Freshly Made Sketches #759

 

This week's Freshly Made Sketches #759 is brought to you by our teammie

Verena with so many possibilities for the circular element.

 

 

Here's what I came up with.

 

 I used the Penny Black pumpkin again and embossed it after die cutting it from white 

card stock. I used dye inks to color it and also some flowers and leaves. 

A piece of sand card stock was embossed with tiny dots, then adhered it to a dark

brown card base. I popped up the pumpkin and added enamel dots to the flower centers.

Lastly, I added a white embossed Altenew sentiment. 

 

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

her sketch and come and join us if you can. Link up your card by Monday, Oct 26

at 3PM EST. We hope you'll play along! 

 

 

 

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 #753

 

Here we go with a new Freshly Made Sketches! Karren brings us Sketch #753

and it looks like this. 

 

Can you see the possibilities? Here's what I came up with, and if I'm just being

honest here, it's my third and final design.

 

 A large Gerbera daisy wouldn't come together for me so I went smaller

but it was too small. After going through my supplies, I spotted this ginormous

pumpkin which (I don't think) I've ever used before, so I went with it.

 

After die cutting the pumpkin and flowers, I inked them and borrowed some

greenery from Spellbinders. I used Altenew's piped waffle die and adhered 

everything over it. I finished off with a Waffle Flower sentiment.

 

Head on over to 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, September 14 at 3PM EST to link up your card.

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #751

 

It's Michele's turn as this week's sketch designer for Freshly Made Sketches #751.

How fun is this one?

 

 

I decided to go postal with a postage stamp as my rectangular element. 

 

 I created a stamp with some patterned paper and added the postal marks. I thought

about adding a pretty bloom but reached for this happy bird instead because it's time 

she made another appearance. I stamped the sentiment then layered everything onto

a card base. 

 

Note: This card was sent to a centenarian who reached an amazing milestone and 

we've been told she likes to receive birthday cards and opens and reads each one! 

 

 Visit Freshly Made Sketches for all the details and deadline and see how the rest

of the team interpreted Michele's sketch. We hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #744

 

I'm the sketch designer for this week's Freshly Made Sketches #744 and it 

looks like this,

A card kit from Gina K Designs arrived with an assortment of Polaroid frames

that sparked the idea for my card sketch.  

 

Alex Syberia's Floral Splendor Cover Die was cut and inked in summery colors. 

After die cutting a Polaroid frame, I placed the floral piece behind it and backed it with 

a colored card stock piece in a soft shade of blue. I stamped a sentiment on the frame 

and adhered it to an embossed card base then tucked in a few flowers following the sketch.

 

Keep in mind that you don't have to use a Polaroid frame as presented but I'd love

to see what you place inside one if you choose to do so. It's your choice! 

 

And if you would like to use a Polaroid frame on your card but don't own a die, here's a

quick tutorial from Mary Fish of stampin' pretty that will have you cranking out a bunch

of frames just by using nesting dies.  

 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see what the rest of the team came up with and join us

if you can. The deadline for linking up is Monday, July 13th at 3PM EST.

 We hope to see you in the gallery!

 

   

Freshly Made Sketches #743

 

It's Wednesday, time for another Freshly Made Sketches. Our teammie Judy 

brings us Sketch #743 which had me stumped when I first saw it.

 

 

Thankfully, a new set of Simon Hurley's cone flowers arrived and sealed the deal.
 

Three cone flowers and leaves were cut from white card stock and inked. A strip 

of card stock was embossed with a dot folder and adhered to a card base. A sentiment

was white embossed on a green circle and adhered over the flowers and leaves.

 

Now it's your turn! We'd love to see how you interpret Judy's sketch so come and

join us! Visit Freshly Made Sketches to see projects from the rest of the team, too.

The deadline for linking up is Monday, July 6th at 3PM EST.

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #742

 

Freshly Made Sketches #742 is brought to you by our teammie Amy.

 

 

And here's my take on it, 

 

 Yes, I brought in the third mushroom that fit perfectly on the sketch. This time I added 

the windows and door for a whimsical touch and tucked in some greenery. I adhered 

everything onto an embossed card base and finished off with another punny sentiment. 

 

We  hope you'll join us this week and play along with Amy's sketch. The deadline

to link up your card is Monday, June 29th. Hope to see you in the gallery! 

  

 

Freshly Made Sketches #740

 

Over at Freshly Made Sketches, Michele is this week's sketch designer 

and she's making a scene. Literally. Check out her fun sketch!

 

 Here's what I came up with and yes, that rooster makes an appearance again.

 

I used several patterned papers to cut out panels then hand cut my own slopes

and hills. I added an atypical mauve colored slope to break up the greens. I had 

some assembled roosters and chose this orange one because he stood out against 

the colorful terrain.

 

The panel was adhered to a postage card base that was hinged so the card could 

stand on its own. I tucked in a sun, popped up the rooster and white embossed 

the sentiment. The panel was finished off with a few white splatters.

 

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

Michele's sketch and come and play along. You have until Monday, June 15th

to link up your card. Hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #738

 

The uber creative Cécile is our sketch designer this week and wowed us 

with another great sketch. Here's Freshly Made Sketches #738.

 

 

Cécile has such an artistic flair that I had to bring my "A" game and here's 

how I interpreted her sketch. 

 

I assembled a butterfly from patterned paper and used Spellbinders Tangled Threads

for the wispy elements. A card base was run through a dotted embossing folder 

and shaded with some lilac ink. I adhered the threads and butterfly and finished

off with the sentimentt.

 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches for all the details and deadline and see how the rest of

the team interpreted Cécile's sketch. We'd love to see your take on her sketch 

and hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #737

 

This week's designer for Freshly Made Sketches #737 is Jen B and

here's her sketch.

 

 

So many possibilities for that central rectangular shape, right? 

I envisioned flowers, a tranquil scene, or an ink blended background. 

I decided to go with numbers on a birthday card.

 

While cleaning up and arranging my "oldies but goodies" I came across Penny

Black's By the Numbers die which was a fave over ten years ago. The die cut was

inked and originally I was going to use rainbow colors but stopped and let the

colors fade out. 

 

I stacked three die cuts together and adhered them to an embossed frame panel.

A white embossed sentiment and iridescent sequins finished off the card.

  

Stop by Freshly Made Sketches for more inspiration from the rest of the team

and join us if you can. You have until Monday, May 25 to link up your card and

we hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #736

 

Our sketch hostess for Freshly Made Sketches #736 is Verena and here's 

her fun sketch.

 

 

This sketch reminded me of a Japanese street stall snack called "dango" and

I resisted the urge to use it has inspiration and went with tulips.

 

 I found a diecut of Penny Black Tulip Trio that was stenciled, embossed, and

cut out. I probably meant to use it for The Flower Challenge but sadly, the site

closed and I've kept it ever since.

 

A last minute decision was to do some surgery and cut the tulips apart. 

I cut a piece of Brass and Bliss' cheesecloth and adhered it to a card base.

The tulips were adhered  per the sketch and I added the white embossed

sentiment. Some iridescent sequins finished off the card.

 

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

Verena's sketch and join us if you can. You have until Monday, May 18th to 

link up your card.

 

* * *

 

For inquisitive minds, here's a photo of some dango that I attempted to make

years ago. 

 

 Somehow I can't picture it on a card.....

 

Freshly Made Sketches #731

 

Freshly Made Sketches #731 is my very first sketch as a team member! 

I was SO nervous and looked back on previous sketches to see if it had been

done before. Nope. So I went with it.

 

 

Easy peasy sketch, right? I have several card ideas in mind but for now,

here's what I came up with. I took the botanical route.

 

 I cut several small blooms and leaves and inked them with Zig markers. I adhered

them to six rectangle shapes then popped up each shape on an embossed card

base and finished off with the Spellbinders sentiment.

 

I hope you'll join the challenge and my inaugural sketch. Remember that the

shapes can be whatever you choose. Be sure to stop by Freshly Made Sketches 

to see how the rest of the team played along. I can't wait to see their cards, too!

Freashly Made Sketches #730

 

Are you ready to play with a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches?

Teammie Judy designed this amazing sketch. Meet Sketch #730.

I simplified her sketch and came up with this.

 

I embossed two white panels with Spellbinders Regal Lattice 3D embossing

folder. It's such a unique folder with a different design on each half. I chose

the "busier" side and used a deckle edge die to cut a strip per the sketch.

 

The strip was inked in two colors and adhered to the panel. For the focal image

I cut a frame and backed it with vellum. A layered butterfly was inked and 

assembled and adhered to the square. A Spellbinders sentiment and a few 

sequins finished off the card. 

 

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

Judy's sketch and join us if you can. Upload your card by Monday, April 6

and we hope to see you in the gallery!

Freshly Made Sketches #729

 

Teammie Amy brings us Freshly Made Sketches #729 which looks simple

but offers so many possibilities.

 

 

I was looking through my dies for a more rounded oval, although you know that 

the shape can be whatever you fancy. I came across some egg shaped dies and my 

card was born.

 

I relied on patterned paper for the colors on my egg and ran a sheet through a 

cherry blossom embossing folder. Extra blossoms were cut from the same sheet. 

I found a scrap piece of embossed card stock and used the reverse side for

the band on the sketch. A Spellbinders sentiment finished off the card.

 

Visit Freshly Made Sketches for more inspiration from the design team and

join us if you can. You have until Monday, March 30th to link up your card.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

 

Freshly Made Sketches #726

Freshly Made Sketches #726 is brought to us by our teammie Karren.

I love tags and while searching for an elusive tag die, I opted for a postage die.

 I found a ready made stamp from a previous card and stamped the postage marks

 on it. A panel of gray card stock was embossed and adhered to a card base. A strip

 of patterned paper with colors that matched the stamp design was adhered to

the card and the stamp was popped up over it.

Visit Freshly Made Sketches for more inspiration from the design team and 

join us if you can. You have until Monday, March 9th to link up your card

and we hope you'll join us!

Freshly Made Sketches #723

 

 Freshly Made Sketches #723 is brought to you by our teammie Verena. 

Here's her awesome sketch that had me stumped for a while .

At first all I saw was a fish. Then a whale, then a leaf, then an umbrella.

And at the last minute I thought about a nest and came up with this.

 

I assembled the Memory Box nest and borrowed some eggs from Papertrey Ink 

together with greenery from Altenew. I used a 3D embossing folder that was

buried and rediscovered. Isn't that texture amazing?

The bottom of the card front was covered with cream card stock and the

springtime sentiment was stamped on it. I assembled all of the elements

and called it done, although the card lost its "clean" status along the way.

 

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

interpreted Verena's sketch and join us if you can. You have until Monday,

February 16th at 3:00pm to link up your card. Hope to see you in the gallery!

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #716

 

 Michele brings us this week's Freshly Made Sketches #716 and there are

countless possibilities for the circular element.

 

 

Here's how I was inspired.

 

I put together leaves, berries, and branches, and adhered them to an embossed circle.

A dark green card base was embossed with tiny dots and the circle was adhered

to it. A simple sentiment was stamped on a banner shape and adhered to the

card per the sketch.

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

inspiration from the team, then come and join the challenge! You have until

Monday, December 15th at 3:00pm EST to link up your card(s).

Simon Says Stamp DieCember® 2025

 

By now you've seen the fantastic DieCember® Release from none other than

Simon Says Stamp. 

 

 

 

 

They graciously sent me the Jewel Heart wafer die and I created a couple of projects

with it. I tried to think "out of the box" and paired it with older products.

 

After shading the top piece I assembled the heart and adhered it to a Spellbinders

arch that was cut from patterned paper from Whimsy Stamps. The sentiment was

white embossed on vellum and cut with the outline, then adhered to the card base.

A sub sentiment was white embossed on the bottom.

 

For my second card I envisioned a wedding or anniversary card and went with

a white on white color theme.

 

The heart was cut from cream card stock and vellum and assembled. An older

SSS set--Clustered Leaves--was also cut from vellum. I chose a CZ Designs 

sentiment and finished off the card with iridescent sequins.

Visit Simon Says Stamp and to view and shop the new release. I'm sure you'll find

new goodies to enjoy!

JUGS Mood Board Week #797

 

It's Mood Board Week over at Just Us Girls Challenge #797.  

Here's the graphic with an autumnal theme.

When I saw the icons, I remembered an older SSS set that I haven't used on a card. 

I even had some items already colored, waiting patiently in the packaging.

I love the knitted details on each item. Some small leaves were cut, colored,

 and adhered to an embossed card base. I finished off with the scripty sentiment 

and called it done.

 

I'm a fan of fall season even though here in Hawaii we don't see much change. It's 

much cooler than our summers and we don't have to deal with the rainy season

 that's just around the corner. And we do pull out some sweaters!

 

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

 

 

Freshly Made Sketches #707

 

Freshly Made Sketches #707 is a sketch by Judy that had me stumped. 

I always panic with grids, and getting the pieces lined up.

 This isn't the first card I made using the sketch, but the one that I'm happiest with.

I used some papers from an old Moda Scrap pad and trimmed the pieces per 

the sketch. I ran the panel through a patchwork embossing folder and you 

probably can't tell but there was shrinkage so the card is smaller than A2 size.

I lightly inked around the circular piece so it would stand out a little. An Altenew

sentiment finished off the card.

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