A Wild About Flowers Birthday Card

Today I thought I would play with the Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge #547.  I have not played with their sketches in quite a while.  I don't know why.  I use to do them once a week. They release them on Wednesdays.  Actually it's released late on Tuesday night.  I would be up anyway, so I would play along and post my version on their site.  I may post this one there just to let them know I played along!  

I used the "Wild about Flowers" and the "Wetlands" sets to make this card.  The words came from the "Wetlands" set.  

I used Pacific Point for the base of my card and for the layers. The decorative paper came from the "Pretty Petals" paper stack. I just LOVE those little stacks!  This stack had lots of very fun designs in it and I plan to use a lot of them in the upcoming weeks!  Designer paper also helps to make a quicker card too!

This was a fun sketch to play with it.  Give it a try if you have time.  I provided a link to the sketch above.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda 

Googly Ghouls

I was not going to make Halloween cards yet but I just couldn't help myself.  This is such a cute set.  Perfect for kids because it's not scary!  And speaking of scary, I'm SO looking forward to some scary movies this fall for Halloween.  Every now and then I get in the mood for a good scary movie!  

As I was putting this card together I had opened up the pack of Howlstooth decorative paper that I'm pretty sure belongs to my sister!  I know she will be fine with me using it, especially after I put the card in the package with the scraps from the sheet I cut!  

This card was made for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  There really was no sketch.  To commemorate their 400th sketch you were told to pick a prior sketch and play with it.  I chose sketch #242.  I picked that one because Frankie fit nicely into the focal piece!  I  had to dig out my Booglie Eyes set because that is where I had stored the wiggly eyes I had.  This set is designed for those eyes!!!  I can't wait to play with the rest of the images!

This was a fun card to make and I really do like this sketch!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Serene Silhouettes Birthday

It is Wednesday and I actually had time to do this weeks Split Coast Stamper's Sketch Challenge!  It has been quite a few weeks since I have played along!  This sketch was a bit of a challenge for me but I managed to get through it.  

It wasn't all that difficult to do, it was me messing up.  First I colored in the image with markers and huffed on it, I stamped it on my card stock only to find that I should have stamped it in the middle of the strip of card stock instead of the top! UGH!!!  SO I get another strip cut and stamp it in the middle like I should have done in the first place.  After that the rest of the card was easy.

I used Wild Wasabi on the greens of the image and then I thumped in some Always Artichoke.  I colored the flowers in using Regal Rose and then colored the tips and edges in using Melon Mambo.  It gave the flowers the bit of punch they needed.  

The words are from the Happiest Birthday Wishes set.    I punched them out using the large oval punch.  I punched out 3 small scalloped ovals and set two of them on the top and bottom of the large oval. I cut the third oval in half and taped it to the sides to give that oval the look of having a scallop all the way around it.  

I did forget to add two "somethings" in the upper left corner but I like my card the way it is.  I suppose I could punch a couple of black circles and add them but I don't think so.  I think it looks fine just the way it is.  What do you think?

This was a fun sketch to play with but I don't really see myself using it much.  Though I should never say that because that is when I find myself using the same one over and over and over!!! Crazy, I know!!! LOL

I have several cards I have to make and a little project to finish up.  The project I will show you tomorrow.  I think you will find it fun to do.  It would make a wonderful Stamp Camp project!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes

Oh my, what a fun set this Serene Silhouettes is.  I haven't used it much but as I was making this card and looking at the images in the set (trying to make a decision) tons of ideas for cards went sailing through my head.  Unfortunately they just sailed on through but I'm sure once I sit down to make another card using this set I will remember a couple of those!!  Don't you hate it when ideas come one after another and then other times not a single one?  I think there should just be a constant flow of ideas, a slow trickle.  No overload and no dry spells!!  Wouldn't that be nice?  LOL

This card was very fun to make.  I used a Split Coast Stampers Sketch (#96) for this layout.  I know I've written this before but I always say it (just in case there are new readers - not because I'm getting old and repeating myself!  LOL) I began doing the sketches many years ago at sketch #126.  So this sketch was new to me.  How I came about using it is simple.  I print them out every week and when I need a sketch I just open the photo album I keep them in and find a focal panel that fits the image I'm wanting to use.  I thought this sketch would be fun to do because you get to show off both sides of a piece of decorative paper at the same time!  The decorative paper here was folded at an angle at the bottom.  That was part of the challenge on the sketch.  The paper here is from the Comfort Cafe decorative paper pack.  The base of the card is the new in-color Midnight Muse and I also used Very Vanilla. The ink is also the Midnight Muse.  I LOVE the new ink pads.  It didn't take much pressure on the ink pad at all.  It feels like the ink is always at the surface.  No more banging on the ink pads!!  That means I can stamp late at night and not wake anyone!!! LOL  

I do like how this card turned out but I think if I make another one I would add a bit of the base color to the folded part too.  It would stand out better against the other paper better.  But this is the way it has to be for today because it's all taped on there pretty darn well!!

This was a fun sketch and a fun set to play with!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Blooming With Kindness Sketch Challenge

 I was SO glad I had time today to play with the Wednesday Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers.  Today's sketch looked simple enough.  I still had the Blooming with Kindness stamp set sitting out and I thought the flower would be fun to use on the card.  First I stamped it in VersaMark and then used gold embossing powder.  YUCK!  Then I stamped the image with VersaMark and used white embossing powder.  YUCK! once again.  And then I stamped the image with VersaMark and used black embossing powder.  I'm not overly thrilled with it but it's not as gross looking as the gold and white were!  I wanted to use embossing powder because I was going to use the watercolor crayons but changed my mind and used chalks and some Smooch Spray.  I think the Smooch Spray acts like a fixative because the chalk feels pretty set.  I still have Smooch Spray on my keyboard because I didn't bother to use the special box or protect my keyboard.  That stuff doesn't come off very easy!  Anyway, now the flower has not only some soft color but a bit of pearly shine to it too!

I did flip the sketch.  I didn't like this flower at the bottom.  It somehow looked much better at the top.  I guess I just like to be different.  I added some green leaves from the punch with the Bird Builder punch.  The words are from the Field Flowers set. And the decorative paper is from the Subtles Pack.    

There's not a whole lot to this card. It was very fun to do and very simple too!

If you have time I do highly recommend you give the sketch a try.  You don't need to post it at Split Coast Stampers but it is fun to do!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Believe Sketch Challenge

 I actually had time to play with the Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers (SCS). I have not played along with them since the first part of May.  I have done a few of the sketches since then but I did them later in the week(s) and never posted them at SCS.  

This was a very fun sketch to play with and I can see myself using it for other cards.  I have a giraffe in mind for the #4 panel!!!  I think it will make a great uncomplicated and simple masculine card.  I'll be giving that a try maybe later in the week. I have some other things going on that I need to work with and finish up too!

So onto my card.  I used Cajun Craze for the base of my card.  On top of that is a piece of white card stock that was textured using the Dotted embossing folder.  The #2 layer is a piece of Cajun Craze on the back layer and on top of that is a piece of Tangerine Tango decorative paper.  

The image is from the Just Believe set.  I stamped the image using Cajun Craze ink.  The words are also from the Just Believe set.  I stamped them using Cajun Craze ink and punched them out with the oval punch. I used the large oval punch and Cajun Craze card stock and I layered it behind the "thank you."  I added a piece of ribbon to the dotted texture piece and I then assembled the card.  

The #4 image panel was set in place with Dimensionals.  

It was a very quick and easy card to make.  I was glad I had time to play this week.  I really enjoyed playing with this sketch.  I feel like I'm getting back in the groove of stamping after taking a day off to play in the gutter garden and getting my hands dirty (which I HATE to do).  I whined about the dirt under my fingernails until we were done and I was able to go in the house and scrub my hands!!!  I'm not a true gardener!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Open Sea Masculine Birthday Card

 This was last weeks Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  I have not been able to play for the last couple of weeks.  I just saw today's sketch but it looked too frilly for a masculine card.  Though I should give it a try and make it work for a masculine card.  Now that would be a real challenge.  I did make a most needed masculine card using the Open Sea set.  I'm SO glad this is back in the new catalog!  It's a great masculine set.  Though I was hoping for some more masculine papers.  But we always seem to manage to do with what is here, don't we?  This paper is perfect with this set.  I had purchased several packages of it and have used them all up!  

For my card I used Early Espresso for the base of my card.  Then I used the decorative papers for the backgrounds. I layered them in Early Espresso.  I stamped the ship on Whisper White card stock using Night of Navy ink.  My panel is smaller than the one in the sketch but I had to make it smaller.  If I would have kept it that size there would have been way too much white showing on each end. It worked out and turned out just fine.  My nephew will like the card.

This was a fun sketch.  I think it is one that I will be using again.  The focal panel is big enough for many of the stamp sets I have.  

If you have time I highly recommend you give the sketches a try!  It's always fun to learn new layouts.  I keep mine in a photo album and when I'm stuck with an idea I just open the album and find a sketch that fits a stamp that I have in mind.  It works 99% of the time!  And yes, my album has 386 sketches in it.  I collected them all!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Zoo Review Father's Day

I have a confession to make.  I am late posting because I got stuck playing a game on the computer.  Something that I rarely do but when I do run across this game I just have to play it.  And then a half hour to 45 minutes go by and I'm behind on what I was planning on doing.  UGH!!  But what is important is I'm here now!  LOL

Last week I was very busy with the neighborhood garage sale and I didn't have time to play with the Wednesday Sketch Challenge on Split Coast Stampers.  So today I finally had a few minutes (minus that game) to play with the sketch!

I really liked this layout and it will work with TONS of stamp images I have.  I did cut my #4 panel a bit smaller than the original one is but I needed the lion from the Zoo Review stamp set.  I had mixed feelings about this set but the more I saw cards done using it the more I knew I needed to get it.

I used Well Worn for my background papers.  I had purchased the download so I am able to print out paper anytime I need it.  Ya gotta love that!  I know I do.  I always print these papers on 28 or 30 pound copier paper.  You want a thicker paper for this.  It will have a better look to it.  The colors will be more vivid and not so washed out.  And it will have a nice firm feel to it like the decorative papers do.  30 pound is my paper of choice.  It's a bit expensive but you don't use that much of it so it does last a long time.

The "Happy Father's Day" was done on the computer and punched out.  

I had a lot of fun making this card and knowing that I have a lot more images that will fit in the #4 panel.  The card went together rather quickly, which is another reason why I'm going to use this sketch again!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Zoo Review Masculine Birthday Card

 I just never seem to have enough masculine cards.  This weeks Sketch Challenge had the perfect focal panel for me to use the zebra image from the Zoo Review set.  I had gotten that set back during the Sale A Bration and I hadn't had a chance to use it yet!  It's a perfect set for masculine cards.  And a perfect set to use for today's Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers!

The base of my card is Soft Suede.  On top of that is a piece of decorative paper from the Regals collections.  

The front strip panel was textured using the Lattice folder.  

Next the focal piece was added.  I stamped the En Francais background using Crumb Cake. I had tried the Soft Suede but it was way too dark. I even tried stamping off but that was just too light.  So I got out the Crumb Cake ink pad and it was a bit too dark too so I huffed on it and used the image one more time and it worked out perfectly. It was light enough yet dark enough to know there was something there!

Then I stamped the zebra.  I sponged the edges of that piece plus the Happy Birthday circle.

Oops, jumping the gun a bit here.  The circle piece was done using my computer and printer.  I punched it out using the 1-1/4" punch, then I punched the Not Quite Navy circle using the 1-3/8" circle and those two were layered on top of the Soft Suede circle scallop punched piece. 

And that was all there is to making this card.  It was simple enough even with all of those layers!!! I LOVED playing with this sketch and I can see myself using this one again and more than likely in the near future too! I have a lot of images that will fit into that focal space.  So if you have time, I highly recommend you giving this sketch a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 WOW, I actually had time to play with the Sketch Challenge.  And what is most amazing was that I remembered it was the Sketch Challenge time.  I missed it last week because I totally forgot what day it was!  Having hubby home for a few days always messes me up!

This sketch was fun and challenging at the same time.  I didn't have all the same size circle punches that were used in the pattern/sketch.  A couple of mine are a little different in size and it just had to do.  I used the pretty Spice Cake decorative paper and Early Espresso for the base of the card.  I normally layer everything in my cards but since I didn't have all the circle punches I wasn't able to layer them. I suppose I could have gotten out the circle cutter and glass surface thing but it's a lot of work for a few circles.  I don't use it much because I find it such a chore to get it set up, cut a circle and put it back. Though for this it would have been a few more circles but it didn't matter it was still too much effort to get it out, set it up and cut the circles.  I much prefer punches!! They are quick and easy and there is less of a chance of ruining one than with the cutter.

My image came from the Best of Everything set.  I had seen a lot of samples using that set and wished that I had bought it.  I was looking through my stamps the other day and there it was.  So, do you think that if you wish for something hard enough you get it or do you think I bought it and forgot I had it?  LOL  I like the wishing part.  Too bad it really doesn't happen like that!

I did have fun with this sketch but doubt I would use it again anytime soon.  Well, unless I see one of the new posts using this sketch on Split Coast Stampers that is a MUST copy!!!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Sprinkled Expressions Sketch Challenge

This was a very fun sketch Split Coast Stampers put up today!  I LOVE all the layers.  I am a bit disappointed in how the card stock and the ink do not photo well and I didn't even use a flash.  Odd!!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun because of all the layers on this card.  I SO love making cards with lots of layers.  I thought I would use an image from the "Sprinkled Expressions"  set since it will be retiring in a few days.  It's the only image in the set that I have used.  I saw some cute cards made using some of the other images but I never got around to reproducing them.  That is really telling me something about how I should be buying my stamp sets in the future too.  I buy too many and then I don't have time to use them all before they retire. 

My card was made using the Everyday Enchantment decorative paper. It's such pretty paper and I think I have used every sheet in the pack now!!  That is not like me.  Though I don't hoard the pack anymore.  They retire too quickly to hoard!!  

On my card I opted for the wording on the #4 panel and used the punched flower for the #5 panel. I thought I would mix it up a bit!!  

Tomorrow I am going to a Stamp-a-Stack (I have not been to one of those in a very long time.  I am taking my sister who I think is looking forward to it more than I am (if that is even possible!!).  It was at the Open House I was at that I suggested we go and she was all for it.  So I will have some cards from there to show you too!  I am also making another bracelet.  I actually considered to do the "A Bracelet a Week" thing but then realized that I didn't need the stress in making bracelets and I don't always have time every week to bead!  I wish I did!  

It was a fun challenge so if you have time I highly recommend you playing along!

Tomorrow I will have a fun project to share with you so be sure to stop back.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 I kept the sketch pretty simple and clean.  I was going to add some words to it but when I got it all together I thought I would just leave it as it is and use the card for whatever occasion I need and write something on the inside instead.

This was a very fun sketch to play with.  I LOVE that big oval in the center and I can see myself making more cards using this layout.  

I have not used the Pool Party color much and I thought I would open up the pack of it that I bought last summer and play with it some more.  I wanted my card stock to match the decorative paper so that I why I went with the Pool Party color too.  

The decorative paper is from the Everyday Enchantment pack.  I've used almost all of the sheets in it except for the one I used here on this card.  I was surprised I let that little gem slip by.  It's SO pretty with the card stock!

The image is from the Fabulous Florets set. A set I have used a lot and still like very much.  

The flower was stamped using black StazOn and colored in using a blender pen and the Pool Party ink pad.  I also colored in the center of the flower using the blender pen and the Daffodil Delight ink pad. 

The layer marked in blue on the pattern was set in place using Dimensionals as was the oval and the cut out flower.  Yes, I did cut out the flower. In fact I stamped the larger flower at the same time, colored them both and cut both of them out but I ended up using the smaller one.  The larger one was WAY too big for that oval. 

It's a sweet and simple card and can be used for quite a few occasions.  I'm not sure what I will use it for but for now it's getting a protective sleeve and going in the file on the ledge and in a few weeks it will end up in one of the two drawers I have FULL of cards.  I'm going to be going through them soon.  We are having a HUGE garage sale and I am going to be putting them in there to try to get rid of some!!

So, to recap:  the card went together quickly, it was easy to make and fun to do!  If you have the time I highly recommend this layout!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Elebration Baby's 1st Birthday Sketch Challenge

 I really really really enjoyed today's Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  I don't need this card until May but it's always good to be ahead of the game.  I just wish I was caught up for this month!!!  Oh well, it seems that I have been working better lately under pressure!  And by that I mean, that the card has to be out in the mail in the morning and I haven't even started it.  And I do have one birthday this month that I totally forgot about so I need to send a belated card (as soon as I get it made!!!).  I'm so far behind this month! 

So we'll leave that info behind us and get onto the card of the day!  As I said, I really did enjoy this sketch.  I was going to keep it the way it was but once I saw this Elebration stamp that I have not used yet I thought I would flip the sketch and make a 1st birthday card for my great-nephew.  His birthday is not until May and he won't even be aware that it is his birthday or that he got this card.  LOL  But that's ok.  It was a fun card to make and I would love to give the sketch another try keeping it the way it was.  

I don't know if you can see it in the photo (click on the photo for a closer view) but I did cut out the elephant and balloon.  

The #2 layer was done using the doily sizzlet die and I did cut it down to fit. The images were colored in using a blender pen and markers.  One of my favorite ways to color!!  I also cut the images out and set them in place using Dimensionals.  

The "1" was done on the computer because I didn't have any letter stamps that would fit.  

I think it turned out cute and I will be playing with this sketch in the near future.  It is a fun one and if you have time, I highly recommend you give this one a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Perfectly Penned Thank You Card Sketch Challenge

 I had a very difficult time getting the photos on this post.  I have no idea what the issue was but it took me several times to get them posted.  Maybe it's because of the card itself.  I am SO not into this card.   I did like the sketch but I just had trouble with it.  I wanted to work the circle part with flowers in it but I couldn't find a circle punch big enough.  SO I went with the flower and I really had no where to go with it.  This is a very blah card and I don't feel I did the sketch justice.  I know the gals over at SplitCoastStampers (SCS) are always nice in their comments but I don't think this is as nice of a card as I am capable of making.  I just lost my momentum on it when I couldn't do the circle the way I wanted.  It didn't dawn on me until just a few minutes ago that I could have gotten out my big circle cutter "thing" and made the circle the exact size I wanted.  Oh well, what's done is done and there's no going back.  Well, maybe there is. I could make a new card tomorrow and just delete this one!  But I won't because I have an extremely busy day tomorrow.  It's my day off this week and I have a list a mile long of errands to do. 

I printed out the sketch and I will trim it up tomorrow night to fit in my photo album for future reference.  Hopefully I will run across this some day in the near future and play with it again.  Or better yet, someone playing with the sketch on SCS will make a card that catches my eye and I will CASE it.  It seems that CASE is the word of the day lately!!

Ok, back to working on my fun project!  I am so excited to get it done so I can share it with you!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Simply Soft Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I finally had time to play with the Wednesday Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers (SCS).  It's been a few weeks since I was able to play and I was glad I had some time this week!  

This sketch was a lot of fun. I kept it clean and simple.  I pretty much copied the background on one of the sample cards that were on the SCS site.  I just like the look of that card and I didn't have a lot of creativity tonight.  Perhaps it's because I'm feeling a bit hyper and I blame that on the pop I drank. I don't do caffeine and when I do I'm hyper and I'm up all night too!  And I never learn!!! LOL

The set used here is the Hostess set "Simply Soft".  I was not sure where I was going with this card.  I didn't know if I should make it a birthday card, thinking of you, get well or even a sympathy card.  I did end up leaving it blank on the inside and when something comes up that I need a card I will know then what to put on the inside, won't I?  LOL

What I like most about this card is those tiny little pearls on each panel.  Click on the photo for a closer look. I even added a couple in the flowers too!  This was a fun and easy card to make.  I LOVE this layout and I can see myself using this sketch again.

If you have time, give this sketch a try!!

Stop by tomorrow, I have another fun project to share with you! I promise!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge and Tutorial Too!

Today's Sketch Challenge was a simple one and I did keep it simple too.  I saw some of the posts to this sketch and they are a bit more elaborate and beautiful.  this time I chose to keep it simple.  I hadn't done the Wednesday Sketch in a few weeks and I thought it was time to get back to them.

This sketch challenge is done using the Pastels on Black tutorial that was posted on SplitCoastStampers today too!  It was fun to mix the tutorial of the day with the sketch of the day!  It's a first for me!

I used the Flower Fest stamp set.  I thought it would be fun to dig out the flower sets again since we are heading into spring.  It was snowing here a while ago and then it turned over to rain.  Not a good thing since the temps are going to drop tonight and that means slippery roads.  UGH!!!  At one point I heard we were suppose to get 6" of snow and the way it was coming down earlier I almost believed it.  I was thinking that tomorrow would be a snowman making morning but no.  Of course not.  The snow changed over to rain and you can't make a snowman with rain!! 

This sketch was very fun and I know I have a lot of stamp sets that will fit in the #2 panel.  I can see myself using this sketch again!  

If you have time, give this layout a try.  You don't have to submit it to SplitCoastStampers if you don't want to.  You can just make it for yourself.  It is fun to submit them though.  I have pages full of cards I've submitted to them.  And by doing that, I always know where my card samples are!!!  

Well, I'm off to finish my project that I was going to show you today but I got busy doing other stuff so I will share it with you tomorrow.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Everybunny Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I decided to take a little break from Valentine's Day cards and play with this fun Easter set I bought back when the catalog first came out.  It came out past Easter so I had to wait to use it.  Well, I suppose I could have played with it sooner but then it wouldn't feel like a new set now would it???

This sketch was very fun.  I don't usually work well with diagonals but this one seemed to be easy enough to play with!

And this adorable bunny in the egg balloon is just too stinkin' cute!!!  There are 6 other images plus one word one in this set. I'm hoping to get a chance to play with them all!!!  I have a few more Valentine's Day things to make and then I'm moving on.  Not just to Easter cards but to some fun birthday cards, masculine cards (of which there just doesn't seem to be enough samples out there of) and of course more gift projects!! 

This sketch was a lot of fun and if you have time I do highly recommend you give it a try!  This one will be going in my album of sketches!  I LOVE that album.  When I find a stamp I want to use I just page through the album until I find a sketch that it will fit in and then I simply put it all together.  For me the layout is the toughest part of making cards!

A bit about the card.  I used the "Sweet Shop" decorative paper for the #3 and #4 panels.  The #4 panel is the backside of the #3 panel paper.  It is textured. The dots are raised.  That was interesting and it gave the card a bit more texture. 

I colored in the image with a blender pen and markers.  I also sponged around the bunny with Bashful Blue to give the look of sky and dimension.

I put the #2 panel in place with Dimensionals.  This card went together rather quickly.  I was surprised because of the pieces, like I said I don't work well with diagonals!!!  I think I would play with this sketch again sometime!

Ok, it's back to work. I have a fun project for you for tomorrow!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Happy Valentine's Day Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 Wow, can you believe it? I actually stuck with the sketch layout.  I didn't flip it this week!!!  Shocker, I know!!! LOL

This was a very fun sketch to play with.  The Teeny Tiny Wishes set came in handy for the "Happy Valentine's Day" wording.  I wasn't sure if I was going to use that one or if I was going to pick another theme for my card.  But I decided to go with the Valentine's Day one since it is approaching quickly!

The "Be Mine" was done on my computer and punched out.  Then I used the Sizzlet to make the Rose Red heart behind that one.  

My decorative paper is from the new Martha Stewart pack.  I had a coupon!  You know how that goes.  You can use your favorite decorative papers instead.  I didn't have many Valentine's day sheets of decorative paper so it was a "needed" item.  I also got a gift card to Archiver's for my birthday so I will be heading back there to see what other trouble I can get into!!  LOL

This was an easy enough sketch to do so if you have time, I highly recommend you give it a try.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Vintage Vogue

 I LOVED this "Vintage Vogue" set ever since I first laid eyes on it!  I LOVE using it and I LOVE sending out cards I've made with this set. And as much as I LOVE it, I just hate to cut out that flower but I do it for almost every card I make with this set!!  Now that's LOVE!!! LOL

This was the Sketch Challenge for this week at SplitCoastStampers.  I didn't get a chance to play along until today.  I've been a bit busy getting things ready for the wedding tomorrow!  I am also going to pre-post for tomorrow since I will be WAY to busy to be on the computer.

This card was really easy to make too!  It seems that cards that use either decorative paper or texture on the background are put together fairly quickly. 

Now looking at the sketch and my card they do seem a little different.  Only because I flipped the sketch, which is allowed!  You can flip it any way you want so it works with your images. The only thing you really should try to is to keep the panels the same size.  That is the challenge!!!

I used a Sizzlet to cut the buttons out. I LOVE those things!  They make great accessories and because they are small they are easy to store!!

If you have time, play along with the sketch.  You don't have to submit it to SplitCoastStampers if you don't want to.  I have not submitted mine for the past couple of weeks.  I have not been able to do them on time.  Though I can still submit them anytime, there is no time limit on posting them. 

Now I'm off to address the envelope for this card so it's ready for tomorrows mail!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous & Fun Valentine's Day Card

 WOW, I can't believe this is sketch #365.  A year's worth of sketches!!  This Sketch Challenge has been going on for over 7 years!!!  I started playing along about 5 years ago!  I can't believe how fast the time has gone and I have noticed how my stamping has changed too! 

I was hoping it wasn't too early for Valentine's Day cards.  I didn't want to even mention it during Christmas, even though I saw at Joann's they were filling the empty Christmas shelves with Valentine stuff.  I thought that was a bit too early.  Wait until the Christmas holiday is over and then start the next!  I didn't even bother looking at that stuff.  I was in the Christmas mood so Valentine's Day stuff didn't interest me in the least!

Ok, lets talk about my card!!!  I used some "Sending Love Specialty" DP that I had left over.  I don't have much of it left at all.  I would LOVE to use this stuff up so I can get some new Valentine's paper. I saw some cute stuff at Archivers and I just happened to have gotten a coupon in the mail today for there!  Hmmm, I may just have to go shopping!!! 

I used the "Fabulous & Fun" set for the focal piece.  It all didn't fit in the space provided so what I did was I stamped all but the "V" heart and that was stamped on a scrap piece of vanilla card stock.  I cut that heart out, colored it all in red and then added the dots using my gel pen.  I set it in place using Dimensionals.  

The little circle with the hearts in it were set in place with Dimensionals as well.  Two of the hearts are punched out using Pretty in Pink card stock and the other heart was punched out using Regal Rose card stock. The rose one I set in place using a Dimensional.  

I really liked making this card.  It's mostly because of all of the layers!! I LOVE layers!!! 

If you have time, play along with the Sketch Challenge.  It's a lot of fun and it's great to have new layouts to play with!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda