Tuesday, March 11, 2025

myasperations 3-11-25a

    The Time Out Challenge is celebrating its 11th year with a CASE the Designer Challenge. Donna Mikasa’s beautiful card, plus the coming of Spring (I hope SOON!) inspired the following cards for the challenge. I followed Donna’s lead for both, dividing the card front at an angle, with one half embossed, and the other filled with digi stamp images. 

      One of the angled panels on this first one has a light floral print that I left uncolored. The other panel includes dusky blue cardstock topped with butterfly embossed vellum. (I’ve had this treasure in my stash for at least 20 years, as I remember packing it through our last three moves. I was saving it for something special… and this challenge is IT!) The bright butterflies on the front and inside of the card were cut from the vellum, colored, then outlined with a fine-line marker.  
Supplies: 
·   Butterfly images (on front and inside) are cut from the embossed vellum
 ·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and 
       Sharpie Black Permanent Fine-Line Marker 

·   Front Sentiment- Freebie from Desert Diva (Happy Birthday to a very special friend).

·   Inside Sentiment - Computer Generated in Word program

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

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

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

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #283 (Birthday Celebrations CASE) (photo)     
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Birthday Wishes (March) (optional twist- 
       Add Some Shine)   
Outlawz Challenge-March 2025 Linky  
Allsorts Challenge- Week 818- CAS (Optional- AG)  

      On this final card, I used another scrap of the butterfly embossed vellum for one panel, and the other included rows of wonderful B&W butterfly images, which I colored with gel pens. (I knew that I had bunches of them, but seldom use more than the white ones. So it was fun, to put them to use. But, it was also a bit scary as I don’t always do well with mediums that can be easily smeared!)
      Years ago a dear friend texted this sentiment when my hubby was going through some frightening health issues.  So I don’t know it’s original source, and can’t find it through web research. There are a few other versions, but none quite touched my heart like this version. So… possibly my friend penned it. I must remember to ask her! 
     I’m entering this card into other challenges including Path Of Positivity: Embracing The Unexpected- make something you wouldn’t normally make. (As noted above, I have many gel pens but rarely use most of them. For this card I used a few dozen of them, mostly the metallic and sparkly ones! It took a while but I do like the result!)
 

Supplies: 
·   Pre-colored Monarch Butterfly Digi from TLC Junk Journaling page on FB (Retired. Originally posted  May 15, 2023)

·   Vellum embossed with Butterflies from my stash

·   Butterflies in rows- B&W Patterned papers from Hobby Lobby

·   Colored with Sakura Gel Pens: Glossy 3D Glaze, Gelly Roll Metallic and Sparkly

·   Sentiment (split to flow from front to inside of card) - Computer Generated in Word program/Original source unknown

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

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

Entered into:  
Time Out Challenge- Challenge #283 (Birthday Celebrations CASE)      
Crafty Catz Challenge- #689 AG- Optional: Add a Sentiment
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #129 (Embracing The Unexpected: Make something 
       you wouldn’t normally make.)  

     Many years ago I stumbled upon a source of wonderful digital images, Little Scraps of Heaven (LSOH) Designs. The artist/owner, Tricia Moore, is talented and creative, and the cost of her amazing artwork is affordable. As a result, I have nearly 200 of her digis in my collection, some include sentiments. The one I’m using for this card, named “Love Bear” was one of Tricia’s weekly Freebies in 2017.  I have folders full of scraps, so I cut lots of little squares and used them to create “quilted” background. I even used the teeny tiny bits to create smaller quilts to frame the front sentiment and make quilted heart embellishments for the inside sentiment.
    A dear friend is an avid quilter, so I’m tucking this card away to send to her next Christmas. She is also a card maker, so I know she’ll love it.  
    NOTE- Although the digi I used on the card is no longer available, if you visit the Little Scraps of Heaven (LSOH) Shop you’ll find hundreds of other digis/etc. to use for cards and/or scrapbooking for $1.50 each (US dollar.)
Supplies: 
·   Little Scraps of Heaven Digi (Love Bear) Retired-was weekly Freebie in Aug 2017

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

·   Front Sentiment “Thinking of You”- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Hello Foxy)

·   Inside Sentiment “All Hearts Come Home...” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Snow Time)

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

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

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- It’s a Stitch Up
Double D’s Challenge- Going Green     
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: March Mood Board- Kermit GREEN  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: March (Christmas) 
Di’s Digi Stamps-Green with Envy
Snippets- Week #501
  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)     Country Bear Jamboree
Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: March 2025 

myasperations 3-11-25

     This card was created for the March Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Sketch Challenge on FB and the current Caffeinated Christmas Card challenge.  For some reason, Beccy Muirs wonderful digi always makes me crave a large mug of hot chocolate. If it’s blizzarding outside… a shot of Peppermint Schnapps adds an additional touch of warmth!

  
Supplies: 
·   Precolored Digi and Sentiments from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

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

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

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

Entered into: 
Double D’s Challenge- Going Green  
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: March Mood Board- Kermit GREEN  (optional rainbow)     

      This sweet “Santa’s Little Baker” digi is a freebie from Not2Shabby, and because it is a greyscale digi, it was so easy to color!  The gingerbread theme was carried throughout the card with colors (cardstock base and striped paper), sentiments, and little cookie embellishments. So fun!
       I’m entering this card into other challenges including Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- It’s a Stitch Up (I added stitches to the apron/shirt and along the edge of the card front), and Not2Shabby March Color Board (I used all five of the colors on my card. Four of them are easy to spot, to find the fifth, Jade Green, look into her eyes!! 
                                                              
                                                
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Not2Shabby Freebie (Santas Little Baker)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Christmas Baking…”- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Making Merry)

·   Inside Sentiment “Warm Cookie Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gingerbread Season)

·   Gingerbread cookies fussy-cut from patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

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

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

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- It’s a Stitch Up (I added stitches to the Bakers clothing and on the edge of the card that frames the front.)
Not2Shabby Mood Board Challenge- March (Color board) 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #689-690  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: March (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-March 2025 Linky  
      

      The Time Out Challenge is celebrating its 11th  year with a CASE the Designer Challenge. Donna Mikasa’s beautiful card, plus the coming of Spring (I hope SOON!) inspired three cards. This is the first one!  Following Donna's lead, I divided the card front at an angle. Also similar to Donna's card, one half was dry embossed and the other featured springy flowers. I wanted my card to be a shout out for spring, so used bright- almost neon- colored cardstock for the embossed section, and added an also nearly neon orange Monarch Butterfly to the card front. create a shout out for Spring. I really can't wait for it to get here!)     
     I’m entering this card into other challenges including Path Of Positivity: Embracing The Unexpected- make something you wouldn’t normally make. (I occasionally use chalk on my cards to create a cloudy sky with a stencil and makeup sponge. But I seldom use them to color in a digi. For this card, I used Q-tips to blend an assortment of colors on the floral bouquet. )

Supplies: 

·   Pre-colored Monarch Butterfly Digi from TLC Junk Journaling page on FB (Retired. Originally posted  May 15, 2023)

·   Flower Bouquet Digi- Stamplorations  (You Are Loved Card Front) (Currently not available.  Check HERE for details.)

·   Colored with decorative chalks and Q-tips

·   Digi and sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gnomes in My Garden)

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Just Flying By…”- Freebie from Birdscards (Blog is closed)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from TlcCreations (Wishing You Little Moments of Delight)

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

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

Entered into:  
  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March)     Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #129 (Embracing The Unexpected.)

Sunday, March 9, 2025

myasperations 3-9-25

   I’ve been decluttering my craft room and found some snowflake-embossed acetate that just asked to be used for a card. A sweet little snowman digi and cute sentiment from Bugaboo, plus papers from my stash create a fun winter card.   
Supplies: 

·   Snowman Digi and Sentiments- Bugaboo (Company is no longer in business)

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

·   Snowflakes Embossing Folder- Darice

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

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

Entered into:  
The Paper Shelter- #628 Anything Goes 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #689-690  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
ABC Christmas Challenge- “C and D  are for…? ”  ‘C is for Cute' 

While decluttering, I found many folders of digis I’d printed off and not yet used. This card was made with re-colored images and background from a digi set named "Emma the Mermaid" from Fred She Said." I made the card for a grandniece who loves mermaids and have been told (by her parents) that she really likes when I send her cards that “move.” So, I decided on a wiper card so that Emma can actually leap from the water! (I used a tutorial I found via Pinterest, with one minor change. I needed the bottom strip for the card, onto which the “wiper” is added, to be higher so that Emma was hidden until the card was opened. So, I cut that strip 4” x 8½ " instead of instead of 2" x 8½."
      I’m entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity- Challenge #129 (The unexpected twist for my card is that although I enjoy using fancy folds on my cards, I usually prefer simple ones. Although I like the way this card turned out, I lost count of how many times I had to redo sections to get it to work! Finally, after I made the change in the bottom strips height, it worked smoothly.) 
 
Supplies: 
·   Wiper Card Tutorial found HERE

·   Digis (including Emma, background, and sea creatures)- Fred She Said Digi set (Emma the Mermaid- colored)

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

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

·   Front Sentiment-“Have a Fintastic Day” A freebie from Simply Cards/CraftWorld 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:  
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #591 Anything Goes
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge-AG March 2025
Outlawz Challenge-March 2025 Linky  
Polkadoodles Challenge- Challenge 4, Week 1- AG                     
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #129 (Embracing The Unexpected: Make Something You Wouldn’t Normally Make.   

      With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, I knew I had to make a card using an adorable Leprechaun digi from Sweet November Stamps. The trio of “peekers” were fun to color, mainly because I love ginger-colored hair. I also had fun adding sparkle with a gold gel pen and a Wink of Stella brush marker.
    The beautiful rainbow background is from one of my favorite FB sites for free digis, Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC.  The group sponsor, Paulette Slater, provides dozens of free sentiments and digis every month. You can visit the site and join to have access to all the wonderful digis that Paulette offers! She also has a Ko-fi web shop HERE where you can find digis, word art, patterned papers and occasional freebies.
      I’m entering this card into several challenges including Not2Shabby Color Board: March (My card features at least a bit of each of the boards colors.), and Park Hopping-My Happy Place where the challenge is anything inspired by a theme park. This is one of my favorite challenges… as it has introduced me to many new places to add to my bucket list! I used the wonderful “inspiration” listing that sponsor Makira provides, and found a theme park that features a very small surprise, based on a Golden Book character,  Lephrechans: The Little Man of Disneyland. I did a bit of research (HERE) and it sounds like the little guys home is now located at the entrance of the Indiana Jones jungle! 
  
Supplies: 
·   Pre-colored Rainbow background was posted on FB on 6-7-2024 at Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC (on FB) Once you join HERE, check to see if this digi is  still available by searching “Rainbow” or checking HERE 

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Leprechaun Peekers)

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

·   ZIG Wink of Stella clear glitter brush marker (Brushed onto rainbow and gold coins)

·   Front Sentiment “Lucky to Have...”- from Little Scraps of Heaven digi set (Retired)

·   Inside Sentiment-Freebie from LoveSVG (Happy St. Patrick's Day)

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

Entered into:  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #778: Anything but Square
Friends of Sweet November (FB) March (AG/Rainbow =2 entries) 
Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Rainbow (Opt For a Friend) 
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: March Mood Board- Kermit GREEN  
Not2Shabby Mood Board Challenge- March (Color board) 
Crafty Catz Challenge- #689 AG- Optional: Add a Sentiment
Di’s Digi Stamps-Green with Envy
Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: March 2025 Optional-Rainbows