Ella Sketch Week 2 (of 6) & some other stuff I made this week...

Busy week at work and busy week on the desk!
This week started with the Ella Sketch Challenge - Week 2.
Here's the sketch:

Here's my layout:

supplies: patterned cardstock: Stampin Up, MME; journal spot: Stampin Up; rub ons: Prima; letter stickers: American Crafts, Making Memories

I cut the shapes out of the background cardstock, stitched around the openings, then used the reverse side of the cut out pieces and sewed them down too.

A springy little Easter layout. (I'm definitely ready for the Spring!)

Next was the layout for Creative Imaginations. Another sketch contest - this one for a guest designer spot.

Here's the sketch:

Not 100% in love with this one. I felt limited by my supply of  CI, which I greatly overestimated.  By the time I got rolling, it was too late to order in back-up. With a little help from the local Michael's, here's what I came up with:

supplies: cardstock: Bazzill; patterned paper, die cut paper, journal spots: Creative Imaginations; flowers: SEI; letter stickers: Heidi Swapp, Making Memories; buttons

It looked really flat after it was done and I was wishing I had misted or splattered some white paint under the die cut paper. I had already sewn it down, though, and couldn't figure out how to do that without ruining the rest. I decided just to smash up the die cut paper a bit and give it a little texture. I think it works.

The tag, where the title is, comes out and that is where the journaling is. I like hiding the journaling because my handwriting can be a big mess sometimes. I'm all for using actual handwriting on a layout and use it whenever I can. I think it's a way more personal way to tell the story than with computer generated type - but sometimes it just looks bad!

And last but not least, a couple small cards that I will send in for the Cards Blog. The challenge this week is cards with squares. Love the square!

These look very simple but it actually took a bit of trial and error to get the center squares the right size to accommodate the type the way I wanted.  They are not actually they way I wanted them to be - but that is ok.

So, now I have a few items I want to make for some approaching submission deadlines. I'll work on them over the weekend. Also waiting anxiously for the arrival of my first Studio Calico kit. Can't wait for that thing to get here!!