Now posting on Instagram!

Hello!
I used to love having a blog but I find it's just not a priority for me right now so all of my cards will be posted on Instagram along with our outdoor adventures and my nature photos! I'd love for you to head over there and follow along!

https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbrum/

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #741

Hello!  Happy Wednesday!  

I'm not sure how it got to be Wednesday already!  A few friends and I were chatting today about how time is just flying by.  We blink and weeks go by!  I know my mom says that as she's gotten older it seems like time just goes by faster and faster.  I'm starting to see that as well.  Anyone else find that time just flies by?

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our hostess this week is the amazing Narelle Farrugia.  Narelle makes the most beautiful cards so you'll definitely want to head over to her blog and check them out.    

I needed an anniversary card for my aunt and uncle and thought this sketch would work perfectly.  The card is actually much brighter and prettier in person.  The lighting was terrible when I was trying to get this photo.  I used some Spellbinders die sets to create the flowers and the leaves.  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Garden Green
Dies: Spellbinders, Stitched So Sweetly (SU)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  If you need any inspiration, please make sure you head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and see what the Design Team has created.

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge. 

Have an amazing week!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #737

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  How's the weather where you live?  We just got through our 37th winter.  Nothing like snow on the May long weekend (it was the long weekend in Canada).  It has been a cool spring and the majority of the snow in the mountains has yet to melt so we're still in for a big run off and lots of rain.  Welcome to spring on the east side of the Rocky Mountains!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  I have the privilege of being this week's hostess.  I kept the sketch simple.  It's been a busy season and I don't have the band width to deal with complicated! 

Our oldest is turning 20 this week.  I find that hard to believe since I'm only 29.  He is an avid golfer and I knew I needed a golf themed card for him.  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green (SU), Silver Foil

Stamps: Clubhouse (SU Ret'd)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios)

Dies: Golf Club Dies (SU Ret'd), Golf King (Crafters Companion)

Other: Subtle Texture Embossing Folder (SU Ret'd)

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.  If you need some inspiration please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog!  There are plenty of fantastic cards posted!  

Have a wonderful day!
Jen
 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #734

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good start to your week!  We had a good weekend.  We took a little side by side ride into the mountains and saw the most beautiful wild horses including the cutest baby!  I love a good foal!  There were lots of deer and we had a great adventure.  Hopefully this weekend we'll be able to get out hiking.  Winter has lasted a little too long here but thankfully there is finally no snow in the forecast!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Mitchell!  Please make sure you go and check out her blog!  

Of course I needed to make a Mother's Day card.  Despite it being on my radar, I was a little behind on my game.  I had some left over butterflies sitting on my desk and then I just needed to find some paper to match - since I felt too lazy to cut more butterflies!!!  I pulled out some old SU Flowering Fields and thought it was perfect.  One completed Mother's Day card.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Mango Melody, Shaded Spruce, Gold Foil (SU)

DSP: Flowering Fields (retired)

Stamps: Family Ties (SU)

Ink: Mango Melody (SU - Retired), Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios)

Dies: Butterfly Blossom Dies (Waffle Flower), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU retired)

Other: Exposed Brick Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week.  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  

Have a wonderful week!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #733

Happy Wednesday!
I hope you're having a great start to your week!  This week we're experiencing spring but all good things must come to an end right?  They are calling for snow on Friday.  I'm so over the snow!  I have to keep telling myself that the farmers need it and the more moisture in the ground, the better fire season we'll have.  But still, I'm totally ready to get on with spring.

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Timko!  Make sure you had over to her Instagram and check out her gorgeous cards!  

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do for this card but I had this bee themed paper sitting on my desk and I wanted to use it!  I'm trying to use the paper rather than hoarding it!  Looking at my card now, there's a few things I would have done differently.  Hindsight is 20/20 right?

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black (SU), Kraft, Gold Foil

Patterned Paper: Simple Vintage Lavender Fields (Simple Stories)

Stamps: Honey Bee (SU)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio)

Dies: Detail Bee Dies (SU)

Other:  Lovely Stripes Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get all of the details and find some inspiration.

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #732

Hello! 

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  Is it spring where you live?  Or maybe you're heading into fall?  We are supposed to be in spring.  The key words are "supposed to be".  We are expecting 15 cm of snow between tonight and tomorrow.  It's supposed to drop below freezing so it will be a disaster.  I guess winter isn't quite done with us yet.

We have a brand new sketch this week over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the lovely Michelle Langley!  Michelle is one of our newest team members so make sure you head over to her page and say hello! 

I had some butterflies and flowers sitting on my desk so I thought they would work perfectly for this card!  They were already cut, they just needed a little inking and they worked perfectly.  I found a strip of gingham paper that I thought also worked well.  It's old and I have no idea where it came from but sometimes those are the best finds!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody, Sky Blue, Gold (All SU)

Ink: Calypso Coral, Mango Melody, Pool Party (All SU)

Dies: Butterfly Blossom Die (Waffle Flower)

Other: Classic Sentiments (Alex Syberia Designs), Embossing Folder, Glimmer Hot Foil Machine

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  For all of the details and some inspiration, please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog!  

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered in this week's challenge.  We always love to see what everyone creates!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #731

Hello! 
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We have been having the craziest weather lately!  One day it snows, one day it's sunny and warm then we repeat again and again! It's starting to get a tad annoying! I am done with winter and snow and ready for spring and warmth!

We have a fun new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our hostess this week is the lovely Donna Mikasa!  You will definitely want to head over to her blog and check out her beautiful cards!  

This sketch looked a little intimidating but it was actually really fun!  I grabbed my Stitched So Sweetly dies and went to work.  I decided to use my Envelope of Wonders dies to create some little spring flowers (okay, they're probably summer flowers but we're saying they're spring!).  I went to use my Glimmer Hot Foil Machine only to discover it has ceased to work.  I have no idea what happened.  I'm so sad.  I love hot foiling.  Oh, these electronic devices!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Highland Heather,  Gorgeous Grape, Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Mango Melody, Basic Black (SU)

Stamps: Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Ink: Highland Heather

Dies: Stitched So Sweetly (SU), Envelope of Wonder (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  You can head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get all of the details and see the amazing cards the Design Team has created!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #728

Hello and happy Wednesday!
I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are actually embarking on a bit of an adventure this week so I'm looking forward to sharing that with you!  I'm trying to be a bit more adventurous.  Now, some might say, you hike all the time, how is that not adventurous?  Well, I'm glad you asked!  I don't mind hiking where I can return home each night and sleep in my own bed.  But doing things that aren't hiking or involve me not sleeping in my own bed are a struggle!  I get comfortable and hate doing things that are new or different.  This year I'm trying to branch out and do a bit more!  We shall see how this goes.  This is adventure #1.  We have a few more planned that I'm super excited about.

We've got a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess is the lovely Narelle Farrugia!  You'll definitely want to head over to her blog and check out her amazing cards!  Maybe one day you'll see pics of Narelle and I tackling a hiking (or walking) trail together!  Hopefully in Australia because I've never been there and that would definitely be out of my comfort zone!  

Well, as soon as I saw those circles and because Narelle was the designer, I immediately thought flowers!  How could I not?  I grabbed my Spellbinders Floral Spray dies and got to work.  I was originally going to colour the flowers but decided to go for a black and white theme and throw in some rose gold foil for colour.  The card is definitely prettier in person.  It's hard to get a good photo.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black (SU), Hammermill White Coverstock

Dies: Floral Spray (Spellbinders)

Other: Classic Sentiments Press Plate and Dies Set (Alex Syberia Designs), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine, Distressed Tile Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I do hope you'll join in our challenge this week.  Please make sure you head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out all of the details and see some fabulous cards to get you inspired! 

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #727

 

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I hope you're having a great start to your week so far!  We got out for an amazing hike on the weekend.  The wind was insane and the weather network indicated gusts of up to and over 80 km/hr.  That's a lot if you're on a mountain!  We opted for a safer ridge hike that has you in the forest for quite a while.  It also gave me a chance to try some steeper terrain and see how the hand did.  Up is fine, down is more challenging.  Anyhow, we were completely blocked from the wind pretty much the whole hike and it was fantastic so we were so thankful we got out and did it.  We're supposed to get a bunch of snow this weekend so we might not be hiking at all!  We shall see.  

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the lovely Michele Ferguson.  Make sure you head over to her blog and check our her beautiful cards! 

Michele's sketch threw me for a bit and then I decided I would use some of my new Waffle Flower stamps and dies for it.  I love anything forest like and this Postage Stamp set made my heart flutter!  I love deer and am so thankful that we have deer that walk down our road often so I get to see them on a fairly regular basis!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black (SU), Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Postage Collage Forest Sunset (Waffle Flower), Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio)

Dies: Postage Collage Dies (Waffle Flower), Build-A-Wreath (Spellbinders), Double Stitched Frames

Other: Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll join in our challenge this week! You can head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get all of the details and see some fabulous examples! 

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #726

 

Hello! Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  Can you believe it's March?  I know some people feel like January and February dragged on but I feel like I blinked and those two months were gone.  Monday was 11 weeks since my surgery and thankfully after physio last week, I am feeling so much better.  I am excited to see the progress over the next few weeks!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our lovely hostess is the one and only, Karren Johnson!  Karren makes the most amazing cards so please head over to her blog to check them out!  

Karren has such a great sketch for us this week!  I have been loving using Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers dies so I got my Lovely Layers Peonies out for this one.  I already had some pre foiled sentiments sitting on my desk so I opted to use one and save some work!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Rose Gold Foil (SU), Hammermill White Coverstock

Ink: Distress Oxides (Tim Holtz)

Dies: Lovely Layers Peony (Honey Bee Stamps)

Other: Classic Sentiments (Alex Syberia Designs), Lovely Stripes Embossing Folder (SU), Rose Gold Foil (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you will join in our challenge this week!  Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get your inspiration!  You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #725

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

I hope you're all having a great start to your week!  Snowmageddon last week wasn't as exciting as it could have been.  We are expecting another round again this week.  Interesting fact, Alberta gets a lot of it's snow in March.  Spring comes late here!  Thankfully the snow usually comes and then melts right away but right now it's quite cold so looks like we're in for some accumulation.  Only a few more weeks to go!

We have a grand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Cecile Ribon is our favourite French hostess this week!  Please make sure you head over to her blog and check out her beautiful creations.  

I wasn't too sure what to do with this sketch!  It sure is a fun one and I wanted to do it justice. I figured I would go with a giant floral background and throw a sentiment over it and go from there.  I opted to use the Lovely Layers Hydrangea from Honey Bee Stamps because I don't think you can ever go wrong with Hydrangea!  I already had some sentiments foiled and sitting on my desk and they worked perfectly!  Voila.  One round and we were done!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Petal Pink (SU), Hammermill White Coverstock

Ink: Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Tattered Rose (Distress Oxides), Cotton Candy (Catherine Pooler)

Dies: Lovely Layers Hydrangea (Honey Bee Stamps), Nesting Postage Die (Waffle Flower)

Other: Classic Sentiments (Alex Siberia Designs), Iridescent Rhinestones (SU), Exposed Brick Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to Freshly Made Sketches for more information and to get your card entered!  

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #724

Hello!  Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We are in the throws of winter craziness.  We have had the weirdest winter I think I've ever lived though.  Most of January and half of February was above freezing.  When you live in the mountains of Canada, this is strange.  You expect cold and snow right?  Nope, not this year.  Yesterday however, that all changed.  Temperatures dropped to bitterly cold and the snow showed up!  I guess winter is rearing it's ugly head after all.  

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I have the privilege of being this week's hostess!  I went with a versatile sketch and you can swap those circles for whatever shape you'd like!  

So I'm still playing with my new SU order that I got and I just love the Lovely and Beautiful DSP and decided that I would need to use that again on my card!  The colours are so perfect and soft and make me dream of spring flowers!

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Calypso Coral (SU), Hammermill White Coverstock

DSP: Lovely and Beautiful (SU)

Stamps: Simply Beautiful (SU) and Fabulous Sayings (SU)

Ink: Detail Black (PinkFresh Studios)

Dies: Simply Beautiful Dies (SU)

Other: Stampin Blends (SU)

I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the details!  You'll also find some great Design Team cards there to get you inspired.

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

I thought I'd share a few photos from our most recent hike.  I'm still staying at lower elevations and avoiding really icy trails as the recovery from my surgery is a little slower than I would like!

It was a wildlife intensive day!  A herd of elk, so many herds of deer, at least 3 eagles and this mama moose and her baby!  My heart was full!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #721

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good week and if you live on the Eastern side of North America, you're digging out of the snow!  As we live west (though east of the Rockies), we didn't experience the snow really at all.  We have above seasonal temperatures and beautiful sunshine so I will not be complaining.

I've been MIA for several weeks.  I had surgery on my left hand (I'm left handed) and have only gotten to the point where I feel comfortable using it for card making.  In hindsight though I think I was a little premature in my endeavors as I have maybe pushed my hand a little too hard.  I had severe arthritis in my left hand (also in my right) and needed to have a bone removed, another shaved down and then a rope rigged up to attach my thumb to my hand.  Unfortunately, it is as painful as it sounds!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of Jen Mitchell!  Please make sure you had over to Jen's blog to check out her gorgeous cards!

I needed to keep my card fairly simple so I didn't overtax the hand and I gave myself one shot at making it.  I'm not overly thrilled but my husband's birthday card is done!  He will just be impressed I managed to make a card!  I love the Wildwood Secrets paper from Mintay so I grabbed that one to give the card an outdoorsy feel.  I added in some silhouette looking trees and called it a day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Gumball Green, Basic Black (SU)

Patterned Paper: Wildwood Secrets (Mintay Papers)

Stamps: Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios)

Dies: Circle Dies (Spellbinders), Evergreens (Taylored Expressions), Scenic Adventure Dies (SU)

Other: Exposed Brick Textured Embossing Folder

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week.  You have until 3 PM EST on Monday to get your card entered into this week's challenge.

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #714

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We got our first snow storm of the year on Monday.  What a disaster.  The roads were insane yesterday and today I found some great skating rinks to drive along!  As much as my husband loves winter, I am not a fan mainly because I hate driving!  I guess I better dig deep and get used to it, we've got another 5 months to go!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today courtesy of Cecile Ribon!  Please make sure you head over to Cecile's blog and check our her absolutely stunning cards!  

 

When I was in at Home Sense the other day I noticed that pink seemed to be the in colour for Christmas.  I'm not sure how I feel about that and I must admit I did not purchase anything pink since I'm pretty sure pink won't be the in colour next year!  I did however incorporate some pink into my card in honour of this year's wild colour!  This is a terrible picture because I forgot to take a picture while the sun was up and then the lighting was terrible!  I'll try and get a better picture tomorrow!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Pink Pirouette (SU)

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes (SU - long retired!)

Ink: Cotton Candy (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Dies: Double Stitched Squares (Lil Inker Designs), Holiday Ornaments (SU - long retired!)

Other: Distressed Tile Embossing Folder (SU), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Pink Foil (Spellbinders), Pink Jewels

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  If you need some inspiration you'll find it on the blog!

You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #712

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  Trevor and I were able to get out for a snow free hike yesterday which was amazing!  The arthritis in my left hand (and my right to be honest) is bad enough to require surgery at the end of January but I also cannot use my hiking poles anymore.  Unfortunately that means I need to stick to lower elevation gain and lower distance hikes so that I'm not endangering myself!  It was quite the experience hiking without poles.  It sure feels different.  I needed one for the way down for a bit but then I had to just carry it.  Hoping this surgery fixes my hand and I can go back to normal life!  I'll also be hit or miss on making cards for the next little while as well as the fine detail work also has become quite difficult.  I feel so old!!!!  

We've got a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazingly creative Verena Shapiro!  Please head over to her Instagram and check out her cards!

So, the funny thing about my card this week is that I thought I was this week's hostess and so I made a card for my sketch only to find out that I'm on for next week and I still needed a card for this week!  Thankfully I had some paper and dies sitting on my desk that worked perfectly for this sketch and off I went!  I was also thankful that I was off today and had the time to get it done!  Now I'm not overly thrilled with the end result but that's okay!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Gumball Green, Real Red, Champagne Foil (All SU)

Patterned Paper: Simple Vintage Yuletide (Simple Stories)

Ink: Garden Green, Real Red

Dies: Christmas Foliage (Spellbinders)

Other: Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Red Foil (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you really enjoy your week!
We hope you'll join in our our challenge this week!  Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get find some inspiration!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  

 Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #710

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a wonderful week so far!  I've in the thick of Christmas planning at work which actually has me thinking that Christmas will be here before we know it!  That thought alarms me because I haven't even thought about Christmas in my real life!!!  And since I'm not thinking about Christmas at home yet, I'm also not making any Christmas cards yet!!!  With the postal service still very iffy, I don't even know if we'll be able to really end them!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the incredible and original Linda Callahan!  Linda is one of our original FMS designers.  She is such a valuable member of our team but she is taking a step back and retiring from our sweet team.  We will miss her like crazy and wish her the best!!  Please head over to her blog and thank her for all her amazing cards and funny jokes and stories!!!  

Now, when I saw Linda's sketch, I immediately saw mountains.  Then I figured the circles could be hikers but I have nothing that looks like hikers so those circles had to become clouds behind the mountains!  That's about all I could do!!!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Soft Sky, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Smoky Slate, Shaded Spruce (SU)

Stamps: Typewriter Adventure Sentiments

Ink: Detail Black (PinkFresh Studios), Garden Green (SU), Smoky Slate (SU)

Dies: A2 Mountain Scene Builder Add-on Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Scenic Adventure Dies (SU), Evergreen Dies (Taylored Expressions)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  We always love to see what you come up with.

You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend - if you were celebrating in Canada!  We went from fall to winter overnight!  We even had snow!  The mountains actually have a fair bit of snow!  I feel like the snow just melted and here we are back at the cold weather!  Let's just say that it's below freezing out side and the winter gear has been dusted off!

We have a fantastic new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of the wonderful Jennifer Timko!  Make sure you head over to Jen's blog and check out her amazing cards!  

I figured since Thanksgiving was over and the postal strike might soon be fully over, I might as well get started on my Christmas cards!  I'm so far behind now that I might never get caught up!  I do love the poinsettia die that's in the Christmas Bird Poinsettia set from Spellbinders.  I had some left over Christmas sentiments on my desk from last year so I threw one on!  I kept it simple just in case I decide to make a pile of these!!!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Real Red, Garden Green, Gold Foil, Brushed Gold Foil
Ink: Real Red, Garden Green
Dies: Christmas Bird Poinsettia (Spellbinders)
Other: Distressed Tile Textured Embossing Folder (SU), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Red and Champagne Foil (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

I made another one with a red poinsettia - though I'm not sure which one I like better!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  You'll find a great group of cards on the blog from the Design Team to get your creative juices flowing!

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #707

 

Hello and Happy Wednesday!
I hope everyone has had a great start to their week so far!  We went from summer to pre-winter in about 2 days!  The mountains got some snow and they've been looking quite stately!  The golden hues have been so pretty but we seem to be quickly headed towards winter and I'm not quite ready for it yet!!!  I am escaping to my parents house in Ontario next week so I will be able to enjoy some slightly warmer weather there!!!  

We've got a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week! Our hostess this week is the amazing Judy Rozema!  Head over to her blog to check out her amazing cards!  

I had this gorgeous patterned paper sitting on my desk and I couldn't wait to use it!  I combined it with the Lovely Layers Strawberries dies from Honey Bee Stamps and called it a day!  The sentiment was sitting on my desk so I decided I would make my life easy and just use it!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Real Red

Patterned Paper: Wildwood Secrets (Mintay Papers)

Dies: Lovely Layers Strawberries (Honey Bee Stamps), Circle Dies (Spellbinders)

Other: Curved Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Silver Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil Machine

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the the cards the Design Team has posted!  You will definitely be inspired!

You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #705

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  The smoke has finally cleared out here and the skies have been so blue!  It's so wonderful!  We've had some incredible sunrises and sunsets this week!  It's been pretty amazing!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Narelle Farrugia!  Please make sure you head over to her blog to give her some love and check out her incredible creations!  

I thought for sure that the first idea I had for a card would be perfect!  Turns out I was wrong.  The second one wasn't perfect either but apparently third time is a charm.  I stuck with a simple white background.  Added some embossing and then kept the strips simple.  I opted for mushrooms for this card instead of leaves because I love mushrooms almost as much as I love fall!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Basic Black

Stamps: Fall Foliage (Reverse Confetti)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio), Real Red

Dies: Autumn Wonder (Spellbinders)

Other: Exposed Brick Textured Embossing Folder

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll enter into our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to enter your card in this week's challenge.  You'll also find the inspiration you need to kick start your creativity!

This week's challenge ends on Monday at 1 PM EST!  

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #704

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're enjoying your week so far!  We are still trying to get into the swing of things here.  Getting used to new schedules and the different times that people have to be here there and everywhere.  I'm finding it more difficult to get it all figured out this year.  I think my brain is still in summer mode and rebelling against all the craziness!

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Michele Ferguson!  We have a very special guest with us this week!  Please welcome Donna Mikasa the winner of our Challenge #700!!  Head over to Donna's blog and check out her beautiful cards!   

There sure are a lot of circles on this sketch!  You all know how I feel about circles!!  Needless to say when I saw those circles I automatically converted them to leaves!  It's fall after all!!!  The Fall Florals set from Spellbinders seemed perfect for this card!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Stamps: Typewriter Adventure Sentiments (Spellbinders)
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Crazy, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie (All SU)
Dies: Itty Bitty Strips (MFT), Fall Florals (Spellbinders), Autumn Wonder (Spellbinders)
Other: Hardwood Embossing Folder (SU), Grain and Grunge Gem Stickers (Honey Bee Stamps)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 3 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.  

Have an amazing day!
Jen