Anniversary Card with candy dots is first DT project for APTS blog 6 May 2019

These past few weeks have been amazing for my crafting and blogging world but terrifying and miraculous in my personal life! But let's concentrate on the crafting because I've just been extended a fantastic opportunity to become a resident designer with A Place To Start blog!!!! This is my first project...

APTS May 2019 challenge starts May 6th with "Tempting Techniques" which means to showcase your favorite technique. I'm focusing on mixing of colors and prints! Isn't this so fun! Dots everywhere in different sizes--2 different patterned papers, within the cupcake liner part of the image, in the pennant stamped image, and with the gems looking like candy dots! Add in the zig-zag patterned paper and the penguin's striped party hat and the striped flags as part of the pennant stamp and the creative fun just keeps on coming!!! :)

LINK= https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2019/05/may-2019-tempting-techniques-showcase.html

Please visit A Place To Start. It is unique from other challenge blogs because it contains a great resource library to help with any crafting questions you might have. We will be back mid-month with another round of DT projects which will serve as a reminder to participate and look at the available resources.

I'm going to do my best, too, for creatively combining many challenges and get some exposure for some great blogs and Facebook groups!--

a. Shopping Our Stash #394 = "Hello Cupcake" is their prompt [CUPCAKE in digital image]; this challenge ended May 3; if your curious about the DT projects or see the submissions, then click on this link=

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/04/shopping-our-stash-394-hello-cupcake.html

b. Little Red Wagon # = "Black and White Buddies" is an animal theme using a traditional black & white animal whether border collie dog, penguin, zebra, etc. [PENGUIN] ...started 1 May 2019

https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/05/challenge-495-black-and-white-buddies.html

c. shout-out to Bugaboo for their adorable freebie image that combines a cute party penguin next to a cupcake--perfect for these 2 unusual prompts running at the same time--serendipity!!!!

*this is a Bugaboo badge used for blog prize sponsorship that I had saved = 

d. 613 Avenue to Create = Anything Goes with optional twist of wedding or anniversary [added a Hampton Art stamp "on your special day"]...this ends May 3rd but I'm going to include the mention because it helped set the mood for the card.

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2019/04/challenge-220-april-2019-anything-goes.html

e. Inspired By #70 = "Pennants" with a photo prompt [stamped PENNANT added to Bugaboo image]

this started 2 May 2019

https://theseinspiredchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/05/inspired-bypennants.html

More photos cropped at different sizes:

I just love being pushed in my creative problem-solving!

Until the next round of challenges, (and mid-month for APTS blog)
Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

Life Is An Adventure mini kits scrambled to make 5 May 2019 NSD joint challenge with CKC blog and BYSS group

Did you know Friday was National Scrapbooking Day? And that May is National Scrapbooking Month?

well, now you know! Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog and Bash Your Scrapbook Stash group had a cross-over kind of joint challenge this weekend. I only got in on the tail end of things today and missed the 5 pm deadline CST. So I posted pics in CKC's Facebook group and on my profile. Now it's time to blog about the scrambled kit and the layout.

The finished 8.5" x 11" layout using 8 patterned papers, 4 solid color papers, and 8 different embellishment types (and there are even multiples of several of these). The provided sketch design was altered especially for the bottom third but I think you can still see lots of referenced elements:

Above: CKC blog ID badge
Link for May 2019 kit reveal: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/05/may-2019-counterfeit-kit-challenge-kit.html

For the cross-over challenge details there are found in the BYSS's closed group announcements on Facebook. There are 3 questions that have to be answered before your request to join can be processed. Many of the group members are also CKC followers and/or 100 Pattern Paper Challenges group participants (another Facebook group).

I just read on the CKC's May 4th post that Master Forger Susan created this sketch design! Thanks Susan. Sorry I didn't follow the bottom third more specifically. I was challenged by picking the blue with flower bouquets cardstock for the base paper.

If I get a chance this month, I'll try doing a closer reflection of your sketch on another layout.

I didn't follow the different (than CKC's May 1st kit reveal) selected inspiration kit for this BYSS cross-over kit and sketch (Studio Calico kit seen in the May 4th post); instead I pulled papers from my mini kits I put together 2 nights ago and added in a few scraps and more embellishments:

Here are the mini kits again:

scrap piece of the solid yellow was used behind the photo of my husband and I's joined hands

the reverse side of the solid leaf green was used (last paper under the photo); the lighter plain blue (under a glitter heart);

the blue with white dots and flower bouquets was used as the base cardstock

the border/manufacturer strip for the muted red and cream lattice patterned cardstock was used in the journaling section

the peacock patterned paper was going to be added into this mini kit but then I edited out; however I needed another patterned paper and wanted something with blues and greens so I added it in for this 'scrambled' kit

other patterned papers are scraps from previous projects in the past 4 months or so

Challenge for the kit besides being based to mimic colors and prints of a Studio Calico kit was in the ratio and numbers:

a. 8 patterned papers

b. 4 solid color papers

c. 8 different embellishment types (I've got 9 types and at least 11 or more total embellishments):

*stickers of different phrases and a Bible verse

*glitter hearts

*gem dots

*journal/pocket card (hearts print under the photo)

*clear based planner stickers (2= "appt." and "the struggle is real")

*digi image (love)

*tag (actually a sticker but it's shaped like a tag)

*# (6 for our 6th date of 23 leading up to our 23rd wedding anniversary)

*decorative tapes (red micro-thin one that's at the bottom edge of the blue tag; and the navy blue and white grid washi tape strip that is to the left of the photo)

The color hues of the layout are washed out using my cell phone for this view of the layout:

The title states: "you are so loved"; under the photo in the journaling section there are 3 parts= love; "This is the day which the Lord has made!"; and "keep calm and fight on"

My husband was in the hospital but since I spent over 24 hours by his bedside, I counted this as date #6 leading up to our 23rd anniversary. Since he had 14-15 months of cardiac issues before this photo was taken in January, that's why I added stickers like "the struggle is real" and "keep calm and fight on". Date #6 was his 8th mild heart attack in those 14-15 months. And to top it off, last Friday night April 26, he had #9 in the past 18 months!!!! God has been so very good in keeping him here on earth. Two cardiologists believe they can open up and stent his left artery of heart and the back side one which are calcified between 90-100%. If these fail and he survives, he was already in the midst of testing prep for candidacy for heart transplant surgery at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, so he would finalize that as a back-up plan. Lots to pray about!

I'm glad I got to scrapbook another of our dates. Now to tackle a few more this week, hopefully!--Becca S

Anniversary Card with hearts is first DT project for MTTC blog

My Time to Craft blog has become my 3rd and A Place To Start = 4th design team commitments! I'm so blessed! These DTs really push me to take time to present my best crafting efforts.

this festive card is my 1st DT project for MTTC challenge blog! The DT crew gets to use items from their own stashes. The base is Marshmallow white cardstock from Colorbok. And the Moroccan tile aqua blue patterned paper is either Colorbok or The Paper Studio; it's from a paper pad. The striped patterned paper has been in my storage for probably 7-8 years, so I've lost track on who to give credit too. The focal images and sentiment are explained further in the post. The magenta pink glitter hearts were bought at Dollar Tree! (Yes, don't overlook discount stores for quickly adding in lots of embellishments that are easy on anyone's budget size!!!!)

MTTC #396 = C.A.S. which for newbies means Clean and Simple...starts 3 May 2019

LINK= http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/05/challenge-396-cas.html

I wanted color and prints that complemented the digital images however to keep it clean and simple I made the message and images all one piece instead of multiple sections and limited the use of embellishments to just the 2 glitter hearts. Hope you all agree?!!?!!!

*Challenge competitions for MTTCCB are every other Friday, so you've got time to participate between May 3-May 16 with the next one starting on May 17. Yay!!!
_______

I'm going to do my best, too, for creatively combining many challenges and get some exposure for some great blogs and Facebook groups!--

a. Shopping Our Stash #394 = "Hello Cupcake" is their prompt [CUPCAKE in digital image]

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/04/shopping-our-stash-394-hello-cupcake.html

b. Little Red Wagon # (494 or 495) = "Black and White Buddies" is an animal theme using a traditional black & white animal whether border collie dog, penguin, zebra, etc. [PENGUIN] ...started 1 May 2019

https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/05/challenge-495-black-and-white-buddies.html

c. shout-out to Bugaboo for their adorable freebie image that combines a cute party penguin next to a cupcake--perfect for these 2 unusual prompts running at the same time--serendipity!!!!

*this is a Bugaboo badge used for blog prize sponsorship that I had saved = 

d. 613 Avenue to Create = Anything Goes with optional twist of wedding or anniversary [added a Hampton Art stamp "on your special day"]...this ends May 3rd

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2019/04/challenge-220-april-2019-anything-goes.html

e. Inspired By #70 = "Pennants" with a photo prompt [stamped PENNANT added to Bugaboo image]
this started 2 May 2019
https://theseinspiredchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/05/inspired-bypennants.html

More photos cropped at different sizes:

Design notes:
1. aqua blue and white Moroccan tile print paper was part of March 2019 CKC blog kit I put together

2. focal is a compilation of the penguin w/ cupcake digi image from Bugaboo with the pennant stamped image and the message stamps from Hampton Art

3. The focal piece edges were inked in order to help provide definition to the same white base and the 2 background patterned papers.

I'm so excited about being on another DT crew which helps push my creativity thinking and problem solving resourcefulness! This celebration card is intended for anniversary but it could easily be someone's birthday card!

Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S