Freshly Made Sketches: Praying for You

This is my second post today.  The bright colors

of the color throwdown are just a post away!

I was the guest designer for August at Freshly Made Sketches and guess what?  They couldn't get rid of me!!  I am thrilled to be joining them permanently!!!   It was fun to look back and realize that I actually played along with their very first sketch - here's my post from almost exactly three years ago.  What's really fun is looking at the people who commented - many of them are still on the FMS team.  That says a lot about the quality of the team and the friendships that have formed.  I am so happy to be part of it.
Here's today's sketch.  It was created by Cindy Hall who reminds us that we should feel free to rotate it, flip it and make adjustments to fit our design.

I stuck very close to the design.  I'm afraid you are going to be seeing quite a few sympathy cards from me over the next few weeks.  Sadly, our church card sales rack sympathy section was hit hard last month. Every section is full, except for "sympathy" which is totally empty.  This sketch seemed like a perfect way to create a simple little scene.

I prefer the close-up of my card at the beginning of this post, but of course, that doesn't show the entire sketch.  I had stamped the  leaves on the smaller panel, but the card looked really empty - so I tried layering another stamped leaf underneath.  The close-up picture shows this much better.  This is the Kinda Eclectic set from Stampin' Up (except the sentiment which is from the older set Thoughts and Prayers).  I think it's going to stay on my desk for this marathon of sympathy cards that I need to work on.  The images are soft and gentle - just right for sympathy cards.
I look forward to seeing what you create with this sketch.  It gives a nice, basic framework, but gives you so much flexibility to be creative.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Kinda Eclectic, Thoughts & Prayers
• Paper: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride
• Ink: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Butterfly Punch, Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, Hemptique Natural 10-lb twine

The Color Throwdown: Papel Picado Celebration

I am thrilled to be this week's guest designer at the color throwdown.  It was a funny path that led to this card.  I was picked as a guest on Tuesday, the 27th on this post.  Right away, they sent the brightly colored colors for this week.  Aren't they cheerful?

Then on Wednesday, I went to a Mexican restaurant that I hadn't been to before and walked in to see this.  I loved the look (but it also could have been the fact that they pour very, very strong margaritas!)


My mind worked over time all lunch because it certainly seemed like these things were combining to be the perfect excuse to order a set of stamps and dies that I really wanted, but just hadn't managed to justify yet.  (Clearly it doesn't take much for me to justify a stamp purchase!)  I went home on Wednesday and placed the order.  Amazingly, it showed up on Saturday (thank you WPlus9!)  And here's my festive card using the Papel Picado set and dies - and a sentiment from Strictly Sentiments 5.

Thank you to the good people at the color throwdown for letting me play along!
I hope everybody is inspired by these bright and cheerful colors.  Join the fun at the color throwdown!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Papel Picado and Strictly Sentiments 5
• Paper: Black and white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie
• Accessories: WPlus9 Papel Picado dies, Doodlebug black enamel dots

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Lovely Leaves

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

photo source:  flickr.com

I love autumn!!  I love the leaves, but I particularly love the frosty feeling in the air.  Whenever I make a fall card, I add a bit of frost - be it a little glitter or a few clear sequins.  I do love the colors of autumn, but it's the crisp, clean, frosty air that makes it my very favorite season!

I am definitely giving thanks today but not for the usual autumn reasons.  Yesterday - after two years of hard work and a lot of stress, with not even a Christmas break, I finished my second college degree!!  Yay! Hallelujah!!  Woot, woot!!  I am definitely giving thanks today!!!!  This week, I have a number of mom things to do - including watching my kids' marching band playing at the Colorado Rockies baseball game, so watch for proud mom pictures!  Next week, I am running away to the mountains for a week - just me - with a daily hikes and bike rides, a lot of good books (fiction!) and some DVDs of movies and TV shows that I have missed over the last few years, and of course some great bottles of wine.  I know a lot of you think that sounds lonely - but I am going to revel in the complete lack of responsibility

Check out all the inspiration by my fellow designers.  You can find them all at Curtain Call, but the links are all below so you can find out all the details of each card!

Lovely Leaves Designers

Amy Kolling
Amy Sheffer
Amy Tsuruta
Gayatri Murali
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Lisa Henke
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Monika Davis
Sarah Gough
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tenia Nelson
Tracey McNeely

Follow us!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Curtain Call Pinterest Boards

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Falling Leaves
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy, Terracotta Tile, Canyon Clay, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Phrase Play #7 die (just the leaf), clear sequins (Clearly Beloved that I get at Simon Says Stamp - these are the clearest of the clear sequins)

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

Merry Monday and Pals Paper Arts: Christmas Wreath

I'm right in the middle of the long Labor Day weekend and what better way to spend it than to make Christmas cards!!  After I post this we are heading out to the local Smokin' Brew BBQ competition.  What an odd mix of a day!  Fall festivities and frosty Christmas cards!


I love the mix of colors in this paper pack - Mistletoe Magic by MME. It's not a new pack but I still like it. The greens are "limier" than the traditional Christmas papers and the reds tend towards a brick color.  It's different and fresh.  So I pulled out one of my favorite Christmas sets that lends itself so well to simple cards - Signature Christmas by Clearly Besotted Stamps. I played around for quite awhile with adding some beads/pearls/bling on the wreath but I ended up leaving it plain because I like the simple pattern.
I used the wreath from the set for the current Merry Monday Christmas Challenge.

And since I love to hang wreaths - the sketch at Pals Paper Arts was the perfect inspiration (although I just noticed that they clearly want three layers so you'll have to imagine a green layer as the base!)

• Stamps:Clearly Besotted Signature Christmas
• Paper: My Favorite Things Brick Red, MME Mistletoe Magic 6x6 paper pad
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Limeade Ice, My Favorite Things Brick Red
• Accessories: Clearly Besotted Signature Christmas dies, Pretty Pink Posh 4mm sequins, Hemptique 10-lb natural twine, Glitter Dust Iridescent spray (on the bow)

So Sorry for Your Loss

I haven't had much time to craft this week but I did sit down first thing today to create a sympathy card for the family of a truly wonderful woman who lost her battle with cancer last week.  This family has been the foundation of our church for so long.  They are very quiet people and I don't think any of us realized just how active they were until we were reminiscing about Ellen this week and each of us had different stories about our connection to the family.

Sadly, it's been almost five years since they lost their eldest son.  He was a Marine who was killed when a Marine helicopter and a Coast Guard plane collided near Camp Pendleton.   They would be the family to whom people say "God doesn't give you more than you can handle", but I have to say that I so disagree with that saying.  I feel like it requires the person to be stronger than they might otherwise be feeling...that they would feel they had to live up to God's trust in them.  But we are all human and life can be too much for us. Of course, God is always there to give love, support, strength and the promise of our future life in Him, but He certainly does not promise that life is easy or even happy.  

I hope today's service will let the family know how much we loved Ellen and love each of them.  If you have followed my blog for long, you know that my long-time church has been rocked in the past few years with two very difficult situations which cut the membership almost in half.  But today's service will overflow with people wanting to show love and support including so many members who left in pain and anger, and former staff who just could not live in the situation anymore.  Also coming back is the pastor who was in the middle of the storm (since we don't yet have a full-time pastor).  I know today is about Ellen and her family, but I also feel like it's going to be a time to let go and forgive...to remember Ellen in her humble service to the church and realize what truly is important and that is our life in Him.

I struggled with a card.  I hate that when it's really important, I struggle the hardest. I did use a light gray cardstock (it's not just a gray picture).  I was thinking of a misty day, a few enamel "tears" and the one bright leaf.

• Stamps: Hero Arts Remember clear set
• Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive and watercolor paper, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade
• Accessories: Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, Papertrey Ink Phrase Play #7 die (just the leaf from the center), MME Lost & Found Record It Antique Enamel Dots, Hemptique 10-lb natural twine

Freshly Made Sketches: It's My Sketch!!

I have had the thrill of being the August guest at Freshly Made Sketches.  It got even more amazing when they asked if I would do a sketch for this week.  Me!!  A sketch!!! That you all are going to use!!!!  Can you believe that I've never done that before??  So...here is my first ever sketch...

I'm not going to say that it is wildly creative - but I think it gives you some room to play.  I was dragging my feet coming up with something (nerves!), then I made a card for my personal use and realized there was a sketch in it!



I used a tag for the top panel.  I scalloped the next layer.  Then the bottom layer isn't even a paper square - I used a mini heart stencil.  Clearly my sentiment went in a different place than on the sketch, but I figured many players might want to use that top panel for an image.

This month with the group at  Freshly Made Sketches has been truly wonderful.  They are such a friendly and welcoming group.  There is a private Facebook group and the chatter ranges from blogging horror stories to advice on product purchases to funny life moments.  Thank you all for letting me join you this month.  It was an  honor!
I do hope you all play along with this sketch - I am very excited to see what everybody comes up with!

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Tag Sayings (the border around the tag), Lots of Thanks
• Paper: Simon Says Stamp Audrey Blue, Green Apple
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Medium Tags and Balloons & Patterns Stencils, Stampin' Up border punch, Webster's Pages Party Time Sequin Mix, Dreamweaver White Embossing Paste, Hemptique 10-lb Natural Twine

Cutting Edge Blog Hop: Fill My Thoughts

I had the thrill yesterday of being a guest designer for the Cutting Edge Blog Hop hosted by Pretty Pink Posh but I couldn't stop with just yesterday's card.

Today's card is a little simpler and relies on some cute feathers for interest.  This card uses stamps and dies by Simon Says Stamp who is one of the sponsors on the hop.  I cut the feathers and then used stencils and white ink to sponge a pattern on just one side.


This is a hop in which everybody needs to participate.  There are prizes for playing and prizes for commenting.  The hop is to celebrate die cuts so you need at least one on your card - other rules are at the blog hop link: Cutting Edge Blog Hop.  Check out these sponsors!

I used the colors from the color throwdown.  I had bookmarked this challenge as a must-do mostly because I could not even imagine how to use these three colors together.  But my hat's off to color throwdown - it's a fun combo!

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp You
• Paper: Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Pale Plum, Pear Pizzazz
• Ink: Stampin' Up Night of Navy, WPlus9 White
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp You, Pointed Feathers and Tilted Banners dies, Simon Says Balloons and Patterns stencils, Studio 490 Checkmate Stencil, Pretty Pink Posh Mossy Green sequins