Dad's Birthday

Hi and welcome to the latest sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches where our sketch hostess is Narelle Farrugia.  I went a bit collage-y to make this card for my dad's birthday.

I used a lot of products from The Greetery on this card.  On the large die-cut panel I stamped segments of a text stamp across the top left corner and splattered some ink.  I then die-cut the brick wall die and coloured the corners with Copics.

The postage stamps were stamped and die-cut and matted onto a panel I'd coloured with some Altenew ink.  I added some leaves and foliage in the top left and bottom rights segments

The sentiment was stamped with black ink and I added some hearts.  I also added glossy accents to the hearts.

Thanks for visiting!  Please check out the DT cards and have a go yourself!

Products used:

Stamps:  Pretty Postmarks, Petite Eucalyptus (The Greetery), Loads of Wishes (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Fog, Stone (SSS), Tranquility set (Altenew), Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock:  Fog (SSS), Whip Cream, White

Dies:  Brick Layer Die, Postal Frames (The Greetery); Detail Elm Leaves (SSS)

Accessories:  Copics, Glossy Accents

Cheers

Karren

Fishy Trio

Hi!  I'm back with a card for the latest challenge at Fusion.  Check out the new graphic:

I created a sort of fusion by combining most of the sketch with the fish theme from the photo.  I added the horizontal strip behind the three elements rather than in front, but I hope you can still see the sketch.

These fish crack me up!  I stamped and colored them with Copics before die-cutting them.  I masked off a strip on a white card base and blended on some distress inks.  I then added the fish, with the ones at either end popped up on foam tape.  I stamped the simple sentiment before adding Crystal Glaze to all the eyes.

And that's it!  Card done!  I'm heading into a 4 day Easter weekend, so hopefully I'll have enough energy and mojo to spend a chunk of time in the craft room.  It's been about 8 months now since I really wanted to spend time stamping and I'm convinced it's because I'm so busy at work I have nothing left in the tank when I get home!

Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you'll check out the gorgeous cards made by the rest of the design team.

Products used:

Stamps:  That Bites (Avery Elle)
Ink:  Amalgam, Peacock Feathers Distress Ink
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It
Dies:  That Bites (Avery Elle)
Accessories:  Copics, Nuvo Crystal Glaze

Cheers
Karren

Best Wishes Bouquet

Hi and welcome to my blog!  I'm here today with a sketch by Narelle for the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

Now, being a Narelle-sketch, how could I not use flowers? 😄

I created a couple of bouquets of flowers using MFTs Painted Prints stamp set and dies.  I stamped the images with Altenew inks and positioned them onto a white panel stenciled with a brick wall stencil and Grit Paste.  It's hard to see in the photo, but it has a lovely bumpy, grainy texture - just like a brick wall!  You can see a close-up down below.

The sentiment was white embossed onto black and I have to confess to cutting apart the sentiment as it was all one stamp, but I wanted a white "congratulations" and a black-framed "and best wishes" so I cut apart the stamp.  It was a really tight fit and I actually nicked the bottom part at one point, so had to fix the stamped image with a black marker.  You can't tell in the finished product, so it's all good!

I filmed the making of this card so you can watch the video below, or over on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting.  The design team have a beautiful selection of cards so I hope you'll check them out.

I'm linking this up to The Flower Challenge and chose the previous challenge from November 2016 for an Occasion card, as well as Work It Wednesday's Summer theme.

Products used:

Stamps:  Painted Prints (MFT), Loads of Wishes (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Pink Pearl, Coral Bliss, Heart Beat, Rose Quartz, Puffy Heart, Purple Wine, Bamboo, Parrot, Olive, Moss (Altenew)

Cardstock:  Coral Crush, Black Licorice (MFT), White

Dies:  Painted Prints, Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT)

Accessories:  White EP, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen, English Brick Wall Stencil (MFT), Distress Grit Paste (Ranger)

Cheers

Karren

Happy Camper

Hi!  I'm back with a card for our latest Fusion challenge - Glamping.  Check out the challenge graphic:

I'm ashamed to say that a caravan is not my idea of a fun holiday - give me a top hotel close to fabulous shops any day... 😃

I'm also (slightly) ashamed to admit I bought this stamp set specifically for this challenge.  After coloring the images and die-cutting them I went hunting for some cardstock to match the aqua color.  The closest match was SU's Coastal Cabana and it's a pretty good match!  The card is pretty self-explanatory and I sort of followed the sketch - just took a few liberties around the circle element.

Thanks for visiting!  The design team have some fabulous creations so head on over and check them out.

I'm linking this up to the Anything Goes challenges at 4 Crafty Chicks and Simon Says Stamp and the Make Your Mark challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.

Products used:

Stamps:  Glamper Campers (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Intense Black, Versamark

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Dots & Stripes Neutrals (MFT), Coastal Cabana (SU)

Dies:  Glamper Campers (AE), Slanted Sentiment Strips (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics, White EP

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at 4 Crafty Chicks

Orange Bouquet

Hi and welcome to our newest challenge at Fusion.  This week I created a fusion - using this gorgeous new stamp from Avery Elle, which I colored with Copics and Prismacolors.

The patterned paper, including the ombre panel is from CTMH, apart from the black diagonal stripe which is one of the last strips from my MFT Neutrals pack.

Thanks for visiting.  The rest of the DT have some gorgeous cards, so be sure to head on over and check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Floral Bouquet (Avery Elle)
Ink:  Intense Black, Versamark
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Black, Happy Times (CTMH) Dots & Stripes Neutrals (MFT)
Dies:  Blueprints 25, Stitched Flags, Basic Stitch Lines (MFT)
Accessories:  White EP, Copics, Prismacolor Pencils

Cheers
Karren

Rainbow Butterfly

Hi and welcome to another fun challenge at Fusion!  Here is the new challenge:

I created a fusion this time, using the sketch and the rainbow and butterfly elements of the photo.  This is my first attempt.

However, I thought the black was too harsh against the ink-blended panel, so back to the drawing board I went and came up with a softer version.

Same card, different scalloped border.  This, believe it or not, is a piece of patterned paper from a Halloween paper pack.  I think the grey stripes work better with the rest of the card.

For the rest of the card, I white embossed the butterfly onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock, then blended on some distress inks before flicking on some water.  Once the panel was dry, I stamped the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the DT have some gorgeous cards and I hope you'll join in too.

I'm linking this up to the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp as well as the I Wish I Could Fly challenge at Sweet Stampin'.

Products used:

Stamps:  Beautiful Butterflies (Avery Elle), Halftone Circles (Altenew)

Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth, Ghostly Greetings (SU)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, Cracked Pistachio, Spiced Marmalade, Mermaid Lagoon, Worn Lipstick Distress Inks

Dies:  Stitched Scallop Border (Lawn Fawn)

Accessories:  Black Enamel Dots, White EP

Cheers

Karren

Purple Butterflies

Hi and welcome!  It's time for another challenge at Fusion and we've gone for a CAS sketch and a beautiful floral inspiration photo.

I stuck with the sketch for this card, even though I just love that photo!

My card was made using purples and yellows and I got out my Distress Oxide ink (again!) I colored and die-cut some of the butterflies from Avery Elle's Butterflies set and arranged them onto a sponged panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  Down each side of that panel, I layered a strip of Boysenberry cardstock.  The sentiment was die-cut from the same Boysenberry color and painted with clear sparkle pen.  The rest of the sentiment was white-embossed onto black.

Thanks so much for visiting!  The design team have some gorgeous cards using this challenge so be sure to check them out.

I'm linking this up to the current challenge at Time Out where they have a gorgeous butterfly-themed inspiration photo.

Products used:

Stamps:  Butterflies (Avery Elle), Celebrate All The Things (SPD)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide

Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth, Boysenberry (MFT)

Dies:  Butterflies (AE), Celebrate (SPD)

Accessories:  Copics, Clear Sparkle Pen

Cheers

Karren

Something Fishy

Hi and welcome to another fabulous Fusion!  Check out the new challenge we have for you:

This time I was mostly inspired by the sketch, but I also carried across the bright colors from the photo to come up with this card:

These fish just crack me up!  I have been eyeing up this set for ages now and finally bought it.  I stamped and colored the fish with Copics before die-cutting them and coloring them up with clear Wink of Stella.

For the background, I die-cut the Waves Cover Plate with Hawaiian Shores cardstock and adhered it horizontally across a white card base.  I then die-cut another one from scrap card and used it as a stencil, sponging on Peacock Feathers, Broken China and Cracked Pistachio inks onto a die-cut circle.  I then matched up the "waves" with the bottom layer and adhered the circle down.  The fish are popped up on foam tape.

Thanks for visiting.  Below are links to the rest of the design team - you really should check out their fabulous cards.

Becca Cruger
Betty J
Carol Mayne
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson
Linda Callahan
Lyndal Higgins 
Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams

Products used:

Stamps:  That Bites (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China Distress Inks

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Hawaiian Shores (PTI)

Dies:  That Bites, Waves (PTI), Wonky Stitched Circles (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics, Wink of Stella

Cheers

Karren

Congratulations

Hi and welcome!  Today's card was made with the repetition theme at Less is More in mind.  I also went with the "No Patterned Paper" theme at Cardz for Galz (easy for me!) and the gorgeous inspiration pic at Time Out, where I was drawn to the neutral tones with pops of black and color.  I love that inspiration photo so much that I might be back with a second card at some stage :)

I die-cut the Bed of Roses cover plate by Essentials by Ellen from white cardstock and adhered it to a Soft Stone card base.  From there I adhered a white-embossed banner and placed some lilac enamel dots.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Oh Happy Day (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Soft Stone (PTI)

Dies:  Bed of Roses (Essentials by Ellen)

Accessories:  Enamel Dots

Cheers

Karren

PInk and Grey

Hi!  I made a quick (for me, anyway!) card this morning as I couldn't let the week go by without playing along with the inspiration photo at Just Add Ink!  I also chose to play along with Avery Elle's Think Pink challenge and the CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.

I have been watching the videos over at Craftsy where Deepti hosts a class on watercoloring.  I have learned quite a bit watching these videos and am now trying to get some practice in!  The background of this card was done using masking tape and painting on some diluted Hickory Smoke ink.  Once it was dry, I rounded the bottom corners and adhered it to a white card base.

I sponged Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry distress inks onto a scrap of white in an ombre fashion then die-cut the Hello word before painting it with Wink of Stella.  The rest of the sentiment comes from the Love Notes set and was cut out and popped up on foam tape.  I deliberately didn't put any embellishments on the card, wanting to keep a clean and graphic look.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Love Notes (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Ranger Archival Black, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Hickory Smoke

Cardstock:  White, Watercolor

Accessories:  Simply Said Hello die (Avery Elle), Wink of Stella

Cheers

Karren

Bunny Baby

Hi and welcome to Freshly Made Sketch Challenge Day!  Today, our sketch comes to you courtesy of Jen Mitchell, who has an amazing ability of taking grunge stamps and making the most beautiful clean cards!  

For my card, I decided to make a baby card as one of our neighbors is due to give birth to her first baby in February.  They don't know whether it's a boy or a girl, so I kept to neutral tones for my card.

I stamped and white embossed this cute little bunny onto two patterns of paper and fussy cut them out.  I used the second pattern for the ears, arm and tail as well as the balloon.

I white embossed the sentiment on a piece of Fog cardstock and adhered that plus a larger piece to my white card base.  Some randomly arranged silver thread and sequins finished off this CAS card.

Thanks for visiting.  I'm linking this up to Avery Elle's challenge this month which is all about paper piecing.  The rest of the FMS design team have some fabulous cards to encourage you to give our challenge a go, so be sure to check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Storybook (Avery Elle)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Fog (SSS), Sweet Slumber (SU)
Accessories:  Silver Thread, White EP, Sequins

Cheers
Karren