Floral for Freshly Made Sketches

Hello Everyone!

It's time for a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  Jen Mitchell has a great one for us- there is so much you could do with this; I had a hard time deciding what stamp set to use!

I settled on a Hero Arts stamp set, Dahlia Stamp and Cut, for my image.

Here is your fabby sketch!

The flower is colored with Arteza Real Brush Pens. My white panel has a very light stenciled image using an Altenew stencil and Gina K Designs Moonlit Fog ink.  The sentiment is a retired Honey Bee Designs stamp.  

I am linking up to this month's The Flower Challenge- 'Pink and Gray'.

As well as The Card Concept, with this gorgeous inspiration photo~

I was inspired by the gorgeous pink blooms and the black and white table linens.  My card is clean and layered.

Check out the Freshly Made Sketches blog for all of the fabulous inspiration from the team .  We hope you play along!

Lee Ann

Monochromatic Reminder in Red!

Hi Everyone!


I am back with a reminder about The Rainbow Card Challenge; you have 2 more weeks to get your card linked up!

We are midway through the first challenge at The Rainbow Card Challenge.  This month's monochromatic color is RED.  Hope you can join us!
For this card, I used a new to me set that was begging to see ink as well as my brand new Daniel Smith Watercolors that I bought from Lydia/aka Understand Blue.  She has a FB group dedicated to Daniel Smith watercolors and sells splits of the paints which makes them AFFORDABLE!!!!  You can check it our HERE~
I am just learning how to use watercolors- it is not as easy as it looks for sure!  But that is my crafty resolution for the new year- to learn how to use/improve my use of watercolors, especially the DS ones.
So for this card, I used Impression Obsession's Mushroom stamp by the talented Dina Kowal.  The sentiment comes from the Impression Obsession Happy Trails stamp set.  I thought that the mushroom would be a good first image to try the watercolors on.  Not overly detailed and only a few colors needed.  I have to say, it was fun using the paints and I am happy with my first DS watercoloring.
I am linking up to Impression Obsession's challenge, 'New Beginnings'.  I suspect you are wondering about the 'new beginnings' on this card.  Well, you would think, as a cardmaker, I would send out tons of snail mail.  I don't.  Can you relate?  I really, really struggle with writing inside the cards.  So this year is a 'new beginning' of sending out snail mail- hence the happy mail sentiment on the card.  This will go to a friend of mine in Indianapolis.  She sent me a Christmas card and I am remiss in responding to her. 
And don't forget to link up your RED project at The Rainbow Card Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann  

Wintery Scene

Hello All!

We are up to our eyeballs in snow here in St Louis (well, not quite, but around 10 inches so far), so I thought I would create a wintry scene with a new to me stamp set from Raisin Boat. I had been looking and looking for a realistic bear and this fit the bill perfectly~

I used and oldie but goodie stencil and sponged some Black Soot Distress ink for my background.
I stamped the bear from the Got Game Stamp Set-you can get it now for half off-  and colored him in with Copics.  This is just a gorgeous, detailed image.  And the sentiments- well, if you have a hunter in your family, they are perfect!
The bear is popped up on dimensional tape and added white splatters for snow.

I used the colors from The Color Throwdown~

Sketch is from Sketch Saturday~

I am also linking up to the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge~

And the Male Room- Anything Goes

And Casology- 

Thanks for stopping by!  Stay warm!

Lee Ann 

Freshly Made Sketches 370

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to another Freshly Made Sketch!  This week's sketch is courtesy of the talented Jen Timko,  and it is a great, versatile sketch. 

For today's card, I used a new to me Gina K Designs stamp, You Make Me Smile. 

As you can see in the sketch below, I turned the sketch~

I stamped the Gina K image twice and colored with Copics.  I had colored in a background but just did not like the way it turned out, so I fussy cut out the images and placed them on a die cut background.  The sentiment is a Concord and 9th die that I die cut out in white and then used Copics to do a little ombre coloring.  Lastly I added some sparkle with my Wink of Stella pen and some sequins.
Head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to check out the rest of the fabulous inspiration from the team! 

Thanks for stopping in and have a Blessed week!

Lee Ann  

Starting the New Year Fresh!

Hello Everyone!

I am so excited to share with you that I am now part of one of my all time favorite challenge blogs, Freshly Made Sketches!  This is one of Lesley Croghan's babies and I have been playing along since the very beginning.  Looking for a sketch?  Look no further than FMS!

Here is your first sketch of 2019~

I made 3 versions of the sketch before I settled on the above card.  I think I like best it because it was made with love.  I young teacher I work with just adopted to small boys over the holidays.  I thought these adorable critters from Mama Elephant would be perfect for the new family!
I ended up using colors from the MFT color challenge this week; I just love this combo and want to make more using these  colors!  I used the adorable Animal Parade stamp set and colored with Copics.  The background panel was die cut with MFT's Dienamics Stitched Rectangle Scalloped Edge Frames.  I pulled the word 'adoption' from a Lawn Fawn set.
That's it for me!  Now it is your turn!

Hope to see you in the FMS gallery!

Lee Ann 

New Challenge in Town!

Hello, Hello and Happy New Year!!!

I have exciting news to start out the new year;  there is a new challenge in town that will stretch your creativity- The Rainbow Card Challenge will challenge you to create monochromatic cards!

So, here is your first challenge for the year 2019~

Yes, obviously we are starting out with RED!  I went with a Valentines themed card, but you do not have to do so.  Mynn, one of the challenge co-founders, has made some wonderful graphics for each month's challenge~

I  was inspired by the sketch at (CAS)E This Sketch~

I used an adorable MFT stamp set that is actually one of the United we Flourish stamp sets sold by Ellen Hutson.  It had yet to see ink, but it was perfect for a Valentine card, especially when paired with this fabulous Stamplorations stencil.  The pooches are colored with Copics and the ink color for stenciling is my new favorite red, Gina K's Cherry Red.

I am also linking up to The Mod Squad Challenge- 'Love'.  

You have the entire month of January to create, plenty of time to be stamping all things red!

Thanks for stopping by and have a Blessed New Year!

Lee Ann  

Snowmen

Hello again!
 I had time to finish up another project that was sitting on my desk, after finding the perfect sketch and perfect technique for this chilly guy. 

I colored this cutie up as soon as I got him, but then the MOJO disappeared. 
Along comes the sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches and a technique shared on the Unity Stamps Facebook age~

Love the modern look of this card.  And I love this snowman!  (He is from Unity Stamp Co.)
I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Blessed Christmas if I don't make it back here before then!

Lee Ann