Metallic Accents

 Cardz 4 Guyz challenge is Metals.

I used a couple of wood pattern papers and a black with white spatters. The copper metallic accent strip is embossed with an argyle folder from Cuttlebug. The SU sentiment is die cut with a deckle rectangle. I added 2 sprigs from the copper paper.

The Grinch

 Here is the new sketch this week from Tuesday Morning Sketches

On the bandwagon of Christmas in July cards, I made a Grinch theme card. This is my first Christmas card this year. How are you coming with your holiday cards?

I used a snowflake cover stamp and white ink on the solid green. It was so faint I had to trace over the designs with a white gel pen. Do you have a recommendation for a good white ink pad?  I added a green/white polka dot strip to the right and then used punched snowflakes on the edge for the scallop element on the sketch. The rectangle is a shiny gold. The sentiment is a clip art printed and trimmed. A Santa hat at the top for the bow on the sketch. Finally 3 punched glitter heart accents--because "his heart grew three times that day," Each snowflake was coated with clear glitter glue.

Send A Smile 4 Kidz is having that Chrstmas in July challenge. I think kids will like Grinch cards.

I hope you have fun with this sketch and share your creation with us. 

Vegetable Garden

 Another Tuesday rolling around and another of our retro sketches at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

My card this week comes with a story. This one is in memory of my Mother. Today is her birthday, she would have been 100. A few years ago, my son signed me up at MySstory.com.  One of the questions they asked was what advice did your Mother give you. My reply: 1. Marry a Christian man--check. 2. Study for a career in case number 1 does not work out--check (nurse for 40 years). 3. Learn to garden and preserve food--sorry Mom, this one was an utter fail.

And it is true, I have never planted a garden or canned food.  Growing up we had a large garden with lots of tomatoes. We made our own tomato juice, sauce, and even ketchup.

So Mom, this card is for you. The closest I will get to planting a garden.

The papers are from the new To Market DSP from Stampin' Up! The sentiment is an old one in my stash. The gems on the sentiment and upper right are actually shiny bright and red. That didn't photograph well. On the tomato panel, I punched out 4 circles with a hole punch and added clear Stickles to make them shine. Hmmm, I guess that didn't photograph well either. 

Here is my card when the original sketch was posted back in 2014

Go check out the inspiration from the design team. I hope you find some time to join us this week.

Caterpillar

I am totally CASEing my blogger friend Cheryl's card today.  You can see hers here

This one is for the little guyz at Cardz 4 Guyz where the challenge is Animal Magic. I know caterpillars are insects but does that qualify as an animal also?

I don't know if this is a Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar but it sure is a cute one.

I used a  Martha Stewart button punch to make the body in different blue prints  and a 1" punch for the yellow head. In the background is a large circle Cuttlebug E/F for Can You Handle the Pressure with stripes or checks are an added twist.

 I do not have a face stamp like Cheryl's so I drew on a mouth and added googly eyes. The antenna are from a butterfly punch. I tied on a Mossy Green ribbon to anchor the caterpillar. 

Also entering at Let's Craft and Create where the challenge twist is add buttons. 

Adding this card to my stash for Send A Smile 4 Kids. I used the paper punched buttons because small kids might pull off real buttons and put them in their mouth.

Under the Sea

 At Tuesday Morning Sketches, we are celebrating our 15th birthday all month with blast from the past sketches. Here is the one for this week.

You know we always say, the shapes are always changeable as long as the sketch is recognizable.  I took real liberties with the circle element by using a mermaid. 

The sketch shows 2 different patters on the background layer. I didn't have any paper to coordinate with this gorgeous blue paper from the Unbounded Beauty DSP from Stampin' Up! I loved these papers so much I have used them all. This is the last piece. I cut the piece in two and embossed the bottom piece with a wavy E/F. Then I used some succulent stamps on the lower half. I think these succulents look like underwater plants and coral reef. I added a few die cut pieces to bring in  more seaweed. Then I matted both of the blue pieces on a white background and ran a ribbon across the seam. The mermaid is an old stamp from my stash, She is watercolored and fussy cut. Look closely to see a stamped floral shape next to the mermaid, bringing in that flower element of the sketch.

This was so much fun to make. Definitely not quick and simple. I look forward to seeing what you create and share with us.

Celebrate

 Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday Tuesday Morning Sketches, Happy Birthday to us!

TMS turns 15 this month. We will be celebrating all month long with old sketches and I've heard a rumor we will be having prizes along the way.

This is our first celebration sketch.

Of course the occasion calls for a birthday card.

The candle paper is from JoAnn's. I picked up the candle colors for the elements. The balloons are an SU! punch and coated with glossy accents. They have floss strings and are popped up on foam squares. It is so obviously a birthday card, I left off a sentiment on the front to not detract from the balloons.

Inside I have a computer made sentiment and another balloon.

I hope you will join our birthday celebration and share a card to our blog.

Travel the World.

 Thoughts of retirement are often followed by thoughts of travel. So today we are sailing around the world.

The card base is Summer Splash and the background paper is Unbounded Beauty DSP from Stanpin' Up!. Doesn't it just make you think ocean?  The world is Tim Holtz. The compass and sailboat are old stamps in my stash. Sentiment is SU!. 

I am entering this masculine card at Cardz 4 Guyz Anything Goes--Masculine.

Big and Bold

 Today we have a new fun sketch from Melissa at Tuesday Morning Sketches. 

It will be fun to see how you interpret this one.

I went quite literal using the diorama dies from Stampin' Up!

I love water colors and am always glad when I can find paper that does the look for me. This one is from SU's new 6x6 pad of DSP called Full of Life. The big Thank You die is from Sizzix.

Summer is busy but I hope you fine some time in the craft room to join our sketch challenge.

Soaring

The challenge this month at Send A Smile 4 Kids is Tweens/Teens. I know teen boy cards are always needed.

I like making masculine cards but am really challenged when it come to teen boys. This new DSP, Take To The Sky, is perfect for boys. So today I have 2 cards to share using these papers.

Hello

Are you getting into the summer season? Do you have more time for crafting?

It's Tuesday again and time for a new sketch for you to try from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

In an effort to clean my workspace, I made this week's card with the same paper as last week. They are called Blissful Times by Mintay Papers. 

I hope you find the sketch inspiring and will share your creation with us.