myasperations 4-17-26

      My first card features an adorable digi and sentiment from Beccy's Place named “Stanley in the Rain.” I don’t usually use watercolors, but decided to try it for this card, and love the way the light washes of color gives the image an almost translucent feeling. The little umbrellas were fussy-cut from a sheet of stationery that I’ve had in my stash for over a decade. I didn't have any paper or stamps depicting rain... so I used an A2-size piece of weathered wood paper and light blue dotted swiss paper (representing raindrops) to provide a nice rainy day backdrop for Stanley. So fun! 

    I’m entering this card into a few other challenges, including the Time Out Challenge Pick 2 Challenge (my card contains pastel colors and rain), Inspiration Station’s April photo (features rain boots), plus three challenges that are related to bright spring colors- Simon Says Monday, Passion for Markers, and April’s Colorful Options.             

                     

                  

                   

Supplies: 

·   Digi and Sentiment- Beccy’s Place Digital Set (Stanley In The Rain)

·   Colored with Prang Watercolors (a set from elementary school) and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen.

·   Weathered wood patterned paper- Hobby Lobby

·   Inside Sentiment- a freebie from Gingershouseblogspot.com (When Life Gives You Rainy Days…)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

·   Cardstock, umbrella stationery, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- Challenge #311 (Pick 2 Challenge)      

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: April 2026  Color Board (Yellow- or rainbow) 

Inspiration Station- Challenge #84 Inspiration Photo (Spring-flowers and boots)

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Bright & Cheerful       

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #833: Spring Colors

     Several Christmas and coffee challenges are going on right now, so the rest of the cards in this post were created with them in mind! This first card features a Stamplorations digi named "Framed Coffee Cup" with patterned paper and a gingerbread embellishment to fit a Christmas theme. I printed the digi onto white cardstock, plus printed the coffee cup separately on patterned paper using the process I developed in my last post (HERE). After the holly decorated coffee cup was adhered to the Framed Coffee Cup digi, the finished (layered) digi was adhered to a red A2 card base. Then came the fun part, adding a sentiment and cute little gingerbread cookie (embellishment) to the card front, and perching another one on the inside sentiment.  

 

Supplies: 

·   Stamplorations Digital stamp (Framed Coffee Cup) (clear stamp is retired. Digital image is available for $2.oo)
·   If desired, you can add shading to the cup with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and highlights with a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen.
·   Gingerbread cookie embellishment from a Beccy’s Place digi set that is now retired.
·   Sentiments “Happy Gingerbread Season” and “Sweet Holiday Wishes” are from Beccy’s Place digi sets-Gingerbread Season and Christmas Cheers. (Beccy closed her digi shop but sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)
·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·   All other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Tea or Coffee      

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17   

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April 

STAMPlorations- April 2026      

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #748-749 (AG/Family Friendly)

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- April 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- April 2026

     This card features a sweet cocoa-themed digi from Not2Shabby, perched atop a beautiful snowy background that was inspired by the April Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group (BYSHC) Challenge on FB. I placed a circle of vellum beneath the cup of cocoa to help it stand out from the busy background, created with strips of patterned paper I’ve had in my stash for decades. A bit of sparkle was added to the snowflakes with Nuvo Glitter Drops (you can see this in the side view closeup. It is really pretty!) 

    I’m entering this card into a few other challenges, including Not2Shabby’s April Color Board (my card features shades of all 5 colors).

   

                 

Supplies: 

·   Digi with sentiment- Not2Shabby Digital Stamp (Warm Wishes)
·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Nuvo Glitter Drops -White Blizzard
·   Inside Sentiment- “Cocoa and Snow=Happy Glow” a freebie from LoveSvg (Site is no longer available)
·   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- #68 April 2026        

Not2Shabby Mood Board Challenge-April (Color board)  

(Via Pinterest) {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17   

(Via Pinterest) Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #4-2026 March/April  

Crafty Catz Challenge-#711 AG

      While organizing/decluttering my craft room, I came across several braided-edge card bases that I'd made before we moved to our current location nearly 20 years ago! I was excited to use one on this unusual Christmas card, which came together with assorted items from my stash. I think the wispy plumes of steam really bring the card to life. I created them by lightly sketching a few swirls onto scraps of vellum with a pencil and carefully cutting them out. With a little positioning, I gently intertwined the plumes, then dabbed a bit of glue on the vellum wisps and pressed them into place.

   PS-I had learned how to make these cards using a template named “Lattice Folds” from Hot Off the Press (which appears to no longer be in business.) However, if you enter Lattice Fold Card or Braided Edge Card either on Pinterest or Google, you can find lots of videos and templates. I posted a few of my favorites in the supplies list.

     I’m entering this card into a few other challenges, including April’s Pick 3 (My tree picks are Text, Slimline, and Stripes that are made with words!)  

 

 

Supplies: 

·   Lattice Fold Card/Braided Edge Card- I found a few videos and templates Here, Here, Here, and Here.

·   Coffee Cup Digi from Bugaboo Stamps (Sadly, the company is no longer in business)

·   I shaded the cup with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and added highlights with a Sakura Gelly Roll white

      gel pen.

·   Front Sentiment (tag)-“Celebrate” from a Lili of the Valley digi set (Sentiment Tags)

·   Inside sentiment-“All hearts Come Home for  Christmas” freebie from LoveSVG (Site is no longer available)

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

·   Patterned papers, a strip of red satin ribbon, scraps of vellum, and other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Neglected Stuff Challenge- April 2026  

(Via Pinterest) {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party: April 10-17  

(Via Pinterest) Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #51 April 

Pick 3 Challenge- March-April 2026  Text, Slimline, Stripes

Paper Funday- April 2026 #86 AG 

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2615