I adore Linda Callahan, the host of this week’s sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. While I intend to butter up the judge with those nice words, those nice words are very true. Linda and I have become really close friends over the past year – she’s got a great sense of humor (and I love that). It’s always a bright spot in my day when I get to catch up with Linda and hear her laugh. I love Linda’s clean-and-simple style and the wonderful sketch she created for this challenge.
Before I share my card, I want to prove how close I am with Linda. Just look at this picture from last year’s World Card Making Day event (where Linda was a presenter). I’ve labeled us in the picture so you can find us in the midst of all these fabulous and talented folks:
Now that we got that out of the way, here’s my card for Linda’s sketch challenge:
And here’s the banner for the challenge that inspired my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Unusual Pairing. If you think Linda Callahan and I are an unusual pair, then you certainly wouldn’t expect me to pair these uber-sweet flowers from Number of Years with the graphic, modern sentiment from Sparkle & Shine. By stamping the sentiment with VersaMark and heat embossing it with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, I softened the modern sentiment so it would pair perfectly with these flowers.
- Clean and Simple. Linda Callahan is a boss when it comes to clean and simple.
- Clean. While my cards are aesthetically clean, I use lots and lots of layers. This card has SIX layers of cardstock – that’s quite a bit. Each layer plays a role (every piece has an important contribution to the finished product), so the final card appears as one.
- Simple. The stamping on this card is very simple – not hard to do. The layering isn’t hard to assemble, but it’s quite a mathematical feat to find the sizes that work.
- Sweet Colors. These colors are as sweet as Linda Callahan. While Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride take center stage on this card, the somewhat-muted Wisteria Wonder and bright Daffodil Delight play and important role. If you like these colors, too, feel free to save this:
Stamp Sets: Number of Years, Sparkle & Shine Papers: Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (Blushing Bride), Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Wisteria Wonder, Daffodil Delight, VersaMark Accessories: White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Dimensionals
In summary, Linda Callahan is great. I hope you’ll pop over to the Freshly Made Sketches design site to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenge.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
I love that Linda Callahan! Great sketch and card! CAS is the way to go!
And she loves you, Pam. I hear it every time I talk with her. Thanks for you sweet comments – glad you like it.
Love the softness of the colors. Looks great.
🙂
Thanks, Nancy! <3
Quite lovely Mr King! TGIF.
Thanks, Lucy! Hope you have a great weekend!
Great sketch and great card. it’s easy overlook the flower in the Number of years stamp set. Yes, it will have to be added to my list!
It’s a really sweet image, Dianne! Glad you’ll be getting it. Thanks!
There I am sitting right in the midst of all my favorite people! Your card is super sweet – great colors – and I love how you embossed the sentiment! You definitely made my sketch look fabulous! And you know I think you are pretty fabulous too…..xox…
Just what I wanted to hear, Linda! I love your sketch.
Love Love Love, this card. Brilliant idea to soften the sentiment! I so appreciate your ideas.
Thanks, Katrina. Glad you like it.
Cute, cute, cute! I love the negative embossing, most especially!
I do adore some negative embossing, Lydia. Thanks!
Oh Brian, you’re card brought a little tear to my eye as it made me think of all the folks I could send this card to. It’s just amazingly beautiful. I love the color combo and you did a fantastic job with both the sketch and the coloring.
Who wouldn’t love to receive a sweet card with a note from you inside, Grace? Thanks for your kind comment.
Yipes . . . there’s that striped border! Absolutely love and such soft simplicity for the card!
Thanks, Mary! That stripe made all the difference on this card.
Beautiful, beautiful card today Brian. I love it’s simplicity, the color choices, and the interpretation. Well done!
Thanks, Sharon! It’s a great sketch for wonderful inspiration.
Lovely card Brian, and I totally agree with your assessment of Linda Callahan, I too love her sense of style and especially humor! It was fun to see the picture of all of us.
Please share measurements. I so want to copy.
That stripe certainly does make this card…is it as wide as the whisper white laying on top of it?
Beautiful card, Brian. I agree the striped paper made all the difference. It would have been beautiful without it, but it certainly gives it an enhances tone. Love it.
Lovely card Brian, the bouquet of flowers looks so beautiful in this soft colors, great take on the sketch. Love the stripe of pink DSP, it’s subtle but packs a punch! 🙂
Hi Brian,
i love your card with the wonderfol colored flower Bouquet.
Greetings
Cornelia
I never realized there were flowers and leaves in that number set! Thanks for that. Love that pink stripe paper.
Beautiful and perfectly crafted card! You are so lucky to have met Linda IRL. It’s one of my goals – although NY and NZ are a bit far apart 🙂 Thanks so much for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches.