Poppy Sketches #1-Make a Wish

Today is the very first sketch at the brand new Poppy Sketches challenge blog!  I'm so excited to be a part of the talented team Laura has assembled and I'm looking forward to sharing cards based on her sketches. For a fun twist, each sketch will also include a pop of color palette.  This week the team is being sponsored by Starving Artistamps. 

Here's my card for the sketch, using the well image from the Exterior Elements set.  I colored the well with Copic markers and fussy cut it.  For the background, I set a piece of rose colored patterned paper on a pale pink card base.  I covered the bottom of the patterned paper panel with a strip of pale pink paper, then added a tangerine open scalloped strip on top.  A piece of rose grosgrain ribbon hides the seams between the different pieces and adds a little texture, too.  I stamped the "make a wish" sentiment from an older Starving Artistamps set next to the well directly on the patterned paper using gray ink.  I topped the card with a pair of banner strips and a rose button, tied with pale pink baker's twine.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Poppy Sketches team has created using the sketch and colors along with stamps from Starving Artistamps.   Here's where to find them:

Laura Davis, challenge owner
Lee Murphy, design team coordinator
Amy Crockett,
Amy Tsuruta,
Lisa Petrella,
Lori Tecler--you're here!
Renee' Dezember

After you've checked out the design team's creations, be sure to take a look at the Starving Artistamps store, too.  Tracey, the owner of Starving Artistamps, has generously offered a month-long discount to Poppy Sketches fans.  Happy stamping--and shopping!

Materials Used:
Exterior Elements stamp set (Starving Artistamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Gray Flannel inks (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Sweet Blush and Summer Sunrise cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Regal Rose cardstock, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Penny Lane-Feeling Groovy "Uniquely You" Individual Blooms designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Die-namics Fishtail Flag Layers Stax and Double Scallop Border dies (My Favorite Things); pink baker's twine (Divine Twine); pink button (Michaels); foam tape

Fusion for You

Here's my card for the current Fusion challenge.  I used the sketch along with elements from the inspiration photo along with the color scheme from the current Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge to put this one together.

Like in the inspiration photo, a dress form serves as my focal image. My dress form is from the Waltzingmouse Stamps You're Lovely set.  I stamped it on a piece of text patterned paper and cut it out, then used foam tape to adhere it to the oval panel. 

To bring in a feminine element to go with the dress form, I used a piece of floral patterned paper across the bottom of the light blue card base.  It's matted on mustard cardstock to set it off a bit.  I added a pair of patterned papers, one dotted and one striped, then set the image panel on top.  The "for you" sentiment from the Cameo to Go set was stamped in teal ink directly on the light blue dotted panel.

It's hard to see in the photo, but I did include one final detail on the card.  I wanted to mimic the scarf on the dress form in the photo in some way.  Instead of a scarf, I ended up adding a "necklace" made from teeny, tiny dots of copper Liquid Pearls.  It brings in just a bit more of the earthy color tone found in the floral paper and a little sparkle, too.

Materials Used:
You're Lovely and Cameo to Go stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa and Teal Zeal inks (Tsukineko); Soft Sky and More Mustard cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Front Porch 6x6 paper pad (Pebbles); Stella and Rose-Mabel "Little Ladies" Fine Flowers designer paper (My Mind's Eye);  Die-namics pierced oval die (My Favorite Things); oval die (Spellbinders); Copper Pearl Liquid Pearls (Ranger); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 213-Hey Smartie

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  This week's sketch calls for a long and skinny  card measuring 3 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Here's my take on the sketch.  I colored the cute bookworm image from the Clear and Simple Stamps Flashcards set with Copic markers, then cut out the colored image.  It's adhered to a white circle using foam tape.  I stamped the "hey smartie" sentiment from the Taglines:  Critters set next to the bookworm in black ink.

To go with the bookworm, I used a piece of letter patterned paper for the panel beneath the image.  I matted the patterned paper on golden yellow cardstock before adhering it to the green card base.  After layering a strip of light blue cardstock across the cardfront, I added the image panel on top.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on Karen’s blog. For lots of inspiration be sure to check out what the other Sweet Sunday Sketch stampers have created for you this week. Here’s where to find them:

Barbara Anders
Dana White
Jackie Pedro
Jenny Peterson
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Lisa Henke
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kalé
Tracy Clemente
Vicki Burdick

Materials Used:
Flashcards and Taglines:  Critters stamp sets, Perfect Little Black Dress ink, Golden Tiara, Trendsetter Blue, In the Limelight, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Copic markers (YG91, YG93, YG95, B0000, B01, B41, B45, Y23, Y26, R30, R81) Shapes:  Circles dies (Clear and Simple Stamps); Baby-Ring Around the Rosie designer paper (American Crafts); silver circle embellishments (TPC Studio); foam tape

The Most Fabulous Birthday Ever

Here's my card for the last Viva la Verve sketch for March.  I inked up Verve's new Better Together set for the first time for this birthday card.

I used the set's birthday sentiment as my focal image.  I stamped it in navy blue ink on a cream panel, then added the chevron strip image beneath it in kraft ink.  A pair of copper brads underneath the chevrons add a little dimension and shine to the panel.

To go with the chevron pattern on the sentiment panel, I found a piece of multicolored chevron patterned paper in my collection of 12x12 paper.  I adhered a panel of the paper to the kraft card base on an angle.  A strip of navy cardstock adhered to the middle of the panel breaks up the busy pattern just a bit.  I layered a piece of golden yellow dotted paper over the chevron panel, also on an angle, then adhered the sentiment on top. 

Materials Used:
Better Together stamp set (Verve Stamps); Memento Luxe Nautical Blue and Toffee Crunch inks (Tsukineko); Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Lake House cardstock (WPlus9); Harvest Gold cardstock, double ended banner die (Papertrey Ink); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); cream cardstock, copper brads (Michaels); Quite Contrary-Jack and Jill "Favorite Thing" Colorful Umbrellas and Indie Chic-Nutmeg "Hanging Out" Rainbow designer papers (My Mind's Eye)

Rounded Diamond Thank You

Here's my card for the current AEI♥U ombre challenge. I went with shades of green on my card, using Avery Elle's Rounded Diamonds set for a clean and simple design.

I've had this set for a while, but I've had trouble using it.  It worked perfectly for this design.  I used the set's medium rounded diamond here, starting at the top of the white panel with the darkest green ink.  As I moved further down the panel, I used progressively lighter shades of green inks until I reached the bottom of the panel. 

I stamped the "thank you" sentiment from the Modern Leaves set near the bottom of the panel in kraft pigment ink, overlapping some of the rounded diamonds.   The pigment ink gives nice, opaque coverage over the solid green images.  I finished the design with some green enamel dots scattered around the panel.  The stamped panel was adhered to a green card base, matching one of the lighter colors on the panel.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers:  Avery Elle Rounded Diamonds and Modern Leaves stamp sets, Tsukineko Memento Olive Grove, Bamboo Leaves, New Sprout, and Pear Tart inks and Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch ink, Studio Calico green enamel dots

other:  white cardstock (Michaels); Limeade Ice cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

UR the Best

Here’s my card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. I’ve had the To the Point set for a while and had yet to ink it up, so I pulled it out for a masculine take on this week’s sketch.

I stamped the “UR the best” sentiment in brown ink on a cream pierced oval die cut, then layered the oval on a dark brown mat. It’s set on a matching dark brown cardfront that I covered with a panel of rust colored paper on top and a starburst patterned paper on the bottom. A piece of dark brown twill hides the seam between the two papers.

As an accent for the sentiment panel, I die cut the pointing finger image from cream cardstock and stamped the matching image on the die cut in brown ink. It’s adhered to the cardfront using foam tape.

Materials Used:
To the Point stamp set, Chocolate cardstock, Die-namics Pierced Oval Stax and To the Point dies (My Favorite Things); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko); Pumpkin Spice cardstock (Gina K Designs); cream cardstock (Michaels); Indie Chic-Citron 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); oval die (Spellbinders); brown twill; foam tape

You Go Girl

My friend Lesley, the talented and creative mind behind some of my favorite challenge blogs, has started sharing some sketches on her blog. I put together this card using the sketch Lesley shared this week and one of the rag dolls from Clear and Simple Stamps.

This is Rag Doll Emma. I colored the die cut and stamped image with Copic markers, then used foam tape to adhere her to the white panel. The image panel is layered on to a green cardstock panel over an angled piece of multicolored chevron patterned paper. Once the panels were in place, I added the “you go girl” sentiment at the bottom using foam tape, then folded a die cut pink Favor Flag strip on top. After matting the green panel on a piece of blue cardstock, I adhered the pieces to a pink card base.  I added a trio of pink sequins around the image.  They're the perfect embellishment for a girly card like this one!

Materials Used:
Rag Doll Emma: Girl stamp and die set, Perfect Little Black Dress ink, I’m a Princess Pink, In the Limelight, Trendsetter Blue, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Copic markers (BG72, BG75, B000, YG101, YG11, YG13, YG25, Y32, YR21, YR24, E000, E00, E02, E33, E35), Favor Flags and Shapes: Circles dies (Clear and Simple Stamps); Everyday Eclectic 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); Pink Blush sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); foam tape

Best Friends Forever

This week’s blogger challenge theme is animals. I used the challenge as an opportunity to ink up those cute bunnies from the Mama Elephant Honey Bunny stamp set again along with this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

The bunny pair was stamped on white cardstock and colored with Copic markers, then cut out with the matching die. I used foam tape to adhere them to the simple scene I created on the cardfront. I used a blue dotted panel to make a sky-like background, complete with a pair of die cut clouds layered at the top of the panel. The grass the bunnies are sitting on was die cut with one of Mama Elephant’s Landscape Trio dies—love the perforated detail that follows the curve of the cut piece! I stamped the “best friends forever” sentiment on the green panel in black pigment ink. I added a few blue sequins around the bunnies for a little sparkle.  The finishing touch was a bit of white flock on the bunny tails to make them fluffy!

Materials Used:
Honey Bunny stamp set, Honey Bunny and Landscape Trio dies (Mama Elephant); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Green Acres cardstock (WPlus9); White Pearl cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko); Let’s Polka designer paper (Lawn Fawn); cloud dies (Lil’ Inker Designs); white flock (Stampendous); aquamarine sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); foam tape

I Look up to You

This week’s Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is a designer drafts challenge. I used the sketch in its vertical orientation along with the Zoo Crew stamp set for my card.

I decided to use the two square panels to make a background for a simple scene. I cut two panels from blue dotted patterned paper and adhered the panels to a long kraft panel. To ground the scene, I added a strip of green cardstock, punched with a grass border punch, along the bottom of the lower panel. I stamped the giraffe image on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, then cut it out and adhered it over the two dotted panels using dimensional dots.

Instead of using a pair of banners on the top panel, I used a pair of die cut clouds. I cut them from shimmery white cardstock for a little subtle sparkle. The “I look up to you” sentiment was stamped on the top cloud in blue ink. I layered the finished scene on a golden yellow card base over a pair of cardstock banner strips.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Zoo Crew stamp set and Clouds dies; Crafter’s Companion ultrasmooth white cardstock; Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Avery Elle Aquamarine ink; Lawn Fawn Let's Polka designer paper; Sticky Thumb dimensional dots 

other: Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); markers (Copic); Grass border punch (Fiskars) 

Oh, My Stars

Here’s my card for this week’s sketch from Retro Sketches. This one came together quickly using stamps and dies from Lil’ Inker Designs.

I went with a star theme on my card, using Lil’ Inker’s stitched star dies and the coordinating Shiny Happy Sentiments stamp set. I die cut the largest star from a piece of chevron patterned paper, being careful to keep the extra pieces so I could reassemble the star on my card. To fill in the negative space, I backed the cut panel with a piece of silver glitter paper, then matted the panel with teal cardstock. The teal contrasts nicely with the mint card base.

Once the panel was in place, I stamped the “oh, my stars” sentiment beneath it in black ink. I finished the design with a trio of silver sequins around the star die cut.

Materials Used:
Shiny Happy Sentiments stamp set and stitched star dies (Lil’ Inker Designs); Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Spearmint cardstock (My Favorite Things); Tropical Teal cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver glitter cardstock, silver sequins (Michaels); So Sophie “Family Ties” Giving Floral designer paper (My Mind’s Eye)

Color Throwdown 285-So Happy for You

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! Broni is our hostess this week and she’s shared a beautiful soft color combination with us—Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand, and Pear Pizzazz.

My super simple design is based on the current sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch.  I thought the colors would lend themselves beautifully to a floral design and they were just perfect!  I used some flower and leaf stamps from the WPlus9 More Fresh Cuts set along with Memento Luxe pigment inks on a cream panel.  The images frame the "so happy for you" sentiment from the Strictly Sentiments 2 set.  I matted the stamped panel on pieces of Early Espresso and Sahara Sand cardstock, then adhered the layered panels to a cream card base.  I finished the clean and simple design by carefully dotting the center of each flower with a teeny, tiny bit of Petal Pink Liquid Pearls.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD285. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our March guestie, Gloria Stengel, and this week’s Guest Star Stamper, Judy VanZandt.

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Melody **

** Monika ** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **
** March guestie Gloria Stengel **

** Guest Star Stamper Judy VanZandt**

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers:  WPlus9 More Fresh Cuts and Strictly Sentiments 2 stamp sets, Tsukineko Memento Luxe Pear Tart, Angel Pink, and Rich Cocoa inks

other:  Early Espresso and Sahara Sand cardstock (Stampin' Up!); cream cardstock (Michaels); Petal Pink Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

With Deepest Sympathy

Here's my card for this week's Muse challenge.  I loved the look of the white trees on Lyndal's card, so for my version, I used a smaller tree image along with more white space for a softer, less dramatic look.

 I created a soft backdrop for the trees using several different distress inks on a white cardstock panel.  I had a few false starts before coming up with the background you see here.  I tried to emboss the trees so they'd stand out more, but the embossing powder kept sticking to the background, even after drying it with a heat tool and rubbing it with my embossing buddy.  So, after ruining a few sponged panels, I gave up and just went with the subtly stamped trees.  The image is from Papertrey Ink's Through the Trees set.  I took another photo from a different angle that shows the trees a little better and added it to the bottom of this post.  Photography is not one of my strengths . . .

I paired the trees with the "with deepest sympathy" sentiment from the Words of Comfort stamp set.  It was stamped in brown ink on a piece of vellum.

To frame the image, I cut an opening in a white cardstock panel.  I adhered the image and sentiment panel behind the opening.  A narrow green cardstock frame sets it off from the rest of the white panel.  I adhered the finished panel to a green card base matching the frame around the image.

Materials Used:
Through the Trees and Words of Comfort stamp sets, Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, and Broken China distress inks (Ranger); white pigment ink (WPlus9); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Michaels); white vellum (The Paper Company)

The Cat's Pajamas March Release Blog Hop

Welcome to The Cat's Pajamas March Release Blog Hop!  Seven new stamp sets and three new die sets are now available and the Cat Pack and a few special Swanky Stamper guests are thrilled to be showing them off to you today.  You should have arrived here from Jessie's blog.  If not, be sure to head over to Noelle's blog to start at the beginning--you don't want to miss a thing!  I've got two cards featuring the new releases to share with you.

First up is this sweet design featuring the new Hang in There Baby set and using the current sketch from Seize the Sketch.  I stamped the sock monkey and balloon on the dotted patterned paper panel, then stamped the image again on white cardstock.  After coloring the image with Copic markers and cutting it out, I used foam tape to adhere it to the dotted panel.  By stamping the image on the patterned paper first, I didn't have to worry about cutting the balloon's thin string--it was already on the panel when I added the larger pieces of the image.  The "hang in there baby" sentiment was stamped in the bottom of the panel in black ink.

I used some fun triangle patterned paper for the panel behind the sock monkey. I edged the patterned panel with a strip of golden yellow cardstock before adding the image panel on top.  A pair of staggered notched banner strips, cut with the CutUps Easy Rosette die, finishes the design with a final pop of color.

This simple little design is for this week's TCP Tuesday challenge, brought to us by Noelle.  I answered the challenge by putting a pair of fluffy white felt clouds in the sky above the umbrella carrying bunny from then new Rise and Shine set.  The clouds were cut with the CutUps Cloud Border die and just snipped apart to get individual clouds--love when a tool does double duty like this border die does!

I colored the bunny with Copic markers and paper pieced the umbrella for a fun pop of pattern.  The bunny is adhered over a strip of green grass die cut with the CutUps Grass die.  The blue background was spritzed with some shimmer spray for a raindrop-like look.  You can sort of see the sparkle in the photo.  I also added a few silver sequins for extra sparkle.  The set's "don't let anything dull your sparkle" sentiment was stamped next to the bunny in blue ink.

Your next stop on the hop is Swanky Stamper Christine's blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Materials Used:
Hang in There Baby card:  Hang in There Baby stamp set, CutUps Easy Rosette die (The Cat's Pajamas); Versafine Onyx Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Real Red and Baja Breeze cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Persnickety and Sweet Shoppe 6x6 paper pads (Lily Bee Designs); foam tape

Rise and Shine card:  Rise and Shine stamp set, CutUps Cloud Border and Grass dies (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Memento Luxe Nautical Blue ink, and Frost Shimmer Spritz (Tsukineko); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Kiwi Kiss cardstock (Stampin' Up!);  Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Happy Day 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); white felt, silver sequins (Michaels); foam tape

Floral Inspired Thinking of You

Here's my card for this week's Viva la Verve sketch.  I also incorporated the shades of pink from beautiful flowers in the inspiration photo in my design.

I stretched the sketch a bit to fit an A2 card with a vertical orientation.  Once again, I went to my 12x12 patterned paper stash as a starting point (I haven't even made a dent yet . . .) and found this pretty pink striped paper to cover most of the cardfront.  I adhered a strip of pale pink cardstock diagonally across the panel.  It's edged with darker pink to help it stand out more against the striped backgorund.

I tucked a piece of doily underneath the right edge of the diagonal strip, then added the sentiment panel on top.  The "thinking of you" sentiment from Verve's Treasured Words set was stamped in pink ink on the panel.  I used the Poppy Birthday set and matching Build a Poppy dies to create a pair of bold poppies as an accent for the bottom of the sentiment panel.  I layered the finished panel on a dark pink cardstock panel, then adhered it to a pale pink card base. 

Materials Used:
Poppy Birthday and Treasured Words stamp sets, Build a Poppy dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Luxe Rose Bud and Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko); Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, and Kiwi Kiss  cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white cardstock (Michaels); Rose Colored Glasses-Tinted Rose Stripe designer paper (GCD Studios); white paper doily; foam tape

Oh Happy Day

Here's my card for Lawnscaping's clean and simple challenge.  I used the current sketch from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog as the starting point for my card.

The wire from the Hello Sunshine stamp set was stamped in gray ink at the bottom of a light blue panel.  I arranged the set's trio of bird images in a line on my clear block, then stamped them on top of the wire in black ink.  I stamped them a second time, this time on a piece of white cardstock.  I colored each birdie in with Copic markers, then cut them out and adhered them to the stamped panel using dimensional dots.  They make fun little pops of color against the pale blue background, don't they?

The set's "oh happy day" sentiment was stamped at the top of the panel in turquoise pigment ink.  I layered the finished panel on a turquoise card base to match the color of the sentiment.  I thought about adding some sequins or enamel dots to the mix, but in the end, decided to keep the card super clean and simple.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers:  Lawn Fawn Hello Sunshine stamp set, Crafter's Companion ultrasmooth white cardstock, Avery Elle Aquamarine ink, Tsukineko Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black and Gray Flannel inks and Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other:  Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

You Make the Grade

Here's my card for this week's challenge from The Paper Players. I combined the sketch with the current colors from the Colour Me challenge for this school themed card (see graphic at the bottom of this post).

I built my design on a neutral kraft panel stamped tone on tone with a typewriter style text background stamp.  The trio of different sized circles were arranged directly over the stamped panels.  To add interest to the round panels, I die cut them using a pierced circle die.  The "you make the grade" sentiment from Reverse Confetti's Class Act stamp set is stamped on the center white panel in blue ink.

A green dotted apple, stamped with the stamp set's apple image and cut with the matching Confetti Cuts die, was set at the bottom of the sentiment panel.  It's adhered with foam tape to add dimension.  I edged the kraft panel with narrow strips of blue and green cardstock.  A trio of blue enamel dots added a final pop of the darker blue color to the background.

Materials Used:
Class Act stamp set, Class Act Confetti Cuts dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Toffee Crunch, Pear Tart, and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko); Aquamarine ink (Avery Elle); Soft Sky and Pear Pizzazz cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); white cardstock (Michaels); Typewrite Text Background stamp, Die-namics Pierced Circle Stax dies (My Favorite Things); enamel dots (My Mind's Eye); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 212-Cheers to You

It’s time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! I used the sketch to make a festive card with stamps and dies from Clear and Simple Stamps.

I used a classic black, white, and gold color scheme for my card. I adhered a panel of CSS’s 24 Karat Gold cardstock along the left edge of a black panel, then added the sentiment panel on top. The “cheers to you” sentiment from the By the Glass Sentiments set was heat embossed in gold for extra sparkle. I die cut a pair of glasses using the By the Glass dies and filled the glasses in with the matching stamped images from the By the Glass stamp set, then arranged the glasses at the left side of the sentiment panel. A trio of sparkly sequin “bubbles” above the glass completes the design.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on Karen’s blog. For lots of inspiration be sure to check out what the other Sweet Sunday Sketch stampers have created for you this week. Here’s where to find them:

Barbara Anders
Dana White
Jackie Pedro
Jenny Peterson
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Lisa Henke
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kalé
Tracy Clemente
Vicki Burdick

Materials Used:
By the Glass and By the Glass Sentiments stamp sets, Golden Tiara and Perfect Little Black Dress inks, 24 Karat Gold, Perfect Little Black Dress, and A Blanc Check cardstock, By the Glass dies (Clear and Simple Stamps); Delicata Gold ink (Tsukineko); gold embossing powder (American Crafts); silver sequins (Michaels); foam tape

You're a Class Act

I can't resist a cute teacher themed stamp set, so I had to add the new Reverse Confetti Class Act set and matching Class Act dies to my collection!  I used the stamps and dies, along with this month's Reverse Confetti color challenge and the current Deconstructed Sketch, for this cheery card.

I started off with a piece of yellow on yellow dotted patterned paper.  I cut triangles from opposite corners of the patterned paper, then adhered them to a navy cardstock panel.  I used the remaining patterned paper strip as a guide for cutting the green cardstock I used between the two dotted pieces.  Before adhering the green piece to the navy panel, I embossed it with a dotted pattern to add interest.

I die cut two rounded rectangle panels using the Confetti Cuts Class Act dies. The navy one was adhered to the panel on an angle.  After stamping the "you're a class act" sentiment on the white one in navy pigment ink, I added it on top.  I stamped the set's apple and leaf images, then cut them out with the matching dies and arranged them at the bottom of the white panel, using foam tape for the apple to add dimension. I cut a yellow tab using one of the Class Act dies and tucked that underneath the layered rounded rectangle panels.  For one final school-like touch, I found a yellow paper clip and attached it to the upper right corner of the sentiment panel.  It looked a little bare, so I tied a scrap of green ribbon to the clip for another bright pop of green.

Materials Used:
Class Act stamp set, Confetti Cuts Class Act dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Luxe Pear Tart, Daffodil, Nautical Blue, and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko); Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sour Apple cardstock (My Favorite Things); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); white cardstock (Michaels); Quite Contrary-Jack and Jill "Favorite Thing" Colorful Umbrellas designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Spotted embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); yellow paper clip; foam tape

Moo and Moo Every Day

This week’s Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is an anything goes challenge. I used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and the Green Acres stamp set to put together this farm themed design.

I started out by setting up a simple backdrop using a blue card base and some green gingham patterned paper. The gingham pattern definitely fits with the farm theme. I topped the gingham panel with a strip of green cardstock punched with a grass border punch. I wrapped some twine around the card, securing it with a bow.

To fill in the scene, I stamped the cow image on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, then carefully cut it out. It’s adhered to the cardfront with dimensional dots. I added a pair of die cut white felt clouds above the cow, then stamped a pair of  hearts from the Bold Buzzwords set in red ink, too. The “I love you moo and moo every day” sentiment was stamped on the gingham panel in black pigment ink.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Green Acres and Bold Buzzwords stamp sets;  Crafter’s Companion ultrasmooth white cardstock; Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink; Avery Elle Cherry ink; Doodlebug Design Kraft in Color-Kraft 6x6 paper pad; Hemptique twine; Sticky Thumb dimensional dots 

other: Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Sour Apple cardstock (My Favorite Things); markers (Copic); Grass border punch (Fiskars); white felt (Michaels) 

Thank You

Here’s my card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge—and the current MFT color challenge, too. I used the sketch and colors to put together a thank you card for a colleague at work. This week has been an unexpectedly and unbelievably difficult one for me at my full time job. While I won’t bore you with the non-stamping related ugly details, I will say that one of my colleagues did something for me in the face of these difficulties that was especially kind and I will be forever grateful to her for what she did.

I kept things pretty simple here, using dotted and round elements to tie all of the pieces together. All of the elements are arranged on a piece of dotted paper that I adhered to the left side of a kraft cardstock panel. I used MFT’s Pierced Rectangle Stax die and two Pierced Circle Stax dies to cut the panels that were layered on top. The “thank you” sentiment from the Pretty Poppies set was stamped in blue ink on a cream fishtail flag die cut and adhered over the blue and green panels. The fishtail flag strip is anchored by a purple button that I tied with matching baker’s twine. I finished the design with a pair of blue sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

Materials Used:
Pretty Poppies stamp set, Sour Apple cardstock, Die-namics Pierced Circle Stax, Pierced Rectangle, and Fishtail Flag Layers Stax dies (My Favorite Things); Beach Glass ink (Vivid); Lake House cardstock (WPlus9); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); cream cardstock (Michaels); Persnickety 6x6 paper pad (Lily Bee Design); Winter Wisteria button (Papertrey Ink); purple baker’s twine (Divine Twine); aquamarine sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); sewing machine

Sneaky Peek--Besties

Sneaky peek week continues today at The Cat's Pajamas with a look at the new Besties stamp set.  This is just one of seven (yes, seven!) brand new stamp sets and three new sets of dies that will be available on Tuesday, March 25

The signature TCP penguins make an appearance in this perfect for spring stamp set. I stamped them in Versafine Black ink—my favorite for the penguins and for Sprinkle, too—then colored the image with Copic markers.

The penguins are adhered to a multicolored dotted patterned paper panel on top of a fishtail flag strip cut with the new Cut Ups All Framed Up 2 die. I accented the strip with a matching red button tied with some of TCP’s cream linen thread. The set’s “no road is too long if the company is good” sentiment was stamped at the top of the patterned paper panel. I edged the panel with golden yellow cardstock, then machine stitched along the top and bottom edges. The finished panel was adhered to a blue card base.


For more peeks of the new Besties set and the newest CutUps dies, check out my fellow Cat Pack members here:

Kelli
Wendy
Noelle
Lisa
Susan
Jessie

And, be sure to stop by and leave a comment on the In it to Win It thread in the TCP member company forum on SCS. You can chat with Cat Pack members and other TCP fans about the upcoming release and your favorite TCP characters. One lucky commenter will be selected each day to win one of the new releases before you can buy it.

We’d also like to invite you to join us for our release night Pajama Party on Monday, March 24 at 8 PM EST in the TCP member company forum. We’ll have games, giveaways, and even more sneaky peeks of the new sets. Hope to see you there!

Materials Used: 
Besties stamp set, CutUps All Framed Up 2 die, cream linen thread (The Cat’s Pajamas); Versafine Onyx Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Daffodil Delight and Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Lake House cardstock (WPlus9) white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Quite Contrary Jack and Jill “Life Is Good” Serene Spots designer paper (Echo Park); red button (Michaels); sewing machine 

Hip Hip Hooray

This week’s blogger challenge theme is spring. I used this week’s Mojo Monday sketch and stamps from Papertrey Ink to put this cheery design together.

I picked a piece of striped paper from a spring patterned paper pad as my starting point. It’s adhered to a pink panel over a piece of green dot embossed cardstock. I added a little strip of lace along the edge of the green cardstock for some texture, too.

The “hip hip hooray” sentiment from the Fillable Frames #3 set was stamped in green ink on a cream panel. With the seemingly endless winter we’ve had, it seemed like an appropriate sentiment to welcome the arrival of spring! I matted the sentiment panel on a piece of pink cardstock, then adhered it over the striped and embossed panels. I die cut a bunny from white cardstock and stamped the matching bunny image from the Polka Dot Parade #1 set on the die cut piece in kraft colored pigment ink. The tail was covered with white flock, then adhered to the bunny with foam tape. I added the finished bunny to the corner of the sentiment panel, again with foam tape.

The panel was wrapped with some green baker’s twine and finished off with a bow. I added a trio of aqua enamel dots to fill in the white space on the sentiment panel and add a final pop of fresh spring color.

Materials Used:
Polka Dot Parade #1 and Fillable Frames #3 stamp sets, Sweet Blush and Spring Moss cardstock, Polka Dot Parade #1 die (Papertrey Ink); Memento Luxe Pear Tart and Toffee Crunch inks (Tsukineko); Time for Spring 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants); Spotted embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); cream trim (Hobby Lobby); olive baker’s twine (Timeless Twine); white flock (Stampendous); enamel dots (Michaels); foam tape

Sneaky Peek--Your Number Is Up

Sneaky peeks continue today at The Cat’s Pajamas with a look at the new Your Number Is Up stamp set. I paired the set with the new Lean on Me set (check out Monday’s post on the TCP blog for more on this set) and the new CutUps Numbers Plate and All Framed Up 2 dies for this birthday card.

As soon as I saw the leaning PJ image from the new Lean on Me set, I thought he’d work perfectly paired up with the numbers from the Your Number Is Up set—or with the coordinating dies. As you can see, I went with the dies on this card, but the stamped number would work well, too.

I colored PJ with Copic markers and cut him out, then used foam tape to adhere him to a white circle. I stamped the “happy” sentiment from the Your Number Is Up set on an orange strip, cut with the new banner die from the CutUps Framed Up 2 die set—I trimmed down the sides to get a narrower strip that was a better fit for my sentiment, but used the die to cut the perfect points! The orange strip was adhered just beneath PJ. I die cut the number 4 from navy cardstock using the CutUps Numbers Plate die, then adhered it alongside PJ using foam tape. Don’t they look like they were made for each other?

I adhered the finished image panel to a light blue card base on top of a wide strip of colorful striped paper. The striped paper was edged with the CutUps Circus Border die for a fun touch. I finished the design with a trio of orange enamel dots.

For more peeks of the new Your Number Is Up set and the newest CutUps dies, check out my fellow Cat Pack members here:

Kelli
Wendy
Noelle
Nancy
Lisa
Susan
Jessie

And, be sure to stop by and leave a comment on the In it to Win It thread in the TCP member company forum on SCS. You can chat with Cat Pack members and other TCP fans about the upcoming release and your favorite TCP characters. One lucky commenter will be selected each day to win one of the new releases before you can buy it.

We’d also like to invite you to join us for our release night Pajama Party on Monday, March 24 at 8 PM EST in the TCP member company forum. We’ll have games, giveaways, and even more sneaky peeks of the new sets. Hope to see you there!  I'll have another sneaky peek to share tomorrow, so be sure to stop by again.

Materials Used:
Your Number Is Up and Lean on Me stamp sets, CutUps All Framed Up 2, Number Plate , and Circus Border dies (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Luxe Nautical Blue and Memento Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko); Soft Sky, Night of Navy, and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (Stampin’ Up!) white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Little Boy-Cool Stripe designer paper (Echo Park); Tangerine Sprinkles enamel dots (Doodlebug Design); foam tape 

Hello

Here’s my card for this week’s Muse challenge. I was inspired by the multicolored text background and the single bold, black “hello” on the cardfront.

Instead of repeating the word “hello” across my card, I used the word just once. I die cut it from black cardstock, then layered it on top of a few other die cut pieces cut from scrap cardstock to give it dimension. The word was adhered to a piece of multicolored striped patterned paper. I edged the bottom of the striped paper with a strip of black cardstock, then added another narrow strip of the striped paper along the bottom of the black cardstock. A trio of black enamel dots around the die cut word finished the design. I thought about using silver sequins, but in the end, decided I liked the bold black circles against the colorful background.

Materials Used:
Happy Hello die (My Favorite Things); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); white cardstock (Michaels); Take Note 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); black enamel dots (My Mind’s Eye)

Sneaky Peek--The Puck Stops Here

***Scroll down to the post below to see my project for this week's Color Throwdown.***

Sneaky peek week kicked off yesterday at The Cat’s Pajamas. It continues today with a look at the new The Puck Stops Here set. It’s no secret that I’m a huge hockey fan—I’ve been lucky enough to be in attendance at a game where a team won the Stanley Cup and I’ve attended two college hockey Frozen Fours (the equivalent of the basketball Final Four) and I’m hoping make it a third at this year’s in nearby Philadelphia if my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, makes it to the final—so given my love for hockey, this may just be my favorite big eared bunny set yet!

I paired the bunny with the current Deconstructed Sketch for this fun card. I colored the bunny with Copic markers, going with the traditional red of my favorite teams (the  Washington Capitals and the  Wisconsin Badgers), and carefully cut him out. He’s adhered to a white circle stamped with the set’s “No pain. No hockey.” sentiment. I curved the sentiment on my block so that it would align with the edge of the circle when stamped.

 The image is adhered to multicolored chevron patterned paper panel over a trio of coordinating cardstock strips. I used the little flag from the new CutUps Framed Up 2 die set to make the fishtail flag accents tucked underneath the right edge of the patterned paper panel. A few kraft colored enamel dots scattered around finish off the design.

For more peeks of the new The Puck Stops Here, check out my fellow Cat Pack members here:

Kelli
Wendy
Lisa
Noelle
Nancy
Jessie

And, be sure to stop by and leave a comment on the In it to Win It thread in the TCP member company forum on SCS. You can chat with Cat Pack members and other TCP fans about the upcoming release and your favorite TCP characters. One lucky commenter will be selected each day to win one of the new releases before you can buy it.

We’d also like to invite you to join us for our release night Pajama Party on Monday, March 24 at 8 PM EST in the TCP member company forum. We’ll have games, giveaways, and even more sneaky peeks of the new sets. Hope to see you there!  I'll have another sneaky peek to share tomorrow, so be sure to stop by again.

Materials Used:
The Puck Stops Here stamp set, CutUps Framed Up 2 die (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Real Red and Baja Breeze cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); Little Sport 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants); enamel dots (Prima); foam tape