Two Takes on MFT's Weekly Sketch Challenge #495

Sometimes when you hit a creative block, a sketch challenge is just the thing to get you going!

My first card uses an MFT set called Birth-yay.  So many cute animals in party hats - always a winning theme in my book.  Even better, the stamps have the scene almost created for you since all of this critter stack is a single stamp.  I added a standalone cupcake on top because two cupcakes is better than one.

I used assorted papers from an old Doodlebug pack of paper for the stips.  I decided instead of cramming the sentiment on the front to stamp it on the inside instead.  The current MFT Birthday Project theme is to create a Birthday party scene, so I think this card is perfect for that challenge, too.

My second take on the sketch flips it sideways.  I used a bunch of Reverse Confetti products to create this card for their Stock Your Stack Challenge (Hello/Just Because).

This is probably one of my favorite paper stacks they make called Fun Time.  Pink, Aqua, Lime and Purple.  Right up my alley!  I used a little partial diecutting with the Lacy Scalloped Rectangles set to cut out the panel.  The sentiment was stamped with their You're So stamp set.  I finsihed it with a few gems from Little Things by Lucy's.

So there we go.  One sketch, 2 cards despite a creative rut.  Thanks MFT for the sketch challenges every week!

It's sure to be a full house at the Simon Say Stamp Wednesday challenge this week, since it's the always popular "Anything Goes."  Entering both cards over there.

   

Anything Goes

Create a Birthday Party Scene 

       

Flowers with Taylored Expressions

Taylored Expressions hosts a monthly challenge on their Facebook page called TEMakerChallenge.  This month, you can choose from the prompts "yellow, hexagon and use something from your junk drawer."  There have been some creative junk drawer crafters!  I went with the yellow theme for my 2 cards.

I stamped the TE Doodle Flowers Background in Hero Arts Intense Black ink.  Then I colored it with Copics.  I tried to use mostly yellows... but I had to add a few pops of pink, too.  I think I used every Y copic marker I own!  I added a sentiment from TE Handlettered Sentiments, which is one of my new favorite sentiments sets!  I finished by mounting the panel on a card base made from Simon Says Stamp Sunshine cardstock.

I also created one more card for the current ModSquad Challenge of watercolor stamping.  And once again, I tried to focus on yellow as the prompt.

I used by LePlume markers to color some of the images from the TE Spring Stemps set.  Then I gently spritzed them with water before stamping them onto watercolor paper.  The bottom felt a little empty, so at first I colored a few parts of another stamp from the set to add some leaves.  Then I just free handed some leaves with marker picked up on my paintbrush.  I added the butterfly with the same faux watercolor stamping technique.  I finished it with a sentiment from the Handlettered Sentiments set.  I intended to mount this one on yellow, too, but it just needed a little more contrast.  So I pulled out some Gina K Coral Reef cardstock for the base instead.

So I started a blog...

Well, here we go!  A new crafty blog to feature my card creations.  Here are a couple of recent cards to get us started!  I have been on an Altenew kick recently.

I made this card for the June Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  This isn't a color scheme I would have necessarily come up with on my own, which is why I love card challenges!  I just recently got the Altenew Dainty Bouquets stamp set.  I used just 2 layers of the imaging stamp in 2 shades of brown to create the background.  I finished it with an embossed sentiment from the Floral Shadow stamp set.

For my second card, I focused more on the inspiration photo than the selected color scheme.  I used the same Dainty Bouquets set, but used the 2 main floral images in 2 different embossing powders (Rose Gold and Copper).  I wanted the sentiment (from Floral Shadows) to stand out a little more, so I used my Versamark Marker to emboss a frame.

So there we go!  Two very different cards with the same stamp set inspired by the same image.  Thanks for stopping!