Summer Fun

I love this sweet image from a Jan’s Digi’s set named, appropriately, A Boy and His Dog. It makes me think of my dear nephews who were all three mutt magnets. They always had a dog or two hanging close by! For this card, I used a simple spotlight technique with a heart-shaped scrapbook template to showcase the little guy and his best buddy.  The paw print on the inside is also from the digi set and the sentiments are both freebies (which are, sadly, no longer available.)

Supplies: 

·   Digi image and paw print- Jans Digis  (A Boy And His Dog)

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

·   Front Sentiment is a freebie from Imagine That! Jenn and Friends digi set (retired)

·   Spotlight technique-can be found HERE

·   Heart Template from my scrapbook stash

·   Inside sentiment- “Mate Comrade Buddy” a freebie from TLC Creations Freebie (no longer available)

·   Assorted background papers and black photo corners from my stash

Entered into: 

Jan’s Digi Stamps- Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs- Man’s Best Friend/Fur Babies/Pets

Power Poppy- Creative Confetti- Shape Up!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Summer Fun                                        

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #639 Summer!

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Di’s Digi Stamps- Summer Fun                                                        

One of this month's challenges at SketchNScrap featured a flamingo and a tag. When I saw it I remembered that I had picked up a few packets of clear acetate tags at an end-of-summer sale at JoAnne’s last year. It was fun to put this cute bird to work! Paired with a geometric patterned paper that looks like pineapple, a sweet little scrapbook tag that says "Just add H20", and a few tropical flowers fussy-cut from patterned paper that I’ve had in my stash nearly two decades (yep… I do have paper!) the card is a gem. The clear tag looks great adhered to a scrap of cloud stationery, adding a touch of realism to the card. I also love the sentiment on the inside of the card. And… it’s a freebie! I'm entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz- Festive Fridays (because I think that tropical flowers add a festive touch to just about anything!)                                                

 

  

Supplies: 

·   Assorted patterned papers, piece of string and Flamingo tag from my stash

·   Flowers fussy-cut from patterned paper

·   Front sentiment- small tag from my scrapbook stash

·   Inside  sentiment- A freebie from Scrapbook and Cards Magazine (You’re pretty much my most favorite…)

Entered into:  

Sketch N Scrap-Card Sketch #171
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- With Flowers of Unusual tones

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #444-445 Anything Goes                   

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- A Splash of Pink               

Cute As A Button- #57 Anything Goes + (Option) Tag! You're It

A Perfect Time to Craft 2020-Anything Goes- Challenge #6-2020

My final card for this post was fun to create. I adore this new digi from All Dressed Up named, appropriately “Relax.” I found this retro flowered paper in my stash and the sentiment from Beccy’s Place that both seem like the perfect fit for this image. I’m entering this card into several challenges including the current Path Of Positivity Challenge labeled “Success.” (I really enjoy this challenge because it encourages us to focus on the positive things in life. This month the theme, Success, makes me think of a staff member at the agency where I work. Her name is Sheli and she inspires me more than she knows! So… I made this card for her. Sheli’s life is a picture of success… but more importantly, she embodies HOPE to all who know her. Sheli is a substance abuse counselor who kicked a Methamphetamine addiction 15 years ago, which in itself is such a feat as Meth is a very tough addiction to beat.) She is never prideful about this, instead, she encourages other addicts that they can do the same. She has also lost 45 pounds over the last year plus successfully lives to keep her life “in balance.” During these last three months of social isolation, when stress and anxiety crowded in, Sheli is one of the people that reminded me of the importance for self-care (which is not easy for me!) So, I’ll be sending her this card… with a thank you message. (And I added a beautiful bluish tint to the hair color because this month that is the color that Sheli is sporting. She looks great in it… but over the last few years she has also rocked teal and fuchsia!)  

Supplies: 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (Relax)

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

·   Inside Sentiment “It’s the simple things…”- Beccy’s Place (A Drover’s Life)

·   Assorted background papers from my stash

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes- #106 Anything Goes (June)    

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- Use Layers                                      

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #134 Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #511  

Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #25 Anything Goes                      

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                      

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #81 (Optional Twist- SUCCESS)

June Twofer Challenge

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The June Challenge is named "Bubbles/Circles." Last year I bought a set of circle dies and haven’t yet used them, so I’m breaking them out for this challenge (and also the NBUS Challenge.) My cards feature circles, with the 3-inch die used in both.

 

Entered into:  

Twofer Card Challenge- #28 Bubbles/Circles  

NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff!)- Challenge # 15          

For the undersea card, I colored and fussy cut the sweet mermaid from an Imagine That digital set. The porthole is made with a 3.5-inch circle cut from silver cardstock and a 3 inch one from an upcycled aluminum liner from a can of coffee.  After taping the two circles together, I cut a 2-inch circle from the center and used a piercing tool to attach silver brads. They hold the circles together and also add a bit of realism. I found the beautiful mermaid scale background paper at Hobby Lobby a while ago and it was fun to be able to put it to use!

 

Supplies: 

·    Digi and Sentiments- Imagine That (Mermaid Swimming) 

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

·    Little B Dies- 2, 3, and 3.5-inch circles

·    Silver cardstock, upcycled liner from a coffee can and small silver brads

·    Assorted background papers, and a piercing tool from my stash

·    Patterned paper- Mermaid scales and water (Hobby Lobby)

Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- #432 Colour It

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Summer Fun                                                  

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #639 Summer!

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                       

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- Under The Sea 

Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Piercing tools/templates

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

The donut card, with all its yumminess, was fun to make. I used 1 and 2 inch circle dies to create two donuts from kraft cardstock and sponged on a bit of brown ink to add texture. Two additional donuts were cut from white and pink cardstock then trimmed unevenly to resemble frosting. A scallop punch took a “bite” out of one of the donuts. I covered the card front with lacy patterned paper, thinking it might look like a vintage tablecloth, but the donuts didn’t stand out enough. So, I layered them atop a piece of vellum, allowing the lacy background to show a bit around the edges. Then came the fun part… adding the sprinkles! I cut long thin strips of bright colored scraps and clipped them into a pile. After dabbing glue generously on one donut, I sprinkled the pretty little sprinkles on the donut and on the background… just like in the real world!

Supplies: 

·    Little B Dies- 1 and 3-inch circles

·    Assorted cardstock and patterned from my stash

·    Brown ink pad and stamp sponge from my stash

·    Sentiments- Computer Generated

·    Scallop punch from my stash

·    Zig Two-way glue pen

Entered into: 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #122

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #444-445 Anything Goes                   

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                                

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #511

A Perfect Time to Craft 2020-Anything Goes- Challenge #6-2020

Since my circle dies were out, I decided to make a Christmas Elf treat holder. I remembered making one of these many years ago with a doorknob hanger. I couldn’t find one in my stash, and don’t know if you can still buy them! So… I created one of my own using the measurements and instructions noted in the template photo below. Steps 1-3: follow as noted. Steps 4 & 5: I used the 3-inch circle die to cut the window in the treat holder and to also cut a circle from peach colored card stock to use for the head of the little elf. Step 6: follow as noted. Step 7:  I used a 1-inch die. Step 8: I used a paper punch.  Step 9: Fold and tape the treat holder together, attach the elf head. collar and hat (use the photo as a guide.) At this point, I added some fun texture to the treat bag by wrapping a strip of white fur fabric (that I upcycled from an old Santa hat) around the bottom of his hat and taped it down on the backside. Then I folded the point of the hat down at the score lines and secured it in place with a square of foam tape. Attach the jingle bells, draw details on the bells and add his face and eyes with a Sharpie marker (use photo as a guide.) The last step is to slip treats into a small cellophane bag, fold and tape the top closed and slid it into place, taping it in place if needed. (If you use chocolate treats, make sure to check them to make sure they aren’t rancid! I hear that can happen… but never at my house!!)

Supplies: 

·    Little B Dies- 1 and 3-inch circles

·    Assorted cardstock, patterned paper, small cellophane bag and scrap of white fur fabric from my stash

·    Silver cardstock and small circle punch from my stash

·    Fine-line Sharpie black marker

·    Photo template with directions

Entered into: 

Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #25 Anything Goes                                

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #494 Anything Goes

Di’s Digi Stamps- Fold it Fancy                                                              

Christmas Crafts All Year Round- Recycle/Upcycle

Let’s Craft and Create- #160-Anything Goes + (Option) Punch It!