Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #701

 

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  Summer has finally decided to show up here and the weather has been amazing!  We are currently enjoying our vacation.  We decided very last minute to take a trip to Revelstoke, British Columbia.  We've got a lot of hikes we want to tackle.  One hike is supposed to be the most beautiful hike in Canada!  We shall see.  I will keep you posted!

We had so much fun celebrating our 700th sketch at Freshly Made Sketches last week.  I hope you were able to play along with our challenge.  We're now rolling into our next 700 sketches!  I have the privilege of being this week's hostess!  I love to see all the different variations of the sketch!  My sketch has the sentiment being vertical on that last panel but I couldn't find one that fit the bill so I had to leave it horizontal! 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Brushed Gold (SU)

Dies: Christmas Foliage (Spellbinders), Handwritten Holiday Sentiments (Spellbinders)

Other: Distressed Tile Embossing Folder (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  

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 #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 #662

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  There is a chinook blowing through so it's been quite lovely temperature wise - not so nice are the accompanying chinook headaches that most of us get.  I will put up with the headaches to have some beautiful weather!!!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jennifer Timko!  Jen is such an amazing card designer and a talented airline pilot!  She's also one of our fearless leaders and we're so thankful for her and all she does for our challenge!  Please head over to her blog and give her some love! 

I don't usually do too well with large open spaces BUT I am in desperate need of Christmas cards so I figured I'd throw some poinsettias on this one and call it a day!  I opted for an all white background but think I might make another one with a black background!  I started with silver centres for my poinsettias but then went with copper foil!  I wanted to be different!  I threw on some copper jewels and called it a day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Copper Foil (SU)

Stamps: Star of Light (SU)

Ink: Detail Black (PinkFresh Studios)

Dies: Poinsettia Dies (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  
We hope you'll enter in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered on the Freshly Made Sketches blog!  If you need some inspiration, head over to the blog and check it out!  

We hit up a fantastic Christmas market on the weekend and then did a little hike.  The hike was fantastic even though the views were non-existent.  It was just so nice to get out after a few weeks of not hiking!

Reindeer at the Christmas market

So many sheep on the road today!!!

Hiking in a snow storm

Fantastic summit views

Frozen creek

Hope you have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge 661

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  I feel like Halloween ended and suddenly Christmas is everywhere.  I have a bit of Christmas shopping done but not a whole lot.  I can't really wrap my head around Christmas yet.  Our church hosts a Christmas market every year and I'm helping plan that and then the next night I'm hosting a ladies Advent evening.  To say that my brain feels like it might explode is an understatement.  The best part is that the week of all this excitement my husband needs to be out of town!  I'm so thankful both my kids can drive!  Makes crazy weeks more bearable!

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our hostess is the lovely Jacquie Southas!  Jacquie's cards are so pretty - please head over to her blog and check them out! 

Shockingly this card came together quickly - probably because it wasn't the first one I made.  The first one I made I wasn't too happy with but I'll probably still post it on Instagram so if you want to see if you'll have to hop over there!  I got this new Snowflake embossing folder the last time I was at the Paper and Ink Boutique and decided to give it a whirl!  I really do love it!  I threw on a foiled sentiment and some jewels and called it a day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Other: Winter's Veil Embossing Folder (Tonic Studios), A Merry Little Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine, Silver Foil (Spellbinders), Basic Rhinestones (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!!  

Stay tuned for a new card next week!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #660

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  I took last week off (unintentionally really) as I was visiting my parents in Ontario.  I had such a great visit.  I was too short and the next one will need to be longer!  The trees were so beautiful in their colourful autumn garb.  I was so happy to see the leaves in all their glory!  I haven't spent any time in Ontario in fall for the last couple of years so it was so nice to see all the different colours!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our lovely hostess is the Judy Rozema!  Judy makes the most beautiful cards so please head over to her blog to check them out!  

This card actually came together rather quickly which I know is shocking.  This pack of paper was sitting on my desk and was screaming to be used so I picked out some holly paper because I knew I had some holly leaf dies that would go with it.  I grabbed the biggest Christmas sentiment sent that I had and I was off to the races.  In hindsight I should have stamped the sentiment in a colour other than black but alas, here we are!  I really like the black ink I have and it doesn't usually fail me so I wanted to stick with something I knew would stamp well!  I did use some Wink of Stella on the holly berries so that they would be a little sparkly but of course it doesn't show up in the photo!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Shaded Spruce (All SU)

Patterned Paper: Simple Vintage Yuletide (Simple Stories)

Stamps: Carols of Christmas (SU)
Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio)

Dies:  Lovely Layers Winter Greenery (Honey Bee Stamps), Ovals (Spellbinders)

Other: 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!  We always love to see what you create!  It's also getting to be time to create my Christmas wish list so your cards always give me great ideas!

You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered in 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 #614

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm nowhere near ready.  I feel like Christmas will be here before you know it and I want to have a very good handle on everything by the weekend!  Ha!!  We have  our tree up but we don't have any decorations on it yet because we haven't had a chance where all 4 of us are free to decorate it.  Hopefully in the next few days!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today!  I am this week's hostess and I've got a very circle intensive sketch for you.  I don't know what I was thinking but we're going to roll with it!

I'm not a huge fan of this card and I tried to make another one but  it didn't turn out either!  I think the circles were throwing me off!  I don't know what I was thinking with all of those circles!  I originally wanted a Christmas card but somehow it turned into a birthday card! I guess it could suit a Christmas birthday!  I do love the new flower dies from Spellbinders and think they make beautiful cards!  I can't wait to use them more in the new year!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Real Red (SU), Silver Foil

Ink: Lumberjack Plaid (Tim Holtz Distress Oxide)

Other: Build a Wreath Dies (Spellbinders), Garden Wreath Add-Ons (Spellbinders), Sentiments for Everyday (Spellbinders), Dazzling Diamonds (Spellbinders), Silver Foil (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Monoline Stars Embossing Folder (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches and join in our challenge!  The Design Team has come up with some beautiful cards and they'll definitely inspire you!  I can't wait to see what you come up with using my sketch!  

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 #612

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  It seems like we have gone fro the fall season to Christmas in the blink of an eye!  So many people have their Christmas trees up and have their houses all decorated.  I feel very far behind this year.  I'm usually well into my shopping by now but this year I just can't seem to get motivated.  Maybe this weekend we'll put up the nutcrackers or something and see if we can get some festive spirit going.  

We've got a fantastic new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess is the super funny and incredibly talented Linda Callahan!  Linda's cards are always beautiful so make sure you head over to her blog and show her some love! 

I'm going to admit the sketch through me for a loop.  I know I need more Christmas cards so I wanted to go with a Christmas theme but I couldn't seem to get any mojo going for this card.  Even now I'm not thrilled with the final product.  I had to whip it up fast because I was running out of time.  Oh well, I will need to get my act together for next week right?  This card uses the Lovely Layers Winter Greenery set from Honey Bee Stamps.  I don't think I've ever used the pine cones before and they're quite fun to work with!  I added some Wink of Stella to the berries and some of the greenery since it needed a little sparkle.  Sparkle never shows up in the photos though!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso

Ink: Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Rustic Wilderness (All Distress Oxides)

Other:  Lovely Layers Winter Greenery (Honey Bee Stamps), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Red Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Wink of Stella, Monoline Stars Embossing Folder (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and you'll see some amazing cards that the Design Team has cooked up for you!  

Have an amazing 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 #610

 

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good start to your week!  It has finally warmed up above freezing here and the snow is sort of melting.  We still have a fair bit.  Our local ski hill opens this weekend.  Expert/intermediate runs only but it will still be open!  Crazy train.  I won't be going until this get a few non-expert runs open!!!  My husband and kids are chomping at the bit to get out!  

We've got a brand new sketch for a brand new month over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Timko!  Jen creates beautiful cards.  I'm always wowed by her creativity!  She also stopped in for a little visit a month ago!  Of course I took her to the mountains and of course I took her on a hike!  She survived.  We didn't see any bears.  All was well!  

I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do with this sketch.  Initially I thought maybe some flowers but I wasn't feeling very flowery.  I guess I did end up going with a flower though didn't I?!  I need a few more Christmas cards so poinsettias it was.  I kept the background simple going with a white background.  I already had this foil sentiment sitting in my basket of left overs so I threw it on and called it a day.

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

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Other: Holiday Blooms (Spellbinders), Joyful Christmas Sentiments (Spellbinders), Silver Foil (Spellbinders), Subtle Texture Embossing Folder 

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and play along with our challenge this week!  We always love seeing what people create using our sketch!  If you need some inspiration head over to the blog and take a peek!  The Design Team have created some gorgeous cards for you! 

Here are a few photos from the little hike Jen and I went on!  It's called Grassi Lakes!  In the background you'll see Mount Lawrence Grassi!  Don't worry - I didn't make her hike up there!  Even I'm not too keen to do that one!  This was the very first hike that our family did when we arrived out west.  It might hold a special place in my heart! 

There is a beautiful waterfall you get to see on this hike!  

Have an amazing day!
Jen