Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #691

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  I've spent a lot of time in the mountains since last week and it was so amazing.  The wildflowers are blooming and the views are amazing.  I won't even mention how good it smells!  My favourite time of year!  I always find it amazing that so many beautiful flowers can grow in such a harsh environment! 

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is one of our newest team members, Michele Ferguson!  Michele makes absolutely stunning cards so you'll want to head over to her blog to check them out!  

I have wildflowers and other spring flowers on the brain and this one reminded me a bit of an Alberta Wild Rose.  I thought it would be perfect for this card!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Special Moments (SU)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios), Distress Oxides

Dies: Woodland Tales Floral (Spellbinders), Stitched So Sweetly (SU)

Other: Iridescent Rhinestones (SU), Subtle Texture Embossing Folder

Thanks 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 the amazing cards that you all come up with!

I thought I'd share some photos from our hike on Saturday.  With the G7 Summit taking place our hiking trails are a little limited as they have a big area shut down but we found the perfect location and tackled two peaks - Belmore Browne and Boundary!

If you're wondering where the G7 is being held - basically it's at the bottom of those ski runs!  

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Remember, if you want to enter a card in our challenge this week, you have until Monday at 1 PM.

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #643

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We are finally getting some summer weather around here - that I'm super excited about!  Next week is actually supposed to be hot!  There is still snow in the mountains so this hot weather will help some of the snow to melt which will hopefully slow down the rain we've been having!  Mountain weather is super weird!  

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

I don't have a postage stamp die unfortunately so I was a little stumped at first.  But I had just made a little trip to the Paper and Ink Boutique and purchased a lot of the Spellbinders June release so I had this fabulous new flower dies sitting on my desk!  I knew that was a good start!  I just love flower dies and all the different colour combinations you can come up with!

I had kinda forgot about the sentiment box at the bottom and I had already stamped the Happy Birthday in the box.  I opted just to add the Happiness Blooms to the bottom.  Oop!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Gumball Green, Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo.

Stamps:Typewriter Adventure Sentiments (Spellbinders)

Ink: Detail Black (Pinkfresh Studios)
Dies: Floral Spray (Spellbinders), Mini Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Stitched So Sweetly (SU)

Other: Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder (SU - retired)

Here's a few pictures from our hike on Saturday!  It was an absolute leg burner.  I don't think I've climbed anything that steep before!  It was crazy!!!  So worth it though. The view was breathtaking!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  We love seeing all of the cards and admiring your creativity!

You have until Monday at 1 PM to enter this week's challenge!  If you need some inspiration, head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #622

Hello!
Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a great week so far!  We've gone from super warm and lovely to slightly below freezing but still beautifully sunny. We got some snow on the weekend - which was much needed but still a change from last week's spring like weather.  The temperatures are supposed to stay cooler this week and then rise again next week.  Strangest weather ever.

Since it's Wednesday, that means we have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Mitchell!  Jen's cards are super clean and look amazing so head over to her blog and check them out!  

I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do for my card this week but I remembered I had seen Laurie Unger make a card recently and I thought I'd take my inspiration from her!  I hadn't made any Valentine's Day cards yet and though my husband won't be home for Valentine's Day I probably should still make him a card!!!

I wanted to go for an all white card.  I really wanted that red heart to pop.  I foiled up a sentiment and the card was ready to go.  Sometimes keeping it very simple is best for me!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Real Red (SU)

Other: Small Heart Punch (SU - retired), Stitched So Sweetly (SU), Mini Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Red Foil (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

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 seeing what you create!  If you need some inspiration, head over to the challenge page and you'll find lots there!

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 581

Hello

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good week so far.  Our boys are off this week for their spring break.  We had originally planned some outdoor activities but the weather is just not cooperating with us.  Life in the mountains means very unpredictable weather especially in the fall and spring.  Oh well.  We'll make the best of it.  I don't mind a quiet week.  

We've got a super fun sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our favourite French designer, Cecile Ribon is on tap this week!  Cecile's cards are always incredible and I'm amazed at her creativity!  She takes card making to the next level!  Head over to her blog to check them out!

I struggled with this card.  I just couldn't get my head in the game.  I wanted to use the Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers: Spring Greenery Honey Cuts for this but I feel like I didn't do them justice.  I also stayed clear of the Hot Foil machine -  mainly because I don't have purple foil.  Maybe I should have just taken a trip to the store to find some!!!   Needless to say I'm not overly impressed with the card but I didn't have time to try and make another one and I'm trying to stay away from the Be Bold Blooms!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Highland Heather, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green,

DSP: Plaid 6X6 (brights) SU

Stamps: Bitty Buzzwords (SU)

Ink: Highland Heather (SU)

Other: Bitty Buzzwords Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Lovely Layers: Spring Greenery (Honey Bee Stamps), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU),  Rhinestones (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to find some inspiration and join in our challenge this week!  We can't wait to see what you create!

Have an amazing day!

Jen!

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #578

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good week and a great start to spring!  Is it spring where you live?  We've had some slightly above freezing temperatures and lots of sunshine so we'll call that a win with spring.  Our front lawn still has a couple of feet of snow on it so there's that.  We're supposed to have a springy week so I'm hoping some of this snow will melt!!  I'm done with it!

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is Jacquie Southas!  Jacquie's cards are always fantastic and she's super creative so head over to her blog to check them out!  

I had decided I wasn't going to use the Be Bold Blooms for this card.  I had even cut out other things to put on it but I couldn't make them work and I had these pink flowers just sitting on my desk asking to be used.  I decided to give them a try and voila.  Another card using these flowers is born!!  I'm so sorry.  Honestly, they've my favourite die right now!  They're super easy to use and you can come up with so many different colour and flower placement combinations!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Polished Pink, Granny Apple Green

Patterned Paper: In Colour 6X6 Pack, Sunshine and Rainbows 6X6 Pack

Ink: Melon Mambo, Garden Green

Other: Be Bold Blooms (Spellbinders), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU), Sequins, Yana's Special Sentiments (Spellbinders), Pink Foil, Dainty Diamonds 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!  You will find some amazing cards already posted on the blog!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

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 #561

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I'm bringing you this card from the North Pole - or so it feels like! We've had a pile of snow and it's been crazy cold!  The overnight temperature was -28 feeling like -36!  Oh so fun!  Today is supposed to be the last day of the crazy cold though.  Hopefully it's warmed up a bit by tomorrow!  This cold, snowy weather seems so early but it does get you in the Christmas mood! 

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

I am in desperate need of Christmas cards so I knew I needed to knock another one off the list!  I hauled out my Poinsettia Dies and some older Christmas DSP and went to town!  I added in some bits and bobs (as my friend Donna would say) from other die sets and voila!  A Christmas card is born!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Real Red, Garden Green, Silver

DSP: Painted Christmas (SU)

Stamps: Happy Scenes (SU)

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red

Other: Blending Brushes (Taylored Expressions), Poinsettia Dies (SU), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU), Pretty Pines (SU), 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!  We love seeing all the different cards you create!  The Design Team has also come up with some amazing cards to inspire you!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #557

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good week!  We're still basking in the sunshine here and I will totally enjoy every minute of it!  The leaves have been beautiful and the views from our latest hike were incredible!  I'll post some photos below!  The mountain is called The Fortress and man it was tough but so amazing once we made it to the top!  My husband and I are also celebrating our 20th anniversary today!  I can't believe it's been 20 years!  Time flies!

We've got a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is Jacquie Southas!  Jacquie creates amazing cards and the one she's made this week is just incredible!  Head over to her blog to check it out!  

So the mojo definitely isn't flowing this week.  I had several different cards in mind but I tried to "get them down on paper" and that did not work.  I decided I would work with some plaid paper and add some leaves in - voila!  A fall'ish card!  Hoping the mojo decides to make an appearance at some point this week!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Rich Razzleberry, Mango Melody

DSP: Plaid Tidings

Other: Intricate Leaves Dies (SU), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU), Bitty Buzzwords Honey Cuts(Honey Bee Stamps)

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 would love to see what you come up with!  The Design Team has some great cards posted to inspire your creativity!

Enjoy the views from The Fortress!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #555

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  We're halfway through the week already!  We are having some beautiful (and not very Alberta like) fall weather this week!  It's actually been more like summer!  I will take this warmth and sunshine as long as I can!  Trust me!  It's so lovely!  

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our favourite Aussie is hosting this week!  Narelle Farrugia makes the most gorgeous cards!  Fussy cutting, blends and flowers are for sure her specialty so head over to her blog to check them out!  

This is not at all the card I had in mind when I saw this sketch!  I still want to make what I had in mind (and probably should have from the start) but I decided to try something else.  This card took me forever with several changes and I'm still not thrilled with it.  Card making is quite the process isn't it?!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Basic Black, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Basic Grey, Garden Green

Stamps: Bitty Buzzwords (Honey Bee Stamps)

Ink: Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Real Red, Garden Green

Other: Bitty Buzzwords Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Lovely Layers Wildflowers (Honey Bee Stamps), Double Stitched Circle Dies (Lil Inkers), Stitched So Sweetly Dies (SU), Sequins (Taylored Expressions)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week.  We always love to see what you come up with!  

Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the cards that the Design Team has posted!  Hopefully they'll inspire you!

I thought I'd share our most recent hike - We hiked up Cirque Peak just past Lake Louise (around Bow Lake).  It started out raining, changed to sun, then a freak snow storm while we hit the summit so we couldn't see anything and then an hour later, beautiful sunshine again!  You win some and you lose some!

Have an amazing day!  

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #551

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you are having a great start to your week!  Have your kids or grandkids gone back to school yet?  My youngest goes back tomorrow and my oldest on Friday.  As much as I'm ready for routine and a little bit more alone time, I have really enjoyed the summer this year!  My oldest got his license on Friday so he's excited to have a bit more freedom.  I'm not quite sure I'm ready for this yet! My youngest got his learners on Friday as well so we're all in to the driving scene!  My youngest is only 14 so it's a little crazy to think the province will let him drive!! Pray for us!!!

We've got a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the incredibly talented Kim Singdahlsen!  You need to head over to her blog and check out her beautiful cards!  

I picked up this adorable snowman die from Lawn Fawn on the weekend!  I just loved him!  There's a her as well!  I can't wait to make a bunch of snowmen!  My youngest came in and told me I was crazy making snowmen in the summer!!  I probably am but they were just too cute to resist!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride

Stamps: Christmas to Remember

Ink: Basic Black, Read Red

Other: Build a Snowman Die (Lawn Fawn), Softly Falling Embossing Folder, A2 Mountain Scene Builder Add-on Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Dimensionals

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

The Design Team has a bunch of gorgeous cards posted that will definitely inspire you!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #547

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I can't believe it's Wednesday already!  We had a beautiful long weekend here so I feel like I'm a day behind!  We went and checked out a gorgeous glacier on the weekend.  I was a fantastic hike but man we were tired!  We even got to see a grizzly bear!  It was on the side of the road - which is the best way to see them!!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Judy Rozema!  Judy's cards are always super cute and super creative!  I love them!  You need to head over to her blog to check them out!  

Okay so two weeks in a row with circles!  I think the girls are trying to do me in!!!  Of course I needed to use my new Lovely Layers Peony dies!  I just couldn't resist them!  I love all those layers!  I think they're going to be a beast to send (I should probably try not using dimensionals) but they're totally worth it!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Garden Green

DSP: Peaceful Prints

Stamps: Little Birthday Notes (MFT)

Ink: VersaFine Black, Garden Green

Other: Lovely Layers Peony Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Stitched So Sweetly 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 cards posted that will definitely inspire you!

I hope you have an fabulous 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 #540

Happy Wednesday! 

Hope you're having a wonderful week!  We're having a super wet week!  This is apparently rainy season/snow melt season!  The mountains are losing their snow and it's creating rain and crazy wind!  We've received sooo much rain in the last 72 hours!  We need the rain desperately - but spreading it out seemed like a better idea to me!  Some areas in the mountains actually got 70 mm of rain and 48 cm of snow the other day!  Ummm...no thanks!  We will do our best to stay warm and dry here!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our lovely hostess if the amazing "queen of elegantly simple cards" Jen Mitchell!  Jen's cards are always so eye catching!  Head over to her blog and check them out!  

I had a few ideas for Jen's sketch and started with a masculine card - since I'm in need of some.  Turns out I wasn't too sold on it so I went for an all white (with a pop of yellow) flower card!  That coneflower die was just calling my name!  I couldn't ignore it!

I threw on the flag banner as well because it just happened to be sitting beside the stitched rectangle dies.  It also called my name and I felt obligated to cut one out and stick it on!  I had a hard time getting a good photo of the card.  It's been so dark here and the white just didn't show up as nicely as it looks in person!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic White, Gold Foil, Daffodil Delight

Stamps: Honey Bee

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Lovely Layers - Coneflower Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps),  Double Garland Confetti Cut (Reverse Confetti), Sequins (Taylored Expressions)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I do hope you'll check out the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week and join us!  We always love to see what everyone creates!  If you head over to the blog you'll see what the Design Team has come up with to inspire you!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #537

Hello

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  We finally have some spring weather!  I'm hoping it stays and the snow stays away!  I think I can finally stop bringing in my plants at night!  Spring weather in Western Canada is definitely different than we were used to in Ontario!  Though I don't miss the humidity at all!

We've got a brand new and fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is our theatre queen and turtle loving Judy Rozema!  Judy's cards are always adorable so head over to her blog to check them out! 

So I had an idea of what this card should look like.  Unfortunately that idea didn't pan out!  Nor did the next one!  I wasn't actually going to put a sentiment on this one but I thought the card looked a little naked!  I used the new In Colour - Starry Sky for this.  It's such a beautiful colour!  I really love all the new In Colours!  

Supplies:

Cardstock: Starry Sky, Basic White, Basic Black, Silver Foil

DSP: In Colour 6X6 Pack

Stamps: Honey Bee

Ink: Starry Sky

Other: Dainty Diamonds Textured Embossing Folder, Lovely Layers Anemone Honey Cuts (Honey Bee Stamps), Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Silver Thread, In Colour Jewels, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  There are a bunch of amazing examples posted there!  

Have a fabulous day!

Jen