Blended Circles

 Hi and welcome! Our sketch hostess this week at Freshly Made Sketches is Kim Singdahlsen and while I missed a couple of layers, I stuck pretty close to the sketch.

I stenciled onto the white card base with embossing paste and once that was dry, I used a circle stencil and some distress inks to ink-blend through the stencil. Once finished, I took a damp paper towel and rubbed over the ink to reveal the white stenciling.

I finished with a new stamp and die set for the sentiment that I did a bit of ink-blending on, and some black enamel dots for a bit of drama.

Thanks for visiting. Please check out the wonderful cards made by the rest of the design team.

Products used:

Stamps:  Written Words (C+9)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey Distress Inks

Cardstock: White

Dies:  Written Words (C+9)

Accessories:  Masking Circles (Taylored Expressions), Daily News: Coffee & Chocolate (Stamperia), White Embossing Paste, Clear Embossing Powder, Black Enamel Dots

Cheers

Karren

Corner Flowers

 Hi all and welcome to another sketch from the team at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our hostess this week is Jennifer Timko and I went the obvious route with flowers for my card!

I stamped and stenciled these flowers and used the co-ordinating dies to cut them out.  Onto a white card base I added a panel die-cut with the Triangle Background die and then added a white frame popped up with foam tape.

I then popped up the flowers with foam tape as well as the white-embossed sentiment.  Finally, I finished with some clear drops.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please check out the wonderful cards made by the rest of the design team.

I'm linking this up to the current Color Hues challenge to use Teal and Orange.  My orange looks a bit washed out but I can assure you they started out as orange inks :)  I'm also linking to Inskpirational who are looking for stencils, with layering stencils as an optional twist.

Products used:

Stamps:  In the Woodland (Altenew), Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Ink:  Versamark, Amalgam (Gina K), Golden Sunset set, Sea Shore set, Espresso (Altenew)

Cardstock:  White, Black

Dies: In the Woodland (Altenew), Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower), Nesting Rectangle Frames (Waffle Flower), Triangle Background (C+9)

Accessories:  In the Woodland stencils (Altenew), White EP, Clear Drops

Cheers

Karren

Woodsy Hello

 Hi!  It's a Public Holiday here in New Zealand today (Monday), so I had a chance to get into my craft room and make a card for a few challenges - something I don't get a chance to do often enough.

I was drawn to the inspiration photo at Just Us Girls and paired that with the sketch at The Paper Players and the Tic-Tac-Toe challenge where I went with Die-Cut...Twine...Trees/Woods.  I'm hoping that branches count as trees/woods?  

I created a bouquet of branches using a die from Concord & 9th as well as the Botanicuts:  Pussy Willow dies where I coloured the white die-cuts with Copics.  I tied the bunch with some twine and set it aside to work on the rest of my card.  I wanted to keep with the neutral tones of the photo and bring in the woodgrain and foliage as well as a black heart.  Patterned paper matted onto black cardstock worked for  the sketch elements and a hot-foiled and die-cut sentiment was added with foam tape.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Cardstock:  White, Black, Desert Storm, Wood & Notebook Basics (Snap)

Dies:  Botanicuts:  Pussy Willow (The Greetery), Layering Leaves (Concord & 9th), Fall Foliage Hot Foil Sentiments and dies (Honey Bee Stamps)

Accessories:  Twine, Copics, White Hot Foil, Enamel Heart

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Tic-Tac-Toe and Paper Players.

Stripey Flower

 Hi and welcome!  It's my turn to design the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and I decided it was time for another slimline card.  Despite my original intentions, I ended up with a mini-slimline.

I had the idea to use this striped die and add colour to represent one of the strips on the sketch and the sentiment can represent the other strip.  Obviously, I flipped the sketch onto the side.  The flower was one I had left over from another project.  The sentiment was embossed with some old Crushed Curry embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you'll check out the rest of the DT cards and have a go yourself.

Products used:

Stamps:  Celebrate Life (Altenew/PinkFresh), Hello Lovely (Concord & 9th)

Ink:  Amalgam (Gina K), Versamark, Various Altenew inks for the flower

Cardstock:  White, Midnight (Concord & 9th), Summer Sunrise, Limeade Ice (PTI)

Dies:  Slimline Long Stripes (The Ton)

Accessories:  Crushed Curry EP (SU)

Cheers

Karren

Day Filled With Love

 Hi!  I'm here with my card for the latest Fusion challenge.  I played with both the sketch and the photo, but I concentrated on the patterns and colours in the photo and left the gnomes alone :)

This was a very simple card to make.  I used a background plaid stamp and then die-cut two hearts from it.  I used washi tape for the stripes across the middle and a bold sentiment.  The rest is all die-cuts, patterned paper and enamel dots!

Thanks for visiting!  The DT have created gorgeous cards as usual so I hope you'll check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Plaid BG (Concord & 9th), Special Delivery (SugarPea Designs)

Ink:  Amalgam (Gina K)

Cardstock:  White, Watercolor Wash (MFT)

Dies:  Stitched Rectangle Stax, Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax, Blueprints 32 (MFT)

Accessories:  Delicate Stripes Washi (Altenew), Enamel Dots, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen

Cheers

Karren

Glittery Thanks

 Hi!  This is a quick post showcasing a quick card made for the latest Freshly Made Sketch challenge, where our hostess is Amy O'Neill.  I took a few liberties with the sketch - adjusting the dimensions of the elements but I hope you can still see the sketch.

I had about 15 minutes to make a card this last weekend so turned to dies and glitter cardstock for impact.  An embossing folder adds interest without clutter.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you'll check out the wonderful cards made by the rest of the DT.

Products used:

Cardstock:  White, Black, Copper Sparkle, Green Apple Sparkle (MFT)

Dies:  Layering Leaves (Concord & 9th), Bold Thanks (Altenew)

Accessories:  Weathered EF (Taylored Expressions), Copper Penny Nuvo Drops, Apple Green Nuvo Drops

Cheers

Karren

Coppery Hello

Welcome to another year of Fusion challenges.  We've got an updated challenge graphic and a new team member, so I hope you'll head on over and check out who we are fortunate enough to add to our team.

I created a fusion this time, by flipping the sketch on its side and playing with the colors in the photo.

Onto a white die-cut panel, I stenciled over a mandala stencil with Smoked Hickory ink - concentrating heavier color on the left and fading out towards the right.  I then flicked on some bronze mica spray and some black distress paint and set it aside to dry.

The leaves were die-cut from copper cardstock and added, along with the sentiment, when the panel was dry.  I used some craft foam to pop it up on the white card base.

Thanks for visiting.  The DT have some wonderful cards for our first challenge of the year so I hope you'll check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Assorted Greetings (Gina K Designs)
Ink:  Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, Obsidian (Altenew)
Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth, Copper
Dies:  Stitched Rectangle Stax 2 (MFT), Layering Leaves (Concord & 9th)
Accessories:  Captivating Mandala Stencil (MFT), Antiqued Bronze Distress Mica Spray, Black Soot Distress Paint

Cheers
Karren

Cosy Christmas

Hi all and thanks for popping by!  It's time for a new challenge at Fusion and this time we have a wonderful homely inspiration pic or a CAS and fun sketch.


I created a fusion and came up with this card - inspired by the woollens in the photo and the pop of red against the neutrals.

I used a new-to-me set called Cozy Christmas by Concord & 9th and an old-to-me (!) set called Spruce & Sprigs by PTI.  I see that my teamie Jen used the same Spruce & Sprig sets to create her gorgeous card so be sure to check that out on the challenge blog.

The sentiment was white embossed onto some Cherry Crisp cardstock and then adhered onto a Grout Gray panel which was dry-embossed with the Knitted Pattern embossing folder.  I stamped the foliage and berries with MFT inks and arranged them to fit to the right of the sentiment.  Once that was all glued down, the whole panel was adhered to a white top-fold card base.  

I really wanted to color the berries with clear sparkle pen, but I've had an unfortunate accident in the past coloring over red ink with a sparkle pen which caused the ink to bleed, so I left well enough alone.

Here's a close up of the dry embossing.

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope you'll check out the rest of the DT cards as they're all beautiful, as always.

Products used:

Stamps:  Cozy Christmas (Concord & 9th), Spruce & Sprigs (PTI)

Ink:  Versamark, Jellybean green, Cherry Crisp (MFT)

Cardstock:  White, Grout Gray, Cherry Crisp (MFT)

Dies:  Spruce & Sprigs (PTI)

Accessories:  White EP, Knitted Pattern EF (Richard Garay)

Cheers

Karren

Starry Friend

Welcome to my little corner of blogland!  I'm here today with a sketch from the delightful Cecile Ribon for the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

I had just received the Star Turnabout stamp and die so had to put it through its paces.  Unfortunately, I completely forgot to use the die - doh!

I set up the stamp and turntable in my Misti and then proceeded to stamp onto both a Gravel Gray panel and a white panel.  I stamped and embossed with various embossing powders - on the white panel I used Rose Gold, Antique Gold, Black Sparkle and Liquid Platinum.  On the gray panel I substituted white for the Black Sparkle, because I didn't think it would show up.  I wish I'd kept to the black sparkle but so be it.

Once I'd finished embossing, I used one of my Creative Corners to mark off the angled sides and cut the gray panel down.  I adhered it to the white panel and added some black cardstock strips.  The sentiment was die-cut from black three times and rose gold foil card once and stacked together.  The rose gold die-cut was offset slightly for added interest.  Finally I went over the word with clear sparkle pen.   Here's another angle so you can see the sparkle.

Thanks for visiting!  The DT have some gorgeous cards and we have a new guest designer joining us for July so be sure to head on over and check out their cards.

Products used:

Stamps:  Star Turnabout (Concord & 9th)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Gravel Gray (MFT), Black, Rose Gold Foil
Dies:  Friends (MFT)
Accessories:  White EP (Hero Arts), Rose Gold, Antique Gold EP (SSS), Liquid Platinim, Black Sparkle EP (Ranger), Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen

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

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

Lovely Flowers

Hi!  Thanks for popping in for a visit!  Today's card is one I made last week, but I'm just not sure about it.  I used the gorgeous colors from Color Throwdown and this is the first time I've used the main floral image from the Hello Lovely set.  I'm also linking this up to Work It Wednesday and Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge.

The bit I'm not sure about is the stamped colored bits.  I know the stamps are designed to not fit perfectly inside the images, but I really struggled to work out which center went with which flower. 😕 

Anyways, I used the challenge colors for all the flower colors, keeping the red to a minimum.  As there was no green in the challenge, I used grey for the leaves, which does help to tone down the brightness somewhat.  I also added some red splatters to bring in a bit more red, then over all the splatters I colored with my new Atyou Spica pens in each respective color.

Products used:

Stamps:  Hello Lovely (Concord & 9th)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, Deep Iris, Velvet, Warm Sunshine, Limestone, Autumn Blaze (Altenew)

Cardstock:  White, Black

Accessories:  White EP, Atyou Spica Pens

Cheers

Karren

Birthday Foliage

It's time for another fabulous sketch from the team at Freshly Made Sketches and this week our hostess is the wonderful and funny Narelle.  And she has such a versatile sketch for us.

When I made my card, I wasn't in the mood for the stamping part of this craft, so I worked mainly with dies and washi tape to come up with this masculine birthday card.

I am one of those people who is in awe of crafters who can put different elements together to create a collage but it never looks right when I try to do it.  I spent so long working with different dies and patterns but ended up paring it all back to a very simple design.  I knew I wanted to use the Precious Polaroids die but deciding what to put in it was a challenge.  Finally, I used some gray foliage die-cuts and called it a day.  The washi tape was adhered to a white card base and I stamped a sentiment onto the slate polaroid frame and then adhered the leaves in place.

Thanks so much for visiting!  The design team have some gorgeous cards using Narelle's sketch so head on over and check them out.

I'm linking this card up to the Clean and Simple challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More, the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies challenge, as well as the masculine challenge at Sweet Stampin'

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Happy Little Stampers.