myasperations 1-10-26

    I stumbled upon a wonderful website a few years ago which has provided me with not just some wonderful digi images, but also tips and techniques for coloring the digis. Kit and Clowder’s artist/owner, Alyce Keegan, hosts an annual Advent Calendar of free digis on FB. I downloaded several of her sweet digis last month and colored a few more of them this week.

    The first one is this whimsical digi. I liked how Alyce colored the original, especially the swirls on the pot, so I incorporated them into my card, but also added a few of my usual details, including lots of white gel pen work!

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Kit & Clowder Dec 2025 Advent Calendar Freebie (Christmas Lilly Philly) Sign up on K&C FB page, HERE, to learn of future classes and freebies! (NOTE- Alyce is offering a wonderful Christmas present of four free digis and video instruction for coloring them with alcohol markers or colored pencils from Dec 25-Jan 12. So… you have a few more days to check it out. HERE is the link.)

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

·   Front Sentiment-Computer Generated

·   Inside Sentiment- a freebie from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

·   Front Sentiment-Computer Generated

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

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

Entered into:  

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #12-2025 Dec/Jan (Optional twist- Make It Merry) 

STAMPlorations- January 2026     

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- Jan 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- Jan 2026

    The second Kit and Clowder digi from last month’s Advent calendar, named Candy Cane Boy, features a young boy with a confused look on his sweet face. When I first saw it, I immediately knew I’d feature him on a birthday card using a sentiment I’ve had in my files for a decade or maybe three! (I try to cite sources when possible, but, that isn’t always possible. (If you’d like a bit more info on this, go to the *NOTE at the end of this post.)

    I wanted to ensure that the little guy was the focal point on the card, so I kept its background simple, with no embellishments except for the sentiment. The inside of the card is also simple… and I can admit that the author of the second part of the inside sentiment, “Hope your birthday is filled with all your favorite people and things!” is moi! 

   *NOTE- I've saved cards since I clerked at a small-town Pharmacy back in the early '70's. The store sold several brands of popular greeting cards, which started a love of cards that I’ve had ever since. I started a scrapbook where I saved dozens of my favorite cards (at that time, most only cost 25-50 cents!) plus jotted down funny sayings, short poems, and even slogans from billboards that caught my attention. I tried to "cite the source" when it was visible, because I also worked in a library, so I knew a bit about copyright laws. I found that old scrapbook a few years ago and started using a few of the sentiments, computer-generating them in various fonts and printing them out, to use on cards. Before doing that, I always googled the sentiment, etc.,  to seek its original source. When I googled, “Looking for an old person… There you are!” all I got were the names of Senior Living Facilities, and Senior Centers! So, I can't tell you where this sentiment is from. If anyone can provide the source of this sentiment, please share it with me so I can give proper credit. Or, better yet, if it is currently available in digital or rubber/clear stamp form, I'll buy the digi or stamp and then link readers to the source!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Kit & Clowder Dec 2025 Advent Calendar Freebie (Candy Cane Boy) Sign up on K&C FB page, HERE, to learn of future classes and freebies! (NOTE- Alyce is offering a wonderful Christmas present of four free digis and video instruction for coloring them with alcohol markers or colored pencils from Dec 25-Jan 12. So… check it out soon. HERE is the link.)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, Black Fine-line Sharpie Marker

· Woodgrain-patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

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

·   Other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Something New     

Double D’s Challenge- DD Ten Year Birthday Event 2026     

Polkadoodles Challenge 2026- Challenge 1, Week 2-AG  

Paper Funday- Jan 2026 #83 Anything Goes 

    I wanted to make a card for several challenges that feature wintery colors/schemes/animals on their mood boards. I created a Double Z-fold base for the card, adding a free background scenery compliments of artist Di Caruba, aka Di’s Digis FB page, then added some torn paper “snow drifts” along the bottom of the cardfront and extending onto the Z-fold base. 

    The focal point of the card is a sweet trio of polar bears (Whimsy Stamps Digi), which I printed off, colored, fussy-cut, and adhered to the card, adding a few more strips of “snow drifts” at the bottom of the card, partially covering the big bear's feet. A layer of sparkle, compliments of a Wink of Stella Brush tip marker, snowflake stickers, and a sentiment finish the card. To me, Christmas memories that I most treasure include family members, so I love that these Bears look like a parent and two kiddos!  

 

 

Supplies: 

·   Instructions for Double Z-fold card can be found HERE.

·   Background scene a freebie from Dis Digi FB page (Join Di’s FB page, then search for background, free and freebie to find lots of wonderful digis.

·   Digi- Whimsy Stamps (Sheltering Love)

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

·   ZIG Wink of Stella GLITTER CLEAR Brush Tip Marker- Available from several sources on the web

·   Snowflake Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Seasonal Windows) Beccy is starting to sell clear sets online again. So 

     you can check HERE if you would like to see which sets are available!

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

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

Entered into:  

The Four Seasons Challenge- Winter Season Jan 2026  

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: Jan 2026  Color Board  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #734-735 (AG/Family Friendly)

The Paper Shelter- #622

myasperations 1-5-26

        This year, the Path of Positivity (POP) is officially entering its 13th year of offering challenges that encourage Positivity and Creativity! In honor of this wonderful anniversary, our challenge host, Lisa D, introduces the theme for 2026: Crafting by the Numbers and January’s challenge TWIST, NUMBER ONE. “The first step in our creative journey of crafting by the numbers is to challenge you to create a NEW project--one that you have never made before. It is time to step outside your comfort zone, explore a new technique or project, and embrace the excitement that comes with starting at one. If you tend to only make cards, how about putting together a mixed media canvas? If digital is normally your thing, complete something totally handmade. Never made an ATC card before? Well, now is the perfect time to try it. Whatever project you decide on, new beginnings start here! Be sure to make it one to remember!!!

   Note- the twist is completely optional, and you don't need to follow it 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"!

    In my 60+ years of crafting, I’ve never tried my hand at crocheting. That changed in early December when I took a crochet class at our local library with a few friends. I'd been seeing adorable little crocheted animals online and wanted to learn some basic skills so I could make them for friends and family. So... that was my goal! How hard could it be? I soon found out!    

   After the two-hour-long class, I ended up with a 2-inch-by-3-inch-long strip of brown loops, chains, small holes, and one long tail! I jokingly told a friend who attended the class with me that I'd try to turn it into a "Mustache Warmer" for her hubby!

    Instead, I perused Pinterest and found a photo of a reindeer ornament (posted below) that I was able to create with my brown crochet strip! I still had a bit of brown yarn and figured out how to make ears for little Rudolph. I hope to make enough of these cute little Rudy's to give to my great-nieces and nephews next Christmas... and it might take me that long to finish them!! 

   PS This challenge has given me a new appreciation for fabric artists. For me, crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitch is more of a stress inducer than a stress reducer!    

 

Supplies: 

·   Tutorial for Reindeer ornament found on Pinterest is available HERE

·   Candy Canes- from local grocery store

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

Entered into:  

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #12-2025 Dec/Jan (Optional twist- Make It Merry) 

The Paper Shelter- #622

Outlawz Anything but a Card Challenge- Jan 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- Jan 2026

    This month’s sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB is a fun one that has already inspired me to make several cards. This one features sweet snowman digi, which is a freebie! (There are both B&W and colored versions available. I used the colored version, adding shading and highlights with markers and a gel pen, and a Wink of Stellar brush tip marker adds a glittery sparkle.)

Supplies: 

·   Digi-Beccy’s Place Freebie-colored version (Snowman with Bauble)

·   Additional details added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Marvey Silver Marker, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·   ZIG Wink of Stella GLITTER CLEAR Brush Tip Marker- Available from several sources on the web

·   Snowy patterned paper and white glitter snowflake stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment-upcycled label from the sheet of patterned paper

·   Inside Sentiment- “Let it snow…” from a Lili of the Valley digi set (Christmas Wishes)

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

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

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #65 Jan 2026        

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: Jan 2026  Color Board (Blue & White) 

Polkadoodles Challenge 2026- Challenge 1, Week 1-AG  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #730-731 Annual Christmas Blog Hop (AG/Family Friendly)

    This sweet digi is a new addition to my collection of Patties Creations digis. When I first saw this Flamingo with his adorable bunny slippers, my brain immediately started creating ways to use the feathery cutie on a Christmas card for my brother who lives in Florida. This is the result of my efforts! Jim rarely makes it back “home” so I think he’ll like it. He sees flamingos quite often where he lives, plus I know that the bunny slippers will elicit a laugh!  

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Patties Creations (Flamingo With Bunny Slippers)

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

·   Front Sentiment- Handwritten

·   Inside Sentiment- “All Hearts Come Home at Christmas,” a freebie from LoveSVG (Site is no longer available)

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers from Hobby Lobby

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

·   Old SDak road map, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #269 AG 

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #238 AG (Jan 2026)

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #49 Jan 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Add A Sentiment  

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- Jan 2026

myasperations 12-28-25

    As 2025 moves quickly toward a close, I’m eating a gingerbread cookie and drinking a big mug of steaming coffee while writing this post… which will be my final one for December. (Mainly because the next few days will be busy. My sweet hubby and I celebrate our 48th Anniversary, spend Dec 30th watching our favorite holiday movies, and I’ll need to get rested up for my 60-something birthday in early January. Whew… like I said… BUSY!)

   I’ve had so much fun making cards to enter into this month's Colorful Options Challenge: Gingerbread and other treats.  The cute little gingerguy on this card is a free digi that I nabbed from Whimsie Doodles before it was closed down back in 2018. I printed the digi cookie and an additional copy of his left hand on Kraft cardstock, cut them out, then added some "browning" (shading) along his edges with my Spectrum Noir markers. I also dabbed on and rubbed in a bit of white chalk "flour" to add a touch of realism. Scribbles 3D Paint adds “frosting squiggles,” and a little dab of red Liquid Pearls adds his sweet little “red hot candy” nose! I printed the hot chocolate mug on white cardstock. I used markers to add a bit of color and shading, and a white gel pen to highlight the candy cane. I adhered the mug on top of the cookie with mounting squares to pop it out a bit. Then, cut the extra copy of his left hand and adhered it on top of the mug handle with mounting tape. Perfecto!

Supplies: 

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  (Except I used a portrait vs a landscape format for my A2-sized card, and added a window cutout with an acetate “window” on the stand-up portion of the easel card) 

·   Gingerbread Digi (printed on kraft paper) from Whimsie Doodles (Sadly, shop closed in 2018. I miss Kel and her wonderful artwork)  

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

·   Scribbles White 3D Paint- adds “frosting” to the Gingerguy

·   Ranger Liquid Pearls: Ruby Red- adds red nose

·   Sentiments-Computer Generated

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

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

Entered into:  

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: Dec  Color Board (Gingerbread and other treats) 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Add A Sentiment  

    I stumbled upon a wonderful website a few years ago, which has provided me with not just some wonderful digi images, but also tips and techniques for coloring the digis. Kit and Clowder’s talented and generous artist/owner, Alyce Keegan, hosts an annual Advent Calendar of free digis on FB. I downloaded a few dozen this last month and colored several of them.

      This sweet Panda was the first I’ve colored and made into a card. (I did mess up on coloring his little envelope, so I used a few paper scraps to create a simple envelope of my own!) Because the envelope he is holding is sealed with a tiny heart, I created a Valentine's card and gave this little cutie center stage on its simple “Belly Band.”

 
 

Supplies: 

·   Tutorial for making a simple “belly band” can be found HERE.

·   Digi- Kit & Clowder Dec 2025 Advent Calendar Freebie (Panda Mail) Sign up on K&C FB page, HERE, to learn of future classes and freebies! (NOTE- Alyce is offering a wonderful Christmas present of four free digis and video instruction for coloring them with alcohol markers or colored pencils from Dec 25-Jan 12. So… check it out soon. HERE is the link.)

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

·   Valentine's Subway Art on front of card from TlcCreations (retired)

·   Inside Sentiment “Happy Valentine's Day”- a freebie from Lovesvg.com (Company appears to be closed) 

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

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

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #268 AG 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #12-2025 Dec/Jan

    Instead of making a card with this second Kit & Clowder (K&C) digi, I let her be in the spotlight on a Christmas ornament for my optometrist’s daughter, Abby. When I learned that Abby was turning 8 years old on December 23rd, I noted that it is no fun to have a birthday so close to Christmas when you are a kid! Dr. Davis agreed and said that last year, Abby was thrilled when she got a small Christmas Tree from her parents, and was told she could decorate it in any way she wanted. Abby started collecting ornaments and set it up in her room the first part of December. 

    I realized that Abby needed a special ornament for her 8th birthday and got to work on making her one as soon as I got home. I printed off and, using the K&C colored photo as my guide, colored the little ballerina, carefully fussy-cut around her, tied sparkly ribbon on the candy cane, and set her aside to work on a base. I found a rustic slice of wood in my stash that was the perfect size for the base, hot-glued a strip of sparkly ribbon for a hanger, then adhered a brushed gold circle to add some sheen to the base. I perched the little dancer atop the ornament base and quickly saw that she just kind of blended into the background. So, I added a bit of magic by tracing her wings onto vellum, trimming them to size, adhered them to her back, and added bright green glitter to her wings and costume. The bling helped, but it wasn't until I used a black fine-line marker to add details that…Tada... she popped right off the base!  

     When I gave the ornament to Dr. Davis last Friday, he responded with the biggest smile ever! So, I’m thinking she will like it, too.

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Park Hopping-My Happy Place (This is one of my favorite challenges and has helped me to develop a whole bucket list of parks I want to visit before I… well… kick the bucket! I googled “Theme Parks with Ballet” and found that Disney offers an opportunity that sounds pretty amazing! Here's a bit of info from the website-“Dance The World offers exclusive dance opportunities like parades at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs, stage shows, workshops, and more!” and “Meet & Learn from Jenna Johnson from Dancing with the Stars… and participate in Master Classes for Student Dancers!”)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Kit & Clowder Dec 2025 Advent Calendar Freebie (Sugar Plum Fairy) Sign up on K&C FB page, HERE, to learn of future classes and freebies! (NOTE- Alyce is offering a wonderful Christmas present of four free digis and video instruction for coloring them with alcohol markers or colored pencils from Dec 25-Jan 12. So… check it out soon. HERE is the link.)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, Black Fine-line Sharpie Marker

·   Stickles- Sea Grass

·   Brushed Gold cardstock- Hobby Lobby

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

·   Vellum, gold-edged ribbon, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)      Dance the World Disney Summer

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #730-731 Annual Christmas Blog Hop (AG/Family Friendly)

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #125 Theme- Festive Sparkle 

Rudolph Days Challenge- December