Friday, March 31, 2023

myasperations 3-31-23

This card features a beautiful image for the March Progressive Challenge at Outlawz Challenges.  I used an assortment of items from my scrapbook and stamping stashes to create a striking B&W and gold wedding card. So fun!  
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Twisted Thursday: Same Old Stuff (I found the B&W papers in a sale bin at Michaels craft store when we lived in South Dakota… so at least 15 years ago, and I picked up the roll of thin sheer ribbon several years ago on sale at JoAnnes Fabrics.)
NOTE- A while ago, Outlawz moved to a new platform for their challenges and I’m really liking how easy it is to navigate plus posting entries is so quick and easy.  There are nine different challenges, with prizes from up to 15 sponsors, on the one site HERE. Stop 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!
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Love Birds)

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

·   Sentiments- From my scrapbook stash

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  Sheepski Designs (Love Birds)
Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (March-Sheepski Designs Love Birds
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday  (Same Old Stuff) 
Outlawz Challenge- March 2023 Linky
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG #251
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #589-590 Anything Goes   

I’m finishing up a few Easter cards, and had fun making this shaker card for a jelly-bean lovin’ sister! It features several old stamps (from a stamp store that I co-owned in South Dakota in the late ’90s). I had pulled the Lidded Jar rubber stamp from its wood base years ago and used my MISTI and Marvy Bold Markers to add color directly onto the red rubber candy jar image, one color at a time.  I fussy cut the image, including the inside of the jar, and adhered the acetate “liner.” I love the way the striped paper, in jelly-bean colors, peaks through the candy jar. Instead of using an x-acto blade to tediously cut out the small areas in the lid of the jar, I laid the fussy-cut jar image onto the A-2-sized striped paper, and gently pencil sketched the placement for extending the stripes. I then used the fine-tip of pastel-colored Tombow watercolor markers to lightly color them to match the lower stripes. Easy peasy! 
Supplies: 

·   Posh Impressions Wood-Mounted Rubber Stamp- Lidded Jar (company no longer in business)

·   Jelly Bean rubber stamp- pulled from wood base years ago so company unknown

·   Colored with assorted ink pads, Tombow and Marvy Watercolor markers, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment-download from Papercrafts Magazine (no longer available)   

·   Inside Sentiment-Computer Generated

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Monday, March 27, 2023

myasperations 3-27-23

I love this cute chocolate bunny image and sentiment from one of Jan’s Digis Easter sets. Together, they make a perfect topper for a treat bag I’m giving to a friend who loves chocolate… and caramel. (I think I’ll need to ask if I can taste one… because I almost bought an extra bag for myself, but feared I’d eat all of them in one sitting!)
Supplies: 
·   Chocolate Bunny Digi  (Precolored) and sentiment from  Jan’s Digi Stamps digi set (Easter Jonquils)

·   Light Shading and Highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and white colored pencil

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Wecraftcards- Chocolate
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #202 Anything Goes
Jan’s Digi Stamps- March 2023 Anything Goes    
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Spring and/or Easter
Gem of a Challenge- Week #6 Anything Goes                           
Paper Funday-  #51-Anything Goes      

This is my final entry into the current Butterfly Challenge, and for the first time in a long time, all three of the entries of my cards were made with the featured fold! My card features all the required colors (Tea Green- small leaves on the tag, Tango  Pink and Teal-flowers and butterfly, and Thistle/lavender-butterfly, plus all three of the themes (Tent Fold, twine, and Butterfly(ies!)
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Spring Song (Inspired by the reference to rain in the rhyme, because we all know that April Showers bring May Flowers!); The Sisterhood of Crafters: Rainbows or Rainbow Colors (I think that I have all colors of the rainbow on my card, in the flowers, butterflies and the lettering on the inside);  and Park Hopping-My Happy Place (visiting the Epcot Flower Garden Festival is on my “bucket list.” You can find details HERE)
 

Supplies: 

·   Instructions for Tent Fold found HERE.

·   Sparkly Butterfly Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment/Tag- Desert Diva Freebie (hello!)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Bloom where you are planted” (from in bag of assorted clear stamps found at a rummage sale years ago)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Butterfly Challenge- #179 T is for Tent Fold Card       
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Spring Song  
Outlawz Challenge- March 2023 Linky
The Paper Shelter- #546 Colours of Spring
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Rainbows or Rainbow Colors  
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)

Back in the late 90’s a friend and her husband had a small home business, making wood-mount vulcanized rubber stamps that they sold at craft shows around the Midwest. I drew several designs which she turned into stamps and added to her catalog. She paid me in stamps and supplies… win-win! Since I’m married to a gorgeous guy who is 100% Norwegian, I created this image, and matching sentiment which I made into Christmas cards that were sent to all my hubby’s relatives a few decades ago. The little Viking was adhered to a magnet strip, allowing it to be used in the way the humous sentiment intended! (For those not familiar with Lutefisk, Norwegians living across US Midwest consider it to be a holiday delicacy. It is cod preserved in lye, has a gelatinous texture, and some describe its fragrance as “a strong smell of canned tuna plus Limburger cheese”, aka “stinky cheese.”  Non-Norwegians,  like me, prefer to sit “downwind” of this dish that is usually served for Christmas dinner with mashed potatoes and lots of melted butter.)  The cards and fridge magnets were such a hit, that I personally sold them at holiday craft shows for a few years!
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Twisted Thursday: Same Old Stuff (the stamps after at least 25 years old, and the pretty border stickers were from an after-Christmas sale at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.)
 
Supplies: 

·   Gate Fold Card- Instructions and template available on Pinterest or via Google

·   Viking Image and sentiments-Wood Mount Red Rubber Stamps (created by me, and made into stamps by a friend!)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Marvy Silver Marker,  Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Holly Border Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #587-588 Anything Goes   
Allsorts Challenge- Week 721: AG   
Rudolph Days Challenge- March
Patties Challenge- #204 Anything Goes (March)
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #118 A Scandinavian Christmas 

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

myasperations 3-21-23

My sweet mother grew up during the depression, so I remember her as being a “saver” (which I have since learned means “frugal”!) I am pretty sure that is where I learned the art of recycling. The sparkly ribbon on this card is proof of that. It decorated a treat bag I recently received, and I couldn’t imagine not letting it shine a bit longer. This cute little bear, from artist Lee Holland, agrees! I also provided a close-up photo of the inside of the card, because I wanted to show the bits of rainbow colors that dance in the light when the sun hits the holographic paper that I slid beneath the sentiment. 
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Lee Holland Art (Teddy Bear with Present)

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

·   Sparkly Shamrock Sticker- Hobby Lobby

·   Sparkly Green Ribbon-upcycled from a St. Pat’s Day treat bag

·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge- Green          
Outlawz ChallengeTwisted Thursday  (Same Old Stuff)  
Leigh SB Designs Monthly Challenge- #115 Spring Leprechauns   
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #587-588 Anything Goes   

Last Spring I added a few cute digi sets from arist Jan Mahew to my digi collection. This one includes a sweet image of rabbits that look wonderful perched on a Z-fold card. I think I might have gone a little overboard on “fluffing” their fur with my white gel pen… but it does make them look super cuddly!
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Jan’s Digi Stamp (Easter Hippity Hop)

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

·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.

·   Front Sentiment “Happy Easter”- We Are 3 Digital Sentiments (Spring)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Handmade by Paula (Thinking of You)

·   Scraps of embossed vellum and rainbow vellum plus other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Jan’s Digi Stamps- March 2023 Anything Goes    
Incy Wincy Designs- Pets and/or Happiness  
Allsorts Challenge- Week 720: AG   (Option- Pastels)   
2craftycrittercrazies challenge- #72 March 2023                       
Di’s Digi Stamps- Mixed Media  

This is my second entry into the current Butterfly Challenge, and the Tent-Fold card went together even more quickly that the first time that I made one mainly because the challenge sponsor provides easy-to-follow instructions for each of her challenges. My card features all the required colors (in flowers, leaves, frog) plus two themes (Tent Fold and Butterflies!)
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Twisted Thursday: Same Old Stuff (the cute little bunny is a wood- mount stamp I purchased in the late 90’s, and the little Froggie is from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set that I added to my collection in September 2018.)
Supplies: 

·   Instructions for Tent Fold found HERE.

·   Subway Art Digi- TlcCreations Freebie (Days Of Spring)

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

·   Easter Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Stickles- Diamonds

·   Bunny Image-Northwoods Rubber Stamps (Retired Image)

·   Frog Digi- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Frog Hop)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #110 (Use a Mood Board)  
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge    
Butterfly Challenge- #179 T is for Tent Fold Card      
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #202 Anything Goes
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Spring Song  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Hello March      
Outlawz Challenge- March 2023 Linky
Beccy’s Place Challenge-March   
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!