myasperations 8-22-21

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called the "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires the use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The August Challenge is named "Cats/Dogs.” I dug through my stash and found several stamps that would work. Decided upon this one named “Celebrating Kitty” from Eureka stamps mostly because it was one of my mom’s favorites when we used to stamp together.
Sadly, this is the final Twofer Challenge. Since I always found it exciting to come up with ideas on ways to think outside of the box with my stamps, I plan to occasionally do some of these challenges on my own. This will not only challenge me to save money by “extending” my stamps it will also honor the originator of the challenge, Darnell. (Thanks so much, my friend! Enjoy some quality family time and I hope our paths occasionally cross in blog-land.)  

Supplies: 

·  Rubber Stamp- Eureka (Celebrating Kitty) Also available in digital or cling-mounted
Entered into:  
Twofer Card Challenge- #41 Cat/Dog
Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes (#69 August)

My first Twofer card features the kitty celebrating a birthday. I stamped the kitty off the bottom of the card front, to allow more room for the sentiment and balloons. Then added some shape and texture to him with a few markers and a white gel pen. (I especially like the way his pink paw pads turned out!) The balloons were created with a circle template and scraps of plastic index divider sheets. (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 black permanent fine-line marker.) The balloons are attached to the front sentiment with small pieces of double-stick tape, then the strings and bows were added with the permanent fine-line marker. The inside is decorated with a computer-generated sentiment, banners made with paper scraps, and a little cat paw print stamp that I’ve had for at least two decades!
I’m entering the card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge (my card includes three of the colors in the inspiration photo of Turkish Agate, plus the markings/veins in the background paper resemble a different type of rock- marble!)      

Supplies: 
·   Rubber Stamp- Eureka (Celebrating Kitty) Also available in digital or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment from We Are 3 Digi Set (Birthday Wishes)
·   Paw Print- Wood Mount from Stampendous (retired)
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Cardstock, circle template, scraps of plastic index divider sheets, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #505-506 Anything Goes                   
Besties Challenge- August Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Happy Birthday
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- (Turkish Agate)       
       Since I’m a DT for QKR/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!

My other Twofer card features the kitty doing a happy “back-to-school” dance! I dug into my scrapbooking stash, which provided many school-themed items to add to my creation. The little sentiment tag is from a website that provides dozens of back-to-school tags and gift ideas for teachers plus so much more… and most are free! After putting the card together I felt like it was missing something. After thinking of options… I finally hit upon the answer. Googly eyes! And TaDa… done!

Supplies: 
·   Rubber Stamp- Eureka (Celebrating Kitty) Also available in digital or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Puffy Stickers- School themed from EK Success Sticko Brand  
·   Front Sentiment- LOTS of Back to School (and other) Freebies HERE
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Tiny Googly eyes- Hobby Lobby
·   School themed paper, Yellow Pencil, and scissor sticker from my scrapbook stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Add A Sentiment
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 691- Anything Goes
Createful Heart Designs- Challenge #35 (August)
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

My final card for this posting is for another of my favorite challenges called the Butterfly Challenge. Each challenge includes a specific creative fold as one of the themes, but the sponsor, Mrs. A, provides easy-to-follow instructions that are really helpful. The current creative fold is a Rocker Card… and I love that Mrs. A offered instructions for several options.  With the help of a brightly colored butterfly, upcycled from a plastic gift bag, my card includes all three colors (pink and blue in the butterfly wings and Green/Sage dotted paper) and all the themes (Rocker Card, Ribbon and a Butterfly.)  I added texture to the card with a swirl embossing folder on the cardstock scrap that frames the Beccy’s Place sentiment. Texture was also added to the beauty's body, head and antennae by looping and knotting thin black grosgrain ribbon. It took a little glue on the underside to hold all the sections in place, but I like the way it worked out! I added a close-up photo of the butterfly to show these fun details.

Supplies:
·   Butterfly- Upcycled from plastic Gift Bag
·   Rocker Card Instructions, Version I from HERE
·   Sentiment “You Are One of My Life’s Blessings”” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Spring Tulips) Also available in cling-mounted
·   Swirly Patterned vellum, thin black grosgrain ribbon and cardstock from my stash.
·   Embossing folder- Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl
Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #160 R is for Rocker Card    
Incy Wincy Designs- Use a Card Fold Tutorial and/or Animals  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Beccy’s Place Challenge- August  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #93 (Optional Twist- Enjoy Nature)
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Dry Embossing
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes