Thursday, July 17, 2025

PEACE*LOVE*JOY

Hello friends.  Even though it's July and hot, hot, HOT, I am still plugging away at Christmas cards this month!  A lot of the online stores are having great sales on Christmas in July stamps, and I recently picked up a few things at great prices from Papertrey Ink, including the Vase Collection #12 stamp and die set.  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and colors from the Peace On Earth Challenge to come up with this...


It was that milk can vase that pulled me in for this set, and also the simplicity of the greenery and berries!  And I love, LOVE the detail on that bow!  Here's a closer up:


My berries are looking a little smeared, and that's because they are!  I thought adding a little WOS to make the berries sparkle would be a great idea, until I remembered that WOS and RED don't mix...grrrrr!!  And of course they were already glued down, so it is what it is!  I die cut a 5 1/4" by 4" panel with an oval die and then used SSS's Holiday Greenery EF and layered it to a panel of Boho Blue cs and a white card base.  I did use foam tape behind the embossed layer and then replaced the oval piece and built my arrangement inside the oval.  I finished with a sentiment embossed in white on a strip of the Boho Blue cs using PTI's Christmas Blessings stamp set and also added a few red gems from PFS.  Other than the smeared red berries, I'm really pleased with the way this card came out!

You can find all the details to play along with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge here, and this challenge is open till Monday, July 21st @ 3:00PM.

I'm also adding this card to the Peace On Earth Christmas Challenge where I was inspired by the red, white, & blue color scheme on their mood board.  This challenge is only open till tonight (July 17th @ 8:00PM), so if you want to play along, you need to be quick!!


 And one last challenge to add to is NBUS #76 since this is a brand new stamp set to me, although I believe the set has been out for quite awhile!


 
Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!




17 comments:

I Card Everyone said...

Oh, my goodness, Marcia! I LOve it when you go shopping!! First, because you always pick the cutest sets, and second, because you always let me play with them!! lol
Thanks, so very much for playing with FMS again this week ... I just knew you'd love working with those sketches!
=]

Cat Craig said...

You seem to be enjoying the sketches....I find them a good kickstarter when I am stumped. On to your card...I love the shades of red and blue you chose. They are gorgeous and work together beautifully. That ribbon is fab.

TK said...

I'm having distinct memories of a country Christmas with this card! Great water can vase, and pretty details, Marcia

Darlene said...

Oh Marcia ... I always love your designs! This is fabulous! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Peace on Earth challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Peace on Earth Co-Owner

Darnell said...

I thought your berries were beautifully watercolored, Malinda! I've had the same experience with winking colors, but the schparkle is worth the smear! I can see why you grabbed this set on sale. It makes a lovely rustic Christmas card and the embossed oval frame is perfick! I never would have thought to use red, white, and blue on a CC, but now I will; that denim blue is gorgeous! This is a winner to me! Thank you for inspiring everyone to use their NBUS! Hugs, Darnell

Leslie Miller said...

You are a clever girl with the sketch and colors! Love your new set, looking very country-Christmasy. I've had that same type of mishap with red, but your berries look very pretty to me. The milk can vase fits nicely in the frame surrounded by the Holiday Greenery embossing. Your card has such a comfy, inviting feel to it.

JoAnn said...

I love your blue milk can vase fill with those pretty red berries and greenery. I don't think the berries look smeared, they look great to me. The sentiment is perfect embossed in white on the denim blue.

Lisa Elton said...

I like the way you shop! Golly, this reminds me of my late sister-in-law. She had a milk can stamp that she would fill with so many different images! It was a favorite of hers. Your card is fabulous and I know she's smiling right along with me!

Bonnie said...

These berries look just fine, Marcia! In fact the whole arrangement is beautiful and I love the colors you've used!

Bobby said...

Shades of country decorating. I remember those days but it's still current in card making and the blue milk can with the wonderful flower spray is so lovely, Marcia. The embossing folder was the perfect one to border it.

Greta said...

Absolutely beautiful! Love that container and all the images you used and stamped perfectly!

Julia Aston said...

What a lovely card using the sketch Marcia! So pretty in the colors you used with the florals in the milk can and lovely embossed framing panel! Julia xx

Kim S said...

Such a lovely image. I love the way you used the sketch to set the bottom behind the oval with the greenery popping out! Thank you for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

Jen Timko said...

Just delightful! I love this as a holiday card. Thanks for playing along with my sketch this week at FMS!

Cécile RIBON said...

So fresh and pretty, the colors are fabulous. Thanks for joining us at FMS this week.

Birgit said...

This card definitely says Country Christmas, and it is delightful! I adore that old milk can in blue, filled with those pretty florals. You picked the perfect background for embossing too. A sure winner for any of these challenges!

Stephanie Lanzalotto said...

This is a fabulous sketch to fill with that wonderful milk can and the other wonderful elements you used. I think the berries look just fine - a watercolor effect! The colors are wonderful and I love that little bow.