Special and Sweet

The 15^th of the month means it’s also time 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? My DT card features an adorable moose and sentiment that is sure to make the recipient smile!  

 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- QKR Digital Stamp (Winter Moose) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Thinking of You) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Inside Sentiment- QKR Digital Stamp (Nothing Special) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Woodgrain Embossing Folder- Stampin’ Up (retired)
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #149 Anything Goes (Happy 6^th Birthday!)
        Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), please don’t include me in the draw for their prize!
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes 
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #2 Anything Goes
Bugaboo Stamps- 11^th Annual Birthday Bash Day 2- Sketch Challenge
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- Jan 2021                                      
        Since I’m a DT for QKR (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January

This past Christmas Beccy Muir offered some great new Christmas digi sets. “Home for the Holidays” is one of my favorites! My card front features the set's sweet image and one of its sentiments. I created an embellishment for the inside by printing, coloring and fussy-cutting one of Beccy’s cute little ginger guys to perch atop the sentiment banner. Saweet!

                                                                                   

Supplies: 
·   Digi-Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Home for The Holidays)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment-Merry Little Christmas, Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Home for The Holidays)

·   Inside Sentiment- May Your Holidays Be Sweet-Polka Dot Orchard Freebie at a 2018 Coffee Lovers Blog hop  (no longer available)

·   Card base is a note card from Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #137  
The Paper Shelter- #452 Digital Image
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #669 What’s New?
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #524 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Beccy’s Place Challenge- January 

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

 
I do love chocolate… especially in the deep of winter, sipping the creamy liquid version a in a cup with whipped cream and sometimes a shot of peppermint schnapps! Ahhh, YUM! For this card I used a free digi image from illustrator and children's book author Elizabeth Dulemba who has created hundreds of coloring pages that she offers for free download! You can access the free coloring pages and/or sign up for the weekly newsletter HERE. I did ask, and was granted, permission to use her images on cards.)
Note- On my supplies list I note that the source of the inside sentiment is “unknown.”  I currently have nearly 13,000 digital images on my laptop. Many are within the 850 folders of digi sets so I cannot just pull them up by title. I know that this sentiment is hidden in one of those sets as I did print it off to make this card. I’m sure I’ll find it again someday.  When I do, I'll add the source here. In the meantime, if any of you recognize this sentiment and can tell me its source, please let me know. Thanks!]

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Elizabeth Dulemba Coloring Page (Winter-Hot Chocolate: Available HERE)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Upcycled items- hot chocolate box and ribbon from Godiva Chocolate box
·   Inside Sentiment- Unknown source  
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Layer It Up!
Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #534 (Optional twist- Tie It Up)   
Cute As A Button- Jan: CH #64 Anything Goes (Option) Cheers to You!
Do-Al[l] Kreatives #49 Hot Drinks
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #167-Anything Goes  (Option- Cheers to You)
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

For Iris!

One of the people at my office that I really like is leaving the agency for a new job. I wanted to make her a special card, and when organizing my craft room I found this PSX background image that I'd stamped several years ago.  Since her name is Iris... I decided to make an elegant card personalized just for her! My friend likes shabby chic and vintage things, so, even though I'm not very good at making shabby chic cards, but with a bit of ribbon and lace, plus a pretty gold filigree medallion that I recently found in a clearance bin at Hobby Lobby and I think it turned out pretty nice!
PS- I couldn't find my yellow flocking... so added some yellow chalk to white flocking to add a bit of realistic fuzzy texture to the Iris petals.

Supplies: 
·   Stamp- PSX Iris Renaissance Botanical (company no longer in business)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Something New
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes                   
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #2 Anything Goes                         
Createful Heart Designs- Dec Challenge #27  

We just put away our Christmas tree and ornaments for another year, but I never I tire of making Christmas cards so I never put my Christmas stamping supplies away! This wonderful digi is one I just won in a challenge at Scribbles design. I added some sparkly star stickers, then trimmed the outline of the stickers to add a bit more bling to the gate-fold card. The sweet little baby Jesus image is upcycled from an old Christmas card.

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Silent Night Quote)
·   Sparkly Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Inside Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp (Blessings of The Season)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #95 Sparkle and Shine
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 
Incy Wincy Designs- Person (plus sketch and/or blue)   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #524 Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations- #121 Include a Sentiment
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

This fun card is made with a free coffee digi from a wonderful blogspot named Beyond the Fringe (which offers nearly 250 freebies.) The direct link to the freebie, plus instructions for paper piecing the stack, is provided in my supplies list below. I printed the blank cup stack on patterned paper from an 8½ x 11 paper stack in pastel colors. I used four different colors of paper, so ended up with lots of cups when done! (I used the instructions provided with the freebie but added a few steps to the directions to help simplify the process. You can find them, and a photo of a different card made with more the paper pieced cups on my blog HERE.)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Beyond the Fringe Freebie (Cup Stack)
·   Shaded with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and highlighted with Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment-Echo Park (Coffee)
·   Inside Sentiment- “Brewing up Birthday Wishes” from Imagine That Digistamp (Coffee Kids Bundle)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #668 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Jan’s Digi Stamps- January 2021 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January                 
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #149 Anything Goes (Happy 6^th Birthday!)
        Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), I’d like to be removed from the draw for their prize!

Cookies? Yes please!

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 a sweet (literally) image from Patties Creations. I had fun trying to color them in a realistic fashion and turned the cookie jar into “glass” with a scrap of acetate. (You can’t see it in the photos, but it’s there and looks really neat in real life.) I also used a ruler and pencil to add the crosshatch patterned across the "glass" to mirror the patterned paper layered behind the cookie jar. Wanted to make the jar look clear, but realize now that I should had drawn the crosshatch all the way to the edges of the white paper. Oh well... I kinda like it anyway. And I was thrilled when I found the wonderful digi of a vintage Bakers Chocolate Brochure… especially since it is FREE! (While looking for the vintage brochure, I found some interesting articles about the history of chocolate chip cookies. They are well worth the read… available HERE.) Now, you’ll need to excuse me. I must go and bake a batch of cookies!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Patties Creations (Chocolate Chip Cookie Jar)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Flap- Bakers Chocolate Brochure freebie found HERE.
·   Front Sentiment from my scrapbook stash
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Acetate, ribbon, gems and assorted papers all from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes                   
Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #136  
Besties Challenge- January AnythingGoes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #1 Anything Goes                         
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Two years ago I met a talented young artist named Sherry West via her FB page. The images she creates are adorable, so I am always thrilled when I have the chance to add a new one to my collection. I recently won a challenge on Sherry’s FB page and this was one of the digis I selected. The digi is named “Mother Earth-Christmas” but I turned it into a New Year’s Card by printing the sentiments on my computer, die cutting them into circle shapes, and adhering them atop the digi I’d colored with markers and a white gel pen. You can't see it in the picture, but I added a diamond rhinestone in the center of her pendant because... well... bling! 

 

Supplies: 

·  Digi- Sherry West Art Coloring and Crafts (Mother Earth-Christmas)
(If you are interested in purchasing this digi, visit Sherry’s FB page HERE and PM her for details. Tell her Kathy Asper sent you!)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Gold Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Something New
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             

The front sentiment on this layered card is from a Beccy’s Place digi set. I printed it off, traced the letters of the large “JOY” onto vellum to create templates. I then traced and cut the letters onto pastel green glitter paper (from a beautiful paper pad that I picked up on a short time ago and finally found a card that needed this combination of color and bling.) I positioned the sentiment atop a rich red background and taped it in place. I dug out a packet of the beautiful holly vellum I found at a thrift store over a decade ago to raise the elegance level of the card. I layered it over the sentiment and secured it by cutting slits in corners of the red base and slipping the vellum corners beneath it. After attaching the sparkly green JOY, I finished the card with a sprinkling of red rhinestones. Ahhh… I do always love me some bling!!

 
 

Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place (Tied Up With String)
·   Inside Sentiment - Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp (Blessings of The Season)
·   Pastel Glam Glitter Solids Paper Pack 12 x 12- Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Use a New/Unused Product     
Beccy’s Place Challenge- January 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #522 Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations- #121 Include a Sentiment
Jan’s Digi Stamps- January 2021 Anything Goes

Thank You EMS

In early December, the generous team at Scribbles Designs organized a Special Event to honor health card providers named “Give the Gift of Thanks This Holiday Season!”  They even provided free digis with this note, “… we'd like you to create a card and send it out to a medical professional in your own community who could do with some praise. You could send it to your own doctor or nurse; a family member, friend or neighbour you know who works in the medical profession; or, you could send it to a group of doctors or nurses in your local hospital. Odds are there is someone out there in the medical field who would be more than happy to receive a card thanking them for all they've done during the last several months.”

I picked a wonderful sentiment to create this card, which I’ll be giving to the Emergency Room staff at our local hospital who provided me with excellent care after an ER visit for heart issues earlier this year. I copied the fold from a card I saw in a recent challenge. Not sure what it is called, but is a modified gatefold card, using a 4¼ x 11-inch-long strip of cardstock. I wanted the simple card to still look elegant so used paper from a 12x12 paper stack I’ve been hoarding for a while. I love the beautiful patterns, most with embossed gold textures. I left the inside blank so that I could add a note.

                                             

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Inside “Thank You” Sentiment- Scribbles Designs (Brrr HCW2)
·   Patterned Papers- DCWV Far East 12x12 Paper Stack from JoAnnes
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 

Scribbles Designs Challenge- Special Event: Give the Gift of Thanks This Holiday Season!

CCC Digi Creations- #121 Include a Sentiment
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Jan’s Digi Stamps- January 2021 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             
 
This fun card is made with a free coffee digi from a wonderful Blogspot named Beyond the Fringe (which offers nearly 250 freebies.) The direct link to the freebie, plus instructions for paper piecing the stack, is provided in my supplies list below. I printed the blank cup stack on patterned paper from an 8½ x 11 paper stack in pastel colors. I used four different colors of paper, so ended up with lots of cups when done! (I used the instructions provided with the freebie but added a few steps to the directions to help simplify the process. You can find them, and a photo of a different card made with more paper-pieced cups on my blog HERE.) The sentiment is a freebie from a blogger, who has many snarky and funny sentiments available... all free! 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Beyond the Fringe Freebie (Cup Stack)
·   Front and Inside Sentiments- Kellie Winnell Freebie (A Day Without Coffee)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                
Do-Al[l] Kreatives #49 Hot Drinks
Bugaboo Stamps- Jan Anything Goes

Two years ago I met a talented young artist named Sherry West via her FB page. The images she creates are adorable, so I am always thrilled when I have the chance to add a new one to my collection. This cute digi, called “Friends” was a freebie last month from Kit & Clowder. I used a png version, layered upon the wonderful background from a Paper Shelter digi set then added a flurry of snowflake dies, and a bit of bling with Stickles on the “ice.”  I’m entering this card into several challenges including Simon Says Monday Challenge- Use a New/Unused Product (this is a new digi and the first time I’ve used it), and 2craftycrittercrazies January Challenge (Isn’t the little bunny friend the cutest critter ever?!)        

Supplies: 
·  Digi- Sherry West Art Coloring and Crafts (Friends)
(If you are interested in purchasing this digi, visit Sherry’s FB page HERE and PM her for details. Tell her Kathy Asper sent you!)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Snowy Background- The Paper Shelter Digi Set (Snowboarder Girl)
·   Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Feathered Nest)
·   Inside Sentiment- Craftin Desert Diva (Magical Day)- company no longer in business
·   Snowflakes- Cheery Lynn Designs Die (C146 Snowflakes)
·   Snowflakes- Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set
·   Stickles- Star Dust (on ice)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Use a New/Unused Product     
Incy Wincy Designs- Person (plus sketch and/or blue)   
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #667 Anything Goes
Di’s Digi Stamps- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas   
Pattie's Creations Challenge- #178 Winter Fun  
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- Jan 2021                                      
        Since I’m a DT for QKR (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!

Thank you Doctor Murdy!

In early December, the generous team at Scribbles Designs organized a Special Event to honor health care providers named “Give the Gift of Thanks This Holiday Season!”  They even provided free digis with this note, “… we'd like you to create a card and send it out to a medical professional in your own community who could do with some praise. You could send it to your own doctor or nurse; a family member, friend, or neighbour you know who works in the medical profession; or, you could send it to a group of doctors or nurses in your local hospital. Odds are there is someone out there in the medical field who would be more than happy to receive a card thanking them for all they've done during the last several months.”
I picked the cute Penguin named Brrr (or should I say Dr. Brrr?)  and a wonderful sentiment to create this card, which I’ll be giving to Dr. Murdy, a skilled Internal Medicine Specialist that is helping me navigate this thing called “getting old”!  I added a bit of texture and color with googly eyes and a red plastic index divider sheet.  (These wonderful items- sometimes called document file folders- come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most 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 after tracing shapes on them with a permanent fine-line marker.)

Supplies: 
·   Digi and Inside “Thank You” Sentiment- Scribbles Designs (Brrr HCW2)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Heart scrapbook templates and a scrap of red plastic index divider sheet from my stash
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Scribbles Designs Challenge- Special Event: Give the Gift of Thanks This Holiday Season!
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #470-472 Anything Goes                   
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #667 Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #136  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- Jan 2021                                      
        Since I’m a DT for QKR (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!

I won a recent challenge at Jan’s Digis and this is one of the sets that I picked. It has been so fun to use… and is quickly becoming a favorite! (An added note- it's currently on sale for just $3.) I figured out how to use my free Paint program to layer the png digi of the champagne glasses (just realized they are called flutes) atop a star-filled freebie background image from Polkadoodles. After playing around a bit I figured out how to change the transparency of the digi so that the background text shows through and absolutely LOVE the effect!  I added some shading, highlights, and color to the flutes, then finished off with some bling (framed with silver glitter paper and embellished with a splash of sequins!)
 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Sentiments- Jans Digi Stamps Digital Set (Happy New Year)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Starry Background- Polkadoodles- Free digital bundle (USA 4th July Celebration)
·   Studio Katia Crystal Clear Fusion Sequins Mix
·   “Happy New Year” and “Celebrate” brads and assorted cardstock from my stash
Entered into:
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Celebrate                                     
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #149 Anything Goes (Happy 6^th Birthday!)

        Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), I’d like to be removed from the draw for their prize! 

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- Happy, Happy, Happy (New Year)
Bugaboo Stamps- Jan Anything Goes 
Cute As A Button- Jan: CH #64 Anything Goes (Option) Cheers to You! 

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays 

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- Glitter)

Stamping Sensations- Favorite Stamps

My final card for this posting was created for the current challenge at We Craft Cards titled, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”  The host notes, “When I think of ‘HOME’ I think of cozy or a quiet neighborhood. For this challenge make a card or project reflecting your idea of a home.” My sweet hubby and I have lived in 11 different towns, in two states during our 43 years of marriage. However, one of the most memorable homes we have lived was our first apartment after college. We were offered jobs in a little community with few options except for rentals above the town's main street.  This free coloring sheet named Street* reminds me of that first apartment. I drew attention to the upstairs apartment by coloring the curtains and adding a plant on the balcony. The girl with coffee represents one common theme in any of our homes- coffee! Rich and I are both major coffee lovers.
*To access this coloring sheet, and many other freebies, go to the link in the supplies list below, select download and sign up for access to freebies. One added note-I reduced the size when printing to 5x7 then trimmed it to fit my card front.

Supplies: 
·   Background Image- Favoreads Coloring Sheet (Street)
·   Digi- The Paper Shelter Digi Set (So Casual So Beautiful)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Front Sentiment- Imagine That Digistamps (Bean Thinking About You Alot)
·   Inside Sentiment- Imagine That Digistamps (Latte Birthday Wishes)
·   Tulips on balcony- Fussy cut from a sticker from my scrapbook stash
·   Cloud stationery, vellum scrap (coffee steam) and assorted cardstock from my stash
Entered into: 
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- I’ll Be Home for Christmas
The Paper Shelter- Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs- Person (plus sketch and/or blue)   
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Do-Al[l] Kreatives #49 Hot Drinks