I’m so glad to be playing along with Freshly Made Sketches this week!  I’ve had a few hurdles recently, hence the periodic absences.  Fortunately, I have the most awesome teammates ever, and they’re so patient and compassionate with me and haven’t given me the boot.  I would cry forever if they did!  Over the years we’ve been on this team together, we have all become such good friends.  But with that being said, I’m going to tattle on them….  They are the BIGGEST enablers for stamping supplies!  There’s just nothing better than being able to get product recommendations from 9 exceptional and discerning designers.

One teammate In particular, Amy O’Neill, is the epitome of kind and caring, and that’s just an added bonus to her amazing talent.  Amy always has the most wonderful designs and her details leave me with my mouth hanging open.  Actually, I envy the entire team’s ability with perfect details!  Amy is our host for this week’s challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and I think you’re going to love her sketch; this sketch was instant mojo generating for me and it was fun to work with.

I searched for just the right image to fit into my star, and I also kept in mind that I need cards for “just because” that are light-hearted and cheerful; I enjoy enclosing handmade cards with catalogs that I send to my Thirty-One Gifts and Stampin Up businesses.  Hey, Chick (Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set, free with a $50 purchase) just jumped into my hand, honestly, and I knew it was meant to be.  By the way, that same type of thing happens when I go to the mall….  I just walk past a store, and a piece of clothing comes out of the store, wraps around my neck and starts choking me and whispers “Buy me, or else!”  Now, naturally, I had no intention of spending any money (eh-hmmm), but certainly my husband wouldn’t want me to die over a few bucks.  Well, that’s the story he gets.  Usually works.  🙂

I stamped this cute little chick in Crushed Curry onto Watercolor paper and then went over the stamped lines with a matching marker.  I used a damp paint brush to blend the colors towards the center.  I repeated the process with Pumpkin Pie and then outlined the image with black.

I found a new, easier way to do the faux stitching and have short lines that are consistent…  I used a dual tip Zig Calligraphy pen.  So, so easy.  I used the small tip around the star and down the sides of the DSP and the wide tip on the edges of the card base.

All layers above the Crushed Curry matting are multiple layers for dimension.  The sentiment piece was “rolled” on the sides on a black ink pad and then mounted on two pieces of black cardstock.  I added some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and colored a few with a golden yellow Sharpie marker.  The color DOES dry and does not rub off once dry.

Need more examples of the awesome ways you can use this sketch?  Hop over to Freshly Made Sketches for an awesome display of unique and creative designs.  Grab your mojo and create!

Happy Stamping!