myasperations 7-2-25

    I was honored to be invited to be a guest designer for the Word Art Wednesday Challenges in July. This is my first card using the current scripture verse, which I embellished with filigree photo corners, and a beautiful gold embossed Cross stamp that I’ve had in my rubber stamp collection since the early 2000s! I tore the rubber off of the wood mount many years ago, but I think it. was from a company named Our Daily Bread Designs. (If any readers recognize the image, please let me know if I have the correct source name. Thanks!) 

Supplies: 

• Scripture Digi- from Word Art Wednesday post (7-2-25) 

• Stamped Image- Cross from Our Daily Bread Designs (Company name changed to Divinity Designs in 2018). Although this stamp is no longer available, they have many other wonderful cross images, dies, etc. 

• Stamped with gold pigment ink, embossed with glittery gold powder (both from my stash) 

• Weathered wood background paper-Hobby Lobby 

• Gold filigree photo corners- Hobby Lobby 

• 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!

myasperations 7-1-25

     It’s July! Which means I get to share my DT card for All Dressed Up (ADU) Stamps monthly FB Challenge. The June theme is “Wings”, and my easel card features aa beautiful digi named “Flower Dreams”. As always, artist Wendy Burns added so many details to this little cutie; large hair braid, lots of little flowers, and one big one… plus all the wonderful pleats on her little gown. The only thing missing was butterflies, so I added two of them on the inside sentiment, which will be visible when the easel card is standing open!

Supplies: 

·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

·   Digi- All Dressed Up Stamps (Flower Dreams)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Hello friend” from  Beccy’s Place Digi Set (One Fine Day)

·   Inside sentiment “Sweet Birthday Wishes” from Beccys Place Digis (Hello Cupcake)

·   Embellishments- Butterflies plus other freebies can be found at papercraftsecrets.com  HERE

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

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

Entered into:  

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (June #163)       

    I’m a DT for All Dressed Up FB Challenge, so entering just for fun. Please don’t include me in the prize draw!  

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Floral Greetings (June) 

Outlawz Challenge-July 2025 Linky  

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (July)   Droomvlucht (Enchanting world of fairies, elves and trolls)

     Here is another one of the Father’s Day cards that I included in gift packets that I distributed to my dentist and optometrists' offices, a nursing home, and the residential drug treatment facility where I worked for 13 years until my retirement. (The clients there earn “points” for attending educational sessions, completing required steps toward recovery, etc., and they love being able to “purchase” handmade cards to send to loved ones during the 30+ days they are in treatment.)  The inspiration for my card is a tie digi I found on the web, and a sentiment that I’ve had in my files for several decades.

Supplies: 

·   Tie digi from Beyond the Fringe.com HERE (I used their digi as inspiration as my tie is made with scraps)

·   Front Sentiment- Computer generated from a sentiment have had in my files for several decades. (Original source unknown)

·   Inside 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 June-July 2025

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: June (Father's Day)         

   Last July, I discovered a company named Not2Shabby when I won a challenge. For my prize, I selected a 6x6 paper pack that includes a wonderful assortment of papers and images. I’d made a few watermelon cards last summer, using the paper pack and a template I found on Pinterest. (The slices were so easy and fun to make that I made 7 of them in varying sizes and found that I had several slices left. So… just in time for our 4^th of July  celebrations, watermelon is what’s on the menu… the card menu that is!)

  The base of the card is an A2-sized piece of paper. I adhered a strip of bee-laden ribbon across the base, then topped it with one of the melon slices onto which I had drawn an arc of heart-shaped “seeds”. When folded in half, this slice holds the inside sentiment. (I don’t remember ever seeing a card like this, so I’m calling it a “flip front card”!) A bee trimmed from the ribbon is adhered to the top of the folded slice. A sentiment and a pair of bees decorate the inside of the slice. Now.. let's enjoy a yummy slice of summer!!

 

Supplies: 

·    Not2Shabby 6x6 paper pack (Watercolor Cuties)  

·   Template and instructions for making Watermelon slices found HERE

·   Ribbon on card base- from the local dollar store.

·   Inside Sentiment- “Buzzing by… one in a melon” from Imagine That (no longer in business) 

·   Bee embellishments on inside sentiment are from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Bees and Blooms)

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

·   Circle Templates, ribbon, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  

Not2Shabby Mood Board Challenge- July (Card includes shades/tints of 4 of the board colors: pink, green, grey, and yellow) 

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: July   (My card includes all four colors on the mood board AND would fit nicely into a picnic!)  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

myasperations 6-30-25a

     Although both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are here and gone for 2025, I haven’t shared many of the cards that I created for the two holidays. So… you might see them pop up occasionally in the coming months!

      The front of this Father’s Day card features a Subway Art digi stocked full of Dad-isms (many I heard when growing up!) It also sports lots of bling, including a bellyband with a bold and sparkly sentiment. All in all, a card that is sure to wow any dad who receives it!

Supplies: 

·    Bellyband Digi -“Worlds Greatest Dad” a freebie from paulaposts HERE

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

·   Card Front- Subway Art Dad-isms a freebie found HERE

·   Inside Sentiment- “Happy Father’s Day” a freebie from Birdscards (Blog now closed)

·   Small stars- made with a  small star paper punch and silver glitter paper

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

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

Entered into:  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #794: Masculine  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #256 AG 

     This month’s sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on Facebook is a simple one that has inspired me to make many cards. This one features an industrious elf on the front, and a sentiment that might just provide a bit of encouragement, and possibly a chuckle or two, during the stress of the holidays!

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Gnome Style) Retired

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

·   Front Sentiment “Santa’s Coming!!”- source unknown (I think it was from a www.simplycardsmag.com freebie sentiment set)

·   Inside Sentiment “Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle” from the inside of a box of Christmas cards I found at a Goodwill Store

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

·   Sparkly red tinsel embellishment on inside sentiment was pulled from a red ribbon bow off of an old gift bag)

·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: June (Christmas)         

Outlawz Challenge-June 2025 Linky  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #58 June 2025         

     I’ve had this beautiful lighthouse stamp in my collection since I co-owned a stamp store in South Dakota back in 1998-2001. (Sadly, I don’t know the name of the company because I pulled the rubber from the wood years ago.) Also, when I stamped the image, I couldn’t get a good impression. I was going to toss the stamped image until I realized that I could add coloring with markers and chalks, then go over the outline with a fine-line black marker. The result is a little bolder than typical, but I think it works! I also added white gel pen highlights to brighten it up a bit. Tada… or should I say Ta DONE!!

    I created the inside sentiment with a font I’ve had on my laptop for quite a while. Since I like the way it turned out, I’m sharing it with you to use if desired! (That said, I've created lots of sentiments, but this is the first time I’ve tried to share one, and the lettering looks a bit fuzzy to me. So I provided the name of the font I used in my supplies list. It's available for free on several websites so, if needed, you can generate it on your own!)

     

Supplies: 

·   Wood Stamp- Light House (Source unknown… possibly Embossing Arts or Stampendous?)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Family an anchor…” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Smooth Seas) Retired

·   Inside Sentiment-“May Your Day Be Blessed!” (Computer Generated using Edwardian Script ITC Font available to download from several free online sites, and Calibri)

·   Faux postage stamp embellishments- Freebies from The Graphic Fairy HERE

·   Anchor Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Smooth Seas) Retired

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

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

Entered into:  Light House on the beach- family sentiment-

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #704-705

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes June-July 2025 (optional- Vacation/Holiday) 

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #291  (Photo Inspiration- beachy, shells, heart)     

myasperations 6-30-25

       I’m enjoying the current Time Out challenge, that features a beautiful Photo Inspiration which inspires beach, shells/ and heart shaped creations.  Ilove all things BEACHY, so it was fun to put this card together using treasures I’ve collected over the years and tucked into my stash. The assorted strips of paper provide a perfect backdrop for the sketched Conch shell, a beautiful freebie from The Graphics Fairy (one of my favorite sites for vintage items.)  This scrap of sheet black netting, from my fabric scraps drawer, adds some contrast and rich texture to the card. Lastly, the paper-punched gold embellishments (on the front and inside of the card, reflect the heart shape provided in the inspiration photo.  

     I created the inside sentiment with a font I’ve had on my laptop for quite a while. Since I like the way it turned out, I’m sharing with you to use if desired! (That said, I've created lots of sentiments, but this is the first time I’ve tried to share one and the lettering looks a bit fuzzy to me. So I provided the name of the font I used in my supplies list. It's available for free on several websites. If needed you can generate it on you own.)

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Freebie from GraphicsFairy.com (Conch Shell Clip Art-Seashells-Vintage)

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

·   Front Sentiment “Thinking of You”- From Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Joy Of Gods Love)

·   Gold heart embellishment- hand-cut from scrap of gold paper

·   Inside Sentiment-“May Your Day Be Blessed!” (Computer Generated using Edwardian Script ITC Font, available by download from several free on line sites, and Calibri)

·   Strip of sheer black netting, scraps of various patterned papers, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #291  (Photo Inspiration- beachy, shells, heart) 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes June-July 2025 (optional- Vacation/Holiday) 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #704-705

Snippets- Week #509

     Two of my brothers live in Florida and South Carolina, close to ocean beaches, which they prefer to our winter snowstorms! I have fun creating beach-themed Christmas cards to send to them, so this will be added to my “weather wimps” card box! (I’m pretty sure they have a favorite nickname for a snow lover like me, too!)  I used a digi set named Flamingo Christmas, and think that this festive flamingo might have spent a bit too much time in the sun, as she is a darker shade of pink than I had planned. That said, she definitely has personality, and the sentiments from the set help prove that fact!

     An added note- Sadly, the digi and sentiments I used on this card are, no longer available. I served as a DT for Imagine That! Digis for a short time for the artist/owner of the shop, Kris Breach, before it closed. I miss working with Kris, a talented, kind, and generous friend! 

                                                                   

Supplies: 

·   Digi and sentiments from Imagine That! Digi set (Flamingo Christmas) Sadly Company is closed

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

·   Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

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

Entered into:  

  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (June)      Flamingos: Kilimanjaro Safari   

  Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

  {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #58 June 2025       

     This month’s sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB is a simple one that has inspired me to create many cards. I’ve had this cute little Angel digi in my files for some time… and found it a few weeks ago when I printed it off. But, for some reason, I cannot find it now?! So, I have no idea of its source. If you recognize it, can you please let me know? 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sweet little Christmas Angel (source unknown)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white, silver and clear sparkle gel pens

·   Front Sentiment “Let There be Peace on Earth”- from Power Poppy (Snowy Church)

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing… Blessed Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Clear Stamp Set (Lamb of God) found HERE

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

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: June (Christmas)         

Outlawz Challenge-June 2025 Linky  

Crafty Catz Challenge- #697 AG

myasperations 6-29-25a

    Here is my second Zebra for the Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes-Zebra Question. I wanted to make this sweet Zebra take center stage on my card. So, after coloring the stamped digi, and creating the block of grey striped paper for the background, I adhered a circle cut from a scrap of plastic document file folder behind the Zebra. (Note- If you follow my blog you’ll know that I use these wonderful items quite often. They come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores, and occasionally dollar stores. They're cheaper than colored vellum and more translucent. Punches and dies don’t work on these sheets, but they are easy to fussy cut with a sharp pair of scissors. And you can use templates or stencils to trace shapes onto them with a permanent fine line marker. You can adhere the plastic in place with small strips of double-sided tape.)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- QKR Eureka Digital Stamp (Zebra) Currently Not Available

·   Grey Striped Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- a free printable from itsybitsfun.com (You are Ze-bravest…)

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

·   Circle and star templates, scraps of plastic file folder, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes-Zebra Question   

  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (June)      Zebras-Disney Animals

      I served as a DT for Sheepski Designs for five years, and loved working with artist/owner Andrea Norris, who is a talented, kind and generous person.  Proof of that is that even though Andrea closed her Etsy shop on Dec 31, she continues to sponsor challenges for other companies, providing her wonderful digis to the challenge winners.

     This wonderful image, named “Hot Chocolate” is one of my favorites from my file of Sheepski digis. I wanted to feature this yummy digi on a card the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Sketch Challenge on FB because he fits so beautifully into the June Sketch. The background papers were inspired by the cup on the “stay cozy” label from my scrapbook stash that fits beautifully with the digi. 

      I added knitted texture to the lovely thick sweater on the digi using a technique I learned from Anabel Haines on an easy-to-follow tutorial.

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Sheepski Stamps (Hot Chocolate)  Sadly, this wonderful shop closed at the end of 2024.

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique marker, and Sakara Gelly Roll White gel pen

·   Pine tree patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment “ Warm Holiday Wishes”  from an Imagine That digi set (Company is no longer in business)

·    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- #58 June 2025         

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes June-July 2025  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

Crafty Catz Challenge- #697 AG

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: June (Christmas)     

    

     This month’s Progressive Challenge at Outlawz features a sweet bunny with balloons provided by Nan Murphy. It was fun to color it and also add a bit of bling to brighten some little kiddo’s big day!

Supplies: 

·   Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (June) Nan Murphy’s sweet digi

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

·   Inside Sentiment “Have a Magical Day” from WeAre3 Digital sentiment set (Magical Sparkle) No longer available

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

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

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Progressive Challenge (June)

Outlawz Challenge-June 2025 Linky  

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #599 Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #704-705