Things Arched Happy Birthday
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight and Pool Party, Taylored Expressions Granny Smith (I did the banner a while back and don't know what other colors I used)
Ink: Taylored Expressions Peapod
Embossing Folders: Stampin' Up Mini Corrugated 3D, Spellbinders Stargazer

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

Freshly Made Sketches: Love & Laughter

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!

 

I love the arch in the middle of this sketch and luckily I actually have a set of arch frames. Then came the fun of figuring out what to put in the middle of it. I'm definitely feeling the desire to do fall cards, but on the other hand, what a perfect sketch for Christmas with the potential look of a church window. On the third hand, my sister-in-law's birthday is coming up and there's nothing in my stash that is quite right for her. Nothing was coming together, but  while I was washing dishes this balloon die popped into my head. I haven't used it in years so I have no idea why I suddenly envisioned it but it seemed just perfect since it highlights the sentiment. And how fun that my mind is crafting while I'm doing housework!!

On a whim, I cut the arch out of Stampin' Up's Cloud Cover cardstock and I ended up loving it on kraft. I wanted colorful, cheerful balloons but the use of Cloud Cover made me head toward a more subdued, yet still colorful palette. I like the look and I think it will be just perfect for my sister-in-law!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments and dies
Dies: Simon Says Stamp Balloon Bouquet, Essentials by Ellen Essential Arches, Honey Bee Stamps Scallop A2 Card Frames
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Cloud Cover, Soft Sea Foam, Peach Pie, Fresh Freesia
Other: Stampin' Up Muted Palette Dots

Sunday Stamps: Birthday Rainbow

I am leaving town tomorrow for a short vacation and realized that I needed to get a card made and mailed before I left; otherwise, it would not get to my friend (and Stampin' Up demonstrator) prior to her birthday. So in a panic yesterday, I browsed challenges for some help and found the color combo at Sunday Stamps that called out to me mostly because I had just found the Stampin' Up Sunshine Vibes rainbow die that was totally misfiled in my stash so I already had a mental note to use it!  

The challenge was to use a minimum of three colors, but I fit them all in! Of course, I had to use Stampin' Up products given it's for my Stampin' Up demonstrator.

I backed these bright colors with the neutral Crumb Cake because my friend is much more about the earthy or regal colors so, although I liked the fun rainbow colors, I wanted to tone it down for her. I used a vertical stripe embossing folder down the middle just for a slightly different look.

Thanks to the team at Sunday Stamps for the inspiration so I can get a card to my friend/enabler before her birthday!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Sunshine Vibes, Wanted to Say

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Pie, Daffodil Delight, Fresh Freesia, Coastal Cabana

Other: Stampin' Up Tinsel Gems Three-Pack, Stripes embossing folder

Just Us Girls: Divine Peony

I'm playing along with the Just Us Girls Floral Die Week using the absolutely gorgeous Simon Says Stamp Divine Peony.

On this post, I created a card for my MIL's 90th birthday but I was doubting myself. I love the card and it's the cheerful look that I wanted, but I just wasn't sure it was right for a southern lady's 90th.  I debated in my post about switching things up to red roses but that just didn't hit me right either. Then this morning, I was looking through challenge blogs and Just Us Girls challenged us to use die cut flowers. I knew I had to play along given I have more flower dies than anything else in my stash. I was flipping through my not-yet-used dies and I saw the Divine Peony by Simon Says Stamp.  My MIL problem was solved!!  This is exactly the look that I wanted for her card - not too cute but not as formal as roses!

I let the die and cardstock do all the work. There are so many utterly amazing samples out there using this die with sponged and splattered colors but that is simply not my forte. Also, I am not a gardener so I had to look up peonies and saw a wide variety of pinks with darker leaves so I raided my stash (going back to one long-retired color) to get the look that I wanted.

It is a very good thing this card finally came together because we are flying to Virginia on Wednesday to spend some time with her before the big formal luncheon on Saturday. She's been getting handmade cards from me for over 30 years so it would not have been well-received had I not had come with a card! Thanks so much to the team at Just Us Girls for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments and die

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Divine Peony, A2 Thin Frames

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green and Gold Foil sheets, Taylored Expressions Cupcake and Toffee

Other: Stampin' Up Distressed Tile 3D EF, Studio Katia Gold Foil Pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Wildflower Birthday

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 rather selfishly put this sketch together to force me to use one of my Waffle Flower Postage stencils. I really do love all of their postage stencils but I'm just not an inky gal; I'm all about the die-cutting. But I got one last year and actually enjoyed inking it so I got more. I like them probably because there are lots of small inky sections vs. trying to do an entire background. So for this card, I pulled out the Wild Flowers and made a birthday card. Of course, after I got the whole thing inked, I realized I also have the Cupcake postage stencil so coulda/shoulda gone that direction. But I do like the colors on these wildflowers so I'm happy with the results.

If you started with my blog, be sure you check out the cards from the rest of the design team because while I imagined postage, their creative minds saw leaves and even luggage!  I hope to you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiments and dies, Postage Collage Fall, Postage Collage Birthday

Dies: Waffle Flower Postage Collage die, Birch Press Design Pinpoint Contour Plate

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green

Other: Waffle Flower Wild Flower Stencil

Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Daisies

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!

 

I immediately saw a flower cart with a shaded top in the sketch. Although you can't really see that vision in my finished card, the idea sent me to these flowers. I got the Some Daisies set from The Stamp Market during a recent sale and then I just got the Dainty Daisies when they came back into stock. (The Little Leaves are also from The Stamp Market.) I do like sticking with the same company throughout the main elements of the card, but it turns out I don't have any basic birthday dies or stamps from The Stamp Market (I definitely need to remedy that) so I found one that fit from Paper Rose.

This card is intended for my mother-in-law's 90th birthday in just a few weeks. I love the card but I'm having my doubts that it is appropriate for her. We are having an extravagant luncheon for her in Richmond, Virginia, and all of her southern friends will be there. I've been a South Dakota and Colorado gal my entire life and we are quite casual so I am always surprised by the formality of Richmond or at least the formality of her generation in Richmond. In Colorado, even us older ladies tend to be in hiking pants, Crocs, and a favorite brewery T-shirts! To be more formal, I'm thinking I need to remake this same card with red roses and golden accents. Every time I look at it, I reach a different decision. Sometimes I love the cheerfulness of the current card and I think it make sense for a 90th. Other times I think the red roses make more sense but then I worry that could feel a bit like a get well or sympathy card. I don't know - maybe I'll try it and decide later.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: The Stamp Market Some Daisies, Dainty Daisies and Little Leaves, Paper Rose Happy Birthday Chunky Layered, Taylored Expressions Stitched Edge Scallop Edger

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Toffee, Pineapple and Cupcake, Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lolly, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Zest

Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up Country Gingham

Other: Taylored Expressions Corrugated Embossing Folder, Studio Katia Arctive Breeze pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Let's Celebrate

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!

Not only was I inspired by the sketch on this one - but also by the gift bag!

Given the number of birthdays and other events coming up this month, I knew right away that I would cut balloons out of the Paper Rose Balloon Trio and arrange them around the square as shown in the sketch. I didn't have anything in my mind after that but I had the gift bag and the light bulb came on that I could use the same colors. Then I realized there was even more inspiration in the bag - I added embossed stripes and embossed dots! (I won't tell you how many colors and background I played around with before I realized the inspiration was right there in front of me.)

We spent part of last week visiting our son and his girlfriend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have never been in Michigan, but more importantly I hadn't met his very-serious girlfriend. We all played tourists and I have to say, I was very impressed with the state - so many cute and vibrant downtowns in the various "suburbs" with unique stores and restaurants, plus amazing natural beauty including really big (or great) lakes!!  And the girlfriend is absolutely wonderful. It's so good for a mother's heart to see their child settling into a happy life!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Altenew Sentiment Strips 2

Dies: Paper Rose Balloon Trio

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Pacific Point, Tahitian Tide, Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight, Taylored Expressions Candy Corn

Othher: Stampin' Up Stripes embossing folder, Polka Dots embossing folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Happy BDay

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've had this die set in my not-yet-used stash for quite some time. It's been so long that it's retired! I don't even know why it took so long because I love the look of both of the words. With the rectangle on the sketch, I had the perfect chance to use it. I knew I'd need color contrast to make the "happy" stand. The confetti paper on top actually has shiny gold confetti in it (although I didn't realize until this moment that you can't tell in the photo) and I was thrilled when I saw it because the navy and gold work well together.

We're heading out tomorrow for a five days in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My oldest son lives there with his very serious girlfriend and I'm embarrased to say we haven't visited them yet. Although we are there to see them, they have a packed tourist schedule planned for us. We'll see his world - apartment, work, favorite restaurants - and we'll see quite a bit of the area - orchards, museums, and a Great Lake. He's really excited about his life right now and I'm thrilled. And I love that after this trip, I'll be able to imagine him in his daily life!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Die: The Stamp Market Happy Bday

Paper: Stampin' Up Birthday Bash (really old!), Night of Navy cardstock, Concord & 9th Neutral Foils Paper Pack

Other: Stampin' Up Iridescent Sequin Assortment

Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Bunny

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have the first sketch by a new member to our team, Verena, and here’s what I did with it!

I have a lot of cards that I need to make in the next week or so, so the sketch had to work for one of them. None of the cards that I need worked with an actual moon.  I have a couple of beautiful floral stamps that have a nice curve but flowers didn't work for any of them either. Then I remembered this bunny set and one of my card recipients is a bunny lover! I started out absolutely certain I could either find different balloon strings or that I could "bend" the strings enough so that it was clearly the curve in the sketch. I thought I had, but now that I'm looking at my card photo, it's a bit of a stretch that I followed the sketch. The sketch definitely inspired my though. I would never have gone to this bunny set without it and it turns out it is just right for the recipient!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Poppystamps Birthday Banners (and dies)

Dies: Spellbinders Floating Bunny (Small Die of the Month March 2022)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Lemon Lime, Coastal Cabana, Flirty Flamingo, Taylored Expressions Cupcake, Simon Says Stamp Fox

Other: Stampin' Up Glitter Enamel Dots, Spellbinders Head in the Clouds embossing folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Bird-Day

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 cannot believe that I haven't used this charming birdhouse and bird (there's another bird too!)  When I realized it was the sketch's shape but upside down and that the long pole put the birdhouse right where it needed to be for the sketch, I was ecstatic! With a fabulous cloud die in the background, this card is all about the dies!

The paper was easy too. I am continuing with the downsizing and I'm making progress every single week. Why? My cardmaking started as a church card ministry so I made every possible type of card and used that to justify a massive stash. When I left that church, there is so much I just don't use any more; I can lean into my own style and stay there. So this has all been mainly focused around stamps, but this week I took a hard look at my card stock stash.  I have every single color from Stampin' Up (since that's where I started) and I'll keep that. (What can I say? I like full sets and this is the ultimate complete set!)  I have most of the colors from Taylored Expressions since I designed for them for years and I'm comfortable in their color palette so I'll keep that.  I also had(!) extensive collections from a few other companies.  (I can't tell you how much I want to move into other complete sets - looking at you Concord & 9th and The Stamp Market - but since I already have hundreds of colors, I'm managing to stay away from new sets.)

Anyway, I looked at those that weren't SU or TE and I realized I had a few favorites in each and I hadn't touched the rest of the colors in years. So I donated all those that I couldn't remember using. I didn't keep many but I did keep the corals and blues on this card (listed below). I had kept them all out on my desk to play with and it turns out they work on the first card I tried!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: A Pocket Full of Happiness Birdhouse, Avery Elle Cloud Mat

Cardstock: My Favorite Things Peace Bellini, Coral Crush, Blue Breeze, Lazy Day, and Blue Yonder, Taylored Expressions Peapod and Granny Smith, Stampin' Up Early Espresso, miscellaneous woodgrain

Freshly Made Sketches: Lovely Birthday

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!

It's a very sad statement on my stash that as I am organizing and downsizing, I'm finding things that I don't remember having. The Hello Lovely set by Concord & 9th is one of those. As I was thinking through options for this sketch, it suddenly occurred to me that I have this recently re-found stamp set that gives me that random background with detail in the middle. And this is why I absolutely adore sketch challenges!! They always push me in unexpected directions.

The sentiment is also from Concord & 9th. I wanted to give the stamped image a little more dimension so I cut the birthday into the card front and added the happy on top of it. I found a little butterfly for even more dimension. Then I went looking for some sparkle. I haven't used sequins in a long-time and I think they are going to become a victim of my need to downsize so in case that happened, I used three sequins from a Stampin' Up set that were eactly the colors that I wanted!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Hello Lovely

Dies: Concord & 9th Birthday

Ink: Stampin' Up Petal Pink, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green

Other: Stampin' Up Iridescent Sequin Assortment

Freshly Made Sketches: Garden Walk

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!

 

This sketch immediately sent me to find any paper that I've been hoarding because the sketch had space to show it off.  One of my favorite recent papers is the retired Stampin' Up Garden Walk.  I do have to say that this isn't my favorite color scheme in the pack but after a full card-making session of changing patterns and colors, I ended up loving the mix of the pink/coral patterns with the embossed Wild Wheat.

I just got the sentiment set Wanted to Say from Stampin' Up and I liked the casual look of the font with the garden of cheerful flowers behind it. I have a love/hate relationship with Wild Wheat. When it works, it really works - but when it doesn't...  In this case it was a color in the paper so I wanted to use it but I found a plain piece of it was overwhelming. Then I remembered that I had the SU Cane Weave embossing folder. I like the look of it with the garden, and it "toned down" the Wild Wheat! So as it turned out there is very little on this card that I like individually - pink is not my favorite, Calypso Coral definitely not high on my list, Wild What being so-so - but I really love how it all came together. Lesson learned - I need to challenge myself more often because the results might surprise me.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Wanted to Say

Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Walk (retired), cardstock in Calypso Coral, Blush Blossom, Garden Green and Wild Wheat

Other: Stampin' Up Cane Weave embossing folder, Stampin' Up Antique Pearls

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: 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

Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Bow

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

As I was figuring out who I needed birthday cards for this month, I noticed that there's a guy at work on the list. I hardly know him - I don't know hobbies or interest or colors - so I needed something really basic.  This sketch was incredibly helpful because I also just got this Gift Bows dies from Concord and 9th/Kristina Werner so I immediately saw the sketch as a present!

I went with blues and greens - they seemed cheerful yet still masculine. I added patterned paper for a couple of the panels just for interest. The only thing left was finding a sentiment that fit. Very few do because "birthday" is a long word but happily Honey Bee Stamps had Big Birthday and it was perfect!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Concord and 9th (Kristina Werner) Gift Bows Dies, Honey Bee Stamps Big Birthday

Paper: Taylored Expressions Granny Smith and Peapod, Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock from 2019-21 dsp, polka dot is a scrap

Freshly Made Sketches: Hummingbird Birthday

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!

 

When I first saw the sketch, I was excited because I knew I had that shape in my collection and I could follow the sketch exactly. But when I dug it up, it turns out it was too big and stretched across the entire card so would hide the stripes. While digging through my stash, I saw this poor hummingbird which has been languishing in my not-yet-used stash for a long time. So I convinced myself that the unique shape in the sketch could be a hummingbird!

I picked some bright blues and greens to mirrow the main colors of many hummingbirds. Then I added stripes in the same colors with striped dsp for one and the sentiment on another. I thought I was done then realized that little hummingbird needed something to hum around so I found this fun embossing folder in my stash to give him a few flowers.

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiments

Dies: Creative Expressions Triple Layer Hummingbird

Paper: Stampin' Up Lemon Lime Twist, Summer Splash and Granny Apple Green

Other: Pink & Main Daisies Embossing Folder

Sunday Stamps: Country Flowers

Lately, I find that I almost always use dies vs stamps/coloring but the Stampin' Up set Country Flowers called my name and it's all about the coloring.  I used it once here but decided to keep it my current basket of supplies until I'd used the other stamps in the set.  The colors at Sunday Stamps were just begging to be used in the an array of richly colored flowers so out came my Country Flowers!  Funny story though - I got this card all done and then realized I'd used exactly the same teapot and flowers as my first card!!  Clearly I have favorites!

The colors they picked are just stunning.  I think the rules say you have to use at least 3 - I used 6!  Since there was no green for the leaves, I used the curry color to gave it a fall vibe (or at least an August vibe!)  

This set is so much fun to work with although I've clearly lost the limited coloring skills that I had (see the obvious lines in the pot and the fact that the light part is under the flower where there should be shadow).  It definitely takes practice. I doubt I'll dive back into it because my die cutting collection is out of control, but if there are other fun sets, we'll see!

Thanks to Sunday Stamps for the inspiration. 

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Country Flowers and Sending You Thoughts

Dies: Stampin' Up Country Flowers and Scalloped Contours

Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo cardstock, Crushed Curry dsp

Other: Stampin' Up Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Fab Flower Birthday

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!

 

The birthday card I needed to make today was for someone I don't know well.  I knew the card shouldn't be frilly, yet I have seen her wear clothes with a floral pattern.  I knew it shouldn't be pastel nor bright. I settled on colors based on pictures on her office wall and I love how it turned out. 

The background stripe was a happy accident but I love how it grounded the flowers. Each vertical line is cut using the Memory Box Vertical Line Collage. Originally I cut multiple colored stripes for each opening - first I cut a variety of colors, then I cut a variety of greens like the greenery behind the flowers. Then as I was pondering how to keep the cute flowers from being...cutesy!....it struck me that I could go black and white so I found some stripes and added a panel behind the cut out stripes going the opposite direction.

The Happy Birthday is a recent purchase from Simon Says. My plan was to adhere the "happy" on top of the flower so I used vellum behind it. After I decided to add it behind the flower, I wish I would have the background layer in white - but my glue is strong and it was just too late! I love sets like this that give me a bold "happy" element and scripty add-ons.

A big shout-out to my Stampin' Up enabler at work for the wonderful black dots I used for the centers of the flower!

As you read this I am on the vacation/retirement-scouting-trip that I mentioned last week.  I am very much hoping I'm not sitting on a river bank while my husband fishes - while protecting myself from humidity, bugs and cicadas. I literally didn't know before we left that we were visiting during a massive cicada "awakening" - something that only happens every few hundred years. I'm not a huge fan of bugs, plus I noticed the American Academy of Audiology warns about ear damage from the noise.  Ugh. We're on the edge of it so fingers-crossed my worst nightmare hasn't come true!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp (CZ Designs) Happy Combos

Dies: Simon Says Stamp (CZ Design) Happy and Fab Flower, Memory Box Vertical Line Collage

Paper: My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Boho Blue, Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral

Other: Stampin' Up Matte Black Dots