More Sketch Fun

 Brrr!  Happy Tuesday All!

Not sure what weather you're dealing with this morning but Bitter Cold & Snowy here in Akron, Ohio USA!!  It's mid morning (10 AM EST) and it's only gotten up to 6 degrees so far ... although, they are predicting a high of 13 today!  At least we don't have the enormous amount of SNOW they have in the midwest & north east!  

Anyways, as my title suggests, I've decided to play with another sketch for today's card share.  I've really been enjoying the sketches offered over on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog (1/26) ✓ and here's the new one they are offering for inspiration today. 

 

 I wasn't sure what 'theme' direction to go in then I spotted a pack of cards from the American Heart Association laying on the table that we received in the mail after sending them a contribution (I don't understand ... we send these companies money to help them and they keep sending me STUFF ... just use the money where it's needed and quite spending it on sending me stuff I truly don't need!  LOL)   Anyways, that is where the bird image came from.

I generally donate those premade cards either to our church or to my cousin Matthew who sends out a ton of cards to our older cousins & friends to keep their spirits lifted (he's got such a big heart!).   

 Product used are:

Violet Fragrance 6x6 designer paper
FabScraps High Tea 8x8 designer paper
Sue Wilson (CED-1464) Bold Scrolled Vine
Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Circle' dies
Tutti Designs 'Stitched Nesting Banner' dies
Creative Expressions Wordies (Birthday)
Nuvo White Crystal Drops
Dimensional Tape

 

 I'm very happy with the outcome of this card and will keep this sketch design in mind for future cards.  Again, I truly enjoy having a good sketch to get my creative thoughts flowing and the ones offered at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  have never let me down!

 

Challenges to share in:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Things with Wings (1/26)  ✓ WINNER
Make My Monday Challenge #269 - Use Paper with Pattern (1/25) Entry #2 ✓
 Dragon Fly Dreams January Challenge - Floral (1/31) ✓

Take care, stay warm and thanks for stopping by today! 

 As always . . .

  

 

Still building snowmen!

 Happy Monday All!  

Most of the east coast and central USA are experience a winter like we haven't seen in years with lots, and lots of the 'white stuff'!  With it being MLK Day the schools are closed and the kids are outside building yet another snowman in the front yards of many houses around us.  They can't stay out there too long as the temperatures are only in the teens so it's quite BITTER out there!! 

Anyways, I too am still building snowmen but mine are of paper!  I recently received snowman dies from a couple different companies and the one I'm using today is by Poppy and called Sweet Nordic Snowman (#2576). 

 

 What inspired me to create another snowman card is the fun challenge over at the Paper Players where the theme is 'Clean & Simply - Signs of Winter' (Challenge PP-769) - (1/23).

 

 My background pines were created using a 'new to me' stamp set from The Greetery which has been in my stash for awhile now and I'd forgotten all about it.  It's actually a layered stamp set but I just used one of the 'solid' stamps to create a simple background.

And my sentiment is an OLD stamp from the DRS company ... not even sure if they are still in business.  

I tore a scrap of white card stock to create my snow mounds and Tombow markers for the coloring on my snowman.  I've also popped him up for a bit of dimension.  

When I started editing my photo, I noticed I didn't like that the snowman doesn't have a mouth/smile so I decided to give him a SMILE ... lol.

 

 (It might just be me, but otherwise I think his face looks like a bird with an orange beak lol).

 Here are a couple other fun challenges to share in:

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - It's Cold Outside (1/21)
A Cut Above January Challenge - Die Cut (new snowman) (1/31)
Krafty Chicks Challenge #803 - CAS (1/20)
 
 Take care and thanks for stopping by today! 

 As always . . .

  

Peace on Earth Challenge #104

 Hello Friends and welcome back to my blog! 

SO happy you stopped by!

Today I have a card to share for the new challenge over on the PEACE ON EARTH CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE BLOG.  Of course the theme is Anything Christmas and we hope you'll come join in the fun! 

Here's a fun inspiration board we've created to help get you started ...

 

 How cute are these snow 'people'!  

Today I turned to my various 3D toppers for the main snowman focus image.  I had sever to choose from but I decided upon this cute couple in the Hearty Crafts HC12129 Christmas pack.

 I (like many of you I'm sure) have several different Christmas/Winter paper packs to choose from when creating my holiday cards but today I went with more of a winter vs Christmas theme using the snowflake paper that I found in an older Carta Bella paper pack called 'Cabin Fever'.

 My background trees are from Dee's Distinctive & Frantic Stamper.
My sentiment strip comes from the Echo Park 'The Magic of Christmas' 6x6 paper pack.

     

PLEASE be sure to pop over to THE BLOG and check out the amazing designs our design team has created for your inspiration.  What a group of talented ladies!!  Then come join in the fun!!  

 As always ... thanks again for stopping by!

Let's Build a Snowman

 Happy Saturday All!

OMG ... are you tired of this winter weather yet?
I know, I know ... it's only January but personally, I've seen enough of the white stuff ... I'd rather cut grass than shovel snow!  LOL

Anyways,  I spotted a fun challenge over at the CAS on Friday blog where the theme is SNOWMAN (1/22) ✓.  I hope my card qualifies as I don't have a lot of white space (like I had originally planned) but then without thinking I grabbed this pretty piece of Brutus Monroe designer paper and used it as my background.

 Mr. Snowman is from Simon Says Stamps ... Bundled Snowman #1527sd (first time using) and thought he'd be fun to play with today.  Too old to go outside and make the real thing so will have to settle for making a paper snowman.

 

I die cut the snowman from a scrap of white cardstock then used my red Tombow marker to color the hat & scarf.  Other Tombow markers were used for the face & buttons. 

 A few other fun challenges to play in are:

 Creative Creases #111 Challenge - 1/2 thru 2/5 ✓
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #628 - Winter Wonderland (1/21) ✓
Try it on Tuesday Challenge - It's Cold Outside (1/21) ✓
The Crafting Challenge January Challenge - White/Snow (2/1) ✓
Craft Rocket Challenge #132 - Something New (snowman die) (1/31) ✓
Die Cut Diva's January Challenge - Use New Crafty Item (snowman die) (1/31) ✓

This card was fun, quick & easy!  
Hope you've found inspiration in today's card! 

Take care and thanks for stopping by today! 

 As always . . .

  

Sketch Fun . . .

 Happy Friday Friends!

This week I've been taking a break from my DT responsibilities and joining in on a few other fun challenges out there in Blogland.  Today I've decided to play along in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #664 ✓  and here's a peek at their sketch that caught my attention.

 

 What a fun sketch and it could be interpreted in several ways.

I took the sketch quite literally and here's what I came up with . . .

 My patterned paper panel comes from the Brutus Monroe 'FALL INTOseasons' paper pad.  I used one of my OLD Creative Memories circles to draw out the half circle and cut it with scissors.  I matted it with a back ground of coordinating blue card stock, THEN got the bright idea to emboss it.  I already had the patterned paper attached so embossed the entire panel using an older Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I used a old Sue Wilson 'Grand Vinery' (CED-1419) and my birthday sentiment is from Creative Expressions 'Wordies - Birthday'.  A few Nuvo white & blue crystals drops finished off my design.

 A couple other challenges to share in:

 If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #212 - January - Cabin in Winter 
(I was inspired by the colors) [1/31] ✓

 

 Make My Monday #269 - Use Paper with Pattern (1/26) ✓
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It (1/21) ✓

 What fun!  I have always enjoyed starting a creation using a sketch and lately I haven't done that much ... time for a change.  You'll be seeing me joining in on more sketch challenges offered!  Sounds like I have a new years resolution and didn't even know it!  LOL

Anyway ... thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Hope you have a FABULOUS weekend planned ahead!  Pretty quiet here in COLD OHIO ... just going to hide out in the crafting cave I think!  

 As always . . .

CAS Design

 Hello Friends ... Happy Thursday!

I noticed that crafty friend Vicki Dutcher was hosting the new challenge over on Addicted to CAS so I thought I'd join in the fun!  Their theme this time around is . . .

 

 While looking through my stash to see what I had available that fit this theme, I cam across a die I purchased at the Adventures in Stamping Convention which comes to Akron each Spring.  It's a die from the Too Much Fun Rubberstamps Company (it appears they only do shows ... no online shopping) This die is called 'large jar' and I thought it would be PERFECT!  What do you think??

 It's difficult to see in the photo but after die cutting my fun Valentine paper, I also die cut a panel of clear acetate and glued it over top the designer paper (see photo below).  I die cut the lid from white card stock then colored it using a Silver large tip Pilot Marker.

For a little accent, I scored my front card panel 1/4" all around.   The sentiment is another older die I've had in my stash for at least a year (yikes I need to get this stuff put away lol) and it's from Scrapbook.com.  I've used scrap paper to die cut and popped the letters up using dimensional tape.

Here's a different angle ... 

 

This card was fun, quick & easy!  
Hope you've found inspiration in today's card! 

Take care and thanks for stopping by today! 

 As always . . .

 

 

Sisterhood Challenge (1/2026) - Spots & Dots

Hello my friends!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over on The Sisterhood of Crafters!

 

Our theme today is:

 

 Spots & Dots

 

 Here's a fun mood board to help inspire you ...

 

 

 What fun ... here's what I've come up with . . .

  

 I grabbed a couple 6x6 panels from the Echo Park 'Dots & Stripes' paper pad AND Brutus Monroe 'Flannel Season' paper pad, cut each into a few various sized strips then created my background panel.

 

    

 

Using the same paper  I created my polka dot flower using two Memory Box dies ... Dogwood Blossom #98475 and Dogwood Blossom Outline #98481.

  

 

 I used Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Ovals' for my matting and Orange Nuvo Crystal Drops for accent.

 

A couple fun challenges to share in:

Daisy Chain Challenge #103 - Use Dies (1/31) ✓
Die Cut Divas January Challenge - Use New Craft Item (1/31) ✓
My new item is the Brutus Monroe Flannel designer paper pad.
Moving Along with the Times #185 - Use Stencils and/or Dies (1/31) ✓

 

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

 As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Words of Encouragement . . .

 Hello Friends . . .

With all the turmoil that seems to be in our world today, I thought the challenge over on the 'Just Us Girls'✓ blog had the perfect theme to create with today ... ENCOURAGEMENT.   Lord knows we can all use a kind word and more encouragement to others these days!  Thanks to Elizabeth for hosting this perfect theme this week!

 

Here's what I've created . . .

 And, of course those of us going through Winter Blues right now might also enjoy a 'breath of spring' so I went with this pretty Altenew Paint-a- Flower: Clematis stamp set for my creation.  

 

After stamping, I water colored using my Tombow markers & an artist brush.   I've added a few score lines and a sentiment which is also a part of this set.

Hope you've found inspiration in today's creation.

I would also like to share today's creation in the Altenew January Challenge (2/10).

 

 

Have a great day and thanks for taking the time to stop by!

 

 

As always . . .

 

A Winter's Birthday

 Happy Monday All!

 I was in need of a masculine wintertime birthday card so when I spotted the theme at Seize the Birthday blog, I knew what I wanted to create.  Plus, my friend Barb is hosting and it's always nice to support our friends!!  So here we go . . .

 The theme for the Seize the Birthday Challenge #318 is 'Make Your Own Snowflake Background'. ✓

 

 

I began by sponging Brilliance 'Ice Blue' ink onto a white card stock panel then used an old Darice Snowflake Embossing Folder part way down the panel.  Using scraps of white paper, I tore along the top edge and adhered them together on the bottom & sides to create my snow drifts.  

The cute little deer are old Poppystamps dies (Cute Fawn & Curious Fawn).  

The background 'Love Birds' is a die by Elizabeth Craft which I die cut from a scrap of white card stock and colored using my Tombow markers. 

After taking another scrap of white card stock which I sponged on the same Brilliance 'Ice Blue' ink, I die cut my sentiment using the Tutti Designs 'Happy' & 'Birthday'. 

Challenges to share in:

Addicted to Stamps & More! #508 - Birthdays (1/19) ✓
Unicorn Challenge #116 - Birthday (2/3) ✓
AAA Birthday #81 - Winter Birthday (1/31) ✓

 

 Hope your day is going well and you do something that makes you happy today!
This card makes me happy!  LOL

 As always . . .

 

 

Purple is MY color . . .

 Hello friends . . .

Welcome to the 2nd week of 2026 ... already time is buzzing by!

 My favorite color is purple and when I spotted a couple challenge focusing on that color, I just had to create and join in the fun.  Those challenges are Beautiful Blossoms #36 where they have this beautiful vase of purple flowers as their inspiration . . . And the second challenge I'm playing in is over on the  
{PIN}spirational Blog, Challenge #333 for January where they have this amazing image for inspiration . .

  

 

Last year (enabled by BFF Diane - Nellie's Nest), I purchases several sheets of these Katy Sue 3D Decoupage Sheets when I saw how beautiful they were on the cards she created!   I'm afraid my photos truly  don't do them justice!  Both my phone & my camera don't pick up the color purple well but trust me when I tell you the colors in this image are beautiful IRL!

 

 Here's a zoomed in image ... hope this helps you see the beauty!

 This particular Katy Sue sheet is called 'Champage & Violets' (11-DCD609).

 

 I have even used all the word panels with the exception of the Happy Anniversary.
Here's a peek at the inside.  
I will dress it up a bit more with some prima flowers or a lacy die cut before sending.

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by today and hope your 2026 is off to a FABULOUS start!!

As always . . .

 

 

Can You Handle the Pressure - Twist - Friendship

 Hello Friends, thanks for stopping by today!

We have a new challenge starting today over on our new Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge Blog and the TWIST theme is ...

Friendship

Remember, the twist is optional but you MUST use an embossing folder on your projects to qualify for the prize.  Heat embossing is also permitted but only in conjunction with an embossing folder.

 Here's what I've created to inspire you today ...

  

 I found this fabulous sentiment in my 'Doni Collection' and I knew instantly I wanted to showcase it in a scenery card.  So I looked through my Blue Knight stamps and chose this Wild Grass Stamp.  I created my background colors using TH distress oxide inks and large sponge daubers.  Then stamped my image and My Favorite Things 'Grand Greetings'.  Then I ran the entire panel through my machine using an old Cuttlebug embossing folder.

 

 I'm happy with the outcome ... what do you think??

 

 I do hope you'll come check out our challenge blog and play along.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,
I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!

As always . . .