The Pick 3 Challenge #2 - Feb/Mar 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Friday!  Today begins a new challenge month at the new Pick 3 Challenge Blog.  The premise of the challenge is to take 3 of the 6 elements provided to you, and create using your choices, making sure to tell us which you've used.

  Here is the element list for this month:

For my team project, I've used Bright Colors, Flowers and Circles.  I had a shop in my stash and found some bright and cheerful floral stickers I thought be be perfect for the color and flower elements,  I've die cut 3 circles for that element and viola!  Complete!

The patterned paper is from the "Blush and Mint" 6x6 paper pad by Recollections.  The sentiment is from a Spellbinders Kit of the Month stamp set, and the sentiment strip has been popped on foam pads. 

Please stop by the Challenge and check out what my teamies have created with their Pick 3 elements, and we hope you'll play along too.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Happy Birthday Florals

Hello Friends!  Today's card features a lovely floral image used to create a birthday card for my stash.  You can never have too many cards on hand and I try to keep my stash well stocked.

This is a Free image from Jane's Doodles and can be found on her blog here. If you're not familiar with Jane's Doodles, check out the shop here.

I've colored the image with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and created a background by stenciling over green card with a darker shade of green ink, then splattered with white and black acrylic gloss spray.

The focal panel has been mounted on craft foam and lastly, Peach Gems from Kat Scrappiness were added for added dimension and interest.  

Thanks for visiting and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Just Us Girls

Crafty Calendar

Crafter's Castle

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Through the Purple Haze

Addicted to Stamps and More

Crafty Creations

INTAAS

Friday Freebie at Bugaboo's Catch the Bug

 Hello My Crafty Friends and Happy Friday Freebie!  Yes, it's Friday Freebie at Bugaboo's Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.  The following image will be available as a Freebie for 1 week so please stop by and get it while you can.

I needed a tag for a birthday gift and thought this image was perfect.  I resized the image, printed and colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  I then cut out the image with a large tag die from Gina K. Designs, added a ribbon and mini staples and called it complete.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Paper Shelter

Color It Create It Show It Off

Morgan's Art World

Seeds of Friendship

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  Today I'm sharing a card created using the Paint-A-Flower Monthly Stamp Set from Altenew.  This is the May 2021 set and it features a bouquet of lovely Chamomile Flowers.  This set includes 2 floral images and 5 sentiments/word stamps; the sentiment used today is from a Scrapbooking Queen set that I've had for ages.  I don't believe the Scrapbooking Queen sells supplies any longer.

I've colored the image with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, then fussy cut and mounted on foam pads for dimension.  I've ink blended the area directly behind the focal image with the newest Distress Oxide color - Salvaged Patina, splattered diluted Dina Wakley Black Gloss Spray and stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black Ink.  I adore this set and can't wait to create using the other floral image in the set.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Please stop by our challenge at the Inspiration Station!  It's an inspirational challenge and your interpretation of the photo is your own!  Visit and Enter :)

**Challenges Entered:

Passion for Markers

Lemon Shortbread

Altenew May Challenge

Try It On Tuesday

Crafting Happiness

Sognando Scrap

Let's Craft and Create

Dare 2 B Artsy

We Love Chocolate Baroque

Stamping Sensations

Just for You Wreath

 Hello and Happy Tuesday Evening....yes, it's evening at the time of this posting, I've just had the opportunity to share today's make.  It was a quick and easy Note Card measuring 5" square with a little back story to go along with it:

A few months ago, the Hubby talked me into going with him to a local Flea Market and Swap Meet.  After walking a few aisles, I came across an elderly couple that had what appeared to be loads of crafting supplies on their tables.  I found a box of silicone stamps sets that, of course, were not of great quality but I thought, why not.  I'll go through them and what I don't want, I'll gift to the Hospice Charity Shoppe.  I also just wanted to contribute to the couple; they were so sweet.

I paid practically nothing ($20 US) and the box must have contained at least 50 small sets of various stamps.  I used the Wreath Builder Templates from Gina K. Designs to create a small floral wreath with one of the sets in the box.  I colored the images with my Alcohol Markers, used an embossing pen to apply embossing ink to the center of the flowers so I could emboss them with Gold powder.  For a final touch, I added 3 pieces of card candy and called this little notecard complete.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

TTCRD

Lemon Shortbread

Crafting Happiness

Chocolate Baroque

Cute Card Thursday

Everyday Is An Adventure

Hello and Happy Monday!  I'm back with another make and share for today; an A2 sized card that features a big sentiment and is basically a Clean and Simple Design.  CAS isn't my typical style as I like to use lots of Designer Series Paper, layers and color up digi stamps however I'm trying to broaden my styles to embrace all sorts.

I started by inking just the center section of a card panel by taking a scrap piece of card and tearing it on 2 sides to get rugged edges.  I inked the middle portion of the card with a combination of Distress Oxide Inks in the colors Speckled Egg and Bundled Sage.  

After the ink blend dried, I chose some botanical stamps from my stash and a sentiment stamp from Kelly Creates; leaving the images colorless except for the middle of the flower, which I glued Peacock Glitter from Recollections using a Quickie Glue Pen (my "go to" for adhering loose glitter in small areas).  For the final touch, added flat back pearls and mounted on on a light blue mat.  

I enjoyed making this simple design and look forward to creating another.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafting Happiness

Artsy Stamper

Make My Monday Challenge

Path of Positivity

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Pixie's Crafty Workshop

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Crafter's Castle

Cardz TV #120

Bountiful Bouquet

Today I'm sharing a card I created using the Bountiful Bouquet Digital Stamp Set from Power Poppy Stamps.  There are 2 lovely focal images in this set along with sentiments.  I printed the images on parchment paper and colored with the Arteza Real Brush Pens.  

This was my first attempt at using the Arteza Markers and coloring on parchment.  Not perfect but practice will get me closer.  My next attempt will be to print an image on Neenah Solar White cardstock, coat the image with Golden Satin Glazing Liquid and color the image with the Arteza Blendable Markers.  

The papers are from the American Crafts Everyday 6x6 paper pad, I added some ribbon, tied a small bow, placed Nuvo Crystal Drops in the color Simply White in random places and called this one finished.

Until Next time,  Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cute Card Thursday

Krafty Chicks

Art Impressions

As You Like It Challenge (Create a Scene or Not  - Sometimes, depending on my mood)

Aud Sentiments

Watercooler Challenge

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Calendar

Creative Knockouts Challenge - Flower Power

Hello and Happy Thursday!  Today begins a new challenge at Creative Knockouts and our Theme this round is Flower Power.  We have the generous SheepSki Designs sponsoring this round and I had the please if using the sweet image Pollen Fairy for my design team project.

This card measures 5" square and I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  This image comes with the flowers so it fit the challenge theme of Flower Power.  It's such a sweet image and so reminds me of Spring.  I added Crystal Stickles to the Bee's and Fairy Wings....because there has to be sparkle when there is a Fairy about!

I hope you'll join us at Creative Knockouts this challenge; we would love to see you there.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges - Flowers for Mum

Hi!  I'm back with a new design team project for this weeks' challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges.  We have two wonderful sponsors this week:  All Dressed Up Stamps and Sparkle N Sprinkle. 

For my design team project this week, I had the pleasure of using the Flowers for Mum digital stamp from All Dressed Up Stamps.

This digital image and sentiment are 1 image so it's very easy to put together a beautiful card.  I left this A2 sized card fairly CAS; just adding 5 sequins and some Wink of Stella for a bit of sparkle.....I need my sparkle!

Please join us this week at Penny's challenges, we would love to have you and to be inspired by your projects.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Make My Monday Challenge - Going Round in Circles

Hello and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was spectacular.  Today begins a new challenge at the Make My Monday Challenge Blog with the theme being Going Round in Circles.

I created a round card and embellished with circles in order to match the theme.  I used a few dies in my stash to create this pretty Spring card. I used the largest circle die I had to create a 5" circle for the base of the card.  I was lucky to find another circle die for the printed mat that left a nice border.
The sentiment is a sticker from a pack I found at the Dollar Tree; that was a special surprise!

Please join us this week at Make My Monday and let your imagine run with what you can create using circles.  We would enjoy seeing your creations.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Make My Monday Challenge - Something New

Hello and Happy Monday!  Today begins a new challenge at Make My Monday Challenge Blog and the theme for this round is "Something New"....new baby, new job, new home, new stash, etc.

I recently purchased a 6x6 paper pad from Recollections named Patisserie.  This paper pad has some of the loveliest  papers and it's what I have that's new so my design team creation meets the theme of this challenge.

I used 2 different papers from the pad, some dragonfly dies I have in my stash.  I added a ribbon, some sequins and a flower dimensional sticker,  inked all the edges and called this standard A2 sized card complete.

I hope you'll join us this round at Make My Monday Challenges, we'd love to have you.  And I'd like to remind you of the new challenge for March starting this Wednesday at The Paper Funday Challenges.  The theme for the month of March is Anything But a Card with a Twist:  Use the color Green.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Challenges Entered:
Crafting From the Heart
Artistic Inspirations
Get Creative Challenges

Crafty Calendar Challenges - For a Child

Hello, I hope you're doing well and Spring is beginning to show it's beautiful face in your area.  Today starts a new challenge at Crafty Calendar Challenges and the theme for this month is For a Child.

For my design team project, I created a little note card that is a standard A2 size, using the sweet image A Special Flower from our generous sponsor A Day for Daisies.

I adore the digital images from A Day for Daisies; they are easy to color.  The face on this little girl is adorable and I enjoyed coloring with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  Although it's hard to tell in the photo, I did add Wink of Stella to the flowers and the butterflies, which are not part of the original image.  I added the butterflies as a design element.

We hope you join us at Crafty Calendar Challenges this month, we look forward to seeing your creations following the theme For a Child.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Challenges Entered:
Jo's Scrap Shack
My Time to Craft
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1909
Crafting From the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges - Tulips in Vase

Good Day Everyone!  It's time for more fun at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges and this week the sponsors are the wonderful Pattie's Creations and Polkadoodles.

I've had the pleasure of creating my design team project with the Tulips in Vase digital image from Pattie's Creations.

I kept this A2 sized card (4.25" x 5.5") fairly simple, using only one mat of designer paper, inking around the edges of the focal image with Distress Ink in the color Pumice Stone, rounding some corners with my corner chomper and adding some card candy.  The digital image was colored up with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  This project turned out pretty and perfect for a simple friendship card.

We hope you will join us this week over at Penny's Challenges for your chance to win some awesome prizes from our sponsors.

Until Next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Thinking of You Sympathy Card

Hello everyone and thanks for visiting.  Today I'm sharing one of the sympathy cards I was asked to make.  I have a hard time with sympathy cards because #1 I don't like making them and #2 I struggle with how to create them.  I don't want to make them to flashy and for a lack of a better word...disrespectful.  I think I managed to create a 6" x6" tasteful and yet beautiful card for my customer.  I hope she likes it.

I used a digital paper from Scrapbooking Gems on Etsy for the mat and Anna Griffin print and cut flowers from the Cricut Design Space.  The butterfly was one from my stash as well as the ribbon and faux pearl.  The die cut piece is also from the Cricut Design Space.

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

Donna

**Card entered in the following challenges:
QKR Stampede ATG #310
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #88
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #333
The Corrosive Challenge ATG
Cardz TV #62

Sunshine - Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog

Hello and Happy Saturday!  Today I'm sharing my 3rd project as Guest Designer for the month of August on Sketch Saturday.  The image I used is Sunshine from The Paper Shelter who is the sponsor of the challenge this week.

The image was pre-colored so it made for a quick card.  This image is so sweet and the color combo was perfect and easy to match up with the papers I had in my stash. 

For the challenge, there was also a sketch to follow:

I decided to add the flowers, following the sketch as closely as I could. I distressed the edges of the focal image with a Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  The polka dot patterned paper added just enough visual imagery for her.  

I'm pleased with how Sunshine turned out and I hope you've been inspired to visit Sketch Saturday and join the fun.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Card Entered in the following challenges:

Jo's Scrap Shack #247

Crafty Friends Challenge #90

CardzTV #61

Digi Choosday #33

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #74

QKR Stampede #309

Scrapbook Stamp Society #147

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #391 - Design Team Project

Hello!  Today I'm sharing a card I created for the Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog using a beautiful image of African Violets from one of the challenge Sponsors this week Fred, She Said Designs.

This was a joy to color with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers; purple and all shades thereof are my FAV!  This image set contains many images such as the flowers in a pot, single flowers and this image - the grouping.  

I embossed the mat and die cut the focal image, then backed with a couple of lace doilies.  For embellies, I added ribbon, tied a bow and added clear Wink of Stella to the Violets.  For the final touch, I scattered small, white pearls.  I'm very pleased with how this card turned out and the images from Fred, She Said Designs are wonderful.

I hope you'll join in the fun at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges this week.  My design team sisters created some wonderful cards with their sponsor images and we hope to inspire you this week.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

**Card entered in the following challenges:  Cute Card Thursday, Crafting with an Attitude, A Perfect Time to Craft, A Bit More Time to Craft #73, Digi Choosday, Digi Doodles Studios, Crafting with Friends, Crafting by Designs, Cards Galore Encore #54

Amazingly Amazing

Today I'm sharing a card I created for a card swap using only stamps and Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.

This card, even though simple, took me a little longer than I originally anticipated.  That wasn't a problem as I craft and create to relax but I couldn't decide which placement of the stamps looked best.  I must have fiddled with the design for half an hour until I settled on this and called it complete.  

The stamps and sentiment are a mixture of stamp sets.  The sentiment was included in a gift to me from a card swap buddy.  Thank you Eva!

I hope you were inspired to created something simple and unique.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card entered in the following challenges:  Digi Choosday #31, Crafty Sentiments, Through the Craft Room Door, Lemon Shortbread Challenge #73, Creates and Makes #23, 

A Bouquet of Happy Thoughts

Hello and Happy Monday!  I hope all is well with you and yours and your weekend was awesome!

Today I would like to share a card I put together yesterday, while sitting at my craft table watching the rain come down outside my window.  I needed something cheery and bright so I used this image from Delicious Doodles to create a 6" square card.  I will send it out in a card swap I'm registered for in August.

I colored the image with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and used an older stamp set I had in my stash from the Royal Castle Shoppe.  I have a set of three bow dies; 3 different sizes so I chose the medium sized bow die cut and thought it came out the perfect size.  I added some card candy and called it complete.

I hope you were inspired by my bright and cheery Poppy Card.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card entered in the following challenges: Cardz TV #56, Crafting from the Heart #216, Pammies Inky Pinkies #1829, Artistic Inspirations #205, Make My Monday #76, Scrapbook Stamp Society #145, Aurora Wings Challenge, Lemon Shortbread Challenge #72, Retarte #125, Digi Choosday #29, Outlawz Challenges Festive Fridays

A Teapot Full of Flowers

Hello and Happy Friday Eve!  Today is a quick post to share my pretty teapot full of flowers.  The image is a Bugaboo Digital Stamp that I colored up with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.

This card is a standard A2 size (4.25" x 5.5") that I layered a die cut of the same size.  I colored the die cut with Scattered Straw Distress Ink as well as inking the edges of the focal image with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

I love Bugaboo images and this was also an easy one to color up if you are a newbie to alcohol markers like myself.

Thanks for visiting and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card Challenges entered: Crafting By Designs, Little Miss Muffet Challenges, Crafting with an Attitude, Digi Choosday Week 28, Lemon Shortbread Challenge

Create Your Own Backgrounds

Hello Everyone.  I hope you are well and happy!

Today I would like to share some cards I created using the Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water to create some gorgeous backgrounds for cards.  The cards are A2 size (4.25" x 5.5").

This 1st card was created using an unbranded Star die I purchased from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Candied Apple, Abandon Coral and Barn door.  I used an Embossing Folder with a Star pattern and my Cuttlebug to dry emboss the top mat which measures 4" x 5.25".

I placed the 3 inks on my craft mat at spritzed each with some water.  I then placed the white card on top of one color to pick up some color, rotated the card and placed on another and so on.  I dried with my heat tool and repeated the process until I was happy with the result.

I used the "left over" piece of star from the die cutting process to pop up on foam and placed in the middle of the cut out for some dimension.  I heat embossed the sentiment on Vellum, for the finishing touch and sparkle I added clear sequins here and there.

The 2nd card was a bit simpler in design using an unbranded dies from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers and Aged Mahogany.   I heat embossed over the word Lovely with Ranger Black Embossing Powder for some shine and thickness.  For the finishing touch, I used Tonic Nuvo Drops in Crystal for some interest.  

If I may say so myself, this is my favorite of the group!  This time I used the Distress Inks in the colors Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire to create this awesome background.  I ran the card mat through the Cuttlebug using an Embossing folder with a Burst pattern.  I die cut the middle and the dimensional piece with 2 unbranded dies from AliExpress.  The Dream wording is also an unbranded die that I heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I again used Nuvo Drops in Crystal to add some interest. 

Last but not least, I wanted to see how the colors would look against a Kraft colored card.  The Distress Colors I used here were:  Mowed Lawn, Tea Dye and Spiced Marmalade.  I cut 1/2 inch strips and die cut a circle for the focal point.  The front of the card was embossed using an embossing folder with dandelion images.

The flower die cut was colored using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks in the colors Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint.  The sentiment was heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I finished the card by placing Nuvo Drops in Bronze around the card.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog post and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** I support the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #48, CardzTV Anyting Goes Challenge #49