Happy Friday! I leave for convention on Tuesday and I have multiples lists of things I have to get done before I can leave...but I'm so excited, I can hardly sleep! Today's Bloggers Challenge was to use a specific sketch and I KIND OF did use the sketch. My card started out to be fairly pure and true to the sketch, but as it evolved, I flipped the sketch upside down and moved my center image a bit to the left so I could stamp to the right. Last week, I missed the challenge (Christmas in July) as I was just too busy to stamp anything that wasn't for convention, but I redeemed myself this week by combining Christmas in July with this sketch. It makes me feel a bit better about myself and my ability to meet these challenges. And as my step-daughter would say, "If it makes you sleep better at night to think that, then go for it."
I started with a base of Chocolate Chip and layered on Old Olive cardstock. Next, I used the DSP from the Christmas Jingle Scrapbooking kit (pg 165) and layered on a piece of the striped DSP. It's yummy! I added Very Vanilla cardstock to the top and wrapped that absolutely gorgeous Really Red 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (pg 182) across the entire card.
Next, I stamped the poinsettia from the Christ Is Born stamp set (pg 37) in versamark ink. I chalked the image with my Really Red chalk and cut it out. I love the Rhinestone Brads (pg 179) and used three of the large Fire Circle yellow brads on the image. Finally, I adhered this image to an Old Olive mat with dimensionals and then attached the Old Olive Image to the base with dimensionals as well.
My final step was to ink the words "joy and wonder" from the sentiment stamp using my Chocolate Chip marker and stamp these above the Really Red grosgrain ribbon.
As you can see, I didn't do a great job of following the sketch; however, I maintain that a sketch just gets you started and you see where the creative juices take you. I hope you subscribe to the same notion!
I'll definitely be back tomorrow with a special post so check me out! I hope to schedule posts while I am at convention and then on to Seattle to meet my husband for vacation. We are really looking forward to that record-setting hot weather...NOT!
Have a blessed, God-filled day, and thanks so much for checking!



































A sketch is just a place to start...I like how you off-set the focal image. One Christmas card down...how many to go? Pretty card!
Posted by: Lisa M | 07/31/2009 at 07:18 AM
This is really beautiful! I love how you changed up the sketch a bit.. Simple sketches rock. :)
Posted by: Selene Kempton | 07/31/2009 at 10:28 AM
Gorgeous card...love the brad detail {SMILES}
Posted by: Nikki | 07/31/2009 at 10:51 AM
Love the center of your flower. Great card.
Posted by: Mary Jo Price-Williams | 07/31/2009 at 11:04 AM
Very pretty card.
Posted by: Julie Glasgow | 07/31/2009 at 01:09 PM
Great way to combine the two challenges to get caught up. I think you did a fine job with the sketch and really followed it quite well. Love the Poinsettia and the DP.
Posted by: Ida | 07/31/2009 at 01:09 PM
Great job, Tami! LOVE your card!
Posted by: Connie Babbert | 07/31/2009 at 01:21 PM
I love this card....changing it up is a good thing!!!
Posted by: Patti Chesky | 07/31/2009 at 01:59 PM
You can still see evidence of the original sketch!! Yours turned out wonderfully! Have fun at convention for me!
Posted by: Lisa B. | 07/31/2009 at 02:14 PM
Gorgeous Christmas card Tammy! Love that wide ribbon too.
Posted by: Toni | 07/31/2009 at 10:51 PM
Beautifully done Tami! Love the wide ribbon and your blossom turned out wonderfully! :D
Posted by: Kimberly Gajewski | 07/31/2009 at 11:29 PM
The poinsettia is beautiful and love the rhinestones inside it.
Posted by: Kim Howard | 08/01/2009 at 10:17 AM
gorgeous!
Posted by: Regina Cornelius | 08/01/2009 at 03:17 PM
VEry pretty card! I love the image you used and am happy to have a new idea with it for the file! TFS!
Looking forward to meeing you in SLC!
Posted by: Robin Merriman | 08/02/2009 at 11:31 AM
So pretty! Love the papers and colors
Posted by: Rachel Hope | 08/02/2009 at 02:02 PM