Sketch Girl 19 meets MFTW

No, it is not a mirage, a miracle maybe :0) !! But yes, I have posted a new card! It seems like FOREVER . . .





This card was inspired by two separate challenges;

Sketch Girl
The new Sketch Girl 19 challenge is up today! It is being sponsored by Sew Easy digital stamps. Click on the link on my sidebar to take a look at all of the challenge details - with the opportunity to win a gift certificate to Sew Easy and DT inspired cards. ETA: Oops! Looks like I'm further ahead than I thought - Sketch Girl 19 goes live tomorrow (May 30th).




PMS MFTW
Paper Makeup Stamps Makeup for the Weekend challenge this week is a color challenge. I took the liberty of "tweaking" the Bayou Blue color to more of a tealish blue and squeaking in just a peek of the Summer Sun and Perfect Plum (A.K.A purple). Click on the link on my sidebar to hop over to the PMS blog and take a look at the challenge details there!



This card uses image and sentiment stamps from PaperMakeup's May release. At least I'm ahead on ONE thing, I've got a Father's day card done!! Gotta love those monsters :0) For the vertical element in the SG19 sketch, I used ribbon to mimic the shape of a tie to coordinate with Papa monster! It wasn't as wide as I would like but you still get the idea don't you?? I haven't tied to many tie's in my lifetime and had to put the ribbon around my neck to get it just right :0)

I hope you get a chance to play along with one if not both of these challenges. I know the weather and the long weekend are keeping many away, but SG19 goes on for 2 weeks and MFTW is up and running until next Friday!!

Have a fabulous weekend - no matter what your plans are!

Sketch Girl 16

I'm happy to say that I got to spend last night stamping and NOT doing taxes :0). Today's the 15th so that means time for another Sketch Girl Challenge!!

Our Sponsor is The Character Cafe and the prize is a $10 gift certificate to the store. The DT got to play with a digi stamp from the Character Cafe and I chose this cute little Love Bug.

I flipped the sketch and added two of the images in different sizes where the circles are. I used a rubon on a chipboard tag and "hung" that from the bow as my vertical sentiment. Visit the Sketch Girl DT for inspiration and to see other awesome Character Cafe images

Guest Designer, Teresa Kline
Sara
Jennie
Julie
Jess
Randee
Amber
Harriet
Tiffany
Bonnie
(Eve, Alyssa and Katie are sitting this sketch out)
And don't forget to visit Sketch Girl to read all the details and enter your card!
Have a happy happy day!

Sketch Girl 15

I can't believe it's the LAST day of March! Which also means it's time for another Sketch Girl challenge. And I can't believe we're on number 15 already either - time flies when you're having fun :0)

Our sponsor for this sketch is Phindy's Place. She is an amazing artist! Phindy is offering a $10 gift certificate to her store to the SG15 winner.

A little about Phindy's Place:
Phindy's Place digital stamps is a new venture for children's book illustrator Philomena O'Neill (aka Phindy). For someone who has always drawn a lot of young children and animals, drawing digi stamps has felt like a natural fit for her. As a professional illustrator, Phindy draws her stamps as detailed and fully realized images. She sees her digital images as a collaboration between two artists - her own imaginative line work art and the crafter's talent and vision in coloring and embellishing that art to create a finished card!

So here's our sketch:


And here's my card:

I tried to go a little shabby with this, don't think I accomplished that all to well :0) I thought this sketch was rather difficult. Maybe because I didn't see much room for interpretation. Or maybe it was trying to make the image Phindy let us play with fit into the sketch. I'm sure the others didn't have any problems!!

Make sure to head over to the Sketch Girl blog and check out the other samples and link up your own card. Let me tell you, there are some super cute images at Phindy's place. You'll definitely want to "hop" over there and check them out too!!

Happy hop, I mean hump day!!

Sketch Girl 14

Happy Monday everyone! Can you believe it's the 15th already! We're 1/2 way through March! Sunny days and warmer weather are just around the corner :0) I can FEEL it.

It's time for another Sketch Girl challenge. This sketch is being sponsored by Frenzified. They allowed us to use some of their digital images on this weeks sketch.

I chose an image and sentiment from the new Birthday Bakes release. Some really fun cupcake images, assorted candle styles and some super fun coordinating sentiments. I printed the cupcake on both white cardstock and blue pp. Then ran the cardstock image through my CB with Swiss dots folder. I cut out the wrapper in blue and paper pieced it on top. The candle was cut out of the blue and just colored in with copics. I stretched and skewed the original sketch, but all of the elements are there :0)

Make sure to hop over to the Sketch Girl Blog and check out the rest of the DT's samples, and link up your own sketch for a chance to win your very own images from Frenzified!

Have a great week, hope it's happy :0)

Sketch Girl 13

It's the end of the month - tomorrow will be March 1st!! I dream of green grass, budding trees, flowers and butterflies . . . as we sit under a blanket of snow :0( I must say, however, that I did see a small patch of grass today from where the snow had melted - come on spring!!

The end of the month also means it's time for another Sketch Girl challenge. This challenge is being sponsored by Wild Flower Kids and they gave us some digi images to play with from their newly released set, Royal Court. This is fairy princess. Her wings remind me of a butterfly ;0) There are some really cute sentiments, other princesses, a prince and even a frog!! Be sure to head on over to the Sketch Girl blog to check out all the details on this challenge. You can even win 5 free images from the Wild Flower Patch Kids store!

Have a Happy Sunday! We'll be watching and rooting for the mens USA hockey team to win GOLD!!

Sketch Girl 12 Meets Caardvarks

It's the 15th of the month which means time for another Sketch Girl challenge, and lookie what we've got for you . . .



Pretty fun eh? Our Sponsor for this sketch is Sassy Studio Designs . They have lots of super cute digi images for you to use. I had to go check them out myself and when I saw this adorable pair of frogs, I HAD to have them - and they were only $1.00!!! I'm not a big user of digi images, but these were super easy to download, resize and print out. Sassy Studio will be providing the randomly drawn winner of SG12 - 4 images of their choice :0) So check out which ones you think are your favorites and come play!!

I was originally going to try and make a Valentines day card. But I decided that since we will be attending a wedding in March, I would make an off the wall wedding card instead :0) And it fits in with the Caardvarks challenge currently going on too :0)


I colored the image in with Copics and then used the colorless blender to create some "spots" on my frogs, I think it turned out pretty cute. I also used a spica glitter pen on the crowns.


And I thought this sentiment from PTI's Button Bits set fit nicely!!

Make sure to head on over to the Sketch Girl Blog and check out our Guest Designer Amy Tsuruta and ALL of the other DT members cards, I'm headed over there now too -I'm sure they're just fabulous.

Have a great day!

SG11 Makes Up for the Weekend!!

It seems lately that I need a deadline to get anything done! Or, to quote one of my favorite sayings . . ."If it wasn't for the last minute I wouldn't get ANYTHING done!"

So it goes with the latest Sketch Girl and PMS Makeup for the weekend challenge. I was able to combine the two challenges (procrastination and multi-tasking at it's finest) to come up with this . . . It's a little late, but here it is;

The sketch . . .



The inspiration pic . . .

The card . . .

I love the blue against the white and black in the inspiration pic - such a pretty color combo. I'm not sure if I'm 100% satisfied with the hearts "wings". I might have to fiddle with that a little bit. But overall, I'm O.K. with how it turned out. We have a wedding coming up in a couple of months and I thought this would make a nice wedding or V-day card.

Come play with me!

Check out the PMS Makeup for the Weekend challenge and the SKetch Girl Challenge and post your creation on the sketch girl blog!

You can also head on over to the other sketch girl's blogs for more sketch inspiration!
Annie
Randee
Tiffany
Alyssa
Harriet
Bonnie
Amber
Jennie
JessicaSara
Julie
and guest designer Laurel

Perfect Presentations is again sponsoring this week's contest. I love the templates from this company. They make awesome presents! Go grab a few....four new templates were posted today!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. May it be deadline, and procrastination free :0)

Toodles my friends!!

Sketch Girl is Back!

After a little holiday hiatus, Sketch Girl Blog is back - better than ever!
New format, new prizes, and new great sketches for you to play along with :0)

Here's the first sketch of the new year;

January's sketches are sponsored by Perfect Presentation, a new line of affordable templates that you print, cut, score and assemble. All template purchases come with instructions that include photos to help with assembly and adhesive placement. Measurements and/or templates are included to make cutting decorative panels quick and easy. Available at www.thewildflowerpatch.com/shop.

Here's my interpretation of the sketch;

I made this about 10 minutes before leaving for my business trip. I actually had to make my ride wait until I finished gluing everything together!! I packed my card in my bag and took a picture under very limited lighting in my hotel room :0)

There's lots of info on the blog, so check it out!! There are prizes to be won and a guest designer spot up for grabs. You can view other DT members blogs listed below.

Alyssa http://www.critterlyss.blogspot.com/
Harriet http://www.alittlethisandalotofthat.blogspot.com/
Eve (she's taking a break for an undetermined amount of time) http://www.thisisbliss838.blogspot.com/
Tiffany http://paperandstamps.blogspot.com/

Randee http://mystampingground.blogspot.com/
Bonnie http://aboutascountryasonecanget.blogspot.com/
Amber http://www.thecountryscrapper.blogspot.com/
Katie http://leftsidecrafts.blogspot.com/
Jennie http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/
Jessica http://basicjess.blogspot.com/
Sara http://luminousinmychaoticdreamslife.blogspot.com/
Annie http://www.stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com/
Julie http://lastminutecrafter.blogspot.com/

Our Guest Designer for January is Laurel Seabrook http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/

I'm looking forward to heading back across the pond tomorrow, missing my boys, my bed . . . and my stamps ;0)

Sketch Girl 8 and Word Art Wednesday

Hey there! Happy All Hallows Eve! It's a little bittersweet for me this year for several reasons;

1. My older two are thinking it's not so much fun if Mom tags along for trick or treating. They think they can cover more ground if they leave mom and little brother in the dust!
2. I think I've finally hit the point where I know longer have any say in what their costumes will be :0(

We had a near nuclear melt down last night because my 5 yr old didn't want to wear the adorable spider hat and web costume I was going to make for him. He was - stomp your foot on the ground- for sure going to be the store bought, mass produced Star Wars Storm Trooper that he was last year. After many attempts at coersion, bribery and near tears (on my part), I gave in. I decided there are bigger battles to win and that my days of coming up with cute, coordinating, creative costumes are over. Snif Snif . . . O.K., enough wallowing in self pity . . . onto the card! . . .

It's the 30th which means another Sketch Girl Challenge is up on the blog, you can click the link on the sidebar to take a look. I twisted the sketch on it's side so that I could use the main panel with this weeks FREE word art download from Paper Makeup Stamps. I thought this would be a cute card for my 5 yr olds teacher. I used PP from DCWV First Grader paper pack, coordinates well with the quote don't ya think?

I couldn't think of anything else to do with that extra little panel to the side of the word art, so I just added a nice big pretty bow with a cute little rubber button in primary colors. I also added a little bling in each corner to focus on the word art. I wish more of the feet and alphabet would have been visible, but the card is already 5 1/2 inches and I didn't want to go any larger.

Well, hope you all have a frightfully fun weekend with lots of treats, sweets, and cooperative little goblins :0) Have Fun!

Rainy Day "Sketch" Girl

It's the 15th of the month, that means it's time for another Sketch Girl challenge! I also took the opportunity to incorporate another challenge into this card - the Just Us Girls Challenge or JUGS for short :0). The JUGS challenge was to incorporate paper piecing into your card and as an option, use the color pink in coordination with October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. So, here is a close up of the paper pieced rain coat and umbrella . . .




I love how the patterned paper I used (DCWV Mi Casa) for the umbrella ends up looking like raindrops! The raincoat pp was a little tablet of mat stack adhesive paper. The adhesive backed pp made it a snap to just cut it out, peel off the backing and glue it down. And here's the full card showing my interpretation of the awesome sketch Annie B came up with . . .

This little girl (well I'm assuming it's a girl :0) is one of my favorite images by Anna Wight for Whipper Snapper. I love pairing her with this awesome sentiment by Paper Makeup Stamps. I tried to keep the card pretty simple and I followed the sketch pretty closely. I popped up the umbrella on dimensionals to give it some height. And I sponged around the edges of the circle (while it was still in the Nestie) to emphasize the girl more. The gloves, buttons and umbrella handle were colored right on the pp with Copics.

Sorry the picture isn't up to par (ETA: I updated the post with another picture I took in the daylight). My DH was away with the computer and I didn't have a chance to use any photo editing software. I really need to get a light box figured out. Can you tell me what light source you use? I've tried a 100W daylight bulb, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. Maybe I'm just setting it up wrong. I've heard about the Ott lights, but I'm looking for something a little less pricey if I can help it :0)

Whether the weather is sunny or rainy, hope your day is great!!

BlackCat Band Starring SG6

It's Sketch Girl time!! We're on number 6 already! Time really flies when you're having fun!

The change of seasons here turned in ONE DAY!! Sunday was sunny and beautiful, but by Monday morning there were 50 mph wind gusts and 20 degree lower temps! I think that kicked my mojo into fall mode because I've been in a Halloween mood lately. I can't wait to get out all my spooky stuff and start decorating - perhaps this weekend if the weather cooperates :0)


This card uses some Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets. The image is actually printed on a thin canvas like material - there are about 8-10 images on one sheet and they are all of that vintagey, whimsical, postcard/poster style. Love it!

Head on over to the Sketch Girl blog to check out what the others have come up with - I am! There are even some prizes and a guest designer spot up for grabs.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful FALL day!

Apple of my Eye

Hey there! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. This is a card I created for two challenges this week. First, it is round 5 for Sketch Girls. I love participating in these Sketch Challenges because they give me 2 weeks to complete them (although most times I'm STILL creating at the last minute!). I used SG5 sketch and Paper Makeup Stamps challenge to make a flap card to come up with this;

I was soo excited when I got home yesterday to find an envelope from PMS containing this awesome apple set waiting for me! These apples are so darn cute and fun to color. I love that they come in almost every stage of consumption :0) There are even a couple more not depicted in this card.

Sorry if the picture is kind of wonky. I'm getting a little sad that my daylight is fading. Since I work out of the home, my opportunity for taking pictures is slowly shrinking. No more morning sunshine. Right now I'm not getting good light until it's time to walk out the door. And sooner than later I'll be leaving in the dark and sometimes coming home in the dark - yuck!

Anywhoo, hop on over to the Sketch Girl blog to check out the other awesome creations and see who was selected as the 1st SG guest designer! Or hop on over to PMS and check out their latest release of stamps - including this apple set - awesome!

Have a Golden Delicious day!

Recipe:
Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps
Paper: SU!
Ink: Memento, Copics, white gel pen
Accessories: CB, EF, Nesties, ribbon, Scor-pal, scalloped edge punch

SG4 Card and Contest

It's time again for another great sketch from Annie B! I decided to rotate the sketch and came up with this alternative wedding card.



The towels were stamped with black on kraft and then colored in white with chalks. I haven't used those is FOREVER!! The other parts of the image were colored in using Copics. Now for the fun part . . . the main panel is intended to be a removable tag that you can turn over and use as a Do Not Disturb sign ;0)

I didn't realize until just now that the pp stripes are going in different directions and the fonts are different, oh well - handmade right?? :0) So I'm telling you, you need to head on over to the Sketch Girl Blog to see the other girls awesome creations (just click the logo on the left). And check out all of the details for participating this time. Sketch Girl is offering up some goodies as well as a Guest Designer position!! How fun is that ?!?!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous start of the week. Happy Monday!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Fiskars

Ink: Copics, Memento, Whit Chalks, Sakkura Black Gel Pen

Paper: SU!

Accessories: CB, embossing folder, Offray ribbon, SU! Hodgepodge Hardware. glitter stickers and rub-ons

Sketch Girl 3

I received this little robot stamp as one of the prizes in the 2 Sketches 4 You Ultimate Card Showdown. I didn't make it past Top 20, but hey! I got this cute little stamp out of it!! And then when I saw the Cogsmo line by Cosmo Cricket, I thought it was the perfect fit!


I was very excited to see this Sketch Girl layout. Mostly because it's very close to my "go to" layout. You can read more about that here. I kinda deviated from the sketch and moved my circle, but this way worked for me better. All of the cogs and wheels and paper are from the Cogsmo line. I love the bright colors, fun shapes and robots.

Be sure to check out all of the other Sketch Girls creations, and if you havevn't done so already, sign up to be a follower. There are FREE stamps up for grabs if you do!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Recipe:
Stamps: Inky Antics
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Bazzil
Ink: Memento black, copics
Accessories: Cosmo Cricket blackboard, tracing wheel

PMS/Sketch Girl Challenge #2

It's time for another Sketch Girl Challenge! Annie has created another great sketch to work with. I love that it is simple enough to be open to endless interpretations.



And here's my take on the sketch . . .

I was soo excited to receive this little guy from Paper Makeup Stamps in the mail on Tuesday (thanks Katie!!), that I had to get him inky right away!! I cut the cloud freehand and then paper pierced around the edges. I fussy cut the bear and balloon and popped them up to create mulitple layers and give some dimension to the card. The sentiment comes with the image, too cute!

You've got to head on over to the Sketch Girl Blog and check out all of the details on the sketch challenge and the other designers awesome interpretations. And BE SURE to sign up as a follower!! There's some free stamp sets to be given away once the followers reach 100 . . . so get clickin' :0)


Just a note: With a little twist, ribbon and imagination, this card also resembles this week's PMS sketch challenge :0). How fun is that! So I'm gonna link this one up there too!


Thanks for stopping by! Hope your day just soars!


Recipe:
Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps
Paper: SU!
Ink: Memento Black, Copics, White gel pen
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Making Memories ribbon, tracing wheel

Sketch Girl Sneak Peak

Hey There!

It's almost time for the 2nd Sketch Girl Challenge. A new one goes up tomorrow. This time there's a prize up for grabs to all that participate!!! Here's a sneaky peaky at the card I did for the challenge :0) Come back tomorrow to see the whole card.


Have an awesome day!

The New Sketch Girl Blog!!

Hey there!! I wanted to share with you a cute card (of course) and some cool news! First of all, Leigh Ann Baird (AKA stampingwithannieb) is starting up a new sketch challenge blog! This very first numero uno sketch went up yesterday. You can read all the details on Leigh Ann's Blog. And for the second cool news . . .(drum roll here please) . . . she's letting me be a designer (insert clap clap woot woot)!! I was soo excited I HAD to squeeze some late night stamping in so I would be able to show you my card today. Here's my take on the sketch. . .


I used the new Soft Suede cardstock from SU! I wasn't too sure about the color when I first saw it, but it's growing on me :0) The image from Hero Arts, however, I fell in love with immediately! It's so cute, so fun, and has so many possibilities. The pp is from Cosmo Cricket's Lil' Man series. I just can't seem to get enough of it lately!! Maybe it's because it's still sitting on my table and it's the first thing I grab "wink wink", or maybe because it's just super duper uberlicious!! Anywhoo . . . I thought the card turned out simpler than what I've been doing lately - not so many layers - and only 3 pop dots!!, but I still think it's pretty darn cute :0)

So why not play along!! Sign up to be a follower on the Sketch Girl Blog so you don't miss any of the upcoming challenges. If you upload to a forum use SG1. Here's a list of all of the Sketch Girls . . . give them a looksee and lets get this thing going . . .


Alyssa: www.critterlyss.blogspot.com
Harriet: www.alittlethisandalotofthat.blogspot.com
Sara: www.luminousinmychaoticdreamslife.blogspot.com
Eve: www.thisisbliss838.blogspot.com
Annie: www.stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com
Tiffany: www.paperandstamps.blogspot.com
Jennie: www.stampawaytheday.blogspot.com
Chris: www.chriscorner-23.blogspot.com
Katie: www.leftsidecrafts.blogspot.com
Randee: www.mystampingground.blogspot.com
Bonnie: www.aboutascountryasonecanget.blogspot.com
Jessica: www.basicjess.blogspot.com
Julie: www.lastminutecrafter.blogspot.com

Have a super "Tweet" day and thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: SU!, Cosmo Cricket Li' Man
Ink: Staz On, Copics
Accessories: Paper Studio buttons, twine, Little Leaves Sizzlits, CB, puffy heart sticker