Saturday, October 30, 2021

myasperations 10-30-21

This card was created for the current 31 nights of Halloween challenge on the Whimsy Stamps Blog. I have quite a few Whimsy digital images plus several clear stamp sets. However, not many of them are Halloween-themed. So, I had fun trying to envision ways to use a few of the ones I have for Halloween Cards. Here is another of those re-purposed cards! I used the digi “Penguin Flies”, adding realism to the balloons with scraps of plastic index divider sheets. (If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know that I use these wonderful gems A LOT! They are sometimes called document file folders- come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores. I’ve even found them in dollar 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 and you can write on them a black permanent fine-line marker.) I laid a scrap of red plastic atop the front balloon, traced it onto the plastic, cut it out, and set it aside. I turned the other (back) balloon into a festive jack-o-lantern by laying a scrap of orange plastic atop it, tracing the balloon, cutting it out then adding some dotted lines to create a pumpkin balloon. Jack’s eyes and grin were sketched on with a permanent black marker, leaves were hand-sketched onto scraps of green plastic, then attached to the pumpkin top along with a “stem” made with a small piece of kraft brown cardstock with a piece of cellophane tape. When finished, the plastic balloons were adhered to the card front (pumpkin one first) with small strips of double-stick tape.
Supplies: 

·   Digital Image- Whimsy Stamps (Penguin Flies)

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

·   Cloudy sky- made with chalks, a handmade cloud stencil, and a makeup sponge

·   Plastic Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- Cut from a Dollar Store napkin

·   Inside Leaves- Embossing Arts Stamp (no longer in business), pigment inks and clear embossing powders.

·   Cardstock, plastic file folders, and all other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Whimsy Stamps Blog- 31 nights of Halloween 2021             
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- October                 

I am always on the lookout for coloring sheets that I can- legally- copy for the students in our afterschool program. Crayola gives permission to make copies of the sheets they offer on their website… and there are lots of great ones! This is an example of one that I reduced in size to fit on the front of an A2-sized card. I fussy-cut around the circle (moon), and added some texture by sketching a few light grey circles on its surface. Adhered to a scrap of galaxy patterned paper and adorned with whispy (vellum) clouds the scene takes on a slightly spooky feeling. The inside of the card is decorated with a few embellishments made from scraps of vellum, acetate, and cardstock.  
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Crayola Happy Halloween Coloring Sheet (Sign of Spiderwebs)

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

·   Galaxy Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- TlcCreations Freebie (eek!) No longer available

·   Inside- bottle of poison (made with scraps and inspired by an image from an old card)

·   Inside- spider (hand-drawn on a paper scrap,  fussy-cut and adhered with snail adhesive)

·   Vellum scraps and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Incy Wincy Spider
The Paper Shelter- #489 Halloween
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional-Add an Insect of 6 or 8 legs)
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

My final card for this post features a simple gatefold base, and a repurposed scenic Thanksgiving card that I cut apart to create the background for the front of the card and the sentiment on the inside. The butterfly digi is fussy-cut (I decided to trim the “dream” sentiment from the digi) then adhered atop a square of a red plastic divider sheet (the same one used to make the red balloon in my first card) which was then attached to the left flap of the gatefold. Additional scraps cut from the Thanksgiving card frame the inside sentiment.
I’m entering this care into several challenges including the Butterfly Challenge (includes all 3 colors: Venetian/deep red, vanilla/light cream, and Vegas gold/burnished gold plus two themes: vellum paper and butterfly.)  
Supplies: 
·   Digi Stamp- Impression Obsession (Dream Butterfly)

·   Vintage Scenic Thanksgiving card- from a packet I discovered at a local thrift shop.

·   Cloudy sky behind butterfly digi is made with chalks, a handmade cloud stencil, and a makeup sponge

·   Inside Sentiment from vintage Thanksgiving card.

·   Kraft photo corners available from several web sources 

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Butterfly Challenge- #163 V is for Vertical Window Card    
Double D’s Challenge- Sunflowers                                             
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #515-516 Anything Goes                   
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Autumn

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

myasperations 10-27-21

It’s Wednesday, so time for another DT card for 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 an adorable digi from Digi Doodles, that gets the center of attention in an easy-to-make Easel Fold card. Colorful paper and a freebie sentiment finish off the card. So fun!
 
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Digi Doodles (Ollies Pumpkin Patch)

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

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

·   Inside Sentiment- Create with TLC Freebie (Have A Joyful Thanksgiving

·   Cardstock and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Digi Doodle Studios- #43 Fall and/or Halloween Cards
Digi Doodle Studios- FB Challenge- October-Anything Goes
Double D’s Challenge- Sunflowers     
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Autumn
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

The beautiful neighborhood scene on this card is from a coloring book named Creative Haven Christmas Inspirations Coloring Book." I'd signed up for a weekly newsletter a while ago from Dover Publications and have appreciated that it regularly emails links to a half dozen coloring books and activity books, each offering 4-5 pages that are available for a short time as free downloads. This friendly scene was one of the pages available in a recent newsletter. (Sign up for the sampler newsletter to start getting your own treasures!] After copying the image, I used my Word program to reduce it in size to fit an A2 card. I printed, then fussy-cut around the edges of the houses before using a technique called spotlighting to focus attention on the center of the scene, which I colored with markers and a white gel pen. A few handmade embellishments compliment the front of the card while upcycled cards help to finish the inside.
I'm entering this card into several challenges including Scribbles Designs (Create a project that includes a house or buildings.)

Supplies: 
·   Image from Dover Publishing- Creative Haven Christmas Inspirations Coloring Book

·   Vintage Key digi- Freebie from Graphics Fairy (Here)

·   Instructions for Spotlight Technique can be found HERE

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

·   Inside Sentiment and Santa in Sleigh- upcycled from an old card

·   Felted wool, holly sequins, and red seed beads, plus other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Incy Wincy Designs- Kindness/Fondness and/or Add Lace
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #565 AG
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #103 Location Location Location
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday 

I was thrilled 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. I love October’s adorable digi set with a playful umbrella scene and related sentiments. (The set is now available for just $3.20 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 (Lizzys Umbrella)

·   Singing in the Rain free sheet music found HERE  

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

·   Glossy Accents- used to create translucent water droplets and ripples in the puddle

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- Sunset Photo Inspiration  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #515-516 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- October                 

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

myasperations 10-26-21

The sponsor for the Outlawz Progressive Challenge is Oddball Arts, and the digi is named “Tiffs Garden.” I flipped the image and cropped out the bottom part so that I could position Tiff on the corner of this eerie scene (a freebie from Sheepski Designs.) I used scraps of cardstock and galaxy paper to create the background scene for the inside sentiment. Tiny bats, fussy-cut from scraps of black paper helped me to develop a handful of bats to toss across the top and inside of the card. So fun!  

 
Supplies: 
·  Digi- Oddball Art (Tiffs Garden)
·  Digi-Background scene, freebie from Sheepski Designs FB page (Hollow HallYou can find many other freebies at the Sheepski Designs Digi Stamps FB page. After you join, just type Freebies into search and have fun adding some great digis to your collection!
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- “Trick or Treat” Freebie from Skogstokiga (website has closed)
·   Inside Sentiment- Bird’s Cards Freebie (Happy Halloween)
·   Cardstock and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Progressive Freebie- October Oddball Art- Tiffs Garden
Di’s Digi Stamps- Creepy or Cute 
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- October                 

I won this beautiful digi last year in a challenge, and love its realistic look. Colored, fussy-cut, then layered atop a vintage Thanksgiving card with a spattering of leaves cut from scrapbook paper. A quick and easy-to-make card using a lovely Thanksgiving card as its base.

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Doortjes Digis-Realistic Animals (Squirrel on Branch)
·   Front Sentiment- RG Ave Fall Greetings Newsletter Freebie “Have a Fabulous Fall Day”- (no longer available)
·   Vintage Scenic Thanksgiving card- from a packet I discovered at a local thrift shop.
·   Inside Sentiment on vintage Thanksgiving card.
·   Colored leaves-fussy cut from scrapbook paper
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Autumn
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

I used a free Paint program to layer this beautiful digi from Ching-Chou Kuik atop a beautiful wooden background digi paper. Some delicate coloring with Spectrum Noir markders and a white gel pen bring the digi to life, especially when some bling is added.  
An added note, A few months ago I was introduced to a company named Free Pretty Things For You (FPTFY), which offers a treasure trove of patterned papers, and many of them are free! After I registered as a member, I was excited to nab this set of papers that features a set of freebies (six different designs) named “Winter Wonderland.”
 
                                           
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp (Snowflake Imprint)
·   Free Winter Wonderland Digital Paper you can find HERE
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment-Computer Generated
·   Stickles- Star Dust (on snowflakes!)
·   Cardstock, gems and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- AG for CCK digis
Ching-Chou Kuik's FB Challenge- [FB] - Halloween and/or Black, Orange, Purple, Green  
Rudolph Days ChallengeOctober
Incy Wincy Designs- Kindness/Fondness and/or Add Lace
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #565 AG
          

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

myasperations 10-20-21

I discovered this technique called a “Specimen Card” a few weeks ago and love its simplicity. I used the instructional video (link in supplies), plus a few free digis and supplies from my stash to create this card for the current Butterfly Challenge, featuring two of the required colors- shades of lavender/purple and, plus a butterfly. I printed the free pocket watch onto vellum, colored the back of the image with a silver marker, then added white highlights to the front details. When finished, a circle of white cardstock adhered behind the colored digi provides a realistic watch face and adds depth to the silver marker watch base.
Supplies: 
·   Butterfly Digi- Freebie from MaxmadeStudio.com (trimmed from butterfly tag)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Specimen Card Instructions- there are many examples on Pinterest, my favorite is HERE.
·   Vintage Pocket Watch Digi- A freebie from olddesignshop.com (HERE)
·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Inside Sentiment- A freebie from simplycardsmag.com (Simply Crafts 171-Bonus) (Register to access hundreds of free digis, sentiments, papers, templates, and more!)
·   Cardstock, patterned paper, washi tape, vintage cut from scrapbook paper, scraps of sheer ribbon, and black cord from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Monochromatic
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #513-514 Anything Goes                   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

One reason I love making cards is that it allows me to let people know I’m thinking about them… in a way that a text can never convey! This card features a beautiful image named “Find A Cure”” from Cute As A Button’s October Progressive Challenge, is being sent to a friend who is enduring chemo. She loves vintage, shabby chic decor so I selected the background paper just for her!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button Oct Progressive Challenge (Find the Cure)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Weathered Wood Paper- Hobby Lobby
·   Sparkly Flower Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources
·   Inside Sentiment- A freebie from simplycardsmag.com (Simply Crafts 171-Bonus) (Register to access hundreds of free digis, sentiments, papers, templates and more!)
·   Cardstock and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cute As A Button-MeWe Progressive Freebie Challenge- #73 Oct-Find the Cure
Cute As A Button- October: CH #73 Anything Goes + (Option) Things with Wings
Incy Wincy Designs- Kindness/Fondness and/or Add Lace
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- Sunset Photo Inspiration   
The Paper Shelter- #488 Digital Image
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- October                 

I was able to nab this wonderful digi set (with the cute Autumn Witch plus floral sentiment banners) on World Cardmaking Day 2018 at the Whimsy Stamps and Inspiration FB page.  (If you haven’t joined, you are missing out on some great contests and inspiration. Sign up HERE.) The B&W background, upcycled from a calendar page, provides a wonderful backdrop for the digis that I colored with bright markers and highlighted with a white gel pen. Scraps of orange and yellow plastic add a bit more color.  (If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know that I use these wonderful gems A LOT! They are sometimes called document file folders- come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores. I’ve even found them in dollar 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 and you can write on them a black permanent fine-line marker.)
Supplies: 
·   Digi and sentiments- Whimsy Stamps (Autumn Witch) A freebie for 2018 World Cardmaking Day
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Cardstock, plastic file folders, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Whimsy Stamps Blog- 31 nights of Halloween 2021           
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Spooky/Halloween
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Spooky/Halloween
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 693- Anything Goes (Optional Halloween)
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Halloween