Tuesday, June 24, 2025

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!

Saturday, June 21, 2025

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!
 

Sunday, June 15, 2025

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!
 
 

Thursday, June 5, 2025

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!
 


Monday, June 2, 2025

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!