Sending Shamrocks – Freshly Made Sketches 426

by Shannon Jaramillo // March 15, 2020 // 4 Comments

I have realized that St. Patrick’s Day is almost here so I dove into my very small but very sweet stash of stamps for aforesaid occasion and put them to work!!

Measurements:

White Card Base 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Layer of Pear Pizzazz Card Stock 4″ x 5 1/4″
Layer of Balmy Blue Cardstock3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″
Strip of DSP 1 1/4″ x 4 1/4″

Details:

I must confess that the traditional shade of green used for St. Patrick’s Day is probably my least favorite shade of all greens. {shudder} so I found a delightful combination of greens and blues in this pretty paper Plaid Patterns – Merry & Bright by MFT Stamps. Christmas paper of all things!!

I took my lead from the colors in the paper and used Granny Apple Green and Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends to color this darling image by Fun stampers Journey.
I layered a piece of Balmy Blue card stock embossed with the Subtle embossing folder over a slightly larger piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and then set the whole thing on top of a white card base.
A simple sentiment from the same stamp set and a bit of Wink of Stella complete this simple but sweet card. I LOVE the hint of St. Patrick’s Day in it!

The inside is very simple as well, leaving me a large space to write my message. I’m going to pop this in the mail to my mom!

Huge thanks to the Freshly Made Sketches design team, and to Karren for this week’s LOVELY sketch! XX

Have a wonderful, socially distant day and I will see you soon!!

Blessings!!

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz and Balmy Blue; Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 80#

DSP: Plaid Patterns – Merry & Bright by MFT Stamps

Specialty Paper: None

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Storybook Creations (retired) by Fun Stampers Journey

Alcohol Markers: Light & Dark Gray Granite & Light Petal Pink (mouse), Light & Dark Granny Apple Green (shamrocks), Light & Dark Crumb Cake & Light Petal Pink (birdhouse), Light & Dark Balmy Blue, Light So Saffron, Light Pumpkin Pie (bird)

Dies: Layering Circle Dies

Tools: Big Shot, Stampin’ Trimmer (both retired)

Embellishments: Wink of Stella

Other: Whisper White Envelope

Bella Rose Delight – Freshly Made Sketches 418

by Shannon Jaramillo // March 9, 2020 // 3 Comments

Today I am sharing a card made with much love for a challenge but I ran out of time to get it photographed and posted before I went out of town on a trip. Have YOU ever thought you could accomplish much more than you actually could?!? Please tell me I’m not alone!

Measurements:

White Card Base 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″

Details:

I’ve combined a bit of old and new with this card. This DSP by Stampin’ Up! – oh my goodness – I can’t even tell you how pretty I think it is! It’s a bit funny to me now because when I first started with Stampin’ Up!, I did NOT care for the color Red Riding Hood at all. But when paired with Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss, it is just YUMMY!!
I adore the sketch this week and ventured outside of my SU supplies to use this wonderful curved edge die by MFT Stamps.

I stamped the sentiment in Riding Hood Red, and then used the coordinating die to cut out a mat around it. I then cut out another mat in Kiwi Kiss, cut it in half horizontally and added it as a second mat.
I fussed for a bit before settling on adding these delightful butterflies, die cut from the long retired Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die. I do so love combining old and new!
The gems I added are from Honeybee Stamps – I have discovered that they have a fun assortment of colored rhinestones!!

For the inside I layered a scalloped die cut on top of a mat of Riding Hood Red, with a pretty scrap of the Bella Rose DSP and a very simple sentiment.

I had so much fun making this card!! I know it is very late for the challenge it was created for, but here is the sketch I used and thank you to the FMS design team for always providing such wonderful inspiration!

Blessing to You!!

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red; Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 110#

DSP: Bella Rose (2008 Annual Catalog)

Specialty Paper: None

Ink: Riding Hood Red (retired); Versamark Onyx Black

Stamps: You’ve Got This by Avery Elle

Dies: You’ve Got This by Avery Elle; Stitched Basic Edges by MFT Stamps; Scalloped A2 Card Frames by Honeybee Stamps; Beautiful Wings Embosslit (retired) and Envelope Die (retired)

Tools: Big Shot, Stampin’ Trimmer (both retired)

Embellishments: Beautiful Wings Embosslit (retired); Wink of Stella; Log Cabin Gem Stickers by Honeybee Stamps

Other: Whisper White Envelope

Oh My Gostrich! – Freshly Made Sketches 423

by Shannon Jaramillo // February 23, 2020 // 4 Comments

Whattttt??? Is this the CUTEST little guy ever?!! So cute, he needs a name! Stanley! That’s it! I spent ALL day yesterday going through some family old papers and my brain was pretty fried so when I saw this darling stamp set with Stanley and his ADORABLE perky little face, I knew he was the perfect choice to shake off the melancholy.

Measurements:

Crumb Cake Card Base 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Layer of Old Olive Card Stock 4″ x 5 1/4″
Birthday Bonanza DSP 3 3/4″ x 5″

Details:

I built a little scene with the ostriches in keeping with the sketch layout and pulled out a whole slew of Stampin’ Blends to color Stanley and his companion (who’s pretending if we can’t see him, it can’t possibly be his birthday). I started with Light Gray Granite and then worked in layers of Light and Dark Crumb Cake and Light and Dark Soft Suede for their bodies. Legs and necks were a combination of Light Petal Pink and a Shin-Han Twin Touch Marker in Straw Yellow for the shading. Stanley’s beak is a base of Light Gray Granite with Light Pumpkin Pie layered over it and just a bit of Dark Pumpkin Pie for depth. I added strawberries to Stanley’s cheeks with Dark Petal Pink.
Oliver (it’s his birthday) is hiding his head in a pool of water stamped in Pool Party. Stanley is standing in Sahara Sand sand and the little flecks of grass were die cut in Old Olive, colored over with Light Gray Granite and touches of Wink of Stella at the tips.

I used Honeybee Stamp’s Sentiment Banners to help me get my stamped sentiment stamped correctly (and straight), and then cut the banner ends off – they were too distracting. I added another strip in Pretty Peacock to stay with the sketch and to bring out the pretty DSP. I also stamped a companion ostrich on the envelope – hey, I needed coloring practice! – as well as another on the inside of the card:

I layered the white panel over a SUPER pretty piece of Tropical Oasis DSP, stamped the sentiment and ostrich, and then, because I just happened to have a scrap of the DSP from the front of the card laying around, I added it to the inside as well. I love that the scrap was cut in such a way that the candles are perfectly displayed!

I can’t even stop smiling at Stanley and Oliver, they are SO stinking’ cute! I purchased this stamp set on a whim simply because I had an email in my inbox a few weeks ago from MFT Stamps with a pop up sale on a few retiring items – I’m so happy that I indulged in this set! Thank you Kim for your awesome sketch this week over at Freshly Made Sketches – it made my stretch my comfort zone a bit and design a scene instead of just using one image! And a BIG thank you to Amy for picking my card last week!

Thank you for stopping by!!

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Pretty Peacock; Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 80#

DSP: Birthday Bonanza and Tropical Oasis

Specialty Paper: None

Ink: Versamark Onyx Black & Memento Tuxedo Black; Pool Party and Sahara Sand

Stamps: Oh MY Gostrich by MFT Stamps

Alcohol Markers: Light Gray Granite, Light & Dark Crumb Cake, Light & Dark Soft Suede, Light & Dark Petal Pink, Light and Dark Pumpkin Pie; Shin-Han Twin Touch Y223 Straw Yellow

Dies: Sentiment Banners & Grass Border by Honeybee Stamps; Pierced Circles by MFT Stamps

Tools: Big Shot, Stampin’ Trimmer (both retired)

Embellishments: Wink of Stella

Other: Whisper White Envelope

An Open Heart – Freshly Made Sketches 422

by Shannon Jaramillo // February 16, 2020 // 5 Comments

Hello my stampin’ peeps! I am back in town and was SO happy to be able to perch on my stool in my craft space and MAKE SOMETHING! I’ve been away TOO long! And I have just enough time to squeeze in the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge! So let’s get to it!

Measurements:

Mossy Meadow Card Base 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Pear Pizzazz Card Stock 4″ x 5 1/4″
Strip of Garden Lane DSP 2″ x 5 1/4″
White Die Cut Card Stock 2 3/8″ x 4 5/16″

Details:

In my search for an image that would fit within the layout parameters, I quickly came across the retired stamp set An Open Heart and decided that it would be perfect. It’s a set that I acquired secondhand and have never stamped up. I have FAR too many of those so was very happy to get it inky! I knew I would be coloring with alcohol markers so I stamped the main image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
Four colors of Stampin’ Blends were used here (you could easily just use one or two): Light & Dark Soft Sea Foam; Light Old Olive and Light Mossy Meadow. I needed a very fine tip pen to color in the branch stem so I pulled out my Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Write Marker for that.
I wasn’t sure what type of foliage I was working with and had no idea what the buds and berries really were so I went with the first image that popped into my head and that was – citrus! So I reached for more Stampin’ Blends in Light So Saffron (may I add that this is a FABULOUS addition to the Stampin’ Blends color variety – if you don’t have it, order it!) and Light Mango Melody. I love the brightness of Mango Melody!

Once the image was colored I searched through my stand alone dies for a rectangle shape narrow and tall enough to use with my stamped image and found the right size in the MFT stamps Pierced Traditional Tags die set. It fit perfectly and I like the added interest the tag shape adds to the card 🙂
I layered the tag over a pattern from the gorgeous Garden Lane DSP and then layered them both over a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock which has been embossed with the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder.
I added this darling bird image from the same stamp set, again stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black (always use this ink when using alcohol markers), and wondered what color to color it. I am hopelessly illiterate when it comes to birds, but I found inspiration in the yellows of the buds and berries and then added darker shades as I went. When I was finished I had used a total of SIX colors! Light So Saffron, Light Mango Melody on the face, Light and Dark Crumb Cake on the body and Light and Dark Soft Suede on the wing and tail feathers. I’m pretty impressed with how he turned out. I have no idea if any such bird exists in nature but decided that it really doesn’t matter, and that knowledge is SO liberating! I just like the colors!! I fussy cut this little guy out and popped him up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I found a perfectly small sentiment to add to my card in the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set. This set is the replacement for Teeny Tiny Wishes.
The layout called for some of ribbon or twine so I reached for (as I often do) my Linen Thread and make a quick bow. I just love (insert audible sigh) these linen bows and add them to projects frequently.
Added some Wink of Stella to the the leaves and called it good – at least for the card front!

I chose a simple white insert for the card and added a darling sentiment from the Forever Lovely stamp set. The sentiment was inked up with Versamark Onyx Black for a vivid stamp and then I added a tiny leaf spring from the same set, colored in Light Soft Sea Foam with just a touch of color from my Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Write Marker. I left it at that for the card interior and proceeded to add matching DSP to the envelope flap and a partial stamp of the main image on the front of the envelope.

It can be sometimes a scary feeling for me when I start a project without a fixed image of the final result in my mind, but I worked through the twists and turns of the creative process and am super happy with how it turned out. Thank you again to the Freshly Made Sketches design team for their inspiration!! Make sure to visit the Freshly Made Sketches website to see all of their beautiful designs!!

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Mossy Meadow and Pear Pizzazz; and Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White (80 lb)

DSP: Garden Lane

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark Onyx Black

Stamps: An Open Heart, Itty Bitty Greetings and Forever Lovely

Coloring Tools: Light & Dark Soft Sea Foam, Light Old Olive, Light Mossy Meadow, Light So Saffron, Light Mango Melody, Light & Dark Crumb Cake and Light & Dark Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends; Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Write Marker

Dies: MFT Stamps Pierced Traditional Tags & SU’s Envelope Die (retired)

Tools: Big Shot; Subtle 3D Embossing Folder

Embellishments: Linen Thread Wink of Stella

Other: Whisper White Envelope

Hey Lady! – Freshly Made Sketches 417

by Shannon Jaramillo // January 11, 2020 // 4 Comments

Hey there, hi there, ho there…anyone else know what song those lyrics are from? 🙂

Today’s project features a number of products from Stampin’ Up!’s new Occasions Catalog and their 2020 Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

I absolutely adore this piece of pattern paper from Stampin’ Up!’s new ‘Best Dressed’ collection. I accented the bold color in the DSP with bold color in this darling flower stamp which can be found in Stampin’ Up!’s ‘Little Ladybug’ stamp set. I truly enjoyed coloring the flower with SU’s Lovely Lipstick Stampin’ Blends and then used thin lines of Dark Blackberry Bliss to deepen the color in the center. I then stamped, colored and fussy cut an absolutely darling little ladybug to sit on top of the flower (it makes me think of the smoking caterpillar on the mushroom in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ :))

and little Miss Ladybug pairs perfectly with the sentiment!! Oh my gosh – SO cute!!

I added Journey Glaze to the flower center as well as to little Miss Ladybug, and of course, Wink of Stella to the flower petals.

I love being able to use up every last scrap of DSP – don’t you? My piece of DSP was 6 x 6, so with a panel for the card measuring 4 x 5 1/4, I had a 6 x 2 piece left over which I used to cover the envelope flap. I also had a 4 x 3/4 inch strip left so with a strategic trim to one end of it, I was able to add it to the inside of my card. Waste not, want not, right?!?

And here’s a peek at the inside of the card:

This card will be going in Monday’s mail to my mom, I hope she likes it as much as I do!

The latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge was the inspiration for my layout:

I struggled with having the main panel all the way over to the far right, but that’s what challenges are for, right?!?

Thank you SO much for stopping by!

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted):

Card Stock: Lovely Lipstick; Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 80#

DSP: Best Dressed

Specialty Paper: None

Ink: Versamark Onyx Black & Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Little Ladybug; Angel Policy by Honeybee Stamps

Alcohol Markers: Light & Dark Lovely Lipstick, Dark Blackberry Bliss, Light & Dark Old Olive, Dark Mossy Meadow, Color Lifter; CG2 & CG3 Shin-Han Twin Touch

Dies: Stitched So Sweetly, Stitched Rectangle and Envelope Die (retired)

Tools: Big Shot, Stampin’ Trimmer (both retired)

Embellishments: Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, Gold Metallic Thread, Journey Glaze by FSJ; Wink of Stella

Other: Whisper White Envelope