Christmas is coming

Hi!  I'm back with a card using the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our sketch hostess is the lovely and talented Amy O'Neill.  Here is Amy's sketch:

As did a couple of the other girls in the design team, I chose to use snowflakes for my "stars".  This is a pretty simple card and I took a leaf from my teamie, Jen's card from last week.  She inlaid her circular element and I decided to do some dry-embossing to represent the oval panel. 

The Fog stitched panel was dry-embossed with the oval then adhered to a white top-folding card base.  The snowflakes were cut from white glitter paper and added to the card.  I then added a pale blue Nuvo Jewel Drop to each snowflake.  The sentiment has three white layers and one black layer to add dimension.

Thanks for visiting!  Head on over and check out the fabulous creations made by the rest of the design team.

I'm linking this to the challenge at AAA Cards where they are celebrating Christmas.

Products used:

Cardstock:  White, Fog, Black, White Glitter
Dies:  Let it Snowflake Too, Merry Christmas, Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT), Stitched Ovals (Lil Inkers)
Accessories:  Nuvo Jew Drops

Cheers
Karren

Believe

Hi, it's hard to believe but it's time for another Fusion challenge!  This time we've gone for a red Christmas theme in our photo and a versatile, yet CAS sketch.

I created a fusion to come up with this card:

The card base is Slate and into the part visible through the oval, I liberally spritzed some Glitter Dust which give a gorgeous shimmer in real life.  The plaid pattern is the beautiful Concord & 9th Plaid Background, which I stamped onto Fog cardstock using Schoolhouse Red ink.  I then used Liquid Platinum EP to add the lines, but the observant amongst you will notice I completed neglected to add the horizontal lines - doh!

The little critters are from Hero Arts and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.  The "believe" is embossed using Liquid Platinim EP onto white then die-cut and the rest of the sentiment is white-embossed onto black.  The whole plaid panel is popped up on foam tape.

And that's it from me today!  Be sure to check out the gorgeous creations by the design team and I hope you have time to join us.

Products used:

Stamps:  Believe (SSS), Plaid Background (C&9th), Winter Time Fun (Hero Arts)
Ink:  Versamark, Schoolhouse Red (SSS), Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT)
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Fog, Slate, Black
Dies:  Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT), Stitched Ovals (Lil Inkers), Believe (SSS), Winter Time Fun (Hero Arts)
Accessories:  Copics, Liquid Platinum EP (Ranger), White Sharpie pen, Glitter Dust

Cheers
Karren

Hellebores

Hi!  It's time for another challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches and this week my Aussie mate, Narelle Farrugia, is our hostess and she has come up with a fun, multi-layered sketch.

I went off on a sketch-tangent a little bit, but I hope you can still see the sketch in my card.

I have just bought the Hellebore Builder stamp set by WPlus9 and followed Dawn's fabulous video tutorial about lining these images up and stamping many at one time.  I tried lots of different color combos and ended up with a big pile of stamped and die-cut hellebores.  I chose these white ones for today's card and arranged them into a little bouquet, along with some stamped leaves. 

On a white card base I stenciled over more NBUS, Hero Art's Spiral Stencil.  While that was drying, I worked on my sentiment.  The word "Merry" was white embossed onto some Fog cardstock and die-cut with the Slanted Sentiment Strip die and the word "Christmas" from the Christmas Tag die set by WPlus9 was cut from silver foil.

I put all the elements together to come up with this card.  I didn't add any embellishments because I liked the card just as it was 😊

Thanks so much for visiting!  The design team have some fabulous cards using the sketch so I hope you'll check them out.

I'm linking this card up to the CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps and also the Christmas challenge at Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge.

Products used:

Stamps:  Hellebore Builder (WP9), Christmas (SSS)
Ink:  Unicorn White (Hero Arts), Barely Beige, Fog (SSS), Buttercream, Warm Sunshine, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades (Altenew), Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Fog, Silver Foil
Dies:  Slanted Sentiment Strips (MFT), Hellebore Builder, Christmas Tag (WP9)
Accessories:  Spiral Stencil (Hero Arts), Embossing Paste, White EP

Cheers
Karren

Birthday Bouquet

Hi, I'm here with a card I made on Friday - the last day of my week off work 😢 I made this card using both the sketch and colors at MFT Stamps.  I'm also linking this up to Sweet Stampin' who are celebrating their 8th anniversary - which is such an amazing milestone!

I stamped the three smallest images from Plentiful Petals using colors as close to the challenge colors as I had.  I then die-cut them and arranged them in a bouquet and held them in place with Press n Seal while I worked on the remainder of my card.

Black cardstock was used to die-cut some layered leaves and also the pierced square frame.  I white-embossed the sentiment onto a strip of black and adhered it to the frame before adhering to a white card base.  Then it was time to position the flowers and adhere them in place.  I went over the centers of the flowers with clear sparkle pen.  Finally a few clear sequins to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting!  Back to work for me, tomorrow...

Products used:

Stamps:  Plentiful Petals, Get Down to Business (MFT)
Ink:  Versamark, Blue Violet (SSS), Warm Sunshine, Orange Cream (Altenew), Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT)
Cardstock:  White, Black
Dies:  Plentiful Petals, Pierced Square Frames, Slanted Sentiment Strips, Layered Leaves (MFT)
Accessories:  Sparkling Clear Sequins, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen

Cheers
Karren

Purple and Blue

Hi all and welcome to Freshly Made Sketches for another sketch challenge.  This week it's my turn to be hostess.  I hope you like my sketch and it gives you all a lot of room to interpret how you wish.

I made a birthday card for my sister using the sketch.  And I pulled out WPlus9's beautiful Modern Anenomes set (every time I say "anenomes" I hear Nemo trying to pronouce it in the movie!  Am I the only one?)

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite cards I've made lately and I almost didn't want to give it away!  

I cut some masks of the anenomes and then positioned the stamps, one by one, in my Misti.  After I stamped each image, I flipped the panel upside down and stamped in the opposite corner.  I continued doing this, masking as I went, until I had all three flowers and the two leaf sprigs.  After I colored the images with Copics, I replaced the masks and then slightly sponged with some Broken China Distress Ink.  I also outlined the images with a Copic cool gray marker to make them pop a bit.

The sentiment was one I'd made up earlier and didn't use.  It is several layers of black die-cuts then spritzed with Glitter Dust.  The rest of the sentiment is from a PTI set and white embossed onto black.  The whole panel was die-cut with a stitched rectangle die and popped up onto the card base with foam tape.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have made gorgeous cards using my sketch, so head on over and check them out.

I'm linking this card up to the CAS challenge at The Flower Challenge as well as the Celebrate challenge at AAA Cards.

Products used:

Stamps:  Modern Anenomes  (WPlus9), Wet Paint (PTI)
Ink:  Intense Black, Broken China Distress, Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It
Dies:  Celebrate, Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics, White EP, Glitter Dust

Cheers
Karren

Awesome Leaves

Hi!  It's Monday morning here and the start of a week's break from work for me - yay!  The last two months have been crazy busy, with moving premises and I needed a break!  I'm sure the week will go way too fast, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

I made this card last night using the current sketch at MFT Stamps, the colors from Color Throwdown and the Fall theme at Cupcake Inspirations.  It's been a long time since I've had a chance to play in any of these challenges, so this card was fun to make.

I just received the Geometric Greenery set - one I've been umm-ing and ahh-ing about since it was released.  I'm so glad I've got it now though because it is such a unique look and can be used in many different ways.  I chose to go with simple Zig coloring on Bristol Smooth cardstock, using two shades plus a water brush for each leaf.  I cut the leaves with my Scan n Cut after they were dry then arranged them into a leaf bouquet, holding them together with Press n Seal until I was ready to attach them to the card.

For the bottom panel, I used Versamark ink to do some watermark stamping onto a panel of dark gray cardstock.  To fill in any gaps, I used the smallest stamp from Distressed Patterns.  As a finishing touch, I added a thin strip of gold foil cardstock (love that stuff and can't stop using it!!)

A stitched circle was cut from black cardstock and the sentiment was surgically altered and then white-embossed onto the circle.  I arranged the leaf bouquet around the sentiment and adhered it down with liquid glue.  I added a twine bow to cover where I'd cut off all the stems from the leaves as they were all at different angles.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Geometric Greenery, Distressed Patterns (MFT)

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Slate, Gold Foil, Bristol Smooth

Dies:  Inside/Out Stitched Circles

Accessories:  Zig markers, Twine

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge and Color Throwdown

Owlidays

Hi and welcome!  I'm thrilled to be here today with a card for Michelle Lupton's Challenge Me a Christmas Card.  

The challenge Michelle gave me was Owls - which isn't too difficult and did give me a chance to go shopping for appropriate owl stamps - win/win 😄

For my card, I took a panel of white cardstock and used a stitched dome die to create a mask.  Through the mask, I lightly sponged some Nuvo Embellishment Mousse in Aquamarine.  Once that was finished, I die-cut the panel with a stitched rectangle stax die and went to work on the main image.

I stamped the branch then the owls and colored both before cutting out with my Scan n Cut.  On the Santa's hat I added some Snow Marker for a fluffy look.  I added the owls to the white panel, being careful to make sure none of the mousse showed underneath the branch.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment and mounted the panel on to a white top-fold card base using foam tape.

Thanks for visiting and thanks to Michelle for inviting me to join her.  Be sure you check out her card too.  The old adage "great minds think alike" might just pop into your head 😄

As an aside, and before I go, Michelle gave me a choice of challenges.  I could go with owls or, wait for it, Wal and his dog from Footrot Flats.  Her witty brother suggested that challenge!  Now while I love Wal and Dog, I decided to take the safe route and stick with the owls!

I'm adding this card to the gallery at Sweet Kobylkin's Chasing Holiday Mojo challenge.  I'm playing along with Tasha's card

Products used:

Stamps:  Happy Owlidays (Winnie & Walter)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It
Dies;  Stitched Rectangle Stax, Stitched Dome Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics, Nuvo Embellishment Mousse (Aquamarine), Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen, Snow Marker

Cheers
Karren

Grateful

Hi and thanks for popping by!  I'm here with a card for the latest Fusion Challenge.  We've gone with a 'thankful' theme, which is appropriate for any season and any time of the year.

I'm one of those DT members who likes to make their cards well in advance of a challenge going live.  Well, not this time!  As I write this, I just finished making my card about 15 minutes ago and the challenge goes live in 4 hours.  Talk about skin of the teeth!

Luckily, I pretty much had the card planned out in my head so it didn't take too long to put together - although I did change my mind several times.

The die-cuts take center-stage on this card.  Copper foil sentiment, slate, black and white foliage and a black strip to ground everything.  To add a bit of interest to the Fog panel, I added some loosely applied embossing paste over the Geometric Grid stencil, which is probably my favorite stencil as I reach for it nearly every time!

Thanks for visiting!  The design team have some gorgeous cards so please head on over and check them out.

I'm entering this card into a few of the challenges out at the moment:  Inkspirational have a cue word of Trend.  To me metallics are on trend as are scripty sentiments.  Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge - well that's pretty obvious 😄 and I was inspired by the leaves and thanks theme on Anita's Muse card.

Products used:

Cardstock:  White, Fog, Slate, Black, Copper foil

Dies:  Grateful for You, Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT), Chloe Stem (Memory Box), Layering Leaves (Concord & 9th)

Accessories:  White embossing paste, Geometric Grid Stencil (MFT)

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Muse

Hippo Bird-Day

Hi and welcome!  Today's post uses the newest sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches team and this week our hostess is the die-cut queen, Cecile Ribon.

I needed a birthday card for my niece, who is about to turn 12.  So I pulled out my Happy Hippos stamp set and made this card for her:

I did a bit of masking and stamped the hippo, hat and balloons and colored them with Copics.  Once tht was finished, I cut the combined images with my Scan n Cut.

The card base is 4.25" square and I added a strip of black and white striped paper across the bottom left corner.  I edged that with some copper foil cardstock.  I think this makes for a modern look, which I hope a 12-year old will like 😄 The sentiment was white-embossed onto black and cut to match the angle of the copper strip.  To finish the card, I added some white gel pen dots to the party hat and Glossy Accents to the balloons.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have some gorgeous cards so head on over and check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Happy Hippos (MFT)

Ink:  Intense Black, Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It, Dots & Stripes Neutrals (MFT), Copper Foil

Accessories:  Copics, White Gel Pen, Glossy Accents, White EP.

Cheers

Karren

Santa's Workshop

Hi and welcome!  I'm here with another wonderful sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches team!  This week our hostess is our talented Canadian friend, Jen Brum.

Such a great sketch, is it not?  I decided to create a little scene using some teeny-tiny stamps from the October Hero Arts kit.

Santa and Mrs Claus were so tiny they were hard to color with any level of competence 😃  The mountains were stamped and then masked before sponging on the sky area.  A stitched slope was added in white and the rest of the images were die-cut and added to the panel.  I lightly added some white ink to the trees to give a bit of definition.

Thanks for visiting!  The design team have some gorgeous cards using the sketch so I hope you'll check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  My Monthly Hero Oct 17 (Hero Arts)
Ink:  Versamark, Black Licorice Hybrid, Salty Ocean Distress Oxide, Unicorn White
Cardstock:  Hot Fudge, Chili Powder, Elf Green (MFT), Desert Storm, X-Press It
Dies:  MMH (Hero Arts), Stitched Rectangle Stax, Inside/Out Stitched Circles, Basic Stitch Lines (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics, White EP

Cheers
Karren