Coffee caffeinated color tones challenge for November 2019 at APTS blog

For those of you that love neutrals and/or coffee drinks, A Place To Start challenge blog has the perfect new theme challenge for you!!!

Here is my kraft, beige, and off-white birthday card that will be sent to my brother-in-law:

Above: one of two design team member ID badges for APTS blog

link to the November 2019 APTS blog post=

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-challenge-caffeinated-tones.html

Above: color palette prompt image
Below: some additional scanned images of front panel

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other challenge blogs or Facebook group sites where this personal post or card photo will be shared=

a. my personal page on Facebook

b. PPPDTC group on Facebook; sharing site for crafting bloggers

c. Mixed Media Creativity group on Facebook = [bling wrap of copper gems and gold acorns; kraft paper; patterned paper; grosgrain ribbon, staples, black ink; stamp]

d. Seize The Birthday challenge blog; #177--I'm doing just anything goes birthday theme; not the topping of 'candles'
link: https://seizethebirthday.blogspot.com/2019/10/seize-birthday-177-candles.html

e. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog; anything goes theme for #117
link= http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2019/11/c-117.html

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Make sure to visit APTS and see what the other resident designers and guest designers have created for November!

Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

Artist Trading Coin project for DT no 223 at TCCC blog

ATCs can be artist trading card OR artist trading coin is a theme/prompt option for #223 at TCCC. The other option is animal. My selected image from 1 of the prize sponsor is an insect (Butterflies in Mason Jar).

ATCs are typically 2.5" x 3" and the coins about 3". Mine's enlarged to show the details=

The Crafter's Café Challenge blog ID badge looks similar to my personalized one (shown above).
Link for #223 of TCCC=  https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/223.html

Prize sponsors who have also given images for the DT crew to feature, so make sure to look at the #223 post and see what those images are and how they were showcased!:

My image is from Scribbles Designs and the other sponsor is Eureka Stamps=

And there is a special challenge option for double participation with Double Trouble!

This fortnight we are linking up with Double Trouble
Check out the blog
https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/ 
If you also add your project to the Double Trouble Challenge you will increase your chance at a prize.


Themes

This fortnight's challenge is an easy one:

 "Animal and/or ATC"(Artist's Trading Card)

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Some design notes:

papers 1 & 4 were used for half circle backgrounds behind the focal digital image; these papers are referenced down below for Facebook groups 100 PPC and BYSS

Some more scanned enlargements:

Facebook groups or challenge blogs where this A.T.Coin will be shared=

a. 100 Pattern Papers Challenge group= the 2 half circle background patterned papers were added in mid-June to my 2019 selection to get used (see photo up above)

b. Bash Your Scrapbook Stash group= in June they had a Paper Pad Madness challenge, so finally about midway, I pulled a partial set of cardstocks, a partial set of large scrapbook papers, and partial pads of 2 small size types to bust...and I'm slowly getting there (see the photo up above related to the 2 half circle background patterned papers)

c. Paper, Paper, Paper & Design Team Calls group= sharing site for crafting bloggers

d. Mixed Media Creativity group= this is a group I started to showcase projects with a combo of supplies/artistic mediums used. This A.T. Coin has:

*thread

*digital image

*blue cardstock and 2 patterned papers

*markers and colored pencils used for coloring and edging details

*wood die-cut of butterfly

*gem dot stick-on

*black ink pad for edges of cardstock and papers

e. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog= theme= anything goes #109; sorry this expired on Sunday the 14th

link= http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-109.html

f. Use Your Stuff challenge blog = theme= birds, bees, or butterflies #366; however this challenge ended on 7/13/19...bummer...my card was ready before then but I couldn't reveal it! I like their encouragement to not hoard supplies--need to use what you have before buying more--yes! :)

g. Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog= theme #79 Slice of Summer = http://scribblesdesignschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-79-slice-of-summer.html

Until next time!

From the USA heartland,

Becca S for Becca's Heart for Creativity 

Big Wet Kisses with Fish image featured on TCCC blog DT project for no 218 challenge

Wishes and fishes...improper grammar, I know! But don't you just think of it!!!

The adorable digital image is provided by Sparkle N Sprinkle, the prize sponsor for #218's make your own background and/or die/punches themed challenge for The Crafter's Café Challenge blog. Link is further in the post, just below my DT badge:

I decided to use these newly purchased plastic textured rubbing plates to make the upper background half. I used the scalloped/fish scale pattern using gray and gray/blue crayons with some yellow and yellow-green ones for the base and then stronger teal blue crayons with a wave pattern=

LINK: https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/05/218.html

Shout-outs to the following groups or blogs:
a. CKC blog (bottom background cardstock was pulled to be part of my April 2019 mini kit)
b. The small section of blue/green/white cardstock was also part of April 2019 CKC blog mini kit; LINK= https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/04/april-2019-mini-kit-reveal-and-projects.html
c. This blog posting will be shared on my Facebook accounts and with the group "Paper, Paper, Paper & DT calls"
d. Sketch design was tweaked from SNS/Sketches N Scrap #25 by Kelly H (gem dots instead of clouds; horizontal placement instead of vertical; sentiment area reduced to the small rectangle scrap section; circle grid area replaced with the rectangle 2 kissing fish image; and 2 flowers replaced with gem dots; my crayon wave textured paper replaces the yellow; the diagonal striped cardstock replaces the green; and the bling mesh replaces the gray ribbon seen on this provided sketch:

This sketch was the pre-crop challenge for SNS' Spring Fling Crop Event through Facebook in April. The deadline was April 30th...sorry...however Sketch N Scrap has a Facebook community and blog that have other card and scrapbook layout challenges going on throughout each month that you can get involved with.

e. current challenge until May 10th at Not Just Cards Challenge Blog: http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/04/april-challenge-and-results-of-march.html

f. current challenge #30 at A Inky Mess with theme of Just for Fun Anything Mixed Media goes...I've made my own background with 2 different textures and at least 6 different crayon hues + digital sentiment and image + cardstock + iridescent gems + mesh gems type 'ribbon'

LINK= https://ainkymess.blogspot.com/2019/04/challenge-30.html

g. Facebook closed group: Mixed Media Creativity

thanks for reading my blog post and seeing what I created for design team inspiration for TCCC blog! This is my 2nd DT creation for them! Use the TCCC link up above to take you there so you can see what the rest of the crew created and get more details about this particular challenge and how to participate as a crafter.

Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

CKC blog Feb 2019 BB kit papers and a forgery pocket card makes bff birthday card

Best friend's birthday matters...just like every moment moth-ters...word coined by yours truly!

https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/february-2019-forgery-on-fourth.html

The collection from Kaisercraft that was selected by a Master Forger member at CKC blog:

Forgery pockets cards with bottom left cut to use for this birthday card's focal:

Crayons of several different colors and tones were used to age the white cardstock into looking like an entry from a 1880s-era naturalist guide book. The aging was also enhanced by a faint pink design on the photo frame from American Crafts' Maggie Holmes products:

Base cardstock, 3 vertical strips (2 papers and 1 cardstock), the damask paper section under the forgery pocket card are all from my February 2019 kit that I compiled and titled "Bodacious Botanicals":

Combined all together these elements made a very beautiful birthday card for my best friend!

Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

CKC blog Feb 2019 kit Bodacious Botanicals Forgeries Revealed

Yes, bodacious botanicals! And if you saw my kit reveal post earlier today, bafflement is probably your new status as you wonder about the botanicals part of this....

That's why I have made this terrific document page to be cut apart into 4 sections or pocket cards:

Top left: Treasure life's little moments

Top right: It's the little things

Bottom left: Every moment moth-ters (a Becca coined original word!!!)

Bottom right: Enjoy the little things

The message on each section was taken from a list I made from ephemera in the Anthology collection by Kaisercraft, the selected February 2019 inspiration for Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog:

link: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/february-2019-forgery-on-fourth.html

blog's ID badge:

Kaisercraft's collection "Anthology":

Below: another pic of the forgeries with other elements of the kit I've compiled=

I'd printed 2 cardstock sheets and 2 white copy paper sheets, so I just need to decide whether to leave as is or to fill with color or to give a section or sheet some type of artistic treatment like coffee dye or ink smear, etc. Why? Well CKC blog is about either taking old stuff and substitute it if it mirrors something in a vendor's kit that's for sale OR making your own counterfeit/forgery. I didn't easily locate anything in my stockpiles a few days ago that has the aged vintage naturalist 1800s-look so I'm creating my own fakes!!! I LOVE the black and white clip art images I found online along with the script font I picked. Now it just remains for me to fake the aging appearance of these botanicals and zoological entries. 

Remember, this is the reveal. Check back throughout the month of February to see if I follow-through and do some creative processes with these forgeries. It will take special photos and the right coordinating papers next to these pocket cards to made these important!

Becca S from the USA heartland

(cardstocks, papers, scraps are part of my 100 Pattern Paper Challenge stack for 2019; 100 PPC is a Facebook group devoted to the challenge of encouraging group members to USE their crafting stockpiles instead of hoarding!)

HIMCR 346 freestyle theme using Limited Runs image

Wilbur is showcased on this Happy Birthday card

Owl-ways and forever

Always or owl-ways + 4 ever!...isn't this clever?!?!

Notes:

a. base card is made with a soft yellow cardstock (Colorbok)

b. most of the patterned papers and other cardstocks are also from Colorbok

c. found the graph style index cards in the office supply section at Wal-Mart this week and just had to buy a pack to add to my stash and repertoire

d. upcycled boxed card parts/elements: "Happy Birthday" used on the front panel and the cake used on the inside panel with both edges distress and inked with orange

e. glitter foam hearts and "love" add depth and bling

f. sketch layout was rotated 90 degrees to the left and modified with larger "circle" for Wilbur and sentiment(s) was rotated 90 degrees to the right; the little embellished dots on the sketch design have been changed to the glitter foam heart and placed across the scalloped border section....

Page Maps sketch was shared in the 100 Pattern Papers group on Facebook and used for inspiration to put this card together.

This #346 challenge with a freestyle theme for HIMCR is sponsored by Limited Runs Digital Stamps. They allowed the design team to select an image from their inventory to showcase in this freestyle challenge #346 at HIMCR. Their link(s) will be found on HIMCR's post for #346.

HIMCR's badge and the link to get all the guidelines to participate as a crafter will be found here:

www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/2018/03/himcr-346-freestyle.html

More photos showing my stages of starting and progressing as well as how I did the inside panel:

getting started with my quick sketch copy of the layout, notes for blog challenge, upcycled card elements, stenciled message and the sponsor's image are waiting for color, and the paper selection I want to use

Wilbur is outlined with markers, feet and beak are colored with marker, and then the bulk of the body is colored with colored pencils. The stenciled message "owl-ways + 4 ever!" is colored with a variety of markers (orange, brown, turquoise blue, navy blue, yellow, lime green, red, gray, olive green, strawberry red, and russet brown)!

Inside panel has more graph index card used for stenciled year mounted on more chartreuse green dotted pattern paper for simple sentiment next to the birthday cake focal.

This card took longer to make than I had anticipated because of stenciling, coloring, and preparing papers. BUT it was so worth it when you are creating from the he-ART. 

Until next time, Becca

Thinking of you card focal using paint

New paper-crafting technique for me to incorporate into my repertoire--Paints and Mists

100 pattern papers, a closed group on Facebook, has a January challenge to use paints and mists somehow on your crafting

Dimensions: folded at top; 4.5" x 5.5"

Base: white cardstock (Georgia-Pacific)

Background base: green cardstock (Colorbok)

Designer pattern paper base: pale green striped paper (The Paper Studio by Hobby Lobby)

Focals: white cardstock painted in pouncing and swirling of blue, green, and yellow for the tulip and blue for butterflies; and more of the blue/green/yellow for leafy branch

Stencil for tulip and leafy branch (shown on inside): Folk-Art Decorative Icon Stencil Set (Plaid)

Scrapbooking tab sticker and heart (shown on inside) and the glitter "love" sticker (with added teal blue marker coloring) bought at Dollar Tree

Inside panel base accent:  teal blue cardstock (Colorbok)

inside panel

close up of the front panel to show the difference in blues for where on the painted cardstock I traced the butterflies and then to show the variations in blue/green/yellow hues for the tulip

Thanks to Dollar Tree for providing basic crafting supplies at the super great purchase prices!!! The set of 3 bottles (one is aerosol mist style and 2 are squeeze style) were bought for $1. I got a 4 paint set with red, blue, green, and yellow for $1.

In the aerosol bottle I added red and most of the blue. However, blue was added first so that's what misted/squirted out. As I keep using it I'm hoping to get more mixed results for purple.

In the middle bottle shown in the photo, I put some blue, green, and some yellow.

In the last bottle on right in the photo, I put green and most of the yellow in order to get more of the "spring green" tones.

I'm glad I took this plunge. I've periodically used some spatter painting and I've done household painting for walls, shelves, doors, etc. but this was a big step out of my comfort zone of paper-crafting techniques.

I'm thrilled with the results!!!!

Crafting and experimenting in the heartland, Becca