Freshly Made Sketches with Altenew

Hello, Hello!

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  Our sketch designer this week is Jen Mitchell.  She always amazes with her creative CAS designs.  I love the bold elements in this sketch.

I went with a very bold and graphic design, using the gorgeous Wallpaper Art Stamp Set (that I have had in my stash for months and had not gotten around to using).

Once again, I got out my well loved watercolor palette, filled with Ken Oliver Colorbursts.  The flower is stamped in Versafine black ink on watercolor paper and then painted with the Colorbursts using the wet on wet technique.
For the background panel, I used a pencil to mark off a stripe along the right side.  I then traced around various sizes of circle dies with in the stripe.  I used a couple of shades of blue Colorbursts to paint within the stripe.  Once everything was thoroughly dry, I stamped the leaves in Versafine ink as well.  I fussy cut the flower out, added white gel pen to the stamens and added a few sequins to the card.
The inspiration for the card came from Altenew and their monthly challenge.

I am also linking up to Time Out Challenges~

In addition, I am linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, 'Anything Goes". 

Check out the what the rest of the FMS team has created for inspiration, then join us!  See you in the gallery!

Lee Ann 

Simple Pumpkin

Hello All!

Well, after a very dreary Saturday, we have a gorgeous, sunny Sunday to wake up to.  I think this is going to be peak color week in Missouri.  I am going out in autumn style with my presumably last fall card this season.

Yes, I am grateful that I live in a world of Octobers!  I used this fabulous Impression Obsession set, Pumpkin Kisses,  (yes, again) and lots of Shimmerz Paints goodness.
I used the packaging technique, also known as the smooshing technique.  The colors I used are~
Dandy Lion Creameez
Just Peachy Creameez
Miner Miner 49er Inklingz 
Coal Shimmerz
See the Shimmerz blog for complete details on how I made this card.
Once my background was complete, I die cut a section out, and then diecut again with a gray cardstock.  I used the awesome Impression Obsession Large Frame die to frame the sentiment and background.
My pumpkin, which is also from the Pumpkin Kisses stamp set, was colored with Copics and popped up on dimensionals.
I am linking up to Impression Obsession's challenge, Harvest Treats.

I am also linking up to CASE this Sketch~

I am also linking up to Color Throwdown.

I am also linking up to Just Add Ink for their 'Just Add a Technique' challenge. My technique is smooshing, also known as the packaging technique.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

Going Purple with FMS

Hello Everyone!
Time is flying by!  I cannot believe it is the end of October already!  Halloween?  Thanksgiving?  Whaaaat?  I am in denial, lol!
So here we are, another week, another new sketch.  The newest sketch for Freshly Made Sketches is from Jen T. I adore her clean and elegant style and I adore this sketch!  I think you will like it too!

I love this sketch- so many possibilities!

I have had this Picket Fence Studios image partially colored on my desk for about a year.  No judging, please, lol!
I decided it would be perfect for this sketch. Beautiful Girl Jordan is colored with Copics. My base panel is tone on tone stamped with a butterfly from Technique Junkies called Butterfly 2.  Planning on shopping?  You can take 10% off your TJ order with code TJ10LeeAnn.
The sentiment is from Altenew's Sentiments and Quotes Stamp Set.

I am linking up to Time Out Challenges- encouraging.  

Check out how the rest of  the FMS team has used this sketch, then link up your own take on the sketch!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lee Ann

Cased Leaves

Hello!

Are you tired of leaves yet?  I hope not!  I have one more to share using the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  I have to give credit where credit is due, though.  Do you follow the talented Debby Hughes of Lime Doodle Designs?  I learn so much from her water coloring videos.
One of her most recent ones was water coloring leaves and I followed right along with my leaves.

My leaves are stamped in Old Paper Distress ink, using my MISTI to be sure to get a good impression of the image on the rough paper.  I used Daniel Smith Watercolors and the paper used is Arches 140# cold press watercolor paper.
I did not want to mask the leaf images to stamp the acorns, so I stamped them separately and then fussy cut them out, popping them up on dimensional adhesive to add some depth.
I am please overall with how this turned out.  Practice, practice, practice!

I am linking up to the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge where this week's theme is fall/autumn.

 Thanks so much for stopping in!  Have a magnificent week!

Lee Ann 

Happy Fall Y'All!

Hello All!

Today's card is very CAS as it was inspired by the AAA Challenge, One Corner.

I just love this scarecrow and I thought he would look cute popping up in the corner of the card.  He is colored with Copics.  The scarecrow is from the Happy Scarecrow set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.
The background is stenciled.

I am also linking up to The Male Room for their Halloween Challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

Turn My Eyes

Hello Everyone!

I sat down to make a couple of cards today and the MOJO just seemed flat.
This creative worship idea had been in the back of my head for a while and I really wanted to give it a go.
I watched a few videos on drawing eyes and sketched one out on paper, then cut it out and used it as a basic template.
Once I was happy with the basic shape, I outlined it with a Sakura Pigma Micron pen.  Then I started mixing colors with my Daniel Smith watercolors.  Yes, I said mixing.  I really stepped out of my comfort zone with this.

Once I was happy with the coloring, I made sure it was all dry and then added eye lashes.  I used a smaller Micron pen for the lower lashes.
Well, I had to do some hand lettering.  Not liking it but it is what it is.  I also used the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Rebecca Alpha Stamp Set to stamp the name 'Jesus'.  I like the stamps much better, lol.
But my friend MariLynn reminded me that it is not about perfection or wanting my lettering to look like others.  And she is so right.  It is about worship, after all.
I need to remind myself multiple times a day to go to Jesus first.  I want so badly to handle everything in my own puny strength.  Keeping my eyes on Jesus helps me to stay grounded in Him and turn to Him for my needs.    He does a far better job than I could ever even begin to do.

Thanks for stopping by, friend!

Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann 

Leaves and Leaves

Hello All! 

This week has left me feeling spent!  Anyone else feeling this way?  Not much crafting is going on but I am sneaking in here with a couple of autumn themed cards using the new, Autumn Splendor, from Sweet n Sassy Stamps. 

This card is colored completely with Copics- simple coloring, very little shading, just enough to give the leaves depth.  These gorgeous and lifelike leaves are from the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set.   I have given the leaves a bit of texture with the Typewriter Text Background Stamp. I used some gorgeous Rose Gold embossing powder for the sentiment, which irl, matches the orangy leaves pretty good. 
I am linking this card up to the Inkspirational Challenge, being inspired by the theme and colors of the inspiration photo. 
The next card was inspired by the Frame It challenge at Just Us girls. 

These leaves were colored using the no line water coloring technique and my beloved Ken Oliver Colorbursts.   I framed the sentiment with a scalloped rectangle die.  The sentiment is from the Inspirational Word Art 1 Stamp Set.  The leaves were painted using the wet on wet technique and fussy cut out.  

Thanks for stopping in! 

Lee Ann 

A New FMS Sketch and Sweet n Sassy Stamps Oct. Release Blog Hop!

Hello All!

Welcome to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps October New Release Blog Hop!  You are in for a treat with all of the amazing inspiration along the way.  Hop along with us, leaving a comment on each blog hop post, and you will have a chance to win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps store.  Deadline to comment is October 22nd, 10pm ET.  Winner will be announced on the snss blog on October 23rd. 

I love a neutral palette, so the inspiration at Inspired By was right up my alley.  I also used the newest Freshly Made Sketches sketch for this card.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Keeping with the neutral palette theme, I heat embossed my leaves and acorns with gold ep on vellum and fussy cut them out.  The leaves are from the fabulous Autumn Splendor Stamp Set.  I stamped the background stamp, Typewriter Text, in kraft ink.  A bit of black and white striped paper and a bit of kraft cs make the perfect strip for the black die cut sentiment.  A few sequins and gold thread behind he sentiment finish the card.

Next up, a super CAS card using one leaf image from the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set.

Inspiration for this card came from CASE This Sketch!~

 I gave no line water coloring a go again, this time stamping with Old Paper Distress Ink. I  used Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper and colored with Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints.
The sentiment, from the Sympathy Innies Stamp Set, was heat embossed in brown ep on vellum.

Sweet n Sassy Stamps has a fantastic sale going on now through October 31- 15% off on all autumn themed stamps.

Hop along with the rest of the design team for some fabulous inspiration!  

Sweet n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley 

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi

Lee Ann Barrett- You are Here

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin

Have a blessed day!  

Lee Ann 

Loose Christmas

Hello and Happy Sunday!

Today I have a Christmas card to share using some beautiful Poinsettias (code TJ10LeeAnn gets you 10% off all products) from Technique Junkies.

I started by Heat embossing the poinsettias in gold ep from Gina K.  I had to do some minimal masking with the two flowers at the bottom.
Then I pulled out my beloved Ken Oliver Colorbursts and painted a light pink wash across the card and over the images.  Colorbursts are currently as cheap as I have seen them right now at Blick's Art Supply (42% off!).
I added color to my poinsettias using the wet on wet technique with red and pink colors.  I added a bit of green to the outer petals.  Once I was satisfied with the flowers I splattered on some pink color as well as some white acrylic paint.
The sentiment was stamped in some Versafine Clair Chianti ink.  A few sequins finish the card.

I am linking up to Watercooler Wednesdays for their All about Occasions Challenge, as well as Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Christmas.
I am also linking up to the Just Add Ink Challenge- Just Add 'H'- where my H is Heat embossing.
I am also linking up to Addicted to Stamps and More for their Make Your Mark Challenge.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Lee Ann 

A Frosty Snow Man

Hello!
 I am up on the Shimmerz Blog today with this blustery card.

Isn't he the cutest?  This was my very first Sweet n Sassy Stamps stamp purchase.  This particular set has been retired, but Mr.  Snowman has been resurrected in the Crazy About Snowmen Stamp Set as well as being available as a digi image.
But first things first.  I started with the background- some mixed media paper, a Tim Holtz stencil and some Shimmerz Tidy Widy Texturez paste.  I love this paste as it maintains a shiny finish even after it has dried.  Once my paste was dry, I painted onto the unembossed areas with Iris My Case Shimmerz Paint.  I spritzed it with water to make it more runny.  Once I had the coverage I wanted, I let the paint dry.  I was left with some amazing sparkle!

My snowman was colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  I embossed the sentiment onto vellum.
The card was assembled and finished off with sequins and veneer snowflakes.

I am linking this card up to Mix It Up Challenge blog for their Anything Goes plus -technique- which for me is stenciling with embossing paste.

If you would like to shop at Shimmerz Paints, add my name, Lee Ann, to the comments section of your order and they will send you a free small paint! 

That's it for me!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lee Ann

Foxes Have Dens

Hey Everyone! 

I had the pleasure of getting together with my crafty friend, MariLynn this past Friday.  We don't live super close to each other, but we are at least in the same state!  It is truly a blessing to have a crafty friend to craft with and it is a bonus when she does Bible journaling.  I love it but I find it hard. 
Not MariLynn!  After a tasty dinner of Chinese food and great conversation, we journaled Matthew 8:20. 
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

MariLynn suggested we use the adorable fox image from the Sweet n Sassy Stamps set, Fur-Ever Friends. 

We decided to try monoprinting right onto the Bible pages. I prepped my page with Dina Wakley Clear Gesso.  Next,  we stamped the fox onto our pages and then created masks with post it notes.  
 I decided to use a stencil from Crafter's Workshop called Aspen Trees.  My initial color selection looked great in my head (grey and yellow) but came out horrible on paper.    MariLynn to the rescue!  She rolled out some gorgeous blue paint along with some reddish brown paint and magic!  It was perfect over the grey and yellow.  
Once the paint was dry, I water colored the fox with Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paint.  
He needed grounding, which meant I needed something to cover the acrylic paint.  I used a brown Lyra Aquacolor crayon and it did the trick.  
Now for the scripture.  Jesus.  He is God.  The Creator of the Universe.  And yet he had no home, no where to rest if it weren't for the kindness of strangers who let Him stay in their homes.  The fox and birds had more than He did.   He gave up everything for us.  For you.  For ME.  And what do I give up?  Not much.  I must remember all that He sacrificed to save ME.  That is a love that I cannot fathom.    What a BLESSING!

May you have a blessed week!  

Lee Ann 
            
 

Happy!

Hello and Happy Fall Y'all!
No, I am not from the south but I do love that expression and I love fall!  I used this adorable scarecrow from the Happy Scarecrow Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps along with a stencil from Stamplorations.

This sweet guy is colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  I sponged some Rusty Hinge ink onto my background panel, then sponged the same ink through a wheat stencil.  The scarecrow is popped up on dimensionals.
I have been in a color rut and the colors from Sunday Stamps were perfect.

I am also linking up to Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes Challenge

and The Paper Players,  Theme- Grateful

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

CAS Fall

Happy Saturday, All!

I challenged myself to a one layer card this week and am quite happy with the results.  I was inspired by AAA Card Challenge and the October CAS challenge at Stamplorations.

I used my MISTI to stamp the borders and colored my pumpkin and leaves with Copics; they are  from the Happy Scarecrow Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  The sentiment is from a soon to be released set.
I love the simplicity of the card.  Easy to blog too, lol!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

Freshly Made Sketches and a CAS Design

Hi Again!

Once again Wednesday has rolled around and that means we have a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week Judy came up with this challenging sketch, and I must admit, it really gave me fits!  But I persevered and this is what I came up with!

As I rooted through all of my supplies, I came across these WPlus9 dies.  They were perfect for the design elements in the sketch.

I did the Inlaid Die Technique and added a part of a sentiment from a stamp set to finish of my
'Hello There!'.
Check out all of the inspiration from the rest of the team and then we would love it if you would give this sketch a go!

Lee Ann 

Celebrating Technique Junkies New Release!

Hello Hello!

It is October 1st and that means Technique Junkies has lots of new goodies in their October release!  New Release stamps are 15% now through October 8th.  You can take an additional 10% off of everything by using code TJ10LeeAnn when you check out.
Normally I like elegant cards, but every now and again a humorous one calls my name, lol!

This one, Santa Checks, had to come home with me, lol!
I did some no line coloring with Copics and used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment in black.  I kept things simple and finished the card off with a scalloped frame.
Too much coloring?
Well, you can make things simple and just spotlight certain parts of the image as I have done here~

In this case, I stamped the image in black and just colored her nails, lips and hat.  I masked off the image and stenciled in some holly behind her.
I have one more card using a new release stamp HERE. 
Check out the all of the other new release stamps by visiting the team's blogs~

Technique Junkies

Beth Norman‎

Ceal Pritchett 

Giovana Smith 

Holly Brown 

Janine Tinklenberg

Jeanne Streiff

Judy Jackson 

Kia Gibson-Clapper 

Lee Ann Barrett 

Lynda Pleckan 

Pat Huntoon 

Ro Donner 

Stephanie Severin

That's it for me!  Enjoy all of the inspiration!

Lee Ann  

Brazenly Black with The Rainbow Card Challenge!

Wow!  Hello to October, Everyone!

Its the first of the month and that means we have a new challenge for you at The Rainbow Card Challenge.  This month's had me stumped for a bit, so I decided to think outside the box.

This month we are looking for black and white cards!

While one might think to go 'Halloween' for an all black card, I am not a fan of Halloween.  So, I skipped it and went right on to Christmas. lol!
I have used a brand new stamp from Technique Junkies, just released today, called Poinsettia Set.  To see more of the new release, head HERE.  The new release is 15% off through Oct 8th, and you can take 10% additional off your entire purchase with code TJ10LeeAnn. 
I stamped the image in versamark ink, embossed it with black ep, then fussy cut it out. I also used the Layered Swirls Background Stamp, stamping it in black.  I did not put it on a block or in  my MISTI as I did not want to get a full impression.
I stamped my sentiment and popped that panel up.  Lastly, I used an old technique to add some bling; I put down a 1/4" piece of double sided Score Tape and then sprinkled some clear glitter over it, burnishing it into the tape.

I am linking up to Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, 'Let's Get Ready for Christmas'.

That's it for me!  Head on over to the blog to check out the rest of the inspiration, then link your own black and white card up!

Lee Ann