let's celebrate | freshly made sketches

Hi there! Got some crafty time in this weekend, and decided to play along with some of my favorite challenges to keep the creative juices flowing ;)

First challenge I worked on was Freshly Made Sketches #574

Here is the card design I came up with....

I started with a white card base and added some cardstock strips from Altenew's Sea Shore gradient cardstock set. Then I ran the panel through Spellbinders diamond plaid embossing folder, taking special care to align the stripes of the panel with the plaid pattern of the embossing folder.

Next I stamped the sentiments and adhered them to the card base, the larger sentiment was adhered with foam tape for dimension/interest. I'm not much of an 'embellisher', so I just added some die cut hearts and a few dew drops.

This was a good challenge for me, since I don't typically put sentiments on the diagonal - I felt that the small sub-sentiment strip worked well diagonally with the focal sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo - rae

Supplies:

Altenew: Sea Shore gradient cardstock set

Spellbinders: diamond plaid embossing folder

Simon Says Stamp: XL Birthday Greetings stamp & die

the Greetery: Sentiment Suite: birthday stamp & die

Concord & 9th: Big on You heart die

Other: Tsukineko onyx black ink; white cardstock; Studio katia dew drops; white heart puffy sticker; foam tape

hello | Altenew January 2023 Inspiration Challenge

hey there!

Time for another awesome Altenew Inspiration Challenge

Altenew's January 2023 Inspiration Challenge | spring inspired card

Who wouldn't be inspired by these colors?! This is one of my all-time favorite color combinations, so I was eager to get creating! Since I don't own any stargazer lily stamps... note to self, get some!!... I chose a flower that had a similar petal shape... can't help my literal interpretation of photo prompts sometimes! LOL

I chose Altenew ink colors that I thought most resembled those in the lily, and kept one of the flowers solid light pink as a nod to the pretty rose in the inspiration photo. 

The card layout is courtesy of the latest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #570 - love the sketch, it made the card design come together easily!

I finished the card off with a bold black embossed sentiment - I'm always a sucker for bright, bold colors paired with crisp white and bold black... I'm all about that color pop ;)

Also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes :)

Altenew Supplies:

Stamps/Dies: Fabulous Florets stamps; Hello & Hugs stamp and die

3D Embossing Folder: checkered diamonds

Inks: baby pink, pinkalicious, rubellite, limeaid, lime, chamomile, marigold

Other Supplies:

PinkFresh Studios: stitched scallop rectangles

Brutus Monroe: raven ultra fine embossing powder

Spellbinders: gold sequins

Tsukineko: onyx black ink

Other: white cardstock, foam tape

Thanks so much for stopping by today, appreciate your visit!!

xoxo

rae

thankful

 Played along with another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches

I really enjoyed interpreting this sketch... here is my card:

Ok, so can I tell you how much I really enjoyed ink blending this panel? Ink blending is not something I do, like ever... lol... but after making this card, I think I've changed my mind, I want to ink blend all the things now!!

I ink blended the pierced panel using Distress Oxide Inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, fired brick). I also lightly inked the sentiment background before stamping the sentiment with aged mahogany distress oxide ink. The rest of the card parts were made from an autumn-themed patterned paper pack - I die cut the circles and fussy cut the pumpkins and gourds and adhered them with foam tape.  

Really enjoyed creating this card, glad to have had another great FMS sketch as the inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo

rae

Supply List:

Pink Fresh: hexagon tile cover plate, diagonal stitched circles

Simon Says Stamp: CZ Design Clean line Gratitude stamp and die

Distress Oxide Inks: mustard seed, spiced marmalade, fired brick, aged mahogany

Recollections patterned paper

May Arts jute twine

Other: white cardstock, foam tape

sending hugs

 Another awesome sketch challenge is up at Freshly Made Sketches...

I flipped the sketch and also followed the color scheme from the latest Color Throwdown challenge to create my card.

This was a treat to create, I'm always so inspired by the sketches at Freshly Made Sketches and refer to them often when making my cards!

Supply List:

Altenew: Extra Special stamp set and die, Deck Planks 3D embossing folder, Mini Inks: sunray, chamomile, dark chocolate, frayed leaf, forest glades

Pink Fresh: Perfect sentiments stamp set

The Greetery: crimped frame die

Other supplies: Versafine onyx black ink, Ranger black diamond stickles, cardstock (brown, white). patterned paper, white enamel dots, foam tape

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo- rae

love you a lot

 Playing along with the latest challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches

I flipped the sketch, and came up with this...

I started with a panel of pinstriped patterned paper. To create the heart I inked a plain white piece of cardstock with red hued distress inks, then spritzed with water to oxidize. I ran the paper through my die cut machine with the Pink Fresh diagonal stitched plaid cover plate, then die cut the heart shape with a Hero Arts heart die.  The heart was adhered to the card with foam tape. I stamped the sentiments (Concord & 9th Big on You set), die cut the larger sentiment with the coordinating die, and added to the card. Also used were a strip of gold glitter tape and a few gold embellishments.

Another simple creation for me :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo

rae

I love you so, so much

For today's card I played along with the latest sketch challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches

I have always loved square card sketches! I decided to make my card Valentine-themed, take a look...

Other than the stenciling, the basic technique here is pretty old school, but hey, after a one year card making hiatus, it's hard to break old habits!! Long live pretty bows LOL!!

I've always enjoyed the sketches at Freshly Made Sketches, and this sketch was no exception. I went with a love/Valentine theme, chose a cheery color palette, did some stenciling, die cutting and stamping, and voilà.

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo

rae

today is all about you

hooray for card sketches!!! 

nothing spurs my creativity more than a good sketch... and thanks to the latest Freshly Made Sketches sketch, I was able to get creative!! LOL

Here is what I came up with...

This was a fun one to put together. I'm not much of a 'stenciler', but had fun creating the striped background, definitely want to try that again. I decided to create a little 'collage' around the sentiment strip sketch inspiration. 

Supplies used:

Altenew ombre stripe stencil

Distress oxide ink - tumbled glass

MFT - All About You stamp set

SSS - 'you' die 

Waffle Flower clear enamel dots

white embossing powder

black, kraft, white cardstock

Thank you so much for stopping by!!

xoxo

rae

i love you

 hello hello!

I was able to get some crafty time in this weekend and played along with the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge 

Here is my card...

I'm trying to 'practice' my clean & simple technique skills.... difficult to do when one is utterly addicted to patterned paper... LOL!! I so admire the c&s style, I just feel like my cards are so plain when I try my hand at it! I showed my daughter the end result and she said that the card somehow reminded her of the PowerPuff girls... what?! LOL

Pleased as punch to have another fab Freshly Made Sketches sketch challenge to inspire my creativity!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

xoxo

rae

let's be the fairytale

 hello hello!

Was *finally* able to get creative again this weekend, and as always, turned to Freshly Made Sketches for my inspiration, particularly their latest sketch challenge

and here is my creation...

Initially I was a little daunted by the sketch... I mean, it's been MONTHS since I've made a card LOL... but while rummaging through my supplies, I stumbled upon this Simon Says Stamp stitched heart collage die and decided to build my card around it and everything else fell into place!

Felt good to create again... so grateful for the sketch challenge to spur my creative mojo!!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

rae

It's ok to not be ok

 Played along with the latest sketch challenge over at CAS(E) This Sketch #392

And here is my card...

I used a yummy Altenew stamp set to stamp the panel, added some black embellishments, and tied a stamped sentiment around the panel. A simple, clean card ... just the way I like it!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

rae

wish big

time for another challenge card...

this time I played along with sketch #454 at Freshly Made Sketches 

I just love working with sketches, and this sketch was great inspiration!

I've been playing with Altenew's flower stamps lately, and was in the mood for a bold and bright card, so I resorted to one of my favorite color schemes... black and white with a color pop. I chose not to embellish the card, allowing the stamped flower and embossed sentiment to be the focal point against the striped backdrop.

Thanks for dropping in!

xoxo

rae

blessed

Sooo glad it's finally feeling like fall here in Alabama!

I channeled my 'yay fall' vibes into making this card...

I followed the latest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #453

and the latest Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: No Stamps Allowed

And here's my card...

I was in the mood for some cozy buffalo check plaid and muted autumnal colors. 

Lots of die cutting here, to include the yummy glittery gold die cut sentiment.

Another simple card for me, but that's about all I can muster right now as I only have use of my non-dominant left arm as I recover from rotator cuff surgery and have another 4 weeks to go in the sling!! Just goes to prove, nothing can keep us paper crafters down if we feel the urge to create!! LOL

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo

Rae

 

miss you

Paired two great challenges to make this card...

CAS(E) This Sketch #373 and 

Color Throwdown #594

I just love this color combination and the inspiration photo!!

I used my (new to me) Altenew stamp sets Fabulous Florets and Sin,cere Greetings and new mini ink cubes. Trying my hand at this stamping thing... LOL!

 thanks so much for stopping by!!
xoxo
rae

sending hugs and happy thoughts

Playing along with another great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - #436

I recently did a little crafty supply therapy... so on this card I used my new (to me) Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set and inks and new Spellbinders dies. I pulled the papers from my stash to complement with the colors in the stamped flower.

Simple, clean, card... just my style!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
xoxo
rae

always thinking of you

played along with another fantastic CAS(E) this sketch challenge #368

Not gonna lie... this one really stumped me at first... I mean really, truly stumped me. 

But, I'm glad that I forged on and faced the challenge. I take on these challenges as a way to step outside of my typical card making comfort zone and grow!

So, after a LOT of struggle... here is what I came up with...

Super simple, but it's all good.
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
rae

we got this

Time for another Freshly Made Sketches card sketch - #430

 Wow... this sketch reallllyyyy stumped me at first. I definitely do not work with diamond shapes!! When I get stumped I usually opt for an alternate shape or solution... not this time! I challenged myself to come up with something that fits that diamond shape, and I'm so glad I did, I LOVE the card!!!!

I penciled out the diamond shape on some watercolor paper. Then I stamped the awesome image by Picket Fence Studios and watercolored their dresses with distress inks. I inked the edges of the diamond shape with black ink to give it a border and some definition. I chose vivid background colors to make the card uplifting, and thought that the sentiment was fitting for these times we are living in.....

Thanks for stopping by...
xoxo
rae

Thanks

hey it's your day!

Time for another great CAS(E) this sketch! challenge #367

When I first looked at the sketch I was stumped.... but then I came across this patterned paper from the Hooray! collection by Crate Paper and the card just came together!

All of the card pieces were fussy cut from the patterned paper and adhered to the card front with foam tape. Super simple, but a fun, colorful birthday card to have in your greeting card arsenal!

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo rae

keep smiling

Played along with the latest color challenge at Color Throwdown #587 (pink, grey, green, kraft)

and Freshly Made Sketches #429

Although it took me multiple attempts to get a card 'just right' (several rejects on my desk), it was a really fun process.

Found some patterned papers that went with the color challenge.

Heat embossed some flowers on dark grey patterned paper. Die cut some leaves. Stamped the sentiment on kraft paper, and voila, challenge card complete!

I really enjoyed stepping outside of the my comfort zone to create this one!!!

Thanks for stoppping by!!

xoxo

rae

you make me smile

Played along with a couple of challenges this weekend...
I enjoy combining a sketch challenge and a color challenge
CAS(E) This Sketch #365 and Color Throwdown #586

And here's my card!
This was a fun one to make!!
I rummaged through all of my pink and purple papers, and knew that I wanted to use a bold sentiment. It was fun creating with a color palette outside of my comfort zone.

Great challenge!
Thanks for stopping by...
xoxo
rae

freshly made sketches #428

played along with Freshly Made Sketches #428

Some days you just really need that 'you time', ya know??
As always,  I enjoyed playing with patterns and color in my paper selection, and kept my stamping simple in just black ink.

Thanks for stopping by!!
xoxo
rae