myasperations 11-23-24

    Another fun card for both the current Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers  {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge and also the 12th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge at Beccy’s Place. (I love that Beccy names all the characters that she creates, and this mutt is named “Earl” which I learned is an English name meaning "nobleman" or "warrior." Hmm… maybe that means this guy won’t be teased about wearing a “Christmas Sweater!” I own several of them… but my hubby has said he wouldn’t be caught dead in one!)

   The digi is pre-colored, however, I did add highlights and shading, PLUS used one of my favorite tutorials from artist Anabel Haines (HERE) to add knitted texture to the sweater with just markers and a white gel pen. Since Earl is a tall fella, I decided to place him on the inside of the card and show his handsome face through a square cut in the card front. This also allowed me to follow the BYSHC November sketch, although I did flip Earls image to the left side of the card.  

Supplies: 

·   Sentiments and Pre-colored Dog Digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds)

·   Tutorial for creating knitted texture (by Anabel Haines) can be found HERE

·   Additional highlights, shading and knitted texture added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Patterned Papers (front) from Newtons Nook 6x6 paper pad (Coffee House Stories) 

·   Weathered Wood paper (inside) from Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash.

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 I'm finding all kinds of “treasures” while decluttering my craft room. One box included dozens of old greeting cards I’ve collected for over 3 decades and many partial cards I had started but not finished. One Hallmark Thanksgiving card provided a greeting and lovely gold embossed fall leaves that I used on this card. Back in the late 90s a friend and I were experimenting with stamping scenes onto photos of clouds we had taken. I'd stamped the house on this photo in permanent black ink but wanted to add some color to it. So I tested several marker and pen options until I found a few that worked (detailed in my supplies list.)  A sweet little squirrel and two sentiments (one upcycled) joined a flurry of upcycled leaves to finish the card.

Supplies: 

·   Background photo of clouds taken by me many years ago

·   Old House-Art Impressions Wood Mount (Retired) stamped onto photo with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad

·   Color added to photo with markers. (I used Sharpie permanent fine-line markers for trees-dotted orange, yellow and a touch of red for leaves, and grass-sketched thin lines and dots with shades of green and tan. For the house, a light grey Spectrum Noir Classique alcohol marker added soft shading to the house, and a Sakura Gelly Roll white provided a few highlights.)

·   Squirrel Digi from Bugaboo Stamps (no longer in business)

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

·   Front Sentiment- a freebie from TlcCreations (Thankful for Autumn)

·   Leaf embellishments on front and inside of card, plus Inside Sentiment- upcycled from an old greeting card

·   All other items from my stash.

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    Several years ago I found a sheet music image on FB that made me laugh out loud! It was created by a talented, and funny, character who goes by the title “The Church Curmudgeon.” I printed off a copy and adhered it to the front of an A2-sized card to send to a coffee-lovin’ friend. While decluttering my craft room I came upon another of these cards, and decided make it into a Christmas card.

   First, I cut a piece of vellum to fit the front of the card, adding an additional ½ inch to the left size of the vellum. This allows the vellum to be folded and taped to the backside of the card, so it can be lifted to read the complete lyrics.

    Then I worked on decorating the vellum! I paper-pieced a stack of teacups from one of Beccy Muir’s retired digi sets, which is a fav of mine. It was a bit tedious, but I love the way the stack looks, especially when adorned with a sprig of greenery and red ribbon bow. I adhered the stack onto the vellum card front. A paper doily adhered to the backside of the vellum adds a Victorian vibe to the card that I really like! (I perfected the paper-piecing of this cupstack back in 2018 when I created a slightly different Victorian Christmas card. My blog posting of that card included a step-by-step tutorial which you cand find HERE… and another version of the card is HERE!)

Supplies: 

·   Sheet Music “ 'Tis so sweet to drink my coffee” found  HERE  (© The Church Curmudgeon, 2015)

·   Stack of Cups Digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set-TeaTime Retired) 

·   Paperpieced after printing on colored paper and fussy cutting the cups apart  

·   Shading and highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen 

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Bright and Happy Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jingle Bells)

·   Christmas Greenery Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash. 

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