Tuesday, July 30, 2024

myasperations 7-30-24

      This is my final entry for the Sweet November Stamps monthly challenge. I love the sweet little Amanita mushroom digi set and had fun using a  free Paint.net program to place this little cutie within a swirly, teal/aqua, background. These muted colors help the little bright red ladybug, which Amanita calls “Friend,” stand out!  


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

·   Background- from The Paper Shelter digi set (The Most Adorable Panda)

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Amanita)

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

·   Gold and Cream Swirls- upcycled/fussy-cut from wedding invitations

·   Front Sentiment- “Hello Friend” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (True Beauty) Retired

·   Inside Sentiment “You’re So Sweet”” from SnapClickSupply.com digi set (Sweet As Can Bee Word Art)

·   Stickos Ladybug sticker- WalMart

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Friends of Sweet November (FB) July (AG/Christmas in July)
Beccy’s Place Challenge- July  Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!

      The beautiful pre-colored digi is from one of my favorite FB sites for free digis. Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC provides dozens of free sentiments and digis on a regular basis. You can visit the site and join to have access to all the wonderful digis that Paulette offers! (Note-Paulette also has a shop where she sells beautiful sets of digis, and hides some freebies there, too. You can visit it HERE.)
     I printed out, colored and  fussy-cut sweet little Skipper, before adhering her to the beachy scene. When adding sparkle and texture to the waves, I accidentally dropped a small bit of Liquid Pearls onto the right side of her face (next to the gull). When I wiped it off, I smeared her hair, which obliterated a bit of her face. So, I guess you could say she had “work done”?! A bit of puffing up the hair along that side of her face with a fine-line black marker helped clean up my oops. It also makes the rest of her hair look a bit blah, so... I puffed all of it up a bit giving her a headful of curls. Ah well, she is still a beauty!
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Summers Splendor by the Sea by Patricia L. Cisco (my card was inspired by the line of the Poem-Hushing rhythm of the waves and salty, misty ocean sprays.” I added an abundance sparkle to the sprays with Stickles and texture to the waves washing on the beach with White Opal Liquid Pearls), Inspiration Station- Photo: (my card includes a sandy beach, plus since I live in a very landlocked state in the middle of a continent, it inspires a sense of adventure and travel!) and Time Out Challenge- #268 Vacation  (I love spending time at the beach, which is always like a vacation away from the world. Ahhh. Heaven!)   
Supplies: 

·   Beach Postcard- Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC (FB) Join HERE,  Then find this digi posted on 6-7-23)

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Skipper)

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

·   Liquid Pearls- White Opal

·   Front Sentiment “Mermaid Wishes and Starfish Kisses”- Source Unknown (if you recognize it, please share the info in a comment!)

·   Cardstock, Stickles, and all other items from my stamping stash.

Entered into:  
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Summers Splendor by the Sea by Patricia L. Cisco
Time Out Challenge- #268 Vacation    
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (At The Beach)
We Love Stamping-Sun, Sea and Sand Happy 15th Birthday!

      The sponsor for the July Outlawz Progressive Challenge is Anne's Digital Art. I had fun using Anne’s cute digi named “Cute Pups” with an assortment of items from my stash to create this card. I wasn’t sure if the pups are Bulldogs or Pugs. Because of their ears, I’m thinking they are Pugs and colored them according to a few photos I found online. I am not thrilled with the results, but after working and reworking the face on the brown one, I finally give up. Perhaps she is going prematurely grey like I did in my early 30’s. (And which I embraced just a few years ago. No more paying for hair coloring every 5 weeks means more $$ for craft supplies!)
     I also figured out the cause of my problem. I just refilled all of my alcohol markers, and think that a few of these laid down a bit more moisture than I’m used to. Once that soaks into the paper, it doesn’t like to budge! I’ll have to use a lighter touch when I work with newly filled markers in the future. I haven't added a sentiment to the inside, yet. Not sure just how I might use it in the future, Wedding, anniversary, Valentines day... time will tell! 
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Outlawz July Progressive Challenge-Cute Pups from Anne's Digital Art

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

·   Front Sentiment- A freebie from DDDoodles (I Woof You)  

·   Cardfront- box of wedding invitations from the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby last year

·   Doily patterned paper, sparkly gemstone, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (July) Cute Pups from Anne's Digital Art
Outlawz ChallengeJuly 2024 Linky
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #750: Animal Magic  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #657-658
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (July)   The Secret Life of Pets

Friday, July 26, 2024

myasperations 7-26-24b

     Am posting three more cards for the annual Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC} Christmas in July Linky Party! This year's party offers 16 generous sponsors, providing nearly $300 in prizes via random draws after the weeklong challenge ends.

    The first two cards feature a free digi set (image and bubble word sentiment sentiment) named “Purr Purr Purr” from sponsor Angie Blom. Once again, I used the same digi to create two cards, each with a different feeling to it.

    The first cute feline card has a bold Black/White and Red color scheme and has a playful tone. I’m entering it 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 a favorite movie “The Secret Life of Pets," featured in one of my favorite parks, Universal Studios).


Supplies: 

·   Digi set (cat and Purr3)- Angie Blom Digital Designs (Purr Purr Purr Coloring Sheet)

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

·   Front Sentiment/tag “Warm Holiday Wishes” upcycled from a Christmas mug gift box

·   Inside Sentiment- “Waiting for Santa Paws” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds)

·   Pawprints paper- Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party  (via Pinterest)
Di’s Digi Stamps- Christmas in July
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (July)   The Secret Life of Pets
ABC Christmas Challenge- O is for Off the Edge
Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes- #102 July  

   The second cute feline card has a more traditional theme, with a tree, and strand of multicolored Christmas lights. The sentiments have a simple, classical tone.  
Supplies: 

·   Rubber Stamp- Christmas Lights Gift Tag from PSX (Company no longer in business)

·   Colored with Green Ink Pad, Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Decorative Chalks and white gel pen

·   Glossy Accents- added to light bulbs for depth and shine

·   Digi set (cat and Purr x3) Angie Blom Digital Designs (Purr Purr Purr Coloring Sheet)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Good Tidings...” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jolly Holiday)

·   Inside Sentiment-Merry Christmas” from Polka Dot Orchard Digi Set (Swinging By..,)

·   Pine branches paper- JoAnnes Craft Store

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party (via Pinterest)
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #657-658
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #29 AG                                       
Beccy’s Place Challenge- July  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun! 

     My final card for this post was a bit tedious, but it turned out to be a bright and colorful way to welcome in the new year. It features a clear stamp set named “Party Time” from sponsor Gina K Designs. (I like that the set has sentiment for both New Years and birthdays!)      This card also helped me to use some craft/stamping supplies that I haven’t used in a long time. (This was apparent on my first attempt at stamping this card. My embossing pad needed a refill, and my embossing powders were full of clumps! After taking care of these issues, I decided to make the largest sentiment in the set, “Celebrate,” multicolored by pouring lines of the three separate EP’s onto the sentiment. It was harder to do than I’d planned, mainly because the letters were not large enough to hold much of the powder. I almost threw the muddled mess away, until I wondered if shading the letters with a fine point marker would help them be more readable. It worked and also added an unusual texture to the card! So I found a place for it on the card front.
                                        
Supplies: 
·   Fireworks and “Celebrate” sentiment Gina K Designs Clear Stamp Set (Party Time mini)

·   Clear EmbossingInk Pad

·   Silver, Gold Glitter, and Silver Pearl Embossing Powders

·   Front Sentiment-“Happy New Year” Silver brad from Oriental Trading Co. (in 2008!)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Another Year Begins…” Eureka Digital Stamps (Currently not available)  

·   Star shaker elements in several sizes and colors- collected from many sources over the year.

·   Glossy Accents- used to adhere stars to the fireworks

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party  
Outlawz ChallengeFestive Friday (At The Beach) 
       From our home, we can watch fireworks shot over a nearby lake!
Outlawz ChallengeJuly 2024 Linky

myasperations 7-26-24a

     Am posting three more cards for the annual Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC} Christmas in July Linky Party!  The 2024 party offers 16 generous sponsors, providing nearly $300 in prizes via random draws after the weeklong challenge ends.

    The first two cards feature a free digi set (image and sentiment) named “Have a Cup of Cheer” from sponsor Not2Shabby. I wanted to use the same digis to create two cards with very different feelings. This first one is elegant… and yummy!
 
Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment- free digi set from Not2Shabby (Have a Cup of Cheer)

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

·   Elegant Background paper- source unknown (no longer in a pad)  

·   Corrugated section of coffee cup- upcycled from the real thing

·   Christmas foliage and Sentiment(inside) part of a sticker set from Hobby Lobby

·   “Whipped cream”- White 3D Paint

·   “Peppermint Candy) ” sprinkles- Sprinkletz Very Cherry embellies

·    Inside Sentiment “Tis the Season...” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party (via Pinterest)                
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #657-658
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (July)   Coffee     
Beccy’s Place Challenge- July  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun! 

     This second card features the same “Have a Cup of Cheer” digi set but has a homey, vintage vibe. And… it includes “chocolate”!
Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment- free digi set from Not2Shabby (Have a Cup of Cheer)

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

·   Background “quilt” created with an upcycled 6x6 paper pad (company unknown)

·   Christmas foliage and Sentiment(inside) part of a sticker set from Hobby Lobby

·   Green Corrugated section of coffee cup- made with a scrap of paper and a tool I’ve had in my stash for 25 years.

·   “Whipped cream”- White 3D Paint

·   “Chocolate” sprinkles- brown colored “diamonds” from Hobby Lobby (diamond painting supplies in the clearance aisle were CHEAP!) 

·   Corrugator and all other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party (via Pinterest)        
ABC Christmas ChallengeO is for Off the Edge
Outlawz ChallengeFestive Friday (Christmas)
Outlawz ChallengeJuly 2024 Linky 

   This third card for the annual Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC} Christmas in July Linky Party!  It features a beautiful pre-colored background digi named “Painted Poinsettias” from Graciellie Design, another sponsor for the party!
Supplies: 
·   Precolored Digi- Freebie from Graciellie Design (Pink Poinsettia Digital Paper
·   Front Sentiment “Merry”- from a retired Stampin Up! die set
·   Front Sentiment- “Christmas”- computer generated

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing you all the hope…” (I currently can’t find this in my digi files. I’ll keep looking, but f you recognize it please let me know)

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Clear Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Gold photo corners- created with scraps of gold paper used to cut “Merry”
·   Green sticky dots, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2024 Linky Party    
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Beautiful Blooms