MTTC #495 Challenge starts 18 November 2022 and Theme is Transportation

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! My heart's excited for showing a cute easy to make notecard as my DT inspiration card for My Time To Craft Challenge blog's Theme #495 about transportation. 

I thought this would be a flexible 2 season kind of topic for our participants to create about. Americans can have coming home for Thanksgiving and everyone can have cars or trucks hauling gifts, trees, etc. for the Christmas holiday season. 

The DT inspiration card fits into an autumn harvest kind of vibe. My siblings are 2 different directions and distances from me and our mom, who only lives 5-6 miles from Joe and I. My brother is about 2.5-3 hours away and our sister is 12+ hours and 4 states away. The week of Thanksgiving, my sister is planning on being up here and hopefully my brother's crew can come once or twice. I've made another notecard for my sister, so this one will go to my 'little' brother! 

See ya soon notecard=

Some design and vendor notes:

a. the large die-cut is Echo Park's Farmers Market Ephemera (2021)

b. it was outlined using a black marker and backed with a charcoal gray textured specialty paper

c. the rust/muted pink tone cardstock base (flat) is from Darice

d. the mid-gray with white x print cardstock strip scrap is from Mint Berry paper pad from The Paper Studio that I've been trying to bash this year. I don't think I'm going to make it but I've reduced the starting number of sheets by half, so that's a very good thing.

e. red glitter alpha stickers, and small red glitter heart sticker are stash items.

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MTTC's #495 blog link=

https://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/mttc-495-theme-is-transportation.html

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups =

1. The Four Seasons Challenge blog; November/Anything Fall Season

link= https://thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/november-anything-goes-fall-challenge.html

2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends challenge blog; about 1+ days left to the current; Anything Goes

link= http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2022/11/193-alex-syberia-design.html

3. Through the Craft Room Door challenge blog; started Nov 8; Anything Goes (thanks for selecting my fishing themed notecard as winner for your previous challenge!!!)

link= http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2022/11/anything-goes-challenge-november-8th.html

4. 100 Patterned Paper Challenge group = Mint Berry paper pad is my 2022 goal stash papers to use this year. I didn't start with 100 but around 60+ sheets that are about 4.5" deep and 6-8" wide. 

5. Mixed Media Creativity group= outlining, inked edges, die-cut, glitter heart and alphas, 

6. Paper, Paper, Paper and DT Calls group= sharing

7. The Crafty Addicts group = sharing

8. Paper Crafting for Everyone group = sharing

9. If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge blog; November 2022; theme image = monster truck; MY card has a pickup truck

link= https://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com/2022/11/cookie-challenge-174-november.html

image prompt=

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

*DT member of MTTC, MTTCC, THICC, OUAT, AACB (also co-owner), MIUCB, MLCCB

and 

DT/owner of these 3:

FarmQuest

Heart's Quest

The Fairy and The Unicorn Challenge

15 April 2022 MTTCC #32 Bells Theme for Christmas Cards

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! My heart gets excited to make Christmas cards, however I have to confess that I didn't send enough out this year. A few long-distance friends got our 25th anniversary photo collage card instead of a hand-made Christmas one. So I need to carve out some time periodically to start addressing envelopes and have an official tracking list for 8 months from now. This post shows an overlarge creation. I haven't framed it yet...maybe...not sure. But due to its size, I will hand-deliver it whether framed or not. 

This oversized bells theme is for My Time To Craft Christmas challenge blog #32. The challenge competition runs from April 15-28, 2022. For bells, it can be sleigh bells, jingle bells, handbell/choir, etc. 

Can you see the gold spangles tulle? Isn't that an elegant touch?!!! 

1. The base is the black cardstock with dimensions of 8" wide x 10.25" high. 

2. The large image is a free coloring printable from Super Coloring website. It was color-filled with colored pencils. The interior of the bells have a layer of grey mist as the base with yellow as the topper. The interior of the ribbon shown in the bow has a layer of emerald green with Mediterranean teal as the topper. The holly leaves have the veins outlined in cappuccino with a base of olive green and a topper of deep teal. Red and Wildfire were combined for the holly berries. The outer ribbon/bow is emerald green and the bells are yellow. 

3. The sentiment is a dark pine green metallic foil dazzle of "Merry Christmas" (from Paper Wishes website/company). 

4. Three yellow/amber crystal gems are scattered around to add more of the bell and tulle gold hues.   

MTTCC's #32 posting link= 

https://mytimetocraftchristmas.blogspot.com/2022/04/mttcc-32-theme-is-bells.html

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

A. Shopping Our Stash challenge blog; sketch challenge; [CARD #3's layout applies; ovals instead of circles in the center and horizontal strip is under the largest oval instead of on top it.]

link= https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2022/04/sos468-sketch.html 

sketch= 

B. The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge blog; started April 1st and has about 2 days left for linking; Anything Christmas Goes [card #2 will be linked]

link= http://thehollyandivychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-113-anything-christmas-goes.html

C. The 12 Months of Christmas Linkup challenge blog; April 2022; Anything Christmas Goes; the option is gift box; the stocking in Card #2 does have gifts spilling out of the top of the stocking but aren't in boxes so I'll just have this as ACG...

link= http://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2022/04/ch-87-anything-goes-christmas-with.html

D. Mixed Media Creativity group on FB; 

E. Paper, Paper, Paper & DT Calls group on FB; 

F. The Seasonal Cardmaker group in FB; probably just show the 2 small cards; 

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Card #2 Love and Joy Come To You =

a few design notes:

1. white scalloped flat base card with envelope are from set from The Paper Studio (part of a Christmas gift 2020 from my sister's family)

2. berry print cardstock and berry branch die-cut = Pink Paislee's Together for Christmas collection

3. the red with white dots print cardstock = The Paper Studio's Mint Berry paper pad 2016

4. sticker, gems, red ink stamp pad and washi tape = stash

Card #3 'Tis the Season To Be Jolly=

the closeup distorts the sticker image but helps show Santa's hand is holding a gold bell=

Note: same supplies used as card #2 with the addition of twine for the bow

Didn't cards #2 & #3 turn out really well?!?!! A bit of elegance and rustic mixed. Traditional colors. Gold in the decorative tape along with the scalloped base to me are the elegant touches. I'm just thrilled how well these came together.

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

Design team member of :

1. My Time To Craft Christmas challenge blog

2. My Time To Craft challenge blog

--and--

owner of:

1. Becca's Heart of Creativity blog

2. Heart's Quest Challenge Blog (started February 28, 2022)

3. FarmQuest Challenge Blog (started March 28, 2022)

2022 MTTC Feb 11 #475 Theme All You Need Is Love DT card

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! This post challenge will start before Valentine's Day however it needn't be a Valentine's card. Think anniversary, birthday, and friendship, too. So starting February 11 for 2 weeks #475, the theme challenge at My Time To Craft challenge blog is "all you need is love". 

MTTC's #475 challenge Design Team inspiration=

Pink, Red, Gray, and Green Love Card: (card 1)

Design notes:

A. pink cardstock base is left side fold and 1/2 sheet for dimensions 4.25" high and 5.5" wide (Pen + Gear)

B. the 2 designer patterned papers are from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) paper pad collection "mint berry' from 2016--!!! (I've been hoarding this! Out of 80 sheets sized at 4.5" x 6.5", I still have 63 full sheets AFTER making this card and only 3 scraps of different sizes!! :))

C. red ink edging on papers

D. embellishments are from stash; note the 2 white sheet ribbon pieces dangling from the silver duo glitter hearts

E. a die-cut heart in my stash served as the stencil to trace the designer paper heart

MTTC blog post #475= 

https://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/02/mttc-475-all-you-need-is-love-theme-for.html

MTTC blog ID=

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups where this will be shared are:

1. Little Red Wagon challenge blog; current for about 4-5 more days; 

link= http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2022/02/be-my-love-valentine-640.html

2. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenges; February 2022; still 16-18 days left depending on your time zone and when I post; 

link= https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2022/02/ellibelles-crafty-wednesday-february.html

3. Creative Inspirations challenge blog; Wednesday start/February; with love

link= http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/2022/02/february-challenge-with-love.html

4. 100 Pattern Papers group (focus is to select 100 print papers from your stash to use in 1 year; this year, I'm going to focus on using the 'Mint Berry' paper pad mentioned up above in the design notes)

5. Mixed Media Creativity group

6. Paper, Paper, Paper & Design Team Calls group

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Wishes of Love Valentine card= (card 2 for MTTC)

A quick summary of steps and products: dimensions 6" square on navy blue cardstock; then Mint Berry pack from The Paper Studio's charcoal gray with white x cardstock; then light blue cardstock stenciled with blue ink (snowflakes/part of the stencil sheet was used); alphas are from 3 different vendors; silver doily, white foam heart sticker, blue glitter paint pen was used on the white foam heart, 6 total navy blue pearl gems and 2 white glitter foam snowflake stickers that were all stash supply items.

This is going to my mom. Her favorite color is blue.

Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

Current design team member for:

a. My Time To Craft challenge blog

b. My Time to Craft Christmas challenge blog

2022 Jan 26 Hearts and Sweetness Card

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! I'm super excited to share that I recently decided to focus on bashing a paper pad that I've been hoarding--"Mint Berry" from The Paper Studio (2016). 

A Facebook group called 100 Pattern Papers challenges crafters to pick out 100 designer print papers out of their supply stash to use in 1 year. As I started seeing different members post at the beginning of the month, I didn't think I would use this approach. But as I started making love/Valentine cards, I kept going to this gorgeous mix of small cardstock designs. So instead of 100, about 3-4 days ago, I had 63 full sheets (4.5" x 6.5") and 3 different sized scraps left to use out of the original 80. [80 sheets= 20 designs x 4 each]

If I remember correctly, this paper pad collection wasn't bought until late 2017 or early 2018. I've had 3+ years to use this collection...thenceforth let the stash bash begin this week!

Hearts and Sweetness=

Design notes:

1. from the mentioned "Mint Berry" paper pad= the center heart cut-out on top of the large red glitter heart

2. red ink used to edge the papers and black ink to fill/change the white dots on the center heart cut-out

3. embellishments have been in stash for over a year

4. also the 2 sentiment/word stamps were purchased about a year ago from a company that went out of business (Raisin Boat/Sum More Fun...)

5. light gray cardstock for card base is 4" x 5.5" top folded (Pen + Gear)

6. mint green/aqua cardstock for background is 3.75" x 4.25" (Art Skills)

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challenge blogs and Facebook groups:

A. 100 Pattern Papers group; sharing/challenge group; I only used about 1/4 of 1 sheet (4.5 x 6.5") and used 3/4 of another sheet yesterday; and used some scraps a couple of days before that...63+ -- 1 = 62

B. Paper Craft Challenges #457= floral love theme/photo inspiration

*the mint is part of the badge and not the photo however it closely matches the greens of the patterned heart and background cardstock; large flower in the patterned heart; different pinks (gems, small glitter foam heart stickers, in the patterned paper, and the cupcake stick-on)

link= http://papercraftcrew.com/pcc457-theme-challenge/

C. Mixed Media Creativity group; a small sharing group; mixed mediums used were stamping, inking, different embellishments, tracing a heart pattern for the cut-out, cardstocks, ...

D. The Cutie Pie Challenge blog; CAS + cute as can be

link= http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com/2022/01/challenge-no-167-theme-simple-starts.html 

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Sneak peeks at other cards made so far:

plus there was 1 other card that I thought I had scanned but I just mailed it out to an aunt earlier this morning! ugh!

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

July 2020 Week 1 Sketch Challenge for 52 CCT Blog

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! My heart is nervous about this card. In person, I love the color mix of this card, however some of the supplies are from my June 2020 scrapping kit and others are from my Christmas embellishments box. But more on those details later.

My June hostessing duties for 52 CCT blog are almost over. I've got to compile DT voting for the challenge ending 7/3/2020 and post the winners on Wednesday, July 8. So that means with July Week 1 sketch that it's now time for a new hostess, Fabiola. The sketch will be featured after my card photo.

Happy Christmas card for #25-20 =

link for #25 at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown=

https://52cct.blogspot.com/2020/07/july-sketch-challenge.html

Design notes:
a. text Christmas patterned paper = The Paper Studio/Hobby Lobby
b. rose washi tape and mauve rosy paper (circle) = My Mind's Eye
c. white A2 card base, gem dots, green glitter foam trees = my stash
d. Happy Christmas die-cut =
e. checkered patterned paper, mauve paper, rose washi tape, and gem dots were part of my June 2020 scrapping kit for CKC blog PLUS the checkered paper was part of a paper pad that I'm trying to bash that was a decision in mid-May 2020 for Bash Your Scrapbook Stash

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links for challenge blogs and Facebook groups where I'll share the post or card photo=
a. CKC's last posting for June's inspiration kit can be found here=
http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/06/june-2020-killing-kit-series.html

pics of my compiles copy-cat kit for June 2020=

Above: the rose washi tape can be seen near the pink flowers; the gem dots are just to the right of that and got cropped out of this pic
Below: Most of my papers were yellow/buttery cream, pink, light blue and light green but I wanted to have some neutrals to help ground all those other pastel hues; I included 2 sheets of the checkered paper in the kit but used a half sheet for the Christmas card featured up at the top of the post

b. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge blog; #75;
 http://thehollyandivychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/06/challenge-75-anything-christmas-goes.html

c. Bash Your Scrapbook Stash group in Facebook

pic of the paper pad cover:

d. Mixed Media Creativity group in Facebook

e. Paper, Paper, Paper, & Design Team Calls group in Facebook

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Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

Design team member for these 3:
1. 52 CCT
2. MTTC
3. APTS

Winter Holiday theme for December 2019 at A Place To Start challenge blog

Another Christmas 2019 card: I've made a wintery Christmas card without a true cover sentiment due to the very large reindeer focal for my design team project commitment for APTS. The mix of patterned papers are also placed in a different format in order to emphasize the sloped angle of the reindeer's legs and curved antlers.

Here is the unusual card for my resident designer status at APTS=

All 3 patterned papers are available from The Paper Studio/Hobby Lobby. The deer and snowflake were part of a larger set bought at a dollar store. "hello, dear" sticker is also from a set of stickers that I purchased last year at Christmas-time at Hobby Lobby. Base card is kraft paper.

APTS December 2019 post= any wintery holiday theme (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, etc.)

link= https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2019/12/december-challenge-happy-holidays.html

use the above link to get all the details, see recognized crafter's from the previous month's link-up time, and see what the current guest designers and resident designers have prepared for December

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other challenge blog(s) and Facebook sites where I will link or share this card=

a. Jingle Belles: use their blog header as theme inspiration--so I've focused on using the reindeer & a snowflake
link= http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/11/jingle-belles-header-inspired.html

b. The 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up= my card is just a regular Christmas entry
link= https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/12/challenge-60-opt-twistlayer-it-up.html

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

d. my personal profile on Facebook

ID badges for JB and 12 M of C=

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Still crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S of Becca's Heart for Creativity blog

Poinsettias Focal using smooshing technique on Christmas card

This month I have carved out some craft time to compete in each weekly challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Week 4 for October is a technique focus and smooshing was selected. I used several different colors of inks and a textured paper towel to do my smooshing and dabbing.

Merry Christmas * 2019 * is hand-written in gold metallic paint pen surrounding the center of the poinsettia. Additional gold was used to outline the red leaves. The poinsettia was sketched onto watercolor paper and then outlined in markers. Smooshing different colors of inks over and over again is what I did to create depth and age for this focal image.

Patterned paper is from The Paper Studio/Hobby Lobby.

link for this particular challenge by 52 CCT blog=

https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-technique-challenge-dt-call.html

other challenge blogs and Facebook groups where my post or card photo will be shared:

a. my personal FB page

b. PPPDTC group on FB

c. Mixed Media Creativity group on FB (gold metallic paint pen, markers, several ink pads, solid color paper, patterned paper, kraft cardstock, amber/gold gems)

d. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog; #116; anything goes

link: http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-116.html

ID badge: 

e. 12 Months of Christmas Link-up Challenge Blog; #58; regular entry

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-58-opt-twistsensational-santa.html

ID badge: 

 Thanks for seeing and reading about my crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

For the birds theme home decor art

My husband's birthday is about 3 weeks away and this home décor art was made with him in mind. Need to buy a frame before I present this to him. And he will be shocked that this is early! #406 Birds challenge for MTTC blog=

My Time To Craft blog design team project:

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/challenge-406-birds.html

Check out all the details for how to participate and see what the other members of the DT crew have made. A delightful variety of projects for this theme!

Some details on how this project was made:

a. the owl image is a coloring page "tattoo" from Bendon Publishing of Ashland, Ohio; "Adult Coloring--Tattoos--Relax and Rewind" with tear and share pages

b. I laid this image on my printer's scanner surface and then put kraft cardstock into the paper tray and copied the image onto the kraft CS.

c. Using colored pencils (some combo of hues were used to vary my choices) for the majority of color-fill on the owl. The beak had been colored yellow-orange with gold metallic pen over that to contrast with the feathery fluff on each side of his beak.

d. A few chipboard stickers were scattered for accenting and the "with love" stamped in the corner.

e. With the coloring page outlined, I decided to outline all the stickers and stamped sentiment.

f. Striped paper background is from The Paper Studio by Hobby Lobby

g. The stickers and striped patterned paper were put into my compiled kit for CKC blog's September 2019 challenge.

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Other groups or blogs where this owl will be shared:

a. FB= my personal page

b. FB= Paper, Paper, Paper, & Design Team Calls (closed group)

c. FB= Mixed Media Creativity (closed group; created by me so contact me if you are interested in joining)

d. CKC blog and FB community group=

link: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/september-2019-just-gist-of-it.html

This is their 2nd post of the month. So scroll to find the previous 1st post and then the subsequent posts on how to use your copy cat kit throughout the month. Still a bit over a week to participate and use up some of your stockpile. When I selected my papers and a few embellishments last weekend, my focus from the inspiration kit was for the color hues.

Inspiration kit: 

My "School Days--Teacher Days" September 2019 kit=

More scans of the owl--closeups 

Due to so many photos in this post, I'm keeping the typing to a minimum. If you have a question about a technique or something, place it in your comments and I will reply. 

Thanks for reading my blog post!

Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S