myasperations 3-30-24a

    I was excited to get an email from Gerda Steiner Design (GSD) earlier this month. It included a special WM with an invitation to join an “Easter Egg Hunt” by adding it to any cards made with their wonderful stamps or digis. I made a Christmas using a sweet GSD 3x4 stamp set named "Furry and Bright".  

     To help the colored lights stand out, I stamped the image on monochromatic patterned paper, colored the bulbs with Spectrum Noir markers, and added the soft glowing effect by using cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips) to add smudges of soft pastel chalks. Photo corners in colors that complement the light bulbs help "frame" the card front! The three sentiments on the card (the "punny" one on the front, and both on the inside) are from the stamp set

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place. I discovered this challenge last year and it has become a favorite of mine. I’ve learned lots about amusement parks mainly because challenge host, Makira, provides a listing of “inspiration” to help learn more about Amusement Parks around the globe. As a grade school student, I remember seeing the always sweet and gracious, Walt Disney, talking about the park he had built in far-off California. It looked both amazing and magical, but little did I know that stray cats actually got to live there! Thanks to a link that Makira posted, I learned about “The Cats of Disney” and now you can, too!), and ABC Christmas Challenge: 'F is for Faux' (Christmas bulb “glow” created by chalk smudges… not battery a pack!)

Supplies:

·   Kitty and sentiments are all from Gerda Steiner Designs stamp set Furry and Bright 

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

    Decorating Chalk set from CRAF-T Products 

·   Multicolor photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners-13 sheets/13 colors)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

GSD FB page

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)     “The Cats of Disney”     

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes-#98 March  

ABC Christmas Challenge-E, F and G are for…?   

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)

Outlawz Challenge- March 2024 Linky

      I’m not usually a stamper who uses Sketches, however, that has changed a bit since I stumbled upon the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Group (BYSHC), which inspired this fun card.

    I’m entering this card into several other challenges including Inspiration Station: Photo Prompt (Like the challenge photo, my card has a musical theme) and Christmas Craft Creations challenge: Designer Paper (I used three different papers on my card- woodgrain, music score and red floral.)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Maria Medel Illustration “Angel” (Currently available HERE)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Peace on Earth”- PSX Rubber Stamp (Company no longer in business)

·   Inside Sentiment – upcycled from an old Christmas card

·   Dove Image- from a Stampin' Up wood mount set from the 1990's!

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #43 March 2024         

Inspiration Station- Challenge #59 Inspiration Prompt

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #641-642

Di’s Digi Stamps- Lots of Layers  

Christmas Craft Creations challenge- March-Designer Paper  

    This digi from Sweet November Stamps was the freebie in a recent monthly newsletter. I'm working on packets of all occasion cards  I create for wedding gifts and this digi, named "Heartly", works beautifully for Valentine's Day cards. Don't you think that any parent, grandparent, auntie, or uncle would love getting a card featuring this little cutie?

    I’m entering this card into Sweet November's monthly challenge on FB, plus  several others including Passion for Markers Challenge: Use 3 of Anything (I had so much fun making this card, that I created three Heartly’s, almost identical except for their hair coloring!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Heartly)

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

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 

Friends of Sweet November (FB) March  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #732: Use 3 of Anything 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #668 

myasperations 3-30-24

     A friend's daughter graduates high school this May, and I offered to help her create a photo display board to share at her graduation party. If she gets her favorite photos printed off a few weeks before the event, we’ll get that done. If not, my real gift to her is a few dozen grad cards for friends, plus thank you cards (because I know that her mom requires that she sends them!) Here are pics of the first two cards I’ve made for her packet. I used her school colors- burgundy and gold, and I decorated both cards with the same inside sentiment and embelllies, so just included one pic of that!)  The digis are freebies from Dearie Dolls (where I printed off my first digis about 7 years ago. Now I use digis 90-95% of the time!)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Time Out: Striped (I found a pack of pre-printed YAY cards many years ago. They were in the New Year's clearance section, but the front was easily cut to fit on the front of a white A2 card. Sparkly die-cut stars add some fun bling!)

Supplies: 

·   Digis- Dearie Dolls Freebies Digital Stamps (Graduation)

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

·   Front Sentiment- on front of preprinted cards (from local thrift store)

·   Inside Sentiment- Desert Diva Freebie (You did it Congratulation-graduation)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #641-642

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #668

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #12 AG                                          

Paper Funday- #63 Anything Goes

Time Out Challenge- #260 Striped  

     We had a blizzard this week, hopefully, the last of the season. I made a few fun tropics-themed cards in defiance of the snow. This is the first one.

       I’m entering my card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place (This is one of my favorite challenges… as it has introduced me to many new amusement parks. This card was inspired by Tropic Falls located in Alabama),  Outlawz- Tuesday Challenge: TicTacToe (my card reflects the three items in the diagonal from lower left- trees [palm vs blooming], tropical bird, and teacup includes colors that remind me of the ocean, and clamshell abalone!), and the Allsorts Challenge: AG (I seldom make “Keep It Simple” cards, but since this required no coloring, and very little cutting, it kinda fits that category!)

Supplies: 

·   Toucan and Parrot Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Upcycled Calendar page

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)  Tropic Falls in Alabama          

Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- TicTacToe 

Outlawz Challenge- March 2024 Linky

Allsorts Challenge- Week 773/4 Keep It Simple  (Option AG)

     My final card for this post is for the Butterfly Challenge, one of my favs! The challenge sponsor, Mrs. A, incorporates a letter/sentiment as one of the themes and includes six colors from which to choose. The current challenge has a technique I haven’t used in some time, Decoupage (3D).  A framed digi from Bugaboo Stamps, allowed me to easily print off extra copies of the floral sections, color,  fussy-cut, and then decoupage them!

     My card features all of the Colors- Dusky Pink, Dark Green, Daffodil, Delft Blue, and a few touches of Damson (plum) and Dairy Cream, plus all of the themes: Decoupage (flowers), Die Cuts (circles around “hello”), Diamonds (gems), and Butterflies.  The digi included one pretty butterfly, but I printed off two extras so the card fits into the Passion for Markers Challenge.) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Bugaboo Digital Stamp ) Company no longer in business

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

·   Front Sentiment-hand written

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #194-D is for Decoupage 3D  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #226

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #732: Use 3 of Anything 

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes

We Love Stamping-Feminine  

myasperations 3-25-24

     I was excited to get an email from Gerda Steiner Design (GSD)earlier this month. It included a special WM with an invitation to join an “Easter Egg Hunt” by adding it to any cards made with their wonderful stamps or digis. I decided to make an Easter card that includes a sweet Gerda Steiner bunny digi, which is a freebie!  (Learn about special GSD challenges and freebies if you sign up for their Newsletter HERE!)

      This is my final entry for the Lift Challenge which requires a lattice-inspired background. Using an upcycled calendar page, and strips of weathered wood patterned paper I created a backdrop for the cute pair of Easter bunnies and a flurry of colorful butterflies. Sitting here looking at a foot of fresh snow out the front window, this card brings the promise of Spring. Amen and Amen!!

Supplies: 

·   Digi- A freebie from Gerda Steiner Design (Easter Bunnies)

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

·   Embellies created with butterflies fussy-cut from a few Bugaboo digis

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Lift Challenge- Elevator Challenge #186  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #731: Easter

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Spring/Easter

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #668  

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #104- Easter

    The dancing leprechaun digi on this card is a freebie from illustrator and children's book author Elizabeth Dulemba, who created hundreds of digis and coloring pages that she offers for free download! (This digi can be found HERE.) The sheet music and inside sentiment are both freebies available on the web.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- freebie from Dulemba.com. (Coloring pages can be found HERE.) 

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

·   Sparkly Shamrock Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·    Lumps of gold- from Hobby Lobby clearance aisle (Diamond painting gems)

·   Front Sentiment “St Patrick’s Day-Jig” Free sheet music can be found HERE.

·   Inside Sentiment- “May Your Troubles…” freebie from Love SVG (Search HERE.)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #59 Inspiration Prompt 

Double D’s Challenge- Green, Clover, Shamrocks, Luck      

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: March-Green  

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- March 2024 Linky

     I was happy to discover the ABC Christmas Challenge a few months ago, partly because I love celebrating Christmas all year! The current challenge focuses on the letters E, F, and G, meaning I can use my favorite little gingerbread cookie from Beccy’s Place! (My nickname for this cutie is “Pillsbury” because he is such a sweet little dough ball!)  The humorous inside sentiment is from a Beccy’s Place clear stamp set.      

     (Note- Beccy Muir, artist/owner of Beccy’s Place, is holding a retirement sale of several digi sets for 50% off until March 31st, so check the sale listing HERE soon!)

     I’m entering my card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place (This is another of my favorite challenges… as it has introduced me to many new amusement parks. This card was inspired by Santa’s Village which is on my bucket list!)

Supplies: 

·   Gingerbread Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Clear Stamp Set (Sugar and Spice) found HERE

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

·   Front Sentiment “Merry Christmas” label from my Scrapbook stash

·   Inside sentiment “When what to my wondering eyes…” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Here Comes Christmas)

·   Small Gingerbread embellies- hand sketched on kraft paper scraps, colored and fussy-cut

·   Patterned paper and all other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

ABC Christmas Challenge-E, F and G are for…?   G is for Gingerbread

Christmas Craft Creations challenge- March-Designer Paper  

Beccy’s Place Challenge- March   

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

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #639-640

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)   Santa’s Village