Sweet Strawberry Fits the Sketch

Sketch challenges are my most favorite of all challenges.  I totally enjoy these maps/layouts to give me insight into breaking through my "go to" placement of elements.  This sketch from Stampin' Fancy Friday, designed by Jean Frost, has been the focus of January for all of us at Stampin' Fancy Friday AND anyone who would like to join along.

For this card I pulled out a couple new things I have in my stash of stamps and supplies. The Sweet Strawberry Bundle which includes a fantastic punch that perfectly matches several of the images in the stamp set and Flower and Field DSP. This bit of designer series paper which accents the berries is what I used to complete the sketch. You can get this Flower & Field DSP as part of Sale-a-bration, don't miss out because it's an awesome pack!

I did add a few bits to complete the finishing look for this card.  I included a shoestring tie of Playful Pets Trim Combo Pack, three Basic Rhinestones for the flower centers, and a spritz or two of Frost White Shimmer Paint mixed in rubbing alcohol.

#TGIF301 Mad for Plaid

We have all gone mad for plaid at #TGIF301.  That's right, stamp whatever you want but be sure to include a little bit or whole lot of plaid pattern.

A long while back I bought the Best Plaid Builder Dies.  I hadn't opened the the pack and used the dies until just now!  What was I waiting for?  These are so cool and perfectly fit Sasha's "Mad for Plaid" TGIF Designer Take Over theme.

Here's a look at the dies.  Look closely and you'll see I cut two of the skinny stripes piece.

I felt my Best Builder Plaid background was a fitting way to showcase the gang of animal pals.  This image and the greeting comes from the From All of Us Stamp Set.  I used a bunch of Stampin' Blends to add both real and unreal colors to bring these critters to life.

Sending Love, A Paper Pumpkin Thing

Be mine for a few minutes to check out a couple "up!styled" cards using the Sending Love Paper Pumpkin Kit.  If you get a kick out of making Valentines this is the kit for you.

My first up!styled card is quite simple at first glance.  If you look closely you will notice I added a bit of dimension by using a hobby blade to cut out the mailbox.  It's a small touch but I love the depth it gives to the overall look.  I also added a Pretty Perennial flower detail to the stand of the mailbox along with a few Basic Rhinestones.  

The Detailed Hearts Die is a perfect fit for this Sending Love Kit.  I cut a Whisper White Detailed Heart background to overlay the red patterned card base.  It's a perfect detail to add some of the resin hearts that come in the kit.  

The cute snail is another perfect match for this kit; it came from the Little Love Boxes Add-on that was designed to go with this kit.  Another set of dies that I grabbed for this card was the Word Wishes Set.  I ut he "happy" from Petal Pink and the "Valentines" from one of the colors from the Love You Always Foil Sheets.  The pack of foil includes (2) each of Blushing Bride, Rococo Rose, and Sahara Sand.  

If you would like to see more alternative projects, which I call up!styled, join me next week live on Facebook at Seeinginkspots.

There is lots more to see today so click on each of the links.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Strawberries for Hand Stamped Sentiments #356

These sweet and bright strawberry images were perfect for making card inspired by this layout from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I would never in a million years arranged these punched images like this if it weren't for the sketch challenge.  That is what is so fabulous about challenges; they take you in an unexpected direction that I feel broadens your creativity.

My supply list for this card includes: Sweet Strawberry Bundle (stamps and punch), Garden Wishes Stamp Set (the greeting), Rectangle Stitched Dies, Water Painter, Black Staz On Ink, Coastal Cabana, Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, and Mossy Meadow Inks, cardstock colors in Shimmery White, Pool Party, and Pear Pizzazz, Linen Thread, and Champagne Rhinestones.

Friendly Flamingo Fun Fold Card

Greetings Monday Montage Blog Hoppers.  It's so fabulous to have you stopping by.  For this hop I thought it would be fun to share a Friendly Flamingo card that features a fun fold which adds just a bit of interest and panache.

To create this fold make a pencil mark on the scoreline 2" from the top edge.  Next, score from the outside top corners to the pencil mark.  Then use a bone folder to crease the folds inward.

to Julie

to Cheryl

Stampin' Through the Catalog: January Guest Designer

Good news ahead so keep reading.  I have the fabulous honor to be a Guest Designer with Stampin' Through the Catalog today!  

I was over the top thrilled when I received an email from Stampin' Through the Catalog in which they asked me to join them to stamp using the brand new You are Amazing Stamp Set.

Stamp sets filled with an array of typograhpy always catch my eye and become part of my stamp stash! The You Are Amazing Stamp Set is filled with great greetings in a combination of fresh and fashionable fonts.  With this stamp set I was inspired to create a ransom note style "happy birthday" card. Included in the You Are Amazing Stamp Set is a thought bubble image which I used to make a custom piece of background paper; for the lighter look I stamped off on scratch paper first. My ink colors include Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, and Pretty Peacock.

#TGIF299 Goes Camo

Our latest challenge at #TGIF299 features background stamps.  My favorite background stamp is Camouflage!  I love anything camo.

I had some ink pads on my stamp table that I hadn't put away so I grabbed a sheet of Soft Seafoam cardstock to stamp a Cinnamon Cider and Soft Suede camouflage background.  Also on my table were leftovers from the Beary Comforting Paper Pumpkin Kit and white flowers cut from the Pretty Perennials Dies.  I get a kick out of using up bits and pieces and making cute cards.  This one is perfect for a new baby.  It could be for a boy or a girl.  It's sweet and spunky.

Cue the Sow it's Winter at Hand Stamped Sentiments

Hand Stamped Sentiments has a winter themed challenge for our first challenge of 2021.  So, cue the snow  it's winter at HSS.

This is a tricky challenge for me.  Why, you ask?  Because I am from San Jose California and we don't have snow or a winter that looks like the inspiration board below.  I can buy into snow scenes for Christmas, but once the holiday decor is put away winter is over.  

The main stamp set I've used for this card is Snowman Season.  Making a cameo roll for the "cue the" is Pattern Play.  Two sets of dies were used for this card.  Playful Alphabet Dies to cut the "snow" and Stitched Rectangles.

I love the white and Wink of Stella splatters and how they add to the Adhesive Backed Snowflakes.  I also think the pattern paper snow banks are pretty fun.  The "snow" and snowbank papers are from the Playing with Patterns DSP stack.