Freshly Made Sketches #558

Here we go.....for the first time in a long time, a blog post featuring a card! 

When you're in a creative slump, which I have been for some time, sketches are a tool that can help. A LOT! This took me a bit to get to what I felt was right and I almost gave up frustrated. Four or five versions later and much use of the round bin, and I channeled Farmer Zuckerman from Charlotte's Web: 'That'll do <Chris>. That'll do." 

Video tutorials are also fun to get the creativity going. Yesterday I watched a video from Gina K Designs on the Retiform technique. I applied it in my own way to stick with the sketch for this week from Freshly Made Sketches. In order to enter the challenge officially you have to link your blog post to the challenge blog. So, welcome to anyone who might be checking this out! Feel free to get to know me and where I am right now from my post earlier today. 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! c. 1997

Embossing folder (used the debossed side)

Inks and Cardstock: Gina K Designs

Feeling...frosty?

We had a beautiful weather week, until today. Cloudy, 15-20 or so degrees colder than yesterday...just gray. For some reason labrador who is very convincing when she has to pee/is hungry we were up an hour earlier than normal despite the darkness of the mornings. Consequently I got some things finished around the house early (go figure). My early rising this morning gave me some time to play with another sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches Blog, while the dog snores at my feet. Thanks Halle.

This little guy arrived on my doorstep last month when I rejoined The Stamps of Life Monthly Stamp Club and I've been looking forward to using it ever since. Snowman2Build reminds me of the old Stampin' Up 'Frosty', which was always a fun winter set.

I've had some mica flake glitter for years, never used until today. Perfect for that snowman-y look. You may think I'm ready for the white stuff. I'm not. Here's the sketch....head over to the blog linked to see how many others interpret this sketch. Very fun!

Time to start the Christmas Cards.

Good afternoon. While I love Thanksgiving, I'm pretty happy to have my Thanksgiving cards ready to go so I can enjoy the month and the holiday.  I made a few Fall cards this year but I also went back through my stash from previous years and used some of those.

I tried so hard to decide to use some old Christmas cards I made in previous years this year as well so not to waste them, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I really like making Christmas cards. So if any of my non-crafty or time crunched friends would like my old hand made Christmas cards (maybe a couple dozen?), just let me know. We can work something out.

I know it's early, but the earlier I start on these, the more fun I have, and the less stress there is involved. I pulled out all my Winter and Holiday themed stamp sets, papers, embellishments, etc and I made my Christmas inspiration basket to put on my table to make it easier to see what I have on hand.

When it comes to Christmas cards, I usually go for simple and clean. I've made cards to sell in the past and these types of designs that lend themselves to mass production are often the most cost effective.

I love sketch challenges, because they allow for some creative interpretation and helps things often go together quickly.  This one from Freshly Made Sketches (#161) is the newest. I plan to do several sketch challenges in coming weeks to build my Christmas card selection to send out this year (or sell if anyone asks). If I don't get enough one of a kind designs, I'll go back later and mass produce some that went together pretty quickly. This is one of them.

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Lace Snowflakes, Stampin' Up.
Cardstock: Off white, red, silver
Papers: Fair Isle Christmas, Deja Vus
Miscellaneous: Silver heat embossing powder, silver cord

New Sketch Challenge

   
The internet is a beautiful thing. I'm amazed how much is out there to inspire. The hardest part about card making, scrapbooking, or really, any paper craft is the layout, especially when you've not been in the habit of creating things. Eventually your own vision takes over and you come up with layouts on your own, but for now, wow it's making things just happen. Sketches have long been a springboard for creativity. It's like a puzzle you assemble, but you make up your own pieces. I came across Freshly Made Sketches Blog yesterday so decided to play along with this week's sketch.

The stamps are from The Stamps of Life, Branches4Flowers and the patterned paper is from Basic Gray, Green at Heart paper stack.