myasperations 11-26-24

     Another fun Dog card for the 12th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge at Beccy’s Place. (I love that Beccy names all the characters that she creates, and this mutt has the unusual name “Rawlins.”)  The digi is pre-colored, however, I did add highlights and shading with markers and my trusty white gel pen. I fussy-cut and perched Rawlins atop a large gift tag I picked up at WalMart's 90% off after-Christmas sale.

     I wanted to make a Rocker card, so I traced a circle the same size as the gift tag base. After scoring and folding one edge of the circle down about 1 inch, I added adhesive and attached it to the back of the gift tag, aligning the fold to be behind Rawlins. (If you look at the photos of the inside of the card, you can see the folded section at the top of the card.) When I set the card on my craft table I learned that it wouldn't rock! The weight of Rawlins threw the rocker off balance and quickly pulled him down to the tabletop. I couldn’t figure a way to easily counterbalance the card, so I opted to add a rectangular “base” on the front and back circles. Problem solved!  

   

Supplies: 

·   Pre-colored Dog Digi Inside sentiment -from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds) 

·   Additional highlights, shading and knitted texture added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Merry and Bright circle tag from WalMart.

·   All other items from my stash.

·   Holly wreath fussy cut from patterned paper and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Nov)  The Secret Lives of Pets (Universal Studios, CA-USA),

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 

Outlawz Challenge- Nov 2024 Linky  

Beccy’s Place: A Month of Holiday Cards- Nov 2024   Day 14- Merry and Bright

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

      If you follow my blog you’ll know that I don’t usually use “messy” techniques. However, after friend told me how much she liked “smooshing” inks for backgrounds on her cards, I did some Pinterest surfing and found a tutorial I liked HERE. As usual, I improvised a bit: 1) Had no watercolor paper so used heavy white cardstock; 2) Used one rainbow ink pad that had five  separate color segments; 3) Took two rounds of smooshing to get the desired depth of color.  

    While the panel was drying, I pulled out scraps of a pretty fall-patterned paper from my stash and fussy-cut a handful of leaves and the word“thankful” from the paper.  After some experimenting, I created a layout for the card front using leaves and a sentiment. When done, the layout looked blah to me. So I grabbed my white gel pen, added contrast to the leaves and sentiment, and sketched a thin white line near the edge of the smooshed background to create a "frame." The sentiment on the inside of the card is computer-generated. I embellished it with a handful of the extra leaves (with no white gel pen pizzaz!)

 

Supplies: 

·   Patterned paper with Leaves and Thanksgiving Sentiments-Hobby Lobby

·   Tsukineko Kaleidacolor Inkpad- Royal Satin (available through several web sources)

·   Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #675-676 

Paper Funday- #71 Anything Goes     

     The current challenge at the WeCraftCards Forum is to make a card inspired by the Nutcracker Ballet. I dug through my stamps and digis to find a ballerina image to play the role of Clara. This sweet digi from All Dressed Up Stamps seemed like the perfect fit for Clara, especially after I perched the little nutcracker on her outstretched hand! (He is from a sticker package I found while shopping after Christmas sales at Hobby Lobby last year. At 75% off, I couldn’t pass up the deal. And, since each nutcracker has three layers, I can take them apart, getting an even better deal. (Note- The top layer of the drummer on the bottom row of the Nutcracker sticker package is on the inside of the card. And the boots and top layer from the Nutcracker on the front of the card are next to this drum-less Nutcracker.  I know they'll make an appearance on a card sometime in the future!)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Time Out: Inspired by Words "There is truly not an occasion that is not improved by wearing something festive." (Clara looks especially festive in her tutu and crown!) and Simon Says Wednesday: Sparkle and Shine (I enlarged one photo so you can see the sparkly shine of the holographic gold paper on her crown which also frames the card, an abundance of Stickles sparkle on her tutu and crown. The teal ribbon also adds a soft shine!) 

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up Stamps- (Abi Ballerina)

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

·   Background Winter Scene- The Paper Shelter (Snowboarder Girl Digi Set)

·   Music Sheet “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”- a freebie found HERE

·   Nutcracker Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment “Magical Christmas”-freebie from Birdscards.com (Blog now closed)

·   Holographic Metallic Gold Patterned cardstock- Hobby Lobby

·   Stickles- assorted colors

·   Strips of ribbon and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

We Craft Cards- Nutcracker

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (Nov #157) 

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- November: Christmas is Coming  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sparkle and Shine  

Time Out Challenge- #277 Inspired by Words   

myasperations 11-23-24

    Another fun card for both the current Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers  {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge and also the 12th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge at Beccy’s Place. (I love that Beccy names all the characters that she creates, and this mutt is named “Earl” which I learned is an English name meaning "nobleman" or "warrior." Hmm… maybe that means this guy won’t be teased about wearing a “Christmas Sweater!” I own several of them… but my hubby has said he wouldn’t be caught dead in one!)

   The digi is pre-colored, however, I did add highlights and shading, PLUS used one of my favorite tutorials from artist Anabel Haines (HERE) to add knitted texture to the sweater with just markers and a white gel pen. Since Earl is a tall fella, I decided to place him on the inside of the card and show his handsome face through a square cut in the card front. This also allowed me to follow the BYSHC November sketch, although I did flip Earls image to the left side of the card.  

  I’m entering this card into several challenges including Double D’s: Get Ready for Winter (I love sweater weather and have several Christmas Sweaters. So… this card resonates with me!) and Time Out Challenge: Inspired by Words "There is truly not an occasion that is not improved by wearing something festive."  (even though Earl looks grumpy, that festive sweater should help improve his mood… right?)

 

Supplies: 

·   Sentiments and Pre-colored Dog Digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds)

·   Tutorial for creating knitted texture (by Anabel Haines) can be found HERE

·   Additional highlights, shading and knitted texture added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Patterned Papers (front) from Newtons Nook 6x6 paper pad (Coffee House Stories) 

·   Weathered Wood paper (inside) from Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #51 Nov 2024         

Double D’s Challenge- Get Ready for Winter  

Time Out Challenge- #277 Inspired by Words      

Beccy’s Place: A Month of Holiday Cards- Nov 2024   Day 7- G is for Grumpy Pup

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

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #683 AG   

 I'm finding all kinds of “treasures” while decluttering my craft room. One box included dozens of old greeting cards I’ve collected for over 3 decades and many partial cards I had started but not finished. One Hallmark Thanksgiving card provided a greeting and lovely gold embossed fall leaves that I used on this card. Back in the late 90s a friend and I were experimenting with stamping scenes onto photos of clouds we had taken. I'd stamped the house on this photo in permanent black ink but wanted to add some color to it. So I tested several marker and pen options until I found a few that worked (detailed in my supplies list.)  A sweet little squirrel and two sentiments (one upcycled) joined a flurry of upcycled leaves to finish the card.

Supplies: 

·   Background photo of clouds taken by me many years ago

·   Old House-Art Impressions Wood Mount (Retired) stamped onto photo with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad

·   Color added to photo with markers. (I used Sharpie permanent fine-line markers for trees-dotted orange, yellow and a touch of red for leaves, and grass-sketched thin lines and dots with shades of green and tan. For the house, a light grey Spectrum Noir Classique alcohol marker added soft shading to the house, and a Sakura Gelly Roll white provided a few highlights.)

·   Squirrel Digi from Bugaboo Stamps (no longer in business)

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

·   Front Sentiment- a freebie from TlcCreations (Thankful for Autumn)

·   Leaf embellishments on front and inside of card, plus Inside Sentiment- upcycled from an old greeting card

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Di’s Digi Stamps-Use a Digi Image   (Squirrel!)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #675-676 

The Four Seasons Challenge- Anything Goes Fall Nov 2024    

    Several years ago, I found a sheet music image on FB that made me laugh out loud! It was created by a talented and funny character who goes by the title “The Church Curmudgeon.” I printed off a copy and adhered it to the front of an A2-sized card to send to a coffee-loving friend. While decluttering my craft room, I came upon another of these cards and decided to make it into a Christmas card.

   First, I cut a piece of vellum to fit the front of the card, adding an additional ½ inch to the left side of the vellum. This allows the vellum to be folded and taped to the backside of the card, so it can be lifted to read the complete lyrics.

    Then I worked on decorating the vellum! I paper-pieced a stack of teacups from one of Beccy Muir’s retired digi sets, which is a fav of mine. It was a bit tedious, but I love the way the stack looks, especially when adorned with a sprig of greenery and a red ribbon bow. I adhered the stack onto the vellum card front. A paper doily adhered to the backside of the vellum adds a Victorian vibe to the card that I really like! (I perfected the paper-piecing of this cupstack back in 2018 when I created a slightly different Victorian Christmas card. My blog posting of that card included a step-by-step tutorial which you can find HERE… and another version of the card is HERE!)

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Inspiration Station: Photo (my card has a Holiday Theme-Christmas, and the images speak of hot beverages… which I love this time of the year!) 

                                

Supplies: 

·   Sheet Music “ 'Tis so sweet to drink my coffee” found  HERE  (© The Church Curmudgeon, 2015)

·   Stack of Cups Digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set-TeaTime Retired) 

·   Paperpieced after printing on colored paper and fussy cutting the cups apart  

·   Shading and highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen 

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Bright and Happy Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jingle Bells)

·   Christmas Greenery Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   All other items from my stash. 

Entered into: 

Inspiration Station- Challenge #67 Inspiration Prompt 

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge- Oct #35 Coffee + Red + Green    

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Nov)  Tea Cup Ride-Mad Tea Party at Disneyland

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 

Outlawz Challenge- Nov 2024 Linky  

myasperations 11-21-24

    This month’s challenge at  Sheepski Designs  theme is “Anything Goes” and I used one of my favorite winter digis, not only because of Andrea’s wonderful artwork but also because it’s named “Hot Chocolate.” (‘Nuf said?!)  I opted to color the digi to match the shades of blue and grey in the background scene but to draw attention to the cup I colored it bright red.  I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Path Of Positivity Challenge.

(My card was inspired by this sentiment- “Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family. And having both is a blessing.” Author Unknown) and the Inspiration Station: Photo Prompt (my favorite hot beverages are hot chocolate and coffee.)

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Hot Chocolate)

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

·   Background Scene upcycled from an old Christmas card

·   Front Sentiment “You Warm my Heart” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   Inside Sentiment-“Wishing… Blessed Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Clear Stamp Set (Lamb of God) found HERE

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

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #67 Inspiration Prompt 

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge-Nov (AG)

Outlawz Challenge- Nov 2024 Linky  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #675-676 

Allsorts Challenge- Week 807- AG (Optional- Food and Drink) 

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #125 (Friends/Family    

     This digi from Sweet November Stamps features an adorable little cutie named “Cookie” who excitedly awaits Santa’s visit. And he better get there soon as she’s enjoying the cookies she helped her Mama make just for him!

     The circle sentiment is a freebie that actually frames a cartoon Santa. I used my Word Program's insert option, then selected a circle (shape option) to block out the Santa so that I had a blank space to adhere Cookie. After coloring and fussy-cutting the sweet little Cookie, I carefully cut around her little hand and the slit of her mouth and set her aside for a bit. I dug a few frosted cookie embellishments from my scrapbook stash and cut one down to size to fit into Cookie's hand. I slid it into place under her hand and under her lip, adjusting as needed to fit. I added a strip of tape to the underside to hold it in place and adhered Cookie in the circle. The final touch of whimsy was to add a sprinkling of small cookie pieces and “crumbs” falling from Cookies treat! The rest of the card then fell together pretty quickly with items from my stash. The resulting card is almost magical! 

      I’m entering this card into several challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place (I discovered this challenge last year and it has become a favorite as I’ve learned alot about amusement parks. The challenge host, Makira, provides a listing of “inspiration” to help learn more about Amusement Parks around the globe. That is where I learned about Santa’s Village. Visiting this New Hampshire Park is now on my bucket list!)

Supplies: 

·   Front Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Cookie)

·   Front Circle Sentiment- a freebie from TlcCreations (Santa Stop Here…Got Cookies)

·   Tan Heart paper from Newton's Nook 6x6 paper pad (Coffee House Stories) 

·   Inside Sentiment- We Are 3 Digital Sentiments “Christmas- Joyful Noise” (company no longer in business)

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

·   Cookie embellishments and pink photo corners- from Oriental Trading Company (years ago)

·   Pink and white twine and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) Nov    (Photo) 

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Nov)    Santa’s Village

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge- Nov 2024: Optional-Use Brown or Yellow as main colors  

Paper Funday- #71 Anything Goes     

     I created this card for the current Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers  {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge (I hadn’t been much of a sketch fan until I found this challenge,. I often had found card sketches to be complicated… but these are fairly simple, but still always look great!)

     I’m also happily making cards to enter into the 12th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge at Beccy’s Place and this digi was just begging, I mean… Demanding… to be on this card. I love that Beccy Muir names all the characters that she creates, and this feline is named “Cassian” which is of Latin and Irish origin and means “Son of Cassius” or “Empty”! I think this guy could empty a room of Christmas decorations in record time! The digi is pre-colored, however, I did add highlights and shading, PLUS used one of my favorite tutorials from artist Anabel Haines (HERE) to add knitted texture to the sweater with just markers and a white gel pen. Oh so cozy! 

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Double D’s: Get Ready for Winter (I love knitted items, especially gloves and sweaters so this card resonates with me!)   

 

Supplies: 

·   Pre-colored Cat Digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Kitties)

·   Tutorial for creating knitted texture (by Anabel Haines) can be found HERE

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

·   Sentiments- “Waiting for…” and “Didn’t we…” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds) 

·   B&W striped paper from Newtons Nook 6x6 paper pad (Black & White Basics) 

·   Scraps of silver glitter paper and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #51 Nov 2024        

Beccy’s Place: A Month of Holiday Cards- Nov 2024   Day 12- K is for Kitty

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

Double D’s Challenge- Get Ready for Winter (photo)   

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge- Furry Thing Goes- #106 Nov (Photo)  

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #682 AG   

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