Two for Tuesday Inspiration

Hello, I'm back again with a few more projects to share. Both projects were inspired by our current sketch at The Sketch File. Kathy and I are both hoping you'll join us and share a project or two based on the sketch. As you can see, I decided to create both a card and a scrapbook page. I played around with re-sizing a few of the sketch elements, especially on my scrapbook page. That's the beauty of the sketch...it can be changed to suit your needs. Shrink it, expand it, rotate it, flip it or do whatever it takes to create a project.   See you at The Sketch File!

Side Step Birthday Card

I decided to make a card for an upcoming birthday. I wanted to use a card base that was different than my usualflat card so I went with this 3-D side step card. I haven't made one of these in ages! I ended up having to review tutorials on youtube.com in order to jog my memory. As I started the card, I knew that I wanted to include a floral arrangement but now I'm not sure it was the best choice.  I guess that means I'll have to make another card with different embellishments!  Also, the dark blue cardbase acutally looks black in my photo, but I assure you that it is dark blue.

Simple Layers Sketch @ The Sketch File

Yesterday I spent a greater part of the day shoveling our driveway. It snowed and snowed and snowed! We got around 10" inches, followed by freezing rain, and now it's raining. It means we will have another day to hang out together inside. The local schools are closed and the danger of flooding is an issue. I hope everyone stays safe.  If you are stuck inside today, maybe you'll want to craft a project or two. Today's card is inspired by our current "Simple Layers" sketch at The Sketch File. I decided to use the numeral 68 to replace the background circle in the sketch. What do you think, are your ready to play along with us and show us what you can do with the sketch? It doesn't have to be a card, it can be a scrapbook page or whatever you are inspired to create, but either way, please link it up with us at The Sketch File.

Hearts for Simple Layers Sketch

We're back with more inspiration for our current "Simple Layers" sketch. Since Valentine's Day is just ahead, we are both sharing cards with hearts. You can view Kathy's inspirational card at The Sketch File and post the card you create there as well. We're looking forward to seeing it. Here are two versions of our sketch....remember, you can rotate it, flip it, shrink it or do whatever you want as long as we can still see the sketch in your creation.

February Simple Layers sketch Week 2

It's time to revisit our current sketch and share a card or two with you. This card is based on Kathy's Simple Layers sketch and it's our February sketch at the The Sketch File. We would love for you to use the sketch to create a project and link it up with us at The Sketch File. My card doesn't really stretch the sketch in too many ways but remember that it's okay to change the sketch a bit as Kathy did with her incredible card (go HERE to take a peek at it). You will totally be inspired! 

"Simple Layers" February Sketch

It's been crazy at my house. Our computer crashed last week! I was able to get it up and running but it only lasted a week. It crashed again a few nights ago and I have no idea how to get it up and running again. I've tried the few tricks I know and none of them work.  I think it has finally called it quits. Fortunately,  I have access to another computer  (my son's).  He helped me locate a photo editing program that allowed me to edit my card photo. I am very grateful to him for all his help. He's a great kid!

About my card:

We're a bit early with our February sketch at the The Sketch File, but we wanted to give you an early start on creating a few cards /projects for next month. Our current sketch has simple layers and is a fun and inspirational sketch. We hope you will take a few moments to use it to create something fabulous and link it up with us at The Sketch File. Kathy has provided sketches with a square and a rectangle layout. You can flip the sketch, rotate, shrink, or enlarge it...just have fun with it!

Celebration Banners Dec-Jan Sketch @ The Sketch File

Since we moved into our new home my computer has not been behaving normally. I have finally got it up and running again and I hope it lasts this time. I'll make this post a short one just in case the computer decides not to cooperate.

This card was created based on our current "Celebration Banner's" Sketch at The Sketch File. I hope you will take a few minutes to use the sketch to create a project and then post it with us. Happy Crafting and thanks so much for stopping by today.

Celebration Banners Sketch Update

My family and I have been very busy so I haven't had much time to post cards or projects. We closed on our new home on December 11 and have been very, very busy ever since. We painted 10 rooms and did a bit of updating with lighting fixtures and such and we finally moved in but we are still organizing and arranging our belongings.  It's great to be living in one house, instead of the two!

This card is an update for our current "Celebrations Banners" sketch at The Sketch File. It's the same sketch we were using before we took a few weeks off for Christmas and New Year's Day. We'll be using this sketch until January 26. I hope you will have time to play with the sketch and create a project or two. Remember, you can always rotate, shrink, enlarge or use the sketch in a way that works best for you, just remember to post your creation with us.  HAPPY CRAFTING!

Dec~Jan Celebration Banners Sketch

I'm back with another card based on our current December~January Celebration Banners Sketch. We hope you will join us at The Sketch File during the month of December and January. Kathy has created another clever sketch for you. You can use it to create a card, scrapbook page or whatever other project it might inspire, but please remember to post your project with us HERE.  Kathy often provides a few versions of the sketch and we encourage you to rotate it, shrink it, expand it or adjust it as needed.

What was I Thinking?

Sometimes I create cards and later when I look at them I  say to myself "What were you thinking?"  This post is all about one of those cards. It all began when I created the card with the cocoa, the "Warm Wishes" sentiment and the striped wavy lines. When I thought it was finished, I laid it aside but really wasn't happy with the way it had turned out. Like many of my projects, my initial idea turned into something totally different. My disappointment with it hung on and the next morning I just had to dismantle it! I knew that I wanted to make the card more simple so I saved the cocoa mug element and re-used it on my second card. I added a bit of holly and left off the sentiment. I ended up liking the second version much better. What do you think? Do you prefer the card with the sentiment or the card with the holly?

Celebration Banners at The Sketch File

Today I am sharing a card based on our new December -January sketch at  the  The Sketch File. Kathy's calling this sketch "Celebration Banners". We'll be keeping this sketch throughout both December and January which means you will have plenty of time to create and post your projects with us.  We plan to take a few weeks off at Christmas and at the beginning of the New Year.  As is often the case, Kathy has actually provided several versions of the same sketch....have fun!

November 1-2-3 Sketch

Today I'm sharing my inspirational card for our November 1-2-3 Sketch challenge at The Sketch File.  You still have time to play along with us. The sketch has 1 base layer, 2 panels and 3 shapes.

CASE-ing Christmas Challenge #31

Inspiration for this card comes from Donna at CASE-ing Christmas. The bright red bow on her card and that curved line through the center inspired me to create my card.  I used red patterned paper and added a curved lined down the center of my card. I used punches to create the snowflakes and added glitter glue to the largest ones. The sentiment and snowflakes were attached to one side of the front panels to allow it to open.

Purple & Green @ 52 CCT

When I first saw the Purple and Green Challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, I was skeptical. I wasn't convinced that I would be able to get these colors to work together, but I went ahead and began creating a card anyway. In the end, I like the color combination. They really do work well together.

To create the tree ornament, I gathered a few pieces of different shades of green cardstock then cut and layered them into the shape of a tree. I crocheted the silver chain-like decoration from thin silver thread and used a dark purple stamp to add a bit of texture to the purple background. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but the purple ended up looking a bit like leather....love that!

Candy Canes

Yesterday I was looking through my pile of completed Christmas cards and realized that I had very few cards with candy cane images.... so I decided to create this one and play along with the holiday food challenge at Jingle Belles. I began by cutting candy cane shapes from red cardstock and added white gel pen stripes. I didn't like the gel pen stripes...they were too faint. So I covered the stripes with paint instead.  I cut red cardstock into three pieces and matted each with white cardstock. Next I attached the tips of the candy canes to the two lower pieces of red cardstock. I dry embossed green cardstock and layered the red and white pieces over it and added the holly, bows and the sentiment. I wasn't sure that I liked the addition of the green, but without it there was just too much white. Also, now that I look at it, I wish I would have used my sewing machine instead of the gel pen to add the stitching around the outer edges(including the green), but I guess it's too late now.

1-2-3 November Sketch

Hello and thanks for stopping by. Today I'm sharing another card I created based on our current sketch at The Sketch File.  This is Kathy's '1-2-3' Sketch.  It has 1 base layer, 2 panels, and 3 decorative squares (or any shape you prefer). We hope it will encourage you to be creative today and to share your creation with us!  We look forward to seeing you at The Sketch File.

3 Snowmen

Yesterday I had seen the current challenge at CASE-ing Christmas and knew that I wanted to play along, but I ran out of time. So, early this morning before anyone else was awake, I began creating my card.  I was inspired by Donna's card (see card at right) in several ways. Her white on blue layout with the snowfield caught my eye right away. I  also loved how she separated the lower snowfield from the skyline with the bit of space. I did something similar with my snowfield.  Next, she used three trees in the foreground. Instead of trees I used snowmen.  I knew that I wanted my snowment to look up at the dry embossed snowflakes on the upper part of my card so, I handcut three snowman, cut and adhered three tiny carrot noses and used chalk to add highlight. I added facial features and then  three handcut scarves, again using chalk to add some hightlight as well as a few gel pen snowflakes.  Like Donna, I added the sentiment to the bottom portion of my card using my computer to print the "Let it Snow" sentiment. I'm glad I found the time to create another Christmas card and appreciate the inspiration from Donna's beautiful card.

November 1-2-3 Sketch, Week 2

Here's my second card based on our current November 1-2-3 sketch at The Sketch File. This sketch has has 1 base layer, 2 panels and 3 decorative "squares" (which can be any shape). You can see I have lots of layer's on my card. I added a bit of texture by crinkling the stocking patterned paper before adhering it to the card base. I haven't used that technique in ages! It was kind of fun revisiting it.   I also dry embossed the bricks onto the cream colored layer, then handcut and decorated the stockings. Can you tell that I tried to replicate the smaller stockings that are pictured on the patterned paper?  It's a fun sketch and I hope you are feeling creative and will create a card or project to link up with us. 

1-2-3 Sketch Launch Time

Here we are at the beginning of November. It's time to launch our newest sketch at The Sketch File. This sketch was created by Kathy. She's calling it the  "1-2-3 Sketch"; it has 1 base layer, 2 panels and 3 decorative squares (can be any shape). Why are there two sketches? It's simply because Kathy usually offers two similar sketches to offer even more inspiration. So are you inspired yet?  If not, we will be back throughout the month, generally on Tuesdays, to share a few new cards to provide even further inspiration. For now, you really should go take a peak at Kathy's stunning card and link up you creation at The Sketch File.  See you there!

The Tree Stands Alone

It's ANYTHING GOES for Challenge #47 at Christmas Card Challenges. There's nothing like an open ended challenge to get the create juices flowing!  But before I could begin crafting, I needed to organize my work space. Over the past few weeks, I've created piles of leftovers from previous crafts. As I organized, I discovered the pieces used to create this very simple card. As you know, it's always much easier to use them instead of sorting and putting them away! Fortunately, I even found the folded tree in my pile. So it was just a matter of layering coordinating pieces together. Once I added the shiny brads to the corners, I attempted to add other embellishments and a sentiment. It all seemed too busy, so the tree stands alone.