November 7, 2025

I have not played along with any challenges for a few years, but loved the fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  

I needed a birthday card for someone very special and decided I would use this sketch by Kim to make her card.  She just loves pink, so I searched my paper stash and came up with this.

 

I followed the sketch to create the background for my card.  The mailbox, letter and sentiment are from a Casual Friday stamp set.  They are no longer in business, but I love this set and will keep it in my stash.  I colored the images with Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella and two enamel hearts were added for shine.

 

Thank you for stopping by! 

Hugs!

Claire 

Time To Relax Paper Players PP491 Sunday Stamps SSC231 Freshly Made Sketches FMS435

May 16, 2020

It's Sunday and time for new challenges at The 

Paper Players and Sunday Stamps.  

The Amazing Ann is our hostess this week at The Paper Players.  She has a very fun Clean and Simple Challenge for all of us!  The theme is "Men in Mind"!  Great idea with Father's Day just around the corner. 

The Sunday Stamps challenge is a color challenge.  I found it was perfect to combine these two challenges this week. It doesn't happen very often! 

We can't wait to see what you create!  Have FUN!

  
                                                                     Use a minimum of 3 colors and a neutral of your choice.

I am also playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week.  Their CAS sketch was perfect.

  Sunday Stamps:

Challenge Guidelines

• Feel free to use any brand of product you have. 
• The colors from this challenge MUST be the primary colors on your project.
• Please Link up a new project created for this challenge (no back links). 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with up to FOUR other challenges.
• We reserve the right to delete any links that do not adhere to challenge rules.
• Please provide a link to us or use the graphic above in your post. 
• Have Fun!!!

The challenge will end on Friday,  May 29th @ 6pm EST. 

 Challenge Rules: Paper Players Challenge

1.  Create a NEW paper, or digital, project.

2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us.

3.  Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge entry.

4.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.

 Entries linked to more than 3 challenges, including ours, will be deleted without notification!

5.  All stamping products are welcome.

6.  Have fun! 

I used a brick embossing folder to create the background.  The ric rac is cut using a die in green and black.  I also cut a 1" purple strip to match the FMS sketch.  The little man reading the paper was a gift from my dear friend Lisa Johansen.  She stamped this image and sent it to me in the mail.  I colored him with Copic Markers and added a little Wink of Stella for shine.  I just love this little fellow.  Reminds me of Mr. Bill.  The time to relax is stamped in black.  I did not add anything else since it is supposed to be CAS.  You all know how difficult that is for me!  LOL! 

Don't forget to check out all the amazing projects from the Design Team.  

The Paper Players Design Team

Claire Broadwater

 Jaydee

Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Anne Marie Hile

Ann Schach

Allisa Steinlicht

Mary Deatherage

Stef Perry

                                     Sunday Stamps Design Team

Amy Koenders

Annette Elliott

Claire Broadwater (me)

Heidi Baks

Heather Heroldt

Lisa Johansen

Melissa Grant

Monika Reeck

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

HUGS
Claire

Wishing You the Happiest Birthday Ever FMS 420

Feb. 2, 2020

I am playing along with the lovely ladies at Freshly Made Sketches!

Jen T. is the hostess and her sketch was perfect for the card that I wanted to create.

I created this card for one of my grands that loves giraffes.  I cut a white square card base 5 X 5 and then cut white panel for the next layer.  I stenciled a sun using two shades of yellow Distress Inks.  The circle is cut with a stitched die and sponged with Distress ink.  The little giraffe is from MFT Jumping Giraffe and the sentiment is part of this set.  Wink of Stella was added for shine and a few enamel dots were added for fun! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  ENJOY the Super Bowl!  Who are you cheering for?  I am just in for the commercials and J Lo!  LOL!  

HUGS!

Claire

Sassy Since Birth Freshly Made Sketches 419

Jan. 25, 2020

I am playing along with Lee Ann's sketch at Freshly
Made Sketches!  Such a fun sketch and perfect for the card I wanted to create! 

My card is created for my best friend from college, Mary!  She loves to shop as much or more than me.  I love the PI girls from MFT, so I used the Happy You Day stamp set.  I paper pieced her sweater, skirt and balloon and colored her with Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella was added for shine.  The background paper is full of shopping items.  The sentiment is heat embossed on black with white embossing powder.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Hope you are having a great day!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

HUGS,

Claire

Sassy Since Birth Freshly Made Sketches 416

Dec. 21, 2019

Today I am playing along with the wonderful ladies at Freshly Made Sketches.  This fabulous sketch is by Amy.  It is definitely perfect for any occasion!

I am FINALLY finished with my Christmas cards and I needed a birthday card for my special friend Donna.  She is also my shortest friend and born on the shortest day of the year.  LOL!

Let me tell you a little about my friend Donna.  We have known each other for 35 years.  I love her!  We taught together for years and have remained close through the years.  She is really my "sister" from another Mama.  She is probably the "fanciest" dresser I know.  We both LOVE clothes and shoes.  She also, loves winter.  I DO NOT!  I always say it is because she grew up in Atlanta and never had to scrape ice off her car or shovel snow like we did in Indiana.  So, for her card, I created a snowy scene.  I distressed the background and used shiny embossing paste with a stencil to create the snow.  The sweet girl is a MFT Pure Innocence stamp Happy You Day stamp set.  I colored her with Copic Markers and paper pieced her skirt and balloon. Lots of glossy accents made the fur on her sweater and boots shine.  I love the way she turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Hope you are almost ready for Christmas!  I am!

HUGS!

Claire

Merry Christmas! FMS 409

Nov. 3, 2019

Playing along with the team at Freshly Made Sketches today.
This sketch is from Jen M.  I am always amazed at all the creativity from their challenges!

My card is created using a Retro Santa from Tim Holtz Retro Christmas Stamp and Die set.  I just love this stamp set.  He always makes me smile! 

My card is created on a 5 X 5 inch square Very Vanila base.  I added a rectangle of plaid and backed it with black card stock.  The black circle is cut using the SugarPea Designs Stitched Circle Dies.  I cut another circle with Very Vanilla and used the MFT Christmas Background stamp set and black ink to add all the fun Christmas sayings!  I colored the Jolly Old Santa with some colored pencils and popped him up with dimensional tape.  A little Wink of Stella was added to his boots and belt.  Three black enamel dots were added to complete my card. 

           SO happy you stopped by my blog today.  

HUGS!

Claire

You Are the Apple of My Pie FMS 406

October 11, 2019

I am playing along with Jacquie's challenge at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Such a fabulous sketch!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so I thought I would make a card to celebrate this amazing day.  Food, Family, Friends, and Fun!  It doesn't get any better than that.

 I found this fabulous Pilgrim paper in my stash, so I thought it would make a great background for my card.  I used a rectangle die to cut the brown frame and the rectangle center.  The stamps are from Simon Says Stamps You Are The Apple of My Pie set.  I colored the pie and apples with Copic Markers.  I added Wink of Stella for shine and Glossy Accents to the apples.  A few orange enamel dots completed my card.  I added the Pilgrim paper to the envelope flap, too!

 Thank you for stopping by my blog!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!  

HUGS!

Claire

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year FMS404

Sept. 27, 2019

I am playing along with Amy's fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  What a fun sketch that can be used for any type of card.

My card can be for Fall or Winter.  Who doesn't love plaid and old fashioned thermos bottles filled with coffee or hot chocolate?  My card is created using the Papertrey Inks Cozy Christmas stamps.  I used stitched rectangle dies for the background and the Penny Black Antique Frame Dies for the background for my thermos bottles and cup.  I stamped them in red and green and added a khaki cup.  A few enamel dots were added for fun.  Of course I added Wink of Stella for shine, too! 

Thank you very much for stopping by my blog!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

HUGS!

Claire

If the Hats Fits FMS 402

Sept 13, 2019

I am playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week!

My friend Karren designed the sketch for this week.
It was perfect for my idea.

I love Halloween and these Witch Hats make me smile!  

I used the Simon Says Stamp If the Hat Fits for my card.  I stamped the hats in black ink and colored them with Copic Markers.  I added Wink of Stella for shine and also added some detail with a white gel pin.  I stenciled the brooms with a stencil Witch Brooms from Carta Bella.  I used Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks.  I added two strips of black card stock to frame the brooms.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Leave a comment and let me know which hat you would wear.

HUGS!

Claire

There Is No Better Friend FMS #400

September 1, 2019

I have been trying to make a card all week for the Freshly Made Sketches amazing milestone!

This is their 400th challenge!  Each week they inspire so many of us!  I am always in awe of all the DT cards and the following they have. 

  CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for all you do for the card crafting community!  

My card is created on a white card base.  I have been saving this image since last year to use on a card.  It is from Honey Bee Stamps Acorn Sisters stamp set.  I stamped the image and colored all of the girls with Copic Markers.  I added some Wink of Stella for shine.  I dug through all my Fall papers and found these leaves and the rust colored papers that matched.  The sentiment is stamped in brown and it is from the same stamp set.  I loved the way it turned out! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Hope you enjoyed my card.

HUGS!
Claire

Witching You a Happy Halloween FMS200

August 18, 2019

I loved the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  They are celebrating their 400th sketch and this week's sketch is from the archives #200!  Such a fun way to celebrate this amazing milestone!  Congratulations to all the DT members!  

I had so much fun creating this card.  I started with a white card base.  I created a Distress Oxide ink background and cut it with a die from Craftin Desert Divas.  I adhered it to a purple and black panel.  The grass was cut using the MFT Tucked in Turf Vertical Die using black.  The houses and witch are from MFT Best Witches.  I colored all the images with Copic Markers and added Wink of Stella for shine.  The sentiment is embossed in white using the same stamp set.  

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

HUGS!

Claire

Thankful Sunday Stamps SSC211 Freshly Made Sketches #400

August 11, 2019

Today we have a new challenge at Sunday Stamps! 

This is our new color challenge!  Isn't it pretty?  Looks like somewhere I would love to visit! 

Use a minimum of 3 colors and a neutral of your choice.

I am also linking my card to the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  It is a very special week for their team.  It is their 400th challenge!  WOW!  They inspire us each week with all their creativity and I am glad I could join them this week! The cool thing is they went back and pulled their first sketch for all of us! 

My card is created on a Very Vanilla card base.  I added a dark brown layer then began to create all the shapes in the sketch.  I used a variety of Fall papers for my shapes.  The little turkey is from Winnie & Walter Stampets Turkey.  I colored him with Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella was added for shine.  I used a variety of the colors in the Sunday Stamps inspiration photo. A few enamel dots were added to complete the sketch! The sentiment is from Neat and Tangled Oak Leaf Stamp Set.  

The challenge will end on Friday, August 23rd  @ 6pm EST.Challenge Guidelines

• Feel free to use any brand of product you have. 
• The colors from this challenge MUST be the primary colors on your project.
• Please Link up a new project created for this challenge (no back links). 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with up to FOUR other challenges.
• We reserve the right to delete any links that do not adhere to challenge rules.
• Please provide a link to us or use the graphic above in your post. 
• Have Fun!!!

Don't forget to check out all the amazing projects from the Design Team.  

  Sunday Stamps Design Team

Amy Koenders

Annette Elliott

Claire Broadwater (me)

Heidi Baks

Heather Heroldt

Lisa Johansen

Melissa Grant

Monika Reeck

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Hugs!

Claire

I Love You FMS 397

July 20, 2019

I am playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge!

Kim has a wonderful sketch for all of us!

My grands love S'mores, so I used this stamp several times this week to create cards for each of them.  Kim's sketch was perfect for all my yummy items!

Red and white gingham checks shouts out picnic or campfire fun, so I used some patterned paper backed in light gray for my two panels.  I cut Zig Zag circles from SugarPea Designs for the background on my cracker, marshmallows and candy bar. 

This stamp set is from Neat and Tangled.  It is called S'more Fun.  I used the matching dies to cut all the pieces out.  A fun sentiment from the same set and a few red hearts completed my card. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  

HUGS!

Claire

Happy Christmas FMS 394

June 30, 2019

I haven't played with my friends at Freshly Made Sketches for weeks, so I had time to make a card for their challenge today!  Jen T.'s sketch is so versatile and I know it will be used many times! 

My card is created on a white card base.  I added a red layer and a Christmas print for the top layer.  I made three bows using The Ton Stamps Grand Bows.  I stamped them in red, green and blue!  I used a Christmas word die for the sentiment.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Have a great week!

HUGS!

Claire

Congrats On Your New Home FMS 382

April 7, 2019

Today I had a little extra time to play in my tepee.  I loved Jen's  sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  I must admit, I made three cards before I was finally  satisfied with my card.  Do you ever do that?  It can be so frustrating.  It took two days to finally come up with this card.  So many starts and stops. 

I will say the banner for the sentiment is what caused the problem.  I wanted to use this stamp set because I have two friends that just moved to new homes.  I took the liberty of turning the sketch and using the post on the mailbox for the sentiment "SOLD" to replace the rectangle shape on the sketch.  

My card is created on a white card base.  I mounted a wood grained paper on dark brown card stock for the background.  I used the Neat and Tangled stamp set Welcome Home for the mailbox and sentiments.  The matching die was used to cut it out.  

The flowers are stamped in black and colored in Copic Markers.  The stamp set Bloom also from Neat and Tangled. I used the matching dies to cut out all the flowers.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!  

HUGS!

Claire