Freshly Made Sketches: Take Care

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!

You would have thought this would be an easy one. There are so many banner options but none of them called my name so I was just flipping through my dies and the first thing that caught my eye was actually the branch. What could I hang from a branch?  Well, duh - birdhouses!!  The set that I have with a variety of smaller houses is Bird Houses by Paper Rose. It actually comes with poles to sit the birdhouses on. You can see a pole with a little picket fence in the die just above my watermark. But obviously I needed to hang them from the branch. I picked three bright colors and built them with all three colors in each one. I had it all adhered when I realized I didn't have a sentiment. I was not going to stamp a sentiment at that point because I wasn't going to risk messing up the whole panel. So I had to find a die cut sentiment that didn't overwhelm the birdhouses and preferably was sized to fit in the corner vs. across the entire card. That was my only criteria - I found this one and I love how it all went together!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Paper Rose Bird Houses, Simon Says Stamp Take Care, Taylored Expressions On a Limb-Branches and On a Limb-Leaves (both retired)

Paper: Simon Says Stamp Country Gingham, Cardstock in Balmy Blue, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Basic Beige, Pecan Pie and Granny Apple Green plus Paper Trey Lemon Tart for the yellow stripes

Freshly Made Sketches: Just Bee-Cause

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 like how this turned out but it was a happy accident. My cat was working her way up through her get-attention routine and she was already up to one of the top levels which is chewing on plastic and pulling things out of their storage boxes in my craft room.  (The top level had been chewing on electric cords which, of course, cannot be ignored. But I seem to have solved that with some mesh cord covers I found on Amazon!)  She was happily chewing on Sizzix die set plastic and as I was shooing her out of the room and putting back the sets she pulled out, there was this beehive set!!  That was a long story for no good reason except that I can never ignore inspiration even when it comes from an annoying cat who believes she must always be the center of attention. 

I had pulled out some paper that was more bee/beehive related but it was all yellow and black and I really wanted to pull another color in to give me a direction for the flowers that came in the die set.  I'm kind of a lot matchy-matchy and I like when the paper ties it all together. Funny story - I must be more matchy-matchy across my entire life than I thought because I dressed the other day in army green pants, a soft turquoise top and gray Skechers.  I thought it looked pretty good. When I came out the living room, my youngest son took one look and asked what was wrong with me because nothing matched!! It explains a lot about my cardmaking, doesn't it?!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Sweet Bee

Dies: Sizzix Bee Hive, My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips

Paper: Fancy Pants Park Bench

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream gems

Tic Tac Toe and Color Throwdown

I had time to play in my craft room yesterday with nothing in particular that I needed to make and came up with this "just because".

 

I was browsing challenges and perked up when I saw the Tic Tac Toe Challenge that included "just because" in one of their boxes. I love this Just Because die from Simon Says Stamp. It's a simple font but I love that it winds together and I love its shape with the "just" over to the right leaving room for things like flowers.  The Tic Tac Toe board also included flowers and die cuts on the diagonal so I went that direction.

I pulled out the dies, then I started pulling out all of my favorite colors but I wanted something different. Back to browsing challenges and I saw that the Color Throwdown used brown. That caught my attention. It wasn't all that long ago where brown was quite prominent on all of our cards. For instance, sentiments were in brown, not in black.  Then things changed and I was feeling like brown was dated. But the design team and the players at the Color Throwdown changed my mind by showing me how beautiful it can still be. Not to mention, it gave me a chance to pull out Stampin' Up's new Pecan Pie and the blue I used is the new Azure Afternoon. 

Thanks to both of these challenges for the inspiration. Off to do some more browsing and see what others I just have to play along with.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Just Because, Fab Flower and A2 Thin Frames 

Paper: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Azure Afternoon and Pecan Pie cardstock, Glorious Gingham dsp

Other: Doodlebug Designs Bon Bon Glitter Enamel Dots

Freshly Made Sketches: Just Because

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!

 

I noticed the "any shape" on this card so I started flipping through my not-yet-used dies looking for anything I could add to the corner. I found the Simon Says Autumn Splendor die and it had a vaguely triangular shape. I cut it in white, then took further inspiration from the sketch and added a true triangular shape behind the leaves but in a strip of colors.  Because the die had the word "autumn" in it, I used a couple of bright colors (the daffodil and mango) and then toned it down with pumpkin and some subtle greens (succulent and evergreen).

It took me awhile to decide on a sentiment. I started out thinking about my Thanksgiving card stash but after trying a number of appropriate sentiments, nothing caught my eye.  Then I looked through Simon Says sentiments (I like keeping things within the same company, but only because it typically narrows down my search for sentiments!) This "just because" popped out at me right away as the right size then it definitely because the correct choice when I realized I could drop a bit of the leaf into it and "connect" the sections!!

Have you all noticed that we are sketch 499?!  That means 500 next week!  It will be an exciting week!

I hope to see you playing along with us!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp: Autumn Splendor and Just Because

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Bright Blossoms

 Over the last weekend, I was browsing the Altenew store - not for new stamp and dies, but I was looking at cards made with the various colors of their inks.  I was trying to decide how many other colors of their inks that I needed (I have a few basic sets).  A fell head over heals for one of the sample cards from a set called Bright Blossoms.  Here it is on the designer's blog - go to the second picture, the colorful flowers.  I can't even tell you what tickled me so much - I love the colors, the flowers are cute, but I especially love the way she arranged the whole card.

But sometimes I can actually exercise self-control.  I was browsing for inks, not for stamps and dies. Not to mention, it was really her use of the flowers that I loved so if I bought the set, I knew I might just CASE hers and then never use the set again.

Fast forward a day. I got an email from scrapbook.com that they had a new Spellbinder shipment. I've been holding my breath waiting for whichever store got the new slimline embossing folder from Spellbinders in stock first.  So I was in that store right away and had it in my cart.  If you've never shopped at scrapbook.com and you go there now, just know that you never leave without looking at the clearance section.  Their clearance isn't 5% or even 10% - it's a true clearance.  And guess what was there? The Bright Blossom set.  Not only was it there but it was 60% off - and the matching dies were only $2.69. That was meant to be!!

I got in the mail this afternoon and I rushed to put a card together because at the point I am writing this, they are still available at scrapbook.com. And I love enabling all of you with great deals!

I got the flowers stamped and then wasn't sure what to do with them.  I have this Simon Says "just because" in my unused stash and I thought that the bold look of it would be a fun match to the unique flowers.

And now I'm going to quit typing because I have that slimline embossing folder to play with!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Altenew Bright Blossoms

Dies: Altenew Bright Blossoms dies, Simon Says Stamp (CZ Design) Just Because, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles

Ink: Altenew Chamomile, Snapdragon, Ruby Red, Parrot and Fresh Leaf

The Card Concept: Just a Note

It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept. It is "Luck of the Irish" with a leprechaun hat and a bouquet of dainty flowers.

I have never done much for St. Patrick's Day - there's not a hint of Irish in me! Although we do feast on corned beef and cabbage - LOVE it!  Instead of anything Irish, the inspiration photo inspired me with the colors (a brighter green than I'd normally use!), the dainty flowers and the bold black hat stripe which led me toward a bold black sentiment.  I created a Clean and Layered card with Forget-Me-Nots.

Inspiration can happen in many ways! I hope to see you playing along with use this week at The Card Concept.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Greetery Opposites Attract

Dies: The Greetery BotaniCuts Forget-Me-Nots and Opposites Attract

Paper: Doodlebug Design 12x12 Buffalo Check - Wood Grain Rainbow Petite Prints, cardstock in Lemon Tart and Harvest Gold; Taylored Expressions Pineapple and Cilantro

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Just a Note

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 struggled with this challenge and I don't know why.  I got my mind set around a particular direction (snowdrifts and snowmen) and I tried and tried but it just was never right.  I do most of my crafting on the weekend but by Monday morning with a week of work looming in front of me, I had nothing for FMS. That's how long I struggled. Then I saw the sentiment in my not-yet-used stash - it's by The Stamp Market - as I explored what I had from them, the die popped out as a fun way to fill a corner (although it's actually a cover die).  I found paper with lots of colors in a more muted, autumn tone - and it all came together in no time!  I need to listen to that little crafting voice more often - the voice that says "this isn't right" or "go for it"!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Stamp Market

Dies: The Stamp Market Ready to Bloom Card Cover

Paper: Honey Bee stamps Harvest Festival, Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce and Just Jade, My Favorite Things Pineapple

Ink: Stampin' Up Just Jade

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Marigold Gems

Color Throwdown: Just Because

 I love the colors this week at the Color Throwdown. I've been using various combinations of these colors over the summer while creating cheerful cards of encouragement. I haven't added a peachy color so when I saw the color combo, I wanted to give it a try. I like it - the peach softens the look.

I love their graphic too - I want those in my yard!  I wasn't sure what kind of center to add to my die cut flowers. I was looking at the graphic and at the die set and decided to use these itty-bitty flowers to add texture to the center.  I have no idea if that's what they are meant for but I like the result.

I used black in the sentiment and I have a real problem using black just in the sentiment.  Often a black splatter ties it out for me, but I didn't want to mess with the clean design. So I added a strip of paper with diagonal stripes. I'm kind of wishing I had made it a bit thinner, but it is what it is!

Thanks to Color Throwdown for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Just Because

Dies: Concord & 9th Just Because

Freshly Made Sketches: Just Bee-cause

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!

Even though many of the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions have lifted - or at least partially - I still have so many people that need a positive moment in their days. Other than wearing a mask at the store and working from home half of each week - things feel normal for me.  Also in this country, other news has taken over the 24-7 coverage of the pandemic. We've moved on.  But quite a few of my friends and family are still self-isolating because they or their loved ones have underlying conditions.  And we can't forget all the elderly care facilities with very lonely patients.  So I'm still focusing on cheerful cards of encouragement and these little bees were just right!!

All products are from Honey Bee Stamps (appropriate, right?!)  The sentiment set has 65 stamps that all fit with "bee".  They cover so many occasions.  I picked "just bee-cause" because it fit the sketch and also so I could give it a quirky look with the angled "just". I do love the paper pads from Honey Bee Stamps. I'm pretty sure I have all of them.  This particular pad is "bee"-focused but the majority of the paper in it isn't cutesy like this one - just wonderful blue, yellow and black patterns.

I hope you are having a fabulous week (and that you don't need cards of encouragement!).  If you have some cardmaking time, join us - and play along at  Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Bee-you-tiful Sentiments
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Bee-you-tiful Dies and Hexagon Bunch
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps The Bee's Knees
Other: Homey Bee Stamps Prism Gem Stickers (colored with Copics)

Freshly Made Sketches: Just Because

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

It's all about the cheerful cards right now.  So many people need a surprise in their mailbox because there isn't much else going on!  I had this rainbow from The Stamp Market (plus all the larger pieces that come with it) on my wishlist for quite some time.  Rainbows are so hopeful and cheerful.  When I realized that The Stamp Market was still shipping, I gave myself some happy mail!!

I found a border in my stash from The Cat's Pajamas.  It's a fun border, but it gave me some headaches.  Adhering fine die cuts is always a problem even though I've tried every recommendation out there.  On my first attempt I actually got it adhered well, then managed to stamp the sentiment way too far to the right.  So I cut another border - and I got it on crooked.  I can't even tell you what happened with numbers 3 and 4.  So I went back to the first card and fussy cut around the edges of the border so I got the outline die cut and the background.  This made it exponentially easier to adhere on my fifth and final attempt.  Can you tell I have a lot of time on my hands?!  (So much time in fact, that I'm rearranging my craft room - it's getting in the way of making cards, but I'm already not feeling like there's so much stuff the walls are closing in on me!)

Here's the sketch.  I hope to see you playing along with us this week!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Verve Stamps With Love
Dies: The Cat's Pajamas Cloud Border, The Stamp Market Rainbow Stripes

Freshly Made Sketches: Dandelion Wishes

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Mitchell.

I have had the Stampin' Up set Dandelion Wishes in my stash since the catalog came out and, sadly, it's never quite made it to a card.  I love the airiness of these images - they are wonderfully soft and gentle.  So I stamped and embossed it on the new Balmy Blue, added some very light sponging in white to soften it even more, splattered on some white and black acrylic paint and added a few sparkles.


I go back and forth on whether I should have added the hint of stripes.  I do like the card better with them than without.  Before I added them, the black banner was just too heavy so I felt I needed some splashes of black to balance it.  I think it works for that - but I feel the straight stripes might be too rigid for the image.  And yes...I overthink everything!! 

I like this image with the blowing seeds (although now that I live in a house with a lawn vs. the wide open prairie, I'm sure I'll come to resent them!)  There's another stamp in the set that is a trio of dandelions - it's a lovely, graceful image.  Then there are three sentiments in a gorgeous mix of fonts - they were just too big to use on this layout.  Clearly this set needs to hang out on the corner of my desk, begging to be used before it goes to hide in my stash!

I hope to see you playing along this week!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Dandelion Wishes, And Many More (sentiment)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Balmy Blue
Embellishments: Stampin' Up Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Hibiscus

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Hibiscus.

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This is the second card this week done with my new oxide inks!!  (And there's one more tomorrow - I had lots of time to play last weekend!!)



I did some simple stripes of various colors using the mini blender tool.  From top to bottom I used Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple - these are every color in my collection that matches the hibiscus in the inspiration photo.

The oxide inks blend so smoothly.  I am truly in love.  As I mentioned yesterday, it's been quite awhile since I went all in with a new product - but these oxide inks are totally worth it.  And guess what?  Although I don't currently have them all, but the mailman will soon be bringing the rest to me!

I hope to see you playing along with this fabulous inspiration from Curtain Call.

SUPPLY LIST

These are all links to the Taylored Expressions store.  TE also carries Oxide Inks!!

Tropical Blooms Cutting Plate	Noteworthy	Tag Stacklets 1	TE Premium Cardstock - Toffee
TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	VersaMark - Watermark Stamp Pad	Zing! Embossing Powder - White Opaque

LinkDeli.com

Taylored Expression Sneak Peek 1: Hens & Monkeys

It's day 1 of sneak peeks for the December release from Taylored Expressions!!  This month is Petite-A-Palooza - a release full of Petite Stamp & Die Combos!  There are so many new combos this month - today I'm showing off hens and monkeys.

Be sure to check out all of the other designers starting on the Taylored Expressions blog because there is just too much for one designer to show off in just a few days.

All the products that I have used are linked at the bottom, but remember that new products aren't live until Thursday, January 7, 7 a.m. PST.

Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE blog each Sneak Peek Day this week for details on how you can enter to win.








These little stamp and die combos are a fabulous addition to any collection - a nice set of stamps with multiple images and sentiments plus the die to cut it out!  I wanted to start these sneak peeks with a set that is just plain fun - Happy Hens Stamp & Die Combo. The set comes with these two hens, a single dancing hen, the hen house and three sentiments.  The fence and barn is from an older set called Made in the Shade (which actually coordinates with a full-size tree die called Shade Tree) - but isn't it great that it all works together!


I saw the layout of this card in my mind and I had the barn scene and the hen house stamped and ready to color when it occurred to me that it would be really fun if I left it in black and white like a cartoon!! (That's an unusually creative step for me!) Those two hen friends really pop on all of that black and white. To add some interest, I used the new Chicken Wire Embossing Folder along the bottom.

Another really fun set is the new Monkey Business Stamp & Die Combo. Just by the name, you can tell this one's going to be fun! I went a little sweet - thinking ahead to a niece's birthday - but there's also a funny little monkey with a banana and a beanie hat with a spinner that I'm going to be using for my teenager's birthday!

I used a number of the stitched dies that have been released over the last few months - the squares, circles and banners. I love the finished edge of a stitched die. I also used an older die called Love Tree just to add to the sweetness of that monkey!  Then just a few Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles for color.

This is a fun release - I hope you like it so far!  Be sure to head over to the TE blog and leave a comment for a chance at a prize. And check out the rest of the design team. It amazes me each and every month at the wide variety of cards and other projects that come out of this group. Come back tomorrow for some hope and smiles!
SUPPLY LIST
Links to new products will not work until January 7th.
Just Chicken In

Happy Hens Stamp & Die Combo	Made in the Shade	Embossing Folder - Chicken Wire	Banner Stacklets 2
Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop	Baker's Twine - Black/White (136 yards)

InLinkz.com

It's a Monkey Party

Monkey Business Stamp & Die Combo	Love Tree	Stitched Square Stacklets	Stitched Circle Stacklets
Stitched Banner Stacklets	Premium Cardstock - Candy Corn	Premium Cardstock - Potato Chip	Premium Cardstock - Salt Water Taffy
Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Baker's Twine - Black/White (136 yards)	Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Tangerine

InLinkz.com