myasperations 7-1-24

    I had fun creating this card… but it was actually kind of a “comedy of errors” during the process. If you follow my blog, you’ll know that I fussy-cut a lot… mainly because I find it calms me. A few years ago I learned a trick to prevent accidentally trimming off any small pieces and use it all the time. I attach strips of  Scotch tape, packing tape, or clear self-stick laminating sheets on the backside of a printed digi before cutting them out. For some reason, I accidentally placed all three of the digis from The Paper Shelter “Treasure Hunt” set, face-side down onto a sticky laminating sheet. I had done this one other time about a year ago, and learned that the laminates bond is VERY sticky, as in PERMANENT! I didn’t have to throw them away… but I had to change the markers I used to color them. Luckily, I had a set of permanent markers that I used with a local  after-school program when the middle schoolers made window Sun Catchers last Spring.   

     I embellished the trunk (I added to the sentiment on the inside of the card) with many assorted “treasures” I’d inherited from my mom, who collected old jewelry/broken jewelry and all kinds of bling to use in her many craft projects! The little gold nuggets are from my stash. I found them on clearance at Hobby Lobby, where they were selling off all of their “Diamond painting” supplies for dirt cheap a few months ago. I wasn’t sure how I’d used these at the time… but I knew I would find a use for them. And this is perfect!

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including The Paper Shelter’s: Let’s Get Physical (digging for buried treasure would definitely demand some muscle-building work!) and Cupcake Insprirations: Anything Goes (the photo makes me laugh as the cupcakes in the photos for this challenge are usually beautifully decorated. How fun that their AG photo is of an undecorated cupcake. Ha!)

Supplies: 

·   Digis (pirate, trunk, and Parrot) - The Paper Shelter (Treasure Hunt)

·   Clear Self-Stick Laminating Sheet (I use the Avery brand, but there are other options on the web)

·   Colored with Bic Mark-it permanent markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment “Ship Ahoy” from Desert Diva Digi Stamps (Company out of business)

·   Inside Sentiment “Shiver Me Timbers… Birthday” Polkadoodles digi set (Pirate Dude)

·   All “treasures” and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

The Paper Shelter- #602-Let’s Get Physical

Cupcake Inspirations- #597 Anything Goes  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #26 AG                                

      I’ve always loved lighthouses, and have a few stamps in my digi and wood-mount collections, so I wanted to make a card to enter into the current Time Out Photo Inspiration Challenge.  This digi stamp is from Impression Obsession. I let the beautifully sketched lighthouse stand out by using decorative chalks and a white gel pen to keep the coloring soft and minimal. A bit of texture and a glint of gold was added with a foliage die-cut, and a scrap of metallic gold paper to frame the sentiment.

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge Poem: My Country (my card reflects the line “I love her jewel-sea.”) and Path Of Positivity Challenge: Anything Goes Positive with Twist-Power of Words: Dreams/Goals (I strive to be optimistic and to find and share whenever I can. It's the reason I’ve been a teacher/public educator for the last 40 years. The world today can be a very difficult place to live and grow… or in some cases to just survive!  Anytime I can spread some light and joy into someone's life, I pray that I'm helping to make the world a better place one person at a time!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Impression Obsession Digital Stamp (Lighthouse View)

·   Colored with Decorative Chalks and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment “Let Your Light Shine…”- Lili of the Valley (Inspirational Sentiments)

·   Fancy Foliage Dies- Spellbinders Our Daily Bread Designs

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- My Country   

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #122  (Anything Goes Positive)

Time Out Challenge- #266 Photo Inspiration  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #653-654         

For at least 10 years, I've loved the sweet critters drawn by artist/owner Diane Carubia at Di’s Digi Stamps. I have many in my digi collection, including this cute one! I wanted to make a few cards for Di’s current challenge, and even though “Kitty’s New Friend” isn’t a beach-related digi, I decided that Kitty, and his new friend might just like some Vitamin Sea! So I colored, fussy-cut, and adhered the two friends to a beachy background digi I just added to my collection (and it’s a freebie! See below ** for details!)  

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Allsorts Challenge: Way to Grow  (spending time together enjoying the great outdoors has helped my hubby and I to grow closer for nearly  47 years!) and Inspiration Station: Photo prompt (Ocean scenes like the photo and the digi on my card thrill my landlocked/sea lovin’ soul!!)  

     ** I signed up several months ago to receive free downloads from artist Sande Woodson’s original patterned paper (including this vintage beach scene), plus related sentiments and ephemera. You can sign up to receive weekly freebies (HERE) You can also find some of Sande’s freebies on her FB page (Sande's Poema Card Making Community)

Supplies: 

·   Background digi scenery- from Sande's Poema Freebies (June 2024-Week 2 Vintage Tropical) Details to sign up for weekly freebies (HERE)

·   Dis Digis- Kittys New Friend (retired)

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

·   Front Sentiments from the "Dress My Craft-Awesome Blossom Collection-Motif Sheets." Available from several web sources

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Di’s Digi Stamps- Sun and/or Sand and/or Water

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes- #102 July  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #63 Inspiration Prompt 

Allsorts Challenge- Week 787: Way to Grow  (Option AG)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Dogs Or Cats)

Outlawz Challenge- July 2024 Linky