Jun 29, 2019 | Color Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches |
FMS394 and ctd549 for a Colorful Combination
These two challenges are two of my “favorites”, at least this week. The clean, fresh FMS sketch seemed to pair perfectly with ctd this week to create a cute little thank you card.
The challenge banners follow:

I chose to use the newly retired Bella and Friends stamp set, which I just realized was actually retired when the new catalog launched. Sadness.
Here’s my card:

Keeping it Clean and Simple
I needed all the white space on this card, but didn’t want it to just be plain white. Therefore, I used the Subtle TIEF, which quickly becamse my favorite and most used embossing folder. I get the best of both worlds: white space and a little, subtle texture.
My choice for the orange on this card is inspired by the Painted Seasons DSP using Grapefruit Grove. I’ve only recently opened the package of DSP and love the colors and most of the patterns, especially this simple repeating pattern.
Following the FMS layout and the ctd colors, I layered the DSP on a piece of Basic Gray. I also used Basic Gray for all the stamping, and for coloring in the bone, which seemed to fade right into Bella so I outlined it in Basic Black. While I thought this plan would work, I quickly found out the outline jumped off the card, and not in a good way. Therefore, I colored over the black and the gray with Smoky Slate, which really toned the bone down.
Putting the Card Together
The layering circle die set provided the perfect sizes of circle for Bella, and the scalloped mat peeking out from under her. Blueberry Bushel cardstock provided all the mats: card base, Bella’s circle, and the sentiment mat. I cropped both of the sentiment pieces using the Rectangular Stitched layering die set (a must have!). I also colored Bella’s collar using Blueberry Bushel. Originally, the heart from the stamp was colored using Grapefruit Grove, but I later decided to cover the heart with a single piece of bling from the metallic exposy shapes.
That’s it. Finished. A fresh, clean, card using a great color combination. All is well. Life is good.
Thanks for stopping by today! I know your days are busy, and I appreciate your time.
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
Jul 8, 2018 | Global Design Project |
Global Design Project Challenge # 145
This week’s color challenge contains the trio of Grapefruit Grove, Fresh Fig, and Mint Macaron. Until this very second, I thought my card matched what I finally figured out in my head. Now, I am pretty bummed because I just realized I used Rich Razzleberry. UGH! I don’t know if I should go ahead and post it anyway or make another one using the correct colors. Decisions, decisions.
Anyway, when I first saw the colors I thought that it was an interesting combination, to say the least. But then again, I usually react that way to their combinations. It truly is a challenge, but it widens my color world, so it’s all good. Admit it, you wouldn’t have put these three colors together if not for a challenge. But look how gorgeous they are together.
A Couple of Firsts
First, I couldn’t stand knowing/thinking that I used the wrong color so I just finished another card for this challenge. In the original I actually used half Fresh Fig and half Rich Razzleberry. There are a couple of differences, and I will post my original card at the end of this blog post.
The original couple of firsts mentioned in the subheading refers to the first time I used two new stamp sets: the Bokeh Dots clear mount set and the Calligraphy Essentials set. Both are fabulous, but there are some tips I’d like to share regarding each set.
I’ve been participating in a couple of threads with demos on facebook regarding the Bokeh dots stamp. I have tried some of the tips and have found that the best results are achieved when the ink is rolled on the stamp using a brayer. I have a rubber brayer and it worked fabulously! Without the brayer, I was getting blotches instead of dots. Evidently, the stars stamp in this set doesn’t have an issue with ink.
For the Calligraphy Essentials, which really goes with the current lettering trend, I found the coloring really needs a light hand for the ink. I also practiced coloring in the letters a few times on my grid paper before coloring on the Bokeh Dots. I used the Fresh Fig Stamping Write Marker, but have also seen cards where the Blends were used.
Here’s the second card I created:

Here’s the challenge post:

The Elements
I used the DSP from Share What You Love, which I love, love, love. There are so many different colors leading to seemingly endless combinations. Some of the papers almost able to be printed on Shiny Whisper White cardstock because they have a beautiful shine. For this card, I chose the words in this on point font in Grapefruit Grove and Basic Black. Just a little side not about the DSP. While I was working on the first card I found the word “florida” included in the various other words. I just kind of thought that was interesting since I live in Florida. Oh well.
I mounted the DSP on Fresh Fig cardstock and used the retired Fresh Fig ribbon as well. Since I am completely square knot challenged right now, I used a tip I saw somewhere; if it’s your idea, please let me know so I can give you credit. I’m including three photos to illustrate this tip.



First, tie your ribbon around a TomBow liquid glue container. When you slide the ribbon off, you have a loop, which you cut in half. Now you have your square knot, and then just play with it until you get what knot you wanted. Easy Peasy. Also, does the word “florida” pop out at you in the third picture.
For this card, I cropped two circles using the Stitched Shape framelits. Here’s one of the differences from the first card because I used an inner circle of Mint Macaron. You’ll see there’s no inner circle on the original card.
Stitching in the Ditch
One of my favorite things to do with the crops shapes from the Stitched Shapes framelits is to color in the ditch. I usually use the same marker as the color of cardstock. If I am coloring the ditch on DSP, I pull a coordinating color. I also used the Mint Macaron Stamping Write Marker to outline the sentiment piece, including the corners punched with the trio punch. After I added three Share What You Love Mint Macaron pearls, I popped the sentiment up on mini-dimensionals.
While the first card was definitely an evolution, I knew what I was doing for the second. Well, except for cutting the DSP in the landscape instead of portrait orientation.
Here’s my first card:

Thanks so much for stopping by my little piece of the internet blog world. I completely enjoy hearing your thoughts and comments, so please feel free to leave one.
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
May 28, 2018 | CAS(E) This Sketch |
It’s been a while……
While I have been creating cards, my DH and I have been frantically working to get our house ready to go on the market, which happened on Thursday. It’s also the end of the school year, which means grading, grading, grading. In the meantime, I needed to create graduation cards for my niece and nephew, as well as her bf and his gf (another blog entry is coming). All 4 are done and were delivered today at the joint graduation party.
Is mine the only one that does this?
That was my niece’s comment. She kept popping her card up and down and loved it. However, she would rather have not had to share the design with her cousin, but she was ok with that.
Here’s the front and inside of the two cards:



My niece’s school colors are orange and black. The new In Color of Grapefruit Grove and Basic Black fit her card perfectly. My nephew’s school colors are blue and gold, so I used the new In Color Blueberry Bushel and Crushed Curry. For both cards, the 6 x 6 In Color DSP stack was a perfect match, of course. I used a retired SU graduation set for the sentiments and panels. Pick-a-pattern made an appearance on the Grapefruit Grove card, as did the shiny Basic Black ribbon and the new Grapefruit Grove bakers twine. My nephew’s card has a piece of the burlap ribbon, with a layer of the retired Crushed Curry ribbon tied off with the thin jute twine.
My niece kept opening and closing her card and was quite impressed with the whole popping mechanism. On the other hand, my nephew reacted just as I thought he would – oh, wow, nice.
Credit Where Credit is Due
I first saw this on the fb live by Mary Deatherage from Stamps-n-Lingers. While this card looks very complicated, Mary has it thoroughly broken down and I was able to follow along while making my nephew’s card. When I made my niece’s card, I was able to do everything without looking at the video until I got to the measurements for the mechanism and adding the book. I remembered how to fold the mechanism, but was iffy on the measurements. This truly is much easier than it looks. One thing I can add though, the cardstock for the mechanism is 2.5 inches by 8.5 inches. That’s important.
Case This Sketch #273
Before I made my niece’s card, I saw the CTS #273 sketch and knew it would work perfectly for the card I was going to create. I did make some minor adjustments based on the sketch, and I think it turned out peachy perfect.
Here’s the sketch:
