Sites of the week

Happy Friday, friends! Or, should I say Happy FUN FRIDAY! I have another YNS FUN FRIDAY post here today and I want to chat about my go to sketch. This isn’t a sketch that I came up with and then followed to make a card. It’s just a way that I kept layering my paper with various different cards so it’s come to be my go to sketch…

Here’s a card I made with the Swimming By Mermaid set from Your Next Stamp…

Details shot…

You can see another sample of this sketch with YNS stamps HERE.

The key to making a sketch your own each and every time lies in the details.

-Play with shapes to create interest on your card. On this card, I two different flag ended papers to create the bottom rectangular label. Also, just because the main image panel on the sketch shows a circle, that doesn’t mean you are stuck using a circle. Try an oval, a french label or any other shape you see fit into your design.

-Add embellishments and sentiments in different places. On this card a sentiment is placed in the center of the rectangular panel, but I had a ribbon there on the linked card.

-Use texture in different places and in different ways. On the linked card, I embossed the circular cardstock panel, but on this card I used pattern paper and paper pierced it.

-Remember that variety is the spice of life and that holds true even when using a go to sketch. Don’t forget decorative edges, such as the starburst edges here or the lacey edges on the linked card.

-Dimension is fun and eye catching! I chose to leave the bottom panel flat and pop up each of the panels above. This card is going to require some extra postage, but I think it’s worth it because if everything was flat it wouldn’t be as aesthetically appealing…which is kinda the whole reason we send a handmade card as opposed to a Hallmark version, right?

-Finally, just have fun with your sketch! Just like there’s no crying in baseball, there’s no rule saying you have to do this or that in cardmaking.

TGIF my friends! Have a great day!

Hello, friends! Thank you all for the love and support via Facebook, email or comment in regards to my news in my post yesterday. It is definitely an exciting time for me right now and I really appreciate all the support and best wishes.

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog lately, you know I have been knee deep in creating cards for the new release from The Cat’s Pajamas. I know I say this with every TCP release, but I think this is one of my favorite releases. Each one can be my favorite, right?

I have a couple cards on my pile that I still need to share here on my blog. This first one features the new set, Aye Aye Captain with the beloved bunny {or Bun Bun as he is lovingly referred to} along with the Wave CutUps die…

Detail shot…

This next card uses the set Quality Time in conjunction with the new Window CutUps die and Queen of Hearts CutUps die {used for the valance}. This set was created for Cat Packer, Carole, who is an amazing mom {and friend and designer!}…

Detail shot…

The moon was created from punching a circle in a piece of yellow cardstock and then using a larger circle punch around the negative space to punch out a crescent. Super easy and it was a fun addition to the new Window Panes CutUps die which is very cool in the fact that there are no edges to define your end space. Meaning…you can make it a window like I did, a door like Julie did or to create a decorative cut on a card front, etc. Have fun with this one…and its accessories!

Gotta run! Have a beautiful day!

When I first saw this new bunny image from The Cat’s Pajamas, I fell in love with it’s whimsy and it made me sing “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket…” Other than the mustaches {previewed yesterday by TCP} that crack me up and the Commemorating You set that I helped design, this might be my favorite from this release. Can you tell I just can’t pick a favorite?!?

Anywhoooo, here’s what I came up with using the new set, WISH, from The Cat’s Pajamas…

The more I look at this card, the more I realize that I need to make a girl and boy version to put shadowboxes for my kiddos’ rooms. Don’t you think that would be so cute? Me, too!

Here’s a detail shot…

Lots more cuteness on Alma’s blog. Plus, join us for the release party tomorrow night on the TCP forum on SCS. Also on the TCP forum on SCS is the IN IT TO WIN IT THREAD {<--read: free stamps and dies}. Good Luck!!

Happy Saturday SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY friends!

We are working our way towards the 2,000 mark on Facebook {SLOWLY, but surely}. Have you liked SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY yet? I working on a celebration {read: give away!}for 2,000!

I’ve had a lot of fun with this month’s sketch. As I have noted, it’s a basic sketch which leaves a lot of room for you to embellish and make it your own {try it flipped!}.

A big thanks to this month’s SFYTT sponsor, THERE SHE GOES…

I created another card using the cutie patootie set, Bee Happy…

Detail shot…

Want more inspiration? Check out what some of the SFYTT sisters have created using the APRIL SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

Jodi
Carole
Susan
Jen T.
Kerry

Want to play along? All of the details and upload information can be found HERE on the original April SFYTT post. Happy Stamping!!

I can *finally* say that I think that I am in control of my {creative}to do list! WaHooooo!! Just don’t ask me about how the house work is coming along, ok?! Boy, oh boy did I have it piled on high! Baby steps, right? Baby steps and bubble baths have gotten me through…

This is one of my favorite cards that I have made for this release from The Cat’s Pajamas. I wanted it to have a little bit of a “boutique” feel to it. I think that I accomplished that through the choice of colors and design/embellishments. The top pink stripe panel is created from a circle that I trimmed 3 sides of and then added the embellished flag ended sentiment panel.

Do you love the bubbles? I love the bubbles!…almost as much as the cutie Sprinkle image. In case you didn’t know, Sprinkle is the name of the cat. I gave her some super spar-ka-lay bubbles by combining Mermaid and Diamond Stickles {colored with Copics first}…

Full BUBBLE THERAPY set reveal…

Sneaky peeks started on Tuesday this week. You can catch details and peeks of each set every day on Alma’s blog. And, don’t forget if you want to win this release you have to be IN IT TO WIN IT on our thread on Splitcoast.