Scrappy Autumn and Sharing From the Heart

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  I have a quick Autumn share today but before I get to my card, I want to share something personal, something that I finally feel I'm able to say out loud.  Our son Dylan passed away on July the 13th of this year.  After 10 days in ICU with a pulmonary embolism, he succumbed to his damaged lungs, failing kidneys and passed away.  He was a few weeks shy of his 35th birthday and needless to say, July and August were just a blur for us.  

I want to thank all those who reached out, sent cards and messages of condolence to us.  They were so beautiful and appreciated.  Those cards and messages, along with the Peace given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, is what got me through the darkest of days.  Christ is always with me and strengths me daily.

I'm finally feeling creative, and slowly getting back to what I love.  My son is always with me, in my heart, my mind and memories.

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So now, let me share a quick Autumn card using lots of pretty snippets of patterned paper.  I find it so hard to throw scraps of pretty paper away so I made a "Quilt" card using them.

The squares are 1" in diameter and there are 12 of them.  After adhering them to a mat, I embossed the entire panel to give it a "quilted" look.  I was so inspired by watching a video by Mary at Cardz TV and who doesn't have loads of pretty paper scraps?

To finish everything off, I've added a sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp, popped on craft foam along with a double bow made with Baker's Twine.  Autumn is my favorite time of year, even though Autumn is really not a thing in Florida LOL

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Outlawz Color Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Double Trouble Challenge

Dream Valley

Make My Monday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Crafty Catz

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #33 - Sep/Oct 2025

Hello and Welcome Friends.  Today is September 15th, and that marks a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Our optional inspiration photo offers lots of warm Autumn colors and I took inspiration from this photo for my DT project:

Using the Spring Bouquets Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp, I created an Autumn themed card using colors from the photo.  Just because the stamp set is named Spring Bouquets, doesn't mean it has to be saved for Spring cards, it's actually very versatile.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, and fussy cut along the top edge to create a half panel.  I've used foam pads for elevation before adhering to a vintage polka dot patterned paper mat.  The sentiment is from the Autumn is Calling sentiment set from Penny Black.

Lastly I've added crackled gold embellishments from Close to My Heart and covered the florals with Wink of Stella for that extra Autumn sparkle!

The team and I invite you to join us this month and share your beautiful Floral Focused projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

A Place to Start

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Crafters

Avenue 613

We love Stamping

Stamping Sensations

All Sorts

Crafts Galore Encore

Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge

The Paper Funday Challenge #80 - Sep 2025

Hi Friends! Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsors this month are Newton's Nook Designs and Alex Syberia Designs.  Our challenges are Always Anything Goes with Optional Twists, and the twist this month is:  Changing Seasons.

For my design team project, I've used the Echo Park Welcome Fall Collection Kit to create this card (along with several others) using the Optional Twist, and I'm loving the rich Autumn hues.

I've followed a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenges and let the ephemera and pretty papers from the kit do all the work on this card.  As I stated earlier, I made several Autumn themed cards using this kit and plan to send to my September swap buddies.  

The team and I hope you'll join us over at The Paper Funday Challenge, we love seeing everyone's creativity.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

 

**Challenges Entered:

A Place to Start

September 2025 Inspiration Station Challenge

Hello Friends!  I'm so behind in my design team projects and I have to thank my teamies for putting up with me.  On Monday the 1st of Sep, a new challenge month started at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  The inspiration photo this month is appropriate for the season most of us are coming in to:

Wow, the colors in this scene are so rich and vibrant! I'm jealous that I don't get to experience a true Autumn living in Florida.  For my design team project, I used Autumn themed papers from the Echo Park Welcome Fall Collection Kit to create my card.

I followed a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenges, used ephemera from the kit and added sequins from my stash to create this quick and easy Autumn card.

The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month. We're excited to see what your take is on our inspiration photo.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Dream Valley
Stamps Fun Creativity

Crafts Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

A Place to Start