myasperations 6-21-21

I am honored to have served as a Guest Designer for Beccy Muir at Beccy’s Place and am now one of her “Contributors” (which means that she provides me with digis or clear stamp sets several times a year and I get to create cards or other items with them!) It is always fun to see the images Beccy invites me to use.  This time, the digi set, named Gnome Style really inspired me. I used the sentiments from the set to create a bright and “talkative” background so that Halvar can take center stage as master gift bearer (I love how Beccy names all her characters and critters!) I used one of the sentiments on the inside of the card, adding a fun candle that I created with a pillar of “wishes” (another of the sentiments from the set!) The candle flame is made with circles of yellow and plain vellum. (I hope Halvar gets his wish!)  

Supplies: 
·   Digi and Sentiments- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gnome Style) Also available in cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   All other items from my stash
Entered into:  

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes
Di’s Digi Stamps- For a Child
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- For the Boys

I also used the digi set to make a sweet gift tag that featured handsome Bjorn as the gift bearer. I used a pre-colored image of Bjorn, but added some depth and highlights with markers and gel pens. Scraps of ribbon, plus a computer-generated “to/from” helped to complete the fun tag.
PS If you’ve never visited Beccy’s Place, I recommend you take some time to stop by.  You’ll find 224 freebies (at last count) HERE plus can enter Beccy’s monthly challenge (link along the left side of the screen) where she often offers freebies. I got started using digis because of the freebies Beccy provides and if you’ve never used digital images, you might want to give it a try. (I now use digis at least 90% of the time. I love being able to resize, crop, and layer digi images. Plus, they are so easy to store!)

Supplies: 
·   Digi and Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gnome Style) Also available in cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   To/from Sentiments- Computer-Generated
·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s
·   All other items from my stash
Entered into:  

Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #25 Anything Goes                      
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #547 AG

Life has been so busy that I’m thankful for the heavenly brew named COFFEE! This card is made with a free coffee digi from a Blogspot named Beyond the Fringe (which offers over 200  freebies at last count.) The direct link to the freebie, plus instructions for paper piecing the stack, is provided in my supplies list below. I printed the digi on patterned paper from an 8½ x 11 paper stack that I've had in my stash for maybe 10 years. 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, plus photos of two different cards made with more the paper pieced cups on my blog HERE  and HERE .)  The sentiments are from another of Beccy’s digi sets named Spring Tulips.

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- “Hello Friend” and Inside Sentiment- “You Are One Of My Life’s Blessings” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Spring Tulips) Also available in cling-mounted
·   Mini Flower Sequins- Simon Says Stamp (Sequins Tiny Flowers Vanilla01)
·   Other flowers are fussy-cut from scrapbook paper.
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

Beccy’s Place Challenge- June  
        Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #159 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Old Designer Paper  

myasperations 6-18-21

It’s Friday and time for the Colour Crazy Challenge. This challenge is an “Anything Goes” but it adds a requirement; the creation needs to include coloring in “any colouring medium you like, onto any project you like, and in any colours you like.” I’ve never outgrown my love for coloring… which is why making cards is stress therapy for me! 
This week's sponsor is Oddball Art and I’m sharing a card that features four fun digi images named Funny Yeti Faces. I wanted to feature all of the Yeti’s… and their names… on my card so I used a unique fold- called a Surprise fold- that can be found HERE. It's the first time I've made a card with this fold and very easy to make plus it includes a pocket for a gift card! (I chose one from Michaels that has the same color scheme as the card.) Speaking of colors, the cuties were brought to life with Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen. To help the Yeti’s stand out, I layered them atop a piece of a blue plastic index divider sheet. (These wonderful items- sometimes called document file folders- come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores. They're cheaper than colored vellum and more translucent. Punches and dies don’t work on these sheets, but they are easy to fussy-cut with a sharp pair of scissors. And you can trace shapes onto them after tracing shapes on them with a permanent fine-line marker.) The card was finished with computer-generated sentiments and a flurry of die-cut snowflakes!

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Oddball Art Digi Set (Funny Yeti Faces)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Surprise Fold Template can be found HERE

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Snowflakes- Cheery Lynn Designs Die (C146 Snowflakes)
·   Snowflakes- Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set
·   Stickles- Star Dust (on snowflakes)
·   Cardstock, patterned paper, and a scrap of blue plastic index divider sheet from my stash
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- Digital Image
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #25 Anything Goes                      
Bugaboo Stamps- June Week 1 Anything Goes  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #92 (Optional Twist- Try Something New)

When I first saw this digi I knew just the card I wanted to create. I printed one copy of the mug on white card stock, plus cropped and printed three copies of the foamy top. I fussy-cut the complete digi then colored the “beer” with a few yellow markers and added shading to the mug with light grey markers. When finished, I adhered the colored digi to a strip of white cardstock, 4¼ by 11 inches, folded at 5½ inches, and trimmed both layers along the mug outline to make a standing shape card. I traced the mug onto vellum to add some frosty depth,  trimmed it to fit, and adhered it. Next step, the foam! I ran the three tops I’d printed through my Big Shot with a swirl embossing folder, added shading with grey markers to highlight the foam, trimmed a few of them down a bit to add depth, the attached the layers to the top of the mug. I had seen water droplets on some flower petals on Pinterest and decided a few added to this mug would add an instant “chill” to the mug.  So, I practiced drawing them on scrap vellum with grey markers and a white gel pen before adding several to the mug. A bit more highlighting to the mug and computer-generated sentiments finish the fun card.  (Since it is hard to read the font, I’ll share it here. The front sentiment reads, “A birthday poem for you, May your beer be old…” and inside sentiment, “Oh, and you are old. Happy Geezer Day!”)
I’m entering this card into several challenges including We Craft Cards Challenge requiring “create a card with a hand-made embellishment with dimension” (I hope my beer foam qualifies as an embellie?); Incy Wincy Designs- For the Men (My guy loves beer served in a chilled mug. He just finished one a short time ago!) and Double D’s Signs of Summer (I’m not much of a beer drinker, but I do enjoy one or two on a hot summer day sitting in a beautiful red rocking chair on the front veranda... after I get a red rocker... and a veranda!.)                 

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Beer Mug)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Embossing folder- Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl
·   Cardstock, vellum, foam tape, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Scribbles Designs Challenge- #101 Anything Goes (SD)
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Let’s Get Creative
Incy Wincy Designs- For the Men And/Or Use Kraft Card Or Paper 
Double D’s Challenge- Signs of Summer                 
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- Emboss It)
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #159 Anything Goes

We've been invited to several weddings this year, and I can't wait. I enjoy seeing friends and family members and absolutely love all that weddings symbolize. For this card, I used a beautiful digi from All Dressed Up that includes its own sentiment. I printed off an extra shoe and rose, fussy-cut, and adhered them with foam tape to add depth to the card front. Puffy heart stickers and gold photo corners add additional touches of texture, gleam, and color.  

Supplies: 
·   Digi With Sentiment- All Dressed Up Digi Stamp (For Your Wedding Day)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby
·   Pioneer Gold Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from Walmart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)
·   Cardstock, foam tape, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  ADU-For Your Wedding Day
All Dressed Up- #118 Anything Goes (June)                                 
Besties Challenge- June Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #495-496 Anything Goes                   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

 

myasperations 6-15-21

It’s the fifteenth of the month which means it’s time for a QKR Stampede challenge where the theme is always “Anything Goes” and several prizes are awarded. Stop by and maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself?
My DT card features a digi image that was fun to embellish with real pheasant feathers (from years ago when my sweet hubby and our Brittany Spaniel spent many a fall day out chasing fuzzies across the cornfields in South Dakota.)  I like the way a simple torn paper edging can add a rustic feeling to a card. The fish embellishment on the inside of the card was fussy-cut from patterned paper.
                                      
                                           
Supplies: 
·   Digi- QKR Digital Stamp (Fishing Fly) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Stickles- Star Dust (on wings.)

·   Water ripple and fish papers from Hobby Lobby.
·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                       
Digi Doodle Studios- #39 Boys to Men (Male themed)
Incy Wincy Designs- For the Men And/Or Use Kraft Card Or Paper 

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called the "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires the use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The current Challenge is "Sunshine.” I have one stamp from my Stampscapes collection that would work, so I put it to use.

Supplies: 

·   Rubber Stamp- Stampscapes (Cloud with Sun-Lg.)
Entered into: 
Twofer Card Challenge- #39 Sunshine

My first card features two stamps-Cloud with Sun and Cloud Bar stamp, both inked with blue dye ink. The sun and fluffy tops of the clouds were colored with chalks and a white gel pen. The adventurous balloon holder was colored, fussy-cut, and adhered to the card with foam tape. The balloons and inside sentiment (upcycled from a card my hubby received on his recent 65^th birthday) are adhered with foam tape. 

Supplies: 

·   Rubber Stamp- Stampscapes (Cloud with Sun-Lg.)

·   Rubber Stamp- Stampscapes (Cloud Bar)

·   Digi -Eureka Digital Stamp (Boy Balloon Holder) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

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

·   Blue Inkpad and sunshine shades of chalk

·   Balloons and Inside Sentiment- Upcycled from a birthday card

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #24 Anything Goes                     
Di’s Digi Stamps- For a Child

For my second card, I attempted to create a sunrise scene… but ran into more mistakes than I can count. The main ones were that I sponged the sunrise colors on too thickly, almost obscuring the suns’ rays. So… I tried to highlight them with a white gel pen. Meh. I then added color and highlights to the clouds with chalks, a white gel pen, and even a light sponging of white craft ink. Together they decreased my Meh a bit!  I then tackled the “Lake” portion of the scene, but my work didn’t look at all rippley… just muddy! Torn strips of vellum adhered on top of the muddy water was an improvement, especially when I cut a frame into the front of an A2 card, and slid the scene under it. Better, but it needed something. Remembering a heron digi in my collection from Beccy’s Place, I printed, fussy-cut, and slipped it into the corner of the scene.  Suddenly, I beheld an almost serene scene!  Added a few sentiments and ta-da. (Or, with this card, I pretty much sighed and said “Ta DONE!”)                                         

Supplies:

·   Rubber Stamp- Stampscapes (Cloud with Sun-Lg)

·   Rubber Stamp- Stampscapes (Lakeside Cabin)

·   Sky created with Ink sponge, assorted dye ink pads, a white craft ink pad and chalks.

·   Trees and cabin stamped with black ink. Sun stamped with orange ink. All colored with chalks and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment- Hello Sunshine is from Beccy’s Place digital set (Hello Sunshine)

·   Heron Digi- From Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Wetlands) Retired

·   Inside sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Loving Ways) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   All other items from my stash

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Create a Scene

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #495-496 Anything Goes 

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- June 2021                                    

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

myasperations 6-14-21

Last month, I won a challenge at Scribbles and picked this sweet digi as my prize. I paired Carl with a fun sentiment (a freebie!) and highlighted his playful pose with an easel fold card. The finishing touch was a lip print that I fussy-cut from a business card for my favorite hair salon/spa. Isn’t it the perfect embellie?   

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Scribbles Designs current challenge- (In honor of their 100th challenge, they provided a listing of items with point values. My card features the  following items to reach 100: Patterned Paper-20 pts (2 @ 10 pts-stiped and plaid), Solid Paper-10 pts (base), Frame-10 pts (2 @ 5 pts around Carl and around sentiment), Cardstock-5 pts (base), Digi Image-10 pts, Used Ink- 5 pts (white gel pen), Sentiment-5 pts, Spectrum Noir Markers- 5 pts, Matting-4 pts (2 @ 2 pts= behind Carl and behind sentiment), Other embellies-1 pt (lips)

An added note- When I shared this card with my hubby, he laughed and said, "Kath, only you would create a 'horny toad' Christmas card!"

Supplies: 
·    Digi- Scribbles Designs (Carl Heart You)  
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  
·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from LoveSVG. [I signed up for their newsletter and get notices of freebies on a regular basis. They are so fun to use on my cards!) 
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

Scribbles Designs Challenge- #100 Add It Up

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #24 Anything Goes 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #546 AG 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June  

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge 689- Anything Goes

I recently made a card using this pretty wood-mount hydrangea stamp I’ve had for a few decades. I decided to use it to make my final card for this month’s Butterfly Challenge. Once again, I used a stamping technique named “Marker stamping” that involves using a bold stamp and large juicy markers to apply ink directly on the stamps. I also used a few paper doilies, cut in half, as a mask/stencil,  and attached them along the base of a 4¼ by 11½ strip of cardstock with a bit of repositionable adhesive. I colored the hydrangea with purple and green Marvy markers, stamping them over the edge of the “masks.” To add more fullness to the flowers I stamped each bunch a second time before coloring them with fresh ink. When finished, I sponged a big of grey ink along the lacy tops of the doilies, allowing their intricate pattern to show through. I folded the card into a bridge fold card, then trimmed the tops of the flower bunches, and added the sentiment across the “bridge.” The final touch was to add puffy butterfly stickers, with several attached to strips of acetate taped to the bridge base, allowing them to hover above the sentiment!
My card includes the following requirements for the current Butterfly Challenge: one theme (a butterfly, actually a whole bunch of ‘em!) and one color (one of the butterflies is a pretty New Your Pink.) I'm also entering this card into several challenges including Simon Says Create a Scene (I think I’ve provided a nice scene complete with numerous butterflies) plus 2craftycrittercrazies (I consider butterflies to be critters) and Beccy’s Place Challenge (the sentiment is from one of Beccy’s many amazing sets!) 

Supplies: 
·   Wood Mount Stamp- Rubber Stampede’s Hydrangea (Company no longer in business)
·   Colored with large Marvy Markers (purple and green)
·   Details added with a grey stamp pad (sponged on edging and lacy sections of doily masks)
·   Bridge Fold Card- Instructions found HERE  
·   Sentiment- “I couldn’t have picked a better friend” from Beccy’s Place digital set (Azaleas
·   Puffy Butterfly Stickers and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #15 Napkin Fold 

Bugaboo Stamps- June Week 1 Anything Goes  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Create a Scene

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #495-496 Anything Goes                   

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- June 2021 

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

Beccy’s Place Challenge- June  

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

I needed a masculine card for a relative who loves the outdoors and knew he’d like this Wood Duck. (They are such beautiful birds and really do have this striking color combo.) I used wood-mount stamps I’ve had for several decades and assorted tools and items from my stash to create it. A torn edging is so easy to do and adds a wonderful rustic touch to the paper. I also provided a close-up of the duck to show how much a white gel pen adds to bring out the whites and add highlights to the rippling water.  It really is one of my favorite tools!  

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday- By The Sea (one of the lines reads “We will duck or swim, and we’ll float....” I took the line literally and my card includes a duck that swims and floats!) and Outlawz-Tuesday (like the inspiration photo, my card has a rustic feeling, and includes the colors green, tan and brown.)              

  
                          

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Wood Duck from PSX (Company no longer in business)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- “Happy Birthday” from a retired Stampin’ Up sentiment set
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  

Incy Wincy Designs- For the Men And/Or Use Kraft Card Or Paper 
 Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #159 Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Studios- #39 Boys to Men (Male themed) 
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- By The Sea
Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge                              
        Since I’m a DT for Eureka/Stamp On It (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!