myasperations 9-27-22

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 digis and sentiments are all from a just-released set named “Cake Time.”
I wanted to experiment and see how the little bandits looked on kraft brown and white cardstock. So I tried one image on each option. I liked both… so I used them on my card so you can see the difference, too. Lastly, I love that Beccy names each of her digi characters. The excited raccoon on the front is Riccardo. I trimmed the bottom from the image to make room for the sentiment at the top, but wanted you to see that even his feet look excited (check out the WM of the set to see his happy toes.)  The cake-lover on the inside is Rhonda. (Honestly, I can understand Rhonda's behavior since I grew up with five brothers and sisters… and I LOVE cake! So, I have to admit that I have done some “sneak eating” of cake a few times… especially if ice cream was also available. So yummy!) Okay, I’m salivating now so better sign off…

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Sentiments- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Cake Time)

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

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge- Beautiful Brown   

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes   

Outlawz Challenge- September 2022 Linky

Allsorts Challenge- Week 695: Anything Goes  (0ption of Dots and Stripes)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            

This card was made for another of my favorite challenges, Double D’s, where  the current theme is “Things that Fall.” I opted for snow so that I could make a card  features a cute (not spooky!) Oddball Art Yeti digi. The sentiments are from my little brain! (When I asked my husband what he thought of the sentiment, he was underwhelmed… but I like it!)

Note- I discovered that this digi set appears to no longer be available. However, Oddball Art does offer a different cute Yeti set available HERE

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Oddball Art (Funny Yet Faces) Retired

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Patterned paper, rhinestones, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #190 Anything Goes

Double D’s Challenge- Things that fall    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday – Anything Goes

This last card was created for two challenges, Wecraftcard “Gift for a Teacher” and Outlawz Saturday Paper à la Mode “September-Fall into Adventure.” Both challenges required a gift item for a teacher. The Outlawz one required a non-card item… but also includes the word “adventure.” I love teaching students of all ages, but do have to admit, the job is often an adventure and can be a real challenge. That is why I love to make cards and/or gift  for teacher friends at the beginning of the year. (I found these great tags by googling “free printable tags for teachers”, clicked “images”  and dozens of great options popped up for many occasions including holiday gift tags for teachers! I’m sure this will work on Pinterest, too. Check it out!)

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Di’s Digis “Autumn Fall” (I love this time of the year when the trees are changing and kiddos get to go back to school… parents excited, some kids not so excited!) and the Path Of Positivity Challenge “Celebrate Something Special about YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NATION or the WORLD at Large” (It doesn’t matter where you live on this big blue marble of a planet, I encourage all of us to recognize the “teachers” that live among us. They might be employed by a school, church, agency/organization, or be a parent, grandparent, or caring adult. If they provide safety and show kindness to others, and/or teach important skills, let’s tell them how much we appreciate them with a word, card, or maybe even a gift. Such people are truly heroes!)

Supplies: 

·   “Wishing You a Smooth School Year” tag Freebie found HERE

·   “Teach” sentiment created with patterned paper scraps.

·   Puffy Heart Stickers-Stickos

·   Acetate gift bag from the dollar store

·   Pencil (fussy-cut from patterned paper) and bus sticker are both from my scrapbook stash.

Entered into:  

Wecraftcards- Gift for a Teacher  9/26-10/2

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper à la Mode (September-Fall Into Adventure)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Autumn/Fall  

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #39 Anything Goes                     

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #104 

  

myasperations 9-25-22

I’ve been really enjoying Outlawz’ new platform for their challenges. At first I had some trouble, until I realized that some of the challenges had not yet been moved to the new site. They are now all up and running… and posting entries is quick and easy!  The number of followers is smaller than at the old site, so if you haven’t joined yet, you might want to do so soon. It will bring a smile to our friends at Outlawz. Plus, with the current number of followers, your chances of winning prizes in their random drawings are pretty good. (I have already won a nice assortment of digis. SO fun!) There are nine different challenges on the one site HERE. Stop on by and have fun looking around.  And if you have any questions, leave a comment on this post and I’ll see if I can help to get you started!

After coloring this little cutie from an All Dressed Up Digital Stamp set, I wanted to add some texture to her costume. I remembered that I’d trimmed some black tulle from the hem of a summer dress years ago because is itched! And, of course I still had it… so YAY! A z-fold card made with galaxy patterned paper, a few freebie sentiments and…Voila…the card is done. 

I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Digi Doodle Studios “ Add Metal/Sparkle” (I gave both the front and inside of my card a sprinkling of rhinestones and love the blingy result!

Supplies: 

·    Trick or Treater Digi- from All Dressed Up Digital Stamp set (Boo I Can See You)

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

·   Galaxy Patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found on Pinterest (I liked the one HERE)

·    Front Sentiment- Front Sentiment “Boo” (skogstokiga- Blog closed))

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from TlcCreations (Wishing You A FaBOOlous Halloween)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up- #132 Anything Goes (September)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #190 Anything Goes

Gem of a Challenge- Week #20 Anything Goes                             

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            

Digi Doodle Studios- #53 Add Metal/Sparkle

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Happy Halloween    

Outlawz Challenge- September 2022 Linky

I’m always on the lookout for images I can use on masculine cards, especially for little guys! That is the reason I nabbed this fun Scribbles Designs digi. However, I’ve discovered a few additional uses for this digi. Here is the first (I’ll share the second one soon.)  Not sure if dump trucks are usually used for selling/transporting Christmas trees, but I love the festive look the trees add to the big ‘ol truck!

I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Time Out Challenge “Photo Inspiration” (My card features Christmas trees plus lots of winter white décor- the natural outdoor type!) and the Rudolph Days Challenge (this monthly challenge encourages me to not leave all my Christmas card making until late in the year, plus the sample cards are always inspiring. I loved seeing the card that the challenge sponsor, Mo, made this month. It featured treasures that she picked up for 80-90% off at after Christmas sales. Plus, she used assorted items from “bits and bobs” drawer. I’ve never heard that term before and love it! Right now my craft table looks like it was hit by a “bits and bobs” cyclone! Who am I kidding? It always looks like that!)

 

Supplies: 

·   Truck Digi- Scribbles Designs (Dump Truck)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·   Sign on truck and trees back- Echo Park’s A Cozy Christmas Element Sticker Sheet

·   Inside Sentiment- QKR Stampede Digital Stamp (Merry Christmas) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Upcycled calendar photo and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Rudolph Days Challenge- September                                             
TIME OUT Challenge- #223 Photo Inspiration             
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #560-562 Anything Goes                   
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #112 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  Christmas

An unusual challenge at Incy Wincy Designs inspired this card. Called “Cryptids, Mystical, and/or CAS” the challenge explains “...a cryptid is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but has not been discovered or documented by the scientific community.” I know that there are lizards named “bearded dragons” because my niece has one as a pet. She called him Leon the Lizard! However, I’m thankful there are no large “Lord of the Ring” type dragons like the one trying to toast this brave knight. I’ve had the sentiment in my files for many years. I don’t have a clue about its source, but it always makes me smile! (Note- I just found info about possible sources of the quote HERE. It appears it first appears in 1989!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi-Dearie Dolls Digital Stamp (Good Knight vs. the Dragon)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found on Pinterest (I liked the one HERE)

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·  Assorted Nuvo Drops and Diamond Stickles add texture and shine to the dragon's scales

·  Vellum scraps, cardstock, patterned paper, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Incy Wincy Designs-Cryptids/Mystical and/or CAS       

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

Digi Chooseday Crafting Challenge- Week #38 Anything Goes  
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge- Beautiful Brown     
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes  

Patties Challenge- #198 Anything Goes (Sept)

Jan’s Digi Stamps- Sept 2022 Anything Goes    

myasperations 9-24-22

The Double D’s Challenge has been a favorite of mine for several years. The current challenge theme is “Things that Fall” and the inspiration photo provide a lot of options. I used an old wood mount leaf stamp from Embossing Arts and the upcycled front from a “Thank You” note card. I had fun creating unusual variegated leaves by sprinkling small amounts of two different embossing powders after stamping the leaves with pigment inks (gold ink with copper and gold EP. green ink with copper and green EP.) After finishing with the embossing, I fussy-cut and attached the pretty leaves.

I’m entering this card into other challenges including Colorful Options September Inspiration Board “Browns” (I wasn’t sure if the color “copper” is considered brown. So I googled it and learned that it is often referred to as reddish-brown. So hope this care fits in the challenge?)

Supplies: 

·   Leaf Stamp-Embossing Arts (no longer in business),

·   Front Sentiment- on an upcycled card front.

·   Inside Sentiment- freebie from Papercrafts Magazine/craftworld.com (No longer available

·   Pigment inks, embossing powders, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Things that fall    
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge- Beautiful Brown       
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #659 Use a rubber or clear stamp

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Digi Chooseday Crafting Challenge- Week #38 Anything Goes  

I had fun making a card using this sweet little kitty and sentiment from an All Dressed Up Digital Stamp set, plus a beautiful vintage sentiment tag (a freebie TLC Creations.)

Supplies: 

·   Cat Digi- from All Dressed Up Digital Stamp set (Boo I Can See You)

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

·   Front Sentiment- Freebie from TlcCreations (There's Mischief Brewing)

·   Inside Sentiment- from All Dressed Up Digital Stamp set (Boo I Can See You)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up- #132 Anything Goes (September)

Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Googly Eyes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #190 Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Happy Halloween

Outlawz Challenge- September 2022 Linky

2craftycrittercrazies challenge- #66 September 2022

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes (#81 September)      

One of my favorite challenges is named Pixie's Snippets, because the sponsor and hosts are so sweet, plus I love that it encourages me to use the many scraps, i.e. snippets, that I just can’t stand to toss!  This card includes so many little bits and pieces of treasures from my stash. First, the shiny origami heart is made from a small square of upcycled wrapping paper. Although they are a little tedious to fold, I do love the results. (I did find a much easier fold that even children can make and posted links to both versions in my supplies list.)

The patterned papers on the card front and inside are all from my scrap box! The B&W swirly paper on the inside, plus the B&W striped paper, and the B&W filigree that hold a square scrap of red vellum and rhinestones are all upcycled from packaging (I like to challenge myself to try to always find at least one thing I can salvage from most packages of items that I find.) The heart is mounted on a small chipboard frame that I wrapped with the last strips of B&W washi tape. (It didn’t have quite enough to cover the entire frame, so I had to do a bit of creative wrapping. Small strips of chipboard frame showed on the side, which I colored with a permanent black Sharpie maker. Whew! You can see this repair work in the close-up photo.)  

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color “B&W&One Color” (I also added stripes for the twist),

Supplies: 

·   Origami Heart folding Tutorials- Version I used HERE (and Simpler version HERE)

·   Inside Sentiment- Gingerhouse.blogspot.com 7-19-17 (Keep pressing forward)

·   Pioneer black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- inspiration photo  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #560-562 Anything Goes                   

Snippets- Week #437

Allsorts Challenge- Week 695: Anything Goes  (0ption-Dots and Stripes)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September

myasperations 9-19-22

This month’s Sheepski Designs FB Challenge theme is “Anything You Want.” One thing I ALWAYS want is Hot Chocolate. Bring me a mug of this steamy yumminess in the fall or winter when I’m wearing a comfy, warm sweater and… well… I’m in heaven! I had fun embellishing the image, adding a knitted texture to the sweater's collar and cuffs, using an easy-to-follow tutorial by “Knitty Kitties” artist Anabel Haines. I also enjoy finding free subway art digis to use on my card, and this is a new one for me.

PS Stop by the Sheepski blog to learn more about the monthly challenges and have a chance to win some wonderful digis created by artist Andrea Norris!

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Hot Chocolate)

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

·   Tutorial by artist Anabel Haines for adding knit texture to sweaters can be found HERE

·   Front Sentiment-Autumn Printable  (Subway Art Freebie) Found HERE

·   Inside Sentiment- “Thoughts of You Warm My Heart” Polka Dot Orchard Digi Set (My Love Mug)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Thanks for All You Do”” Polka Dot Orchard Digi Set (Joy of Gods Love)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #560-562 Anything Goes                   

Jan’s Digi Stamps- Sept 2022 Anything Goes    

Di’s Digi Stamps- Autumn/Fall  

Gem of a Challenge- Week #19 Anything Goes                              

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- September 2022 Linky

Scribbles Designs just celebrated its 9th Birthday with a fun challenge that required the use of a mandala or zentangle as the focus of our project. I made several cards for the challenge, including this one that includes a zentangle trimmed from a notepad (from the agency where I work.) I was bummed when  I didn’t get this one posted in time, so am happy it fit in the current “anything goes” challenge!

I used one of the B&W zentangles on the inside. On the front, I added coloring. However, when finished, it overpowered the cute sheep (named Wooly!) So, I added a layer of vellum which mutes the shades and adds an additional texture to the card. 

Supplies: 

·   Sheep Digi- Scribbles Designs (Wooly Thoughtful)

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

·   Puffy Heart Stickers-Stickos

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Front Sentiment- desertdiva freebie (Hello How are You)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Desert Diva (You Add Color To My Life)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 

Scribbles Designs Challenge- #112 Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- #104 Little Critters

2craftycrittercrazies challenge- #66 September 2022                 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- September            

A short time ago I was introduced to the beauty of layering digis using a free Word program named Paint.net (find the link in my supplies list.) Even though I am considered by many to be ”tech impaired” I was able to put this scene together using digis (jpgs and pngs) from two different companies… and love the result! I posted a picture of the layered scene that I could just copy, size, and print it off. (Note-I added a WM to this picture to respect the company's copyrights.  The original, which I saved to my laptop so that I can make similar cards in the future, has no WM. Easy Peasy!)

I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Passion for Markers “Use your favorite tool” (I’ve used the free Paint.net program for several years as it really simplifies adding WM’s to photos for my blog. It is quickly becoming a favorite tool for layering digis and I plan to learn many more ways to use the program when I have some time to experiment!)  

I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Passion for Markers “Use your favorite tool” (I’ve used the free Paint.net program for several years as it really simplifies adding WM’s to photos for my blog. It is quickly becoming a favorite took for layering digis… and I have a feeling that I’ll learn lots more way to use the program when I have some time to experiment!)  

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlaws Sunday: Antigonish [The subtitle of the poem by Hughes Mearns inspired my card,, “I met a man who wasn't there” I think a ghost fits into that description?)  and Incy Wincy Designs: Cryptids, Mystical, and/or CAS (a cryptid is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but has not been discovered or documented by the scientific community. I think that a ghost might fit into the category of cryptid… and I found at least one weblink that agrees with that assumption! Not sure how credible the site is… but does that really matter when discussing cryptids? Ha!)  

Supplies: 

·   Ghost Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Boo Loves Scary Larry)

·   Fence Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Scene Builder-Pumpkin Patch)

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

·   Background Sky- The Paper Shelter Digi set (Fancy Dinner)

·   Front Sentiment- Freebie from TlcCreations (You Are Spooktacular)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from TlcCreations (Wishing You A FaBOOlous Halloween)

·   Free Paint.net program can be found HERE (add watermarks, layer digis, and more!)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #658 Use your favorite tool/product/embellishment

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Antigonish
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Happy Halloween      
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes  
Incy Wincy Designs-Cryptids/Mystical and/or CAS       
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!