Let's Talk About Amy....FMS605

 

Autumn Leaves is a wonderful set full of leaves and sentiments and interesting dies.  There is so much you can do with it but I took the clean and simple path and started with some dies, the new Copper Clay color and beautiful foil DSP -  whose shine gets lost in the picture taking!

And now you may be thinking....so who is Amy??  Amy Koenders is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator who used to live in the Atlanta area.  Brian King - also from Atlanta -  would host an amazing stamping event every year and I would fly down from NY to join in.  It was always great fun and I got to meet so many wonderful card makers.....like Amy!  Amy hit a million dollars in sales a while back and got to work with SU! designers to develop a stamp set in recognition of her achievement.  Autumn Leaves is that set - definitely a keeper!

Endless possibilities with Karren's great sketch this week!  Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Autumn Leaves (SU!)

Paper: Copper Clay, Basic White, Tartan Foil DSP

Ink: Early Espresso

Best Friends....FMS604

 

Miss Emma is stenciling every time she comes into my craft room these days so I thought it was time for me to join her. The Simplest Gestures set from Pinkfresh has endless design possibilities. I stamped and embossed a floral image and then used coordinating stencils to shade in the flowers and leaves.  The sentiment is from a different Pinkfresh set called In My Heart. The perfect card for a good friend!

Cecile's sketch this week captures her sweet artsy style perfectly!  Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamps Sets: The Simplest Gestures and In My Heart (Pinkfresh)

Ink: Versamark, Versafine Clair, Distress

Paper: Basic White

Yo Ho Ho - FMS603

 

It's been  busy couple of weeks here in the craft room getting ready for Emma's birthday party!  Her mother goes all out with party theme decorations - I am a fringe player and just follow orders! This year's theme was Pirates of the Caribbean. My first assignment was invites.  I cased Heidi Collins' delightful card using the set On the Ocean.

Next up  - tags for the goodie bags!

  As long as I had that set out I used it for this week's card!

The party was a big success. The Captain greeted guests 

and the rest of the crew assembled quickly!

Pirates of the Caribbean was shown on the outdoor screen while the crew feasted.

So much fun..........

Jen Brum has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you have some fun and join us!

Stamp Set: Bag of Bones

Paper: Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Basic White

Ink: Memento Black

Sunflower Season - FMS602

 

The calendar says September but the temperature was 90 today - yeow - way too hot for me!  I won't complain though because so many of you have had 90's for days on end.  We have only three days of it predicted then back to our nice fall temps!  Sweet corn season is ending, the sunflowers are out and there are apples and pumpkins ready for picking!  Fall is the best! 

                                                 

Emma and Will head back to school tomorrow but we managed to sneak in a quick trip to a local farm for a photo shoot in the sunflower field.

They disappeared into this field of flowers with the photographer like Field of Dreams - we await the proofs!

Meanwhile we await your creations here at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you have fun with Kim's sweet sketch!

Stamps: Rustic Crate

Ink: Memento Black, Copics

Paper: Basic White, Pecan Pie, Glorious Gingham DSP, Inked Botanicals DSP

A Novel Birthday.....FMS601

 

There are so many adorable images, dies and and papers in the Let's Go Shopping Suite it was hard to decide which ones to use - but it was fun assembling this street scene. I do love a good book store.....and I do love a good book. I never leave home without a book in my bag and by that I mean a real hardcover.....no kindle or paperback!  The one I'm reading now? Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urria, a story about two Red Cross women serving on the front lines in Europe during WW2. And waiting on my desk next in line is An Honest Man by Michael Koryta.  I am always interested to hear what people enjoy reading so feel free to leave me a comment if you have a good recommendation!

I'm delighted to start the six hundreds with my sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you join us - can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Let's Go Shopping (SU!), Our Story (MFT)

Ink: Memento Black, Copics

Paper: Les Shoppes DSP, Night of Navy, Basic White, Basic Black

Anniversaries! FMS600!

 

There are three anniversaries to celebrate around here this month. The Big Guy and I celebrated 50 years with a dinner out with the kids and grandkids.  My daughter asked what we remembered about that day and we both answered THE HEAT at the same time.  It was a blistering hot, humid day and the AC at our reception venue quit about fifteen minutes in - 150 people and a band in one room with no windows that opened! Yeow! This photo was taken right before the reception.

My card today is headed to my daughter and son-in-law next week as they celebrate their anniversary next week.  There was a lot of rain a few days before their wedding and all of the roads to their wedding venue were closed!  Miraculously the river behind them receded just in time for their big day! Note the high water mark on the railing!

But today we are celebrating Freshly Made Sketches' 600th sketch!  That is a lot of cards since September of 2011.  I am delighted to be a member of that original team and to still be a part of the team today!  That's a lot of cards in 12 years but I am always excited to see the amazing creativity every single week - from the team and from all of you.  We have guest designers this week and an opportunity for you to become a guest designer as well.  So I hope you will join us and help us celebrate at Freshly Made Sketches!

                                     

Stamp Sets: Happy Anniversary (Colorado Craft Co.), Abstract Beauty (SU!) Die Cut

Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Distress - Scattered Straw, Picked Raspberry, Tumbled Glass

Paper: Distress White

Stencil Me In......FMS599

 

My granddaughter Emma's latest passion in my craft room is stenciling.  When she stopped by this week I was stenciling this card panel and she asked me how I was going to use it on my card.  I told her I had to trim it down as it was going to be my middle panel and she immediately protested "nooooooo.....what will happen to the rest of those flowers?"  She finally "agreed" to dotted vellum panels over the stenciling.

Meanwhile she found an ice cream cone stencil to work on to add to her stash of stenciled pieces.  I asked if she was going to turn it into a card and she looked horrified!

Miss Emma finally agreed to a fancy edge and a sentiment.....now if I can just get her to agree to glue it on a card base.......

Jen Mitchell has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  hope you join us!

Stamp Set and Stencil: Buds & Blossoms (Taylored Expressions)

Ink:  Cracked Pistachio, Victorian Velvet, Picked Raspberry (Distress Inks), Memento Black

Paper: Distress White, Patterned Vellum, Crumb Cake

In The Pink.....FMS598

 

Flowers are in full bloom here as we sail through August so I thought I would add a few to my card today.  Emma and I went to see the Barbie movie this week which definitely inspired me to break out the pink. That movie also brought back memories. I remember the release of the very first Barbie in the black and white striped bathing suit.  Her outfits were sold separately but she conveniently came with a little photo booklet of outfits and accessories.  I never really played with dolls until Barbie appeared on the scene and then my cousin and I "played Barbies" every day. Oh that Barbie was so smart and stylish!  And today my original Barbie lives on, packed away in a box at my daughter's house!

What will you put in the corners of Jen Timko's delightful sketch? Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamps: Seaside Post (Concord & 9th)

Ink: Buttercup, Nectar and Spiced Cider - Concord & 9th; Granny Apple Green - Stampin' Up!

Paper: Basic White

Good Vibes....FMS597

 

Ahhh summer at the beach is the best!  So a beach themed card is perfect for sending get well wishes.  I love these beach huts!  No ocean where I live but we do enjoy our cabin on a nearby lake in the summer.  Last night's full moon was amazing!

Hope your summer is full of good vibes!  

I love Jacquie's fun sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Join us and play along!

This week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge works for my design right down the middle.

 

Stamp Set: Beach Huts (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper: Basic White, Bright and Beautiful DSP

Ink: Memento Black, Versafine Black, Copics, Scattered Straw Distress Ink

A Tale of Two Spectacles.....FMS496

 

These sweet birdies from Bird's Eye View are perfect to go along with my post today!

And the rest of the sentiment inside......

In the fall of 2022 my vision was fading fast as my cataracts worsened.  My eye doctor "cranked" (as he said) my prescription one last time and told me that was the best he could do until I was ready for surgery.  So I ordered new glasses with stronger lenses and made an appointment for a follow up in early 2023.  And finally those cataracts were ready to go!

After the first surgery those strong new glasses were of no use to me any more so I packed them away and used older weaker glasses from my stash. A month later was surgery number two and I continued wearing very old glasses. In June I returned to my optometrist and after my exam I spent a half hour deciding on a new frame - such a tough decision!

(A sidebar here for those of you who have had cataract surgery and are wondering why I  couldn't buy "cheaters" from the drug store like many people do.  I opted for the reverse lens.  I see perfectly up close and do not need my glasses for reading or computer work.  I do need them for distance so my new glasses are clear on the bottom and set for distance on the top.)

Two weeks later my new glasses were ready.  As I left to pick them up it dawned on me that I wouldn't have a spare pair any more so I grabbed the striped case from my drawer that held those hardly worn glasses with the very strong lenses.  At the doctor's I told the gal at the desk that I was going to leave my previous frames with her to put in the new prescription so I would have a spare.  She said "No problem - always fun to have a change too. So let's fit your new glasses now." 

And then it happened.....we both opened our cases to switch glasses.......and started to laugh..... 

Yep I picked the very same frames!

Have fun being creative with Judy's cool sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamps: Bird's Eye View (SU!), Funny Bones (Riley and Company)

Paper: Basic White, Lemon Lolly

Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Boho Blue

Friendly Flowers - FMS495

 

I just love that splashy flowery DSP as a backdrop so I kept my die cut flowers simple and bright - perfect for a summery hello to a friend.  

So many possibilities with Amy's great sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you play along!

Stamp Sets: In Bloom (SU!), Friendly Hello (Stamp Market)

Ink: Versafine Clair Black

Paper: Basic White, Bubble Bath, Lemon Lime Twist, Masterfully Made DSP

Beautiful Simplicity.....FMS594

 

The soon to be released Translucent Florals set makes a simply elegant card......and this wonderful photo of my granddaughter on her paddleboard at sunset is a simply beautiful scene.......

After building that bridge last week I was happy to return to my roots and make a CAS card!

Narelle has us thinking in threes this week with her great sketch!  Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Translucent Florals

Ink: Memento Black, Soft Succulent, Cajun Craze

Paper: Basic White,  Dry Brush Metallic DSP