JUGS Die Week #782 -- SUMMER THINGS

 

Vicki Dutcher of JUGS (Just Us Girls) Challenge invited me to guest for the month

of July and it was more than enough time to plan ahead, so I gladly accepted.

 

 

This is DIE Week #782 and the theme is SUMMER THINGS.

 

 What screams summer to me is popsicles and shaved ice, although here in Hawaii,

we gobble them down no matter what the season--and endure "brain freeze."

 

 

I love these ice cream dies from Concord & 9th. They are discontinued

but I think the shapes are relatively easy to DIY to create your own sweets.

 After stenciling details on the popsicles I spattered them with liquid stardust.

A yellow card base was embossed with a Spellbinders folder and the popsicles

were adhered to it. Some clear drops were added and a white embossed

Paper Smooches sentiment finished off the card.

 

So, what does "summer' mean to you? Pull out your dies and come and join 

the challenge! Please visit the JUGS blog for all the details and deadlines.

We hope you can join in the summertime fun!

 

 

The Flower Challenge #103

 

With just hours left before the deadline, I'm linking up this card to 

The Flower Challenge #103 which is to add embossing--either heat or dry--to your 

card, and still keep the focus on flowers.

 

It took me a while to decide whether or not to enter the challenge, hence the

under the wire submission. I just found the embossing folder which I'd misplaced after

it arrived and I decided to finally use it.

I planned to do some ink blending over the entire panel, but it would have covered up 

the beautiful embossing so I left it white and focused on the die cut piece. I've always 

admired those who color their embossed images and since this was a small area, I thought 

I'd give it a go with my Copic markers.

Gosh, that was stressful! Between my bad eyesight (with glasses!) and markers

that needed refilling I barely managed to color all the flowers and leaves.

But if you squint, it looks pretty decent.

I finished off with a sentiment from Altenew and popped up the piece and called

 it done. Have you ever colored an embossed panel? Maybe if I had steadier hands 

and wasn't in such a rush to finish I wouldn't have freaked out.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my angst!

Freshly Made Sketches #691

 

It's Michele's first post as a Freshly Made Sketches designer! And she's created

a sketch that is "all her". 

 

 

I was tempted to use a flower but resorted to some new Spellbinder goodies

that just arrived.

 

I was smitten with the Frog Prince and assembled him and the toadstool pretty quickly.

Choosing a sentiment was the roadblock for me, as it usually is

 

I recalled the story of The Frog Prince and there are so many versions, as I found

 out on Wikipedia. The premise is that a frog (who is actually a prince) is turned back 

into a prince after he finds a princess who actually gave him a kiss (yuck!) and 

broke the spell. Lucky prince who got his wish!

Alex Syberia's Tiny Dot Cover Plate was layered over kraft card stock and the frog

and sentiment were adhered to it and the card was done. Now off to link it up!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

* * *

 

Edited to add:  Honored with the Princess title from Judy! 

Thank you Judy, and FMS!

 

Freshly Made Sketches #690

Today's card for Freshly Made Sketches #690 gets a prize for the most

remakes and layers, ever.

 

 

I think it's because of the elements on the top portion of the sketch which 

I thought about flipping several times.

 

 

 I've seen the new bird collection from Spellbinders and ordered Oscar which 

I knew would not arrive in time. Then I remembered a Small Die of the Month set

and dug deep to find it.

I watched Tina Smith use a circular element which I liked because it has a 

cage like feel. I assembled the parrot which has a jillion pieces from its tail to 

the wing and those teeny tiny feet.

After choosing the colors for the striped portion of the sketch, I ran the card

 front through an embossing folder. I added the greenery and sentiment to the 

circular element along with the parrot and branch. Done! Finally.....

I'm thinking this card isn't exactly "clean" and I should have simplified the

design but it was crunch time. I'm off to link this up! Thanks for the visit!

* * *

Edited to add: My card received the Princess status from Kim.Thanks so much, Kim!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #689

 

Cécile brings us Freshly Made Sketches #689 and I was excited to make a square 

card, although it's not a requirement. It's just been a while since I've made one.

 

 

 

I substituted a wood slice from The Greetery for the square element and added 

some splatters and a few Waffle Flower Dry Flowers that were colored with Zigs 

and a water brush. 

The 5" by 5" card base was embossed before the wood slice was adhered. For the 

sentiment I found an oldie from Right at Home to finish off the card.

Thanks, always, for stopping by! 

* * *

Edited to add:  Honored with the Princess title from Jen B. Thanks so much Jen and

Freshly Made Sketches!

 

Inspired by Challenge #338

 

Squeezing in a card for Inspired by Challenge #338 which is all about

LADYBUGS.  I semi panicked because I looked through my supplies and there

were NO ladybugs except for teeny tiny ones. 

Then I spotted a ladybug on an Alex Syberia set and decided to use it

since it was a nice size. Here's how I was inspired.

I had a wicker basket embossed card base already assembled so it was just

a matter of finding greenery and a sentiment. There were some extra

leafy branches from a previous project and I placed them diagonally

on the card.

The ladybug was cut from C&9th card stock and assembled. I found a bottle

of Glossy Accents and applied one coating on the bug. An MFT sentiment

finished off the card.

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

Freshly Made Sketches #688

 

I went way off course with Freshly Made Sketches #688. I blame my time on

the CAS(E) this Sketch design team for that. Often times I'd squint at the sketch

and then have an "ah-ha!" moment.

 

 Here's this week's sketch, courtesy of Jen B.

 

 

And here's my take on it. I must have had graduation and lei on my mind although 

there are no graduates that we know of this year.

 

I ran a gray panel through a Spellbinder's embossing folder and it them per the sketch.

The flowers from a Stamp Market Cover Die were inked lightly in pastel colors and my first

thought was to adhere them to an oval shape but in the end I went rogue and just  adhered

 them to the card. 

 

A CZ Design sentiment was cut from white card stock and adhered to a vellum shadow 

before being adhered to the card. I'm forever grateful to the inventor of vellum. Being 

able to adhere a word sentiment and still have that transparency makes me so happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

* * *

 Edited to add: I'm thrilled that Cécile gave my card a Princess honor! Thank you, Cécile!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #687

 

Freshly Made Sketches newest team member, Verena, introduces her first 

sketch design this week. So many possibilities using that crescent shape.

 

Here's how I was inspired by her sketch.

 

I knew that I was going to use Altenew's Zero Waste Chocolate Flowers Dies and 

let the foliage to create the crescent shape. The beauty of the Zero Waste Die 

is you can cut out a ton of blooms from white card stock and use inks to

color them as you wish.

I decided to use the embossing folder which resembles a chocolate candy bar 

and can also stand on its own. I finished off the card with a sentiment from

My Favorite Things.

I'm feeling so organized this week, linking up way earlier than usual. Yay, me!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

    P.S. If you're interested in the Zero Waste Chocolate Flowers Kit, it is now back 

in stock after being OOS for months. Out of all their Zero Waste dies, this one 

is my fave and you'll need to purchase the entire kit, but it's worth every penny!

 

* * *

 

Honored that my card was chosen as a Princess for the challenge.

Thanks so much, Kim!  

 

Inspired by Challenge #336

 

I'm near the deadline for Inspired by Challenge #336 which is all about LEMONS.

Here's the cool graphic for the challenge.

 

And here's how I was inspired--the lemons, of course, and the blues and touch of gingham.

The Concord & 9th lemons, greenery and flowers were cut and assembled and I

even added some antique Stickles that thankfully, wasn't dried up. All the pieces

were assembled on a Reverse Wonky Rectangle die that was covered with

turquoise gingham plaid.

I cut another piece and adhered it to the front with a hinge so the card could

stand on its own. The stamped sentiment finished off the card.

 

I'm off to link up this card with about a day left--whew!

Thanks, always, for stopping by!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #686

 

Kim brings us Freshly Made Sketches #686 that I initially thought looked "friendly" 

 then struggled with measurements. I was never a star pupil in Math.

I cut a panel of the forest green card stock, then a kraft panel with a circle cut

through the center. I then ran the kraft panel through an embossing folder and 

assembled the flowers through the opening. A Waffle Flower sentiment

finished off the card.

 

I wanted to showcase the flowers from Waffle Flower that Shauna Todd colored on

the Foiled Fox blog. I used my faithful Zigs and a water brush whereas she used

Distress reinkers. It was a fun, stress free coloring session that I'll be doing again..

Thanks for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: Narelle gave my card a Princess status! Thank you so much!

Inspired by Challenge #335

 

A belated Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms, Moms to be,

and anyone who's a Mommy figure--and that includes Dads! 

 

I had a few mechanical issues (my Big Shot's handle slid off) and while I managed to 

put it back together, I needed a tiny screwdriver to tighten it.

And the only person who knew what I needed and where it was.....

was at the golf course. Long story short, hubby helped tighten the tiny screw

and I was back in business. Yay!

* * *

 

 

 

The challenge theme for Inspired by #335 is Basket of Flowers and here's 

how I was inspired.

 

Initially I was going to use a basket but changed to a basket weave panel. I cut the panel 

on a diagonal for interest and swiped white pigment ink over it to bring out the texture. 

I filled in the area with assorted flowers and leaves and stamped the sentiment

from Pinkfresh Studio. I rounded off the bottom corners to further mimic a basket.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

JUGS Word Week #774 -- FRUIT

 

The graphic for JUGS Word Week #774 caught my eye. FRUIT! I happened to be

looking through my Waffle Flower inventory and spotted some products that

have never been opened. I seem to be finding that a lot lately.

 

 

 I watched the talented Caly Person make a couple of fruity cards and decided 

on a watermelon card.

 

 

 Watermelon happens to be a favorite in our household and we are lucky

to have some locally grown ones that will make their debut soon.

I inked up some Watermelon card stock from C&9th with Poppy ink that

faded to the rind. I followed Caly's idea of a two toned rind and adhered some

black seeds. I finished off the card with a white embossed sentiment.

 

 I do wish it read "you make my TUMMY smile", but HEART was close enough.

I was also going to trim the card into a pie shaped "slice" as Caly mentioned

but it was an afterthought that would have had me splitting seeds.

Maybe next time.

Thanks for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: My card was chosen as the Winner of the Week! I'm so

honored! Thank you JUGS!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #684

 

This week, Jen M went old school and brings a fun sketch for Freshly Made

Sketches #684 with so many possibilities for the circular element.

 

 

I chose PTI's spring nest and had a wreath in mind, then settled on an unoccupied  

nest. I stamped a sentiment in the middle and added some spatters. A strip of kraft 

card stock was run through a linen embossing folder and I didn't have a suitable

fancy edge die, so it went without.

I'm "early" for a change, so I'm off to link this up. Thanks so much for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: Honored with a Princess pick for my card. Thank you to

Verena and Freshly Made Sketches!

Freshly Made Sketches #683

 

Jen T brings us Freshly Made Sketches #683, a sketch she designed to go "halfsies"

with a panel that allows for lots of creative options.

 

I found an old Moda Scrap paper pack and chose a sheet of florals and one with a 

watercolor wash. I cut them per the sketch and ran the left panel through an embossing 

folder then went over the surface with a sanding block to make the sentiments stand out.

I spattered gold paint over both panels and decided it looked a little too plain so I 

reached for Pinkfresh Studio's Fluttering Butterflies washi tape and found a pink 

one that was pretty close in color to the paper. 

The butterfly and branch were adhered to the card base and I called it done.

 

I'm really liking Altenew's new 3D embossing folders which saved me the trouble of 

choosing a sentiment, then worrying about its placement.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

* * *

Edited to add: Honored that my card was a  Princess pick! Thanks so much, Jen B

and to the gals at Freshly Made Sketches!

Inspired by Challenge #332

Squeezing in under the wire, my card for Inspired by Challenge #332--

inspired by color.

 

 

 

 Such a pretty color palette, I love the modern rainbow color order.

I was looking at my stash of washi tape, then decided on some dies from

my beloved Paper Smooches--the skyline.

I diecut the buildings from watercolor paper and messy colored them with Zigs

and a waterbrush in rainbow order. I added them to a card base and stamped

the simple sentiment. Done! No embellies, no spatters. Done.

 

 And now with about a day left, I'm off to link this up.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

* * *

Edited to add: So honored that my card was chosen as the winner of the challenge!

Thank you, Inspired by Challenge!

 

Color Throwdown Challenge #831

 

Tammy brings us Color Throwdown Challenge #831 with a summery color palette 

of sage green, yellow, and coral.

 

I pulled out an older Greetery stencil set and the hardest part was finding an ink color

in my ink inventory that was closest to sage. 

 

Concord & 9th's eucalyptus was a close match and the image was die cut after

stenciling. I ran a panel through a lace doily embossing folder and adhered it to a 

card base. The bouquet was adhered and partially popped up for some dimension.  

After stamping the sentiment I felt that the card needed something so I assembled 

a loopy bow and adhered it near the stems. 

I'm not 100% pleased with my sage green and now I know I'll need to invest in

that color. Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #681

 

 Amy brings us a fun sketch for Freshly Made Sketches #681.

I thought about using a banner die or pocket stamp but in the end, I went rogue.

 

I pulled out Altenew's Mega U die and covered it with my fave Altenew washi 

tape and substituted it for the image. After running the card front through a  

dotty embossing folder--again!--I adhered the alpha and sentiment.

I was going to leave it as is but as a last minute decision, I added some greenery

from my Waffle Flower order that just arrived. 

 

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

* * *

Edited to add: Honored that my card was chosen as the winner for FMS #681!

Thanks, so much, Amy!

 

 

Color Hues #107 -- Orange & Teal

 

Jules has chosen "football colors" for Color Hues Challenge #107. They remind

me of a tropical summer.

 

 I decided to go "leafy" with a favorite set of leaves from Altenew.

 

 After die cutting several different leaf styles from white card stock, I inked 

them in orange and the closest color I had to teal. I ran a card front through an

embossing folder, then mounted four leaves over it.  

I usually like odd numbers but chose four leaves because I wanted equal 

opportunity for both colors. I added a reverse sentiment strip and finished off 

with some sequins.

Since I mentioned "summer" I may try a second card for the challenge. 

But don't hold me to it. Thanks for stopping by!

JUGS Anything Goes Stencil Week

 

It was not my intention to enter JUGS Anything Goes Stencil Week #768

but while cleaning and organizing my stencils and dies I came upon some that

have never made it out of the packaging. Oh my.
 

 I watched Carissa Wiley's YouTube tutorial on using Concord & 9th's

Cottage Garden Stencil Pack (in my favorite colors!) I decided to give it a try. 

I used the exact same colors as she did because, lo and behold, my inks were

unopened, too. I'd  been using the minis but since the images are larger, I used

the larger pads. Now I'm thinking they need a bit of reinking. 

After stenciling the image I ran it through a dotty embossing folder and 

finished off with a sentiment from Spring Print Sentiments and Die. Clear

drops finished off the card.

I think I have a day or two before the deadline so I'll link this up and get back

to organizing. Thanks for stopping by!

Color Hues #106 — Lemon & Lime

I love the springtime colors for Color Hues Challenge #106--LEMON and LIME. 

 

 

 I have an abundance of lemon and lime stamps and stencils but decided to use

a butterfly for my card.

Two butterflies were die cut from yellow card stock and run through an embossing

folder. I created a hinge on the back piece and adhered the two pieces together

to form a free standing card.

Green ink was brushed on to one side of the butterfly for the "lime" color. Flowers

and leaves were cut from colored card stock and adhered to the front of the

butterfly. A sentiment was stamped in gold ink and trimmed and tucked into

the flowers. The card was finished off with white paint spatters.

Thanks, always, for stopping by!

* * *

 

Edited to add:  Honored that my card was chosen as a Top Few Runner Up.

Thanks so much, Color Hues!