Friday, April 26, 2024

myasperations 4-26-24a

    A few years ago I discovered a great group on FB named Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC}. They offer monthly Christmas-themed sketch challenges, plus they host Linky parties several times a year that include lots of wonderful prizes, and the group host and members are so kind!) 
    This is my final entry into their annual Spring into Christmas Linky Party. It features a sweet image from Di’s Digis within a rustic, weathered-wood card. A scrapbook template helped create the oval frame for the tender Christmas scene. (It looks like Mary might be whispering "Shhh" to the critters excitedly crowding around the newborn King! If you look closely, you can see a little lamb's nose and a tiny bunny's ears, as they try to peek into the manger.) Her "fabric" gown is paperpieced with a scrap of light colored Silver stars add sparkle to the deep blue sky, white a circle of the smallest stars frame the head of baby Jesus, displaying his majesty! 
     I’m entering my card into several challenges including Christmas Craft Creations: Non-traditional Colors (mainly shades of blue and brown), Path Of Positivity: Power of Words-Love/Relationships (this card represents my life's most important relationship with a loving God who offers abounding love and saving grace!) and Park Hopping-My Happy Place (This is another of my favorite challenges… as it has introduced me to many new amusement parks. I’ve entered several Christmas cards into this challenge with a Santa theme and was excited to find a theme park that I added to my bucket list- Santa’s Village. After making this card, I wondered if any Christmas theme parks include Christian-focused options. I wasn’t having any success in finding one, until I decided to revisit Santa’s Village and found they offer a historic St Nicolas Chapel, with a stable and life-size nativity with a woodsy backdrop, provide the true meaning of Christmas… and keeps this place securely on my bucket list! I also found that Branson Mo features a theater production of the nativity, the Miracle of Christmas, with several family fun parks nearby. Find them HERE, type “theme park” into the search bar. One called “Fritz’s Adventure makes me want to head there NOW!)   
Supplies: 
·   Digi (Izzy’s Nativity) Retired (Check Di’s Etsy shop HERE to see other adorable digis!)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Oval template, star stickers, and tiny shaker stars plus other items from my stash
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2024 Linky Party    
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #120 Power of Words: Love/Relationships 
Christmas Craft Creations challenge- April-Non-traditional Colors   
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #645-646
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)    Santa’s Village

    This baby card features two freebie digis from the talented Beccy Muir, two sentiment strips from my scrapbook stash, a handful of colorful paper snippets, and a smattering of sparkly heart stickers. Ahhh… sweet!
    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Crafty Catz Challenge: For a Boy (although girls can- and do!- like reptiles like lizards, dinosours and crocodiles, this little Croc’s light blue helps make this card appropriate for a boy)
Supplies: 

·   Pre-colored Digi and patterned paper- Freebies from Beccy’s Place (Baby Crocodile)

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

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sentiments- set of baby stickers from my scrapbook stash

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April Pastels  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- April    Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!

    I used a free Paint.net program to layer the png outline  digi atop the pre-colored background in the digi set (link is in my supplies list.) It was fun to color the beach beauty and her yummy beverage! Added kraft photo corners, sparkle to her tail and water with Stickles, and sentiments that are freebies from two of my favorite sites for… well… free sentiments!  
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Outlawz- Tuesday: Color Wheel (my card includes several shades of blue from top of wheel and shades of red/pink and peach/orange from the bottom), Inspiration Station: Photo Prompt/Earth Day (I did some web surfing and found several credible sources that reported 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water and our oceans hold about 96.5 % of all Earth’s water. So, caring for our oceans is very important… and I’m sure that 100% of mermaids agree!) 
Supplies: 

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

·   Digi and background scene- The Paper Shelter (Little Mermaid On Vacation)

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

·   Front Sentiment- This Desert Diva Freebie is no longer available, but generous artist Hannelie does offer two similar ones (Hey Birthday Girl) and (Birthday Girl)

·   Inside Sentiment- a freebie from Birdscards (Have a Fin-tastic Day)

·   Sea creatures on inside are from a Fred She Said Digital set (Emma the Mermaid) 

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

·   Stickles- Diamonds and Stardust versions (to add texture and sparkle to the glass rim.)

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
The Paper Shelter- #59 Yummy Delights
Double D’s Challenge- Water Related  
Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #105 Fairies and other Mystical Beings
Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Wheel
Outlawz Challenge- April 2024 Linky
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myasperations 4-26-24

     I have loved this sweet digi from Di’s Digis named  “Love to the Moon and Back” for many years. So I was thrilled to find a book named “On the Day that You were born” by Nancy Tilman that holds a beautiful excerpt that compliments the digi. I love using  the combo of these two items on baby cards. So when I was invited to a baby shower, for a friends first grandson, I decided to make this card for the little guy and his excited family. (Am thinking I'll also purchase a copy of Nancy Tilman's book to gift to the new Grandma!)  

Supplies:
·   Digi- Dis Digi (Love To the Moon and Back) Retired (check Di’s Etsy shop HERE to see 
         other adorable digis!)
·   Baby stamp- from a Stampin' Up wood-mount set that is a few decades old!
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Haze around moon made with a sponge and white craft ink
·   Front Sentiment-  from author Nancy Tillman’s book “On the Day that You were Born” 
·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from Papercrafts.com (no longer available)
·   Window die-cut A2 card, star stickers and shaker stars plus other items from my stash
Entered into:  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #736: For a Boy
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #645-646
Di’s Digi Stamps- Scraps and Stash  
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #120  (Twist-Power of Words: Love/Relationships) 
 
    A few years ago I discovered a great group on FB named Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC}. They offer monthly Christmas-themed sketch challenges and host Linky parties several times a year that include lots of wonderful prizes!) 
    This is my third entry into their annual Sping into Christmas Linky Party. It features a fun digi Angie Blom Digital Designs, from one of the Linky Party’s sponsors. The card's theme of Christmas baking plus the beautiful woman in the digi makes me think of my sweet mom, so the digis coloring, with shiny black hair and a lovely red dress, is in memory of her.
     I'm entering this card into several challenges including FB Friends of Sweet November (my card features a digi from Sweet November Stamps- the sweet [literally] Gingerbread House, and the card features lots of pink!) 
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Angie Blom Digital Designs (Birthday Girl Sass)

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps Digi Set (Gingerbread House)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Merry Christmas, Y’all!” from 2 Cute Stamps digi set (Country Snowman)

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from LoveSVG (I just want to bake stuff)

·   Gingerbread man embellishment- trimmed from a scrap of patterned paper

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

·   Patterned paper and other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2024 Linky Party        
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter- #59 Yummy Delights
Paper Funday- #64 Anything Goes  (Optional Twist: Sweet Treats!)
     Many years ago I stumbled upon a source of wonderful digital images, named Little Scraps of Heaven (LSOH) Designs. Artist/owner, Tricia Moore, is talented and creative, plus the cost of her amazing artwork is so affordable. As a result, I have nearly 200 of her digis in my collection, some include sentiments. The one I’m using for this Z-fold card is from a retired digi set that includes the two sentiment. Planet earth is cut from this digi, the rest of the planets were cut from patterned paper. I added some texture and shine by paper piecing the spaceship with acetate, silver paper, red brads, and added vellum scraps for the exhaust.
   PS- Currently there are 131 pages (including nearly 2000 LSOH digis and sets/combos) on sale for just $1.50. A pre-colored version of this digi is included!
    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Inspiration Station-Inspiration Prompt: Earth Day (my card features not just the “blue planet, but a whole bunch of planets and a friendly-looking guest), Outlawz- Tuesday: Color Wheel (my card includes blue and green from top of wheel and red from bottom), Crafty Catz Challenge: For a Boy (made for a friend's sweet space lovin’ son), and Park Hopping-My Happy Place (a favorite challenge that highlights  amusement parks around the world. The alien on this card looks like it would feel right at home at FL Universal Studios’s Men In Black ride/experience!)                 
Supplies: 
·   Instructions for Z-fold card can be found HERE.

·   Little Scraps of Heaven Digi set Digi with sentiments is no longer available (the single pre-colored digi, pictured above Youre Out of this World) is currently just $1.50!)

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

·   Assorted papers brads, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)                     
Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Wheel   
Outlawz Challenge- April 2024 Linky
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Monday, April 22, 2024

myasperations 4-22-24

     This is my second entry into Sweet November Stamp‘s monthly FB challenge. After printing and coloring the digi (Emma Everfrost), I trimmed her from the cardstock, gently clipping her wings off in the process. I traced the wings onto two scraps of vellum, adding some length to the “insides” of the wings, allowing them to be easily taped to Emma’s back. (You'll need to cut out two separate wings in vellum. I tried to provide an example of the two sizes by outlining the smaller shape in pink, and the other shape, with the pretty tail, in aqua. (Sorry my outline is so messy, it is hard to use the on-line pencil to do that onto a photo!) adding the additional sections with light pastel dotted lines.) After trimming the two wings from the vellum, I added a layer of frosted window peel & stick to each of them, trimming the extra, then taping the bigger one in place first, then the smaller one so that it shows through the first. I did it wrong the first time, so am hoping this info will save you that trouble.)
Note- I'd found this glittery version of frosted window peel & stick at a hardware store years ago and love the touch of translucent fantasy the sparkly vellum wings add to the card!
     I’m entering my card into several other challenges including Park Hopping-My Happy Place, one of my favorite challenges as it has introduces me to many new amusement parks.( The little puff-ball owl in Emma’s hug reminds me of Harry Potters owl. So, this card honors Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter.)
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Emma Everfrost)

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

·   Evergreen patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Friends Warm the Heart” from Beccys Place (New Friends) (retired)

·   Inside Sentiment “Merry Christmas” from Eureka Digital Stamps (Currently Not Available)

·   Scrap of vellum and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Friends of Sweet November (FB) April (AG- Pink =2 entries)
{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2024 Linky Party        
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)       
Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #105 Fairies and other Mystical Beings
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas)

     Starting to make cards for summer holidays. This digi from Fred She Said is a perfect fit for Mother’s Day. I love using front&back (F&B) images like this one for window cards… or those in which I create a shaped opening. In this case, an oval. I tried two different sizes of the digis and both turned out well with the same cut out oval shape (see photo).
    Here are a few things I’ve learned when working with F&B’s: 1) make sure they are the same height/width when positioning them on the paper so both sides will “line up” when taped within the opening. 2) select a sentiment that is small enough to not “stick out” behind the F&B image. (One reason I like digital images is I can change the size to fit the desired space.)
    I’m entering my card into several other challenges including Path Of Positivity: Power of Words: Love/Relationships (this Mother's Day card strongly speaks of love and relationships. In truth, I learned many lessons about love from watching my mom. She was one of the kindest and considerate people I've ever known!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment- Fred She Said Digital Stamp (Emma With Sign)

The set comes with front & back digis of Emma holding a blank sign, plus signs with "You are a Blessing!", "Happy Birthday to You!", and "I Love You So Much!" plus a half sheet FULL of flowers (for just $3.50 US)

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

·   Inside Sentiment- Freebie from LoveSVG (Click link and search for Happy Mothers Day to find current freebies)

·   Oval templates, patterned paper and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge: Love and Friendship 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #643-644
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April Pastels  

Path Of Positivity Challenge-  #120 Power of Words: Love/Relationships 

      This spring-themed card features two free digis from Beccy’s Place, two sentiments, plus other items from my stash. I like printing “wooden” items on kraft paper so I can add rich wood grain with markers. (When I want to age/weather the look of the wood, I also add a bit of white colored pencil and white gel pen to the pattern.) The original birdhouse digi features a bow, but I wanted a more primitive look, so I trimmed that off and instead framed the birdhouse base with several layers of pretty flowers that Beccy named “Mums Blossoms.” To add some depth and texture, I cut out the entrance hole, added woodgrain to a scrap of kraft and attached it to the back of the birdhouse with foam tape. I cut scraps from a paper bag into thin strips and pushed it down into the birdhouse, showing that nest building is already occurring! A few butterflies finish off the Spring theme card front. And a little pink heart adds color... and some depth of meaning... to the inside Easter sentiment. 
     I’m entering my card into several other challenges including Passion for Markers:Check It Out (the checked background is actually a scrap of lightweight cotton from my sweet mom’s fabric basket. Although she moved to her heavenly mansion many years ago, I still treasure being able to use a few of the items related to the crafts that gave her joy… sewing was one of them!) and Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Calling the Role (this poem is about the awakening of life in the Spring… three of my favorites are flowers, birds and butterflies!)

Supplies: 
·   Birdhouse Digi- Freebie from Beccy’s Place (Birdhouse with Bow) Printed on kraft cardstock
·   Flower Digis- Freebie from Beccy’s Place (Mum’s Blossoms) Printed on white cardstock
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment “Happy Day”- a freebie from maxammadestudio.com
·   Inside Sentiment- “Happy Easter” from Beccys Place digi set (Easter Joy)
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- April    Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!
Outlawz Sunday Challenge- Calling the Role  
Outlawz Challenge- April 2024 Linky
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #735: Check It Out 
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