The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Nov/Dec 2025

Happy Saturday Friends, it's the weekend and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The Challenge is Always Anything FLORALS Goes with an optional Inspiration picture to get you started.  The picture this round is full of warm, wintery colors which I used to inspire my coloring.

I've colored the Snowdrops and Tea Roses Digital image from Power Poppy using Copic Alcohol Markers, and used colors from the inspiration picture, to create a Christmas Card.  The sentiment is included in this digital set.

While chomping the corners with a fancy punch, I slipped on the top right corner so I've added a plaid banner to cover the boo-boo.  I'm not exactly happy with it but I wasn't going to start over with coloring (thanks Dear Husband for saving my tears and coming up with the idea to "just cover it up").

I've been a huge fan of Power Poppy for years, and this image is just one of many holiday images she has to choose from.  I would love to have this bouquet front and center on my holiday table.

The team and I invite you to share your floral focused projects with us, we always look forward to seeing everyone's creativity, so join us!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Krafty Chicks

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Crafty Gals Corner

Word Art Wednesday

Triple B Challenge

The Holly and Ivy Challenge 

Unicorn Challenge

Creative Fingers

A Pilgrim and a Turkey!

Happy Tuesday Friends!  Wow, it's turned Artic Cold here in Florida, we woke to 36F and that's too cold for us beach bums.  It's Veteran's Day here in the States, and we honor all those who serve in our military, both enlisted and the families who support them. 

I've got a quick share for you today featuring 2 comical characters dressed up for the Thanksgiving Day Feast.

These two are from the "Talk Turkey" Stamp Set by Newton's Nook, which was a Stamptember Collaboration with Simon Says Stamp a couple years ago.  Would you believe this is the 1st time inking them up?  I should be ashamed!

I've colored them using Copic Alcohol Markers and fussy cut.  The patterned paper is from the "It's Autumn" 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella, the focal panel was cut using nesting Hexagon Dies from Hero Arts and the sentiment is from the same stamp set.

I've popped the characters on foam pads, along with the sentiment.  Lastly, I've added enamel dots to accent the sentiment.  In true Cat Style, Newton doesn't appear too pleased to be wearing this fancy headdress!  On the other hand, his Pup Friend doesn't seem to be bothered.

That's all from me today and I wish you a fabulous day.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Art Nudge - 1125B

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

Di's Digi Designs

Crafty Catz
Newton's Inky Paws Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Give a Crafter a Cookie

The Four Seasons

Mirtillamente

Pumpkin Hedgehogs

Hi Friends and Happy Thursday!  I'm still making Autumn themed cards and I have a quick share today featuring 2 adorable hedgehogs from Di's Digi Stamps.  They're the Pumpkin Hedgehogs and they can be found HERE, and at the time of this post, the image is 50% off regular price!

I've colored the image using Copic Markers and the patterned papers are from the "Fall Fun" 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella.  I've followed a sketch found on Pinterest; I like using sketches when I don't want to think too hard about a design layout.

The focal image has been cut using a Nesting Circle Die from Kat Scrappiness, and the sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp.  Both the focal image and sentiment strip have been popped on foam pads.  Lastly, I've added Wink of Stella to the Pumpkins and the Pumpkin cap, unfortunately I can never get Wink to show in photos.

That's all from me today, so until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cardz 4 Galz

Creative Inspiration

Let's Craft and Create

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge

CD Sunday +

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts
Polkadoodles

The Four Seasons Challenge

Paper Funday Challenge - November 2025: Merry and Bright

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog, where the challenges are Always Anything Goes with Optional Twists.  The Twist this month is Merry and Bright and our generous sponsors are Altenew and Picket Fence Studios.  

For my team project, I've used the twist and the festive Trimming the Tree Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Picket Fence Studios, which was a Stamptember Collab with Simon Says Stamp.  

The patterned papers are from a 6x6 Christmas pad purchased at Hobby Lobby, the circles where cut with dies from Pink Fresh Studio and the white circle was embossed with a Snowflake embossing folder from Darice.

The little girl and her Reindeer, who I made into Rudolph by adding a red gem to his nose, are popped on foam pads along with the gift packages and sentiment.  Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to her Hat and Scarf.  The Images were colored using Copic Alcohol Markers.

Please stop by the challenge this month and play along.  This is the last challenge of 2025, as the team is taking a holiday break in December and will resume with the January 2026 challenge.  So until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Daisy Chain Challenge

Christmas Kickstart

Penny's Challenges

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

Unicorn Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

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

Talk Turkey to Me

Happy Sunday Funday Everyone!  I have a quick share featuring the cutest Turkey I've ever see!  He's part of the Turkey Digital Bundle by Conie Fong and he's ready for Thanksgiving Dinner - not as the main course but as a Guest at the Table.

I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and die cut the panel using a scalloped edge nesting die.  The patterned papers are from the "Welcome Fall" 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella, and the glitter paper is from a 6x6 glitter pad from Recollections.

The Sentiment is from the "Talk Turkey" Stamp set by Newton's Nook, and was a Stamptember 2023 collaboration with Simon Says Stamp.  I've used a hexagon nesting die to cut out the sentiment.

I hope you have an amazing day and week ahead.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday +

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Love Those Pretty Papers

Polkadoodles

Mirtillamente

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

Crafts Galore Encore

Maple Paws by Di's Digi Stamps

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday! Before I get to my quick share for today, I would like to ask for Prayers for the people and island Jamaica and the Caribbean. At the time of this post, Hurricane Melissa has made landfall as a Category 5 Hurricane with winds in excess of 175 mph, that's hard to comprehend, and they need all the prayers we can send.

My share today features the precious Maple Paws, a digital stamp from Di's Digi Stamps and can be found HERE (and at the time of this writing, he is 50% off).  I think he is just adorable and I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and created an easy and quick Z-Fold card.

The patterned papers are snippets from a Fall 6x6 paper pad by Carta Bella, and the sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp. 

I've colored in him warm, Autumn colors and love how he turned out.  I've added small golden gems around the sentiment, which has been popped on foam pads, and Wink of Stella on the Pom Pom of his hat, his eyes and nose.  

That's all for today, I wish you a wonderful Tuesday afternoon and evening.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Unicorn Challenge

Dream Valley

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Love Those Pretty Papers

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Creative Crafters

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

The Crafting Challenge

A Big Pumpkin for Autumn

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is moving along smoothly and you've found some crafty time.  I managed to get an afternoon of coloring yesterday and decided I needed to color this larger than life Pumpkin from the Halloween Pumpkin Stamp set by Memory Box. 

I recently purchased this set off eBay, it's an older set so not sure if it can be found anywhere else. 

My card measures 5.5" square, so you can see how large this stamped image is.  I've colored using Copic Markers and the patterned papers are from a Harvest paper pad from Scrapbook.com.  The darker background appealed to me and thought it would compliment the bright orange of the pumpkin.

After coloring the image, I fussy cut and popped on foam pads.  I've used a sketch from the Queen & Co. free sketch site.  The sentiment is from a now retired set from Cardz TV, the sentiment was cut using a banner die from My Favorite Things.

No bells or whistles added, except for Wink of Stella added to the acorns and leaves.  WOS never shows on camera and that's a shame because it gives this card the perfect amount of Autumn sparkle.

That's all for today.  Have a fantastic day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Try It on Tuesday

Art Nudge - 1025B

Cardz 4 Guys

Dream Valley

Pearly Sparkles

Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes

Word Art Wednesday

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

Otto in Autumn

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!  I'm getting caught up on Autumn cards and have a quick share today featuring the adorable Otto, who is playing in the crunchy leaves.  He's a digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil and you can find him HERE.

I have to laugh at his face, due to the way I've colored his eye area, he looks very devious!  That wasn't my intention but it is Halloween season, so maybe it suits him.  I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers, and cut the focal panel using a fancy stitched edged nesting die from Pink Fresh Studio.

The wooden background paper is from a P13 mini mat stack and the patterned paper is a scrap from a Carta Bella 6x6 paper pad.  The digi set includes the sentiment and a leafy background paper, I've used the sentiment and cut using a nesting circle die from Kat Scrappiness.  The focal and sentiment have been popped on foam pads.  Lastly, I've added orange enamel dots and called this card complete.

I wish you a fabulous day, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday +

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Polkadoodles

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Challenge

Unicorn Challenge

Critter Crazy

Crafty Animals

Mirtillamente

Just Us Girls

Classic Design Challenge #10-2025 - Oct/Nov 2025

Hi Friends and Welcome Back!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Classic Design Challenge Blog, where it's Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The Twist this month is:  Autumn Splendor.  Our generous sponsor for this challenge is Rachelle Anne Miller.

I've colored the adorable Canadian Beavers Digital Stamp from Rachelle Anne Miller and semi-stayed with the optional Twist by using Autumn patterned papers.  These little nuggets are just too adorable!

The patterned papers are from the "Welcome Fall" 6x6 paper pad from Carta Bella.  I only have scraps left of this lovely paper pad so I'll need to make some Quilt cards, but I digress...

After coloring the image, I cut out the focal panel using a fancy stitched oval nesting die from My Favorite Things and popped on craft foam for dimension.  

The sentiment is from an older and now retired stamp set from Cardz TV.  The sentiment strip has been cut using a die from My Favorite Things and popped on craft foam.  Lastly, I've added Wink of Stella to the leaves and the Beaver's noses, of course Wink never shows on camera!  

We hope you'll come by the challenge and join in this month!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Fab 'n Funky

CD Sunday +

Stamping Sensations
Di's Digi Challenges - Went with Cute

Polkadoodles

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Craft Challenge

Critter Crazy Challenge

Crafty Animals