Ohh, How I Love a Sketch

I have been taking part in the sketch challenges splitcoaststampers for several years. Without a sketch I feel that my layouts are usually pretty plain. But WITH a sketch I usually am pretty happy with what I turn out. Beate (http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/) has been doing weekend sketches on her blog for a bit but I haven't participated as of yet. I was just telling my husband that I feel creatively challenged right now, yet I still felt the desire to stamp. I hate it when I get the time to stamp and I spend it staring at stamps on my table and card stock but I end up walking away from it all because I can't come up with anything! So, this morning I took some time to stamp and decided to use Beate's sketch challenge from this past weekend. If you look at this card and the Ellie one below they started out the same....a base and a large panel that was faux stitched. I was going to use this base and panel for that card but changed my mind. It was just sitting on my desk so I decided to use it for this project instead. I had also been looking to make my first submission to a magazine which was asking for projects using turquoise in it. Well, as always, I waited to the last minute and this is supposed to be in CA by the 1st. I don't think it will make it, but I'll send it anyway.

This image is from the same set used below. The sentiment "Happy Heart Day" is actually connected to the mouse, at his feet. But I had the brilliant idea to cut them apart because I really don't like doing marker omitting with images I know I will use often. They just don't seem to get clean enough and then when you ink them up and huff on them you almost always seem a shadow of the area you don't want...anyway...my point? SO, I cut them apart, but it wasn't easy. I had to get my exacto in there. HINT: If you have to get your exacto in there, it might not be the best idea. It worked ok but now the sentiment is so skinny that it doesn't sit well on the block and it takes me lots of tries to get a good impression. Maybe others have had better luck.

Supplies Used: Certainly Celery ink, cs, Real Red ink, cs, SW Marker, Tempting Turquoise cs, ink, SW Marker, Whisper White cs, Close to Cocoa ink, SW Marker, Aquapainter, Crafter's Tool Kit, White Signo Gel Pen, Stampin Dimensionals, Barely Banana brads, 1/2" Circle Punch, Happy Heart Day set.