Inspiration Station Challenge #82 - February 2026

Hello Fellow Crafters and Happy 1st Monday of February 2026!  Wow, January flew by and I have a feeling there are loads of people dreaming of spring.  Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and our optional inspiration photo are Almond Blossoms and I'd say they will be blooming in California soon.

I found some cute farmhouse themed stickers in my stash that were purchased from Amazon for a project a few years ago. I completely forgot I had them so, in my continued quest to shop my stash, I thought they would make cute Valentine's Day themed cards.  

I made this card for my sister, the papers are from the "Cute Girl" 6x6 paper pad by Crate Paper.  This pad is a few years old, I purchased it at Tuesday Morning, and they are no longer in business (thanks to COVID).  I've cut a stitched scalloped square from a set of nesting die and adhered the sticker, then cut a mint green base mat using a Hemstitch Nesting Die from Spellbinders

To finish the card design, I've added pink pearlescent flat sequins for the necessary sparkle and shine.  The focal square has been popped on foam pads for dimension.  

The team and I invite you to stop by the Challenge and join the fun.  We love seeing everyone's take on the inspiration photo, so we hope to see you there this month.

Have a fabulous day and week ahead, until next time Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Dream Valley

Neglected Stuff Challenge - stickers found in stash

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Cards Galore Encore

Outlawz Twisted Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

Winter Friends

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is safe and warm, considering the Midwest and North Eastern United States are in a deep freeze! I have a quick share today featuring adorable snow friends, and considering the weather in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, I thought this card was appropriate for today.

 

The images are the Festive Penguin and Snowman from Amanda Jayne Designs. Here's a side note: Amanda Jayne Designs will stop selling on the 31st of January, so now is the time to get her images before she retires.

The images have been colored using Copic Alcohol Markers, and the focal panel has been cut using a fancy edged circle die from Spellbinders. The patterned papers are from a winter 6x6 paper pad from Ink 'n Splatter and the sentiment is from a Pink and Main Set.

I've popped the focal panel and sentiment on foam pads and before mounting the focal panel, I've splattered it using Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White ink to replicate snowfall.

That's all from me today.  I hope everyone that's affected by the winter storm stays safe and warm, keep hot beverages on standby.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Inkspirational

Love Those Pretty Papers

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Craft Challenge

Digi Choosday

Double D Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner

Passion for Markers

Double Trouble

The NEW Pick 3 Challenge - Jan/Feb 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  There's a new challenge in Blogland and it's The Pick 3 Challenge.  The premise of the challenge is to pick at least 3 elements out of the 6 given and create using them.  Challenge are monthly, always starting on the 20th of the month.  Today is the 1st challenge and the element board contains some fun ideas:

 

For my team project, I've used Fun Fold, Stencil and Layers for my elements to create a Valentine's card for dear hubby.  The stencil is "Swirling Hearts" from Creative Expressions, the fun fold is the Double Gatefold and I've followed instructions by Eva Deitz, and the layers are from patterned paper panels, a layered sentiment and card folds.

To make the card a bit more masculine, I went with a black, white and red color palette.  I've inked around the stenciled panel with Black Soot Distress Ink and the patterned papers are snippets from a Carta Bella pad.

The sentiment is a die cut with shadow from Kat Scrappiness.  I used a vellum shadow so the sentiment wouldn't blend into the background.  Lastly, I've added 3 red sequins and Wink of Stella on the sentiment.  I thought adding a bit of sparkle to hubby's Valentine's card wasn't too feminine.  He probably won't even notice!

The team and I hope you'll pop over to the Pick 3 Challenge and join us.  You have a month to join in, and you can enter 6 original designs.  Any craft is welcome, as long as it contains at least 3 of the 6 elements provided.  We hope to see you there!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Stencil Fun Challenge
2. Art Nudge - hearts from 0126D
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies
4. Aud Sentiments
5. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
6. All Sorts
7. Crafty Catz
8. Creative Fingers
9. Creative Creases Challenge
10. Crafter's Cafe

The Classic Design Challenge #01-2026 - Jan/Feb '26

Hello Friends and Welcome Back.  It's time for a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our generous sponsor this month is Pattie's Creations and the optional Twist this month is: Use Circles. For my team project, I've went with a Valentine's Day theme, and colored the Hearts and Flowers Digital Stamp from Pattie's.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, the patterned paper is from the "Blush and Mint" 6x6 paper pad by Recollections, the sentiment is from the "Friendship Greetings" Stamp Set by Kat Scrappiness.

I've die cut the focal image using a nesting circle die from Kat Scrappiness. Lastly, I've added flat backed holographic sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and added Wink of Stella to the pink hearts.  The sentiment has been heat embossed and popped on foam pads, as well as the focal image.

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and see what my teamies have created using images so generously provided by Pattie's Creations, and we hope you'll play along too!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Pattie's Creations

Dragonfly Dreams

We Love Stamping

Polkadoodles

The Dream Factory

Sisterhood of Crafters

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

A Place to Start

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Jan/Feb '26

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  We have a cheery inspirational picture (always optional) that features the January Flower of the Month - Carnations.

The inspiration picture had me thinking of Valentine's Day, but I chose to create a Card of Encouragement for a friend who's experiencing a tough time of it lately.  I've used the Best Flowers Stamp Set from Gina K. Designs and patterned papers from the "Havanna" 6x6 paper pad by Prima Marketing, and I've colored the floral using Copic markers.

After coloring the image, I've fussy cut it and adhered to a panel that's been embossed using a Park Lane embossing folder that my sister-in-law sent me for Christmas.  The sentiment is from a digital set that I've had in my sentiment stash, just waiting for the right card.  The sentiment has been popped on foam pads.

Lastly, I've added pink faux gems to accent the sentiment, and called this card complete.  I do hope it brings a bit of comfort to my friend.  

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and see all the beautiful cards my teamies have created, and play along with us too.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Girlz Creative Crafts

Word Art Wednesday

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Creative Inspirations

Art Nudge - Flowers from 0126C

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Make My Monday

Girlz Rebel Challenge

Let's Chill

Hello Friends and Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was nice and you found time to do something you like. I enjoyed some crafty time and created a few cards along with working on a crocheted scarf, which I'm half way to completion.  

Today, my card features the "Chill" digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I've colored this cutie using Copic Alcohol Markers, and the patterned papers are from the "Whispers of Winter" 6x6 paper pad by Ink 'n Splatter. 

I've used a nesting arch die set from Hero Arts to cut the focal image and mat, then popped on foam pads for dimension.  The sentiment is included with the image, and I've printed it with the resized image.

Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to his hat pom pom and the cold breath steam, it's just nearly impossible to capture the sparkle on camera.  

That's all for me today.  I wish you a fantastic week, and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Make My Monday

CD Sunday +

Stamping Sensations - "B" for Boy

We Love Stamping

613 Avenue Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Polkadoodles

Pattie's Creations

Pearly Sparkles

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Winter Flamingo

Hello Friends and Happy Friday! I hope your week went well and you're ready for the weekend.  I'm planning a bit of crafty time this weekend, and I hope you are too.

I have a quick share today featuring this cute Winter Flamingo from Pattie's Creations, which is a "new" to me digital stamp. And since I'm a Florida Girl, this guy caught my eye.  He must be somewhere up North because he's definitely not playing in the snow down here!

 

I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from my scrap box.  I've die cut all the panels using a nesting die set from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment is from the Snowflake Season Stamp Set by Penny Black.

The sentiment has been cut using a stitched sentiment strip die from Kat Scrappiness and popped on foam pads.  I've splattered the image with Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White Ink, and added Crystal Stickles to the hat pom pom.  That's all for me today, I hope you have a fabulous Friday.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pattie's Creations

Cut It Up Challenge

All About Paper Craft - Digital Stamp is NEW to me

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Triple B Challenge

Daisy Chain Challenge

Fab 'n Funky

Digi Choosday Challenge

Passion for Markers

Try It on Tuesday

 

The Paper Funday Challenge - January 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the first Wednesday of the month and it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  The team had a nice holiday break and we're ready for some fun and creativity.  Our generous sponsors this month are Taylored Expressions and Sweet November Stamps, with our optional twist for January being a Sketch:

For my design team project, I chose not to use the optional sketch but instead used the Bitty Bouquet Stamp and Coordinating Stencil Set from Taylored Expressions.  This set was included in the Nature's Canvas Cardmaking Kit, and I don't believe it is sold separately.

To start, using inks from Catherine Pooler, I've stamped the panel with the green stems and leaves, then ink blended the remaining layered stencil elements.  The result is a very cheerful background panel, which I thought would be a perfect Friendship card (or even a Galentine's Day card).

I've die cut the sentiment using a mini expressions die set from Creative Expressions, and to prevent it from getting "lost" against the busy background, I've adhered it to a panel of vellum.  Lastly, I've added pink faux gems to accent the sentiment.

I hope you'll stop by The Paper Funday Challenge and see what my teammates have created using items from our sponsors, and we hope you'll join us this month and share your creative makes.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B Challenge

Let's Craft and Create

Stencil Fun Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Art Nudge

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Aud Sentiments

Dragonfly Dreams

Inspiration Station Challenge - January 2026

Hello Friends and Happy 1st Monday of the New Year! It's time for a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and we're starting off the new year with a inspiration prompt that's appropriate for this time of year:

I had to think on this one for a while, and thought about using any furry critter in a winter scene, but decided to do an internet search for Free squirrel images to color. I found a set of adorable squirrels at CraftStarters and used this cutie with his big acorn for my design team project.

I've colored the image using Copic Markers and the patterned papers are snippets from my stash.  The sentiment is from the Snowflake Season Stamp Set by Penny Black.  I've cut the focal and mat using a fancy die from Spellbinders and popped the focal on foam pads.

Lastly, I've added olive green sparkly enamel dots for added interest.  I've used the Cute Squirrels Set and you can find it HERE.

The team and I hope you'll stop by the challenge and share your inspired makes this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Squirrel Digital Pack is New 

Aud Sentiments

Let's Craft and Create

CD Sunday +

We Love Stamping

All Sorts

Polkadoodles

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

Snowball Fight

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  I hope you had a fantastic day and plan on a great weekend.  I spent the day taking down Christmas decorations, it's always sad to take them down, however we only have 357 days left till Christmas 2026!

I'm in the process of creating cards with a Winter theme and this little one was just too cute not to color up.  She's the Snowball Fight Digital Stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from a 12x12 Winter themed pad by Recollections; the sentiment is included with the image.  I've die cut the focal image using a diagonal stitched oval nesting die from Kat Scrappiness.

The Sentiment and Focal image have been popped on foam pads. Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to her Hat Pom Pom and called this card complete.  She goes in the mail tomorrow as part of a card swap for January.  If you're interested in joining the card swap, you can find our group on Facebook HERE.

I would like to remind everyone of a new Challenge starting the 20th of January.  It's the new Pick 3 Challenge and we would love to have you play along.  Keep on the look out for the 1st challenge, starting soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

TGIF Challenges

Mirtillamente

Pearly Sparkles

The Four Seasons Challenge

Love to Craft Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Papercraft Challenge

Cards Galore Encore