A Batch of Sketches and a Rainbow of Colors

TGIF!

Not sure why I am saying that...I am only working part time, and mostly from home, so most days are the same.  But I have been having fun playing with some challenges today.  I am continuing my 2015 focus on sketches.  I missed the Paper Players sketch, but this week's Friday Mashup has a sketch.  I also have the weekly sketches from SCS and Freshly Made Sketches.  Plus, I combined a color challenge with each one.  Whew!

This first card was LOTS of fun! I combined the Colour Me...! palette with FMS#171.  The stamped image and greeting are from Paper Smooches; more of my goodies that I chose with my gift card from the "Hope You Can Cling To" challenges last fall.

This is the first time I used tangelo twist card stock; it was still in my in-color sample pack.  I am not a big fan of orange, but this is actually very nice.  I added a layer of whisper white that is dry embossed with the fancy fan folder. For the vertical strips, I used a piece of indigo dsp from a SU holiday paper stack, a strip of long-retired razzleberry pattern paper, and then a strip of whisper white that I turned into my own pattern paper.  For that, I randomly stamped images from "Mixed Bunch."  I used my Sizzix scallop circles #2 die, then stamped the image and greeting from "Chubby Chums."  I colored the chickie with markers, and sponged indigo around the edges, then popped it up with dimensionals.  A few candy dots finish it off.  How cute is this little chick??  The entire stamp set is filled with adorable images!  A few years ago, I never would have tried these, but I am venturing more into whimsical, playful characters.  I think I have fallen in love with another stamp company...and I think my bank account is in jeopardy!

 Next, I have The Friday Mashup challenge paired with
The Color Throwdown (first time I have joined this one!)










I was debating between using summer starfruit and kiwi kiss for this one, and opted for the kiwi kiss because of this fun polka dot ribbon.  Plus, let's face it, kiwi kiss has been retired for a while...I need to finish it off!  LOL  I added a layer of concord crush pattern paper from the old hostess 6x6 pack.  The whisper white layer is embossed with the decorative dots folder.  My flower image is from SU's "Friends Never Fade."  I used markers to color it: tempting turquoise, concord crush, so saffron, and lucky limeade (no kiwi marker.)  I matted the pennant with more concord crush paper.  For a bit more of the so saffron, I doodled around the edge of the pennant with my marker, which is very hard to see in the picture.  The small greeting by the flower is from "You're a Gem," and I added one from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" also, punched out with the word window.  My accessories are the polka dot ribbon, a bright turquoise button, and some limeade bakers twine.

Finally, I have a card pairing up this week's color challenge and sketch challenge from SCS.  I had already participated in the color challenge, with a minor error.  The colors are real red, early espresso and crumb cake.  Well, with espresso and crumb cake, my brain went to cherry cobbler.  In fact, as I was getting ready to try again, I almost used cherry cobbler again!  Any way, I made this quick card. I'm not thrilled with it, especially compared to the other two...but it's done.

My card base is early espresso.  The next layer is confetti white.  I love this stuff for some things, but it is difficult to stamp on it cleanly.  My big sentiment is from Inkadinkado.  I think it is perfect for a Valentine.  For the horizontal layer, I decided to finally open up my spool of burlap, leaving the edges a little rough.  I also opened the spool of early espresso taffeta ribbon...because of course, I don't have enough spools of ribbon in use already (*sarcasm*).  Oh well! Using my heart punch and heart-to-heart punches and some pattern paper in real red and crumb cake, I added simple final touches.




Well, I had lots of fun with these.  I hope you enjoy them...and I hope you have time to play along with some of these challenges too!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim