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, then positioned everything and adhered them in place.

     Then just needed to add the sentiments and some “chocolate” fingerprints to embellish the inside of the card and TaDa!!

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       

Stop back later!

      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!)  

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:  Sketch-BP-Holiday Hounds (Earl)

Stop back later!

    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. I used the following process to print both on patterned paper that could fit into a Christmas theme.

1)  I first needed to determine if the digi would be printed on the top or bottom of the paper that I loaded into the paper tray.  To do this, I lightly penciled an “x” on a sheet of white cardstock, placed it with the x “face-up in the paper tray, and printed the Framed Coffee Cup.  (I learned that, for my printer, patterned paper needs to be loaded face up.)

2)   I trimmed the framed cup image from the white cardstock and set it aside.

3)   Next, I cut a 12 x 12 sheet of sage green striped paper down the standard 8.5 x 11 inch sized sheet, laid it in the paper tray, face up, and printed the digi a second time.

4)   When finished, I added shading and highlights to the cup with alcohol markers and a white gel pen, then fussy-cut the cup from the frame.

5)   After aligning the striped cup on top of the cup on the white cardstock (which I had earlier set aside), I adhered it in place.

6)   I adhered the layered “Framed Coffee Cup” to  scrap of red&green plaid paper, cut to fit an A2 sized card front.

7)    The final step was to add a bit of bling with a strip of 3-D holly stickers from Hobby Lobby.

8)   Another scrap of the plaid paper and a bit of the holly sticker bling helps to decorate the inside sentiment… and we’re done!

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

·   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!)

·   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!

       To make this second card, I used the same process as above, but I only needed the coffee cup from the digital image. SO, I used my MS Word program to help me to crop from the "Framed Coffee Cup" digital image. Then, following steps 1-4, I printed the cup on red patterned paper, added shading, and highlights. 

   I created a background for the card with scraps of cardstock and patterned paper, and adhered them to provide some color and contrast.  

    Then came a few steps that weren't included for the first card. 

1) I used an Exacto knife to cut a slit in the top of the card where a gift card could be slipped inside, then used a few thin strips of foam tape to adhere the sides of the cup to the card, making sure there is room to slide the gift card inside. 

2) 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 the wisps that crown the cuppa with a whimsical heart! When I liked the results, I carefully taped their ends down to the card front with small strips of clear tape. 

3) A few sprigs of holly, fussy-cut from the patterned paper used on the card front, provided sweet little embellishments for the sentiments added to the card!

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:  

Stop back later! 

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

myasperations 4-6-26

    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 Path of Positivity is officially entering its 13th year of offering challenges that encourage positivity and creativity! In honor of this wonderful anniversary, 0ur challenge host, Lisa D, introduces the theme for 2026: Crafting by the Numbers. (Click here if you'd like to read more in-depth about our overall theme for 2026)!

     April’s challenge TWIST is Lucky #4: Use 4 Spring Papers/Cardstocks on your card. I love the sweet line of digital businesses at Scribbles Designs. This one, named Café, was so fun to "deck out" for Spring with pastel colored papers and floral images!

   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"!

   I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Inspiration Station/Photo (My card is full of the pretty pastel colors of Spring, plus I “pounced” the tips of several pink and fuchsia markers on the foliage in the flower boxes to create Spring blooms!) and 

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Scribbles Designs (Silent Night Quote) café

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

·   Sentiments- Freebie from TlcCreations (Happy Spring)

·  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 #84 Inspiration Photo (Spring-flowers and boots)

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2614    (AG except 5^th Monday)

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

      I was so excited when I got an email advertising the STAMPlorations & Coffee Loving Paper Crafters: Spring Coffee Collab Hop that I printed off a few pages of STAMPlorations digis and started making cards to share in honor of the event.   

     This creation is not a card… it’s a gift card holder for a local coffee shop! It features a sweet little pre-colored mug piled high with whipped cream atop a warm holiday treat! I love all the delicate artwork in the little mug, the teal, cream, and red color scheme, the tiny candy cane, and especially the sprinkles! (One of my favorite sweet treats is a cup of hot chocolate or a cup of steaming coffee with lots of hazelnut creamer. Ahhh, so Yummy!) 

     I used a template found online to create the base for my gift card holder, but the “sleeve” on my coffee cup is actually upcycled from a wonderful cup of Caribou coffee, purchased a few months ago, hence the winter theme! 

 

 

Supplies: 

·   Coffee Cup Template- The one I used is no longer available, but a web search for “Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder Template” can provide other options!

·   Coffee Cup Ephemera- From a Stamplorations assorted set (Winter Mugs)

·   Front Sentiment- small silver JOY tag from Oriental Trading company, many years ago.

·    Inside Sentiment- “All Hearts Come Home for Christmas”  freebie from LoveSvg-(Site is 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:  

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #310 (Theme Inspiration)   

STAMPlorations- April 2026    

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Not A Card   

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- April 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- April 2026

    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 card, featuring a funny sentiment from my stash, is a perfect fit for the current Double D’s “humor” themed challenge!

Supplies: 

·   Vintage Portrait- from Simon Says (Tim Holtz Idea-ology FOUND RELATIVES)

·   Sentiment (divided into two sections)-from Friday freebie quotes by Kellie Winnell (Blog now closed)

·   Gold frame- 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:  

Double D’s Challenge- Humor    

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #275 AG 

    Since using digital stamps has become my “default,” I hadn’t dug into other types of stamps for a while. However, I’ve been working on decluttering and reorganizing my craft room and am finding all kinds of treasures I forgot I had. Last month, I found Art Impressions wood-mount Front&Back stamps and had fun using them. Already this month, I’ve unearthed several Art Impressions clear sets, including Crazy Cat Lady, which I used this fun set to create a card for Art Impressions current challenge, Round&Round. 

Supplies: 

·  Clear stamp set- Art Impressions (Crazy Cat Lady) Retired

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

·  Front Sentiment- “Life is Purrfect with cats”  freebie from LoveSvg-(Site is no longer available)

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

·  Circle templates from my scrapbooking stash

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

Entered into:  

Art Impressions Monthly Challenge- March #424 (Round&Round)

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #3-2026 March/April 

Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 4, Wk 1- AG 

Paper Funday- April 2026 #86 AG  

    My sweet hubby and I spent the weekend watching several Easter movies from our vast DVD collection. This gave me lots of time to make cards. I recently found this sweet wood-mount stamp when organizing my craft room and decided to make a Birthday card to enter into the Wednesday Simon Says challenge. I created the background with a cloud stencil created from a scrap of paper, decorative blue chalk, and a makeup sponge, added a bit of color to the little hedgie and his birthday balloon, cut an oval from a pretty pink card base to create a “frame” for the little scene, positioned the finished image into place and taped it down.  Easy Peasy!

 

Supplies: 

·   Wood-mounted “happy birthday” rubber stamp from a Stampin’ Up set named “Hedgehog Happiness” (retired)

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

·   Front Sentiment- Included on the Hedgie stamp!

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

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

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Happy Birthday (April 2026)

Crafty Catz Challenge-#710 AG

Neglected Stuff Challenge- April 2026