Fusion - Bee Kind

Our new challenge at Fusion is a celebration of bees!  After an exhaustive search of my stamping stash I determined that I didn't have a single bee in it 😞 But I did have a few honeycomb accents so I thought I'd use one of those and keep at least one part of the theme!

So using the colors from Fab Friday and our Fusion sketch I put a die cut honeycomb along the bottom of the card and added a totally different winged creature:  a dragonfly.  

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can join us at Fusion.  You can choose the sketch, the inspiration or both!

Supplies
Stamps:  Tons of Type (The Stamp Market)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Misty Moonlight, Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  Honeycomb Remnant die (Memory Box); Libellules die (4enscrap); Wink of Stella

Fusion - Flowers

It's time for a new challenge from Fusion!  This week we've got a great sketch and some floral inspiration.  I opted to go with the flowers.

I don't have to state the obvious but I will just say that watercoloring is not my forte.  However, when I saw this inspiration photo I thought maybe I'd give it a go - especially since I had no other idea for those flowing flowers in the inspiration photo other than this wildflower stamp.  Since the stamp is a solid image I splashed down some colors behind it, added a raised sentiment, and I was done.  I also used the sketch from Fab Friday, turned clockwise.

Thanks for stopping by!  Join us at Fusion and be inspired by the sketch, the photo, or both!

Supplies
Stamps:  Going to Seed (Woodware); Easy Expressions Birthday (The Ton)
Paper:  Pure Ivory (Gina K); Desert Storm (Neenah); Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz)
Ink:  Nocturne (Versafine Clair); Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor
Accessories:  Easy Expressions Birthday die (The Ton)

Freshly Made Sketches 429

If you love circles you will love our new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I took those circle into overdrive with my card!

Although I do love square cards I went with a rectangular design for my card to accommodate this sketchy ring die.  I used colors inspired by the challenge at Fab Friday and picked this sentiment because I know many people who are feeling overwhelmed right about now and thought a little reminder that we are strong and we'll get through this crisis might bring a smile to someone's face.

Thanks for stopping by!  Check out the inspiration from my fellow design team members at Freshly Made Sketches and join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Simple Sentiments (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Daffodil Delight, Marigold Morning, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!); Watercolor Wash Brights (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  Sketchy Rings die (Memory Box)

CAS Colous & Sketches 362

I'm so late with my post for the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge!  This virus issue has been wreaking havoc with my time -- not because I have it but rather because I'm part of the team at work responsible for making sure that my fellow employees and customers are safe during this crisis.  So while I'm grateful that I managed to carve out some time to escape into my craft room and get creative, the other side of the coin is that I'm a bit off schedule with my blog posts.  But better late than never, I present this card I made for the latest color challenge.

I was intrigued by the sketch at FabFriday, which I thought was perfect for using up some of my old patterned paper.  A big square filled with the patterned paper and a small square with a colorful flower!  A perfect match I say to myself!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can join us at CAS Colours & Sketches for this color challenge!

Supplies
Stamps:  Simple Sentiments (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Pure Ivory (Gina K); Naturals White (Neenah); So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Vellum, Spring Flowers DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories:  Sprightly Sprigs die (Verve); enamel dots (Freckled Fawn, My Mind's Eye)

Freshly Made Sketches 425

Hello!  We've got a brand new challenge for you at Freshly Made Sketches!  Cécile is our hostess this week and she has given us a superb sketch.

Normally when I see three of anything I run for the hills, but those three banners on the sketch got me thinking.  I have a grungy little stamp in my stash that was the approximate shape of those banners so I inked it up then added a pretty dragonfly - all in colors inspired by the challenge at Fab Friday.  A fun card I say to myself!

Thanks for stopping by!  My fellow Freshly Made Sketches teammates have made some fantastic cards this week so be sure to check them out.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Brushed Off (Papertrey Ink); Pocket Silhouettes (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Whisper White, Regal Rose, Vellum (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Tropical Teal, Mint Julep (Papertrey Ink); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:  Libellules die (4enscrap); Pink Party sequins (The Ton)

Freshly Made Sketches 391

Sometimes I forget to actually hit "publish" when I do these blog posts!  😬So without further ado my card for the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge follows.

We've got a great new challenge for you at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is our resident color-master Amy.  I love this sketch!

It seems weird to think about making sympathy cards but I do like to have some on hand when the time comes that I need one.  Amy's sketch gave me the perfect design.  I used the colors from the latest FabFriday challenge, although I will admit that my Soft Seafoam is a stretch.  I didn't have any colors that were terribly close to the right one so I chose the best one that I had.  I'll completely understand if they throw me out of their gallery!  Obviously I need to go shopping to fill this gap in my cardstock collection! 

Thanks for stopping by!  My Freshly Made Sketches teammates have made some terrific cards to inspire you.  I hope you'll join us in the gallery!

Supplies
Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink); Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White (Stampin' Upp!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose (Stampin' Up!); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangle die (My Favorite Things); Subtle 3D embossing folder (Stampin' Up!)

Freshly Made Sketches 379

It's time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week our hostess is Judy and she's given us a classic sketch!

I was inspired by the colors at Fab Friday as well as the flower challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges to dig out this oldie but goodie floral image from Stampin' Up!  I stamped one flower on the card base then another that I cut out to layer on top.  I added the green horizontal layer in between the two flowers but thought it looked too plain so I die cut a scribble to add on top of it to jazz things up!

The wee sentiment ended up popped up on a layer of cardstock because my first attempt smudged when I tried to stamp it directly on the card base. 😜There are no mistakes in stamping so I knew right away that the fix was to do it all over again as a layer!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you've got time to join us in the gallery at Freshly Made Sketches!

Supplies
Stamps:  Reason to Smile (Stampin' Up!); Tiny Words (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Mossy Meadow (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral (Stampin' Up!); Nocturne (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:  Scribbles & Splat Thinlet (Sizzix); Royal Garden sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Freshly Made Sketches 340

Hellloooo!  It's Wednesday so that means it's time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our sketch is designed by Karren - who I like to call my chief enabler.  I'm not kidding when I say that nearly every time I visit her blog something new ends up on my wish list.  😉 And this week we also welcome a new guest designer for the month of June.  It's Laurie Unger!  Yay!!  So let's get to the new sketch!

I chose shades of pink for my card and since it has been a while since I've made a butterfly I card I thought this sketch was the perfect opportunity to.  That star shape is easily translated to a butterfly, or anything else that your imagination decides!  The embossed background is a nod to the CAS on Friday challenge where they are looking for embsossing. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Our Freshly Made Sketches design team has made some fabulous cards to inspire you this week.  So stop on by and be prepared to be wowed!

Supplies
Stamps:  Sentimental Birthdays (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!); Bubblegum (My Favorite Things); Vellum (Graphix)
Ink:  Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Snowfall/Speckles embossing folder (Tim Holtz); Chrissy Butterfly die, Leanna Butterfly die (Simon Says Stamp)

Freshly Made Sketches 332

Hello Wednesday!  It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our sketch is brought to you by Karren.  

 

I changed my mind about a million times on the way to making this card.  This is actually the first incarnation - the other ones didn't make the cut!  This long, cold winter has made me neglect my pretty butterflies so it was a treat to dig out this old favorite from Altenew.  The colors come from the latest challenge at Fab Friday.

I sure hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  If you are in need of inspiration you can always check out the design team cards.  You're gonna love them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies

Stamps:   Painted Butterfly (Altenew): Thank You Kindly (Stampin' Up!)

Paper:  Pink Pirouette, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Ink:  Soft Sky, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories:  Diagonal Stripe stencil (Simon Says Stamp); Painted Butterflies die (Altenew); white embossing paste (Dreamweaver); enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

Birthday Butterfly

For once in a really long time I have created a card just for fun!  No DT card challenges here - I've made a card just because I wanted to...

I was inspired by the colors at TGIF and my layout comes from Fab Friday.  Butterflies are a favorite of mine and I've been neglecting them this long, cold winter.  Since spring officially starts today I thought it would be nice to make a card featuring a butterfly to welcome the season.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Papillon (The Stamp Market); Sentimental Birthday (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:   Soft Stone (Papertrey Ink): Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Whiper White, Vellum (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Papillopn die (The Stamp Market); Banne Trio die (WPlus9); black embossing powder

Freshly Made Sketches 327

And so we begin our new sketches for March at Freshly Made Sketches.  I'm your hostess this week (always a nail-biter) and we also welcome a new guest designer who is joining us for the month.  I'm sure you all know who she is.....Claire Apostoloff from Life on the Scrap Heap. 

It's been a wild and wooly week here in Massachusetts.  A nor'easter (that's New England lingo for really bad storm) decided to plunk itself right off shore and bring with it lots of rain and very high winds.  I lost electricity from Friday until Sunday morning and I can tell you it was quite cold in my house with no heat.  I was afraid I would actually have to miss the challenge this week.  But luckily the linesman came from far and wide (I saw some trucks from Quebec) and they worked really hard to get the power back up.   There are still some folks with no power but I think they are really close to getting power online. 

I opted to try my hand at the eclectic color challenge at Fab Friday.  I wasn't quite sure how to work in the Pool Party and chose this flourish die cut and some enamel dots.  I love how it turned out!  I used my fancy new Brother Scan N' Cut to cut out the flowers and leaves and I've got to say I'm loving that thing!

Well that's it for me.  Another nor'easter is coming my way today but luckily this time I'm only supposed to be getting some rain and light snow.  That's good news for the folks along the coast who were hit especially hard by the storm last week.

Stop on by Freshly Made Sketches and check out the inspiration from the design team.  I can't wait to see how you all interpret my sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Dream Big (Verve); With Gratitude (Altnew)
Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Natural White (Neenah); Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Comfort Cafe DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Fancy Flourish die (My Favorite Things); enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

Freshly Made Sketches 317

Well it seems I did, in fact, have another Christmas card in me this year!  It's not really my fault though.  There's a bunch of challenges going on right now with Christmas themes and they really got me in the mood!

Today, of course, is time for a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  And it's a nail biter because I am the hostess!  I created a square sketch (of course) but feel free to use another shape if squares give you the heebie jeebies!

I used some oldie-but-goodie colors from Stampin' Up! on this card.  I think some of these are the very first "in colors" that they came out with many moons ago - and they are still my faves.  I especially love using them on Christmas cards.

As I mentioned there are a bunch of Christmas challenges out there but I didn't want to go crazy!  So I'm adding this to Cupcake Inspirations and Fab Friday.  They are both Christmas-paloozas!

Thanks for stopping by.  And go check out the amazing creations from our super-creative design team.  They will inspire you to play along with us at Freshly Made Sketches, I'm sure!

Supplies
Stamps:  Jingle All the Way (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!); Cloud White (Reverse Confetti); Bristol Smooth (Strathmore)
Ink:  Cranberry Crisp (Stampin' Up!); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Copics
Accessories:  Jingle All the Way die (My Favorite Things); Sprinkles enamel dots (Doodlebug Designs)

Freshly Made Sketches 300!

Can you believe it?  We are at challenge #300 over at Freshly Made Sketches!  A whopping 300 challenges!  Way back in the day (around August 2011 to be exact) Lesley (she of Always Playing With Paper fame) conceived of this idea to create a sketch challenge.  How about creating cards that are clean but not necessarily simple.  She invited some talented ladies to join her to provide inspiration each week and here we still are - six years later!

We've got something unique planned this week to celebrate this milestone.  Someone from the gallery - a random someone - is going to take home a special prize:  ALL of the design team cards!  Yep, that's right!  A lucky winner will receive original creations from the Freshly Made Sketches design team!

I wanted something bright and cheery this week (to echo our bright and cheery mood) and luckily the challenge at Fab Friday fit right in with my master plan!

Our resident teacher, Linda, has estimated that over the last six years there have been more than 25,000 cards created for this challenge!  25,000!  Can you believe it?  That's a whole lot of cards!  And a whole lot of inspiration!

At Freshly Made Sketches we can't thank you enough for playing along with us each week.  Without you we wouldn't exist - literally!  The inspiration that you provide week after week is the reason why we do this.  And the enabling that goes on - well, I can't begin to tell you how many things I've added to my stamping stash just because I've visited your blogs and just had to have some new stamp or die or embellishment that I've seen you use.  Thank you from the bottom of my checkbook!

So I hope you can join us for this extra special challenge this week.  Our design team has gone all out and provided some amazing inspiration for you.  And just think:  you could win all of those cards!

Supplies
Stamps:  Great Friend (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Hibiscus Burst (Papertrey Ink); Lemon Lime Twist, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Lemon Lime Twist (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Honeycomb Remnant die (Memory Box); Gerbera Daisy die, Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX (My Favorite Things); Leaves die (Penny Black); Banner Trio die (WPlus9)

CAS(E) This Sketch 218

This week sure is whizzing by!  It's Thursday already and that means it's time for a new challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.  I went a bit literal and a bit colorful with my card this week.

There was a pretty color challenge at Fab Friday this week with five - count 'em - five colors in it.  Normally that kind of challenge would send me running for the hills but since I'd seen this particular stamp set used a few times this past week by some of my stamping friends, and this particular stamp set happened to be languishing un-inked in my stamp room I thought I'd give the challenge a go using it.  The stamp set lends itself perfectly to a colorful abstract design like this, I think.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the cards the design team has made at CAS(E) This Sketch.  As usual you will be wowed by their creativity!

Supplies
Stamps:  Halftone Circles (Altenew); Big Words (Mama Elephant)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Pool Party (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Night of Navy, Perfect Plum, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); Jet Black (Altenew)

Just a Note

Spring has definitely sprung around these parts.  Last week was nothing but miserable rain but this week the forecast is nothing but glorious sunshine and warmer than normal temperatures.  I plan to take advantage of this good weather and go for a walk on my lunch-hour each day.  A half hour walk with the sun on my face is just the thing to put me in a great mood!

And speaking of spring, the colors this week at Color Throwdown were definitely inspired by the season.  I combined them with the sketch at Fab Friday to create a fun floral card.

It's been a while since I've used these funky floral stamps and I forgot how much I love them!  They may not be elegant like the tulips in the inspiration photo but they have a fun, whimiscal look that I love.  I paired them with a simple sentiment in a no-nonsense font and a bit of washi tape.  I stuck on a couple of enamel dots to take up some of that white space too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Funky Florals, Keep It Simple: Just a Note (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Pool Party, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  enamel dots (Studio Calico)

You Tickle My Fancy

I really loved the colors this week at Color Throwdown and the sketch at Fab Friday so I wanted to be sure to play along with both.  I think they are a match made in heaven!

I used my favorite feathers for this card and embossed them with some SU embossing powder.  I also used an old favorite - a scallop circle die!  I remember when your stamping stash was not complete without a plethora of Nestabilities in it.  The scallop circles were especially useful and then in accordance with the fickle nature of crafting supplies they sort of fell out of fashion.  But I've noticed them popping up now and again.   What's old is new again!

The forecasters are predicting another blizzard for tonight and tomorrow.  There's a good chance that the storm will be just far enough north of me that I'll only get another half a foot of snow.  But the winds are expected to be very bad and I am praying I don't lose power.  There's nothing worse than being in a cold, dark house!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies

Stamps:  Feather Finery (Papertrey Ink); Fancy Feathers (Clearly Besotted)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black (Simon Says Stamp); Tempting Turquoise, Vellum (Stampin' Up!)

Ink:  Versamark; Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Petite Scallop Circle die, Standard Circles die (Spellbinders); Washi Tape die (My Favorite Things); Tangerine Tango embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); enamel dots (Freckled Fawn); washi tape

colourQ 362!

October already.  Are you sure?  Before I know it my Christmas Club will come due and I'll have to start shopping!  But before that happens I've got a new palette to show you from colourQ.  And since October is breast cancer awareness month we've got some appropriately pink colors.

I think glitter was in order for my card so I used some old glimmer paper to frame one of the layers.  The sentiment is from a freebie stamp set that I got from a.muse studio a while back and I FINALLY got a pink ribbon die.  There was a lot of white space on my card, which made me unusually squeamish, so I added some embossing paste strategically placed around the sentiment and ribbon.  My layout comes from the latest sketch at Fab Friday.

My way-cool and super talented teamies at colourQ have made some great cards this week using these colors (no surprise there).  You should really check them out!  Then join us in the gallery!  We'd love to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps:  Fight Like a Girl (a.muse studio)
Paper:  Black (Simon Says Stamp); Berry Sorbet (Papertrey Ink); Silver Glimmer, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Jet Black (Altenew)
Accessories:  Hope die (Paper Smooches); Dot Fade stencil (Tim Holtz); white embossing paste (Wendy Vecchi)