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
    

The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #15 - Mar/Apr 2024

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Friday!  We made it through another week, wow this month is flying by.  It's time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  This month, the challenge team is collaborating with The Double Trouble Challenge from today through the 31st of March, so you'll want to pop over and play along in their Spring Florals Challenge as well.

Now, on to the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge for this month.  Our Optional Mood Board contains my favorite color, along with some gorgeous florals.  This mood board is optional, provided for inspiration.

For my team project, I've used the Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Daffodil Layering Die Set.  I love layering die sets, they are usually fairly simple to put together and they provide so much dimension to your project.

For my card, I've embossed the background with a Basket Weave pattern, using a folder from Darice,  I've ink blended a light shade of Catherine Pooler lilac ink in the bottom corner, getting lighter as I went up the side and into the middle.

For the die cut daffodils, I've used colored card stock along with glitter card for the tips of the flowers.  The taller flower head has been popped on foam pads, and the pre-foiled sentiment is from a pack by Pink Fresh Studio.  I've not added my usual bells and whistles, I thought the card was good without anything extra.

Please join us at the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge.  We would love to see your Floral Focused projects, and also check out The Double Trouble Challenge this month also.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cut It Up

Daring Cardmakers

Creative Crafters

WW Crafters and Colorists

Craft Rocket

Double D

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner

Die Cut Divas

Triple B Challenge

CYHTP

Double Trouble

Make My Monday

Creative Moments

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #11

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenge theme is Always Anything Flowers/Florals Goes with an Optional Mood Board for Inspiration.  The mood board this month is:

I was inspired by the gorgeous shades of blue in this board and took the opportunity to make an unexpected style of holiday card.  I've used the Craft-a-Flower Fashion Monger Dahlia Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Altenew.

This is a layering stamp set and I've used various shades of blue Catherine Pooler inks to stamp out each floral layer, the leaves used 2 shades of green and the flower centers used 2 shades of orange.  All pieces were cut with the coordinating die set.

I've popped the center flower on foam pads, the embossed white panel was sent to me by a swap buddy, the glitter and light blue panels are card stocks from Recollections, and lastly, the sentiment is a die cut from Simon Says Stamp that has been cut 3 times and layered to create a shadow and height.  No other bells or whistles have been added, expect for a bit of Wink of Stella on the florals.

Please join us at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge this month.  We love visiting everyone and admiring the creativity!  Until next time, Happy Crafting.

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Calendar

Triple B

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Your Scrapbook Place

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Classic Design Challenge

WW Crafters and Colorists

Creative Crafters

Crafter's Cafe

Fab n Funky

Dream Valley

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "B" for Blooms

Die Cut Divas

Altenew Academy - In the Mood for Color

Happy Day to You!  I'm sharing a card created for the Altenew Academy Level 2 Course:  In the Mood for Color.  This lesson covered Colors, the Emotions that can be linked to them and various coloring techniques.  For my submission, I chose to use the color Red and the Altenew Craft-A-Flower Camellia Stamp and Coordinating Die Set along with shade stamping.

The color Red can make you feel Passionate and Energized.  It is often associated with Love as well as Danger and Anger.  I chose the color Red for the passionate, energized and love feelings it provokes.  I created a Holiday card using traditional colors and a non-traditional floral.

To start, I stamp layered the images using 3 shades of red and green.  I die cut and set aside to work on the panel and background.  I inked an embossing folder with watermark ink and embossed 80 lb card with fine detail silver powder.  The shine along with the buffalo plaid paper and snowflakes say Christmas to me.    

To put it all together, I matted the plaid paper with black card, rounded the corners of the embossed panel and adhered using craft foam for dimension.  Lastly, I adhered the bloom, leaves and sentiment strip flat to the panel. 

I love bright colors and create with them often.  When I look at this card, it stirs up emotion of great holidays past and those yet to come.  The red makes me happy and passionate about spending a great Christmas with family and friends this year.  How does it make you feel?

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

All Sorts - I love Bright Colors and Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Sweet Stampin'

Crafter's Castle

Creatalicious

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper

Die Cut Divas

Sparkles Christmas Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Krafty Chicks

Make My Monday

Peace on Earth Christmas

Altenew Academy Level 1 Course: Easy Die Cutting Techniques

Hello Friends!  Today I'm sharing my project for the Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 1 Course:  Easy Die Cutting Techniques.  This is a great course, loaded with ideas and tips for easy but effective die-cutting.  My card features layered die cuts and ink blending.

I've used the Altenew Craft-A-Flower Morning Glory Die Set to create 4 Morning Glories and leaves in shades of Purples and Greens.  This is a lovely set and appears intimidating, but actually it was enjoyable and therapuetic putting the pieces together.

To start, I ink blended 80 lb. white card in the shades I wanted for the flowers and leaves.  I'll admit I have colored card to use but I was in the crafting zone, home alone, candle lit and ink blending just sounded relaxing.

After allowing the inked card to dry completely, I proceeded to die cut the pieces and here's a Tip:  I used small tin trays to keep all the die cuts separated; organizing by color.  Once all pieces were cut, I started adhering the pieces together with liquid adhesive.  The die set has a guide to assist you in putting the elements together so it was not intimidating at all.  Once the die pieces are together, they become dimensional, chipboard-like embellishments, which I like a lot!

Naturally, no card of mine would be complete without sparkle and/or shine so I brought out some gold foil Washi tape I've had in my stash for several holidays but why wait for the Christmas Season?  I applied the Washi to a 2" panel in a diagonal pattern and adhered to the 110 lb. card base.  

I did a dry run layout for the floral and leaves and once I was pleased with the look, using Press and Seal Plastic Wrap, I picked up the die cuts and applied liquid adhesive to the backs.  The Press and Seal keeps everything together and makes adhering the layout to the card quick and easy.

I stamped the sentiment, which is from the Altenew Amaryllis Layering Stamp and Coordinating Die Bundle, die cut with a circle die and mounted on craft foam before adhering to the card front.  Lastly, I applied enamel glitter dots for additional interest.

I enjoyed the process of creating this card and the course was very informative and inspiring.  This is the first layering die set I've put together and probably wouldn't have tried using these types of sets had it not been for the course.  I'm glad I took that step...now I do believe I'm hooked!

Thanks for visiting today and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Knockouts

Aud Sentiments

Cardz 4 Galz

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Time Out Challenges

Cute Card Thursday

Lil Red Wagon

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

NBUS

Let's Craft and Create