Peace on Earth Card... Freshly Made Sketches

Well, I thought I would try a challenge this week but I am a little off in my timing apparently. I had this card all ready to go, thinking I was actually ahead of the game and then I found out that I am actually a sketch behind... I did this for Freshly Made Sketches 161 and this week is actually sketch 162!

Oh well. Whatever the case, I have another Christmas card for my stash and that's a good thing, right? I have so much happening at the moment that I am not at all surprised that this happened... such is life. 

I prefer non-traditional colours for Christmas, so this is my card. 

Who knows - maybe I will get around to doing sketch #162 after all!

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Lagoon Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Patterned Paper (not CTMH)
Stamps: Snow Flurries (ret.), Snowflakes (ret.)
Inks: Lagoon, Slate
Accessories: Grey Pleated Ribbon (not CTMH), Memory Box Cutting Dies - Birds and Branch (not CTMH)

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Freshly Made Sketches - I am so Thankful... Card

It has been SO long since I entered a sketch challenge and I have really missed it! Freshly Made Sketches is one of my favourites, too! I love their basic sketches because there is so much that can be done with a sketch like that. 

Here is my take on this week's sketch. I turned around the "flag" and chose to use ribbon to create that effect instead. I also clustered my embellishments just above the ribbon rather than adding mine on the top left side of the card - just to be a little bit different... I used only cardstock - no patterned paper this time around. Foam tape and background stamping added some interest instead of adding patterned paper. The sketch can be found just below my card. 

Products used are all Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock

Stamps: Harvest Happiness, A Little Thanks (ret.)

Inks: Black, Lagoon

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Damask Embossing Folder, Paradise Paper Flowers (ret.), Licorice Opaques (ret.), White Satin Ribbon (not CTMH), Foam Tape, White Crocheted Flower (ret.)

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Happy Birthday Card - Freshly Made Sketches

Today's card is much different from those of the past two days. I am finished with the sympathy cards (thank goodness as they are not my strength and I do not enjoy creating cards like that...). So, I decided to pull out some much more cheerful paper for the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge today. I haven't used the Lucy paper pack in ages! 

When I checked out the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop yesterday, one participant had used a corner rounder to create scallops on the shimmer trim. I decided to try that today but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. The rounder doesn't cut through the plastic and it's hard to get it to go through the trim as well. You have to go back afterwards and cut the plastic part off by hand. It does give a nice effect, though. My ribbon is in two pieces - the large piece fit just fine until I realized I needed a smaller piece peeking out below... That took some work to cut, fold and adhere a piece that narrow and make it look like it was attached to the top part! And embossing Cotton Candy ink turns it an orangy colour as I discovered here... The small flower is actually Blush and the large one is Cotton Candy, believe it or not! I learned some new things today!

So, here is the final product: 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Products are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Lucy Paper Pack (ret.), Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock

Stamps: Lucy WOTG (ret.), Happy Birthday (ret.)

Inks: Cotton Candy, Blush, Creme Brulee, Sweet Leaf, Versamark

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Artiste Cartridge, Silver Shimmer Trim, Pink Ribbon (not CTMH), Bling Assortment , Prisma Glitter, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Foam Tape, Alcohol Markers - Cotton Candy and Creme Brulee

Friends Card - Freshly Made Sketches

My card for the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches this week is made from the La Belle Vie papers. I love the colours in this paper pack and I wanted to bring out the Sweet Leaf green along with the pink and black. I also turned the sketch completely around. I know a lot of people have a hard time with this paper pack due to not having coloured inks (other than the basic colours) that match the papers but Smokey Plum is a terrific alternative. I used the pigment ink here just for a stronger shade of colour. I'll be really sad to see this paper pack retire - I feel like I have barely used it since Convention! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Products used are all Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: La Belle Vie Paper Pack (include cardstock available only with this paper pack), Black Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Cardstock

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship

Inks: Smokey Plum Pigment Ink

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Border Punch (not CTMH), Corner Rounder, Sparkles - Blue and Green Assortment

A Very Merry Christmas - Freshly Made Sketch Challenge

I'm back to my favourite colour - Avonlea Teal. I just cannot get enough of this colour and I am SO hopeful that Close To My Heart will add it to their colour palette before too long! I have looked all over for a co-ordinating ink pad and I have not been able to find one so I have been using Twilight as it is the closest match I can find. The pigment ink is a bit darker than the regular ink so that helps a bit. Paired with silver, they make the perfect Christmas combination.Unfortunately, this was photographed at night, so the colours turned out really dull... I SO need a good camera (and lessons in photography and photo editing skills..) Are you reading this, Dave??? Christmas is just around the corner...

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Products used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Paper: Avonlea Paper Pack, White Daisy Cardstock, Silver Glitter Paper (not CTMH)
Stamps: A Very Merry Christmas
Inks: Twilight Pigment Ink, Versamark
Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Silver Embossing Powder, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Bitty Sparkles, Silver Shimmer Trim, Teal Striped Ribbon (not CTMH), Teal Satin Ribbon (not CTMH), Silver Metallic Marker, Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Foam Tape

Christmas Cheer Card - Freshly Made Sketches

Today's card is another one of those that I love! It's a non-traditional Christmas card, made from non-traditional colours. I decided to go with a snowflake theme today since the sketch called for a circle and I just didn't feel like circles this morning... I love blue and silver together and the touch of glitter just added the perfect touch. However, now there is glitter on everything as anyone who works with glitter knows... It is impossible to work with "a bit of glitter" and not end up with it on your nose, your clothes and on everything else! The pigment inks were perfect for colouring the snowflakes because then they could be embossed with clear detail embossing powder to give them that extra intense colour. I just love those ink pads!

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Supplies are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Magnifique Paper Pack (ret.), Pacifica Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock
Stamps: Very Merry Christmas
Inks: Pacifica Pigment Ink Pad, Sky Pigment Ink Pad, White Daisy Pigment Ink Pad
Accessories: Snowflakes Dimensional Elements, Silver Embossing Powder, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Prisma Glitter, Boutique Assortment, Foam Tape, Silver Shimmer Trim

Blessings Card - Freshly Made Sketches

Today's card is one made with La Belle Vie papers - paper I don't use very often, although I really like it. The sketch for the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge is shown below the card. I added a bow made from two colours of Baker's Twine - Close To My Heart doesn't have pink twine, so I used some I had on hand to match the colours in the card. I had to stamp the sentiment in four pieces to fit it on the circle the way I wanted it. 

Enjoy, 
Alyson

Products are Close To My Heart unless otherwise indicated: 

Papers: La Belle Vie Paper Pack (includes cardstock available only with this paper pack), Colonial White Cardstock, Black Cardstock
Stamps: A Friend Like You
Inks: Black Pigment Ink
Accessories: Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Foam Tape, Baker's Twine - Neutral Assortment, Pink Baker's Twine (not CTMH), La Belle Vie Stickease
 

Fabulous Fall Card - Freshly Made Sketches Challenge

Today's card is made for the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. Rather than using a flower, I decided to cut a doily using the Cricut Artiste (I LOVE that cartridge) and then stamp a maple leaf from the Fall Harvest Stamp Set. At this time of the year in our area, the leaves are changing colour very quickly. On my chilly morning walks, I can see a difference each day as I often walk through the woods. And, of course, the maple leaf is so significant to Canada, so I had to choose that one! I haven't hand cut a shape for a long time - that is almost a foreign concept now that we have these two awesome Cricut cartridges! 

The sketch is shown below the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Products used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Flirty Paper Pack, Colonial White Cardstock, New England Ivy Cardstock, Bamboo Cardstock

Stamp Set: Fall Harvest

Inks: New England Ivy, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Olive

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Foam Tape, Autumn Lane Assortment

Wishing You Blessings - Freshly Made Sketch Challenge

This week at Freshly Made Sketches, they are celebrating a year of sketches and you can choose any sketch from the past year to use. I love the one that I selected! It is shown below the card and it worked perfectly with the "Blessings of Peace" Stamp Set that I have been dying to use!

I tried a number of techniques with this card before I finally settled on using the Glitz Glitter Gels. I tried stamping the dove in Cashmere Pigment ink but it was way too light. I then tried embossing it with Clear Embossing Powder but it just turned it into a sheer image and you couldn't see it at all unless it was turned into the light. I also tried using Smoothie Pigment ink but that wasn't dark enough either, surprisingly. I finally settled on Colonial White ink and then went over it with the Glitz Glitter Gels. I guess you never know what works until you try...

Enjoy,
Alyson

Products are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Pear and Partridge Paper Pack, New England Ivy Cardstock, Smoothie Cardstock
Stamps: Blessings of Peace
Inks: Colonial White Dye Ink
Accessories: Artiste Cartridge,Olive Ribbon (ret.), Buttons - Pink Assortment, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment and Harvest Assortment, Glitz Glitter Gels - Red, Green, Stardust and Almond, Sparkles from Avonlea Card WOTG Kit, Foam Tape

Celebrate Today Card - Freshly Made Sketches

The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week is one I really like - enough detail to be creative yet not so much that it was overwhelming.

I chose to use the Dakota papers  for my card - a paper pack that I don't turn to very often. I love the blues in this paper pack and wanted to showcase those colours along with the wood grain background. The Slate accessories and ribbon go so perfectly with this paper pack as well.

The sketch is shown below the card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Dakota Paper Pack, Pacifica Cardstock, Black Cardstock

Stamps: Casual Expressions

Inks: Pacifica

Accessories: Artiste Cartridge, Slate Mini-Medley, Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon, Foam Tape, Black Waxy Flax

Celebrate Card - Freshly Made Sketches

Today's card is based on this week's challenge from Freshly Made Sketches. Again, I used the Moonlight papers without making it look like a Halloween card. I am totally not a Halloween fan so it's really important to me to be able to utilize those papers in a non-traditional way. 

I know Freshly Made Sketches really promotes simple cards but when I finished, my card looked so empty that I felt I had to add something so I put the two pin clips in at the top to finish it off. And yes, I even had the nerve to stamp a floral pattern on Halloween paper!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies are all Close To My Heart

Paper: Moonlight Paper Pack, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Autumn Teracotta Cardstock

Stamps: Perfect Fit - Frames, Perfect Fit - Holidays, Salutation Seals

Inks: Sweet Leaf, Autumn Terracotta, Smokey Plum

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Foam Tape, Haunted Assortment, Pin Clips

Freshly Made Sketch Challenge Card - Friendship

I love everything about this card - the colours (Lagoon is my favourite colour), the sentiment, the stamp sets, the paper... I could go on and on! I am already running out of Dotty for You paper and am waiting for 

April 17 so I can order more! 

The sketch from Freshly Made Challenges is found below the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

All products are Close To My Heart

Paper: Dotty for You Paper Pack, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship, Dreams Come True (ret.)

Inks: Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Black, Versamark

Accessories: Buttons - Basic Assortment,  Baker's Twine - Neutral Assortment, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Prisma Glitter, Heat Tool, Black Opaques Adhesive Gems

2 New Challenges - and a Nice Surprise!

What a nice surprise this week. I checked the Ribbon Carousel Blog, only to find out that I was chosen as one of the "Top Spools" for last week's challenge! I certainly didn't expect that!

This card is made for two challenges this week - the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge and the Ribbon Carousel Challenge. The Freshly Made Sketch is below the card and the Ribbon Carousel Challenge requires the use of twine, which I LOVE!  I am using it on my cards and layouts more and more. 

I am working on a couple of layouts right now that are taking me an extraordinary amount of time. My mother and I went for a portrait session a couple of weeks ago and I am doing a layout for a frame for me and one for her. I want them to be nothing short of spectacular so I am searching for ideas and slowly putting them together. It is taking up a lot of my time so if I don't post daily, that is what is taking up my time these days. Just so you know... 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Supplies used are CTMH unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Black Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Tulip Cardstock, Sunset Cardstock, Gypsy Cardstock, Cotton Candy Cardstock, Sunny Yellow Cardstock

Stamps: A Bowwow

Inks: Black

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Clear Button Assortment, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment, Other Twine (not CTMH), Ribbon (not CTMH)

Freshly Made Sketch Challenge - 100th post!

I just realized that this is my 100th post! YEAH!

The card below is going to be a birthday card for a friend of mine. I know she loves the intense colours of the Stella paper pack, as do I. Of all the colours in the CTMH palette, I think Lagoon is my favourite. 

This card was based on this week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, which can be seen below.  

Enjoy, 

Alyson

All products are CTMH unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Stella Paper Pack, Lagoon Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Tulip Cardstock

Stamps: Salutation Seals, Card Chatter - Birthday

Inks: Lagoon, Tulip

Accessories: Designer Ribbon - Red Collection, Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment, Clear Sparkles, Paradise Paper Flowers, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (not CTMH), Nestabilities Dies (not CTMH), Foam Tape, Sanding Kit

Friendship Card - Multiple Challenges

This week is the first time I have made cards that actually meet the requirements for more than one challenge and it has been an interesting experience for me. The card below was a special one... If you look carefully, the piece with the writing on it has been especially created just for this card. Our Creative Corner challenge required that you incorporate song lyrics as inspiration, so I used the lyrics from one of my favourite songs from when I was a teenager. The song is called "Friends" and it is by Michael W. Smith. It was so appropriate at the time for me when I was in high school as most of my friends were a year ahead of me and leaving for university. I still had my last year of high school to complete. It was so hard to see them leave and that's what this song is all about - "Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them".

The other challenges met here were the Ribbon Carousel where you had to use felt and Freshly Made Sketches (click on any of the challenges to go to the websites).  

Enjoy, 

Alyson

All products are CTMH unless otherwise noted: 

Paper: Florentine Paper Pack, Vanilla Cream Cardstock, Olive Cardstock, Twilight Cardstock

Stamps: Friendship Blessings (ret.)

Inks: Twilight

Accessories: Art Philosophy Cartridge, Felt (ret.), Foam Tape, Blue Ribbon (not CTMH), Computer Font (not CTMH)