myasperations 4-26-24a

    A few years ago I discovered a great group on FB named Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC}. They offer monthly Christmas-themed sketch challenges, plus they host Linky parties several times a year that include lots of wonderful prizes, and the group host and members are so kind!) 

    This is my final entry into their annual Spring into Christmas Linky Party. It features a sweet image from Di’s Digis within a rustic, weathered-wood card. A scrapbook template helped create the oval frame for the tender Christmas scene. (It looks like Mary might be whispering "Shhh" to the critters excitedly crowding around the newborn King! If you look closely, you can see a little lamb's nose and a tiny bunny's ears, as they try to peek into the manger.) Her "fabric" gown is paperpieced with a scrap of light colored Silver stars add sparkle to the deep blue sky, white a circle of the smallest stars frame the head of baby Jesus, displaying his majesty! 

     I’m entering my card into several challenges including Christmas Craft Creations: Non-traditional Colors (mainly shades of blue and brown), Path Of Positivity: Power of Words-Love/Relationships (this card represents my life's most important relationship with a loving God who offers abounding love and saving grace!) and Park Hopping-My Happy Place (This is another of my favorite challenges… as it has introduced me to many new amusement parks. I’ve entered several Christmas cards into this challenge with a Santa theme and was excited to find a theme park that I added to my bucket list- Santa’s Village. After making this card, I wondered if any Christmas theme parks include Christian-focused options. I wasn’t having any success in finding one, until I decided to revisit Santa’s Village and found they offer a historic St Nicolas Chapel, with a stable and life-size nativity with a woodsy backdrop, provide the true meaning of Christmas… and keeps this place securely on my bucket list! I also found that Branson Mo features a theater production of the nativity, the Miracle of Christmas, with several family fun parks nearby. Find them HERE, type “theme park” into the search bar. One called “Fritz’s Adventure makes me want to head there NOW!)   

Supplies: 

·   Digi (Izzy’s Nativity) Retired (Check Di’s Etsy shop HERE to see other adorable digis!)

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

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Oval template, star stickers, and tiny shaker stars plus other items from my stash

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2024 Linky Party    

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #120 Power of Words: Love/Relationships 

Christmas Craft Creations challenge- April-Non-traditional Colors   

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #645-646

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

    This baby card features two freebie digis from the talented Beccy Muir, two sentiment strips from my scrapbook stash, a handful of colorful paper snippets, and a smattering of sparkly heart stickers. Ahhh… sweet!

    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Crafty Catz Challenge: For a Boy (although girls can- and do!- like reptiles like lizards, dinosours and crocodiles, this little Croc’s light blue helps make this card appropriate for a boy)

Supplies: 

·   Pre-colored Digi and patterned paper- Freebies from Beccy’s Place (Baby Crocodile)

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

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sentiments- set of baby stickers from my scrapbook stash

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #670 (For a Boy)   

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April Pastels  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #228

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

    I used a free Paint.net program to layer the png outline  digi atop the pre-colored background in the digi set (link is in my supplies list.) It was fun to color the beach beauty and her yummy beverage! Added kraft photo corners, sparkle to her tail and water with Stickles, and sentiments that are freebies from two of my favorite sites for… well… free sentiments!  

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz- Tuesday: Color Wheel (my card includes several shades of blue from top of wheel and shades of red/pink and peach/orange from the bottom), Inspiration Station: Photo Prompt/Earth Day (I did some web surfing and found several credible sources that reported 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water and our oceans hold about 96.5 % of all Earth’s water. So, caring for our oceans is very important… and I’m sure that 100% of mermaids agree!) 

Supplies: 

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

·   Digi and background scene- The Paper Shelter (Little Mermaid On Vacation)

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

·   Front Sentiment- This Desert Diva Freebie is no longer available, but generous artist Hannelie does offer two similar ones (Hey Birthday Girl) and (Birthday Girl)

·   Inside Sentiment- a freebie from Birdscards (Have a Fin-tastic Day)

·   Sea creatures on inside are from a Fred She Said Digital set (Emma the Mermaid) 

·   Kraft photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Stickles- Diamonds and Stardust versions (to add texture and sparkle to the glass rim.)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

The Paper Shelter- #59 Yummy Delights

Double D’s Challenge- Water Related  

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #105 Fairies and other Mystical Beings

Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Wheel

Outlawz Challenge- April 2024 Linky