Showing posts with label #Sketch Challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Sketch Challenges. Show all posts

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Valentine Kisses and Hugs

Here we are, the last day of January, and I'm reflecting on where the month went. There's been so much going on! My husband and I have been celebrating birthdays, enjoying dining out, and yesterday and today were extra special because I got to stamp and spend time with two of my team members. What fun! 

Creating and sharing are just the best medicine for getting your mojo on a roll.  We made some fun projects, learned some new skills, looked at some of the pre-order products from Stampin' Up! and just had so many laughs.  These gals bring me pure joy when they come for a visit.  I'm looking forward to sharing some of the projects I made this week. 

The first project is a Valentine's Day card based on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #666 designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  Here's the sketch: 

Here's My Card: 

I was a bit intimidated by this sketch when I first looked at it, because of the boxes.  Once I got over that intimidation I was able to envision what I wanted to create.  Here's what I made: 


I love the paper designs in the Valentines Kisses designer paper pack, and used this sketch as an opportunity to mix several of the designs.  Because I'm such a fan of the oval/rectangle died from the Unbounded Love die set, I decided to use three die cuts from this paper as the horizontal bars in the sketch. The rest was easy.  

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies: 

  • Jan 2022 Paper Pumpkin Kisses and Hugs for the sentiment "sending you love"
  • Jan 2025 Paper Pumpkin Hearts for You - small solid heart  inside panel 
  • Valentine Kisses #167027  for the inside sentiment "Sending Lots of Love your Way to celebrate this special day". 
  • Stitched Hearts dies for two heart shapes
  • Unbounded Love #163378 for three rectangular panels
Card Stock and Designer Paper:
  • Basic White Card base - 8 1/2 " x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
  • Basic White mattes - cut 2 at 5" x 3 3/4" for front and inside.  Emboss front layer with Hearts of Love 3D embossing folder. 
  • Basic White Scraps for small heart and flower die cuts 
  • Scraps of Poppy Parade for red heart and small flowers 
  • Cut three 1 1/4" x 3" designer paper rectangles using Made With Love DSP
  • Cut a matte 5 1/4 x 4" for card front from Made With Love DSP, cut a second matte for inside card using the same designer paper.
Ink: 
  • Poppy Parade
Accessories: 
  • Dimensionals
  • Hearts of Love Embossing Folder (3-D)
  • Sticker red gems 

Well that's it for this week's AHSC #666.  This was a fun and easy card to make.

Let me know if you enjoy making Valentines cards and if so where you get your inspiration from.  I'd love to hear from you.  


HAPPY STAMPING
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006


Last Day February 2, 2026 to Earn Bonus $5.00 Coupons to use in February

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Love You Valentines - AHSC # 665

This week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #665 was designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  The challenge began on January 19th and runs until the afternoon on Sunday January 25th.


Here's My Card: 




Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

  • PP Jan 2025 Hearts For You
  • Banner Dies #132173 (R)
  • Stitched Hearts Non-SU 

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper:

  • Basic White 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" base scored at 4 1/4" 
  • Inside Matte 5 1/4" x 4"
  • Scraps for heart and sentiment
  • Real Red cut two 5 3/8" x 4 18" for front and inside mattes
  • DSP Most Adored (retired)
  • 5 1/4 x 4" front matte gold and white plaid
  • 1" x 5 3/8" strip on front red with white hearts
  • 3" x 4" Pink hearts banner 

Ink:

  • Real Red

Accessories:  

  • Sequins Gold Pastel self adhesive
  • Dimensionals
I enjoyed this sketch and had fun adding my personal touch to it.  I'd appreciate your comments on my version so I have some feedback on how I'm doing.   Let me know what type of cards you have difficulty doing or which type of cards are the ones you need the most.

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 
Penny Hanuszak CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006


Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 


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Sunday, January 18, 2026

Friendly Hello Birthday Card #AHSC#664

This past weekend we had another atmospheric rain storm but fortunately that has passed on and we are now seeing the sun and feeling much warmer weather.  Snow may be on the way though by next weekend so I'm taking advantage of the change and getting some walking in.   

Oh well, I'm going to try and put some more sunshine in my life by playing along with the Atlantic Hearts Challenge #664 this week.  Here's the sketch that was designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  Wow it's impressive.  


Here's my card: 

I made a feminine birthday card using this sketch that incorporates blending and images.  Here is my card:


Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies: 

  • Friendly Hello #158075 R-SAB set No Dies
  • Stitched Circles Dies for sentiment 
  • 3 leaf punch (r)
You don't always have to take blends and colour in a whole flower.  I used a sponge dauber to add subtle colour in a circular motion to the center of these flowers.  The glossy effect in the center is made by adding a small amount of Nuvo Drops.  It forms kind of a dew drop effect when it dries and gives the flower some depth and dimension. 

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

  • Basic White Card base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
  • Basic White mattes cut two - 5" x 3 75" for front and inside
  • Basic White scraps for sentiment and two sets of double flower
  • Basic Black cut two mattes 5 1/4" x 4" for front and inside
  • Scraps basic black for leaves and circle frame
  • Scraps Lost Lagoon for floral die cut stems 

Ink:

  • Memento Basic Black ink
  • Lost Lagoon

Accessories: 

  • Blending Brush
  • Four square decorative mask #161285 (R)
  • Nuvo Drops for flower centers
  • Circle template
  • Adhesive backed Black Studs x 3 #160767

Well, what do you think?  I'd love to hear from you so let me know if  this card works for you and if so what do you like about it. And, if you're thinking of joining in the AHSC for this week, I'd also love to see what you've made, so send me a message.  Cheers and have a great crafting week!

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Top 3 Sketch Challenge AHSC#651 Winner

 

Thank you Atlantic Hearts Design Team for choosing my Peaceful Place Shaker card to be among the Top 3 for challenge #651.  Congrats to the other two winners Tracey Stevenson and Christine (Belgium).  

What a fun sketch.  Just the right elements in the design for making a monochromatic Christmas shaker card to add to my growing stash.  Here is my winning card: 


You can find details on how this card was assembled by clicking here.  

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006


Friday, August 1, 2025

Sweeter With You Second Eight and AHSC #640

It's been a busy time with two back- to-back garage sales held on the past weekend.  Our complex held a community garage sale on Saturday July 26th and I really worked hard getting ready for this event.  I was hoping for a good turnout, but although we had beautiful weather hardly any buyers showed up.  Thankfully I sold my sewing machine and a few odds and sods.  



The next day however was awesome!  I was a vendor at my favourite garage sale held in Cloverdale.  The RRR Craft parking lot sale is held every June and July and I was very fortunate to have a table at both events this year.  A big shout to Maggie owner of Country Lane Crafts for hosting and organizing this event.  To the hundreds of great folks who showed up thanks so much, you made my day!  


Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge: 
Moving on to card making, here's this week's sketch from Atlantic Hearts which was very timely and inspiring as I was still using scraps from the July Paper Pumpkin kit.  This sketch checked all the boxes for me.   

Here is My Card:  



I really enjoyed making this card using paper strips from the retired Berry Delightful designer series.  The Dotted Circles embossing on the Pool Party matte really added some great texture to the card front.  

Supplies: 

Stamps and Dies: 
  • Sweeter With You Stamps Paper Pumpkin July 2025
  • Scalloped Circle Punch (R) Stampin' Up
Card Stock and DSP: 
  • Whisper White 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"  scored at 4 1/4"
    • Matte for inside 3 3/4" x 5"
  • Pool Party 3 3/4" x 5" embossed with Dotted Circles 
  • Granny Apple Green cardstock 4" x 5 1/4" 
  • Garden Green cardstock strip  1/4" x 5 1/4" (insided)
  • DSP from Berry Delightful (R) 1 1/4" x 5 1/4" strips x 3 
  • Strawberry from Sweeter With You Paper Pumpkin kit
Ink
  • Strawberry Slush
  • Garden Green
Accessories: 
  • Dotted Circles 3D Embossing Folder 
  • Opaque Faceted Gems Pool Party 
  • Dimensionals
"Sweeter With You" Additional Alternate  Paper Pumpkin kit cards"

I made an additional eight alternate cards with the "Sweeter With You" July 2025 Paper Pumpkin kit since my last post including my card for the Atlantic Hearts sketch challenge.  Enjoy!

d

Card  Nine: 
There were only three strawberry baskets included in the PP kit, so I made extras by tracing the original image and then colouring them with a Pool Party Pencil crayon around the edges.  I think it turned out pretty good.  

Card Ten:

I added some real red grosgrain ribbon that's been kicking around in my ribbon bin for some time to this card front.  The mattes are Poppy Parade and Garden Green and I matted the saying from the Paper Pumpkin kit on to a scrap of Garden Green and then cut around the image.  I really like how that popped out the sentiment.  

For the inside of the card I once again used some leftover strips of Garden Green and a 1" x 5 1/4" piece of DSP from the Berry Delightful paper pack. 


Card Eleven:

I loved the way this card came together.  I layered two of the Contour Dies (R) nesting rectangles to make the focal point along with some strawberries and flower ephemera from the kit and a sweet little sentiment strip.  The background dsp from the Berry Delightful papers is simply stunning and really brings this card to life. 

Tip:  Before gluing your mattes to your card base, punch or die cut shapes from the cardstock centers. By cutting away card material from the matte before it's adhered to the card you reduce the density and the weight and you wind up with lots of shapes to use for future mattes or focals.

Card Twelve:

This card again features layered Contour Die rectangles that were cut from other mattes.  Having a selection of these on hand really cuts down on the guesswork when you're making cards. 

Card Thirteen:
 

I used scraps of the Berry Delightful DSP to make the layered patchwork for the center focal on this card.  I also added some Poppy Parade designer paper that was in my stash for a layer.  

Card Fourteen:

Card Fifteen:
Don't underestimate the power of a strip of designer paper.  By adding three paper strips to the garden green matte I was able to add some additional interest.  I've also used a strip of grosgrain ribbon across the center of the card.  


Don't forget the inside of our cards.  I love how these stamped strawberries pop off the white matte. 
 
Card Sixteen:  

And the final card is the one I made for the AHSC.  Thanks for dropping by and visiting my blog.  As always, I hope you enjoyed this post and if so will leave me some words of encouragement.  Until next time......

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT
Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Monochromatic Birthday Card FMS #688

  This weeks Freshly Made Sketch challenge is hosted by Jen B.  


Here's My Card: 

I'm a big fan of Lost Lagoon so I looked through my stash for papers in that colour.  I remembered the Timeless Plaid 6x6 paper pack had some Lost Lagoon designs and because these papers are double-sided it was really easy to find a coordinating piece of dsp to go with this sketch design.  

For the center focal I added the big birdhouse from Country Birdhouse.  I was able to use the same dsp for the front panel of the birdhouse by paper piecing it.  

Supplies: 

Stamps & Dies: 

  • Country Birdhouse Stamps - sentiment "happy birthday".
  • Country Birdhouse Dies - birdhouse, flowers, bird
  • Birthday Sentiment inside card from "See You Later" Sale-a-bration stamp set(R) 
Cardstock & DSP:
  • Whisper White 
    • 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" card base scored at 4 1/4". 
    • Inside Matte 3 5/8" x 5 1/4" 
    • 2 scraps for sentiment and trim on birdhouse
  • Lost Lagoon
    • 5 1/4 x 2" for top matte on card front
    • 5 1/4" x 1 3/4" for matte on bottom card front 
  • Timeless Plaid DSP (R)
    • 5 1/8" x 1 7/8" 
    • 5 1/8" x 1 5/8"
    • 2" x 2" scrap for front of birdhouse
Ink:
  • Lost Lagoon ink and blends 
  • Momento Black 
Accessories: 
  • self adhesive backed lost lagoon gems
  • dimensionals 


Well that's it for this week.  I hope you enjoyed this card, and will leave me a comment before you go.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot!

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Saturday, May 24, 2025


Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #629 - Top Three! 

Thanks AHSC Design team for picking my card as one of the Top Three in challenge #629, along with Jolanda Johnstone and Joanne James.  So exciting!  

Click here to see original post

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo Since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 




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Here's this week's sketch hosted by Jen M.  at Freshly Made Sketches #721 .  I wasn't able to post my card for the actual challe...