myasperations 4-15-24

      I recently participated in a 12-day Easter card-making event that featured Cricut designs. Even though I don’t have an electronic cutting machine at this time, I have wanted to learn about them. So, I received permission to attend the event for that reason. I was able to use a few of the designs as a digital image (in pdf format), which I could then easily color

      This is the design from Day 2 of the event, which I used to create my card. First, I printed off two sections of the pdf image, recoloring the section with the cross to light grey, and the section with sentiment to dark grey. I used a sharp scissors trim the center portion of the dark grey section, and to cut the cross from the grey section. I then colored the “stained glass” in the cross several sparkly glaze gel pens, and the sentiment with a white gel pen. I adhered both to a sheet of Vintage music from a choir book. You can see on the scrap of it on the inside of the card that it is dated 1911. (My hubby’s grandmother was a church choir director and this book was one of the many that we uncovered in her basement after she passed away a few years ago. Most of the books had torn and stained pages, so they work perfectly for cardmaking.) I finished the card by adding a bow, and wrapping the corners of the card with scraps of the ribbon.  

Supplies: 

·   Cricut File/PDF Digi- From The Bearded Housewife Crafters Club (This file was from the April 2025 Happy Crafty Easter Event)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll colored glaze pens and a white gel pen

·   Inside Sentiment - Eureka Digital Stamps (He Is Risen) Currently Not Available

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

·   Scraps of pastel patterned and solid papers and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #784: Easter!   

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #694-695

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: April (Easter) 

Outlawz Challenge-April 2025 Linky  

    I made this sweet card for a color challenge at We Craft Cards. We had to use Yellow, Teal/Aqua, Green and White as the primary colors on our cards. I struggled with this mix of colors until I started looking through my digi collection and found raindrops and this beautiful fairy named "Fleur" (Flower in French!) Since I was using an unusual color palette, I decided to create a CAS card, which is also not usual for me. But I do like how this card turned out!

 

  

Supplies: 

·   Background digi- colored raindrops- freebie from “deepheart.tumblr.com _it rains inside my brain” (no longer available)

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Fleur Rainfall)

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

·   Sentiment “Rain or Shine”- Freebie from Birdscards (Blog is closed)

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

·   Butterfly digi,  other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  l

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #286 (Pick Two Prompts- Water, Pastels)    

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes April-May 2025 (optional- Feminine) 

Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes- Little April Shower    

Friends of Sweet November (FB) April (AG/Winged Critter =2 entries) 

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April Mood Board-Pastels       

     My final card for this post features a fun Digi/Sentiment set from Whimsie Doodles which is sadly no longer in business. (However, the blog is still posted and offers excellent tutorials that I have found helpful, especially on coloring hair and eyes with alcohol inks. You can find them HERE. Tuesday Tutorials are listed in the right panel on this link.)

    I’m entering this card into several challenges including ABC Christmas Challenge- ‘H is for HoHoHo’ (If you look closely, you’ll see the jolly old elf in the middle column on the background paper!)

    I’m entering this card into several challenges including Simon Says: Sweet Treats (If Lizzie is like me, that cup would hold one favorite new hot beverage , Lavender Hot Chocolate. I have always like the scent of lavender, but didn’t know that it would taste so good when added to a rich, creamy hot chocolate. Well.. it does!) and Park Hopping-My Happy Place (I did a bit of research and learned that Disney and Universal Studios Parks in Florida offer flavored hot chocolate through several vendors. If lavender hot chocolate isn’t available, I’m sure I could find a blend to enjoy!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and inside sentiment from Whimsie Doodles (Latte Lizzie) Sadly shop is closed

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

·   Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Thinking of You” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Beachside Bliss

·   Inside  Sentiment “Sweet Holiday Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   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- “H and I are for…? ”  ‘'H is for Ho Ho Ho!' & 'I is for Ice'

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sweet Treats (Lavender Hot Chocolate!)

Polkadoodles Challenge- Challenge 5, Week 1- AG                      

  Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)     Lavender Hot Chocolate

myasperations 4-13-25

    I recently participated in a 12-day Easter card-making event that featured Cricut designs. Even though I don’t have a Cricut or ANY electronic cutting machine, I have wanted to learn about them. So, I received permission to attend for that reason. I was able to use a few of the designs as a digital image (in PDF format), which I could then easily color

      This is the design from Day 1 of the event, and how I made TWO crafts from one of the digis.  For this first one, I printed off the PDF image. I first used an Exacto blade to trim the center portion out of the bunny, and also colored the sentiment and flowers. Then, I created a “quilt” by taping pastel colored or patterned papers together, and adhered it to the underside of the bunny cutout. Lastly, I finished the card by cutting pastel scraps to fit over the “corner points” on the card.

Supplies: 

·   Cricut File/PDF Digi- From The Bearded Housewife Crafters Club (This file was from the April 2025 Happy Crafty Easter Event)

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

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

·   Scraps of pastel patterned and solid papers and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #594 Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge- #691 AG- Optional: NA

Polkadoodles Challenge- Challenge 5, Week 1- AG                      

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: April (Bunnies/Birds or Bears) 

Outlawz Challenge-April 2025 Linky  

Snippets- Week #504

      The second card was made by coloring the Easter eggs and foliage inside the “upcycled” rabbit shape. A bright bow, made from a strip of spring green paper ribbon, plus a circle of yellow vellum, slipped behind the bunny helped him to stand out from the multicolored pattern background paper.

 

Supplies: 

·   Cricut File/PDF Digi- From The Bearded Housewife Crafters Club (This file was from the April 2025 Happy Crafty Easter Event)

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

·   Easter Egg Patterned Paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Happy Easter” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Easter Joy)

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

·   Yellow vellum, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Easter    

The Paper Shelter- #633 Anything Goes

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April Mood Board-Pastels      

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #286 (Pick Two Prompts: Spots, Pastels)    

     When decluttering, I unearthed a box of lace I inherited from my talented seamstress Mom. I know that the brown lace (I think it is tatted) was lovingly created by my mom’s mom 60-80 years ago, so it is precious to me. The white lace is not nearly that old, as I remember my mom using it to make a curtain valance back in the 80s, but it has its own simple beauty.  

     The lace scraps inspired me to create a Mother’s Day Card. Mainly because of the tatted lace, I decided on a color scheme that was not typical for a baby card- brown and aqua. I loved coloring Conie Fong’s beautiful mother and child digi with a minimal color palette, allowing me to add delicate details with my white gel pen. The mother's pretty curls were colored with shades of brown to complement the delicate tatted lace. I love how this card turned out, and hope to have time before Mother’s Day to create a few more versions to send to my sisters and favorite sister-in-laws!

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Passion for Markers Challenge: 3-2-1 GO! (My card includes 1 fold, 2 digis- an image and a sentiment, and 3 embellishments- 2 lace and 1 ribbon), Park Hopping-My Happy Place (The vintage lace on my card lead me to do some web search for “Oldest Amusement Parks in the World,” and “…in the US” and found many great choices! Not sure I’d take on ride on some of the old rides, but they would be fun to watch!) and Paper Funday: Things that Begin with the Letter "B" (My card features an adorable baby!)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Conie Fong-(Mother and Baby Girl) The digi I used with Baby Boy appears to be retired. If you contact Conie via her Etsy shop she might be able to make one available? 

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

·   Mother’s Day Sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (My Mama)

·   Lace scraps (the brown lace is vintage)from my Mom’s scrap box (which I inherited 20 years ago!)  

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

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

Entered into:  Conie Fong-Mother and Child

Inspiration Station- Challenge #72 Inspiration Prompt (Photo)

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #783: 3-2-1 GO!   

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #694-695

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)     

Paper Funday- #75 Anything Goes   (Optional Twist: Things that Begin with the Letter "B")

      STAMPlorations is a wonderful family-owned business, and I’ve enjoyed using their stamps, digis, and other products for several years. For this card I used a Halloween themed digi to create this festive card. (When working on this posting I looked for the digi so I could add a link to it in my supplies list. In the process I discovered that Stamplorations was a sponsor for the 2017 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. This was the free digi they offered, that it’s still available for FREE .) I colored the coffee mug “cozy” to match the background, and the candy corn embellies, upcycled from a gift bag, look good enough to eat!

      (An added note, STAMPlorations artist/owner Shery Russ was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer a few years ago. You can read about her journey HERE. Her shop has remained open… but in a slightly limited capacity. I just checked and was excited to see this note from Shery “Stamps and dies are available to buy individually + we are once again shipping internationally!” The site also notes “10% off all orders. Discount applied on checkout. No code needed. So you might want to stop by her shop and check it out!)

 

Supplies: 

·   Green Plaid background- paper napkin from a local dollar store

·   Fall Digi- Freebie from Stamplorations (Coffee for Fall)

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

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

·   Inside Sentiment “You Warm my Heart” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cheers)

·   Inside Sentiment- made with a paper napkin from a local dollar store

·   Candy Corn Embellishments- Fussy-cut from an old gift bag

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

·   Vellum scraps, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge:#40 Coffee or Cocoa    

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sweet Treats

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Autumn Greetings (April) 

myasperations 4-9-25a

    I’ve had so much fun creating cards for the current Time Out Challenge: Inspired by Your Favorite Movie that I made two more last night. Now need to get them posted and entered before the deadline this AM.

     This is the second of the two, inspired by one of my favorite movie genres- Horror! I was introduced to horror classics in the late 60s, early 70s, when watching them as part of Friday night sleepovers with several of my BF’s. I don’t remember the name of the TV show that hosted the showing of old shows, mostly in B&W, but I do remember sitting in the dark, crowding around the TV with bottles of soda and bowls of freshly popped corn, waiting for the monsters to scare us silly! One of my all-time favorites was (and is) the original Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff! So when I found this free digi from TLC, I just had to make a card.

I used a one very unusual embellishment on this card- two small strips of medical gauze, one smeared with a bit of red ink “blood”! Eeeek!  

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Passion for Markers Challenge: 3-2-1 GO!  (My card front includes one strip of torn paper, two gauze strip embellishments, and three silver brads.)

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Freebie from TLC Creations  (Frankenstein)

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

·   Front Sentiment “eek!” and skeleton (inside) are freebies from TLC (retired)

·   Other Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Gauze, and all other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #285: Inspired by your favorite movie  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #251 AG 

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #783: 3-2-1 GO!  

Paper Funday- #75 Anything Goes  

       Moving from musical to cute, how about a sweet bunny? I’m entering this card into the current challenge at the Path Of Positivity Challenge, “Embracing The Unexpected: Through Decluttering”. I am a brand-new DT for the POP challenge, and love that this theme is encourages me to continue on the first goal I set after retiring last September- to declutter and organize my craft room! In that process, I found a box of embroidery threads and a few small, and unfinished embroidery squares and instructions. I completed this cute bunny one and added him to a card front. (Note: I think that this is the first work of embroidery that I’ve completed since I tried my hand at an x-stitched 8x12 Mount Rushmore. It was really tough counting all those squares…. so, it’s not surprising that George looks like he has a poorly-healed broken nose!  (Who knew that our country's first president was a boxer or maybe just got involved in brawls?! I didn’t notice this oops until I was finished with the picture, so I decided he’d just have to stay that way! Hence, no more “masterpieces” for me!)

     I’m entering this card into several other challenges, including Double D’s, a favorite challenge that offers wonderful mood boards for inspiration. The current one has an Easter theme and includes decorated eggs, tulips, chicks, and BUNNIES!

 
                                              

 

Supplies: 

·   X-Stitch related supplies- from my stash

·   Front Sentiment “Easter Blessings” Freebie-Papercraftsmagazine.com (no longer available)

·  Bunny Tail- made with a small piece of cotton ball twisted and stitched in place

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

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

Entered into:  

Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #130 -Embracing The Unexpected: Through Decluttering  

      Since I’m a DT for POP, I’m entering just for fun. Please don’t include me in the prize draw!  

Double D’s Challenge- Easter  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #694-695

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge-AG April 2025 (optl twist- Plants and/or animals) 

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: April (Bunnies/Birds or Bears) 

Outlawz Challenge-April 2025 Linky  

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: April 2025 Optional-Springtime 

The Four Seasons Challenge- Anything Goes Spring April 2025  

      My final card for this challenge is a coffee-themed card that features a sweet little critter from Gerda Steiner named “Coffee Mouse”. I decided to create a CAS(ish) card, keeping my coloring to a minimum, and using a scrap of white weathered wood as the background. This helps the coffee cup and two hearts to really “pop” on the card. I had this sentiment close to my workspace, so I used it. I HOPE winter is over, so this card will go in my box for next winter. (And if we get another blizzard, I’ll send it as a joke to one of my brothers who moved to Florida. He always taunts me when we have a rough winter, so he’d get a kick out of receiving this card when they are already well into warm temps!)

      One final note- I nabbed this digi back in 2023 when he was offered as a freebie on the GS site. It appears that Coffee Mouse is no longer available. But I did a bit of checking, and there is an adorable freebie of two bunnies that is perfect for Easter. You can find it HERE! And make sure to check out their other digis and images while you are there. They have a great collection of cuteness! )

        I’m entering this card into several other challenges, including Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Sweet Treats (For me, a mug of coffee is always a sweet treat because I add a spritz of caramel or vanilla creamer to it. Nummy!)        

                                 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Gerda Steiner (Coffee Mouse) Retired

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

·   Weathered Wood paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment “Sending you warm winter wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Seasonal Windows)

·   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: #40 Coffee or Cocoa  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Sweet Treats

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #594 Anything Goes

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)     Current Mood Board-Animals