Masculine Theme February 2020 Challenge at APTS blog

Greetings from the USA heartland and Becca's Heart for Creativity!

For this inspirational card for my resident designer commitment with A Place To Start challenge blog is a masculine birthday card that will be sent to either my oldest nephew or nephew-in-law who both have upcoming February birthdays. Since it has a travel theme I will probably send it to the N-I-L, who enjoys vacationing on his off-time (an ER doc).

Didn't these elements come together to make an interesting guy's birthday card?!!?!!! The ship image was an insert of a frame about traveling, but due to the base dimension of 5"x 7", the frame couldn't be used but this perfect insert could be by itself. It's propped up a bit with foam squares. This ship oval was stamped (from Hampton Arts) and edge inked. Brenda Walton's Around the World Frame & Journaling Pad (2011) including acetate designs is available by K & Company. A few weeks ago, one of my sweet fellow church members & a very crafty gal herself gifted this to me, so I'm excited to start using a blessing!

February 2020's masculine theme challenge for APTS blog starts Monday, February 3rd=
link= https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2020/02/february-2020-challenge-create.html

more pics:

another vendor credit to Martha Stewart Crafts for the "Happy Birthday" ribbon; it's been in my stash for several years. This is my 2nd card in 4 days that I've used it so there's not much left on the spool. (Another good feeling when you can finish up a product that's been buried in amongst other ribbons and cording within larger stockpile!) :)

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups to which this card's photo or the posting will be linked=
a. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog: #72= Anything Goes theme for February 2020
link= https://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/2020/02/february-crafts-galore-encore-challenge.html


b. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges blog: anything goes theme; now a bi-weekly deadline format; used to be weekly
link= https://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2020/01/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-463.html

c. Paper, Paper, Paper & Design Team Calls group on Facebook; a sharing group for crafting bloggers

d. Mixed Media Creativity group on Facebook; a private group for artists and crafters to share their mixed medium projects [mine uses different cardstocks, washi tape, ribbon, black ink pad, stamped sentiment]

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Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S for Becca's Heart for Creativity

besides being a resident designer for A Place To Start, I'm on these design teams=

The Crafter's Café Challenge blog
Scrapping 4 fun Challenges blog
My Time To Craft challenge blog
52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge blog

APTS challenge blog reveal October 2019 theme has a prompt choice board

As part of the resident designer team for A Place To Start challenge blog, I decided on the following elements for my October 2019 inspiration project:

*patterned cardstock, solid paper, sentiment, & image
*sketch
*glitter paper
*pearls/gems
*ribbon

APTS' October blog post link: there are 5 columns of delightful products and you can use more than 1 from each column, so mix and match to make it your own unique challenge!!!=

APTS' Resident Designer ID badge: and the challenge blog post link= https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-2019-create-your-own-challenge.html

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups where this card will be shared=

a. sketch from Laurel Seabrook Designs/Sketchy Saturday= sketch #14

b. theme inspiration for fall from Laurel's Inspired By challenge blog current theme "truckload of fall" link:
https://theseinspiredchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/inspired-by-truckload-of-fall.html
(color inspiration: creamy whites and yellows; and rusty orange tones)

c. my personal profile page on Facebook

d. DT Calls & Craft Chs group on Facebook; this group wants primarily the new challenge posts

e. PPPDTC group on Facebook; this group is for crafter bloggers to share their latest postings on their personal blogs

f. https://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/237-halloweenfall-sentiment.html
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog #237= Halloween or fall theme + sentiment

my card has autumn colors & owl plus a sentiment strip and happy birthday printed on the ribbon


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some more scans of different portions of the card=

Crafting in the USA heartland's autumn season 2019,
Becca S

Rustic Beauty Christmas Tree theme card made 20 July 2019

Rustic beauty and grandeur of pine trees harkens us all to think of Christmas time

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(1) 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up challenge blog #55 where themes are 'always Christmas'; there is an optional twist for plaids...which I might try before the end of the month...this card is just for a general Christmas card share

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-55-opt-twistplaids.html

(2) Jingle Belles challenge blog newest theme/prompt started 19 july 2019 with a photo. Here are the link and inspirational pic...

link: http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-rustic-glam-christmas-fireside.html

Interpretation= my card has the tree x 3 and the kraft color that probably is gold but from a distant becomes beige/kraft color. There is also some glam/shine with lots of glitter on the tag and extra trees.

(3) Shopping Our Stash Weekly challenge blog #400 theme is Christmas in July

link: https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/07/shopping-our-stash-400-christmas-in-july.html

**my card is using old white card scrap for the base; 1 1/2 year old purchased gift tag; old glitter foam trees were bought last year...all from my stash...the Martha Stewart paper (green and white print has white birds if you are able to see it closeup was a recent purchase through Amazon using a gift card received for my birthday! :)

(4) Facebook group Paper, Paper, Paper & Design Team Calls= sharing group for crafting bloggers

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A few more scanned photos:

Crafting in hot and humid heartland of the USA,
Becca S

Metallic Beauty Christmas Card made 20 july 2019

Aren't you loving the metallic silvers and reds!!??!!

Design notes:
a. the background snowflake print is from Martha Stewart Christmas/winter collection 2018-- 6" square pad
b. red doily half cut into 2 pieces
c. red glitter gem dots
d. gift tag used as sentiment bought at Hobby Lobby in December 2018
e. red ink stamp pad used to ink edges
f. marshmallow white cardstock base

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(1) 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up challenge blog #55 where themes are 'always Christmas'; there is an optional twist for plaids...which I might try before the end of the month...this card is just for a general Christmas card share

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-55-opt-twistplaids.html

(2) Jingle Belles challenge blog newest theme/prompt started 19 july 2019 with a photo. Here are the link and inspirational pic...

link: http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-rustic-glam-christmas-fireside.html

Interpretation= my card has lots of white and silver with the hints of color from the red that made a visual impression on me. again, another link opportunity-- http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-rustic-glam-christmas-fireside.html

(3) Shopping Our Stash Weekly challenge blog #400 theme is Christmas in July

link: https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/07/shopping-our-stash-400-christmas-in-july.html

my card is using old white card scrap for the base; 1 1/2 year old purchased metallic gift tag; old glitter gem dots...all from my stash...the Martha Stewart paper was a recent purchase through Amazon using a gift card received for my birthday! :)

(4) Facebook group Paper, Paper, Paper & Design Team Calls= sharing group for crafting bloggers

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A few more scanned photos:

I haven't taken time to count how many I've made since January but I do know the Christmas cards are stacking up whereas Thanksgiving ones are just that--one...sigh....Going to have switch supplies and get some harvest theme stuff out.

Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

Wedding cards: # 1 of 3 made for friends

Friends of mine had 3 of their 4 adult children marry within a timespan of 1.5 years!

Wedding card #1:

clever uses of ordinary supplies--tulle that has been inked in order to coordinate with the colors and contrast against the doily

Birthday in blues and greens

Feminine birthday card creation

for adult-age niece

Lots of different aqua, teals, and spring greens mixed to create a fluttery girly-girl card:

Studio G card base was purchased embossed and the area was inked so the butterflies would stand out.

inside view

angled view to see how the paisley cardstock is repeated; the flower cutout is the reverse side to the paisley from Wild Raspberry Papers from K and Company

Feminine Birthday card for best friend

BFF: best friend forever--her 2013 birthday card creation

Birthday card using lots of blue-green hues

It was soooo good to be creating a card instead of grading papers or fixing 'babies' (Baby Think It Over babies for parenting class students) or grocery shopping for one or more food classes! I just LOVE when I get the chance to be creative and especially love when I coordinate an extremely eclectic grouping of items and techniques to create a charming card.

The embossed-edged card is from Studio G. I used a peacock blue-green ink pad (also from Studio G) to apply color to the embossed edge in order for it to 'pop'. The white doily was also bordered with the same ink application. Studio G's "make a wish" stamp was used to create another bottom border.

A circle of white tulle was folded, crimped, and trimmed at each end in order to overwhelm the card.

The paper heart shape is from a set of memo pads purchased a few years ago from Current Catalog. I felt that since Valentine's Day was only a few weeks back and I have also know my BFF Susie since we were in first grade, a heart focal image for her birthday card was very appropriate. Half of the ribbons are from Martha Stewart Crafts ('congratulations' and 'best wishes') or from Studio G. The epoxy brad and the chipboard flower (inside) are also from Studio G.

Overall, I'm extremely happy with the final results:

employee of the month special creation

Oversized easel-type card for Employee of the Month Congrats

School District starts EOM recognition and 1st recipient is Middle School Secretary

My teaching position is a split of duties between middle school (7th-8th graders) and high school home economics classes. So when the middle school secretary was honored, I wanted to create a very special card for this very special lady. She's our angel!

The card has a whole range of techniques, supplies, and vendors! There's tracing, stenciling, embossing, inking, embellishing, sanding, cutting, etc. The angel image is a re-purposed image from a thank you note card. Some of the vendors include Paper Wishes (yellow heart brad), Martha Stewart Crafts (congrats ribbon), Elmer's Craft Glues (adhesives), etc.

Feminine birthday card

First week of October 2012= birthday card for one of my bosses

stamping, doily, brad, ribbons used like streamers, collage/scrapbooking styling

From the get-go planning the card's look, I wanted to do an oversize, stand-easel type of card for my boss to be able to display on her desk.

The photos include three that focus on the 3 corners that had the bulk of layers and details. The 4th corner was deliberately left open in order to let it 'breathe'--not get overloaded.

Quick birthday card post

Teacher Institute days start tomorrow and I've still lots more to do in my classrooms (I've got 3!) before greeting students on Monday. So this post is super short.

Here's the cover photo and inside completion photo for a birthday card made last week for an aunt:

Some of the supplies/vendors include:
1. Studio G= beige embossed card; hummingbird stamp, wish stamp; 2 patterned papers; brad
2. Martha Stewart Crafts= congratulations ribbon
3. EK Success= pastel glitter dots
4. Tsukineko Inc= Enchanted Evening Encore! Metallic Ink pad

Making a card using coordinated papers

Using coordinated patterned papers to make a birthday card

Female recipient

Posy flower and simple leaves

Last week was a crazy one full of family obligations, travel, battling the heat, and struggling with health issues enflamed by the heat. Squeezing in time to create cards was very difficult. I did a few quick and easy ones by embellishing pre-printed notecards. But by using a set of coordinated papers, I was amazed how quickly I put together this birthday card for an aunt:

front cover of card

inside completion of card

Some of the supplies/vendors:
1. The Ava Collection 2011 by Purple Paislee= all patterned papers
2. Studio G= gray ink pad, "make a wish" stamp
3. Martha Stewart Crafts= "best wishes" and "happy birthday" ribbons
4. Elmer Craft Bond adhesives/glues

 I had already had the 5 x 7 inches golden orange cardstock folded and the other patterned "mat" of cardstock came sized 4 x 6 so it just needed to be adhered. I just free-formed cut the leaves. I also keep a variety of stencil shapes handy so the 2 flowers and 1 rectangle were easy to get traced, cut, inked, and adhered. Easy-peasy!!!! A very summery sun-shining tropical retro looking birthday card!

A year later: same angel image used for a different card

Angel image (from a bookmark) was used one year ago

New card--different way to use the image

The angel image looks so very similar to a great niece of my husband that I had to use the bookmark image (trimmed, of course) for a birthday card for his niece. Last year I used pleated doily sections on each side of the angel to look like her wings. See my blog page on right side

This year for his sister's birthday (grandmother to the girl) I decided it would be her turn to have a Bridgette-inspired card. For this year's use of the angel image, it has also been trimmed, but the focus for the cover has been split between her and the ribbon embellishments.

Do you have a favorite?








front cover

Ribbons 1 & 2 can barely be read (blue-best wishes; green-congratulations) and 3 is impossible (Happy Birthday).



inside view of how I completed card

Some of the vendors for supplies include:

1. Studio G for Queen Anne's Lace pattern paper, flower brad, "make a wish" stamp, gray ink

2. Martha Stewart Crafts for all 3 ribbons

3. Guidepost organization for angel bookmark(s)



Adorable baby congrats card

Grandchild congrats card:

Border embossed card=Studio G
"joy" stamp=Studio G
purple ink stamp pad=Studio G
floral pattern paper=Studio G
border sticker=Studio G
decorative tape=Studio G
congratulations ribbon=Martha Stewart Crafts
glue/adhesives=Elmer's Craft Bond
lavender card stock=Creativity Works

I just love the bunny cut from the beautiful floral paper! The bunny's shape was stenciled with a template pattern that I had altered in order to get an appropriate size that I was happy with.

Cards for family--Birthday for niece

Next week, my youngest niece is turning 10. Because her birthday falls during the week, her birthday celebrations are this weekend. So keeping in mind her pre-teen changing interests, I've gone with a 70s retro-inspired, Partridge Family type look.

What can I say besides "Wow"!!!

Supplies:
1. 4" x 6" white card base (and envelope not shown)= Current Catalog
2. Calent Alpha Gold sticko stickers= EK Success Brands
3. Super Cool Flowers kit (pattern papers, jewels, large flower-power stick-ons)= Me & My Big Ideas
4. "Best Wishes" ribbon= Martha Stewart Crafts
5. Elmer's Craft Bond glues and adhesive squares
6. French Curve templates by Helix (I've had these for years!!!!)
7. additional cardstock and birthday theme stickers= personal stash

Moxie Fab Challenge for Tuesday Trigger is Perty and Flirty

Hi! It's late Sunday night and I'm going to make this super quick posting so I might meet the deadline! (We're trying to starting moving 100 miles east so I can take a new teaching position and I had a funeral this week for a great uncle. I haven't had time to create and have artistic fun! (:

Perty and flirty trigger photo had lots of pleated ruffle effects of the fabric. I've tried to re-envision that look with the looped ribbon, the cascading circle shaped papers and the scalloped border.

The "best wishes" and "congratulations" are message ribbons from Martha Stewart Crafts. The background turquoise blue print and striped print papers (as well as the leaf print paper and repeated blue shown inside) are from Kaisercraft's Peachy Keen Paper Pack. The rest of the papers, brown sheer ribbon, brads, brown cardstock/card base are re-used from a CardMaker kit of the month. That also include the stamp used for the "A Special Hello".