myasperations 6-11-26

   I have been a regular participant in the Path of Positivity (POP) Challenge since I stumbled upon it 5 years ago. It became a favorite almost immediately, mainly because it inspires a positive mindset and encourages positive actions! (To learn more, read the Introduction provided in 2013 by the creator of this inspiring challenge, Lisa D.)  

    This year, the POP is officially entering its 13th year of offering challenges that encourage positivity and creativity! In honor of this anniversary, our challenge host introduced the theme for 2026, "Crafting by the Numbers," back in January. 

     June's challenge TWIST is Lucky #6: use six embellishments on your card. 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"!

    

      For my whimsical card, I used two digis (an image and a sentiment) from Tiddly Inks. After printing the sweet little image, named "Dandylion Fairy," I cut the paper to fit onto an A2-sized card, then I used decorative chalks, a sponge, and a template created from a scrap of paper to add fluffy clouds to the sky. When finished, I erased the little bit of"cloud fluff" that I accidentally wiped across the digi image, then colored the sweet little image. Texture and sparkle were added to the dandelion with Polar White Flowersoft and a bit of clear glitter! Her wings became sparkly with the help of some Diamond Stickles. Pretty pastel colored patterned papers and silver metallic cardstock provide backing for the creation and the inside sentiment. The final touch was to add my 6 embellishments- 6 little flower gems that resemble dandelion puffs caught up in the breeze! 

    PS- I always thought that pixies and fairies were pretty similar until I googled them a few years ago and learned that they are very different in temperament, are not on friendly terms, and are actually territorial enemies. Just think of the battles they are having that we can't even see? Ha! I'm now a "senior citizen" who loved fairy tales as a child, and I still love imagining such things!]

   Also, although Christy Croll, the artist/owner of Tiddly Inks, closed her challenge blog a few years ago, she has kept the blog site up, and you can access coloring tutorials plus several freebies HERE. Christy also sells a nice assortment of digis in her Etsy shop HERE.   

                                 

 

  Supplies: 

·   Digi- Tiddly Inks “Dandylion Pixie” (Retired, but you can find other Tiddly images HERE and HERE)

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

·   Polar White Flowersoft- available from several online sources

·   Inside Sentiment- from a Tiddly Inks digi set (no longer available)

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

·  Patterned paper, silver cardstock, decorative scissors,  other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge- #279 AG 

Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 6 Wk 2- AG

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #243 AG (June 2026)

This card, created for the Inspiration Station Challenge Photo (Strawberries), features a sweet digi from All Dressed Up, plus a backdrop made from an item I’ve had in my stash since the 1980’s. All other items are also from my stash.

 

Supplies: 

·   Background scene is upcycled from the front of an tablet of recipe cards (from the 1980’s) 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (I Love to Bake)  (This digi appears to be retired. You might be able to obtain a copy if you send a message via Etsy.)

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

·   Front Sentiment-Label from my scrapbook stash.

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

·   Scrap of doily, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #86 Inspiration Photo (I was inspired by the Strawberries!)      

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Add a Sentiment  

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (June #173) 

Papercraft Challenges- Challenge #130 Theme- AG 

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2623

Paper Funday- June 2026 #88AG  (Optional Twist: Polkadots and Stripes)

     This card was created for a few Christmas Challenges, including the ABC Christmas Challenge, with the theme “L is for Let it Snow” (my card features lots of snowflakes!), the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge, and the Outlawz Christmas Challenge.

     It features one of my favorite Stamplorations digis named "Coffee Cup Parade." I printed one copy of the digi onto fuchsia-striped patterned paper and one onto white cardstock. I then fussy-cut and adhered three of the white cups atop the striped parade of cups. When finished, I adhered the layered parade onto snowflake-patterned paper (with a deep sage green background) and fussy-cut several snowflakes from the background paper to embellish the parade! The final step was to add sentiments and additional snowflake embellishments to the inside of the card.

Supplies: 

·   Digi- Stamplorations (Coffee Cup Parade)

·   Snowflake patterned paper- purchased at JoAnnes Crafts (Sadly no longer in business)

·   Front Sentiment- “Warm Holiday Wishes” from a Beccy’s Place Digi (Christmas Kitties) (Beccy closed her digi shop last year but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·   Inside Sentiment from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee)

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

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

Entered into:  

STAMPlorations- Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge      

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #54 June 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #756-757 (AG/Family Friendly)

ABC Christmas Challenge- L & M are for… ?  'L is for Let it Snow'

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- June 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- June 2026

      When I saw that the latest theme at the Double D Challenge is Bows, I knew that I wanted to share a Power Poppy digi named “Big Ol’ Bow.” It is very versatile, as it can be used for any occasion, and you can make the bow as big as you desire. That is exactly what I did when I made this door decoration my last Christmas before I retired in 2024. The agency staff and clients always enjoy seeing the dozens of doors decked out in holiday colors and themes. This bow digi inspired me to create “Gift Packages” with holiday papers, to hang on the door of our Prevention Office, where my amazing team members and I created presentations, lesson plans, social media posts, community programs, and more to help parents, schools, and concerned others to prevent drug and alcohol abuse/misuse.

     Note- I'd taken this photos to remind me of this idea for future uses, but had never entered it into any challenge (I checked on my blog to make sure), so I hope it is okay to post here.  

     When I checked to make sure that the Big Ol’ Bow digi set is still available, I see that it is… and is now priced at just $2, so I wanted to share it here so that you can nab a copy if desired!

I forgot to add that printing this digi onto patterned paper would also be super easy. I think I'll try that for Easter, Valentines day, Birthdays... hmmm... just about anything!!            

 

Supplies: 

·   Digi- PowerPoppy (Big Ol’ Bow) printed off on sheets of pastel colored paper

·   Digis on tags are from Little Scraps of Heaven and sentiment on middle tag is from The Paper Shelter (Sadly, both of these shops have closed within the last year!)

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

Entered into:  

Double D’s Challenge- Bows     

 

myasperations 6-5-26

    I created this card for the latest Time Out challenge, its fun theme, Favorite Beverage! I have so many favorites, but this is one of the first I remember loving when I was in pre-school: Root Beer, and especially Root Beer Floats! My card features a digi that was so fun to color. (I love the little sunglasses!) and is currently a freebie (see the link below.)

   The digi is actually iced coffee, but I did a little research and learned that you can add ice to a root beer float, too.  I found a recipe that I plan to make as soon as I buy some ice cream! The ice cubes are actually made from root beer, which means they DON’T dilute the drink, but they DO keep it icy cold. And, they add a little slushiness to the drink as they melt! (Doesn’t that sound yummy?!)

  After coloring the digi, I found a great piece of patterned paper in my stash that works perfectly with the rich brown shades of the icy drink and started layering the pieces, including sentiments, in place. The final touch was to slide a copy of the recipe I found to the inside of the card. I’ll be sending it to my nephew, who has a birthday later this month… and who also loves root beer floats. (Then we can compare notes!) 

Supplies: 

·   Digi from JessicaLynn Original (Iced Summer Coffee)  (Currently is being offered as a freebie!)

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

·   Front Sentiment- a freebie from Desert Diva- (Sweet Birthday Wishes)

·   Inside Sentiment- from my scrapbook stash

·   Glossy Accents from Ranger- used to make the water drops on the glass.

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

·   Piece of acetate, patterned paper, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into: 

Time Out Challenge- #314 (“Inspired By”  Challenge- Favorite Beverage)      

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June  

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #243 AG (June 2026)

    I made this card to enter into a current Simon Says challenge- Masculine. It features a sweet digi from All Dressed Up named “Little Pirate” (I love all the details that artist/owner Wendy Burns adds to her digis, like the little bottle with a message in this digi.) The bottom half of the card features an underwater scene from a Fred She Said digi set. I used alcohol markers and a white gel pen to color the digi, and blue chalk, a sponge, and a template created from a scrap of paper to add fluffy clouds to the sky. (I also used a sponge and Q-Tips to add decorative chalks to deepen the colors in the underwater scene.) I decided to create a slimline card that would fit into a size 10 business envelope, so I didn’t have to crop just a portion of the underwater scene.  Instead, after I finished adding chalked color to the scene, I just cut a wavy edge along the top of the scene, and adhered it atop the pirate digi. (Actually, when I cut the strip, it was way crooked… so I had to cut another strip to layer under the first so that the ship has a steady base upon which to float!)  

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Colorful Options (the intro line for the June Challenge is “This month we’re celebrating- fresh, airy, serene, refreshing” and I think that my card reflects three of these… and maybe all four if a pirate ship on the sea can be considered serene?!) It also fits into Option 2-Supporting Colors of Tiffany Blue! 

                          

                   

Supplies: 

§   Underwater scene (plus a strip of wavy water) from a Fred She Said digi set (Emma the Mermaid & Friends)

·   Digi- All Dressed Up (Little Pirate)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique marker, Decorative Chalks, and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Cloudy sky- made with decorative chalks, a sponge and handmade template

·   Front Sentiment-Lili of the Valley digi set (Quotables Lives Journey)

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

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

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Masculine  

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (June #173) 

All Dressed Up FB Challenge- June-Big/Little Guys

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: June 2026 Color Board 

Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- June 2026-Color Challenge  

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- June 2026

    Although the calendar doesn’t yet announce the arrival of summer, where I live it has officially arrived because we’ve started seeing fresh strawberries pop up for sale in little stands along the road. These little bits of heaven are so much sweeter than the ones you buy in grocery stores!  I picked some up a few days ago, then enjoyed them with a slice of an angel food cake and a scoop of ice cream. So yummy!

     My card, created for the Inspiration Station Challenge Photo (Strawberries), features a digi of luscious strawberries and sentiment from a Poppy Poppy digi set. The background is pieced together with papers and sheer ribbon from my stash.

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including Double D's: Bows (the bow I used might be small, but it fits beautifully into the color and pattern themes on my card! 

Supplies: 

·   Digi and front sentiment are from a Power Poppy digi set (Cherries and Berries)

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

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

·   Sheer black dotted Swiss ribbon- JoAnne’s

·   Patterned Paper and cardstock- Hobby Lobby

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

Entered into:  

Inspiration Station- Challenge #86 Inspiration Photo (Strawberries)  

Double D’s Challenge- Bows     

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2622

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #840: Summertime

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #754-755 (AG/Family Friendly)

     This card was created for a few Christmas Challenges, including the ABC Christmas Challenge, with the theme “K is for Knitted” (my card features a few strips of Sweater Paper from an Imagine That! Digi set), the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge (teacup with snowy holiday theme), and the Outlawz Christmas Challenge.

 

Supplies: 

· Winter Arabesque-Knit Sweater Papers from Imagine That! Digis (Sadly, the company is no longer in business.)  

·  Christmas tea cup digi (Precolored) is from a Sande's Poema digital set from a weekly email newsletter which you can join HERE, or check out the FB page HERE for additional info.)

·   Shading and highlights added with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Front Sentiment-Lili of the Valley digi set (Christmas Wishes)

·   Inside Sentiment from Polka Dot Orchard digi set (Merry Little Coffee)

·   Diecut “doily”- from a small pack I purchased at a small stamp store years ago in South Dakota.

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

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

Entered into: 

ABC Christmas Challenge- J and K are for… ?  ‘'K is for Knitted’

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #54 June 

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- June 2026

Paper Funday- June 2026 #88 AG  

myasperations 6-3-26

     Last month, I created a silhouette sunset scene that was so easy… and fun… that I decided to make another one, but this time with a fishing theme. I created the card using a digital image from a Beccy’s Place digi set, two wood-mounted rubber stamps from Stampscapes, black and assorted colored ink pads, and sponges. After developing the scene with the digi, I stamped the lakeside scene with black ink, and used grey ink to stamp the waves across the lower part of the scene. After adhering a small circle “sun”, punched from a post-it note, at the top of the scene, I sponged layers of yellow, orange, and rusty red across the scene to create a rich sunset in the sky and across the water. After removing the “sun”, I added wispy clouds with a white colored pencil, waves on the water with a white gel pen, and highlights on the two fishermen with the white pencil and gel pen. Sentiments and black photo corners finish the card.

     Note- I have enjoyed entering cards into the Neglected Stuff Challenge because it requires me to dig into my stash and create with items that I once treasured… and occasionally even forgot that I had! The two wood-mounted rubber stamps are examples of those forgotten treasures!  I’ve owned them since the late 90’s, when I co-owned a stamp store in South Dakota with a dear friend. Shortly after opening the store, we learned about the Stampscapes stamp line, and they became one of our most popular vendors. Whenever we taught a class or even did a demonstration with these amazing scenery stamps, we’d usually sell out on anything we demonstrated. I almost forgot about all the stamps that started me on this fun hobby, so I enjoy that the Neglected Stuff Challenge reminds me to dig them out for a playdate!!

     I’m entering this card into several challenges, including the Colorful Options Monthly Challenge (the intro line for the June Challenge is “This month we’re celebrating- fresh, airy, serene, refreshing” and I think that my card reflects all of these words! It also fits into Option 3-Rainbow, since many colors of the rainbow are seen in this beautiful sunset and water. 

  

Supplies: 

·  Silhouette and inside sentiment from a Beccy’s Place digi set (Going Fishin’) (Beccy closed her digi shop last year but still sells clear stamp sets online. Check HERE  to see which sets are available!)

·  Wood-mounted rubber stamps from Stampscapes- Lakeside Cove and Water Pattern

·   Colored with Memento Black, grey and other colored ink pads, sponges, white colored pencil, and white gel pen.

·   Front Sentiment- a freebie from TlcCreations (Wishing You Little Moments of Delight)

·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources

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

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

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-AG (May)  

Neglected Stuff Challenge- June 2026  

Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: June 2026 Color Board (Option 3-Rainbow)    

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Weeks #754-755 (AG/Family Friendly)

Pammies Inky Pinky Challenge #2622

    I created this card for the latest Time Out challenge’s fun theme, Favorite Beverage! I have so many favorites, but coffee is truly my “favoritetist” favorite, so it will be the focus of my first entry!  It is also my first entry into the June challenge at the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge.

    I remember tasting coffee as a young child, but through it was “yukky” i.e. bitter!) However, after I started working my first job back in the 70’s at a small-town drug store, one of the other clerks poured me a cup during our work break. I quickly learned that the chocolate bar I’d usually enjoy on my break was waaaay tastier when paired with a cup of steaming coffee! And…. my love affair with coffee began!

    This card features a unique STAMPlorations digi, which was offered as a freebie at a 2017 Fall Coffee Lovers Hop… and is still available, and Free HERE!)  Using my Word program, I cropped the mug from the complete digi (which includes a pumpkin and fall leaves), and printed it on white cardstock. I used a few grey markers to add shading to the mug, and a few brown markers helped me “fill” it with coffee! Knitted texture was added to the mug's cozy using markers in shades of cream and tan, a white gel pen, AND an excellent tutorial from artist Annabel Haines (see link in my supplies list). Although it takes a little time to detail all the cable stitches, I think the results are worth it! The rest of the card went together fairly quickly with items from my stash!

   (An added note- STAMPlorations artist/owner Shery Russ was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer several years ago. Her shop remained open but in a limited capacity. I am so happy that Shery is in full recovery and her shop is also back to 100% and offering lots of great deals HERE. Starting this month, Shery is also offering a free digi every month. The June free digi is a weathered birdhouse that you can find Here and  see in the photo below)

 

Supplies: 

·   Mug Digi- a freebie from STAMPlorations (2017 Fall Coffee Lovers Hop)

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

·   Front Sentiment on small tag-from “Imagine That” digi stamps (Shop no longer in business)

·   Inside Sentiment is a freebie from YouTube@Sassy’s LLC (learn more Here)

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

·   Woven ribbon, background paper, other misc. items and tools from my stash.

Entered into:  

Time Out Challenge- #314 (“Inspired By”  Challenge- Favorite Beverage)     

Coffee Loving Paper Crafters/Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge: #54 June 

STAMPlorations- Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge      

ABC Christmas Challenge- J and K are for… ?  ‘'K is for Knitted’

Outlawz Christmas Only Challenge- June 2026

Outlawz Challenge Monthly Linky- June 2026

     This is my first entry to this month's challenge from Sweet November Stamps (SNS). It features an adorable digi named, appropriately, “Peek-a-boo”, from the SNS “My Unbelievable Friend” digis!  I can almost hear the cute giggles that these two friends are enjoying as they play a game of hide-and-seek! Setting up the card, with the four sections (sky, friends and dock, wavy water, and underwater scene) took a bit of planning, tearing, cutting, and pasting, but I really like the way it turned out! (I did add a bit of magic with my trusty white gel pen that helped to pull the lower sections together. The wavy water digi from the Fred She Said digi set includes white “waves” flowing across a light blue and aqua colored base. I sketched similar waves atop the entire underwater section of the card, including the playful mermaid's tail! I also added “sparkles” to the mermaid's tail by adding tiny dots with a white gel pen. 

 

Supplies: 

·   Underwater scene (plus strip of wavy water) both from a Fred She Said digi set (Emma the Mermaid & Friends)

·   Cloudy sky- photo upcycled from an old calendar

·   Digi- Sweet November Stamps (Peek-a-boo)

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

·   Front Sentiment (on tag)-Hand written

·   Inside Sentiment “Have a Fintastic Day”- a freebie from Simply Cards Magazine (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:  

Friends of Sweet November (FB) June 

Classic Design Challenge: Anything Goes #5-2026 May-June 

Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #840: Summertime

Polkadoodles Challenge-  Challenge 6 Wk 1- AG

Paper Funday- June 2026 #88AG