Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #692

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a good week!  We have had the craziest weather here.  We finally got some rain.  A lot of rain.  It rained for about 36 hours straight.  That is unheard of here (at least for the past few years).  We ended up with a lot of water!  The mountains however got a lot of snow.  My friend Annie and I got to hike in that snow on Sunday.  You can check out those photos below.  Let's just say that hiking for hours and hours through knee deep snow towards the end of June seemed absolutely crazy.  You can check out some of the photos below!

We have a brand new sketch this week over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Narelle Farrugia!  Narelle's cards are gorgeous so head over to her blog to check them out!!  Narelle would have liked the hike I just did.  Climbing, snow oh and some bears too!!!!

I had made a recent trip to The Paper and Ink Boutique!  I had some gift cards from Mother's Day that were begging to be used!!  I saw these pretty butterfly dies and I couldn't resist!  Who can resist a good butterfly?!  I knew they would be perfect for this sketch!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Black Foil Cardstock.

Stamps: Hello Sunshine (Waffle Flower)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studio), Scattered Straw (Distress Oxide)

Dies: Butterfly Blossom Die (Waffle Flower), Hello Sunshine Piercing Dies

Other: Cobblestone Stencil (Hero Arts)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and you'll be inspired to create!!  We always love to see how unique each card is!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.

Hope you enjoy some photos from our hike on Sunday!  This was a 4 peak day - Little Ware, Mount Ware, Surveyor's Ridge and Prospectors Ridge!

The view from the top of Mount Ware

Another view from the top of Mount Ware

Hiking to our next destination - this was a 4 peak day!

That mountain behind us is what we have to hike up!

We made it up peak 3!!!  

The first bear we came across on our way in

The third bear we saw!

The second bear we saw - all three are black bears.  This one is a cinnamon bear!

I hope you have a wonderful day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #691

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  I've spent a lot of time in the mountains since last week and it was so amazing.  The wildflowers are blooming and the views are amazing.  I won't even mention how good it smells!  My favourite time of year!  I always find it amazing that so many beautiful flowers can grow in such a harsh environment! 

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is one of our newest team members, Michele Ferguson!  Michele makes absolutely stunning cards so you'll want to head over to her blog to check them out!  

I have wildflowers and other spring flowers on the brain and this one reminded me a bit of an Alberta Wild Rose.  I thought it would be perfect for this card!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Special Moments (SU)

Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios), Distress Oxides

Dies: Woodland Tales Floral (Spellbinders), Stitched So Sweetly (SU)

Other: Iridescent Rhinestones (SU), Subtle Texture Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week.  We always love to see the amazing cards that you all come up with!

I thought I'd share some photos from our hike on Saturday.  With the G7 Summit taking place our hiking trails are a little limited as they have a big area shut down but we found the perfect location and tackled two peaks - Belmore Browne and Boundary!

If you're wondering where the G7 is being held - basically it's at the bottom of those ski runs!  

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Remember, if you want to enter a card in our challenge this week, you have until Monday at 1 PM.

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #690

Hello!
Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are in desperate need of rain around here.  The smoke moved in on Saturday from the various wildfires taking place across our country right now.  Lots of northern cities are dealing with wildfires right now.  It's such a hard time of the year.  

We have a fabulous new sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is the fabulous Karren Johnson!  Karren's cards are gorgeous!  Please head over to her blog and give her some love!  

That circle struck me as a sunflower so I pulled out the Lovely Layers Sunflower Honey Cuts by Honey Bee Stamps.  I grabbed my Distress Oxides and coloured away.  My woodgrain embossing folder was sitting out after last week's card so I decided to put it to good use again!  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Hammermill White Coverstock, Early Espresso

Ink: Scattered Straw, 

Dies: Lovely Layers Sunflowers, Fossilized Amber, Gathered Twigs, Espresso (Distress Oxides)

Other: Hardwood Embossing Folder (SU), Curved Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Copper Foil (Spellbinders)

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get inspired to create a masterpiece!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered in this week's challenge!

Thought I'd share a few pictures from last weekend's hike.  The view from the top was incredible but the hike up and down left a little to be desired.  We had great weather though the smoke has started to roll in.  Fire season is starting early!

Have a wonderful day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #689

Hello!

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We had a great hike on the weekend and I think it was the first one that didn't involve me walking through deep snow in a long time!!!  We did see some snow but I didn't have to walk through it!  We also didn't come across any ticks!  We've seen a huge number of them this year and we even managed to bring one home to our cat Sprite.  She seems okay so far and we'll be keeping an eye on her!

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess this week is the amazing Cecile Ribon!  Cecile creates the most beautiful cards so you'll want to be heading over to her blog to check them out! 

I wasn't too sure what flower I wanted to use with this sketch but the Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layer Coneflower jumped out at me and I figured that would work.  I opted for a pink one today - especially since we've just been through blossom season and I miss seeing all those beautiful pink blooms all over!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Cover Stock, Pink Foil

Dies: Bitty Buzzword Honeycuts, Lovely Layers Coneflower (both Honey Bee Stamps)

Ink: Lovely Lipstick (SU), Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose, Picked Raspberry, Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn (Distress Oxides)

Other: Woodgrain Embossing Folder (SU)

 Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  We always love to see what you create!  If you need some inspiration, head to the blog and you'll find some beautiful cards posted by the Design Team!  

You have until 1 PM EST on Monday to get your card entered into our challenge this week!

Thought I'd share a few photos of our hike from the weekend!  Can't wait to get out again!

Have an amazing week!

Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #688

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you've had a great start to your week.  The weather has been beautiful and I think that summer is right around the corner!  I can't wait to spend more time outside!  I have most of the summer off and I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it!!

We've got a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I have the privilege of being this week's hostess!  It's always fun to create a sketch and then see what everyone does with it.  I really hope you'll play along with our challenge this week.

So I actually wasn't even sure what I was going to do with my own sketch!  I need a few masculine cards (though with the status of Canada Post I'm not sure I'll be sending any out) so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.  I dragged out some very old SU DSP for this one!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Real Red, Basic Black, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Silver

DSP: Retired SU (I can't remember the name)

Stamps: Typewriter Adventure Sentiments, 

Ink: Black (Pink Fresh Studios)

Dies: Guiding Light (Spellbinders), Nesting Postages Die (Waffle Flower)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  If you need some inspiration you will definitely find it on the blog!

You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #682

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  We had a mix of snow and rain today which was just a reminder that winter isn't quite finished yet!  Though my husband took the winter tires off of my car today so we shall see what happens!!  I won't hold my breath but the forecast is looking more positive!  

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is our favourite airline captain, Jennifer Timko!  Jen's cards will make you envious (but in the best way) so head over to her blog and give her some love!  

I really loved Jen's sketch this week!  I also really love the DSP from Stampin Up!  I paired it all with the Lovely Layer Daisies from Honey Bee Stamps and we were off to the races!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party (SU)

DSP: Floral Delight

Ink: Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs (Distress Oxides)
Dies: Lovely Layers Coneflower (Honey Bee Stamps), Bitty Buzzwords Honeycuts (Honey Bee Stamps)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  If you need any inspiration at all, you'll find it on the blog! You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge! 

Trevor and I tackled our first bigger hike of the season.  There is still avalanche risk in most areas but this area thankfully didn't have any risk.  There was still a bit of snow at the top but it wasn't too bad.  What it did have was ticks.  I have found 3 in our bathroom since we've been home.  I'm not too impressed.  It was a lovely day to get out and get some exercise and fresh air.

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #682

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are cruising into Easter.  Easter seems so late this year and we are already heading towards the end of April and I feel like it should have just started.  My oldest son is just wrapping up his first year at university.  How did that happen?  He starts work full time as an intern for the summer in just a couple of weeks.  

We have a fantastic new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week courtesy of Judy Rozema!  Judy's cards are always delightful so you'll want to head over to her blog and check them out!  I still haven't figured out when she has time to make cards because she is so involved in her local theatre!  

Judy's sketch is super fun and gave me a good challenge trying to figure out what I was going to do with it.  The last time I was at our local craft store I picked up the Landscape Edges dies from Spellbinders.  I thought I could cram them into that circle and make a more masculine card!  It's probably a little tight and I should have used a bigger circle but I'm happy with how it turned out! 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Hammermill White Cover Stock, Soft Sky (SU), Garden Green (SU), Daffodil Delight (SU), Smoky Slate (SU)

Patterned Paper: Timeless Plaid (SU)

Ink: Rustic Wilderness, Tumbled Glass, Fossilized Amber, Hickory Smoke (All Distress Oxides)

Dies: Landscape Edges (Spellbinders), Double Stitched Circles (Lil Inkers), Shine Bright (Reverse Confetti)

Other: Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders), Curved Everyday Sentiments (Spellbinders), Silver Foil (Spellbinders)

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  

I hope you'll head over to our blog and join in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  We always love to see all the creative ways you use our sketches!  

 Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #681

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We've been enjoying some gorgeous spring weather!  I know it will eventually come to an end and winter will probably return for one last hurrah but we will get out and enjoy it while it's here!  I love to be outside in this weather (actually all weather) and find it so hard to stay inside even if it's to craft!!!

We have a great new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Our hostess if the amazing Amy O'Neill!  Her cards are always fabulous so please head over to her blog and give her some love!  

I really loved Amy's sketch this week!  It reminded me of a little pocket!  Who doesn't love pockets?! I used the Stitched Nested Labels Dies (SU) and then just cut one in half to make my little pocket!  I cut out some leaves, made a little sunflower and used some texture paste to make the background!  Easy peasy!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays (MFT)

Ink: Early Espresso (SU), Daffodil Delight (SU), Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs (Distress Oxides)

Dies: Itty Bitty Strips (MFT), Stitched Nested Labels Dies (SU), Branch Out (Spellbinders), Fall Florals (Spellbinders), 

Other: Linked Together Decorative Masks (SU), Texture Paste (Ranger)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Thought I'd share some photos from our ski adventure on Saturday!  We had such a great time out!  The conditions were fantastic and I even went all the way to the top and took a fun black diamond down!  I'm not an expert skier (or even a mediocre skier) so tackling a black diamond is always something to celebrate!!!

We hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  Please head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog to get your card entered into this week's challenge!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card into the challenge!  If you need some inspiration, please head over to the blog and check out the beautiful cards the Design Team has posted!  

Have an amazing day!

Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches #680

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  We are having our 4th winter right now.  I'm very thankful the mountains have been getting snow so we'll have some nice melt and run off when spring finally decides to come and stay!  We did get out hiking last weekend.  We weren't expecting the amount of snow on the ground but we trudged along and had a great time!  No real elevation gain though.  We're still under severe avalanche risk and we'll be staying at low elevations until that clears!!!  

We have a brand new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week courtesy of the amazing Narelle Farrugia!  Narelle's cards are absolutely amazing.  She is the queen of layers and fussy cutting!  Head on over to her blog and give her some love!  One day Narelle and I are going to go on the best hike together!  She's going to love it!!!  

Narelle has such a great sketch for us.  I did miss the bigger mat but I think I got the rest!  I decided to play with some paste and a new die set I picked up last week!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Cover Stock

Stamps: Bitty Birthday Wishes (MFT)

Ink:  Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios),  Candied Apple, Festive Berries, Lumberjack Plaid, Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Rustic Wilderness, Bundled Sage (Distress Oxides)
Dies: Woodland Tales Floral (Spellbinders), Delightful Wishes Dies (SU)

Other: Texture Paste (Ranger), Pattern Party Decorative Masks (SU Retired)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge!  We love to see what everyone comes up with!  You'll also notice that we have a new design team member!  Verena Shapiro has joined our little team!  We are so excited to have her on board!  Make sure you head over to her IG and welcome her!!!

You have until 1 PM EST on Monday to get your card entered in this week's challenge! 

Have an amazing day!
Jen

 

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #378

Hello!
Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a great start to your week!  We are having spring like weather this week.  It's the weirdest thing.  At this time last year the ground was buried deep in snow.  It seems so strange to have such warm weather already.  I will enjoy our double digits this week and not complain!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches courtesy of the amazing Karren Johnson!  Karren's cards are fantastic so please head over to her blog to check them out and leave her some love!  

I had stopped at our local paper crafting store and picked up some new goodies that I'm rather excited to use!  The first was this moose stamp!  I checked thoroughly for a bear but since there wasn't one, moose it was!  I did need to use the Misti to get it well stamped.  I paired it with some plaid paper and called it a day!  

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Mossy Meadow (SU)
Patterned Paper: The Great Outdoors (Mintay Papers)
Stamps: Oakley (Lavinia Stamps), Itty Bitty Birthday (MFT)
Ink: Detail Black (Pink Fresh Studios)
Dies:  Stitched Circles, Itty Bitty Strips (MFT)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll join in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.  If you need some inspiration, please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the Design Team's cards that are posted!  We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have an amazing day!

 Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #678

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  Are you having a great week so far?  Spring is being very tumultuous here.  I can't say I'm surprised.  The mountains are getting snow and we're getting cooler weather but nothing that accumulates.  Avalanche risk is crazy high here and so hiking has to be done at slightly lower elevations.  We have passed on hiking the last few weekends and hit the ski hills instead!  I'm excited to get back on the trails soon!

We have a great new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our hostess this week is our favourite French woman Cecile Ribon!  Cecile's cards always blow my mind so please head over to her blog to check them out!  You won't be disappointed!  

I'll admit when I first saw Cecile's sketch I was a little nervous.  That splotch is very splotchy and I didn't have a clue what to do with that.  Then I remembered that I had some stencils from Stampin Up that would work perfectly for this card!  I grabbed my favourite distress oxide yellows and went to work!  Since the Be Bold Blooms worked so well last week I decided to use them again!   I already had the sentiment on my desk so we put it all together!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill Coverstock White, Gold (SU)

Ink: Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber (Distress Oxides)

Dies: Be Bold Blooms (Spellbinders), Happy Parents Day (Spellbinders)

Other: Linked Together Decorative Masks, Gold Foil (Spellbinders), Happy Parent's Day Hot Foil Plate (Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Machine (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you'll head over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and join in our challenge this week!  You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge.  If you need some inspiration, you'll definitely find it on the blog!

Have an amazing day!
Jen

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #677

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  As much as I have been feeling super tired after the time change, I'm totally loving the extra daylight!  Right now, it gets dark about 7:45!  It's amazing!  The days are getting longer and longer and that has my outside loving heart very happy!

We have a brand new sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I am your hostess this week!  It's always exciting to come up with a sketch and then see what everyone comes up with!  I love how different each card is!

With the beautiful weather we've been having and all the lovely sunshine, our snow has melted and it's feeling more and more like spring.  Don't get me wrong, I know it won't last and winter isn't gone but with the warmer weather, I feel more like creating springy cards!!!  I pulled out my Be Bold Blooms dies and decided to use those for this card!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Hammermill White Coverstock

Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthday (MFT)
Ink: Detail Black (PinkFresh Studio), Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (All Distress Oxides)
Dies: Be Bold Blooms (Spellbinders), Itty Bitty Strips (MFT)
Other: Softly Sophisticated Embossing Folder (SU), Low Profile Dots (SU)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you will join in our challenge this week!  If you need some inspiration, please head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches blog and check out the cards that the Design Team have posted!

You have until Monday at 1 PM EST to get your card entered into this week's challenge!

Have an amazing day!
Jen