myasperations 5-31-25

      This is my Final entry into the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge for May on FB. I’m having fun using assorted Santa’s  from a packet of scrapbook embellishments I’ve also had for some time. This time, I used a round and happy Santa, plus sentiments and embellishments from the set for my card. Santa was holding a tiny little bag… at least I think that is what is was! I decided to trim that off and make a large, well stuffed, bag that I taped behind the jolly old elf. I also gently cut around his hands, then slipped the ends of the bag up and through, taping it down on the underside. The only other things I added were a “?” and the word “or” to the front of the card to create a question with the sentiments.

                                                                         

Supplies: 

·   Digital images, sentiments and misc ephemera are from a pack of scrapbook embellishments- JoAnnes Crafts (sadly all stores recently closed nationwide.)

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

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

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #57 May 2025      

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: May (Christmas) 

     I wanted to enter the Easter themed challenge at Outlaws, but finally got a card made just before the deadline. The digital image features a cross, a crown of thorns, and sun rays. I printed the image, colored the crown, and created a cross with brown cardstock run through a woodgrain embossing folder. After cutting a few strips of the embossed paper, I formed them into a cross, bound them together with a bit of twine, then adhered them to the cardstock. A few stickers, metallic and mulberry paper, and sentiments finish the card.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Eureka Digital Stamp (Cross) Currently Not Available

·   Stamped with brown ink pad

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

·   Crown sticker- Hobby Lobby

·   Front Sentiment- Hope Sticker from my stash

·   Inside Sentiment- Eureka Digital Stamp (Happy Easter) Currently Not Available

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

·   Hope and butterfly stiders, assorted papers, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Outlawz Sunday Challenge: Songs and Rhymes- Easter Morning 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes May-June 2025

     In high school I worked at a small drug store in SE South Dakota. That is when I developed a love of greeting cards. Although I enjoyed waiting on customers, but my favorite responsibility was restocking greeting cards. We mainly had Hallmark and American Greetings, and both the artwork and sentiments inspired me. At that time I considered myself to be an artist as I regularly won poster contests (i.e. Don't Litter, Buckle Up, etc.) Before I knew it, I started buying a few cards each week. I rarely used them, instead, I built up a nice collection I tucked away in a scrapbook where I kept photos, favorite sayings, etc. Over the years, I did use some of the cards... but not all. 

    When downsizing my craft room, I discovered that old scrapbook. By now the remaining cards were 50 years old (or older) and showing signs of age. I decided to salvage the ones I could and give them "new life" on a new card. 

     This is the first. The pretty card, made with parchment vellum paper, is from American Greetings. The sunflowers were inked onto the parchment, in yellow, brown and a sage green. However, the butterflies were just sketched in brown with no color added. This is where I did some coloring with shades of orange and yellow, before using a black permanent marker and a white gel pen to add realism to the flutterbys!  A few of the cards' corners were damaged, so I tore along the edges to fit onto A2-sized cards. An elegant sentiment finishes the card.  

     An added note- if you reguarly visit my blog you might know that I usually decorate the inside of my cards to reflect the front. However, over the last few months I've posted quite a few cards with no matching insides. The main reason for this is that I'm now making cards for the drug treatment center where I worked before I retired and I've learned that the clients prefer "Thinking of you" type cards where they can add a sentiment and/or write a letter on the inside. So, you might be seeing more "front only" cards in the future! 

 

Supplies: 

·   Image- upcycled from an old (as in late '70s) greeting card

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, a Sharpie fine-line black pen, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment “Thinking of You”- Victorine Originals Digis (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:  

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #700-701

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #289  (Theme Challenge- Winged Things)     

myasperations 5-30-25a

     I unearthed a large box of wood-mounted stamps recently while I’m working at decluttering my craft supplies. Looking at a small cache of Denami Arts stamps, I remembered a beautiful CAS card a customer made in the ‘90s when I taught classes at a stamp store in South Dakota. Although I seldom make CAS cards because I love layers, fussy-cutting, and embellishments, this card was inspired by a CAS card that a long-ago customer made with these Denami Arts stamps.  My card is similar to the card that inspired it, except that I opted for a few (Ha!) extra embellishments.  I added “flight trails” for each bee with small pencil markings and used an Exacto blade to cut around the wings. Small foam adhesive squares beneath each wing helped to pop them up a bit, and Stickles provided bling to the wings and letters. I thought I was finished, then decided my card needed a bit more color, so I tore along the edges of my finished card and adhered the slightly smaller than A2-sized piece to a light blue A2 sized card base. The end result? A CAS-ish card made Kathy style!! 

 

 

Supplies: 
·   Wood Mount Stamps from Denami Designs- Bee, letters from alphabet set, and small square (Company appears to no longer be in business)
·   Bees colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Stickles- Diamonds
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Foam adhesive squares, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Time Out Challenge- Challenge #289  (Theme Challenge- Winged Things) 
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge- #597 Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #700-701
 
    This is my final entry for May’s Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB. It features a cute penguin digi from Whimsy Stamps, framed by 8 squares of silver cardstock, each holding dark circles of cardstock and snowflakes from my dear mom’s craft stash. (I’ve been organizing/decluttering my craft space and found a pile of window cling snowflakes. I know they are a few decades old because I remember helping her take them down from her apartment windows when she entered a nursing home.) They worked beautifully on this card, especially topped with a bit of sparkle from my much-used bottle of Stickles!) The final touch was to add a bit more texture to the snowdrift and penguin's hat with “Snow Accents.” (I recently found this jar of textured paint from my plaster craft painting days!)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Whimsy Stamps (Penguin Thinking Of You)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Front Sentiment “Warm Winter Wishes!” from Imagine That! Digi stamps (company no longer in business)
·   Inside Sentiment- “Dreamin’ of a White Christmas” from my scrapbook stash
·   Snowflakes- old Window Clings
·   Stickles-Diamonds
·   Snow Accents- an old jar of white textured paint
·   The center cut from a paper doily serves as the base for the cute penguin
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Circle paper punch, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #57 May 2025         
The Paper Shelter- #640 AG  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: May (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-May 2025 Linky  

      The last five months have been bittersweet for me because my time working with Beccy Muir at Beccy’s Place is drawing to a close. I have been blessed to have met artist/owner Beccy Muir in 2017 when I discovered her blog… It’s many tutorials and a wonderful list of free digis. Since then, I served as Guest DT, and later as a “Contributor “ (which meant that Beccy provided me with digis, or clear stamp sets, several times a year to create cards/other items with them!) I always enjoyed working with Beccy, so I was saddened last November when she told her team that she would be discontinuing the digital images section at Beccy’s Place at the end of June. (Beccy explains the reasons she has made this difficult decision HERE.) So, if you have plans to add any of her digi sets to your collection, or have any gift cards you need to use, you have several months to go digi shopping. In addition, Beccy added a “Digital Stamp Sale” section to her shop, in which she has posted a large number of digis and sets from the past, priced from $3.00 to as low as 31¢ (US rate.)
     As that deadline approaches, I have been regularly posting cards made with her wonderful images, and will continue to do so through the end of June… and beyond! Here is my latest, a yummy ice cream cone from Beccy’s digi set named, appropriately, “Ice Cream Cones.”
     I printed, colored then fussy-cut the ice cream cone in all its yumminess! I colored the chocolate coating with dark brown, then added bright colors to the sprinkles with assorted gel pens. I tried to color the scoop of ice cream to be chocolate, but it ended up looking more like coffee ice cream. Hmmm… either flavor sounds great to me! When finished with the coloring, I added the background papers and sentiments, adhered everything, then added a layer of glossy accents to the cherry, chocolate coating, and satin ribbon. Now… I just need to go out and get a real cone!!

      

 Supplies: 
·   Digi- Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Ice Cream Cones)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiment, split in half- A Freebie from gingershouse.blogspot.com (I scream You scream…)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Glossy Accents, patterned papers, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into: 
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)       Disney’s Must Try Ice Cream Spots
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes May-June 2025  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

myasperations 5-30-25

      A few friends and I regularly visit a local coffee/tea shop, where the baristas are friendly and fun! We recently provided a surprise birthday recognition for Sydney, one of the baristas who just turned 18. In the process, we learned that Paige, one of the shop's other team members, turned 21 last month. Although we don’t know Paige as well (she is more of a “behind the scenes” person, responsible for pastries, soups, and sandwiches), we regularly enjoy the meals and wonderfully yummy scones she provides. So, I made this card just for her!
      Paige knows that I’ve been a health educator for several decades, teaching teens and college students about the dangers of drug use, including alcohol. So when I learned about her recent birthday, I teasingly offered her a lecture of low-risk drinking. I think she’ll enjoy this card, especially because I plan to add, "Cocktails are yummy treats… and are a low-risk way to celebrate a night out, IF you limit yourself to just two!” followed by a hand-drawn smiley face.
       Here is info about the card: I used one of Beccy’s precolored digis, but wanted to add strawberries that would show down in the glass. Using a pencil, I lightly sketched a straight line, following the top of the skewer to the lower right corner of the glass. Then I lightly sketched on the skewer, leaving its tip against the corner of the inside of the glass. I used a few shades of light and medium pink markers to color and shade the berries, and light to medium greens on the leaves. Lastly, I used my trusty white gel pen to highlight the fruit, leaves, and glass. My final touch of whimsy was to add some “bubbles” rising to the surface from the yummy cocktail “embellishments!!”  
      An added note- Sadly, Beccy Muir, artist/owner of Beccy’s Place, is discontinuing her digi line on June 30th (she explains the reasons for this difficult decision HERE.) So, if you have plans to add any of her digi sets to your collection, or have any gift cards you need to use, you will need to do that soon. Beccy added a “Digital Stamp Sale” section to her shop, in which she has posted a large number of individual digis and sets from the past, priced from $3.50 to as low as 31¢ (US rate.) Since I often use sentiments from Beccy’s digi sets on my cards, I made sure to pay attention not just to the images but also the sentiments in the sets as I filled my cart with these treasures! The inspirational digi I used inside of this card is a prime example. Here I used it in a birthday card, but it would be appropriate for so many occasions including graduation, new jobs, promotions, etc.
     

                          
Supplies: 

·   Precolored Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Girls Night) Digital set is no longer available. 

          Clear set available HERE (See food section.)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & sparkle gel pens
·   Front Sentiment “Happy Birthday”- A freebie from DesertDiva (one of my favorite sites for free 

          sentiments, and CAS card ideas!)
·   Front Sentiment “Belated”- computer-generated to add to BDay sentiment
·   Inside Sentiment- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Fairy Wren)
·   Strawberry flower embellishments trimmed from a free Beccy’s Place digi found HERE
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
We Craft Cards- Flowers and Berries Galore
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes May-June 2025  
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #253 AG 
Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: May 2025
Paper Funday- #76 Anything Goes  (Optional Twist: Celebrate Something New)
 
     This is my final entry into the current Double D’s challenge. It features May’s birth flower, Lily of the Valley, one of my mom’s favorite flowers. I used a beautiful digi from Jans Digis, printed it on patterned cardstock with a musical score, and used alcohol markers to bring the bouquet to life! The color combo of navy blue/deep maroon plus the doily embellishment gives the card a lovely Victorian feeling.

Supplies: 

·   Bouquet Digi from Jan’s Digis (Lily of the Valley) Sadly, the company is no longer in 

         business
·   Colored with Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils
·   Patterned paper- musical score in light grey (have had a few sheets of this paper in my stash for years. 

          Source unknown)
·   Front Sentiment from Eureka Digital Stamp (I am so thankful…) Currently Not Available
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Paper doily, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #700-701
Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #118 All About Mom 
Double D’s Challenge- Mays Birthflowers or birthstone  
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)       Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival
The Paper Shelter- #640 AG  

    Here is another entry for May’s Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB that features a sweet image from Tiddly Inks (it’s one of my favorite freebies! Find the link in my supplies list below.)  I colored the snowman who appears to be bravely enjoying a hot brew, then created a frame for the card using an unusual vintage patterned paper. I won a 6x6 paper pad from 49 and Market earlier this year, and this set delights my creativity. These small squares, each holding a nice glimpse of antique pottery provides the perfect backdrop for a coffee-themed digi. I love the rustic feeling of the finished card!  
    An added note- Although Christy Croll, the artist/owner of Tiddly Inks, closed her challenge blog a few years ago, she has maintained the blogsite to maintain access to coloring tutorials plus several freebies (including this image) HERE, and sells a nice assortment of digis in her Etsy shop HERE.    

           
Supplies: 

·   Digi- Tiddly Inks Freebie (Something Warm) In the Freebies section of the blog HERE)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Black Fine-line Sharpie Marker, and 

        Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Patterned Paper (with shelves of cups/dishes)-49 and Market Cottagecore Collection 6 x 8 

        Collection Paper Pack
·   Front Sentiment “Merry Christmas”- words cut from patterned paper from my stash
·   Inside Sentiment “Warmest Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Cardinals)
·   Small Brown Doily- Doodlebug Design Paper Doilies Mini Bon Bon (Available from 

        several sources on the web)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   Sage green mulberry paper, other misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:  
{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #57 May 2025     
ABC Christmas Challenge- “J and K are for…? ”  ‘'K is for Kraft”
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: May (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-May 2025 Linky  

myasperations 5-29-25

     I’m enjoying the current Time Out challenge, which requires “Winged things” in our entries. I love butterflies, so putting this card together using treasures I’ve collected over the years was fun. The vellum flowers were on a birthday card I received from my MIL many years ago. Sally is one of my SHEroes. Widowed at a young age, she was left with four children to raise- three teenage girls and a 2 year old boy. My sweet hubby is proof that she did an amazing job. I also couldn’t have asked for a better MIL. Sally was kind, generous, and wise. I am blessed that her son inherited those qualities. An added note, after my mom (my original SHEro) passed away in 2012, Sally stepped into the role of cheerleader and encourager that my mom had provided throughout my life. Sally continued to be a blessing in our lives until she joined my mom in her heavenly mansion, three years ago, just months before Sally turned 100 years old. She was an amazing MIL to me and MOM to my hubby!)  

     The beautiful flutter of butterflies on the card were fussy-cut from a free digi page from one of my favorite “go to” sites for vintage items- The Graphics Fairy. All the other items are from my stash.  

 

Supplies: 

·   Vellum flowers- upcycled from an elegant birthday card

·   Front Sentiment- source unknown- it has been in my personal scrapbook since college. I tried to find it via a web search with no luck.  

·   Butterflies embellishing the front of the card-freebie from The Graphics Fairy (DIY Butterfly Box)

·   Faux bronze metal Strips- cut from a paper frame found at the local dollar store

·   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 #289  (Theme Challenge- Winged Things)  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- AG

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #700-701

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #118 All About Mom 

    This entry for May’s Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB features a sweet image from Whimsie Doodles digi stamp company. I colored the sweet little stocking holder to match the shades of pink in the patterned paper squares that frame the card, and used my trusty white gel pen to draw little flowers on her jammies, and add stitches along the pink squares to give them more of a quilted look!  So sweeeet!

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment from Whimsie Doodles set (Stocking Goodies) Sadly the blog and shop closed in 2020

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

·   Delicate Pink patterned papers from The Paper Shelter a 6x6 paper set (Spring Swing)

·   Inside Sentiment “Merry Christmas” from my scrapbook stash

·   Christmas Stamp Embellishment on inside sentiment is a freebie from The Graphics Fairy (Vintage Christmas Stamps)

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

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

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #57 May 2025         

The Paper Shelter- #640 AG  

ABC Christmas Challenge- “J and K are for…? ”  'K is for Kraft”

Outlawz- Tuesday Color Challenge- Color Board  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday: May (Christmas) 

Outlawz Challenge-May 2025 Linky  

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes May-June 2025

     I’ve enjoyed making Star Wars/Space themed cards this month, and this is my final space card… for now!! It includes a free digi from Dearie Dolls (where I printed off my first digis over 8 years ago. Now I use digis 90- 95% of the time!) To add some texture, I fussy-cut around the little astronaut's head, then replaced the helmet dome with a circle of acetate. Ahhh….now he can see the starry sky through his helmet. Life is good! Even the space aliens (one on the inside of the card) look friendly!

Supplies: 

·   Astronaut Digi- A freebie from Dearie Dolls (It appears that this digi is retired, but there are hundreds of others!)

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

·   Sentiments- Computer Generated

·   Alien Embellishments on the inside sentiment- Sticker from local dollar store

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

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

Entered into:  

Park Hopping-My Happy Place (May)       Current Mood Board-Star Wars 

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: May Mood Board-Star Wars