witticisms by Jess Witty

April 09, 2010

A Go-to Sketches Blog Hop!

You know it's a good week when it involves not just one giant blog hop, but two. Good times, good times. Today we're using a little sketch of mine that, here at Paper Crafts, we affectionately refer to as Sketch #65.
And I guess I'm still in the Stretch-the-Sketch mood from yesterday, cause that's what I did. I flipped this one 90 degrees to the right and went at it that way.
A few notes about this one. First off, I used several items from Little Yellow Bicycle's new Fresh Print Clothesline. This line features a lot of yellow, therefore, I love it. Of course. One of the items is a pre-fab tag... now that is a time-saver, my friends. I took it apart and reconfigured it a bit to make it work for where I was going with this, and I'm totally diggin' it. I also added the buttons to really push it along in that vintage-feel. I used my favorite stamp as of late (the doily image is from SEI's Juliette line) to give the feel of having the larger layer in the background without the weight of another layer. {Back to my old self there... avoiding layers. It's good to be home.} And then I decided, what the heck, here I am at this little 3 foot square card table {which is spectacularly bowed in the middle which provides the perfect surface for cutting non-straight lines on your cutter and stamping extremely wonky images with your stamps, so if you're into that kind of thing, call me. Have I got the table for you.} surrounded in my psudo dining room/workspace/current storage space of all junk from everywhere and I thought, hey, you know what would be perfect here? Stitching. Cause pulling a sewing machine out in the middle of all this mess is the most brilliant idea I've had all week. Sigh. But I couldn't let it go. So I pulled it out and set it at the very end of a very low sideboard and then proceeded to lean down to see the card and yet still stitch while I was actually standing. This was like some sort of nightmarish Craft Olympics where you are put through crafting obstacles such as making your own adhesive out of honey and cornstarch and fussy cutting patterned paper using just a nail clipper. Note the lovely imperfections. I was really going for that homespun feel {if you were with me in person, you would be able to hear the sarcasm, I promise}. I hear it's the imperfections that will make it worth millions one day. But since that day is likely far, far away, I went tried to cover some of them with some extra wide stitching. Whew. Good thing I actually like how it turned out. There are 10 others who took on the challenge as well. While they did not participate in the 1st Annual Olypics of Crafting, they did make what I'm sure are gold medal worthy projects based on Sketch #65. Check 'em out... Betsy Veldman Heidi Van Laar Kim Hughes Kim Kesti Latisha Yoast Maile Belles Maren Benedict Rae Barthel Teri Anderson And, since in every Olympics blog hop there must be a prize, no need to fear. Cath over at Moxie Fab World is heading up this hop and giving out 12 chances to win. Win what, you say? Well, 2 copies of Go-to Sketches, for starters. Why 2, you ask? One for you and one for you to hand off to a friend. A very good friend. And this... The brand new Distrezz-it-All by Donna Salazar and Zutter! Sweet. And since the Distrezz-it-All is one of our prizes, Donna has joined with us to create a Sketch #65 project, so be sure to visit her right here. So, for all 12 chances to win, just comment on the 12 blogs linked above.
I hear there's also a prize over at Paper Crafts Connection today... a Doodlebug card kit from what I hear. And so wraps up our first ever Go-to Sketches week, in honor of our first ever Go-to Sketches. Whew. What a week! I loved working on Go-to Sketches so this week has just been a big ol' ball of wonderfulness to me. I hope you guys love it as much as we do. Thanks, friends.

186 comments:

DonnaSalazar said...

Awesome Sketch Jessica!

Lynne Forsythe said...

you are hysterical...BTW the card is FABULUOUS...regardless of the calisthenics you performed!!

Angy said...

Love how fussy, shabby, vintage this turned out. And that doily stamp is fabulous! going to have to find one of those. Great sketch!

Diane said...

Love the card.....and what imperfections??.....looks perfect to me....love the soft and vintage feel of it!!

jelonkaa - Ilona Wolnik said...

Wow line-up after such a sweet:) Thanks for sharing the info with the blog hop :)

Angela said...

You are cracking. me. up! Hilarious -- AND the card turned out fabulous!

Laurie said...

WOW - you really went through a marathon creating this AMAZING card! Believe me, it was worth it, 'cause it's GORGEOUS! Great sketch too, Jessica - way to go!

Jessica said...

I really am enjoying these sketches. Great job.

Jessica said...

I really am enjoying these sketches. Great job.

Paper Dolls said...

The pom pom trim makes this card! It is a very nice card that I would love to receive.

Anonymous said...

Your work is awesome...Love it!

Mary
a1juckett@aol.com

SmilynStef said...

Love the combination of buttons ... so eclectic and fun.

de said...

So pretty and elegant! I love the kraft with the soft colors you chose!

janice said...

How adorable-I love all the little extras you used.

Anonymous said...

very elegant and different!

Melissa Bove said...

Ooh, I love this!! So shabby chic and gorgeous!!

JanR said...

Lmao, hilarious post!!

Anonymous said...

Your card is cute. I especially love the buttons and the stitching.
Sue
srood@kidsroe.org

LadybugSue said...

I really nee this book as I am sooo bad at sketches and you all are sooo good. Thanks for the funtastic week! Love your take on this too.

nancy said...

Fussy cutting with a nail clipper?!?! I think I love that line as much as the card. Thanks for a fun week.

GabrielaD said...

Great card! I love the vintage feel. I am so into vintage lately!

Thanks for sharing.

Pammejo said...

Awesome card, what a great sketch! http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

Jessica said...

I don't see any imperfections! this is gorgeous!! love the doily stamp on the background!

StampinCathy said...

Beautiful card and love all the details and stitching you did on this one.

Lindsay said...

Oh you crack me up! I always get a chuckle from your posts! I love your card! My sewing machine and I are not on speaking terms, so go you for working it out with yours ;0)

JustYolie said...

Beautiful card! :)

connie said...

I love your card and would not have noticed the "imperfection" if you had not pointed it out! Glad to hear someone else has a "scrap space" like mine LOL!

Margie said...

love all of the trims!

Kelly Massman said...

Beautiful card! Thanks for sharing!

Scrapthat said...

Pretty!

FLEUR de Lo said...

Wow! WOW!!!! I LOVE your card and your style! I'm so glad I bumped into your blog...

The McCullough Family said...

Love the doilie stamp and the stitching! So pretty!

Shanon said...

Lovely card and I loved reading your blog! Very funny and very relatable.

Chloe said...

Glad I'm not the only one to get in a twist when I'm crafting!!! My sewing machine usually eats my creations!!! Your card is amazing!!!

snarflemarfle said...

You are hilarious!! And I think I'm in love with that doily stamp...

Lisa C. said...

Love your vintage beautiful card!! You are so creative:)

Debbi said...

Love the stitching!

🌈🌈🌈 said...

It's a fabulous card, no seriously! :) And that Donna, she's a keeper!

sandi maciver said...

love how you changed the direction and there are so many interesting things going on - on your card, very nice indeed.

Regina Mangum said...

What a pretty card! A lovely, shabby chic creation

Lisa Beeman said...

You are one funny lady! A funny lady that has made one fabulous card! Wow, I love this....I'm gonna have to see this new line from LYB, as I too, love yellow!

Sonia said...

I love how you did this, is a different look, FABULOUS!!

Mel said...

Great card...that was hilarous and sounds like something I'd totally do.

Melissa Rodgers said...

Love the sketch and the card!!

Rebecca said...

Great card. But what's even better is your narrative of how it came to be. HIL-AIR-IOUS! I can totally relate to all of it. Thanks for being so candid.

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Neat Blog!! Sounds like home. I love the doilie background and your STITCHING has a great effect. Well worth your trouble. As for imperfections...not really all the highs & lows make it Shabby Chic.

thestampinglady said...

Great sketch with an awesome card. Love all the buttons, lace, trim etc. I need to browse the sewing aisles more often.

ArlaMo said...

Thanks for the laugh this morning! And the card is adorable.

barbie_love said...

Love your card and you are so funny!

Vera Yates (Ling) said...

You card looks so clssy. Love it!

Vicki B. said...

Oh Jess! I can hear in your post you are still in the throws of unpacking and setting up! A great card even with all your challenges! I love that doily stamp - need to get me one! Enjoy your weekend!

Cassie_lu said...

what a sweet card.

Anonymous said...

This is very different and unique...you rock...
Denise Trottier

thegirlyouwillneverknow said...

great card, love the button grouping

Helen F. said...

Jess your card is so sweet! And your posts always make me smile :o)
Great creation of this pretty sketch.

marianne-g said...

Love the stitching and the buttons. Very pretty.

Ally said...

That card is simply stunning!

Lillian Child said...

Your blog entry just made me giggle out loud - your work space sounds so much like mine. What we do to entertain ourselves some days - but the card stitching really does look nice on your card creation! Thanks for the chance to win!

Tiffany Heilman said...

love the fun embellishment cluster!

Skrapbuker said...

Awesome! Don't the little imperfections make it perfect!? :)

Really digging the vintage feel from it!!!

michelle said...

Card is great. . . looks perfect to me!

Carla S. said...

Great sketch! Love all the details on your beautiful card! The doily stamp and stitching are fantastic!

stlbarb said...

Another awesome card!!!

Kamibee said...

Loving the kraft and yellow color combo!

Linda E said...

Love the sketch and the card, Jessica!

Deborah Simon-Smallwood said...

I can totally relate to the whole sewing machine fiasco! Living in a small apartment with two young boys who live BIG, is a challenge when it comes to being inspired and then creative. So glad you pushed through for the fabulous end product! Thanks!

Sharon said...

Cool card! Love all the vintage trim details.
Sharon

Rona said...

what a great sketch and beautiful card love the vintagey feel!

Tiffani said...

Love the vintage look. And a little bit of sewing makes everything better!

karahoward said...

Cute card - love your comments. Makes me giggle just reading your posts.

Andrea said...

You always crack me up with how you write your posts...I feel like I am sitting there talking to you in person. So fun! Beautiful card, but I do have to say it struck me a little odd since it isn't your more typical style...wonderful nonetheless!

Stef Perry said...

Thanks for the great laugh - the visual of you standing over the sewing machine at some weird angle and NOT sewing a finger onto your card was impressive and hillarious!! Thanks for sharing both the card and your tale. I will think of you as things stick together that shouldn't and I have to come up with Plan B. ;-)

Karen Poirier-Brode said...

Fun and pretty card. Thanks for the chance.

Latisha said...

I think your card is beautiful!! Your posts always make me smile and giggle a bit. Have an extra fabby weekend.
hugs
Latisha

SharonS said...

I always love a card based on kraft cardstock! This one is so pretty!

Shauna said...

I like how you flipped the sketch, and love the buttons you chose!

Purple Princess said...

Fabulous!!

Anonymous said...

What a nice card, so soft and vintage.

Erika M. said...

Loving your card!

~kelly marie~ said...

Gorgeous! Love these colors!

Jeni said...

Nice card! I like the yellow pom-poms across the bottom.

Lori Barnett said...

So glad I discovered your blog this week. Thanks for sharing your talent!!!

Lori said...

Love that you turned your sketch and this card along with your commentary is fabulous!! Makes me smile!

rudie2shoes said...

The pom poms are so cute!

Angie Blom said...

WOW.. stunning . love the touch of lace.

Maxine Hodges said...

Love all the dimension! The stamp is to die for! Love the vintage look of your card! Super cool!

Mary Lou said...

This is fun! Love the cards; the sketches. Having fun doing some of my own.

janeskeepsakes said...

Love the look of the emblishments!

Els said...

oh my!! Gorgeous card! i love all the little details!

Unknown said...

What a sweet card! Thanks for giving so much creative inspiration!

JenMarie said...

BEAUTIUFL ~ love the embellies!!

Anonymous said...

You are so funny! And I love this card!

Rachel in Spooner, WI

Janet L. said...

What a great card! I liked the colors, details and how you used the sketch!

gssfam said...

This card is so adorable!

anya said...

Great card! I love the sketch flipped!

Jenny McGee said...

Cute card, the doily stamp looks awesome. And I love the pom poms too.

Linda Beeson said...

Oh yum on that doily stamp, I WANT it NOW! Love the colors you used.

Nancy L. said...

love the details of the lace!

Unknown said...

I love your card! FUN!

Dee Tollaksen said...

Really, really lovely interpretation.

Stephanie Johnson said...

this card is so pretty & quite an eye-catcher! :)

jengd said...

Fun card! Fresh while still filled with vintage goodies!

Immi said...

Beautiful, vintage feel!

Karen B. said...

I also like to use premade embellies on my cards, but not so much yellow. Lovely card.

Romaine said...

LOL, are you sure you weren't using MY table? Turned out great despite all the drama! LOVE the pom-pom trim!

Karey said...

I hear the Olympic theme music playing in the background. There you are on the gold metal podium accepting your metal and now the Star Spangled Banner is playing. Congrats!

Marilyn Nimmo said...

LOVE this card - with all it's "imperfections"!!!

bzyPTmom said...

Love this heritage vintage looking card!

the"divine"hand said...

LOVE THIS CARD!!! Oh the bits and pieces are darling!!! Thank you!

Sue D said...

Great card and great story to go with it!

Chris S. said...

The unexpected in crafting always makes the final product unique and one-of-a-kind. And we would never have taken note if you hadn't pointed it out--looks like a great card to me! Thanks for the sketch.

Patty O'Malley said...

Imperfections are what makes things special!

Jan said...

Great buttons! Thanks for sharing.

Daniela Dobson said...

Love the story and the card is beautiful!

dazey said...

I feel you on the wonky table. Maybe we could get rid of yours and mine in a 2fer.

Karla Anderson said...

really love your twist on the sketch. Great job!

Debra said...

Your description of your creation is almost as delightful as the creation itself! Thank you!
Debra

Anonymous said...

This card is so great! I love vintage. Great job.

Michelle Price said...

Love your card-it is vintage adorable!

Ntsisterz said...

A little busy for my taste, but inspiring none the less.

Laurie Marmon said...

Love the comments about your card in this post. :) Beautiful card by the way. Maybe I should just go with my imperfections more often, only they don't look amazing like yours. :) Love the yellow too.

Audra Jones said...

This might be my favorite one yet! Love everything about it :)!

Unknown said...

Love all the texture on this card!!! TFS

Debbie Doughty said...

It turned out great! Well worth the muss & fuss.

terry said...

Love your twist (OR should I say FLIP) on the sketch! AND the colours are subtle and rich...beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Lori B. said...

Just love reading your comments-you have a fab sense of humor!! Great card & thanks for using that doily stamp- now I "need" one of those!!

jan metcalf said...

Thanks go to girl!!

BethW said...

I so love this card. i am a real kraft girl and you dressed it up just right.

patricia smith said...

It is a great card and we are supposed to "Embrace Imperfection!" I love the stitching, and colors! Hugs, Pat

Cindi (aka iring) said...

Yep! I'm lovin what I've seen so far. Definitely picking up a copy, unless I can win one, or I have a lucky friend! As for the craft olympics ... you're a contender!

jen said...

oh how you do crack me up.... :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this sketch! And the wonky stitching totally makes the card! Love the combo- and so glad you navigated the olympics!

julie m said...

so happy to see the use of the trim. i was given some of this and wasn't quite sure what to use it for.

Ravengirl said...

Funny girl! Love the card!

Scrapenabler said...

Love the card!

KellyG said...

Love your description of making your card, too funny! Love how it turned out!

Cynthia Baldwin said...

I definitely think you took the medals stand, Jess! :D
The card turned out wonderfully! (no surprise there!) Thanks for giving me some chuckles this evening.

Marge said...

LOVE the softness & vintageness of your card!!!

catnap said...

Love the collection of buttons

esther said...

Love your take on the sketch, especially the yellow pom-poms!

Cynde said...

I love your card, and I'd give you a gold medal...for the card and especially for the effort! Love the sketch you did and to see what everyone has done with it. You make me laugh when I read your blog...Thanks for the humor and also for sharing all your great art work!

Cynde said...

I love your card, and I'd give you a gold medal...for the card and especially for the effort! Love the sketch you did and to see what everyone has done with it. You make me laugh when I read your blog...Thanks for the humor and also for sharing all your great art work!

Ashley Newell said...

Oh my goodness! I love this!

Shirley said...

I like the color combination with kraft and yellow. Not something I'd have chosen right off the bat.

kaykay1010 said...

love the stitches!

Susan said...

Interesting take on the sketch.
thanks for sharing
Susan

Playing with Paper said...

You crack me up!! This card is just awesome!!

Ramona said...

This card has my heart! All my fav colors and the lace is to be EATEN! I love it!

cassie said...

amazing card! I love everything about it.

Valerie said...

I'm hoping it's ME~!

doodlebug said...

Love the button deails!

Sarah G. said...

Cute card - I love all the layers and the stitching adds just the right touch.

CreativeMish said...

So pretty. love the little yellow trim!

Lisa C. said...

I love all the beautiful details in your lovely card!!

Jennifer Rzasa said...

I love the muted colors in your card....thanks for sharing!

Lisa F said...

This is adorable! LOVE the simple look to it

Meghan T. said...

I LOVE the vintage feel of this card. So darling! Well done!


mthimjon@aol.com

sharon g said...

I love that you like the imperfection. That's why I haven't bought a cricut--I like the homemade feel, and the cricut takes that away to a certain degree....

Bernice J said...

Fabulous card and a beautiful shade of my fav color, yellow

Anonymous said...

Way to go the extra mile - uhm stitch? Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know I'm not the only one - kwim :)

Awesome card - imperfections and all.

Laura said...

Love all the stitching!

DeniseB said...

Love the white ink on kraft paper look. Looks great!
DeniseB

mandi said...

Beautiful card. I created a card using the original sketch yesterday.

Unknown said...

YOu're a funny girl and I love it!
I am loving the lace and trim oooo and the buttons too!

Summer Braxton said...

really diggin' this..... the two sewn sides are perfection for this card

Kari D said...

Oh my woman, I love your blog. I agree with Lynne Forsythe, you are hysterical. I love the sarcasm dished right along with creativity and inspiration! It's a perfect match in my world! Thanks for the great card and sketch....so gonna play with it!

Gwen said...

AWESOME card, love how it turned out! I, too, have actually sewed while standing. Had my stuff on a bowed card table all winter! Your creation is amazing!

Debra said...

I like the different widths of stitching.I'm going to try this!

JessicaK said...

adorable!

Eva said...

OMG!!!! This is sooo gorgeous!!! Love the shabby feeling of it and your colors are amazing!

Stacy Simpson said...

your card is so sweet!

Marcy H. said...

Fabulous Card!!

LauriB said...

I bought some of that pom-pom trim at the last convention. Thanks for an idea on how to use it. P.S. I also loved your naritave.

joy said...

Your card is fab - love the pompoms and lace, love it all!

tape said...

Love your card but loved your commentary even more! ;)

Stacey said...

So funny! lol That cards is beautiful! :)

Brittney said...

Love the card - very vintage!

Unknown said...

Love the sketch and the lovely card!

Jenn said...

Don't we all work better in chaos? I really like the stitching and ball fringe on this adaptation.

Wendy said...

Wonderful!!! You are amazing!!!

Barbara said...

pom poms and lace - love it

kandistar said...

Love those cute pom poms, very nice! Glad to se you on the blog hop! *Candace*

Giovana said...

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!! Just an awesome card!

Anonymous said...

So cool.....this is how to do it!

Janelle Stollfus said...

This just speaks collector's heaven to me. All the wonderful buttons, ribbons and soft hues are beautiful.

Winter said...

You are too funny! Making your own adhesive and cutting with nail clippers.....LOL! :) I LOVE the yellow, I need to get that paper! :)

Amy Rohl said...

This couldn't be any scrappy snazzier, Jess!