my asperations 4-21-25

        This is my second posting as a DT for the Path of Positivity Challenge, established in 2013 with an inspirational purpose.  In excerpts from the challenge  Introduction, creator/host Lisa notes, "In this day and age, we are continually bombarded with images that leave us empty: murder, war, terrorism, natural disaster, intolerance, hatred... the list could go on and on." " To that end, I have been inspired to create a place where I can come to see projects or posts that provide help, hope, courage, love, forgiveness, peace, motivation, encouragement, etc. A place to come, especially on those days when the woes of the world just seem too much to bear. This is a place I would like to share with others who feel as I do. Therefore, welcome to the 'Path of Positivity Challenge' -- a different sort of challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture, and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time!" 

      Lisa established an annual goal with monthly themes and an optional twist.  2025's goal is Embrace the Unexpected in our lives. April's Theme is Embracing the Unexpected… Through Decluttering with an optional project, "go through your junk drawer or a closet and take inspiration from something unexpected that you find within."  

      About 20 years ago, I collected dried flowers from our garden for cardmaking. I thought I'd used all of them until I found a small flower press in my craft closet, which still held many blooms and leaves tucked between its cardboard platforms. I used a scrapbook template to create an oval frame on an A2-sized piece of vintage-looking patterned paper and set it aside. Next, I positioned the flowers and leaves on a 3x4-inch piece of a self-sealing laminate, then laid a slightly larger piece of acetate on top and applied pressure to seal the flowers and leaves in place. I used decorative scissors to create lacy edging on the patterned paper before using double-sided adhesive tape to attach the top edge of the patterned paper to the top of the card front. Next, I positioned the flower pouch to the front of the card, centering it into the oval frame, before securing it in place with adhesive. When everything looked positioned, I taped the other three edges of the lacy edging to the card front with double-stick tape. Lastly, the card is finished off with ribbon, sentiments, and a strip of vintage lace (crocheted by my mom when I was in elementary school, at least 60 tears ago so it really is vintage!) 

Supplies: 

·   Front Sentiment "Happy Mother's Day" from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (My Mama)

·   Inside Sentiment “Celebrate your Special Day” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Stem in a Teacup)

·   Scotch Self-Sealing Laminating Sheets- Hobby Lobby and other craft or office supply stores

·   Small hearts embellishing the inside sentiment were made with scraps of paper and metallic cardstock.

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

·   Dried Flowers and leaves, patterned paper, Fiskars scissors, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #252 AG 

Crafty Catz Challenge- #692 AG

 Park Hopping-My Happy Place (April)    Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival,  

     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, 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

      For this card, I used a section of the Day 7 Cricut design. After printing off the arched frame with sentiment, I used a sharp scissors to trim the center portion of the arched section, then adhered it to a piece of Easter egg patterned paper. Lastly, I printed, colored, and fussy-cut a sweet little fairy from Sweet November Stamps, then created lacyvellum wings for the little cutie with a paper punch I’ve had in my stash for at least 25 years! After attaching the vellum wings, I perched her atop one of the pretty pastel eggs.  

 

Supplies: 

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

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Fairwee Junie)

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

·   Inside Sentiment- a freebie from Scribbles Designs “You’re Egg-cellent” (click on the link, right click the sentiment, select “copy image” then paste and print!)

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

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

Entered into:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) April  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Patterned Paper

The Paper Shelter- #634 Anything Goes (Opt Twist- Pastels)

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

(via Pinterest) Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #784: Easter!   

     This card features a beautiful Easter stamp that I haven’t used for several decades. I found it when decluttering and had to put it to use! It took some time to stamp and emboss the image on vellum, then color and trim the excess. After that, the card went together quickly with items from my digi collection and stash!  

Supplies: 

·   Wood-mount Floral Cross from Biblical Impressions (Sadly company is closed. Occasionally, they show up on EBay.)

·   Stamped with black pigment ink on vellum and embossed with extra fine black embossing powder.

·   Colored (on underside of vellum) with Spectrum Noir Classique markers

·   Highlights (on top of vellum) added with Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Small butterfly digi- Bugaboo Stamps (Company no longer in business)

·   Front and inside Sentiments- Eureka Digital Stamps (He Is Risen) Currently Not Available

·   Glittery crown sticker on inside of card- 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.

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

Entered into:  

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #784: Easter

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #694-695

Double D’s Challenge- Spring Flowers    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: April (Easter) 

Outlawz Challenge-April 2025 Linky