Freshly Made Sketches #4

So are you noticing a trend? I'm only stamping when it's challenge time!  The challenges are the only things keeping me going right now.  And that's ok (at least that's what I keep telling myself). 

So here's today's project from The Clean Team at Freshly Made Sketches:



And here's my take on it:

I just loved this flower from the Pocketful of Posies dp that I had to make it the focal point on this card.  In person the Night of Navy looks so nice with the Pear Pizzazz background (maybe I need to start using my real camera for these pictures and not my cell phone!).

Believe it or not, here's what I used:
Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pocketful of Posies dp
Punches: Modern Label, Scallop Trim Border, 3/4" circle (at top of tag)
Embellishments: Whisper White satin/taffeta ribbon, White baker's twine

Thanks for visiting and having a fabulous Friday!

Mojo Monday 208

I can't believe it's already Thursday and I'm just now getting to the Mojo Monday sketch.  No school today gave me a day off from our typical Thursday routines.  Gave me a little time for sneaky stampin!

Once again the design team at Mojo Monday offered up a choice of sketches - do it round or square.  Here they are:

And here's mine:

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Full of Life
Ink: Melon Mambo
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Beyond the Garden dp
Embellishments: Naturals buttons, white baker's twine, paper piercing tool & mat pack

Enjoy what's left of your Thursday!

Congratulations Linda!

I just had to give a special "shout out" to my wonderful friend (and upline) Linda for being chosen as a "Perfect Princess" for Freshly Made Sketches challenge #3.  Check out her beautiful card and the caption that was displayed on their site. 

Nance's Choice

Linda at Oop-A-Doodle

Oh my goodness, Linda’s beautiful card jumped right out of the gallery at me! I love how she used vintage elements and style to create a fresh and clean card. Chocolate chip and river rock are gorgeous paired together and compliment the very vanilla perfectly. Her soft coloring of the blossoms is so subtle and pretty and those crochet flowers? Gorgeous! Just an all ‘round beautiful take on this week’s sketch and my choice for a "Perfect Princess". Congratulations Linda!

Nance summed it up perfectly. Way to go Linda!! 

Friday Mashup Challenge #25

My husband and I are visiting with good friends tonight and we are finally getting to see their new home. So even though they haven't exactly "just moved", we are offering them congratulations and are super excited to see it!  With that said, I came up with a card inspired by this Friday Mashup sketch:

The great thing about The Friday Mashup is that you have your choice of how you want to participate.  For example, this week you could follow the sketch above, make a manly card, or "mash it up" and do both.  Without many of the shapes in the sketch, I did my best to substitute which is another great thing about these challenges - you follow it the best you can with what you have.  I also dug out my pickup truck again (this is definitely my "go to" set for manly cards).  What do you think?

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Delightful Dozen

Inks: Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Well Worn dp

Punches: Circles - 3/4",  1" , 1 1/4"

Embellishments: 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon, watercolor pencils + blender pen, dimensionals



Mojo Monday 207 & FM24

Even though Autumn officially begins this week, it seems that Summer left us quite a while ago!  And so, the design team at The Friday Mashup came up with this challenge:

1. Create a project with an "Autumn" theme.
2. Or Create a project using shades of "Yellow & Orange".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Autumn project using shades of Yellow & Orange".

Since I didn't remember to look at the Friday Mashup challenge until late last night, it gave me something to sleep on.  And when I got up this morning I remembered that the design team at Mojo Monday returned today!  With that said, and with limited stamping time today, I decided to make one card that would satisfy both challenges.  Here's the sketch from the friends at Mojo Monday:

 

And here's my attempt at killing two birds with one stone:

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Ink: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze (used to sponge edges of pumpkin), Peach Parfait marker (w/ Color Spritzer Tool)

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, 2010-2012 In Color Designer Paper Pack (Hostess)

Punches: Oval punch (not SU!)

Embellisments: Linen cord, Neutrals Buttons

Thanks for visiting!

Pals Paper Arts 111

Needed another birthday card for the weekend.  Decided to try the Pals Paper Arts challenge.  Here's the sketch:

And here's what I came up with:

Not a huge fan of these colors (especially in this awful light!), but it's a boy's birthday party this weekend so I wanted to stick with primary colors.  Although now that I've been looking at it awhile, it's not a boy card.  Guess I'll be saving it for another party! 

Freshly Made Sketches #2 - FMS2

It's challenge time again!  Today's sketch is from the new Freshly Made Sketches blog.

My grandfather's 82nd birthday is this weekend so I decided to make this card for him.  He used to drive a truck so I thought I'd dig out the Loads of Love pickup for him.  This is what I came up with:

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy

Paper: River Rock, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Well Worn dp

Punches: 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches

Techniques: sponging edges, watercoloring with blender pen

Another FMS1

So I got a little carried away with the first Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  In fact, I created 3 more cards using last week's sketch which you can see here.  I was eager to use some of the new designer papers from the 2011-2012 catalog.  Check out my creations:

Loving the Berry Blossoms dp

Featured at Stamp Club

A little bright, but wanted to show something different

 

 

 

 Like what you see and want more info?  Let me know!

Freshly Made Sketches - FMS1

It's been a crazy week around here with school starting so not much stamping going on...not even sneaky stamping.  Then I got the word that Freshly Made Sketches posted their first challenge today and I had to try it out.  Here's their sketch:

We are looking for clean-lined creations but unlike Clean and Simple challenges, we encourage lots of detail and embellishments as long as they maintain a "clean" look to your card.

And here's what I came up with:

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Inks: Early Espresso, River Rock (sponge edge of circle behind button)
Paper: River Rock cs, Early Espresso cs, Well Worn dp
Embellishments: pewter brads (non-SU), linen thread, designer buttons neutrals
Punches: 7/8" circle, 1" circle
Techniques: crimper