myasperations 2-16-2026

   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 February’s challenge TWIST is Dynamic Duo: Create 2 Matching Projects. For ex., create a card with a matching envelope, make a bag with a matching tag, etc.

    Since I retired, I’ve enjoyed having extra time to make packets of cards that I donate to the residential drug treatment facility where I worked for 13 years before retirement. (The clients there earn “points” for attending educational sessions, completing required steps toward recovery, etc., and they love being able to “purchase” handmade cards to send to loved ones during the 30+ days they are in treatment.) I’m thinking some of them might like sending letters made with stamped writing paper and matching envelopes! The paper and envelopes are much cheaper than cardstock and A2 envelopes, and since I have a huge stash of stamps I can use, these stationery sets will be much easier on my budget! (I plan to provide a nice assortment of the sheets with matching envelopes and will let the staff put them together for clients in whichever way they would like!)

   The sets below were all made with the following items, available in the Office Supplies section of most stores.

Supplies: 

·   Mead 6x9 Writing Tablet (onion skin thin)

·   Mead 100 white standard 6¾ inch sized envelopes

    Below are assorted sheets and matching envelopes made from my stash. If the clients like them, I’ll make and donate more in the future, and will also create pairs in seasonal themes. 

Set #1 and #2 

    

Set #3 and #4 

    

Supplies: 

·    Set #1-  Stamps are from Stampscapes: Stationery- Lakeside Cabin, envelope- Pine Row and Flock Silhouette

·    Set #2- Stationery & Envelope- Balloon Stamp (Stampendous-Stamp retired), 

                   Stationery- Cat Stamp (Eureka Stamps-retired) and Sentiment (Printworks- company out of  business) 

·    Set #3- Stationery-Sentiment (Stampendous-Stamp Retired), 

                   Stationery & Envelope- Butterfly (Embossing Arts- company out of business)

·    Set #4- Stamps are from companies that are no longer in business- 

                   Stationery - Cat (Biblical Impressions) and Sentiment (Azadi Earles), 

                  Envelope-Paw Prints (Biblical Impressions) 

·   Ink pads, cloud stencil, stamp sponge, chalks, Spectrum Noir markers, and misc. tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Crafty Catz Challenge-#707 AG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #271 AG 

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #239 AG (Feb 2026)

Paper Funday- Feb 2026 #84 Anything Goes  (Optional Twist: Use Pastels)

   During COVID, I created packets of cards that I donated to the offices of several people who have taken good care of me over the years, especially my dentist, optometrist, and their wonderful staff.  Since I retired, I started doing that again. The packets I delivered a few weeks ago included cards using this sweet digi from Fred She Said!

   When putting the packets together, I also created a fun Valentine surprise for one of my dear grand-nieces who loves to craft and also loves STICKERS! I filled an envelope with a few copies of this sweet digi, plus included enough supplies for her to make cards to send to her grandparents (both sides of the family). I know that she will feel special getting mail and have fun being creative, and four senior citizens will feel loved! Isn’t that what Valentine's Day is all about! 

   PS I added a photo of the surprise packet below. It was fun to pull together from my stash!

  

Supplies: 

·   Joy Fold Card instructions can be found HERE

·   Digi and Sentiments- from Fred She Said digi set (I love You This Much- colored)

·   Shading and highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

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

Entered into:  

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #127 Theme- AG (Twist- Hearts and Hugs)

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #306 (Both cards include Red, Pink, and a handful of hearts!) 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #2-2026 Feb/March  

The Paper Shelter- #665 AG (Opt-Colors of Love)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #738-739 (AG/Family Friendly)

   Back in 2017, Dearie Dolls images moved me from stamping images to printing them off on my computer. I still occasionally use wood-mount or clear stamps, but my norm is to use digi stamps (which are more in line with my budget, and so much easier to store!) This card, created for the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB and Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge, turned out a lot “busier” than I had planned. The digi has lots of patterns, which I filled with bright colors. The problem arose when I adhered it atop the brightly colored gift-patterned background paper, which overwhelmed the sweet coffee-drinker. I resolved the issue by taking the card front apart and adhering a rectangular overlay of thick ivory on the background paper. That change, plus  moving the sentiment to the top of the card, allowed the cute Coffee Momma to stand out in all her “Morning Glory” (i.e. the digis name!) 

   I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Neglected Stuff and Passion for Markers' "Shop Your Stash” (everything on this card is from my stash, with most items being at least 4 years old, and I added the Dearie Dolls image to my digi collection in 2018!)

   PS-  I had taken a photo of the original card before I decided to add the vellum. I added that pic here and am wondering which version you prefer? 

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps (Good Morning Glory)

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

·   Front Sentiment-a freebie from LoveSVG (Mama Needs Coffee)  (Site is now longer available)

·   Inside Sentiment- Desert Diva Freebie (You did it Congratulation-graduation)

·   Sentiments- “Keep Calm and Wait for Santa” from a Beccy’s Place Digi set (Simply Santa) (Beccy recently closed her digi shop. She now sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

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

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

Entered into:  

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge FB- #66 Feb 2026       

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #50 Feb   

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #825: Shop Your Stash

Neglected Stuff Challenge- Feb 2026

ABC Christmas Challenge- C & D are for… ?  ‘C is for Crimson’

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- Feb 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- Feb 2026