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!

 

 

 

Inspired by Challenge #328

 

It's been a while since I've joined Inspired by Challenges and thought I'd

enter their latest challenge--#328 Inspired by Pillows.

 

How cute are those pillows? Here's how I was inspired.

Yes, it's the pillow in the foreground with the pink blooms. I can just feel the 

texture of the chenille looking flowers.

 

Reverse Wonky Rectangles (I wish Spellbinders would bring this one back)

was cut and run through the dotty embossing folder then topped with

assorted blooms and leaves. I decided to frame the card at the last

minute and finished off with the sentiment and pearls on the flowers. 

 

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

Color Throwdown Challenge #829

 

I'm nearly down to the deadline for Color Throwdown Challenge #829--blue, lime green,

and green.

I remember starting a card with somewhat similar colors but never finished it

because I was sure I was stenciling it wrong. 

 

At first I didn't like how the leaves and berries overlapped each other. Using blues

and greens looked better than when I used red and green which left brown spots.

This time because the two colors blended well, I thought it fit perfectly with the

challenge colors. 

 

I ran the panel through a quilted cover plate, added the sentiment and a few

blue sequins. And a bit of spatter for good measure.

 

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

Freshly Made Sketches #678

 

Hello, hello!

I'm back and still feeling a bit jet lagged but happy to be making a card for  

Freshly Made Sketches #678 courtesy of Cécile. It's an artsy one, isn't it?

 

 I wanted a grid pattern under the dragonfly and resorted to inking some color over 

an embossed grid surface.

 

 

I spattered some green ink then adhered the dragonfly. A Honeybee Stamps 

sentiment and green gold sequins finished off the card. 

Traveling is fun but it's always nice to come home, even if it meant tackling three

batches of laundry--just for two people!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #676

 

Here's Freshly Made Sketches #676 courtesy of Kim.

 A lot of possibilities for those circular elements but I ended up going citrus and 

happened to have several Greetery Citrus Slices already premade. Yay!

I embossed some texture before adding the frame and fruits. I tucked in a few leaves

and finished off with the simple sentiment. 

I'm pleased as punch when I can use premade goodies on my card, especially when

it's down to the wire to enter AND I remembered where I put them. (Wink!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Flower Challenge #100 -- Add Circles

 

 The Flower Challenge is celebrating its 100th Challenge! The theme for this

milestone is Add Circles and several DT members are generously offering prizes 

to add to the festivities!

 

I was going to make a shaped card but the design was "side heavy' and it was stressful

 trying to balance the card, so I decided to add the element to a card base.

 

I used Altenew's Zero Waste Chocolate Flowers cover plate and cut out all the 

flowers and leaves from white card stock. The inks were applied using the color 

palette inspired by Rachel Arribas (@rachelrdesigns). I didn't have the exact

 Pinkfresh colors that she used but it was close enough and I was happy with it.

 

I layered two circle dies and made a frame before adding the flowers and leaves.

I stamped the sentiment and ran the card base through a dotty embossing folder 

then popped the circular element on top.

The challenge has just started and if time (and my grand kids!) permits, I may 

enter a second card before the deadline. Thanks for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: Honored that my card was chosen as the winner for the challenge!

Thanks so much, The Flower Challenge!

Freshly Made Sketches #675

 

Freshly Made Sketches #675, courtesy of Linda, is open to so many possibilities.

 

I took the botanical route.

I found a discontinued Pinkfresh Studio die set (Dainty Blossoms) and put my 

Zig Kuretake markers to work. Following the sketch, I embossed a panel, then 

adhered the stems and leaves.

I wanted a strip sentiment so I reached for  Simon Says Stamp Reverse sentiment with 

quite possibly the smallest font I've ever seen.

Off to link this up--I'm early for a change. Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

Time Out Challenges #283 -- Birthday Celebration CASE the Designer

 

A while back, my card was chosen as the winner for a collaboration challenge with 

Time Out Challenges and JUGS but because of time constraints I wasn't able to join them 

for a guest spot.

  

Fast forward to the end of 2024 and Stephanie Lanzalotto asked if I would participate 

in Time Out Challenges CASE the Designer and I humbly accepted the invitation to be

their muse.

 

 

 Time Out's Challenge #283 marks their 11th Birthday Celebration and yes, there's a 

generous sponsor and prize! The winner of the challenge will receive a $25 Store credit

 to Gina K Designs and you have until March 12th at 5:00PM London time to enter. 

The theme is BIRTHDAY and I went with a favorite card sketch from Freshly Made

Sketches, courtesy of Karren.

 

 

I used my go to craft mediums--stenciling and embossing and rather than a birthday 

sentiment, I went with an all occasion "celebrate" so the card can be used for other

celebratory occasions as well.

 Please visit the Time Out Challenge blog for all the details. Join the celebration, 

CASE my card, and you could be shopping at the Gina K store! 

Thanks to Stephanie and the TIME OUT team for the invitation to be your muse. 

I can't wait to peruse the gallery and see the entries!

                

                   

               Supplies used:

               Altenew Flower Bed Stencil

               Simon Says Stamp Vine Canopy 3D Embossing Folder

               Concord & 9th Defined Bundle

           

            

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #674

 

Jen M. brings us Freshly Made Sketches #674.

 

Here's what I came up with using products from five different companies.

Luckily, I had (and found!) MFT's scalloped edge dies and trimmed out a floral

design from patterned paper. After adhering it to a brown card base, I ran the panel

through a dotty embossing folder.

I added the sentiment and finished off the card with an extra Pinkfresh Studio butterfly

that was hanging around, and some iridescent sequins.

Not sure why I used a dark card base. Could be because it's gloomy and cloudy here today.

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

Freshly Made Sketches #673

 

Freshly Made Sketches #673 is a clean and simple one from Jen T.

 

 

I attempted to follow the sketch design, but I blame "the bird."

 

 

I'm a huge fan of bird dies and when I saw Memory Box's "regal birds" I couldn't wait

to order them. Birds wearing crowns?  I die.

I followed the colors of their example in the store then perched him on a berry branch.

I added a little texture with a doily embossing folder, adhered him to an arch,

and stamped the sentiment before popping up the element. 

I hope you (and Jen) can see the sketch, Off to link up this little guy.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Color Throwdown Challenge #826

 

This week's color palette for Color Throwdown Challenge #826 is pink, brown, and white.

I must admit that I'm not a fan of pink, but paired with brown changes my perspective.

Here's my card using supplies from Altenew's Chocolate Flowers Kit. I was drawn to the 

3D embossing folder and Amy Tsuruta enabled me to get the whole kit after I saw her

fun card. I love that the flowers are another of Altnew's Zero Waste dies which makes

me feel good about not wasting card stock.

The "chocolate" was embossed, trimmed, and adhered to a card base then decorated

with flowers and leaves that were cut from white card stock and colored with pinks 

and beige. An Altenew sentiment and some sequins finished off the card.

Off to link this up--I'm early for a change. Thanks for stopping by!

Color Hues Challenge #103 -- Pink and Red Collaboration

  

 Color Hues Challenge #103 is a collaborative one with Inkspirational Colour

Challenge using the color palette of PINK and RED.

 

 

With Valentine's Day just around the corner--can you believe it's February?--

I pulled out one of my favorite retired heart stencils from Paper Smooches.

I used a variety of red and pink dye inks and stenciled big and small hearts in

gradient shades of red. I spattered some white paint and finished off with a

stamped and cut sentiment, also from Paper Smooches.

 

I'm off to link this up at Color Hues and new-to-me Inkspirational Colour Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

Edited to add: My card was chosen as a Runner Up for TCH103.

Thank you, Color Hues! 

 

 

 

...and as a Top Pick at Inkspirational Challenges!  

 Thank you so much!

 

 

 

SSS IG Challenge/January 2025 Flickr Challenge

 One card, two challenges. It doesn't happen very often around here.

Simon Says Stamp has a new to me challenge on Instagram and this month's theme

is White on White. 

 

I love using cream card stock for my "white on white" projects. The cream tones down

the whiteness, if that makes sense. It's a little easier on the eyes and photos well, too

I went one step further and created a shaped white on white card using lots of supplies

from Spellbinders.

After die cutting the largest butterfly in So Many Butterflies twice, I ran one 

through an embossing folder. A hinge was formed on the second butterfly and adhered 

to the embossed piece to form a free standing card.

 

The body was attached to the wings and flowers and leaves were tucked under it. 

A small tag was stamped with a small sentiment and I added small gems to some 

of the flowers.

I'm also entering January 2025 SSS Flickr Challenge with the theme of

Anything Goes. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Color Hues Challenge #101 -- Red and Kraft

 One of my favorite color combos are the colors for Color Hues Challenge #101--

red and kraft. There's something about the brightness of the reds paired with 

the neutral kraft that is so appealing to me.

 

 

So with Valentine's Day around the corner. that's the theme I decided to go with.
I pulled out an older Simon Says Stamp set--Printmaking Hearts. And lo and 

behold, a bunch of alcohol inked hearts fell out of the envelope of dies so my work

was mostly done.
 

 It's hard to see in the photo but there are specks of gold and a big splotch in the

middle heart and I'm hoping that's acceptable for the challenge.

I ran a panel through an embossing folder then adhered it to a card base. The

hearts were adhered to the card and I finished with a white embossed sentiment.

I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp's Flickr Challenge for January

with their "Anything Goes" theme.

Off to link this up, thanks so much for stopping by!

* * * 

 

 

Edited to add: Honored that my card was chosen as a Runner Up!
 Thank you, Color Hues Challenge!