Cupcakes and Butterflies

One of my favorite challenges, Double D’s Challenge, was started by two kind and generous
friends named Diane and Darlene 5 years ago. For their 5th Anniversary, they decided to host
a cupcake themed Challenge. Yummy! I discovered that I have quite a few cupcake digis,
stamps and even a die. So… I just had to create some cards. I posted one of them yesterday. 

Here are the final two!

The first features a patriotic Bugaboo digi, that I colored, fussy cut and adhered to a Pop Up
Front Step Panel Card (template is available HERE). This easy to make card base has a nice “WOW” factor when standing, plus it folds flat for mailing… usually at no extra cost! The sentiment is a freebie and all papers are from my stash.
I’m entering this card into several other challenges including the TIME OUT Challenge- Be YOU (the instructions are “We want to know more about you-show us in form of a card! This could be your favorite card making style, what food you love...the list goes on!) I do love cupcakes, plus I love making cards with different folds or bases. (For this card I created a variation of a fold and provided a tutorial link in my supplies list. Easy Peasy!)

 

Supplies:

· Digi- Bugaboo Stamps (USA Cupcake)
· Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
· Template- Popup Front Step Card (HERE- just through step 4)
· Front Sentiment- TLC Creations Freebie (4th of July Celebrate Freedom)
· All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Double D’s Challenge- Cupcake (posted here and on Pinterest)
Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #137
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes
TIME OUT Challenge- #179 Be YOU
STAMPlorations- Dec Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge: Stamps and Sweets 

My final entry into the Cupcake Challenge was made with a die that I think I might have won in a Double D challenge a few years ago. (How fun is that?!) This is the first time I’ve used it and I love the way the card turned out. I did trim the cupcake from the die-cut so that I could wrap a thin scrap of yellow vellum around the bottom of the cupcake. The vellum resembles a real cupcake liner. (Next time I won’t add white gel highlights to the vellum as it is a little overpowering.) The rest of the card went together pretty quickly with items from my stash.
I’m entering this card into several other challenges including the NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) using this sweet die-cut for the first time! (But it will definitely not be the last!) and the Snippets Challenge, which encourages the use of all the little scraps of paper that might otherwise be (gasp) thrown away! For this card, I used snippets of vellum, and every little bit of the bright colorful patterned background paper to highlight the inside sentiment.

 

Supplies: 

· Diecut Sentiment/Cupcake- Cottage Cutz Happy Birthday die
· Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers (cherry) and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
· Glossy Accents- adds shine on cherry
· Inside Sentiment- Power Poppy Digi set Cuppa Cupcake (Life is short, eat dessert first)
· All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Double D’s Challenge- Cupcake (posted here and on Pinterest)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #150 Anything Goes (Happy 6th Birthday!)
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Diecuts and/or Embossing Folders 
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #669 What’s New?
NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff!)- Challenge #22 [photo] 
Pixie's Snippets-Week #394
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays 
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

My final card for this posting is for another of my favorite challenges called the Butterfly Challenge. Each challenge includes a specific creative fold as one of the themes, but the sponsor, Mrs. A, provides easy to follow instructions that are really helpful. The current fold is a Gap Fold Card. A sweet friend had gifted me a sentiment die that worked perfectly for a Gap Fold card! I ran it through my Big Shot twice, once with dark green cardstock and once with floral patterned paper. This allowed me to place the floral letters into the negative space in the dark green cardstock. I really like the continuity that gives the card as the letters match the floral in the gab (beneath the acetate) and across the top of the card. A punched butterfly with deep pink vellum adhered to the underside of its wings perches on the card front. So lovely!
I am entering this card into several challenges including Tuesday Color Challenge-Project that begins with the Letter F (my card features several of the colors in the inspiration plus includes Floral paper.) 

Supplies:
· Diecut Sentiment- Memory Box Happy Birthday
· Butterfly Punch- Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly Double Craft Punch
· Acetate, dark pink vellum, and all other papers from my stash.
· Inside Sentiment- Papercrafts Magazine Freebie (no longer available)

Entered into:
Butterfly Challenge- #150 G is for Gap Fold 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Layer It Up!
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge-Project that begins with the Letter F 
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes

Bugaboos Birthday Bash

Jodie and her team at Bugaboo Stamps are celebrating their 11th Birthday with a weeklong Bash! In spite of an unusually busy week, I was able to create several cards today. So… am working to get them posted in time.
For the Day 1 challenge- Woodland Friends Birthday Project- I decided to create a birthday card with Theodore Bear (who came out of hibernation to join in the fun!) I love the confetti background paper which just screams “PARTY!” I didn’t plan to add the additional marker created confetti on my circle background but it evolved to cover an oops. I accidentally got a black smudge along one edge of the circle, tried to cover it up with shading and a blender; looked worse. Added more shading. Still worse. So… started lightly tapping the tips of the brightly colored markers I’d used on the digi. When finished I discovered that my dots overwhelmed the background. Ack! Blender pen helped tone it done but not enough. So… pulled out my white pigment ink and sponge and gently started to try to do some repairs. Four hours later (I am exaggerating just a bit) it looked tolerable so I stopped… but not until after I added a few “confetti” peeking from behind the balloons. Ha!)

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Bugaboo Stamps (Theodore - Birthday Sign)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- Papercrafts Magazine Freebie (no longer available)
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Bugaboo Stamps- 11thAnnual Birthday Bash Day 1- Birthday Project Woodland Friends
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes                   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January                 
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #669 What’s New?
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                

My second entry into Bugaboo Stamps 11th Birthday Bash is for the Day 3 challenge- Anything But a Card. I decided to make a simple... or should I say "Simply magnetic" bookmark! I remember making them with my 5th grade Sunday School students many years ago to give as Christmas gifts. They are super easy to make, inexpensive... and useful, too! (They require a paper strip, two small pieces of adhesive-backed magnet strips that are available in a roll at most craft stores, and whatever you want to use to decorate them. The bookmark folds over the page and the magnets secure it in place… so there is nothing sticking out of the book and it won’t accidentally come out until you take it out!) With my SS students, I printed off scripture verses for them to color and decorate with miniature stamps.  But I've also made them with scrapbook paper and embellishments. (Be careful not to make them too thick or they might leave a little indentation in the book! Bet you can guess how I know that?!) For this bookmark, I wanted to match the challenge theme, and since lots of bugs inhabit the woods, I created a ladybug bookmark.  I kept the design simple but added a little interest with a seldom-used Victorine pattern decorative scissors, added some shading and highlights to the bug so she/he pops off the bookmark, and drew dotted lines to represent a meandering bug-trail across the leaves lightly stamped with very pale sage green ink.

Supplies: 
·   Ladybug Stamp- Hero Arts Ladybug (no longer available)
·   Leaf Stamp- Embossing Arts Stamps (company no longer in business)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Cardstock, ink pads and magnet strips from my stash.
Entered into:  
Bugaboo Stamps- 11th Annual Birthday Bash Day 3- Anything But a Card  
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #167-Anything Goes  (Option- Cheers to You)
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

My final card for Bugaboos Birthday Bash is for Day 5-Make Us Laugh (the inside sentiment helps with this task!).
I used a Bugaboo circle sentiment digi, that includes a yummy cupcake to add colorful yumminess to the card front. The doilies add some texture and I thought they also provide a pastry shop feeling to the card.
I’m entering this card into several other challenges including the Double D’s Challenge (It’s their 5th Anniversary and they’re celebrating with a Cupcake Challenge. Yumm!), the TIME OUT Challenge- Be YOU (the instructions are “We want to know more about you-show us in form of a card! This could be your favorite card making style, what food you love...the list goes on!) I opted for one food I love- cupcakes, plus my favorite cardmaking style with is adding layers, often a touch of humor, and different folds. (For this card I decided to use a Z-fold card base. (I provided a tutorial link below. Easy Peasy!)

 
 

Supplies: 
·   Digi with circle sentiment- Bugaboo Stamps (Valentine Circle Sentiments)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   White doilies from the Dollar Store
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.
·   Inside Sentiment- TLC Creations Freebie (Cupcakes Make Your Clothes Shrink)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Bugaboo Stamps- 11th Annual Birthday Bash Day 5- Make Us Laugh
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Layer It Up!
Double D’s Challenge- Cupcake            
The Paper Shelter- #452 Digital Image
TIME OUT Challenge- #179 Be YOU
STAMPlorations- Jan Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge: Stamps and Sweets     
  

Special and Sweet

The 15^th of the month means it’s also time for the challenge at QKR Stampede. Stop by the challenge, which is always “Anything Goes” and several prizes are awarded. Maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself? My DT card features an adorable moose and sentiment that is sure to make the recipient smile!  

 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- QKR Digital Stamp (Winter Moose) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Thinking of You) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Inside Sentiment- QKR Digital Stamp (Nothing Special) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Woodgrain Embossing Folder- Stampin’ Up (retired)
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #149 Anything Goes (Happy 6^th Birthday!)
        Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), please don’t include me in the draw for their prize!
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes 
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #2 Anything Goes
Bugaboo Stamps- 11^th Annual Birthday Bash Day 2- Sketch Challenge
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- Jan 2021                                      
        Since I’m a DT for QKR (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January

This past Christmas Beccy Muir offered some great new Christmas digi sets. “Home for the Holidays” is one of my favorites! My card front features the set's sweet image and one of its sentiments. I created an embellishment for the inside by printing, coloring and fussy-cutting one of Beccy’s cute little ginger guys to perch atop the sentiment banner. Saweet!

                                                                                   

Supplies: 
·   Digi-Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Home for The Holidays)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment-Merry Little Christmas, Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Home for The Holidays)

·   Inside Sentiment- May Your Holidays Be Sweet-Polka Dot Orchard Freebie at a 2018 Coffee Lovers Blog hop  (no longer available)

·   Card base is a note card from Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #137  
The Paper Shelter- #452 Digital Image
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #669 What’s New?
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #524 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Beccy’s Place Challenge- January 

        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun! 

 
I do love chocolate… especially in the deep of winter, sipping the creamy liquid version a in a cup with whipped cream and sometimes a shot of peppermint schnapps! Ahhh, YUM! For this card I used a free digi image from illustrator and children's book author Elizabeth Dulemba who has created hundreds of coloring pages that she offers for free download! You can access the free coloring pages and/or sign up for the weekly newsletter HERE. I did ask, and was granted, permission to use her images on cards.)
Note- The inside sentiment is from a Beccy's Place set that is going to be retired soon. So it's on sale for a limited time at 50% off. I included a watermarked thumbnail image of the set so that you can see all the sentiments and sweet snowpeople it featured. 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Elizabeth Dulemba Coloring Page (Winter-Hot Chocolate: Available HERE)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Upcycled items- hot chocolate box and ribbon from Godiva Chocolate box
·   Inside Sentiment- Winter Chill from Beccy’s Place digital set (Snowman) 

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Layer It Up!
Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #534 (Optional twist- Tie It Up)   
Cute As A Button- Jan: CH #64 Anything Goes (Option) Cheers to You!
Do-Al[l] Kreatives #49 Hot Drinks
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #167-Anything Goes  (Option- Cheers to You)
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

For Iris!

One of the people at my office that I really like is leaving the agency for a new job. I wanted to make her a special card, and when organizing my craft room I found this PSX background image that I'd stamped several years ago.  Since her name is Iris... I decided to make an elegant card personalized just for her! My friend likes shabby chic and vintage things, so, even though I'm not very good at making shabby chic cards, but with a bit of ribbon and lace, plus a pretty gold filigree medallion that I recently found in a clearance bin at Hobby Lobby and I think it turned out pretty nice!
PS- I couldn't find my yellow flocking... so added some yellow chalk to white flocking to add a bit of realistic fuzzy texture to the Iris petals.

Supplies: 
·   Stamp- PSX Iris Renaissance Botanical (company no longer in business)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Something New
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes                   
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #2 Anything Goes                         
Createful Heart Designs- Dec Challenge #27  

We just put away our Christmas tree and ornaments for another year, but I never I tire of making Christmas cards so I never put my Christmas stamping supplies away! This wonderful digi is one I just won in a challenge at Scribbles design. I added some sparkly star stickers, then trimmed the outline of the stickers to add a bit more bling to the gate-fold card. The sweet little baby Jesus image is upcycled from an old Christmas card.

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Silent Night Quote)
·   Sparkly Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Inside Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp (Blessings of The Season)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #95 Sparkle and Shine
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 
Incy Wincy Designs- Person (plus sketch and/or blue)   
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #524 Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations- #121 Include a Sentiment
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

This fun card is made with a free coffee digi from a wonderful blogspot named Beyond the Fringe (which offers nearly 250 freebies.) The direct link to the freebie, plus instructions for paper piecing the stack, is provided in my supplies list below. I printed the blank cup stack on patterned paper from an 8½ x 11 paper stack in pastel colors. I used four different colors of paper, so ended up with lots of cups when done! (I used the instructions provided with the freebie but added a few steps to the directions to help simplify the process. You can find them, and a photo of a different card made with more the paper pieced cups on my blog HERE.)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Beyond the Fringe Freebie (Cup Stack)
·   Shaded with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and highlighted with Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment-Echo Park (Coffee)
·   Inside Sentiment- “Brewing up Birthday Wishes” from Imagine That Digistamp (Coffee Kids Bundle)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #668 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Jan’s Digi Stamps- January 2021 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- January                 
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #149 Anything Goes (Happy 6^th Birthday!)
        Since I’m a DT for Sheepski (sponsor), I’d like to be removed from the draw for their prize!

Cookies? Yes please!

It's time for another challenge at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog where challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by the blog to check it out!
For this challenge, my DT card features a sweet (literally) image from Patties Creations. I had fun trying to color them in a realistic fashion and turned the cookie jar into “glass” with a scrap of acetate. (You can’t see it in the photos, but it’s there and looks really neat in real life.) I also used a ruler and pencil to add the crosshatch patterned across the "glass" to mirror the patterned paper layered behind the cookie jar. Wanted to make the jar look clear, but realize now that I should had drawn the crosshatch all the way to the edges of the white paper. Oh well... I kinda like it anyway. And I was thrilled when I found the wonderful digi of a vintage Bakers Chocolate Brochure… especially since it is FREE! (While looking for the vintage brochure, I found some interesting articles about the history of chocolate chip cookies. They are well worth the read… available HERE.) Now, you’ll need to excuse me. I must go and bake a batch of cookies!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Patties Creations (Chocolate Chip Cookie Jar)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Flap- Bakers Chocolate Brochure freebie found HERE.
·   Front Sentiment from my scrapbook stash
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Acetate, ribbon, gems and assorted papers all from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #473-474 Anything Goes                   
Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #136  
Besties Challenge- January AnythingGoes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #1 Anything Goes                         
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Anything Goes              
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Two years ago I met a talented young artist named Sherry West via her FB page. The images she creates are adorable, so I am always thrilled when I have the chance to add a new one to my collection. I recently won a challenge on Sherry’s FB page and this was one of the digis I selected. The digi is named “Mother Earth-Christmas” but I turned it into a New Year’s Card by printing the sentiments on my computer, die cutting them into circle shapes, and adhering them atop the digi I’d colored with markers and a white gel pen. You can't see it in the picture, but I added a diamond rhinestone in the center of her pendant because... well... bling! 

 

Supplies: 

·  Digi- Sherry West Art Coloring and Crafts (Mother Earth-Christmas)
(If you are interested in purchasing this digi, visit Sherry’s FB page HERE and PM her for details. Tell her Kathy Asper sent you!)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Gold Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Something New
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             

The front sentiment on this layered card is from a Beccy’s Place digi set. I printed it off, traced the letters of the large “JOY” onto vellum to create templates. I then traced and cut the letters onto pastel green glitter paper (from a beautiful paper pad that I picked up on a short time ago and finally found a card that needed this combination of color and bling.) I positioned the sentiment atop a rich red background and taped it in place. I dug out a packet of the beautiful holly vellum I found at a thrift store over a decade ago to raise the elegance level of the card. I layered it over the sentiment and secured it by cutting slits in corners of the red base and slipping the vellum corners beneath it. After attaching the sparkly green JOY, I finished the card with a sprinkling of red rhinestones. Ahhh… I do always love me some bling!!

 
 

Supplies: 
·   Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place (Tied Up With String)
·   Inside Sentiment - Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp (Blessings of The Season)
·   Pastel Glam Glitter Solids Paper Pack 12 x 12- Hobby Lobby
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Use a New/Unused Product     
Beccy’s Place Challenge- January 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #522 Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations- #121 Include a Sentiment
Jan’s Digi Stamps- January 2021 Anything Goes