Classic Design Challenge #01-2025

Hi Friends, it's the 15th of the month and that signals a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsor this month is SheepSki Designs and our Optional Twist is Winter Fun.

I've used the "Snow Happy" Digital image to create my card, and this snowman is definitely having a bit of Winter Fun creating Snow Angels!

There's not much coloring needed for a Snowman, just a few pops of color and a bit of shading to help him appear more round.  It's hard to see in the photo but I've highlighted the snow and "motion lines" with Crystal Stickles, so there would be glistening snow in the scene.

I almost added a few sequins but they just didn't look right, so I've left them off.  The patterned paper is from a 12x12 paper pad from Color Blok, which I've had in my stash for at least 10 years (I have so much designer paper, I forgot I had this pad..for shame, for shame!).  The sentiment is from the "Snowflake Season" Stamp Set by Penny Black.

  

That's all I have for today.  The team and I hope you'll visit us at The Classic Design Challenge, where the theme is Always Anything Goes with Optional Twists.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

2 Sisters on a Blog

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie

Scrapping 4 Fun

The Four Seasons Challenge

A Perfect Time to Craft

Cards Galore Encore

Conjurer of Dreams

The Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #25 - Jan/Feb 2025

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  This month is coasting right along and since today is the 15th of the month, that means a new challenge month has begun at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  This month's optional inspiration photo contains some lush winter colors and I've chosen pastel colors, based on the colors in the photo, for my florals.

Using the "With All My Love" Digital Stamp Set #SK-0520 from Angie Blom Digital Designs, I've colored the florals in this gorgeous bouquet using Alcohol Markers. This is a lovely set, it contains 8 printables in various sizes.  And here's the best part - at the time of this writing, Angie Blom is having a 40% off sale celebrating her 5 years in business!

I've kept the card just 1 layer, but it appears to have a frame as I cut the focal panel a bit shorter to give that illusion.  The sentiment is one that's included in the set and is perfect as a Card of Encouragement or to give to someone spiritually like-minded, which I plan to do.

For the finishing touches, I've added white sequins from my stash.  I'm really pleased with this color combo and just how quickly this card came together.

We hope you'll join us this month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge.  We love seeing everyone's creativity and how (or not) the optional inspiration photo is used.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Digi Choosday

Fab 'n Funky

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Crafters

Passion for Markers

Outlawz Monday Greetings

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Dragonfly Dreams

Stampin Sensations

Di's Digi Design

Warm Wintery Wishes

Hello and Happy Friday!  We've made it to the weekend and I hope you're staying warm and toasty, lots of snow and ice in the Northern Hemisphere.  I would like to take a moment to mention and send prayers to all those affected by the horrific Fires in California.  It looks apocalyptic!

I have a quick share today featuring a Sweet Snowman and Penguin friend sharing some Wintery Hugs.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I've colored using Alcohol markers.

It seems teal and pink are all the rage recently, so I couldn't resist going with that color combo in my card.  The papers are from a holiday/winter pack from Scrapbook.com. The sentiment is part of the digital set, but unfortunately Bugaboo Stamps is no more and I miss them!  Jody, I hope you are well and maybe one day, you'll share your art with us again.

The focal panel and sentiment have been cut using stitched nesting dies, the sentiment has been popped on foam pads for dimension.  Lastly, I've added sequins for additional interest and shine.  That's all I have for you today.  Have a fabulous weekend, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

My Time to Craft

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner: Fill in the Blank - Snowman

Let's Craft and Create

Outlawz Monday Greetings

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Stamping Sensations

Inspiration Station Challenge #69

Hello and Happy Monday Crafty Friends!  It's the 1st Monday of the month and it's time for a new challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Everyone (including us Floridians) are in a freeze at the minute so I believe this months' inspiration photo is a good one considering the weather:

For my team project, I've went through my digital stamps and found a sweet one from Power Poppy titled "My Little Chickadee" and created a CAS card with a New Year's greeting.

The artist has drawn this image perfectly for coloring as it contains lots of drawn shading, and the colorway of a Chickadee is pretty basic, so the coloring is simple.  I've used alcohol markers to add pops of color to the scene.

I've masked off the edges of the die cut panel and inked a bit of blue ink to create a subtle frame.  The sentiment is included in the digital set and I've enlarged prior to printing.  The patterned paper is from a Winter themed stack from Alina Crafts. Lastly, I've added Silver Crystal Stickles around the sentiment and Clear Crystal Stickles to the berries and snow on the branch.

The team and I invite you to join us at the Challenge this month, we love seeing how the photo inspires everyone, and we hope to inspire you with our designs, so hopefully see you there.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B Challenge

Let's Craft and Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Scrapping 4 Fun

2 Crafty Critter Crazy

Crafty Animals

The Four Seasons Challenge

Paper Funday Challenge January 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy New Year!  Wow, here we are...2025...who would have imagined it?  Anyhoo...it's time for a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our challenges are Always Anything Goes with Optional Twists.  The Twist this month is Monochrome, which is what I've chosen to use for my team project.

My card features patterned paper from Stampin' Up, Snowflake images from Gina K. Designs and a sentiment from Brutus Monroe.

I've stamped the snowflakes and sentiment using Boho Blue ink from Stampin' Up.  I've added silver sequins for some extra sparkle, and placed a nest of silver thread behind the sentiment, which has been popped on foam pads for dimension.  

Please join us this month at the Challenge, we would love to see your creations, and we have 2 generous sponsors this month:  Pattie's Creations and Lawn Fawn.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Cards Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenges

A Perfect Time to Craft

Give a Crafter a Cookie

The Four Seasons Challenge

2 Sisters on the Blog

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges

Creative Fingers

Warmest Holiday Wishes from Our Family to Yours

Happy Christmas Friends!  I would like to share the last 2 Christmas Cards for 2024.  The first card features a die cut Poinsettia and patterned paper from Scrapbook.com.  Also, a sentiment from Memory Box.

The second card features a wreath made from die cut stars.  The patterned paper used are snippets from a holiday pack by American Crafts.  The small stars have been popped on foam pads, the background panel has been embossed with a snowflake embossing folder.  A plaid bow added and the sentiment is from Memory Box.

I hope you have the merriest of days, full of love and laughter. Until Next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Poinsettia Card:

Rudolph Days Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Christmas Kickstart

Crafty Calendar

Wreath Card:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Crafty Gals Corner

Everybody Art

Holiday Candle Arrangement

Happy Christmas Eve to you and yours, just 1 more sleep until Christmas Day!  I have a quick share for you featuring the Holiday Candle Arrangement Stamp Set from Hero Arts #CM648.

I've had this set in my stash since last year, and I found it while searching for the sets I wanted to use this year.  I was surprised when I realized I hadn't opened the package and a bit ashamed that I bought and then forgot.  

I've colored the image using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Makers and die cut the focal image using a nesting postage die from Hero Arts.  The extra postal stamping is from a stamp set from Penny Black and the sentiment strip is from a pre-packaged set from Simon Says Stamp.

The sentiment strip and focal panel have been popped on foam pads for dimension.  I've also inked around the edges of the focal panel with Catherine Pooler "Mint To Be" light green ink.  The patterned papers are from the Rustic Noel 6x6 paper pad by The Paper Studio.  

Last but not least, Crystal Stickles were added to the candle flames, holly berries and leaves.  I'll be back tomorrow to share my last Christmas Card for 2024.  It's hard to imagine we will be celebrating the New Year next week.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Passion for Markers

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

A Cut Above

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Ally's Angels

Papercraft Challenges

Creative Crafters
The Dream Factory

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - inspired by the song "Light the Candles All Around the World"

Word Art Wednesday

Gingerbread Postage Collage

Happy Monday Crafty Friends!  I have a quick share for you today featuring the Waffle Flower Postage Collage Gingerbread Stencil and Die Set.  I love Gingerbread; freshly baked Gingerbread is the best with a cup of Hot Cocoa but I digress, I'm supposed to be sharing details of my card.

Using inks from Catherine Pooler, I've went with a traditional Gingerbread color, along with Mint and Chocolate Chip colors.  The Waffle Flower Holiday set is truly fun and festive, and the stencils are very easy to line up and ink blend through.

After stenciling the images, I've cut out the panel using the coordinating postage die, the sentiment was stamped in Dark Brown ink and popped on foam pads for dimension.  Lastly, I've used Gold Stickles to highlight areas on the "stamps".  

That's all I have to share today.  We have 2 more sleeps until Christmas Day and I'm finalizing my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus..this truly is my favorite time of year!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

A Cut Above

Cutie Pie Challenge

All Sorts

Inkspirational

Stencil Fun

My Time to Craft Christmas

Inspired By...

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Love & Magic

Hi Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday!  This day has almost gotten away from me, and I wanted to make certain to share another Christmas Card with you.  This one features the Love & Magic Stamp Set by Penny Black #30-923.  I've treated myself to several festive Penny Black sets this year and I've made use of each of them.  This one contains a darling image that I've colored with alcohol markers.

After stamping and coloring, I've die cut the focal image using a stitched nesting rectangular die from Kat Scrappiness.  The patterned papers are from the "Holiday" 6x6 paper pad by American Crafts.   The sentiment is included in the stamp set, and the strip has been popped on foam pads for dimension.

To finish off the design, I've added my trusty Crystal Stickles to the furry hat band, Pom Pom and Holly Berries, along with red sequins from my stash.  That's all for today my friends, so until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Girlz Creative Christmas

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth Christmas

613 Avenue Create

Dragonfly Dreams

Stamping Sensations

All Sorts

Sweet Stampin'

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Lil Red Wagon

Penny Black Saturday Challenges

Love Those Pretty Papers

Poinsettia Postage Collage

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope your week went well and you're finishing up your holiday plans.  I want to ask everyone for their prayers for Germany and especially those affected by the senseless act of violence at a Christmas Market on Friday.  This is a horrific I pray for comfort and peace for all those affected.

I have a quick share today featuring the Poinsettia Postage Collage Die and Stencil Set from Waffle Flower.  I love the stencil sets, they are so easy to put together and make such lovely Christmas cards. 

Instead of the traditional Red Poinsettias, I've went with pretty shades of Pink Inks from Catherine Pooler.  I'm pleased with the outcome.

The sentiment has been popped on foam pads for dimension and I've added Crystal Stickles to the flower centers and holly berries.  Quick and easy card, and perfect for those last minute card needs!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Inkspirational

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Creations in Pink

Aud Sentiments

Word Art Wednesday

Pearly Sparkles