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Freshly Made Sketches #595

Freshly Made Sketches #595 published on 4 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #595

A beautiful sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches. Our designer, the lovely Amy O’Neill, gave us lots of options on this one.

I was so excited to get this new stamp set from the wonderful Dawn Woleslagle (WPlus9) called Darling Dahlias. It is just released to her shop even though she designed it a while ago. She certainly has a way with florals! For this, I chose one of the single flowers from the set and the leaves. Sadly, I need a sympathy card for someone at work so I decided that a blue dahlia might be appropriate. I played with a moody blue watercolor (Mayan Dark Blue) and added touches of a rust (Mummy Bauxite) for color variation in the flower. The leaves are a lovely gray (Shadow Violet) that has pretty ways of granulating. All colors are Daniel Smith Watercolors.

I used this pretty wood print from the Grain and Grunge paper pack and used a sentiment from the BEE Young: Blooms Free Bee Set (Honey Bee Stamps). After trying this whole combination on both white and black bases, I settled on a pale gray (Fog from SSS). I added a few matte black confetti pieces to finish.

I hope you will enjoy this sketch and find inspiration from the team. More amazing samples, as always, on the team blog! Thanks for stopping in. See you soon!

Flowers for You – Gina K Designs

Flowers for You – Gina K Designs published on 2 Comments on Flowers for You – Gina K Designs

Well, as I told you, been a bit quiet here. If all moves along as scheduled, I’ll be finishing my training in Denver today. A pesky blizzard has impacted our training center so there is a chance of delay but here’s hoping all is successfully accomplished by the end of the day.

I created this card before I left and it is the last one I have for you. I cannot wait to have some creative time when I get home!

I started with the Flowers for You set by Gina K Designs. This was part of her latest release and I was thrilled to be able to join in the launch. I stamped this with Distress Ink in Antique Linen onto Fabriano Cold Press paper. Then I just played with no-line watercoloring.

I feel like this kind of coloring is still a work in process for me but I do love the look so much. So…practice, practice, practice! It helps with the image is as pretty as this one! The sentiment comes from the same set and there are many to choose from.

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!

Blooming Thanks for SugarPea Designs

Blooming Thanks for SugarPea Designs published on 1 Comment on Blooming Thanks for SugarPea Designs

I’m sharing a card today that I created for the SugarPea Designs company blog today. I am still loving the Winter Release products and am having so much fun using them!

I started with the gorgeous Friendship Blooms Stamp Set. I stamped onto watercolor paper with Versamark Ink and then heat embossed with gold embossing powder. I colored the flowers and leaves with my Daniel Smith watercolor paints then cut them out with the coordinating SugarCut – Friendship Blooms Dies.

Next using the SugarCut – Block Alphabet Dies I chose to cut the word “THANKS” from gold card stock. As I played with the layout, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to make a slimline card. I cut a layering panel from Bristol Smooth paper and inked it with a Catherine Pooler Suede Shoes Ink. I splattered with some water and a bit of gold (Gold Lamé Smooch Ink) to match the letters and embossing. Once dry, I attached the flowers and then the letters. I used a straight edge to line up the letters which makes it tons easier. I love the versatility of the alphabet to expand sentiment choices or just make a bold statement. I hope you like this project! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Erin Lee Creative – Release and Blog Hop + Giveaway

Erin Lee Creative – Release and Blog Hop + Giveaway published on 17 Comments on Erin Lee Creative – Release and Blog Hop + Giveaway

We have been leading up to this through sneak peeks and today is August release day from Erin Lee Creative!

I’m going to be honest. I LOVE the look of hand-drawn watercolor. I have taken classes on how to do it but my efforts are always a bit lacking. So enter this Floral Wreath Stencil. I put a bit of Pixie Spray on the back of the stencil and laid it down on watercolor paper. Using the outline, I started laying on Daniel Smith watercolor paints.

All it really takes is patience. Start with light colors and just build as you go. Leave the stencil in place and let the layers dry. I just worked around on different colors while waiting. The stencil contains each design element and helps keep them from becoming a “blob” as you add color…usually my biggest flaw. Once you get the colors like you want, just remove the stencil and all evidence that you didn’t just magically freehand this is gone. To finish, all I wanted was a simple sentiment. I chose one from another new release set called Fall Critters. I chose a gray ink and love how this has a handwritten look to match the coloring.

Prizes: We are giving away three $25 gift certificates to three lucky winners chosen from comments left across all of the blogs participating in this hop. Please leave a comment on any participating blog by Monday, August 24. Three winners will be announced that week on the Erin Lee Creative Blog. The more you comment, the more chances to win!

Now on to the rest of the hop! I’m thrilled to send you off to visit the wonderful Michelle McDaniel. Here is the entire team if you get lost along the way.

Spellbinders – Jane Davenport’s Fairytale Fox

Spellbinders – Jane Davenport’s Fairytale Fox published on 1 Comment on Spellbinders – Jane Davenport’s Fairytale Fox

Today I’m sharing a brand new stamp set from Spellbinder’s Whimsical and Wild Collection by Jane Davenport. If you are familiar with the Jane Davenport style of art, it is beautifully textured and rich with color. The Fairytale Fox set became my focus for two cards that are exactly the same and yet totally different.

I stamped the images in Versafine Clair ink onto multimedia paper. I was inspired by Jane’s color palettes and just simply splattered watercolor paints over the paper. I thought it was fun and, well, whimsical.

Using the same setup that I had on my MISTI, I stamped again on a rougher watercolor paper. This time I played with adding more strategic color and then colored the background too. I added some teal, gold and pearl splatters for a bit more detail.

The whole Whimsical and Wild collection can be found at Spellbinders and you’ll want to see all the fun and fantastic images. Thanks for stopping in today. Back tomorrow with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches. See you soon!

SugarPea Designs – Guest Week 3

SugarPea Designs – Guest Week 3 published on 2 Comments on SugarPea Designs – Guest Week 3

Today I have my card for week three of my April guest designer month at SugarPea Designs. I suspect that many of you are starting to feel the weight of the global restrictions and I am no different. While I have been on reserve (on call) for United, I have not flown now for a month. I miss my office window! So you can see that in my project for today.

I reached for the Meadow Motifs stamp set again.  While I love happy spring colors, I was feeling the call of watercolor paints and focused on blues and a gray green.  I stamped lots of the beautiful images from the stamp set onto watercolor paper and got to watercoloring.  Something about the imperfection of paints seemed to fit the chaos of my house.

Once completed, I cut all of the images out with the coordinating SugarCut Meadow Motifs dies.  After laying them out in a grouping, I used Press’n Seal Wrap over them to hold them in place.  Then comes the fun!  Choose a shape die (I used an oval) and lay it over your wrap then cut.  On the inside of the shape you will have the pieces still held in place.  I added foam tape for extra dimension and then attached to a watercolor paper base.  Carefully peel away the wrap and magic!  You see the shape but didn’t have to do any piecing.  The sentiment is from Everyday Sentiments stamp set and I cut it out with coordinating SugarCut Sentiment Strips.

This gorgeous stamp set was truly perfect for the Press’n Seal technique (which has been on my “to try” list for a long time).  I hope you will be inspired to give it a go too.  Thanks for stopping in to visit today! Back tomorrow with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches. See you then!

Erin Lee Creative March Release and GIVEAWAY

Erin Lee Creative March Release and GIVEAWAY published on 17 Comments on Erin Lee Creative March Release and GIVEAWAY

This is my second post for today. If you are here for Freshly Made Sketches, please scroll down.

I have wonderful news today! I have joined the Erin Lee Creative design team and I’m so thrilled. Erin is an amazing human and I had the joy of meeting her in person a month ago. And her new release is fabulous! She released it early (over the weekend) as additional incentive to stay home and craft! And today our team is holding a blog hop complete with a GIVEAWAY (details below).

One of the new sets is called Sweet Succulents and it is just that! Sweet! I took a few moments for watercoloring last week and I enjoyed playing with the greens and violets. I cut out the images using the coordinating dies. I then created a watercolor frame to highlight the violets but still needed a sentiment. The You Are Enough die is also part of the new release. I cut it out a few times and layered them to give the words a bit of dimension.

I hope you enjoy this card but now it is on to more inspiration! Here is a look at the whole team!

Hop details: 3 random winners who comment across all blogs will receive a $25 gift code to use in the ELC shop. Winners will be announced March 25. So be sure to comment!

One to the amazing Ceal who is sure to make you smile! Here is the whole hop if you get lost along the way.

Freshly Made Sketches #400

Freshly Made Sketches #400 published on 12 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #400

Yes, finally, we ACTUALLY have sketch #400 this week at Freshly Made Sketches. As we looked back into our files, it has been fun to re-visit old sketches. But now we get to move forward! This week, we not only have a new sketch but we have generous sponsors who have given us fun prizes for our players. The winners will be chosen from the gallery so make sure you play along!

I decided to use this gorgeous set by one of our sponsors, Ellen Hutson. I love all of the “Mondo” series and this holly is no exception. I had a few minutes just to play around with watercolor and decided to experiment on the leaves. I added in some blue with the greens (all Daniel Smith watercolors) and liked the effect. I found an old patterned paper from my stash and a navy base to help highlight the colors in the leaves. This sentiment is from the same Mondo Holly stamp set.

Now to all the fun details. Our prizes are so generous and the whole team is so grateful for the continued support of the crafting industry. Here is the list of actual prizes:

The winners will be chosen randomly from those who play and link this week so, needless to say, this is the week to play along! Here is the sketch. We chose one that is classic and we hope you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks for stopping in today. I appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your day to visit. Hope the week is great!

Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary Celebration Week 3

Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary Celebration Week 3 published on 6 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary Celebration Week 3

I’m continuing my trend from yesterday of using Concord and 9th with the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. This is week 3 of our celebration leading up to sketch 400 and we have pulled out sketch 300. It is such fun to see another older sketch with a new eye.

I started with a based of Fabriano watercolor paper and painted on a swatch in this beautiful fall yellow (why yes, I am craving the crisp fall air!). While it dried I cut some leaves with the Layering Leaves die from watercolor paper and painted them in an ombré from brown through red to orange. The sentiment comes from Hello Lovely and I used a banner die (yes, I was that lazy) to make sure it was cut perfectly and then chopped off the ends.

Once everything was dry, I simply layered it up and attached to the base. I added a bit of twine to comply with the sketch a bit better and a few sequins, because I could.

I hope you’ll join us this week and then get ready! Next week is going to be really awesome. Really! We can hardly wait. Until then, thanks for stopping in today. See you soon!

Freshly Made Sketches #399

Freshly Made Sketches #399 published on 8 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #399

Wow! That number is getting pretty close to a significant big one, don’t you think?! Yep, me too. Make sure you tune in next week to see what Freshly Made Sketches has in store for you. But for now….we have a new and fabulous sketch by the wonderful Jen Brum this week. It is such fun and lends itself to repeated patterns and small images. Love it!

I thought that the leaves from Weekend Doodles by Altenew were perfect for the sketch. I stamped them three times in black Versafine ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder by WOW! (Oh yeah….don’t miss LOTS of fun inspiration in the WOW and Picket Fence Studios collaboration in my second post today).

I cut the images out using the coordinating dies and then watercolored with Daniel Smith paints. I had a little bit of fall on the brain (because the heat is addling mine at this point of the summer) and added a bit of golden yellow to the green and teal. I used a sentiment from the same set on Fog Gray card stock and then cut with a double stitched square die. I added some clear drops that I loved with the shine of the clear embossing and then put it all on a base of Tranquil Tide card stock (SU).

I hope you enjoy this card and all the inspiration from the team. Hope you will consider joining us too! Thanks so much for stopping in today and make sure you come back for the second round too. Have a great day!

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