Happy middle of the week!  I hope your week is going well so far.  Just take a look at this cool sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week.  It is brought to you by Jen Mitchell of I Create.  I’ve said it before but I just love her cards.  I think I have a disproportionate amount of them pinned for later inspiration.  *smile*

I made my card for today while stamping at Cindy’s last week.  Again, I just “had” to use some of her things that I don’t have.  I started with the hostess set Simply Soft.  I inked it with Versamark ink and then Chocolate Chip, stamped it on Shimmery White paper and embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  I colored the flower first with Pink Pirouette ink and then Pretty in Pink using a Blender Pen.  The background paper was embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  Then came the bow.  I love these double bows and I knew I wanted to add one on this card.  Cindy had some ribbon in her stash that was a perfect match.  How lucky for me!  I stamped a sentiment from Three Little Words to finish it off.  Back to the bow…while I was at Cindy’s, she was kind enough to actually create a video of me tying one of these.  It is so hard to explain but actually very easy when you see it done.  Here is the link to the bow tutorial.  I cannot emphasize enough that when you are done tying the bow, you will need to pull on the tails and re-fluff the loops a bit.  My bow on the tutorial has a knot that is a bit looser than the one on this card.  We did it in only one take and you can get the basics.  This bow has a tighter center and I like it a bit better.  The bow from the tutorial will be on a card next week.

You won’t be disappointed by the cards from the design team this week.  As always there is lots of variety and so much inspiration!  Can’t wait to see what you make with the sketch.

Thanks for dropping by today.  If you have any questions about the bow or anything else stamping related, just drop me a note.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Simply Soft, Three Little Words; Paper:  Shimmery White, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip; Ink:  Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink; Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Blender Pen, Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Pink Ribbon, Dimensionals

As promised, I’m back with a new layout from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week’s sketch is courtesy of Linda Callahan of Stampin’ Seasons.  What a great sketch.  Last week’s response to the sketch was amazing and I’m so excited to see what you create this week.

Before I get to my card, I just have to tell you how much fun I had with Cindy Elam of Heart’s Delight Cards.  She has the most fabulous stamp room and she gave me free run of it.  Yippee!  We made a card using the same sketch that you will see in an upcoming post.  I love how two stampers can use the same layout to create such different cards.

Speaking of which, back to this week’s challenge.  I wanted to try this print from the Twitterpated DSP after seeing some beautiful cards make with it and thought the little vase from Button Buddies would be a nice match.  I think this set is really cool.  The buttons are such a fun way to add texture.    These are actually the Cajun Craze buttons but they look like Riding Hood Red next to the DSP.  I tried a few different ribbon ideas before finally settling on the Basic Gray Taffeta (retired).  The little sentiment is from Day of Gratitude punched with a 1 1/4″ circle punch.

This sketch has so many possibilities that I may try another card with it later this week.  I’ll also post one of the cards I made at Cindy’s (the other two will be shown in upcoming SUO Challenges).

I’m so glad you dropped by today.  As always the team has amazing cards for you so make sure you go see their beautiful creations.  We welcome Narelle and Allisa as guest designers this month.  What gorgeous examples they have made!  Have a great day and see you soon!

Stamps:  Button Buddies, Day of Gratitude; Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Baja Breeze; Ink:  Basic Gray, Pear Pizzazz; Accessories:  Regals buttons, 1 1/4″ and 1 3/8″ circle punches, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

It is time for a new Freshly Made Sketches challenge and we have yet another fantastic layout for you to try.  Today’s sketch is courtesy of Rita Wright from Rita’s Creations. She is a fabulously talented designer and I am such a fan of her work.  When you see her card for this week, you will understand why!!

 I got to pull some of my new Sale-a-bration and Occasions Mini items out in earnest yesterday.  I had a real day off and the kids were at school.  It was so awesome to be able to experiment with some things I have been seeing with the new Framelits.  I used a tutorial from Kari Metzger for  Making Layered Frames.  I went down one size on the frames but otherwise followed her instructions.  I love the shadowbox effect!  I inked up my flower from Fresh Vintage with Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait and Lucky Limeade being careful to only ink the main flower with my markers.  I mimicked the colors in the lovely Everyday Enchantment paper.  I added some sponging to everything since the DSP looks sponged.  I didn’t want to cross the “clean” part of the rules too far but the card still needed something.  Of course a ribbon fixes everything!!  I sprayed some Very Vanilla Seam Binding with water and crumpled it up.  When it was almost dry I sponged on a little Soft Suede ink to give it a tea stained feel.  I have to say that making this card made me really happy!  I have missed stamping and am feeling so inspired when I get the time to create!  Remember that you can get these Sale-a-bration items free with your orders until March 31st.  This is a deal you can’t afford to miss!!  Our amazing CEO at Stampin’ Up, Shelli Gardner, is challenging us to use our Sale-a-bration items this month so I am entering this in the So Shelli Challenge too.

In a work update, I am officially “back on the line” at United Airlines.  I did my first two trips since last week and have been to New Orleans, Vancouver, Denver, San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago.  Some of those were for the night and some were for a few hours. Amazing how much I missed flying across this beautiful country.  I have to admit that it is the best office window ever!  Don’t forget to peek in the flight deck and ask if Jennifer is flying when you find yourself on a United Airbus!

I’m hoping to be back later this week with a “just because” card.  Let’s hope those schedulers don’t need me too much (I’m a “reserve” pilot and my schedule is to be on call).  Make sure you go admire the work of the rest of the FMS team.  Stunning examples again this week!

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage (SAB), Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB), Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede; Ink:  Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede; Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Sponges, Dimensionals

 

First and foremost, I want to tell my mom Happy Birthday!!  The good news is that you get to see your card today.  The bad news is that it won’t be there.  I am woefully behind on birthday and thank you cards to my whole family but I am pretty sure they understand.

Today’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches was created by the fabulous Tui Nathan.  It is wonderful and I had such fun using it.  I actually got to stamp yesterday for the first time in a long time.  Most of what you have seen over the last month was created before I went to training.  I was so happy to pull out my new Occasions Mini products and play!

The colors from the Twitterpated DSP were my inspiration on this card and I wanted to use the Bordering on Romance flowers again.  I didn’t have much time but the watercoloring is pretty fast and I really love doing it.  While I haven’t even finished putting the set together, I just “had” to use the sentiment from Apothecary Art.  I used some retired Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon to create a double bow and then topped it with one of the new large pearls.  Of course, the flowers needed some pearls too!  My mom is a fan of flowers of all kinds so I hope she’ll like this one.  Hope your day is great, Mom!!

I mentioned yesterday that I finished my training on Friday.  As of today I am out on a 3-day trip to get my final sign-off.  I’ll be looking at your lovely entries on my layovers and I can’t wait to see what you create.  The design team has outdone themselves this week.  Make sure you go see their amazing work.

As a side note, there have been some issues with Blogger this week and the ability of the team to comment.  Over at the FMS site there is a brief set of instructions on how to handle the word verification issue to ensure we can still comment on your projects.  We love looking at them and want to be able to comment on as many as possible!!

Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope the rest of your week is great!

Stamps:  Bordering on Romance, Apothecary Art; Paper:  Twitterpated DSP, Basic Gray, Whisper White; Ink:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray; Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Large Pearls, Blender Pen, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon

 

I am so excited to bring you the sketch for this week’s Freshly Made Sketches Challenge!! I suppose it shouldn’t surprise you that my sketch choice for the week is a bit flying inspired.  “Straight and level” flying is the goal of every airline pilot.  Despite the efforts of my instructors and their failed engines, hydraulics, electrics (and anything else they can thing of…in a simulator, of course), my training partner and I have dutifully maintained this over the last few weeks.  Apparently, that is what I needed for stamping too!  The design team has created some spectacular samples and I can’t wait to see what everyone makes this week!

I made this card for my youngest son’s birthday.  Patterned Party is such a fun stamp set and I just love these little presents.  I started with the Real Red polka dot print and framed it using Basic Black.  Then I chose happy primary colors, Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight to go with the Real Red.  I thought it would be fun to add a little banner grounded by a button for the sentiment.  I tied the button with some black thread to mimic the bows on the presents.    The best part is that my little one liked Mommy’s card.

This is the last week of training here in Denver.  My big check ride is this Friday and then I’ll be done.  Sometime next week I can expect to go out on my first trip.  Hopefully I’ll get some stamping in before they send me on my way!!  Thank you for all the encouraging messages while I have been here and I am grateful for your patience on my minimal posting.  I hope to be back to “normal” in the next couple of weeks!!  I miss my stamping friends and can’t wait to catch up with them!

Make sure you go check out the awesome samples the design team has made.  I already see some CASEing in my future!!  Have a great week!

Stamps:  Patterned Party, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper:  Brights Designer Paper Pack, Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink:  Real Red, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black; Accessories:  Neutrals Buttons, Black Thread, Dimensionals

Time for another Freshly Made Sketches Challenge!  This sketch is courtesy of Lesley Croghan again!  She is seeing double and I see a lot of great cards in our future!!

This was the second project I made over the weekend.  After convincing my boys that I “needed” to stamp to make Valentine’s, it was a bit harder to convince them I needed to make another card.  Needless to say, this had to be fast!  While I have all my lovely SAB papers and new mini items, the Spice Cake DSP called out to be used.  Let’s face it…these colors are right in my happy zone!  I let the paper do the work and simply cut two butterflies out with my Big Shot, one in Early Espresso and one in the DSP.  I channeled the talented Ann Schach of The Stampin’ Schach (without her trademark distressing) and rolled up the little banners.  So easy and yet such a great addition!  The button has a little piece of Very Vanilla paper threaded through to finish it off.

Again, a bit short and sweet on the post.  I’m so glad I got a little time to stamp while I was home but I’m back to studying.  This week’s “fun” includes lots and lots of engine out work along with other exciting emergency procedures.  Suffice it to say that United pilots are very, VERY well prepared if unusual things occur!!  At least we are finally in simulators.  My landings after three years off are still good…what a relief!!  There are many things that pilots use to judge an excellent flight but we know you passengers really just use the landing!  *smile*

Make sure you drop in to see the work from the rest of the design team!  I always love seeing the different interpretations of the sketch!  Hope you can play along this week.

Thanks for dropping by today.  I’ll see you again soon!

Stamp:  Because I Care (Hostess, retired); Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Early Espresso; Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Neutrals Buttons