Paper Hugs

 Here is the fabulous sketch for this week at the Sweet Stop Sketch challenge - a great layout, but because I wanted more of the chevron embossed background to show, and I liked the natural colour for my theme, I did omit the horizontal panel behind the two rectangles and circle.  I hope that is OK! I have chosen fall colours for my project, and used one of the Nature Silhouettes from the clear stamp set, plus some leaves cut from the Small Leaves die set. Take a look at what the Sugar babies have created for you, and then load up your own projects - we love to see what you come up with! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .      

Here is the sketch for this week's challenge at the Sweet Stop : The large oval shape made me immediately think of Christmas decorations, so that was the route I took with this sketch, though on second thoughts, this layout would suit almost any occasion - think of flowers, birthdays, silhouettes etc.  However, I was committed to using my new stamp set, Vintage Ornaments  which has four beautiful ornaments plus lovely sentiments.  I heat embossed my ornament and in real life it has a lovely sparkle to it.  I dry embossed the oval shape with a snowflake folder, then mounted the image on designer papers and glitter trims.  Not traditional Christmas colours, perhaps, but I look forward to using those ornaments again with a more classic Christmas theme. Check out the other Sugar Babies to see what they have for you, and then upload your project to share with us - we love to see what you create! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Prit...

Here is this week's sketch over at the Sweet Stop:  notice the spin is Sunflowers! There are some beautiful sunflower stamps around, and two gorgeous ones in the new release at Sweet 'n Sassy - check it out here - but for my card, I used a small stamp from the set Happy Harvest by Gina K, masking off the pot the flowers stood in.  I thought the proportion of this image suited the layout better.  I also used the grasses from the SnS set, Nature Silhouettes .   I cut out the image with Spellbinders curved rectangles die,  matted it on Kraft card and then on two more designer papers and a banner.  A natural button and jute twine over a mini tag completes the card. Hop on over to the other Sugar Babies, to see what wonderful inspiration they have for you: Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olhe...

The cards I have to show you today were made for a friend to give to the coordinators of her Chorale - 3 males and 2 females - and she wanted them to have a noticeably musical flavour.  I think I managed that, and had a lot of fun in the process.  The ladies' ones first - I made more than I was asked for, in order for my friend to have a choice, and she appreciated that, but took an extra one for herself anyway - lol!  We always need to have thank you cards on hand, right?  The first card was inspired by the pretty paper I used for the background - I then distressed the stamped music sheet, backed it on to another piece of stamped music, so that I could curl up the corner.  I added flowers by Inspired by Stamping - a site based in Far North Queensland, and a new favourite of mine.  I stamped the chicken wire (IBS again) then used the musical flourish from a Rub On - hard to believe it would look so effective, but I love this crisp look.  I ha...

Another great sketch for you this week - check out the details here : No turning or flipping the sketch this week!  I love this layout, as it makes the image the focus, and needs little more in the way of embellishments, if that is how you like to make your cards, but of course, you can add as much or as little as you wish. For my image, I turned to a beautiful Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set, called Nature Silhouettes 2.  I wanted to try another sunset sponged effect, and I think I am improving a little in my technique lol!  I used Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks for my colours, but first I masked out the sun.  The colours blended quite well on the white metallic cardstock I used.  I then used a negative mask to colour just the sun.  I stamped my images with Versafine Onyx Black, and finished the card with a sentiment stamped onto a mini tag and added a button and twine. See what the rest of the desig...

Now, I am not a true cat lover - I am more of a general, often at a distance, animal lover, but I just couldn't resist making a card with the stunning cat die cut a card-making friend gave me. I teamed the Memory Box cat die with a Poppy Stamps arched window die, added a MB twiggy tree or branch die, plus some gorgeous designer paper and sponging to complete these cards.  I love how they have turned out and can think of heaps more ideas to use with this stunning cat.

Here is the sketch for this week: I chose to rotate the sketch, and decided to represent the long strip with tickets.  I used the Sweet 'n Sassy set: Ticket Sentiments , which coordinates with the die set Pennants and More .  The sentiments in the stamp set are all great for a birthday or a special friend, so I used three of them on my card!  I used a MFT postage edge die to cut my dp.  To decorate the rest of the card, I used candy and a candle from the Birthday Bash clear stamp se t. All the sugar babes have great ideas for you, to inspire you to join in our challenge this week, so take a look at what they have created, and then share your own project with us.  We love to see what you come up with!   Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,  Ann Tuck ,   Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and...