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)