Woo hoo! It’s a Freshly Made Sketches day! Today’s fabulously fresh sketch was created by the talented Tui Nathan. From the moment I saw it, I immediately thought of the Rejoicing with You stamp set for the center circular element. The result is a quick and easy holiday card that is a perfect way to incorporate those scraps of designer paper which we all have. Enjoy!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Quick and Easy Understated Elegance
This finished card measure 5-1/4″ square. It can easily be cut down to 5-1/2″ wide by 4-1/4″ long if you wish.
- Gilded Angel! The Herald Angel from Rejoicing with You was inked in VersaMark and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock. Heat embossing with Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder followed. It was then snipped out and popped up on a Very Vanilla embossed circle. The look is so elegant!
- Staggered Strips! Scraps of pattern paper were cut into strips 5/8″ wide and then cut to various lengths. These two patterns are from the Merry Moments Simply Scrappin’ Kit!
And there you have! How quick and easy is this! It may not be as complex as many of the cards I create, but you know what…I like it! What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away!
Before you leave today, I want to share a couple of pictures I snapped Tuesday morning of a sweet little hummingbird who had become trapped on my back porch. It had entered when the door was open for the Twins, and it just could not seem to find its way back out.
I felt so sorry for the poor little thing. I tried guiding it to the open door, but it kept flying back to this corner.
So this tender-hearted animal lover cut a hole in the screen. My new little friend stayed right by my hand, even touching it at times, as I cut through the screen. It could sense I was trying to help it.
I know…but this little bird just melted my heart, and it was getting tired. Even the Twins watched transfixed, standing as still as a statue, and quiet as mice. When I called my dear, sweet husband to tell him that we would have to replace a screen, he took it all in stride. Until next time…
Stamp Set: Rejoicing with You; Inks: VersaMark; Card Stock: Textured Crumb Cake (retired), Very Vanilla; Designer Paper: Merry Moments Simply Scrappin’ Kit; Tools: Big Shot, 3″ Circle Original Bigz Die, Snowburst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (retired), Heat Tool; Glitz and Glam: Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder;
Hi Ann
I love this card – so simple but represents Christmas so beautifully
– as does your lovely story with the little hummingbird. TFS
Wow. You are amazing. I totally get your hummingbird story. I recently had some birds stuck in screened in gazeebo. And even though I kept trying to get them to the open side, they wanted to stay to the other side. I ended up opening all of the screens so they could pick which way they wanted to fly out. Your hubby sounds like a sweetie, too. Your Christmas card is beautiful. I love the sweet flower you added to this gorgeous card.
Lovely and simple – my favorite kind of card! 😉 I love your choices of designer papers and that embossed circle sets off your focal image so well.
I love this Ann … I love that angel … it almost seems as if the pretty paper strips are a reflection of the the music from the angels trumpet!
I love your hummingbird story …so very touching!
This is such a beautiful card, Ann. I love the papers/colors, and the angel against the embossed paper. Soooo pretty.
Love how you popped up the angel…..and you were such an angel to the hummingbird! So sweet of your hubby to take it all in stride!
Oh Ann, your card is beautiful! I love the clean design and the papers looks so elegant wth the stamped image. You are awesome for cutting your screen to let that little guy out. Oh my goodness, I imagine he was pretty scared, too. I would have done the same thing! Hugs! 🙂
Beautiful card Ann! Wow! I love it. So elegant and so unique! What a beautiful angel! This tenderhearted animal lover thanks you for saving that little bird!
Aw….your poor little hummer, so glad you let her escape…mine have long flown away! Well, your card is lovely and this is an awesome sketch! LOVE it!
What a beautiful card Ann! The embossed angel gives this a very special touch!
Thanks for sharing the pics of your hummingbird. What a beautiful bird that is. Where I live we only have one kind of hummingbird (the ruby throated) so, for me it’s real treat to see such great pics of other ones. What a great photographer you are!
Beautifully done – the angel is set off perfectly with your embossed circle! Love how it all came together! I think you need to put a sign out front that says “Schach’s Animal Rescue Service” 🙂
Great idea for the never-ending scrap pile!
What a sweet story (& husband!).
Great card and great story! I have a bright red sleep shirt and had it on one night when Henry, the basset hound, had to go outside. There were 2 hummingbirds out (it was 2:30 in the morning) and one flew to me and handed on my shoulder. I guess it thought I was big flower?!?! Anyway, it was fun to feel the fanning of it’s little wings against my face on such a hot and humid night. Henry too, just stood and watched it go from me back to the flowers not uttering a sound. Amazing creatures! Do I think a hummingbird card might be next?
Chris R. from Iowa
You have just earned more gold stars for your crown, Ann! What a wonderful world this is with people like you and your husband living here!! Very telling how sensitive the Twins were to the situation too. Great card; as already stated love the way the angel rounds into the circle. Hugs
AWWWWW! What a heart warming story. 🙂 Your hubby is awesome…and likely knows you VERY well.
Ann, I know you don’t do too many clean and simple, but out did yourself on this one. It is gorgeous! Bling or no Bling it is the question? You melted my heart with the hummingbird, I am glad the beautiful creature got away. Thanks for sharing such great photos.
Ann your card is gorgeous and i love the way the sway of the angel fits right into the circle. I think this is great sketch for a class card… and I can use more of my scraps!
Awww you are so kind to ruin your scree for the little hummingbird. My friend always get them in her garage, she holds a broom up them and they sometimes will land and she quickly swishes it out the door.
PS: I just know your hubby must be a gem.
Hugs
Beautiful card Ann and done in my favorite colors to boot.
Great layout to mass produce for sure.
What a touching hummingbird story. Poor little guy got confused on which way was out.
You should had put alittle nectar in a shallow dish and he probably would had followed you right out the door or put on a red shirt :}
Have a great day
ColleenB.
What a touching story! I am a little confused about the card. In one picture it appears a dark gray, and lower in the post , it appears a light gray. Which is closer to the real card?
Hi Ann! Beautiful card! That image is so lovely! Loved hearing about the hummingbird! Have a great week!
Lovely card! And lovele story too. TFS
Xoxo
No pearls? No spritzing? Ann, do you feel okay? Just kidding, it’s a lovely card and how sweet of you to cut the screen to help the bird escape. Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy your cards, but I LOVE your heart!!! Thanks for taking such great care of the little hummer …… and for sharing your amazing artwork with the world. You are most awesome!!!
Ann, you are such a sweet soul, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that you cut the screen to let the Hummingbird out! How grateful that little bird must have been! And what a sweet, understanding hubby you have as well! I’m sure mine would have been ok with it too.
And your card is absolutely stunning! Love the vibrant colors and the pewter embossing! So elegant!
OMGOsh you are so sweet, cutting your screen cor the birdie. I love that! This card and sketch are so cute.
Love it Ann! Simple and Elegant but your pearls must be screaming ….. “what, no pearls – you forgot me???” :)) Thanks for sharing!
Ann, what a beautiful Christmas card this is!! Love your choices of DSP and what cute pictures of the hummingbird. So thoughtful to help him out and lucky him that it was you.
Love this C&S card Ann ~ and also love your humming bird friend ~ we would have done the same thing!!! Way to go ~ enjoy your day *hugs*
You knocked this one out of the park, my friend! I am so in love with this stamp set and this sketch really is perfect for it! Love your little hummingbird. Acts of kindness that special make me so grateful for getting to know you. Thanks for sharing!! So cool that the twins knew it was something wonderful too!
Oh, how pretty. That image is so precious. Love the great textures and colors.
Love the card and the hummingbird story. Lucky little bird that he found you instead of someone else.
I love having sweet friends who truly treasure nature’s beautiful creatures. Such a wonderful thing to do for that little guy. I love your take on the sketch this week! It’s very clean but still a stunning Ann creation!
this is a fabulous card! I love the way you added texture with that stunning white background. And the staggered paper strips add so much visual interest. Wonderful!
I also loved your hummingbird story. How amazing that he actually touched your hand. They can often be very aggressive and territorial, so he must have sensed your act of kindness. Great photos!
What a great card, Ann. The patterns and texture make it really “sing”! Also loved your hummingbird story. I’m sure he’s very grateful!
Great job with clean and simple Ann. Elegant. Love the added strips of dsp. Not only a fabulous card designer but definitely a lady with a big heart. I’m sure the hummingbird had quite a story to tell back home. Love the photos.
gorgeous! It’s funny, I just made a card for a friend to send to her niece for getting engaged and it was red, white, and black also. Must be something in the air. What a great story about the bird, especially how it touched your hand. And your husband – what a luv.