myasperations 5-30-21

May is a busy time for me as I provide drug prevention lessons to students in local high school health classes… which I love! But that doesn’t allow much time for stamping. So I was only able to make one card to enter into the current Double D’s Flower of the Month Challenge. I chose (July) Delphinium, and used a beautiful pre-colored vintage scene as my base, adding a few lovely stems of Delphinium that I printed off, colored, and fussy-cut. A bit of pink twine, computer-generated sentiment and two pretty gem butterflies finish the card.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Butterfly Challenge-I used one Color (New York Pink) and one Theme ( Butterfly)and the Path Of Positivity Challenge- Change Your Environment (My bucket list includes living, or at least vacationing, in a little cottage someday. One with a flower garden would be wonderful and one with a flower garden near the sea would be heaven on earth!)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Freebie from the Graphics Fairy (Vintage Birthday Cottage)  
·   Delphinium Digi- Freebie from the ClipArt ETC HERE
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Gem butterflies- Hobby Lobby
·   Vellum, pink twine, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Double D’s Challenge- Flower of the Month (July-Dec) 
Butterfly Challenge- #15 Napkin Fold   
The Paper Shelter- Embellishments
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Twine  
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #91 (Optional Twist- Change Your Environment)

The May Outlawz Progressive Challenge features this fun digi named Bertha’s Bread Baking Bonanza. I loved having Bertha help me create a card for this month’s Rudolph Challenge. The sentiments are both freebies from one of my favorite go-to sites for unique sentiments. (You can sign up for their newsletter and learn about freebies and special deals on their wonderful sentiments and digis.) 
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Cute Card Thursday (Optional Critters- Betha has an audience of one watching her!) and Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge (Bertha’s audience has whiskers, a soft fur coat and purrs!)  

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Dr Digi House of Stamps (Berthas Bread Baking Bonanza)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Patterned Christmas Paper- JoAnne’s Crafts
·   Front and Inside Sentiments- LoveSVG Freebies available HERE
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Progressive Freebie May
Rudolph Days Challenge- May    
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 688- Anything Goes (Optional Critters)
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #21 Anything Goes                       
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #544 AG

My final card this post took some time to make, but I do love the result. It features a sweet freebie image from Beccy’s Place named "Quilted Horse." I printed the digi onto sheets of different colored patterned paper, fussy-cut, then paper pieced the little cutie. The sentiments are computer generated and embellished with puffy heart stickers and a scrap of pink satin ribbon. I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge (the sweet pony has a bit of satin ribbon!)

 
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Beccy’s Place Freebie (Quilted Horse)
·   Created with assorted patterned papers
·   Shading and highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)
·   Satin ribbon and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- May  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                        
Incy Wincy Designs- For Baby and/or Balloons or Sweets
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Ribbon, Lace and/or Pearls
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #493-494 Anything Goes  

                 

myasperations 5-26-21

It's time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog where challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by the blog to check it out!
For this challenge, my DT card features an adorable digi set from Stamper’s Delight. Instead of making a card, I decided to create a tag that I can attach to a pink or white gift bag.  Both of the sentiments on the tag are from the set and the wonderful birthday banner sentiment is a freebie from Decosses Dynamite Doodles. (You can find lots of wonderful papers and sentiments on their site, many are free. Find the link in the supplies list.)  

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Scribbles Designs Challenge- #100 Add It Up (in honor of their 100th challenge, they provided a listing of items with point values. My card features the  following items to reach 100: Patterned Paper-20 pts (2 @ 10 pts-birthday, dotted aqua), Solid Paper-10 pts (white background), Frame-5 pts (line around background), Cardstock-15 (3 @ 5 pts= pink, wine and teal), Digi Image-10 pts, Used Ink-5 pts (white gel pen), Add a Tag-5 pts (on package), Sentiment-10 (2 @ 5 pts), SNoir Markers-5 pts, Matting-8 (4 @ 2 pts= pink, wine, teal and dotted aqua), Ribbon-2 pts, Twine- Ribbon-2 pts, Bow- Ribbon-2 pts (on Surprise tag). Other embellies-1 pt (layered surprise tag)

Supplies: 
·   Digi and sentiments- Stamper’s Delight Digi Set (Chibi It's A Girl)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Copic Markers, Sharpie black fine-line marker, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Patterned Paper- Freebie from Decosses Dynamite Doodles (Birthday Banner Paper)
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Incy Wincy Designs- For Baby and/or Balloons or Sweets
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #100 Add It Up
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Twine  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

A recent challenge at wecraftcards is to make a "Book Binding" card. This was a new fold for me and this was a new fold to me... and one that I will definitely use again. (You can find instructions HERE.) For some reason the fold makes me thank of Asian art. So I dug through my stash of origami paper for inspiration. I discovered that my stash is getting a little slim, but there were several nice-sized scraps so I decided to make them into a "scene." After adding a “moon” made with a small piece of gold paper, the card front still looked a little sparse, I used additional scraps to make a beautiful Asian paper doll. She adds the perfect addition to the card!

Supplies: 

·   Asian Paper Doll Pattern found HERE.

·   Front Sentiment- from my scrapbook stash (unknown source)

·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated

·   Asian Gold coin, scraps of ribbon and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  Book Binding Card
Pixie's Snippets-Week #403
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Book Binding Card  
Besties Challenge- May Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #21 Anything Goes                       

My final card for this posting is for one of my favorite challenges called the Butterfly Challenge. The sponsor, Mrs. A, is a talented stamper is who also so very generous with her challenge prizes. For this card I used a few dies and cardstock from my stash. Plus a freebie sentiment from a set from Simply Cards Magazine. (Register at the link in the supply list below for access to hundreds of free digis, sentiments, patterns, templates and more.) 

For my card I used two of the Butterfly Challenge Colors- Naples Yellow and New York Pink and one theme-Butterfly.

Supplies: 

·   Diecut Sentiment- Memory Box Happy Birthday

·   Butterfly Die- Xcut small butterfly

·   Inside Sentiments- Simply Crafts 171-Bonus sentiment downloads found HERE  

·   All other papers from my stash.

Entered into: 

Butterfly Challenge- #15 Napkin Fold   

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #493-494 Anything Goes

Di’s Digi Stamps- Birthday Wishes

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May           

             

myasperations 5-21-21

It’s Friday and time for the Colour Crazy Challenge. This challenge is an “Anything Goes” but it adds a requirement; the creation needs to include coloring in “any colouring medium you like, onto any project you like, and in any colours you like.” I’ve never outgrown my love for coloring… which is why making cards is stress therapy for me!! 
This week's sponsor is from Star Jam Lines, and I’m sharing a Christmas card that features a sweet digi image from Star Jam Lines. I colored the cute little gnome with Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen. The card base is made with colorful Christmas cookie patterned paper and embellished with gingerbread cookies fussy-cut from the paper. The inside sentiment is a freebie from LoveSVG.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Home Sweet Home (making Christmas cookies is a tradition from my childhood that is now part of our family tradition) and Incy Wincy Designs (no other sweets seem as sweet as those enjoyed during the holidays!)

                                
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Star Jam Lines (Gnome Cooks)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- LoveSVG Freebie (Cookies for Santa)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #158 Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs- For Baby and/or Balloons or Sweets
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Home Sweet Home
 
I remember when I was in college and also as a newlywed, wishing I could send cards to loved ones but tight budgets made that difficult. So, I love making handmade cards to give as gifts, especially for Graduations and Weddings. I create a gift bag, and fill it with handmade cards for all occasions and holiday, plus lots of “thinking of you” and “miss you” type cards, too. This gift is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind! And since I have a ton of supplies on hand, I can give a nice packet of cards easily worth $50-$60 (or more) and not break our budget. Win-win! This cute Easter card will be part of a gift pack for a staff member who is getting married next month. Since he comes from a close-knit family, I know that he and his new wife will appreciate putting the gift to use!

Supplies: 
·   Pre-colored Digi- The Paper Shelter (My Bunny Pal)
·   Shaded with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and highlighted with Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Front Sentiment- “Sending You Lottsa Love” from Imagine That (Panda Love Drops)
·   Inside Sentiment- “Happy Easter” Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Easter Joy)
·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
The Paper Shelter- For the Boys/Male
Bugaboo Stamps- May Week 3 Anything Goes  
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Baby Animals
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

I inherited a box of vintage cards from my mom and I love using them because she was the queen of upcycling (although we didn’t call it that 50 years ago. She called herself a child of the depression!) Mom loved flowers, especially the Lilies of the Valley and Violets that grew in abundance in her small flower beds every spring. So the lovely violets on this card warmed my heart. I found the sweet little Hello wood mount when looking for the Hydrangea I used on the last card and decided it would be the perfect greeting for this card which I will send to a family friend who will love being reminded of my sweet mom!

 

Supplies: 
·   Upcycled vintage card front.
·   Wood Mount Hello Stamp- Eureka Arts (Company no longer in business)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge-Monochrome (Purples)   
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #491-492 Anything Goes                   
Jan’s Digi Stamps- May 2021 Anything Goes

myasperations 5-15-21

I apologize that this posting is a day late. I hope life settles down to a regular schedule soon!

I'm also not sure why Blogger is doing weird formatting again. :(
 
The middle of the month, so time for another challenge at QKR Stampede!  Stop by the challenge, which is always “Anything Goes” and several prizes are awarded. Maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself? This week I’m thinking ahead to summer, hoping to get to spend time with friends and family this year!
I love this adorable Eureka Stamps digi image appropriately named “Beach Girl.” I had fun creating a touch of realism to the image by coloring the floaty so that you can see the little bathing beauties silhouette through it. It took a little time and planning but I love the effect. After coloring, I fussy cut the image and adhered it free sheet music that I found on the web (for an Accordion. So fun!) I tore a few scraps of tan paper into strips and adhered them across the bottom of the page to create the look of sand.

I’m entering this card into several challenges including The Sisterhood of Crafters (I’m not

using the typical example of spots and stripes, but hope my card qualifies? The spots are on 

the floaty and the stripes are within the musical score!), Cute Card Thursday  and CCC Digi

Creations (my embellishment- and sheen-is adding Glossy Accents to the floaty sea monster!),

Time Out Challenge (this little cutie looks like she is dancing in her floaty before she jumps in

the ocean and paddle/floats away!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (Beach Girl) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sheet Music- Central Texas Accordion Association Tune Book 2010 (HERE)
·   Glossy Accents- adds a translucent shine to Floaty
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

     Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #158 Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Spots and Stripes (must have BOTH)
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #686 Embellish
TIME OUT Challenge- #187 Move    (Photo)
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #19 Anything Goes                      
CCC Digi Creations- #125 Add Sparkle or Shine

The current challenge at wecraftcards Forum is named “Mask It.” I mainly use digi stamps 

these days, so did some digging in my rubber stamp collection for inspiration and found this

pretty hydrangea. I then used a stamping technique that I haven’t used in a long time named

“Marker stamping.” Mainly it involves using a bold stamp and zero coloring as large juicy 

markers are used to apply ink directly on the stamps. For my “mask,” I used a few paper

doilies, cut in half and attached along the base of a 4¼ by 11½ strip of cardstock with a few

small dots of adhesive. I colored the hydrangea with purple and green Marvy markers,

stamping them over the edge of the “masks.” To add more fullness to the flowers I stamped

each bunch a second time before coloring them with fresh ink. When finished, I sponged a bit

of grey ink along the lacy tops of the doilies, allowing their intricate pattern to show through.

The delicate butterflies are from a free set of digi butterflies that I found on a website a few

years ago. I like printing them on vellum to add a bit of translucent realism. After fussy-cutting

and attaching the butterflies to the card, I used a pencil to lightly add their bodies,  heads, and

antennae. When the size and placement looked right, I drew over the pencil lines with a fine-

line Sharpie black marker.

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Simon Says (I’m thinking a doily mask

might count as a stencil? If not… please delete my entry!), The Paper Shelter (I’m also thinking

a bunch of hydrangeas might count as a shape card? If not… please delete my entry!) and The

Path of Positivity Challenge (flowers, in a bouquet or growing in the ground, add beauty to any

environment and also lift my spirits! Butterflies add a beautiful addition to any flower garden.)

Supplies: 

·   Wood Mount Stamps- Hydrangea (Rubber Stampede) Company no longer in business

·   Colored with large Marvy Markers (purple and green)

·   Details added with a grey stamp pad (sponged on edging and lacy sections of doily masks)

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Vellum Butterflies- Freebie available from HERE

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Mask It!  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Stencil It
The Paper Shelter- #46 Shape Card
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #491-492 Anything Goes                   
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #91 (Twist- Change Your Environment)
 

myasperations 5-14-21 (May 2fers!)

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called the "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires the use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The April Challenge is "Cupcakes/Cake.” I don’t have any cupcake stamps… but I do have one cute cupcake die and had fun being creative with it!

Supplies: 
Happy Birthday cupcake die- Cottage Cutz
Entered into: 
Twofer Card Challenge- #38 Cake or Cupcakes

My first card features the Happy Birthday Cupcake Die, scraps of yummy patterned paper and a fun sentiment digi from Scribbles Designs (that sounds like a command to me… and one to which I would quickly so, “Okay!”) I did create the inside cupcake by cutting scraps of white and pink cardstock with the die, clipping them apart then piecing one cupcake back together with a pink cupcake liner and white frosting.  I added a little texture to the cupcake frosting with Liquid Pearls plus used fine tip colored markers to color the little sprinkle holes. 

 

Supplies: 

·   Happy Birthday cupcake die- Cottage Cutz
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Eat Cake)

·   Cupcake frosting-Liquid Pearls (White Opal)

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Use Dies
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #491-492 Anything Goes                   
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #686 Embellish
Pattie's Creations Challenge- #182 Birthday (May)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                        
 
I trimmed the cupcake from the die to create my second card. The sweet sheep digi on the front enables me to enter this card into the current challenge at Scribbles Designs named “Sheep Thrills.” (I love punny titles!) The humorous inside sentiment is a freebie that rings with truth for me… possibly because I really like cupcakes… and chocolate… and cheesecake… and… the list goes on 😊! I created the multicolored and textured cupcake by cutting scraps of yellow, pink, and red cardstock with the die, clipping them apart then piecing one cupcake with a yellow cupcake liner, pink frosting, and cute little red cherry topper.  I added a little texture to the frosting by covering the pink "frosting" with any glue that dries clear (I used Elmers) then cutting a few long thin strips of colored cards and clipping them into very find "sprinkles" which I then dropped onto the wet glue a pinch as a time. When dry, they look quite yummy (but then I love sprinkles!) The final touches to the card were to add a bit of glitter to the frosting and to decorate the inside sentiment with a few little cupcakes fussy-cut from the patterned paper  that was leftover from the first card. 

Supplies: 

·   Happy Birthday cupcake die- Cottage Cutz
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Wooly Thoughtful)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Stickles- Star Dust (on frosting and cherry)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Ginger’s House (Losing Weight)

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #99 Sheep Thrills
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Jan’s Digi Stamps- May 2021 Anything Goes    

My last card features three digis from Scribbles Designs. The first is a wonderful ice cream shop that was fun to bring to life with bright colors. The other two digis I used are both freebies from Scribbles- a handsome sheep named Wooly Wink is looking trendy in aviator sunglasses (which I glued atop a scrap of teal cardstock that I then trimmed and perched atop his nose with a few small squares of foam tape.) I added a little dimension to Wooley by adding swirls with a light grey marker. I wasn’t sure what sentiment to use inside until I found this freebie from LoveSVG. I love how it fits the laid-back feeling of this sunglass-wearing cutie plus the word chill goes perfectly with the ice cream theme. The final fun addition to the card was to perch another pair of sunglasses perch on the corner of the sentiment. Ta-Da and Ta-Done!

 

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Ice Cream Shoppe)  
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs Freebies (Wooly Wink) and (Sunglasses)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- LoveSVG Freebie (Summer Chillin’)
·   Patterned Paper- Imagine That (Ice Cream Parlour Set) No longer available

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #99 Sheep Thrills
Besties Challenge- May Anything Goes
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #171