Sketch Template Series, Part 2

Are you up for another great sketch template?  Here we go for today's sketch #2 of our Team project.

I have several cards today, using this template.  You may notice that we are keeping these simple.  Our goal is to share that you can make great cards without them being overly complicated.  While it's fun to make a super fancy card with all the bells and whistles, the reality is that we don't have time to make every card be this way.  You may also notice that it is incredibly fun to make a simple card that looks really great.  It is very rewarding.

Sketch #2 has a border down the front, rather than covering all the front of the card.  Notice how Jenn used a cute little scallop border tucked into one side of the card.  This card showcases the pinwheel die, which works so well with the Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP.

This is a card I made from the Dude, You're Welcome Kit.  I'll be sharing more of these cards soon.  I also used the little 'speckled' stamp from the Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit.  I just love that stamp!

This card showcases the Tea for Two DSP and the Oh, Hello stamp set.  I stamped over the En Francais background and then cut the layers out with our framelits.

I cut the embossed layer a little shorter for this card, to show how you can vary the design.  You could also change the card to a landscape orientation. 

So there you have it.  Some great cards that look great and feel great to make!  Have you tried a template sketch yet to jump-start your creativity?  Get going now and have a super day!

A Gorgeous Color Combo / Vintage Cards

Would you like to try a gorgeous color combo?  Try Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and a touch of Very Vanilla.  It's a winning combo!
Today's sketch was inspired by another sketch challenge.  I want to show you why I get my creative juices flowing by starting with a good design.

In today's post, I will show you 2 cards -- both inspired by the same sketch design.  The first card is has a feminine, vintage look.  The second card is all guy.  I decided to stay with the same exact color scheme, so you can readily see just how easy it is to follow a good sketch design and go most any direction that you'd like to try.

The first card uses the Elements of Style stamp set, along with snips of ribbon, seam binding and crochet lace trim.  I added lots of texture by using textured CS on the Soft Suede layer, using one of the framelits dies (1/2 on each side of the focal piece), and embossing the Crumb Cake layer with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  An embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set adds even more texture to the Soft Suede background.  The text is punched out with the Modern Label punch.  The circle punches are 1" and 1 1/4" circles -- for the little accent piece.  I actually used Stampin' Write Markers to color all the stamps, except for the embossed image in the background.  I love the look of this technique in stamping.

The second card is all guy --- a cowboy!  I started with all the same colors / same layers, including the embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set.  I used only 1/2 the piece cut from the framelits die this time and added embossed horseshoes to go with the cowboy theme.  The cowboy and horseshoes are from the Out West stamp set.

I tied a few knots along the hemp, to give the look of barbed wire.  One horseshoe is 'hanging' on the 'barbed wire' and the other 2 are hooked together.  I don't know if my arrangement is lucky or unlucky.  I'll hope for the best:)

Both cards have lots of layers, lots of texture and lots of dimensionals. 

I've never really had any trouble coming up with my own designs, but I just love the challenge of trying to follow a given sketch.  I think it's always good to push yourself to try new challenges, new color combinations, new styles, new everything --- just to keep yourself motivated and constantly growing as an artist ... and to keep your designs fresh and alive.

I hope this post inspires you to really jump in and try creating cards using design sketches for a good place to start.  Plan out your colors and choose your stamp sets.  You can plan out embellishments to compliment your design as you work through your project.

A Card I DIDN'T Like to Make

After the last couple of days, I'm trying hard to get my blog back on a happier note.  I do have a card to post that you haven't seen yet.  I hope it will help you when you need to create this type of card.  I don't like to make sympathy cards but they are a necessary part of our lives and I'm glad that I'm able to do it for someone special.

If you're like me, sympathy cards are sooooo difficult to create.  You want them to be special, personal and bring comfort to the recipient.  This one took a very long time to create.  I am pleased with the results and wish I didn't have to send it.  I am glad though that I am able to do it and, hopefully, bring some comfort to those grieving.  This one is for a very dear friend.

My card has multiple layers and a spritz of my Frost White Shimmer Paint/alcohol mixture on the front.  I used the Apothecary Art stamp set and cut it with our framelits die.  I added touches of color to the flowers and leaves, using inks and our Aqua Painter.  The sentiment is from the Loving Thoughts stamp set.  As you can see, I've added a lot of layers (my signature:) and cut the lower portion of some of them with the edgelits die.

I added a special layer to the inside, too, to make it easier to stamp a sentiment and write a message. This shape is from the Top Note die.  My color story is Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.

I embossed the top layer on the front of the card AND the lower portion of the envelope with one of my special embossing 'strips' cut from the Finial Press embossing folder.  Embossing always adds a layer of elegance.

I hope this will be an inspiration to you.  Of course, you can always change the sentiment and create a card for a happier occasion.

Until next time,

A Tisket A Tasket ... A Cute Little Basket...

It's not a green and yellow basket, but I think it's even cuter...

I made these using some of our Everyday Enchantment DSP and stamp sets all from our S-A-B products.  These are super quick and easy and look so cute all put together.

Here's how you make them:

• Cut a 6" square of DSP.
• Score (using our Simply Scored tool) at 2" and 4" vertically and horizontally.  (You'll have a tic tac toe arrangement of your score lines and it will create 9 boxes.)
• In each of the outside corner boxes, score from the outside corner diagonally across each box.
• Fold on all the score lines.
• Pinch in on the corner boxes until it makes the cute little shape you see above.
• Thread a needle (with a large eye) with a coordinating color of our baker's twine.
• Pierce through each of the points as shown above.
• Pull the baker's twine to hold the middle points in together.  Pull in as much or little as you wish, to get the desired look you are after.
• Fill with a little filler and some treats.
• Add a cute little tag.  I cut mine with one of our framelits dies.
• Enjoy!

Here's a link to the basket my daughter made.  So many times, we are thinking alike to the point where we're working on the same types of projects.  I was actually making mine about the same time she was, but just now posted it for you to see.  Hers is cute, too.

I'm Still Sale-A-Brating!

Here are a couple more cards using our S-A-B products.  As you can see, I'm really enjoying creating with the Everyday Enchantment DSP and coordinating products.

For this card, I made a fan using our new Designer Rosette Bigz Die (#125594).  I love it!  The die actually has two decorative edges, so you have a choice.  For the fan, I only needed 1/2 the width of the piece cut with the die, so I'll have 1/2 to use for another project.  The DSP actually got me going on thinking about making a fan.  I created the 'flag' shape by nipping the end off a strip of DSP using a square punch.

I'm actually entering this next card into another sketch challenge.

For this card, I used our framelits dies and the Floral Fusion sizzlit die.  The pearl accents and a spritzing with my Frost White Shimmer Paint/alcohol mixture give this card an elegant look.

Happy Birthday, BFF!

I found another sketch challenge that I really liked.  I used the Best Friends Forever stamp set along with texts from the Elementary Elegance S-A-B set.  The papers are from the Everyday Enchantment DSP, along with coordinating ribbons and brads and a touch of pearls.

... a close-up:

I actually created 2 versions for this sketch challenge.  This one features the petite pocket die and the 2 tags die -- cut to fit inside the pocket.  There's a little message stamped on the tag inside the pocket.

...a close-up, showing the framelits I also used, along with the Fun Flowers die:

I spritzed both cards with my Frost White Shimmer Paint/alcohol mixture for some beautiful sparkle.
Here's the link to the sketch challenge I used.  Enjoy!

I hope you liked this challenge and will try one of your own.

BFF Card for Sketch Challenge

You're in for a bonus today --- I've made 2 posts!!!  I wanted to finish this card and get it entered into the challenge... because.....
I decided to try participating in another Sketch Challenge.  These are really fun and give your creativity a real boost!
For this card, I used the stamp set Best Friends Forever, Everyday Enchantment DSP, Lucky Limeade CS and In Color ribbons (Pool Party and Lucky Limeade).

After stamping the BFF with Lucky Limeade ink, I stamped off to create a light background stamp in the same color.  The hearts are Pool Party and Lucky Limeade.  I used one of our new framelits dies -- to create the focal piece.  Here's a close-up of it.

Here's the inside of the card.  I'll add a text and a message later. This card will be for my sweetheart, so the message is private:)

Here is a link to the Sketch Challenge and to see other examples of what you can do with it.
After seeing some of my creations for various sketch challenges, I hope you'll be inspired to try one of your own.

Trying a Sketch Challenge

I'm becoming addicted to participating in some of the sketch challenges.  Here's what I came up with for the Paper Players Challenge:  'Use a floral image on your card.'

I used the Everyday Enchantment DSP, ribbons and brads from our S-A-B products.  I also used some buttons from the Bold Brights, the Boho Blossoms Punch, the Little Leaves Sizzlit and the stamp set Word Play.  The text is stamped and cut out with one of our new framelit dies.  The colors are Calypso Coral (ribbon and CS), Pool Party (scallop edge from the Tasteful Trim die) and Lucky Limeade.  Would you like to chase away the winter blahs?  Try this color combo and you'll love it!
Here's a close-up:

Here's the link to the Paper Players challenge.

More Valentines and Treasures

For now, I think my antique library table display is finished.  Of course, if you know me, you know I'll be constantly 'tweaking' it because that's just what I do:)

Here are the 3-D hearts I made with the new Framelits dies --- the Hearts Collection.  It's so easy to cut out lots of great hearts with them that you don't want to stop.  The ones on the left were all folded in half and then glued together, one half at a time.  There are SIX hearts in each one, with a little thread encased in the center for hanging it up.


Here are close-ups of the 3-D hearts.

Here are some close-ups of more of the cards --- all with Twitterpated DSP.  As you can see, I've used a lot of the Framelits Dies --- the Labels Collection --- love them.

Don't forget about my Product Share promotion 
          --- from now through Jan. 31.

Check here to see what is in the Product Share.
You'll get a cute little calendar from me, too:)

So........ hurry up and get Twitterpated!!!