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Freshly Made Sketches #201

Freshly Made Sketches #201 published on 7 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #201

Wow, what a crazy week!  The sketch #200 celebration over at Freshly Made Sketches was even better than the team had hoped!  We had 340 players along with 56 guest DT members.  Um…wow!  Thanks to all of you who joined in and for the kind words from so many of you.  Our team loves bringing you sketches every week and it thrills us that we can be a source of fun and inspiration for the stamping community!  So now….back to our regularly scheduled programming.

This week our sketch hostess is Narelle.  As you have come to expect from her, we have layers this week.  But they are perfectly balanced and leave so much room for interpretation!  You are going to have such fun with this one!

FMS201 - Fall flower

True confessions.  This flower was left over on my table in the pile of not quite completed ideas for sketch #200.  But it was so pretty that it couldn’t go to waste so I pulled it out as the circle element in the sketch.  I had colored some Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight onto some Watercolor Paper and cut the flower.  When I started playing with “what next”, I realized how pretty it looks against Kraft paper and went with that idea.  The Espresso and dotted prints are from last year’s Holiday Catty.  I love that these prints are so versatile and hoarded this paper.  Then seasonal stampers disorder (SSD – an affliction that makes me stamp in seasonal colors primarily) set in and I stopped being able to create with fall colors.  But with the promise of cool mornings, my color palette is shifting back and out came the Kraft and matching DSP!  I stayed pretty true to the sketch because my brain was otherwise occupied with commenting and ogling the gallery from last week.  I love when I get to pull out some old things and they feel new again.  You’ll see more of this Kraft palette, I’m sure!

I’ve been flying lots and stamping very little but I hope to get back to a little more tomorrow.  With any luck, I’ll be joining with my Fancy Friday friends this week with some new projects to share.  Until then, thanks for stopping in.  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight; Paper:  Kraft, Under the Tree DSP, Watercolor, Early Espresso ; Accessories:  Big Shot, Flower Die from Echo Park Paper Co., Mini Treat Bags Thinlits (sentiment), Large Polka Dots TIEF

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FMS #200 – Sleigh Ride

FMS #200 – Sleigh Ride published on 8 Comments on FMS #200 – Sleigh Ride

So I may have said the other day when I posted my FMS card for our big celebration that I made a couple versions of the sketch before making the snowflake card.  I thought it would be fun to share some of what I created.  Before I get going, I have had a few people ask me how to join in the fun with Freshly Made Sketches this week.  It is so easy that you just have to give it a go!  Make a card using our sketch (I have a picture below).  Then post that card to a blog, at Splitcoaststampers or at your favorite social media location.  Once you have that done, just go to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and link your project in.  Hoping to see lots of you this week!

FMS200 - Silent Night in Silver

My first card uses the new Sleigh Ride Edgelits and the Softly Falling Embossing Folder from the new Holiday Catalog.  I created a watercolor background using Night of Navy.  Then using the embossing folder that had been inked with White Craft Ink, I stamped the stars.  I cut the tree layer from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  Then I stamped the sentiment from Jingle All the Way (it coordinates with the Edgelits), then texture embossed with the Softly Falling folder.  I added a new Iced Rhinestone as a big star and a couple more Basic Rhinestones.

FMS200 - Peace & Joy in Gold

I was so happy with that one that I wanted to keep going and try another version.  I chose a gold dots pattern from the Winter Wonderland DSP for the background then cut the two layers with the Sleigh Ride Edgelits again.  I used Thick Whisper White and Gold Foil for the layers this time.  The sentiment is from Holly Jolly Greetings which is a mix and match sentiment set.  Love it!  Again with the rhinestone combination and done for a totally different look.

FMS Final 200I hope that you are enjoying the celebration over at FMS so far.  You really must click over to see all the amazing cards have already been added.  I am in awe of the talent on display!

I’ve still been flying tons and not as much stamping time as I’d like.  I did have the chance to get together with friends the other day to make their Watercolor Wishes Card Kits!  I had such fun!  I hope you are having a great week.  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Jingle All the Way, Holly Jolly Greetings; Ink:  Night of Navy, White Craft, Versamark; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Gold Foil, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Watercolor ; Accessories:  Big Shot, Sleigh Ride Thinlits, Softly Falling TIEF, Heat Tool, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Iced Rhinestons, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #200 – A Celebration!

Freshly Made Sketches #200 – A Celebration! published on 32 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #200 – A Celebration!

The day is finally here!  The 200th sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!!  I had to stop and take in all that means when it comes to crafty inspiration.  The amazing challenge consistently has over 100 players each week.  That means over the last 4 years our challenge has had over 20,000 cards shared!  Wow.  Just wow!  When Lesley started this challenge, I felt immediately like she had put words to my style.  Clean but not always simple.  Don’t get me wrong, I like Clean AND Simple (CAS) but many times I make cards that have clean lines but also take a long time to make.  Sometimes it is a technique, sometimes it is detail work, sometimes it is working on balance…but many of these clean cards are actually hard.  *smile*  Lesley gave me an a-ha moment and clearly I am not the only one!  The success of this challenge is about the right mix of sketches and the amazing design team (I still pinch myself that I get to be a part of it!).  It is even more about YOU, the greater crafting community.  Our sponsors recognize what you bring and have been so generous in all they are offering as prizes!

FMS Final 200 Sponsors-002

We don’t have a traditional sketch hostess today.  The whole team is your hostess!  We chose a sketch that we felt allows for lots of expression and creativity.  Based on what I have seen from both our FMS DT and our guest DT members, we were right.  I hope that you will enjoy it as much as we already have!

FMS200 - MerryI had so many ideas for this sketch that I could barely clear my head enough to use just one (actually I have more cards to share with you later this week).  This one really reflects some of my favorite items in the new Holiday Catalog from Stampin’ Up so I just had to share.  These catalogs should be arriving soon to customers and you are going to be in love!  I started with the new Softly Falling TIEF and embossed my Thick Whisper White panel.  This embossing folder is awesome.  While it is meant to be “snow”, I just used it as a texture layer with the concentrated dots at the bottom (helped me stick to the sketch).  It is so pretty and more impressive in person than in my picture.  Then there are the snowflakes.  These wooden Snowflake Elements are awesome.  I should have gotten more.  There are 24 in a pack and I’ll be through them in no time!  I took them and smooshed them into my Versamark Ink Pad and them poured Silver Stampin’ Emboss Powder on them.  Add a heat tool and they emboss up super fast.  GORGEOUS!  They are attached with the new Fine Tip Glue Pen…so great for tiny things!  I added a Basic Rhinestone to each center with such a pretty effect.  Next, using the new Christmas Greetings Thinlit Dies and my Big Shot, I cut out the sentiment from Silver Glimmer Paper.  Mmmm….glitter!  As if the shine and sparkle weren’t enough already, I added a layer of Silver Foil behind the image layer and popped the whole thing up on Dimensionals.  This card is such a wow in person.  I love it and I hope you do too!

FMS Final 200Now if you have ever needed inspiration, this is the week to get ready to Pin.  I’m in complete awe over the talent that is in our guest gallery.  As if I wasn’t already mouth agape enough from the FMS DT!!!  The support from the stamping community has been humbling for all of us at FMS and I cannot begin to tell you what it has been like for me over the last few weeks.  Every time a card was sent to me, I squealed out loud.  As the companies responded with their sponsorship offers, I could hardly believe what I was reading.  At one point I think I channeled my inner Sally Field.  We can’t deny that you like us…you really like us!  *smile*  And that is a fabulous honor for all of us at Freshly Made Sketches.  This community of artists and friends is unlike any other I have known.  I’m grateful beyond measure to Lesley for having given me, a small time and unknown stamper, the offer of being on this amazing team almost 4 years ago.  It changed the course of my crafting life.  Gave me the confidence to enter and be chosen for Stampin’ Up’s Artisan Design Team.  And most importantly, it has given me the chance to meet some of the kindest and most generous people in the world.  The actual world….because we are all over the place and yet we feel like neighbors.

So, I’ll stop being sappy before I can’t continue my post.  I hope you have fun this week!  Here’s to another 200!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Ink:  Versamark; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer ; Accessories:  Big Shot, Christmas Greetings Thinlits, Softly Falling TIEF, Heat Tool, Silver Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Basic Rhinestones, Fine Tip Glue Pen

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Freshly Made Sketches #199

Freshly Made Sketches #199 published on 7 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #199

Happy Wednesday!  It is usually one of my favorite days but next week, it is sure to be YOURS as well.  Our 200th Sketch Celebration at Freshly Made Sketches is  next week at you don’t want to miss it!  Keep an eye on the FMS blog this week to see all the amazing sponsors who will be joining us!

This week our sketch is worth celebrating too!  Karren is our sketch hostess and she has created one that I simply love.

FMS199 - Amazing

I pulled out an old favorite for this one and kept it super clean to focus on this pretty flower.  I stamped the image from Simply Sketched in Basic Gray onto Thick Whisper White.  I added Daffodil Delight, So Saffron and Basic Gray to the flower with my Aquapainter.  Super simple to do and such a great result!  I put the panel up on Dimensionals onto a Basic Gray base and then added this Paper Pumpkin sentiment backed up with some retired Washi Tape.  A few Basic Pearls are sprinkled on for a little extra elegance.

I have started seeing the previews of what the FMS team has for you next week (and what our guest DT members have created)…I’m here to tell you that you will be blown away with the talent!  Since you can’t see that quite yet, I’ll just send you over to FMS for this week’s inspiration.  The team never disappoints!
200th Sketch

FMS Final 199-001I hope your week is fantastic.  My summer seems to be flying by with my oldest son starting back to school next week.  How can that even be????  I’m enjoying the last few days with the boys and then some more flying this weekend.  I’ll be back on Monday with a new Stamp Review Crew card.  Until then….have a great week!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Simply Sketches, Petite Pairs; Ink:  Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Basic Gray ; Accessories:  Aquapainter, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Retired Washi Tape

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Freshly Made Sketches #198

Freshly Made Sketches #198 published on 10 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #198

I know you have heard it before but I have to say it again.  We are only two weeks away from our 200th Sketch Celebration at Freshly Made Sketches.  You need to mark your calendars!  You will not believe what we have in store for you!

Now….here it is.  Yes….the first Christmas card of the season.  I made it to August!  I love making holiday cards.  Something about them always makes me happy.  So I figured it was as good a time as any to start.  This sketch from Cindy Lovell is so perfect for focus on images or pretty die cuts.

FMS198 - Reindeer Christmas

I just love, love, love this little reindeer from Color Me Christmas.  It is a retired set but I am waiting (impatiently) for my new Holiday Catalog order to show up so retired stuff it is!  This fellow is so fun to color.  I used a combination of Copics and Blendabilities to match this retired DSP.  The SSS Stitched Rectangles provide a little extra fun.  The sentiment is from Petite Pairs (love those fonts).  I added a Cherry Cobbler button and Early Espresso Baker’s Twine to finish.  Now you are in for it because the Christmas vault is open and let the seasonal stamping begin!

200th Sketch

Did I mention the 200th sketch?!  Yes….we are working tons behind the scenes to make this super fun.  We have sponsors that you are sure to love!  Big names…names you love….names I love!!  That is it for hints today.  But more will come.  Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss anything!

Now, off to see the amazing designs from the team this week.  You are going to love what you see!  I’ll be back on Friday with another card (and it might be another Christmas card).  Hope your week is going well.  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Color Me Christmas, Petite Pairs; Ink:  Momento Black, Blendabilities, Copics; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, ; Accessories:  Big Shot, SSS Stitches Rectangles Dies, Regals Buttons, Early Espresso Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #197

Freshly Made Sketches #197 published on 11 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #197

My trip to DC was so awesome last week.  The Nats game was fantastic and they pulled out a great win.  We wandered around over the two days and went to the Arboretum, the Natural History Museum, saw the memorials and generally had a great time (and a lot of walking!).  Just what the family needed!  I have a picture at the bottom of the post of the boys before the Nats game.  The happy faces say it all!

Today over at Freshly Made Sketches we have this sketch that will become an instant classic.  My friend Jen Brum designed it and it rocks!

FMS197 - Special

I started with the butterfly from the Bold Butterfly Framelits.  Conveniently, Just Add Ink has a butterfly challenge this week so I am playing along with that!  I had the piece of watercolored paper from last week’s card sitting around still and I cut it out with the butterfly.  Part of it was still uncolored so I splashed on a little Daffodil Delight ink with my Aquapainter.  Remember when I told you last week about winning that flower die?  Well, I also won this Basic Grey DSP and it works perfectly here!  I added a square of Thick Whisper White with the sentiment from Garden in Bloom stamped in Rose Red.  I added on some Basic Rhinestones for a little extra sparkle.

IMG_0933

Now just look at those faces?  Aren’t they cute?!  They might be part of the reason that I’m not stamping as much right now but, let’s face it, they are totally worth it!!

Now, off to see what the rest of the DT created!  You will love the projects!  I’ll be back on Friday for this month’s Fancy Friday hop.  Until then, have a great week!

FMS Final 197-001Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Garden in Bloom; Ink:  Watermelon Wonder, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Basic Gray Vivienne; Accessories:  Big Shot, Bold Butterfly Framelit, Aquapainter, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #196

Freshly Made Sketches #196 published on 5 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #196

Did you see the news yet???!!!  Freshly Made Sketches is rapidly approaching our 200th sketch and we have quite a celebration in store for our players!  I’m sure you know that we normally run our challenge unsponsored but we have loads of AMAZING sponsors for this big event.  Plan now to play along!!  Keep an eye on our Facebook page or Instagram feed for more sneak peeks on who will join us!

Now back to the regularly schedule programing of sketch #196.  This week’s challenge hostess is the always lovely and oh so talented Cindy Hall.  You are going to love this one, I just know it!

FMS196 - Just a Note

I used Rose Red and Watermelon Wonder inks on watercolor paper to create a pretty look and then another spot of Pool Party.  Then, using this amazing flower die, I cut out the flower.  I got this one from a giveaway from Ashley Horton.  Fun, huh?!  I stamped the sentiment from the Watercolor Wishes Kit using a combination of the inks (this time sponged on the stamp).  The Dots for Days stamp was inked in Pool Party and stamped onto Thick Whisper White leaving a white border for the sketch.  I added on some sequins from the Watercolor Wishes Kit to finish.  I love this card so much.  It totally does not photograph as pretty as it is in person!

Thanks again to Ashley for the great giveaway!!  Off today to a Nats game with my boys and some family time in DC.  The weather has cooled down and it should be perfect for being a tourist!  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you soon!

FMS196 Cindy Hall-001Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Watercolor Wishes Kit; Ink:  Watermelon Wonder, Rose Red, Pool Party; Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Watercolor Paper; Accessories:  Big Shot, Flower Die from Echo Park Paper Co., Aquapainter, Sequins from Watercolor Wishes Kit, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #195

Freshly Made Sketches #195 published on 7 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #195

Can you believe it?!  I got to visit with another amazing stamper this week on my journeys through the United system!!  This time, I stopped in Toronto, Canada and got to have lunch with the lovely Jennifer Brum.  Now we got to meet before when she was in the DC area and our families went to one of the Air and Space Museums together.  Yep….we share both flying and stamping as interests (at least Jen gets brought along on the flying since her boys are huge aviation fans).  For all that my flying has been exhausting this week (6 days out in a row), my visit with Jen was a big bright spot!

Now to stamping.  The incredibly talented Kim Singdahlsen is our sketch hostess at Freshly Made Sketches this week and she has this fun and unique challenge for us!  You are going to have a ball with it!

FMS195 - Hello

I was tempted to go with flowers again this week but I decided to stay close to the sketch (mostly because of the time crunch and flying).  I chose these prints from the retired Moonlight DSP (using up those scraps!) and punched circles with my 1-3/4″ Circle Punch.  I attached them to a piece of regular Whisper White and ran them through the Big Shot with my Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (inlaid embossing).  Then I took the panel and cut it out using my Stitched Rectangles die from Simon Says Stamps.  The sentiment is cut from Blackberry Bliss card stock using the Greetings Thinlits and I added a button and some Baker’s Twine for a little more detail.  Isn’t this fun?!  I told you that you would love the sketch!

Well, I am home today (finally) and looking forward to making some things in the craft room this week.  I miss it so much when I’m out and about!  Now I have something super important to tell you before I let you go.  Make sure you are following the FMS site and keeping track of our sketches.  You may notice how close we are to a landmark number of sketches.  Well, you can be sure we have a big and I mean BIG surprise coming to celebrate.  Be ready!  We are so excited that we are ready to party now (but we’ll have to wait too!).  Look for more details in the upcoming weeks!

FMS Final 195-001Now our lovely team of stampers has their usual great inspiration for you.  Make sure you hop over and tell Kim how much you love her sketch and go check out the team projects.  Can’t wait to see what you create with this one!  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  Back soon with more fun!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Paper:  Whisper White, Thick Whisper White, Moonlight DSP Stack; Accessories:  Big Shot, Greetings Thinlits, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Stitched Rectangles Die (SSS), 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, Button, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #194

Freshly Made Sketches #194 published on 12 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #194

Another week of fun travels and another week of seeing friends while on the road at work.  Twice in a row!!  This week I got to hang out with my pilot training roommate and fellow United pilot, Cathy, and the fancy, fabulous Jeanna Bohanon.  Seeing two of my dear friends, from two different sides of my life, meet and get along so well brought me such joy!  And they live close to each other.  I foresee Cathy learning to stamp after all!!  *smile*

For our sketch this week, the clever and talented Linda Callahan is our hostess.  This sketch is so fun and unique….just like Linda!  How these ladies keep finding such original ideas is amazing!

FMS194 - It's your day

Recognize this stamp set??!!  Let me give you a hint.  Cool, trendy and it shows up at your door once a month.  That’s right!  Paper Pumpkin!!!  I knew the minute I saw these flowers that I would be using them over and over.  Never mind how cute the kit is (and it is), this stamp is a gift that keeps giving.  I’ve been saying that about Paper Pumpkin for a while but this month’s set is over the top fun!  I took the flowers and stamped in Momento Black and then colored them with Copics markers.  I stamped some leaves from Garden in Bloom to add to the edges.  Love how they coordinate!  The sentiment (also from Paper Pumpkin June) was stamped and then I hand drew the line using my Project Life Journaling Pen.  All of this is stamped on the new Thick Whisper White.  The paper handles the markers beautifully (and don’t forget it can handle watercoloring too).  I hand cut the flowers and popped them up on Glue Dots and Dimensionals.

FMS194 Copics FMS Final 194-001The ladies on the DT have such fun interpretations of this sketch…no surprise!  Make sure you run over and tell Linda how much you love this too!

I have a big stretch of flying coming up but hopefully some stuff to share while I’m gone.  I might even get another bonus visit with a stamping friend!  I know….crazy, right?!  I have always warned people that I might show up on their doorsteps with short notice.  Now they believe me! Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Paper Pumpkin June Stamp, Garden in Bloom; Ink:  Momento Black, Copics (above); Paper:  Thick Whisper White; Accessories:  Project Life Journaling Pens, Glue Dots, Dimensionals,

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Freshly Made Sketches #193

Freshly Made Sketches #193 published on 8 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #193

I hope you are having a fabulous week so far!  Mine has been pretty full of work and fun.  Got back from a trip on Monday and I got to spend some time with two of my amazing FMS teammates – Linda and Jen M – while I was on my trip.  I know….you are jealous, right?!  And they are just as awesome in person as you could ever hope for.  How lucky I am that United affords me the occasional visit with my stamping friends.  Now for trips to TX, FL, CO, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Australia…..you know, to visit the rest of the team!  At least the first 3 are manageable in my Airbus!

Ok…on to our sketch this week.  It is courtesy of the lovely Rita has created this beauty for Freshly Made Sketches and it is a real winner!  It is unique yet there are so many possibilities!

FMS193 - Bohemian Thank You -

So I got this lovely care package a bit ago from my dear friend Becky Cowley.  It included this Bohemian DSP and some In Color Blossom Accents (why yes, she is fabulous and so generous to send me a care package of goodies!!).  This bold diamond pattern is a bit more manageable when cut down into strips and the cool Hello Honey pattern is one of my favorites from the pack!  I grouped them with the Watercolor Thank You stamp and added a little Hello Honey Blossom Accent to stay true to the sketch.  The Blackberry Bliss ribbon adds another layer of detail and I framed my layers (and created a base) with Blackberry Bliss card stock.  This card is super fun and easy to make as a group of cards.

FMS Final 193-001

The fabulous versions of this sketch already have me ready to Pin so I know you’ll love what you see this week.  Hope you have fun playing along with us!

I busily using my two days off between trips to catch up but hoping for some stamping tomorrow.  I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping in.

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Watercolor Thank You; Ink:  Blackberry Bliss; Paper:  Very Vanilla, Bohemian DSP, Blackberry Bliss; Accessories:  In Color Blossom Accents, Blackberry Bliss 3/8″ Stitched Ribbon (ret)

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