myasperations 4-14-26

     I enjoyed the online Card Maker Success Summit last March, and this is one of the cards I created with a PDF file from one of the classes.  I first made the backdrop for the drama on this card with Easter Egg paper.  I used my MS Word program to size the two bunnies, then  changed their color to brown and printed them off.  After adding shading with alcohol markers and highlights with a white colored pencil, I fussy-cut  the bunnies, and I then gently tore off the ears of one and the backside of the other, saving a few of the pieces to “embellish” the finished card.  After positioning everything and adhering them in place, I just needed to add the sentiments and some “chocolate” fingerprints to embellish the inside of the card.   

    Oops... I just realized that I didn't share my reason for entering this fun card into the Time Out Sweet Treats Challenge! Besides the fact that I am a chocolate fiend, chocolate bunnies provide me with many sweet childhood memories.  I was never a fan of jelly beans or peeps, but seeing a chocolate bunny in my Easter basket always made me feel loved! Also, my two older brothers, who loved to tease their four younger siblings, always ate their chocolate bunnies heads and butts first while saying annoying things. They could have actually patented the sentiments on this card front! (I just realized that I usually try to credit the sources of anything that inspired a card or sentiment. I had found the "My Butt Hurts... What?" sentiments on a card many years ago, but it wasn't sourced. So...I did a bit of research, and you can find that info HERE!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Chocolate Rabbits made with PDF file for a Cute Bunny Shadowbox Cricut project that can be found HERE ·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and white colored pencil.

·   Front Sentiments-Computer Generated

·   Inside Sentiment- “Sweet Easter Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Easter Joy)  (Beccy closed her digi shop 

    but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which  sets are available!)

·   Easter Egg paper from Hobby Lobby

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

·   Brown ink pad, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Food and/or Drink

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Bright & Cheerful       

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #310 (Theme Inspiration)  Sweet Treats     

Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 4, Wk 3- AG

      This is my first entry in the April Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB. My card features a digi from Beccy’s Place named “Holiday Hounds.” I printed off a copy this hound, which artist Beccy Muir named “Earl”, and added knitted texture to his sweater using an excellent tutorial from artist Annabel Haines (see link in my supplies list.) Although it takes a little time to detail all the cable stitches, I think the results are worth it! (In 2022 I posted tips, plus a few photos showing how I colored this adorable Earl the first time! You can find that HERE. The stitching on this sweater is a little different, but the technique is the same.)

     Since the Earl image is tall, I decided to made a slimline card base that fits into basic #10 business envelope. (An added note- I like using these envelopes because you can find them anywhere they sell office supplies, and they are much cheaper than buying “slim line envelopes” or an expensive envelope die!)  

     I’m entering this card into several challenges including  ABC Christmas Challenge ‘’H  is for Hat” (I think that the antlers on Earls head can count as a hat? At least it's the closet thing to a hat that he’ll let you place on his head. He definitely doesn’t look like a hat… umm …Mutt!! 

 
 

Supplies: 

·   Digi  and front sentiment from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Holiday Hounds)  (Beccy closed her digi shop but sells 

     clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which  sets are available!)

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

·   Knitted texture tutorial can be found HERE

·   Inside Sentiment- We Are 3 Digital Sentiments  (Company 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- #68 April 2026        

ABC Christmas Challenge- H and I are for… ?  ‘’H  is for Hat'

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #4-2026 March/April (Optional twist- Furry Friends) 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friens Challenge- #275 AG 

Pick 3 Challenge- March-April 2026    Text, Slimline, Stripes 

     Several Christmas and coffee challenges are going on right now, so I decided to use a Stamplorations digi named "Framed Coffee Cup" to make the next two cards and printed it on patterned paper to fit into a Christmas theme. (I remember from printing on patterned paper in the past that I needed to load the pattern “face-up” in the tray to do this. Check your printer manual, or google a question to learn how to load the paper in your specific printer.)

     I used my MS Word program to size the digi to fit an A2 card front, printed it on white cardstock, trimmed the entire image from the white cardstock, and set it aside. Then, using MS Word, I cropped the coffee cup from the image, loaded my printer with an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of soft green striped paper (face up!), and ran it through my printer. After fussy-cutting it from the frame, I aligned the striped cup with the cup on the white cardstock (which I had earlier set aside), and adhered it in place. Next, I adhered the finished  “Framed Coffee Cup” to a scrap of red and green plaid paper, cut to fit an A2-sized card front. I added a bit of bling to the green striped cup with a strip of 3-foil holly stickers from Hobby Lobby, then finished the card with a scrap of the plaid paper, and a bit of the holly sticker bling to decorate the inside sentiment. 

 

Supplies: 

·   Stamplorations Digital stamp (Framed CoffeeCup) (clear stamp is retired. Digital image is available for $2.oo)

·   If desired, you can add shading to the cup with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, and highlights with a Sakura 

     Gelly Roll white gel pen.

·   Inside Sentiment “Sending… cup of holiday cheer” from a Beccy’s Place digi set (Christmas Cheers) (Beccy closed 

    her digi shop but sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·   Christmas Icon Border Foil Stickers- Hobby Lobby 

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

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

Entered into:  

STAMPlorations- April 2026  

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17   

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April  

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- April 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- April 2026

     To make this second card, I only needed to print the coffee cup from the digital image on patterned paper. So, I used my MS Word program to help me to crop from the "Framed Coffee Cup" digital image. Then, following the process I used above, I printed the cup on red paper with a slight grunge pattern, fussy-cut, and set it aside. I created a background for the A2 card front with scraps of cardstock and patterned paper, and adhered them to add some color and contrast for the cup.  

    I used an Exacto knife to cut a slit in the top of the card so a gift card could be slipped inside, then, using a few thin strips of foam tape, I  adhered the sides of the cup to the card, making sure there was room to slide the gift card inside. Next, I used a pencil to lightly sketch a few swirls onto scraps of vellum to make wispy plumes of steam, then carefully cut them out. It took a bit of positioning, but I was able to slide their "tails" down into the cup, and then gently positioned/intertwined the plumes to create wisps that crown the Cuppa with a whimsical heart! When I liked the results, I carefully taped their ends to the front of the card with small strips of clear tape, dabbed a bit of glue on the vellum swirls, and pressed them into place. A few sprigs of holly, fussy-cut from the patterned paper used on the card front, provided sweet little embellishments for the card's sentiments! All that was needed was to slide the gift card in place and share it with a friend. 

Supplies: 

·   Stamplorations Digital stamp (Framed CoffeeCup) (clear stamp is retired. Digital image is available for $2.oo)

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

·   Front Sentiment  “Sending… cup of holiday cheer” from a Beccy’s Place digi set (Christmas Cheers) (Beccy closed her digi shop but sells

     clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·   Inside Sentiment-“Celebrate the Season” from a Stamplorations digi set (Framed Christmas)        

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

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

Entered into:  

Crafty Catz Challenge-#711 AG

via Pinterest {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17 

via Pinterest Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April 

via Pinterest STAMPlorations- April 2026   

myasperations 4-13-24

     I made this card for the current Time Out Challenge, Sweet Treats. When I was growing up, slices of sweet, juicy watermelon were a favorite treat on hot summer days. Watermelon meant picnics, and the fun of having watermelon seed spitting contests with siblings and cousins at 4th of July celebrations! So I looked through my stamps and found a digi with a small watermelon-loving cutie from Little Scraps of Heaven. I printed the digi, colored, fussy-cut, and set him aside 

    I knew I wanted to make a picnic scene. so I started with a basket base created with a free patterned paper cupcake wrapper (find the link in my supplies list) and used scraps of kraft paper to make the basket rim and handle. The little silver screw was created with a silver brad and a fine-line permanent black marker. When the basket was complete, I "filled it" by sliding photos of snacks I'd fussy-cut from grocery store ads, and taping them into place.  

    I know how messy watermelon can be, so I dug through my kitchen cupboard to find a napkin to include on my card. This red and white one worked perfectly, so I folded it, cut an angled piece to size, then set it aside. 

    Now came my favorite part... watching my card come to life as I laid all the pieces on an A2-sized piece of grassy green patterned paper to determine positioning. After the layout was pleasing to my eyes, I adhered the basket full of snacks, placed the napkin section across the bottom of the basket, and taped it in place. The watermelon lover came next. I perched the little whiskered cutie atop the napkin and adhered him in place with foam tape (to add some depth). The final touch was to add a birthday sentiment! 

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Small Mouse with Watermelon Slice from Little Scraps of Heaven (Company is no longer in business.)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers,  Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, and a Sharpie Permanent 
     Fine-line Black Marker
·   Front sentiment “Sweet Birthday Wishes” from Beccys Place Digi set (Hello Cupcake) (Beccy recently closed her 

      digi shop. She now sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)
·   Snack packages- photos trimmed from grocery store ads
·   Easter basket made with cupcake wrappers (free digital image HERE), kraft paper scraps. and a silver brad

·   Napkins- (I think they are from a Dollar Store or local grocery store.)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Papers,  other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Food and/or Drink       

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Bright & Cheerful       

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2615    

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #310 (Theme Inspiration)    

    This gatefold card features a fun image that is a new addition to my collection of Patties Creations digis. The little giggling goat is from Pattie’s digital image named “Silly Goats."  (I printed both of the cuties, but am using just one of them on this card. You'll meet the other one on a future card! Until then, I added a picture of the watermarked image so you can see the complete digi. And the exciting news is that right now you can add it to YOUR digi collection now for just $1.oo! Nab the link in my supplies list below.) 

    Note- I wasn’t sure how to color the goat, so I did a bit of web research. Found a few great images, one of them from a company named Aurora Craftery, which provided the “inspiration” on how to add color this little cutie in furry shades of  greys and tans. 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Patties Creations (Silly Goats)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Inspiration for coloring the little goat was found on Etsy HERE.
·   Sentiments- from a Beccy’s Place Digi set (Goat Club) (Beccy recently closed her digi shop. She now sells clear 
     stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)
·   Little cupcake embellishing the front image is fussy-cut from patterned paper from my scraps stash. 
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #241 AG (April 2026)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #275 AG 

Paper Funday- April 2026 #86 AG  

    This card features a Stamplorations digi named "Coffee and Roses." I wanted to make a Christmas card with this cup, so after printing the image, I trimmed the cup from the digi, colored it, and set it aside. I used scraps from an upcycled map, a piece of holly decorated paper, scraps of vellum to make the wispy steam,  and two sentiments to complete the card.

PS- I added a pic of the watermarked digi so that you can see what it looks like sitting among some lovely roses. The digi set includes 4 coffee cups & roses collage images, 3 oval roses frames, 3 rectangle roses frames, and a 1 bonus sheet of printable tags in an 8.5x11 PDF. All 10 items are included in the set for just $9.00! (A link in my supplies list will let you click & view all 10 items.)

  

Supplies: 

·   Stamplorations Digi-(Coffee And Roses Digital Stamps- Set of 10)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Old map is Upcycled, Patterned paper (holly) is from Hobby Lobby
·   Front Sentiment (All Hearts Come Home at Christmas) a freebie from LoveSVG -(Site is now longer available)
·   Inside Sentiment “Tis the Season for Coffee” from a Beccy’s Place digi set (Christmas Cheers) (Beccy recently 
         closed her digi shop. She now sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)
·   Coffee bean embellishments- upcycled from coffee bags (vs tea bags) from a hotel on a recent vacation
·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

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

Entered into:  

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April  

STAMPlorations- April 2026

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #746-747 (AG/Family Friendly)

Crafty Catz Challenge-#711 AG

Snippets- Week #530

    This unusual, but funny, Christmas card features lacy panties, tighty-whities, and the sentiment, "When you stop believing in Santa, you get underwear for Christmas", all from the  Whimsie Doodles digi stamp company. I've had the digi set for nearly 10 years, but forgot about it until recently, when I was looking for a specific digi. I noticed that I had lots of folders and decided I'd check the  "properties" of these folders. I was shocked to learn that I have 2050 folders, containing a total of  26,989 individual images and sentiments! Needless to say, as soon as I'm finished decluttering my craft room, I'll work on my laptop and thumb drive! 

     Okay, back to my card. I sized the strips of digital underwear to fit across the front of an A2-sized card, and also sized the fun sentiment. After prepping  (printing, coloring, and/or fussy-cutting) the items, I put the card front together, adding a swig of holly that I fussy-cut from a scrap of patterned paper. The simple inside sentiment, “Believe,” is a perfect fit for this card, especially when it is embellished with a Santa cap, perched at a jaunty angle.

Supplies: 

·  Digi and front sentiment from a Whimsie Doodles digi set (Underwear for Christmas).  Sadly, the WD shop closed in 2020. The BLOG remains open and offers excellent tutorials for coloring hair, skin and eyes with alcohol markers, plus some other fun items!

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

·  Inside Sentiment “Believe” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (The Big Guy) embellished with a Santa Hat from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Hats Off)  Note- Beccy recently closed her digi shop. She now sells clear stamp sets online.  Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

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

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

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

Entered into:  

Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 4, We 2-AG   

Neglected Stuff Challenge- April 2026  

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- April 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- April 2026