myasperations 5-20-24

    This month’s challenge at  Sheepski Designs  theme is “Anything Goes” and my DT card features the work of artist Andrea Norris,  a cute dragon named “Morpheus.” I wanted to create a scaley texture on this little beastie which became an unexpected, trial-and-error, adventure. Although it was a tedious process, I like the way it turned out! 

     You can follow the steps in the photos below- Step 1- sketch scales with a pencil. (Note- I was planning to use a “Silhouette technique” so that I didn’t have to sketch and color ALL of the scales, which is why you can see the penciled-in circle.) Step 2- add several shades of green alcohol markers within the circled area. (Another note- I decided that I didn’t like the look of this partially colored beastie. So colored his entire body.)  Step 3- After coloring his body, and adding white gel pen highlights I still wasn’t thrilled, so I came up with another way to try the  Silhouette Technique, using vellum to cover his now finished body. (Nope…  still not what I had envisioned!) So on to Step 4- Remove the vellum mask and add more white gel pen highlights to the entire body. Top these with a bit of additional coloring and shading details. Then, let out a big sigh, and say "Ahhh… good!" 

      Lastly, I colored in the pink daisy, fussy cut and adhered it atop an A2-sized piece of patterned paper that provides a field of pink daisies! I slipped a few silk leaves behind the front daisy, added sentiments and called it a well-textured success!  

      I’m entering this card into several challenges including Inspiration Station: Inspiration Prompt (my card includes pretty pink blooms, plus contrasting ivy green foliage.)  

                                   

                                   

                                         

             

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Morpheus)

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

·   Sentiments- from a Beccy’s Place Digi set (Fairy Travels) Retired

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #121  (Anything Goes Positive)  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #61 Inspiration Prompt 

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #106  Flower Power

Paper Funday- #65 Anything Goes      (Optional Twist: Flower Shop!)

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Flower Power  

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

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Spring Flowers)

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge (Anything Goes- optional: Add a color!)

Outlawz Challenge- May 2024 Linky

      I found a great card on Pinterest that I wanted to make for a friend who plays guitar, but painfully learned that using jewelry wire for guitar strings was impossible- and causes ouchies when you get poked while threading it into place! Below are a few photos that show the original results. I almost gave up and tossed the mess in the garbage, but decided to try to salvage it. So... I pulled the card apart and used plain old grey thread. It was much simpler, less painful, and I like the results!

Supplies: 

·   Card inspired by one I found on Splitcoaststamers (HERE)

·   Sentiments- “You’re So Epic” and “Hope your birthday Rocks” Freebies from Papercraftsmagazine.com (no longer available)

       (When trying to locate these items, I discovered a site named “Gathered” that offers free downloads for all 

        kinds of crafts, HERE) 

·   Created with scraps of woodgrain paper, silver brads, and grey thread from my stash.

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #230

The Paper Shelter- #62 Lots of Layers

Allsorts Challenge- Week 781: 15^th BDay Celebration (Option AG)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Use Patterned Paper

   It’s MerMay again on Sweet November Stamps (SNS) FB page… and grabbed some time this evening to create a card using a sweet digi named Dolphin Hugs. My much-used (much-loved) free Paint.net program helped me highlight this adorable pair of friends, using a photo from a free Bing wallpaper program I installed on my laptop some time ago. (I love learning about all the beautiful places in the world, with new photos and info every day! This picture is titled “Algae Ocean Bloom.”)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place where the challenge is anything inspired by a theme park. Since this card features a cute mermaid hugging a dolphin, I used the wonderful “inspiration” listing that sponsor Makira provides, to find a theme park that features dolphins. I found a perfect one- SeaWorld Animal Swims “Dolphin Encounter” in Texas. I’d love to have a hugging encounter with a dolphin! 

Supplies: 

·   Big wave background photo upcycled from an old calendar

·   Subway Art- A freebie from TlcCreations (Seashells By The Seashore)

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Dolphin Hugs)

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

·   Glossy Accents- used to create water droplets on the scene.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) Mermay-my folder  (Photo)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #647-648

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)     SeaWorld Animal Swims

myasperations 5-19-24

    I enjoy making Christmas cards year-round! For this one, I fussy-cut a printed “JOY” sentiment and a sweet (literally!) candy digi from a retired set created by an amazing artist, business owner, and friend named Beccy Muir. This colorful and texture-rich card went together pretty quickly, with the only difficult parts being fussy-cutting the word JOY, bow for the sucker, and cute little gingerbread cookies! (Oh… and trying not to drool while wrapping the yummy peppermint with a scrap of acetate!)

   I’m entering this card into several challenges including two that include dots Double and (my card features a strip of polka dot paper on the front and inside sentiment!)

Supplies: 

·   JOY Sentiment and Peppermint- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Candy) Retired

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

·   Front Sentiment “Sweet Holiday Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   Background on card front- cut from a Hobby Lobby box of A2 Cards and envelopes

·   Inside Sentiment upcycled from an old Christmas card

·   Inside sentiment embellished with gingerbread cookies cut from Hobby Lobby boxed cards

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Use Patterned Paper

Double D’s Challenge- Polka Dots    

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #672 (Optional twist- Dots or Stripes )   

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)

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

       I’ve enjoyed entering challenges at Word Art Wednesday since I started blogging in 2017 for several reasons. The most important is that the challenge is built upon scripture and provides a free verse with each challenge! This one, from Psalm 119, was posted in May 2023. I had fun turning it into a floral-festooned, busy bee-laden easel card. (Try saying that quickly four times!)

     The beautiful pre-colored peony digi from one of my favorite FB sites for free digis. Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC provides dozens of free sentiments and digis on a monthly basis. You can visit the site and join to have access to all the wonderful digis that Paulette offers! The sweet little bumble bees are from an” Imagine That!” digi set that is no longer available since the shop closed a while ago (I miss Kris a lot!) I added a bit of translucency and bling to the bees wings with vellum and stickles and drew the bee trails with a fine-tip black marker.

    I’m entering this card into several challenges including four that focus on Flowers- Inspiration Station: Photo Prompt, Di’s Digi Stamps: Flower Frenzy, Papercraft Challenges: Flower Power, and The Four Seasons Challenge: Anything Spring.

 

Supplies:

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

·   Scripture verse from Word Art Wednesday website, May 2023.

·   Pre-colored floral Digi was posted on FB on 4-8-23. Once you join HERE, check to see if it’s still available by searching “Bits of flowers”

·   Imagine That- Bees n Sunflowers Kit (company no longer in business)

·   Stickles- Stardust added to vellum wings

·   Inside Sentiment- “For Great Is Gods Love” (Source Unknown)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #647-648

Inspiration Station- Challenge #61 Inspiration Prompt

Di’s Digi Stamps- Flower Frenzy

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #106  Flower Power

The Four Seasons Challenge- Anything Spring (May 2024)   

The Paper Shelter- #62 Lots of Layers

      It’s MerMay again on Sweet November Stamps (SNS) FB age… and I finally have a few days to create beautiful underwater and beachy scenes… often with a nice amount of bling!  This is my third entry for the challenge, featuring a SNS  digi image named “The Lookout.”  My much-used (much-loved) free Paint.net program to place this beautiful mermaid (or since this is a Scottish castle, she is possibly a merlass?!) into a tranquil night scene, using a photo from a free Bing wallpaper program that I installed on my laptop some time ago. (I love learning about all the beautiful places in the world, with new photos and info every day! This gorgeous picture is titled “Eilean Donan Castle at dusk- Dornie Scotland.”) I “anchored” the lovely Lookout into the water by adding ripples with markers, a white gel pen, and, of course, a wee bit ‘o bling!

    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place where the challenge is anything inspired by a theme park. This card, with the mermaid looking like she is longing to see her Prince was inspired by Disney Parks "The Little Mermaids Undersea Adventure" (Magic Kingdom, CA & FL USA), PLUS Colorful Options: May-Royal Blue (the blue sky, mountain range and water all help provide a wonderfully rich backdrop for the scene.)

Supplies: 

·   Background Scene- From my Bing Wallpaper program installed on my laptop

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (The Lookout)

·  Free Paint.net program can be found HERE (you can add watermarks, layer digis, and 

     more!)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Happy Day”- a freebie from maxammadestudio.com

·   Stickles- Diamonds and Stardust (to add texture and sparkle to scales and water.)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) Mermay

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)      The Little Mermaids Undersea Adventure   

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May-Royal Blue  

Allsorts Challenge- Week 781: 15^th BDay Celebration (Option AG)

myasperations 5-10-24

      I needed a retirement card and couldn’t find anything appropriate in my collection of rubber and digital stamps. So… I checked the web for inspiration and was excited to find this colorful- and free- clipart sentiment. The translucency of the letters made me think of balloons, so I decided to make a few from scraps of plastic index divider sheets. (If you follow my blog you’ll know that I use these wonderful items quite often. Sometimes called document file folders, they 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 cut with a sharp pair of scissors. And you can trace shapes onto them with a permanent fine-line marker. I used a balloon template from my scrapbook stash for this task.)

     I’ve collected saying in a file box since I was a teen, and that is where I found the funny sentiment on the inside of the card. I created it with a font I found many years ago, named Waltograph (it does have a Disneyesque look doesn’t it?!) Its playful tone was a good fit for this card! So fun!)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Time Out Challenge: Alphabet Magnet Day (my card features a colorful sentiment as the focal point, and I was excited to find this free digi because the letters even resemble Alphabet Magnets both in color and font type,) Cupcake Challenge (my card features all the required colors,) and Path of Positivity Challenge (since I’ve in the process of retiring, I know that the sentiment on this card is sure to be appreciated by anyone going through the long-awaited event. Plus…the inside sentiment, a definition of retirement "Noun- where every day is Saturday!") adds a positive twist!)   

Supplies: 

·   Happy Retirement Sentiment “Happy Retirement”- Free from clipart found HERE

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Free Downloadable Waltograph (Disney inspired) can be found HERE

·   Cardstock, plastic index divider sheets, heart template, and other items from my stash.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- #263 Alphabet Magnet Day     

Cupcake Inspirations- #593 Color  Challenge  (Pink, Orange, Poppy)  

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #121  (Anything Goes Positive) 

Paper Funday- #65 Anything Goes  

    It’s MerMay again on Sweet November Stamps (SNS) FB age… and I finally have a few days to create beautiful underwater and beachy scenes… often with a nice amount of bling!  This is my second entry for the challenge, featuring a beautiful SNS mermaid named Shimmer RedKelp. The stunning background is one of the many photos that my from a Free Bing wallpaper program on my laptop some time ago. (I love learning about all the beautiful places in the world, with new photos and info every day!)  The amazingly blue and crystal-clear water is from Thingvellir National Park in Iceland, which snorkelers love to visit (perhaps in search of merpeoples?!) I used a free Paint.net program to layer Shimmer into the scene (which means no fussy cutting along those beautiful tresses.)  After printing off the scene, I colored Shimmer. Deciding the card needed some texture, depth and more color, I trimmed a piece of a blue plastic index divider sheet to serve as semi-transparent “water” adding gentle “waves” along the top edge. (Note- this is the same item I used to make the balloons on the Retirement card above, so check there for details.) The final touch was to add a few “ripples” to the water nearest Shimmer and to add the sentiment.

     (A few added notes- I think that I need to check the ink in my printer as the rock wall has light patches of pink that aren’t in the original photo. That said, I like how it adds a bit more color to the card! Also, I added a photo of the screensaver that became my background, and a photo that shows how the print.net program allows me to insert digis into the background. I added a large WM on this to protect SNS’s copyrighted digi!)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place, where the challenge is anything inspired by a theme park. (I love mermaids… and the movie, the Little Mermaid. So The Adventures of the Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom, CA would be a fun place to visit!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Shimmer RedKelp and Otto)

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

·   Sentiment from Sweet November Stamps (Empowering Sentiments Pack)

·   Background photo from the free daily Scenic Wallpaper program on my laptop- downloaded HERE

·   Cardstock, blue plastic index divider sheet and other items from my stash

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) May  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) Mermay  

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May-Royal Blue 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #647-648

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)    The Little Mermaid

     As the days are warming, and the earth is waking up, I’m looking forward to the arrival of butterflies and bees. With the help of two busy bees from a Beccy’s Place digi set, and assorted items from my stash, this card went together pretty easily. It reminds me of when my sweet DH and I visited his retired parents, who were “snowbirds” who spent winters in Mesa, AZ

I especially loved it when the lemon and orange trees in their yard were in bloom. I remember I once stuck my head out of the window as we pulled into their drive so that I could more fully enjoy the richly perfumed air. It was heavenly!

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz Sunday Challenge: All the Worlds Alive Again (I love when the earth, and bugs, wake up in the Spring and Summer!), and Outlawz Twisted Thursday: Flower Power (my card features one elegant flower on the front, and two smaller sequin flowers added to the inside sentiment) and Inspiration Station (the inspiration photo has assorted flowers, including white ones that help the brightly colored flowers to stand out even more!)     

Supplies: 

·   Bee Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Bees and Blooms)

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

·   Front Sentiment from SnapClickSupply.com digi set (Sweet As Can Bee Word Art)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Gingerhouse.blogspot.com (Keep Pressing Forward!)

·   Liquid Pearls-Buttercup (add a yellow dot to the center of flowers.)

·   Paper Doily, small white flower sequins, foam tape, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #61 Inspiration Prompt 

Outlawz Sunday Challenge- All the Worlds Alive Again   

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Flower Power  

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

Outlawz Challenge- May 2024 Linky

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #671  

Beccy’s Place Challenge- May   

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