Classic Design Challenge #10-2026 - Sep/Oct

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog, and our generous sponsor this month is Mirtillamente.  The optional Twist is a Sketch.

I've decided to skip using the optional sketch this month, and colored the Eat & Drink: Spiced Pause digital stamp from Mirtillamente using Copic Alcohol Markers. 

I'm one of those Pumpkin Spice loving ladies, and I also enjoy Pumpkin Pie this time of year, so this stamp was right up my alley.  The focal panel has been cut using a nesting postage die from Hero Arts.  The background mat is glitter card from Recollections.

I've left any Embellishments, Dazzles, Faux Gems, etc. off as I thought the glitter card was enough bling, however it's not too late to add something.  Do you think it needs anything extra?

The team and I hope you will join us this month at The Classic Design Challenge.  We're always inspired by all the clever and creative makes that are shared with us.  Now I'm off to make myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Mirtillamente Monthly Challenge
   
2. Creative Crafters
   
3. Creative Crafting Uncles
   
4. Word Art Wednesday
   
5. Digi Choosday
   
6. The Sisterhood of Crafters
   
7. Unicorn Challenge
   
8. Cupcake Inspirations
9. Double Trouble
   
10. CD Sunday +
    

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Oct/Nov 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  It's also the 15th of the month and that signals a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The optional floral prompt for this month features bright Marigolds in the colors of the season.  I love Marigolds and plant them in my garden as a natural insect repellant.

I was directly inspired by the optional prompt and used the Marigold Layering Die Set from Altenew for my team project. The "keyhole" system Altenew has created makes lining up the die cut layers so easy and basically fool-proof.

I've used textured colored cardstock from American Crafts for the flower layers & leaves, and added distress inks for additional shading.  The background has been embossed using the Deck Planks Embossing Folder from Altenew along with the Versatile Greetings Die Set, also from Altenew.

Golden Dazzles have been added to highlight the gold mirror card sentiment, and then I decided an Easel Card would be nice so I added additional die cut words as the stopper.

Please join us this month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge.  We love seeing all the creative designs shared with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Sparkles Monthly Challenges
   
2. Word Art Wednesday
   
3. Triple B Challenges
   
4. A Cut Above
   
5. A Place to Start
   
6. 613 Avenue Create
   
7. The Four Seasons Challenge
   
8. Ellibelle's Garden Party
   
9. Altenew October Monthly Challenge
   
10. All Sorts
    

It's a Spooky Day

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  I hope your day is going along well and your weather is full of Autumn Sunshine.  I'm always envious of everyone outside of Florida that experience the changing of the seasons with colored leaves and crisp air.  It's currently a balmy and humid 86 degrees F here in Central Florida..at least it's not in the upper 90's!

I have a quick share featuring an oldie but goodie stamp set from Impression Obsession, who is sadly out of business.  The landscape of our craft is changing so much isn't it?  The set is Spooky Day and the Ghosts are just too cute to spook with their funny expressions.

The Ghosts were lightly shaded with alcohol markers and fussy cut, then popped on craft foam for dimension.  The papers are from a Halloween 6x6 paper pad by Recollections.  I found some cut aparts that spelled "Boo"; and they made the perfect sentiment.

That's all I have for today, I wish you a Terrific Tuesday, and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Try it on Tuesday (TIOT)
   
2. Unicorn Challenge
   
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies
   
4. Stamps & Fun = Creativity
   
5. Sweet Stampin'
   
6. Crafty Calendar
   
7. Love Those Pretty Papers
   
8. Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
9. Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge
   
10. Fab 'n Funky
    

A Little Magic

Welcome to the Weekend and Happy Saturday Friends!  I hope your week went well and you'll find a bit of crafty time this weekend.  We've been experiencing lots of rain due to Hurricane Isaias, so prayers for all those dealing with the aftermath.

I have a quick share today featuring a cute Halloween card (the only kind I like to make), made with the new "If the Hat Fits" Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp - part of the Stamptember 2026 event.

I'm not known for CAS styled cards but this style just works for this card.  I've embossed the background panel using a Halloween themed folder from Darice (an oldie but goodie) and colored the hat using Copic Alcohol Markers.  The image was fussy cut and popped on foam pads.

I've inked around the embossed panel with light purple ink from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment and stars have been heat embossed and the sentiment oval die cut and popped on foam pads.  Lastly, gold sequins added for a bit of additional interest.

I wish you a fabulous day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Inkspirational
   
2. Simply Clean & Simple
   
3. Creative Crafting Uncles
   
4. Crafty Catz
   
5. Pearly Sparkles
   
6. Craft Rocket
   
7. Digi Choosday
   
8. Creative Fingers
   
9. Polkadoodles
   
10. Snarky Stampers
    

Paper Funday Challenge #92 - October 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new monthly challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  The Optional Twist this month is Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice.  That can be interpreted so many ways, especially this time of year, but of course the twist is optional. 

We have 2 amazing and generous sponsors:  Altenew and Newton's Nook.  For my project, I've used the Autumn Postage Sampler Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Newton's Nook.

The background cover die is the postage die set from Waffle Flower, patterned paper from Echo Park and images have been colored with Copic Alcohol Markers.  I've also added heat embossing in Gold for more accents.

I've added foam pads to a majority of the images, but no other bells and whistles as it appears to be enough with the different colors and patterns.  My favorite image is the Pumpkin Pie.  What's your favorite image?

The team and I hope you'll join us this month and share your handcrafted projects. Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge
   
2. Word Art Wednesday
   
3. Creative Inspirations
   
4. Let's Craft and Create
   
5. Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge
   
6. Make My Monday
   
7. A Cut Above
   
8. We Love Stamping
   
9. Sweet Stampin'
   
10. Crafty Calendar
    

Inspiration Station Challenge #90 - October 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and the inspiration photo is appropriate (and cute) for this change of seasons. 

Any cat we've ever owned would not sit so nicely on a pumpkin, but would quickly run away cursing us under his/her breath.  My card is inspired by the pumpkins in the picture and features an image from the "Haunted Garden" Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember 2026 Event.  

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and in hindsight, should have toned down the oranges I used...this pumpkin is glowing!  The background panel has been embossed using the "Falling Leaves" 3-D Embossing Folder from Spellbinders.  The paper has a white core so some of that comes through the embossing, and I like the look of it.

The sentiment is part of the set and I've adhered everything flat to the card base.  Lastly, I've added gold Dazzles to complete the design.  I'm jealous of those who are experiencing cooler temps and a real change in the season.  It's still hot and humid here in Florida, oh well, maybe I'll feel the difference in January.

Please join us at the Challenge this month, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies
   
2. Double Trouble
   
3. Make My Monday
   
4. A Cut Above
   
5. A Place to Start
   
6. Aud Sentiments
   
7. Daisy Chain Challenge
   
8. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
   
9. We Love Stamping
   
10. We Love 2 Create
    

Happy Haunted Garden Ghost

Happy Saturday and Happy World Cardmaking Day! I hope you have time to squeeze in a crafting session today and celebrate with a handcrafted card.  I've started, albeit late on Halloween cards and I've also overspent during the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember 2026 event.  I couldn't resist the "Haunted Garden" Stamp and Coordinating Die set this year. 

The image has been colored using Copic Alcohol Markers and all die cut with the coordinating dies.  The patterned paper is something I found in my Scraps Box, it's a digital download from Shery K Designs. 

The image and sentiments have been adhered flat to the card base and to finish, I've added purple Dazzles for that required (in my opinion) Sparkle and Shine.  An easy peasy, not too spooky Halloween Card for 2026.  

Have a fun, World Cardmaking Day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Inkspirational
   
2. Crafty Calendar
   
3. Love Those Pretty Papers
   
4. Polkadoodles
   
5. Just Us Girls
   
6. Halloween Crafts All Year 'Round
   
7. Give a Crafter a Cookie
   
8. Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge
   
9. Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
   
10. Pattie's Creations
    

Not So Spooky Things

Happy Saturday Crafty Friends!  I've been creating Autumn and Halloween cards lately and I have a quick share for you today featuring a cute set that I found while "shopping" my stash.  Can you believe I've never inked it up?  For Shame, For Shame!

I've used the Happy Halloween Clear Stamp Set from Creative Expressions and papers from the Spooky Things paper pad by Simple Stories to create a not-so-spooky Halloween card.

I've colored the images using Copic Alcohol Markers, the images have been fussy cut and popped on foam pads.  The sentiment tag is a cut-out from the paper pad and I've added a but of purple ribbon and staples using the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher. 

Lastly, I've added Dazzles in the same colors as the polka-dots in the patterned paper. Both images are adorable, but the Wiener Dog has my heart as he/she reminds me of my Stella.

That's all I have for today; I wish you a great weekend and hope you find some crafty time.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Inkspirational
2. Send A Smile 4 Kids
3. Polkadoodles
   
4. Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge
   
5. Digi Choosday
   
6. Crafty Catz
   
7. Passion for Markers
   
8. Try It On Tuesday
   
9. Neglected Stuff Challenge - the stamp set is/was neglected
   
10. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
    

The Pick 3 Challenge #9 - Sep/Oct 2026

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

I've chosen Halloween, Leaves, Brown and the extra elements of Vintage and Checks for my team project.  I've used the "Halloween Pumpkin" Stamp and coordinating Die Set from Memory Box and colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers.

After coloring and heat embossing the sentiment, both have been die cut and the edges inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The distressed patterned paper has also been inked around the edges for a vintage, Autumn vibe.  

The pumpkin image is quite large, my card base measures 5.5" square so that gives you an idea of it's size.  To finish everything off, I've added black gems and Wink of Stella to the small leaves and acorns.  

We hope to see you at the Challenge this month, we love seeing how creative everyone gets with their chosen elements.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. 613 Avenue Create
   
2. Just Us Girls
   
3. As You Like It - Orange because I like the traditional look and I love Pumpkins!
   
4. Creative Knockouts
   
5. Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Halloween, Free, Plaid
   
6. Word Art Wednesday
   
7. Creative Moments
   
8. Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
   
9. A Place to Start - Song is Jack's Lament from The Nightmare Before Christmas
   
10. The Four Seasons Challenge
    

The Classic Design Challenge - Sep/Oct 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome Back!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge and we have 2 sponsors this month, which means 2 winners!  We have Alex Syberia Designs and Goha Digital Stamps, and I've used the Autumn Leaves Wreath image from Alex Syberia Designs for my team project.  

I've searched the Alex Syberia site for this digital image and could not find it (it may be retired) but she has many digital images that are just as pretty.  I've colored the leaves using Copic Alcohol Markers and the papers are from the "It's Autumn" 6x6 Mega paper pad by Carta Bella.

I've went with a 5.5" square card base this time as I wanted to keep the wreath large.  The sentiment is from the "Autumn is Calling" stamp set by Penny Black.  The enamel dots are part of the Carta Bella "It's Autumn" coordinating set of papers and embellishments.

The team and I invite you to join us at the Challenge this month and share your Anything Goes projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Try It On Tuesday
   
2. Crafter's Cafe
   
3. Creative Crafters
   
4. Creative Moments
   
5. Dream Factory
   
6. Papercraft Challenges
   
7. Dream Valley
   
8. CD Sunday +
   
9. Little Patch of Crafty Friends
   
10. We Love Stamping