Monday, May 30, 2022

myasperations 5-30-22

Work has been hectic the last few months and it doesn’t look like that will change until fall (especially when I just learned that I have two staff positions to fill! EEK!) To reduce my stress level a bit, I temporarily stepped down from several of my DT responsibilities. But, since making cards is therapeutic and entering/occasionally winning challenges is fun I want to continue with both. Realizing that my blog write-ups usually take more time than needed I decided to try to keep my write-up details to a minimum (except for my few remaining DT cards.) If you ever have questions about a specific card or technique, feel free to ask them in a comment. And thanks for stopping by! 

This card was created for a challenge that requires a technique that is new to me named, “Angled Ink-Blending.” I was inspired by a fun surfboarder digi from Patties Creations to create a card with a beach theme. I followed the instructions for the technique, except I used strips of cardstock as my “stencils”, added some “movement” to the ocean and sky with sketching/smudging of a white gel pen, and created the sandy beach with torn parchment cardstock.  
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Patties Creations (Beach Gnome with Surfboard)

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

·   Angled Ink Technique Instructions and video can be found HERE

·   Front Sentiment- Desert Diva Freebie (hello!)

·   Inside Sentiment and sunshine die cut are both from my scrapbook stash

·   Palm tree silhouettes- hand sketched onto scraps of black stationery, fussy-cut and adhered with snail adhesive

·   Embossed brass colored paper frame upcycled from an old card

·   Scrap of metallic silver paper (for his cool reflective "shades"), foam tape, assorted ink pads, and sponges from my stash
Entered into:  
Lift Challenge- Elevator Challenge #170 (Angled ink-blending)
Patties Challenge- #94 Anything Goes (May)
Allsorts Challenge- Week 678- Anything but Birthdays
 
I created this card for the current challenge at The Paper Shelter named “Embellishments.” I wanted the card to have the feeling of looking through the front window of a coffee shop. A coloring sheet of a city street provided the scenic base for the sweet TPS coffee drinker. I know that my card doesn’t include the usual embellishments, but I hope that the things I used to add texture, depth, color, and interest (especially the acetate and foam tape to make the 3-D window/storefront) can be considered unusual embellies?!)
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity: Celebrate Something Special about your Friends (during COVID one thing I missed most were the frequent coffee dates with friends. We often laughed so hard we joked about needing to wear Depends!)
Supplies: 
·   Background Image- Favoreads Coloring Sheet (Street
         (To see if the coloring fit is still available, go to the link, select download, and sign up for access to freebies.  
         One added note-I reduced the size when printing to 5x7 then trimmed it to fit my card front.)

·   Digi- The Paper Shelter Digi Set (So Casual So Beautiful)

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

·   Sentiments from an Echo Park paper pad named Coffee

·   Gold Filigree photo corners- Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
The Paper Shelter- #513 Embellishments
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #101               
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #22 Anything Goes                     
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  (Anything Goes)
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge 

My last card was created for the current Christmas Craft Creations Challenge-Two Colors (plus neutrals.)  It features blue and silver (I googled to make sure that silver is considered a color. It is!)  I loved the delicate swirls on the blue patterned paper… a was excited to see how well it matched the pattern on the envelope flap (which I picked up in the wedding discount aisle of Hobby Lobby some time ago)!
Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment-freebie from TLC Creations (Dream A Little Christmas Dream)

·   Star Template from my scrapbook stash

·   Inside Sentiment- “Thinking of You...” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cardinals)

·   Pioneer Silver Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Cardstock, metallic silver, glittery silver, and patterned paper, from my stash.

Entered into:  
Christmas Craft Creations challenge- Two Colors (plus neutrals)              
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #545-546 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #596 AG (optional-Add Silver)
Beccy’s Place Challenge- May     Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                        
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Goes

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Myasperations 5-29-22

Work has been hectic the last few months and it doesn’t look like that will change until fall (especially when I just learned that I have two staff positions to fill!) To reduce my stress level a bit, I temporarily stepped down from several of my DT responsibilities. But, since making cards is therapeutic and entering/occasionally winning challenges is fun I want to continue with both. Realizing that my blog write-ups usually take more time than needed I decided to try to keep my write-up details to a minimum (except for my few remaining DT cards.) If you ever have questions about a specific card or technique, feel free to ask them in a comment.

My final entry into the current Double D Monochromatic Challenge went together pretty quickly, with items from my stash and one great sentiment (from a company I discovered last year. The digi set it comes from is on sale for just $3.) 
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity: Celebrate Something Special about your Friends (I am blessed with many friends who are dear to me but this card is being sent to one that also loves all things related to Charlie Brown. She is also a person with deep faith, so I know that the inside sentiment will touch her heart!)
 
Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment “Friend to Friend”- Printworks Wood Mount Stamp (no longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Some Friendships…” Polka Dot Orchard Digi Set (Joy Of God’s Love)

·   Cardstock, patterned paper, Snoopy Sticker, and other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Double D’s Challenge-
Monochromatic (Any color) 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                        

Artist Francesca Lopez developed this wonderful digi for the May Cute As A Button Progressive Challenge on FB. I love that big grin on this little fisherguy’s face as he pulls in his big catch! Using my favorite markers, the  Spotlight Technique, and two free sentiments helped my card to come together nicely. (Oh, and scraps of patterned paper helped to create a “finny” fish shape to highlight the inside sentiment. So fun!)  
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Passion for Markers Challenge: Spots and/or Stripes (I added stripes to the proud anglers t-shirt and lots of spots on the fish.)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button (Big Catch)
·   Instructions for Spotlight Technique can be found HERE
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- maxammadestudio.com freebie (Happy Day)
·   Inside sentiment- Birdscards Freebie- (Have a Fin-tastic Day)
·   Fish Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #642- Spots and/or Stripes (Happy 13th Anniversary!)
Cute As A Button-FB Progressive Freebie Challenge- #52 Big Catch
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday 
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Three years ago I met a talented young artist named Sherry West via her FB page. When I saw that Sherry was sponsoring a Challenge at Outlawz I knew that I had to join in the fun with one of her sweet digis. I made this card for a great-niece who loves mermaids. She also likes Barbies. I used some fun stickers to give the mermaid a few “Mermaid Barbies” to show to her little fish friend.  (And, I added some glitter to her scales… because... well... Bling!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sherry West Art (The Little Mermaid and Fish Friend)

     (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, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and colored pencils (to sketch in waves to mirror those on the background paper)

·   Wavy Patterned paper- Hobby lobby 

·   Inside Sentiment- “Always be yourself…” (from my scrapbook stash)

·   Stickles- Star Dust (on mermaid scales)

·   Sparkly Mermaid Sitckers- Stickos

·   Seaweed- made with Martha Stewart Branch Punch
·  All other items from my stash.
Entered into:    
Digi Chooseday Crafting Challenge- Week #21 Anything Goes  
Allsorts Challenge- Week 678- Anything but Birthdays
Patties Challenge- #94 Anything Goes (May)

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Myasperations 5-28-22

Work has been hectic the last few months and it doesn’t look like that will change until fall. To reduce my stress level a bit, I temporarily stepped down from several DT responsibilities. However, making cards is therapeutic for me. And entering/occasionally winning challenges is fun…  so I want to continue with both. Am thinking that my blog write-ups take more time than needed since I labor over adding lots of details. So…I’m going to keep the info that I add to a minimum (except for my few remaining DT cards.) If you ever have questions about a specific card or technique, feel free to ask them in a comment.

A fun Christmas card featuring a fun wood-mount stamp I’ve had in my collection since 1999. She is a classic Diva!
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode: Make it Royal! (Although Eunice might not wear a crown, she DOES carry herself with an air of royalty and likes a lot o’ bling! Notice the “rock” on her finger. And those flashy glasses sure look procession worthy to me. Woot woot!)
 
 
Supplies: 

·   Stamp- Art Impressions (Eunice) This character is retired, but some other fun ones not!  

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

·   Gold filigree photo corners- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated

·   Inside Sentiment- “Ready or Not” from Beccy’s Place Digital set (Here Comes Christmas)

·   Sparkly Heart Sticker, paper scraps, cardstock, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #596 AG 
Papercraft Challenges   Challenge #82-Add Bling
Rudolph Days Challenge- May
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Theme: Make it Royal!

This adorable fluffy feline from Beccy’s Place (named Morty!) is worthy of center stage on an easel card.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity: Celebrate Something Special about your Friends (a friend has a cat that looks a lot like Morty, except she calls him Jabba… from classic Star Wars fame!)
Supplies: 

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

·   Cat Digi- Beccy’s Place (The Cat’s Meow)

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

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·  Pawprint sticker- Hobby Lobby

·  All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Double D’s Challenge- Monochromatic (Any color)  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- May     Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Gem of a Challenge- Week #11 Anything Goes   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  (Anything Goes)
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #101 

This feline and related sentiments are new from Jan’s Digi’s (and the set is available during May for just $2.00!) I printed the basket and inside sentiment on kraft cardstock, and the cat, bow, and ribbon on white to add some contrast and texture to my card.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Paper Funday: Family (My mom was a “Cat Lady” long before we’d ever heard that title.  She was known for naming strays almost immediately after one found her, therefore securing their place in our home. Mom would have loved this little cutie possibly naming her “Muffin”, “Fluffy” or possibly “Princess.”)
Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments- Jans Digi Set (PAWSitivity)

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

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Cardstock, patterned paper, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Jan’s Digi Stamps- May 2022 Anything Goes    
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #545-546 Anything Goes                   
Allsorts Challenge- Week 678- Anything but Birthdays
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                        
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Goes

I’d printed out extras of the sentiments for my last card, and paired them with a wintery digi from Patties Creations to make this card. The coloring of the attentive cat in the window was inspired by a sweet kitten from my childhood that I named Spots!) The “wallpaper stripes” were made with my old Scor-Buddy, which also helped make the striped curtains using an easy-to-follow tutorial from the web.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Passion for Markers Challenge: 13th Anniversary Celebration which includes a wonderful selection of prizes with a theme of Spots and/or Stripes (my card includes stripes in the wallpaper and curtains plus a spotty feline!)
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Patties Creations- Allie Winter Window

·   Curtains made with a tutorial found HERE

·   Sentiments- Jans Digi Set (PAWSitivity)

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

·   Woodgrain added to window with fine point end of a Tombow tan colored marker.

·   Pawprint sticker- Hobby Lobby

·   Cardstock, patterned paper, upcycled calendar photo, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Patties Challenge- #94 Anything Goes (May)
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #642- Spots and/or Stripes (Happy 13th!)
            I’m a DT for Sheepski (one of the sponsors), so please don’t include me in the draw for their prize!
The Paper Shelter- #513 Embellishments
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge