Sunday, August 24, 2025

Inspired by Challenge #350 -- FISH

 
I hemmed and hawed about sharing this card for Inspired by Challenge #350.
 
 
 Those fish plates caught my eye--aren't they pretty? Even though IB team member
Amy used The Stamp Market's Fintastic set, I was determined to use it, too. 
Small problem: I couldn't find the set.

On to plan B, something that resembled fish and it was Altenew's leaves to the rescue.
My second favorite set of leaves and I was pleasantly surprised that some of them
actually looked like fish!
 

To add to the fishy experience I used a new embossing folder (Underwater Waltz)
from Spellbinders that was waiting for this moment to be used. I colored the leaves in 
blues and even added some seaweed for good measure. An Altenew sentiment 
finished off the card.

P.S. Eventually I found the Fintastic set but I got attached to the faux fish so I'll 
save it for another challenge.
 
 

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #700

 
It's a celebration over at Freshly Made Sketches as they've reached their milestone
700th challenge in 14 years! I just had to make some time to join the fun.
 

 A super fun sketch, right? Visit Freshly Made Sketches and be inspired by their
design team and take a look back at each past and present member's first project.

Here's how I was inspired.


Spellbinders' Sunflower Die just arrived a few days ago after being OOS for quite
sometime. I die cut several layers from light yellow card stock and inked them
to create multi colored sunflowers. 

I cut a square card base from cream colored card stock and ran the front through
an embossing folder. I wanted to frame the flowers so I cut MFT's Square Frame
then placed the flowers inside.

I added the single leaf, following the sketch, and chose a long script sentiment
to finish off the card.
 
Happy 700th, Freshly Made Sketches! Thanks for all the fun and inspiration
you bring week after week and here's to #800!
 
 
* * * 


Edited to add: Completely surprised and honored that my card was chosen as the
Queen of Clean for the 700th Sketch! Thank you so much, Freshly Made Sketches!
 
 
 

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

The Flower Challenge #105 -- Add Embellishments

 This month's theme over at The Flower Challenge #105 is to Add Embellishments.

 
I'm not as embellishment crazy as I used to be. I'd buy sequins and enamel dots in 
every color and size--not to mention buttons and ribbons. For my card, I went with 
my favorite clear enamel dots that I like to use, especially on florals.

 
I used the new Honeycomb Cover Plate and was inspired by the colors on a card by 
Kelly Lunceford. Flowers and leaves were cut from Altenew's Zero Waste Chocolate
Flowers Cover Plate and arranged over the panel.


I added the gold embossed sentiment and of course, the clear enamel dots that
remind me of water droplets.

Okay I'm off to link up my card. Thanks so much for stopping by!



Monday, August 18, 2025

JUGS Word Week #788 -- BIRTHDAY

 
It's Word Week over at Just Us Girls Challenge #788 and the word is BIRTHDAY.
 
 
 
Here's how I was inspired.
 

  I thought that the birthday mug with candles inside was the cutest image and 
I know several caffeine drinkers who would appreciate it.

 I cut and colored the mug and candles and added some Stickles to the flames.
I used the new Numbers embossing folder for the background, trimmed to show
the diagonal stripes after adhering the paper to a card base. 


I adhered the mug and a white embossed sentiment. Some glittery enamel dots
finished off the card.

I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge--Anything Goes--
since I used several SSS products.

Off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!
 
 

Friday, August 15, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #699

 
Verena is hosting the current Freshly Made Sketches $699 with this fun sketch.
 

 Since any shape can be substituted for the circular element, I went with a wood slice.
 

A birch wood slice was assembled and a few blooms were added on the side. 
A panel was embossed then trimmed and adhered to a card base. The wood
slice was adhered to the card and finished off with a script sentiment.

I hope that I haven't strayed too far from Verena's sketch. Thanks so much 
for stopping by!


* * * 

Edited to add: Many thanks to Karren for the Princess status for my card!



Monday, August 11, 2025

JUGS Die Week #787 -- FLORALS

 
It's Die Week over at JUGS Challenge and Elizabeth requests using FLORAL dies
on our project. 
 
 

 
She must have heard me squeal while using Pinkfresh Studio's Floral Field stencil  
and die set. Here's my card.


I don't remember when this set came out but I've had it for a while and finally, after
watching a zillion how to videos, I summoned up the courage to create a card. 
There are SEVEN stencils and having those triangles as guides for cutting out 
the image without any white border is genius! I felt like a fussy cutter!


I embossed a card base with a dotty embossing folder and tripled up the image for
dimension. I splattered white paint and added some clear drops. A PFS ready made 
foiled sentiment finished off the card.

Off to link this up. Thanks, always, for stopping by!



Thursday, August 7, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #698

 
Kim brings us a color blocked Freshly Made Sketches #698.


But I didn't go that route. I got reacquainted with Tim Holtz's Leaf Fragment dies 
this past weekend and was inspired by Tim and some of his makers after watching 


I was going to get inky and color the leaves but reached for a pad of patterned
paper with autumnal colors. After cutting out several leaves I inked around 
the edges with brown ink and gold watercolor ink and spattered some, too.


I embossed a panel with a 3D embossing folder and placed the leaves on top.
It was a little challenging to follow the sketch with such abstract shapes
but I did my best. An Altenew sentiment finished off the card.

Is it me or does the orange leaf on the right resemble a chunky carrot? 
Maybe I should have used another paper. Oh well....

Thanks for stopping by!


* * *

Edited to add: My card was given a Princess honor by Cécile! Thanks so much!