Unscripted Sketches #99 - Easter Bunny!

Can you believe it?  It's only one week until our big 100th sketch and 2nd Blogiversary celebration over at Unscripted Sketches!   Please try to plan on joining us for a fun blog hop with a prize at the end, and some sweet RAKS from our Design Team members.  Here is this week's sketch . . .

I tend to get a little bit crazy and forget that the sketch is just a guide, and not a blueprint that has to be followed to the letter!  And that top little bit kind of threw me for a loop until I realized my card didn't have to look exactly like the sketch.  Here is my take on the sketch . . .

It is a tag for an Easter tag swap I'm doing, and I truly love how it came out!  Here's all the info . . .

Product Info:

• Some cardstock is from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) Bright Textured Cardstock Stack
• Patterned paper and other cardstock is from Die Cuts With a View 'Prints For The Year' Ultimate Stack (2010)
• Hydrangea blossoms are from Prima
• Gems are from Prima e Line
• Stickles 'Stardust' and 'Green'
• Crepe paper is from Hobby Lobby
• Ric-Rack and ribbon are from my stash
• Bunny with tulip image is from a vintage greeting card image I found on flickr

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Scalloped tag was cut using A Child's Year cartridge, Easter1-s using tag feature set at 6 1/4 inches.  I made three layers - one of the yellow cardstock, one of a white plain cardstock, and another of a coordinating blue cardstock for the back side.  The one for the back side was cut with the paper face down on the cutting mat so it would be facing out on the back and the tag 'hole' would be spaced right.
• Patterned paper on base was cut same as above except set at 5 3/4 inches - one copy only of this one.

Other:

• The floral paper and cardstock matting was cut with my rotary trimmer.
• The bunny image was printed twice on my ink jet printer, and trimmed.  Then I used foam dots to bump the top image up for dimension.  I also decorated it with Stickles.
• The crepe paper ruffle was made by sewing on my sewing machine using a long basting stitch, then pulling the threads to create the ruffle.  The ric-rack was then glued tothe top of the stitches.
• The three flowers were touched up with a bit of Stickles as well.

And that is my tag!  I hope you like it, and I really hope my partner in the swap likes it as well!  It will be going out in the mail to her next week, along with a few other goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget about our celebration next week - it's going to be fun!  Blessings friends, and Be Joyful Always!  Becky

Unscripted Sketches #98 Plus a Piggyback Challenge

Wow, we are at sketch # 98 and only two weeks away from . . .

Our big 2 year anniversary and 100th sketch blogiversary celebration.  Are YOU going to join us?  I sure hope so, because there will be lots of fun and some cool prizes up for grabs!

But this week is sketch # 98 plus our monthly 'piggyback' challenge, and the color thing is what threw me for a loop, at least until I'd picked out my papers and things and still couldn't make the sketch work.  Here's the sketch . . .

 . . . and here are the piggyback colors . . .

So finally I flipped the sketch 180 degrees, and that worked much better for me.  Here is my card . . .

And I think it came out pretty cool.  Here are all of the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base cardstock is The Paper Studio Textured Cardstock stack - Brights
• Other cardstocks are either from The Paper Studio or DCWV
• Patterned paper is from My Minds Eye; So Sophie; "Brothers and Sisters" Gracious Greenery
• Stickles 'Stardust'
• Gems are Prima eLine except the tiny green birds eye, and it is K&Company

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Card base was cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5 inches
• Patterned paper was cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5 inches
• The word 'happy' was cut using A Child's Year cartridge, Toys2-s using Font feature set at 1 1/4 inches
• The birds were cut from Songbird cartridge:  B was cut using b-shift using Bird feature, set at 2 inches; E was cut using e-shift using Bird feature also set at 2 inches

Other:

• Cardstock rectangles cut by hand
• Stickles were applied on the outside of the letter B and inside the letter E

And that was that!  And I think it looks pretty cute, although I have to admit it is not one of my favorite cards.

Are you going to apply for our Design Team?  If you love making cards, layouts, altered items, fabric crafts - any of those - you really should!   I have been on the team about six months now, and I will be the first to tell you that sometimes the sketches are a real challenge, but they make me think outside the box, and outside my comfort zone, and I believe I have learned a lot from these challenges.  We are a very laid back team, no drama, and SarahKaye (our fearless leader) is just the sweetest thing!  If you have ever wanted to try for a design team, this is THE one to go for!

Okay, that's it for me.  As you are reading this I am most likely in a kayak in the lake at beautiful Richard B. Russell State Park!  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, too!  Blessings, and Be Joyful Always, Becky

   

Unscripted Sketches # 97 - A Card for Phyllis

Welcome to Sketch It Saturday with Unscripted Sketches!  We are on the countdown to our celebration of our 100th sketch AND our 2nd anniversary.  Please join us on April 2nd when we are going to have some fun happenings to celebrate! 

Sketch # 97 . . .

 . . . proved a bit tricky for me, because I couldn't find an image I liked to use - after I lost my computer to the virus and got a new one, my old clipart software that I used the most won't load on the new computer, so I've been kind of bummed about that.  But then I started playing with my new favorite paper stack . . . 'cut n paste' by K&Company, and came up with this card . . .

The cut n paste stack has collage sheets of heavy paper that you can use whole or, as the name implies, cut and paste!  The patterned papers, butterflies and definitions are all from one sheet of paper.  The words laughter, memories and sunshine on the right side are printed on the paper.  I'm really enjoying this new stack!  Here are the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base card stock is DCWV
• Patterned paper, butterflies, definitions are all from K&Company's 'cut n paste' stack
• Stickles 'platinum'
• Gems are Prima eline
• Stamp is from Inkadinkadoo Brenda Walton Sentiments

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression Info:

• Base of card was cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"

Other:

• Butterflies, definitions, yellow rectangle at top, and beige square under the definitions were cut by hand and edged with brown ink.
• Two definitions were popped up on foam squares.

As you can see, once I decided what paper I wanted to use, the card was pretty easy to put together.  And I hope my friend, Phyllis likes it, because her birthday was Monday, and I'll be seeing her today to give it to her.  Thanks for visiting today, now please won't you pop on over to the Unscripted Sketches website and check out all the other projects by our incredible design team members! 

See you soon, Be Joyful Always!  Becky

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Post Card

Well, I made it by the hair on my chinny chin chin!  It's been a tough week, emotional, distressing, and expensive!  I had a virus invade my world, and lost BOTH of my computers AND my external backup drive, and ALL of my pictures and files that I had been accumulating over many years.  But I decided it was my choice whether or not I let that old 'joystealer' steal MY joy, and I refuse!  So I am still plugging along, with a newer and faster computer!  So I am starting all over again, and while I am still grieving the loss of so many family pictures, I still have the memories in my heart. 

Anyway, on Saturday while I was without a computer I told hubby I really NEEDED some creative therapy, and made my way to my craft room.  I knew I was running out of time for the Tag Tuesday challenge, even if it was a two week challenge!  So I got busy.  Luckily I had just been to Michaels with my 50% off coupon that I got from Facebook.  I had gone in search of the paper rosette die from Tim Holtz, but they didn't have them, so of course I started looking at paper.  I found on stack - Making Memories 'English Garden' - regularly $14.99 for $2.99!!!!  Then I found a stack by K&Company called 'cut N paste' that I just fell in love with!  It's kind of collage sheets that you can use to cut and paste elements from, or use intact.  I used my coupon for this stack, and got it for $4.99 - regularly $9.99 - so I was very happy with that.

And the Tag Tuesday Challenge for this time was 'post card', and there was a lovely travel themed collage sheet in the stack that had a post card.  I am over the moon happy with this tag, and hubby liked it so well he wants to take it to put it on his desk at work as soon as I'm finished here.  So, here is my take on the challenge . . .

I can't tell you how much I like LOVE this tag, and while making it, it just flowed from my heart and my fingertips!  Here are all the details . . .

Product Info:

• Patterned paper and images are from K&Company 'cut N paste' Designer Paper stack
• Stickles 'platinum'
• Decorative 'quilters pin' from Jenni Bowlin
• Clock, button and ribbon are from my stash. 

Don't you love how perfectly that ribbon matches? It was the last little bit that I had of that ribbon,
and I'm so glad I still had it!

 

I added the stamp 'No Place Like Home' because although I love to travel, it's always good to come home!



Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Base of tag (three layers) cut using A Child's Year cartridge, Umbrella-s, using tag feature set at 6 inches

Other:

• The base patterned paper (diamonds) is the reverse side of the collage paper, then each element (car, postcard, tower building, and employee time card) was cut from the front side.
• Tag was created from one piece of patterned paper, and two pieces of cardstock 'laminated' together with glue to make a stiffer, stronger tag.
• All paper elements were inked around the edges using brown pigment ink.
• Touches of Stickles 'platinum were added to edges here and there for a bit of emphasis.
• Ribbon was glued in a couple of places to hold it into place.
• Stamps were used for the french text and the No Place Like Home stamp on the postcard.

And that is it!  Once again, I just LOVE how well this came out - it was one of those magical pieces that come from the hands, the head, AND the heart!  I found this quote on a friend's blog a week or two ago, and just love it! 

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist" -- Francis of Assisi

So tell me, what is your favorite quote right now?  And please leave me a comment if you visit!  Each and every one just makes my day, and are little gifts!  Have a wonderful week, friends, and Be Joyful Always!  Becky

Unscripted Sketches # 96 . . . With Sympathy . . .

Welcome once again to Sketch It Saturday, our weekly sketch challenge at Unscripted Sketches!  Before I show you the sketch and my project I want to share some big news with you! 

On April 2nd we will be celebrating both our second blogiversary, AND our 100th sketch!  We will be having a fun blog hop and some fun prizes and a few RAKs from Design Team members, so please mark your calendars for April 2nd and the week following - we're going to have some fun!  Feel free to put the button above on your blog and link it to US to spread the word!  Also, there's another big announcement coming in a few days, so check our blog regularly to see what's up!

Now, here is our sketch for this week . . .

And here is my take on the sketch . . .

One of my hubby's coworkers had a death in the family and he wanted a sympathy card.  This one just flowed from my fingertips with the help of this week's sketch!  Here are the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base cardstock is from The Paper Studio Textured Cardstock Stack 'Dark'
• Remaining cardstock is mostly DCWV, but they were just little bits so I'm not sure
• Patterned papers are both from a K&Company Designer Mat Pad - Roam
• Lace (new and vintage), vinttage button, bakers twine, and sunflower are from my stash
• Image was printed from a clipart software on my ink jet printer

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Base of card was cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5 inches

Other:

• Image was matted with two cardstocks, a coordinating gray and yellow
• Heart lace was glued to the underside of the triangle, then it was bumped up on foam dots for dimension
• Interior of card was finished using more of the K&Company paper and matted with a scrap of a different color of brown cardstock.  Quote was found online, verse is my own.

And that is it!  I am really happy with this card, and it will be in the mail tomorrow to my hubby's coworker and his family.  It's odd, because once in a while you make a card you want to hang onto and this is one of those for me.  But it has a mission, and a purpose, and out it must go!

Thanks for visiting me today!  And please don't forget to check in on the US blog regularly to see what we are up to next!  Wishing you many little gifts today, and don't forget to Be Joyful Always!  Becky

CPS # 207 . . . What's Buzzin? . . .

I finally got my work table cleaned off and could find most everything, so it was time to get crafty!  I haven't done many challenges lately outside of my DT duties at Unscripted Sketches, so I wanted to do a challenge.  I scanned through my favorite challenge sites and chose this sketch from CPS, or Card Positioning Systems. . .

And here is my take on the sketch . . .

And here are all the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base card stock is from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) Textured Cardstock Stack - Darks
• Patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket 'Double Deck' Material Girl and Garden Variety collections - Garden Variety
• Cardstock for bees is mostly DCWV, but are all small bits from my stash
• Stickles 'diamond' and 'golden rod'
• Ric-rack from my stash

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Base of card was cut using "Preserves" cartridge, Papaya-s using card feature set at 4 inches
• Bees were cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, bee1, and bee1-s set at 2 inches.  I cut the base from white for the white wings, and cut the body and stripes twice, once from black for the head, tail and antennae, and once for the yellow stripes.

Other:

• Printed the sentiment on my ink jet printer, trimmed to size and matted with green cardstock
• Bees and sentiment are popped up with foam dots for depth

And that's my card; very springy, don't you think? 

As I sit here at my computer typing this, I am watching the many birds visiting the feeders on my deck.  I have one large regular birdseed feeder, two thistle feeders and two suet cakes.  There are many pine siskins and goldfinches, titmice, chickadees, cardinals, towhees, several different varieties of sparrows, and many more species that come visit my feeders.  They bring me such joy, and brighten my days.  They are "Little Gifts" each day!  So tell me, what are your little gifts today???

Blessings folks, and don't forget to "Be Joyful Always"!  Becky