myasperations 9-26-21

Seems like forever since I’ve posted… but I have a good reason. Over the last month I’ve written one grant, completed two large grant reports, one grant audit, one grant close-out, and one program audit. Whew!  So far this month I’ve written one state grant and after just finishing a 72-hour workweek, am finishing the second (and last for a while) grant this weekend. Whew again!

All of this has made me behind in posting cards for one of my DT responsibilities… so want to get those here before I finish the grant because I have a feeling I will then crash and burn!! (Plus, I want to share my cards made with these amazing images!) So here goes-

I am honored to have been a Guest Designer for Beccy Muir at Beccy’s Place and now serves as one of Beccy’s  “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 and sentiments is from a just-released set named One fine Day. I loved coloring this sweet joey image (and love that is not the little cuties name… it is what baby kangaroos are called. Ahhh!) To make him look fuzzy, I first colored the little kangaroo with a few shades of brown decorative chalks on cardstock, applied with my fingers, and a Q-tip. Then I added a little tan shading with an alcohol marker. Lastly, I tapped the alcohol blender marker on top of the chalks and shading to create the texture. So fun!) The sunflower background was created with a recipe card that I stumbled across at a local charity shop. A little touch of white gel pen makes the blooms pop!

I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Outlawz  Monday Greeting Challenge (I emphasized the circles in the sunflowers), plus Path Of Positivity Challenge (my daily quiet time always involves thinking about the people and things for which I’m thankful. God's amazing creations- including sunsets, flowers, and the changing of seasons- plus family and friends are always at the top of that list!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiment- Beccy’s Place digi set (One Fine Day)

·   Colored with chalks, a few Spectrum Noir Classique markers (including blender), Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, and Sharpie black permanent fine-line marker

·   Sunflower recipe card found in a local thrift shop.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Circle/Circles
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #38 Anything Goes                     
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge#94 (Optional Twist- Meditate/Quiet Time)
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 692- Anything Goes (Optional Birthdays)

This is another card made for  Beccy’s Place this time, the digi set, named Splish Splash, is one of Beccy’s encore sets, which means it’s been part of her collection for a while but is also an old favorite and so deserves to be highlighted! Since it is actually one of my favorites, too. I printed one of the umbrella digis onto rainbow stationery paper, printed, then trimmed it to fit onto an easel card. I used one of the sentiments from the digi set on the inside (bottom) of the card, then finished the card by fussy-cutting umbrellas from a sheet of spring stationery and adhering them to gently float along the edges of the sentiment.

Supplies: 
·   Digi and sentiment- Beccy’s Place digi set (Splish Splash)
·  Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

·  Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Rainbow and umbrella stationery and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #509-510 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            
Cute As A Button- August: CH #72 Anything Goes + (Option) Lots of Layers
Incy Wincy Designs- Rainbow/Multicolour (4 or more colours)

I bought this digi from Impression Obsession last year and had colored itbut  not made it into a card. So I took a little break from grant writing to use the colored image to create an unusual birthday card for a friend, who happens to be a cat lover. It was fun to finally use the digi.

I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Double D’s Leaves, (although the digi doesn't have lots of foliage, it resembles what Wisconsin will soon look like as the leaves are flying off of the trees!) and The Paper Shelter (I created computer generated sentiment to give the card a birthday theme!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Impression Obsession Digital Image (Jack With House)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Plaid patterned paper and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes (#70 September)

Double D’s Challenge- Leaves        

The Paper Shelter- #484 Party Time (Birthday or Other Celebration)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday-Seasons (Fall Colors)

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (September- Anything Goes)        

myasperations 9-15-21

(Forgive the funky formatting. Blogger is having a tantrum tonight!) 

The 15^th of the month finds me making a DT card for the challenge at QKR Stampede. This time I used a ghost balloon digi from Eureka Stamps. 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?

After covering the background with some fun herringbone patterned paper, I adhered a wonderful Halloween Subway art on top of it. (The website where I found this freebie offers 8 versions from which to pick!) I next used a pencil to trace the top part of the ghost digi on vellum, then sketched a “tail” in place of the balloon bottom.  When finished, I drew over the pencil lines with a fine-line permanent marker, then erased the pencil, and fussy-cut the little ghoul. I’ve been called “the Queen of upcycling” and the reason is apparent on this card. The fun letters I used for the “BOO” sentiment are actually created with the backing from some black felt alphabet stickers. After using the three letters on another card, I trimmed around the blank spaces that remained in the sticker paper, creating a set of inverse letters! After adhering them to across the ghosts chest and tummy area (or whatever they call it!) I gently flipped the hands down to “hold them” adding a bit of double-stick tape where needed to keep them in place. So fun!  A free sentiment on the inside with a sprinkling of bling on the front and inside of the card is the final TA-DA! 

Supplies: 

·  Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (Ghost Balloon) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·  Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·  Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·  Front Sentiment- Freebie from todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com (Halloween Subway Art)

·  Inside Sentiment- Create with TLC Freebie (FaBOOlous Halloween) 

·  Cardstock, patterned paper, vellum, alphabet stickers, and assorted gems from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            

My second DT card is  Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog where challenges are also always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by to check it out!  My card features a cute gnome digi from Sheepski Designs all decked out to go on a candy hunt! After coloring the little mummy, I added texture to the light gray shading of his gauzy wrap with a white gel pen. Simple but stunning, right?! I also wanted to add a little movement with wiggly eyes. Tried out two different sizes and decided the larger one looked less creepy for some reason. So... he is a friendly, big-eyed mummy gnome!

Supplies: 

·  Digi- Pennys Sheepski Design (Trick or Treat)

·  Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·  Front sentiment- Freebie scrapbookandcards.com-bonus summer files 2017 (Hello)

·  Inside Sentiment- Label from my Scrapbook stash.

·  Orange and Yellow photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)

·  B&W checked paper- Hobby Lobby (Boxed cards with envelopes)

·  All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Incy Wincy Designs- Spots, Stripes, and/or Checks

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Lots of Layers

SheepSki Designs FB- September 2021 - I spy......something beginning with B (Bandages!)

     Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun! 

My final card for this post features a fold that is brand new to me. Called an “arrow fold” it is so easy to create. (See link to instructions in my supplies list.) I love fall leaves, so I love this beautiful Washi Tape from a friend. When added to the adorable busy bee digi, small bumbles, and cute sentiment I ended up with a pretty sweet card. 

       

Supplies: 

·  Instructions for Arrow Fold card (Here)

·  Digi- All Dressed Up Digital Stamp (Busy Little Bee)

·  Little Bee embellishments- from an Imagine That digi set (Bee Boy)

·  Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·  Stickles- Star Dust (on bee wings!)

·  Inside Sentiment- from an Imagine That digi set (Bee Boy)

·  Autumn Leaf Washi Tape- a gift from a friend

·  All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Arrow Card

All Dressed Up- #121 Anything Goes (Sept)

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- Winged Things                               

Double D’s Challenge- Leaves    

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #509-510 Anything Goes                    

myasperations 9-11-21

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 and sentiments are all from a just-released set named Frightful Fancies.
The happy pumpkin made me think of a party, so I opted for bright colors on my card. I even turned the berries into little colored lights by adding a chalk “glow” to each one. (After coloring the bulbs with markers, I used circle punches in two sizes to make homemade stencils from paper scraps. I then used a makeup sponge to first smudge the larger circle lightly with pastel colors, then used the smaller circle stencil to smudge the same color of chalk with more pressure to get a deeper tone. This was a bit tedious, but I do love the results!) More colors were added by topping the dotted pink background paper with layers of plastic index divider sheet scraps. (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.) Before adding the colored digi onto the layered card front, I used an Exacto blade to cut the jack-o-lantern eyes, nose and mouth from the pumpkin. I adhered a circle of pale-yellow cardstock atop the layered card front, then attached “Jack” with foam tape to create a some depth. (I added a closeup to show this detail.) 

I usually decorate the inside of my cards to reflect the front. This time I did that by carrying the bright colors into the inside of the card with patterned paper and more scraps of the plastic index folders. I also cut the front sentiment in half, and used "the rest of the story" on the inside. Plus, to add a bit of Halloween fun I fussy-cut a cat silhouette from a scrap of black paper. (I found the silhouette on the web. It was created byartist Dave Lowe and he gives permission to use this, and many other great silhouettes, for free. You can find them Here.)

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday (that notes the word color- and my card has several of those!) and Show Us Your Pussycats (the black cat silhouette fits that category, especially for a Halloween card!)

                                 
Supplies: 

·   Digi and Sentiments-Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Frightful Fancies)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Decorative Chalks and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Cardstock, patterned paper and scraps of plastic index dividers are from my stash.

Entered into: 

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Color Drops

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Besties Challenge- September Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes (#70 September) 

I was thrilled last year when Kris Breach, artist/owner of Imagine That Digistamps started offering monthly challenges again! I served on Kris’ DT a few years ago and always enjoyed working with her… and creating with her wonderful artwork. She now offers a Progressive Challenge each month. The September digi set with the sentiments and adorable meercats makes me smile! (The$10  set is now available for just $5.99 HERE. And if you enter a card into this month’s challenge using any items from the set, you’ll get next month's digi for free! But hurry, the challenge ends on the 31st.)

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and front Sentiment- Imagine That Digi Set (Meerkats)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Holly Embellishment on the card front and Sentiment label on the inside are from my scrapbook stash

·   Scraps of assorted patterned papers, music sheet vellum, and cardstock from my stash.

Entered into:  

Imagine That Blog Progressive Challenge- September  

Double D’s Challenge- Anything with a Tail        

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #36 Anything Goes                     

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #559 AG

Incy Wincy Designs- Spots, Stripes and/or Checks

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 692- Anything Goes

Di’s Digi Stamps- Use 2 (or more) Patterned papers 

Three 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 love this little cutie holding her jar that contains a bit of summer magic. When I was young, we called them “lightning bugs.” (I still giggle when I remember the first time my little brother caught one. He screamed, "I got a lightning butt. I GOT A LIGHTNING BUTT!" He was so excited!) I decided to make a thinking of you card for a dear friend, using a sentiment from a Beccy’s Place digi set. I created a few “embellishments” by fussy-cutting several of the magic bugs from the patterned paper, replacing their um… “butt glow”… with a circle of translucent yellow vellum, before perching them on the sentiment and ribbon. The final touch was to add a bit of sparkle to every one of the little butts. Awwww!  

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Simon Says Mondays "Sparkle and Shine" (If you've ever seen lightning bugs in the trees on a dark summer's night, you'll agree that they fit both categories!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sherry West (You Light Up My Life)

(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

·   Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Nasturtiums) RETIRED

·   Firefly Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Sheer white ribbon- JoAnne’s

·   Stickles- Star Dust (on bug butts!)

·   Cardstock and any remaining items are from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sparkle and Shine

The Paper Shelter- #482 Ribbon, Lace and/or Twine

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- Add a Bow)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #507-508 Anything Goes                   

Cute As A Button- August: CH #72 Anything Goes + (Option) Lots of Layers

Beccy’s Place Challenge- Sept  

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