myasperations 3-20-25

     This is my second entry into Time Out Challenge’s “The Red Carpet” theme/mood board. I imbibed in some web research, drinking in dozens of beautiful gowns that would work well on a card front. However, my eyes were drawn to the gorgeous array of dark red peonies tumbling down the length of a gown Cameron Diaz wore at the 2002 Academy Awards. (Details HERE.) Peonies were one of my mom’s favorite flowers, so they have always been special to me. I knew I had several peony digis in my collection that I could use for my card. I copied a lovely digi from Ching-Chou Kuik named “Peony Dawn” into my Word program, cropped it back to end up with a digi strip that held a few blooms and leaves and sized it to fill half of an A2 card front. Next, I copied and pasted another strip beside the first… and I had the base for my card front! After printing and cutting the A2-sized pair of digi strips, I used a closeup of the Red Carpet photo as my guide to try to replicate the look of the flower-laden gown! The process of coloring and embellishing the peonies took seven steps, but I like how they turned out. (The steps plus photos are just above the supply listing in case you would like details.)

      Mz. Diaz draped a pretty scarf (with blue diamond shaped patterns) and a chunky silver/gold belt around her waist. These inspired me to use blue patterned paper and metallic accents on my card. Lastly, I selected the sentiments, thrilled to discover that I had some Mother's Day wood-mount stamps (circa 1990’s!) My mom would have loved this card… so I plan to send it to my sister in May. (Since I have two sisters, I'll be making a second one!)  

  

    Step 1- outline blooms with a deep shade of red. 

    Step 2-Add depth by blending in two additional shades of red. 

    Step 3- Outline the leaves with a medium shade of green, add another lighter shade of 

        green, then outline leaves with white gel pen. 

    Step 4-Outline the edges of the colored blooms with a white gel pen.  

    Step 5- Use a ruler and a light pink marker to draw lines down the peony strips, evenly 

        spacing them ¼ inch apart. 

    Step 6- Use a white gel pen to draw a white line down each side of the pink stripes. 

        Optional- Trace over the pink lines with a sparkly pen or marker. 

Supplies: 

·   Peony Digi- Ching-Chou Kuik Grayscale digi (Peony Dawn)

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

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- punched or fussy-cut from glittery and metallic paper scraps

·   Front Sentiment “Happy Mother’s Day”- Wood Mount Printworks Stamp (no longer available)

·   Front Sentiment “A Mother Holds a Special Part…”- Wood Mount Printworks Stamp (no longer available)

·   ZIG Wink of Stella clear glitter brush marker (To add sparkle onto pink stripes)

·   Blue and gold patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

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

·   Scrap of sheer cream/gold ribbon, Green ink pad, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #284 (The Challenge: The Red Carpet)      

Allsorts Challenge- Week 819- Feminine 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #691-692

Paper Funday- #74 Anything Goes     

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge-AG March 2025

      This final card features a beautiful Moondrea Designs digi named Cherry Blossom, which is provided free to participants of their monthly Progressive FB Challenge. Cherry Blossoms bring a hint of Spring, so I loved making this card. Although you can’t see it in the photo, my card also has lots of sparkle with several gel pens and markers. 

 

Supplies: 

·   Background photo of Cherry Blossoms- from www.istockphoto.com

·   Digi- Moondrea Designs Digi (Cherry Blossom)

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

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sentiments are from a We Are 3 Digi Sentiment set (Etsy Shop closed) 

·    Embellishments on inside sentiment- From Power Poppy digi set (Blossoming Cherry)

·    ZIG Wink of Stella clear glitter brush marker

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

·   Strip of sheer ribbon, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Moondrea Designs Progressive Challenge FB-(March-Cherry Blossoms)  

  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (March) Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival

  Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #592 Anything Goes

  Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #780: Add a Sentiment

  Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #117 Spring Blooms 

     This card features a cuddly Di’s Digi image named Candy Cane Bear. Sadly, this cutie is now retired, but if you visit Di’s Etsy Shop, you’ll find lots of adorable critters and right now they are on sale for 30% off (I especially love her bears and bunnies!) The gorgeous patterned paper provides a wonderful vintage look to the card. And the little bear looks pretty comfy perched on the frame I created on the card front. I added some depth to the card by printing, coloring, and fussy-cutting an extra set of his legs that were attached with foam tape.

Supplies: 

·   Dis Digis- Candy cane Bear (Retired)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Thinking of You at Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cardinals)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jingle Bells)

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

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #55 March 2025         

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #250 AG 

Di’s Digi Stamps-All About Animals

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: March (Christmas) 

Outlawz Challenge-March 2025 Linky