Tuesday, December 31, 2024

myasperations 12-31-24

     I created this card for the current Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge using a wood-mount rubber stamp from Hero Arts that I’ve had in my collection for over two decades. I liked the way this sweet mini-Santa fit in with the sentiment “…Merry little Christmas…”! I used a color combo that I really like- Teal and Gold, plus added a touch of deep red on Santa’s clothing to give the card an elegant Christmas look!
                           
Supplies: 

·   Tiny Santa Claus Image-Hero Arts Wood Mount Stamp (Retired)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen (to add swirls to Santa’s beard)

·   Front Sentiment- “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” a freebie from Birdscards.com (Blog now closed)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing you a season of gladness…” from a Sweet November Stamps digi set (Sentiment Pack: Christmas)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

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

·   Sheer ribbon with gold glitter swirls, small gold heart stickers, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- 5th Annual Blog Hop & Anything Goes-Weeks #679-680    

    I needed a few New Year's cards, and this sweet cherub digi from The Paper Shelter caught my interest. I wanted to add a little pizzazz to the card, so I created a double Z-fold base, with the second Z-fold strip placed at the top. (you can see this in the second and third photos.)  A spattering of sparkly stars and a powerful inside sentiment finish the festive card.
    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity Challenge: Faith/Hope (my card, and especially the inside sentiment was inspired by the quote-“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” — Albert Einstein
 
Supplies: 

·   Double Z-fold Card Base (you can find instructions for many variations on the web. Mine features a Z band across the top of my card!)

·   Digi- The Paper Shelter (Happy New Year)

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

·   Sparkly Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment is incorporated into the digi!  

·   Inside Sentiment- “May the New Year Bring you Hope for Peaceful Tomorrows”  is a freebie from TlcCreations

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Yellow vellum, cardstock, star template, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
The Paper Shelter- #622 Anything Goes  
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #126 (Faith/Hope)  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (New Year) 
Outlawz Challenge-Dec 2024 Linky  

      I’m not usually a fan of Steampunk, but this pre-colored butterfly digi fascinates me. I especially like the beautiful patina of the “metal workings” and tried to pick out background papers to help them stand out. The teal patterned paper works beautifully, plus the copper and silver metallic cardstocks add a true steampunk feeling, especially because I used embossed a fun pattern on the silver paper that looks very steampunk-ish! The sentiments are both from Beccy’s Place, from two different digi sets. (I find that I use sentiments from many of Beccy’s sets, because she has a way with words, plus I like that she uses a variety of fonts in her creations!
      Note—This digi is a freebie from an artist/illustrator, Paulette Slater. She shares her work through an FB site named Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC, where she regularly offers free sentiments and digis. The site also provides details of beautiful seasonal and themed sets Paulette sells through a Ko-fi shop HERE and where she occasionally hides freebies like this one!)
  
Supplies: 
·   Steampunk Butterfly Postcard- Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC (FB) 
      Join HERE  (Note- after you join, you can find this digi posted on 7-24-23)

·   Little B Cutting Dies-Ovals

·   Darice Embossing Folder- Double Quatrefoil

·   Front Sentiment-“ You Brighten My Day” from  Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Hello Sunshine)

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

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Use Craft Dies   
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)    Steampunk at Disney-Dreamfinder
Beccy’s Place Challenge- Dec

Monday, December 30, 2024

myasperations 12-30-24

   I created this card for the “Use a Die” challenge at Simon Says.  The front sentiment, “Merry (x4)” was made with a retired die from Stampin’ Up!  This is from the first die set that I ever owned, and this time I opted to use it to make a Clean and Simple card (which is NOT my norm but I really might have to try this more often!) I added a few holly leaves, fussy-cut from paper scraps, then added a bit of bling because... well... it's the holidays!   
Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment “Merry”- Stampin Up Thinlits Expressions Dies (retired set)
·   Front Sentiment “Christmas”- Computer-generated

·   Inside Sentiment ”Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year”- from Lili of the Valley digi set (Christmas Wishes)

·   Inside Embellishments- Holly Stickers from Hobby Lobby

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Red rhinestones, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Use Craft Dies   
The Paper Shelter- #622 Anything Goes  
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Anything Goes 

     The sponsor for the December Outlawz Progressive Challenge is Anne’s Digital Art, and I enjoyed creating with her wonderful holly digi, contrasting the brightly colored foliage with a monochrome colored plaid background. I also sketched the plaid pattern onto the large bow, attempting to copy the background pattern. Black photo corners and a sentiment strip finish off the front of the card. The inside sentiment, embellished with sparkly holly stickers and a backing of monochrome plaid paper pulls the card together.
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Anne’s Holly Image (Freebie for Outlaws Dec 2024 Progressive Challenge)

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

·   Front Sentiment- Strip of holiday sentiments are from my scrapbook stash

·   Inside Sentiment- “Spreading Holiday Cheer to You and Yours” (Computer Generated)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Sparkly Holly Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
We Love Stamping- December-Winter (optional AG)  
Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (Dec) by Anne's Digital Art  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-Dec 2024 Linky

     I’ve had this digi in my collection for many years, and its sweet whimsy always gives me joy! I added some bling by adhering mini star confetti sequins to the sky, to create a halo around baby Jesus’ head, and to dot the “I” on the inside sentiment. I also did a little paper piecing to try to create Mary a tunic that had the look of a hand-woven tunic. (I was inspired to do this after a bit of web research which produced a video from the curator at the Museum of the Bible who shared the process of using a simple loom to weave wool and linen into clothing. (You can find it HERE if desired.)  
     An added note- I'm not sure why Mary's head scarf is such a neon green color, I'm pretty sure that is not typical for women at that time! The scarf is actually a nice shade of sage green. 
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes: All Things Bright and Beautiful (this card reflects all the verses in the poem, but the last few resonate with me “He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.”), ABC Christmas Challenge: Z is for Zoo Animals (the sweet animals in this scene would fit beautifully in any Petting Zoo), and Path Of Positivity Challenge: Faith/Hope (my card is inspired by this Helen Keller quote-“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.” Mary experienced serious and life-changing situations in her young life. Yet, even when her world was turned upside down… her faith in God's promises sustained her!)


Supplies: 

·   Background photo- upcycled from an old calendar

·   Digi- Dis Digis (Izzy’s Nativity) Retired (but you can find other Christmas digis at Di’s Etsy shop HERE)

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

·   Sparkly Stars- Pretty Pink Posh Silver Mini Star Confetti Sequins (I purchased them from Simon Says Stamps HERE)

·   Nuvo Glitter Drops- White Blizzard (used to attach the mini confetti sequins)

·   Front Sentiment “Shhhh”- handwritten within a simply sketched speech bubble with a permanent fine-line black Sharpie marker

·   Inside Sentiment – “Christ the Savior is Born” freebie from Papercrafts Magazine (no longer available)  

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Di’s Digi Stamps-Winter Holidays 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- 5th Annual Blog Hop & Anything Goes-Weeks #679-680   Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes- All Things Bright and Beautiful     
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #126 (Faith/Hope) 

Sunday, December 29, 2024

myasperations 12-29-24

      This sweet card is my final entry in the current All Dressed Up monthly challenge and perfectly fits the theme, “Celebrations” theme. Although my wedding was nearly 47 years ago, I do remember it was quite the celebration, especially because I could be a Princess for that one day! (In truth, my sweet hubby still treats me like a Princess… at least most days!)
     The background paper I selected adds a wonderful shabby chic vibe to my card. I added two elegant vintage details to the wedding dress, coloring it a beautiful cream and added a delicate lace overlay with my trusty white gel pen. A few fun embellies add bling, texture, and color to the card (sheer cream-colored ribbon, a diamond ring sticker, and fussy-cut pink hearts. (These hearts are made with a few scraps of a pink plastic file folder. Sometimes sold as “document file folders”, these wonderful items come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores. They're cheaper than colored vellum and more translucent. Punches and dies don’t work on these sheets, but you can use templates to trace shapes onto them with a permanent fine-line marker. A sharp pair of scissors will then make cutting the shapes to an easy task.)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- All Dressed Up (The Gorgeous Bride)

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

·   Sparkly Diamond Ring Sticker- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Dreams Really Do Come True”- freebie from Papercrafts Magazine (no longer available)  

·   Inside Sentiment-Computer Generated

·   Pioneer Silver Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Scraps of pink plastic file folders, sheer ribbon, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
All Dressed Up FB Challenge- December: Celebrations  
Allsorts Challenge- Week 812/13 AG
 Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)   Theme parks that provide wedding 
         venues (Disney and Carowinds)     
All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (Dec #158

      I created this card for the current “Use a Die” challenge at Simon Says.  The front sentiment, “Happy Christmas” was made with a die from My Favorite Things.  The diecut lettering was first cut out of green dotted paper. I always save the “negative diecut” when I use word dies so that I can use them to provide contrasting frames in the future. That is what I did here… and I like the results! The Christmas tree was made from a scrap of pretty gift wrap, and 3-D gold star stickers add a bit of bling. But the real “star” is the sweet little Santa standing in for the letter “A” of the sentiment! He is one of the first stamps I collected, starting his 25 year adventure. Just a few markers and a white gel pen added bits of color and the texture of thick white curls to the little guys beard!
 
Supplies: 

·   Tiny Santa Claus Image-Hero Arts Wood Mount Stamp (Retired)

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

·   Front Sentiment- My Favorite Things Die (Happy Christmas) Retired, but I found it on a few sources via a search of the web

·    Inside Sentiment- We Are 3 Digital Sentiments  (Wishing You) Sadly company is no longer in business

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Gold star 3D stickers- JoAnne’s

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Use Craft Dies   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-Dec 2024 Linky  

     I had fun making this card for the current Snippets Challenge, which I try to regularly participate in because it helps me to use up some of my many scraps, aka Snippets! I also enjoy the generosity and creativity of the hosts (Di and Sarn), and the camaraderie they inspire in their many participants. And the sweet little pup who plays the star role on my card resembles Dudley, the beloved pup of Diane Wray, the founder of the challenge. (Di calls him “Dudley Dog- Snippets Playground mascot and general busybody” and regularly shares stories about this fun-loving little guy's escapades on her blog. He is a smart little sweetheart!
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes-All Things Bright and Beautiful: (my card was inspired by the second line, “All Creatures great and small…”), Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Theme Tic-Tac-Toe: (Diagonal from upper right to lower left:- Christmas Tree on Dudley’s sweater;  reindeer is an animal… and so it a cute pup; Ornaments including a star like those sprinkled across my card!
Supplies: 

·   Puppy Digi, “Seasons GRRRReetings”,“May Your Days be Furry and Bright” from Joy Claire Designs Digi Set (Dog Gone Christmas)

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

·   Holly  embellishments on inside sentiment are from a Carol Wilson Fine Arts Scrapbooking Kit named “Jingles!” 

·   Sookwang double sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Red Rickrack, patterned paper scraps, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Snippets- Week #496
Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge- Dec 2024: Optional Christmas  
Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes- All Things Bright and Beautiful 
Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Theme Tic-Tac-Toe 
     #679-680