This week at Freshly Made Sketches we have a little surprise for you and a dear stamper that inspires us all!  Not only do we have this awesome sketch courtesy of Allisa Chilton but we are participating in a birthday blog hop for the amazing Vicki Burdick.  I’m pretty sure everyone has seen one of Vicki’s lovely cards…certainly if you are on Pinterest!!  Imagine our delight when we found out about this birthday blog hop in her honor.  We just had to join in!

One of the notable things about Vicki’s stamping is her use of flowers.  Truly, so many of her flower cards are jaw-dropping!  I have also noticed that she uses Regal Rose like no other.  So I tried to channel my inner Vicki and try my hand at both.  Hmmmmm…she is the queen for a reason!!  I started with this lovely hydrangea from the Best of Flowers (March) set and stamped it onto some First Edition DSP.  I saw Vicki do this a number of times with the poppies set and had to give it a go.  I re-stamped the flower portion onto Very Vanilla, colored it and cut it out.  I thought some Regal Rose DSP from the Brights Designer Paper Pack would be good as a background panel.  Of course, Vicki’s cards seem to feature the most gorgeous bows so I had to add one on!  I pinned on the sentiment with a Vintage Trinkets safety pin to finish it off.

I hope you will join us in wishing Vicki a very happy birthday!  I know you will have a great time with Allisa’s sketch this week too!  So glad you hopped on through today.  Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Best of Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, First Edition DSP, Brights Paper Pack, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette; Accessories:  Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Vintage Trinkets, Jewelry Tag Punch, Blender Pen

 

What a fabulous sketch we have for you this week over at Freshly Made Sketches!!  I am so excited about this one…so cute and original, don’t you think??!!  It comes from the oh so wonderful Jen Brum and I could not wait to work with it!

I started knowing that I need to restock my birthday card supply.  I always seem to need them at the last minute, particularly the ones for kids.  What better than this Summer Smooches DSP??  This print always reminds me of party balloons and I think it is so festive.  With the print being so busy I didn’t need to add much else.  I pulled out my trust Made for You birthday sentiment and some coordinating Brights Buttons to finish the sketch.  This one just make me happy!!  In fact, I may make a few more since they are perfect for boys and girls!

I apologize for my absence last week.  It just seemed to be one of those weeks and life got in the way of stamping.  I was amazed as always by the creations of the design team and of course I am again this week.  Last week’s gallery was so impressive too.  I have a feeling you are going to like this sketch as much as I do and I foresee lots of fun cards!

I did get the good fortune of going to the Baltimore Regionals for Stampin’ Up on Saturday and it was so much fun!!  I got to hang out with some amazing stampers.  Not to drop names or anything but:  Amanda Mertz, Marla Reed, LeAnne Pugliese and Donna Wicks.  Yep, lucky me!!  I made a swap card (that I get to share with you next week) and got to see all kinds of fun sneak peeks from Stampin’ Up.  I’m working on the finishing touches of my Make & Takes (or Take & Makes in my case).  They are fun…you will love them.  I hope to have them up by Friday.

Ok, off to the FMS site with you to get inspired by the team!  Thanks so much for stopping in.  I look forward to seeing your creations!

Stamp:  Made for You; Paper:  Summer Smooches DSP, Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White; Ink:  Pacific Point; Accessories:  Brights Buttons, Thread, Mini Glue Dots

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!  It is Freshly Made Sketches day…yippee!!  Our sketch today is courtesy of the fabulous Linda Callahan of Stampin’ Seasons.  I love her cards so it is no surprise that I love her sketch this week.  She kept it simple and it leaves lots of room for you to use your imagination!!

I had this flower sitting on my table from another project and thought it would be perfect for Linda’s sketch.  It was tea stained (yep, with actual tea) before I decided to use it for this so it isn’t quite as “clean” as I would like for an FMS card.  The center of the flower is an Antique Brad. I love those!  The bow is made with Very Vanilla Seam Binding and it is wrapped around a DSP layer from Storytime DSP.  I couldn’t figure out a place for a sentiment so I decided to go without for now.

I’m absolutely in love with the cards the team has made this week.  So many great interpretations of the sketch!  I know this will be a busy week in the gallery and I can’t wait to see all that you create!

It is spring break for my boys so we are out and about.  I hope to have another card to show you on Friday from a class I am holding tomorrow.  Other than that, I am simply ignoring the too cold weather and starting to put in some of my lettuce, broccoli and spinach.  I think they are hardy enough to handle the chill and I’m tired of waiting, lol!!

I hope that your week is great.  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Paper:  Creped Filter Paper, Storytime DSP, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Big Shot, Fun Flowers Die, Antique Brads, Very Vanilla Seam Binding

 

 

I hope that your week is going well so far!  I mentioned yesterday that I have a bit of spring fever with no spring weather to match.  At least Monday’s snow has mostly melted and the forecast here in VA seems to be getting better.  I keep encouraging it along in my craft room!  Today’s sketch at Freshly Made Sketches is from the amazing Rita Wright.  Rita is one of the most wonderful stampers and I love seeing her pictures of little Laila on every post.  Make sure you drop by to see her blog!

I thought I’d use some bright sunny yellow (Daffodil Delight) to counteract the snow!  I loved the little flowers in Bright Blossoms as soon as I saw them and they are perfectly matched with the Summer Smooches DSP.  I stamped the flower and the stamped the blossoms again so that I could pop them up.  I love how a simple little stamp can give such a wow to a card, especially when framed with the Oval Framelits!  The little bow on Rita’s sketch was just the excuse I needed to add in a bow made with the Daffodil Delight Seam Binding.  I love how  it ties!!  A little “hello” from Teeny Tiny Wishes  is punched out with the Jewelry Tag Punch.

Ok, spring….I’m doing my part….now let me plant my garden and get my real flowers going!!

I love the variety of cards from the design team this week.  Make sure you go take a look to see the inspiration!  I probably won’t be back until after Easter.  My boys start their Easter break on Thursday so my stamping will be limited.  With any luck though, I’ll get my garden started with their help!  I hope you have a great rest of your week and a blessed Easter or Passover.

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Summer Smooches DSP, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White; Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry; Accessories:  Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelit, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Neutrals Button, Ovals Framelits

I am so happy to share this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches with you!  The fabulous Jen Mitchell from I Create designed this sketch and it has so many interpretations.  You can see from the design team’s work that there are lots of ways to look at this one.  I love a sketch like that!

I thought it would be fun to use the Storytime DSP for this.  I love the little images on this paper and I chose this one to cut out.  The two little friends with bubbles are too cute!!  The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes seems to fit perfectly and I was so happy with the two together.  There is something about the combination of Basic Gray and Crumb Cake that is appealing to me these days so I added a border and a Large Scallop using the Crumb Cake.  Of course, some touches of Pool Party were needed and I was able to pull out my Sale-a-bration freebies to help.  This ribbon is so pretty and worked well on the borders.  The button was my final touch (tied up with some Linen Thread).  I think this will make a fun card for a friend of my boys for a birthday.  I may have to make some more using different images just to have on hand!

Thanks for dropping in today.  I know I’m not posting much but I have been busily working on some projects.  I won’t be able to show them for a while but I hope the work will pay off.  More about that another day!  Don’t forget that Sale-a-bration is almost over!  If you haven’t taken advantage, please don’t wait any longer!

I hope that you have a fantastic week.  Make sure you go take a look at the design team’s cards and at the gallery as the week goes on.  The work you all share with us from week to week is incredible!!

Stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Storytime DSP, Basic Gray, Naturals Ivory; Ink:  Basic Gray; Accessories:  Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (SAB), Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Large Scallop Edgelit

Happy, happy Wednesday to all of you!!  I am so excited because today is a great one over at Freshly Made Sketches.  Not only do we have an awesome sketch from Linda Suarez but we have new things happening over there!  First, we have added two new designers to our Design Team.  I’m sure they are not new names to you because their work is stunning!  I am so thrilled to add my welcome to Narelle Faruggia and Amy O’Neill.  They are two of my favorite stampers and I cannot tell you how happy I am that they have joined our team!  Additionally, the awesome Lesley Croghan, the team’s creator, has redesigned the look of our challenge.  We are so in love with the, well, “Fresh” new look!

I decided to go with retired papers on today’s card.  This pack of Spice CakeDSP is still a favorite of mine and it called to be used.  I think these prints are really pretty with this flower from Day of Gratitude.

I am in a race against losing power to get this post out today.  Here in Northern Virginia, we are getting lots of heavy wet snow so it is only a matter of time before the power goes.  We already have about 7 inches this morning and even more to come.  My boys are so excited!!  Looks like I’ll be sledding later today!

Thanks so much for dropping by today.  Make sure you go give a warm welcome to Narelle and Amy along with your compliments to Lesley for the amazing new blog look!  Hope to see you in the gallery this week!

Stamp:  Day of Gratitude, Apothecary Art; Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso; Ink:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Pool Party; Accessories:  Neutrals Buttons, Dimensionals

 

Happy middle of the week to you!  It is time for another amazing sketch care of Freshly Made Sketches!  This week is definitely a big one for us.  It is with mixed emotions that we bid a fond farewell to Tui Nathan of Stampin-Time.  I am such a fan of everything that Tui makes and have countless cards made by her on my Pin boards.  But Tui has the opportunity to go to Nursing School and I cannot be more thrilled for her.  Make sure you drop by and let her know how much you have appreciated the inspiration she provides every week!

I decided that this fabulous sketch was the perfect showcase for a big pattern from one of Stampin’ Up’s designer papers.  But which one??  As I was looking through my papers, this print from Berry Blossoms seemed perfect.  Cards like this are so fun to put together because they are so quick.  I did add a couple of extra elements to give it a bit more depth.  First, I thought the Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon would be good on the side of the panel.  Then I remembered I had some brads from last year’s Sale-a-Bration to use (Sale-a-bration really is a gift that keeps on giving and this year’s promotion is still on-going).  I love those little brads as flower centers!  I didn’t have any particular purpose for this card so I thought it looked like an anniversary card.  One that is always nice to have on hand for family.

I look forward to seeing the gallery again this week since I know it will be full of amazing cards!  I hope you’ll be able to join us!

I’m so glad you stopped by today.  See you again soon!

Stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Berry Blossoms DSP (retired), Early Espresso, Whisper White; Ink:  Early Espresso; Accessories:  SAB Brads, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Dimensionals

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!!  I hope your week is going well.  You know that if it is Wednesday, it is Freshly Made Sketches day and we have another fun one for you this week.  The super talented Allisa Chilton of Rocky Mountain Paper Crafts is our sketch hostess this week.  She has shared one of her go-to sketches with us and it is fantastic!

All I could see with that large element on the side was a medallion.  Sometimes you just have to go with your first thought so out came Daydream Medallions!  It has been sitting in the drawer too long and clearly just needed to get inky!!  I thought it would be fun to use an In Color combination and I love how it turned out.  These designs are so pretty and I love them in these bold colors.  As I was searching for something to put in the middle, I realized my Night of Navy button was actually perfect match.  I stamped the sentiment with my favorite sentiment stamp set, Made for You and thought it still needed and extra something.  So I pulled out my corner rounder punch and snipped off the opposing corners.  Definitely another clean card but one with a little personality, I think.

The design team has created all kinds of variations on this sketch and they are fantastic!  Make sure you hop on over to check them out.  While you are there, don’t forget to tell Allisa how much you love her first sketch!

I want to congratulate Gale Smith who is the winner of last week’s blog candy.  Thanks so much for your comments (the card with the blue flower was the winner)!  I hope to actually stamp some more today and have some new things to post for you soon.  Until then, thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Daydream Medallions, Made for You; Paper:  Whisper White; Ink:  Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple; Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Regals Buttons, Baker’s Twine, Corner Rounder Punch