Template Thursday-January Paper Pumpkin

   I chose the Freshly Made Sketch for this week to be my template. 

 Can  you see how I interpreted the sketch.

1. Instead of the circle I used a heart from the January Paper Pumpkin kit.

2. The two background strips were papers from the Love Blossoms designer paper stack from the Occasions catalog.

3. I used one of the sayings from the January Paper Pumpkin kit punched it out and used the scalloped oval punch for a background.  I tied it all together using some linen thread.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to participate in a challenge.

Come back tomorrow to see how I fixed cards for the seniors at the Knollwood Retirement Village.

Freaky Friends, Miscellaneous Monday

    Does this cute witch make you smile like she does me? I made this card for the challenge on the Freshly Made Sketches site. 

    Are you wondering how I got such great colors on the witch?  Well, I cut her and the bats out of one of the sheets of the Motley Monsters designer paper that matches the stamp set Freaky Friends. I knew this card needed some kind of a background and decided the Lucky Stars embossing folder was just right.  The saying came from the Good Greetings stamp set that any hostess can get free with a $300 order.
    Look for some more cards this week, made with Freaky Friends this week's featured stamp set.

Simple Sunday-Freshly Made Sketches challenge

 

 

 

    

     What makes a card simple? I usually try to make a simple card in just 15 minutes or less.  Let's see if this card really is simple.

1. Cut the layers of card stock and designer paper- 5 minutes especially if you already know the size of the papers.

2. Punch out the butterfly 30 seconds

3. Stamp the saying in versa mark 30 seconds

4. Emboss the saying with gold embossing powder 1 minute

5. Punch out the embossed saying 30 seconds

Layer the card and you  are finished in less than 10 minutes.  So, according to my definition of a simple card this qualifies.  What is your definition of a simple card?

  I made my card using this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I like trying out challenges- they get my creativity going.  Do you try any challenges? If so which ones?

Supplies used:
Whisper White and Brushed Gold card stock
Gold Fancy Foil designer vellum
Gold baker's twine
gold embossing powder
Versa mark
Elegant Butterflu punch
Really Good Greetings stamp set

Lots of supplies but simple to make.

In Color Challenge card FMS #138

    What do you do when your brain does not come up with a great idea?  I go to a couple of my favorite challenge sites,  my favorite one of which is called Freshly Made Sketches.  This card meets three purposes.

1. I created it for Freshly Made Sketches challenge number 138.

2. I can use the card for my downline challenge for June.  I gave each downline member a small piece of each one of the new in colors and they were to make a card using at least a tiny bit of each in-color on the card.

3. This is another way to showcase the new in-colors for the new catalog which premiers.......Tomorrow!  Can't wait.

  So, what did I use for this card

Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss and Crumb Cake ink and card stock

Petite Petal, banner, and Bird builder punches

Banner Framelit

Starburst and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets

Linen Thread

Candy Dots

   What card would you make using sketch #138?

Just Sayin stamp set

     When I got back from Ohio helping out my daughter I had 3 boxes full of Stampin'Up! goodies waiting for me.  I finally have had the time to start playing.  I decided to focus on one stamp set at a time and explore the different ways I could use it.  So, my first set is called Just Sayin and has a matching set of framelits called Word Bubbles.  This was the first set that jumped out at me when I looked through the Occasions catalog. I also decided to focus on one set of designer papers for these cards.  I chose the paper called Sweet Sorbet, that is free from Sale a Bration with any $50 order.  This wonderful event starts January 28th, but as a demonstrator I was able to preorder items to create some samples.  Finally since I was not sure what to start making I decided to try another Freshly Made Sketch. Can you see how I changed the sketch a bit?

1. I layered the banners instead of stacking them. I used the banner set from the Occasions catalog to create the banners.  Easy Peasy.

2. I used the Just Sayin stamp set for my saying. It was so easy to cut out because of the matching framelits.

3. I applied texture to each one of the colored banners to add some interest to the card.

4. Finally I added little hearts from the owl punch and little black dots to echo the black dots in the DSP.  I used the dots from the cupcake punch.  They were just the size I wanted.

   This challenge got my creative juices flowing.  I made several cards using similar materials and will show them in the next few days.

Miscellaneous Monday-Freshly Made Sketch

     No matter how hard I tried this morning, I could not get to the part of my blog that allows me to make entries.  GRRR!!! computers can be so wonderful and such a headache.  Anyhow this is the card I made for this week's sketch.

  I tried to think out of the box using this plain sketch.  Can you see the changes I made?

1. I switched the direction of the sketch.

2. Instead of using a rectangular piece of card stock, I used the chevron punch pieces for the outside pieces.

3. For the center piece I used my leaf cluster.

What do you think of my ideas?  I just know this would have been one of the chosen cards, but my computer problem kept me from submitting it on time.  There is always next week, Right?

Simple Sunday-Freshly Made sketch Doily

     I thought the sketch this week was kind of strange.  The piece that goes from one side to the other had a break in it.  Me, I like things completed so it looks a little odd.  But, to stretch myself I went with the look anyway.

1. I knew I wanted to use the doily for the focal point. 

2. I decided a bit of Coastal Cabana underneath would look good as would the In-Color Boutique Details.

3. For the strip I decided on Winter Frost designer paper but to give it a more frilly look, I placed the Ruffle stretch trim on either side of the paper. 

4. Something seemed to be missing so I added some of the tiny pearls in the center area of the design. 

 I am happy with my card even though I keep wanting to add a bit more paper to the strip.

  What would your card look like using this sketch?

Simple Sunday-Gently Falling, Freshly Made Sketch

 

 

     I am in love with all the fall colors I see whenever I get in my car to go somewhere.  So, I decided to use the stamp set, Gently Falling, for my sketch challenge this week. Here's what I love about this stamp......

1. Two step stamping and how it gives the image a dimensional look.

2. The rough look of the images.

3. How easy it is to use just one of the images and make a great looking card, either just the outline, or just the solid.

   I had a great time thinking up what I wanted to do with this card.  Isn't it amazing that just a simple sketch can help jump start my creativity.  What kind of card would you make with this sketch?

Simple Sunday- Freshly Made Star

     It is Sunday so I must be trying out a new Freshly Made Sketch.  This time I wanted to make a Christmas card, so I looked at a stamp I had not used yet, the single stamp called Christmas star.

     I usually do not do blue Christmas cards, but love the look of the color Coastal Cabana.  I accented the card with some silver glimmer paper and silver ribbon, through the Designer Vintage Faceted button.  The Coastal Cabana design from the Eastern Elegance designer paper seemed perfect for how I wanted the card to look.  The large paper doily had been hard to use when I last used it, but this time I tried layering some waxed paper with the card stock and it worked like a charm.  Now, I have a simple, but elegant Christmas card ready to send to someone special. 

Simple Sunday- Fall Freshly Made Sketch

     As you can tell I love doing these Freshly Made Sketches.  They are just simple enough they do not threaten me, and give me enough guidelines I feel like I can be creative.  Since I have done a lot of Halloween cards, I decided this week to try my hand at a fall card using my favorite set Truly Grateful.

1. Sweater Weather for the bottom layer-love the colors.

2. Stamped the chevron pattern with Chocolate Chip ink on some Vanilla card stock for the next layer

3.  Used the wide burlap ribbon for the layer that goes across the card.  Added some bronze colored glitter brads as accents

4. Stamped the wheat with Chocolate Chip ink on Crushed Curry card stock and rough cut it out.  Added linen thread to follow the tied element in the stamp.

5. Instead of banners I placed 2 acorns colored with Crushed Curry and Crumb Cake markers.

I tried to interpret the basic design in a little different way and love the results.  This may be my swap for the Jubilant Butterflies meeting November 5th.

Template Tuesday- Bite Me

     The other day I had to get up in the middle of the night and while I was trying to get back to sleep I designed this card in my mind.  I love the spider web in the latest photopolymer set called Bite Me.  I also tried to create this card for the Freshly Made Sketch for the week.  I embossed the web on the designer paper using the pewter embossing powder.  The spider is also embossed and cut out.  So, I had another thought about an even cooler way to make the web.........

     This time I embossed it on vellum, cut it out and attached it to the card using glue dots.  I think the web stands out more with this look.  I have had so much fun making Halloween cards this year.  I have a plan to send most of them out to lots of people.  Which card do you like the best?

Miscellaneous Monday-Another Freshly Made Sketch

     I think I am hooked in trying out the weekly sketches from this website Freshly Made Sketches.  This week, I decided to make a Christmas card with the sketch and if I liked I would make it one of the featured cards for my clubs this month.

    
     I really liked this card but it did not have the WOW factor I was looking for.  You see I am trying to get my card selected for the week.

     I looked at the card stock that was leftover after I made two snowflakes with the Festive Flurry stamp set and matching framelit for the above card.  I thought to myself,  "That looks like it could be a stencil." So, I used two colors that were in the Winter Frost designer paper and sponged the snowflake background.  Next, I used the Festive Flurry framelit to make an accent snowflake. I finished it off using a Vintage Faceted designer button with a baker's twine bow.  The final touch was the saying from the set More Merry Messages.  I loved the end result.  Which card is your favorite?

Template Tuesday-Downline Freshly made Sketches

 

     One of my latest Super Snails challenges was to look at  this Freshly Made Sketch and make one of their own.

 

Cindy's card- I love that it is all blue

Peggy's card- I love her two toned ribbon and multi-colored scalloped circle

Dana's card-Great use of the new in-colors

Nan's card-I love the color combo

Nan's other card  You gotta love this saying

Linda's card-I love how she used the polka dotted paper to coordinate with the ornaments.

 

  I really enjoy seeing everyone's interpretation of the same sketch.  What would your card look like, if you used the same sketch that we did?

More DSp Fun

   One of the things I love using is Designer Paper and I have had such great fun trying out all the different patterns I have with the same sketch.  This paper is called Birthday Basics.  Most of the designs in the package have balloons, candles, what you would expect on birthday paper, but this design is really different.  I love the color combination and actually tried to copy the flower image in the paper as my accent piece. Following the sketch has really opened up my creativity. I handed out this sketch to my downline on Tuesday and can not wait to see what they do with it.  Why don't you try to make a card using the same sketch I did?

Strawberry Slush is Enough

     For this card I wanted to make everything the same color. Strawberry Slush is a new in-color and I decided it would be my featured color. So how did I use it in my card?

1. Mosaic Madness Designer paper

  The special for July is buy 3 designer papers, get one for free!  Since I love using Designer paper in my projects this was right up my alley

2. Butterfly punch both large and small

3. Delicate Details Lace tape

4. Label Love stamp set and matching punch Artisan Label

     Can  you see that I turned this sketch 90 degrees to create this layout?  There are so many ways to use one sketch. What colors would you use to make this card?  How would you turn the sketch to make a card of your own?

Designer Paper Does it All

    
     This design from the Soho Subway designer paper did not need much to finish off the card.  I used a simple saying and some punches that brought out the color of the DSP to finish off the card.  The ribbon accent was made by taking two pieces of the Baked Brown Sugar ruffle stretch trim, one on each side of the burlap inspired trim and placing it behind the accent piece.
    The July special is buy 3 Designer papers receive a 4th for free.  Love this special and all the possibilities the DSP offers.
    Does this layout look a little familiar to you.  I am still using the Freshly Made Sketch on my cards I am featuring this week.

 

 

     Here are the simple changes I made to the sketch today.

1.  I turned the position of the card

2.  I used 3 layers for the accent piece

3. I centered the background strip

   This has been great fun and using the sketch turned me into a stamping machine. I just decided what the challenge this month will be for my downline.  I can't wait to see what they come up with using this sketch.

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches

     What is about this sketch that appealed to me?  First of all the sketch is simple which I am discovering is my style.  Simple with a twist.  If you look at yesterday's post you will see that I followed this sketch almost exactly as it is here.
     Well, I wanted to try several different ways to show the same sketch.  Simple with my twist.

    Here is how I changed up the sketch a little bit.

1. I cut out the Pool Party embossed Dahlia and attached it to square of Crumb Cake

2. I used a piece of Soho Subway designer paper as the background.

3. I placed Crumb Cake ribbon below the accent piece instead of behind it.

4. I added a saying on top of the accent.

   Small changes but a totally different look from yesterday's card.  Using this sketch unleashed a bout of creativity as you will see in the next few posts.  I think I may make this as one of my convention swaps.  Would you swap me for this card?