I was really happy when Natalie from Paper Rose suggested we do a new challenge.  Sometimes it really helps to get you out of a creative funk and that's what this sketch challenge did for me.  It helped me think outside the box as I had been getting into a little bit of a rut.  I always forget to look at card sketches for inspirations, but from now on I will make a point to look for different things.

 How many of you use sketches to create your cards?  Or do you just sit down, play, and see what comes?

Prior to the challenge, I received my design package filled with so many wonderful new products.  I am so truly grateful for the generosity of Paper Rose Studio.  Included in the package were some of the supplies listed and shown below. 

 The first thing I saw was this gorgeous Cable Knit sweater stencil.  So many ideas flew into my head that I couldn’t wait to create with it.  Along with the stencil was the You warm my heart stamp set shown above, the two just went hand in hand.

 I inked up the stamp using Versa Clair Nocturn Ink and set them aside to let the ink dry, which is waterproof.  I then coloured them in using cosmic shimmer opals and a water brush.

YES that's right, the gilding polish was used as watercolour paint, all you have to do is scoop a little out, spray some water to thin it down and play. You can’t really see but you get an amazing pearlescent effect. 

I let those images dry and went on to do my stenciling. 

I pulled out my metal pallet knife, Tonic nouvo glitter embossing paste and a piece of black cardstock that measured 5¼ x 4 and went to town.  I love love, love, how this stencil looks with the glitter paste.  EEK!  So awesome the camera can not capture it fully.  I liked this so much I decided to do another panel.

On to the assembly of the card,   I created a card base which is a little bit of an odd size (kind of trimmed off more than

 I wanted to). It measured 5 3/8 (ish) x 4¼.  I trimmed the black panel down to 4 1/8 x 5 1/8 (ish) and added fun foam to pop it up on to the card base. I trimmed down some beautiful pink paper from the Artsy Love paper pack from Paper Rose to measure roughly 3¾ x 4 ½ which I then trimmed one more time, this time being on an angle to match the sketch.  

I fussy cut out the heart shaped wool and went around the edges with black distress ink.  I die cut the second embossed panel I had created with the texture paste using the Stitched heart dies from Paper Rose to layer underneath the wool heart using some foam tape. While I was die cutting I pulled out the Banner and stars die and ran it through my Gemini jr using white cardstock. I then stamped the sentiment on to one of the smaller of the banners, I again added black distress ink around the edges just for a little extra something. 

 Before I added the pink layer onto the card I added some black sequin trim that I had in my stash for many many years. This just allowed for the buttons to stand out, as before they were blending into the paper to much. 

Finally I added the main pink panel on to the card base allowing for the black to peak through around the edges.  I added the hearts on with a little more foam tape, it just needed that dimension. finally the sentiment and finishing touches were the buttons. 

Well I hope you were able to find some inspiration in here and please feel free to share your feedback or ideas. Summers has drawn to a close in our area and we spent yesterday with no power in our home  which has caused a bit of a delay in getting this out. 

Have a Great Week