Classic Design Challenge #05-2025

Hello and Welcome Back! Today begins a new challenge at The Classic Design Challenge Blog where the theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The Twist this month is Masculine and our generous sponsor is Angie Blom Digital Designs.

For my team project, I've colored the Thanks Dad digital image from Angie Blom using Copic Alcohol Markers.  This is just one of the images included in the digital set, which also includes sentiments.  I've went with a Father's Day theme, also incorporating the optional twist of Masculine.

I did not resize the image as I wanted to keep it large and tucked into the bottom right corner.  The sentiment has been popped on foam pads and is from the Mini Messages Stamp Set by Cardz TV (retired).  To complete the design, I've added a snippet of patterned paper from a My Favorite Things paper pad and a Baker's Twine Bow.

We hope you'll join us at the challenge and play along for your chance to win a prize from Angie Blom Digital Designs.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Creative Inspiration

Ally's Angels

Creatalicious

Creative Inspirations

Passion for Markers - I love green and blue together

Art Nudge - 525A for the Green, 525D for the Blue Jeans

Crafts Galore Encore

Mirtillamente

Daisy Chain Challenge

Di's Digi Design

Digi Choosday

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #29 - May/Jun 2025

Hello Crafty Friends!  It's the 15th of the month and that means a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Our challenges are all about florals and an optional mood board is provided for inspiration.  This month, the mood board is a combo of interesting colors:

For my team project, I've colored up one of the floral images from the Nature's Canvas Kit by Taylored Expressions.  I love how the images are drawn in an "artsy" style and I'm glad I decided to purchase this kit before it sold out. 

Using Copic Alcohol Markers, I've colored the stamped images and die cut using the coordinating dies.  In hindsight, I should have went with a coral shade instead of orange but the mood board is optional after all, and I do like blue and orange together.  

I've used diagonal stitched oval dies from Kat Scrappiness to create a frame, and placed the arrangement on a panel that has been pierced using the Fanfare Cutting Plate from Taylored Expressions.  I've popped the oval frame and florals on foam pads for dimension.

To finish the design, I've stamped and die cut the sentiment, from the Taylored Expressions Timeless Greetings Set and popped on foam pads.  Lastly, dusty rose sequins have been added for sparkle and shine.

We hope you'll stop by the challenge and join us, we love seeing everyone's creative designs!  That's all for now, so until next time, Happy Crafting.

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Craft Rocket

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Sparkles Monthly

Creative Crafters

Lil Red Wagon

Word Art Wednesday

Penny's Challenges

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Crafty Gals Corner - Fancy Frame

A Cut Above

AAA Birthday

Give a Crafter a Cookie

The Paper Funday Challenge #76 - May 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome!  It's the 1st Wednesday of May and time for a new Paper Funday Challenge.  Our generous sponsors this month are Altenew and Picket Fence Studios.  For my design team project, I've used the Aeonium African Succulent Stamp from Picket Fence Studios, however I couldn't find this stamp set on the site, it may be retired.

Picket Fence Studios are known for their larger than life images, and this one is gorgeous.  I'll admit, it intimidated me as I didn't exactly know how to color it and I've had this stamp in my stash for a while.  I did a google search for this succulent and found this color combo and thought, that's easy enough so let's give it a go!

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, and added some white dots here and there using a Uniball Signo Pen. To get as much of the image as possible on the card front, I went with a 5.5" square panel for this 6" card.  

The sentiment is from the Altenew Versatile Greetings Die Set; I've cut the words from gold mirror card and used a black shadow, then mounted on foam pads.  Lastly, I've added smoky gray gems from Kat Scrappiness.

Please join us at the challenge, we would love to have you join in the fun!  And a huge thanks to our generous sponsors this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Passion for Markers

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Cupcake Inspirations

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

NBUS

Crafts Galore Encore

Inspiration Station Challenge #73 - May 2025

Hello Friends and Happy 1st Monday of May!  It's time for a new monthly challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and our inspiration photo features a sweet pair enjoying some quality time together.

Using the "Hedgehog Friends" Stamp Set from Pretty Pink Posh, I've created a card directly inspired by the challenge photo, and will be a Father's Day card for my son. 

I've colored the images using alcohol markers and fussy cut them before adding foam pads.  The patterned paper is from the "Garden Party" 6x6 paper pad by Bo Bunny, I've cut 2 mats using nesting arch dies from Hero Arts and popped on foam pads for dimension.  Lastly, I've added some gold thread from Altenew and gold sequins from my stash.  As an afterthought, I've added white Nuvo Drops in the centers of the sequins for a bit of interest.

We hope you'll join us at the challenge this month, we are sponsored by Poppy Stamps and are thankful for their support.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Challenges Entered:

A Cut Above

A Place to Start

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

We Love Stamping

Crafty Calendar

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Craft Challenge

Critter Crazy

Crafty Animals

Creative Fingers

Creative Moments

Crafts Galore Encore

Aye! Chihuahua!

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday, I hope you are doing well and had a lovely Easter Holiday.  I've been quite busy of late, preparing for our holiday; just a few more days until we cruise to the Eastern Caribbean!

I've had a few minutes in the craft room and I'd like to share this fun card featuring a sweet little Chihuahua from Imagine That Digi Stamps.  Unfortunately, Imagine That may be out of business as I could not find a site for them.  This little guy is from the iChihuahua Digital Set and I've colored him using alcohol markers.

The sentiment says it all and exactly how I feel....follow your heart! The patterned papers are from the Playful Pets Mat Stack by DCWV (Die Cuts with a View), and I've had this stack in my stash for quite some time, I'm almost out of the sweet papers.  

I've fussy cut the pup and cut an oval mat using the Stitched Rope Nesting Oval Die Set from Kat Scrappiness for a landing place.  I've also placed a strip for him to sit on, so he's not floating in the air.  

I've popped the pup, sentiment and red strip of card on foam pads for dimension.  I've added no extra bells and whistles to this card as the bones in the patterned paper are gold foil, and I felt that was enough.  

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

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Digi Choosday

Crafty Gals Corner *workout pup

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

Mirtillamente

Polkadoodles

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Dragonfly Dreams

Classic Design Challenge Apr/May 2025 - Gina Cupcake

Welcome Back Friends! In my second post for today, it's time to announce a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog.  The challenge theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The twist this month is Feminine, and our generous sponsor is Moondrea Designs. I've chosen to color the sweet Gina Cupcake digital stamp for my DT project.

I've used alcohol markers to color Gina and her cupcake, the patterned papers are from Craft Consortium, the sentiment is from Cardz TV, and dies from Hero Arts have been used for the panels and sentiment.

Gina has been fussy cut and popped on foam pads, along with the sentiment, for dimension and lastly, blue sequins added to complete the design.  The team and I hope you'll link your projects this month.  We love seeing everyone's projects and always get inspiration for all the entries.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

TIOT

Unicorn Challenge

Star Stampz

All Dressed Up

Crafts Galore Encore

Mirtillamente

Colorful Options

Let's Craft and Create

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #28

Hello Crafty Friends!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog, where the theme is Anything Florals Goes.  Our Optional Mood Board this month contains lots of bright and cheery Spring Colors, which I've tried in incorporate into my card design:

I would love to have this arrangement sitting on my dining room table! My card features the Altenew Paint-A-Flower Chamomile Stamp Set.  I've created a Get Well card, because we just can't have enough of those in our stashes, and I've colored the image using alcohol markers.

I've went with a square card profile this time, and added lots of mat layers to compliment the colors in the florals.  I've added gold sequins with a dot of white Nuvo Drops in the centers. The sentiment, which is part of the stamp set, has been popped on foam pads for dimension.

We hope you'll stop by the challenge and link up your floral focused projects.  There is a nice prize on offer, and we love seeing everyone's clever creativity.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge

Ally's Angels

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Crafters

613 Avenue Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Stamping Sensations
Crafty Catz

AYLI - I gravitate towards Floral because I have so many floral stamps and images

Craft Rocket

Elliebelle's Garden Party

Moving Along with the Times

Change is Coming

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!  I hope your week has been good and your weekend will be great.  I have a quick share today featuring a lovely digital image from Graciellie Designs, it's from the Change is Coming Mega Digital Stamp Set.

I've kept the design CAS, and colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers.  The sentiment is one of many included in this set.  I've masked off around the edges of the panel and lightly blended ink to create a frame.

To complete the design, I've splattered with black liquid ink, added black acrylic gems from Kat Scrappiness and highlighted the butterfly wings with a white gel pen.

This card has been sent to a friend who has come to a crossroads in her life journey, and I hope this card lets her know she's made the right decision.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Creative Moments

Daring Cardmakers

Creative Inspiration

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Penny's Challenges

Digi Choosday

Word Art Wednesday

Triple B

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

The Inspiration Station Challenge #72 - April 2025

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  Today is the 1st Monday of the month and that signals a new challenge at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  We have a lovely inspiration photo for you this round, and it can be interpreted in so many ways:

For my design team project, I've created a card that could be used for Mother's Day.  I've left the inside sentiment blank until I decide what I'll use the card for.  My mother passed away in 2014 and my mother-in-law in 2010, so I may give this card to my granddaughter, so she can give it to my daughter for Mother's Day.

I've used the "Elephant Friends" Stamp set from Pretty Pink Posh and colored the 2 sweet elephants using Copic Alcohol Markers, the sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Using 2 sizes of the nesting Hexagon Dies from Hero Arts, I've cut panels and mats for the focal images and sentiment.  I've fussy cut the adorable critters and popped on foam pads, as well as the sentiment.  To give the critters a place to "sit", I've used 2 mirrored peel off strips from Love from Lizi.  

To add texture and interest to an otherwise flat white panel, I've embossed the panel behind the elephants with the Floral Fantasy embossing folder from Cuttlebug (an oldie but goodie!).  The designer paper is from Recollections and the finishing touches are silver sequins from my stash.  

The team and I hope you'll stop by the challenge this month and share your inspired projects.  We're always amazed at the creativity everyone shares with us, and we hope to inspire you with our projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Animals

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Dumbo Ride at Disney

A Place to Start

A Cut Above

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Dragonfly Dreams

Stamping Sensations

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Critter Crazy

Word Art Wednesday

The Paper Funday Challenge - April 2025

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Wow, it's April already and I'm behind on flower planting, however I've created a floral card to tide me over until I can get my potted plants going.

Our sponsors for this month are Varada Sharma Designs and Whimsy Stamps.  Our Optional Twist is: Things that begin with the letter "B".  I've chosen to use the Bold Blooms digital image from Varada Sharma Designs for my project, and I've incorporated the Twist as well.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and die cut with a nesting oval die from Hero Arts.  I've kept the design fairly simple, using a light pink panel of designer paper with a thin black mat. 

The sentiment is a pre-made sentiment strip from the Tim Holtz Small Talk pack, and has been popped on foam pads, along with a nesting of gold thread behind. To complete the design, I've splattered using a Gold Posca Paint Pen.

We hope you'll visit The Paper Funday Challenge this month and share your projects with us.  My teamies have created lovely projects too, and we hope to inspire you.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Art Nudge - #425A

The Crafting Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

The Four Seasons Challenge

CD Sunday +

Dragonfly Dreams

All Sorts

Sweet Stampin'