BYSS World Series 2022: Work With Me!

Back in February, I participated in a month-long scrapbook challenge called Bash Bowl, hosted by Scrap Your Scrapbook Stash. It was a football-themed competition and tons of fun. During October, they're running a 3-game, baseball-themed competition called BYSS World Series. I'm playing on the Scrappin' Banshees team. 

For our first game, there are four single-point elements: spray mist or watercolor; washi tape; stitching; and journaling. If you earn that four-item home run, you can go for the grand slam by using a base page. (A base page is a background you've prepared ahead of time, leaving blank spots for photos, title, and journaling.)

I don't have any base pages; that's not the way I scrap. So I focused on the single-point elements. I always have journaling on my layouts, so that was a given. I use washi tape frequently - another easy point. Stitching and spray mist and/or watercolor are rarely part of my scrapping process, but I was up for the challenge. This is the page I made: 

Work With Me (affiliate link)

I started by masking off the center of a sheet of white cardstock, then sprayed it with Glimmer Mist. When that dried, I sewed a border along the edge using the machine. This was the very-first time I've ever done machine-sewing on a page and I like how it turned out. It was SO much faster than hand-stitching! I put two strips of washi tape onto black cardstock and used those as a border to highlight my title. Then I adhered the three versions of business cards I've used since starting My Creative Life and added a ton of journaling about each. Four points for Scrappin' Banshees!

I'm looking forward to seeing what elements we'll need to use for Game 2. Go Banshees!

Fall Leaf Fashion

A few days ago, I went for a long walk to collect fall leaves for an upcoming craft. As I was thinking about all the common ways to craft with fall leaves, it occurred to me that most are designed for young children. For example, my Fall Leaves Wall Hanging is easy enough for preschoolers to do. I challenged myself to come up with a fall leaf craft that would appear to tweens and older kids who are no longer interested in gluing leaves to a paper plate to make a wreath. Presenting, Fall Leaf Fashion!

I started by cutting out models to inspire my fabulous fashions. (Read here, if you've forgotten how in touch with fashion I am.) I had scraps of tan and black cardstock sitting on my desk, so that's what I used. Obviously, you can make your models with whatever skin tone, hair color, and body type you want. 

Here are my models after they were glued. 

I had a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors to inspire my fashions. After a lot of trial and error, and trying different outfits on different girls, I settled on the fashions for my runway show. I hadn't intended a fall collection to look beachy, but at least the garments show creativity in the use of textures, a strong sense of proportion, and good use of color. Hopefully Nina won't be bored. 

I miss the Tim, Heidi, and Nina era of Project Runway. 

World Cardmaking Day: One Stamp Challenge

The final challenge I did for World Cardmaking Day was the One Stamp Challenge at Scrapbook and Cards Today. The idea was to use a smallish stamp repeatedly on plain cardstock to make an interesting background, then use that same stamp again to enhance a sentiment (handwritten, since you can't use a second stamp). Easy enough and lots of fun!

But the example they showed, the inspiration for the challenge, uses a second stamp for the sentiment. The instructions (and the very title of the challenge) say one stamp. This did not sit well with my rule-following self. 

I started out with the goal of using just one stamp, but decided to add a sentiment stamp, like the original designer had done. Now that I'd broken the rule though, all bets were off. The card was too plain for my liking, so I added some stamped leaves. Yes, I used three stamps on a one-stamp challenge. 

"Thank You" (affiliate link)

I didn't enter my card in the challenge, obviously. I hope whoever they choose as the winner used just one stamp.

I'm going to circle back around to this challenge. I've thought of three ways to approach it. First, I could make a cute card with a single stamp if I use a sentiment sticker or handwrite the sentiment. Or, I could use a sentiment as my one and only stamp, creating the background with that. Finally, I could use something so iconic that no sentiment is needed. You don't need to write happy birthday if the whole card is stamped with a cupcake with a lit candle on top. I'm putting all three on my to-do list. 

World Cardmaking Day - Bling it On!

Since I had all of my Doodlebug supplies out for their sketch challenge, I jumped right from that card to their Bling Card Challenge. The requirements were really easy - add bling to a card made with mostly Doodlebug products. Check and check!

 

"Thanks a Bunch" bling challenge (affiliate link)

I used a similar basic structure for this card as with the sketch challenge. The patterned paper has the scalloped edge on the right. I replaced the two patterned papers with a single blingy purple cardstock (the only item on the card that isn't Doodlebug), moved the tag to the right, enlarged the focal item (the grapes), and moved the sentiment off the tag. I finished the card by adding some extra bling to the stem and leaves of the grapes. Even though this card was inspired by the sketch, it looks completely different from the other card. 

It wasn't for a challenge, but I made another card using basically the same supplies. It's harder to see the blingy leaves of the fruit against the pears; I should have thought about that. A note about the sentiment: there weren't any sentiments left on my sticker sheet that worked with the card, so I pulled this die cut from a school-themed collection. I think it works. 

Tomorrow I'll show you the last card I made for World Cardmaking Day 2022. 

World Cardmaking Day: Sketch Challenge

 I'm sure I've followed a card sketch before, but if so, it's been a looooong time. I really enjoyed digging out my vintage Doodlebug products to make a card using their sketch. Here's my card...

Thinking of You (affiliate link)

... and here's their sketch. 

As you can see, I kept the main elements the same: I have a solid background (pink), with a scalloped-edge patterned paper next (plaid). On top of that, I have a grid paper (pink) and a strip of checked paper (yellow). I flipped the elements on the tag so that the sentiment (thinking of you) is above the focal element (fruit). I added embroidery floss to my tag, but kept it untied. 

I never (ever!) would have made a card like this without the challenge to prompt me. It was so much fun to interpret it and to see how I could make my limited Doodlebug products work for me.