Freshly Made Sketches: Independence 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!

The picnic basket is an OLD set by Papertrey Ink named Vintage Picnic.  It has multiple baskets and even more toppers and has survived all of my downsizing efforts so I must like it. The sentiment is from the Simply Sentimental series by Trinity Stamps. It's the kind of set I adore because it has multiple "happy" stamp and dies (most can be stand-alone) with even more add-on words including "Independence Day".

Using "Independence Day" was particularly important to me because not only is it my country's celebration but it's my personal celebration of independence. Tomorrow is my last day of work EVER. I am retiring!! I think I'm excited but that mood changes hourly.  I am excited to be leaving work but I am unexpectedly anxious about retirement. There's the financial side (will we outlive our savings), there's the keeping busy side (I've never been a sit around and do nothing person) and then there's the concern of how do I keep from killing my husband (in 35 years, we have never spent this much time together - in fact, we haven't really spent even average time together with work travel and opposite schedules). We have planned carefully for all of it so it all should work.

What I don't have a plan for is where cardmaking stands with all of it. I'd like to think I'd spend so much more time in my craft room but I also know that I have 60 less cards to make every year if I'm not making birthday and Christmas cards and others for office mates. I'll eventually search out a church ministry or veterans organization or something like that - but as I've been sharing on my blog, we are also planning to move so I'm not going to get overly involved in anything here. I only share about one card a week right now although I make more - so maybe my commitment for now is to take the time to photo and share the others.

So Happy Independence Day to the U.S.A. and to me!!!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic (and dies), Trinity Stamps Simply Sentimental - Happy (and dies)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel

The Card Concept: Red, White and Blue

 It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept: Red, White and Blue. My Clean and Simple card was inspired by the colors and by the patriotic theme which always fills me with memories of down-home picnics!

I used a retired set from Stampin' Up. In the years that I've had it, I only ever used the wine bottle and glasses (perhaps a sad statement on my priorities!) but it's exactly the scene that I wanted to build when I saw the inspiration photo.  The patriotism of the scene and the classic look of the porch took me back to my youth when patriotic moments were spent at the Elks Club swimming and picnicking on the golf course.  Of course, the patriotic moment coming this weekend in the U.S. is Memorial Day which honors those who died in military service and probably should be somber vs. what many of us do and that is revel in a day off work. But I guess I hadn't realized Memorial Day was this close, so I went with my picnic memories.

I used the colors in the inspiration with the addition of the kraft-colored picnic basket and a hint of yellow for the cheese and wine.

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Stampin' Up Picnic with You (retired) and dies

Dies: Stampin' Up Layering Squares

Ink and Paper: Various brands and colors to match the colors in the challenge

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 3: Independence Day

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the June release from Taylored Expressions.  Today is a patriotic day! Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, June 6th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

A new addition to the Banner Year series by Heather Nichols is Banner Year - 4th of July Stamp & Die Combo.  These sets include a little banner die with some other cute additions and a stamp set with backgrounds, sentiments and other decorations.  The 4th of July has everything you might expect - and I went very traditional with my card.


Just to give the banners something to hang from, I used the previously released Diagonal Stripes Cutting Plate.  Also, the Banner Year set has multiple sentiments but not for the long strips in the cutting plate that I used.  I pulled my sentiment from another new stamp set Home of the Brave.


We moved just a little over a year ago and was thrilled to experience my new neighborhood's Independence Day parade and when I realized I could walk to my town's fireworks display.  It added a small town charm to the day that was absolutely inspiring - and I am so looking forward to this year.

Here's the supply list for this card.  Keep reading because I have another sneak peek and a chance to win prizes!!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.


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!

I'm still patriotic with this card but decided on a unique color scheme.


The fireworks were done with the new Light Up the Night Stencil.  I sponged on a variety of colors then I layered on Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste for the sparkle.  The sentiment is from the new Handlettered 4th of July.


I finished it off with a variety of previously released stars (Pinhole Star Stacklets and Star Stacklets) plus the Little Bits - Firework.  FYI - the pinkish color on the stenciled background is Fruit Punch ink, but it lightened up so much with the glimmer paste that I used Guava cardstock for the star and firework.


Today my patriotism was on full display!!  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team starting with the TE blog.  Tomorrow is release day!  I have a couple of other cards - a bit more "water" and a field of flowers - then it's time to shop!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.

Taylored Expressions: Thanks and the Brave

It's the third day of sneak peeks for the June release from Taylored Expressions. Today I have some new patriotic products and some more liquid watercolors!  Everything you see today will be available tomorrow - Thursday, June 7th, 2018.  Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

I am amazed on a regular basis how many people around me have a connection to the military.  I routinely supply my church with patriotic cards (or "thank you for your service" etc.) and they are some of the first cards that are used.


The "map" and sentiment are from Land of the Free along with the coordinating die.  I used another new set, Freedom and Fireworks, to add the fireworks.  I first stamped the bottom left fireworks on to the Toffee using Versamark.  I sprinkled Fine Detail Silver embossing powder on the top firework and carefully poured it off without touching the other fireworks.  Then before heating it, I used Fine Detail Gold powder on the next firework and poured it off before doing the next in silver and the final one in gold.  Then I heated them all.  I put the USA down before stamping the two fireworks on the upper right so they were on the map - then applied gold and silver.


I am going to use this particular card.  We recently moved out of our home of 27 years.  We truly love that house but we are soon to be empty-nesters and it was time for a change.  It's a unique property - a little 1960s house on 5 acres with a classic red barn, on a hill, with a view of the entire front range of the Colorado Rockies.  It's a bit of Americana but it's not a style for everybody.  Those who do love it, love it passionately.  We have been lucky enough to find a family that loves it as much as we do.  We picked them out of multiple offers because we learned that he is military with two hard combat tours.  To us that said they are an honorable family and that the journey through the purchase would be trusting (even if not easy!)  They are closing just after the 4th of July, and I plan on leaving this card to greet them in their new home!!

Here's the supply list for this card, but keeping scrolling down for another card with liquid watercolors!

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!

Now a simple "thank you" using the new Thanks Script Backer - Mixed Media die and a wash of Cookie Monster Liquid Watercolor.  I created a simple ombre wash with the watercolors. It literally took just a drop of the watercolor, loading a wet paint brush and swiping it across the page going back and forth from top to bottom until the color ran out at the bottom.


I love the backer dies.  I'm a huge fan of word dies and the script dies from TE are fabulous.  The backer dies allow them to be easily framed and highlighted!  Plus they are thicker Mixed Media dies so you could do it with products such as chipboard or felt.


To finish it off, I added a quick line from the previously released In & Out Thanks then just a sprinkling of sequins.  Quick and easy - but the simple watercoloring makes it extra special.


Tomorrow's the big day day - all products are available at this time tomorrow!!  Come back here for two more ideas with new products - and be sure to check out the TE blog and the rest of the creative team members' for lots more inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Red, White and Blue

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Red, White and Blue.

landeeseelandeedoo.com

Be sure to check out our newest Guest Designer: Hannelie Bester at Desert Diva.

Here's my card!  I went with two different blues.  When I had just the navy as is in the challenge graphic, it had such a patriotic look that it didn't shout "thank my lucky stars for you".  I wanted to brighten it up a bit but still stay within the challenge.

This star stamp set was great stamp to work with.  The stamp includes 9 patterned stars and the die cuts them all at once.  So it was very easy to fill up my jar!  
I've become a much bigger fan of shaker cards since I discovered foam adhesive sheets.  I'm sure I'm late to the party, but I used to try to cut foam tape to fit the shape.  It also helps that the die was made to cut out the center.  I cut a piece of acrylic using the ouside die (without the center).  I stamped, then cut the paper and foam with the center of the die in place. (BTW - this is the one time that I don't try to trim down those pesky metal tabs on a die.  You know what I'm talking about - the ones that stick out after you cut a die set apart and can draw blood because they are so darn sharp.  If you cut the center piece from the die set and leave the tabs on both sides - you can easily line up the inside with the outside to cut them at the same time which you want to do to get the paper and the foam exactly the same!)
I hope to see you playing along!
SUPPLY LIST

Lucky Stars Stamp & Die Combo	Mason Jar	Mason Jar Dies	foam adhesive sheets
Stitched Banner Stacklets	Embossing Folder - Bead Board	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Blue Corn
TE Premium Ink - Earl Grey - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Blue Corn - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Cookie Monster - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Cherry Pop - Full Pad
TE Sequins - Snow Flurries

LinkDeli.com

TE Sneak Peeks Day 2: The Brave

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the May release from Taylored Expressions!  Today I'm using a new set of sketched stars with a patriotic message - and a fire truck rushing to an emergency (a birthday emergency!)  It's definitely about "the brave" on my blog today!!  All the new products you see today will be available on Thursday, May 4th, 2017.  Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

I love patriotic messages.  I still shed some tears when patriotism is on display.  (Last night I was at my son's lacrosse game and the anthem was playing.  The track team was practicing off to the side and running sprints - they stopped dead in the middle of a sprint and immediately turned to the flag with their hands over their hearts.  I got weepy.   As a total sidetrack - I got even weepier at the end of the game when our team went to the middle of the field to pray - which is understandable given it's Lutheran High School.  And the other team, who aren't from a specifically Christian school, joined them!)

Back to the today's purpose - I truly do embrace patriotism.  I am thrilled that Taylored Expressions has continued their Stroke of Genius series with a set of stars and has also added to their Simply Said series with 4th of July sentiments.


There are so many other stars in this set - I feel a little bad just showing you one of them.  Here's another peek at most of the set.

I send a number of patriotic cards over the year - not even just on patriotic occasions.  I have multiple acquaintances with children in the military - some in this country, some in the middle of action. I used to take a deep breath when a friend's child stayed in country and then a wonderful family at church lost their son in a helicopter crash right outside of San Diego.  I honor any and all in the military who are brave enough to fight for the land of the free.
Here's the supply list for this card and be sure to keep reading for a chance at prizes and for another sneak peek!

SUPPLY LIST

Stroke of Genius - Stars	Simply Said - 4th of July	Tag Stacklets 2	Tag Reinforcements
TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Summer Nights	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Blue Corn	TE Premium Ink - Blue Corn - Full Pad
TE Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop	TE Premium Ink - Cherry Pop - Full Pad

InLinkz.com

Before I share another product, I'm excited to tell you that Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE Blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release!

Firefighters are also at the top of the "bravery" list - although in the case of this card, they are being way more cute than brave!!


The new stamp set is called Wee-ooh Wee-ooh and has a variety of emergency sentiments.  The inside of this card says "Happy Birthday to the Little Chief"!  You can go an entirely different direction and says "Thanks for coming to my rescue".  (There are also stamps to coordinate with a new police car die set.)
The fire engine is a new die set called On the Road - Firetruck.  Look at the fabulous detail!  I have to tell you though that the little firemen are not in the die set.  They are from Potty People(!).  Not only are they from Potty People(!) but it's actually the baby(!!!)  It's the only one that fit inside the truck and when you can't see the little curled up baby legs, it could be a firefighter.

Tomorrow's cards are also definitely masculine - a little BBQ and a wonderful Christian sentiment for any men in your life. Be sure to head over to the TE Blog for links to the rest of the creative team and to enter the question of the day contest!

SUPPLY LIST

Wee-ooh Wee-ooh	On the Road - Firetruck	Build a Scene - On the Road	Potty People
TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Oreo	TE Premium Cardstock - Poppy Seed	TE Premium Cardstock - Earl Grey
TE Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop	TE Premium Cardstock - Lemon Meringue	TE Premium Ink - Poppy Seed - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Earl Grey - Full Pad
Oreo Enamel Shapes	Cherry Pop Enamel Shapes	Lemon Meringue Enamel Shapes

InLinkz.com