myasperations 7-12-21

I was thrilled to be asked to be a Guest DT at Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes, especially after learning that the sponsor is Sheepski Designs, where I’ve been a DT since January 2020. The current challenge is titled “The Open Road”, and I picked out the line that mentions “fairy folk” as the inspiration for my card. I love how Andrea Norris, the artist/owner of Sheepski Designs, adds creative and often unexpected details in her digis. In this scene, named “Waiting”, the sweet fairy has a furry little friend keeping her company as she waits, and the moon has its own little moon snuggled in close!  I gave the card an ethereal mood by adding a few wispy vellum clouds in the starry moonlit sky and traced the fairy's wings onto vellum, fussy-cut them, the slid the ends into a small slit I cut into the cardstock just behind her long hair, taping it down on the underside. (I added a closeup of the wings to help show this detail.) The sentiments are from a wonderful Beccy’s Place digi set. 

 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Waiting)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- “Hello Friend” and Inside Sentiment- “Life’s Blessings” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Spring Tulips) Also available in cling-mounted
·   Cardstock, Starry sky patterned paper, vellum scraps, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- July  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- July 2021                                     
The Paper Shelter- Going Digital
Besties Challenge- July Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #499-500 Anything Goes                   
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #27 Anything Goes                       
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Fur, Feathers or Fins
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

I like the inspiration photo for the new Double D challenge because colorful gingham fabric just makes me feel happy. So when I found this fun wood-mount rubber sentiment stamp in my collection I knew that I just had to use it on my card.  A few touches of marker colors plus a scrap of yellow gingham and black cardstock finish the card. Easy Peasy!
 
Supplies: 
·   Rubber Stamp- Denami (You Make Me Smile) Retired
·   Clear pigment ink pad and Fine-line black embossing powder.
·   Pink cheeks and yellow sun rays are colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers
·   Cardstock and patterned paper from my stash.
Entered into:  
Double D’s Challenge- Summer Gingham 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Hello Sunshine
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- July                        
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Old Designer Paper  
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (July- Anything Goes)           

Christmas in July challenges are in full swing, so I decided to jump into the fun. For this card, I used a sweet freebie from Scribbles Designs, lovely gold foil embellished cards and foil lined envelope (at 60-90% off!) plus snowflake and sentiment dies. I am not sure what the card fold is called, but it was super easy to make with two of the sale-priced wedding announcements I found at Hobby Lobby a few months ago.  I like how the non-traditional Christmas colors (aqua, white and metallic gold) add a crisp and cool sheen to the card.

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs Freebie (Snow Couple)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiment “Sending Warm Hugs and Wishes”- Lili of the Valley digi stamp set (Christmas Wishes)  
·   Inside Sentiments- Stampendous Clear Stamp & Die Set Christmas Bright
·   Wedding Announcements and Foil Lined Envelopes- Hobby Lobby Discount Aisle!
·   Snowflakes- Cheery Lynn Designs Die (C146 Snowflakes)
·   Snowflakes- Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set
Entered into:  
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #101 Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #160 Christmas in July
Incy Wincy Designs- Enchanted Garden and/or Christmas in July  
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #550 AG
Di’s Digi Stamps- Christmas in July 

myasperations 7-7-21

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 an adorable digi from Bugaboo named “Sunbonnet Beach.” I wanted a realistic beach background and found this beautiful sunset photo from an old calendar that works nicely. I attempted to add highlights and shading to the sweet digi image to emphasize the setting sun. After fussy-cutting the sweet digi, and tearing the edges of the calendar page, I put my card together.  

I'm entering this card into several challenges, including the one at wecraftcards named  Summertime Spot (the challenge was to make a card that represents a place I either like to go or dream of going in the summertime. I would love to someday own a little cottage near the ocean where I could enjoy not just summer, but every season! Watching the changing sky and water always reminds me of the wonder of God's creation. It would be like heaven on earth to spend time surrounded by such beauty!) 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Bugaboo (Sunbonnet Beach)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sunset scene- Upcycled calendar page
·   Front Sentiment- “Hello Sunshine” freebie from Paper Smooches (no longer available)
·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Desert Diva (You Add Color To My Life)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Hello Sunshine
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Di’s Digi Stamps- Summertime

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Summertime Spot

Bugaboo Stamps- July Anything Goes  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

I created this card to enter into a fun challenge at wecraftcards named Luck Be A Lady. To play along we had to email the host, who then rolled a pair of dice- with blocks of colors on their sides instead of dot-s and notified us of our three “rolls.” These colors were to be strongly featured on our cards. When I learned that my three colors were blue, lavender, and black, my first thought was... OUCH! (Since I am quite uncoordinated, the color combo reminded me of the bruises I often have on my legs!)
Then, I searched through some of my stamps and digis and this adorable Scribbles Design penguin named “Brrr” inspired me! (The digi’s ingenious name, “Brr-ubbles,” makes me giggle!  I had fun coloring the floaty so that you can see Brrr’s silhouette through it. After coloring the image with alcohol markers, I added a realistic sheen to the floaty with a white colored pencil before doing a bit of fussy-cutting and adhering to free sheet music that I found on the web. (It's for an accordion. I didn’t realize that they have their own sheet music!) The splotchy blue patterned paper makes a perfect base, especially when made into an eazy-peazy Z-fold!
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Saturday Challenge (I wasn’t sure if penguins had fur or feathers… so googled it and learned that they have Feathers… and a fat layer named blubber! I think I just might have some blubber in the saggy-hangy-downy part of my arms! And possibly in one of my chins?)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Brrr-ubbles)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, a white colored pencil, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and Sharpie black permanent fine-line marker
·   Sheet Music- “You Are My Sunshine” a freebie from  Central Texas Accordion Association Tune Book 2010 (HERE)
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.
·   Inside Sentiment- “Don’t hurry, Beach Happy” Imagine That Digi Set (Floaty Sloth) Retired
·   Watery Blue patterned paper and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Luck Be A Lady Part 2
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #101 Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Fun and Quirky
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Fur, Feathers or Fins
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- July 2021                                     
The Paper Shelter- Going Digital

My final card features one of the cutest digis EVAH from my friend Francesca, owner/artist of Cute As A Button Digistamps. After coloring and fussy-cutting the little sweetheart, I adhered her with foam tape to an A2 card front layered with cardstock and pink dotted Swiss paper.  I printed the balloons onto red dotted Swiss paper, shaded them with markers, fussy-cut, and adhered them to the card front. Strings were added to the balloons, first sketched lightly in pencil, then with a fine-line black marker.  A few sentiments and a pair of my favorite puffy heart stickers. So sweet!
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge- (My card features three colors from the inspiration photo-red, pink and pale green.)

                                                      
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute As A Button Digital Stamp (I’m Two)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, a white colored pencil, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and Sharpie black permanent fine-line marker
·   Front Sentiment- “Sending Sweet Birthday Wishes” Imagine That digi set (Ice Cream to My Cone)
·   Inside Sentiment- QKR Digital Stamp (Thinking) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)
·   Cardstock, Red and Pink Dotted paper, foam tape, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge                             
        Since I’m a DT for Eureka/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #499-500 Anything Goes                   
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #27 Anything Goes   

Besties Challenge- July Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- July                        
Cute As A Button- July: CH #70 Anything Goes

myasperations 7-1-21a

 Since it’s the first of the month I’m delighted to be able to share my DT card for the July  Sheepski Designs Challenge. This month’s theme is “Celebrate” and I made a Fathers Day card using Andreas’ sweet digi named “Family.”  I wanted to give the bears a fuzzy look, so I used layers of brown and cream chalks. They didn’t look fuzzy-enough… until I decided to experiment a bit and discovered that bouncing a blender pen to add shading, also added the wonderful texture I was seeking. What a happy experiment!
PS Stop by the Sheepski blog to learn more about the monthly challenges and have a chance to win some wonderful digis created by artist Andrea Norris!

I'm entering this card into several challenges including Path Of Positivity's Challenge "Try Something New" (I've not used a blender pen to add texture to chalks before but will definitely do that again.)

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Family)
·   Colored with chalks, applied with my fingers and a Q-tip, a  Spectrum Noir Classique blending marker,  Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and Sharpie black permanent fine-line marker
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Cardstock,  fabric scrap, star paper punch, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #26 Anything Goes                     
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #92 
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes

I was thrilled last year when Kris Breach, artist/owner of Imagine That Digistamps started offering monthly challenges again! I served on Kris’ DT before she took some time off and I always enjoyed working with her… and creating with her wonderful artwork.  She now offers Progressive Challenge each month. The June digi set named Lawn Ranger is perfect for lots of occasions as it includes six outline images and four colored, plus eleven (Yes… ELEVEN!) sentiments for just $6.50. (Note- The July set is now posted… and it is a beautiful set to help those of us who start making our Christmas cards in July. The set named “We Three Mice” contains four digis, one colored digi, and five sentiments for just $3.25. If you enter a card into this month’s challenge using any digis and sentiments from the set, you’ll get next month's digi set for free! But hurry, the challenge ends on the 31st. Check here for details!

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments- from the  Imagine That Digi set (Lawn Ranger)

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

·   Background created with chalks, a makeup sponge, and template cut from scrap cardstock

·   Small dragonfly on inside cut from paper in my scrapbook stash

·   Cardstock and scrap of jute twine from my stash

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #497-498 Anything Goes  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Anything Goes)   

My final card is being delivered later this week when we celebrate my nephews 40^th birthday.  He was born on the 4^th of July so I usually send him a birthday/4^th of July card… but for his big 4-0, I decided to focus on the birthday, and just add the holiday touch with colors and a picnic theme. Since he is also an artist, I think he’ll like the added realistic detail of the uninvited picnic guests, i.e. ants!

I'm entering this card into several challenges including 2 Crafty Critters, as I know ants are considered as insects and pests, but I'm thinking they might also count as critters?! 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Stamplorations (Picnic Basket)

·   Peg mount rubber stamp- Ant image from Judikins (no longer available)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- Hello Sunshine is from Beccy’s Place digital set (Hello Sunshine)
·   Inside Sentiment “Sending Sweet Birthday Wishes”-Imagine That digi set (Ice Cream to My Cone)
·   Checked paper napkin- from our local Dollar Store
·    All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (July- Anything Goes)          
STAMPlorations- Never-ending Anything Goes Challenge                             
Di’s Digi Stamps- Summertime
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- July 2021

myasperations 7-1-2021

It’s the first of the month which means it’s time for a challenge at QKR Stampede which is always “Anything Goes” and several prizes are awarded. Stop by the challenge and maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself?
My DT card features a QKR flag dig on the front, and a Eureka sentiment on the inside. The computer-generated sentiment on the front of the card is adorned with banners made from several snippets (scraps) of red, white, and blue patterned papers (I just couldn’t throw these little gems away!) The card front and inside sentiment also have a bit of bling, thanks to silver holographic star stickers. (Being a die-hard up cycler, I even made extra outline stars by fussy-cutting around the star shape left in the silver backing after removing the sticker. A little tedious, but I love the look of these delicate- and FREE- stars! The addition of Stickles increases the sparkle factor.
 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- QKR Digital Stamp (Waving Flag) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby
·   Stickles- Star Dust (dotted amid the star stickers)
·   Front Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Inside Sentiment - Eureka Digital Stamp (Celebrate with a Bang) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Red photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)
·   A2 star cutout card, paper scraps and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Pixie's Snippets-Week #406

I enjoy being a DT for QKR not only because of their huge assortment of images but also because they have tons of excellent sentiments that I use regularly on cards. For this post, I’m sharing two of those cards.
 
The first features an embossed floral wreath stamp from PSX. It was one of the first wood mount stamps that I ever purchased and I was sad to see the company close its doors quite a while ago. I love coloring embossed images because they look so elegant and it is easy to “color between the lines”! The front and inside sentiment are both from Eureka Stamps.
I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge (I used several of the required colors and also featured a sentiment from the challenge Sponsor!) 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- PSX (Floral Wreath) Company no longer in business
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Blessings) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Inside Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (I am so Thankful) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Gold photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 13 Sheets 13 Colors Photo Mounting Corners)
·   Parchment card stock, scrapbook paper, gold pigment ink and embossing powder from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #497-498 Anything Goes                   
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- (use three colors)       
        Since I’m a DT for Eureka/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!

My last card first features a Eureka sentiment on the inside (it includes sweet little flowers that enhance the love theme on the front of the card… and the Scribbles Designs freebie sentiment/speech bubble heart! PS Scribbles offers lots of fun freebies. Click HERE to start scrolling through their treasure trove.) The cute malt-shop couple digi from The Paper Shelter is the freebie this month at the Outlaws Progressive Challenge. So fun!  
I’m entering this card into several challenges including The Paper Shelter (after seeing the new challenge theme, I added dots to the heart on the girl's hair bungy and also the “!” in the front sentiment speech bubble!) and the Outlawz Monday Challenge (my card has lots of pink and touches of grey in the shading and her hair.) PS I just had to color the little guys cap and jacket in Green Bay Packers colors, because I think that might just be a requirement of living in Wisconsin!
 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- The Paper Shelter (Sharing is Caring) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Front Sentiment- Scribbles Designs Freebie (Love!)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (You’re Special) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Box of colored A2 cards with white envelopes- Hobby Lobby
·   Cardstock and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Progressive Freebie May- The Paper Shelter (Sharing is Caring)          
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Colour: Pink & Grey
The Paper Shelter- Going Dotty
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 690- Anything Goes
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #101 Anything Goes