Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #394

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  School is almost done here - finally! I  can't wait!  I am excited for school and lunches to be done with!  Bring on summer holidays!  The kids are so done!  I am not sure why we even bother going this week.  I'm not sure they're even doing anything!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Timko!  I love Jen's cards.  Her colouring is fantastic and she is so creative.  You need to head over to her blog and check them out.

I struggled a bit with this card. I am not completely satisfied with the outcome but that's okay.  I also realized that I totally should have taken the picture landscape.  I don't know what I was thinking when I took the photo!  I find sympathy cards are hard to make and this one was especially hard for me!  I had to haul out the Botanical Builders Dies.  Though retired, they are my favourite flowers ever and I will continue to use them!  I added a sentiment from Sentiment Essentials (Reverse Confetti).  I went with a neutral Kraft background this time!  Wow, it's hard for me to change like that - every ounce of me wanted to do white!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White
DSP: Gingham
Stamps: Sentiment Essentials
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Sentiment Essentials Dies, Botanical Builders Dies, Enamel Dots, Dimensionals

Thanks again for stoping by!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches page and check out the gorgeous cards the Design Team has created!  You will love them!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #378

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is going well!  We are heading into March break here and we're pretty excited about it.  That being said, I don't think my kids have had a full week of school since January.  Between snow days and PA days and holidays it feels like they're never in school!!!  Oh well.  I also consider March break to be the end of winter in Southern Ontario.  This year, I may be off a bit.  We still have enough snow on the round and it's freezing outside!!  Hopefully by next week things start to change!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Amy O'Neill.  Amy is our resident elements expert.  She can create the most intriguing cards.  I just love them.  Head over to her blog to check them out!

Amy's sketch is great!  I started out with different flowers and leaves and other things and finally realized I needed to get out my trusted favourite - Botanical Builders!  I just couldn't help it!  I love those flowers so much!

I opted to add in some purple to this card since I do love a good purple card!  I embossed the purple panel with the Pinewood Planks embossing folder to give it a bit of texture.  I wanted to use some DSP of some sort but couldn't find any that I liked!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, White Glimmer
Stamps: The Inside Scoop - Birthday (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Other: Botanical Builders Dies, Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, Glimmer Dots, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the amazing cards the girls have created for your inspiration!  They are truly creative ladies!

Have a fantastic day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #353

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week.  If your kids started school yesterday (like mine did), I hope they had a wonderful first day!  My boys had a good start.  They both like their teachers and look like they'll have challenging years...in a good way!

Speaking of challenges, we have a brand new challenge this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Mitchell!  Jen makes the most gorgeous cards and she is totally the queen of Clean and Simple - yet totally elegant!!! Head over to her blog to check her cards out!

So I have totally yet unintentionally veered from the sketch just a little as I may have gotten a tiny bit carried away with the flowers.  I couldn't help myself.  I truly love these flowers.  I know they're retired but they're my favourite and probably always will be!

Two friends of mine recently got engaged.  I am so excited for them so wanted to congratulate them with a card.  I figured this sketch would work perfectly...until of course I really changed it up!  One of these days the design team is totally going to disown me!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold Foil
Stamps: Essential Sentiments (MFT)
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Botanical Builders Framelits, Softly Falling TIEF, Dimensionals, gold pearls

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the amazing cards that the Design Team has created!  You won't be disappointed!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #347

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We're having a great week.  This is the first week that we're all home together.  Well, the 2 boys and I!  The cats are having a hay day with their boys home!  Our kitten is hardly sleeping and then she kinda acts likes a wild toddler.  Hopefully she'll get into the routine!!!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the lovely Kim Singdahlsen.  Kim's cards are gorgeous and I love your collection of stamps and dies!  They're always so beautiful!

I loved Kim's sketch and knew right away I wanted to use the double stitched Speech Bubbles from Lil Inkers!  I still had the paper from last week's card sitting on the my desk still so I had to use it again!  I love these black and white stripes!   My die holder was sitting open and these speech bubbles jumped out at me!  I decided to add on a gold flower because the white bubble looked a little naked!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold Foil
DSP: Tutti Frutti (Retired)
Stamps: LJD Birthday Greetings (MFT Stamps)
Ink: Versamark
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Sequins, Botanical Builders Framelits, Double Stitched Speech Bubbles 2 (Lil Inkers), Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the amazing cards the Design Team has created for you!  You will definitely be inspired!

Have a fantastic day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #341

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We're having a good week!  The kids have been enjoying their evenings in the pool and I've been trying to get some videos done for my "other" business while they're swimming away!  They've cooperated nicely!  I think we're pretty much done with school around here.  It's so hard to get motivated to do homework when it's so gorgeous outside and the boys just want to be in the pool or playing some basketball!  2.5 weeks left to go!!

We have a fantastic new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing fussy cutter and flower stamper extraordinary Narelle Farrugia!  Narelle's cards are always gorgeous so head over to her blog to check them out!

I had a specific card in mind when I made this and I know I wanted to use the Botanical Builders Framelits!  I am so sad they retired but they're forever get use at my house!!!  I went with white and black, well, because I love it far too much!  I wanted to keep this clean and elegant!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Other: Botanical Builders Framelits Dies, Sweet Celebrations Dies (Lil Inkers), Celebrate Word Die (Lil Inkers), Black Rhinestones (SU), Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the gorgeous cards the Design Team has created!  You will definitely be inspired!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #321

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I trust you're having a great start to your week!  Are you guys having crazy weather where you are?  We've had warm and cold then warm and cold.  Our snow is gone which disappoints the kids.  There's nothing but mud out there.  The wind is blowing and there's a cold front coming in.  Cold with no snow.  Sounds fabulous!!!

We have a new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I happen to be this week's hostess!  It's always exciting to get to choose a design and then look at all the amazing cards that end up in the gallery!  I always find it incredible to see how many different cards can be created from one sketch!

So, I needed some birthday cards.  I need a lot of birthday cards actually.  I apparently know a lot of people with a February birthday!  My husband is one of them but I'm pretty sure this card won't work for him so I'll probably need to make a different one!!!  I can't help but keep using the Botanical Builders.  I know they're retired but they're my favourite and I can't bear to stop creating fun flowers with them!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whipser White, Early Espresso, Copper Foil
DSP: Wood Textures DSP Pack
Stamps: LJD Birthday Greetings
Ink: Early Espresso
Other: Botanical Builders, Sequins, Banners Framelits Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the gorgeous card the Design Team has created for your inspiration!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #319

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you are having a great start to your week!  We finally have some much warmer temperatures here in Southern Ontario!  Last week I was in the Ottawa Valley with my parents and the temperatures dropped as low as -40 with the windchill.  It was brutally cold.  Made me so thankful for the wood stove!!!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week courtesy of one of our Texans, Rita Wright!  Rita is also one of our colouring queens!  I'm always amazed at what she can create!  I think I need to take a little adventure down to Texas to learn how to colour!!!

Rita has created such a great sketch!  This one can be interpreted in so many different ways!  I need some birthday cards so I decided to haul out my Botanical Builders and start creating.  I opted for black and white to keep the card simple.  I used my "You're So" stamp set and dies from Reverse Confetti and voila!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Stamps: You're So (Reverse Confetti)
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: You're So Confetti Cuts, Botanical Builders Framelits, Black Rhinestones, Warm Welcome Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the amazing cards the design team has created for your inspiration!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #290

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  We've had a great start to our week!  We were able to spend this past weekend with my parents.  I was able to get the last 3 camp projects cut and ready to go!  I have never been ready a month before camp starts!  Woohoo!!

We have a fantastic new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Kim Singdahlsen!  Kim makes the most beautiful cards!  I always love seeing what she comes up with each and every time she makes a card!

Kim's sketch is super fun!  I had some of the Tasty Treats Specialty DSP sitting on my craft table and decided to use it.  I'm still very sad that the botanical builders and Watermelon Wonder are retiring but I don't think that will stop me from using them!!!  Of course there is some Wink of Stella on the flower!  I don't think I can do a card without it!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Basic Black
DSP: Tasty Treats Specialty DSP
Stamps: LJD Birthday Greetings (MFT)
Ink: Versamark Black
Other: Botanical Builders Framelits Dies, Double Stitched Circles (Lil Inkers), Wink of Stella, Basic Rhinestones


Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the fabulous cards the Design Team has created!   You won't be disappointed!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #284

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week and had a lovely Easter weekend!  We had a fabulous Easter and enjoyed some amazing church services and a delicious Easter dinner!  It was a beautiful weekend and we all enjoyed a lot of outside time!  Overall a fabulous weekend!

We have a great new sketch today at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Karren Johnson!  Karren's cards are gorgeous!  I am always amazing by her creativity!

Karren's sketch is so fun this week and it's super versatile!  I had lots of fun playing along!  I had this DSP stack sitting on my craft table from a card I made a while ago and knew I just had to use it again.  Those flowers are just too sweet!  Of course I needed to use my Botanical Builders.  I honestly cannot believe that this fabulous framelits are retiring!  I may have also added some wink of stella to the flowers because what flowers don't need a little sparkle?!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Watermelon Wonder, Basic Black
DSP: SU DSP Stack - I can't remember the name!!
Stamps: I can't remember where this one is from either - I'm doing really well aren't I?!
Ink: Black Stazon
Other: Botanical Builders Framelits, Basic Pearls, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the other fabulous cards the Design Team has created or you!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #280

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  I missed last week's challenge because I was visiting my parents for the March break!  We had the coldest March break ever!  I guess winter isn't quite ready to say goodbye despite me being totally ready to let go!!!  

We have a great sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Linda Callahan!  Linda makes the cutest cards and has such a great sense of humour!  Her blog will definitely make you smile!

I knew I wanted to use the Botanical Builders on this card.  I just love them.  Of course you know how I feel about white and black cards!  I wasn't sure how this would come together but I think I'm happy!  I also may have added some Wink of Stella to the middle layer of the flowers!  The leaves are embossed with silver embossing powder j to give a bit of shine!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver
Stamps: LJD Birthday Greetings (MFT)
Ink: Stazon Black, Versamark
Other: Botanical Builders Dies, Lacy Scalloped Confetti Cut Die (Reverse Confetti), Silver Embossing Powder, Silver Sequins, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the gorgeous cards the Design Team have created.  You will not be disappointed!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #274

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're all having a great week so far!  Anyone else having some super weird weather? We have almost no snow - and today it poured rain.  I mean, it poured.  Ugh.  Nothing worse than rain in February.  Last week I had 10 robins hanging out in my front tree.  I don't know what they were thinking and I am hoping they were just stopping over on their way to Florida.

We have a new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I have the honour of being this week's hostess.  I always get a little nervous when it's my turn to come up with a sketch.  I'm not really creative and I do find it challenging to come up with something that I think will work!  I'm hoping you enjoy what I've come up with!

I need to restock my birthday cards and so decided to combine the Botanical Builders from Stampin Up and the "You're So" stamp set and dies from Reverse Confetti.  I went with yellow and green which totally aren't colours I would normally pick but they jumped out at me and stuck!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Black Glimmer (Michaels)
Stamps: You're So (Reverse Confetti)
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Botanical Builder Dies (SU), You're So Confetti Cuts, Mini Banner Punch (SU), Basic Rhinestones, Softly Falling TIEF, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the beautiful cards the Design Team has created!

Have a great day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #266

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week and your Christmas preparations are going well.  I'm slowly trying to get some gift wrapping done.  I had some "help" from our kitten with the wrapping and I'm thinking she may be as bad as having a toddler!    I guess it will get done soon enough!!!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is the one and only Amy O'Neill!  Amy is our resident colour expert and makes such amazing and creative projects!

I needed to make a baby card - well a twins card for a friend of mine who's wife recently had two beautiful little girls!  Now, this card may change between now and when I give it to them!  I am not totally happy with the background!  I really should have either used some texture or some different paper.  I was a little frustrated when I made the card and decided that it would be better to have a card finished than to not have one finished!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Smokey Slate, Basic Grey, Pink Glimmer (Recollections)
Stamps: Something for Baby, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Smokey Slate, Pink Pirouette
Other: Baby's First Framelits, Botanical Builders Framelits, Basic Pearls, Bitty Banner Framelits, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the amazing cards the Design Team has created or you!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #263

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe we're midway through November already?!  How does that happen?!  I hope you've started your Christmas shopping.  I've slowly started mine and am trying to get things now before the shelves get emptied and picked over!  Sometimes it's easier said than done though!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today.  Our hostess this week if our fabulous French designer Cecile Ribon!  Cecile makes beautiful cards and you need to head over to her blog to check out those gorgeous creations!

Now, I need three cards this week.  It's already Wednesday and only one is done.  I'm doing really well!  This is the first card I need so thankfully it's done.  I'm part of a bootcamp "group".  We have class every Wednesday and sometimes on Sunday mornings.  One of the girls in our group is having her last chemo treatment tomorrow.  She has made it to bootcamp almost every week since her diagnosis. We are so proud of her and amazed by her strength.  We have a little surprise for her tomorrow to congratulate her on this accomplishment!

This sketch did stump me.  It wasn't even the circles, it was that bottom panel.  I won't tell you how many "draft" versions are sitting on my desk.  The creativity sure hasn't been flowing lately.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Smokey Slate, Whisper White
DSP: A Little Foxy DSP Stack
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Versamark
Other: Bitty Banners Dies, Botanical Builders Dies, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Wink of Stella, Basic Rhinestones, Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out all the fabulous cards the Design Team has created for you!

Have a great day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #256

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're all having a great week!  It's been a super busy week here so far with all fall programs now in full swing.  The boys have had a very exciting week so far.  On Saturday, we added a new member to our family.  We have adopted a little, 12 week old kitten!  This little girl is Jacob's cat and he's named her Pepsi!  We've decided she lives up to her name - sweet and spicy!   She was so timid at first and wouldn't come out of hiding but she has gotten over her timidness and is now our best friend!  She loves to cuddle and I have never heard a cat purr so loudly!!!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jennifer Timko!  Jen creates beautiful cards and you need to head over to her blog to check them out!

Now, this is not the first card I created.  I started with one idea and made a card that I totally thought I would go with.  It sat on the counter for Monday afternoon and part of Tuesday when I realized I didn't like it.  It was also just black and white.  I seem to only make black and white cards.  Not that this card is too much different!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red

DSP: Stacked with Love DSP stack (retired)

Other: Botanical Builders Dies, Banners Framelits Dies, Hello Confetti Cuts (Reverse Confetti), Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the amazing cards the Design Team has created!

Here's a sweet picture of our Pepsi to start your day!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #254

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're all having a great week!  We've had some great summery weather which has been nice for the beginning of school!  The kids are having a great time at school so far.  They both really enjoy their teachers!  What more could a mom want?!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Narelle Farrugia.  Narelle's cards are famous for their gorgeous flowers and indicate layers!  Head over to her blog to check those amazing creating out!

Now, as you know, my Big Shot had been giving me grief.  I was playing in my craft room on Sunday afternoon and it died.  I mean it totally refused to turn no matter how hard I tried to turn the handle.  Thankfully, my husband is fabulous and he took my Big Shot apart Sunday night and fixed it!  It's not working like it was brand new but it's working and it cuts things!  Yay!!!  I am a happy girl!

I couldn't figure out what to put on this circle.  I tried many different things.  Many, many different things.  I finally decided on the Botanical Builder Dies.  I mean, who doesn't love flowers - especially if they have Wink of Stella on them?!  Oh, I'm so ashamed I used it again!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate, Calypso Coral
DSP: Fox and Friends DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Crazy Birds (Tim Holtz)
Ink: Smokey Slate
Other: Botanical Builder Dies, Wink of Stella, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out what the design team has come up with for your creative inspiration!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Mae Sketches Challenge #250

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you are having a great week so far!  Jacob and I are heading to the Ontario Science Centre today with friends today!  Jake isn't so sure about it yet but I'm sure we'll have a great ol' time!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today courtesy of our amazing guest designer Cecile Ribon!  She makes beautiful cards and we have been so fortunate to have her join us!  You can head over to her blog to see exactly what I'm talking about!

I finally got around to ordering some SU stuff from the new catalogue.  I know, it's shameful but I don't really get a lot of crafting time in the summer!  I couldn't wait to get the Botanical Builder Dies and the Copper Foil cardstock from the upcoming Holiday catalogue is just amazing!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Copper
Stamps: Another Thank You
Ink: Versamark
Other: Botanical Builder Dies, Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Copper Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping in today!  I hope you'll hop on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the beautiful cards the Design Team has created for your inspiration!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Flowerly Thanks

Hello!
I hope you've had a great start to your week!  It was a quieter day around our house today.  Caleb went to his first day of Goalie (hockey) camp!  He was exhausted when I brought him home.  He will be some tired tomorrow when he gets up!

I made a quick card up for a friend.  She requested a few thank you and birthday cards and while I have a stack of birthday cards, the thank you cards were lacking!  I saw the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch and thought I'd give it a whirl.

The sketch is a little intimidating but I had just received the Botanical Builders stamps and dies and I couldn't wait to use them so decided to try and make it work for this sketch!  I added a little Wink of Stella to the flower's centres.  Who doesn't love a little sparkle?!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Smokey Slate
DSP: A Little Foxy DSP Stack
Stamps: In a Big Way (Reverse Confetti)
Ink: Smokey Slate
Other: Botanical Builders Dies, Basic Rhinestones, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Jen