The Classic Design Challenge for Aug/Sep 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog, where the theme is Always Anything Goes with an optional Twist.  The Twist this month is: Use Die Cuts.  We also have 2 sponsors - Sheepski Designs and Fred, She Said.

For my design team project, I've colored the Tea Cup Pansies digital stamp from Fred, She Said using Copic Alcohol Markers.

I've die cut the focal image, mat and sentiment using distressed edge nesting label dies.  A die cut bow from Simon Says Stamp was added, the plaid and gold sparkle paper are from 6x6 paper pads by Recollections.  The sentiment is from a oldie but goodie stamp set by The Scrapbooking Queen. 

The team and I invite you to pop over to the Challenge and play along.  We love seeing everyone's creative shares and hope to inspire you with ours.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pattie's Creations

Passion for Markers

TIOT

Unicorn Challenge

Cupcake Inspirations

A Perfect Time to Craft

Cards Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

First Cup Challenges

 

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Dec '25 / Jan '26

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenge is Anything FLORALS Goes with an optional floral picture for inspiration.  The lovely picture this month is:

Purple is my favorite color and this bouquet would look lovely on my holiday table.  I was inspired by the colors and used the Poinsettia digital images from the Poinsettia & Holly Set by Fred, She Said for my team project, and colored the images using Copic Alcohol Markers.

I've kept this card CAS, and added a dark plum mat behind the focal panel.  It's coming across as black but it's Blackberry Bliss from Stampin' Up.

After coloring, I've splattered with Dr. Ph. Martin's Bright White Ink.  The sentiment is included in the set and I've actually printed the A2 sized panel that's in the set, leaving it oriented as it comes.

Lastly, I've added Gold Stickles to the flower centers and called it complete.  The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month as share your Floral Focused projects with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges

Make My Monday

Aud Sentiments

CD Sunday +

613 Avenue Create

Dream Factory

Creative Crafters

Triple B Challenge

The Flower Challenge

Sparkles Christmas Challenge

Paper Funday Challenges - November 2024

Hello to you and Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  This is the last challenge of 2024, the team will be taking a holiday break for December, and will return with new challenges on the 1st of January 2025.

Our sponsors this challenge are Amanda Jayne Designs and Fred, She Said.  For my team project, I've used the Christmas Corgi digital image from Fred, She Said and I've colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils.

Isn't he a cutie?  After coloring the image, I fussy cut him and popped him on foam pads for dimension.  The patterned papers are from the Bo-Ho-Ho 6x6 paper pad by Hobby Lobby, the sentiment strip is from Simon Says Stamp and the sequins are from my stash.

I believe this may be my dear husband's Christmas card this year.  He loves dogs, Queen Elizabeth II and he HAS been a pretty good guy this year.  

Please stop by The Paper Funday Challenge and play along, we love seeing all the amazing projects shared with us each month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Daisy Chain Challenge

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Creative Inspiration

Unicorn Challenge

CD Sunday +

We Love Stamping

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Beccy's Annual Month of Holiday Cards

Critter Crazy Challenge

Crafty Animals

Classic Design Challenge Jul/Aug 2024

Hello Friends and Welcome Back to my second post for this Monday! Today begins a new challenge at The Classic Design Challenge Blog and our generous sponsors this month are The Paper Shelter and Fred, She Said Designs.  The theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The Twist this month is: Summer Holiday/Vacation.

For my team project, I've colored the Poinsettia & Holly digital image from Fred, She Said, using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  This is officially my first Christmas Card of the 2024 holiday season!

This image comes in a set that includes a 4.25"x 5.5" card front panel, which is what I'm featuring here.  Now, this card was a comedy of errors, my green marker was going dry so I had to switch colors after the 1st leaf (see leaf to the upper right), then I wanted the stamen to be gold but after applying gold Posca Ink, they sort of got lost, so I dotted with black Posca ink - now they look like spider eyes.

The sentiment is included with the image, so no stamping a sentiment was needed.  I've covered the poinsettias and holly berries with Wink of Stella and dotted gold Posca ink around the floral clusters.  The Twist is always optional, but I thought that Christmas in July could be considered a Summer Holiday!    

We hope you'll join us this month and share your projects.  We hope to inspire you and love seeing everyone's creativity.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Dream Factory

Make My Monday

CD Sunday +

Dragonfly Dreams

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Alphabet Challenge

Outlawz Festive Friday

Classic Design Challenge #02-2024

Hello Crafty Friends, I'm back with my second post for this Thursday! Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge, where the theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist. The Twist this month is "I Love...". You can interpret the twist in a multitude of ways.  Our sponsors this challenge are Fred, She Said and Polkadoodles.

For my team project, I've used the "Emma in Her Cool Cap" image from Fred, She Said and colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils.  I've also incorporated the optional Twist in my design.  This is a card for one of my card swap buddies and I love my swap buddy friends!

The image was an easy color as there are not a lot of small spaces. I took the liberty to dress her up a bit by adding polkadots to her top using a white Posca Pen.  The patterned papers are from a 12x12 kit by Bo Bunny.  I only have card size snippets left so they worked perfectly for this layout.  The sketch is a freebie from Cardz TV (sketch #56). 

I've fussy cut Emma and popped her on craft foam, along with the sentiment and the green landing strip.  To complete the design, I've added complimentary blue enamel dots.

I would like to invite you to pop over to the challenge blog and enter your design.  We love seeing all the creative ways everyone uses their crafty talents.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Mirtillamente

Crafts Galore Encore

Coloring with Pencils

Allsorts

Polkadoodles

Scrapping 4 Fun

Let's Craft and Create

Creative Inspirations

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Paper Funday Challenge - Doodled Floral Corner

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  September is in full swing and it's time for a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our sponsors this month are the fabulous Fred, She Said and Sheepski Designs.  The theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist this month of:  School Yard Fun.

For my design team project, I've colored up the Doodled Floral Corner 1 image from Fred, She Said using Prismacolor Pencils.

I was attempting an Autumnal color palette and also wanted a fairly CAS design.  For me, creating clean and simple isn't easy because I don't know when to stop.  By printing this digital image large, I feel I can get a clean and simple design by allowing the image to take center stage.

I've added a black mat and 3 enamel dots, because I cannot stop myself from adding the card candy!  The sentiment is stamped directly to the panel and it's from the "True Friends" stamp set by Stampendous.  

Please visit the challenge and have a look at what my teamies have created with the fun images from Sheepski Designs and Fred, She Said.  While you're there, play along!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B

Word Art Wednesday

Penny's Challenges

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

The Paper Funday Challenges - January 2023

Hi Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the 1st Wednesday of the month (and new year) and that signals a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our sponsors this are LeAnn's World and Fred, She Said.  The Challenge theme is Always Anything Goes and the Optional Twist is "Starry Night".

For my team project, I've used the Swallowtail Butterfly image from Fred, She Said.  I've turned it into a New Year's Card.

I've printed the image and sentiment using a Laser printer and hot foiled both with toner reactive blue foil.  This photo picks up the sign beautifully.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and to add more shine, I've back the focal panel with silver mirror card and added blue gems. Otherwise I tried to keep the design clean.  

Please join us this month at The Paper Funday Challenge and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Passion for Markers

Critter Crazy

Double Trouble - partnered with Critter Crazy

Make My Monday

  

The Paper Funday Challenge - ATG with Opt. Friendship

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog with a theme of Always Anything Goes with the optional Twist of Friendship.  The generous sponsors this month are Star Stampz and Fred, She Said.  

For my team project this month, I had the pleasure of using the Growing Together digital stamp from Fred, She Said to create an A2 sized card in a landscape format.

I love the sketchy way the flowers are drawn and I wanted lots of bright color so I re-discovered my Staedtler Watercolor Pencils and decided to watercolor using them.  The image is printed on mixed media paper because it handles water very well yet it's not as thick as watercolor paper and perfect for cardmaking.

I almost added color to the background but decided to leave it bright white.  I'm glad I did, I like the CAS feel of the focal panel.  I matted with black card and adhered to a cardbase of 110 lb. Neenah Solar White Classic Crest card.  The sentiment is from Varada Sharma Designs and is part of the Sweetheart Digital Stamp Set.  Lastly, I've added Black Nuvo Drops to the flower centers, no bells and whistles this time. 

Please join us this month at The Paper Funday Challenge.  We love seeing all the lovely projects and are always inspired.  In turn, we hope to inspire you with our projects.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday

Try It On Tuesday

TTCRD

Path of Positivity

Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge

Creative Moments

Creatalicious

The Paper Funday Challenges - Halloween or Use the Color Purple

Hi Crafty Friends!  It's the 1st Wednesday of the month and a new challenge has started at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  As always, the theme is Anything Goes with an optional Twist.  The Twist this month is Halloween or Use the Color Purple.

Our sponsors for the challenge are Paper Nest Dolls and Fred, She Said.  For my design team project, I used the Emma the Cat digital image from Fred, She Said to create a not so spooky Halloween card that features the challenge theme and twist.

This is an adorable image and I've colored Emma with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  The panel was cut using a Stitiched Rectangle Nesting Die from Kat Scrappiness, the papers are scrap snippets from my overflowing stash and the sentiment is from an older Recollections Set.  I chose to keep the stitched frame as part of the focal.

The sentiment strip has been backed with craft foam for dimension, Wink of Stella has been applied on various parts of the image and sequins added for additional sparkle.

Stop by the challenge blog this month and enter for your chance to win from our sponsors.  We would love to see your projects and hope to inspire you with ours.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Just Us Girls

Lil Red Wagon

The Paper Shelter

Addicted to Stamps and More

Double D

Two Old Bats Halloween

Creative Inspirations

Country View Crafts

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper

Pearly Sparkles

Color It Create It Show It Off

Digi Doodle Studios

Paper Funday Challenges - Anything Goes with Optional Spring Themes

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  Today starts a new monthly challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge with a theme of Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Spring Has Sprung.  We have 2 generous sponsors this month also; the wonderful Fred, She Said Designs and Paper Nest Dolls.

For my design team project, I created a Spring themed card using a Bunny from the new Spellbinders Stamp of the Month Club for April and Fred, She Said Painterly Pastels Digital Paper Kit.  

I stamped and lightly highlighted the Bunny with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  Die cut a focal mat and banners, added Baker's twine and faux pink gems for a finishing touch.

Please join us this month at The Paper Funday Challenges for your chance to win 1 of 2 prizes being offered by our sponsors.  We would love to see your projects!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab n Funky

Penny's Challenges

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Creations

NBUS

Get Creative

Crafty Catz

Polkadoodle

A Bit More Time to Craft

A Bit More Time to Craft Extra

QKR Stampede

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Digi Doodle Studios

Unicorn Challenge

LuLu Bee

 Hello and Happy Sunday!  It's a dreary and Cold (for Florida) today so it's a great day to spend crafting with a hot cup of coffee.  Today I am sharing a card I created using the LuLu Bee digital image by Paper Nest Dolls.

I received the image by playing along in the Outlawz Progressive/Freebie Challenge. the designer papers are from the Fred She Said Painterly Pastels digital paper pack and I colored the image with Sepctrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  I will be featuring the Painterly Pastel papers in an upcoming project; the papers here are what I had left over.

The sentiment is from the new Spellbinders "Wonderful Spring" Monthly Stamp Club and to finish off the design, I added sequins and Baker's Twine from my stash.

Have a Wonderful day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Outlawz Freebie/Progressive Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Pixie's Crafty Workshop

Corrosive Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams

Dare 2 B Artsy

All Sorts

Di's Digi Design

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Alphabet Challenge

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  It's time for a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges.  The challenges are now bi-weekly and the sponsor for this round is Fred, She Said Designs.  The theme is Anything Goes and I had the opportunity to use a pre-colored set titled Dahlia Sets.  Since they were pre-colored, it made creating this large Tag for my design team project quick and easy.

We hope you'll join us this round at Penny's for your chance to win some awesome digis from Fred, She Said Designs.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges - Emma the Skipper

Hello and happy day to you.  Today beings a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges with a theme of Anything Goes.  Our sponsor this week is the wonderful Fred She Said Designs.  I has the wonderful opportunity to use Emma the Skipper in my design team project.

I created an A2 size card using the pre-colored image of Emma.  This made for a quick and easy card and the sentiment was also included in this digi pack.

This is a super cute image and in this digi pack you will receive 3 versions of Emma and 4 sentiments ( jpg & png ).  

I kept it pretty simple, using 1 mat and some sequins.  I really like how this card turned out and it's perfect for a Birthday, Thinking of You, Hello or any occasion card.  

Please join us this week at Penny's Challenge, we would love to have you.  Also, please stop by my new challenge blog The Paper Funday Challenges - A Monthly Challenge for all things Paper; the theme is Anything but a Card with a Twist:  Use the color Green.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Crafty Creations Challenge - Catch Your Heart

Hello, it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Creations and the sponsor for this challenge is the awesome Fred She Said Digital Images.

For my design team project, I had the honor of using the Catch Your Heart image.  This would make a sweet Valentine's Day card for the man in your life.  I did create this card with Valentine's Day in mind but this image isn't limited to that occasion; it can be used for so many other occasions.  

This card measures 5.25" square and is a top fold (tent-fold) design.  I used some digital papers I had in my stash and some Nuvo Drops in the color Silver Moondust.  I printed two images so I could have a second heart.  I fussy cut that heart and popped up on dimensionals for a 3D (decoupaged) effect.  

The sentiment is part of the image package along with a pre-colored image.  I chose the Black and White image and colored up with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers.

I hope you'll join us at Crafty Creations for this challenge and will be inspired by the Design Teams' projects.  

Also, please visit the new challenge blog The Paper Funday Challenge Blog - For all things Paper

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday #2
Through the Craft Room Door
Lemon Shortbread

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges - Christmas Ornaments

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving Eve!  Today begins a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges and our two sponsors this week are Fred She Said and Delicious Doodles.

Today my design team project was created with the Colorful Christmas Ornaments digital stamp set by Fred She Said.  These images are pre-colored which makes for a quick and easy holiday card.

I fussy cut the images and popped the middle bauble up on foam pads.  I layered a glitter card under a die cut mat of black which really made the baubles Pop!  This card is a standard A2 (4.25: x 5.5") with the holiday sentiment placed on the inside of the card.  I've added some Wink of Stella to the berries and the bling gems on the ornaments.  I can never get the Wink of Stella to show up on pictures; it adds just the right touch of sparkle to the card.

We hope you'll join us in the challenge this week and we hope to inspire you with our creations.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Challenges Entered:

The Paper Shelter

Digi Choosday

Through the Craft Room Door Week 20

Lemon Shortbread

Retarte 132

The Holly and the Ivy

Try Stampin on Tuesday Technique Challenge

Crafty Creations Challenge - Emma in the Leaves

Hello and thanks for visiting me!  It's time for another challenge at Crafty Creations and this week the sponsor is Fred She Said Designs.

I had the pleasure of using the image Emma in the Leaves for my design team project and she was a delight to color up.

I used a Autumn digital paper for the mat and used a digital sentiment from another digital package.  I inked the edges of everything in Vintage Photo Distress Ink, added a ribbon and bow.  To finish this 5.5" x 5.5" tent fold card, I placed some card bling in opposite corners.

The cute image was a wonderful focal point and along with the Autumn themed paper, I can feel the crisp Fall air.  I really like how this project turned out.  We hope you will join us at Crafty Creations and share one of your Autumn creations.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Entered in the following challenges:
Digi Choosday ATG
Shopping Our Stash
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown
Everybody Art Challenge #433
Lemon Shortbread #78
{Pin}spirational Challenges #226
Retarte #129
Unicorn Challenge #37
CardzTV #67