The Inspiration Station Challenge - Photo Prompt #78 - October 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend went well and you enjoyed doing something you love.  Me?  I made cards, finished a few Crochet projects and watched Western Movies (I love John Wayne and Clint Eastwood).

Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog, where you take your inspiration from a photo prompt and tell us how the photo inspired your design.  This months' prompt is:

What a wonderful Cornucopia of Autumn fruits and veggies, and I had to dig deep into the stash to find something I was happy to use for my DT project; I was directly inspired by the fresh fruit and veg.  

I came across the Pears and Pomegranates Stamp, Die and Washi Tape Sets from Pink Fresh Studio.  For my card, I've used the Washi Tape and Coordinating Dies to create the pretty fruit die cuts.

I've cut 2 panels, one in gold mirror card and the other in a rust color that matched the pomegranates.  The gold panel was cut using the Hemstitch Rectangle Die from Spellbinders, the rust panel was embossed with the Tile Reflection 3-D Embossing folder from Spellbinders.

The sentiment, from the Pears and Pomegranates Stamp set, was stamped and heat embossed using Copper Fine embossing power, cut with the coordinating die and popped on foam pads.  The washi tape die cuts were arranged and some were lifted on foam pads for extra dimension.  Lastly, iridescent sequins from the stash were added as a finishing touch.

The team and I hope you'll join us this month and share your inspired projects.  We love seeing all the creativity and inspiration.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cupcake Inspirations

A Cut Above

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Word Art Wednesday

Double Trouble

Aud Sentiments

Die Cut Divas

Can You Handle the Pressure

Crafty Catz

Cut It Up

The Paper Funday Challenge - October 2025

Happy Wednesday Friends!  Wow, it's October and Autumn is here, hopefully you are experiencing cooler weather and seeing lots of beautiful Fall Colors.  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsors this month are Varada Sharma Designs and Scrappy Tails Crafts and our Optional Twist is: Cute or Creepy.

For my design team project, I've used images from the Fairy Botanicals Stamp and Coordinating Die Sets by Scrappy Tails Crafts, to create a cute Autumn card.  

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from the "Fall Fun" 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella.  I've also followed Sketch #10 by Mary at Cardz TV, and you can find all her FREE sketches HERE. 

After die cutting the image, foam pads were added and adhered to the oval die cut mini panel.  The sentiment has been popped on craft foam as well, and is from an Autumn sentiment strip pack from Simon Says Stamp.  Lastly, I've added gold sequins to finish off the design.  

I forgot to mention that I've scored a line around the perimeter of the brown mat to add a bit more interest, and it also helped me line up the squares.  

We hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month, and share your crafty creations. You may even want to try the Optional Twist of Cute or Creepy.  So, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Crafting Challenge

Critter Crazy

Die Cut Divas

Passion for Markers

Try it on Tuesday

Girlz Creative Fun

All Sorts

Di's Digi Design

Sweet Stampin'

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Scrappy Autumn and Sharing From the Heart

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  I have a quick Autumn share today but before I get to my card, I want to share something personal, something that I finally feel I'm able to say out loud.  Our son Dylan passed away on July the 13th of this year.  After 10 days in ICU with a pulmonary embolism, he succumbed to his damaged lungs, failing kidneys and passed away.  He was a few weeks shy of his 35th birthday and needless to say, July and August were just a blur for us.  

I want to thank all those who reached out, sent cards and messages of condolence to us.  They were so beautiful and appreciated.  Those cards and messages, along with the Peace given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, is what got me through the darkest of days.  Christ is always with me and strengths me daily.

I'm finally feeling creative, and slowly getting back to what I love.  My son is always with me, in my heart, my mind and memories.

**************************************************************************

So now, let me share a quick Autumn card using lots of pretty snippets of patterned paper.  I find it so hard to throw scraps of pretty paper away so I made a "Quilt" card using them.

The squares are 1" in diameter and there are 12 of them.  After adhering them to a mat, I embossed the entire panel to give it a "quilted" look.  I was so inspired by watching a video by Mary at Cardz TV and who doesn't have loads of pretty paper scraps?

To finish everything off, I've added a sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp, popped on craft foam along with a double bow made with Baker's Twine.  Autumn is my favorite time of year, even though Autumn is really not a thing in Florida LOL

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Outlawz Color Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Double Trouble Challenge

Dream Valley

Make My Monday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Crafty Catz

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #33 - Sep/Oct 2025

Hello and Welcome Friends.  Today is September 15th, and that marks a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Our optional inspiration photo offers lots of warm Autumn colors and I took inspiration from this photo for my DT project:

Using the Spring Bouquets Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp, I created an Autumn themed card using colors from the photo.  Just because the stamp set is named Spring Bouquets, doesn't mean it has to be saved for Spring cards, it's actually very versatile.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, and fussy cut along the top edge to create a half panel.  I've used foam pads for elevation before adhering to a vintage polka dot patterned paper mat.  The sentiment is from the Autumn is Calling sentiment set from Penny Black.

Lastly I've added crackled gold embellishments from Close to My Heart and covered the florals with Wink of Stella for that extra Autumn sparkle!

The team and I invite you to join us this month and share your beautiful Floral Focused projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

A Place to Start

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Crafters

Avenue 613

We love Stamping

Stamping Sensations

All Sorts

Crafts Galore Encore

Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge

The Paper Funday Challenge #80 - Sep 2025

Hi Friends! Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsors this month are Newton's Nook Designs and Alex Syberia Designs.  Our challenges are Always Anything Goes with Optional Twists, and the twist this month is:  Changing Seasons.

For my design team project, I've used the Echo Park Welcome Fall Collection Kit to create this card (along with several others) using the Optional Twist, and I'm loving the rich Autumn hues.

I've followed a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenges and let the ephemera and pretty papers from the kit do all the work on this card.  As I stated earlier, I made several Autumn themed cards using this kit and plan to send to my September swap buddies.  

The team and I hope you'll join us over at The Paper Funday Challenge, we love seeing everyone's creativity.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

 

**Challenges Entered:

A Place to Start

September 2025 Inspiration Station Challenge

Hello Friends!  I'm so behind in my design team projects and I have to thank my teamies for putting up with me.  On Monday the 1st of Sep, a new challenge month started at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  The inspiration photo this month is appropriate for the season most of us are coming in to:

Wow, the colors in this scene are so rich and vibrant! I'm jealous that I don't get to experience a true Autumn living in Florida.  For my design team project, I used Autumn themed papers from the Echo Park Welcome Fall Collection Kit to create my card.

I followed a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenges, used ephemera from the kit and added sequins from my stash to create this quick and easy Autumn card.

The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month. We're excited to see what your take is on our inspiration photo.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Dream Valley
Stamps Fun Creativity

Crafts Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

A Place to Start

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Aug/Sep 2025

Hello Crafty Friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog and our optional inspiration photo is full of Autumn goodness (at least in my eyes):

I adore Sunflowers, both in the Summer and Autumn and I was directly inspired by the gorgeous flowers in this photo. Using the Hello Sunflower stamp set from Fun Stampers Journey, I've created a multi-occasion card for my design team project.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, the patterned papers are from the "Bee Happy" 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and to finish everything off, I've added faux gems in a golden color to match the patterned paper.  We invite you to join us this month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge, where the focus is Always Anything Flowers Goes.  Hope to see you there!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Fingers

Pattie's Creations

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Creative Inspiration

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Jul/Aug 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Saturday!  I'm rather late with my DT card for this month's Beautiful Blossoms Challenge, which started on the 15th of July.  But as they say, better late than never heh?

Our optional inspiration photo has a tropical feel and I just had to use the Hibiscus Fancy Die Set from Hero Arts for my card.  I've had this set in the stash and this is the first time using it, which is a shame because it created the prettiest hibiscus flowers.

Our inspiration for this month is:

And my card:

I've die cut the flowers from white card and ink blended using Catherine Pooler inks, the leaves were cut from green card.  The embossed background was created using the Happy Hibiscus 3-D embossing folder from Stampin' Up, and the sentiment is from the Happy Hibiscus Stamp set, also from Stampin' Up.

To finish everything off, I've added a few holographic gems from the Itty Bitty Bokeh Mix by Stampin' Up.  We hope you'll join us this month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge and share your Floral Focused creations!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Creative Moments

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Creative Inspiration

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Try It on Tuesday

A Cut Above

Just Us Girls

Classic Design Challenge 07-2025

Hello Crafty Friends!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our Optional Twist this go-round is:  Sun, Sand, Surf.  Our generous sponsor is Dr. Digi House of Stamps and for my design team project, I've colored the Beach Bum Bob image using Copic Alcohol Markers.

The designer papers are from a variety pack by Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from a set by Whimsy Stamps.  I've popped the focal image on foam pads for dimension, and I've added no bells or whistles because I just wasn't drawn to do so for this card.

We hope you'll join us and share your card creations this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Art Nudge 725B

Sparkles Monthly

Creative Crafters

Dream Valley

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

We Love Stamping

Stamping Sensations

Inspiration Station Challenge- July 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was fantastic and if you celebrated the 4th of July holiday, I hope you had loads of fun, food and fireworks.

Today begins a new challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog. Our inspiration photo this month is very appropriate since we are in the season for sun, fun, holidays and vacations!

I could use a week or two (or more) sitting in a beach chair underneath that tree, that's a short walk from my cabana that sits on the water.  I took the scene and used it as direct inspiration for my card, coloring up the "Still Summer" digital stamp from Mirtillamente using Copic Alcohol Markers.

The patterned papers are from the "Good Day Sunshine" 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park.  After coloring the image, I've fussy cut and popped on foam pads before placing on a panel that has been inked. The sentiment is from an older set by Hero Arts, and the sentiment strip is also popped on foam pads.  To finish, I've added Glossy Accents to the sunglass lenses for a bit of realism. 

The team and I hope you join us at the Challenge this month and share your inspired projects, we're always delighted to see everyone's creativity.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna