myasperations 6-10-21

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 digi set, named Little Beauties inspired a window card. The cute little mouse is named Ebenezer (I love that Beccy gives all of her characters' names, and the ones she selects always seem to be the perfect fit!)  Since Ebenezer is holding a candle (lit with two small circles of yellow vellum tucked behind the flame), I decided to have him standing outside peeking through the window with a friendly smile and happy “Hello.” I used a precut A2 window card and a night scene cut from an old calendar. The scene was cut to size and adhered to a cardstock flap that I taped to the back of the card. The flap folds behind the card front, where it shows through the window, and opens like a french door, to show the inside sentiment (also from the digi set)  which, fits the scene perfectly.  
PS If you’ve never visited Beccy’s Place, I recommend you take some time to stop by.  You’ll find 224 freebies (at last count) HERE plus can enter Beccy’s monthly challenge (link along the left side of the screen) where she often offers freebies. I got started using digis because of the freebies Beccy provides and if you’ve never used digital images, you might want to give it a try. (I now use digis at least 90% of the time. I love being able to resize, crop, and layer digi images. Plus, they are so easy to store!

Supplies: 
·   Digi and inside sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Little Cuties)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Window Diecut A2 sized card, upcycled calendar page, and other items from my stash
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Create a Scene
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes
 
My second card this post includes another digi image and sentiment from Beccy’s Place. I purchased pansy gift wrap many years ago to wrap a birthday gift for my mom, who loved pansies.  The colorful blooms represent warm, languid summer days to me and make me think of my mom. She had an amazing green thumb and her flower garden and window boxes overflowed with color, bees , and butterflies every year. I trimmed a scrap of the gift wrap to fit within the scalloped edge of a pre-cut A2 card for this card. It was a little tedious, but I love the results when the paper is attached to the card. Two busy little bees, or should I say buzzy little bees, flit among the flowers. In truth, one of them does actually hover above a bloom, compliments of wobble spring that I made with instructions from Pinterest.  I had never made one of these before, but since I haven’t bought any for a while since they seem expensive to frugal me, I decided to give it a try. Although it is more fragile than a store-bought version, it was simple to make very inexpensive. So, I’ll be using this technique again!

Supplies: 
·   Bee Digi- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Bees and Blooms)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- “Spring Is In The Air” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Basic Branches) (retired)
·   Scalloped Die cut A2 card and envelope- Michaels Crafts
·   Instructions for Action Wobble Springs can be found on the web. I like THIS ONE.
·   A scrap of floral gift wrap and other items/supplies from my stash.
Entered into: 
The Paper Shelter- Flower Power
Double D’s Challenge- Bee Insired 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #495-496 Anything Goes                   
Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- Something that Flies

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #92 (Optional Twist- Try Something New)

Beccy’s Place Challenge- June  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
 
Last month, I had so much fun creating a Biker vest-shaped card (see it HERE)  that I used the template I’d made to create a cowboy vest shape card for my brother’s birthday. I traced the shape onto a scrap of vinyl wallpaper that looks like hand-tooled leather! (I found a small roll of this treasure at a thrift shop a few decades ago and sadly have a limited amount of it left. So I save the scraps for special items like this shape card.)  I attempted to add even more realism to the vest with silver brad buttons, a deputy’s badge (made with a shiny silver star brad and a scrap of aluminum foil, hand “tooled” with a tiny stylus), flap pockets, and hand-sketched stitching. The denim collar and bandana were created with scraps from a We Are Three set of digi paper named, appropriately, Howdy Cowboy!  
(Note- My brother, Mike, is retired. For several years, he and my sister-in-law have spent their summers working at an old west tourist attraction in Montana. COVID pretty much decimated everyone’s travel plans last summer, so they are excited to be heading “out West” again later this month. He is nearing his 7th decade birthday this fall and I have a feeling he'll love this!)
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Incy Wincy Designs (I used kraft paper as the base for this card created for my brother), and Outlawz Sunday Challenge- The World Cup (a poem by Ilene Bauer notes that not everyone likes to watch soccer, some prefer reading or watching a show. I fall into that last group… and really enjoy watching shoot ‘em up Westerns with my sweet hubby!)

Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Inside Sentiment- Papercrafts Magazine Freebie (no longer available)
·   Shirt color and bandana created using We Are Three papers (Howdy Cowboy)
·   Vest pattern created by moi! (inspired by some Pinterest and web searching)
·   Kraft cardstock, vinyl wallpaper, “button” brads, silver star brad, and other items/supplies from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- For Him)
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- The World Cup
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Make with Scraps 
Incy Wincy Designs- For the Men And/Or Use Kraft Card Or Paper 
Di’s Digi Stamps- Show Sparkle
Cute As A Button- June: CH #69 Anything Goes + (Option) Add Buttons
Pixie's Snippets-Week #404

myasperations 6-9-21

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 a digi from Cute As A Button named Soccer Pro. The stripes in a scrap of patterned paper inspired my color scheme for the handsome athlete’s uniform and gear. The silver heart stickers helped to give the card a celebratory feeling.  

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button (Soccer Pro)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- Create with TLC Freebie (You Are Awesome )
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Silver Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- The World Cup
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Cute As A Button- June: CH #69 Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Studios- #39 Boys to Men (Male themed) 

The last challenge at wecraftcards was called Modern Living and required a card that featured shapes and textures. When cleaning my craft space I found a handmade Asian paper doll that I made a few weeks ago and decided to make her the focal point of my card. My card also includes several textures- torn paper edge (inside), smooth gold paper and photo corners, glossy upcycled card front (Asian-looking foliage), gold origami paper, and vellum.  Plus there are many shapes including rectangles, squares, triangles, and one large half-circle of elegant gold. (I found a stencil for this Asian decorative symbol at a thrift shop many years ago. I traced a portion of it on textured gold paper, fussy-cut, and then laminated it to prevent tearing.)  The torn paper on the inside is from an old book I picked up at a thrift store that I've had in my craft files for a few decades.

Supplies: 
·   Asian Paper Doll Pattern found HERE.
·   Inside Sentiment- from my scrapbook stash (unknown source)
·   Pioneer Gold Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Cardstock, Asian Decorative Symbol stencil, and other items from my stash.
Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Modern Living
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #159 Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #23 Anything Goes                      
Bugaboo Stamps- June Week 1 Anything Goes  

myasperations 6-4-21

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 Twistoon and I’m sharing a fun card that features a digi named George Gnome Ice Cream. I colored the cute little gnome with Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen.  I added depth by fussy-cutting an extra set of sunglasses, nose and tongue, then layered them onto his face with foam tape. A smooth texture was added to the ice cream with Liquid Pearls and white photo corners help highlight the sweet image. 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Twistoon (George Gnome Ice Cream).
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- LoveSVG Freebie (Summer Chillin’)
·   Inside Sentiment- TlcCreations (Lifes Hard Ice Cream Helps)
·   Liquid Pearls-White Opal
·   White photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Incy Wincy Designs- For Baby and/or Balloons or Sweets
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Masculine
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes

I was thrilled last year when Kris Breach, artist/owner of Imagine That Digistamps started offering monthly challenges again! I served on Kris’ DT before she took some time off and I always enjoyed working with her… and creating with her wonderful artwork.  She now offers Progressive Challenge each month. The May digi set with its kite and cute critters really helped me move from winter to Spring!
I used an old stencil, decorative chalks and a sponge to create the grass and sky.
PS- The June Progressive Challenge set, named Lawn Ranger, is perfect for Father’s Day. It is now available and includes six outline images and four colored, plus eleven (Yes… ELEVEN!) sentiments for just $4.50. If you enter a card into this month’s challenge using any digis and sentiments from the set, you’ll get next month's digi set for free! But hurry, the challenge ends on the 31st. Check here for details! 
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity “Change Your Environment” (To me, flying a kite makes me think of the wonderful song from Mary Poppins, and my spirits soar “up to the highest heights”!)

Supplies: 
·   Digi and sentiment- Imagine That Digi Set (Go Fly A Kite)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Sky and Grass created with Decorated Chalks a makeup sponge and an All Night Media stencil (no longer available)
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #493-494 Anything Goes                   
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #91 (Optional Twist- Change Your Environment)
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #22 Anything Goes                     
Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- Something that Flies
 
My final card this post features a cute, magical unicorn from Bugaboo. I originally printed the clouds onto white cardstock to fit a 4.25 x 5.5 inches- landscape layout. I added a wispy look to the clouds with a layer of vellum, trimmed to size. Then colored and fussy-cut the unicorn, and perched the little cutie upon the clouds with foam tape. After deciding the background looked too white… so I decided to trim the card along the right side and adhered this smaller card onto a 4.25 x 5.5-inch rectangle of starry paper.  I added the sentiments, then fussy-cut stars from the paper to sprinkle some added color around the card front and inside.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Bugaboo (Unicorn Set) 
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Card fold- Variation of a Joy Fold Card.
·   Stickles- Star Dust (on Unicorn mane, tail, horn and hooves.)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #158 Anything Goes              
Bugaboo Stamps- May Week 3 Anything Goes  
Di’s Digi Stamps- Show Sparkle
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

myasperations 5-30-21

It’s the first of the month which means it’s time for a challenge at QKR Stampede which is always “Anything Goes” and several prizes are awarded. Stop by the challenge and maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself?
My DT card features a sentiment in elegant calligraphy, layered atop beautiful vintage-looking sheet music. The Treble Clef die is a perfect embellishment, especially when backed with a piece of a burgundy plastic index divider sheet cut into a heart shape.  (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.)

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge- (B&W and cream, with a touch of burgundy and lots of musical “Spots!) and Path Of Positivity Challenge (Change Your Environment- music is one way that I change my frame of mind. I especially like classical guitar, 70’s Rock and Christmas music anytime of the year!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (God Give us Music) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Music Patterned paper- Hobby Lobby
·   Die- CAS-ual Friday Stamps  (Heart Note Dies) 
·   Cardstock, scrapbook template, and a scrap of plastic index divider sheet from my stash

Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #493-494 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #91 (Optional Twist- Change Your Environment)
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge   
        Since I’m a DT for Eureka/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Since it’s the first of the month it’s also sharing my DT card for the June Sheepski Designs Challenge. This month’s theme is “Layer It Up.” I used a unique digi appropriately named Happy Birthday and love that the balloon strings spell out the sentiment! The balloons are lightly colored with alcohol markers in layers of pastel colors to look translucent, then a bit more realism is added with white gel pen highlights. I framed the scene with a few mats of colored cardstock and added a bit of texture with the sheer ribbon bow.
PS Stop by the Sheepski blog to learn more about the monthly challenges and have a chance to win some wonderful digis created by artist Andrea Norris!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Happy Birthday)   
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Cloudy Sky background scrapbook paper- Freebie from HERE 
·   Sheer black dotted swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 

Incy Wincy Designs- For Baby and/or Balloons or Sweets 

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 688- Anything Goes

Bugaboo Stamps- May Week 3 Anything Goes  

My final card features a sweet digi image from Cute As A Button’s May Progressive Challenge. I printed the digi on pasted striped paper, then used a technique called spotlighting to focus attention on the pensive clown, which I colored with markers and a white gel pen. I wasn’t sure what sentiment to use, so dug through my file of sentiments until I found this funny “worky” one that seemed like the perfect fit. (It is from a blog that offers lots of fun, and sometimes snarky, sentiments that are all FREE!) I hand-lettered the “hello” on the front of the card in a similar font.

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday: The World Cup (I choose the line in the poem about watching anything else but sports on TV. I love shows with  clowns and magicians… or anything with detectives, who sometimes seem like magicians!) 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button digital stamp (In A State of Sadness)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- “Hello ”(Hand-Lettered)
·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Ginger’s House (I’m Not Feeling Very Worky Today)
·    Instructions for Spotlight Technique can be found HERE
·   Cardstock and patterned paper from my stash
Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- The World Cup

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #22 Anything Goes                     

Besties Challenge- June Anything Goes

Cute As A Button-MeWe Progressive Freebie Challenge #48 In A State of Sadness

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 go-to sites for unique sentiments.
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
·   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