myasperations 12-4-25

    It’s December is here first, which means I get to share my DT card for All Dressed Up (ADU) Stamps monthly FB Challenge. The theme is ”Winter or Summer,” and I opted for winter because the scene out our front window is all white and sparkly today! One of my favorite winter-themed digis at ADU features an adorable pup, perched on a sled with an expectant look on his face. So… I just had to use a “Waiting for Santa Paws” sentiment. So fun!

Supplies: 

·   Background scene is from a TlcCreates Vintage Junk Journal precolored Printable  (Appears to be retired, but several similar winter-themed sets can be found HERE)

·   “Snowdrifts” were added to the bottom of the scene with torn scraps of white cardstock.

·   Stickles Diamonds- Added sparkles to snowdrifts and top of sled

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (Sledging Dog)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·   Front Sentiment from Beccy’s Place Digi set that is no longer available. (Business changed to clear 

     stamps/wholesale only)

·   Inside Sentiment is from We Are 3 (Sadly Etsy Shop is closed.)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Stop back later!

    This week's Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamps requires the use of Dies. I needed a wedding card, so I looked through my box of wedding-related papers, sentiments, and embellishments. I picked out a white notecard with filigree embossing, a bride and groom image upcycled from a wedding card I found at a thrift store years ago, a scrap of vellum, a circle of grey/white/silver swirled paper, and a pretty pastel aqua card front. A spellbinders die, silver and white cardstock, plus a few sentiments, helped me to finish this elegant yet playful card!

 

Supplies: 

·   Items noted in description above.

·    Front Sentiment-Computer Generated

·    Spellbinders Dies- Fancy Tags (Available from several sources on the web)

·    Inside sentiment- freebie from TlcCreations (Fairy Tales Do Come True)

·    “Glass Slipper” embellishment sketched onto a scrap of vellum using an image at freepik.com (HERE) as my guide. 

·    Nuvo Glitter drops were added to the slipper, providing a glass-like finish! 

·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Stop back later!

    I made this gift bag, with a striking box folded “topper” to enter into the current Double D challenge “Christmas Wrappings”.  I’ve made these toppers for several years, and always love being reminded how easy they are to make using the tutorial in my supplies list! All the other items used are from my stash.

Supplies: 

·   Red Gift bag from Dollar Tree

·    Gift Bag Topper Tutorial can be found HERE  

·   Tag- created items from a package of heavyweight Christmas/Winter giftwrap purchased at JoAnnes Crafts      

     (Sadly no longer in business)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Tree-shaped metal brad (with red ornament brads and topped by a star brad, other misc. items and tools from 

    my stash.

Entered into:  

Stop back later!

myasperations 12-1-25

     This year, the Path of Positivity (POP) is challenging you to Embrace the Unexpected! (Click HERE if you'd like to read more in depth about our overall theme for 2025).  To help inspire you on this journey, each month we will be doing things such as creating fun unexpected projects, working with items we might not typically work with, taking approaches that are different from what we normally do, offering up the unexpected to someone in our life, etc. So, let's get to the details for this month's challenge, " Embracing the Unexpected: Unexpected Animal on a Holiday Card.” (More theme information can be found HERE.)  

    Here's an excerpt of the month's challenge from the creator of the POP challenge, Lisa D.-

 “Just like with colours, we often associate certain animals with specific holidays and/or occasions. What would Christmas be without reindeer, polar bears and penguins, or all of the birds listed in the classic carol, The 12 Days of Christmas (partridge, turtle doves, French hens, calling birds, geese, swans and technically the cows that those maids are a milking). Regionally, other animals make an appearance with kangaroos pulling Santa's sleigh in Australia, and robins and wrens being symbols in the UK and Europe. Finally, there are the animals associated with the birth of Christ: donkeys, sheep, oxen and the camels that brought the visiting wise men. 

     So, the optional twist this month, is create a card for any holiday, using an animal that IS NOT NORMALLY CONNECTED to the occasion you have chosen. With Christmas ahead, and other holidays in the new year that will be here sooner than you know it, it is a good time to make a fun card.  Your choices are endless, but here are a few examples to get you thinking: Create a Christmas card with one of the following: a hedgehog, a rabbit, an elephant, or a zebra. Create an Easter card with a lion or a tiger, or a bear [oh my]! Make a dog or a cat the focus of a Halloween card.”

    Final note- the twist is completely optional and you don't need to follow it in order to win. As long as your creation is positive or encouraging in some way, enter it into the POP challenge for a chance to win $6 worth of images from our sponsor, Scribbles Designs, and/or be honored as one of our special "picks"!

     My card features a Scribbles Digital Image named “Snow Kisses.” I had fun featuring a penguin as the critter on my card, doing a bit o’ friendly nose-touching with a friendly Snowperson! The primary colors on my card are shades of blue, plus pink and few bits of red and green! I picked sentiments that supported the sweet image and it’s feeling of wonder love and joy!

Supplies: 

·    Scribbles Digital Image (Snow Kisses).

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Background Papers from Hobby Lobby and my stash

·    Front Sentiments from a Beccy's Place Digi Set, which is no longer available. (Business recently changed to clear stamps/wholesale only)

·    Inside Sentiment is from We Are 3 (Sadly Etsy Shop is closed.)

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

Entered into:  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #816: Winter Colors  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: Nov (Christmas, Friendship)

Outlawz Challenge-Nov 2025 Linky  

The Four Seasons Challenge- Winter Season Dec 2025 

    I love this sweet digi of a girl and her cat named “Cozy Christmas Together,” especially because I had a circle sentiment in my stash that fits it perfectly! After coloring and fussy-cutting the digi, I adhered it to the sentiment circle, which I had lined with a scrap of vellum. (The vellum softened the burgundy/gold patterned paper so that it didn’t overpower the sweet pair of friends. Plus, I like how the gold filigree appears lighter under vellum.) I love the elegant feeling of the card, so I used a square of the patterned paper as a base for the inside sentiment to extend some elegance there, too!      

     PS- I like to use a very fine line pen to add strands of hair, especially on images that could actually have hair blowing in the wind! In this case, I might have gone a bit overboard? I'll blame in on the fact that I could say snow sailing past our front window as I finished this card! 

Supplies: 

·    Digi- The Paper Shelter (Cozy Christmas Together)

·    Burgundy and Gold Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Circle Sentiment “Cozy Christmas,” a freebie from Birdscards.com (Blog now closed)

·    Inside Sentiment- “Love Joy Peace” A freebie from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

·    Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue and Flower Soft Polar White (add sparkly texture to fur on hat) 

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered Into:  

The Paper Shelter- #660 AG

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #124 Theme- Cozy & Warm 

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #610 Anything Goes

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)      

    A short time ago, I stumbled upon a FB page of a talented and generous artist named Sande Woodson. Sande manages a FB page and an email newsletter through which she provides free digital images on a regular basis. The beautiful, embroidered Angel wreath on the card is an example of the types of images Sande creates and shares!  

    I turned this mini wreath into an ornament, creating the cap and ring on top with scraps of silver paper. An evergreen background, strips of silver cord and satin ribbon, silver photo corners, and sentiments finish the card.

   Note- The shading and highlights on the digis "embroidery" create an almost 3-D look of real hand-stitching. I added a close-up of the ornament to try to show that effect. So neat! 

Supplies: 

·    Embroidered Angel digi is from a Sande's Poema digital set (Obtained via a recent weekly email newsletter, which you can join HERE, or check out the FB  page HERE for additional info. Sande’s creations always impress me… and she provides them free to those on her newsletter and FB page!)

·    Sentiments are freebies from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

·   Evergreen Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Silver photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Paper, ribbon and cord scraps, red rhinestones, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

ABC Christmas Challenge- W and X are for?    'W is for Wings’  and  ‘X is for X-Stitch’

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #11-2025 Nov/Dec  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #726-727 AG/Family Friendly

myasperations 11-30-25a

      I rarely used sketches when making cards until I discovered the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers (BYSHC) Challenge a few years ago.    

     All three of the cards on this post used BYSHC sketches. The first two cards feature this months sketch.

     This card features an adorable hound created by Beccy Muir, artist owner of Beccy’s Place.  Beccy names each of her digi characters, and she calls this one “Rawlins,” which sounds like a good fit for this laid back pooch! (I used the precolored version of Rawlins and added a bit more detailing with markers, a white colored pencil,  and my trusty white gel pen… to make it my own!!)

Supplies: 

·    Precolored Pup, Santa Hat and Sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set that is no longer available (Business recently changed to clear stamps/wholesale only)

·    Additional shading and highlighting were added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, a white pencil, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    Patterned papers, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Beccy’s Place 13^th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge- Day 5- D is for Dog

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #63 Nov 2025        

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #11-2025 Nov/Dec

    This card features Beccy’s fun-loving character named Stanley, who was the main character in eight digi sets with various themes. This Stanley was part of a “Santa Stanley” set, which is no longer available. However, Beccy does offer a free “Birthday Stanley” set that you can find HERE and is pictured below.) 

    After picking patterned papers with a vintage vibe, I colored Stanley in dark, rich shades to match the papers. Scraps of the papers, plus a few additional strips of colored cardstock, helped me build my card around the sketch. Sentiments then completed the card!   

 

Supplies: 

·    Digi and Sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set that is no longer available (Business recently changed to clear stamps/wholesale only)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Front Sentiment-Computer Generated

·    Patterned papers from a Hobby Lobby paper pack, and from my stash.

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Via Pinterest Beccy’s Place 13th Annual Month of Holiday Cards- Day 25- V is for Vintage Vibe!

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #63 Nov 2025 

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: Nov (Christmas)

Outlawz Challenge-Nov 2025 Linky  

     I used a BYSHC sketch from a few years ago to make this card. It went together fairly quickly with items from my stash!

Supplies: 

·    Leaf-patterned paper and glittery bronze leaf sticker- Hobby Lobby

·    Front Sentiment “Autumn Breeze”- from RG Ave Fall Greetings Digital Stamp Set (Newsletter Freebie, no longer available)

·    Inside Sentiment- upcycled from a party invitation I found when I was recently decluttering

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge-Fall Colors 

Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Board-Nov   

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #726-727 AG/Family Friendly

myasperations 11-30-25

     This card features a sweet mouse (Ack! Do those two words really go together?!!)  image from a FB group named "Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC". The group offers wonderful freebies and affordable digis. (You can check it out HERE!). A few foliage and leaf die-cuts plus sentiments complete the card.

 

Supplies: 

·    Mouse in pumpkin image is a freebie from Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC (FB) (Although this digi appears to be retired, the group sponsor, Paulette Slater, provides dozens of free sentiments and digis every month to site members. If you join, HERE you can access the free digis… and you can purchase sets of digis at her shop HERE.)

·    Sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi set that is no longer available. (Business recently changed to clear stamps/wholesale only)

·    Divinity Designs Die Set-Foliage & Leaves

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Beccy’s Place 13th Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge- Day 8- G  is for Grateful

Double D’s Challenge-Fall Colors  

Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Board-Nov 

Outlawz Challenge-Nov 2025 Linky  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #726-727 AG/Family Friendly

   I had fun making this card using a Sweet November Stamps Santa digi, a free background digi from Di Caruba (at Di’s Digis), some tone paper (for snow drifts), a red rhinestone (for Rudolph's nose!), snowflake stickers, and Stickles to add extra sparkle to this snowy wonderland.

Supplies: 

·    Background scene a freebie from Dis Digi FB page (Join Di’s FB page, then find the freebie HERE)

·    Santa Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Gnome Home: Holiday scene builder set)

·    Snowflake Stickers (white sparkly and shades of blue)- Hobby Lobby

·    Diamond Stickles (to add sparkles to the snowdrifts, and fluffy snow on tree branches)- Available from several 

      sources on the web

·    Front Sentiment “HoHoHo”- handwritten, then sketched the word balloon around it

·    Inside Sentiment- “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” A freebie from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

·    Santa Hat digi from a Beccy’s Place Digi set that is no longer available. (Business recently changed to clear stamps/wholesale only)

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) Nov  

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #11-2025 Nov/Dec

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: Nov (Christmas)

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Nov)      Santa’s Village

     My final card for this posting was made for the “Monochromatic” challenge at Di’s Digis, and the “Winter Colors” challenge at Passion for Markers. The write up at Passion for Markers included purple on their listing of possible winter colors, so I decided to make a card featuring a sweet digi from Di’s Digis in a purple/lavender color scheme. I do like the way it turned out!

Supplies: 

·    Digi- “Snuggle up Izzy” is from Di’s Digis Stamp (sadly now retired)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·    Front Sentiment “Warmest Wishes”- Wood Mount stamp from Embossing Arts (Company no longer in business)

·    Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Cozy Christmas” a freebie from Birdscards.com (Blog now closed)

·    Snowflakes- Rubber stamps from Printworks (no longer available)

·    Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue and Flower Soft Polar White (to add sparkly texture to Izzy’s coat lovely winter coat) 

·    Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·    Yellow vellum (light from lantern), purple ink pad, lavender/purple/grey cardstock, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Di’s Digi Stamps-Monochromatic  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #816: Winter Colors  

The Paper Shelter- #660 AG (opt-Tags)