Saturday, July 31, 2021

myasperations 7-31-21

I haven’t entered any cards into the Sketch N Scrap challenge for a bit, but I really like the two July sketches so made some time today to create two cards.
The first sketch works perfectly with some items from my Patriotic collection of digis, dies and more. I especially enjoyed using a Star Border die that I’ve only used once before and love that I didn’t have to get my star punches out since the small stars from the border worked perfectly!   
Supplies: 

·   Patriotic Eagle digi- a Freebie from Create with TLC (no longer available)

·   Colored with Crayola fine line markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment- upcycled from an old card in my Stampin’ Up! collection

·   Inside Sentiment- Happy 4th of July from a Polkadoodles set

·   Star Border Die- Marianne Design

·   Star stencil/template and all other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Sketch N Scrap-Card Sketch #197     
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #501-502 Anything Goes      
              
I’d created a cute Christmas tag with a sticker assortment that a friend recently gave me, and when I saw that the second sketch features a tag I quickly put it to use!  Ribbons and assorted dies, plus some patterned paper helped pull the brightly colored card together. Fun!
Supplies: 

·   Front tag sentiment and Red Boots- EchoPark’s A Cozy Christmas Element Sticker Set

·   Inside Sentiment- “Merry” from Stampin Up! Thinlits Expressions Dies (retired set)

·   Snowflakes- Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set

·   Scraps of ribbon (satin, sheer, lime green velvet and printed HoHoHo) and assorted papers from my stash.

Entered into: 
Sketch N Scrap-Card Sketch #198   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #553 AG
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- Dies and/or Punches)
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Cute Card ThursdayChallenge 690- Anything Goes

Friday, July 30, 2021

myasperations 7-30-21

It’s Friday and time for the Colour Crazy Challenge which is “Anything Goes” but 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 Sheepski Designs and my DT card features a yummy digi image named Birthday Cocktail. I colored the colorful drink with Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen. A variation of a Z-fold card plus photo corners, and circle sentiment from my scrapbook stash finish the festive card!  
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge- TicTacToe (Top Row- white photo corners on the inside resemble the white hearts, card features a beverage, and includes a rainbow of colors.)      
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Birthday Cocktail)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.
·   Inside Sentiment from my scrapbook stash.
·   Yellow photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Double D’s Challenge- Colors of Summer        
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- (TicTacToe)      
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Add Spots or Stripes
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- July                        

I was thrilled 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 July digi set named We Three Mice is a perfect fit for all the wonderful Christmas in July challenges occurring right now. It contains four line digis, one colored digi and five sentiments for just $3.25. 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! 
For my card I used a Z-fold base, galaxy paper and torn cardstock. I colored the images with markers and gel pens. A few crown stickers and assorted rhinestones add bling and luster to the royal trio and the Christmas star!
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Incy Wincy Designs (there is the sparkle of the Christmas star, Kings crowns and gems, plus the sparkling night sky resembles glitter!)  
Supplies: 
·   Digi and sentiments from the Imagine That Digi set (We Three Mice)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.
·   Galaxy background cardstock- Hobby Lobby
·   Sparkly Crown Stickers- Hobby Lobby and JoAnne’s
·   Cardstock and assorted gems from my stash
Entered into:  
Imagine That Blog Progressive Challenge- July     
Christmas Craft Creations challenge- July Anything Goes        
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #552 AG
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #162 Christmas in July
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Incy Wincy Designs- Sparkly/Glitter  
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #501-502 Anything Goes           
         

Thursday, July 29, 2021

myasperations 7-29-21

Outlawz’ July Progressive Freebie Challenge features Fabrika Fantasy’ image named “Red Panda.” I colored the sweet image, using photos of Red Panda’s I found on the web as my guide. I decided not to add a sentiment at this time but am thinking it will go to one of my nieces who is exploring a career as a veterinarian tech. She loves all things furry!
Supplies: 
·   Fabrika Fantasy Red Panda from the Animal Kingdom Coloring Book (available HERE)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Progressive Freebie- July Fabrika Fantasy Red Panda
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- July 2021       
                              
I always plan a special card to enter in the monthly Rudolph Days Challenge. I like to use kraft brown paper when I make gingerbread houses and people as they don’t require much coloring and look great with white gel “frosting.” This card features sentiment and sweet gingerbread men digis (printed on kraft cardstock in two different sizes) from a Beccy’s Place digi set. A few scraps of cardstock and patterned papers from my stash help add a festive bit of color to the card.
Supplies: 
·   Digis and “Christmas” sentiment from Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Gingerbread Wishes)
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   All other items from my stash
Entered into: 
Rudolph Days Challenge- July 
Beccy’s Place Challenge- July  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Digi Doodle Studios- #40 Christmas In July 
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #162 Christmas in July
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #552 AG
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- July    
                    
After making the gingerbread card I decided it was time for coffee. (Although I wish that I had some real cookies to enjoy with my cuppa!) I remember making a slider coffee cup card several years ago and checked my blog to see if I could find a photo of it. BINGO! I did HERE. With a bit of experimentation, I was able to make one now with the cute little “pull” tag.. (Only after I was done, did I search the web for a tutorial and template. I found a few that I’ll share in the Supplies section below. They might be helpful to you now… and to me in the future when I want to make one of these cards again!) The sweet little coffee cup perched on the cards belly band is from a very old Stampin' Up! set. I stamped the cup on a scrap of patterned papers and stamped just the little heart-shaped whiff of steam that rises from the coffee image on a scrap of red paper. The front sentiment is from an Echo Park paper pad, the inside sentiment is computer-generated and the brown bellyband was upcycled from a real coffee cup. 
Supplies: 
·   Pull-top coffee cup- Free template HERE and video tutorial  HERE (or you can buy a Silhouette coffee cup gift card set  HERE ) 
·   Small stamped Coffee Cup and Saucer- Stampin’ Up! Set (retired)
·   Front Sentiment from an Echo Park 6x6 paper pack-Coffee
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Corrugated belly-band upcycled from a Caribou Coffee take-out cup
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #501-502 Anything Goes     

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

myasperations 7-27-21

I was asked to be a Guest DT at Outlawz Tuesday Color TicTacToe Challenge, and love that the opportunity introduced me to a company named Free Pretty Things For You (FPTFY), which offers a treasure trove of patterned papers, and many of them are free! The one on these two cards is from a set of papers that I received free after registering as a FREE member (where I can download one free item a day.)  This set is now available only to people that upgrade to Premium Membership (where they can pick up to 10 items per day!)

Step 1- I had fun with this beautiful Rose digi, positioning two on a sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock. I recolored one of the digis in greyscale before running the paper through my printer.
                         
Step 2- I colored the rose spray on the left side of the paper (A) with markers and the one on the right side (B) with chalks. I added highlights to both with a white gel pen. After coloring, I cut the page into four A2 sized card fronts, 
trimmed the sections down, adhered them atop colored cardstock rectangles before adding a die-cut sentiment, puffy heart sticker and photo corners.
         

The first card below was created with the section of the left side labeled A (markers provide bright and bold coloring.)

This one was created with the section of the right side labeled B (chalks offer a softer, vintage look to the coloring.)

My cards were influenced by the diagonal of the TicTacToe- (upper left- hearts), (middle-pink flowers), (lower right- leaves).
     
 
Supplies: 
·   Rose Images- from FPTFY Digital Paper named Shabby Pink Rose
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Colored with Decorative Chalks and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- Happy Birthday trimmed from Cottage Cutz Cupcake Die
·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)
·   Other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #501-502 Anything Goes                   
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #30 Anything Goes                     
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
 
This patriotic card features a beautiful image named “Veteran’s Day Parade” from Cute As A Button’s July Progressive Challenge. I colored the beautiful lady with red, white and blue plus the card front and inside sentiment also have a bit of bling, thanks to silver holographic star stickers. (Being a die-hard up cycler, I even made extra outline stars by fussy-cutting around the star shape left in the silver backing after removing the sticker. A little tedious, but I love the look of these delicate- and FREE- stars!)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button (Veteran’s Day Parade)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Holographic Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Inside Sentiment - Eureka Digital Stamp (Celebrate with a Bang
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Cardstock, patterned papers, and other items from my stash.
Entered into
Incy Wincy Designs- Red/White/Blue and/or Sparkly/Glitter  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- July                        
Cute As A Button- July: CH #70 Anything Goes
Cute As A Button-MeWe Progressive Freebie Challenge- Veteran’s Day Parade
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Add Spots or Stripes

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

myasperations 7-19-21

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 yummy digi from Hetty Clair  named “Chocoholic.A checked paper napkin provides a shout of color and a nice base to reinforce the food theme. The sentiment, a freebie, adds a bit of snark to the card. (Heh heh!)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Hetty Claire Digi Stamp (Chocoholic)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiment- Freebie from Ginger’s House (I scream… Ice cream)
·   Red checked paper napkin- from our local Dollar Store
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Food and/or Drink
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #29 Anything Goes                      
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
The Paper Shelter- Anything Goes

I decided to use another of the red plaid napkins on a card, this time to add some contrast to a Christmas card featuring a journal card from my scrapbook stash, computer-generated sentiment (inside), a flurry of die-cut snowflakes and a generous sprinkling of bling with Stickles! A Z-fold is so easy to make and adds a bit of flair to a card, you can find a link to instructions in the supply list. (Please note- I flipped the orientation of the paper to accommodate the size of the front panel.)
I’m entering this card into several Christmas in July challenges, plus Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- (I used a Lawn Fawn snowflake set available from Simon Says shop!) 
  
                                    ``    
                                    
Supplies: 
·   Journaling Card from my scrapbook stash
·   Red checked paper napkin- from our local Dollar Store
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated (source unknown)
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.
·  White photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Snowflakes- Cheery Lynn Designs Die (C146 Snowflakes)

·   Snowflakes- Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set (from Simon Says Stamps)

·   Stickles- Star Dust (dotted amid the snowflakes)
·   Inside music sheet paper- Hobby Lobby 
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Out with the Old In with the New
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #501-502 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #551 AG  (Optional Twist- Die Cut)
Christmas Craft Creations challenge- July Anything Goes    
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #162 Christmas in July
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday
Di’s Digi Stamps- Christmas in July