Do I need a new Challenge?

As usual my cards today are based on sketch challenges.  I don't know if I need to challenge myself  NOT to use a sketch or if I just really need to accept that the sketches are working really well for me right now.

 

Anyway, my first card uses SplitCoastStampers sketch 458.

 

 Here is my take on the sketch.  I LOVE snow.  Here in the south we don't get snow, some flurries occasionally, but not real snowfall.  I miss it.  So, I love to use snowman whenever I can.  They make me happy, lol.

 

My next card uses Sweet Sunday Sketch 195.  I don't play along with this challenge as often, but I think I need to start.  It was a really fun sketch to use.

 

Here is what I created.  I used a sweet stamp from Unity Stamp Co.  I also used papers, flowers and a brad from my collections.  :)

Quote for the day:

 

I know it's not really a quote, but when I was looking through my quotes, this one popped up and made me laugh out loud.  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Okay, back to Sketch Challenges

I am back to a sketch challenge today, I know you are surprised.  ;)  

Here is the sketch from Operation Write Home.

Here is what I created.  :)  The image and sentiment are from Unity Stamps.  I ordered them when Unity was contributing money to Operation Write Home for each order. :)

I used older papers, vellum and ribbon.  I paper pieced the snowman's sweater, scarf and hat.
It was a really fun card to make.

Quote for the day:

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Not a Sketch Challenge :)

I know you're surprised but my cards today are not from a sketch challenge.  :)

SplitCoastStampers has a Try a New Technique challenge on Mondays.

The technique today is to  use a waterbrush on white pigment ink on kraft cardstock.

First you heat emboss the image in white on kraft cardstock.  Then you use a waterbrush with white pigment ink to 'watercolor' your image.  Then you add color with the waterbrush and colored pigment ink. 

Here is my first attempt.

I really thought the technique was fun and I wanted to it with bolder colors.  So I embossed on white and used my waterbrush with Colorbox chalk ink.
This is what I created!

I really enjoyed this new technique and think I will be using it more in the future!!

Quote for the day:  "Your children will become who you are, so be who you want them to be."  - anonymous

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

More Sketches

Well, I kind of took today as a vacation day.  :)  I have been working so hard getting the house ready to put on the market and getting ready for our trip etc.  Now that the house is on the market and we are back from our trip, I can relax a bit.  :)

Of course I went for the sketches.  :)

This one is from Retro Sketches #82. 

I made two cards with the sketch!  This one actually has a plum background, I really need to get my photo box set back up.  On the list of things to have when we get moved.  

This one is on a kraft background. 

The other sketch I used is from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #193.    What a fun sketch!

 I made two of these that will be going to Operation Write Home.  The colors are a bit off on this picture.  The background is more coral.

Both of these were so much fun to make.  Both are using stamps that I got from the store in Missoula, MT when we were visiting our son at college.

Quote for the day:  "Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing."  - unknown

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Back from College Visits

Hi!  

I'm back to creating after an amazing trip to see our kids at their colleges!  

My first card is of course a sketch challenge.  :)

SplitCoastStampers sketch #455

While I was in Missoula, MT, I visited an LSS and they had this sweet stamp set.  However, it was in clear packaging and I don't know who makes it.  I though it would make a fun little card for a hero to send home to their child, so it will go into the Operation Write Home box.  

 I used older papers, a cuttlebug embossing folder, May Arts ribbon, Copic Xpress paper, Memento black ink and Copic markers.

Quote for the day:  "

I love this sweet little quote!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Operation Write Home Sketch

Ever had one of those days where the plans and visions you have do not correlate with what actually happens?  That has been my day today.  LOL

Here is Operation Write Homes' sketch for today.

 Here is what I FINALLY came up with.  I started with this sweet little Unity Stamp.  Originally I had the idea of heat embossing it, so I embossed with clear and with black.  The clear didn't bring enough color  to the 'You are my" piece, it looked too much like the grass.  The black embossing,  well it started to bleed into the prisma pencils and gamsol.  I've never had that happen before, but trust me, it isn't a good thing.  So them I stamped the sweet image with archival ink onto plain cardstock and colored with prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol.

 Then I added glossy accents to the sunshine to make it shine.

It didn't turn out exactly like I intended, but I do like how it came out!

Quote for the day:  "Always be a little kinder than necessary."  JM Barrie

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

New Sketch Challenge :)

Hi!  They came to clean the carpets today so all the work I've been doing getting boxes packed and stuff cleared off of the floor has paid off.  So this afternoon, I got to play.  :)  

The Deconstructed Sketch is a new challenge for me, and it was so much fun!

Here is the sketch!

I made these two cards.  I even got my Copic airbrushing stuff out!!!!  :)  I airbrushed the image layer after masking the fan.   This one has My Mind's Eye papers, brads from my stash, and May Arts ribbon.

This one has Authentique papers, brads from my stash, and May Arts ribbon.    The image and sentiment are a fun little Studio G set from Michael's.  This fun little pun is outside of the box I usually create in and that was fun!!

Quote for the day:  "A dog is the only thing on Earth that love you more than he loves himself."  - Josh Billings

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!!