Freshly Made Sketches: Very Merry

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This sketch will be around for three weeks!!!  We are taking a Christmas and New Years break and we are guessing you will be too!  Today we have a sketch by Amy.

Not only is is the last sketch for the year, this is my last Christmas card for the year!!  This is going out to my Stampin' Up demonstrator! (I did cheat on the sentiment)


The design team was having a little side discussion on the wonky panels on this sketch and one said that the wonky panels seemed like how she was feeling during the busy Christmas season. I immediately realized that feeling would be perfect for my Stampin' Up lady.  Besides selling Stampin' Up and holding a very stressful full-time job, they sold their house this past summer - then their new house got delayed. They've been living in a small apartment and just got into their new house a week ago.  That REALLY makes the Christmas season busy for her! I'm sure she's feeling a little wonky.
Not only is FMS taking a holiday break, I won't be blogging the next few weeks. I'm ready for Christmas but my youngest is back from college for the first time and my oldest will be home soon. I'll only be taking a few days off work and when I'm home, I plan to simply relax and enjoy my family.
A very Merry Christmas to you!!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Hello Bluebird Typed Christmas
Dies: Neat & Tangled Skinny Strips
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up Seasonal Wreath 3D and Pinewood Planks 3D
Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Green, Real Red DSP (the old version)
Other: Stampin' Up Toile Tidings Glitter Enamel Dots

One More Joy Noel Wreath

It's my second to the last Christmas card!  I've actually been enjoying the crunch of getting these cards done.  There's something to be said for being an empty-nester because I can really focus on cards and not on the stress of all of the kids' holiday commitments and their panic over semester finals and papers.

I used one of my favorite sets for this season one more time.  I've used it multiple times (which really beats my typical use of a purchase - one card or even none!).  It's Honey Bee Stamps Joy Noel Wreath.  For my previous cards, I used that center wreath without adding all of the little leaves (see this card for example).  I do like simple cards so that worked for me but given there was a die that cut dozens of leaves at once - I had to give it a try!  It's a bit tedious - thank goodness for tweezers - but I really like the look.


I added a bit of pattern to the bow to differentiate it from the letters.  I just did tone-on-tone but I wish I would have used a slightly different color because it's very hard to see.  The bow itself has polka dots and the middle has stripes.  

This card definitely makes me happy!!  It was designed for my boss's boss - so hopefully it makes her happy too!!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps Bitty Patterns (on the bow)
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Joy Noel Wreath
Paper: Martha Stewart Snowflace Mat Pad (very old - and yes, that is spelled correctly!), Taylored Expression Watermelon and Mushroom

The Card Concept: 'Tis the Season

I am down to needing three more Christmas cards. The inspiration at The Card Concept was exactly what I needed for one of them.

I have a workmate who is retiring very soon so she just bought a "farm".  (I guess for her retirement doesn't mean being lazy!) I even heard her on the phone last week buying a tractor!!  You have to understand - I work with accountants and auditors, so this farm thing is unique.  I don't know if she has a little red truck, but the inspiration this graphic gave me was just right for her card.


This card is somewhere between their definition of CAS and of Clean and Layered.  I'd call it CAS but it doesn't have one main image and it's not particularly easy to recreate due to the fiddly little pieces.  So I guess it's probably Clean and Layered. Interestingly, I would have said I was CAS cardmaker until years ago when I read the definitions at The Card Concept, I realized I was totally a Clean and Layered person!!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Simply Stamped - Christmas Tree (the sentiment) and Buffalo Plaid Background
Dies: Taylored Expressions Transportation (retired) and all of the following Little Bits: 'Tis the Season (the tree), Holiday Bloomers, Bows, Snowflake Confetti
Cardstock: Cherry Pop, Sweet Basil, Oreo, Sugar Cube

Honey Bee Stamps: Joy Noel Wreath

One of my favorite purchases this year was the Joy Noel Wreath from Honey Bee Stamps followed closely by the Winter Bouquet set.  I used the Joy Noel Wreath last week on this cheerful pink/blue/green JOY card. I used Winter Bouquet on this card and this card.

Now I've combined them on this card. It's for my mother-in-law so needed to be richly colored and traditional.  I used the letters from the Joy Noel Wreath set then used the poinsettia from the Winter Bouquet set.


There's nothing particularly unique or creative about this card but it looks special.  That's why I've fallen in love with these die sets - quick and easy, but gorgeous!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Joy Noel Wreath
Paper: Simple Stories Cozy Christmas, Papertrey Ink Pinefeather, Taylored Expressions Mulled Wine, Concord & 9th Neutral Foils
Other: Taylored Expressions Holly Embossing folder, Corrugated Embossing Folder

Freshly Made Sketches: Merry Trees

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

I'm still on the final Christmas card push but I'm down to local and work friends so I can relax a bit and totally enjoy the last few cards - of course, with Christmas music playing and tree lights twinkling!!


The background on this one might seem familiar if you watch my blog.  I used the same background here just two days ago.  When I get out the embossing paste and know there will be some serious cleaning up to do - I typically make several backgrounds and often not all of those are usable (I seem to have an issue with stray embossing paste!)  But in this case, they both worked and I couldn't let them go to waste.
I hope to see you playing along with use this week!
SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Reverse Confetti Branching Out and Winter Words
Paper: Fancy Pants Oh Deer!, Taylored Expressions Peapod and Granny Smith, Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede
Other: YNS Gumdrops, Neat and Tangled Fa La La Stencil

CAS(E) this Sketch: Joy and Peace

The wide open space in this week's CAS(E) this Sketch gave me room to do my favorite thing - a scene with multiple dies!!


These dies are part of the Winter Bouquet set from Honey Bee stamps.  I've been using the poinsettias quite a bit but hadn't used the candle, pine cones and other greenery.  I definitely wanted to build a scene like this before I put the set away.

The sentiment is from The Greetery.  I didn't have anything from them yet so I enjoyed a recent sale they had.  However, instead of getting any of their beautiful image sets - I got all of their Sentiment Suites and the coordinating dies.  I am such a sucker for sentiments. Sometimes I think I work harder at picking a sentiment than at the actual card!

This is the 350th sketch at CtS!  Congratulations!!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Greetery Sentiment Suite Christmas
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Winter Bouquet, The Greetery Sentiment Suite Basics Die
Ink: Taylored Expression Pineapple
Paper: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow, Old Olive and Soft Suede, glitter paper from Michaels store

Color Throwdown: Making Spirits Bright

I love the fresh color combination at the Color Throwdown. Of course for me, anything with aqua is fabulous.  I kept the card light and clean.


I think the fun stenciled background (done with embossing paste) works perfectly with the sentiment on the ornament.  I was surprised to discover that I have no gold cord which is what I wanted to use to hang it.  So I cut off a very thin slice of gold shimmer paper.  The stamp set had bows, but they required stamping and I wanted it to match the cord, so I found this tiny little bow in a different set. 

Thank you to Color Throwdown for the inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Reverse Confetti Vintage Ornaments
Dies: Reverse Confetti Vintage Ornaments die, CottageCutz Spruce Stems, Avery Elle Finished Frames
Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana
Paper: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, glitter from Michaels store
Other: Neat & Tangled Fa La La Stencil, Stampin' Up Glitter Enamel Dots