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

Varada Sharma Designs - Thank You Bouquet

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  Today I have a quick share for you featuring a digi stamp from Varada Sharma Designs.  This is gorgeous floral bouquet can be found HERE and I'd like to say "Thank You" to Varada Sharma for giving us all a freebie!

To start, I've printed the image on Canson Mixed Media paper and loosely watercolored using my Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  I've fussy cut the image and proceeded to assemble the card using Sketch #154 from Operation Write Home.

The designer patterned papers are from the Prima Marketing "Havana" 6x6 paper pad and the sentiment, from an Altenew stamp set, has been heat embossed using fine detail gold powder.  I should note I have a little container full of sentments I've created ahead of time and I will pick something from there once and a while.

I've splattered the florals with white watercolor paint and used the image as the circle in the sketch.

I've so enjoyed using card sketches recently and I think I will continue until my design Mojo comes back.  I find that Operation Write Home has many wonderful sketches but a Google search for sketches brings up many choices.  

Please note the Operaton Write Home project closed several years ago but the sketches still remain.

That's all I have for you today.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

** Challenges Entered:

QKR Stampede

Creations in Pink

Creative Crafters

Creative Crafting Uncles

WWO DT Challenge

Sweet Stampers

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

TTCRD

Stamps Fun Creativity

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Vintage Botanical

Happy Saturday!  Ahhh...the weekend and here in the States, it's a holiday weekend.  Today's make and share features stamping and laminating.

I was inspired by a Jennifer McGuire video where she shared a technique using a laminator.  To create my card, I stamped the image, from Bo Bunny's Vintage Botanical Journal stamp set, on the inside of a laminating sheet using Stazon Solvent Ink.  I let this dry thoroughly and ran the sheet through a hot laminator.  The result is a stamped image encased in the laminating sheet.  

I die cut the image with a scalloped oval die and strategically placed drops of glue on the piece to adhere to a cream colored die cut card.  I die cut a small panel and mounted the image on this panel using foam pads.  Then mounted the entire panel on the card base using foam pads.  Lastly, added cream colored seam binding and 2 sentiment strips from the Tim Holtz "Clippings" strip pack.  The designer papers are from the Prima Marketing "Romance Novel" 6x6 paper pad.

It's a unique and interesting technqiue that produces beautiful results.  Give it a go, just remember to use an ink that can be used on a surface such as a laminating sheet.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Cardz TV

Creative Fingers

My Time to Craft

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Uniko

Dreaming of Scrap

Creative Moments

Crafty Hazelnuts

Ally's Angels

 

All You Need Is Love

Happy August 1st!  Today's make and share is a quick card I created using the Prima Marketing 6x6 paper pad titled Love Clippings, a large word die and sentiment from Crafters Companion, Glitter Card from Recollections, diamond shaped die cuts and Kraft Card.

My card measures A2 (4.25" x 5.5") and I cut several diamond shaped pieces of the Prima DSP to create a Shabby Chic Quilted look.  I assembled the pieces on a separate piece of scrap paper, then mounted on brown cardstock.  I die cut the word sentiment out of Glitter paper from Recollections and stamped the sentiment on a scrap piece of the DSP.  For the final touch, added some flat back pearls and called it complete.  Very easy and not too time consuming however I'm a perfectionist so those diamond shapes needed to be just so.

I hope you enjoyed my make today and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Gem of A Craft Challenge

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Calendar

A Bit More Time To Craft

Creatalicious

Crafter's Cafe

A Bit More Time To Craft Extra

A Perfect Time To Craft

Carlin's Card Challenge

Craft Dee Bowz Challenge

Havana

Today I would like to share a card I created using the Havana papers from Prima Marketing, Inc.  This is a lovely paper pack with soft, pastel colors and wonderful images.  I'm not sure how to describe this card; I want to call it an Easel card however it's not like a standard Easel.

This is a standard A2 size card (4.25" x 5.5").  I used an unbranded die for the clock image and circle background; added color with alcohol markers.  I then added die cuts of dandelions  inside and inked them with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in the color Peacock Feathers.

The colors are soft and shabby chic.

I created a tag and used an unbranded stamp for the sentiment.  I purchase many of my unbranded dies and stamps from AliExpress.  I have been pleased with everything I have received from AliExpress thus far.  When you're on a budget, AliExpress is kind to the pocketbook.

All You Need Is Love....this is yet another unbranded stamp from AliExpress.  I love the meaning behind the sentiment and thought it matched the beauty of the Havana papers.  

I hope you enjoyed my card today.  Till next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**I support the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #45, Creative Knockouts Challenge - Friendship #244