Sweet Sketch Wednesday



My family has a tradition of meeting for breakfast on Thanksgiving so that everyone can go on to other Thanksgiving feasts for the day. My birthday was the 14th of November and at breakfast my brother and sister gave me some beautiful presents. When I saw the "Sweet Sketch Wednesday" sketch, I immediately thought of giving them both a thank you card. So far I've only made this one, but I'm really happy with it.

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Oliver" and "Olivia" papers

My Mimd's Eye "So Sophie" paper

Inkadinkado "thank you swirls" stamp

Label No. 2 Nestabilities

Stampendous black embossing powder

ribbon from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday -- sketch

Craft your Days Away -- texture

Stamp Something Challenge -- thanks

Inktegrity -- anything goes

Artful Inkables -- die cuts
The Corrosive Challenge -- Something that Moves

Papertake Weekly Challenge -- Cut it out

Midnight Madness!

As soon as I saw the Midnight Madness sketch I knew what I was going to do with it. I love it because it easily translates into a 4.25" x 5.5" card, which I can now send on to Operation Write Home. 

I got to use one of my favorite stamps, which is actually quite large because it's really a background stamp. I masked off most of it to stamp the two flowers in the background, and felt really lucky that I didn't ruin any paper as it worked the first time. I love it when I get to try different techniques.

You can't see it in the photo, but I used a Sakura Stardust clear pen to color in the background flowers. Well, "color" is the wrong word, as there's no color, but they're sparkly now, which makes them pop out a bit more.

Recipe:

Creative Imaginations papers

Rubber Stampede background stamp

Label #2 Nestabilities

Colorbox black pigment ink

Stampendous clear embossing powder

Sakura Stardust pens

ribbon from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

priscillastyles -- sketch
A Spoon Full of Sugar -- anything goes

Thanks for stopping by!

I love Basic Grey Challenges!

Basic Grey is one of my absolute  favorite papers on the market, and I pick some up as often as I can. In fact, just this last week I bought the 12X12 sets of both "Olivia," and "Oliver," something I've wanted for a very long time now--on e-bay!! I couldn't believe I won them, and since they've arrived I can't stop looking at them!!

Anyway, since I love Basic Grey paper it's only natural that I love Basic Grey Challenges--and I do. Tbis challenge calls for wings on the project, which I did with my inkadinkado rubber stamp. That dang bird is hard to color! I'm not wanting to be  Monet or anything, but there are just too many places to put in different colors, and when I do, it just looks SOOOOO wrong. I finally decided to stick with one color, in this case blue for the bird, but using different shades of blue. That seems to have worked much better.

I also followed a sketch by "Friday Sketchers," and was really pleased with it because it was fairly easy to adapt it to a 4.25" x 5.5" card so I can send it on to the troops via "Operation Write Home."

The recipe is as follows:

Basic Grey "Kioshi" DP
Basic Grey "Olivia" DP
Inkadinkado bird stamp
tag stamp
Cuttlebug and Nesties
Crayola glitter glue
Sakura Stardust pens

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Crazy for Challenges -- circles
Basic Grey Challenge -- wings
Friday Sketches -- sketch
I Did it Creations Challenge Blog -- wings
Digi Doodle Challenge -- anything goes

Playtime

Are you like me in that you feel like a kid in a toy store at Joann, Michael's, Robert's, or even at the scrapbooking section of e-bay?

(I just bought Basic Grey's "Olivia," and "Oliver" collections for an excellent price on e-bay, and I can't stop looking at them!)

I had recently purchased a few new "toys," and was excited to "play." The card above is the result, and I'm really pleased with it as the tiny snowflakes are really quite sweet, and I love the wintry colors of blue, white and silver. Best of all . . . I got to use lots of glitter!!!

Recipe:

Inkadinado Christmas stamp

Cuttlebug swirls folder

Label no. 2 Nestabilities

Snowflakes from Sure Cuts a Lot library

white Crayola glitter glue (along the embossed swirls). (I've spent a gazillion dollars on glitter glues, and have finally decided Crayola's, which are very inexpensive, are absolutely the best!)

Sakura Stardust pens in four different blues

silver ribbon from stash

silver buckle--I think this is a Tim Holtz product, but don't remember for sure

Ranger white tinsel embossing powder

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Paper Play Challenges -- Let it Snow

Crafty Calendar Challenge -- winter snowflakes

One Stich at a Time Challenge -- choose a season or event (I chose winter.)

2 Sisters Challenge Blog -- snowflakes

Stampin' for the Weekend -- winter

Totally Papercrafts Challenge -- snow and snowflakes

Simon Says Stamp -- sparkle

Anything Goes Challenge Blog -- Let it Snow

Little Paper Shop -- die cuts

My Best Friend's Fiftieth

One of the best friend's I've ever had in this world turns fifty today. Unfortunately, I'm ill and couldn't take this card to her, but I did send her pics so she would know I was thinking of her. I went out of my comfort zone on this one, as it's pretty busy. I'm not opposed to busy as long as it's structured, and that's been difficult for me, but I think this card works and I'm really pleased with it.

The recipe:

My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" papers
C'ordinations pink cardstock
C'ordinations dry embossed red cardstock
Maya Road chipboard flourishes
Prima flowers
Inkadinkado acrylic butterfly stamp
Stampendous flower stamp
Stampendous black embossing powder
Stampendous white opaque embossing powder
Stampendous pink embossing powder with pink glitter added to it
Ranger red tinsel embossing powder
Stampendous purple embossing powder with purple glitter added to it
pink, orange and white metallic acrylic paints
waterpaints
frame svg files cut on Cricut
Provocraft die cut: "50" cut on Cuttlebug
Imaginations red and pink rhinestones
remaining rhinestones from stash
silver ribbon made purple by coloring it with purple marker
Maya Road pins (butterfly "antennae")

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Critter Sketch Challenge -- texture
Paper Sundaes -- ribbon, embossing, blue
One Stitch at a Time -- favorite colors (I love the combination of red/pink/purple/orange.
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- sparkle and shine
Cute Card Thursday -- anything goes
Delightful Challenges -- glitter
Crafter Creations Challenges -- buttons
Fresh Brewed Designs -- two or more patterned papers
The Sisterhood of Crafters -- birthday
Part Time Tuesdays Challenge -- easel birthday card

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge

I really enjoyed this sketch, and am very pleased with the way my card came out. I have to give credit for my inspiration to Peet Roeven at scrapalbum. I absolutely love what I call her "controlled chunkiness." It is a look I've been trying to find, and imitate, since I started making cards, but have never seen it demonstrated as well as Peet does it. The thing is, once I saw it, I knew how to get the look I wanted, and that was huge for me! Peet will never see this, but for those who do, check out her blog. You won't be disappointed.

I deviated from the MMSC sketch slightly in that I didn't use as many embellishments as it called for, but not for want of trying. Everything I added was too much and detracted from what I like most about the card--the thick and raised frame. It's actually four frames cut out of cheap cardstock glued together, and finally I just added rhinestones so it didn't deviate too far from th sketch. I think they are a great addition--not too much, but just enough.

Recipe:

My Mind's Eye "29th Street Market" paper (I wanted to mention, in the photo it looks like there are two handwritten sentences when in fact the paper is covered in them--most of them are very faint, so they didn't show up in the photo. It looks balanced in real life.)
My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" paper
Inkadinkado Christmas Tree stamp
Stampendous pearlized green embossing powder
Ranger silver embossing powder
ribbon from stash
clear rhinestones from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #78
365 Cards -- Use large letters to make word and fill up half the page with them.
Ellephantastic Cards and Challenge Blog -- blue
Mark's Finest Papers -- holiday card
Our Daily Bread Designs -- sparkle, dies or punches, texturize it
Artful Inkables -- blue, silver and white
Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge -- anything goes

Before I go, I would like to thank the many people who left me so many kind posts in response to my panic attack. I was stunned at so many comments, and they were so thoughtful. I was especially taken aback at all the comments from the folks at the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. I couldn't believe so many people visited my blog, and even more, left a comment. So, a huge thanks to ALL of you--I was truly touched.

Basic Grey Challenges Sketch

I made the card above using the Basic Grey Challenges sketch. I spent a long time placing the musical notes, and still am not totally happy with them, but I'm not sure there's anything else I could do at this point. What do you think? (Believe me, I'm not opposed to criticism. Suggestions would very much be appreciated.)

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Olivia" paper
Creative Imaginations Christmas paper
vellum
red satin ribbon
Martha Stewart border punch
Ranger red tinsel embossing powder
Stampendous gold embossing powder
Inkadinkado acrylic stamp
Musical note svg files I found on the web for free

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challenges -- sketch
Craft Your Passion Challenge -- anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs -- anything goes
Lexi's Creations -- anything goes

Lots of "anything goes." :)