myasperations 11-24-21

My DT card is Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog where challenges are also always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by to check it out!  (I also checked out the site and now have a brand new wish list!)

My card features a cute little bear, named Herbie, from sponsor Crafty Sentiments. To make him look fuzzy, I first colored the little guy with a few shades of brown decorative chalks on cardstock, applied with my fingers, and a Q-tip. Then I added a little tan shading with an alcohol marker. Lastly, I tapped the alcohol blender marker on top of the chalks and shading to create the texture. A scrap of checked napkin from the local dollar store adds a bit of color contrast to the festive background paper. This is a new digi company for me, and I love this cute little guy. 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Crafty Sentiments (Herbie the Bear)

·   Colored with chalks, a few Spectrum Noir Classique markers (including blender), Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, and Sharpie black permanent fine-line marker

·   Red checked napkin from the local dollar store

·   Patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment from my scrapbook stash.

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Crafty Sentiments Challenge-Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #170 Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter- #493 A Christmas Card                                    

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #569 AG

I like to make little treats bags for the administrative/support and counseling staff at the agency where I work and was looking for a way to a fun holiday/winter rhyme that was on a treat bag a friend gave me back in the ‘90s. Decided to create my treat holders with a free template for a Victorian Treat Cone from one of my favorite sources of vintage items named The Graphic Fairy. I spread the packets of hot chocolate and coffee on my craft table. Then, using their colors as a guide, I looked through my stash to select papers and embellishments that would compliment them. I decided on tan parchment music score paper, assorted scraps of blue patterned paper plus snowflake stickers that included blue. I looked through assorted digis I'd already printed to find one that would work on this treat cone. After finding a cute little cardinal from a Beccy’s Place dig set, I knew that a shout of bright read would add some nice contrast.. so colored the little cutie and added him, plus a bit of red cardstock. After this fun experimenting, I ended up with a beautiful, heirloom-quality creation that will be pretty easy to duplicate (since I need these, that is a plus.) I will add a candy cane and a few gourmet chocolates (Probably Lindt…YUMMY!)  before delivering.

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz TicTacToe (matching the bottom row from right to left with snow+pop of red+coffee (Although coffee is not in the picture, it is a staple at all of our holiday feasts!) 

Supplies: 

·   PDF Template-Graphic Fairy Freebie (DIY Vintage Christmas Paper Cones)

·   Cardinal Digi- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cardinals)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Snowflake Stickers and Music score patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated (unknown source)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Beccy’s Place 9th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge-Day 20 -"R" is for Rhyme

Christmas Craft Creations challenge- Fun Fold                                     

Createful Heart Designs- Challenge #38 (Nov)

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Make It Blue

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- TicTacToe Board     

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

My final card for this posting is for the Butterfly Challenge, which is one of my favs!  Each challenge offers several themes, plus a specific creative fold that we can use if desired. The current challenge is to create a Windmill Card and the sponsor, Mrs. A,, provides easy-to-follow instructions for two different versions.) I used a punch, die, and clear stamp set, plus pretty pansy paper to create my card, PLUS a few scraps of one of my favorite office supplies-plastic index divider sheets.  (If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know that I use these wonderful gems A LOT! They are sometimes called document file folders, come in a pack of assorted colors, and can be found in the office supply section of most stores. I’ve even found them in dollar stores. They're cheaper than colored vellum and more translucent. Punches and dies don’t work on these sheets, but they are easy to fussy-cut with a sharp pair of scissors. A NEW SURPRISE- when making this card, I learned that this wonderful plastic can be easily attached to a die-cut “negative” (the parts I usually throw away after running cardstock through my Big Shot, including the outlines of the words and also the little inner bits!)  To perform this bit of upcycling, make sure to save the little pieces inside of the letters- in this case, the center of the “o” and the inside of the “y” PLUS the “negative outline” of the word. Set the little bits aside, making sure they don’t get “lost” on your desktop (which happens to me about 80% of the time!) then fussy-cut a border around the word cutout to the desired width. Be careful not to cut this border too thin or the resulting sentiment won’t be sturdy enough to complete the next step.) Add thin strips of double-stick tape to the underside of this cutout, position it atop a scrap of the plastic and firmly press it into place. When secure, fussy-cut around the word (you might want to try cutting an extra scrap of the plastic first as not all scissors work well in this task. I prefer my Bumble Bee.) When finished attach the finished sentiment to your card with double-stick tape.

My card features three of the colors in the current Butterfly Challenge (wine, wisteria, and wheat) and all three themes (Windmill card, words/sentiment and a butterfly.)

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity’s Be Grateful (I’m so grateful for the friends that God has sent my way during my life. There are a handful that I call my “heart friends” as they are the people with whom I have shared some of the most difficult struggles in my life. And they have honored me in sharing their struggles, too. One of these people, named Linda, introduced me to this great hobby (addiction?) at a Stampin’ Up! party back in the mid ’90s. A short time later the two of us opened a stamp/scrapbook store which strengthened our friendship during the several years the store was part of our busy lives. Our friendship survived a cross-country move (mine), growing children and grandchildren (hers), and some major health issues (both of us.)

Two months ago Linda lost a five-year battle against breast cancer. Through it all, she displayed faith and grace… and concern not for herself, but for friends and family. I am so grateful to have had Linda in my life for so many years and look forward to spending more time together laughing and making cards when I join her in heaven. I’m pretty sure our mansions will be in the same neighborhood!) 

Supplies:

·   Windmill Style Card Instructions, Version I from HERE

·   Front Sentiments- “Thinking Of” (stamp) and “You (die) from Gina K Designs

·   Inside Sentiment- “I couldn’t have picked a better friend” from Beccy’s Place digital set (Azaleas)

·   Butterfly Punch- Martha Stewart Monarch

·   My “go-to” scissors- EK Tools Cutter Bee Precision Tip Scissors EKCB01

·   Plastic file folder, Sakura white gel pen, patterned paper, and cardstock from my stash.

Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #164 W is for Windmill Card    (photo)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #519-520 Anything Goes                   

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- November             

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #96 (Optional Twist- Be Grateful)