Sketched Frenzy Friday Sketch Challenge: Simple Birthday Greetings

Good morning and it's another Happy Friday!  I'm so happy the snow is gone and we have warmer weather around, let's just hope it's here to stay.  It's Friday, which means it's Sketch Frenzy Friday sketch day and I have a really fun and simple card.  The cardbase is Crumb Cake and I added a layer of Pool Party cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (don't forget this is a Sale-a-Bration exclusive so you only have a couple more weeks to get this folder for FREE).  I used a piece of Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon around the Pool Party piece.  The floral print is from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack and I also used it for two of the flag elements, along with a piece of Natural 5/8 Chevron Burlap Ribbon.  This piece is matted on a piece of Real Red cardstock.

 

The greeting is from the Simply Sketched stamp set, was punched out with the Oval Punch, matted with a piece of Real Red cardstock that was punched with the Scalloped Oval Punch.  Next I added another little strip of DSP from the Fresh Prints DSP stack and the final layer is Crumb Cake cardstock that was punched with the Decorative Label Punch that was embossed with the Big Shot and the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  The entire greeting element is attached to the cardfront with dimensionals for added texture.

 

This is a classic layout that is perfect to either showcase a stamped image or designer series paper and this card could be changed out for any occasion just by changing the greeting. When was the last time you mailed an actual card to someone?  There really is something special to receive a card in the mail that someone took the time to write and mail that really makes you feel special, and a handmade card is even more special.  I'm determined to increase the cards I mail out this year and I challenge you to as well, it's a special treat that really is worth the effort.

 

Enjoy and I hope you can join s and play along with this sketch.

 

Happy stamping,

 

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Card Challenge: Day 7

Welcome back to another addition of the 30 Day Gratitude Card Challenge.  I'm having so much fun with this trying to make a variety of cards for these shares so you have lots of inspiration and I have a variety of cards in my card stash.  Today's card is pretty simple and uses the Simply Sketched stamp set (this is a hostess set that has some beautiful image and greetings, you really want to make sure you get this set, it's perfect.

 

The cardbase is Pool Party and I added a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I used the Epic Day This and That Designer Series paper and matted it with Calypso Coral Cardstock.  I used the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack and Paper Piercer to pierce holes along both edges of the Calypso Coral layer.

 

The main stamped image was stamped in Early Espresso Ink and then colored in with a Blender Pen and Pool Party and Calyspo Coral ink (I also added some Pear Pizazz to the stem) and as a mat for the stamped image layer.  The greeting is from the same stamp set and the greeting was punched out with the Oval Punch and matted with Early Espresso and the Scallop Oval Punch.  Dimensionals make it a breeze to attach the greeting to the card.

 

I hope you enjoyed this card and it's so great, you can use it as a thank you but just as easily make it a birthday, sympathy card, etc.  Just by changing to the greeting.

 

Enjoy and Happy Thursday!

 

Diana

August Just Cards Class Projects

Good morning friends!  I'm loving the continued cooler weather we're experiencing this month (very rare for August) so I want to make sure to enjoy it while it lasts (lots of walks/runs outside, working in the garden, and enjoying time with friends and family).  I'm also really excited to share with you the projects for this months Just Cards class which will be this Sunday, August 11 at 2:00 PM.  We'll be making lots of fun card using items from the newly released Holiday catalog as well as all occasion cards.   

 

There is still time to RSVP so please let me know no later than Friday, August 9 if you want to come to reserve your spot.  When you register please don't forget to let me know if want the Christmas card add on option.  It'll be a fun, relaxing afternoon of stamping, can't wait!

Hope to see you Sunday!

Diana

Fab Friday Sketch Challenge: Simply Sketched

Happy Wednesday friends and welcome to the midpoint in the week.  I'm getting really nervous about this weekend.  My son is taking his Black Belt test on Saturday and I'm so nervous but am so proud and know he'll do so well.  Two of his grandmother's are coming into town this weekend so he'll definitely have some additional cheerleaders when testing comes.  Today I'm sharing my card for this weeks Fab Friday sketch challenge.  This sketch has lots of little elements that really work well together on the final project.  I started with a cardbase of Baked Brown Sugar and I stamped the splotches from the Welcome Paper Pumpkin Kit with the same color ink.  Next I took a piece of Marina Mist cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Lattice Embossing folder.  The main stamped image is the leaf image from the Simply Sketched stamp set and it's stamped in the same Baked Brown Sugar and then sponged with Crumb Cake ink.

The greeting is also from the Simply Sketched stamp set and was stamped in Marina Mist ink and then punched out with the Large Oval Punch, sponged with Crumb Cake ink, and matted on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock that was punched with the Decorative Label Punch.    I also added a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock that was punched out with the new Artisan Label Punch, stamped with the Chevron stamp from the June Paper Pumpkin stamp set in Marina Mist and then sponged with Crumb Cake.  The final touch was to add a piece of 5/8" Victoria Crochet Trim and Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbons for accents.

 

This card turned out even better than I thought.  Love it's softness and the hint of "vintagy" qualities.  In fact, I liked this card so much that I decided to use it for one of my convention swaps so if you're going to convention and you like this card come find me and maybe you can get one for yourself.

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow starts the monthly Stylin' Stampin' Blog Hop.  It's all about birthdays this month so you'll want to check out all the great projects the designers have created and there will also be an exciting announcement tomorrow, so stay tuned!!

 

Thanks,

 

Diana

Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge: Simply Sketched

Good morning!  We've made it through another week and we're looking forward to an exciting weekend, the highlight of which is the Annual Neighborhood BBQ we host, it's always so fun to see our friends and neighbors and it's a great way to kick of the start of summer.  Today I'm sharing the card I made for this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments sketch challenge.  For this challenge I used one of the new hostess sets, Simply Sketched.  I had this set out on my desk for a convention swap I'm finishing up so I decided to use this great flower image, and this stamp set has perfect greetings!

The cardbase for this card is Crisp Cantaloupe and I added a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock behind the Soho Subway designer series paper.  The main stamped image was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and then colored in with a Blender Pen and Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding ink.  I sponged around the edge with Crumb Cake ink and matted on a piece of Summer Starfuit cardstock.  The greeting is from the same set and was punched out with the large oval punch and then matted with the scallop oval punch.  The final touch was to add some texture with some ribbon, in this case Chocolate Chip 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, and Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Ribbon.

 

This card is so soft and summer, I love it.  Now the funny thing, when I look at a sketch I look at the challenge but I usually don't look at the cards created by the design team or other challenge participates so I can come up with something completely on my own, well apparently the flower in this stamp set is very popular because I discovered when I was posting this submission that Diane Vander Galien also used the same stamp set and image so you should check out her card also for another great idea with this stamp set, I love how people can take the same images and come up with different ideas.

 

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

 

Diana