Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Paper Funday Challenge - June 2026

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  Today starts a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  The challenges are Always Anything Papercrafting Goes with Optional Twists.  The Twist this month is Polkadots and/or Stripes.  Our sponsors this challenge are the amazing Honey Bee Stamps and Concord & 9th!  We appreciate their generosity and support.

For my team project, I've used the Grateful Blooms Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Concord & 9th, along with patterned papers from Recollections to create a card of gratitude.


I stamped the images and sentiment using inks from Catherine Pooler, and die cut all using the coordinating dies.  I've adhered a panel of patterned paper at an angle to a plain mat that's a coordinating color.  Before adhering to the card base, I've embossed with a Geometric Ring embossing folder that reminds me of a Quilt.  


The focal die cut and sentiments have been popped on foam pads, and lastly, I've added purple Dazzles for extra interest and sparkle.  We hope you'll join us this month at The Paper Funday Challenge, and if you do, best of luck in the draw.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna




Monday, June 1, 2026

The Inspiration Station Challenge - June 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to the 1st day of a new month!  Wow, how can it be June already?  Today also starts a new monthly challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and we have a yummy inspiration photo this month: 


I love strawberries and my card was directly inspired by the photo.  I've used the Strawberry Fields digital stamp set from Angie Blom to create an all occasion card, and I've colored the images using Copic Alcohol Markers.


I've used nesting stitched and scalloped dies from Catherine Pooler for the focal panel and mat, rounded the bottom of the card base using my Crop-A-Dile and added Gold Dazzles (which are sparkly flat stickers) for accents.  


The card design is simple and the image was a joy to color.  The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month and share your inspired projects.  A Strawberry Milkshake sounds good right now!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Moving Along with the Times = Fav Die Scalloped Nesting, Tool is Alcohol Markers



Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The Pick 3 Challenge #5 - May 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's also the 20th of the month and that signals a new challenge at The Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The premise of this challenge is to pick at least 3 elements from a list of 6 and create using your chosen elements.  The choices this month are:


For my design team project, I've used Blue, Plaid, Birthday and an extra element of Embossing to create a birthday card.  Do you ever purchase things and later wonder WHY did I purchase this?  That's what I was thinking when I came across a set of cute Elephant dimensional die cuts with sentiments that were living in my stash.


The patterned papers are from Scrapbook.com. the dimensional die cuts were purchased at Hobby Lobby a few years ago and the faux gems are from the stash.  Maybe this little Elephant was just waiting for a time like this to shine!


I've die cut an oval using a nesting set from My Favorite Things and embossed with the Textures 3-D folder from Penny Black, the die cuts had foam pads already so no need for more, I just added gems and a bit of Wink of Stella inside his ears and called this card complete.  

We hope you'll join us at The Pick 3 Challenge and share your creative makes using your elements.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

**Challenges Entered:

Friday, May 15, 2026

Classic Design Challenge - May/June 2026

Hello! It's time for a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog, and our sponsor this month is the talented and generous Moondrea Designs. For my team project, I've chosen to use Proteas Queen.  Isn't she lovely? 


I'll admit that images from Moondrea Designs intimidate me.  They are detailed and I always feel out of my comfort zone coloring them, however it's a good thing to step outside our comfortable boxes and try something new.  I've approached this image by coloring in small segments and that made it much easier for my brain to wrap around.  


I've used alcohol markers to color her and dug out my color wheel for this project.  I just couldn't put together coordinating colors in my mind, and the color wheel is great for that!  I've cut the focal panel using nesting scalloped edge dies from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment is from the Small Talk strip pack by Tim Holtz and has been popped on foam pads.  

No bells and whistles added to her, other than a bit of highlights using a clear Gelly Roll glitter pen (which is not visible in the photos).

The team and I hope you'll visit and share your creative makes this month.  And don't be intimidated by detailed images, coloring this one was relaxing once I settled in and was the perfect craft for a Friday night.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Unicorn Challenge - something new is the digital image



The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - May 2026

Hello Friends!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  We have a lovely optional inspiration photo, however the challenges are Always Anything FLORAL Goes.  

I was directly inspired by the optional photo of the vase of lovely Lily of the Valley flowers and chose to use the Spring Border Two Digital Stamp Set from Power Poppy for my card.  This set includes a sweet Lily of the Valley image.  Another thing to note - Lily of the Valley is the birth flower for May, along with the Hawthorn. 

This month's optional inspiration photo:


Coloring this image using alcohol markers was quick and easy, the entire card was put together in under 30 minutes.  I used a distressed edge ruler to tear the edges of the focal panel, then inked around it using Salty Ocean Distress Ink.


For additional interest, I popped the sentiment on foam pads; the sentiment is included in the digital set.  I've rounded the bottom corners of the card base using the Crop-a-Dile corner chomper and added mini dew drops from Pink Fresh Studio. 


We invite you to join us this month at the Challenge and remember, you don't have to follow the optional inspiration photo, that's up to you.  However, florals must be the focus of your design.  Hope to see you there!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Floral, Free, White

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Paper Funday Challenge - May 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the 1st Wednesday of the month and that always signals a new challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  We have 2 amazing and generous sponsors this month - Gina K. Designs and The Pajama Crafter Stamps.  Our optional twist for this challenge is: Mountains or Coast.

For my project, I've used the "Time to Coast" stamp set from Gina K. Designs and the optional twist of Mountains or Coast.  I've actually never been to the mountains, but have easy access to the coast; my scene today is one I've seen in person many times.


I've colored the image very simply using alcohol markers and cut out using a nesting die from the Moonstone set by Hunkydory.  I've lightly inked a background using Distress Inks,  the patterned paper is from a Nautical 12x12 pad by Recollections, the sentiment is from the same Gina K. stamp set and has been heat embossed.


To finish it up, I've popped the focal panel on foam pads, added Baker's Twine & Bows along with enamel dots.  Everything from the stash this time, I've had this lovely stamp set since 2021 and it makes the prettiest/handsomest cards, I really like it for masculine themes.

Please pop over to the challenge this month and play along, we would love to have you join us!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:




Monday, May 4, 2026

Inspiration Station Challenge #85 - May 2026

Hi Friends!  Wow, it's May already (where did the last 4 months go?) and it's also the 1st Monday of the month so it's time for a new challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Our inspiration photo is apropos for this time of year:


The happy young people in the photo have lots to look forward to, and this inspiration photo doesn't have to be about graduation, it could also be about Congratulations or happiness, or togetherness, use your imagination with this one.

I remembered I have a stamp specifically for Grads in my stash, so I went digging around and found the "Hats Off to You" stamp and coordinating die set from Colorado Craft Company.  I've created a Congratulations Card that will go to my neighbor, who has a grandson graduating college soon.


I wanted to go Simple with the design, so I've used a circle mask from Lavinia Stamps to ink blended a circle that reminds me of the Earth.  I've colored the image with alcohol markers, die cut and popped on foam pads.


Before placing the images, I splattered the ink blending with water and white ink.  The sentiment is from the same set and was heat embossed.  After looking at the design, I was reminded of the old saying "you've got the world by the tail".  I've also finished the inside with another sentiment and images from the set.


The team and I hope you'll visit us this month and share your inspired projects. Remember, the picture prompt can be interpreted in so many ways, so don't let that stop you and please stop by to see what my creative teamies have come up with.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:


Monday, April 20, 2026

The Pick 3 Challenge - #4 Apr/May 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  It's also the 20th of the month and that means a new challenge at The Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The element list for this month is:


The premise of the challenge is you are provided with 6 elements and you choose 3 to create with.  For my 3 elements, I've chosen to use Friend, Feminine and Pastel.  I've also shopped my stash for the pretty patterned papers, sentiment sets and floral puffy stickers.


Following a free sketch from Cardz TV (you can find the sketches HERE), I've created a feminine birthday card.  When you're short on time, sketches are great and this card was quick to assemble.


Please pop over to The Pick 3 Challenge and see what my teamies have created with their 3 elements, and then please join us!  Have a creative day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna





 

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The Classic Design Challenge - Apr/May 2026

Hi Friends and Welcome Back!  Today starts a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our talented sponsor is Cute Bee Digis. They have generously provided the team with images for our projects and I've colored this very sweet digital image from the Furry Friends Digital Set.  


The coloring was done using Copic Alcohol Markers, the patterned paper is from an Echo Park Pet themed 6x6 pad.  The focal image has been die cut using a nesting hexagon die from Hero Arts, and popped on foam pads.  The sentiment is from a Pet themed stamp set by Maymay Made It.


I love this image; she is gorgeous and her pup is precious!  And not difficult to color, especially when you leave the pup "white".  My mother had a white Poodle named Ginger, and this pup reminded me of her. 

We hope you'll join in the challenge and share your creative projects.  We love seeing everyone's inspiring creations.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Apr/May 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog and we have a very pretty optional inspiration photo to get the creativity flowing:


I've taken my inspiration straight from the photo and using the "Kindness is the Way" digital stamp set from Power Poppy (which is a FREE set for everyone, thanks Power Poppy!), I've created a cheerful all-occasion card.


I've colored the Gerbera Daisies using Copic Alcohol markers and die cut the focal panel and insert using stitched nesting dies from Kat Scrappiness.  I wanted to create a 3-D effect so the inner panel has been popped on foam pads and carefully placed back into the center, matching everything up.


The sentiment is a pre-made foiled die cut from Pink Fresh Studio and it has been popped on foam pads also.  I've added a few water droplet embellishments around the sentiment but they are hard to see on the busy panel.

We hope you'll pop over to the Challenge and play along.  The inspiration photo is optional, so be inspired and have fun creating.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Art Nudge - Daisies 426D