The Classic Design Challenge - Jun/Jul 2026

Hello and Welcome Back!  It's a busy Monday and time to start the new monthly challenge at The Classic Design Challenge Blog.  Our generous sponsor this month is LeAnn's World 101, and our optional Twist is: Summer Fun.  

I've used the adorable Bill & Lill digital stamp and beach themed papers from Echo Park to create a Summer themed card.

After coloring this adorable couple with Copic Alcohol Markers, I've fussy cut them and added foam pads.  I like the beach houses, blue sky and clouds on this patterned paper; they make creating a beach scene so easy.  The sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp and has been popped on foam pads also.

To finish, I've added blue Dazzles around the sentiment and gold streaks in Lill's hair using a Gelly Roll Sparkle Pen.  

We hope you'll join us this month and share your projects, maybe you'll be inspired to use the optional Twist as well.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Crafter's Cafe

Papercraft Challenges

CD Sunday +

Polkadoodles

Crafts Galore Encore

Mirtillamente

Pattie's Creations

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

The Inspiration Station Challenge - April 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  Today signals a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog, where challenge themes are based on an inspirational picture and you interpret it your own way.  Our photo this month is:

I was directly inspired by the bright yellow rain boots and decided on a bright and cheerful card design.  My card features an adorable Bee from Amanda Jayne Designs (sadly, no longer in business) with patterned papers from the "Bee Happy" 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park. 

I've colored this cutie using Copic Alcohol Markers and went with a square card design.  I've die cut the focal and mat using nesting oval dies from Hero Arts, the sentiment is a cut apart from the paper pad and I've rounded the corners with a corner punch.

The focal image and sentiment have been popped on foam pads and I've added gold sequins from my stash for that something extra.  The papers in this pad are lovely and I think this little bee is perfect for Springtime.  

The team and I hope you'll "buzz" over to the Challenge and play along this month.  We're always delighted to see everyone's creative interpretations of the inspiration photo.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Let's Craft and Create

All Sorts

Love Those Pretty Papers

Polkadoodles

Pattie's Creations

Color Dare Challenge #697

Craft Rocket

Inspiration Station Challenge November 2025

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  Wow, there were lots of changes this past weekend. We changed the calendar page and here in the States, we also had Daylight Savings Time.  We "fell back" an hour so it's getting darker earlier, and we gained an hour of sleep, or so they say. 

Today also begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog, where we get inspiration from a photo prompt.  The photo this month is a lovely picture of wild Poppies:

I was inspired by the red color and the flowers, and since I should have started Christmas cards by now, I've taken the opportunity to use the Pretty Poinsettias Stamp and Coordinating Die set from Honey Bee Stamps to create a holiday card.

This set is "new to me", I've purchased off eBay but you can find it on the Honey Bee Stamps site HERE also. It's retiring and currently listed for $9, so get it while you can!

I've colored the images using Copic Alcohol Markers, and the gingham check patterned paper is from the "Lumberjack Christmas" 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park.

After die cutting the images, I've arranged and adhered to the card base, popping the large poinsettia and a few other images on foam pads.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and it has been heat embossed in a sparkly white powder from Simon Says Stamp.  Lastly, I've added Gold Stickles to the center of the flower.  My 1st Christmas card for 2025 is complete!

We hope to see you at the Challenge this month, we always enjoy seeing how the photo inspires everyone, so put your thinking cap on and join us!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Cut Above

Aud Sentiments

A Place to Start

Triple B

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

The Crafting Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

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

Inspiration Station Challenge #68 - December 2024

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  It's the 1st Monday of the month and that signals a new challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  We have a fun and festive inspiration photo for you this month:

I cannot resist a homemade Gingerbread Cookie at Christmas, especially with a cup of Hot Cocoa.  I was directly inspired by the Gingerbread cookie in the photo and colored the Gingerbread Man Digital image from Mo Manning for my team project.  And here's an FYI - this image is FREE at Mo's site HERE. 

I've duplicated and flipped the single image so I would have 2, facing each other, then colored using alcohol markers and fussy cut them.  I'll add that I've doodled in the "icing" as the image does not have that design element.  The patterned papers are from the "A Gingerbread Christmas" 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park.

The sentiment is a cut apart from the paper pad, I've popped the Gingers and the sentiment on foam pads and added sequins from my stash.  Lastly, no self respecting Gingerbread would be seen during the holidays without some sparkle, so I've added my trusty Crystal Stickles to the icing.

We hope you're inspired by our projects this month, and we hope you'll share your inspired projects with us.  It's time to get serious folks, Christmas is 22 days away!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Colorful Options

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Double Trouble Challenge

A Place to Start

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Christmas with the Cuties

The Crafting Challenge

12 Months of Christmas

Santa's Sweets

Hi Friends and Happy Thursday!  I hope your day has been enjoyable thus far, it's a beautiful day here in Central Florida.  It's sunny, breezy and the temperature is only 64 degrees F, which is so nice that I have my windows open, enjoying the fresh air.

I'm in full swing with Christmas cards and today I'm sharing the Santa's Sweets Stamp Set #31-083 from Penny Black.  This set has a matching die, I do own it but I didn't use it here, instead I've used a Wavy Nesting Die from Kat Scrappiness to cut out the focal image.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and the patterned papers are from the "A Gingerbread Christmas" 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park.

The focal image has been popped on foam pads for dimension, I've added a few sequins from my stash and of course....Crystal Stickles on Santa's hat brim, suit trim and hat pom pom.

When my children were small, on Christmas Eve we put out cookies and milk for Santa and sprinkled Magical Reindeer food around the house.  Santa AKA my husband loved his midnight snack.  And if you've never heard of Reindeer Food, you can find the "recipe" HERE. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Craft Rocket

Digi Choosday

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner

I Spy with My Little Eye

Holly and Ivy Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Daisy Chain Challenge

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Lil Cactus Trick-or-Treater

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday, I hope your weekend has been wonderful.  Our continued prayers go out to all who have been affected by Hurricane Helene,  We are blessed and gave thanks to God as we experienced no significant damage. 

I have a quick share today featuring an adorable little Trick-or-Treater dressed in a Cactus Costume, ready to get some Candy.  It's hard to believe October 1st will soon be here, along with Halloween!

To start, I've stamped the image, from the Darcie's Heart and Home Llama Halloween Clear Stamp Set, on Canson 140 lb watercolor paper and painted using Gansai Tambi Watercolors. I've kept the painting simple, the image is small so not a lot to shade.  I've backed the focal image with purple card and popped on foam for dimension. 

The patterned papers are snippets from the Echo Park "Trick or Treat" 6x6 paper pack.  I've also used a strip of glitter tape from Cricut to add a bit of sparkle and to create a break from top to bottom.

The sentiment is from a pre-packaged set of sentiment strips, designed by Cathy Zelski for Simon Says Stamp, and I've popped on foam for dimension.  Lastly, Halloween Green sequins were added for more spooky sparkle and shine.

Thanks all I have to share today, until next time - Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Allsorts

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Love Those Pretty Papers

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Krafty Chicks

Cardz 4 Galz

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Papercraft Challenges

Girlz Creative Crafts

Creative Crafting Uncles

 

Inspiration Station Challenge #56 - Jolly Elf

Hello and Happy 1st Monday of December!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and the inspiration prompt for this month, is naturally, a festive one:

When my children were small, we never missed at least 1 visit to the Magic Kingdom at Christmas time.  It truly is a magical place to go at Christmas Time and the Holiday Parade is fantastic.  This photo inspired me to create a Christmas card using the Jolly Elf digital stamp from Sweet November Stamps.

Isn't this little nugget the cutest Elf ever?  I've colored him using my Prismacolor pencils and hand drew the lines on his hat to create stripes.  The patterned papers are from the Echo Park "My Favorite Christmas" 6x6 paper pad.

I've die cut the focal panel using a nesting rectangle postage die and the sentiment strip is from a Simon Says Stamp premade pack.  Lastly, red sequins were added for a bit of holiday bling.

Please join us for the last challenge of 2023.  The team and I wish you a very Happy Christmas and Joyous New Year! 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Double Trouble

A Place to Start

Christmas with the Cuties

CD Sunday +

Peace on Earth Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Fairy and the Unicorn

Crafty Calendar

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round

A Snowman with His Tree

Happy Monday Crafty Friends!  I trust your weekend was great and you found time for some crafty fun.  I have a quick share today featuring a Snowman and his Tree.  And yes, I'm now in full holiday mode...and you probably are too!

The Snowman is an older (from 2015) stamp set from Stampendous.  He's a cling stamp and I still love using him every Christmas Season.  The older red rubber and cling stamps are so well made, even though this stamp is 13 years old, it still stamps beautifully.  Snowman are also my favorite Holiday and Winter images/home decor items.  

I've colored him using Prismacolor Pencils, the patterned papers are snippets from 3 different Echo Park 6x6 paper pads and instead of stamping a sentiment, I've went with a mini journaling card that was also part of a paper pad.  Gotta use what we have on hand eh?  I've also fussy cut him and popped him on craft foam for dimension.  

I've used a card sketch from Cardz TV (she has over 50 free card sketches to choose from) and embellished with faux pearls.

That's all for today.  I wish you a great day and week ahead, until next time - Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Ally's Angels

Star Stampz

Crafting from the Heart

Path of Positivity

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Sweet Stampin'

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Most Magical Time of the Year

Outlawz Festive Friday

Krafty Chicks

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "S" for Snowman

Gift of Hope

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to Sunday!  Superbowl Sunday here in the States, but that's not a big deal to me...I'll be crafting while hubby cheers on his Philadelphia Eagles!  Will you be watching the Game?

I have a quick share for you today featuring an image from the Gift of Hope Digital Set by Graciellie Design. I've colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils...I'm still trying to perfect my technique using these art tools.

The patterned papers are from the Echo Park Good Day Sunshine 6x6 paper pad, the sentiment is from the Bitty Blossoms Mini Set by Gina K. Designs.  

I'm not happy with that fussy cutting work!  I don't know what possessed me to hand cut it but once I started, I was committed.  The image and sentiment have been popped on craft foam and the design finished with clear gems.

Have a wonderful week ahead and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Ally's Angels

Coloring with Pencils

Sparkles

All Sorts

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Pattie's Creations

AYLI - I like both types of cards but I create more Friendship Cards as I swap them

Holiday Magic

Happy Friday Friends!  We've made it to the weekend and I've a busy weekend planned with shopping in preparation for our upcoming Thanksgiving Day Holiday.  I did manage to get the Turkey yesterday, and I'm glad I went out because they were selling fast!  

I have a simple yet festive card to share today.  I've colored the Poinsettia image from the Holiday Magic Stamp set by Dare 2B Artsy with alcohol markers and the patterned papers are from the Echo Park "My Favorite Christmas" 6x6 paper pad.

This set appeals to me because I like how the images are drawn in a sketchy way.  The lines are thick and bold which I also like.  The sentiment is part of the stamp set as well.

The layered banner die is from Alina Craft and the red gems are from Kat Scrappiness.  I've fussy cut the floral and popped it, along with the sentiment, on craft foam for dimension.  

My Christmas cards for this year are almost complete.  I've tried to slim down my mailing list due to the rising cost of postage, which is sad, however I will probably end up sending more than I have on my list.  I can't help myself, I love sending Happy Mail and especially love sending Christmas Cards!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Jingle Belles Rock - I was inspired by the red color and the Poinsettias

Outlawz Festive Friday

Pattie's Creations

Craft Rocket

Lil Red Wagon

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper

Happy Little Stampers Die Challenge

Sweet Stampers

Sparkles

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards

Warm & Toasty Wishes

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  I have a quick share for you today featuring an adorable Marshmallow cutie with a sweet wish.

I've finally gotten around to using some of the sets I've purchased from the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember Event for 2022.  For my card today, I've used the "Snow-One Like You" collab set from Pink & Main.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and my green marker was going dry, I was worried I wouldn't have enough ink to finish the Mug.  I'm not happy with the coloring there but it is what it is...I couldn't stop, I was in the Zone!

I've followed a sketch from Mojo Monday, even though this challenge has closed, you can still access the past challenge sketches.  The patterned papers are from the Echo Park "A Gingerbread Christmas" 6x6 paper pad.  I've doodled white dots to mimic snow and added white gems from Kat Scrappiness to finish it off.

A cup of Hot Cocoa sounds so yummy!  We are expecting a cold snap here in Florida starting tomorrow and this excites me very much.  I get to wear a sweater and leggings while relaxing with my cup of Cocoa...YAY.  It's the little things in life that are the sweetest.  Have a great day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Digi Choosday

The Holly and the Ivy

TTCRD

Unicorn Challenge

Use Your Stuff

Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards

Dragonfly Dreams

Creative Moments

Inspiration Station Challenge #40 - Harvest

Happy Monday Everyone!  I hope your weekend was lovely.  Today starts a new inspiration challenge round at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  The inspiration photo for this bi-weekly round is:

For my team project, I've used the A World of Octobers Mini Stamp Set from Picket Fence to create a fun fold card.

I was directly inspired by the pumpkins in the photo. After stamping and coloring the images using alcohol markers, I trimmed in very close to create a mini panel.  I did the same with the sentiment, which is part of this stamp set.

The patterned papers are from the "Celebrate Autumn" 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park.  I left the section behind the front fold blank as a place to write a sentiment.

To complete the design, I've added 2 shades of golden sequins.  I usually forget to create fun fold cards, mainly because I'm always trying to stay ahead of team projects, but I do love them and plan to make time to create more of them.  

Please stop by and join us at The Inspiration Station Challenge.  We always love to see how the photo inspired you.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Path of Positivity - Celebrate the Autumn Colors

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Corrosive Challenge

Dare 2B Artsy - Fav colors this time of year are reds and oranges

We Love Stamping

Stamping Sensations

Dragonfly Dreams

All Sorts

Creative Creases

There's a Stamp for That

Sweet Stampers

Creep It Real

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  Today begins a new challenge round at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  Pammie is offering a gift voucher to My Favorite Things so you'll want to stop by and play along.

For my project, I've used patterned papers and ephemera from the Echo Park "Spooky" collection.  I've also followed a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenges.

This card was created during the 1st night of Hurricane Ian.  I needed something to focus on and something that didn't require a lot of preparation, in case we lost electricity.

I had the paper pad and ephemera in my stash so I thought creating Halloween cards just following sketches and cutting paper was safe enough.

The Spooky Collection has lots of cute ephemera and papers.  The only bells and whistles added were some iridescent sequins to break up the otherwise drab tones. I love the pop of color with the Skeleton's Bow Tie.

Please visit us this week at the challenge blog, we would love to have you!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafting Happiness

QKR Stampede

Outlawz Monday Greetings

A Place to Start

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Dragonfly Dreams

Corrosive Challenge

Two Old Bats

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Taylor Made Cards 4 U

Paper Dragonfly

Inspiration Station Challenge #39 - Trick or Treat

Hello Friends!  It's Monday and today begins a new bi-weekly challenge round at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  The photo prompt this challenge is:

We still get Trick or Treaters in my neighborhood and we have several homes that decorate their porches and lawns.  Our dear friends to the west of us go all out with decorating and I look forward to seeing what they come up with each year.  This photo inspired me to use a darling Halloween set I've had in my stash since last season but not used before.

I've used the Llama Halloween Stamp Set from Darcie's Heart and Home to create a standard A2 sized card.  This little Trick or Treater has been colored using alcohol markers and the designer papers are from the Echo Park "Trick or Treat" 6x6 paper pad.  The sentiment is included in the stamp set.

The orange mat has been dry embossed using an older Halloween Embossing Folder from Darice.  I wanted the images to stand out so I lightly inked over the embossing with Unicorn White Ink from Hero Arts.  The focal image has been die cut using nesting circle dies from Kat Scrappiness and to complete the design, I've added sequins from a Halloween Mix, also from Kat Scrappiness.

Please join in the fun at The Inspiration Station this challenge round.  We always enjoy seeing how the photo inspires.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafting Happiness

Path of Positivity

A Place to Start

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes

There's a Stamp for That

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Penny's Challenges

Two Old Bats