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Simply Said Weekend Sketch Set

 

I'm home from my weekend at Mom's!  It was a really nice visit...I had planned to be childless for it, but my youngest who is still a Mommy's girl (at 8 years old!) ended up coming along.  I think seeing Nana, Grandpa & Auntie might have played into it too!  I actually find having only one is actually quite refreshing; to get to have some one on one time without competing or fighting with the other!  Anyway, I did get quite a bit of stamping time in so I have lots to share with you!

I decided to do my Weekend Sketch set with a stamp set that I have loved for a long time, but never made it to the top of my wish list....you know, there's just always something new to bump it off.   So I picked up Mom's "Simply Said" and ran with it.  Mom also had some designer papers that I never had so we did some trading and I came back with a half set of Afternoon Tea, and she got a half set of Parisian Summer (totally Jessie's fault that I ordered it in the first place!)  Anyway here is the set.

Beat'es sketch is always the first one I check, so we'll start there!    I have to say that the Afternoon Tea papers are as close as I ever came to liking Groovy Guava...and I have to say, it looks pretty good here.  I coloured the hearts in with ink and aqua painter and added pearls to the centre of each, along with pearls to the filigree fancy brads. I used up a package of halfback pearls of Mom's that I replaced before I left...so the pearl theme runs throughout the set!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Simply Said (SU)  Paper:  Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Afternoon Tea designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Filigree brads, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon, dimensionals, half back pearls (Michaels)

Finished card size:  Standard A2 5 1/2" x 4 1/4", vertical, top fold

Next up is Taylor's Cupcake Challenge.  I used the swirly flowers for this one, and added punched flowers and more pearls!  I added the sentiment to the image panel since I didn't want to add another element to the design, and the paper was too busy to stamp on directly.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Simply Said, (SU)  Paper:  Whisper White, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  S-Clip (HPH), half back pearls (Michaels), Soft Sky stitched grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

Finished card size:  standard A2 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" vertical, side fold

 

   Jen's Saturday Sketch for you to try was fun too!  Doing these as a set week after week, I'm often surprised by the similarities in the sketches which turns out a fabulous "set"!  Jen's sketch had three circles on the left...similar yet different than Taylor's.  I decided on a dark background this time, and went with Chocolate Chip.  You can see how I did quite a number on that package of pearls!!!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Simply Said (SU)  Paper:   Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Afternoon Tea designer paper  Ink:  Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip  Accessories:  circle punches, half back pearls (Michaels), dimensionals, ink & aquapainter

   Lauren's sketch was a fun one, although this card went through a few stages before it finally got to where I liked it.  I really had in mind Soft Sky and White, but I just couldn't make it work, so I added the Chocolate Chip and I quite like where it ended up!  I used the scallop border, a hardware hanger and of course more pearls!  The solid heart was stamped in Soft Sky, then I stamped the "heart" shaped flower cluster in Versamark and embossed it.  It's so pretty.  Here's a close up of the heart.  You'll have to click on it to get the "close up" view!

 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Simply Said (SU)  Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea designer papers  Ink:  Soft Sky, Versamark, Chocolate Chip  Accessories:  hardware hanger (HPH), Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, scallop border punch, dimensionals, half back pearls (Michaels)

And finally here is the group shot.

   

I really love this set, and Mom let me take it home, so I may have to ink it up again before I return it on my next visit.

BTW...guess what arrived in my mailbox on Friday?  Well of course, my Flourishes stamps!  I don't have tell you that they came along to Mom's for a visit too!  Stick around because their up next!

 

Verve Release Weekend Sketch Set

 

This weekend's sketch set is a little different.  I decided to use the sets in Verve's release this month...today actually!  So I didn't work with just one set...there are four different sets.  I did stick with the same designer papers.  I need papers that would go from fall to winter to Christmas and I decided ironically, that Summer Picnic would work just fine.  So here they are...three sets I'm just revealing today, and "Ornamental Christmas" debuted Friday, but it's a favorite of mine so you get to see it again!

Ok, starting with Beate's sketch.  Beate always seems to incorporate circles into her sketches...I love circles, they are such appealing design elements.  I used "Tall Oaks" for this sketch...a fabulous fall set, perfect for many occasions actually!  After I stamped and watercoloured the pumpkins I outlined them with the Sakura glitter gel pen...it really adds a nice shimmer to the image, but in the photo it seems to throw off the colours!  Who knew?

 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Tall Oaks(Verve)  Paper:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Naturals White, Summer Picnic Designer Paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx black  Accessories:  ink & aquapainter, spiral clip, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, scallop circle punch, circle punches, pumpkin eyelet, dimensionals, paper piercer, markers, Sakura Clear Glitter gel pen

Finished card size:  Standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" horizontal top fold

Taylor's sketch is up next!  I loved the simplicity of it...it allows for the addition of lots of design elements.  And Taylor always makes me think of cute, so I went with "cute" and picked "Hello Pumpkin" for this card.

The image reminds me of a little girl dressing up her puppy, so I added buttons and flowers for embellishments..little hobo like!  I stayed pretty true to the sketch for this one, except that I chose to make it a standard A2 sized card because it fits better with the set.

  Recipe:  Stamps:  Hello Pumpkin(Verve)  Paper:  Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Summer Picnic designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  buttons (SU & asst ?), flower (Prima), dimensionals, paper piercer, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, scallop border punch, Oval Nestability dies, glue dots 

Finished card size:  Standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" vertical top fold

And here is my take on Lauren's sketch.  I decided it was time for a little sparkle so I pulled out my glue pad and stamped the snowflakes from "Snowflake Splendor" and covered them with the light blue Stampin' UP! glitter.  I stamped two more on white and glittered them and adhered them as per Lauren's sketch.  I got some use out of the 50 different snowflake punches I have accumulated over the years...well three at least.  I had originally stamped and embossed the sentiment in white, but it didn't show as well as I expected, so I used the ovals to bring it into prominence. 

 

This is a really poor picture...my camera seems to stall on white or light colours, and the glitter probably didn't help either.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Snowflake Spendor(Verve)  Paper:  Whisper White, Summer Picnic designer paper  Ink:  Tsuknieko Glue pad, Bashful Blue  Accessories:  SU glitter, square Nestability dies, gems (Michaels),  snow flake punches (EK), dimensionals, oval punches

Finished card size:  Standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" horizontal top fold

The next sketch is Jen's Sketch for You to Try, and here's where you'll see how wonderful the Summer Picnic designer paper translates into Christmas!  This is my favorite of the set, and it really just sort of "happened".  I had no plan, but when I came back after walking away for a bit, it all came together.

  I paper pieced the ornament, embossing on the blue designer paper, then I did some emboss resist to finish the panel.  I love how it seems to glow!

You'll never guess where I picked up the red satin ribbon!  Lately I've been drawn to the ribbons and trims remnants that Walmart packages up.  Honestly, you get tons for $2.00; ribbons, lace trim, beaded trim, a lot of different items.  So there's your latest tip from me!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Ornamental Christmas (Verve)  Paper:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Summer Picnic designer paper  Ink:  Versamark, Bashful Blue  Accessories:  Ruby Red ep (Stampin' Stuff), Crystal Clear ep (SU), silver cord (SU), Prima flower, fabric brad (Dollarama), red satin ribbon (Walmart), dimensionals

Finished card size:  Standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" vertical top fold

 

This was a fun set to work on!  If you weren't at the release party, which was a lot of fun, be sure to pop over to the Verve gallery and check out all the samples by the Diva's and guest Divas for this release.  You will be amazed!  The Verve store is now open for this release and there are some awesome bundles and specials for you, so check it out!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend!  Thanks so much for stopping by...I always love it when you do!

Season of Joy, a Traditional Weekend Sketch Set

 

You know for as much as I like non traditional Christmas I love the traditional red and green.  Actually is was a pleasure working with Real Red again.  I think it's the prettiest red there is, and last year's Dashing designer papers are traditional and fun.  I over estimated how much I would need last year, because I have hoards of this paper.  And I didn't even make a dent with this set of cards.  All I really did is leave some smaller scraps LOL! 

 

Last year I had trouble working with the diagonal stripes in this set of designer papers!  This year, I like it a lot more...it adds an interesting design element, and contrasts beautifully with Real Red.  For Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, I chose the striped River Rock print for the background, and the polka dot print for the centre piece.  I stamped the sentiment in Real Red on Very Vanilla, and tied some red satin ribbon around it!  The little flower was stamped in Real Red and Old Olive and layered on a scalloped circle.  I tied the circle to the knot in the ribbon using Leslie Miller's technique to have the dangling circle lay flat! 

Recipe:  Stamps: Season of Joy (SU)  Paper:  Real Red, Very Vanilla, Dashing designer papers  Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive  Accessories:  scallop border punch, scallop circle punch, circle punches, paper piercer, dimensionals, red satin ribbon, embroidery floss

Finished card size:  Standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" vertical top fold

Here is my take on Taylor's sketch.  I decided to make my image panel a little smaller than the sketch suggests, since Season of Joy doesn't really have any images that fit.  After the fact, I think it would have worked wonderfully with three trees, but that was after the fact LOL!  I added some ribbon, a photo corner and red brads to fill in the space.  I love how bright and festive it turned out! 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Season of Joy (SU)  Paper: Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Dashing designer papers  Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive  Accessories:  Real Red grosgrain ribbon, brads, photo corner punch, circle punches, dimensionals

Finished card size:  4 1/4" x 5 1/2" horizontal top fold

  Jen's Sketch for you to Try is up next. 

For Jen's sketch I decided to go with a River Rock base, since it was one of my favorite colours last season.  I used the diagonal print and Real Red which really pops beautifully against the vanilla and River Rock.   I added some Real Red dots to the tree as per the image, and I pierce the scallops then dotted them with my Real Red marker.  I really liked the way Jen used the flag style sentiment panel in her sample so I decided to include it on mine!  A different look from the same designer paper pack...but I thought it was pretty classy.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Season of Joy  (SU)  Paper:  River Rock, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Dashing DP  Ink:  River Rock  Accessories:  Real Red grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer, Real Red marker, scallop border punch, dimensionals

Finished card size:  5 1/2" x 4 1/4" vertical topfold

 

This is my take on Lauren's sketch.  I decided I really wanted to show off the Real Red in this card, since Lauren's sketch has a fair bit of "white space" on it. I did flip it the two embellishments to the top and since the centre portion was the sentiment, I added ribbon instead.  This card came together the quickest of all!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Season of Joy  (SU)  Paper:  Real Red, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Dashing DP  Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive  Accessories:  Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, circle punches, build a brad, dimensionals, circle/scalloped circle nestability dies 

Finished card size:  5 1/2" x 4 1/4" vertical side fold

And here is the group shot.  A really bright and festive bunch!

 

I hope all of you on Daylight Savings time are enjoying your extra hour today!  I chose to enjoy mine by sleeping in!!  Happy Sunday to you all, and thanks so much for dropping by!  You know I love it when you do!

Embrace Green Tea...Weekend Sketch Set

   

Ok...how about a weekend sketch set with new papers?  Honestly with only two and half more months left in the current catalogue, I better start using my "new" designer papers before they are retired.  There are still papers in the catalogue that I want, but refuse to buy at this stage of the game.  I have so much Christmas paper that I have to say no, although it's killing me to do it!  Anyway, without further ado, here they are.

Beate's sketch was really fun to work with.  I love circles so it fits with my style.  For the background on this card, I stamped the leaf stamp in Versamark and embossed in clear.  It adds a really nice effect.  I just love the colours in the Green Tea designer papers, and I think this might be my favorite set so far!

 

 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Embrace Life (SU)  Paper:  Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Green Tea designer papers  Ink:Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  clear ep., word window punch, Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer & template, (SU), Nestability dies, lace doily border punch (Martha Stewart), dimensionals

 

Here's my take on Jen's sketch.  I switched out the sentiment from "Embrace Life", because well, there are only so many cards one needs with "Embrace Life" on them LOL!  This time I chose "Think Happy Thoughts", and added a flower from the flower trio punch and a half back pearl from the Pretties kit.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Embrace Life, Think Happy Thoughts (SU)  Paper:  Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Green Tea designer papers  Ink:  Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, Scallop circle punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circl punches, flower trio punch, half back pearl, reinkers and aquapainter, dimensionals, stampin' sponges

 

Taylor'ssketch had circle in it again too, although it was a little trickier to figure out how to do the three panels.  I finally decided to crimp them.  Now if I had any Cuttlebug embossing folders other than the swirl,  I would have probably picked them.  But I don't and I think the crimping does add some interest.  The sentiment here comes from Verve's" Black Tie Birdies".

Recipe:  Stamps:  Embrace Life (SU), Black Tie Birdies (Verve), Paper:  Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, River Rock, Green Tea designer papers  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Old Olive Polytwill ribbon, Sm Oval Punch, reinkers and aqua painter, crimper, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle punches, dimensionals

 

I have to tell you that Lauren's sketch really threw me.  I just wanted to fill that space in the upper left.  You know me.. white space...what white space?  I finally opted for the photo corner punch, and after all is said and done, I think it's now my favorite this week!!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Embrace Life, Lots of Thoughts (SU)  Paper:  Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Green Tea designer papers  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, photo corner punch, square punches, reinkers and aqua painter 

And here is a shot of the whole group!  I love this paper...and I love this set!

Well I hope  you have enjoyed another weekend sketch set!  I think next week it's time to start on some Christmas sets.  Don't forget about my blog-iversary blog candy!  Tell me your favorite post/card/technique that I've shared on my blog by leaving a comment on the blog candy post!  Thanks so much for dropping by...I always love it when you do!

Fairy Tale Weekend Sketch Set

 

I decided to go wayyyy back in picking my papers for this week's challenge set.  Do you remember Cranberry Crisp, Buckaroo Blue and True Thyme?  Well I had decided I would work with Little Paper Shop's "Fairy Tale Adventures" stamp set, and the retired designer paper set "Treehouse" seemed to fall right into place with it.

I'll start with Lauren's Saturday sketchthis week. Her design was a simple mass-produce-able sketch that I did have to make a few minor adjustments to so it would work here.  I used the dinosaur from Fairy Tale Adventuresand watercoloured him with True Thyme.  The chipboard 4 was coloured in True Thyme and embossed with Iridescent Ice.  As you can see, I moved the small box up, since there was open space in that portion of the image, and I added a few more "Happy Birthday" sentiments, from the Birthday Surprise set, since it was a more playful card, and I think it fits perfectly!

 

Next up is Jen's Sketch for You to Try! I picked the unicorn this time...isn't he just adorable!  I used jumbo brads for the embellishments on the left side and I tied Cranberry Crisp stitched grosgrain ribbon through them.  I thought the right side needed a little something too, so I brought in more Cranberry Crisp ribbon!  The final finishing touch was the set of dots in the corners of the card and image panel.  I would have pierced it, but true to form, I already had it glued down, prior to deciding on that final and crucial element!

Here's my take on Beate's Weekend SketchChallenge.  I thought the prince and princess in the Fairy Tale Adventures set look so cute together, I decided this would make a cute engagement or prom card.  I added lots of scallops, since it made me think "Castle", and a clip with Cranberry Crisp ribbon. 

The image panel was popped up on dimensionals, all the colouring was done with an aquapainter and the dots with the white gel pen.

Finally, here is my version of Taylor's Cupcake Sketch challenge.  Taylor asked us not only to do the sketch, but to "tell us what your stamps are saying".  Well, I knew immediately what I wanted the stamps to say, but I spent way too long on the computer trying to "fit" it all in.  Then I remembered my JustRite monogram, and I was laughing...literally.  I think this adorable dinosaur or dragon would soften the blow of a momentous birthday.  I did flip the sketch since the dinosaur was facing the other way. 

 

Here's the group shot with all of them.  A fine looking set I think!

 

Happy Sunday everyone!  I'm off to finish off yardwork.  We had a little snow wisping around us yesterday...nothing but pretty little flakes, but you know it's coming soon, so I can't procrastinate this time!  Thanks so much for dropping by...you know I love it when you do!

Coffee with Friends Weekend Sketch Set

   

I think this is my favorite sketch set so far...well, I'm only on my third time doing it, but I loved the sketches this weekend, and I loved the results!  Are you ready?

 This weekend I decided to work with Flourishes'  "Coffee with Friends".  I am a coffee drinker, and this is a great e set.  The papers I chose are from K&Co's "Wild Saffron" pack.  I just love the rich warm colours and it seemed a perfect match for a coffee themed set.

First up is Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #61.  I love this sketch and this card!  I added some buttons and a flower and it was done!

Then I pulled up Taylor's and it was more circles...I was loving the way this set was going to turn out!

Here's my take on Taylor's sketch!

 

I placed the sentiment on top of the hardware, since part of the letters were getting cut off inside it.  A very quick card when you go by the sketch, I loved bringing in the blues to this combo. I added some Turquoise stickles to the scalloped circles to bring the blues in to balance in the upper portion of the card.

 

 Jen's Sketch for you to Try was next...and more circles!  Love it!  I worked with the striped print for the background and kept most of the colours the same to coordinate...mainly So Saffron and Ruby Red.  Love this...so warm and fresh...kind of southwestern warm..don't you think?

Lauren didn't have a sketch this weekend, so I decided to work with this week's sketch challenge on SCS, which I hadn't done yet anyway.  It doesn't have circles, but at least I got my set of four in!  I added black to this card, and it brings a bit of drama too!  I pieced the large coffee cup from the swirly paper, and added a flower brad and a black rhinestone.  A few black brads in the corner and a strip of black grosgrain finish this off just right.  I kind of thought it looks like a sign you might find in a coffee shop.

 

Here's a group shot of the full set!

 

I am really enjoying creating these sets, and how fun does it get when they coordinate with stamps, papers and DESIGN?   Way cool that everyone had circles this weekend!  Now as you read this post I will be enjoying Thanksgiving with my in-laws.  Whether you're Canadian, and enjoying this weekend along with me, or somewhere else enjoying your weekend, take a few minutes and give thanks to and for those who bless your life.  Give them some love and hold them...I know my family and my girls are the most precious things in my life...I don't want to wonder if they know I feel that way. 

BTW...this is the toughest post for me to configure in Typepad...I usually have to go back and edit it once it's published.  This time I won't see it when it goes live, so if appears as if it's scattered all over the place...you know why!  Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for dropping by!  You know I love it when you do!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Coffee with Friends (Flourishes)  Paper:  Ruby Red, So Saffron, Naturals Ivory, K & Co. "Wild Saffron" designer papers   Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  ribbon origninals, black grosgrain, flower brad (provocraft), black rhinestone (Darice), HPH bookplate, dimensionals, Nestability dies, circle punches, buttons, silk flowers (Dollarama), buttons

Berry Blissful Sketch Quartet

 

I did it again!  Actually you would have thought I was waiting for the new catalogue, stalking blogs to see if their weekend challenges were up!  I decided this week to work with the now retired Berry Bliss designer papers and Verve's Cupcake Affair!  Wanna see what I came up with?  Come on...

Beate's is always' posted first, and I have played along with her Weekend Sketch Challenge's off and on for a long time.  I think this is a really fun layout with lots of pieces to work with.  Here's my take on it.

 

I decided to add some prima flowers to the cupcakes and dug out these cool little white flower brads.  The chocolate icing on the cupcake is paper pieced and popped up, and I added some gingham ribbon and photo corner punches to finish it off!

Taylor's was next, and this was a fun one to work with too!  I love the angled piece across the card, and I thought a lot about what to do with it before I settled on Happy Birthday in banner form.  Hey, you know this is the first time I've used Taylor's Cupcake sketch with a cupcake!

 

I loved Berry Bliss paper because it had Purely Pomegranate in it!  And although Taylor's sketch does not call for ribbon, I couldn't resist adding some of that glorious satin ribbon! 

I stamped the sentiment from "Happy Thoughts", by Verve in Purely Pomegranate across the Pretty in Pink print and separated the words with popped up flowers from Cupcake Affair set.  You know at least one of these babies had to have some bling, and I think it adds just the perfect sparkle to a simple birthday card!

I had finished the cards above and started working on another when I thought I check to see if Lauren had her Saturday sketch posted early, and lo and behold, there it was!  Oh my, what a sick puppy I am, getting so excited by an early post LOL!  So of course I went right to work

Now I have to say, that Lauren's sketch kind of threw me.  I mean, there really are no long, vertically oriented images in Cupcake Affair.  What to do?  I contemplated switching gears and starting again with another set, skipping Lauren's, and then that stubborn little girl that resides within me kicked my butt, and said that's why they call it a challenge!  So here's what I came up with.

 

I went with the pink print this time and decided to have the little cupcakes on the vertical strips in circles.  I think it works!

The sentiment is from "Wonderful Wishes" by Verve and is stamped on a tag from the old retired boxes and tag sets.  The brads are crushed velvet by Doodlebug Designs, and of course I used my Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon.

The cupcakes really shimmer with Cotton Candy and Cinnamon Stickles icing, and each has a little bling cherry to finish! 

Ironically, this card came together faster than the rest with the exception of the drying time for the stickles.  Go figure!

And lastly, but not least, is my take on Jen's Sketch for You to try.  She also had three vertical panels, but since her card was oriented horizontally, I knew exactly what I was going to do with her sketch.  

 

I added some Crystal Effects to the flowers on this one, since the colours were so much softer, it seemed to need a little shine.  Then instead of bling, I added half back pearls to decorate the flowers and cupcakes.

The ticket corner punch added some detail to the corners, and I thought about using it all over, then decided to keep the focus on the image and sentiment.

Quick, cute, soft and pretty!  I love it!

I really enjoyed doing this again this week!  Did you...I know a lot of people commented they were going to try the same thing.  If you did, link me up in the comments section...I'd love to see your set!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Thanks so much for taking some time out of it to stop by...you know I love it when you do!

Recipe: Stamps:  Cupcake Affair, Happy Thoughts, Wonderful Wishes (Verve)  Paper:  Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, whisper white, Berry Bliss designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx black, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate  Accessories:  paper flowers (Prima), flower brads (?), crushed velvet brads (Doodlebug designs), dimensionals, gems & halfback pearls (Michaels), Cotton Candy & Cinnamon Stickles (Ranger), Crystal Effects, dimensionals, circle/scalloped circle nestability dies, circle punches, Purely Pomegranate double stitched grosgrain and satin ribbon

A Set of Sketches

   

Last weekend I stopped in at Dawn Easton's blog, Treasure Oiler Designz and she had posted her weekend sketch challenges  as a set!  I loved the idea of creating a set using the same papers and stamps, so I set out to do the same thing this weekend!

I decided this would be a great way to put a dent in some of the older retired papers I am still hanging on to.  I chose to work with the retired Brocade Backgrounds designer series papers. Looking back I'm not sure why I had to have these papers.  These are not my colours.  I tend to prefer brighter colours and more funkier designs.  Brocade is OK, but it's not a favorite.  The colours in this series would lend themselves well to masculine card had it not been for the brocade.  I remember pointing out a gorgeous brocade bedroom ensemble to dh, and he vetoed it swiftly saying he didn't want any flowers LOL!  OK, so I don't see brocade as floral, but it is a bit feminine in my eyes.  I also did like Dawn, and worked with the same set throughout; "Stitched Exotics", with the exception of sentiments, since "Stitched Exotics" is images only.

I started with Beate's WSC59.   

 

For this set I pulled out "In the Spotlight" and used the Thank you sentiment as a build a brad flower centre!

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge sketch was next.  It was a nice easy sketch to work with.  I took the sentiment from "Wonderful You".

 

I was having so much fun, I couldn't wait for Saturday to get Jen's sketch!  I was ready to stamp all night.  But I didn't, I went to bed and got up to check and sure enough there it was!  And another easy one.

I chose a sentiment from  Verve's  "Asian Flair" set to finish Jen's sketch.

 
Another sort of side goal was to use up some of my retired "In Colours" ribbon.  This year I split the rolls with my Mom, since for as many cards as I make, I didn't use a full roll of any colour except one that I did a stamp camp with.  The River Rock ribbon is showing up really bleached in the photo, but in real life it's a much better match!

I thought I would be done, but when Lauren's MytimeSS07 sketch showed up in my inbox, I knew I had to do it!  I was on a roll!    It was a little funkier than the rest but that made it a fun challenge to work with!

This time the sentiment was a ribbon charm I picked up at the dollar store...as soon as I saw the sketch I remembered them.

I really would like to try this every weekend.  It adds another challenge element.  Plus, I like the idea of using some of my older papers.  Honestly, once the new stuff comes out, the older stuff gets left for dead, and soon looks dated.  It will be a challenge to see if I can bring it back to life!

Here's a group shot of all four.  I was only planning in doing three, like Dawn, but I was on a roll!

 

What do you think?  A fun challenge of challenges?  I think my fave is the one I did with Beate's sketch, and my oldest thinks the card I did with Lauren's sketch is totally awesome!  Which do you like best? 

Happy Saturday everyone!  I'm off to pick up a birthday present for my dd's little friend, then I'll drop her off at a movie and sleepover party.  I have to get a few things done around the house, then I'll be stamping the night away!  Thanks so much for dropping by!  I always love it when you do!

Sneak Peek Little Paper Shop

I am so thrilled to be able to share some of the sets that are soon to be released from The Little Paper Shop!  Today I am sharing two very different creations made with the "Take Time" and the "In Loving Memory" sets, both set for release on May 27th..

This first card features the Calla Lilies from "Take Time".  They are so soothing I thought they would make a wonderful sympathy card, so I paired it with the "In Loving Memory".  The card base is Barely Banana, with a layer of Almost Amethyst Prints designer paper on Whisper White adhered to it.  The lilies were stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, and watercoloured using markers and an aquapainter. I also sponged around the outer edges since my wash seemed uneven.  The coloured image is layered on basic black and then whisper white and attached to the card with dimensionals.

The sentiment is stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and layered on basic black.  To finish the card I added some light purple baubles that I picked up from Michael's in the floral clearance bin...thanks to Lauren Meader for the tip!  Very simple.  I was tempted to add some stickles but thought they weren't really suited for a sympathy card.

This second flower from "Take Time" seemed tropical to me, so I had to work with bright tropical colours!  Now I started with the intention of working with Beate's sketch (WSC48), but as always I tend to switch it around until there is very little resemblance LOL! I used Papertrey Select white for my card base.  A scrap of Bali Breeze designer paper, and a thin strip of Lavender Lace which I did some faux stitching on create the backdrop.  I tied a strip of stitched ribbon by Ribbon Bobbins from Michael's around the designer paper to balance out the colours.  The sentiment is stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, with three mini gems adhered just below it, then layered on Lavender Lace.  The flowers were stamped and watercoloured using markers and an aquapainter, then cut out, and attached with dimensionals to the card.  I also added some shimmer to the stamen with my Sakura glitter gel pen, but you can't see it in the photo.  To finish I took the ends off three square rhinestone brads, and adhered them with glue dots just above the sentiment panel.

OK, that's two posts today, and now I am off to get some housework done which accumulated while I dwelled on my Typepad issues yesterday!  I hope you are having a wonderful day.  I have more Little Paper Shop sneaks tomorrow...so pop by if you can!

Weekend Sketch Challenge

I finally made time to do Beate's Weekend Sketch challenge #47.  I really like Beate's sketches as they are usually very versatile, in that you can work with just about any stamp set.  However the weekends aren't always my best stamping days, so I haven't done one for a while.  But this Sunday was Mother's Day, so I treated myself to some extra stamping time and here's what I came up with.

I wanted to keep it fairly simple, and I have been enjoying working with designer papers and that's how this card came to be.  I started with a base of white card stock, and from my designer scraps chose a piece of Summer Picnic and Real Red Prints DP.  I pieced them together and layered them on Wild Wasabi.  I hadn't yet used the Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon I just "had" to have, so I tied it around the designer papers and attached that section to the base with dimensionals. 

The sentiment from "Small Sayings" a retired set, is stamped with Versafine Onyx black on white.  The cherries were coloured with markers direct to rubber and stamped to the left of the sentiment then the section was cut out with an oval nestability.  I layered it on a scalloped oval in Wild Wasabi and attached it to the front panel with dimensionals.  As a finishing touch, I added three tiny red gems (ICONs by MAMBI).  That's all there is.  Clean and simple.

My in-laws are going to drop in tomorrow to celebrate Amy's birthday, so I am going to postpone Technique Tuesday until Wednesday.  I do have a sneak peak of the new Verve stamps I will schedule to post tomorrow, so I will have something to share!

I hope you are having a wonderful Monday!  Thanks for dropping by.  I love it when you do!