Happy Birthday :: sketch this 70 / Color Inspiration 25

I haven't been over the sketch this in a bit, so I popped over to see what this week's sketch looked like. Nice enough for me. I was able to pull this card together in no time.

I'm doubling up on this card because I also checked out Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. This was kinda cool too. There are four colors, but I only managed to get in three of the four.

Here's the thing about this card, the flowers are so likable. For the sheer flower, I used a milk jug. That's right, I rinsed it out and let it dry, and then I cut out the flat panels. I took my Sizzix flower die and ran it through my Cuttlebug and wah lah! I wanted to add some alcohol inks, but I was not in the mood to experiment and/or make a mess.

I'm also liking that 'happy birthday' epoxy. It's from Making Memories. Finally, the other flower gets some cool points too. Mainly because of the metal embellishment in the center. It's from K&Co. Just adds a nice touch.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock, button and paper flower: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
metal embellishment: K&Co.
epoxy sentiment: Making Memories
flower die cut: Sizzix
rick rack: Creative Impression
floss: DMC
other: sewing, staples and plastic milk jug

Holiday Card :: cps 85

I finally got around to making some cards this week. I was really into it last night and out of the blue the power went out - not all of it mind you, but just enough that I could not do the sewing - and I just had to have some sewing.

When things finally got back to normal this afternoon, I was still in the mood to sew, heck, I even took the time to change the color of the thread - twice!

I do like the results. I put a lot of thought into this card using this weeks Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch. I love the Papertrey Ink papers, but I only have the swatches so this was a good sketch to put them to use. Also, I wanted to have the feel of using the ribbon like you would if you were wrapping a gift. Finally, that little christmas tree is adorable and it says "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" How cool is that? I thought cutting it out and adding foam tape would add a bit of punch. One more thing, I was going to use red ribbon w/a pattern, but I went for the monochromatic look. Love that.

I also entered this card in Steph's Stamptoberfest Happy Holidays Stamp Challenge on 2Peas.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Papertrey Ink
stamp: Studio G/Michaels $1
ribbon: Michaels
ink: VersaMagic
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
other: sewing

Another Thanks :: 2 Sketches 4 You

I'm back in action on the crafting front. I was planning to travel again this weekend, but it takes such effort for me to pack and prepare for traveling that I am 80% certain that I will not go anywhere this weekend.. Thus giving me more time to craft.

Oh, if you get a chance, check out my recent article on Craft Critique about card sketch sites.

I was going to wait to work on the 2 Sketches 4 You (2S4Y) sketch, but I managed to get my ATCs done. I'm in three different ATC swaps on the SIS TV Swap Board. Fun stuff too. I have them all done and two sets will be postal sometime tomorrow. Point is, I got that done since the deadline is Monday and I was still feelin crafty, so wah-lah (sp).

Nice sketch Laura ... just simple enough yet leaving ample room to improvise. How about that bow? I am not good at tying bows. For this one, I tied the bow before I cut the ribbon from the spool. I tied the bow just like I tie my shoe laces. It worked to this, but sometimes not - get it, (k)not. ;-) Oh, and this card is a mini: 5x3.5.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co.
ribbon: Martha Stewart
pearls: Mark Richards
stamp: Stampabilities
ink: VersaMark and VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

Thanks :: sketch this 62

I'm just sketching away - using sketches that is.

This time sketch this is the culprit. Now, what is interesting is that I posted a card similar to this a few weeks back. I was working on both cards at the same time, but I was so exhausted that I never finished this much larger version. So seeing this week's sketch was my motivation to get it done.

I mentioned that it is big - 6x6 to be exact. I probably could have gone w/5.5x5.5, but I know that I have an envelope that I can put this one in. Got the envelope @ Hollo's (they will take your order over the phone if you know exactly what you want; wonderful place).


Now I'm off to figure out a FREE replacement for Photoshop: Splashup, Photoshop Express and others. I need to add text to a .png file. Trying to make more monograms.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
metal charm: Making Memories
flower: Bazzill
button: Foof a la
ink: VersaMagic
pearls: ??
floss: DMC
other: sewing

Caardvarks Sensational Sketch

I so love this lil sketch and just knew that I had to create a card using it. It's a part of a Caardvarks Challenge and the sketch is courtesy of Laura from 2 sketches 4 You. I have not posted on Caardvarks in some time. They have some cool challenges; I have just been all over the place, but I'm back Caardvarks.

So, now ... a little bit about this card. I was in a rush to complete it because I needed to hit the road for a weekend trip. The card is okay, but there will be a transformation; there has to be. Because just okay is not my thing.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Bazzill
patterned paper: A Muse
stamps: $1 Michaels and Wordsworth
rick rack: Creative Impressions
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing machine

Birthday RAK and cps :: 73

I made this card as a RAK - random act of kindness. It's a group on Splitcoast Stampers. There is no real commitment; you just send out as many cards as you like. I've been picking a handful of names and sending out cards weekly. There are over 3 thousand members of this group so it's nice that you can do as much or as little as you want.

For this card, I used this week's sketch from Card Positioning Systems - CPS. Love, love, love that site (last week they did an article about sewing on cards and layouts - very cool).

I wanted another look for this card, but the huge rick rack is the closest I could get to a wave. I might improvise and do another before the week is out, but that would be awfully ambitious.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
rick rack: Karen Foster
stamp: Stampin Up!
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

sketch this :: 57

Loving the sketches these days. Probably because I have time to create. Nice.
Now for this sketch, I used a sketch this sketch. Then I pulled out some old paper - American Crafts. I was seeking some other lavender/lilac combination, but I got tired of looking and settled for this. I also pulled out the easy to use $1 clear stamps from Michaels for the Happy Birthday. I don't like the way the birthday turned out, but oh, well. Then there's the embossed birthday cake. I 'borrowed' that embossing folder from my sister.

Finally, the only thing that is missing is I put a little bling to dot the 'i' in birthday. Forgot to do that before I took the pic.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
patterned paper: American Crafts
stamp: Studio G ($1 stamps from Michaels)
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Joanns
ribbon: Michaels and Wright's
dry embossing folder: Cuttlebug

Using Triple the Sketch

...another sketch site card. This time it's Triple the Sketch. I really like their sample work. So much variety. So I'm tossing in my two cents. As for the sewing, I intentionally double sewed on the right side, not the look I was going for, but I did it on purpose and I did not feel like starting that section over again. I also used scalloped scissors. They seem a bit dull, so that was not quite satisfying for me either. But I do like the results.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger and VersaMagic
embossing: Cuttlebug
die cut ovals and scalloped ovals: Nestabilities
stamp: ?? (borrowed from my sister)
other: scalloped scissors, sewing and foam tape

My First Sketch

... and probably my last.

And do I really need a sketch of my fav design? The answer is no, but now I have goo-gobs of respect for those who create them. I do love this design though. W/the right patterned papers and color combination, you will have a classic card for a smiley someone.

I used PhotoShop CS3. I can maneuver around the program decently. But I had some trouble trying to get the scalloped element. After viewing a tutorial from Jessica Sprague, and playing w/some different color shading, I got it done (though I'm not so sure I can replicate it).

Another digital accomplishment. Yea, me!

Using 2 Sketch 4 You

Here's my next card using the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You. Another wonderful site w/incredible ideas and inspiration. Lots of smiles when I visit this site.

For this card, I already the panel - the paper w/the sewing. I had it from something I was working on a few weeks ago. It was in my pile of scraps. I knew that I wanted to make a birthday card. So I pulled out two things that I have not used in some time: The celebrate die from Quickutz as well as the Happy Birthday stamp from Hero Arts.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Basic Grey
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
stamp: Hero Arts
word die: Quickutz
heart die cuts: CuttleKids and Quickutz
other: sewing

Can I Get a Sketch?

I'm in the process of getting caught up on card making.

So here is a quick post of some of the places I visit to check out sketches:

cps (card positioning systems)
sketch this
triple the sketch
valerie's sketches

Here's to more sketches and lots of creativity!

cps :: 63

I'm in the process of making lots of all occasion note cards. I want to do something simple, so when I noticed the most recent CPS (Card Positioning Systems) sketch, I thought that it would be perfect. Though for me, the cards are actually to simplistic. They were obviously easy enough.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.