Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #591

Hello!  

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a wonderful week so far!  We finally got some rain yesterday.  It rained most of the day which wasn't so great for my oldest who had to work outside in the cold and wet but so amazing for our dry ground that is desperate for water!  I think "rainy season" is coming to an end which is sad considering we hardly got any rain.   Life in an alpine desert I guess!  

We've got a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I am fortunate to be this week's hostess!  I really do enjoy hosting the challenge!  It's so fun to get to see each and every card and read all of your posts!  I love seeing everyone's creativity!  

I tried to get creative on my sketch!  I wanted to pick something that was outside my normal comfort zone!  I am generally drawn to easy, plain sketches so I tried to change it up a little!

I need another wedding card for my cousin's upcoming wedding.  I grabbed my Lovely Layers Peony and got cutting.  I went with white again since I really do love mostly white cards!  I figured a peony was a good wedding flower and it wasn't the Be Bold Blooms!!!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic White, Wild Wasabi (SU)

Ink: Garden Green (SU)

Other: Lovely Layers Peony (Honey Bee Stamps), Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder (SU), Sequins (Honey Bee Stamps), Mini Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Black Foil (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  I would love to see what you create with my sketch!

Thought I'd share some photos of our recent hike!  The first one is of the mama and baby grizzly we startled when we came up on the ridge.  They were much closer when we first saw them and we cautiously backed up and made noise which scared them off - thankfully!  I didn't take a picture until they were a very good distance away!  This hike was absolutely spectacular!  Amazing views despite being a little on the smoky side.

Have an amazing day!

Jen!

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #587

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is going well!  We finally got some rain last night.  Not a lot and of course it all came in about 10 minutes but we got some rain.  The air is clear and the smoke is FINALLY gone!  I know this isn't the end of wildfire season but I'm hoping Northern Alberta got some rain as well that helped tame those fires!

We have a fantastic new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches today!  Our hostess this week is our amazing resident pilot Jen Timko!  Jen's cards are always gorgeous so you should head over to her blog to check them out!  

Soooo, you might be rolling your eyes at the Be Bold Blooms again.  I can't help myself.  Someone asked me to make them a wedding card and what seems to be more perfect for a wedding than these sweet flowers?  White and silver seemed like a good combination to me as well!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic White, Silver Foil

Other: Be Bold Blooms Dies (Spellbinders), Nested Circles (Pink Fresh), Modest Greetings 1 (Poppystamps), Silver Foil, Dainty Diamonds Textured Embossing Folder,  Circle Dies (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!  The Design Team has created a bunch of amazing cards to inspire you!

Here are a couple of pics from our most recent hike.  We did a "quick" hike up the East End of Rundle.

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #444

Hello
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We've had a couple days of gorgeous weather where you could actually be outside and not feel like you were melting!  It's been lovely!  My husband had a bad fall while mountain biking a few weeks ago and he's slowly healing.  He's back on the bike and we're doing some "short" rides around our neighbourhood to help strengthen his damaged muscles.  Several doctors have told him he's very, very fortunate that the damage wasn't more severe!  Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet and didn't hit his head!

We have a great sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Jen Timko!  Jen's cards speak for themselves!  They are always amazing!  Her colouring is awe inspiring!  Head over to her blog to check them out!

Of course this card has a peony.  Did you expect anything different?  Okay, it could have been a sunflower or a magnolia!  I just can't help it!  I love them!  Though my box of new goodies from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue arrived and I can't wait to play with that!

I also realize that my sentiment and rectangle are on the wrong side of the card.  Apparently when I copied the sketch down I didn't do it properly!  Sometimes I wonder how I can walk and breathe at the same time!!  

I absolutely love the Peony Garden DSP.  I actually just ordered another pack because I've gone through so much!  Maybe that's not something to be proud of!  Ha!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Gray Granite, Whisper White, Gumball Green, Granny Apple Green, 

DSP: Peony Garden

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Peony Dies, Gray Granite Ribbon, Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Sweetly Stitched Dies, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'l head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the gorgeous cards the Design Team whipped up for your inspiration!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #441

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week.  Yesterday was supposed to have been our oldest son's Grade 8 Graduation.  Hard to believe in March when we went into lockdown we thought it would all be over in a few weeks.  It won't be the day he was supposed to have but we'll take a few photos of Caleb outside and have some cake with our neighbours, whose son is also graduating!  I still remember Caleb's first day of Junior Kindergarten like it was yesterday and here we are almost 10 years later!  I can't even imagine how fast high school will fly by!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the super creative Judy Rozema!  Judy's cards are always beautiful and super bright and cheery!  Head on over to her blog and check them out!

So let's just say that this card could be perfect with a sunflower!!!  BUT I spared you this week!  I've moved onto peonies (but don't worry, I might make another card using this sketch and some sunflowers!).  I love the new peony dies!  I did have to watch a tutorial on how to use them though.  I opened the package and almost gave up!!!  Once you make them, you realize how easy peasy they are!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whipser White, So Saffron, Grey Granite
DSP: Peony Garden DSP
Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder, Peony Dies, Elegant Faceted Gems, Sweetly Stitched Dies, Dimensionals

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

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #404

Happy Wednesday!  It's Wednesday already!!!  Yay!!!  I actually love Wednesdays!  They're my "at home" day!  I usually spent the morning cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming.  I know, really exciting!!!  I actually have to hit a grocery store today because we are out of cucumbers and Jacob LOVES cucumbers.  He would eat a cucumber a day if you let him!  I guess I can't complain!  We're heading to our first (and probably last) Toronto Maple Leaf's game tonight!  It's a pre-season game and we decided this would be our one big winter treat - in September!!!  The kids are super excited!!

Okay, so we have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Our hostess this week our our Texan friend Amy O'Neill!  Amy is our colour-matching, element placing queen!  Head over to her blog to check out her gorgeous creations!

So shockingly, I knew what I wanted to do with this sketch right away!  I needed a wedding card for the wedding we attended last Friday evening and this was going to be it!  I love the Modern Heart Stamp Set from Stampin' Up so that was my go to for that massive oval (which is almost as bad as a massive circle!).

I used some silver embossing powder, threw on some bling and I was good to go!  That pretty much never happens so I was impressed!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Silver Foil
Stamps: Modern Heart (SU), Essential Sentiments (MFT)
Ink: Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Frosted Epoxy Drops, Dimensionals

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

Have an amazing day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #307 - Take Two!

Happy Wednesday!
I hope you're having a great start to your week!  The weeks seem to be flying by!  I can't believe that it's October already and this weekend we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada!  Turkey and gravy!!!  Yummy.  Oh, I guess that means I have to make that.  Hmmm...I wonder how everyone would feel about hamburgers instead!!!!

So you may have noticed that this is the same Freshly Made Sketches card that I made last week.  We had a little, itty, bitty issue with our linky tool and all of the submissions we had received vanished into cyberspace somewhere.  We decided that we would extend our challenge one additional week with hopes that everyone who had entered would re-enter their gorgeous cards!!!

Our sketch was courtesy of my dear friend Jen Timko!  Jen is such an amazing card maker and comes up with the most creative cards!  Did you see her x-ray card?  You need to go and check out her blog!

I wasn't quite sure what to with this sketch when I first saw it but then I realized I needed a wedding card for my friend Laura who is getting married this coming Saturday!  (Well, Laura and Brad had a beautiful day and Laura was a gorgeous bride!)  I love the heart die from Lil Inkers and knew it would be the perfect substitute for an evil circle!!!  I threw on some flowers and voila!  I used the colours that Laura had told me she's using for her wedding!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Smokey Slate

Stamps: Sweet Celebrations (Lil Inkers)

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Smokey Slate

Other: Sweet Celebrations Dies, Celebrate Word Die, Sequins, Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  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 #307

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  We have been having one crazy heat spell here.  I don't think we had weather this hot all summer.  It's been pretty intense.  Thankfully the kid's school has air conditioning so they aren't too wiped when they come home.  Today is supposed to be the last day though and then back to seasonal temperatures.  I'm all for cool nights where you can sleep with the windows open but I dread the cold weather coming!

We have a great new sketch today at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of my dear friend Jen Timko!  Jen is such an amazing card maker and comes up with the most creative cards!  Did you see her x-ray card?  You need to go and check out her blog!

I wasn't quite sure what to with this sketch when I first saw it but then I realized I needed a wedding card for my friend Laura who is getting married this coming Saturday!  I love the heart die from Lil Inkers and knew it would be the perfect substitute for an evil circle!!!  I threw on some flowers and voila!  I used the colours that Laura had told me she's using for her wedding!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Smokey Slate

Stamps: Sweet Celebrations (Lil Inkers)

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Smokey Slate

Other: Sweet Celebrations Dies, Celebrate Word Die, Sequins, Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  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 #188

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week!  I can't believe that we are already in the last week of May!  Where on earth did May go?!  My oldest turned 9 last week!  I remember the day I went into labour with him like it was yesterday.  Seems unreal that it could be 9 years ago.

Being Wednesday, we have a great new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our lovely hostess this week is none other than the talented Karren Johnson!  Karren makes such beautiful cards!  I love her creativity!

I put this card together rather quickly but I can't say that I'm thrilled with it.  I wanted to do black, white and gold but I realize now I should have used vanilla instead of white!  I didn't have time to go back and try and change it!  I had to add some butterflies because, well, who doesn't love butterflies!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamps: In a Big Way (Reverse Confetti), Butterfly Basics
Ink: Versamark
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Butterfly Thinlits, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Basic Pearls, Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Dimensionals


Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the fabulous cards the Design Team has created!  You will not be disappointed!

Have a great day!

Jen

CAS(E) This Sketch Wedding

Hello!
Happy Monday!  It's been a crazy day here!  We had a good weekend.  It was fairly quiet and we spent a lot of time together at home.  Sometimes I wonder why we fill our schedule when staying at home is so relaxing and seems to be just what we all needed.

We attended a wedding on Saturday evening and I needed to create a card for the wedding.  This friend of mine is Asian and I wanted to make her a traditional red card to honour her Chinese heritage.

I really liked the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch this week.  It allowed me to maximize my use of red!!!

I do love scrunched flowers!  I probably use them too much but they're so fun!  I used the Scalloped Circle Punch and one of the flowers from the Boho Blossoms punch.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Love and Laughter, En Francais
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
Other: Mosaic Textured Embossing Folder, Lace, Modern Label Punch, Basic Pearls, Boho Blossoms Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches #98

Aloha!
Greetings from Hawaii!  I hope everyone is having a great week!  I am getting this post ready ahead of time so technically I'm not in Hawaii yet!  I can't wait to update you on the trip and get some pictures posted once we're back!  I'm sorry that I didn't get commenting on any cards last week!  They were all beautiful!

It's Wednesday and that brings us a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week's hostess is the lovely Jen Mitchell!  She makes the most amazing clean and simple cards!  I just love checking out her blog to see what she's made!

I had some suggestions for some wedding cards so decided to tackle this sketch with a wedding card!  We've been invited to a few weddings this fall so I should get some made to have on hand!

I used the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder on the black but you can't really tell in this picture..sorry, it was raining and the lighting wasn't the best!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer

Stamps: Love and Laughter

Ink: Stazon, Basic Black

Other: Basic Rhinestones, Boho Blossoms Punch, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  Please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the beautiful cards the design team has cooked up!  I can't wait to see what you create as well!

Have a great day!

Jen

CAS(E) This Sketch Wedding!

Hello!
Hope you're having a good start to your week!  It was a beautiful day here in Burlington today!  I was able to get a few cards made this past weekend.  I really am mourning the end of our youngest's nap time...that was my card making time.  I don't know what I'll do come summer when both boys are home!!!

I do love the CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge.  I can't wait to check their blog each week to see what the newest sketch is!  I must say I gave this one a few tries before I decided on a card...sad sometimes!!!

I decided to go with a wedding card....I guess it could also be an anniversary card!  I saw a piece of that fabulous textured DSP (who's name escapes me) sticking out of my scraps bin and just wanted to use it!  Throw on a few rosettes and we were good to go!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
DSP: SU...but can't remember...
Stamps: Petite Pairs
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Rosettes, Basic Pearls

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back again tomorrow!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Jen!

Mojo Wedding

Hello!
Sorry there was no post yesterday!  We were invited to swim in a neighbour's pool and no cards got made!  I slipped down to the craft room for a wee bit this afternoon while my oldest was at school and my youngest (who is very sick) was napping.  Jacob and I spent under an hour at a wonderful walk-in this afternoon as he had a high fever, complaining that everything hurt and his stomach hurt...poor little guy.  Nothing showed up on any tests so it's just something viral.  He looks a bit better after a nap and some Tylenol/Advil!

I need a wedding card to mail out tomorrow morning and decided to use the Mojo Monday sketch this week to help me out!  I also wanted to use my Papillon Potpourri stamp set!  Who doesn't love butterflies?!  I especially LOVE butterflies that come with a coordinating punch!!!

Now that I look at the card, I think the black squares could use some texture but it's a little late for that!  I must have tried 15 different combinations for this sketch!  Sometimes I think I over think the cards!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP: Mocha Morning (retired)
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Voeux Mignons
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Other: Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits Die

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

CAS Wedding

Hello!
The weekend is here!  I love the weekend though we do have a busy one ahead of us with a couple of birthday parties and of course Father's Day!
My husband will be enjoying a day to himself on Saturday as he goes to fly his airplanes with a few of his friends!

I was supposed to be making a father's day card this afternoon (which I eventually did make!) but first wanted to tackle the Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge on Splitcoast Stampers!  This week's challenge was to create a CAS card with a white layer on a white base.  I wanted to try out my "new to me" Love and Laughter stamp set.  It's not a new one in the catalogue but it did come in my most recent order!   Who doesn't love a good wedding stamp?!

I also really enjoy the Itty Bitty Banners and the coordinating Bitty Banners Framelits!  I think I could use them on every card but I will honestly try not to!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper white, Glimmer Red and Silver
Stamps: Love and Laughter, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Versamark
Other: Dimensionals, Silver Embossing Powder, Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Bitty Banner Framelit Dies, Heart punch

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

CAS-ual Friday's Bling

Hello!
I hope you've enjoyed your weekend!  We had a nice, quiet relaxing weekend!  I think those are my favourite kind!   I managed to get a few cards done this afternoon while my dearest husband took our two monkeys swimming!

So, if you haven't read, heard etc....I have been picked to join the Freshly Made Sketches Design Team!!! I am so incredibly excited and honoured!  I can't wait to get working with Lesley and her fabulous Clean Team!  Check out their blog on Wednesday for my first contribution!!!

Today's card is my submission for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  This week's challenge was to create a clean and simple card that used gemstones, glitter or anything that sparkles.  I saw the challenge and thought to myself - this one's going to be easy!  I started creating my first card for one of my best friend's...it turned out disastrous and will be the highlight of tomorrow's blog post!  After that it took me a while to come up with another one.  Oh the joys of card making!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Forever
Ink: Basic Black. Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones, Blossom Punch

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