Sketch Saturday #740

Hello Everyone!! Welcome back to another challenge with Sketch Saturday! Our bi-weekly sketch challenge gives you great inspiration for your crafty adventures. Play as many time as you want during the two weeks, and try rotating the sketch or using the inspiration suggestion we’ve included in our post!

Here is Sketch #740:

Each challenge, we have an optional twist. You can use this twist on your submission, or use it for an added challenge on a second submission! This weeks’ twist is to try the sketch as a mirror image.

Here is my card using the sketch provided. I did add an image to my sketch, a beautiful Christmas ornament featuring this adorable little cabin. I loved selecting two of my Taylored Expressions sentiment strips to feature in this sketch!! Perfect!

Now what about that mirror image twist? It’s mostly there. I loved these papers (especially that bird one) and wanted to use my negative cuts for another option. The pieces weren’t 100% perfect, so my layout changed ever so slightly. I also altered the placement of the sentiment slightly when I found it was the perfect length for that one side of the card. Love this version too!!

I hope you’ll come play along with us! I can’t wait to see your interpretation of the sketch as well as your mirror image options!

Secret Sister Swap 2023

My Stampin Up demo hosted a six month Secret Sister Swap, from April to September. Because our pairings were a secret, I wasn’t able to post my cards until after the reveal was completed at the end of October. But, I did take photos along the way and wanted to post them here.

Here’s a rundown of the six months.

Our April theme to kick us off was a spring themed card. Looking back through my photos, I think I was in a rush to get that one out and didn’t take a picture!

But, May was a masculine challenge, so I created this with a now retired Stampin Up set.

For June, we had a black and white challenge. I had fun playing with this floral set that I haven’t used too much. I like color, so I tried to add just a small splash and soft touches.

July was a food themed challenge. This was a great opportunity to use this strawberry set that I really love, but haven’t used! I needed ideas, so this one was a bit of a CASE from some online ideas. I will definitely pull out this stamp set again soon. So much fun to create with!

I was running a bit behind in July, so I sent an extra card to make up for it. This was the second card, a newer stamp set.

August was to bling up your card, using glitter or sparkles. I used another stamp set that I love the looks of, but haven’t played with much! To add the glitter element, I used both the glitter paper and the sequins.

And the final card was a fall themed creation. Time to play with some dies and layers!

The next round has started and I’ve chosen to be part of it again. There are some great themes and I already have my first card done and ready to head out the door. But shhhhh! No reveals until May!

Monthly Image Swap – October 2023

Here we go, marching through the year.

My selection was for October 2023. It was a big challenge to find THE perfect stamp to send everyone. The one I finally decided upon was from CC Designs and is their Snow Swissie stamp.

Since I had to get everyone’s image out nice and early, it didn’t take me long to color up these beauties and get them ready for crafting. When I color first, it’s always a nice challenge to go through my paper stash and find the perfect shades to use on my stamps.

Because my stamping can be irregular, sometimes I sit down and plan something, and then when I return to crafting I either can’t remember what I wanted to do…or don’t want to do it anymore! These papers were pulled aside for a project at one point. When I compared them to my already colored image, I knew that they were perfect for this gal.

The second image was a slightly brighter palette, but I knew I wanted to stay in those fall/October shades. These papers were perfect and I had just enough to finish this card. I love that bright shiny button on this card.

And that’s it for me this month. There is one more month in the 2023 Mystery Image Swap and and I hope to be complete it soon. As soon as I have something to show you, you know you’ll find me right here!

Take care, crafters!

Monthly Image Swap – September 2023

Whew! September is done and ready to be posted. I’m catching up! (This is a good thing).

This months image was selected for us by Patti. She sent a Stampin’ Up image called Cheerful Basket. I hadn’t seen this image before, but it’s super cute! She sent a couple of baskets with a selection of three or four “contents” options for the basket. Plus, this adorable cat image! I decided the various options required two cards this month, so here we go.

First up were these lovely apples! I had these papers sitting waiting for a quilting technique background (because who can’t resist a good selection of coordinating papers) and thought they’d work perfectly with this image. It took me a while to figure out the perfect sentiment layout. I do love how this turned out!

Second card was this adorable basket of craft supplies. I had so much fun creating the first background that I knew I wanted to do something similar – but not the same. I found my Gina Marie quilt block die and had fun (way too much fun, more on that later) cutting out various options for my background. This selection of papers matched my supplies perfectly.

And that’s it for this month. I’ll be back tomorrow with October’s card, which happens to be my pick for the year. Can’t wait to show you!

Monthly Image Swap – August 2023

Welcome Back to my August Mystery Image Swap card!

Jennifer chose our August image and she issued the most unique challenge I’ve seen in awhile! Here image choice was an image of a truck from Raisin Boat Stamps. Apparently, the truck came with some logos and mottos, but she wanted us to use our own creativity to decide “what’s in the truck”….genius.

Before I tell you why I chose my image, I’ll show you my finished card! I honestly love this card!

Alright, so it was bit of a challenge to go through my stamps to find something to fit the truck. You want it to work, be of similar style (line drawing versus something else), make sense, etc. I finally came across my Frank the Fun Dog set from Unity Stamp Company and pretty much knew I had found my truck contents!

What I loved about this selection is that first, I love this stamp, but don’t have too many occassions where “hot dog” is an appropriate fit. Second, I love hot dogs. My daughter hates hot dogs….but my son, he’s my hot dog heart. I can’t say that the two of us have never snuck away for a hot dog fix.

Most of the time I share my crafting with my daughter. I’m either making things for her, or getting her opinion. Or, we’re crafting together. And so finding this image that is something I share with my son just kinda felt right!

And so, my truck is carrying hot dogs. Probably destined for a street truck somewhere, where Nathan and I will load it with ketchup and relish and be on our merry way!

Monthly Image Swap – July 2023

Hello readers! I hope there is at least someone out there still tuning in. Waiting for me to post again is worse than re-run season, hoping to find out that your favourite show is returning and not cancelled.

But, I have had a few days off. A mid-November break for the kids from school and I decided to join them. And in my mental list of “things to do while I’m off”, finding time to do some crafting ranked high. I even made a list IN ADVANCE of things I wanted to accomplish so that I didn’t stray from my goals.

First thing on the list, getting these Mystery Image cards completed!

I adore this image for July, chosen by Ruby. She went with a Christmas in July theme, but picked a non-Christmas image. The challenge she issued was to use the non-Christmas image and make it Christmassy. And what a perfect image selection! It’s from Photo Play and is called Coffee and Friends.

As you can see, I chose some traditional red and green for my papers and coloured my coffee cups to match. I decided not to use the provided sentiments and located one that spoke of “warmness”. This one was perfect, given this swap is a great group of friends. Finally, I touched up the “coffee” with a bit of wink of stella – who doesn’t like glittery beverages, right???

Now now, you’ll be excited to know that you don’t have to wait too long for the next Mystery Image Swap show – I’ve got a few scheduled for this coming week! So, come back tomorrow and take a peek at August’s image.

Sketch Saturday #735

Hello Everyone!! Welcome back to another challenge with Sketch Saturday! Our bi-weekly sketch challenge gives you great inspiration for your crafty adventures. Play as many time as you want during the two weeks, and try rotating the sketch or using the inspiration suggestion we’ve included in our post!

Here is Sketch #735:

Each challenge, we have an optional twist. You can use this twist on your submission, or use it for an added challenge on a second submission! This weeks’ twist is to take the card and make it square. There is plenty of white space in this sketch to adjust it to a square size. Will you keep the same symmetry? Or cut off the top white space and leave the corner design the main feature?

My card is this adorable Halloween themed card! As you can see, I did not make this one square, opting to use the sketch as provided. What a fun layout!

I hope you’ll come play along with us!

Sketch Saturday #734

Hello Everyone!! Welcome back to another challenge with Sketch Saturday! Our bi-weekly sketch challenge gives you great inspiration for your crafty adventures. Play as many time as you want during the two weeks, and try rotating the sketch or using the inspiration suggestion we’ve included in our post!

Here is Sketch #734:

Each challenge, we have an optional twist. You can use this twist on your submission, or use it for an added challenge on a second submission! This weeks’ twist is to use a colour combination of red, yellow and blue.

My card uses this weeks sketch only. I had this adorable Penny Black image and beautiful orange paper to pair it with. This image was rather large, so I found the spacing on the card difficult to achieve But, in the end I am happy with the result!

I hope you’ll come play along with us at Sketch Saturday!

Monthly Image Swap – June 2023

Here we are again with another Mystery Image Swap! I’m getting closer to being on track, but today being the 1st of August officially I am still ONE month behind.

This months image was selected by Terry. Terry, if you are reading this, I LOVED this image. So stickin’ cute and adorable! Terry sent two images on regular square paper and one image diecut. I had so much fun with the die cut image, that the other two got fussy cut for the same effect.

But, did I make ONE card this month?? No! I managed three. Birthday cards are in high use in this house, with two elementary kids and some volunteer things that I do. So, it couldn’t resist. Here is my second version, with a blue theme. These papers have also been in my stash for awhile, a somewhat miscellaneous collection. It’s nice to find those odd pieces that actually coordinate and make for a pretty wonderful card!

And, I liked the layout so much that I had to do two versions. I think I like the blue one a tad better, but that could just reflect my love of blue….the extra little critter on this one is super cute, though!

It occurs to me that I didn’t even tell you the stamp name! This one was from Colorado Craft Company and is called Birthday Wishing. This is the second month in a row that we’ve had a beautiful stamp from this company. I may have to swing by their store and take a look! Which is why I love this swap so much.

August’s card is on it’s way soon! Stay tuned!

Monthly Image Swap – May 2023

Welcome back to another Mystery Image Swap post. If you’ve been following, you’ve noticed I’ve skipped by April. I seem to have misplaced my April image and until I can locate or replace it, I have to move on. I’ve seen the image. I’ve held the image….where did I PUT the image??

Jessica sent us the May image with an exclusive stamp set from Colorado Craft Company. I am not familiar with their stamps, but this cutie is adorable!! It was fun to color up and create. I had purchased this paper for another project somewhere. It’s not my usual style and I’ve been looking at the last two pieces wondering what I would eventually create with it. As I was hunting in my stash for the perfect soft pink, I found this and felt the nest was perfect for the spring theme.

Stop back tomorrow for my June image! I even made more than one card – gasp!

And that pesky April image?? I’m looking for you!