The Classic Design Challenge #01-2026 - Jan/Feb '26

Hello Friends and Welcome Back.  It's time for a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our generous sponsor this month is Pattie's Creations and the optional Twist this month is: Use Circles. For my team project, I've went with a Valentine's Day theme, and colored the Hearts and Flowers Digital Stamp from Pattie's.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, the patterned paper is from the "Blush and Mint" 6x6 paper pad by Recollections, the sentiment is from the "Friendship Greetings" Stamp Set by Kat Scrappiness.

I've die cut the focal image using a nesting circle die from Kat Scrappiness. Lastly, I've added flat backed holographic sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and added Wink of Stella to the pink hearts.  The sentiment has been heat embossed and popped on foam pads, as well as the focal image.

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and see what my teamies have created using images so generously provided by Pattie's Creations, and we hope you'll play along too!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Pattie's Creations

Dragonfly Dreams

We Love Stamping

Polkadoodles

The Dream Factory

Sisterhood of Crafters

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

A Place to Start

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Jan/Feb '26

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  We have a cheery inspirational picture (always optional) that features the January Flower of the Month - Carnations.

The inspiration picture had me thinking of Valentine's Day, but I chose to create a Card of Encouragement for a friend who's experiencing a tough time of it lately.  I've used the Best Flowers Stamp Set from Gina K. Designs and patterned papers from the "Havanna" 6x6 paper pad by Prima Marketing, and I've colored the floral using Copic markers.

After coloring the image, I've fussy cut it and adhered to a panel that's been embossed using a Park Lane embossing folder that my sister-in-law sent me for Christmas.  The sentiment is from a digital set that I've had in my sentiment stash, just waiting for the right card.  The sentiment has been popped on foam pads.

Lastly, I've added pink faux gems to accent the sentiment, and called this card complete.  I do hope it brings a bit of comfort to my friend.  

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and see all the beautiful cards my teamies have created, and play along with us too.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Girlz Creative Crafts

Word Art Wednesday

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Creative Inspirations

Art Nudge - Flowers from 0126C

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Make My Monday

Girlz Rebel Challenge

Let's Chill

Hello Friends and Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was nice and you found time to do something you like. I enjoyed some crafty time and created a few cards along with working on a crocheted scarf, which I'm half way to completion.  

Today, my card features the "Chill" digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I've colored this cutie using Copic Alcohol Markers, and the patterned papers are from the "Whispers of Winter" 6x6 paper pad by Ink 'n Splatter. 

I've used a nesting arch die set from Hero Arts to cut the focal image and mat, then popped on foam pads for dimension.  The sentiment is included with the image, and I've printed it with the resized image.

Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to his hat pom pom and the cold breath steam, it's just nearly impossible to capture the sparkle on camera.  

That's all for me today.  I wish you a fantastic week, and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Make My Monday

CD Sunday +

Stamping Sensations - "B" for Boy

We Love Stamping

613 Avenue Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Polkadoodles

Pattie's Creations

Pearly Sparkles

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Winter Flamingo

Hello Friends and Happy Friday! I hope your week went well and you're ready for the weekend.  I'm planning a bit of crafty time this weekend, and I hope you are too.

I have a quick share today featuring this cute Winter Flamingo from Pattie's Creations, which is a "new" to me digital stamp. And since I'm a Florida Girl, this guy caught my eye.  He must be somewhere up North because he's definitely not playing in the snow down here!

 

I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from my scrap box.  I've die cut all the panels using a nesting die set from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment is from the Snowflake Season Stamp Set by Penny Black.

The sentiment has been cut using a stitched sentiment strip die from Kat Scrappiness and popped on foam pads.  I've splattered the image with Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White Ink, and added Crystal Stickles to the hat pom pom.  That's all for me today, I hope you have a fabulous Friday.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pattie's Creations

Cut It Up Challenge

All About Paper Craft - Digital Stamp is NEW to me

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Triple B Challenge

Daisy Chain Challenge

Fab 'n Funky

Digi Choosday Challenge

Passion for Markers

Try It on Tuesday

 

The Paper Funday Challenge - January 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the first Wednesday of the month and it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  The team had a nice holiday break and we're ready for some fun and creativity.  Our generous sponsors this month are Taylored Expressions and Sweet November Stamps, with our optional twist for January being a Sketch:

For my design team project, I chose not to use the optional sketch but instead used the Bitty Bouquet Stamp and Coordinating Stencil Set from Taylored Expressions.  This set was included in the Nature's Canvas Cardmaking Kit, and I don't believe it is sold separately.

To start, using inks from Catherine Pooler, I've stamped the panel with the green stems and leaves, then ink blended the remaining layered stencil elements.  The result is a very cheerful background panel, which I thought would be a perfect Friendship card (or even a Galentine's Day card).

I've die cut the sentiment using a mini expressions die set from Creative Expressions, and to prevent it from getting "lost" against the busy background, I've adhered it to a panel of vellum.  Lastly, I've added pink faux gems to accent the sentiment.

I hope you'll stop by The Paper Funday Challenge and see what my teammates have created using items from our sponsors, and we hope you'll join us this month and share your creative makes.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B Challenge

Let's Craft and Create

Stencil Fun Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Art Nudge

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Aud Sentiments

Dragonfly Dreams

Inspiration Station Challenge - January 2026

Hello Friends and Happy 1st Monday of the New Year! It's time for a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and we're starting off the new year with a inspiration prompt that's appropriate for this time of year:

I had to think on this one for a while, and thought about using any furry critter in a winter scene, but decided to do an internet search for Free squirrel images to color. I found a set of adorable squirrels at CraftStarters and used this cutie with his big acorn for my design team project.

I've colored the image using Copic Markers and the patterned papers are snippets from my stash.  The sentiment is from the Snowflake Season Stamp Set by Penny Black.  I've cut the focal and mat using a fancy die from Spellbinders and popped the focal on foam pads.

Lastly, I've added olive green sparkly enamel dots for added interest.  I've used the Cute Squirrels Set and you can find it HERE.

The team and I hope you'll stop by the challenge and share your inspired makes this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Squirrel Digital Pack is New 

Aud Sentiments

Let's Craft and Create

CD Sunday +

We Love Stamping

All Sorts

Polkadoodles

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

Snowball Fight

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  I hope you had a fantastic day and plan on a great weekend.  I spent the day taking down Christmas decorations, it's always sad to take them down, however we only have 357 days left till Christmas 2026!

I'm in the process of creating cards with a Winter theme and this little one was just too cute not to color up.  She's the Snowball Fight Digital Stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from a 12x12 Winter themed pad by Recollections; the sentiment is included with the image.  I've die cut the focal image using a diagonal stitched oval nesting die from Kat Scrappiness.

The Sentiment and Focal image have been popped on foam pads. Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to her Hat Pom Pom and called this card complete.  She goes in the mail tomorrow as part of a card swap for January.  If you're interested in joining the card swap, you can find our group on Facebook HERE.

I would like to remind everyone of a new Challenge starting the 20th of January.  It's the new Pick 3 Challenge and we would love to have you play along.  Keep on the look out for the 1st challenge, starting soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

TGIF Challenges

Mirtillamente

Pearly Sparkles

The Four Seasons Challenge

Love to Craft Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Papercraft Challenge

Cards Galore Encore

Happy New Year - Welcome 2026!

Hi friends and Happy New Year!  Wow, 2026, who would have thunk it?  I pray that each of you has the best year ever, full of good health, prosperity, love and friendship.  

My share today is another quick and easy card for the New Year, made from die cuts, hole punches, mirror card and heat embossing.

Yesterday's card was Black and Gold, and I wanted to create one in Black and Silver.  The hardest part of this card was the heat embossing, and that's not difficult!

Have a fantastic 1st day of the new year, now it's time to get started on Winter and Valentine's Day cards.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Perfect Time to Craft

Cards Galore Encore

Lil Red Wagon

Moving Along with the Times

Die Cut Divas - New item is the Dots inlaid die

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Craft Rocket

Happy New Year's Eve!

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Dec 31st, 2025.  As we approach 2026, I want to wish each of you a safe New Year's Eve.  Do you have plans for this evening?  As for us, we've been to our traditional NYE breakfast at our favorite diner, I'll be popping a Ham in the oven soon and we'll have a quiet dinner at home with hopefully, a toast of Bubbly at midnight to welcome in 2026....and That's a big "IF" LOL!

I have a quick share today featuring a card created with die cuts and heat embossing.  A simple make taking advantage of gold mirror card for lots of festive shine.

I've cut stars using a stitched nesting set along with a die cut focal.  The sentiment has been heat embossed with fine detail gold powder and cut with a stitched nesting circle die.  The sentiment has been popped on foam pads as well as a few stars.

That's all from me today.  I wish you all a great afternoon and evening, and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Simon Says Stamp Mon. Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Everybody Art

The CreaLadies Challenge

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

Let's Go Sledding!

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope you had a joyous Christmas.  We were blessed with family and friends, lots of good food and fellowship.  We took a trip down memory lane with old family photos.  The grade school years were not kind to me LOL; huge, round, plastic framed eyeglasses and the Dorothy Hamill haircut....oh my!

Today I'm sharing an adorable Sledding Bear, a free image from artist Elizabeth Dulemba.  She has many free coloring book pages, and the images are easy to resize for cardmaking.  I'm in the process of creating Winter themed cards and I couldn't resist this bear. 

Isn't he adorable?  I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and turned him into a Polar Bear. The patterned paper is from a 12x12 All Seasons Mat Stack by Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) and the sentiment is from the Snow-One Like You Stamp Set by Pink & Main.

I've die cut the focal image using a scalloped stitched nesting circle die, and the sentiment was cut using a plain nesting circle die.  To embellish, I've added 2 die cut snowflakes and covered them with Crystal Stickles.  I've splattered the focal image with Dr. Ph. Martins Bright White Pen Ink to replicate snowfall.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you have a wonderful rest of your Saturday and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Cut It Up Challenge
TGIF Challenges

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Elli's Crafty Wednesday

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start