Sites of the week

Super long post, but I promise it’s worth every minute of your time!

Happy New Year to All! I hope that you all rang in 2011 in style! That’s what we are doing here with the “new and improved” SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY.

As you might know, I almost gave up SFYTT all together. With a little encouragement, I decided to keep up with it on one condition…MAKE IT THE BEST! With that idea in mind, came a few changes. The most notable change is that this is no longer a weekly sketch challenge, but rather a monthly one. Why? Well, I have to admit that it relieves me of the pressure of creating both the sketch and sample each and every week. However, I know that it’s hard to participate in a weekly sketch and by keeping a sketch open for a month will allow you and other SFYTT fans the freedom to play along within an extended period of time. Another change is that we will have sponsors for EVERY sketch. I have worked hard at procuring sponsorships from the companies that you {and I} love to love. The last big change {and perk for you} is that there are some serious prizes up for grabs. First, each month a random participant using the sponsor’s stamps will win a lil’ somethin’ somethin’! Those that participate in EACH AND EVERY sketch and upload to the provided link system will be eligible to win a GRAND PRIZE valued at OVER $200 to be given on Christmas Day 2011. More info on that below I’ll be introducing the newest Designer of the Month in a sec, too!

I mentioned that we have some great sponsors lined up, right? Of course I wanted to start 2011 in a super swanky style! There is none swankier than…

The Cat’s Pajamas is the home to their trademark feline, Sprinkle, as well as many hip, cool, fun and funny lines of stamps. Both rubber and photopolymer stamps are available, as well as a unique line of CutUps dies and several different embellishments. And, I must mention that I new release is on the way, too. Mark your calendars for January 18th! The Cat’s Pajamas {TCP} has kindly donated a set of choice to a random participant using TCP stamps using {and uploading below} the SFYTT January sketch…

Here’s my creations using the set, You Suit Me…

A couple of detail shots, including one of the bow of linen thread {my most FAVORITE TCP product…other than the stamps}…

I want to give a big, warm welcome to Kim Teasdale! She is the January Designer of the Month. Each month I choose a new Designer of the Month from previous month’s participants. I will freely admit that I am the worst at leaving comments on blogs and SCS, but that doesn’t mean that I am not checking it all out! I am constantly checking out the links for a new Designer of the Month. I have been a fan of Kim’s SFYTT creations {and all her other stuff, too!!} for a long time and I am so happy that she has joined us this month! Welcome, Kim!!

A little about Kim in her own words…
I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada with my husband and two little ones. My son, Taiton is 6 years old and my little girl, Ashlynn is 5 years old. When I’m not creating, I love to read and camp with all my family on my parent’s vacation property on Quadra Island.
I have been interested in many different forms of art since I was little and have been self taught in many of those instances. I love to embroider, stain glass, tole paint, water colour, and quilt but my passion is paper crafting for the instant gratification and love of getting my hands dirty
I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunities to work as a concept designer for some amazing companies including, being a Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni, illustrate a line of stamps and teach both online, and local craft classes. Thank you so much Jen and the SFYTT girls for letting me join you and your designs this month!

Here’s her gorgeous creation using this month’s sketch…

So are you ready to play?

1. The SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY will be posted on the first Saturday of each month on www.iheart2stamp.com at 8am EST and will stay open to participants until the last day of the month, unless otherwise noted.
2. This is for fun! Interpret the sketch as you wish and embellish as desired. There are no vendor restrictions, but we would love to see you use the sponsor’s stamps!
3. Each month we will have a Designer of the Month that will be chosen from past month’s participants.
4. Come and play with us on each and every sketch! On Christmas Day 2011 a prize package worth over $200 will be given away to one very lucky and loyal SFYTT stamper that participates in EVERY sketch for the year.
5. To be eligible for the prize package, you must complete ALL of the sketches by each of the deadlines AND link your creation to the link system on that month’s sketch post (the first Saturday of the month). Everyone except for SFYTT Sisters are eligible for the prize package, including Designer of the Month and international players.
6. When posting your sketch creation on your blog, please post the sketch and link back to the sketch post on www.iheart2stamp.com. When posting to online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT.”
7. Check out the SFYTT Sister’s links just below to see more creations using this month’s sketch.

Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Carole Burrage
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Kerry Johnson
Leigh O’Brien
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Ok, now it’s your turn! One participant from this month that uses TCP stamps will win a set of their choice from TCP. Of course, there’s the grand prize package that was mentioned above, too! Happy stamping and good luck! P.S…Link system closes at midnight on January 31st.

Last week I mentioned that there are some changes coming to Sketch For You To Try. I know that you all have been tapping your feet anxiously awaiting, with bated breath, any bit of information I could possibly spill on this subject. Hahahaha! Yea, it’s really not that big of a deal, but there are some switch-a-roos that I want to let you know about…

First, we bid adieu to Jenn Diercks as part of the SFYTT Sisters. Jenn, THANK YOU for all your contributions and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

On that note, I want to welcome Kerry Johnson to the team! I’m sure that you will LOVE what she has in store for all of us to see!

Don’t forget that this is our last SFYTT of 2010. You can pick ANY old sketch to play along with from now until the end of the year. Why are we taking some rest and relaxation? Because we will be kicking off the year with…

———>A MONTHLY SKETCH!<----------

Yep, no more weekly sketches. SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY will be a monthly sketch. You will be able to see the new sketch on the first Saturday of the month, along with the new Designer of the Month {chosen from SFYTT participants}. Don’t think that is the only time you will see the sketch, though! You will see the sketch throughout the month from the SFYTT Sisters, but there will only be ONE sketch per month. More deets coming on NEW YEAR’S DAY!

Why? To that I say, “Why not?” The truth is that there are a TON of sketch sites out there and I almost threw in the towel do to the saturation of these challenges. I love doing these sketches and I’d like to believe that there is a following out there, too I know that time is limited and it is hard to play along with each and every challenge that you like that is out there in the blogosphere. So, by doing this I am taking myself a step back from the saturated “market” and hopefully make it easier for you to play along, as well. I have to admit that there is a bit of relief on my part, too. It’s a lot of work to come up with each sketch and create samples each and every week {etc., etc., etc.} while balancing home life…by that I mean a pre-schooler and almost 1 year old. I know you know what I mean!!

Oh, and by the way…we are working hard on sponsorships, too, and already have SEVERAL lined up! I am sure that you will like what you see come 2011!

Ok, enough of the “this, that and the other thing” coming next year. Let’s get on with the final SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY of 2010! You can choose ANY previous SFYTT to play with. I went back into the vault to December of 2008 {why does that sound so long ago?} and am playing with this one again…

I remember not being totally in love with my original card, so I am glad that this one turned out MUCH MUCH MUCH better! I used the My Favorite Things stamps set, Grow Love Plant a Tree, by Stephanie Fizer paired with the Sheltering Tree and Leaf Trio and Hearts a Plenty Die-Namics {also from MFT}…

Detail and inside shots…

I’m sure that all the SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY Sisters have more inspiration for you to take a peek at, so be sure to check out what they have created…

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien
Carole Burrage
joining in on the fun a little early…Kerry Johnson

and Ana and Joanne, too! Thanks girlies!!!

I’m still keeping my eye out for next month’s Designer of the Month from all of this month’s participants. Just link your creation to the link system below and when you upload to any online gallery, please use the keyword SFYTT.

It’s cool and cozy and I am curling up to watch a movie with my honey, so I am going to make this short and sweet!

Here’s this week’s sketch…

Did you know that you can get the sketches early? Just become a Facebook Fan {link over there on the left sidebar} and you can get the sketch on Friday nights!

Here’s my sample, using the newly released set, PC Santa, from The Cat’s Pajamas…

OMG…I love that Divine Twine! My stash is almost in need of a refill! Here’s a little about this set from Alma {TCP owner extraordinaire}…

When I was growing up in the sixties, we were all aware of being green and being healthy. Living in San Francisco, we took recycling and conservation like a duck to water. I guess there is a little hippie in me, because when there was a resurgence in green living and recycling recently, I got excited that more people were getting involved in living healthy, happier lives. And since Anthony’s heart attack it made me really aware of being “Heart Healthy”, too. So when Susan Blanchard did this drawing for me of this Santa, I just had to smile. A green, politically correct Santa, delivering his gifts via wind and Santa power. Good for the environment and good for his heart. Literally. Gotta love it.

A huge THANKS to Stephanie Muzzulin, this month’s Designer of the Month. She created several one of a kind beauties and this one is no exception…

Want more great samples? Check out what the SFYTT Sisters cooked up this Thanksgiving weekend…

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien

I hope that you will play along with us! Just link your creation to the inlinkz linking system below and if you upload to online galleries, use the keyword SFYTT, please.

First, I want to give a big THANK YOU to Sparkle Creations for sponsoring us last week! What fun images to play with! The random participant from last week’s sketch that wins 2 Sparkle stamps is…

#14 PIALI

Piali, send me an email {link under my pic to the left} and we will get you all set up with those new stamps!

This week’s sketch is a fun one with lots of possibilities! Tell me what you think of this one…

I took a few creative liberties with this sketch to come up with this card using stamps from The Cat’s Pajamas that will be released Nov. 23 {see previous posts for more deets!}…

There are TONS of TCP elements in this card. If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been able to put down my red Divine Twine. If I’m this addicted at Christmas, I can’t imagine what it’s gonna be like for Valentine’s Day! I attached it to the button, and then again to a small jingle bell to place between her hands. In addition to the red divine twine, I also used some yummy red felt for the heart. This isn’t the cheapo stuff from Mike’s! It cuts smooth to create a professional looking embellishment {if i do say so myself!}. Can you see that I flocked the bottom edge and the cuffs of her coat?…

I also stamped the jingle bells onto the music sheet paper from The Girls’ Paperie…

This snowflake CutUps die will also be available with the new release. I love that you can leave it plain or dress it up in so many ways. I used some flatback pearls to give it a little something here..

Designer of the Month, Stephanie Muzzulin, created this cutie…

Want more great samples of this sketch? Check out with the SFYTT Sisters have done…
Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
and she’s BAAAAAAACK…
Kelly Lunceford
and she is coming back, too!!…
Leigh O’Brien

You can see more sneak peeks of the upcoming release from The Cat’s Pajamas from Ana and Tracy, too!

InLinkz is down for maintenance right now, so hold onto those cards and I will have something up later today hopefully

ETA: Looks like InLinkz is up and running again. Very sad that they are going to become a pay site soon, tho!

Happy Saturday! What a whirlwind weekend it has been. I’ll get to all the deets on that later in the week, but for now I am going to make this short and sweet…really sweet!

This week’s sketch is sponsored by a fabulous company that I was recently introduced to…SPARKLE CREATIONS! Talk about some super cute images, 2 of them being up for grabs for a lucky SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {SFYTT} participant! Sparkle is offering both the Holiday Emily and Rin with Snowman images as a prize. THANK YOU, Sparkle!

Here is this week’s sketch…

I have been referring to this card as my “Carole card…” and it’s not even for the large drink image!! It’s actually the bright fun colors that made me think of her. She can pull off bright colors on a card any day of the week. I think I’m still in training on that one! I used the Cocktail Emily image from Sparkle Creations…

Designer of the month, Stephanie Muzzulin, created this beautiful card using this week’s sketch…

Want more great samples, including more from Sparkle Creations?…
Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Carole Burrage

Wanna play with us? Won’t you? Just directly link your project to the link system below. Designer of the Month is chosen from participants, so even if I don’t always comment {I admit, I am terrible at it}, I am looking! Promise! Have fun with this sketch! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! By the way, don’t forget to use the keyword “SFYTT” when uploading to online galleries Thanks and happy stamping!!

One of these lucky participants will win 2 Sparkle Creations stamps…