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Freshly Made Sketches #655

Freshly Made Sketches #655 published on 6 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #655

So, as I sit to write this, I realized that I never posted my card here from last week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge. Sigh. Not exactly sure how that happened other than the card was a complete re-vamp after a Copic “belching” incident… Oy. Moving forward, as they say. This week we have a super fun sketch from our adventurer extraordinaire Jen Brum. Now mind you, this is a woman who says she doesn’t like circles in her sketches…um…. But I took a loose interpretation of those circles and I’m hoping she doesn’t mind.

I totally took this as an excuse to play with the new products from Honey Bee Stamps, starting with the Lovely Layers: Mini Fall Florals. This set abounds with fall awesomeness to include a fun boot but I lasered in on the sunflowers. Using my Bitty Bunny Blending Brushes, I had fun blending Distress Inks onto the die cuts. I added in a few branches from the Lovely Layers: Seasonal Frame for extra texture and I love that the two sets are at the same scale.

I chose a sentiment from the Bloom with Grace stamp set (it also has sunflowers) that I thought was really sweet. To help keep more to the sketch, I added a few gems from the Grain and Grunge gem sticker pack. I did brush a little Distress Ink on the edges of the base too for a bit of depth.

I hope you like my version of the sketch and will come over to join us. The team has a wide variation on it and I think you will enjoy it as much as we have. Thanks again for stopping in today. Sorry about skipping the card last week. For those who only see my cards on the blog, here it is (tree die cuts and papers are from Honey Bee Stamps). Have a great week and see you soon!

Twenty-three years

Twenty-three years published on 9 Comments on Twenty-three years

“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.”
—Sandy Dahl, wife of United Flight 93 Captain Jason Dahl

When we said we would never forget, did we mean it? Sure we give a nod to the tragedy of 9/11. But I think we have reached the point that the words are ringing hollow. Captain Jason Dahl is an icon at United Airlines and not because he was the Captain of Flight 93. He was a man that took every opportunity to challenge other people to step up, to be leaders and to be better every day. He would often ask a variation of the question “what are you doing with the opportunity given you?”. His legacy is a group of pilots who have stepped up and stepped in. So when I saw the quote from his wife Sandy, I knew that she had captured the essence of what Jason asked. If we are out there making a difference, working to improve the world, how on earth can we have time for hate? Hate is what took Jason, and the thousands of others who lost their lives, from this world too soon.

As with other years, I look back and tell the stories, try to remember the good in the midst of horror and do my best to honor those we lost. When I saw the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches (by Kim Singdahlsen) this week, I thought maybe I had a way to say it with a card.

I chose the blue for the obvious reason. Always the blue September sky. But also a simple wish. I wish for a day of kindness, joy and beauty. The sentiment dies are from The Greetery (Let’s Have A Word: Beautiful Dies) and the flower is from Spellbinders (Butterfly Bouquet Press Plate). Both are inked using Distress Oxide Ink in Tumbled Glass.

I have written my thought and memories for years now. If you care to read:  9th Anniversary, 10th Anniversary, 11th Anniversary, 12th Anniversary, 13th Anniversary, 14th Anniversary, 15th Anniversary, 18th Anniversary and 19th Anniversary, 20th Anniversary, 21st Anniversary and 22nd Anniversary.

As we move through this 23rd Anniversary, I have an ask of you. Take a moment to walk in someone else’s shoes. Use a most respectful interpretation of intent and give people the benefit of the doubt. Choose to see differences as something that adds beauty to your world. I hope you have a beautiful day.

In memory of:

United 93:  Jason Dahl, LeRoy Homer Jr., Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, Deborah Welsh

United 175:  Victor Saracini, Michael Horrocks, Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Kathryn Laborie, Alfred Marchand, Michael Tarrou, Alicia Titus, Marianne McFarlane, Jesus Sanchez

American 11:  John Ogonowski, Thomas McGuinness, Barbara Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman, Sara Low, Karen Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean D. Roger, Dianne Snyder, Madeline Sweeney

American 77:  Charles Burlingame III, David Charlebois, Michele Heidenberger, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, Renee May

Freshly Made Sketches #652

Freshly Made Sketches #652 published on 4 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #652

You are going to notice a trend on my card this week but I hope you won’t mind. Our sketch designer this week at Freshly Made Sketches is our talented and hilarious Linda Callahan. She gave us an overdue landscape sketch (we really do tend toward portrait versions) and I use pretty much exactly the same products as I did last week. I even mostly followed the sketch.

In last week’s post I told you I cut lots of pieces from the Deck the Halls washi tape (PinkFresh Studio designed by Dawn Woleslagle). These are more of the pieces. I just used them more as a swag to follow the sketch. It is great how fast these can come together with that washi! I heat embossed another of the sentiments from the set with gold and used it as the rectangle element. Hmmm, mostly meets the task, I think.

I used a scrap of the same patterned paper as last week (might as well use that piece up, right?!). Plus more of the gorgeous gold card stock from Erin Lee Creative. I showed a bit more of it this time for a bolder shine. And that’s it. Simple, elegant and FAST! I’m thinking I made a winning choice on getting this washi!

Thanks, as always, for visiting with me today. I hope you like the idea of multiple cards using the same products. I think it keeps it real and is a good way to show things are only good for one card. Hope you are have a lovely start to your September! See you soon.

Freshly Made Sketches #651

Freshly Made Sketches #651 published on 5 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #651

Hi everyone! Happy end of August!! I know it has been kind of forever since I posted but, as I suspected, my month was really taken over by getting ready for the youngest to leave for college. He went a week ago, and then my “emotional support college senior” left on Sunday. Now the real quiet begins. Oh my!! Good thing I have stamping to do and new products to use! I’m the sketch designer at Freshly Made Sketches this week and I chose something that was simple for my brain to handle. And conveniently, it worked with some new products.

When I saw this gorgeous new suite of products from Dawn Woleslagle for PinkFresh Studio, I knew it would be perfect for some of my holiday crafting. She created a stamp and die set but also a coordinating washi tape that can be used with the dies too. This makes for quick cards and an easy way to create multiples that still feel fancy. For this card, I used the washi and put it down on white card stock, then cut it out with the dies. I did doubles of all the images (since it is so fast) so I’d have lots of pieces to play with. Didn’t need a lot for this but now I have them for the next time I sit to create! I created a wreath by layering the die cuts and then got to choosing how to finish the card.

I found this pretty print in the Holiday Wishes Paper Pack by Honey Bee Stamps that was perfect! It mirrors the gold in the washi tape and I love the pattern. I stamped the sentiment (from Dawn’s stamp set) and heat embossed with gold. To complete the sketch, I used some of my Gold Card Stock from Erin Lee Creative (she has some of the BEST papers!) along the edge of the patterned paper. Some gold pearls to finish.

This was a fun way to get back into the craft room after such a long hiatus. I look forward to getting some more crafting fun in over the next week as I adjust to the empty nest. Thanks so much for stopping in today. Hope you can come over and join us with my sketch! See you soon.

Freshly Made Sketches #647

Freshly Made Sketches #647 published on 2 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #647

Hope all is going well with you summer! Here we are at the end of July already. I had a little time to make a quick card for this week’s Freshly Made Sketches so I’m here to share. This fun sketch from our wonderful Karren Johnson was easy to use and I think it will be a popular one this week.

I pulled out my new BetterPress again for this one and used the Floral J and Sentiment Press Plate. Seemed like the right letter for me, don’t you think?! I inked it up with Momento Tuxedo Black with the intent to use Copics and it worked great! Just some easy coloring and I love the detail on this.

To keep to the sketch, I cut out the letter with the Stacking Art Deco Labels dies. In the background, I used the Dogwood Blooms 3-D Embossing Folder on white card stock and then cut it per the sketch. Like I said, a quick card!

Thanks so much for stopping in today. As always, I appreciate you! See you soon!

Freshly Made Sketches #645

Freshly Made Sketches #645 published on 7 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #645

Hi friends!! Coming to you from the surface of the sun (otherwise known as Virginia). Oh, is it crazy! I hope you are not being negatively impacted by the heat or the awful storms that have been affecting so many. I decided I needed an afternoon in my nice, cool basement craft room and I got some time to play with a new-to-me product. And…I’m hooked. Our hiking superstar, Jen Brum, is our sketch designer this week for Freshly Made Sketches and I love the elegant options this one gives.

I just got the BetterPress Letterpress system from Spellbinders. And yes, I’m a late adapter!! I love the letterpress look (always have) but wanted to make sure this wasn’t a fleeting trend before I committed. I got a few plates when I ordered it and this Butterfly Bouquet was one of them. And then it matched the sketch…well almost. Except backwards. But I wanted to break open the box and give this a try so I’m sure Jen will forgive the flip. I thought the circle on the sketch lent itself to the spotlight technique.

I used the Porcelain BetterPress Cotton card panels (A2) and printed the image twice. On the second, I cut a circle out and then colored those with Karin Markers in bright, happy colors. Daring to be different, I did not use the ink that comes with the BetterPress (although it is water safe). Instead I used a known ink to me, Versafine Clair. It worked perfectly and I knew it would hold up to the watercoloring. I stamped the sentiment on part of the scrap from the watercolored panel using the same ink and words from the On the Line: Fall Florals set. The texture on this is so pretty! The paper, the detail, all of it…so in love!

I hope you will have a bit of time to play along this week. Make sure to link up so we can see your beautiful work. My summer is going by so fast…today I’m off to do some dorm shopping…oh my!! Thanks for stopping by today. I so appreciate you!

Freshly Made Sketches #643

Freshly Made Sketches #643 published on 6 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #643

Well, it has been hot as blazes outside so naturally, I’m thinking cool thoughts! Our sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches is courtesy of our amazing Linda Callahan and all I could see was snowflakes!

I had this background sitting over in my stash of unused things and decided it was exactly right for today’s card. I don’t remember exactly how I made it other than with Distress Oxides and Hero Arts Shimmer Mist but ink smooshing was definitely involved. I also had the top snowflake sitting in the pile so I simply cut two more from the same Lovely Layers: Large Snowflakes set. I inked one with more Oxide Ink and left the other plain. Took them all to the spray box and added Shimmer Mist.

It is always hard to capture the shimmer on camera but the second photo give you an idea of it. I pulled a sentiment from the Let Nature Sing set and used silver embossing powder for it. Then I added some of the matte silver pearls from the Metallic Mixed Pearls pack.

I hope this finds you staying cool and having a nice summer. I will be intermittent in my cards over the summer. Trying to take advantage of every last moment before the youngest heads off to college in August. There will be plenty of time for stamping after the nest is empty. *sigh* Thanks for stopping in today!

Freshly Made Sketches #641

Freshly Made Sketches #641 published on 7 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #641

Hi everyone! I am the sketch designer over at Freshly Made Sketches and I hope you will enjoy the options on this one.

I’m still working on finding the right card for a friend to give his wife. After narrowing some things down and showing him some previous cards he narrowed it down to: hummingbird, vintage feel, touches of blue. I think maybe I’ve gotten closer to the mark. I did lots of ink smooshing, splattering and brushing it on. Almost all of it was Distress Oxide ink and all the paper was Distress Heavystock. I’m simply obsessed with the details on this hummingbird from Honey Bee Stamps. I just played with shading on greens and grays (Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness, Lost Shadow) plus a bit of Rusty Hinge and Candied Apple for his throat. I added Lost Shadow Distress Spray Stain for more splattering.

For the flower, I used Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick plus a little bit of the Rusty Hinge left on the brush to pull in a little bit of orange. I used the Vintage Flora background stamp inked with a combination of Antique Linen and Rusty Hinge Oxide inks. I spritzed, stamped off and then applied the paper to the stamp to get a less detailed image. I then spritzed with Tumbled Glass Distress Spray and added more Tumbled Glass Oxide to the edges. The sentiment is from my go-to Mini Messages.

Thanks for dropping into today. Let me know if you think I hit the mark for my friend’s request. See you again soon!

Freshly Made Sketches #640

Freshly Made Sketches #640 published on 5 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #640

Hi all!! I’ve been dodging weather around the country for the last week but managed to have a day to create a card. I opted to pull out a new to me die set that matches the sketch (although in reverse). Our sketch is courtesy of our wonderful Judy Rozema and it leaves lots of fun options.

The Lovely Layers: Dianthus dies have this little group of 3 flowers that I thought would work for the sketch…hopeful Judy forgives my flip. Using my Distress Inkds with pinks and oranges, I blended the flowers. I just love how they layer! Added the extra leaf layers for dimension and the flower was done. I wanted to use a dark background the make it pop but it seemed a little plain.

I added an extra panel that I embossed with the Sandie’s Garden 3D embossing folder. The sentiment is from the Lean on Each Other stamp set with white heat embossing on the same blue as the background.

Hope you are having a great week and will come join us for the fun! Thanks so much for stopping in. See you soon.

Freshly Made Sketches #639

Freshly Made Sketches #639 published on 4 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #639

Hello everyone! Well, the last few weeks have been all that I promised…busy! But we got the youngest graduated from high school (and I didn’t fall apart), I got to see the oldest’s regatta and we went on a family vacation. Now I’m trying to get back to reality and out on a trip. We have a beautiful sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches from the lovely Amy O’Neill.

A bit of a simple take to get back into the groove (and to actually get it made). I was inspired by some beautiful flowers I saw when we were on vacation in Seattle. I think they are lupines but if you know differently, please let me know (photo below)! Using some paper that already had some Distress Ink stamping and splatters, I cut out the flowers and greenery. I added more Distress Ink for shading and character.

I chose a some pretty papers from the Grain and Grunge plus Vintage Love packs by Honey Bee Stamps and then added a sentiment from my go-to set, Mini Messages. I opted for gold embossing and added a few gold pearls to go along. A Captain that has led the way for many women is retiring this month so I thought it would be nice to make her a special card.

I hope this finds you well and starting to enjoy a bit of summer. As you can imagine, this is the beginning of the busy work season for me. I’ll create as much as I can but also I’m trying to hold on to every moment with my youngest before he heads out to college in August. Thanks for always being so supportive!

I showed a closeup of the flowers but there was a whole field of these. It was glorious! Thanks for stopping in today. See you soon!

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