I'm really excited about today's Fancy Friday blog hop!  The team has been given a 'Step-It-Up' themed sketch challenge to share with you.  I love sketches, but I especially love seeing ideas for creatively taking a card design up a notch!

For my project today, I was inspired by some of my class participants who requested we make a shaker card when we meet next.  I immediately thought of this fairy from the Fairy Celebrations stamp set.  With a punch to match those lovely wings, it was a great fit for a shaker concept.  But a shaker card is advanced.  So first I put together a non-shaker version that let the image shine as intended!


For me, 'simple' means sticking to the basics - stamps, ink and a little paper. This card would be very easy to recreate with very few tools at home!

I've stamped the fairy in Memento Black on shimmery white card and then coloured with blender pens.  A shout out to the clever Paula Dobson who advised me to use blushing bride mixed with a touch of Coral Calypso for colouring skin tone - it worked a treat! Thanks Paula.  Do you have a favourite combination or a go-to trick for colouring skin? I'd love to hear from you!

Now to kick it up a notch...


Can you spot the differences??  This project has been stepped up with:

• a hand stamped background as opposed to designer series patterned paper;
• a die cut Stitched Framelits oval layer
• a die cut Tags and Labels Framelit feature
• wings punch cut to create a window for a shaker feature.

Now you must go and visit the next blog in this hop!  I just know this group of talented cardmakers is going to rock this challenge!!  Next up is my talented friend, Susan Wong.
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