Geometric Thanks

Hi and welcome to another fabulous sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches team.  This week, our sketch hostess is Kim Singdahlsen and she has a really wonderful sketch for us all.

Isn't it interesting how we can interpret sketches differently.  When I saw this sketch, I didn't even register that the top panel wasn't a panel but actually the bottom layer or card base.  I totally thought there was a rectangular panel, then the curved panel!  The rest of the design team got it, but not me.  Anyway, I still stuck to my version of the sketch to come up with this card.

I white-embossed the Diagonal Design background onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and blended Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon ink onto it before cutting it out with a curved scallop die.  I then attached a stitched die-cut panel of vellum using some new-to-me vellum tape, which is amazing by the way.  There are three strips of tape right across the vellum and I bet you can't see where the tape is!  In keeping with the colors at the current MFT color challenge, I added a thin strip of Gravel Gray cardstock at the bottom of the vellum.  A couple of flags die-cut from Berrylicious and Persimmon cardstock and some Nuvo Crystal Drops and my card was finished.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Check out how the rest of the design team have interpreted the sketch and have a go yourself - we'd love to see your card in the gallery!

Products used:

Stamps:  Soda Pop, Diagonal Design Background (MFT)

Ink:  Versamark, Stazon Black, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon

Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth, Vellum, Gravel Gray, Berrylicious, Persimmon

Dies:  Stitched Basic Edges, Stitched Scallop Basic Edges, Blueprints 29

Accessories:  White EP, Nuvo Crystal Drops

Cheers

Karren

Cone Head

I just love the humorous sets at Art Impressions and this one is no exception!  I used Doggy Kisses to make a one-layer card and I'm entering it into CAS(E) This Sketch, Art Impressions white space challenge and Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge.

I stamped the very unamused looking dog onto X-Press It cardstock and colored him with Copics.  I then die-cut it with a stitched frame.  I stamped the sentiment as if he's resting his head on it and added in some ground.  In case it's not immediately obvious, I flipped the CTS sketch and used images to represent each of the elements.

Oh man, this dog just cracks me up.  I remember when our dog Dexter had his manhood removed when he was a puppy and we had to put a cone on him.  As soon as we put it on, he turned into a statue and wouldn't move until we took it off again.  He was obviously terrified but it was pretty funny at the same time.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Doggy Kisses (Art Impressions)
Ink:  Intense Black (SSS)
Cardstock:  X-Press It
Dies:  Blueprints 25 (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Art Impressions.

Stripes and Leaves

Hi!  Today's card uses the colors from Color Throwdown, the sketch from MFT and the die-cut theme at The Male Room.

I die-cut a piece of Slate cardstock using a Basic Scallop Edges die and then cut out the centre using a pierced square frame.  I used the same die to cut into a piece of gray diagonally striped patterned paper and a piece of vellum.  The outer frame of the scalloped piece was adhered to a white card base and then I used the square frame to position both the patterned paper and vellum in the centre.

The sentiment was white embossed on the Slate panel.  After die-cutting some leaves in Green Apple and Slate, I positioned them inside the frame and popped up the frame with foam tape.  I finished the card with some Nuvo drops.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  The Whole Herd (MFT)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Slate, Green Apple (SSS), Dots and Stripes Patterned Paper (MFT), Vellum
Dies:  Basic Scallop Edges, Pierced Square Frames, Layered Leaves (MFT)
Accessories:  Nuvo Drops

Cheers
Karren

Baked Goods

Hi and welcome to another Fusion challenge!  I just love the photo inspiration for this challenge which can lead to a chalkboard card or a baking-themed card or a cupcake card, or, or, or :)  The sketch is a simple one which can be flipped as required.

I flipped the sketch and created a fusion using Lawn Fawn images and Distress Oxide inks.

I sponged the distress inks onto a white panel using some masking tape and spritzed some water to add some interest.  The panel was then adhered under a white card base, which I'd die-cut with the stitched interactive windows trio die.  The images where white-embossed onto black and then lightly sponged with distress inks before being added to the card base with foam tape.  I added a sentiment and some Nuvo Jewel Drops and called it done!

Thanks for visiting!  The DT have some gorgeous cards so be sure to check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Baked With Love, Bun in the Oven (Lawn Fawn)

Ink:  Versamark, Fossilized Amber, Wilted Violet, Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink

Cardstock:  White, Black

Dies:  Stitched Interactive Window Trio (MFT), Baked With Love, Bun in the Oven (Lawn Fawn)

Accessories:  Nuvo Jewel Drops

Cheers

Karren

Shaving Gear

Hi and welcome to my blog!  Today I have a card made using the latest sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches team.  And this week our hostess is super-talented Linda Callahan.  She has a sketch which I love - check it out:

Whenever I make a card, I first look in my NBUS box to see if there is something there that will work with whatever challenge I'm creating for.  This time I found the Best Dad set by Altenew and thought the fabulous images in that set would work well for the little cluster of elements in Linda's sketch.

I chose to work with the shaving images and colored them with Copics - trying to make the mug look like a tin mug.  Once I'd finished coloring, I die-cut the images and set them to one side while I worked on my card base.  

Oftentimes, when I look at a sketch I see a "layer" as a negative space and that's what I saw with this sketch, too.  So I die-cut a square from the card front and backed it with some script patterned paper from CTMH which my mum very kindly gave me.  I then arranged the die-cut images and adhered them.  The razor was adhered directly to the mug but the mug has foam tape on it to add some dimension.

Lastly, I added Glossy Accents to the stars and the head of the razor.

Thanks so much for visiting!  The design team have some gorgeous cards using the sketch, so please head on over to check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Best Dad (Altenew)

Ink:  Intense Black (SSS)

Cardstock:  Soft Stone (PTI), X-Press It, Live Beautifully (CTMH)

Dies:  Inside/Out Stitched Squares (MFT), Best Dad (Altenew)

Accesories:  Copics, Glossy Accents

Cheers

Karren

Gullfriend

Hi and welcome!  It's time for another fun challenge from the team at Just Add Ink and this week we have a sketch, created by Narelle.

I just had to ink up my NBUS stamp set by MFT - these seagulls just make me smile whenever I see them!

I decided to create a bit of a scene behind the seagull and used some masks and distress inks to create the sea and sky.  I die-cut the piece with a stitched circle die and then also with one of the little waves dies in the seagull set.  After I stamped, colored and die-cut my seagull, I popped him into the scene and adhered him down with some liquid glue.  The white card base was die-cut with a stitched rectangle die and then for the horizontal panel on the sketch I scored two lines (which, of course, you can't see in the photo!).

I did some surgery on one of the sentiments in the stamp set and stamped "gullfriend" just above the bottom score line.  The "hi" was die-cut from Smoke cardstock using an Altenew alphabet die set, which I think has a fun look which matches the seagull.

Thanks for visiting.  The design team have some wonderful inspiration for you so head on over and check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Seaside Seagulls (MFT)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT), Broken China, Tumled Glass Distress Ink
Cardstock:  White, Smoke, X-Press It
Dies:  Seaside Seagulls, Inside/Out Stitched Circles, Stitched Cloud Edges (MFT), Inline Alpha Dies (Altenew), Stitched Rectangle Mats (Lil Inkers)
Accessories:  Copics, Scoreboard

Cheers
Karren

Balloon Strings

Hi!  It's sketch time and the team at Freshly Made Sketches have some gorgeous inspiration for you this week.  Our sketch was designed by the fabulous Jen Mitchell and is versatile-plus!

I wanted to play along with the current challenge at Time Out so used Hannelie's gorgeous card as my inspiration.  

I white-embossed the Balloon Strings background stamp onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and over that, I sponged various shades of distress ink in an ombre fashion.  Once I was finished, I die-cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, then split the panel in two with a stitched basic borders die.  I popped both panels up on a white card base using fun foam.

Most unusually for me, I left the flower uncolored, just stamping and die-cutting it before adhering it over the inked panel.  I finished with some Nuvo Crystal Drops in black.

Thanks so much for visiting!  As I said earlier, the DT have some gorgeous cards, so head on over and check them out.  We'd love to see your card in our gallery.

Products used:

Stamps:  Balloon Strings (MFT), Beautiful Friend (Clearly Besotted)
Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Ripe Persimmon, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks
Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth
Dies:  Blueprints 15 (MFT), Beautiful Friend (Clearly Besotted)
Accessories:  Nuvo Crystal Drops, Fun Foam

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Time Out.

Happy Day

Hi and welcome to the reminder post for The Flower Challenge, where this month you get to CASE one of the DT cards.  So, for the design team's reminder post cards, we had to CASE our first cards.  This time, I used green inks for my stenciling and black die-cuts for my images rather than silhouette stamping.  I kept the same basic layout and bold sentiment, though.

The stencil I used was one I cut myself using my Silhouette (back when I had one that actually worked, that is!)  I just cut the stencil from white card and I've probably used it 4-5 times and it's still going strong.  I sponged ink in an ombre fashion up the left hand side of the panel, after using some torn paper as a mask for the right hand side.

The flowers were die-cut from black cardstock and the sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.

I die-cut the panel with a wonky stitched rectangle die and popped it up with craft foam onto a white card base.  To finish the card, I added some Nuvo Jewel Drops in Key Lime.

Thanks for visiting.  This is my last post as a DT member of The Flower Challenge.  Being on 5 DTs, including running one, has proven a bit too much, so I'm stepping down from a couple.  I wish Aileen and the girls at The Flower Challenge the best of luck and I'll be sure to play along as time permits.

I'm linking this card to the challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges - where they're looking for green in our cards this week.

Products used:

Stamps:  Bold Blooms (Essentials by Ellen)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint
Cardstock: White, Black
Dies;  Bold Blossoms (Essentials by Ellen), Wonky Stitched Rectangles (MFT)
Accessories:  Nuvo Jewel Drops (Key Lime), homemade stencil

Cheers
Karren

Enjoy the Ride

Hi and welcome!  It's my turn to host the challenge at Inspired By All The Little Things and this month I've chosen a light and bright Spring-y image (see below).  I stayed pretty true to the inspiration photo in my card, focussing on the bicycle, flowers and pale blue and white color scheme.

I stamped, colored and die-cut the bicycle, basket and flowers from the Simon Says Stamp set and adhered it to a white panel, keeping the front wheel over the edge of the panel.  Some pale blue striped paper was adhered to the right hand side of a white top-folding card and I used foam tape to pop up the bicycle panel.  The sentiment was stamped under the bicycle to "ground" it.  I finished the card with some Nuvo Crystal Drops.

Thanks for visiting!  The design team have some wonderful cards to inspire you and check out the fabulous card made by my super-talented guest designer, Michele K Henderson of Crimson Owl Creations

Products used:

Stamps:  Beautiful Ride (SSS)

Ink:  Intense Black, Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Thick n Thin (MFT)

Dies:  Beautiful Ride (SSS)

Accessories:  Copics, Nuvo Crystal Drops

Cheers

Karren

Yellow Bunny

Hi!  I had a productive day in the craft room today, making several cards for upcoming DT challenges as well as this card which uses the current sketch at MFT Stamps, the colors from Color Throwdown and the inked background challenge at Just Us Girls.

I used Distress Inks and and some masking to create my beach scene.  First, I tore some copy paper and used one piece to mask off for the sand and the other piece to mask the sand to sponge the see.  I used a straight piece of paper to mask between the sea and the sky.  To create the sky, I used a cloud die as a mask.  To add some grains to the sand, I stamped off once with the Cracks & Specks stamp by Tim Holtz.  I added some white gel pen waves and froth on the sea, but it's hard to see in the photos.

Once my background was finished I die-cut an oval frame using Blueprints 2.  On the left-hand side of a top-folding card base, I adhered a strip of pale yellow striped paper and a tiny sliver of black.  I then popped up the oval-less background with foam tape, recessed the oval frame and added the center with more foam tape.  The banana chocolate chip ice-cream the bunny is holding was stamped then masked before I over-stamped the bunny.  I removed the mask and colored her with Copics before fussy-cutting her out and attaching her to the card.  I finished the card with a stamped sentiment.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Beach Bunnies (MFT), Cracks & Specks (Tim Holtz)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT), Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass Distress Inks

Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It, Bristol Smooth

Dies:  Blueprints 2, Stitched Cloud Edges (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics, White Gel Pen

Cheers

Karren

Paris Background

Thanks for popping by!  It's time for another fun Fusion challenge and this time I've gone for a simple, yet versatile sketch and a focus on navy and white and patterns in the inspiration photo.

I had great fun making my card which mainly uses the sketch but also brings in the navy and white color scheme from the photo.

My background panel was made using a technique that I first learned over 10 years ago.  I made up some panels using the technique and found them a few months ago.  But I couldn't remember how I made them.  I could only remember I found the technique in one of my mother's stamping magazines.  So off to mum's I went and her and I searched and searched until I found the article.  I decided to work with materials I had on hand and came up with this panel which I over-stamped with the Papillon stamp set by Tim Holtz.

This started out as a piece of plan black cardstock and I layered over it using metallic and various blue Distress Paints.  With the aid of water and a credit card, I ended up with this look.  I did film the process which you can see below or over on YouTube.  Apologies for the squeaky chair at the beginning - I narrated as I created, so no voiceovers. 

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have done some wonderful things with this challenge, so I hope you check them out.

I'm linking this up to Addicted to Stamps and More who have an Anything Goes challenge this week.

Products used:

Stamps:  Papillon, Hashtags (Tim Holtz)
Ink:  Black Soot Archival
Cardstock:  White, Black
Dies:  Blueprints 21, Stitched Dot Circles (MFT)
Accessories:  Brushed Pewter, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire Distress Paints.

Cheers
Karren

Unfrog-gettable Day

Hi!  It's time for the team at Freshly Made Sketches to present you with another fabulous sketch and this week, our sketch hostess is the super-talented Jennifer Timko.

Great sketch, right?  I decided to do some Copic coloring on the long panel and used a NBUS set by SugarPea Designs.

I'm going through a bit of a dry spell at the moment and not liking my cards much.  I'm hoping it passes soon :)  I matted the colored image with black then used foam tape to adhere it to a Soft Stone card base.  The sentiment is white-embossed onto black and also adhered using foam tape.

I hope you have a chance to check out the cards made by the rest of the design team - they're wonderful, as always!

Products used:

Stamps:  Unfrog-gettable (SPD)
Ink: Black Licorice Hybrid, Versamark
Cardstock:  Soft Stone (PTI), X-Press It, Black
Accessories:  Copics, White EP, Corner Chomper

Cheers
Karren