The Inspiration Station Challenge - April 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  Today signals a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog, where challenge themes are based on an inspirational picture and you interpret it your own way.  Our photo this month is:

I was directly inspired by the bright yellow rain boots and decided on a bright and cheerful card design.  My card features an adorable Bee from Amanda Jayne Designs (sadly, no longer in business) with patterned papers from the "Bee Happy" 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park. 

I've colored this cutie using Copic Alcohol Markers and went with a square card design.  I've die cut the focal and mat using nesting oval dies from Hero Arts, the sentiment is a cut apart from the paper pad and I've rounded the corners with a corner punch.

The focal image and sentiment have been popped on foam pads and I've added gold sequins from my stash for that something extra.  The papers in this pad are lovely and I think this little bee is perfect for Springtime.  

The team and I hope you'll "buzz" over to the Challenge and play along this month.  We're always delighted to see everyone's creative interpretations of the inspiration photo.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

 

Paper Funday Challenge #86 - April 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy April 1st, also known as April Fool's Day here in the States. This year is moving along at record speed and I hope you're experiencing the full effects of Spring.  

Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog and we have 2 amazing and generous sponsors:  Birch Press Design and Newton's Nook Designs.  The Challenges are Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The twist this month is Die Cuts/Punches.  

For my team project, I've used the Tulips Stamp Set from Newton's Nook and also included die cuts to tie the optional twist into my design.

I've colored the image using Spectrum Noir Tri-blend Alcohol Markers; I should have used the Copics as these markers are drying out and probably need to be put in the bin.  The plaid paper is from the "Summer Splash" 6x6 paper pad by Pink & Main, the fancy edged nesting oval dies are from Hero Arts, the enamel dots and string are from my stash,

The sentiment and main focal panel have been popped on foam pads for dimension.  I think this card just sings SPRING!  We hope you'll stop by the Challenge and join us this month by sharing your creative and inspiring makes.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab 'n Funky Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspiration

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Moving Along with the Times

Passion for Markers

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Dream Valley Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

I Spy with My Little Eye

The Pick 3 Challenge - March/April 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Friday! It's the 20th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Pick 3 Challenge Blog, where you're given 6 elements and you create something using at least 3 of those elements.  The element list for this month is:

For my design team project, I've chosen the Wings, Stripes and Slimline elements for my card.  In my stash I found Dragonfly 3-D die cuts, and I've used the Watercolor Stripes Stencil and Distress Oxide inks for the stripes.

Before adhering the Dragonflies on the stenciled panel, I've splattered with black Posca Pen and let dry thoroughly.  The sentiment is from the "Small Talk" Sticker pack by Tim Holtz idea-ology, and it's been adhered directly to the panel.  

The team and I hope you'll pop over to the Pick 3 Challenge and play along.  We love seeing what elements everyone has chosen and how they've used them.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Craft Rocket

Stencil Fun Challenge

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Word Art Wednesday

Try it on Tuesday

Dream Valley
613 Avenue Create

Allsorts Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

A Place to Start

The Classic Design Challenge - #03-2026 Mar/Apr

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our optional Twist this month is: Fun/Fancy Folds.  Our generous sponsor is Dr. Digi's House of Stamps.  I couldn't resist using the Eileen's Icing Extravaganza digital image for my project this month.

I've colored the image with Copic alcohol markers and thought it would be fun to create a circular card base.  I've die cut the focal image using the Lovely Lace Circular Nesting Die from Hunkydory; the mats and base cut using nesting circle dies from Kat Scrappiness.

The sentiment is from the old and retired "Potpourri" stamp set by Cardz TV, and has been popped on foam pads.  I've added a bit of Wink of Stella to the chocolate frosting (always hard to see in photos) and called this card complete.

We hope you'll visit the challenge and play along this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

I Love Promarkers + Other Mediums Challenge

Digi Choosday

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Knockouts

Creative Inspiration

A Place to Start

FarmQuest Home Challenge

HeartsQuest Shaped Cards Challenge

AAA Birthday

Mix It Up Challenge

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - March/April 2026

Hello and Happy Sunday Crafty Friends!  I can't believe it's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Time is steadily marching on!

I know several of you are dreaming of Spring and it will soon be here. Our optional inspiration photo features March flowers and pretty Spring colors and I chose to use the photo as inspiration for my project this month. 

Angie Blom's latest release features a very pretty set with Daffodils that I thought would be perfect for my card this month; it's the new A Cup of Kindness Digital Kit.  Better yet, at the time of this writing, Angie Blom is offering 40% off her digital kits.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and the patterned paper is from the "Easter Egg-plosion" 6x6 paper pad by Ink 'n Splatter, the enamel dots are from my stash. I've inked around the edge of the focal panel with yellow ink and adhered flat to the card.

The team and I hope you'll pop over to the Challenge and join us this month.  We love seeing everyone's Floral designs.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Stamping Sensations

Crafty Calendar

Alphabet Challenge

Creative Friday

Pattie's Creations

Sparkles Monthly

Girlz Creative Crafts

Triple B Challenge

Creative Moments

Creative Crafters

inspiration Station Challenge - March 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Monday, the 1st Monday of March and time for a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Our inspiration prompt for this month is:

Aren't these Pups adorable dressed in their St. Patty's Day best?  Even though the photo is simple in it's composition, there's lots of inspiration here, and I was directly inspired by the dogs and St. Patrick's day, so I've created a card for the holiday.

Using the Pup with Balloons digital image from Bugaboo Stamps (who remembers Bugaboo?), I've used a St. Patrick's Day color palette and colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers.  As a side note, Jodi Mackrell is alive and well, she made an appearance in the Bugaboo Facebook Fan group and I was so relieved to hear from her.

I've die cut the focal panel and mat using scalloped nesting dies from Hero Arts,  the patterned paper is from my stash, the sentiment has been computer generated and popped on foam pads.  For a bit of interest, I've added a nest of gold thread from Altenew.

The team and I invite you to join us this month, we love seeing all the creative designs and how the photo inspires everyone.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Double Trouble

Make My Monday

A Cut Above

AUD Sentiments

Neglected Stuff Challenge - neglected stuff would be the Bugaboo digital image and patterned paper

CD Sunday +

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Stamping Sensations

Mirtillamente

Give a Crafter a Cookie

Polkadoodles

Crafty Catz

The Pick 3 Challenge #2 - Feb/Mar 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Friday!  Today begins a new challenge month at the new Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The premise of the challenge is to take 3 of the 6 elements provided to you, and create using your choices, making sure to tell us which you've used.

  Here is the element list for this month:

For my team project, I've used Bright Colors, Flowers and Circles.  I had a shop in my stash and found some bright and cheerful floral stickers I thought be be perfect for the color and flower elements,  I've die cut 3 circles for that element and viola!  Complete!

The patterned paper is from the "Blush and Mint" 6x6 paper pad by Recollections.  The sentiment is from a Spellbinders Kit of the Month stamp set, and the sentiment strip has been popped on foam pads. 

Please stop by the Challenge and check out what my teamies have created with their Pick 3 elements, and we hope you'll play along too.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Feb/Mar 2026

Hello Friends!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenges are Always Anything Floral Goes (entries must be floral focused) with an optional inspiration picture.  Following is the picture this month:

I was directly inspired by the Purple and Yellow Iris flowers in the bouquet, and I've used the Altenew Build-a-Flower Bearded Iris Layering Stamp and Coordinating Die Set for my card. To color the flowers, I've stamped each layer using Catherine Pooler and Stampin' Up inks.

The background panel has been embossed with the Mod Squares 3-D embossing folder from Altenew, and I've lightly inked around the edges of the panel using Pixie Dust light purple ink from Catherine Pooler.

To finish off the design, I've stamped the sentiment, from the stamp set, popped the strip on foam pads and adhered to the embossed panel.  Lastly. I've added lilac faux gems for that extra something special.

Please stop by the Challenge and check out the beautiful cards my teamies have created, the ladies are so talented and you'll be inspired.  We hope you'll create a floral focused project and join us this month.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

AAA Colorful
Creative Crafters

Allsorts Challenge

Can You Handle the Pressure?

Sweet Stampin'

Simply Clean & Simple

Craft Rocket

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Word Art Wednesday

Crafts Galore Encore

 

Paper Funday Challenge #84 - February 2026

Hello Friends!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog, with a theme of Always Anything Goes.  The optional twist this month is: Pastel Colors and our amazingly generous sponsors are Pretty Pink Posh and Lawn Fawn.

For my design team project, I've used the optional twist of Pastel Colors to create a Valentine's Card for my Daughter-in-law.  She loves those old farm trucks, so this card is definitely her style.

The image is from a package of farmhouse style stickers I purchased on Amazon a few years back, and recently found in my stash.  They make the cutest Valentine's Day/Spring cards because the color palette is all pastel colors.  This card was a quick and easy make and the stickers are perfect for when you're short on time or the mojo has taken a walk-about.

As I stated in my post on Monday, I'm continuing my quest of using what I have and shopping my stash.  I have so much that is tucked away, never been used and/or forgotten about.  I'll admit though, all the new Spring Releases are tempting me something awful, but I must resist LOL!

I've cut all the layers using nesting stitched dies from Kat Scrappiness, adhered the peel and stick image to the white panel and adhered all to the card base.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp Set, and stamped on a scalloped stitched nesting die, then popped on foam pads.  

To finish the design, I've added flat iridescent sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  The team and I hope you'll stop by and join in the fun this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Paper Rocks Scissors

Let's Craft and Create

Lil Red Wagon

Fab 'n Funky

Double D Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Impressions

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