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
    

Sunflower Blooms

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is going great thus far.   Yesterday we were shocked to hear the sweet Dolly Pardon has passed away, a national treasure loved the world over.  R.I.P Dolly, I know you had a wonderful homegoing yesterday and Carl was waiting for you with open arms.  I will always love you.

I have a quick share featuring one of my favorite flowers for the Autumn Season.  I've used the Sunflower Blooms and Hand Tied Frame Die Sets from Simon Says Stamp for my card today.  The sentiment is from the Autumn is Calling Stamp Set from Penny Black.

Flower pieces were cut using colored cardstock and given dimension using Distress Inks.  The patterned papers are from Craft Consortium and Echo Park.  The sentiment was stamped using Catherine Pooler Coffee Time ink and cut using a nesting circle die from Kat Scrappiness.  Lastly, Gold Dazzles have been added along with Wink of Stella on the flower centers.

I hope you have a wonderful day, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge
2. Simon Says Stamp Mon. Challenge
   
3. Simon Says Stamp Flickr Group Challenge
   
4. Word Art Wednesday
5. I Spy with My Little Eye
6. Hand Stamped Sentiments
7. A Cut Above
   
8. Triple B Challenge
   
9. Colorful Options
   
10. Inkspirational
    

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

Pumpkin Blessings by Penny Black

Hello Friends, I hope you're doing well and enjoying the Autumn Season.  I have a quick share for you featuring the lovely Autumn Splendor Stamp Set #30-372 from Penny Black.  I've featured 3 cards created from this set recently, and I can't get enough of the pretty artist drawings.

To start, I've stamped the image on Tim Holtz Watercolor card, using the textured side, and painted using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  A tip I like to use, and one I picked up from watching Micheline Jourdain videos on You Tube, (she's fantastic with painting and creating scenes using Penny Black sets) is to leave the stamp in my Misti stamp positioning tool, and after the painting has dried, re-stamp the image for to darken up the lines.  

I've taped off a 1/2" border around the image, using Mint Tape from Scrapbook.com and blended Vintage Photo Distress ink to create a "frame", then splattered using Dr. Ph. Martin Pen White ink. Once the splattering was dry, I've stamped the sentiment from the Autumn is Calling Set #30-863 from Penny Black, and this card was complete.

That's all for today, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Double D Challenges

Fab 'n Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Inspiration Station Challenge #66 - October 2024

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Our optional inspiration photo is full of wonderful Autumn colors and items:

I was directly inspired by the Jack-o-Lanterns in the photo and based my card on them.  Using the "Autumn Splendor" Clear Stamp Set from Penny Black, I've stamped the Scarecrow onto Tim Holtz watercolor paper and painted using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.

The sentiment is from the "Autumn is Calling" Clear Stamp Set, also from Penny Black.  I'm getting lots of mileage out of the sets this Autumn season.  To keep the design somewhat CAS, I've inked around the edges using Vintage Photo Distress ink, and highlighted the scarecrow using Salty Ocean Distress Ink.

The plaid patterned paper is from the "Welcome Fall" 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella, the card base and focal mat are Cajun Craze cardstock from Stampin" Up.  No other bells and whistles have been added, however I have popped the focal panel on foam pads for dimension.

The team and I invite you to join us at the Challenge, we hope you'll be inspired by our projects, and we love seeing how the photo inspires you.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

FarmQuest General Store

Daisy Chain Challenge

Girlz Make Guy Cardz

Aud Sentiments

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Krafty Chicks

 

Autumn Scenes with Penny Black

Hello and Happy Thursday!  I have a quick share for you today featuring the Autumn Splendor and Autumn is Calling Stamp Sets from Penny Black.  

To start, I've stamped the image onto Tim Holtz watercolor paper, I like this watercolor card as it's white and not an ivory or off white as most other watercolor papers are. I then painted using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.

I kept the design simple, I stamped the sentiment directly to the panel and after the watercolors were completely dry, inked around the focal image using a template from Lavinia Stamps, along with inking around the edges for that vintage and weathered look.

Lastly, Amber colored gems were added to complete the design.  I hope you have a wonderful day, I'm preparing for Hurricane Helene as she is expected to make landfall on the opposite coast from where we are, however we are still expected to receive Tropical Force winds of 55-65 MPH along with heavy rains.  We shall stay put, hunker down and ride it out.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Inspired By... - Autumn Theme

Cardz 4 Galz

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Crafty Gals Corner

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Cards Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

Ally's Angels

Sparkles Monthly

The Creative Crafters