Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #296

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I am sorry I missed out on last week's challenge!  It was our church camp week! We had such a busy but fun week!  Our camp had just over 1000 kids for the week and we had just over 40 kids making cards all day!  It was fun to see their pride in their creations and the amazement when they saw embossing powder melt for the first time!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Jen Timko!  Jen's cards are so fun and her colouring and creativity amazes me!  I'm so fortunate to have met Jen (twice!) and think another get together is definitely in order!!!

Jen has picked a great sketch and I love the square card!  At first I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it but then realized I needed some teacher thank you cards!  Yes, our kids are finally done school!  I made these cards a while ago!!!  Please don't think I'm really slow given our teachers their cards!

I used the Carried Away DSP (again!) and the Class Act stamp set and Confetti cuts from Reverse Confetti.  I added a bright red flag to contrast!  I love red.  It is totally my favourite colour!  Of course I added a bit of Wink of Stella to the apple leaf.  I couldn't help myself.  The camp kids LOVED using Wink of Stella too!  See, I'm not the only one who loves it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Smokey Slate, Basic Black, Real Red, Gumball Green, Red Shimmer
DSP: Carried Away
Stamps: Class Act (Reverse Confetti)
Ink: Stazon
Other: Class Act Confetti Cuts, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the amazing cards the Design Team has created for your inspiration!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #243

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We here in Southern Ontario are slowly nearing the end of school.  Today and tomorrow and then we're done.  The kids have been "done" mentally for weeks however, for some reason this year seemed extra long!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our fabulous hostess is the amazing Amy O'Neill!  Amy's cards are so beautiful and she comes up with the best colour combinations!

Amy's sketch is super versatile but of course I had trouble with this one!  I think because I left it late and was feeling pressured.  I needed two more teacher cards - for teachers who don't actually teach my kids!!!  I started out with may different shapes for that flower.  Coffee cups, flowers, circles and finally a butterfly!  I used a sentiment from the stamp set that came in the Watercolour Wishes kit.  I can't get enough of the Silly Stitched dies so I'll probably use them on every card for the next 2 months!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
DSP: Cherry on Top DSP Stack
Stamps: LJD Blissful Butterflies (MFT), Watercolour Wonder
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Silly Stitched Dies, Butterfly Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll have time to head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the beautiful cards the Design Team has created for you!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #239

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe it's June 1st already?!  I can't.  I totally thought there was another week left in May.  I was totally shocked on Monday to realize that June was coming faster than I thought!  I also can't believe the new Stampin' Up Catalogue goes live today!  I feel like this year flew by a lot faster than I wanted it to!

Since it's Wednesday, we have a great new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our amazing hostess this week is none other than the incredibly talented Cindy Hall!  Cindy makes beautiful cards!  You need to head to her blog and check out her creations!

I started out with a simple card (see below).  It didn't take long and I do like the green but I decided it was a little too simple and that I would need to beef it up a little!  I decided I would get a head start on the teacher cards I need for later in June!  I used the Class Act stamp set from Reverse Confetti!  I think I should have embossed the white but I didn't think of it until after I had the card all put together!

Supplies:
Card#1
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Stamps: Class Act
Ink: Stazon Black, Real Red, Pool Party, Cucumber Crush
Other: Class Act Confetti Cuts,  Spiral notebook punch, Dimensionals

Card#2
Cardstock: Whisper White
DSP: Cherry on Top DSP Stack
Stamps: Just Sayin'
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Word Bubbles Framelits Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog to see the amazing cards the Design Team has created for you!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #192

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We're in the home stretch of the school year. Us Canadians have to go until the end of June.  The kids are so done with school though but they're plugging away.  It's been a good year for both boys.  They loved their teachers and they are both sad that they are moving on.  I am thankful for four teachers who put so much effort and energy and love into my boys!  They appreciated every minute!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our fabulous hostess is none other than the amazing Jen Mitchell!  Jen is my card making hero!  Her cards always leave me smiling.  I love her style!

I was in charge of doing a group class gift for the four wonderful teachers that we had this year.  I decided that I would keep the card fairly straight forward.  I love the Class Act stamp set from Reverse Confetti and couldn't wait to crack it open for these cards!  I added a bit of white craft ink to make the front look a little chalky - which is rather funny since there isn't a single chalkboard in our school!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Memento, Real Red, Gumball Green, Early Espresso, Basic Grey, Whisper White Craft Ink
Stamps: Class Act (Reverse Confetti)
Other: Class Act Confetti Cuts, Large Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog to see what the Design Team has created for you as your inspiration!  You won't be disappointed.

Have a fabulous Day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #142

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe it's almost the end of June!  Where on earth did that month go?  Our kids have to go to school until Friday (and believe me, it's pain and torture) but then we're home free!  I can't wait to not have to make lunches every day - at least not while we're also trying to make breakfast!

We have a brand new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches today!  I am thrilled to be this week's hostess!  I have some big shoes to fill of Cindy's great sketch last week!  I decided to go with something very simple and clean.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  I love the diversity we see in the gallery!

I have some teacher cards that need to be created in time for the last day of school.  This probably wasn't the best card to try and re-create 4 times but they're pretty much done!  One final step and I'm off to the races!  My "Another Thank You" arrived on Monday and was put to use right away!  I rubbed craft ink on the back panel to create a chalkboard effect.  Unfortunately it didn't go as planned and I ended up with "lumps".  I also find it amusing that there are no chalk boards in our school.  Guess I should have used a white board or a "Smart Board"!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Stamps: Teacher's Apple (PTI), Another Thank You (SU)
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, White Craft Ink
Other: White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Early Espresso marker

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out what the design team has created for your viewing pleasure!  You will not be disappointed!

Have a  fabulous day!

Jen

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge

Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend!  Our Saturday went very quickly and I don't imagine tomorrow will slow down at all either!  So sad how quickly our weekend's go by!  I'm thankful that next weekend is a "long weekend".  The boys have a PA Day on Friday so they'll be at home with me for the day!!!  I doubt they'll sleep in though!!!

The end of school is drawing near and I know if I don't get the Teacher cards made soon...well, they won't get done!  I decided I had better give it a whirl and this week's sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch was  perfect for the card I had in mind!

I wanted to keep the card clean and simple but had to use the chalkboard technique to create that blackboard effect!  I find it kind of funny since I don't think too many teachers (if any) at our school even use a blackboard!!!  I still think the technique is fun to do and appropriate for teachers!

I love the Perfectly Preserved set and am sad that Stampin' Up! has decided to discontinue it.  I don't think I'll be getting rid of it any time soon!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Crumb Cake
DSP: Polka Dot Parade, Neutrals DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Perfectly Preserved, Lacy and Lovely
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Gumball Green, White Craft Ink
Other: Cannery Framelits Dies, Dimensionals

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jen

Matchbook Gift Card Holder

Hello!
The long weekend is here for us in Canada!  Unfortunately I didn't into the craft room much this afternoon (except to make a summer reading journal for Caleb).  Later this afternoon my poor Caleb developed a terrible headache and spiked a fever.  I felt so badly for him.   He looked like he was in so much pain.  He still had a bit of a fever when we put him to bed and he asked me to stay with him a few minutes (which he's never done).  Looks like our long weekend might be kind of boring.

Anyhow, I obviously didn't get any cards done but have a few pictures of the thank you gift card holder I made for Mrs. Cooper!  I got the template idea from the fabulous Mary Fish's blog!  You can find the link here!

The gift card holder is held shut with the ribbon.  I had to tape my gift card in though because it kept falling out.  I suppose you could make the flap at the bottom longer so that it might stay in better?

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White
DSP: Summer Smooches???  (I honestly can't remember!!!)
Stamps: Curly Cute, Teacher's Apple (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Gumball Green, Basic Black
Other: Dimensionals, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!  I will be back tomorrow with my "Guest Designer" card for Sunday Stamps!

Jen

Teacher Coffee Cup

Hello!
I hope you had a great day!  My son's school had their volunteer appreciation tea today.  The kindergarten class sang the cutest song which my camera decided not to record on me.  I am a little sad about that but I still managed to get some cute pictures!

It occurred to me today that teaches might love to get a coffee gift card as their end of the year gift.  Maybe Timmie's (if you're in Canada) or Starbucks???  Wouldn't it be perfect if it came in this cute little teacher themed gift card holder?!  I had to try out the new Apothecary Accents Framelits too!  I just love them!!  I forgot to take a picture of the cup open though...sorry about that!

The template for this coffee cup can be found here!  Lorri Heiling has done an excellent video that walks you right through it!  Thanks Lorri!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Stamps: Teacher's Apple (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Other: Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies, Oval Punch, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Paper Crimper

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow with my combined Mojo Monday/Colour Q challenge card!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #38

Hello!
Today is the day!  It's my very first Freshly Made Sketches Design Team post!  I'm so excited!!  I am so honoured to be working with such a fabulous team!  Lesley and her Clean Team are so creative!  Today's sketch is from the very talented Linda Callahan!   I really enjoyed this week's sketch.  I don't do well with circles and ovals so today's rectangles were right up my alley!

I wanted to do a card for my son Caleb's teacher.  He has the most wonderful lady (Mrs. Cooper) that teaches 21 kids every Tuesday and Thursday.  She has given so much to these kids.  She works so hard with them and has gone above and beyond to help this very smart group of kids learn so much.  I truly believe that it takes a special person to be a teacher!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red Glitter
Stamps: Teacher's Apple (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Other: Dimensionals, Spiral Punch, Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by!
Please check back tomorrow for my very first Merry Monday challenge card!!!  It will be Christmas in June!

Jen

Teacher Time

Hello!  I hope you've had a great weekend!  For all the mom's out there, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I had thought we would be spending Mother's Day at the Magic Kingdom in Florida but instead my boys chose to spend the day at Sea World!  I must say (especially to any Florida readers) I LOVE Florida!  I am totally in love with Palm Trees!  Florida's vegetation is incredible and so unlike anything we have here in Canada!  The staff at our hotel were wonderful and super friendly!  The parks we went to were super clean and action packed!  What a great weekend!

That aside...I was supposed to be getting started on Father's Day cards today but I was totally unmotivated.  I had an idea in my head for a card for Caleb's Teacher this year.  My oldest son has the most wonderful Kindergarten teacher!  She has done over and above what is required for these kids and has a group of kids who adore her!

Anyhow, I thought I'd made her a little blackboard card for his teacher.  I used a set from Papertrey Ink that I love for doing Teacher's cards.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Other: White Embossing Powder, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Staple, Dimensionals, Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by today!
Check back tomorrow for my Mojo Monday card!

Jen