Ain't No Sunshine When You're Gone

I do love little Patsy, so I'll take any opportunity to let her out to play in the rain, and this fab little sentiment (from Tracey Brossart) goes so well with the rainy theme.  This week at Stamp Fairy the theme is a sketch:

Here's my take on the sketch using little Patsy April Showers, I've decorated the front and the inside with complementary Patsy images.  The sketch was a really interesting one for me as I tried a new technique on this one. The sketch showed some stitiching on the panels and usually in the past whenever I've had to do stitching, I've always drawn on faux stitching, but I've been meaning to have a go with the sewing machine for ages now (just seemed a big deal to lug out the sewing machine but hubby recently sold his desktop computer in favour of a laptop so the computer desk is now conveniently empty - well, not for long as my sewing machine is now on it!)

It was much harder to get a straight line than I had thought. I'd never had a problem with fabric (and I used to do a lot of sewing when I was younger with my trusty 25 year old sewing machine) but sewing a straight line on paper was a whole different ball game, even with a spacer foot on the machine.  Anyway, I think I've hidden up the dodgy bits under the image, sentiment and a few strategically placed gems. 

Finally, for a bit of a change which I've done lately, I've used my watercolour pencils for most of the image, instead of just my Promarkers. They give a much softer colouring, but I'm not a true convert and the Promarkers are still my fave choice, so I did sneak them in for the skin and hair.  The papers are Summertime Designs and the nesties are from Homespun from the Heart.

Here's the sketch:

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope that I've inspired you to enter our sketch challenge at Stamp Fairy this week. Please pop on over to the challenge blog to see the fab creations by the other members of the design team, and I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by the following:

• Lexi's Creations - Friendship
• Papertake - Anything Goes
• I Love Promarkers - Song Title (Ain't no sunshine when you're gone)
• Paperplay - Show us your style (flower array, layers, colours, cute, matching inside)
• Allsorts - 3 different stamps (2 images & 1 sentiment)
• Craft your days away - Music & Dance (song title & dancing in the puddles)
• Crafty Catz - Quote / Sentiment
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Lots of Flowers
• Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes

Have fun.