Freshly Made Sketches #746

 

Teammie Jen M  brings us this week's Freshly Made Sketches #746 and it's a fun one.

 

 

I love this sketch and years ago, I made some cards with the same general design

A square card base with a circular element on the top that, when added, becomes 

an A2 sized card. 

  

My circular element was Papertrey Ink's wood slice that I decorated with 

leaves and blooms from the set. After folding a cream colored card base into

a 4.25" square, I adhered the wood slice over the fold. 

 

I found a scrap of embossed leaves, adhered it per the sketch and added the

sentiment. A last minute decision was to add some white splatters to help balance 

the wood slice.

 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see how the rest of the team interpreted Jen's sketch 

and join us if you can. Link up your card by 

Monday, July 27th at 3PM EST.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

 

  

Freshly Made Sketches #739

 

Our teammie Karren brings us a fun sketch for Freshly Made Sketches #739.

Check it out.

 

 

Oh, the possibilities with this sketch! Here's my take on it 

 

Occasionally I like to browse through my older supplies and play with a favorite

set. Do you do that, too? These leaves were and still are a fave and it made me

happy to put them on a card again.

 

I die cut three leaves and inked them, then ran them through a 3D embossing

folder that brought them to life. I also ran a strip of sand card stock through the 

same folder and lightly inked it with a white pigment pad to bring out the leafy details. 

 

The embossed strip and leaves were adhered to a card base. A white embossed 

sentiment finished off the card  

 

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

sketch and join us if you can. You have until Monday, June 8th to link up your card.

 

Freshly Made Sketches #732

 

Teammie Michelle brings us her inaugural sketch for Freshly Made Sketches

this week. Here's Sketch #732.

 

Here's my take on it. Yep, I went with wood slices......again.

I used wood slice dies from Papertrey Ink and The Greetery and ended up

doing a bit of surgery on the PTI slice which was a little too big for the card.

I used the flower in the PTI set for the small element on the sketch and some 

greenery to add a bit of color.

I embossed a strip with a deck plank folder, added the white embossed 

sentiment, and finished off with some iridescent sequins.

Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see how Michelle and the rest of the team

interpreted her sketch and play along if you can. You have until Monday, April 20

to link up your card(s).

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #725

 

Freshly Made Sketches #725 is brought to us by Cécile and her sketch is

a representation of her unique card making style. 

I always overthink the sketch while trying to keeping my card CAS. Here's what I 

came up with.

I've had that goose die for a while and decided to finally use her for my card. She was

assembled and I chose the bonnet over the other two hats and grounded her with an 

old MFT oval shadow diecut. 

I embossed the background and went over it with a white pigment inkpad to 

bring out the details. I adhered the goose and shadow and finished off with a 

Pinkfresh Studio sentiment.

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

Cécile's sketch and for all the challenge details and deadline. Come and join us

if you can and we hope to see you in the gallery!

Freshly Made Sketches #721

 

It's time for a new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. Jen M designed

Sketch #721 and it looks like this.

 

 

Here's how I interpreted her fun sketch.

 

I seem to be stuck in wood slice mode and this time used Papertrey Ink's 

together with leaves and blooms in the set. After inking all the pieces, I assembled

them and that's when I opted for an A2 sized card instead of a square. It was

just too large to be squished in a square format.

I embossed a kraft strip with Altenew's embossing folder and adhered it per

the sketch. The wood slice was adhered to it and I finished off with a

white embossed sentiment.

 

Visit the Freshly Made Sketches blog for all the details and deadline and for

more inspiration from the rest of the team. We hope you'll make some time

and join the challenge this week!

Freshly Made Sketches #717

 

Freshly Made Sketches #717 by Narelle will be the last sketch for 2025

so that all of you, as well as the design team, can enjoy the holidays.

 

 Here is my simplified take on it.

 

The Backyard Wren is typically facing to the right but I wanted it facing inwards 

to the left. After die cutting the pieces, I colored the reverse side and assembled 

the bird. A cream colored panel was embossed and adhered to a kraft card 

base. The wren and greenery were adhered per the sketch and I added a 

simple one word sentiment.

 

Come and join our last challenge of the year. You have until Monday, 

January 5th, 2026 to link up your card for this sketch.

Happy Holidays and see you in the new year!

Color Throwdown Challenge #842

 

The colors for Color Throwdown #842 are GREEN, RED, and ORANGE.

 

 

Perfect colors for fall so I pulled out a new leaf die. I know, as if I needed a new LEAF 

in the family. But the Boho Leaves were so unusual, I grabbed them right away.

 

 

So where's the "boho" part you ask? Well, as much as I loved the doily feature, it just

covered up too much of the colors so it went without. I adhered it to a foliage embossed

card and finished off with the Altenew sentiment. And although it's hard to see in the pic,

I also added some clear drops.

Hopefully, the full boho leaves will make an appearance soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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!

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!

 

 

Inspired by Challenge #313

 

The theme for the current Inspired by Challenge #313 is GIFTING.

 

Here's my card. I was inspired by the buffalo check gift bags and the greenery.

 

It was also time for me to bring out the gnome from hibernation. He was decked out

in an outfit that matched the patterned papers. I decided to make a shaped card

using Spellbinders decorative arches and added greenery from Tim Holtz's vault.

 

It's serendipitous that some sentiment stamps from Honeybee arrived and I chose

a sentiment that fit the occasion as well as the space on the card.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Time Out Challenges + JUGS Collaboration Challenge

 

Blogging friend Michele directed me to a collaborative challenge between

Time Out Challenges and (new to me) JUGS, the acronym for Just Us Girls.

 

And the cue word for both challenges is BIRDS.  I'm a huge fan of birds and I feel that I was 

destined to enter the challenge. Here's my rather busy entry.

I just received Papertrey Ink's Into the Blooms Spring Nest Die and quickly put one together. 

I have several of their Feathered Friends cut, colored, and assembled in a "bird box" and chose

 a blue one that matched the eggs.

 

I unsuccessfully researched birds' egg colors and I believe blue colored birds don't lay 

blue eggs. I don't even know what species of bird this is but I was short on time to color 

a beige/brown bird. 

The nest and eggs were assembled and flowers and leaves were added, together with

the bird and a white embossed sentiment. Yes, it's the same sentiment that I used a 

few cards back that's a fave.

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

introducing me to the challenge.

* * *

 

Edited to add: I've just returned from an overseas trip a few days ago and feeling a bit 

jet lagged when I read in some comments that I won the collaborative challenge!

 Many thanks to the gals at Time Out Challenges and JUGS for the honor!

 

 

Color Hues #82 --Turquoise & Green

 

I haven't played in a Color Hues Challenge in quite a while and when I found some

  Greetery dragonflies that were already cut and colored, I decided to enter a card.

 

Here's Tracey's color palette for Challenge #82. 

 

And here's my card. 

I colored them quite a while ago and I think I used Zig makers and a waterbrush.

I adhered him to an embossed panel and added the white embossed Honeybee Stamps

sentiment. Some Pretty Pink Posh jewels finished off the card.

 

Earlier I added some vellum leaves but took them off and decided simple is best.

Besides, I don't think dragonflies ever land on greenery--they're much too busy flitting.

Off to link this up with a few days to spare. Thanks so much for stopping by!

* * *

 

Edited to add: My card was chosen as the winner! Thank you Color Hues!

 

 

 

The Flower Challenge #89 -- Make a Square Card

 

This month's challenge theme at The Flower Challenge is to make a SQUARE card.

 

 Here's my little square number.

 

I  just received my Greetery order of BotaniCuts Lilacs. I thought they'd be a pain to assemble

but I watched Betsy create hers about a dozen times and I was sold on the set.

 

Betsy used daubers to color her lilacs but I took the lazy route and smooshed whatever

purple inks I had and picked up the colors on watercolor card stock, then cut them out.

The leaves were ink blended on white die cuts and I used the residual ink to color the

tops of the clusters. 

I added a frame to a 4.25" card base and sponged in a blue background. I spattered water

and blue ink then added the blooms and leaves when the panel was dry. The sentiment

is from Honeybee Stamps Be Still stamp and die set. Sequins finished off the card.

All in all it was fast and easy to assemble the lilacs and I'd like to try and make some

 white ones that Betsy shared. But that's for another day. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Card Concept #201 -- Fall Leaves

I'll have to admit that the leaves drew me in to The Card Concept #201. 

Check out the gorgeous inspiration photo.

 

 

Here's how I was inspired--I may have been a bit too literal.

 

Assorted leaves from Honeybee Stamps were cut from Bristol card stock and inked with

Concord & 9th inks, then spattered with black ink. 

A black panel was embossed with Altenew's Organic Linen folder and adhered to a black

card base. The leaves were adhered to mimic the photo and finished off with a gold

embossed sentiment.

The card style is definitely Clean and Layered as i tried to follow the inspiration photo

with layering of the colorful leaves.

 

 Wishing those who celebrate a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you snag some

Black Friday deals! Thanks so much for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: My card was chosen as the winner of the challenge!

Thank you to The Card Concept! 

 

 

The Flower Challenge #82 -- Clean and Simple

It's a new month--I can't believe we're into JULY!--and a new challenge over at

The Flower Challenge. This month the challenge theme is CAS, Clean and Simple,

one of my favorite card styles.

 

I chose Honeybee Stamps' Lovely Layer Coneflower Honey Cuts as my flower of choice.

The background was made using Altenew's Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder.

The coneflower petals were colored and assembled and I DIY'd a stem. The bloom was

adhered to the card and finished off with a gold embossed sentiment. I wish you could

see the shiny sentiment. I always struggle with capturing metallic embossing.

 

While the overall design is CAS, I'm wondering if all those layers make this a

"clean and layered" project? Well, either way, I'm off to link this up.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Guest Designer at The Flower Challenge

 

Several months ago I was invited to guest at The Flower Challenge and I humbly 

accepted. The theme for this month's challenge is to Add Sparkle in addition to 

featuring flowers as the focal point.

Here's my card featuring some subtle sparkle.

I'm such a fan of Honeybee Stamps' Lovely Layer flowers. This time I used the Coneflower

Honey Cuts. I cut all the pieces from white card stock and inked them with various dye inks.

The sentiment was silver embossed and the card was finished off with a rounded right

corner and some sparkling sequins.

So grab your bling and join the challenge! You have a full month to join and

you can enter more than once. Hope to see you in the gallery!

Many thanks to Viv and the DT for the kind invite to guest with you! 💝

A Card for Elysha

When blogging friend Aileen (huh_what_pardon) requested a card for her

sweet daughter's 30th birthday on Instagram, I couldn't resist. Judging by the 

responses and comments, Elysha will be receiving a ton of well wishes, and Aileen's

husband will be building a second mailbox just for Elysha's cards.

 

I asked Aileen what were Elysha's interests and favorite colors and made my card

per her responses.

 

I finally took out the rainbow sets from Honeybee Stamps from its packaging. I usually like 

to ink distress, but sought the easy route because I want to get this into the mail as soon

 as possible. It's quite a distance between Hawaii and Australia.

 

I liked the pastel colors in this patterned paper pad and finished off the card with a

sentiment from Simon Says Stamp and some iridescent drops.

 

Wishing Elysha the happiest birthday with many more to come! 

 

 

The Flower Challenge #58

 

I'm joining The Flower Challenge #58 because the Coneflower Dies from Honeybee Stamps

arrived and I was anxious to put a flower together. 

 

The theme for the challenge is Add Spots or Stripes and I chose stripes so I could use

some patterned paper from a discontinued MFT pad.

Truthfully, I've never heard of a coneflower but thanks to Google and a few samples 

from the Honeybee DT and others on IG, I colored and assembled a bloom.

 

 

I fashioned a stem, because the die set doesn't come with one, and adhered the bloom

and leaves on a striped panel. I stamped the sentiment, then adhered the panel to a 

mini slimline card base.

I think I'll have to construct a few more coneflowers because mine reminds me 

of a droopy daisy. Thanks for stopping by today!

* * *

Edited to add: Honored that my card was chosen as a Top Pick.

 

Thank you to The Flower Challenge DT!

2019 To Bee or Not to Bee Blog Hop

Happy World Bee Day!

Blogging friend Milka is hosting another awareness blog hop, and this time,
it's all about BEES! The aim of the hop is to support bees and the protection of bees
as well as raise public awareness on the importance of bees and beekeeping.

In 2018 the UN designated May 20th as World Bee Day to raise awareness of the
importance of bees and other pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution
to sustainable development.

Milka has rounded up bloggers, sponsors, and prizes, too! Hop with us, learn about
the importance of bees, and comment to win prizes from these generous sponsors
as well as prizes from individual bloggers.

The hop starts and ends at Milka's blog. You should have arrived here from
Amy Tsuruta's fun and fabulous blog. Before I send you on your way, meet my
card for the hop with products from sponsor Honey Bee Stamps.

The sentiment was stamped on white card stock and a honeycomb pattern was
cut through with hexagon dies. The panel was adhered to a white card base and
the hexies were ink distressed in yellow, then  popped back in their respective
spaces, making sure to line up the sentiment.

I stamped the bee and her happy face, then colored her with Copics and cut
her out with the matching dies. I popped her up on the card and stamped the
bee trail and spattered some "honey" over the card.

All right, off you go to Kathy Curry's blog, and continue on from there. Leave 

comments on all hop participants to be eligible for prizes. If you encounter a 

broken link, please visit Milka's blog for the complete list of blogs.

Thank you so much for hopping with us. Enjoy the rest of the hop and we hope 

you were enlightened on the importance of BEES.