Second Sunday #18 Starts Today!

It is time for another Second Sunday Sketches challenge! If you are new to Second Sunday Sketches, please review the rules here or below. Each second Sunday of the month, I will post a card sketch. A sketch is graphic or drawing of how the elements of a card are layed out.

You will then use the sketch as a guide to create your own card. Your card must be a new creation and reflect the challenge guidelines. Your card must include the major elements of the card sketch, such as the number of layers and the general position of the embellishments and/or die cuts. You can rotate the sketch for a top-folding card or for a side-folding card.

You choose the occasion and the color palette as well as the stamp set(s) and the embellishments. I do ask that you use Stampin' Up! products (current or retired).

The measurements will also be included in the blog post for each Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge. You can use the measurements as given or increase them or decrease them. For example, if a greeting is stamped on a 1" circle on the sketch, but the greeting you choose is 1-3/4", then increase the size of the circle to 1-3/4". You can also change the shape. Instead of a circle, you can use an oval, a square, a daisy punch, etc.

The challenge will run from the second Sunday of the month until the last day of that month.

Below is October's card sketch. This month's sketch has a staggered, repeating pattern in the background with an off-center label shape. This is a great sketch to use with your Stamparatus!

Challenge Dates

October's challenge will run from October 11th, 2020 until October 31st, 2020 at 5pm EST.

If you would like to participate in the Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge, please create a card using the sketch above and email me a photo of your card by October 31st, 2020 at 5pm EST with the subject line Second Sunday Sketches Entry.

Prize Drawing

The day after the last day of the month (November1st), I will place all of the names of the participants in a proverbial hat and randomly draw a winner. The winner will receive a prize! The prize each month will change and will be announced at the start of each challenge. October's Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge prize is Item #153547 Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems and three hand-made cards from me.

Winner Announcement

If you are the winner, I will notify you by email. Please respond to my email with your complete mailing address, and I will mail you your prize! If the winner does not respond to my email within 7 days, I will draw another winner.

I will also post all of the entries on my blog (with your names attached to the photos) and the name of the winner.

Some Ideas on How to Make this Card Sketch Your Own

There are many ways to change this card to make it your own! This month's sketch has a staggered, repeating pattern in the background with an off-center label shape. This is a great sketch to use with your Stamparatus! You can rotate the card layout 90 degrees, change the repeating starburst-hearts to another shape like flowers or letters, use embossing folders to add more texture to a mat layer, and more!

Share Second Sunday Sketches with a Friend

Come back on March 8th for the next Second Sunday Sketches! Be sure to join in on the fun and share with a friend! Starting in March 2020, if you enter the Second Sunday Sketches challenge, you can get a bonus surprise prize by sharing this challenge with a friend (for US residents only)! Here's how to get a bonus surprise prize. Limit two bonus surprise prizes per person per month.

1. Enter into this month's Second Sunday Sketches challenge
2. Share this month's Second Sunday Sketches challenge with a friend (that hasn't participated before)
3. Have your friend submit their this month's challenge card entry
4. Email me that your friend has submitted their card entry. Submit your complete mailing address and the name of the friend that you shared with. I will confirm their entry and then send you a bonus surprise prize.

I am looking forward to seeing your personal take on the 18th Second Sunday Sketches sketch challenge! If you have any questions about this card sketch challenge, please let me know! I am happy to assist!

Happy Stamping!
Beth

Happy Fall, Y’all! Baby Wipe Ink Refill Technique

I host Zoom stamping sessions twice a week on most weeks - Monday evening and Friday afternoon. All of my current customers and my demonstrator team members are welcome to join in and stamp with us. Email me for the Zoom meeting information. I would love for you to stamp with us!

During tonight's Zoom stamping session we made cards using the Baby Wipe Technique. The Baby Wipe Technique is a way of creating your own variegated "ink pad" using a baby wipe and ink refills.

The Baby Wipe Technique truly lends itself for autumnal colors! I love the deep oranges, reds, browns, yellows, and even purples that fall is so known for! Fall is my absolute favorite season! I think that is why I tend to create with it during the latter half of the year.

Start with a baby wipe and fold it in half or in quarters, depending on how large or small the stamp that you are using is. You want your baby wipe to be about 1/4" or 1/2" larger than the stamp you are using, so that you have plenty of ink coverage. Place the baby wipe on a water-resistant surface such as a folded paper towel or the silicone craft mat to help keep your work surface clean.

Choose 3 or 4 different ink refills that coordinate well together - anymore and the color may become muddled. I chose Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Rich Razzleberry ink refills. Start with your lightest ink refill and randomly drop ink onto the baby wipe.

Go to your next lightest ink refill and randomly drop ink onto the baby wipe. Spread the ink droplets around the baby wipe.

Then repeat with your darkest ink refill.

It is ok to leave some areas of the baby wipe without ink. The more you stamp with this "ink pad", the more the ink droplet starts to fill in and to blend together.

Take your stamp and pounce around the baby wipe "ink pad" to fully cover the stamp with ink and stamp onto your cardstock. Is there enough ink on your stamp? Do you like the way the ink refills are blending together? If not, try adding more ink refill to the baby wipe.

Once you are satisfied with your "ink pad," continue stamping your project.

You can stamp several projects with one baby wipe, but add more ink refills to the baby wipe if you notice that the baby wipe is starting to dry out, or as needed.

Once you are finished using the baby wipe, you can use the remaining ink to create backgrounds for cards and 3D projects. Simply, scrunch up the baby wipe with the ink facing outwards and swipe across your cardstock. Repeat swiping across the cardstock until it is fully covered with ink. You can also pounce the baby wipe all over your cardstock to create a sponged look.

For the inside of these cards, I stamped the large leaves from Rooted in Nature with Rich Razzleberry ink onto one of the ink-swiped backgrounds and cut it to fit the width of the card base.

This card layout is simple and straightforward to show off the baby wipe ink refill technique and is very easy to customize. You can change the greeting and the leaf stamps to suite any occasion. 

The "Happy Thanksgiving" greeting stamp is also included with the Banner Greetings stamp set., but you don't have to limit this technique to only the fall months. Can you imagine how beautiful butterflies or tulips would be with spring colors?!

I hope you give the Baby Wipe Technique a try! What stamp sets and ink refill colors will you use for your card? I would love to see what you create! Post project photo on my Facebook Page or email your project photo. I would love to feature your project photo in one of my upcoming newsletters!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beth

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Happy World Cardmaking Day! Today is a fantastic day to make and send cards to loved ones! Choose your favorite stamp sets, designer series papers, and embellishments and create a card for an upcoming occasion or to send a special message to a favorite friend.

Fun folds are some of my favorite ways to make cards! I love the way fun folds are constructed and how they open differently than regular cards. I also like that fun folds have a layout already designed for you, but you can still add your own touch by choosing the color palette, the papers, the stamps, and the embellishments. Sometimes, deciding on a layout is the most difficult part of creating a card.

This Whale Done tower card came together quickly. I added a label die cut to the front of the card with a stamped underwater scene and whale punch.

Techniques are a great ways to expand and grow your stamping skills. It also helps see new possibilities, creative options, and layouts. Sponging techniques are some of my favorite ways to incorporate color and dimension to my cards like this birthday sliding puzzle card below!

Whether you are creating new cards, finishing cards in progress, or trying a new technique,  I hope you are having a fun-filled day of making and sending cards to family and friends!

I would love to see what you created for World Cardmaking Day! Email me a photo of your cards to craftwithbeth @ gmail.com. I would love to feature your card in one of my upcoming newsletters!

Happy Stamping!
Beth

The Winner of the 17th Second Sunday Sketches is...

Donna! Congratulations, Donna! You are the winner of the 17th Second Sunday Sketches card sketch challenge! Your prize, the Real Red3/8" Sheer Ribbon (Item #153535) and 3 handmade cards, will be in the mail on October 2nd, 2020.

I love how Donna heat embossed onto the foil paper! The pheasants almost appear to be a part of the metallic foil paper! What an elegant technique to embellish a Thanksgiving card! Stunning!

Check out the other entries for the 17th Second Sunday Sketch card challenge. I love how everyone added layers of texture and pattern to their cards, whether it was by using a seasonal embossing folder, a textured embossing folder, or adding washi tape! I love the thought process behind your designs! You are all incredible card makers and designers!

Missed this Second Sunday Sketches? 

The next Second Sunday Sketches card challenge starts on October 11th, 2020. The prize will be a package of the Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems (Item #153547) and 3 handmade cards from me.

Share Second Sunday Sketches with a Friend

Be sure to join in on the fun and share with a friend! If you enter the Second Sunday Sketches challenge, you can get a bonus surprise prize by sharing this challenge with a friend (for US residents only)! Here's how to get a bonus surprise prize. Limit two bonus surprise prizes per person per month.

1. Enter into October's Second Sunday Sketches challenge
2. Share October's Second Sunday Sketches challenge with a friend
3. Have your friend submit their October's challenge card entry. 
4. Email me that your friend has submitted their card entry. Submit your complete mailing address and the name of the friend that you shared with. 
5. I will confirm their entry and then send you a bonus surprise prize 1-3 business days after I draw October's winner.

Happy Stamping!
Beth