Sunday, January 18, 2026

myasperations 1-18-26

This year, the Path of Positivity (POP) is officially entering its 13th year of offering challenges that encourage Positivity and Creativity! In honor of this wonderful anniversary, our challenge host, Lisa D, introduces the theme for 2026: Crafting by the Numbers and January’s challenge TWIST, NUMBER ONE. The first step in our creative journey of crafting by the numbers is to challenge you to create a NEW project--one that you have never made before. It is time to step outside your comfort zone, explore a new technique or project, and embrace the excitement that comes with starting at one. If you tend to only make cards, how about putting together a mixed media canvas? If digital is normally your thing, complete something totally handmade. Never made an ATC card before? Well, now is the perfect time to try it. Whatever project you decide on, new beginnings start here! Be sure to make it one to remember!!!"
   Note- the twist is completely optional, and you don't need to follow it to win. As long as your creation is positive or encouraging in some way, enter it into the POP challenge for a chance to win $6 worth of images from our sponsor, Scribbles Designs, and/or be honored as one of our special "picks"!

    I enjoy gifting my great-nieces and nephews with books on their birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions. Although I'd never thought to include bookmarks with the gifts, after seeing a few Corner Bookmark tutorials on the web (links in the supplies list below), I knew I needed to try my hand at making them. 
   When I retired in November 2024 I started slowly but diligently de-cluttering and organizing my craft room. In the process, I found a box of cute images I'd previously stamped or printed (some of them are nearly a decade old!) Using a handful of the digis and paper scraps from my stash, these fun bookmarks went together so quickly and easily that I know there will be more “Litters” popping up in my future!       
     
Supplies: 
·   Corner Bookmark Instructions- Written tutorial HERE and short video version HERE 

·  Stamped/printed Images are from the following companies- Angel Kitten (a freebie found HERE), Cat in Shades (from Eureka Stamps, retired, but an assortment of other Eureka "critter" stamps are available HERE), Heart Cats (Bugaboo Stamps, company now closed), Cat in Bookshelf  (Gerda Steiner Stamp set available HERE) , Fat Cat and Sleeping Cat (Beccy's Place Digital Set "The Cat's Meow") Note- Beccy is starting to sell clear sets online again. So you can check HERE to see which sets are available for you now!

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

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

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

Entered into: 
Via Pinterest- Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2602  
Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #1-2026 Jan/Feb (Optional twist- Use Circles) 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #734-735 (AG/Family Friendly)

    I used a sweet image from a Gerda Steiner Design (GSD) “Cat on Bookshelf” digi on one of the corner bookmarks. This card features an A2-sized GSD digi… and it was a freebie! 
    Back in 2018, I signed up for the Gerda Steiner Design newsletter, and since then, I’ve been getting an invitation every fall to add their annual NEW YEAR digi to my GDS collection of wonderful digis and clear stamp sets! It’s always fun to see what critters are embellishing the digi. This year it is penguins…  my favorite winter critters. I also love to color images with Christmas lights because adding colored glow to each with chalks and Q-tips is so fun!
     (Note- You can see what GSD freebies are currently available and also can sign up for the Newsletter on their website toolbar HERE!)   
Supplies: 
·   2026 Image- Annual Free Digi from Gerda Steiner Designs via Newsletter email
·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE  

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

    Chalks were used to add colored glow to the lightbulbs

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

    starting to sell clear sets online again. So you can check HERE if you'd like to see which sets are now available!

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

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

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

Entered into: 
Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2602  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #820: Favorite Digi or Stamp
The Paper Shelter- #663

     I created this Christmas card using this month’s sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB. The sweet bear, named “Stanley Claus,” is a favorite digi from one of Beccy’s Place “Stanley” digi sets. The sentiments are from a source that is fairly new for me… and it offers a nice assortment of free sentiments!
Supplies: 
·   Background created using Sketch from the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers December Challenge

·   Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Stanley Claus) Beccy is starting to sell clear sets online again. 

    Check HERE if you'd like to see which sets are available!

·   Beccy recently closed her digi shop. You can check HERE to see if a clear stamp set is available.)

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

·   Sentiments- freebies from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

·   Holly embellishments- trimmed from patterned paper (Hobby Lobby), detailing added with Black Fine-line 

     Sharpie Marker

·   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- A & B are for?  'A is for Anything Christmas’
Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- Jan 2026
Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- Jan 2026

     There are a few more days to enter cards into this months Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge.  My easel card features one a sweet digi from Polkadoodles, “Sweet” for two reasons! The first is that the little barista is adorably sweet, plus she is holding not just coffee but also a baked treat that looks yummy with a cherry on top! I added a red satin ribbon bow to the card to add some texture and another shout of bright color to the card!  
 
Supplies: 
·   Easel Card- Instructions found HERE (Except I used a portrait vs a landscape format for my A2-sized card)

·   Digi- Polkadoodles Digi Set (Barista Coffee/Cake)

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

·   Snowflake patterned paper-from 6x6 paper pack-Michaels Crafts (Recollections-Gingerbread Forest)

·   Front Sentiment “Have Yourself a Merry Little Coffee” from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee)

·   Inside Sentiment “Sending you…Holiday Cheer” from Beccy’s Place digi set (Christmas Cheers) Beccy is starting 

     to sell clear sets online again. Check HERE if you'd like to see which sets are now available!

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

·   Red satin ribbon, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  
Polkadoodles Challenge 2026- Challenge 1, Week 3-AG  
STAMPlorations- January 2026    

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