Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #681

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We've been enjoying some gorgeous spring weather!  I know it will eventually come to an end and winter will probably return for one last hurrah but we will get out and enjoy it while it's here!  I love to be outside in this weather (actually all weather) and find it so hard to stay inside even if it's to craft!!!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess if the amazing Amy O'Neill!  Her cards are always fabulous so please head over to her blog and give her some love!  

I really loved Amy's sketch this week!  It reminded me of a little pocket!  Who doesn't love pockets?! I used the Stitched Nested Labels Dies (SU) and then just cut one in half to make my little pocket!  I cut out some leaves, made a little sunflower and used some texture paste to make the background!  Easy peasy!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays (MFT)

Ink: Early Espresso (SU), Daffodil Delight (SU), Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs (Distress Oxides)

Dies: Itty Bitty Strips (MFT), Stitched Nested Labels Dies (SU), Branch Out (Spellbinders), Fall Florals (Spellbinders), 

Other: Linked Together Decorative Masks (SU), Texture Paste (Ranger)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Thought I'd share some photos from our ski adventure on Saturday!  We had such a great time out!  The conditions were fantastic and I even went all the way to the top and took a fun black diamond down!  I'm not an expert skier (or even a mediocre skier) so tackling a black diamond is always something to celebrate!!!

We hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card into the challenge!  If you need some inspiration, please head over to the blog and check out the beautiful cards the Design Team has posted!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #378

Hello!
Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are having spring like weather this week.  It's the weirdest thing.  At this time last year the ground was buried deep in snow.  It seems so strange to have such warm weather already.  I will enjoy our double digits this week and not complain!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of the amazing Karren Johnson!  Karren's cards are fantastic so please head over to her blog to check them out and leave her some love!  

I had stopped at our local paper crafting store and picked up some new goodies that I'm rather excited to use!  The first was this moose stamp!  I checked thoroughly for a bear but since there wasn't one, moose it was!  I did need to use the Misti to get it well stamped.  I paired it with some plaid paper and called it a day!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Mossy Meadow (SU)
Patterned Paper: The Great Outdoors (Mintay Papers)
Stamps: Oakley (Lavinia Stamps), Itty Bitty Birthday (MFT)
Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios)
Dies:  Stitched Circles, Itty Bitty Strips (MFT)

Thanks 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 on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the Design Team's cards that are posted!  We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have an amazing day!

 Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #677

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  As much as I have been feeling super tired after the time change, I'm totally loving the extra daylight!  Right now, it gets dark about 7:45!  It's amazing!  The days are getting longer and longer and that has my outside loving heart very happy!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I am your hostess this week!  It's always exciting to come up with a sketch and then see what everyone comes up with!  I love how different each card is!

With the beautiful weather we've been having and all the lovely sunshine, our snow has melted and it's feeling more and more like spring.  Don't get me wrong, I know it won't last and winter isn't gone but with the warmer weather, I feel more like creating springy cards!!!  I pulled out my Be Bold Blooms dies and decided to use those for this card!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthday (MFT)
Ink: Detail Black (PinkFresh Studio), Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (All Distress Oxides)
Dies: Be Bold Blooms (Spellbinders), Itty Bitty Strips (MFT)
Other: Softly Sophisticated Embossing Folder (SU), Low Profile Dots (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you will join in our challenge this week!  If you need some inspiration, please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the cards that the Design Team have 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 #544

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week this week!  I'm really enjoying this week so far.  It's nice having the kids home and we're trying to find things to do.  Now that they're older they actually like going to the mall!  I wish I did!!!  I'm thankful to be home with them and take them on these little adventures!  On the weekend my husband and I climbed the Windtower summit.  It was amazing in so many different ways.  The view is spectacular but I couldn't believe how tough that climb was.  Oh to be 25 again!!  Can't wait for the next climb!!  Yes that's a winter coat!  It was SOOOO cold and windy at the top!  There was still some snow in places even!  Deep snow!!!  It's absolutely incredible to see snow in the middle of July!

We've got a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the super talented Karren Johnson!   Karren's cards are always super cute and I'm so jealous of her hot foiling!!!  I think I should head over to New Zealand to get some pointers!!!  Please head over to Karren's blog and check it out!  

I apparently did not realize the two rectangular panels should be more overlapping.  I actually made three different cards for this challenge and messed up all three cards!  Sometimes I make myself wonder! 

I did two masculine cards and then decided I wanted to use my Coneflower dies!  I just love coneflowers and now that the hot weather is here I really do feel like it's summer and my cards should be flowery!!!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Gold Foil

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight

Other: Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Lovely Layers Coneflower Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Stitched Rectangles (Lil Inkers), Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll be inspired to join in our challenge this week!  I you need some inspiration, head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check it out!  You'll definitely find some amazing cards!  

I hope you have a fantastic day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #541

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  Our rain has tapered off a bit and it looks like the next couple of weeks will be beautiful!  It's been cool and dry here which has been quite lovely!  I went for a hike on the weekend (my husband was on the same trails but biking) and I saw my first grizzly bear!  I was terrified at the time but pretty pumped about it now!  Thankfully it was a good and safe distance away so there was never any real concern but it was amazing to see!  We also saw some deer, a moose, a giant hair and a whole flock of swans!!

We've got a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  I have the honour of being this week's hostess!  I love seeing what you create and I love how different each and every card is!  It's so fun going through the gallery at the end of the week and seeing everyone's beautiful creations!

I picked up this new die set on the weekend!  These little bees were just a little too cute to pass up!  I thought the honeycomb worked perfectly with the sketch!  I originally tried to make a masculine card but failed miserably!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron, Basic Black, Vellum

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Beehive Dies (Sizzix), Stitched Flag Dies, Subtle Texture Embossing Folder, Sequins, Dimensionals

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 and check out the cards the Design Team has put together to inspire you!  

I can't wait to see the card you come up with this week! 

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #538

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to the week.  A lot of my American friends have started their summer break.  We've got a bit more time left here.  My oldest has two weeks of school left and my youngest has 4 weeks left.  The weather isn't all the warm so I guess that's okay!  I'm looking forward to more relaxed summer time!

We've got a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jacquie Southas!  Jacquie's cards are always amazing so please head over to her blog and check them out!  

So as usual, this is not my first card.  I really wanted to get some masculine cards made but honestly, masculine cards always stump me.  I don't know why.  Anyhow, I made a card and didn't really love it.  I had this sunflower sitting on my desk and decided to make a card and incorporate that instead!

I used some old DSP from SU that I had sitting out.  I do love dots and stripes!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Copper Foil

DSP: Retired SU Neutrals Colour Pack, Retired SU Brights Colour Pack

Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Other: Subtle Texture Embossing Folder, Lovely Layers Sunflowers Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Champagne Jewels, Dimensionals

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

There are some amazing cards on our blog that will jump start your creativity!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #531

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a fantastic week!  We had a gorgeous week last week and today we woke up to snow!  It was so cold here this morning.  I can't believe the shift in the weather.  We've heard that April is crazy windy here and so far it's living up to what we've heard.  I've never experienced wind quite like this before!  Apparently is has something to do with the snow in the mountains but I didn't quite understand the explanation!  Anyhow, it's supposed to warm up next week and for that I will be thankful!

We have a fabulous new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of the hilarious and super creative Linda Callahan!  Linda and her cards always make me smile so head over to her blog to check them out!  

Linda and I also had the same idea with our cards this week!  We both chose flowers!  I hadn't checked the blog before I posted my card and giggled when I saw Linda's card and how similar mine is to hers!  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this card but then decided that I would pull out my Whimsical Spring Flowers Honey Cuts from Honey Bee Stamps and go from there!  

I started with the Sunshine and Rainbows DSP and then chose my colours after I chose the patterned paper I wanted to use!  I still feel like something is missing off this card but I can't put my finger on it!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Misty Moonlight, So Saffron, Granny Apple Green

DSP: Sunshine & Rainbows 6X6 DSP Pack

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Midnight Muse

Other: Elegant Sequin Mix (Honey Bee Stamps), Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, Whimsical Spring Flowers Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Tasteful Labels Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  The Design Team has some amazing examples up for you to inspire your creativity this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #530

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We have had an interesting week.  Caleb (our oldest) dislocated his shoulder last Tuesday night and required a late night trip to the Emergency Room.  Since we haven't really been in Calgary that long and don't usually require hospitals I didn't even know where to go!  Needless to say we had a good experience and Caleb starts physio on Friday!  Unfortunately for him, it looks like ski season is over and the start of golf season will be delayed!

That aside, we have a fabulous new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the Queen of Clean cards herself Jen Mitchell!  Jen's cards are fabulous so you'll want to head over to her blog to check them out!  

So of course I had in my head what I wanted to do for this card and then changed my mind and tried something else which didn't work so I went back to my original plan.  Sort of.  I went a little old school with this card and the distressing.  Now that I look at it I'm not sure I even like it!  Oh dear.  I wanted to make a Mother's Day card but I didn't have a sentiment small enough to fit in the box and a bigger box just didn't look right.  I tell you, sometimes we card makers face challenging dilemmas!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi

Other: Lovely Layers Hydrangea (Honey Bee Stamps), Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I hope you'll take some time to head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the gorgeous cards the Design Team have created!  

We sure hope you'll join in our challenge this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #501

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are gearing up for a new school year here in brand new schools.  I think I'm more nervous than the kids.  I don't think I would do very well being the new kid in a school.  My introverted personality doesn't like change too much!  

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Freshly Made Sketches' 500th sketch challenge!  We had some amazing entries and it was so fun to see everyone's cards.  We have a brand new sketch this week from the amazing Kim Singdahlsen!  Kim's cards are always so beautiful so you'll want to head over to her blog and check them out!  

Kim's sketch is pretty fun!  I had some fun playing around with different colour and paper combinations!  I am regretting not matting the patterned paper.  Not much I can do about that now!!  I pulled out my favourite sunflower die and went to town!  I wanted a fall'ish theme to this one!  I'm totally getting into the fall mood (my pumpkins are still nicely packed away but they're coming out soon)!!!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Bumblebee, Garden Green, Be Dazzling Specialty

DSP: Harvest Meadow

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Early Espresso

Other: Sunflower Dies, Tasteful Texture Embossing Folder

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 have created!  I also hope you'll join in our challenge this week! 

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #484

 

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week so far!  We are counting down the days here until my husband leaves to take possession of our new house out in Western Canada.  Seems crazy that the last few months have gone by so fast.  This week is going to fly by as well.  My husband needs to take enough stuff for the 4 of us to live with for about 6 days once we get there as well!  We will be arriving before the moving truck so we will need some things to live with!  It will be an adventure to say the least!  

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is one of our favourite Texan card makers - Amy O'Neill!  Amy creates the sweetest cards so you should go and check them out on her blog!

I must admit this one stumped me.  I think it was because I was crunched for time and had something in mind and could not replicate it.  I haven't created an all white card in a while and wanted to give it a shot.  It's very simple but that's what I wanted!  The Pierced Blooms made another appearance!  I used an aqua painter splatter a little ink in the background.  I should have probably picked a different colour but I wanted it subtle.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Silver Foil

Ink: Basic Black

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Other: Pierced Blooms Dies, Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Tasteful Label Dies, Silver Epoxy Essentials, Aqua Painter

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I do hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and be inspired by the cards the Design Team have created!  We also hope you'll join in our challenge this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #480

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  I hope you had a lovely Easter weekend!  We had a nice quiet weekend which is okay with me.  The Easter bunny forgot to bring me some chocolate.  Not sure what happened there so I made myself a chocolate cake today instead!  Ha!  I love chocolate way too much!  

Okay, must stop thinking about chocolate!  We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I am this week's hostess and I'm excited!  I love seeing all the different cards that can come from one sketch!  I decided to go all wonky this week!  It's totally out of my comfort zone.  I like nice, classic lines.  These wonky ones actually drive me crazy but it's good to stretch ourselves sometimes isn't it?

I love the Oh So Ombre paper that was available as part of SU's Sale-a-bration this year.  It's so pretty and I thought I'd use it for this card.  I also decided to do two cards in two different shades!  I do love Bermuda Bay and Blackberry Bliss.  And yes, there are Pierced Blooms on there again.  I'm sorry.  No, I'm not.  I love them and I'll probably keep using them until my next SU order comes!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White

DSP: Oh So Ombre

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Black, Blackberry Bliss

Other: Pierced Blooms Dies, Stitched Banner (no idea where this is from), Curved Stitching (also not sure where this is from), Dimentionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the other amazing cards!  I can't wait to see what you create this week!

Have an amazing week!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #463

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  How on earth is it Wednesday already?!  A big Happy Early Thanksgiving to all of my American readers!  I hope you have a wonderful day on Thursday and eat lots of turkey (or whatever you choose to eat!)!  Are you a big Black Friday shopper?  Black Friday in Canada isn't the same as the US.  We're a little more low key!  There are sales but no one seems to line up at unearthly hours to get deals!  My kids are home that day for a PA Day so I won't be going to far!  Hopefully by Friday most of my shopping will be done.  I'm on a mission to have all Christmas shopping completed by the end of the week.  We shall see!  

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the incredible Amy O'Neill!  Amy is so talented and her cards always amaze me.  Head over to her blog to check them out!  

I decided to take a break from Christmas cards this week!  I had received the Playful Pets DSP a few weeks ago and it has just been sitting on my desk begging to be used (get it, "begging"?!)!  I just love this paper!  Of course I had to start with a cat card!!!  I cut the "Grump Cat" from DSP and then added a sentiment!  Who doesn't love a grumpy cat?!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Grey Granite

DSP: Playful Pets

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Tasteful Texture Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog you'll find lots of inspiration!  We can't wait to see what you come up with this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #458

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!!!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  I bought my first Christmas present yesterday.  Actually, I guess that's not entirely true.  I bought a book for my youngest a week or so ago but I picked up a present for my husband today.  I had to hide it in my son's closet because I didn't know where else to put it.  Ugh.  I must remind myself to tell my son or he'll wonder what is going on!  Thankfully he's old enough to keep it a secret!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Kim Singdahlsen!  Kim creates the most beautiful cards!  She is what I would call an enabler!  I often use her cards to make Christmas lists!!!

 As you can imagine, this is not my first card!  I attempted a Christmas card but...as you can see that did not happen!  I opted for the Peony Garden DSP because it's so pretty and I wanted some nice soft colours paired together!  At first I hadn't added the flower but thought the card looked a little naked so went back and added it in.  I coloured it with the Petal Pink Stampin Blends.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Gray Granite

DSP: Peony Garden

Stamps: Prized Peony, Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Gray Granite, Memento Black

Other: Dainty Diamonds Textured Embossing Folder, Stampin Blends,  Peony Dies, Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon, Golf Club Dies, Elegant Faceted Gems, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  If you want to see some truly amazing cards, you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the cards that the Design Team created!  

We can't wait to see what you create this week!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #400!!!

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  Can you believe that we're already at the beginning of August?!  How does that happen?  I know some of our American friends have kids heading back to school very soon and some within the next few weeks.  I"m very thankful that we are "free" until after labour day!

It is a VERY special day at Freshly Made Sketches!  Today is our 400th sketch!  400!!!  I can't believe it.  I couldn't remember when I joined in so I went back and figured it out!  June 2012!  My first sketch with the best team ever was #37!  I'm shocked they've kept me around this long!!!

In honour of our 400th sketch we are revisiting some of our first sketches!  This is sketch #1!!  How many of you participated in our very first challenge?!  For the rest of the month we'll be celebrating using our old sketches!  I can't wait!

Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get more of the juicy details!

Okay, as you can see I had a few problems sticking to the sketch!  Now don't get me wrong, I totally didn't do this on purpose.  I actually totally didn't notice that the sentiment should go at the bottom!!! I'm hoping you'll forgive me!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
DSP: Botanical Butterfly, Brights DSP Stack
Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays
Ink: Memento Black
Other: Subtle Texture Embossing Folder, Daisies #2 Dies, Circle Punches, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches page to check out the incredible cards the Design Team has created!  I hope you'll be inspired and join us in this celebratory challenge!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #389

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you've had a great start to your week!  We've had an exciting week at our house.  Our oldest turned 13 yesterday!  I can't believe it.  How on earth did that happen?!  I honestly don't think I've aged at all!!  Except that after the bike ride we did on Monday and the epic fall I had, I'm definitely not feeling 20 anymore!!!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is our amazing flower queen Narelle Farrugia!  Narelle is a fussy cutting and flower creating master!  I just love all of her cards!  Head over to her blog to check them out!

So, as you can probably imagine, this isn't the first version of this card.  This card challenged me - I think because I needed it to be a masculine looking 13th birthday card.  I also now realize that the red banner is VERY crooked.  Honestly!  I couldn't get the positioning of anything right and I tried over and over!  I don't think Caleb even really noticed.  He's a boy...I'm not sure why I did so much fussing!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Foil, Black Sparkle (Non-SU), Black Foil
Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays
Ink: Memento Black
Other: Number Framelits, Star Dies, Starburst Framelits, Circle Dies, Brick Wall Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

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

Have an amazing day!

Jen