Freshly Made Sketches #717

 

Freshly Made Sketches #717 by Narelle will be the last sketch for 2025

so that all of you, as well as the design team, can enjoy the holidays.

 

 Here is my simplified take on it.

 

The Backyard Wren is typically facing to the right but I wanted it facing inwards 

to the left. After die cutting the pieces, I colored the reverse side and assembled 

the bird. A cream colored panel was embossed and adhered to a kraft card 

base. The wren and greenery were adhered per the sketch and I added a 

simple one word sentiment.

 

Come and join our last challenge of the year. You have until Monday, 

January 5th, 2026 to link up your card for this sketch.

Happy Holidays and see you in the new year!

The Flower Challenge #109

 

 It was a sad day in blog land when The Flower Challenge announced it will

close its doors at the end of the year. Kudos to Karren for taking over running

the challenges after pioneers Aileen and Vi "retired" and prevented us from 

going through floral withdrawal.

 

I'm entering the last challenge with the theme to Use Christmas Florals.

 

 

I know we think of poinsettias as a Christmas flower and I own a few poinsettia 

stamps and dies but couldn't decide on which one to use. So I went with snowdrops 

after Googling to see if they were considered a winter flower and was quite pleased
to read that they are.

 

 

I own two sets of snowdrops and I'll have to admit that the one by Papertrey Ink 

was much easier and faster to assemble. As luck would have it, I had an inked

and spattered panel that I was probably going to use in landscape format.

I turned the panel and adhered the flowers and leaves on top and spattered

more "snow" over the panel. I finished off the card with the sentiment and

iridescent sequins.

So here's to The Flower Challenge and their design team members, old and

new, for all the inspiration you provided. We'll miss you!

Freshly Made Sketches #716

 

 Michele brings us this week's Freshly Made Sketches #716 and there are

countless possibilities for the circular element.

 

 

Here's how I was inspired.

 

I put together leaves, berries, and branches, and adhered them to an embossed circle.

A dark green card base was embossed with tiny dots and the circle was adhered

to it. A simple sentiment was stamped on a banner shape and adhered to the

card per the sketch.

Visit the Freshly Made Sketches blog for all the details and deadline as well as

inspiration from the team, then come and join the challenge! You have until

Monday, December 15th at 3:00pm EST to link up your card(s).

Simon Says Stamp DieCember® 2025

 

By now you've seen the fantastic DieCember® Release from none other than

Simon Says Stamp. 

 

 

 

 

They graciously sent me the Jewel Heart wafer die and I created a couple of projects

with it. I tried to think "out of the box" and paired it with older products.

 

After shading the top piece I assembled the heart and adhered it to a Spellbinders

arch that was cut from patterned paper from Whimsy Stamps. The sentiment was

white embossed on vellum and cut with the outline, then adhered to the card base.

A sub sentiment was white embossed on the bottom.

 

For my second card I envisioned a wedding or anniversary card and went with

a white on white color theme.

 

The heart was cut from cream card stock and vellum and assembled. An older

SSS set--Clustered Leaves--was also cut from vellum. I chose a CZ Designs 

sentiment and finished off the card with iridescent sequins.

Visit Simon Says Stamp and to view and shop the new release. I'm sure you'll find

new goodies to enjoy!

Freshly Made Sketches #715

 

Today's a special day with a special post!  I can finally announce that I am officially

a design team member for Freshly Made Sketches!  I love working with sketches 

and could not refuse the invitation from Jennifer Timko to work with the

ladies I've long admired for their weekly creativity. 

I'm also back together with my former CASE this Sketch buddy, Michele Ferguson

and another former teammate, Jen Mitchell! Oh happy day!

Now that I've gushed long enough, here's this week's sketch by Karren.

 

 

And here's my take on the sketch using another Memory Box cutie.

After assembling  the Snowy Owl I added a bit of Stickles on the hat's band and 

pompom. I ran an aqua strip through a snowflake embossing folder and a Kristina 

Werner snowflake was cut from specialty paper from my stash. 

 

I adhered all the pieces per the sketch and added a white embossed sentiment. 

I rounded off the two bottom corners and my first DT card was done.

 

 Visit the Freshly Made Sketches blog for more inspiration and join us if you can.

You have until Monday, December 8th at 3:00PM EST to link up your card(s).

 

Thanks, always, for stopping by!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #713

 

Now that company has left, I'm finishing up a card I started

and entering it just under the wire for Freshly Made Sketches #713.

 

 

I've simplified the sketch by omitting the frame, focusing more on the focal point.

 

 

I've had Gina K Designs Jolly Holly bundle for a while now and finally pulled

it out for Jen B's sketch. I love stencil and emboss sets and if there's a

matching die included, then that's a bonus. 

I added a bit of Stickles on the berries and white embossed a sentiment

and called it done. Off to link this up with hours to spare!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

JUGS Week #800 -- Anything Goes

 

Just Us Girls (JUGS) Challenge #800 is a special one as it marks their 800th

challenge! What a milestone! I consider myself a "newbie" to their challenges,

and I started playing along thanks to blogging pal Michele.

 

 I wanted to join the celebration and squeezed in a card, just under the wire.

 

I fell in love with that Memory Box bird doing its happy dance, another enabled

purchase from Michele. Doesn't he just evoke joy? After inking him I spattered

a bit of water for texture. I ran an arched piece partially through a snow 

embossed folder then stamped the sentiment.

 

A red card base was embossed and inked around the edges and topped with

the arch piece and bird. 

Here's a better pic of the sentiment which is an old (c.2012) set from

Simon Says Stamp that I wish they would remake. It has some of my

favorite holiday sentiments on it.

Ok, now I'd better run and link this up. Thanks, always, for stopping by!

  

* * *

 

Edited to add: I'm honored to receive a SHOUT OUT from JUGS!

Now I'm really doing a happy dance! Thanks so much, ladies!

 

Freshly Made Sketches #711

 

Hey there! It's good to be back, crafting again! I had several ideas for

Kim's Freshly Made Sketches #711 and when Papertrey Ink's order arrived,

it sealed the deal on what to use as the focal point.

 

 I used the new Timeless Ornaments Die Set and topped it with some greenery, 

also from PTI.

 

 

 I colored the orb with Crimson Cheer Interference ink then ran it through an

embossing folder for added texture. I ran the card base through an old,

discontinued embossing folder (remember Cuttlebug?) and adhered

the ornament. I finished off the card with a Mama Elephant sentiment.

I'm linking this up, then plan to visit blogs and Instagram. I've missed so much! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #709

Jen M is the sketch designer for Freshly Made Sketches #709 and here it is.

 

 

I was excited to see a square design, although I'm sure it didn't have to be a square card.

Since my order from Brass and Bliss just arrived, I put them to work for the sketch.

But you might see it differently...

 

I opted for a white pumpkin to make the florals stand out. I tried to do Tina Smith's

"die cut dipping" on all the pieces but ended up ink blending the ginkgo leaves.

I gave the pieces a good spatter with white ink then adhered them to an

embossed panel. I finished off with the Stamp Market sentiment.

 

How did I do? A little far fetched? It's pretty much what I had in mind and I

wanted a white pumpkin because an orange one wouldn't stand out as much.

 

This is when I tell you that this will be my last blog post for a while. We leave

soon for the land of sushi and sumo and I'm so excited!

Thanks, always, for stopping by!

 

* * *

Edited to add: So honored that Narelle "saw" the sketch on my card and

chose to give me a Princess pick! Thanks so much!

Color Throwdown Challenge #843

 

Such pretty colors for Color Throwdown #843 -- lime, pink, and orange.

Flowers came to mind but then I spotted another NBUS and things changed 

in a new direction.

I spent the weekend watching Pete Hughes on the Sizzix YouTube channel and

he is such a delight. I was wondering if he had a video on Holiday Blocks 

and yes, by golly, he did!

Here's my card using the throwdown colors with guidance from Pete.

The set has infinite designs and color combinations. I pretty much watched 

Pete and used one of the designs on the packaging for reference. 

 

To make things easier for myself, I started with a square panel and added 

the pieces as I went along. I adhered the panel to a kraft card base and white 

embossed the holiday sentiment below it. I'm actually thinking of different

color combos and sizes to tackle this again!

I'll link this up although I think have about a week left. Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #708

 

Jen T designed Freshly Made Sketches #708, a sketch with many possibilities

for that circular element.

 

Here's how I was inspired. 

 

A Memory Box magnolia wreath almost got turned into poinsettias but I changed the colors

at the last minute for autumn. The wreath was adhered to an embossed card base

and some gemstones were added to the flower centers. A Kristina Werner sentiment

finished off the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm off to link this up!

 

 

JUGS Mood Board Week #797

 

It's Mood Board Week over at Just Us Girls Challenge #797.  

Here's the graphic with an autumnal theme.

When I saw the icons, I remembered an older SSS set that I haven't used on a card. 

I even had some items already colored, waiting patiently in the packaging.

I love the knitted details on each item. Some small leaves were cut, colored,

 and adhered to an embossed card base. I finished off with the scripty sentiment 

and called it done.

 

I'm a fan of fall season even though here in Hawaii we don't see much change. It's 

much cooler than our summers and we don't have to deal with the rainy season

 that's just around the corner. And we do pull out some sweaters!

 

I'm off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #707

 

Freshly Made Sketches #707 is a sketch by Judy that had me stumped. 

I always panic with grids, and getting the pieces lined up.

 This isn't the first card I made using the sketch, but the one that I'm happiest with.

I used some papers from an old Moda Scrap pad and trimmed the pieces per 

the sketch. I ran the panel through a patchwork embossing folder and you 

probably can't tell but there was shrinkage so the card is smaller than A2 size.

I lightly inked around the circular piece so it would stand out a little. An Altenew

sentiment finished off the card.

Ok, off to link this up! Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown Challenge #842

 

The colors for Color Throwdown #842 are GREEN, RED, and ORANGE.

 

 

Perfect colors for fall so I pulled out a new leaf die. I know, as if I needed a new LEAF 

in the family. But the Boho Leaves were so unusual, I grabbed them right away.

 

 

So where's the "boho" part you ask? Well, as much as I loved the doily feature, it just

covered up too much of the colors so it went without. I adhered it to a foliage embossed

card and finished off with the Altenew sentiment. And although it's hard to see in the pic,

I also added some clear drops.

Hopefully, the full boho leaves will make an appearance soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

JUGS Die Week #795 -- LEAVES

 

Bobby is the hostess for JUGS Die Week #795 and she's asking us to pull out

our LEAVES.for the challenge.

 

 

 

I had some oddly colored oak leaves in my stash of die cuts and thought "why not?"

 I embossed a card base and adhered the leaves.

 

 I added a gold diecut sentiment from The Stamp Market and no other embellies

were added because it's such a busy card.

And I believe I still have a few days before the deadline. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: My card was given an honorable shout out! 

Thanks so much, Bobby and JUGS!

 

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #706

 

Freshly Made Sketches #706 is courtesy of Amy. And it looks like this.

 

 

I had several ideas for the circular element and decided on a wreath. Plus it

was already made and in the packaging with the die.
 

 I cut a strip of striped paper and added strips of gold glitter card stock per the sketch.

I adhered them to a top folding card base and finished off with the script sentiment.

A quick post today and I'm off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!

CASE Me A Christmas Card 2025

Blogging friend Michelle Lupton kindly invited me to join CASE Me a Christmas 

Card 2025. A few years ago, her invitation was to CASE her card. This year there's 

a new twist. She's invited several card maker friends and we're CASE-ing

each other in an Instagram hop. And there are prizes from generous sponsors.

 

My assignment was to CASE (Copy And Selectively Edit) a card by Heather Ruwe

from her Instagram feed. I took quite a while to pick a card to CASE and finally

chose this one. I went with "cute critter" and "wreath",

And here's my CASE of her card with a Christmas theme.

 

My critter of choice was the Nordic Bundled Bunny from Poppystamps and

putting its outfit together was like playing paper dolls. Such a cutie! I have several

wreath stamps and dies but chose Altenew's Sweet Blooms Die Set and fashioned

my own wreath. I added the flowers from the set to mimic the sequins on 

Heather's card. A Spellbinders sentiment finished off the card.

 

 Visit Michelle Lupton's IG page for a list of the hop participants and all the details

 on how you can score some awesome prizes!

Inspired by Challenge #355 -- ACORN

 

A new die that arrived from Simon Says Stamp prompted me to enter the latest 

Inspired by Challenge #355 with the cue word ACORN.

I used the current sketch as a starting point for my card.

A Papertrey Ink wood slice was the base for the acorns and leaves. A kraft card base

was run through an embossing folder and inked with white pigment ink. I adhered

the acorn bundle and added the sentiment. White spatters finished off the card.

I'm off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!

 * * *

Edited to add: My card was chosen as the winner for the challenge!

Thank you, Inspired by Challenges!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #705

 

Narelle brings us Freshly Made Sketches #705 and it looks like this.

 

 

I brought out a die that's at least 12 years old that was a favorite back then.

  

 

 

The Memory Box die is called Modern Landscape and I used my surgical skills

to cut the landscape apart and taper off some hills. All the pieces were inked

 then colored with Zig markers and I couldn't resist some water spatter.

I stamped the sentiment on the bottom strip then adhered the three pieces

on a dot embossed card base.

Apologies for using "old" supplies but they were well loved and still are.

Thanks for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: Verena honored me with a Princess title for my card.

Thank you Verena and FMS!

 

 

Inspired by Challenge #354 -- AUTUMN

 

I'm joining the latest Inspired by Challenge #354 with the cue word AUTUMN.

I love those pumpkins and found some in my stash that were already colored. Yay!

I don't remember what I was going to use them for but they're at least a year old.

Some extra leaves and swirly vines were cut and colored and I decided to just

add them to a card base because they were too large for the sketch.

I stamped the sentiment before running the card through an embossing folder

then adhered the pumpkins. Now that I look at the card, those plum colored ones

look more like eggplants.......Oh well.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Guest Designer for Freshly Made Sketches #704

 

I have the pleasure of guesting with this week's Freshly Made Sketches #704

when my card was chosen as the winner for their milestone 700th sketch.

 

Here's the fun sketch, designed by DT member Michele. 

 

Bubbly fun, right? I had so many ideas but finally settled on this.

 

 

I love the round leaves of the Berry Branches from The Stamp Market and that

there are two sizes to play with. I went neutral with a kraft embossed panel

and left the branches white. A Waffle Flower sentiment finished off the card.

I can't wait to see how the team members interpreted Michele's sketch, each

in their own distinctive style. We'd love to see your card(s) in the gallery. 

You have until Monday, Sept 22nd at 3pm EST to link up your card.

 

Thanks to Jen and the team for the guest invitation 💗