The Pick 3 Challenge #7 for Jul/Aug 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  Wow, it's the 20th of July already and that means a new challenge month at The Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The premise of the challenge is to pick at least 3 of the 6 provided elements and create using your choices.  The element list this month is:

I've chosen Fruit, Purple, Tropical and an extra element of sequins for my team project this month.  I found the adorable Squidgies Tropical Digital Stamp Set from Stamping Bella and couldn't resist coloring them up for this months' challenge.

Using Copic Alcohol Markers, I've colored the little coconut and pineapple Squidgies and cut them out using a nesting circle die from Kat Scrappiness. The patterned papers are from the "Beach Town" Mega 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella.  

The sentiment is included in the digital set and I've popped it on foam pads.  Lastly, I've added Blue Dazzles for sparkle and shine.  These 2 tropical Squidgies are adorable and they were so fun to color.

The team and I hope you'll pop over to The Pick 3 Challenge and share your creativity with us.  We enjoy seeing how everyone uses their chosen elements and are inspired by all the lovely designs.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

We Love 2 Create

We Love Stamping

Love Those Pretty Papers

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

The Four Seasons Challenge

The Classic Design Challenge - Jul/Aug 2026

Hello Friends!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our Optional Twist is:  Any Holiday.  Our talented and generous sponsor this month is Rachelle Anne Miller, and I've colored up an adorable image from the Penguin and Snowman Snowy Christmas Digital Stamp Set. 

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, the designer paper is from a holiday stack purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I've used a nesting Arch Die from Hero Arts to cut a window in the patterned paper and added Red Dazzles for sparkle and shine.  

The sentiment is from a holiday pack by Simon Says Stamp and has been popped on foam pads. This adorable little gang looks like they better hold on, they are zooming down the hill!  

The team and I hope you'll pop in and play along with us at the Challenge this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab 'n Funky Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Digi Choosday

Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

Make My Monday

CD Sunday +

Mirtillamente

Outlaws Christmas Challenge

Pearly Sparkles

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Jul/Aug 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog, where it's Anything Florals Goes.

Our optional inspiration photo is a lovely Water Lily in a very eye-catching Blue/Violet.  Water Lily also happens to be July's Flower of the Month, along with the Larkspur.  I was directly inspired by the photo for my team project this month.

Using the Water Lilies digital image from Varada Sharma, I've created an All Occasion Card.  I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and dies from Catherine Pooler for the focal and postage stamp mat.

The sentiment is from the Heartfelt Sentiments Pack, also by Varada Sharma.  It has been cut using a die from Catherine Pooler and popped on foam pads.  I've added a nest of gold thread from Altenew for added interest.

The designer paper is from the Bokeh pack by Stampin' Up and lastly, I've added Gold Dazzles for sparkle and shine.

The team and I hope you'll join us this month at the Challenge, we look forward to seeing your Floral Projects!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

The Sisterhood of Crafters

AAA Colorful

Creative Crafters

CD Sunday +

We Love Stamping

Pink Gem Challenge

Triple B Challenge

Pattie's Creations

The Inspiration Station Challenge #87

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  If you celebrated America's 250th Birthday this past weekend, I hope you had a wonderful time.  We had a nice weekend with family and friends, saw some amazing fireworks and ate some delicious food.

Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Our inspiration photo is a good one featuring tropical, summer, beach, and Christmas in July things. 

I've taken inspiration from the plastic lawn flamingo ornaments for my card today.  Using a set I've had in my stash since May of 2024 and never used (typical), I created a card with a tropical vibe.  The set is the "Let's Get Together" stamp and coordinating die set from Spellbinders, which was the Clear Stamp of the Month for May 2024.

I've embossed a panel using the "Happy Hibiscus" 3-D Embossing folder from Stampin' Up and ink blended over the top using Distress inks.  I've colored the stamped image using alcohol markers, and cut out both the image and sentiment using the coordinating dies.

I've adhered the image flat to the embossed panel and popped the sentiment on foam pads.  Lastly, I've added blue Dazzles for that sparkle and shine.  

We invite you to join us at the challenge this month and share your inspired projects.  And we hope to inspire you with ours.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Make My Monday

A Cut Above

Cupcake Inspirations

Neglected Stuff Challenge - Stamp/Die Set from 2024

Triple B Challenge

Let's Craft & Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

We Love Stamping

Inkspirational Challenge

The Paper Funday Challenge - July 2026

Hello Friends and Happy July 1st! It's a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog and we have a fun optional Twist and 2 generous sponsors this month.  Our optional Twist for July is Summer Splash and our sponsors are Taylored Expressions and Simon Says Stamp!  

For my team project, I've used the Nature's Canvas Set, which was originally released as a kit, from Taylored Expressions.  The kit includes stamps, coordinating dies and stencils, a cover plate die along with sentiment stamps.  The items are now sold separately and available HERE.

I've stamped and colored the floral using the coordinating stencils and distress inks, then cut out with the coordinating die.  I've created a mini oval tag for a backdrop that has been ink smooshed and tied off with Baker's Twine.  The plaid paper is from a Plaid Stack by Recollections.

The sentiment is from the kit, and has been popped on foam pads, along with the floral.  Lastly, I've added purple Dazzles to complete the design.  There's something about plaids that I love, and the colors in this paper appeal to the Purple lover in me.

The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month.  We love seeing everyone's creativity and we hope to inspire you with our designs.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab n' Funky - "B" for Bloom, Baker's Twine, Because

Word Art Wednesday

Crafts Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

Try It on Tuesday

Make My Monday

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Sweet Stampin'

The Pick 3 Challenge #6 for Jun/July 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  Wow, it's June 20th already and that signals a new challenge month at The Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The premise of the challenge is to pick 3 of the 6 provided elements and create a craft project using your choices.  The element list for Challenge #6 is: 

For my project, I've chosen the Beach, Frame and Sparkle elements to create with and designed an Any Occasion card using items from my Stash.

I knew I wanted a Beach theme and knew I had plenty of items in the stash to choose from so I went shopping and found 3-D die cut framed elements, a summer/beach themed paper pad from Echo Park and Crystal Stickles in the colors Copper, Gold and Clear.

I've "painted" the Stickles on each frame and adhered the frames to the card panel.  The frames are 3-D so no extra foam pads were needed.  I cut out 2 small journal cards from the paper pad and added small gold Dazzles that resembled brads to their corners.  I've also added a bit of ink blending to the edges of the patterned papers and journal cards.  

It felt good to shop the stash and use what I have on hand, and this card came together quick and easy.  The team and I invite you to stop by the Challenge and play along.  We would love to see how you use your 3 (or more) elements. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Cardz 4 Galz

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Creative Inspiration

Double D Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

I Spy with My Little Eye

Shopping Our Stash

Art Nudge

The Classic Design Challenge - Jun/Jul 2026

Hello and Welcome Back!  It's a busy Monday and time to start the new monthly challenge at The Classic Design Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsor this month is LeAnn's World 101, and our optional Twist is: Summer Fun.  

I've used the adorable Bill & Lill digital stamp and beach themed papers from Echo Park to create a Summer themed card.

After coloring this adorable couple with Copic Alcohol Markers, I've fussy cut them and added foam pads.  I like the beach houses, blue sky and clouds on this patterned paper; they make creating a beach scene so easy.  The sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp and has been popped on foam pads also.

To finish, I've added blue Dazzles around the sentiment and gold streaks in Lill's hair using a Gelly Roll Sparkle Pen.  

We hope you'll join us this month and share your projects, maybe you'll be inspired to use the optional Twist as well.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Crafter's Cafe

Papercraft Challenges

CD Sunday +

Polkadoodles

Crafts Galore Encore

Mirtillamente

Pattie's Creations

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Jun/Jul 2026

Hello and Happy Monday Friends!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenges are Always Anything FLORAL Goes and there is an optional mood board for inspiration.  This month's board is full of rich colors and the June Flower of the Month, which is the Rose.

I love the deep reds and peach colors together, just gorgeous and I took inspiration directly from the mood board for my project.  I've used the Build-A-Garden: Branching Roses Stamp Set from Altenew and dies from my stash, along with Copic Alcohol Markers to create a card with lots of dimension.

I've created a frame using 2 separate dies, inlaid the pieces and popped the inner squares/rectangle on foam pads to create visual interest and depth.  The sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp.  

To finish, I've added gold Dazzles around the sentiment for that bit of extra sparkle and shine.  Naturally, it cannot be seen, but I went over the part of the images inside each square with Wink of Stella.  

We invite you to join us at the Challenge this month, and you must stop by to check out the beautiful projects from my teamies, so see you there!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

A Cut Above

Creative Crafters

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Triple B

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

**Challenges Entered:

Fab 'n Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner

Triple B

Try it on Tuesday

Unicorn Challenge

Die Cut Divas

Give a Crafter a Cookie

Cards Galore Encore

Perfect Time to Craft

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:

A Cut Above

A Place to Start

Crafts Galore Encore

Moving Along with the Times = Fav Die Scalloped Nesting, Tool is Alcohol Markers

Give a Crafter a Cookie

The Four Seasons

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Crafty Catz

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge