Freshly Made Sketches #755

 

 

Sketch #755 over at Freshly Made Sketches is by yours truly. 

It seems that I had Christmas on my mind and even though you may see a tree, 

the shape can be anything you wish.   

 

 

I went with a tree.

 

 I saw, but never bought, Pinkfresh Studio's Festive Foliage stencils and die when

it was first released. Well, I'm glad that I waited because I was able to grab both

at 50% off. I was hoping the order would arrive in time for the challenge,

and although I had a "plan B", I was thankful that it did.

 

I stenciled the tree and die cut the image. A green strip was adhered per the sketch

 and I popped up the tree on a card base embossed with tiny dots. I chose the word

 "joy"  for my sentiment and cut it out of shiny silver card stock. Small clear sequins 

finished off my card.

 

And for those inquiring minds, here's a glimpse at Plan B that I was going

to share if my PFS order didn't arrive in time. Still a tree.

 

So, to tree or not to tree? The choice is yours! 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see how my teammates interpreted the sketch and 

join us if you can. You have until Mon, Sept 28th at 3PM EST to link up your card.

Hope to see you in our gallery! 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #745

 

Jen T is this week's sketch designer for Freshly Made Sketches #745 and 

here's what she designed for us. 

 

 

 

It's been a while since I made a square card and I was looking forward to working

with Jen's sketch. Here's what I came up with.

  

I used Concord & 9th's Just Picked dies after seeing Michele use them on a card and I

didn't realize that I already owned the set because I was so focused on the vases and 

didn't notice the prickly bloom. 

 

I colored two of the blooms and a bud and assembled them on a scalloped

square (from MFT which is no longer in business). A square was cut from gray

card stock and run through an embossing folder then adhered to a card base.

I adhered the scalloped square and finished off with the Altenew sentiment.

 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see how the rest of the team interpreted

Jen's sketch and we hope you'll play along with us. The deadline to link up

your card is Monday, July 20th at 3PM EST.

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #727

It's Michele's turn to grace us with a sketch for Freshly Made Sketches #727

and it's a good one! Check it out.

So many possibilities, right? As always, I had a completely different idea in mind from

when I started and decided to go "cute" which doesn't happen too often 'round here.

I was inspired by Michele's card and her bunny theme.

I discovered a SSS bunny die from an older release and assembled her with a scarf 

and added an egg between her paws. I used an arch die and inked two colors on it 

and spattered it with water. 

A panel was embossed with an embossing folder and the arch was adhered over it. 

I added the bunny and some greenery per the sketch and topped it with a 

woodgrain frame. I finished off the card with a Waffle Flower sentiment and 

white jewel dots.

Visit Freshly Made Sketches for all the details and deadline and more inspiration 

from the rest of the design team. You have until Monday, March 16th to link up your card.

Freshly Made Sketches #722

 

Teammie Kim brings us a fun sketch this week  Meet Freshly Made Sketches #722.

 

I thought about going rogue and turning the sketch but in the end I stuck with 

Kim's version.

I used Altenew's Craft Your Life Chocolate Flowers kit, which is still one of my 

favorite sets. I embossed the chocolate bar design and trimmed it per the sketch.

Using the Zero Waste cover plate, I cut flowers and leaves in one pass with white

card stock because I wanted to color them in 

I used bright colors and inked and assembled the blooms. I adhered them to the

diagonal and finished off with a white embossed sentiment.

Visit Freshly Made Sketches for all the details and see more inspiration from the 

rest of the team. Will you go rogue by turning the sketch or play with it as is?

We'd love to see and hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

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 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!

 

 

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!

 

 

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!

 

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 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!

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 #654

I'm entering Freshly Made Sketches #654 after seeing some gnomes pop up

and remembered how much I loved them. And their shape mimicked the sketch.

 

Here's my card and I substituted a tree because two gnomes were rather squishy.

 

 

I assembled the Large Gnome with patterned paper and searched high and low for

a tree that I was happy with. Twig and Stump's tree fit the bill and I assembled

both on the embossed background. A strip of gray card stock was run through

the embossing folder and matched up with the background. A simple "joy"

finished off the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #652

 

I'm joining Freshly Made Sketches #652 with a simplified take on the sketch. I wanted

to use Concord & 9th's new Mushroom Medley--yes, another mushroom die set that

just had to join the others.

 

Here's Linda's versatile sketch.

 

 

And here's my mushroomy card in portrait format. Can you see the sketch?

 

 I took advantage of the mushroom cap's roundness and adhered a few with some

greenery on a wood plank embossed card base. The two part sentiment is an oldie 

from Simon Says Stamp and one of my faves because of the different fonts.

 

The card was finished off with some Creamsicle enamel dots. 

Off to link up my card, thanks for stopping by!

Time Out Challenges #270

 

The current challenge at Time Out Challenges has a photo inspiration that's full of 

fruit and autumn vibes.

 

 

I'm playing along using Concord & 9th's Weekend Market Dies and patterned paper

from p13 that I must have bought a while ago because it's now discontinued. I was

totally inspired by all the luscious fruit!

 

 I used mostly all papers from the pad and I'm pleased with how the wine bottle 

turned out. Originally the bottle was in the bag but you couldn't see much of it,

so I DIY'd her left arm and have her holding it rather than bagging it.

I cut out a few apples from the paper pad to add to the shopping bag. The background

was embossed and she was grounded with a wood plank floor. A Simon Says Stamp

sentiment finished off the card.

I'm happy that I'm early for a change and grateful that the challenge is a long one.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

* * *

 

Edited to add: My card was chosen as an Honorable Mention.

Thank you, Time Out Challenges!

 

 

Inspired by Challenge #297 -- SEASHELLS

 

The challenge theme for this week's Inspired by Challenge is SEASHELLS.

 Here's the challenge graphic and Laurel's sketch.

And here's my card, with inspiration from both the sketch and colors.

I've been having fun with C&9th's latest release. Putting together these mini

Poolside sunbathers was challenging because of their size, and in the end I chose 

three of them per the sketch.

 

I adhered them onto a sandy, torn edge panel and stamped the sentiment.

Clear drops finished off the card.

 

I have about a dozen more of the sunbathers and hope I can use them up on a

future project They're so cute! Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Color Throwdown #801

It seems I've found a little more time to craft since preschool has ended for

our granddaughters. It was a great year as we head into summer with hopefully

 some crafting time for Grandma.

 

I decided to join Color Throwdown #801 since some Concord & 9th goodies

arrived and I was looking forward to playing with them.

And here's my card using Poolside Dies.

I realize that's a lot of blue in the background so I may be disqualified even though

it's a shade of blue. I tried embossing the waves on white and it just didn't look good,

so blue it was. 

I assembled the girl and popped her up on the inner tube. The sentiment was stamped

before embossing and I'm glad it's readable. Clear drops finished off the card.

My next project is to make her interactive. A task for when I have more time.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm off to link this up--if I remember how to do it.

One More for Color Throwdown 790

 It's not often I enter a second card for a challenge, but since some of my Concord & 9th

goodies were already out, a second card was born.

I remember wanting the Weekend Market Dies so badly when it first debuted. And I only

made ONE card. I had the body parts cut out and just had to "dress" her and accessorize

in the challenge colors. 

I assembled her on Altenew's Masonry Wall and cut out the sentiment with 

Oceanside card stock, and finished off the card.

Ok, off to enter my second card. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Color Throwdown Challenge #790

While playing with some older dies, I saw that I'm using the challenge colors 

for Color Throwdown 790 -- yellow, green, and aqua. 

 

Here's my card using Concord & 9th's Triple Step HI Dies and their card stock, too.

 

 

 After die cutting the letters from Oceanside card stock, I inlaid the flowers and leaves

with Buttercup and Parsley card stock, respectively. I found the sentiment, colored in

gradient greens and adhered everything to a panel that was embossed with

Altenew's Organic Linen 3D embossing folder. 

The leaves looked a little flat so I added some color with a YG03 Copic marker.

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

Freshly Made Sketches #620

I decided to enter Freshly Made Sketches #620 after my Concord & 9th order arrived and 

I pictured the knitted heart as the main element in the sketch.

 

 And here's my card with a simplified take on the sketch.

 

After watching Jennifer McGuire go through her stash of AI backgrounds, I went through

mine and looked for the most appropriate ones for a heart. All of the dies were cut from

one inked piece and assembled with the "stray" yarn coming off on the side.

 

I stamped the sentiment before running the card base through Waffle Flower's

Quilting Texture Die. In hindsight, I didn't have to add the extra stitches over the

heart because it looks super variegated even without it. But I do love the texture.

I'm off to link this up with a few days to spare. Thanks for stopping by!

A Kind and Magnificent Friend

My dear friend Michele Ferguson chose today, World Kindness Day, as our Playing Cards 

with Friends date and I accepted in a flash. 

 The "rules" for our play date is to make a card for someone who has done something 

kind. Not necessarily for me, nor does it have to be someone in our card making 

community. Just an act of kindness that deserves notice.

 

Well, duh, it was a no brainer to choose my playmate and creative card maker

as the inspiration for my card.

 

 

I'm not sure when I "met" Michele. I always wondered about this gal whose blog was called

"I Card Everyone". She would stop by and leave the sweetest comments on my blog.

 

 She has since sent me annual Christmas and birthday cards as well as "just because" cards

which are the very best kind. We managed to FaceTime just once, but it's an event 

I'll always cherish and hope to do it again!

For my card, I purchased Spellbinders Stitched Etched Alphabet Dies and didn't think I 

would be doing any stitching. But I did some for Michele. I watched Yana Smakula's video 

on Analogous Colors and found a color palette that reminds me of Michele.

 

The stamp set has matching adjectives for each alphabet and I only wish hers was

"kind hearted". But she's magnificent just the same.

 

She decided to keep photos of our cards a secret from each other so I'll join you over

at her blog to see her masterpiece. I can cross "playing cards with Michele" off of my

bucket list now. Thanks so much, kind friend--it was tons of fun!

* * * * *

If you want to learn more about World Kindness Day 2023, visit this helpful link.

Personally, I think there needs to be more kindness in the world, not only today, 

but every day 💗