FMS475 Sketch Challenge

I decided to start March off with a challenge, so chose sketch #475 from the Freshly Made Sketches challenge blog site.   

This fun sketch chosen by design team member Jackie Southas is a classic "threes" challenge.  That means that you can put anything you want on your design as long as it has three of something and the card is clean and simple.

Speaking of threes, I also really liked the three colour CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #409.  I think these three colours are fun and really compliment each other. Let me know if you think so too or play along with the challenge which doesn't close until 6:00 pm EST  Monday March 8, 2021.

Here's My Card: 

This birthday card is way outside my comfort zone. The design is very "plain" and simple, not something I do well or often.  Usually my cards have more layers but I threw all that out the window when I decided to make this card. 

I chose to flip the sketch outline so that my three panels would be vertical on the layer rather than horizontal. Stampin' Ups! bubble caption die from the Special Day set has been niggling at me for some time now, and I thought what a perfect opportunity to use this probably somewhat overlooked die cut.  

The Special Day Die set coordinates with the Special Someone 23 piece Photopolymer Stamp set which I used for the inside of the card.  I've highlighted the caption die.  How cute is that? 

I pulled out some scraps of Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green and Terracotta Tile and stamped each with a sentiment from the Special Someone stamp set.  They were stamped with Versa Mark ink and heat set with White Embossing Powder. The three captions were  lined up on the card layer and mounted with Dimensionals.   The top caption is Calypso Coral and the bottom one with the Happy Birthday sentiment is the Terracotta tile.  

The card base is a standard 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Whisper White with a 5 1/8" x 3 7/8" layer of Calypso Coral card stock.  The second layer was cut from a 3 3/4" x 5" piece of Whisper White card stock.  I used the 2nd largest of the Stitched With Whimsey dies to add a whimsical stitched design around the edge of the card.

Stitched With Whimsy Dies

These dies create die-cut frames that are anything but square. The irregular edges look like they were cut freehand and have cute decorative stitching. They're perfect for framing sentiments on handmade cards, scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts.

For the inside of the card I stamped the super adorable raccoon and balloon from the Special Someone stamp set.  The first layer of the two-step raccoon was stamped with Early Espresso ink and the second layer with Crumb Cake.  The first layer of the balloon was stamped with Calypso Coral and the 2nd with Terracotta Tile inks.  I repeated the caption on Granny Apple Green card stock.  

The Special Day stamp set has 23 photopolymer images.  The 2-step stamps line up beautifully to create very detailed images.  One of my favourites this year for creating cute cards. 

I splattered the front and inside of the card with some Terracotta Tile ink, using a toothbrush.  It didn't quite give me the effect I was hoping for so I added some small stars in coordinating colours to add a little more interest.  

Note:  If you're a fan of Terracotta Tile like I am, don't forget that it will be retiring soon as it's one of the five Incolours from the 2019-2021 sales period. 

2019-2021 In Colours  Now's the time to stock up on the ink pads, cardstock, re-inkers and blends before the retiring list is released in a week or so, otherwise you might not be able to replenish your stock.

I hope you like today's card. Let me know if you like this design...... do you ever make cards that aren't within your comfort zone?  I'd love to hear from you because receiving your feedback really makes my day.  

HAPPY STAMPING! 

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator

My March Hostess Code BPWWMBT4: 

Receive FREE Stampin'Up! Products from me by simply adding this month's Hostess Code to the end of your On-line Order.   Apply the Hostess Code to any order under $199.99 (before s&h and tax) and you'll receive a FREE Stampin' Up! rewards gift and thank you card from me. 

For orders $200+ no worries you'll automatically receive Stampin' Up! Rewards based on the total of your order.