myasperations 12-17-21

It’s Friday and time for the Colour Crazy Challenge. This challenge is “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 Polkadoodles and my DT card features a sweet digi named Bella Bear with Lots of Parcels. I printed the digi on white cardstock and used Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen to add color, shading, and highlights. I fussy-cut the image, then adhered it to an upcycled calendar photo. The snowdrifts were created with simple torn paper, and a bit of “fur” was added with Polar White Flower Soft, which also added some texture to snowflakes drawn with a white gel pen.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Polkadoodles named Bella Bear with Lots of Parcels.

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

·   Inside Sentiment-Freebie from LoveSVG (All Hearts Come Home)

·   Snow on all surfaces (cap, scarf gifts, etc.)-Flower Soft Polar White you can find HERE

·   Upcycled calendar page, cardstock, and All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Cold as Ice

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Bling It On!  

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #50 Anything Goes                     

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Optional Twist- Snowflakes/Waterdroplets)

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Winter

This colorful card features a digi and sentiments from Beccy’s Place digi sets an elegant-embossed background. (I found a 10 pack of notecards at a local thrift store. I cut one apart and used just the front to create a “ frame” on  the card front.) I attempted to create the look of rich Damask fabrics on the regal trio by coloring their cloaks with deep rich shades and adding patterns with metallic and clear sparkle gel pens.

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp Set (Three Kings)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white, silver, and clear sparkle gel pens

·   Sparkly Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- “Blessed Christmas” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Lamb of God)

·   Pioneer Gold Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Cardstock, silver filigree embossed notecard, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Beccy’s Place Challenge- December  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #521-522 Anything Goes                   

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Christmas by John Betjeman

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

The current challenge at All Dressed Up is named Celebrate, and when I found this silver word brad in my stash, I dug through my ADU digis to find a digi to help reflect a party feeling. This one, named Season to Sparkle that was a Giveaway at a Kit & Clowder Giveaway in seasons past is the perfect fit. Silver mirror paper and a silver crown sticker (with gems!), some sparkly stars, sentiments and a soft pastel color scheme will help to ring in 2022!  (PS If you haven’t joined the Kit & Clowder FB page, now is the perfect time to do that to pick up some great holiday digis (for free or at a reduced price) during the annual Advent Calendar of Crafts Giveaways! The ADU freebie this year- named Little Star- is so adorable! You can sign up and nab it HERE.)   

And here is the current Freebie (through December) HERE 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (Season to Sparkle) A freebie from a past Kit & Clowder Giveaway

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Happy New Year” Simply Crafts Magazine Freebie  (no longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment-”Eat Drink and Be Merry” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Sugar and Spice)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Silver Crown Sticker- Hobby Lobby

·   Star punches and template from my scrapbook supplies

·   Sheer ribbon, metal CELEBRATE brad, silver mirror and silver glitter paper, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- Let’s Celebrate!                             

All Dressed Up- #124 Anything Goes (Dec)

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week # 621 Mega Christmas Challenge

Incy Wincy Designs- Color Palette (or use only warm colors)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December

myasperations 12-15-21

The 15th of the month finds me making a DT card 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?

For this simple yet elegant Christmas card, I printed a digi sentiment from Eureka Stamps to fit an A2-sized card front.  I layered it atop a rectangle of beautiful gold embossed paper, the added some sparkle to the butterfly wings to help them stand out a bit.  I wanted to use the gold foil-lined envelope from a thrift store find that I’ve had in my stash for some time, so I created a card base that would fit the envelope and added a layer of black cardstock before adhering to the card front.  A few scraps of the gold embossed paper, plus a butterfly punched from black paper and a QKR sentiment finish off the inside of the card… which is currently fluttering its way through the US postal system to my sweet MIL’s door a few states away. (I do love that lady so much. She is amazing… and raised a pretty amazing son, too! I’m thankful for all the joy and laughter he has brought to my life for over 4 decades!)

I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge (featuring a beautiful poem by Poet Laureate John Betjeman named, appropriately, “Christmas.” I found a wonderful YouTube reading of the poem by the author himself. You can find it HERE.

Supplies: 

·   Front Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Legend of the Butterfly) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Butterflies colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and Stardust Clear gel pen

·   Inside Sentiment- QKR Stampede Digital Stamp (Merry Christmas) Also available in unmounted or cling-mounted

·   Stampin’ UP! Elegant Butterfly Punch (retired)

·   Gold patterned paper, cardstock, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Lots Of White                     

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes (Twist- make SENTIMENT the focus)

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Christmas by John Betjeman

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #521-522 Anything Goes                   

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             

Cute As A Button- December: CH #75 Anything Goes + (Option) Vintage

A few months ago I was introduced to a company named Free Pretty Things For You (FPTFY), which offers a treasure trove of patterned papers, digis, and clipart images…and many of them are free! After I registered as a member, I was excited to nab this set of papers that features a set of freebies (six different designs) named “Winter Wonderland.” The beautiful deer silhouette is another of the FPTFY Freebies. Paired with a flurry of die-cut snowflakes, a scrap of red plaid paper, and two sentiments from a Beccy’s Place digi set, and this card is added to my done pile! (Actually, it was added to a bag of holiday cards that I am delivering to my dentist’s office tomorrow. During the height of COVID I provided them with a bunch of cards since I knew that, like me, many were not able to get home for the holidays. It was so much fun to share from my bounty of cards, that I just had to do it again. And… it was even more fun to watch as they immediately started looking at them. The oohs and ahhs- and a few giggles- blessed this old stampers heart!)

Supplies: 

·   Deer Digi- Free Pretty Things for You (Winter Snowflake Deer Silhouette)

·   Free Winter Wonderland Digital Paper HERE

·   Sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Poinsettia)

·   Assorted die-cut Snowflakes- Cheery Lynn Designs Die (C146 Snowflakes) AND Lawn Fawn LF995-Mini Snowflakes Die Set

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #97 (Optional Twist- Give To-Help Others)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Cold as Ice

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Winter

My final card this post is a sweet one-literally! One of the sweet little elves from a Beccy’s Place digi set is cooking up a batch of gingerbread cookies. I added lots of patterns, textures, and depth to the card with stickers, patterned paper piecing (apron), and foam mounting tape. I especially loved printing off, coloring, and fussy-cutting an extra tray of cookies to use as embellishments. They have such cute little dough-bellies!

Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Making Merry)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen and Marvy silver marker

·   Cup of Hot Cocoa sticker- Hobby Lobby (embellished with an extra ginger cookie)

·   Dark Plaid paper- Hobby Lobby’s Plaid Box of Cards

·   Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)

·   Inside Sentiment- a Scrapbook sticker embellished with a few extra ginger cookies

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #572 AG

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

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

myasperations 12-14-21

I was honored to be invited to be a guest DT for the Outlawz Color Challenge, especially when I learned that the sponsor is Beccy Muir from Beccy’s Place. When I saw the inspiration photo, the yellow sunlight, falling leaves, and especially the magical fairy/gnome tree captivated me. I knew exactly which digi and sentiments I’d use on my card. One of the three characters from “Gnomes in my Garden” takes center stage, nestled within a large tree. (A template and tutorial for this wonder tree hidey-hole helped this card go together pretty quickly and I love the way it turned out!

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gnomes in My Garden)

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

·   Leaf- Embossing Arts (Company no longer in business)

·   Hollow Log/Tree Template and Instructions available HERE

·   Kraft paper, yellow vellum, rainbow ink pad (fall colors) and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge- Photo Inspiration     

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #171 Anything Goes

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

My second card is a playful Christmas card with a fun (and true) sentiment. I had fun putting my white gel pen to work making this cute beastie look so soft and friendly. I also love that he has a name- Hoss. (Beccy names all of the wonderful people and critters that she creates. When young, one of my favorite TV shows was Bonanza. And my favorite Cowboy brother was the big, burly, and likable Hoss, and this guy really has that same vibe. So fun!    

Supplies: 

·   Digi and the front sentiment is from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Beasties)

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

·   Inside Sentiment- “Fat Pants” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Grumpy Goose)

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  (But I started with a vertical card base to add the height needed for Hoss!)

·   Patterned paper, cardstock, donut stickers, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Christmas Craft Creations challenge- Fun Fold 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #521-522 Anything Goes                   

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #572 AG

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday  

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

 

myasperations 12-12-21

The Double D’s Challenge has been a favorite of mine for several years… and I was excited when I saw the inspiration photo for Diane and Darlene’s “Christmas Joy” theme. I was able to get three cards created, but because of a few staff crises at work, I almost didn’t get them posted in time! (Ended up posting two of them to Pinterest so I could get all three entered then linking back to this post for details.)   

The first features one of my all-time favorite digi sets from Beccy’s Place named Seasonal Windows. I love Beccy’s pre-coloring on the winter window, so decided to print off that option. The addition of a bit of extra shading and highlighting on the bricks and candle, some sheen (silver photo corners) and bling (Stickles on snowy surfaces), sentiments, and a puffy heart sticker finished off the card.   

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Beccy’s Place Digital Stamp Set (Seasonal Windows)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Joy to the World” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (The Nativity)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Softly Gently…” Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Pointsettia 2)

·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Stickles- Star Dust

·   Glossy Accents- used to add “glassy finish” to the windowpanes

·   Puffy Heart Sticker-Sticko’s

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Christmas Joy 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- December  

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (December- Stamps & Candles)            

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Cold As Ice

My second card required some fussy-cutting to turn a beautiful rocking horse from patterned paper into a tree ornament. The word “Joy” (which the challenge requires) appears in the sentiment on the card front. The floral embellishments on the sentiments were also fussy-cut from patterned paper. A scrap of vellum placed beneath the rocking horse helps it stand out a bit, and the red ribbon hanger and bow adds another shout of color to the card. So fun!  

Supplies: 

·   Rocking Horse-Fussy cut from Dare2BArtzy paper (Merry and Bright Variety Pack)

·   Front Sentiment- Freebie from LoveSVG.com (May Joy Fill Your Home)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Christmas When All Roads Lead Home” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Home for the Holidays)

·   Floral Embellishments on sentiments- Fussy cut from Dare2BArtzy paper (Merry and Bright Variety Pack)

·   Cardstock, vellum and Christmas tree patterned paper from my stash.

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #171 Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- December             

Crafty Sentiments Challenge-Anything Goes

My final card employs a technique- called eclipsing- to weave the word “JOY” into the card front. The sweet Baby Jesus digi, from Krista Smith (the artist who created the stamp line named Saturated Canary) is on sale this month so you can nab it now for just 90 cents! 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- KristaSmithStamps (The King)

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

·   Lettering Template for JOY- Computer Generated (Font-Britannic Bold, size 220)

·   Eclipse Technique for Lettering found HERE

·   Starry Background- Polkadoodles bundle-on sale for $1-(USA 4th July Celebration)

·   3-D Sparkle Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- “May Peace…” Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Pointsettia 2)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Christmas by John Betjeman

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #521-522 Anything Goes                   

Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #48 Anything Goes