Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #565

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  We are in some weird weather right now. It was -23 (feeling like -33) Celsius yesterday and it's supposed to go up to 0 today.  Plus it's snowing.  Until we moved out here I'd never really seen it snow when it was so cold. Gotta love winter in the mountains!

We've got a fantastic new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Our hostess this week is our favourite New Zealander Karren Johnson!  Karren's cards are always gorgeous and she sure has a way with colouring!!!  Head over to her blog to check them out!  

I really love poinsettia's but can't have them anymore because I our one cat would totally eat it!  She LOVES plants! I will use them on my cards and pretend their plants in our house!  I pulled out some retired DSP and went to work!  No foiling on this card!  I am still waiting on some plates to arrive so I'm limited in what I can use right now!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Real Red, Basic Black, Silver Foil

DSP: Heartwarming Hugs (SU)

Stamps: Petite Pairs (SU)

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Poinsettia Dies (SU), Subtle Texture Embossing Folder (SU), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU)

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 created some beautiful cards for you so hopefully you'll find some inspiration! 

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #117

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe there is only one more week before Christmas?  How did that happen?!  I'm not sure I'm ready yet.  Still have lots of gifts to wrap.  I guess that's part of the fun!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week courtesy of the talented Amy O'Neil!  This is our last sketch of 2013!  I can't believe how quickly this year flew by!  We have some great sketches lined up for 2014 so be prepared to be challenged!

I created one last Christmas card!  I loved the banners Amy chose to put on the sketch and took the opportunity to use more of the fabulous Winter Frost Specialty DSP.  I decided I would hand stitch with the Island Indigo Bakers Twine...maybe not one of my finest moments.  I won't even comment on how long that took me!  Oh well!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Silver Foil
DSP:  Winter Frost Specialty
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Ink: Island Indigo
Other: Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Island Indigo Bakers Twine

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!  I may get one more card posted before the holidays but then will be taking a two week break to enjoy the holidays with my family!

I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to see the beautiful cards the Design Team has come up with!

Have a great day!

Jen!

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #115

Hello!
I hope you're having a great week!  I'm sorry I've been so MIA lately.  I've found it really hard to get into my craft room over the last week.  I guess I thought that once school started (in September!) I would have more time on my hands not less!!!!

We've started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition at our house this past weekend.  I guess we didn't start it, we just continued it this weekend.  The boys think our elf is hilarious.  I think he's rather naughty.  He sure gets into trouble and this morning Jacob discovered him taped to a wall surrounded by nutcrackers.  Jacob felt so sorry for Fiddle Faddle.  I had to remind him that Fiddle Faddle did cover all (14) nutcrackers in underwear the night before and the nutcrackers were probably just upset.  Oh the drama!

Anyhow, we have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week courtesy of our very talented Jennifer Timko!  She makes such beautiful cards and her Artisan designs are amazing!!!

I'll be honest.  I didn't do her sketch justice and I'm rather disappointed in my card.  I am still trying to get some Christmas cards done (though I should also try writing in some of the ones I do have done!).  I wanted to do something simple but I think I oversimplified it...sigh...

Supplies:
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
DSP: Seasons of Style
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Silver Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!  Please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to see the fabulous cards the design team has created for you!  We can't wait to see what you come up with this week!

Have a great day!
Jen

CAS(E) This Sketch Christmas

Hello!

Hope everyone made it through the middle of the week!  We had a bit of snow this morning and both my boys thought they had died and gone to Heaven.  Caleb asked first think if he could wear his snowpants to school!  He's hilarious!  They couldn't wait to get out of the house!  It was so cute.  Jacob came in after we sent Caleb off to school with the neighbours and announced that it was a great day for hot chocolate!  

Jacob had cooking class this after noon so I was able to spend a little time in my craft room!  I will miss these afternoons....next week is the last class!  I decided to play along with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge!  

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm really far behind in my Christmas card making so I will take whatever opportunity I can at this point to see if I can get a few more done!  I realize that I won't be able to make all of them but I will give it my best try!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Silver Foil
Stamps: Festive Flurry, Petite Pairs, and the roller...who's name I can't remember!
Ink: Versamark
Other: Festive Flurry Framelits, Silver Embossing Powder, Frosted Finished Embellishments, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!
To my American friends - I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #114

Hello!
I hope everyone is having a great week!  We are expecting a bit of snow here overnight.  Nothing major though - which is good since I'm still waiting for my snow tires to make it onto my van!!!  Hopefully the temperatures will stay high enough that the snow will just melt!!!

We have a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches today!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Linda Suarez!  She has come up with a great sketch and has created an equally beautiful card to go with it!

As I may have mentioned, I'm not making all of my own Christmas cards this year!  I just don't think I'll get it done but I'll try to make as many as I can!!!

I loved Linda's sketch and decided to use snowflakes the same way she did!  I must say I'm really enjoying the Festive Flurry stamps and dies!  They sure make Christmas card making much easier!    I also really love that wide Cherry Cobbler ribbon!  It's so fun and seems just perfect for Christmas!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Festive Flurry, A Round Array, Petite Pairs
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Other: Basic Pearls, Festive Flurry Framelites, Scalloped Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  Please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to see the fabulous cards the design team has created for you!  We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have a great day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches #88

Hello!
This is probably going to be a shorter post...I kinda forgot it was Tuesday night and I needed to get this post up!  Seems I'm mixing up my days and it's only the beginning of the week!  I wonder what I'll be like by Friday!  It was rainy here today and it seems to have left me a little foggy!

Today we have a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week's sketch is brought to us by Jen Mitchell!  I love Jen's cards....she is incredibly talented!

I love the Pleasant Poppies stamp!  It makes me happy and think of the Remembrance Day cards my mom makes which in turn makes me think of my Grandpa.

I love red and black together...don't know what it is.  I have a new thing for red!  I just bought a new red chair for my family room!  I love it!  I had to make my own ruffled ribbon for this card.  I wanted to do it a bit differently but that's not what happened!  I used the 3/8" taffeta ribbon in real red.  How I love taffeta ribbon!  The poppies are hand cut because I tried colouring them again but sadly failed miserably again.  Honestly...how slow of a learner can I be?!  I hand cut the stems as well because I only wanted some of the poppies!  Yes, I could have masked them but I do like cutting!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
DSP: Neutrals DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Petite Pairs
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  Please hop on over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog to see the other beautiful cards the Design Team has created for you!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #61

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I survived my crazy Tuesday!  I am impressed.  I spent the entire day at the school helping the Grade 1 teachers get their brand new reading carts into circulation.  I still have many hours and much laminating to go!!!  When I'm done with that I get to move onto the French books!

Wednesday's are always a great day!  They bring a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week the fabulously talented Jennifer Timko brings us this great sketch!  This week we also say good-bye to the lovely Jen Sannes.   We will miss her beautiful cards on the DT but I know I'll be checking her blog on a regular basis to see her wonderful creations!

I am really stuck on the Very Vanilla and Soft Suede combination.  Forgive me.  I know they're not traditional colours!  I used some champagne glimmer paint to stamp the snowflakes on.  It does look much prettier and sparklier in person.   I had some "help" from Jacob with the picture taking so I finally gave up on getting the perfect picture!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Petite Pairs (Sentiment)
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Basic Pearls, Champagne Glimmer Paint, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Head on over to the FMS blog to see the other beautiful cards the Design Team has created for you!

Jen!

Sparkly Snowflake

Hello (again!)
Another quick post!  I had a good time at the school doing lunch supervision.  I'm sure learning a lot!  Those kids definitely keep me on my toes constantly!  I can't believe it!  Tomorrow is the start of our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!  Woohoo!  I'm so excited!

I really do love the new Champagne Glimmer Paper in the Holiday catalogue.  It has got to be one of my favourite things in the catalogue....okay...I have a lot of favourite things in that catalogue!  I also love the new Snow Flurry Bigz Die.  I love the possibilities with it.

I wanted to keep this card clean and simple so the focus could be on the snowflake.  I added some pearls, a few dimensionals and there we have it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer
Ink: Soft Suede
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Other: Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Two-Step Owl Punch, Basic Pearls, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals

Here's a picture of my toadlings last weekend at a local farm!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great weekend!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #54

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I survived my first shift in the kindergarten room!  The class was good and I was tougher than I needed to be just so there weren't any sandwiches flying around!  The teacher has a class of 19 and 13 of them were boys!  Not sure who balanced that class!!!  We'll see how it goes on Thursday and Friday!

Wednesday's also mean a new challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week the fabulous Jennifer Timko brings us a great sketch which I deviated from a little (sorry Jen!).  Jen's sketch is for a square card but I have this "thing" against square cards.  Don't ask....I'm not really sure what it is.  Same thing I feel towards circles!!!

I want to get my Christmas cards done ahead of time and it looks like they'll all be different this year!  I really do love the little Festival of Prints DSP pack.  It's so handy and I can see using it for way more than Christmas cards!  The Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder is one of my favourites.  I love it's look both for Christmas and "regular" cards!

Hop on over to the FMS blog and check out the other fantastic cards the design team has come up with!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
DSP: Festival of Prints
Stamps: Ornament Keepsake, Petite Pairs
Ink: Versamark, Cherry Cobbler
Other: Black Embossing Powder, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls, Holiday Ornament Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!
Jen!

Happy Anniversary Freshly Made Sketches!

Hello!  Today is a very special day!  Not only is it Wednesday (and we're halfway through the week!) but it's also the first anniversary for Freshly Made Sketches!  I am so honoured to be a part of this special day!  

This week you get to choose any of our past sketches for your card!  Check out the past sketches here!  So head on over to the blog, check out those fabulous Design Team creations and get yourself started!  We've had some fabulous entries the last few weeks!  Sure makes the Design Team's job of picking a winner super hard.  

I decided to work with Sketch #26 since I really wanted to use my snowflake die!

I wanted to do more traditional colours for this card so stuck with the Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla!  Oh, I also used the Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations!  I had the Early Espresso and loved it...how could I not get the Cherry Cobbler too?!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler (core'dinations)
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Other: Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Basic Pearls, Snow Burst Textured Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Sanding Block


Okay so I didn't just make one card....I actually made this Halloween one first but I didn't like it.  Caleb has decided that he does like this card and wants me to send it to him for Halloween!  I'm glad I have him around to make me feel better!!!

I really do like the Googly Ghouls stamp set!  They are really cute little Halloween "monsters"!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: More Mustard, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
DSP: Howlstooth and Scaringbone
Stamps: Googly Ghouls
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Googlies, Black Glimmer Brads, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Labels Collection Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals


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

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #47

Hello!
Happy Wednesday! We have made it halfway through the week!  Yesterday was my first day back to reality after vacation.  I think I prefer vacation!!!  I had to take my D-SLR camera into the doctor yesterday and am waiting to hear back from him what the verdict is.  I'm trying to remain optimistic but I have a sneaking suspicion that I may need to start saving my pennies!

Today, being Wednesday, means that it is time for a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Today's sketch is courtesy of the amazing Jen Timko.  Jen chose a fabulous sketch - without many circles!  I knew immediately that I wanted to use my new ornament stamps and dies.  I am trying to get ahead on the Christmas cards and this sketch was perfect!  Thanks Jen!!!   The design team has created some masterpieces so head on over to the blog and check them out!

I think Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler are the perfect Christmas colours so I went to town!  The ornament is embossed in the new Gumball Green embossing powder.  I just love it!  I added a few pearls - just because I personally think every card needs a pearl or jewel!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Stamps: Petite Pairs, Ornament Keepsakes
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Other: Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Gumball Green Embossing Powder, Holiday Ornament Framelites, Bitty Banners Framelits, Embossing Folder (I completely forget the name....sorry - it's retired)

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

Jen

CAS-ual Fridays Back is Black!

Hello!
So sorry I've been MIA much of this past week!  We packed up Thursday and headed out Friday morning to visit my parents!  The boys are in Grannie and Papa heaven!  Mommy is now the least of their concerns and they only listen to Papa!!!  They have played monster trucks, driven RC monster trucks, had many water gun fights, played trains and read stories...little boy heaven!

So, I'm trying to get ready for a workshop I'm having on Tuesday night.  So far it's not going so well.  I decided to tackle the CAS-ual Fridays challenge this week to see if I could help the Mojo along...needless to say it's not helping so far!

This week's challenge is to create a Clean and Simple Card using black as the card base.  I knew right away I wanted to do a Christmas card using the new Ornament Keepsakes stamps from SU!  I couldn't resist.  The coordinating dies make these stamps SOOOOO easy peasy!  The new Holiday Catalogue is jam packed with so many wonderful goodies!

I added some rhinestones and then backed my sentiment in silver glimmer paper to add a little sparkle.

I may have brought almost all of my card making supplies on the airplane with me BUT I realized now I did forget many things that I could have used!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black. Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll try and have another card for you tomorrow...hopefully I'll have my workshop cards done too!!!

Jen

Merry Monday Challenge

Hello!

I hope everyone had a great day today!  I had a great day!  Got lots done this morning while my husband did some errands with the boys.  It's amazing how much you can get done without little helpers!  It's not very often I can get so much accomplished without interruption!  My new Stampin' Up! order arrived this afternoon!  I was so excited!  It's just like Christmas!  I then looked at everything and didn't know where to start!  I guess we'll try again tomorrow when I'm not so tired!!!

I tackled Lesley's Merry Monday Challenge today!  This is my first time with this challenge.  I figure if I start not maybe by Christmas I'll have enough cards made!!!  I couldn't wait to try out my new Christmas stamp set and paper!!!  I loved the sketch that the design team came up with and decided to give it a whirl!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Very Vanilla

DSP: Be of Good Cheer

Stamps: Chock-Full of Cheer, Petite Pairs

Ink: Gumball Green (I LOVE this colour!), Cherry Cobbler

Other: Gumball Green Ribbon, Dimensionals, Embossing Folder (I forget the name!!!)

Thanks for stopping by!  

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a Colour Q or Mojo monday card!!!

Jen

Wedding Bells

Hello!
I decided to give the Splitcoast Stampers Card Sketch Challenge a whirl today.  I'm not sure how I faired out...I am not completely satisfied with the results.  I am also not sure why I chose a wedding card!  I think I chose the paper then decided it had better be a wedding card!

This sketch seems super easy but man did I have a tough time coming up with colour combinations etc. I have started a second card but again...not sure about the combinations I've chosen so I may need to change it up a little tonight!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
DSP: Mocha Morning Specialty
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Glimmer brads, Curly Label Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Daisies #2 Die, Dimensionals

The Open Sea Sketch

 Hello!

I found a few minutes at nap time today to create a card for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week.   Thanks Linda for a great sketch!

The Sketch was clean and simple which is totally up my alley!  I decided to focus on a more masculine card this week since they're tough to make and I always am in need of one!  The Open Sea is one of my favourite stamp sets and works perfectly for those masculine cards!

If you haven't tried out a Freshly Made Sketch challenge (or any challenge for that matter) I highly recommend you do!  Having a starting point makes the card creation process go so much faster!

Oh...I forgot to list the supplies for my box project yesterday so I've added those in!  That's what I get for doing two things at once!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
DSP: This is terrible, but I can't remember the name...
Stamps: The Open Sea, Petite Pairs
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Other: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals