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

Freshly Made Sketches: With Love

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

There is nothing unique or creative about this card but it is exactly what I need it to be. It's for my son and his girlfriend. She loves strawberries and her favorite colors are pastel pink and forest green. (I probably should put something of my son into this card, but isn't Valentine's Day really about the women??!)

The heart set came out of my not-yet-used valentine basket. It has eight hearts all with different patterns. When I bought it, it was strictly because of a design team sample that used all of the hearts and that's what I wanted to do with it. (See it here.) But I only used two of the hearts so maybe the dies need to stay in the basket until I get the full potential out of it!

So most of you guessed because of previous posts regarding our travel over the last couple of years. We are moving to Idaho! Colorado has just gotten too crowded and, in many ways, Idaho is a bit like Colorado was 20-30 years ago. Plus there is so much to explore. The state itself has mountains, rainforests, high deserts, lava flows, deep canyons and wild rivers and even part of Yellowstone and then the ocean is just a state away. We have ordered a Suboverlander which will allow us to experience all these landscapes. (It’s a really, really small camper built into a Suburban that can go into rugged areas!) We will live somewhere near Boise so when we aren’t exploring, we can enjoy the breweries, wineries and food culture; ride our bikes through the gorgeous greenbelt and trails in the foothills; and there’s even nearby fly fishing for my husband. We have some things to do to our house before it goes on the market at the beginning of April (we expected the roof, we didn't expect the sewer - ugh.)  We are going to start in an apartment simply because we don't know exactly where we want our forever house to be. I am extremely excited but completely overwhelmed all at the same time!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Hearts, Gemini by Crafter's Companion With Love, Honey Bee Stamps Scallop A2 Card Frames
Paper: Kat Scrappiness Berry Sweet, Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, Pretty in Pink and Poppy Parade
Other: Stampin' Up Delightful Decorative Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: Happiest Valentine Wishes

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 tend to follow sketches exactly but I think you are going to be seeing some variety from me for the next few months. Of course the sketches are my inspiration - but there are products I want and need to use so I'll be inspired by the sketch but will make it work for these products. In this case, it's the simple change of going horizontal so I could use the heart set.

Why? If you read my blog, I'm sure you know already since we have been traveling to pick a place for retirement and I have since retired. It's time to move! Our plan is to downsize significantly. We want a sweet and tiny little house that's easy to deal with - but it does have to have lots of amenities (hot tub, beautiful patio/outdoor room, lawn and snow service, etc) Currently I have an entire craft room with a tall wall of built-ins plus a huge number of Elfa and IKEA storage units. I think most of us are collectors as much as crafters and I have stuffed this room full. Not only are we downsizing in our forever home but we will be apartment dwellers for a while so I simply cannot take this whole room.  Don't get me wrong - I'll take a large quantity but not floor to ceiling. I've been working hard at it for a year and even I have to admit that it's really lightened and freshened up my room and it's quite pleasant to work in. Let's hope with the downsizing that I've done, my stash doesn't eventually overwhelm my sweet and tiny little house!

My card uses a heart set that I've had for a while but it was still sitting in my not-yet-used stash. (I guess I should clarify. I have definitely found new homes for a lot of my stuff, but part of the "downsizing" effort is simply organizing by dealing with the huge variety of baskets and boxes, e.g. the valentine/easter not-yet-used basket, the Christmas not-yet-used basket, the perfect-to-use-for-a-specific-person basket and it goes on and on. This heart set and a set I'll be using for next week's card gets rid of the valentine's products in the valentine/easter basket!)

I keep sidetracking, sorry! The heart is a three part Birch Press set called Folk Art Hearts (Layers A, B and C). I love their layered sets but they do get pricey. I got this one (and will keep this one!) because it works for valentines, birthday, feel better and much more. When I realized it wouldn't fit on a vertical card, I knew I wanted a longer sentiment for the horizontal card and found this one in the Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips: Valentine set and I cut it with one of their Sentiment Strips dies. Because it was an open heart, I wanted the strip behind it to be subtle so simply used some polka dot ribbon. 

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

I've talked too much this week so further details on where and when to follow - although if everything goes as planned (and I know it won't), there shouldn't be any disruption on my blog.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips: Valentine
Dies: Birch Press Folk Art Heart Layers A-C, Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and Flirty Flamingo, Taylored Expressions Cupcake
Other: Stampin' Up Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

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 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

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

Freshly Made Sketches: Joyful Christmas

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!

 

I didn't try to find anything overly creative with this sketch because I knew I had beautiful ornament dies that I wanted to use. I picked an ornament from The Greetery mostly because I knew I also had a fabulous background by them that was in my not-yet-used stash. I love the classic look of the two of them.

I struggled with a sentiment. I do have Christmas sentiments by The Greetery but they were either big die cuts or tiny little stamps and just didn't fit. I came upon this old set from Papertrey Ink that had the look that fit the card, used the word "joyful" to fit my bright and cheerful colors, and fit well around the ornament. I think I struggle with finding the right sentiment more than anything else on a card but this one came together for me!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Words to Live By: Joyful
Dies: The Greetery Jumbo Curiosity Teardrop Ornament, Twinkle Background, Papertrey Ink Joyful, Honey Bee Stamps Stacking Art Deco Labels
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight, My Favorite Things Pineapple, Concord & 9th Neutral Foils Paper Pack
Ink: Taylored Expressions Cilantro

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: The Heavens Rejoice

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 had a totally different card in my head when I started. I already had the dies out to do a big poinsettia bouquet in the bigger space and a vertical sentiment. But as I was looking for the last few things that I needed, I saw this die that's spent a long time in my not-yet-used stash.  I figured if I didn't use a die that filled about 1/3 of the left side of a panel - just like the sketch - I might as well never use the die. Of course, it's not perfect, I don't have anything like the red panel on my card. I did try adding some panels behind the angel so I could have that edge but I just liked it too much all by itself.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Penny Black Promise of Hope
Dies: Tutti Designs Angel Corner
Other: Simon Says Stamp Shimmering Starfall 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: Trick or Treat

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'll be honest. I do not need another Halloween card (although I do have someone to give it to) but I was flipping through my stash and saw these three already-made pumpkins left over from a past project.  How could I possibly walk by a trio of pumpkins when the sketch has three circles on a hill?!!  

Given to whom it is going, I had to find a somewhat snarky sentiment. I have a shockingly large collection of boozy Halloween sentiments that could have worked but I didn't have a small enough beer mug or wine glass for these guys which was needed if I wanted to use the sentiment. (I'm very matchy-matchy that way.)  So I just went with a childhood classic sentiment although I will admit to being really bothered by the fact that pumpkins don't have feet to smell!

I added "wind" in the background then corrugated the ground to give it some interesting texture. I was thrilled to find a big moon in another set that also has stitching just like the pumpkins. It all came together easily and I'm thrilled those sweet little pumpkins found a place!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Playful Pumpkins & dies, Photoplay Trick or Treat Halloween & word dies

Dies: Poppystamps Whittle Rainbow Unicorn (the moon), Photoplay Sentiment Strips

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Highland Heather and Crushed Curry, Taylored Expressions Candy Corn

Other: Taylored Expressions Twirls and Swirls EF, Stampin' Up Mini Corrugated 3D EF

Freshly Made Sketches: Miss You

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!

 

The idea for this card came to me almost immediately when I saw the sketch (which is rare for me!) I originally intended to use an actual banner, as per the sketch, instead of a branch then emboss/stamp/cut a woodgrain into it to look like a branch. I couldn't make that work without it looking super heavy which was not what I wanted for this card. I had the little bird picked, then needed a sentiment and when I saw "miss you", it just seemed perfect for the single bird.

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

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Kristina Werner with Concord & 9th Big Type Greetings, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch, Taylored Expressions On a Limb - Branches and On a Limb - Leaves
Other: Spellbinders Head in the Clouds Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Peace, Hope & Joy

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

At this time of year, anything round looks like a wreath to me - whether it be a fall, winter or Christmas wreath. I was determined to be different with this sketch, but obviously I couldn't get past the wreath. I tried, but as I was flipping through my not-yet-used stash, I started realizing this card could be a real stash-buster with multiple products, including at least one of my many wreaths, that could be moved into my regular stash after I used them. (As I decrease my not-yet-used stash, I can enjoy shopping, although it could be a year from now before I make a big enough dent to bring too much new stuff home.)

Since I didn't challenge myself with the wreath, I decided to jump out of my comfort zone with colors - or at least with the greens. It's a big step for me but I'm sure it won't be noticed by anybody else. I decided to use the cooler greens that I never use - Stampin' Up's Shy Shamrock and Shaded Spruce. I am always about yellower greens; Granny Apple Green is my favorite. I'm looking at the picture and thinking I could branch out of my comfort zone more often! 

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Pinkfresh Basic Banners: Christmas
Dies: Poppystamps Stitch Wreath and Nordic Bird Bunch, Sizzix/Tim Holtz Christmas Minis (the ornament), Pinkfresh Basic Banners
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, Shy Shamrock, Flirthy Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Real Red
Other: Studio Katia Red Hearts

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: Gifting Snowman

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!

 

There's a cold rain outside my window and there is measurable snow in the mountain towns we visited over the weekend. That definitely put me in the mood for snowflakes and snowmen on this card! I needed a short little snowman to fit in the stripes and found this charming guy in the Waffle Flower Giving Snowmen die set. While I was digging for him, I found the Dashed Snowflake Panel also by Waffle Flower in my not-yet-used stash. 

I grounded him with a stripe of white "snow" and then settled on a soft blue and lavender. I used those same colors on his accessories plus a bit of darker polka dot to give him an accent. Since the dies came from Waffle Flower, I remembered that I had their Classic Holiday Sentiments that included a large variety of small sentiments and happily many of them fit in the stripe that I had already cut. 

It really is amazing how easily a card comes together when you have a charming little snowman die cut smiling at you the entire time!

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

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Waffle Flower Classic Holiday Sentiments

Dies: Waffle Flower Giving Snowmen, Dashed Snowflake Panel

Paper: Stampin' Up Pool Party (and old Pool Party dsp) and Peach Pie, Taylored Expressions Toffee and Lavender Glaze, Doodlebug Swiss Dot Rainbow Petite Prints

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

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: Fa La La

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 hesitated using these guys for the sketch. On the one hand, how could I not? Three rectangular shapes at the base on the sketch...so using three of the cutest singing snowmen that I've ever seen made sense! On the other hand, I have an FMS teammate who has done the most wonderfully creative things with these guys vs. my use of them which pretty much follows the sample on the packaging that came with the dies.  Check out my teammate, Michele's, creative samples here and here. But I still love my basic card and I think that it shows these are fabulous dies that you can use in a basic way or in very creative ways!

I was also inspired by the sketch to put a sentiment on the third snowman. What I came up with is probably a stretch but I looked through my stash for a Christmas carol sentiment (because they are singing) that was split between a large sentiment for above them and a small sentiment for the third snowman. I did not find it all in one company. The die is from Hello Bluebird. The tiny sentiment is from Concord & 9th. 

I know I wandered fairly far from the sketch although I was inspired. You definitely have to go look at the FMS blog to see the amazing cards were created while actually sticking close to the sketch! I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Big On Christmas ("...la la, la la la la.")

Dies: Spellbinders The Snow Notes, Hello Bluebird Christmas Words ("falala")

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Poppy Parade, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green and Crumb Cake

Other: Spellbinders Sparkling Snow embossing folder