Seize the Sketch #27 - Trick Or Treat

Hello friends!  =D  I had so much playing with the current sketch (#27) at our LAST (sniff) Seize The Sketch challenge, another card popped out of me.  Lo and behold, it's a Halloween card!

The retired Stampin' Up! set, Window Dressing, was staring at me from its place on the Ikea book shelf in my studio.  It never saw much ink, and I felt bad for it.

The kitty and window are from that set, the pumpkin is from Family Accessories, and the sentiment (colored with markers) is from Holiday Best.  Boom!  A Stampin' Up!-only card!

Here's the sketch again, and before you say, "What?  Her card looks nothing like the sketch!", take a peek below.

Sure, maybe I took a little creative license with the sentiment and bow, but the bare bones are still there!

My family and I just got back from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a quick break before school resumes.  It felt good to play in the surf (before the waves became too rough due to the offshore Hurricane Cristobal) and just let go for a while.

The sunsets are so gorgeous there, my camera just clicked away.

Me and my youngest, doing a selfie.

Thanks so much for popping over, and if you'd like to join us at STS, click HERE for details!

Stamps: Window Dressing, Holiday Best, Family Accessories - SU Paper: kraft, white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Argentina seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: markers - SU; circle punches; Copic markers

Seize The Sketch #27 - With Sympathy

Time for a new challenge at Seize The Sketch!  It's also time for me to refill the 'Sympathy' category at the Arts Plus Gallery, where I sell my cards.  I chose some pretty papers from K & Co.'s Julianne line.  They look old-fashioned and sweet, and are very easy on the eyes.  The die cut / sentiment is by Papertrey Ink / Boutique Borders: Sympathy.  And those baby flowers -- courtesy of my blogging friend, Sindhu.

Our sketch hostess is Cathy Santie.  There are so many awesome ways to interpret this!  Dress it up, or keep it clean and simple.

One of the papers has a raised, glossy texture that I wanted to capture for you.  You can see it best in the photo below.  OH!  And I wanted to show you something else!  See the little black dot on the center of each of the paper flowers?  Well, one of the flowers had a defect, where the paint had not completely covered the little 'ball'.  Rather than toss that one and not use it at all, I just used a fine-tipped black marker to add a similar dot to another perfect flower.  Now they match!

Sadly, this is our last challenge before the doors close at Seize The Sketch.  (sniff, sniff) A HUGE thanks to STS owner Lesley Croghan for giving me a chance to serve on the DT, even if for a short time.  It was fun!

Thanks a bunch for your visit today, and I hope you might come play with us!

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Sympathy - Papertrey Ink Paper: Mellow Moss - SU; white - PTI; patterns - Julianne - K & Co. Ink: pale moss - Anna Griffin; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Boutique Borders: Sympathy die - PTI; white flowers

Seize The Sketch #26 - Puffy Heart Anniversary

Welcome to sketch #26 at Seize The Sketch! I love, love, love this week's sketch (but then, I think that about every one I've done so far with STS!).

Our sketch hostess this week is Katie Melhus.  Don't you just "dig" this?  (my kids would roll their eyes at me using that sentence - "Oh, Mom, you think you're so cool! ha ha!") It's super simple, but it doesn't have to be if you dress it up, like I did.

My patterned papers are from Authentique's Lovely, and though geared toward Valentine's Day, I thought they would work for an anniversary card.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Think Big Favorites #16. Have I mentioned lately how much I love PTI stamps?

The puffy heart is from....can you guess?...Build-A-Bear!  Yes, it was found on the floor there by one of my kids many years ago.  I saved it, knowing I could use it somehow.  And the little double-heart gold charm is from a thrift store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It looked bare by itself, so I added the tiny pink paper flower to the bottom of it, but now you can hardly tell it's a pair of golden hearts!  Ha!

Well, thanks so much for coming today.  I hope you get a chance to play with us.  Challenges last two weeks, and all details can be found on the STS blog HERE.

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #16 - PTI Paper: Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla - SU; heart, dot patterns -  Lovely pack - Authentique Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Pretty In Pink twill ribbon - SU; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: puffy heart - Build-A-Bear; small paper pink flower - Inspired By Stamping; pearls; gold tone pair of hearts charm (thrift store)

Seize The Sketch #25 - a dainty 'Hello'

Hello everyone!  It's time for a new sketch at Seize The Sketch challenge blog, and our hostess is Mona Pendleton.

My card feels very dainty, if I had to describe it in a word.  The delicate font of the sentiment, the light and airy lace, and finely-detailed patterned papers make it seem very feminine, indeed.

Upon writing this blog post, I see that I did not place my sentiment properly, according to the sketch.  Oh well!  Better send the card police after me!

Thanks to the Clearance Rack at Stampin' Up!, I had bought the Everyday Enchantment designer series papers for a song.  The colors in the papers prompted my color scheme.  There were no red pearls in my stash, so I used a red Copic marker to customize a white one.  Super easy to do; just allow enough time to dry before adhering to your project.

 The focal point was created with a few layers of paper flowers (Prima), topped with a Webster's Pages Whimsy heart.

Sure hope you are inspired to join us!  The challenge lasts two weeks, and you can find all the details HERE.
Mind if I share?  I was tickled to find my pirate card from March 2013 featured over at Paper Crafter's Library recently!  You can see the Nautical-themed post HERE.  Thanks to Aliya White, who wrote the article and kindly asked my permission to use the card.

Thanks for your visit today.  =D

Stamps: Heartfelt Greetings - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Everyday Enchantment patterned paper - SU; True Black, kraft - PTI Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: lace Accessories & Tools: pearls; button; floss; paper flowers - Prima; heart Whimsy - Webster's Pages; blue leaf die cut border - K & Co.; red Copic marker

Seize The Sketch #24 - Shasta Daisy for You

Hello friends!  Time for a new sketch challenge at Seize The Sketch!  This one is courtesy of our hostess, Vicki Dutcher, and it's nice and easy.  You can dress it up as much as you like, or leave it simple.  

I gussied mine up, as you can see.

The nugget that got me started was this Shasta Daisy seed packet sticker from K & Co.  It has a little tag that pulls out, and I stamped a sentiment from Inspired By Stamping on it, and tied a bit of twine.  It came with a ribbon that was kind of ugly, and didn't match.  I tied a Colleen Bow on the card base, and added some retired Stampin' Up! papers that matched the seed packet quite well.

Most paper edges were distressed with ink for a shabby chic vibe.

If you'd like to play along with us, click HERE for all the details.

I had every intention of sharing photos from our Las Vegas vacation last week (it was awesome!), but one thing after another has happened around here -- biggest thing being that our central A/C unit died (oh joy) and it's REALLY hot here (97 degrees tomorrow!).  Had four different heating/cooling companies here today to give us estimates...ouch.  We were not planning to spend this kind of money at the present time.

Well, soon enough I'll share some pics.  We truly had fun, and what an interesting town Las Vegas is! Oh, yes, it is larger than life.  And David Copperfield touched my hand!  Talk about a brush with a celebrity.  =) We even took a day trip to see the Grand Canyon.  Such a magnificent sight, too glorious for words, or even pictures for that matter.

Thanks for your visit today!

Stamps: sentiment - Small Fancy Labels - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI; Bashful Blue, patterns - SU Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Danish Blue seam binding - Hug Snug; twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: blue button - Jolee's; pearls - Queen & Co.; corner rounder punch - Fiskars; Framed Tulips embossing folder - SU; Shasta daisy seed packet sticker/enclosure tag - K & Co. 

Seize The Sketch #23 - He counts the number of the stars...

Hello!  Thanks for giving me some of your time today.  We've got a new sketch up at Seize The Sketch, courtesy of hostess Lee Ann Barrett.  I had fun with it, using some new-to-me goodies and a monochromatic color scheme.

I turned the sketch on its side, so I could accommodate the vertical sentiment from Shining Star / Verve. Love this sentiment...it is comforting to me.

One of the other sentiments in the Verve set has a sweet little star dangling down.  I stamped a bunch of them in black, trimmed 'em out and assembled them along a thin piece of white ribbon.  And how about that glittery paper?  It was a Christmas gift from my little family, and it's called Mint by American Crafts.  Not sure about you, but I thought of a bright yellow when I first laid eyes on it.  Not green.  But whatever, it matches the piece of Colorbok ombre patterned paper really well!

If you'd like to play along with us, just click HERE for all the details.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps: Shining Star - Verve; inside stars - Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts Paper: white - PTI; ombre pattern - Colorbok; Mint glitter cardstock - American Crafts  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Kiwi Kiss - SU Fibers: white grosgrain ribbon Accessories & Tools: Romantic Rectangles, oval dies - Spellbinders; Clear Cut Stackers Stars dies - Wplus9

Seize The Sketch #22 - Strawberries & Chocolate

Hello friends!  Time for a new sketch at Seize The Sketch!  Design team member Lori Tecler came up with a neat design that can be adapted in so many ways.  Here's my take:

So funny:  my first and second cards as a design team member here at STS both include berries!  I must be hungry.  ;-)

See the square that says "any shape"?  I used two strawberries from Papertrey Ink's Fusion Berry for my shape.  Tried to give them a sugared effect with a coating of clear fine glitter, and a few 'water drops' from Glossy Accents.

I bought some pearl-topped pins from Dritz in the sewing notions section of my local craft store, but they seemed a bit sparse here.  Pulled out my old Stampin' Up! Pretties Kit, and added another pearl and faceted bead to one pin.  Much better!

On a personal note, I'd like to enter this in my friend Darnell's first-ever challenge!  It's called NBUS, which stands for "never before used schtuff".  Don't we all have plenty of that.  (wink, wink)

Thanks so much for dropping by today!  I'm glad you're here.  Hope you get a chance to play with us!  Click HERE to link up.

Stamps: Fusion Berry - Papertrey Ink; sentiment - Fancy Sentiments - IBS Paper: Chocolate Chip, polka dot, brown damask - SU; white, kraft - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green - SU Fibers: burgundy velvet, bronze lace - stash Accessories & Tools: Glossy Accents - Ranger; corner rounder punch - Fiskars; Pointed Flower punch - EK Success; Crystal fine glitter - Martha Stewart; pearl-topped pins - Dritz; pearl, clear faceted beads - Pretties Kit - SU

Seize The Sketch #21 reminder - Yum Yum!

Did you have a nice weekend?  We enjoyed some pleasant weather, ate our dinners outside, and worked around the house.  I also went to the gym:  my fourth visit since last year's foot surgery.  Yay!  Time to shed the pounds that have crept back on.  :/

I had time to craft, too, and made a reminder card for the current Seize The Sketch challenge.  I used this cute image from a friend.  She stamped a bunch of different things on little cardstock bits and mailed them to me.  This My Favorite Things image is called Hello, Cupcake.  My 15 YO thinks the little girl looks scary.  LOL

Our current sketch:

As a cherry on top of the cupcake, I used a new-to-me Twinkle Goosebump by Queen & Co.  Looks delish, doesn't it?

And down at the bottom of the card, I used a stamp from Too Terrific Tags (Stampin' Up!) that has never seen ink.  Check out what I did with the little girl's dress too:  after coloring it with shades of blue-green Copic markers, I used a Colorless Blender to create a little scallop-and-dot pattern.  Sweet!

I hope you get a chance to play along.  Just click HERE for all the details!

Stamps: Hello Cupcake - My Favorite Things; Too Terrific Tags - SU Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean (?), Ruby Red, polka dot pattern - SU; white - PTI Ink: Close To Cocoa - SU Fibers: chocolate brown twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: small, large Tag punches - SU; blue rhinestones, red Twinkle Goosebump - Queen & Co.

Seize The Sketch #21 - Sweet Raspberries

It's my official start date at Seize The Sketch!  Yay!  You'll love the nice, easy sketch we have to work with these next two weeks, courtesy of design team member Lori Turner.

Sooooo many options with this sketch, right?  I fancied-up my version with a pretty embossing folder on the card base, then topped it with a few things.  The little kraft envelope is a pre-cut diecut from Stampin' Up! (it's pretty old), and I added a smidgen of gathered lace inside.  On top of the envelope, I used a bit of a Hallmark card that came just like this....rounded corners and bow untouched...but I added a button.

Inside that Hallmark card was this lone raspberry image.  I punched it out, added a twine bow and sentiment from Flourishes' Let Them Eat Cake.  You can peek inside the card and see I've stamped a doily to coordinate with the front.

I hope I'll see your creation over at Seize The Sketch!  Click HERE for all the details.  =)

Stamps: Let Them Eat Cake - Flourishes Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; lace Accessories & Tools: circle punch - SU; small 1/8" circle punch - Fiskars; Heart & Vines embossing folder - Sizzix; kraft envelope - SU; bits and pieces of Hallmark greeting card; green button - SU; doily - Wilton

Seize The Sketch #20 - a card for dad

Well, hello there!  I thought for sure I'd kick off my new Seize The Sketch design team assignments with the May 27th sketch, but here I am with a card for the current one!  Glad I found time to play.

Here's the sketch:

I used a strip of an antique (vintage?) book page behind the espresso panel, and a couple of retired Stampin' Up! patterned papers.  'dad' is from Lizzie Anne Designs Monthly Mix May 2010 'Dream Big' collection.

I intended to make two identical cards, but don't you know...a mistake happened.  Grrrr.  I trimmed one leafy patterned strip too small, which meant I needed to cover up the gap with skinny cardstock strips.  I chose blue to pull out one of the stripes from the patterned paper, but am not sure I like the color here.

Inside both cards, I stamped a Monkey Paw Fern from Rubber Stampede in deep green ink.  The same image graces the envelopes, too (not pictured).

There's still time to play!  Link up your card HERE before May 25th to enter.

Thanks so much for your visit today.  I really appreciate it!

Stamps: sentiment - Monthly Mix May 2010 - 'Dream Big' - Lizzie Anne Designs; Monkey Paw Fern - Rubber Stampede Paper: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, leaves and stripes - SU; vintage book page Ink: Always Artichoke - SU Fibers: Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon - SU; burlap Accessories & Tools: circle die - Spellbinders; Fancy Label 2 die - Inspired By Stamping