Oh goody, it is Wednesday!!  Of course that means that Freshly Made Sketches has a new sketch for you.  This one is courtesy of Lesley Croghan from Always Playing with Paper.  She has given us another of those ever so useful layouts that can be used in so many ways.

As soon as I saw Blast Off in the new catalog, it was a “must purchase” for me!!  My two boys are obsessed with all things space and this set is just what I need to make card for them.  THANK YOU SU!!  It is fun to customize the astronaut with hair and eye colors.  This one is my oldest son.  My youngest used the set to make a Father’s Day card (I really must get that posted) that looks like him.  I used the new and awesome Midnight Muse and Gumball Green with a print from Summer Smooches DSP.  A little fussy cutting was all this took.  The rocket and the upper shooting star are popped up on Dimensionals.  You will be seeing more cards from me with this one, that is for sure!

I can’t wait for you to see what the rest of the team has made.  So many wonderful styles all with the same sketch!!

Thanks so much for stopping in today.  I hope you are having a great week so far!

Stamp:  Blast Off; Paper:  Summer Smooches DSP, Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Whisper White; Ink:  Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray; Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Ovals Die (retired)

Now just look what Freshly Made Sketches has for you this week!  Jen Mitchell from I Create has designed this layout for us.  So many lovely possibilities!!

As I said yesterday, I seem to be working in a bit of a minimalist style these days.  Less layers, lots of white space.  Maybe it is the summer weather. I turned to Betsy’s Blossoms again and the beautiful prints in Floral District.  This pretty Lucky Limeade monochromatic print is at the top of a poppy design on one of the sheets.  Just perfectly sized for a sketch like this!  I flipped the leaf stamp and used the end as a stem and then added a single leaf using my trust Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I added a little version of the flower next to the sentiment for a little extra emphasis.

The design team has made so many pretty inspiration cards.  I love the different takes on the “any shape” panel!  We had so much fun with all the entries last week (103…wow!).  Hope you will join us again this week.

I just got a box from Mr. Brown (aka, the UPS man).  New stamps and new accessories!  Oh, the possibilities!  I hope to be back with something by the end of the week!  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Betsy’s Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Floral District DSP, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White; Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade; Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Die (retired), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Brights Buttons, White Baker’s Twine, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

The fantastic Linda Callahan of Stampin’ Seasons has brought us this week’s sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I love this sketch for all its possibilities and it was so easy to use.  It was so much fun having the surprise hop for Rita last week.  This week we continue the fun with the addition of new members to the design team.  Lesley has put so much talent in one place and you will be so impressed with this week’s team cards.  How lucky I am to be in the company of such wonderful stampers!

I guess this week is one of surprises for moms-to-be. My oldest son’s teacher is pregnant and the parents threw her a surprise baby shower in the class yesterday.  We played the baby diaper game (which the kids thought was hilarious) and a few other guessing games.  Such fun!  I just got this new set, Betsy’s Blossoms, and its coordinating Floral District DSP.  I am in love with this bird and the whole stamp set is bold and fresh looking.  It seems that between this DSP and the Summer Smooches DSP that Rich Razzleberry is becoming one of my go-to colors for the summer.  It has never been a favorite of mine but right now I can’t get enough of it!!  I used some Daffodil Delight Seam Binding for the bow and Teeny Tiny Wishes for the sentiment.  The little bird is fussy cut and put up on Dimensionals.

I hope you can join us this week for the latest sketch.  Make sure you drop by and welcome the latest members to the team.  They will be with us through December 2012 and I know I look forward to how they will inspire us every week!

• Jennifer Brum
• Allisa Chilton
• Jen Sannes
• Ann Schach
• Linda Suarez

On a personal note, I am back to flying and my stamping has been a bit curtailed.  I will post as often as I can but the summer flying schedule is sure to be full.  My boys are also out from school at the end of the week and the summer activities are beginning.  I love hanging out with them but, again, my stamping time tends to fall off.  Worth every bit of time with them though!!  So glad you stopped by today.  Thanks so much!

Stamps:  Betsy’s Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Floral District DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade; Accessories:  Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Brights Buttons, White Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals

Wow, it is Wednesday already and I’m here with the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  The lovely Tui Nathan of Stampin-Time has brought us this fun layout.  The hardest part of using it was narrowing down the choices.  I may make a few more with this one since it is so versatile!

I turned it on its side to use one of my favorite watercoloring sets ever…Every Moment.  This one is on Stampin’ Up’s retirement list but it isn’t too late.  I can say with certainty that it will be in my collection for a long time to come!  I stamped the flower and butterfly in Early Espresso ink on Watercolor Paper, then colored in with Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  Blessedly, this wasn’t made for any specific reason.  I had recently used a sympathy card from my box of cards and wanted to replace it.  I find that when I need one, I either don’t have the time or the focus to create one.  These are best made “just because” for me.  I used some retired Elegant Soiree DSP from a couple of years ago.  I thought the line art was a nice combination with the art of the stamp.

Well, you can see that I never got around to posting a card yesterday.  Apologies!  It seems that the end of the school year brings lots and lots to do and no time to do it.  Today I’m off to a field trip but I have already scheduled the post for tomorrow.

Make sure you go see the design team’s variations on this sketch.  So many beautiful cards!  Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Every Moment, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Elegant Soiree DSP (retired), Soft Suede, Watercolor Paper; Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Blender Pen, Dimensionals

It is my turn to hostess at Freshly Made Sketches this week and I hope you like my sketch!    I thought it would be fun for showcasing designer papers but also for stamping.  You can stamp all three panels separately or show us a split panel image.  Knowing what I see from week to week, I’m certain you will come up with all kinds of amazing projects.  As usual, the design team already has.  I have to say that it is fun to see what others create with a sketch you designed!!

I decided to go the three image route with my card.  With all the projects I’ve been working on this month, I had a potpourri of designer papers sitting around on my table and thought I should combine them.  I pulled out an old favorite retired hostess set Of the Earth for the flower stamp.  Some retired sets just have to stay in the drawer because they are so awesome…this is one I love!  The background paper is from Twitterpated DSP and you know what??  It is carrying over to the new catalog!  Yippee!!!  I was a little worried about the Pear Pizzazz print (and I’m officially out of Pear Pizzazz).  But you know what?  Old Olive is a PERFECT go-with color.  Whew!  Problem solved and more Twitterpated coming to my house!  The Calypso Coral paper is from Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB).  Sale-a-bration is just a gift that keeps on giving!  I inked up the flowers in Old Olive and Calypso Coral and stamped them using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig.  What would I do without that tool??!!  Finally I tied on some Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding with a potato masher triple bow.  I added a tag using the Jewelry Tag Punch and a part of a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

I hope you enjoy this sketch and that you will play along this week!  Now hop right over to Freshly Made Sketches and visit the other design team members blogs.  You’ll be happy you did!

Sorry I’m a little late on my post this morning.  I’m having some painting done at our house and it is a little distracting (but it will be nice when it is done!!).  One wall is very close to Midnight Muse and the others are a bit darker than Very Vanilla.  Yes, all wall colors are based on SU colors at my house (I’m sure I’m not alone).  Oh yeah, Midnight Muse??!!  It is one of the new In-Colors 2012-14 and I am already in love.  I just got it so I’ll be working in into a project as soon as possible.

Ok, off to finish cutting for a Customer Appreciation Class I am holding tomorrow.  I’ll be sharing those projects with you soon.  Thanks for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Stamps:  Of the Earth (hostess, retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB), Old Olive, Whisper White; Ink:  Old Olive, Calypso Coral; Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Jewelry Tag Punch, Neutrals Buttons

Happy Wednesday!!  I hope you are having a great week so far.  In all my excitement to tell you about Craft Project Central yesterday, I forgot to tell you that I am on leave for the whole month.  Oh, don’t worry, I’ll get enough flying during the summer for two people!!  The company was looking for some volunteers for unpaid leave and I figured it would give me time to catch up from the whirlwind I’ve been in since going back to flying.  Hopefully that will mean more stamping (and posts) too!

Jen Mitchell from I Create is the sketch hostess at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  As usual, she came up with a great sketch!  Last week blew me away and I know this one will bring some more oohs and aahs!

I am trying to use up some of my retiring DSP to clear the way for Stampin’ Up’s new catalog launch on June 1st.  Actually demonstrators get to see it in May 7th so I have even more reason to clear out some things!!  I started the card with this wonderful print from Paisley Petals DSP.  I thought it would be really pretty on the sketch panels!  As I was sifting through my stamp drawer I came upon Day of Gratitude.  I seem to get lots of use out of this in the fall but then it gets neglected.  Not really sure why since it works in all seasons.  The medallion was just what I needed so I inked it up with Always Artichoke and Early Espresso using my Stampin’ Write Markers (*note:  Always Artichoke is “retiring” as an individual marker and will only be available as part of a Regals set in the future.  I already ordered a spare!).  I need a graduation card for a niece so I chose a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes for that.  Not sure it has the right feel for graduation but I’m hoping she will like it.

The design team and our guest designers have made some fabulous cards this week.  After admiring their work (and letting them know), roll on down to read about a design team call for Freshly Made Sketches.  Lots of great info and you can’t be chosen if you don’t enter!!

Thanks for stopping in today.  I’ll be back tomorrow with another Craft Project Central feature.  Hope you have a great day!

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Paisley Petals DSP, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke; Accessories:  Neutrals Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

I am just so excited to show you the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week!!  I loved it the minute I saw it!!  The lovely Linda Callahan of Stampin’ Seasons created this one.  Brilliant, isn’t she??!!  When you see what the design team has made this week you will want to run to your stamp area and create!

I think I have had a color breakthrough and I attribute it all to the Summer Smooches DSP.  I have said before that I have never been in love with Rich Razzleberry but I’m afraid this new print has changed my thinking!  Just look at it and you can see why!  I just love the oval embossing of the Designer Frames Folder on an oval shape and I thought it would be great with this layout.  So I turned to a trusty old friend, the flower from Friends Never Fade.  I like how it escaped the frame a bit too!  After putting the image and the DSP panel together I thought that buttons would be the perfect finish and they are great for this sketch.  They come from the Brights Collection of buttons (Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie).  The measurements on my base are 4 1/4″ square which allows me to mail it in the normal SU envelope with no extra postage.  Just a reminder that this stamp set is on the SU Retiring Stamps List.  So while Friends Never Fade, this stamp will be gone at the end of May.  Also, take a look at the SU Retiring Accessories List that just came out today.  The Ovals Die used here and many other items are on it.  These are only available while supplies last so make sure you move fast!

Now click right over (yes, right now) to the Freshly Made Sketches site and take a look at the design teams’ work.  Glad I don’t have to choose a favorite!!

I will be back on Friday with another card made with this set from my Vintage Card Class.  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  Have a great day!

Stamp:  Friends Never Fade; Paper:  Summer Smooches DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie; Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Die, Designer Frames EF, Brights Buttons, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Take a look at the next sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  This one is brought to us by the wonderful Rita Wright of Rita’s Creations.  This is one of those that can be used as-is or flipped.  Either is sure to be fantastic!

For mine, I kept the sketch horizontal but used a rectangle.  You see, back when I got to go visit my friend Cindy Elam she showed me her techniques for watercoloring.  I have to say that she is an actual artist.  She draws the most beautiful things and has such talent.  Of course it makes sense that her coloring would bring that artistry!  She showed me how she colors this truck and gives it the nuances of light and shadow.  While I’d love to take credit, all I did was mimic her work.  Look at this card to see how she colored it.  The truck is stamped in Soft Suede and then colored with more Soft Suede.  I added some Cajun Craze for the apples and Night of Navy for the sky.  Most of the work is done with a Blender Pen.  I did use my Aqua Painter for a little extra blending of the sky.  Rita’s sketch was the perfect showcase for this panel and I’m happy I finally found the right home for it.

The design team has created a lovely variety of cards with the sketch and you are sure to love them.  I hope you will be able to join us on this one!

I hope to be back on Friday with a card I’ll be making tomorrow with my stamp club.  It is loaded with Summer Smooches!  Thanks for stopping in.  See you again soon!

Stamp:  Countryside; Paper:  Watercolor, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory; Ink:  Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Night of Navy; Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Quilted Espresso Ribbon (ret), Antique Brads, Blender Pen, Aqua Painter