Wednesday and a Freshly Made Sketches Treat for You!

Hello, Hello!

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and we have a bit of a treat for you!  This week is not a sketch per se, but a size.  Long, tall, skinny, slim- whatever you want to call it- we are making slimline cards this week.

These cards are just plain fun!  Lots of room and new ways to place your stamps.

I started with a practice sheet of plain ol' copy paper in the 8.5 x 3.5 size.  I played around with the daisy placement.  The daisy is from the Delightful Daisies Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  Once I had the general layout down, I used my MISTI, a large, clear plastic panel and my practice sheet to stamp the images.  This is the order of items in the MISTI.
First, my blank Neenah Solar White 8.5 x 3.5 piece of cs.  Next, the practice piece of paper.  Next the clear plastic panel.  This allowed me to place the stamp in the appropriate position without risking getting a smudge of black ink on my final panel. Once the image was in the right place, I closed the MISTI door to attach the stamp to the lid. Then I opened the MISTI and removed the plastic sheet and the practice piece.
I do need to mention that I made multiple (like 6) masks using post it notes.  I used these for two things- first to stamp my flowers behind one another for dimension, and second, to cover the flowers and sponge the background.
All of the images were stamped this way.  Once all were stamped, I covered them with the masks and sponged two different distress inks on the background.  I used Broken China and Mermaid Lagoon.
After the initial ink was down, I splattered the panel with water.  Once the water was dry, I did more sponging to intensify the color.  Then I did a final splatter of water.
The flowers were colored with Copics.  The sentiment, from the Grace so Amazing Stamp Set, was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink using the MISTI.   A few Simon Says Stamp Moonshine sequins finished off the card with a bit of shine.

This card was made with a very special person in mind, a wonderful part of our crafting community who, short of a miracle, has a very short time left on this earth. If you are a praying person, please say a prayer for Ellie.  Pray for healing, comfort and that she be free of pain.  Thank you.

I am linking up to The Cupcake Inspiration Challenge~

As well as Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes. 
Thanks for stopping by!  Pop over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog to see so much amazing inspiration from the rest of the team.  Then, get inky and join us!

Lee Ann 

Christmas in July!

Hello All!

It is officially Christmas!  In July that is, at Sweet n Sassy Stamps!
Korin is kicking off the weekend with 'lives', inspiration, and a 3-day sale on all Christmas and winter themed stamp sets.

I have used those adorable snow men from the Snow Much Fun Stamp Set.

This guy, or maybe gal, since she is wearing pink, was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White cs and colored with Copics.  I then fussy cut him/her out.
I fell in love with the sketch at CASE This Sketch and knew immediately what I wanted to do with it

I stamped the sentiment from the Deck the Halls Stamp Set in Versamark Ink and heat embossed it with brown ep, then cut out the sentiment panel.
On the background, I wanted a swirl of snowflakes for my twirling snow person.  I used snow flakes from the Snow Much Fun and Folk Art Snow Flakes Stamp Sets.  I did first, second and third generation stamping for depth, using Coral Berry Ink from Altenew.
My dark background panel is actually dark brown, even though it looks more black.  That is me and poor photography skills.  I finished off the project by popping my snow person up on dimensional tape, balanced precariously on the 'l' of the la.  Some of my all time favorite sequins, Simon Says Stamp Moon Shine Sequins, add some sparkle and shine.

My colors are from the new Festive Friday Challenge.  I used pink, brown and vanilla.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you can stop by the Sweet n Sassy Facebook Group this weekend and join in the fun!
If you need more places to shop, items are listed below. 

Have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann

Blick Art Supplies

Copic Sketch Markers 

Altenew

Floral 6 Mini Cube Set 
Warm Spring Mini Cube Set
Red Cosmos Mini Cube Set
All of the above ink sets contain
the Coral Berry in I used

Mixed Media Mermaid

Hello!

It was time to break out one of my favorite summer stamp sets, Mer-Mazing from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  I love this mermaid, and I ESPECIALLY love this crab!

Aren't they sweet?!  Both were stamped on Neenah Solar White CS and colored with Copics then fussy cut out.
The background started with a watercolor background I had in my stash.  I used it for the bottom base.  Canson water color cs and Ken Oliver Color Bursts were used to create the panel.  Next, I sponged Salty Ocean Distress Ink onto another panel of Neenah Solar White cs.  Then, using a Stamplorations stencil, Bubbles, I sponged Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink.  This leafy image in the Flower Garden Stamp Set is perfect for sea weed.  As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to use it for an underwater scene.  It was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics.
To add depth to the card, I used my MFT edge dies.  These dies are apparently retired but they are similar to these MFT Stitched Scallop Edge Dies. I cut the bottom edge off my image panel then popped it up on some craft foam.
A few sequins and gems finish off the card.

I am linking up to Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge, a Day at the Beach.

Also linking up to Sunday Stamps for their color challenge~

And Krafty Chicks Challenge for their 'All Occasions' Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann

Freshly Made Sketches # 445

Hello and Happy Wednesday, All!

Oh, you are going to love the latest FMS sketch!  It is so unique and fun! Jen M. knocked it out of the park with this one.

Curious about the sketch?  Here you go!

For this card, I started with a background panel that I was hoarding.  It was made with Distress Spray Stains and a Tim Holtz Schoolhouse Stencil.  To that I added a black circle die cut and a strip of white cs to ground my butterflies.  The butterflies are from the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Flower Garden Stamp Set and were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black Ink on Neenah Solar White cs, then fussy cut out.
A sentiment from The Future Stamp Set (snss) was heat embossed with Brutus Monroe Alabaster White ep.

Head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog to check out the rest of the amazing inspiration from the team, then join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann  

Simon Says Stamp
Picked Raspberry Spray Stain
Broken China Spray Stain
Mermaid Lagoon Spray Stain
Evergreen Bough Spray Stain

Sweet n Sassy Stamps
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
MISTI

Whimsical Flowers

Good Morning everyone! 

Today's card is BRIGHT!  The whimsical flowers from the Flower Garden Stamp Set seemed to call for bright colors.  I used the sketch from CASE This Sketch~

I used the MISTI to stamp the flowers with Versafine Onyx Black Ink onto Arches cold press 100% cotton water color paper.  I pulled out a medium that I have not used in a long long time, Derwent Inktense Pencils.  Initially, I colored the pigment onto the paper, but then I switched to the brush to tip method. 
The background was a panel I had in my stash from playing with Distress Spray Stain.  I added a couple of strips of Neenah Solar White cs and then popped up the fussy cut floral image and sentiment on dimensional adhesive.  The sentiment is from the Mason Jar Bouquet Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  A few sequins finish the card.
  I did flip the sketch. 

Looking for more places to shop?

Simon Says Stamp~
Arches 100%  cotton cold press water color paper
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
MISTI
Flower Garden Stamp Set 
Mason Jar Bouquet Stamp Set 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann  

Rose in Teal- or is it Aqua?

Hello All! 

It is a hot one here in St Louis this weekend.  But I guess it is mid July. 
About the only thing I am growing in my yard is weeds, but if I had a choice, I would be growing roses! 

I am pretty good with colors EXCEPT for Teal and Aqua.  Which is which??  Are they the same? Green or Blue??  I have no idea.  So I am really not sure what color this rose is, but I love it none the less.  The rose is from the True Beauty Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  It was stamped with Antique Linen Distress ink and colored with Copics.  It was then fussy cut out. 
My background was done with a Prima Stencil and spritzed with Shimmerz Well Blue Me Down Coloringz on mixed media paper. 
A white die cut, made with the Simon Says Stamp Outline Clustered Leaves Die- was used to ground the rose.  The 'hello' sentiment is stamped with Crushed Olive Distress Ink.  It came out quite dark as I stamped it several times, using my MISTI. 
The card was finished off with Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Sequins. 
I am linking this card up to the Flower Challenge, Summer/Winter Flowers

As well as Inkspirational- Coloring~

Additional shopping links below~

Thanks for stopping by! 

Lee Ann 

Simon Says Stamp
True Beauty Stamp Set
MISTI 
Neenah 80# Solar White cs

Sweet Berries

Hello Everyone!

Today I have some wonderful, sweet, Raspberries to share with you!  They are from the latest release from Divinity Designs.

I stamped an all over pattern on my white card base using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  I then colored the images with Copics.
I decided to highlight one branch of berries, so die cut a frame from the panel, using the Pierced Ovals Dies.  I discarded the smaller center oval and used just the frame, popping it up on dimensional adhesive.

I positioned the panel and the frame on the card base to determine where I wanted the focal image to go, then stamped it in Memento ink.  I colored the image with Copics, adhered the large panel and die cut frame over it and then added a sentiment strip across the card.

My second card I really wanted to keep CAS.  I do this often when then image is so pretty it can just stand on its own.

This is a OLC; I masked off the sentiment area and stamped my berries, using my MISTI.  The images were colored with Copics.  The sentiment panel was then outlined with a black marker.  I added a bit of color around the berries using a Copic.
To finish, I stamped the sentiment within the sentiment panel and added shiny sequins to finish.

That's it for me today! Hope you are all having a good week!

Lee Ann 

Celebrating Sweet n Sassy Stamps July Release!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps July Release Hop!  I know I say this every month, but wow!  This month's stamps are amazing!  Hop along with us for lots of inspiration and leave a little comment love on each blog for a chance to win a gift voucher to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps store.

I used the newest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for my card.  See below for the sketch.  My colors are from The Paper Players.

The set is the new Flower Garden Stamp Set.
I stamped the image multiple times in Scattered Straw Distress Ink on Arches 100% cotton water color paper.  Then I spritzed the stamped panel with water, using my Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer; this allowed the ink to move around for a soft, muted and blurred background.
Next, I used the same Arches watercolor paper and my MISTI and stamped the image in Salty Ocean Distress Ink. I used a water color brush and clear water to move the ink around on the flower and let it dry, then stamped over the image again and repeated this process until I was happy with the image.  I did this two more times for a total of three flowers and then fussy cut all of them out.
The flowers were arranged and adhered to the yellow panel, some of them popped up with dimensional tape.  The 'Hello' is from the True Beauty Stamp Set and is stamped in Altenew's Moon Rock ink.
The panel was embellished with a bit of vellum in the upper right corner and a light grey cs on the lower left corner and then adhered to a white panel which was then mounted to a 4.25 x 4.25 grey card base.  A few Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Sequins and a twine bow finish it off.

This next card uses another image in the same stamp set, Flower Garden.  The bird comes from the set, Birds and Blooms.  The bird was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink on watercolor paper and then colored with Arteza Brush Pens.

The floral branches are actually one of the floral images from the Flower Garden Stamp Set; I masked out the leaves and colored the stems brown instead of green.  Once colored, I fussy cut the flowers out.
To assemble, I used a MOJO Monday sketch and a distress ink panel I had in my stash.  My coral panel is debossed with the Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die.   A white square panel and a light blue cs circle ground the bird.  The bird and branches are popped up on dimensional adhesive.  My sentiment is from the Sympathy Morning Glories Stamp Set.  Some sequins from Buttons Galore and More and Lucy's Cards finish off the card.

Here is your Freshly Made Sketch for the week~

Blog Hop List~

Sweet n Sassy Blog
Julee Tilman
Ceal Pritchett
Diane Zechman
Esther Asbury
Jane Bosi
Karen Decknick
Lee Ann Barrett - You are HERE
Lyn Tomlin
Sheri Gilson

Comment by July 21 for a chance to win!

Need more places to shop?  See links below.  Enjoy!

Lee Ann

Simon Says Stamp
Flower Garden Stamp Set
Sympathy Morning Glories Stamp Set
Birds and Blooms Stamp Set 
True Beauty Stamp Set
MISTI Stamping Tool
Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Dotted Swirls Debossed Die
Copic Sketch Markers

Dick Blick Art Materials
Copic Sketch Markers
Arches cold press 100% cotton 9 x 12 watercolor pad

Ranger Ink
Tim Holtz Scattered Straw Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Salty Ocean Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer

Roses

Hello All!

I just got back from Florida, visiting my parents- trying to get back into the routine of things.
I have another rose card to share, this one very 'loose' which is so not my tendency.  But, I made it while crafting with a friend and she seemed to help me let the inner looseness free, lol! 

I used the Sweet n Sassy Stamps True Beauty Stamp Set.  This time I used two images, the outline stamp and the solid stamp. 

Using my MISTI, I inked up the solid image with two different colors of distress ink, varying between yellow, orange and coral and then stamped the image, overlapping images as I went.  Once I was done with the colored images, I went back in with the outlined image and stamped it over each colored image.
The entire panel was then die cut with the MFT Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frames Dies, rotating the frame 180 degrees for interest.  I hand cut a black banner and heat embossed the sentiment from the Mason Jar Bouquet Stamp Set using Versamark ink and Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ultra Fine Embossing Powder.
A few sequins and some gold thread finish off the card.

I am linking up to Sunday Stamps~

As well as Festive Friday~

I used green, flower, die cuts and embossing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann  

Sweet Strawberry

Hello All!

I am back again with another Strawberries post.  This is one of the new releases from Divinity Designs.

My strawberry image was stamped on Bristol cs using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  The image was then colored with Arteza Watercolor Brush Pens.
The panel was then matted with a rectangle die cut using a Pierced Rectangle Die.
My card front was matted with patterned paper from the Pretty Pink Peonies Paper Pad.  I added a narrow white panel along the left hand side and edged it with parts of a die cut from the Delicate Doily Die.  A few sequins finish it off!
I am linking up to The Card Concept Challenge, where I was inspired by the colors.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

Divinity Designs Sweet Strawberries!

Hello All!

I have the opportunity to guest design this month for Divinity Designs!  The have the sweetest release this month- no pun intended!
Summer berries- such a sweet way to color summer.

This is a brand new set, aptly named, Strawberries.  First, I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto my 4.25 x 5.5 Neenah white cs.  Then I made a mask of the image and used it to cover the stamped image.  To get the mirror image of the strawberries, I used my MISTI and silicone mat.  A corner of the mat was placed into my MISTI as if it were a piece of paper.  Then I inked up the stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and stamped it onto the mat.  Next, I took the 4.25 x 5.5 piece of Neenah Solar White cs with the previously stamped image and carefully placed it into the corner of the MISTI where the image was stamped on the silicon, then rubbed, to transfer the image to the paper.
Both images were colored with Copics.  Once I was happy with the coloring, I repeated the mirror image process, this time using Versafine Black ink so that I could darken the outline of the mirror image.
Next, I used some patterned paper from the Beautiful Blooms Paper Pad and covered my card front with it, die cutting it out with the Pierced Rectangle Dies.  Then it was just a matter of layering papers, which included the awesome stripe paper from the America the Beautiful Paper Pad.   The neutral cs was die cut using the Pierced Rectangle Dies as well, giving it a wonderful pierced edge.
A very few sequins and a twine bow finish the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  

Zesty!

Hello All!

It is Wednesday already, which means it is time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week I am your hostess.  After a month off trying to get some MOJO back, I was wanting a totally different sketch, at least for me.  Outside the box and graphic.  So here it is!

Well, what do you think?  I love how it turned out.  Yellow and gray is SUCH a GREAT color combo!
Here is your sketch~

I hope you have fun with this!  This would have scared me a few years back, but now I try to just go with it.  The sweet (or sour!) lemons are from the newest Sweet n Sassy Stamps Release.  The set is my favorite from the release- Summer Fruits-so so cute! 
The lemons were colored with Copics and then fussy cut out.  The white card base was then put in the MISTI, with the gray panels temporarily attached.  The sentiment was stamped in Versamark ink.  After stamping onto the gray panel, the panel was removed and the sentiment was stamped onto the white card base in versamark ink.  Both were heat embossed with Brutus Monroe Raven Embossing Powder. 
I reattached the panels, this time with dimensional adhesive, making sure the sentiment lined up.  A few black sequins finish it off! 

Check out what the rest of my teammates have for you and then join us!  Can't wait to see what you do with this!

Lee Ann 

A Rose is a Rose...

Hello All!

Just a quick post to share a card using this fabulous and versatile set, True Beauty,  from Sweet n Sassy Stamps~

At first, I was unsure of this stamp set.  There are lots of images, but I tend to like to color, so I wasn't sure what to do with them.  Well, JUST PLAY!  I love this set!  And as you can see, I broke away from my usual Copic coloring.  I was inpsired by the sketch at Stick It Down~

For this card, I used the rose image in the bottom right hand corner.

I just stamped in in ombre colors with distress ink and within minutes I had a gorgeous background!
The butterfly is from the Made New Stamp Set.  Using my MISTI, I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, then colored it with Copics.  Once I was done coloring, I put the image back in my MISTI and stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black ink for a dark, rich black.
For a bit of texture and to ground my butterfly, I die cut the Outline Clustered Leaves from Simon Says Stamp from vellum.  To make everything pop, I heat embossed the sentiment (from the Sentimental Mash Up Stamp Set) in Alabaster embossing powder from Brutus Monroe after stamping in with Versamark ink.
I am linking this card up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Bright and Cheerful.

I am also linking up to The Cupcake Inspiration Challenge- Flowers with Sequins~

Check out the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Blog for 2 more cards made with this stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous week!

Lee Ann  

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!  

Lee Ann  ~

God Bless America from Sweet n Sassy Stamps

God Bless America from SSS

MISTI-SnSS

MISTI- SSS

Versamark Ink

Wow Clear Embossing Powder

Ken Oliver Color Burst Powdered Watercolors

Playing with Colors

Hi All!

Popping in with a card made with a stamp from Picket Fence Studios.  I shopped during COVID, :D
It was time to ink up the stamp!  I was inspired by inspiration photo at The  Card Concept.

The colors can be considered patriotic, or, nautical as in the case of the inspiration photo.  I decided to use them for a less themed look.

I really love the girls in this collection.  And I don't know what it is about coloring people, but I love doing it.  This is 'Isabella'.   I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics.
A strip of navy cs was added down the right side, along with a scrap of patterned paper.
The sentiment is from the Favorite Notifaction Stamp Set.
I added a bit of hemp twine and some Glossy Accents to the camera lens and called it done.

I am linking up to The Card Concept where I basically stuck with the color and also zeroed in on the circular elements of the inspiration photo.  I would call my card clean and layered.

In addition, I am linking up to Time Out Challenges for their Day Gone By challenge; cameras capture memories for us to remind us of days gone by.

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy 4th of July!


Lee Ann 

Getting Fruity

Hello All, I have another 'fruity' post for you today, using the brand new Summer Fruits Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps; Summer Fruits is the stamp of the month and you can get it free with a minimum purchase of $75~

Do you love the trendy 'skinny card'?  I know I do, though I hate photographing them, lol.  I had a unused skinny card that I had actually acquired from an old design team and I decided that this was the time to use it.  I paired it with the watermelon image from the Summer Fruits Stamp Set.  I was inspired by the inspiration photo at Inspired By~

I was inspired by summer treats, though my is watermelon vs a frozen treat, as well as those yummy colors.
I sponged the distress oxide inks Peacock Feathers, Abandoned Coral and Fossilized Amber onto a 9 x 4 panel of Bristol cs. Once I was happy with the sponging, I added lots of waterdrop texture followed by black acrylic paint spatters.
I used my MISTI to stamp the watermelon 4 times with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copics.  These were fussy cut out.  One slice was turned into a quarter wedge of watermelon.
To ground my watermelon, I used a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle Dies and die cut three circles from black cs. I again die cut 3 circles, this time from my sponged background.  This allowed me to do the inlaid die technique with the circle die cuts.
I added a black mat to the circle panel, inset the circle die cuts, Stamped the sentiment using my MISTI for perfect placement, then popped up my watermelon images on Brutus Monroe black foam tape.
I added a few die cut hearts and to the center of those I added black sequins.  Each slice of melon is brushed with clear Wink of Stella.

I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Bright and Cheerful.

Links to other Sources for products~
Ranger Ink~
Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Ink
Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide Ink
Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Ink
Dick Blick Art Materials~
Copic Sketch Markers 
Bristol Pad

Its Berries with FMS

Hello All!

After taking a month off, I am back with Freshly Made Sketches!  Jacquie has a great sketch for us this week.  I used a brand new stamp set for my card~

Aren't these berries the sweetest!?  They are from Sweet n Sassy Stamps; the set, Summer Fruit,  is designed by the talented Jenn Nilsson.
And here is the sketch~

I lightly stamped one of the rose images from the True Beauty Stamp Set in the background to represent the largest oval in the sketch and ground my berries. I used Gina K Key Lime ink and Memento Pear Tart ink, doing some second generation stamping.
The berries were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White cs.  They were colored with Copic markers and then fussy cut out.  In one of the two images, I masked out the blue berries just to change things up.
I used one of my favorite dies to die cut a scalloped frame- the Stitched Rectangle Scalloped Edge Frame Die-Namics.  I colored it with the same color Copic that I used to color the blue berries- B66.  The image and frame are matted in red- Red Hot from MFT.
Lastly, I added some of my favorite sequins, Moonshine, from SSS.

Check out the rest of the inspiration from the talented team and then join us!

I am linking up to  The Krafty Chicks- All Occasions. 
As well as Inkspirational- 'Sketch'.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann