Go-to Gals & Friends Blog Hop!

So yesterday I introduced you to my new favorite resource... Go-to Sketches. You might be under the impression that I make more than my fair share of cards and projects, that I must be super quick about it and that it probably all just flows so easily that I sit down to create and 20 minutes later my work table is just overflowing with completed projects. Bwahahaha! That is so not me. I pick and I choose. I hem and I haw. I decide. Then I decide that I made the wrong decision and I redecide. It's not so much what I would always call an effective process. But I enjoy the hemming. And the hawing. I like the picking and the choosing. Dumping an entire jar of buttons out to get to just the right one. Sometimes, though, I need a place to start. A color. An image. A sentiment. A sketch. They just move me along... get me that much further in the process. And there are 66 of them right there for you... and for me. Today my fellow Gals and I have each asked 5 friends to join us for a little gigantic blog hop to show you just what can be done with Go-to Sketches. We each choose a different sketch to use, so today we're bringing you no less than 36 projects using the 6 different sketches. Whoa. Here's mine...

I've been challenging myself lately to break free of some of the rules I tend to design by. Not design rules like the rule of 3 or anything, but rules that I've concocted somehow, somewhere, for no apparent reason. One of them being that when I use a sketch, I have to follow it exactly. To the "T." To the n'th degree. Etc. Seriously.

Why do I do that?! If the point of the sketch is to inspire me and help me get further along in my project, why in the world do I go all OCD on it? Why not just let it take me where it will?

And so I did.

I even used flowers on it. And more than one. I think that's actually a first for me.

The elements started coming together on this one, but as they did, it was getting harder and harder to figure out something for the rectangular section. But I was just dying to use the glitter frame (GCD Studios) and didn't really want to give it up... the frame and the dictionary paper and the roses just seemed like they were meant for each other. So, I decided it would just be ok to go with it.

And it was ok. The sky didn't fall down on me or anything. Sweet release.

All in all, the sketch helped me to go along much faster than usual. Funny how it was my sketch to begin with, but I never even pictured anything close to this card when I drew it up!

And now, for the way better part.

My friends. And a brand new card using the sketch above from each of them! Charlene Austin... stole my heart as the first person to try my Monday challenges! Maile Belles... a sweetie with a project on the cover of none other than Go-to Sketches. Julie Ebersole... my original clean and simple inspiration and still tops in my book. Bev Gerard... yup, that's my mom (and my friend!)! A stamper's stamper, through and through. Anabelle O'Malley... my friend and my shabby inspiration, all in one. I tried to choose friends with a variety of styles... some fun & cute, some clean & simple, some shabby vintage. Each one is super duper talented. Super. Duper. Talented.

And as if that wasn't enough, you should totally visit all the other Go-to-Gals. Each gal has a sketch up from the issue that she's based a card on and asked 5 of her own friends to do the same. Yeah... that's THIRY more cards. How's that for inspiration? Teri Anderson Maren Benedict Kim Hughes Kim Kesti Betsy Veldman Let it be known I heard a rumor that there will be some copies of Go-to-Sketches given away to random commmenters on any of the above blogs plus Paper Crafts Connection. So that would be 37 chances to win. Dude. That's a lot.

But, if you want to get your hands on copy asap, then it's your lucky day. You can order a copy right here. And if you enter SKETCH20 at checkout you'll get 20% off, PLUS free shipping. (Note: This code will automatically deduct 20%, plus give you free "standard" shipping. It's a savings of $5.99 off the retail price.) Sounds good to me! Too bad my mom already has a copy, because this would make an excellent Mother's Day gift for a crafty mom or a crafty friend in your life.

And just think... there's more Sketch Week stuff comin' at ya tomorrow, yay!

Later, friends!