Freshly Made Sketches: Mother's Day

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!

 

There's nothing on this card that's new and trendy - but it totally works for my mother-in-law.  She prefers cute cards.  Actually she prefers snarky and sarcastic cards, but I don't have anything like that for Mother's Day.  So I dug deep into my stash looking for things that seemed like her.  The paper is at least a decade old - maybe even two decades - but I love its simple, cheerful look.  The stamp is long retired but it fit nicely into the open space while still having an interesting look.  And the dies are from a company that doesn't even exist any more.

It always amuses me that I can so enjoy working with old and out-of-date products yet I keep adding to my stash! 

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Shade Tree Sentiments 

Dies: Lil Inker Perky Posies

Paper: Bo Bunny Sugar Shoppe

The Card Concept: Happy Mother's Day

There’s a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept and the theme is Happy Mother's Day.

That tablescape is gorgeous!  Sadly, my family is lucky if we even eat at the table!!  Although we definitely do for holidays and family events.  I have seasonal placemats, salt and pepper shakers and I even have trios of wine bottles with little sparkly LED lights in them - and I trade those out for bottles with seasonal labels or colors!

My Clean and Layered card took inspiration from the flower colors but what really caught my eye was the drama of the rich blue. The blue on my card is a different blue, but without the inspiration I would never have thought to pair that blue with the softly colored flowers.  I LOVE the contrast!

The dies are Craft a Flower: Cosmos from Altenew.  Aren't they amazing?  Altenew has so many layering flower dies and I've mostly avoided going totally broke on them - but the Cosmos found their way into my stash.  I love their graceful shapes.  There are two different shaped flowers although it's a little hard to tell on my card since my layering covered up most of the difference. 

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept - I look forward to seeing how you are inspired!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Simply Stamped - Zinnias (stamp)

Dies: Altenew Craft a Flower: Cosmos Layering die

Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar

Tic Tac Toe: Mother's Day

The current Tic Tac Toe Challenge inspired me to create this Mother's Day card.


Even though this card is still quite clean, my MIL is not a clean and simple person.  I often worry that she might think my clean and simple cards might seem like I haven't put enough work into them.  So when I noticed that the Tic Tac Toe Challenge included "designer paper" which I don't often use, I looked in each direction and realized the middle column worked for me!

The "layers" part of the challenge inspired me to add the second strip of patterned paper and the pattern on top of the orange flower. That's a lot of layers and patterns for me!!  The paper is an older set from Stampin' Up called Flowerpot. I love the mix of colors.  I found an older die set from Simon Says that had the same general look as the paper. And finally an old sentiment from Verve.  There's nothing new on this card!
Thank you to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge for the inspiration!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Verve Because of You
Dies: Simon Says Forget Me Not Flowers
Paper: Stampin' Up Flowerpot and the old Pumpkin Pie dsp, Stampin' Up cardstock in Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Mint Macaron
Ink: Stampin' Up Night of Navy

Taylored Expressions: Blooming Beautiful and Triangle Tetris

It's the big day!  All the Taylored Expressions products you've seen through sneak peek week are now available - and I have a few more to show you. Be sure to head over to the Taylored Expressions blog for a few more peeks - and to see if you've won a prize.

Yesterday I showed you "Dad" from the Caps Lock series of stamps and dies making an eclipse card.  I thought I should show you a Mom card today but I just used the die cut letters.  Plus, I've been practically giddy all week over the new stencils so here's Blooming Beautiful.


So far this week, I used the new stencils by sponging on color, I glimmered them, and I used embossing paste.  Today I dry embossed the stencil which gives a soft dimensional look, then I lightly brushed it with the same color.


The new dies Bloomers 8 perfectly coordinate with the stencil so I added a flower and a few sprigs of greenery using the previously released Flower Box Sprigs & Flowers.  I added a few metallic sequins simply because I love the look of silver/gray and pink!

Here's the supply list for this card but keep scrolling down because there's another peek.

SUPPLY LIST
As a final peek before you go shopping, I had to show you a new fabulous background Triangle Tetris.


Check out the fun details in this background.  Did you notice that not every area is filled with triangles?  It gives it such a unique look.  There is so much you can do with this.  I started with the idea of loose watercoloring in each triangle.  But as I was pulling out supplies, my husband wandered by my desk and casually (and cluelessly) mentioned that he would need 12 graduation cards for kids on the lacrosse team he coaches and 6 for the kids he taught years ago in Confirmation.  (The average man does not appreciate the time and attention to each and every card.)   Even so, it made me look seriously this background and realize what amazing detail it would give to a quick and easy card.


It also gave me a chance to show you one more of the embossing powders, Fine Detail Gold.  These new embossing powder melt beautifully!  The word is the previously released Congrats Script cut using Gold Foil Cardstock which I placed on vellum to separate it from the gold triangles.  A few black stars from Oreo Enamel Shapes and I'm done.  You could easily add school colors into this card for each graduate.

Remember...for a limited time, earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS when you purchase our Stencil Bundle which includes all 6 of our new stencil designs! If you're not a Crafty Points member, it's free and easy to join. Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll earn 84 Crafty Points on the purchase of our Stencil bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CDT on Thursday, April 5, 2018 and 11:59 pm CDT on Sunday, April 8, 2018 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site: TE webstore.

That's enough chatter for today because I"m sure you'd like to be shopping.  The store's open!

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions: Sparrows and Gardens

It's the second day of sneak peeks for the April release from Taylored Expressions!  Today I'm showing you some wonderful dimensional flower dies and a Christian sparrow set. Everything you see during our sneak peeks will be available on Thursday, April 5th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you'll know that I am all about the cards.  It's quite rare that you see anything 3D from me.  To be honest - mainly because I'm intimidated by it all.  I know cards - I know how to fill a 4 1/4"x5 1/2" space.  Dimension is a problem - how do I make it work?  But it turns out it works with the right dies to help me!!


I am head over heels in love with this project. The new Roll With it Flower dies are cut extra thick (and they are black to differentiate them).  Combine that with Taylored Expressions 100% Wool Felt that cuts like a dream - and this project came together quickly and easily!  (The butterflies are new too - Little Bits-Butterflies!)

The sentiment is embossed with yet another brand new product from Taylored Expressions - embossing powder!!  I used the Fine Detail White Powder - it melts beautifully.  The sentiment is from the brand new Autism-focused set, Look with your Heart although this particular sentiment is not specifically "autism".  TE will be donating 25% of the profits from the sale of every Look with Your Heart Stamp set to the National Autism Society throughout the month of April in honor of National Autism Awareness day (which was yesterday!)


I also couldn't let a project go by without using another one of our brand new stencils. Today I used the Majestic Stencil with white embossing paste to add a bit of pattern behind my flowers.     (The frame and stand were on sale at Hobby Lobby!)

Here's the supply list for this project but keep scrolling down for two different looks on two Christian cards with sparrows!!

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

One of the many things I adore about Taylored Expressions is their commitment to Christian products. This month, we have a new addition to the Iconic Wishes line, Iconic Wishes - Sparrow. Check the beautiful Christian sentiment that fits in the sparrow.


This is the bold sparrow in the set (more on the other sparrow later).  The background is another brand new color - Guava - sponged using another brand new stencil - Chevron Arrow - to keep the bold and graphic look.


The set also comes with the same sparrow that is just the words.  I thought it had a much lighter look so I change the color scheme and, most importantly, used another new embossing powder, Rose Gold. It's a beautiful color.


I used the previously-release background stamp, Notable Blooms to add some interest to the strip and to show off more of the lovely Rose Gold Embossing Powder.  I also tried embossing some enamel shapes and it actually worked!  I kept the enamel shape on the background sheet - just cut them out one at a time leaving a square of the background sheet on each one  I held the background piece with a tweezer, pressed the shaped into Versamark and covered it with embossing powder.  I heated it quickly because I didn't want to risk the enamel melting - and it worked perfectly. As it melted, the powder on the shape and the powder that stuck to the background sheet separated leaving a perfectly embossed shape.  I did one extra shape because I wanted to see if it held up - and it does.  If you make an effort with a fingernail, you can scrape it off, but not easily.


The supply list follows, but I didn't want you to miss the special deal on stencils this month. For a limited time, earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS when you purchase our Stencil Bundle which includes all 6 of our new stencil designs! If you're not a Crafty Points member, it's free and easy to join. Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll earn 84 Crafty Points on the purchase of our Stencil bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CDT on Thursday, April 5, 2018 and 11:59 pm CDT on Sunday, April 8, 2018 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site: www.tayloredexpressions.com.

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team starting on the TE blog.  Then come back tomorrow to see another new and creative product line!!

SUPPLY LIST

Full Bloom for Mother's Day

I've had a die sitting in my not-yet-used stash that seemed absolutely perfect for Mother's Day.  I used it in a fairly subtle way - so be sure to look at all of the pictures!


The main die pops up the petals, but the die set also comes with individual petals so you could add colored or pattern that way. I tried something else. If you look really closely, behind the petalss you can see some color. It's much easier looking at it from an angle.  Here's from the side.

And here it is from the top.

I simply used a scrap piece of cardstock and I sponged three stripes of color.
Happy Mother's Day to my mother-in-law!!
SUPPLY LIST

TE Shade Tree Sentiments	TE Full Bloom	TE Stitched Rectangle Stacklets	TE Lemon Meringue CS
Tim Holtz Distress Spiced Marmalade	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Ripe Persimmon	Doodlebug Bumblebee Glitter Sprinkles

InLinkz.com

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Charming

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

I thought the subtle colors and soft patterns would be just perfect for Mother's Day!  So I pulled out a quilt die and added a little lace.



I love the soft and warm look of a quilt - as I am typing it is gray and snowing outside and I am wishing that I were under a quilt with those "charming" pillows from the graphic!  Of course, I can't complain too much. It's Saturday morning so the rest of my family are curled up in their beds and I am peacefully enjoying a cup of coffee and time at my craft table! I hope to see you playing along with Curtain Call!
SUPPLY LIST
The patterned paper is from the Lawn Fawn Bright Side collection. The lace is from Stampin' Up.

TE Stitch by Stitch 2	TE Build a Tag 1	TE Quilted Cutting Plate	TE Premium Cardstock - Jelly Donut
TE Premium Cardstock - Lavender Glaze	Hemp Cord - Gold

InLinkz.com

Make sure you visit each of the designers' blogs for more inspiration!

Betty Wright

Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison

Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke

Lori Tecler
Lynn Mangan
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut

Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson

Silke Ledlow 
Stacey Schafer
Tara Godfrey

Follow us!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge:  Charming 
for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Freshly Made Sketches: Flowers for Mom

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

I had some new felt on my desk and I also had some large flower dies that I hadn't used yet. I figured big bold flowers would fill up all of that open space perfectly!

Big, bold and soft - all at the same time!!
I'm not going to chat today. I'm actually typing this on Monday morning before I head off to my first day at a new job!!  I'm an early morning person so I'll always have a little time to read blogs or create cards before I get ready to head out. How perfect is that? I am definitely looking forward to this job, but it's even better in that I get to keep a little of my crafty life every day before I start working. (My family are not early-morning people so they can have my time in the evenings!)
I look forward to seeing what you create with this sketch.
SUPPLY LIST
Just the sentiment comes from Simply Succulents. The diagonal paper is from the scrap pile.

TE Simply Succulents Stamp & Die Combo	TE Bloomin' Stacklets 3	TE Bloomin' Accessories	TE Banner Stacklets 1
TE 100% Wool Felt - Flamingo	TE 100% Wool Felt - Carrot	TE 100% Wool Felt - Butter	TE 100% Wool Felt - Avocado
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder	Versamark

InLinkz.com