myasperations 12-3-22

I am honored to have served as a Guest Designer for Beccy Muir at Beccy’s Place and am now one of her “Contributors” (which means that she provides me with digis or clear stamp sets several times a year and I get to create cards or other items with them!) It is always fun to see the images Beccy invites me to use.  This time, the digis and sentiments are all from a just-released set named “Holiday Hounds.”

Beccy names each of her digi characters and when I first saw this hound named “Earl”, I laughed out loud. Doesn’t Earl just exude a haughty, almost regal, attitude?!  After I colored the hound, I printed off a separate copy of Earls's sweater on which to practice the knitted texture using an excellent tutorial from artist Annabel Haines. It takes a little time to detail all the cable stitches, but I think the results are worth it! (I added a photo showing how I lightly pencil sketched the cable stitching before adding the marker coloring. The close-up photo shows the final multicolored details, after I fussy-cut the sweater, and adhered it atop the pup's image.) Because I live with a pretty tight craft budget, I make slimline cards that fit into #10 business envelopes because are much cheaper than buying “slim line envelopes” or an expensive envelope die! Also, since I like to upcycle, I used a few scraps of paper on which I had practiced cable stitching to decorate the inside sentiment.  

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Sentiments- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Knitted texture tutorial can be found HERE

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, a white colored pencil, and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Sparkly Holly and Merry Christmas Sentiment- A set of Stickers from Hobby Lobby

·   Pioneer Clear Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Christmas Sentiments     

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- December 2022 Linky

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Digi Chooseday Crafting Challenge- Week #48 Anything Goes  

Time Out Challenge- #228 Photo Prompt 

Allsorts Challenge- Week 705: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 

I made this card for the current wecraftcards Forum challenge. When I went to post it, I discovered that I'd remembered correctly that the card was to be a Santa or Elf. But… I'd forgotten that it was a CAS challenge!  (In truth, CAS is not my thing. I am more of a LOL girl. LOL as in “Lots of Layers”!) My hubby really likes it… and so do I. He jokingly said, “You made a Pop-Top Santa.” In truth, I think of him as a “Hipster Santa” because of the lumberjack shirt (I always think of them as trendy. At least where they are where I live!) To add a quirky touch, I decorated his shirt with a faux pinback button that sports a funky holiday sentiment (Ho³  as in HoHoHo!)

I loved using this sweet Santa image from Beccy’s Place. I was going to change his look a bit by adding glasses but couldn’t find the digi I needed. So, instead I decided to just open his “smiling eyes” by adding pupils and irises in a warm brown color.   

Supplies: 

·   Santa Head Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Cozy Christmas)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Ho^3” Button (hand lettered atop a small journalling tag from my stash)

·   Buffalo Checked patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- “Merry Christmas” QKR Stampede Digital Stamp (Barbed Wire) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Holly embellishments on inside sentiment- trimmed from a scrap of patterned paper

·   Small circle punch and permanent black fine-line Sharpie maker (to create buttons)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Incy Wincy Designs-Christmas and/or Movement   

Beccy’s Place Challenge-December  Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes   

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #571-572 Anything Goes                   

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #622 AG  

Gem of a Challenge- Week #25 Anything Goes                             

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December    

myasperations 12-1-22a

        Sorry. Getting this posted a little late due to server issues. Enjoy!

It’s the 1st of the month, so I’m sharing a few DT cards for the 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?

The first card highlights the true reason for the season! It features two wonderful Christmas sentiments, photo corners, and sparkly star stickers. The card actually went together pretty quickly as the only coloring required was done with ink pads and sponges.. I extended the large star’s rays with a Nuvo Shimmer Pen. They reached down into the little stable on the ground. The final touch (visible in the slimline sliver of the pic) was adding a sparkly star within the stable, representing Baby Jesus nestled in a manger inside. Alleluia!

I am entering this card into several challenges including The Paper Shelter and Time Out Challenge (Since Christmas is my favorite winter holiday!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (Bethlehem with verse) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Colored with assorted Ink pads, a sponge, and a  Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen- Opal Quartz

·   Sparkly Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment - Eureka Digital Stamp (When Man Reaches) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter- #536 Winter Celebrations

The Sisterhood of Crafters- Anything Christmas or Winter

Time Out Challenge- #228 Photo Prompt  Winter/Holiday

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #571-572 Anything Goes                    

This second card holds a playful holiday feeling, as the gangly Moose don’s his festive attire- a large jingle bell and antler ornament. Because of the Z-fold base, the furry guy is able to stand tall when the card is perched atop a table or mantle. And don't you just love his googly eyes? (I've loved googly eyes since I was maybe 3 years old and always look for ways to use them. They add some extra movement and... well...fun!) 

I am entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge (My card includes 1 color from the top of the Color Wheel- red ribbon + cardstock frame, and 2 colors from the bottom- blue and green- pastel shades in the paper images + cardstock frame) and Cupcake Inspirations (My card includes red-ribbon and cardstock, brown-coloring on Moose, plus the moose is printed on kraft brown paper.) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (Straddling Moose)  Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Colored with Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils, Spectrum Noir Classique markers, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found on Pinterest (I liked the one HERE)

·   Googly Eyes and 6x6 Holiday paper stack (background paper)- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment- QKR Stampede Digital Stamp (Merry Christmas) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Inside Sentiment-freebie found on FB (Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC)

Join the FB group, then search for “jingle” and you’ll find it! (and tons of other wonderful freebies)

·   Jingle Bell trimmed from free sentiment noted above.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Christmas Sentiments      

Cupcake Inspirations- #558 Color Challenge- Brown, Kraft, Red 

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Wheel (Use 1 color from top and 2 from bottom) 

        Since I’m a DT for QKR/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- December 2022 Linky

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #622 AG 

myasperations 12-1-22

Our server was freaking out with the wintry weather last night. The results were that I couldn’t post these two cards to my blog by the end of November. Looks like I can do that today. So…I missed a challenge deadline but wanted to share these two cards anyway since I love the way they turned out!  

The first, for Outlawz November monthly challenge, features a sweet (or should I say double tweet?!) digi from WinkWinkInk. Isn’t he the cutest snowman EVAH?! I decided to show him off using soft pastel colors, with pops of intense blue (snowflakes) and contrast in color and texture (peach tassel.) The sentiment is from a card I received a few decades ago. It made me laugh, so I added it to my sentiment ‘cache’ for later use. Enjoy!

Supplies: 

·   Digi- WinkWinkInk (Seasons Tweetings)

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

·   Background-from Tlc Creations (Home for Winter Printable Junk Journal Kit)

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Blue Snowflake Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Tassel- Hobby Lobby

·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (WinkWinkInk -Seasons Tweetings)

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes     

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- December 2022 Linky

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #194 Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters- Anything Christmas or Winter

    

Since I’m featuring CUTE (yep… I shouted that word!) on this post,  Conie Fong’s little Molly and her winter friends is the perfect addition. After using pastels on the last card, I opted for bold contrast on this one. I’ve had that striped paper in my stash forever (or at least a few decades) and love how it looks when paired with the rich and smokey palette I used to color Molly and friends. You can’t see it, but the snowdrifts were made with scraps of white cardstock that shimmers in the light.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Conie Fong (Molly's Winter Friends)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Hello Sweet Friend”- Beccys Place Digital Set (Keeping It Simple)

·   Inside  Sentiment- “You Warm my Heart” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  (I used a vertical card base for added height!)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 

Conie Fong Art & Design Group [FB]- Monthly Challenge- October/November

Digi Chooseday Crafting Challenge- Week #48 Anything Goes  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #571-572 Anything Goes                   

Time Out Challenge- #228 Photo Prompt 

Jan’s Digi Stamps- November 2022 Anything Goes    

myasperations 11-28-22

I love sweets and chocolate. So these cupcakes naturally speak to me! I paired them with festive colored papers so I could enter the card into the current challenge at The Paper Shelter. So fun! (Oh… and I wasn’t sure if pastels are bright enough to be considered as “Festive” so I did some google research. And they are! (Check HERE for the link.)  

Supplies: 

·   Digi- The Paper Shelter-(You're My Cuppy Cake)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Happy Birthday” Papercrafts Magazine Freebie (no longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Have a Sweet Day” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (One Fine Day)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Ranger Glossy Accents (chocolate frosting. I bent it when adding foam tape. Hence, the "fold"!) 

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- #535 Festive Colors

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #571-572 Anything Goes  

Di’s Digi Stamps- Load on Layers  

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #88 Polka Dots

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- November  

           

I also love snow… so snow people often show up on my cards. This friendly snow guy stands out (or should I say stands up?!) on an easy-to-make easel card. (PS- As I post this card we are in the middle of a winter storm. Heavy snows are forecast, with up to 5 inches of the white stuff within the next few hours, and the wind is supposed to pick up by mid-afternoon. So, I decided to make it an official snow day. I’ll work a few hours and then use some hours of PTO to spend the rest of the day in my craft room. Yay! Snow days still create as much excitement for me at they did 5-6 decades ago!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (Snowy Days) 

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

·   Front Sentiment “Let It Snow…” and Snowflake Stickers- JoAnnes Crafts

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Jolly Good Holiday” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Cozy Christmas)

·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  (I started with a vertical card base to add the height needed!)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- Nov Season’s Greetings     

All Dressed Up- #134 Anything Goes (November)            

The Sisterhood of Crafters- Anything Christmas or Winter

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  (Christmas and Shades of Blue)

Outlawz Challenge- November 2022 Linky

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #622 AG 

Rudolph Days Challenge- November 

Beccy’s Place- 10th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge: Day 21-S is for Snowman

        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun! 

I discovered a feathery hair elastic in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby and just knew that it would provide some texture for this slightly cheeky flamingo from my collection of Beccy’s Place digis. Will be given to my Secret Santa at the office who loves all things flamingo!

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Feathered Friends)

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

·   Palm Fronds (Trimmed from clear tags)- Hobby Lobby

·   Pink Feather Hair Elastic- Hobby Lobby Clearance Aisle

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Not a Card

Allsorts Challenge- Week 704: Wings and/or Tails

Gem of a Challenge- Week #24 Anything Goes