Paper Hugs

Well, we have sad news to announce today - this will be the last sketch challenge!  After many years of running this challenge blog, it is time to close up, with so many other pressing areas to attend to, but we hope you have enjoyed participating!  I certainly have! So with that said, here is this week's sketch: and here is my card: I felt this sketch had a whimsical feel about it (the torn edge perhaps?), so I chose to make a soft, pretty card.  Firstly, I created my background paper again - I used the small poppy flower from the same set as my focal image, the Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp set 'Poppies and Greetings'.  I first stamped light pink circles all over white cardstock - for this, I used the back of a patterned circle stamp, and then I overstamped the small poppy in a deeper pink ink.  For my image, I stamped the poppies with black memento ink, and coloured them with Copics, then cut the panel out using Spellbinders Curved Rectangles.  I then mo

Hi there, Saturday again and time for another sketch challenge! Here is this week's sketch: and here is my card: Now you'll notice that there is a spin this week - and it is Fall.  You may remember I have just returned from Wisconsin, where we enjoyed beautiful Fall weather - sunny days with blue skies, and crisp early mornings and evenings.  Perfect weather - but already those leaves were turning, and we enjoyed seeing their glorious colours on our daily walks.  With those leaves in mind, I created my own background paper by stamping various leaves from the Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp set, 'Nature Silhouettes 2', using autumn inks, and turning the stamps each time I stamped them.  I then stitched this panel to a black mat.  When I thought about those two circles in the sketch, I realised they didn't need to be two actual circles, they could be a cut out of one circle, which would leave more of the background paper showing!  I dry embossed the large tan

My what a busy time we have had this past week!  Returning from visiting our daughter and her lovely family in Wisconsin, catching up with all that needed to be done around the house and garden, and completing the next few cards for the sketch challenge!  It's lovely to visit, but it's always good to be home, don't you think? Here is this week's sketch and here is my card: I have used a Christmas wreath from the lovely Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp set:  Seasonal Wreaths, which also has a coordinating die set, making it so easy to cut the wreath out, if that is the way you want it.  I coloured my wreath in traditional holiday colours, and popped it up on dimensionals, over a shimmery white card from my stash (the shimmer doesn't show in the photo, unfortunately).  I have mounted this on a pretty Spellbinders die cut - called Marvellous Squares.  The top half of my card has been dry embossed with a holly embossing folder, and dp covers the bottom two shapes.

I have returned home eager to create cards again, and for these cards I have CASED Brandy Cox - different stamp, slightly different layout and a bit of colour, but I was inspired by the crispness of her mass-produced cards.  You can check her blog  HERE  - just look for 10 minute cards in black and white!  I have used Stampin Up's Quint-essential flower for my focal image, stamping twice for each card, so that I could cut out the centre, mount it on a black scalloped circle and pop it up with dimensionals.  I decided to add a splash of colour to the black and white theme, by cutting a strip of flocked dp to adhere to the left side, with a narrow black strip to finish the edge.  A matching rhinestone in the centre of the flower is all that is necessary to finish the card.  What do you think?  Should I have kept it simply black and white, or does the colour add something special?

It's Saturday, so time for another sketch at the Sweet Stop.  This post will be brief as I am away on holiday and using different technology to usual. I hope you understand how 'tricky' that can be sometimes. Here is this week's sketch - isn't it darling? And here is my card: Not being at home, I used what I had available, and fortunately, that included some autumn leaves I made last year and left here (with my daughter)!  This was my starting point and together with dsp by Gina K and a die cut 'thanks on a line' my card was complete.   Don't forget to visit all the sugarbabies, as they have some wonderful inspiration for you: Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,  Ann Tuck ,   Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

Saturday Sketch time at the Sweet Stop! I am determined to improve with my sponging - and for this card, I took inspiration from a tutorial I found on Theresa Momber's blog:  Crafting the web.  She is a master of colouring scenes, so if you feel you need help with this technique, I can recommend her blog to you. I have used one of the images from the clear stamp set Landscape Silhouettes  , which I have used quite often since I purchased it a month or so ago.  This time I sponged with only two inks - Memento Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa, which has given my card a very soft, wintry feel to it - which fortunately, is what I was aiming for!  I masked the foreground, to create the undulating hills, and re-stamped a little section of the silhouette for the trees in the foreground.  I thought this gave it a more realistic look.  I die cut a small deer for my circle embellishment, and added some tags from muted paper - on reflection, it would probably have been better to sponge

Another sketch for you today, from the Sweet Stop - it has a spin - and it is School Time. I loved making this card, as I have just completed cards for my youngest grand-daughters, who live in the US and have just commenced their new school year.  I'll show you those later in this blog.  But for this card, to follow the sketch, I used the Rhubarb digi image, Back to School - and assorted papers from a Kaisercraft pad called, appropriately, Class Act.  The corkboard background paper is from that pack - isn't it special?  I cut the stars using a Sweet 'n Sassy die set, Star Dies, which has been so useful to me.  Look further below if you want to see my personal Back to School cards. For now, check out the other sugar babies, for lots of inspiration. Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      My cards made fo

Saturday again, and another sketch from the Sweet Stop . For my card, I used Vintage Postcard stamps by Sweet 'n Sassy, cutting them out with the coordinating die - Pennants and More  - which has a postage stamp die included with it.  I embossed the images, which in two of them made them a little difficult to see, but the middle one is very clear.  I used the decorative strip in the set for the ribbon, added a little bow die cut by Memory Box and a wooden plane embellishment.  The background paper is by Gina K. Now check out all the wonderful inspiration the other Sugarbabies have for you: Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

Hi there - today's sketch at the Sweet Stop is this beauty! My main image is a digi stamp called Josie's Umbrella, but I don't know who designed it at this point.  I'll endeavour to find out to give due credit, as it is a cutie, don't you think?  I made the banner by stamping some small stamps in my latest Studio Calico card kit - I think the pattern is called Ikat - a primative print style - I'm sure many of you will know a lot more about this than I do!  It was fun to create a pattern this way.  The background paper is from Kaisercraft, Fine and Sunny. Check out the other Sugar Babies to see what they have for you, and then upload your project to share with us - we love to see what you create! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .          

Penny Black is the sponsor for this week's challenge at Less is More , which is to use a Rubber Stamp! I initially started my large collection of stamps with rubber stamps and they adorn the wall in my craft room, tidily arranged in little cubby holes - all 60 of them!  But now, it is the thing to buy the clear stamps, which are great, but they are usually stored away in boxes or filing folders, so are not quite so available for inspiration.  So with no reluctance at all, I chose a rubber stamp - it was a Penny Black hedgehog (I notice there have been a few used already in the challenge) - I actually completed mine this Sunday morning, but it is Fathers' Day here today, and our closest family members were here for lunch - so I waited till they left late afternoon to complete my blog post.  The image has been heat embossed in black, and coloured with distress markers.  The sentiment is by Amy Tangerine.

 Here is the fabulous sketch for this week at the Sweet Stop Sketch challenge - a great layout, but because I wanted more of the chevron embossed background to show, and I liked the natural colour for my theme, I did omit the horizontal panel behind the two rectangles and circle.  I hope that is OK! I have chosen fall colours for my project, and used one of the Nature Silhouettes from the clear stamp set, plus some leaves cut from the Small Leaves die set. Take a look at what the Sugar babies have created for you, and then load up your own projects - we love to see what you come up with! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

Here is the sketch for this week's challenge at the Sweet Stop : The large oval shape made me immediately think of Christmas decorations, so that was the route I took with this sketch, though on second thoughts, this layout would suit almost any occasion - think of flowers, birthdays, silhouettes etc.  However, I was committed to using my new stamp set, Vintage Ornaments  which has four beautiful ornaments plus lovely sentiments.  I heat embossed my ornament and in real life it has a lovely sparkle to it.  I dry embossed the oval shape with a snowflake folder, then mounted the image on designer papers and glitter trims.  Not traditional Christmas colours, perhaps, but I look forward to using those ornaments again with a more classic Christmas theme. Check out the other Sugar Babies to see what they have for you, and then upload your project to share with us - we love to see what you create! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Me

Here is this week's sketch over at the Sweet Stop:  notice the spin is Sunflowers! There are some beautiful sunflower stamps around, and two gorgeous ones in the new release at Sweet 'n Sassy - check it out here - but for my card, I used a small stamp from the set Happy Harvest by Gina K, masking off the pot the flowers stood in.  I thought the proportion of this image suited the layout better.  I also used the grasses from the SnS set, Nature Silhouettes .   I cut out the image with Spellbinders curved rectangles die,  matted it on Kraft card and then on two more designer papers and a banner.  A natural button and jute twine over a mini tag completes the card. Hop on over to the other Sugar Babies, to see what wonderful inspiration they have for you: Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

The cards I have to show you today were made for a friend to give to the coordinators of her Chorale - 3 males and 2 females - and she wanted them to have a noticeably musical flavour.  I think I managed that, and had a lot of fun in the process.  The ladies' ones first - I made more than I was asked for, in order for my friend to have a choice, and she appreciated that, but took an extra one for herself anyway - lol!  We always need to have thank you cards on hand, right?  The first card was inspired by the pretty paper I used for the background - I then distressed the stamped music sheet, backed it on to another piece of stamped music, so that I could curl up the corner.  I added flowers by Inspired by Stamping - a site based in Far North Queensland, and a new favourite of mine.  I stamped the chicken wire (IBS again) then used the musical flourish from a Rub On - hard to believe it would look so effective, but I love this crisp look.  I have used an embossing folder th

Another great sketch for you this week - check out the details here : No turning or flipping the sketch this week!  I love this layout, as it makes the image the focus, and needs little more in the way of embellishments, if that is how you like to make your cards, but of course, you can add as much or as little as you wish. For my image, I turned to a beautiful Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set, called Nature Silhouettes 2.  I wanted to try another sunset sponged effect, and I think I am improving a little in my technique lol!  I used Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks for my colours, but first I masked out the sun.  The colours blended quite well on the white metallic cardstock I used.  I then used a negative mask to colour just the sun.  I stamped my images with Versafine Onyx Black, and finished the card with a sentiment stamped onto a mini tag and added a button and twine. See what the rest of the design team have created for y

Now, I am not a true cat lover - I am more of a general, often at a distance, animal lover, but I just couldn't resist making a card with the stunning cat die cut a card-making friend gave me. I teamed the Memory Box cat die with a Poppy Stamps arched window die, added a MB twiggy tree or branch die, plus some gorgeous designer paper and sponging to complete these cards.  I love how they have turned out and can think of heaps more ideas to use with this stunning cat.

Here is the sketch for this week: I chose to rotate the sketch, and decided to represent the long strip with tickets.  I used the Sweet 'n Sassy set: Ticket Sentiments , which coordinates with the die set Pennants and More .  The sentiments in the stamp set are all great for a birthday or a special friend, so I used three of them on my card!  I used a MFT postage edge die to cut my dp.  To decorate the rest of the card, I used candy and a candle from the Birthday Bash clear stamp se t. All the sugar babes have great ideas for you, to inspire you to join in our challenge this week, so take a look at what they have created, and then share your own project with us.  We love to see what you come up with!   Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,  Ann Tuck ,   Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

The card today is for OLW - their theme is Life's a Beach. For the background square, I used a woodgrain stamp by Paper Smooches, masked off, and the little boat is from a Gina K stamp set, By the Sea.  The sentiment is another Gina K stamp, from the set Life's a Beach!

Here is this week's sketch at the Sweet Stop : I have chosen to flip the sketch, and to alter the small shapes into banners.  This way I could carry on the theme of a birthday party bash, and also match my background paper.  Sweet 'n Sassy sets used:  Birthday Bash stamp and dies, and Pennant Party dies plus the sentiment.  Designer paper was Basic Grey:  Shine On.  After stamping the frosting in Memento Rich Cocoa, I added colour with Copics and shined up the sprinkles with a gelly roll pen. Now take a look at what the other designers have come up with for this challenge and let us see your own creations.   Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,  Ann Tuck ,   Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

This week's challenge at LIM  is to include a handmade flower in your project.  For those who have visited my blog recently, you may remember that I have been making crochet flowers to incorporate in my cards, and I have shown them in my recent post  here .  However, the rules of the competition do not allow projects already posted, so I have made a very different card for this challenge.  Just some punched flowers this time, but it has turned out to be a cheerful card, so I'm happy with it.  I just wish I had not been in such a hurry to post my crochet flowers!  The small vases came from an Annabelle Stamp set called Flowers for You, and the little flower stem is also by Annabelle Stamps, and is Floral Stems.  The bee is from a small set by Avocado Arts.

Here is this week's sketch at the Sweet Stop :  and the spin is doilies! Sweet 'n Sassy have a new release of stamps and dies for July, including a beautiful stamp set of doilies, plus a die set of two borders in doily style.  Unfortunately, I do not own this set yet, so had to look around in my supplies to see what I could use for this challenge.  I found a very old stamp set by Grant, of several medallions with interchangeable centres, which I thought looked like doilies - a bit!  I cut out my circles from metallic cream card stock, using Spellbinders tear-drop circles nesties, and from white metallic card using Quickutz Doily circles nesties.  I then stamped the medallions onto the circles, heat embossed them and then sponged over with Brushed corduroy Distress Ink.  My background is the same cream metallic card, embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, Dots and Circles.  A SnS large scallop border cut from Kraft, some real lace and a small tag from the Mini tag set, completes

My second post today is to show some cards I have made using a very popular die by Memory Box, called Prim Poppies.  It is a wonderful die, as it seems to be so versatile.  Here are a few of the ways I have found to use it, but I intend to make many more.  The final two cards use the elephant stamp by Woodware - my favourite stamp (at the moment, anyway) - I love how the cards work out when I use this stamp.  It really suits a large square card, but I thought I'd try a regular A2 for the pink one, to see how it went, however, my favourite is still the square card!  It is such fun to paper piece the elephant - they always look different.