Hitting the Slopes with AHSC#697

September has arrived in a flash and we've already cleaned up all our potted plants to get ready for the change of seasons. I don't know whether to be excited or sad as it really feels like the end of summer passed us by.  The days are getting shorter and the leaves are already changing color, so overnight it seems we've shifted into Fall.  This is actually my favourite time of year so I'm looking forward to all things this month has to offer.

Here is this week's sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Here's My Card:

Since I've been talking about Fall and winter, I decided to shift gears away from flowers and make a masculine monochromatic birthday card for an extra special guy who loves all things winter and outdoor sports.  My card features a new online exclusive stamp set called "Hitting the Slopes" and will be perfect for his November birthday.  

The 11 piece Hitting the Slopes stamp set doesn't have matching dies however the images are extremely easy to fussy-cut and the sentiments can be die cut or punched using other products.  Here's what I came up with for this challenge : 

I used the new incolour Hydrangea Hue along with Basic White cardstock and ink to create this monochromatic card.  Although I had difficulty capturing the true colours in these photos the rich tones of the Hydrangea Hue help to balance out the additional colours.  I wanted a sense of movement on this card front, so along with the skiers sailing down the slopes, I cut all the mattes with the retired Stampin' Up! Deckled Rectangle dies for a fun effect. 

I didn't have a winter themed designer paper to go with this stamp set so I created my own by stamping the stamp from the set with the small skiers in Hydrangea Hue.  Such an easy way to liven up the matte. 

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For the inside I combined sentiment stamps from All About Birthdays and Penguin Place for my messaging and the small snowflake from the Penguin Place stamp set in the corner.  After this  photo was taken I actually did some blending over the snowflakes with light balmy blue.   

For the lower corner focal I punched two small circles in Secret Sea and Basic White cardstock for the base and then layered the helmet, boot and gloves from the Hitting the Slopes stamp set, creating raised layers with dimensionals.  

There's a little bit of shine in the focal created with sequins and by using Nuvo drops to make the mask look like glass and the detail on the boots stand out like shiny plastic.  

Supplies and Instructions:  

Stamps and Dies: 

• Hitting the Slopes #168341- Skiers, sentiment "Have an Epic Birthday", snowboard and focal images. 
• Penguin Place (R) - Sentiment "To the Coolest Friend Ever", Snowflakes
• All About Birthdays (R) - Sentiment "Wishing You the Happiest Birthday Ever"
• Deckled Rectangles (R) 
• Note to alter the sentiment "Have an Epic Birthday"  simply block the word or remove ink from "birthday" before stamping.  Then replace it with another sentiment such as  "Day", "Christmas", "Holiday" etc., so you can get a broader range of occasions.  

Cardstock:

• Basic White:
• 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" for card base
• 4 5/8" x 3 1/2" matte stamped with skiers from Hitting the Slopes stamp in Hydrangea Hue
• 5" x 3 3/4" matte for inside of card
• Scraps for stamping focal point and snowboard images  and punching out 1" circle 
• Hydrangea Hue 
• 5" x 3 3/4" and 3 7/8" x 2 5/8" mattes for front  and 5 1/4" x 4" matte for inside card 
• Secret Sea:
• 1 1/2" x  1 1/2" scrap for  focal 1 1/4' circle punch 

Ink and Blends: 

• Tuxedo Momento Black ink for all stamped images
• Secret Sea for sentiments front and inside 
• Blends:  Boho Blue, Secret Sea, Balmy Blue, Smokey Slate

Accessories: 

• Dimensionals
• Opalescent Sequins blue hue 
• Nuvo Drops for goggle mask and buckles on boots

Thanks for dropping by today and checking out my submission for this weeks Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Appr4ciated.  Until next time.............

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

AHSC Top Three! Sketch #695

Thanks to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Design team for including my rendition of sketch #695 in the AHSC Top Three this week.  My card is included along with those of Crystal Minkler and Jan Clothier's wonderful designs.  I'm most appreciative of this recognition.  

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

Fall Is On Its Way - AHSC#695

This week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #695 is available until Sunday August 23rd, 2026.  How about playing along and entering your card creation on this blog site.   The sketch was created by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  Awesome ladies! 

Here's my card: 

Earlier this week, the intense heat we experienced at the start of August started to ease, and today brought some cooler temperatures along with some much-needed rainfall as well as some thunder and lightning.  

This sudden change made me realize that Fall is approaching and time to start thinking about pumpkins, and falling leaves.  This was the perfect day to start  using my Glow of Harvest product of the month designer series paper from Stampin' Up! Here is my first Fall card created using the AHSC sketch and this beautiful paper.

Supplies Used:

Stamps and Dies:

• Fall for Toile Paper Pumpkin kit September 2025 (R)
• Bough Punch (R) #157711
• Circle of Seasons  Paper Pumpkin dies # 167277 (R)
• Detailed Flora Paper Pumpkin dies July 2026 for florals 

Cardstock and DSP:

• Basic White 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" cardstock base scored at 4 1/4" 
• Basic White matte 5" x 3 3/4" for inside 
• Copper Clay matte for front of card 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"
• 3" x 3" scrap for 2 3/8" circle cut out with Stylish Designs Circle Die
• Scraps of So Saffron, Copper Clay and Old Olive for die cut flowers and leaves and punched boughs
• Glow of Harvest DSP cut two 1 1/4" x 5" strips for card front
• Tartan Foil DSP (R) cut one strip 2 3/8" x 5 for card front, and a 5 1/4" x 4" matte for inside of card.  

I began putting together the focal point by adhering the white circle onto the copper clay one and attaching some leftover leaves from the retired Fall for Toile Paper Pumpkin kit. I included small Old Olive and Copper Clay leaves along with tiny So Saffron flowers to create a harvest vibe on the front of my card. The Copper Clay Tartan Plaid foil patterned paper really brings a nice reflection and contrast to the card’s front.

Ink and Blends:

• Copper Clay, Old Olive, and So Saffron for flowers and pumpkins
• Pecan Pie for sentiment

Accessories: 

• Sunset Sparkle Self-adhesive sequins 
• Ephemera leaves and pumpkins from Fall of Toile PP kit 
• Mini Glue Dots 

The Glow of Harvest designer paper is thicker than most DSP.  It only has a design on the front and the paper is shimmery.  I cut a pumpkin from one of the sheets for the inside of the card, but I haven't added a sentiment yet.  

Well that's it for this week's card.  I hope you'll leave me a comment and let me know if you're as excited about Fall coming as I am.  It's my favourite season.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKEN'S STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Top Three For AHSC#689 Challenge.... Woo Hoo!

It's super nice to be acknowledged.  I just learned that I was amongst the top three for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge last week for this card:

You can't wipe the smile off my face.  A huge thanks to the AHSC Design Team who left me lots of encouragement with their awesome comments and congrats to Vicki Burdick and Joanne James who were the other two picks.  Awesome cards ladies!  This was such a fun and easy card to make! 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up Demo Since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Sunset Coast Retirement Card - FMS #744

Welcome to my blog.  This week's sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches hosted by Donna has been published and you can enter until January 13th. Here's the sketch: 

Here's My Card:

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Sunset Coast Stamps #167775
• Sunset Coast Dies #167780
• Stylish Shape Dies #159183 square 

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper:

• Basic White cardstock for base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Scored at 4 1l4".
• scrap  for Lighthouse 3 1/2 x 3 1/2
• Front matte 5 1/4" x 4" and inside 5" x 3 3/4"
• Secret Sea front matte 5 3/8" x 4 1/8", 5 1/4" x 4" for inside matte,
• 3 3/4" x 3" piece for front square and strip 1/2" by 4" for front
• Scenic Coast 6 x 6 designer paper cut to 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" centered on sunset in scene. 

Ink:

• Secret Sea

Accessories:

• Smooth Sailing Embossing Folder for white matte on card front 
• Shiny Adhesive backed sequins mauve 
• Dimensionals. 

Thanks for taking time out of your day to drop by my blog and check out my entry for this week's FMS sketch challenge. I hope you enjoyed my take on it and will come back again. Until next time.....


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

Click here to visit my 24/7 online shop 

Football Fan Masculine Birthday - FMS#743

 Here is this week's Freshly Made Sketch Challenge hosted by Judy. I was a little unsure how I wanted to use this sketch when I first looked at it.  I decided it had a masculine feel to it, and so began to think about masculine themes for a birthday card.  

My 18 year old nephew is in college sports and plays a variety of them including soccer, football and lacrosse.  Since I just recently purchased a new online exclusive stamp set called "Football Fan", I decided to incorporate it into my design.  Here's the sketch: 

Here's My Card:

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

Masculine stamps featuring realistic images don't come around very often, so when they do, I make sure to grab them quickly before they're gone. The Football Fan stamp set falls into this category. Although it's a standalone set without matching dies or papers, it's definitely one to keep.

This 12-piece photopolymer stamp set produces crisp, clear images that work well as either backgrounds or focal points, and all the images can be easily cut out with precise scissors. The sentiments included are also excellent and can be stamped and cut out using any dies or punches you have available.

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

I'm attempting to use up papers from my collection, but unfortunately, I've lost track of some of the paper pack names. This applies to these papers as well. Initially, I was searching for color combinations that would represent football themes, but when I came across this black and vanilla monochromatic designer paper, I thought it was perfect. It resembled old newsprint and was ideal for achieving the look I wanted.

I used Basic Black for the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 card base and Very Vanilla mats measuring 4" x 5 1/4" for both the front and inside of the card. Smaller Basic Black mats were used for the two pillars, which measure 1 1/4" x 4", as well as for the sentiment base.

For the #1 Fan focal point, I used a stitched circle from the Stylish Designs die set.

After cutting out the football player, I glued the image onto a piece of Basic Black and then re-cut the image. I believe this additional layer added depth and helped anchor the image to the background.

Inks and Blends:

• Momento Black Ink

Accessories:

• Dimensionals

Thanks for visiting my blog and checking out this FMS challenge card. I hope my version or those of the Design Team inspire you to try your hand at sketch challenges. If so, I'd love to see what you made.

Until next time..............

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

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

FIFA Fever Hits Vancouver - FMS#740

Freshly Made Sketches #740 is hosted by Michele Ferguson this week.  The challenge runs from June 10th to  3pm EST on Monday June 15th.   I hope you'll try out this sketch, and have some fun making your "scene".

Here's My Card: 

FIFA World Cup of Soccer fever has officially arrived in Vancouver, BC and the weekend was packed with soccer fandom. There are soccer related theme parties happening everywhere, and that inspired me to designed a simple soccer themed card that could be used as a thank you to the hosts, or as a note card relating to this special occasion. 

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Match Day stamp and Dies
• Fun In the Sun - Feb 2023 Paper Pumpkin Kit
• Curvy Dies #154319

Cardstock and Designer Papers:

• 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 Basic White card base scored at 4 1/4" 
• 3 3/4" x 5" matte for front.  Use Pool Party and blender brush for sky and stamp on sun.
• 4 " x 5 1/4" Basic White matte for inside
• 2" x 2" Basic White for Soccer Ball
• 3 7/8" x 5" Basic Black matte for card front
• 2"  x 2" Basic Black scrap for soccer ball die cut 
• Garden Green - 2 pieces of scrap for top and bottom slopes width 4 1/4" height 3".  Cut away excess once glued to the
• Granny Apple Green scrap for layered slop 2 pieces. Stamp sentiment from Match Game in Momento Black on slope 

Ink and Blends:

• Pool Party
• Momento Black 

Accessories: 

• Dimensionals. 

Thank you for dropping by to check out this week's project.  I hope you liked it, and would absolutely love it if you dropped me a comment.  If you haven't visited the Freshly Made Sketches website to check out everyone else's cards, here's the link to do so:  Freshly Made Sketches #740.  

Until next time..........

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up Demo since 2006

Click here to check out my 24/7 Online Shop and see what's new! 

Paper Pumpkin Lakeside Retreat Masculine Cards - FMS#734

I've really been enjoying creating with the Lakeside Resort April 2026 Paper Pumpkin kit.  Such beautiful papers and I really like the subtle hue.  This kit leans heavily towards masculine cards with a Father's Day theme and nature images.  Although the theme and contents of this kit appear masculine, in this day and age they with the exception of some of the stamps could work easily for any occasion card or gender. 

When Stampin' Up!s latest catalogue is released tomorrow, it includes a stamp suite or bundle called Waterside Resort that coordinates beautifully with the Lakeside Resort kit.  With their mix and match capability these two products provide a whole host of other possibilities for outdoor themed masculine cards. 

I'm using the Freshly Made Sketches #734 hosted by Jen M.challenge sketch for today's card. Some of the examples from the Design Team and participants are literally out  of this world.  There are some excellent samples on the blog from the Design Team if you're looking for inspiration.  

Here's My Card:

This card layout could work for a birthday or special event like Father's Day.  I'm in love with Secret Sea which is the dark blue cardstock I've used.  It's so dark and accents the Balmy Blue so well.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Relaxing Waterside #167922 - sentiments
• Lakeside Retreat - papers and ephemera
• All About Birthdays -stamp birthday sentiment inside card
• Sun Rise Sailing SU#165491 stamp and dies for sailboat 

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

• Basic White cardstock for base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Basic White for inside matte 4" x 3 3/4" and a 2" by 3 1/2" piece for the sail boat
• Secret Sea 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for front matte, 2" x 4 1/2" for front color block which has been embossed. A small scrap strip for the sentiment.
• Balmy Blue 5 1/4" x 4" for front matte.  Embossed with Scripty Embossing Folder by SU. 

Ink:

• Secret Sea
• Balmy Blue 
• Pecan Pie 

Accessories: 

• Corner Rounder Punch
• Classic Label punch
• Scripty Embossing Folder 
• Blue self-adhesive sequins 
• Dimensionals for sailboat. 

This card came together fairly quickly once I decided on colours and theme.  Before I go here are  some more Alternative Paper Pumpkin - Lakeside and Waterside Resort cards I've made.  

Have a good week everyone and thanks for dropping by.  I hope these cards give you some fresh ideas and enjoyment.   Until next sketch...........

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop!

Masculine Soccer Match Birthday Card #AHSC676

Only 2 months until FIFA comes to town and the soccer fans are out admiring the original World Cup trophy this weekend.  Soccer is such a popular sport with kids and adults.  So, it's only fitting that my card for this challenge be "A Wonderful Match" masculine birthday card.  

Here is this week's sketch challenge digitalized by Michelle:    

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #676

Here's My Card:

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Best Catch #148598 for the front sentiment "It's Your Day!"
• Inside sentiment is one I use often but I can't find the stamp set it came from.  If anyone knows let me know, I'd appreciate it as it's one of my favourite Stampin' Up! stamps.

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

• A Wonderful Match #167515 designer paper by Stampin' Up!

Ink:

• Basic Black Hybrid - New Ink for May 2026 season Stampin' Up!

Accessories:  

• Mini Dimensionals
• Glue Dots
• Rustic Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots 
• Twine 

One Last Look:

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I appreciate your support and comments.  Take a look over at the AHSC #676 and see all the wonderful samples for this sketch challenge.  Who knows, it might inspire you to play along!  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Blog