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 #699

Happy Wednesday!  

I hope you're having a fantastic start to your week!  The summer is flying by!  I am wondering how we're almost at the middle of August already!  We still haven't had a lot of summery weather yet but we're trying to make the best of what we have had.  

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Verena Shapiro!  Verena's cards are spectacular so make sure you head over to her Instagram to check them all out!  

I needed a couple of sympathy cards this week and I thought this sketch worked perfectly for them!  So I'm not so great at background blending but I gave it my best.  I added some trees and some blooms and called it a day. I kept the cards simple.  Sometimes I start off simple and then it spirals into complicated!!!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock, Basic Black

Stamps: Essential Sentiments (MFT), With Sympathy Duo (Waffle Flower)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio), Twisted Citron, Salvaged Patina, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Uncharted Mariner, Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Carved Pumpkin (Distress Oxides)

Dies: With Sympathy Duo (Waffle Flower), Harvest Dies (SU), Scenic Adventure Dies (SU), Circle Dies

Other:  Black Rhinestone Jewels (SU), Neutral Matte Dots (SU)

Thought I'd include a few photos from our adventure on the weekend.  

Our adventure started by seeing 5 Grizzlies!  A big male bear ran across the road in front of us and then we came across these three little ones and their mom.  Mom was grumpy (I would be too if I had triplets).  

A gorgeous paddle on Upper Kananaskis Lake.  It was so calm and the weather was perfect!  It was 8 degrees C when we started!!!  But it warmed up fast!

Our first paddle this year which is quite shameful!

This picture just doesn't do the water colour justice!

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 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Next week we're celebrating our 700th sketch!  I can't believe we're at 700!!!  I joined the Design Team at Sketch #31!!  That was a really long time ago!  I can't believe they've kept me all this time!!  You won't want to miss out on our challenge next week so be sure to mark it on your calendars!!!

Have an amazing day!
Jen