Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #666

Hello and Happy Wednesday!
I hope you're having a great week!  We're quickly inching our way towards Christmas.  I think I have most of the shopping done now.  Stockings are giving me grief but that's the trouble with teenage boys!  I just need a couple of little things and we'll be good to go!  

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week and it's or last one of the year!  How is that even possible?!  I have the privilege of being this week's hostess!  I sure hope you'll head into your craft area, make a card and join in our challenge!

I need a couple more Christmas cards and I figured that poinsettias would fit best in those massive circles that I opted to put on that sketch in a moment of weakness!  I actually had 3 of the 4 poinsettias already made on my desk.  They were just sitting there from a previous card making attempt and were just calling to be used on this card. 

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Real Red, Silver Foil

Stamps: Christmas Pines

Ink: PinkFresh Detail Black

Dies: Christmas Bird Poinsettia (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I thought I'd share a few photos of our most recent hike.  This was a hike to Chester Lake.  It's not long and not a lot of elevation gain but there was a ton of snow!  It was beautiful!  

I sure hope you'll join in our challenge this week.  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this last challenge of 2024!

If you need some inspiration head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the cards that are posted! 

Have an amazing day and Merry Christmas!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #664

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to the week!  We had a pretty big snow storm on the weekend but finally the sun has come out and at least melted some of the ice on the roads.  I'm still not used to the way Calgary deals with snow.  Or maybe doesn't deal with it?!  I've attached some pictures at the end of this post of our winter wonderland.  It sure does get you in the Christmas spirit!  

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is the wonderful Linda Callahan!  Linda's cards are always so lovely.  Please head over to her blog to check them out!  

So I'm going to call my card the crooked card.  I have a very crooked eye and wow, I sure didn't disappoint with this card.  My panels are crooked, my sentiment is crooked but at least I got the card finished.  I'll just have to send this one to my mom because she'll tell me it's wonderful no matter how crooked everything is!!  Though with the Canada Post strike I don't think mail is going anywhere anytime soon!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Gumball Green, Gold Foil

Stamps: Itty Bitty Gifting (MFT)

Ink: Black Detail (Pink Fresh Studios)

Dies: Build-A-Wreath (Spellbinders), Christmas Bird Poinsettia (Spellbinders), Itty Bitty Strips (MFT)

Other: Winter's Veil Embossing Folder (Tonic Studios), Brushed Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Here are a few winter shots!  We finally got a day of sun after almost a week of cloud.  That is super weird for us.  We usually have sun every day!  

We 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!  If you need some inspiration, head over to the blog and check out the cards that are posted!  

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 #616

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far.  We received a surprise dumping of snow last week so it looks like we'll have a white Christmas.  Trevor and I got out for our first ski of the season on the weekend.  I am not a confident skier.  I don't possess that athletic prowess that most seem to have.  Skiing is very hard for me and so I really have to push myself to do it.  We had a great day and I mostly stayed upright which was the goal.  I'm sure the next time we go out I'll feel much more comfortable!  

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is our favourite Texan and the incredibly talented Amy O'Neill!!!  Amy's cards are always gorgeous so make sure you head over to her blog and check them out!

This was such a great sketch and the timing was perfect because I knew I was going to need a couple more Christmas cards.  My husband asked me for a few extras so he could give them to his staff.  I also think I will need one for my hair dresser!  Maybe I should just make enough to get started on next year's!  

Yup, black on black with the poinsettia's again.  Why re-invent the wheel when it's working?!  I added some Wink of Stella to the pine boughs to make them a little sparkly!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Shaded Spruce, Gold Foil (All SU)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Other: Christmas Bird and Poinsettia (Spellbinders), Lovely Layers Winter Greenery (Honey Bee Stamps), Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder (SU), A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Gold Foil (Spellbinders), Wink of Stella

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 will definitely be inspired when you see the cards that are posted!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #615

Happy Wednesday!  We're a week closer to Christmas!  Are you ready?  Cards are mailed, gifts are mostly purchased, wrapping is almost done, baking has started, house is decorated.  I'm exhausted!  I actually still have some cards to make but they're for local people so they don't need to be mailed.  I need to make them simpler so that I can make them quickly!  Oh, December is always so busy.  I wanted to get my jobs done early so I could enjoy the month.  We shall see how it works out!  The more I think about it the more I keep adding stuff to my list so I might not be any further ahead!!!

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Karren Johnson!  Karren makes the most beautiful cards so make sure you head over to her blog and show her some love!  

Shockingly this card came together fairly quickly.  I knew right away what I wanted to do.  The only thing that took some time was ironing out the background colour!  I originally wasn't going to have a black background and a black panel but black on black won out!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green, Gold Foil

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Other: Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder (SU), Christmas Bird and Poinsettia Dies (Spellbinders), A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Gold Foil (Spellbinders), Gold Sequins

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  We always love to see what you create!  If you need some inspiration the design team has some beautiful cards posted!  

 Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #613

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  Can we believe we're back at Wednesday again?!  A big Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends who will be celebrating tomorrow!  I hope you each have a wonderful and blessed day with your families!  Black Friday is quickly approaching as well.  Are you a big Black Friday shopper?  I have a few things I'm looking at but I won't be getting too much I don't think.  Right now I'm stumped on Stocking Stuffers for teenage boys!  So fun!

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today!  Our hostess this week is our favourite high altitude designer - Kim Singdahlsen!  Kim's card are so beautiful and I always love them!  Please head over to her blog to check them out!  

I thought I should probably get a few more Christmas cards done!  I'm hoping by making Christmas cards I'll be feeling more festive!  I need to start wrapping my gifts to put under my tree - oh wait, my tree isn't up and I can't put gifts out yet or my cats will open them!  Well, Sprite will open them!

I love my Spellbinders "Christmas Bird and Poinsettia" dies.  I stuck with an all white theme because combining too many colours sometimes makes me crazy!  I also really love just white!  Keeps things clean for me!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Silver Foil

Other: Christmas Bird and Poinsettia Dies (Spellbinders), Basic Rhinestones (SU), Banner Dies (MFT), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Silver Foil (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

Trevor and I were able to sneak out for a small hike on the weekend.  It was a super early start to the morning but we headed out and met up with some crazy fast hiking friends and tackled Nihahi Ridge.  Trevor and I didn't actually do the ridge walk.  It looked a little sketch to me and I opted to keep my feet firmly planted.  Trevor took a tumble on the way down and is still feeling the effects of it.  It wasn't a bad fall or a far fall, it was more of an awkward fall!  

Morning light hitting the mountains

View from the top

Mount Reemus (the flat topped one)

It was so windy and cold at the top.  I have never felt wind like that before

Annie and I

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  If you need some inspiration you'll definitely find some there.  The Design Team has some amazing cards posted!

Have a fantastic day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #611

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are currently on a little adventure!  No mountains involved though!!!  We're heading back to Ontario and back to the city we used to live in for 48 hours! My husband is heading there on a work trip and I'm just tagging along so I can visit with a few of the people that I love!  I have pretty much every second of my 48 hours there planned.  It's really not long enough but we've got to go with the flow!  I'll be exhausted when I get home!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Mitchell!  Jen's cards are always gorgeous and I'm always inspired by them!  Head on over to her blog to check them out!  

So I only made one version of this card!  I know, it's shocking!  That almost never happens!  I had just picked up some new Spellbinders dies at the local paper store and couldn't wait to crack them open! This card has a lot of pieces and I'm not sure I'd want to make 20 of them!!!  The sentiment is hot foiled with red foil.  I have nothing but grief when I use the red foil.  I have tried leaving the plate on the machine longer so it's good and hot, running it through the Glimmer machine twice, pretty much anything and it always just does something weird.  Not sure what I'm doing wrong.  I don't have issues with silver or gold foil.  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Real Red, Basic Black, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Silver Foil

Ink: Real Red, Garden Green

Other: Stitched So Sweetly Dies (Stampin Up), Christmas Bird Poinsettia (Spellbinders), Build-A-Wreath (Spellbinders), Garden Wreath Add-Ons (Spellbinders), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Monoline Stars Embossing Folder (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Red Foil (Spellbinders), Basic Rhinestones (Stampin Up).

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll pop on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  We always love to see what you create!

The Design Team has some amazing examples posted to inspire you!  We also have another fantastic Guest Designer with us again this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #604

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  It has quickly turned from summer to fall here and I'm pulling out the leggings and cozy sweaters!  The larch trees are starting to turn golden yellow and they're so beautiful!  Our hiking season will soon be coming to an end but we've had such a fantastic season!

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is our incredible talented French designer Cecile Ribon!  Cecile's card always amaze me.  She continues to blow me away!  Head over to her blog to check them out!  

I wasn't too sure what I was going to do with this card.  I tried a few things (like always) and they didn't quite work out (like always) so I went with a Christmas card!  You can never have too many right?  And you also can't go wrong with red and white?!  I had one textured background chosen but it was too much so then I tried plain and didn't like it so I went with this one.  I always have such a hard time deciding things!  I really wanted to use red foil for the sentiment but for some reason I cannot get the red foil to work.  I always end up with foil where I don't want foil.  Has anyone else had this trouble with the red?  I've struggled with some other colours too.  So weird.  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Hammermill White Coverstock, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Silver Foil 

Ink: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler (both SU)

Other: Subtle Texture Embossing Folder (SU), Christmas Bird and Poinsettia (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Silver Hot Foil (Spellbinders), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders)

Our most recent hike pictures!  We hiked up to Black Prince Lake which you'll see was all dried up.  We actually hiked up past another lake that had also dried up.  It's so sad.  Our summer was so dry.  I don't know how some of these lakes will recover.  We'd need a LOT of snow and rain next year!  This was a fantastic little hike.  It wasn't as strenuous as our last one.  The weather was fantastic and we brought two friends along on this one!  We also saw 14 Mountain Goats which was the highlight of the hike.  Mountain goats are a little elusive so we were super pumped to catch a glimpse of some!  

My husband being crazy!  

One little gold larch tree

What's left of Black Prince Lake

My and my friend Annie

Trevor and I

One of the many Mountain Goats we saw!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head on over to the Freshly Made sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!

You'll find some gorgeous cards created by the Design Team already up on the blog that will inspire you!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #602

Happy Wednesday!  Wow, Wednesdays come fast when you've had a long weekend!  Our youngest started 10th grade yesterday which seems almost impossible to me!  The boys' high school has a staggered start so my oldest doesn't start until Thursday.  Oh how I wish time would slow down a bit.  I'm not ready for my oldest to start his last year of high school.  Didn't he just start Kindergarten last year?!

We've got a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is the incredibly talented Kim Singdahlsen!  Kim's cards are spectacular.  She comes up with the most beautiful things!  Head on over to her blog and check them out!    

I knew I wanted to do a Christmas card with this sketch.  I also knew I wanted to do a pink poinsettia!  I don't think I've ever created a pink poinsettia so it was about time!  I opted to keep the colour to just pink and white so the "greenery" is now "whitery"!  I added some silver accents and was done!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Cover Stock, Blushing Bride, Silver Foil

Ink: Blushing Bride

Other: Holiday Blooms (Spellbinders), Christmas Bird Poinsettia (Spellbinders), A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Silver Foil (Spellbinders), Silver Sequins (SU), Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder (SU), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

Our most recent hike wasn't a big one but one that was on our list.  It was long - almost 19 km but only 600 m elevation gain!  We did the Plain of 6 Glaciers Teahouse at Lake Louise!  It's an iconic hike and one we hadn't done.  You'll see the teahouse in the photos below.  We didn't actually stop and have anything at the teahouse. We just wanted to get on our way!  It was so neat to see all the glaciers and hear them cracking.  Our hiking season is coming to an end.  At this time of year we have no idea how many more weeks we'll have.  Snow and unfavourable weather can hit at any time and end things!  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join our challenge this week!  There are some amazing Design Team cards there to provide you with some incredible inspiration!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Celebrating 600!!! Freshly Made Sketches 600th Sketch!

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a wonderful start to your week?  Maybe your kids have headed back to school this week or maybe you're on vacation!  We were on vacation last week and it was wonderful.  We did a lot of hiking so be prepared to be bombarded with hiking photos at the end of this post!

Did you see that it's our 600th sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  That's about 12 years!  Can you believe that?  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating 400!  I just scrolled back and my first sketch with the Design Team was #38!  I didn't realize I had been with this lovely group of ladies for so long!  No wonder we feel like family!  You're going to see some extra cards on the blog this week!  We took a look at the who had won our challenge the most over the years and picked a bunch of those people to make cards for your inspiration!  

 

This week, when each Design Team member picks their "Perfect Prince/Princess" that person will be offered the future opportunity to be a guest designer for one of our challenges!  We really wanted to celebrate all of you and how much we love how you join in our challenge each week!  Some of you have been around since Sketch #1!  

So I grabbed this new poinsettia die set by Spellbinders this week.  I love the poinsettia and I also love that sweet little bird!  Spellbinders really does make some amazing dies!  I had this already embossed piece of black cardstock sitting in my collection of black so I opted to use it!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Basic Black, Gold Foil

Ink: Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Other: Christmas Bird, Poinsettia Dies (Spellbinders),  A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders),  Nested Circles (PinkFresh Studios), Woodgrain Embossing Folder (SU), Gold Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil Machine

Okay so vacation at our house means hiking!!!  We got 4 hikes in and beat last year's hike total!   I was pretty pumped!  

So hike #1 was Healy Pass!  It's a beautiful spot that you get to from Sunshine Ski Hill in Banff.  The weather was iffy and we weren't sure what we were in for but by the time we got there, the skies had cleared and it was beautiful!  

Hike #2 was my most favourite hike so far (ever)!  Snow Peak in Kananaskis Country!  The skies were crystal clear and it was absolutely beautiful!  The hike was a tough one but we plugged away and got it done!  I will remember this one forever!  

Hike #3 was the beautiful Lake O'Hara in British Columbia!  This is a protected area and you can't get in without a ticket and we were fortunate to score two  tickets.  There is an alpine circuit that we did and it was so beautiful but it was the hottest day we've ever hiked.  The views were incredible and we were so thankful for the kind man who offered to take our picture so we weren't doing the usual selfie!

Hike #4 - Pigeon Mountain.  This was a bike and hike!  Thankfully we could bike the first 5 km of this hike which cut down on the distance and time!  It was super smoky but we took advantage of the day and enjoyed it anyhow!  Rolling green hills and a beautiful surroundings always make the day better!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Thanks also for putting up with all the hiking pics!  We had such a good time!  Hiking season will be over soon enough and we'll try and squeeze in as many as we can!  

Please make sure you head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog!  You'll see the Design Team's cards as well as our special guests'!  You will definitely be inspired and you'll want to join in our challenge!  Remember, if you get chosen as one of this week's favourites you'll have an opportunity to join us in one of our challenges!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen