Good Morning and when the day is Thursday…that means that it is time to play along with the Pals Paper Art weekly challenge. This week is a fun sketch challenge that is one of those “keepers” that we talk about. To me, that means – file it away as you will use it when you are in a pinch to whip up a card!

Fellow Pal, Sandie Conner has given us a great sketch and wait to you see what she did  – OVER THE TOP CUTE….please go and pop over to the Pals Paper Art Website and see this cute card as well as what the other designers come up with!

Can’t you see all of the possibilities this sketch has…I played it very safe and simple and wanted to go with a monochromatic theme – I love this feel of a card, it just is so easy on the eye and classic!

Can you see how my Baker’s Twine is “behaving itself” – that is from that secret weapon that I use….the bee wax that gives the twine more body and it makes it easier to work with. I also like to stagger cutting the length of the tails – to me, it just gives a finished polished look.

The below stamp set is carried over and I thing that we all agree – it is a beautiful stamp set and the sentiments are spot on but that crosshatch stamp  – that is a great one to stamp off and then use it as a backdrop.

Here is a side shot that you can see that I scored at the white layer to give the rather plain card some interest and texture. Sometime I sit back and say to myself…isn’t it amazing what you can do with paper? I say this because I think that many of us feel that we nee to “fuss things up” all of the time…but remember, sticking to the basics…..simply works!

This SUPER FUN paper, Pop of Pink – is right up my alley…..Black, White and Melon Mambo – FUN and CLASSIC paper. I am always so happy that Stampin’ Up! comes out with classics like this as it makes it so easy to make a card!

I think that the Envelope Liner Framelits are still available and I highly suggest that you do get them…they really make it easy to line and envelope but there are still other ways to give your envelop some love…..a simply covering of the back flap works for me! Just take a piece of 2 1/2″ X 6″ piece of paper, adhere it and then snip off the excess…EASY. DONE!

One final look – mixing up the patterns makes it interesting as well. I adore small prints as they just sem to be so versatile. (Remember, small prints are great when you want to paper piece (remember the Vivid Vases)?

Does anyone know where I can find some extra hours today???? We are leaving in the morning for the weekend festivities and my TO DO’s are quite TALL. I did get all of the catalogs out so get ready for the best book you could snuggle up and read!!!!

We are on day 15 of rain( it would be a great time to snuggle up and read)…..not that it is a constant rain….it is RAIN….I am looking forward to a day of sunshine….I told John that I feel like I am a huge piece of Blue Cheese…..I am MOLDY with the RAIN!

Until tomorrow!