myasperations 5-26-26

    This is my final entry into the current Time Out challenge with a wonderful Music theme. I created the background with a digi of Christmas sheet music entitled “The Christmas Tree” from The Graphics Fairy (my favorite website for free vintage images) and a Pine Branch stencil from Bramble Fox. The beautiful wreath ornament digi is from a talented and generous artist named Sande Woodson. She manages a FB page and an email through which she provides free digital images on a regular basis. For this card, I used one of Sande’s embroidered wreath digis, which has sentiment as the center focus. Using scraps of silver metallic cardstock, I created a cap and ring to top the ornament. I adhered the ornament to the card front with foam tape, then added a bow and strip of ribbon to serve as the “hanger.”  

    I added a close-up pic of the card front to give a better view of cap and ring on the ornament, plus the song title, which I accidentally covered up with stenciled pine branches.  

Supplies: 
· Background- Vintage Christmas Sheet “ The Christmas Tree” a freebie from The Graphics Fairy (It seems this item is no longer available; however, this site offers hundreds of other vintage freebies so you might find other options that you like!) .
· Background- Bramble Fox Stencil (Pine Branches)

· Color added to card with two shades of ink pads, a sponge, and a grey Tombow marker to add shading. 
· Embroidered Noel wreath is from a Sande's Poema digital set Obtained via a weekly email newsletter which you can join HERE, or check out the FB page HERE for additional info.)
· Inside Sentiments are freebies from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)
· Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
· All other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Time Out Challenge- #313 (Theme Challenge- Music)       

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- May 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- May 2026

  I had fun creating this card to enter into the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) May Challenge on FB. It features a sweet gingerbread boy that is one of my favorite digis from Beccy’s Place. (My nickname for this pudgy little guy is “Pillsbury” because he is such a cute little doughball!)  I printed Pillsbury onto Kraft cardstock because it is the color of gingerbread and also simplifies the coloring process (which mainly included shading with tan marker, adding “frosting” with a white gel pen, and adding his nose and tummy button with red and brown markers!) I made a second Pillsbury to embellish the inside of the card and set both of them aside to work on the card front.

   When digging through my box of coffee-related items, I found a packet of coffee cup “chalkboard” stickers I’d found at a local dollar store, and also found a strip of little coffee cups that I upcycled from a coffee sleeve several years ago. I love how the coffee cups from two very different sources look great when used together! A few knitted patterned papers, plus sentiments, finish off the card.  (In truth, this hilarious sentiment always makes me laugh. I hope it provides you with a smile, chuckle, giggle, or maybe even a guffaw?)   

   I’m entering this card into several challenges including the Colorful Options Monthly Challenge (my card features a mostly B&W color scheme with touches of red, green, and tan) and the ABC Christmas Challenge (K is for Knitted.)  

                                                  

Supplies: 

·   Chalkboard Coffee Cup Stickers- from our local Dollar Store

·   Digi and sentiments- are from Beccy’s Place Digi sets that are no longer available. (Beccy closed her digi shop 

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

·   Nordic Knitted Sweater paper- Whimsy Stamps. (No longer available, but I found a similar assortment of

    patterns HERE )

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

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

·   Patterned papers, vellum, Tulip Slick fabric paint (to add texture to Pillsbury’s buttons), other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #69 May 2026        

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May 2026 Color Board (B&W or Rainbow) 

ABC Christmas Challenge- J and K are for… ?  ‘'K is for Knitted’

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2621

    Back in the 90’s, I took a class at a card shop where we used a template named “Lattice Folds” from Hot Off the Press. I recently stumbled upon the template in my stash and used it to make this fun birthday card for the new challenge at Passion for Markers! My card also features a digi of a vintage truck, which, back in 2011, was one of the first digis that I ever used! One of my brothers is skilled at rebuilding old cars… aka clunkers! So this card will be cruising down to Florida for his next birthday!

  PS- I did some online checking, and it appears the template is no longer available. However, if you enter Lattice Fold Card or Braided Edge Card via Pinterest or your favorite search engine, there are many videos and templates. I posted a few of my favorites in supplies list.

 
Supplies: 

·   Lattice Fold Card/Braided Edge Card- I found a few good  videos and templates Here, Here, Here, and Here.
·  Vintage truck Digi- A freebie from Handmade by Paula (GMC Truck)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated (using a font named Jokerman.)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Patterned paper, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June (Optional twist- BDay) 

Paper Funday- May 2026 #87 AG 

myasperations 5-25-26

     This card is my final entry into the monthly challenges at the Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge. It features one of my favorite Stamplorations digis named "Coffee Cup Parade." I printed one copy of the digi onto sage green striped patterned paper and one onto red cardstock. I then fussy-cut and adhered three of the red cups atop the green striped parade. When finished, I adhered the layered parade onto a scrap of the red cardstock and then onto snowflake-patterned paper.  I then fussy-cut several snowflakes from the background paper and used them to embellish the parade! The final step was to add sentiments and a few additional snowflake embellishments.

  

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Stamplorations (Coffee Cup Parade)

·   Snowflake patterned paper- purchased at JoAnnes Crafts (Sadly no longer in business)

·   Front Sentiment- “Warm Holiday Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi (Christmas Kitties) (Beccy closed her digi shop last year but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·   Inside Sentiment from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee)

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

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

Entered into:  

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #53 May

STAMPlorations- May 2026     

Rudolph Days Challenge- May

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May 2026 Color Board (B&W or Rainbow) 

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- May 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- May 2026

    The challenge at Inspiration Station inspired me to start working on replenishing my graduation card supply. This cute little grad digi from Bugaboo Stamps is one that I’ve used often because I like perching him on a sentiment or frame. For this card I perched him upon a glittery gold star. I colored Deacon’s gown and cap with deep burgundy since that is the color of the local school district. I upcycled an old card for the background, which also provides a flurry of “Celebrate” sentiments for this card front. The inside sentiment is from one of my favorite sites for freebies, and it is embellished by a few more glittery stars.

Supplies: 

·   Background scene is upcycled from an old card front

·   Deacon Grad Sitter digi is from Bugaboo Stamps (Sadly, the company is no longer in business)

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

·   Stars cut from Glitter Gold Cardstock using a template from my scrapbook stash

·   Inside Sentiment-Dr Seuss quote freebie from Create with TLC (Available HERE)

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

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

Entered into: 

Inspiration Station- Challenge #85 Inspiration Photo (graduation)   

Paper Funday- May 2026 #87 AG  

    This is my third entry into the current Time Out challenge with its wonderful Music theme. My Easter card features a vintage digi I found back in 2017 on a site called Create with TLC, which introduced me to digital images and offers lots of large collections of freebies. The vintage Easter digi features a bouquet of violets adorning a cross atop a musical score.  The Old Rugged Cross was one of my mom’s favorite hymns, plus violets are my favorite Spring flower, so I had fun creating this card.

     

Supplies: 

·   Front digi with sheet music background is a freebie from Create with TLC (Vintage Easter Cross)

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

·   Inside Sentiment- “He Is Risen” is from a packet of Easter Stickers from Hobby Lobby

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

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

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

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

Entered into: 

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #313 (Theme Challenge- Music)  

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2621

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #752-753 (AG/Family Friendly)

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #130 Theme- AG (Twist- Botanical Beauty)

myasperations 5-24-26

   This is my second entry into the current Time Out challenge with a wonderful Music theme! My card features two items that I’ve had in my stash for several decades (the background template and the vellum sentiment), plus a set of metallic markers and a guitar sticker that I’ve picked up over the last year. I love how the rich shades of the metallic markers shimmer on the paper, and the guitar sticker jauntily perched atop the vellum sentiment adds a nice touch!

   An added note- The background image was created with a template I received at an Iris Fold class at a stamp store in South Dakota in the early 2000’s. (The template was one of four on a sheet of cardstock. I added a photo that shows the rest of that sheet.) The gorgeous vellum sentiment was also purchased at that same store. Sadly, this is the last one I have… and some web research provided several options, but only for vinyl wall art, and an embroidery pattern. I plan to do more searching later!)

 

Supplies: 

·   Background features an Iris Fold template I’ve had in my stash for many years.

·   Colored with Bic Intensity fine-point permanent markers in metallic colors (Bronze, Yellow Gold, Jade, 

     Emerald, Green, Sapphire, Platinum Silver) and a Sharpie Fine-point permanent marker.

·   Front sentiment-from a packet of vellum sentiments (also in my stash since the 1990’s)

·   Guitar Sticker-Hobby Lobby

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

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

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #313 (Theme Challenge- Music)     

Neglected Stuff Challenge- May 2026  

Paper Funday- May 2026 #87 AG 

   This month has been consumed with health and family issues, and I’ve not been able to spend much time in my craft room or on my blog. So, this is my first entry into the May Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB. I followed the sketch a bit more loosely than usual, so am not sure it will be accepted. That said, I do like the way it turned out!  Also, if you have followed my blog for even a short time you probably know that I like upcycling items on my cards. This time I was planning to use vellum to make the steam whisps, but when using some alphabet stickers I noticed that the cover sheet for the letters was made with vellum. And... since it has an adhesive back, it would make attaching the whisps waaaay easier! I had to make the whisps a bit smaller than planned, but it worked! 

   I’m entering this card into several challenges including Colorful Options Monthly Challenge (my card features a mostly B&W color scheme with touches of red), and Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge (coffee cup and sentiment).

 

 

   

Supplies: 

·   Coffee Cup Digi-Freebie from Birdscards (blog now closed)

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

·   Sparkly Snowflake Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee)

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

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

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

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #69 May 2026         

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #53 May 

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May 2026 Color Board (B&W or Rainbow) 

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- May 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- May 2026

    This card is my final entry into two May Challenge at Sweet November Stamps (SNS), their usual monthly challenge, PLUS week four of their wonderful annual event named “MerMay”! When I saw that the theme for week four is “Add a Friend” I knew just which SNS pair of friends I would feature on my card-  Shimmer RedKelp and her Otter friend named Otto. I printed Otto and Shimmer (head and upper body), colored, fussy cut and set them aside. The card then came together quickly with an underwater digi, sentiment digi, and other items from my stash!

    An added note- The beautiful deep blue underwater photo, named “Algae Ocean Bloom” is from a free Bing wallpaper program I installed on my laptop some time ago. (I love learning about all the beautiful places in the world, with new photos and info every day!)       

           

 

Supplies: 

·   Watery background scene Bing Wallpaper ap can be viewed/downloaded HERE (the photo I used is no longer  available, but I found a similar one HERE)

·   Mermaid, Otter and Sand Dollar digi’s are all from a Sweet November Stamp (Shimmer RedKelp and Otto)

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

·   Front Sentiment-hello sunshine is from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Bees and Blooms) (Beccy closed her digi shop 

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

·   Kraft paper with gold foil anchors purchased at JoAnnes Crafts (Sadly no longer in business)

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

·   Small anchor/star embellishment (fussy-cut from patterned paper),  other misc. Items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) May  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) MerMay- May 2026 Week 2   

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #838: Special Anniversary 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Cute Critters (May)