myasperations 4-30-21

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 Imagine That Digital Stamps, and I’m sharing a birthday card that features a fun digi image and sentiment from a set named Rocky’s Stonemobile. I didn’t have any prehistoric-themed paper but hope that this photo I took of storm clouds a few years ago looks a bit like volcano smoke (especially after I stamped trees to cover the telephone poles that were visible in the photo!) The shouts of color were added with washi tape, which also helped create a birthday banner inside.

Supplies: 
·   Digi image and inside sentiment- Imagine That Digital Stamps set (Rocky’s Stonemobile)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Cloud photo, washi tape, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

The Paper Shelter- #467 A Birthday Card

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #684 Party
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #18 Anything Goes                       
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday   

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

When cleaning my garage a few weeks ago I found instructions to make a Hidden Message Accordion Card, and one of the cards put together but not stamped and completed. I taught classes at a rubber stamp store I co-owned with a friend back in the ’90s in South Dakota and this was a popular class. The card is actually pretty easy to make and has a great WOW factor. Two solid wood-mount stamps. a few juicy ink pads, and rose “masks” stamped on post-its and fussy-cut, assisted me in layering the beautiful roses onto the cards' many surfaces. I stamped additional leaves and roses on scrap paper to cover a few “oopses” in my stamping, then added a few computer-generated sentiments and a butterfly sticker finish the card.

(A photo shows how I save masks for future use by rubberbanding them to the wood stamps.) I also know that I have little “instructions for find the hidden messages” tags that I used to add to these cards when I sent them. So… I’ll either find a copy or make new ones to use before I mail this. I took a photo of the instructions to be able to share them with you. They really are easy to make. Try it!  (One caution- I sometimes have a hard time remembering which fold will hold the hidden message. For that reason, I seldom stamp the sentiment right onto this card. Instead, to save the frustration of oopsies, I attach them when the card is finished so I can make sure I have everything correct!) 

I'm entering this card into several challenges, including The Butterfly Challenge (it features one of the colors- moss green and one of the themes-butterfly.) 

 

Supplies: 

·   Rose and leaf wood mount stamps- Posh Impressions (company is no longer in business)

·   Colored with ink pads from my stash

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #156 M is for Mini Miura Fold    
Incy Wincy Designs Colours Of Spring 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #489-490 Anything Goes                   
The Sisterhood of Crafters- How Does Your Garden Grow?
Createful Heart Designs- Challenge #31 (April)

asperations 4-28-21

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 cute little critter from Patties Creations that just begs to grace the front of a baby card!  Computer-generated sentiments, a few punched stars and a scrap of ribbon join in the fun of welcoming a new little one. So sweet!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Patties Creations (Pattie Boops Giraff)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Circle template and small star punch from my scrapbook stash
·   All other items from my cardmaking stash.

Entered into: 
The Paper Shelter- #467 A Birthday Card
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #489-490 Anything Goes                   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Pattie's Creations Challenge- #181 Birthday (April)

My second card features a sweet digi image from Cute As A Button’s current Progressive Challenge named Sailor Girl. The card base is made with an A2 sized card in a pretty grey marbled paper that I've had in my stash for a while. It is from a set of wedding invitations that I found on clearance somewhere for a great price... and couldn't resist!  It looks a little sea-salty, don’t you think? The sentiment is from a blog that offers lots of fun, funny and sometimes snarky sentiments that are FREE!

     

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button (Sailor Girl) 
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiment- Freebie from Kellie Winnell (I Need Me Some Vitamin Sea) 
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Silver Puffy Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cute As A Button- April: CH #67 Anything Goes
Cute As A Button-MeWe Progressive Freebie Challenge #47 Sailor Girl
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Besties Challenge- April Anything Goes

I recently stumbled upon a wonderful website that provides dozens of templates for paper projects that range from creative to ingenious. I saved many of them to my laptop for later use… but chose to use one of them to make a card for the current Butterfly Challenge. (which I posted yesterday.) I realized that I could use the second photo on the template to create a second card. This time I used the instructions on the Butterfly Challenge blot to create this Mini-Miura Fold card (which is a new fold for me!)
My card features all three of the required colors (Marigold, Misty Moss, and Maroon) and all three themes (metal charm, fold, and butterfly.) The card went together easily mostly with scraps of patterned papers and ribbon and the belly band adds a unique touch to the card. Plus, I was able to use a few sentiments from a fun digi set from Polka Dot Orchard that I won at the recent Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

Supplies: 
·   Colored Butterfly Digi- Freebie from The Toymaker (Heart Butterfly)
·   Additional coloring added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers
·   Instructions for Mini-Miura Fold are provided HERE
·   Inside Sentiment- Polka Dot Orchard Digi Set (Younger Than Tomorrow)
·   Satin ribbon, gold charm, patterned paper, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Butterfly Challenge- #156 M is for Mini Miura Fold    
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Daisy Time
Incy Wincy Designs Colours Of Spring

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April  

Pixie's Snippets-Week #401

myasperations 4-26-21

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 April digi set really warms my heart as it makes me think of my mom. She loved cute animals and this little bunny would have made her smile. Her name was Rose, and since this digi set includes a rose, a rose sentiment, and a Happy Mother’s Day sentiment I knew that I just had to make a Mom’s Day Card in her honor. The scrap of velvet ribbon and vintage lace are from my Mom’s craft stash, which I inherited when she passed away 15 years ago.  I miss her, especially when I’m in my craft room as we were stamping buddies for almost a decade.
PS- The April Progressive Challenge set includes one outline digi and one colored, plus five sentiments for just $2.99. And if you enter a card into this month’s challenge, 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 TIME OUT Challenge- Pets (we had several bunnies as pets during my childhood, but they were never allowed on the table, much less in a teacup!)

Supplies: 
·   Digi and Sentiments- Imagine That Digi Stamp Set (Teacup Bunny)  
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Blue Striped paper- Freebie from thecraftblog (Springtime Printable Paper Assortment)
·   Velvet ribbon, lace, rosebud paper and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Imagine That Blog Progressive Challenge- April (Teacup Bunny)             
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #156 Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #487-488 Anything Goes                   
TIME OUT Challenge- #186 Pets                                                                      
Jan’s Digi Stamps- April 2021 Anything Goes    

I recently stumbled upon a wonderful website that provides dozens of templates for paper projects that range from creative to ingenious. I saved many of them to my laptop for later use… but chose to use one of them to make a card for the current Butterfly Challenge. The template comes precolored, so with just a little fussy-cutting and folding you can create a butterfly with wings that actually flutter! I plan to add a tag that gives instructions to push/pull the levers- or move them gently up and down- to move the wings. Since May is a week away, I decided to make this into another Mother’s Day Card with a computer-generated sentiment on the inside.
(I also provided a photo of the pdf- after adding a watermark-to help me offer a few things I learned when putting the butterfly together. Fold the wings along the dotted lines, slide the “lever” on the left wing into the slit along the left side of the butterfly’s body then bring it up into the slit along the left edge of the heart shape. Repeat this process for the right wing and the remaining slits. Attach the butterfly heart to the front of a card with foam tape allowing room for the levers to move freely.)   
My card features two of the required colors for the current Butterfly Challenge (Misty Moss and Maroon) and two themes (metal work that surrounds the gem and through which the ribbon for his body is threaded and butterfly.)

Supplies: 

·   Colored Butterfly Digi- Freebie from The Toymaker (Heart Butterfly)
·   Additional coloring added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Cardstock, patterned paper, green gem brad and black ribbon from my stash.
Entered into:  The Toymaker Heart Butterfly
Butterfly Challenge- #156 M is for Mini Miura Fold                     
Incy Wincy Designs Colours Of Spring
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #17 Anything Goes                      
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                       

I wanted to make a card to enter in this month's Rudolph Challenge especially because I love the prize that Mo is offering this month (a die that I've wanted for like EVER!!) I also wanted to make a card for the wecraftcards forum Monday Challenge that required a fun-fold card so I decided to make a tri-fold Christmas card.  This pair of cute digis from Knitty Kitty (SantaPaws and one of his crew) plus a meowy fun sentiment are sure to bring a smile to my cat lovin’ brothers face next Christmas! (Plus, I can now enter the current Path Of Positivity Challenge that has the optional twist "Share a Laugh.") 

 

Supplies: 

·   Digis- Knitty Kitty Digis (Build a Snow Scene Quartet 2)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Tri-fold Card Video- Tutorial HERE
·   Front Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Meowy Christmas) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  Knitty Kitty Digis SantaPaws,
Rudolph Days Challenge- April   
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Fun Fold (Tri-Fold)
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #90 (Optional Twist- Share a Laugh)

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes #65
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #538 Anything Goes
Di’s Digi Stamps- Animals Acting like Humans
CCC Digi Creations- #124 Include an Animal
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Myasperations-April Twofer

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called the "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The April Challenge is "Leaves.” After a bit of thought, I decided to use one of my favorite stamp sets. Named “Decorative Grapes” from Stampin’ Up, it is actually one of the first stamp sets I ever bought way back in 1996!  

Supplies: 
·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
Entered into: 

Twofer Card Challenge- #37 Leaves

My first card features the leaves, draped on vines heavy laden with luscious bunches of grapes… which inspired the computer-generated sentiment on the inside. A die-cut greeting on the front, some stenciling plus a matching envelope and “TaDa”… done!

 

Supplies: 

·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
·   Stamp Pads- Dark Green and Burgundy from my stash
·   Love Die- Stampin Up Thinlits Expressions Dies (Retired)
·   Stripes Stencil- Printworks (No longer available)
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Stencil sponge, cardstock, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #683 Green
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #17 Anything Goes                      
Createful Heart Designs- Challenge #31 (April)
STAMPlorations- Stencil Challenge (April)  
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #170-Anything Goes 

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (April- Stamps and Curves)

Although I’ve had this stamp set for several decades the labels for the leaves and grapes are well worn, I’d never used the flower stamp. So I did some research and decided that it looked like a Trumpet flower, which comes in many colors. I loved the bright orange ones…so used that color palette. When I discovered that hummingbirds are attracted to Trumpet flowers, I dug through my stash and found a hummingbird image on an old postcard, fussy-cut and added it to the inside of the card with foam tape (so it appears to be "hovering"!)

Also, the base card is a pretty grey marbled paper that I've had in my stash for a while. It is from a set of wedding invitations that I found on clearance somewhere for a great price... and couldn't resist!  It looks wonderful with this stamp set and has a marbled envelope, too. 

Supplies: 
·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
·   Stamp Pads- Sage Green and Yellow from my stash
·   Additional color, shading and highlights added to flowers and leaves with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Hummingbird upcycled from an old card
·   Cardstock and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Incy Wincy Designs Colours Of Spring
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Mellow Yellow
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Thinking of You)
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Do-Al[l] Kreatives #52 Spring
 
I wanted to make another card for the Double D’s “April Showers” challenge and decided on a rainbow and sweet Bugaboo unicorn. The beautiful “watercolored” rainbow was created with a free digi, a wet paintbrush and instructions that I found HERE When dry, I gently tore along the arch of the rainbow and also tore several fluffy clouds from white cardstock before adhering everything to the card base which is a simplified version of a Z-fold card (using a 8.5 x 11-inch piece of scrapbook paper that looks like watercolored sky and the first two steps of the tutorial noted in the supplies section below.)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Bugaboo (Unicorn Set) 
·   Z-Fold Card Tutorial HERE
·   Inside Sentiments- Simply Crafts 171-Bonus sentiment downloads found HERE  
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cupcake Inspirations- Challenge #517   Theme- Pastels    (photo)
Double D’s Challenge- April Showers  (anything with water)   
Bugaboo Stamps- April Week Three Anything Goes  
CCC Digi Creations- #124 Include an Animal
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                       
Digi Doodle Studios- #37 Include an Animal