Sunday, June 21, 2026

myasperations 6-18-26

    This card, created for the Inspiration Station Challenge Photo, features an adorable digi named “Breakfast for Mom” from Cute As a Button. This sweet daughter, who appears to be a messy baker like me, whipped up a batch of pancakes topped with mounds of strawberries. The sentiment, from PowerPoppy, is a perfect fit for the sweet digi!
 
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Cute as a Button Digital Stamp “Breakfast for Mom” (Sadly, the company closed in 2022 due to family health issues.)

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

·   Front Sentiment- “Sweetest Thing” is from a Power Poppy digi set (Cherries and Berries)

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

·   Red checkered napkin, B&W striped paper, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into 
Inspiration Station- Challenge #86 Inspiration Photo (Strawberries)  (photo)   
Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2624  
Paper Funday- June 2026 #88AG  (Optional Twist: Polkadots and Stripes)

     My second entry for this month's challenge from Sweet November Stamps (SNS) features an adorable digi of a mermaid and her otter friend! 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 unusual and often beautiful places in the world, with new photos and info every day!)
   I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: Option 2 (my card features several shades of blue, and an ocean.)
 
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, and Otter digi’s are all from a Sweet November Stamp digi set  (Shimmer RedKelp and Otto)

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

·   Sentiments are from a Bugaboo digi set (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:  
Double D’s Challenge- Tropical  
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: June 2026 Color Board  
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #6-2026 June-July (Optional twist-BDay) 

    This card features a gold embossed image from one of my all-time favorite wood mount rubber stamps, an heirloom from Personal Stamp Exchange (aka PSX Stamps) named “Floral Wreath” that I’ve had in my collection since the 1990’s. I store my wood-mount stamps in the garage, and pulled this one out a few months ago to use at a stamping class I was offering through a community group for retirees! They absolutely loved the cards they made using this stamp, especially when they embossed the image with gold embossing powder. This is one of the sample cards that I’d made. The butterfly digis are freebies from Papercraft Secrets (seedetails in my supplies list). All other items were all from my stash.
     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including two that require “Things with Wings” (since I can see butterflies fluttering around the flower bed I can see outside of our front window, they seemed like a lovely option!).
 
Supplies: 
·   Wood-mount rubber stamp ”Floral Wreath” from PSX (Company no longer in business)

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

·   Butterfly digis from Papercraft Secrets (You can sign up for access to freebies, vidoes and more HERE and join FB page HERE)

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

Entered into:  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #842: Things with Wings
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Things with Wings  
Neglected Stuff Challenge- June 2026  

     The sweet gnome on this coffee-themed card is from a favorite FB site, Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC. (See details in my supplies section.) Because coloring is my favorite stress-management technique, I seldom use precolored images; this little guy was too cute to pass up! The rest of the card went together quickly with items from my stash.
 
                        
Supplies: 

·  Pre-colored gnome digi is from Free Printables for your Junk Journaling with TLC (on FB) After you join HERE, use the search option for  “gnome” (There are gnomes available for many occasions!)

·   Front Circle Sentiment- “Warm Winter Wishes”- from birdscards (blog no longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment “Sweet Holiday wishes and lots of delicious coffee ” (First half is from a Beccy’s Place digi set and second half from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee) (NOTE- Beccy closed her digi shop last year but sells clear stamps, check HERE to see which are available.  

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

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

Entered into:  
ABC Christmas Challenge- 'L is for Let it Snow' 

Thursday, June 18, 2026

myasperations 6-18-26

    For this card, I printed off a free digi from Scribbles Designs named Pitcher & Drink onto white cardstock. I used a fine-line permanent black marker to trace the glass portion of the digi onto a scrap of acetate, creating a clear pitcher and glass. A few scraps of yellow vellum cut to size, slid into place, became the lemonade when adhered to the acetate with very small strips of double-stick tape! I fussy-cut the ice cubes and straw, added a bit of shading to the ice and stripes on the straw, then used an Exacto blade to cut along the front lip of the glass. Sliding the straw up through this cut, I adhered it in place. I also trimmed a lemon slice from patterned paper, added a bit of shading and highlights with markers and a white gel pen, and adhered it in place. It was finally time to add my favorite embellishments- condensation droplets! 
   Using the permanent marker, I drew little water droplets onto the front of the acetate, then used a grey alcohol marker to add a bit of shading. When the shading was dry, I added a little dollop with a white gel pen to get a realistic look. A bit of Glossy Accents added to each of the drops provided an additional texture and depth. (Just a heads up, I practiced this technique on a scrap of acetate before I tried it on the actual card front!)  
   After creating the icy drink, I adhered it atop a teal “frame” cut from an old greeting card, then attached both to a beachy background digi from artist Sande Woodson, who offers freebies via a weekly email and on FB. The final step was to add sentiments and tropical flower embellishments, fussy-cut from patterned paper which I've had in my stash since 2005. (I know the date because I bought it, and several other packets of paper from Oriental Trading Company just before a major family move. My hubby still teases me about how much room my "paper collection" took up in the U-Haul we had rented!) 
  
 
Supplies: 
·    Background digi scenery- from Sande's Poema Freebies. Details to sign up for weekly freebies (HERE) or find some of her other freebies on her FB page (Sande's Poema Card Making Community)

·   Digi- a freebie from Scribbles Designs (Pitcher & Drink)

·   Black Fine-line Sharpie Marker is used to trace the digis and condensation droplets onto acetate scraps

·   Shading and highlights on digis and droplets added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Glossy Accents from Ranger- used to make the water drops on the glass.

·  Front Sentiment- a freebie from LoveSVG (Summer Chillin’) (Sadly, it appears that this blog has closed.)

·   Inside sentiment “Sweet Birthday Wishes” from Beccys Place Digis (Hello Cupcake) (Beccy closed her digi shop last year but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

·   Embellishments (Tropical flowers and Lemon slice) are cut from patterned papers in my stash, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 
Time Out Challenge- #315-Pick 2 
Double D’s Challenge- Tropical 
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #6-2026 June-July (Optional twist- Anniversary or BDay) 

   The 4th of July, a national holiday here in the USA, is just a few weeks away, so I’m working on cards to send to my siblings. When we were growing up, "The 4th"  was one of our favorite holidays. Every year, as we joined cousins at an uncle’s farm in Iowa, we enjoyed an afternoon creating lots of noise! We were each given our own “punk,” which we used to light hundreds of firecrackers and smoke bombs. (I only remember getting injured once during all those years of holiday fun, when I accidentally poked myself in the cheek. The damage was minimal, so I didn't miss out on much fun, AND I  only have a small scar to show for it!)
   Late in the afternoon, we enjoyed a feast of burgers, hot dogs,  potato salad, pork 'n beans, and all the yummy dishes (many included Jello!) that were provided by our mom and aunts! This was followed by fresh-picked strawberries, piled atop vanilla ice cream that we “made” in a hand-cranked contraption. (It was heavenly!)  As sundown approached, our excitement peaked because that is when the Sparklers, Bottle Rockets, Roman Candles, and Fountains filled the air with snaps, crackles, pops, whooshes, and bangs! (As an adult, I can’t imagine the amount of money that was spent on this event… but the memories are truly priceless!)
   I don’t usually make collage-type cards, but have accrued so many wonderful bits of patriotic-themed ephemera over the years, that it was fun and easy to whip up the cards that I needed. After talking with my hubby, and learning that his family also celebrated a food and fireworks-filled "4th",  I'm making one to send to each of his sweet sisters, too! 
   I’m entering this card into several challenges including Snippets (it includes not just scraps and upcycled treasures, but also invoked all the snippets of memories that I enjoyed while pulling all those things into this wonderful card!) and Pick 3 (my card includes a few bits of Blue, Numbers (date), and Plaid (I did web research and found that in North America, “laid” is used as umbrella term for almost any crisscross, grid-like pattern. While in Scotland, “plaid” refers strictly to a specific type of draped blanket or shawl, and the patterns, called “tartans” vary by both families and regions. That is so cool!)
Supplies: 

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

· Hobby Lobby

· Front Sentiment- a freebie from Create with TLC (4th of July)

· Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated

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

· Parchment and other papers, star stickers, used postage stamps,  other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Pick 3 Challenge- #5 May/June 2026  Blue- Numbers- Plaid
Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2624 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #756-757 (AG/Family Friendly)
Snippets- Week #534
Paper Funday- June 2026 #88AG  (Optional Twist: Polkadots and Stripes)

  I had fun creating this card to enter into two Christmas-themed challenges, Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card, and the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers (Sketch). Sadly, most of the items I used on this card are no longer available. (This is an issue that is happening more and more often over the last few years. And, with all of the artwork that is being pirated by companies like Temu, Shein, other sellers on Amazon, and a few I’ve seen on Pinterest and even Etsy…I fear we’ll lose more of our amazing stamp and digi artists/business owners.)  
  I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Outlawz Twisted Thursday Color Challenge (although my card is for Christmas, I used a non-traditional color scheme that includes all of the colors on the mood board, although the shade of blue in her silver white hair is really pale… just like mine!)  
  
Supplies: 

·   Coffee themed Digi – a freebie from Papercraft Magazine (no longer available)

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

·   Wood and sentiment papers-Hobby Lobby.

·   Front Circle Sentiment- “Warm Winter Wishes”- from birdscards (blog no longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment “Tis the Season for Coffee” from a Beccy’s Place digi set (Christmas Cheers) (Beccy closed her digi shop last year but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·    Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

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

Entered into:  
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- June 2026-Color Challenge  
Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- June 2026

Monday, June 15, 2026

myaperations 6-15-26

   I have been a regular participant in the Path of Positivity (POP) Challenge since I stumbled upon it 5 years ago. It became a favorite almost immediately, mainly because it inspires a positive mindset and encourages positive actions! (To learn more, read the Introduction provided in 2013 by the creator of this inspiring challenge, Lisa D.)  
    This year, the POP is officially entering its 13th year of offering challenges that encourage positivity and creativity! In honor of this anniversary, our challenge host introduced the theme for 2026, "Crafting by the Numbers," back in January. 
     June's challenge TWIST is Lucky #6: use six embellishments on your card. 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"!
    For my card, I used a ladybug digi from Bugaboo.  After printing the sweet little image, I colored it and then adhered it atop an arrangement of bright paper scraps from my stash. The final touch was to add my 6 embellishments- 3 little red gems, one ladybug sticker, one dotted ribbon bow, and a puffy heart sticker (on the ladybug.)
    I'm entering this card into several Challenges including Passion for Markers-Favorite Color Combo (I love the contrast of B&W&Red, but, due to the theme of the card, added a crisp pop of bright green, the color of leaves, too!)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Ladybug from Bugaboo” (Sadly, the company is no longer in business)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment- computer-generated
·   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:  
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #6-2026 June-July  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #841: Favorite Color Combo 
Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 6 Wk 3- AG

    I purchased a few sets of Tim Holtz Ideology Found Relatives images last year, and have had so much fun using them to create cards. This one was created for the current Pick 3 Challenge, and includes Blue (Navy plaid), Numbers (Roman Numerals on the watch face), and Plaid.  The sentiment, from one of my favorite blogs for free and funny sayings, adds a bit of humor… or possibly a touch of reality… to my card!
 
Supplies
·   Vintage Portrait- from Simon Says (Tim Holtz idea-ology FOUND RELATIVES)
·   Front Sentiment- a freebie from Gingershouseblogspot.com (Not feeling very worky Today)
·   Silver Watch- from a sheet of ephemera I found at the local Goodwill store several years ago
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Patterned paper, cardstock, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Pick 3 Challenge- #5 May/June 2026  
Paper Funday- June 2026 #88AG 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Add a Sentiment  

    This card, created for the Inspiration Station Challenge Photo (Strawberries), features a strawberry image upcycled from an old card, which is several decades old. The colors had faded, so I added shading, touched up the colors in the image with alcohol markers, and added a few highlights with a white gel pen.
 
Supplies: 
·   Patterned paper on background pattern- Hobby Lobby
·   Strawberry image, plus strawberry embellishments on inside sentiment, are upcycled from an old greeting card
·   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!)
·   Inside sentiment,  “Sweetest Thing” is from a Power Poppy digi set (Cherries and Berries)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Circle template, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Inspiration Station- Challenge #86 Inspiration Photo (Strawberries)   
Neglected Stuff Challenge- June 2026  

    I recently joined Papercraft Secrets on FaceBook and made this New Baby card to enter into their June Sketch. It features several delicate butterflies from Papercraft Secrets, plus a cute little baby carriage from a box of baby cards that I found a few years ago at a thrift store. I fussy-cut the baby carriage from a card front. The other assorted items on the card are from my stash.
   I made the card for a dear friend who is having a baby, a little girl, in the near future. I'm co-hosting her baby shower, and plan to make name cards for attendees. I took a photo of my “prototype,” which features a baby carriage, hand-lettered name, plus a die-cut bow trimmed from a cupcake wrapper I’ve had in my stash for several years.

Supplies: 
·   Baby Carriage embellishment from a box of unopened baby cards that I found a few years ago at a thrift store.
·   Front Sentiment, “Little Blessings… Psalm 127:3” from We Are 3 Digital Sentiments (Sadly, the company is no longer in business)
·   Background collage on card- upcycled from an old card
·   Pioneer Clear Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Gold photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Butterfly digis from Papercraft Secrets (You can sign up for access to freebies, videos, and more HERE and join FB page HERE)

·   Pink ribbon and pink cupcake wrappers from the clearance aisle at JoAnne’s Crafts (no longer in business)
·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Outlawz Anything but a Card Challenge- June 
Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- June 2026
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #756-757 (AG/Family Friendly)
Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2624