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