Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating its One Year Anniversary this week by opening up our Sketch Gallery and asking you to make a card using ANY of our past sketches.  As for me, I selected Sketch #5,  but you can access past sketches right here.  I reached for the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and stamped up a jar of Blue Ribbon winning Pear Preserves! Enjoy!

Here is the sketch I used:

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Perfectly Preserved
This finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

• The glass has class! A vellum overlay gives the illusion of real glass when placed over the stamped Mason jar.  Strategically placed Mini Glue Dots hold it in place.

• First place! These prize-winning preserves sport an Island Indigo ribbon created from the new 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle Punch.  To add depth, the “One” image from the Blue Ribbon stamp set was inked in Raspberry Ripple and stamped onto Naturals Ivory cardstock.  It was then punched out with the 1″ Circle Punch.  A second “One” was stamped, snipped out and “popped” on top!

 

• Pearls! A quintet of Basic Pearls accents the circle of patterned Raspberry Ripple from the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper collection.

I had a ton of fun designing today’s card.  I got caught up in childhood memories of trips to the County Fair, where jams, jellies and preserves….as well as sundry other baked goods and canned items…were judged and awarded ribbons.  The best of the best often went on to compete at the Iowa State Fair.  From its life-size, hand-sculpted “Butter Cow” to its enormous selection of “deep-fried everything on a stick”, the Iowa State Fair delights the senses! Check out this slide show featuring Deep Fried Everything at the Iowa State Fair!

I hope you enjoyed today’s card…and just out of curiosity, have you ever tried Pear Preserves?  Or have you ever attended a state fair?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  And of course, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Perfectly Preserved, Blue Ribbon; Inks:  Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso, Jet Black StazOn; Stampin’ Write Markers:  Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple; Designer Series Paper:  Orchard Harvest; Card Stock: Raspberry Ripple, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory, Vellum; Tools:  Big Shot, Cannery Framelits, 1″ Circle Punch, 1-1/4″ Scalloped Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch,  Bitty Banners Framelits;  Glitz and Glam:  Linen Thread, Very Vanilla 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Naturals Designer Buttons

It’s “Back-to-Spool” time at Stampin’ Up! Get a FREE spool of 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $40 purchase.  You can choose your favorite new In Color, or add to your collection by earning all five!

And, if that is not enough to get you hopping with excitement, Stampin’ Up! has extended the Howl-o-ween Printer’s Tray kit offer.  Join Stampin’ Up! by September 16th, and here is what you will receive in the Halloween Project Kit (a $60 Value):

• Everything pictured, including your choice of either a wood or clear Toxic Treat stamp set, a full package of Rhinestones, a full package of Baker’s Twine, and enough ribbon and buttons to make the kit!

And with the Demonstrator Starter Kit, you will receive $125 worth of any Stampin’ Up! products for only $99 + tax.  The shipping is free!  The Starter Kit is completely customizable, and therefore can be tailor-made to fit YOUR needs!  There is absolutely NO obligation to sell if you purchase the Starter Kit, and there are NO strings attached.  The Starter Kit products are yours to keep…and so is the Halloween project. If you have been on the fence as to whether or not to join my group, there is no better time than now.  Please email me with any questions you may have.  I would love to discuss them with you! Or check this out to learn more and to join now!

A Peek at Freshly Made Sketches

My Freshly Made Sketches Design Team Inspiration Card has a story behind it.  Here’s a little peek.  Join me Wednesday for the reveal!

Upcoming Posts:  Wednesday…Freshly Made Sketches;  Thursday…Blog Candy and a Lexi Picture

It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week Lesley has selected a gorgeous trio of colors for her color challenge:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Basic Black.  I had lots of ideas frolicking in my head, and finally decided to ink up the High Heel from Fabulous You.  It reminds me of my early days of teaching where I wore suits…and yep…high heels, to school every day.  How times have changed over the years!  When I retired I was wearing khakis and Clarks, but my feet have never forgiven me for those high heel days.  This card goes out to all of my “Fabulous Friends”!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
This card measures 5-1/4″ square.

• Illuminate! The Baha Breeze Boho Blossoms (don’t you love alliteration) were daubed with Stampin’ Up!’s new Illuminate ink and then distressed on the edges with Basic Gray ink.  The Basic Pearl centers were colored using a black permanent marker.

• Stylish stiletto! A Baja Breeze Stampin’ Write Marker was used to decorate the High Heel image.  Basic Pearls were added for further adornment. And just for fun, a few of the heart shapes were inked in Pretty in Pink!

• Mini-bow! A cutie-patootie Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta mini-bow was added to the corner.  It reminds me of a fabulous pair of black heels I once owned.  Black bows adorned the back of each shoe.  They were adorable…and uncomfortable!

Creating this card was a trip down memory lane! I think I envisioned every pair of shoes I once owned.  They were a passion for me back then.  But oh, how things have changed!  Now I am a push-over for an awesome set of stamps!

Missing Our Baby Girl

In case you did not read my last post, little Lexi has been “pup-napped” by her handler! Well, maybe not pup-napped, but she will be away from Mom for a month as she begins her intensive show dog training.  I knew this day would come, and I thought I would be prepared for it.  Of course, the Twins spent the first days this week looking for their little sister.  However, they have adjusted fine…and according to the handler, so has Lexi.  Only Mom is having problems.  Here she is learning how to just chill at a show.  I wonder what she is thinking…

As always, your comments are important to me, and I can’t wait to read what you think about today’s card. And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away!  Until next time… 

Stamp Sets:  Fabulous You, Fabulous Phrases; Inks:  Jet Black StazOn, Basic Gray, Illuminate;  Stampin’ Write Markers:  Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Baja Breeze;  Tools:  Sponge Dauber, Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impression Embossing Folder,Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die, Boho Blossom Punch, Corner Rounder Punch;  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls, Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon