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

Pastel Christmas Joy - Mug Merry and Bright

Hi Friends and Happy Sunday!  Wow, it's the 14th of the month and we only have 11 more sleeps till Christmas Day!  Today I'm sharing another Christmas Joy Mug from Angie Blom.  This one just needed to be in Pastel Colors and I think it works.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from the Merry Patterned Collection paper pad by Scrapbook.com.  I've cut 2 panels for the focal image, one a postage die and the other a stitched nesting die.

I've popped the panel on foam pads and added pink gems to complete the card.  The sentiment is included in this digital set.  I'm imagining this holiday cup is filled with Hot Cocoa, marshmallows and whipped cream.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth Challenge

613 Avenue Create

Star Stampz

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Pattie's Creations

Krafty Chicks

As You Like It

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge

Christmas Joy Shaker

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  I hope your day is going well and you're ready for the weekend.  I have a quick share today featuring more items from my stash.

I've used a Plaid 6x6 Background Stamp from Honey Bee Stamps to create my own background, and a Steampunk styled Joy Ornament Die to create a mini shaker element for this Christmas Card. 

I've stamped the plaid background with Deck the Halls forest green ink from Catherine Pooler, and ink blended Rockin' Red and Cranberry Fizz Catherine Pooler inks for a two-toned look on the die cut, which I turned into a shaker element; it's filled with fine Gold Glitter.

I've splattered the plaid panel with Dr. Ph. Martin's White Ink and added a Baker's Twine bow to the Joy Ornament. I like to use Dr. Ph. Martin's White ink because it stays true white after drying, and doesn't pick up the color underneath.

No bells or whistles added, the glitter and splatter is enough.  I had fun with this one, I haven't made a shaker card for a while, and Christmas is the perfect time for shakers filled with glitter.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Little Red Wagon

Word Power

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Double Trouble - Red, Green, White and Gold with Baker's Twine

A Cut Above

Colorful Options

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Die Cut Divas

 

FaLaLa and Snowflakes

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday, does anyone say Happy Hump Day anymore?  I have a quick share featuring a large sentiment die and stenciled snowflakes.  This card was a fast make, the longest part was waiting for the ink to dry.

You've probably guessed by now that I've went shopping in my stash and used the Bundle Up Snow Stencil from Carta Bella and the FaLaLa die from Simon Says Stamp to create a simple yet festive Christmas Card.  I've used the sentiment die last year, however this year is the first for using this stencil.

I've used Unicorn White Ink from Hero Arts for the stenciling, and I've die cut stitched stars from silver mirror card to use as embellishments.  Lastly, everything has been popped on foam pads for dimension, and this card is complete and now in the post!

Have a fabulous day, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Little Red Wagon

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Stencil Fun

Word Power

Word Art Wednesday

Art Nudge - 1225A

Christmas Kickstart

A Cut Above

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Funky Christmas Chicken

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was exceptional and your week ahead will be the same.  We had a rainy weekend here in Florida so I took some time to create Christmas Cards. I've addressed and posted off several but I like to keep a few on hand in case they're needed.

I've mentioned before that this season I've limited myself to any new holiday purchases, choosing instead to use what I have in my stash. I'm sure many of you can relate to having stash items that haven't been used, and this Chicken Set is an example of that for me.  It's never been inked, and  my sister-in-law sent it to me in a Crafty Christmas parcel last year.

The stamp set is silicone but stamps beautifully, and it has a coordinating die set, which I've used to cut out the chicken.  He's been colored with Copic Alcohol markers and the patterned papers are from a Christmas pad by Scrapbook.com.  I've used Nesting Circle Dies from Kat Scrappiness for the focal image.

I've popped the Chicken and Gift on foam pads, and made my own embellishments using a circle punch.  The sentiment is part of the set and has been adhered flat to the card panel.  That's all from me today, I hope you are putting the finishes touches on your cards for the 2025 Holiday Season,

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Path of Positivity

Triple B

Colorful Options

613 Avenue Create

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Sweet Stampin'

Polkadoodles

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Juggling Snowballs

Hi Friends and Happy Saturday!  I have a quick share for you today featuring a Snowman juggling Snowballs.  The Happy Snowman is a die set received as a gift last year and I've just gotten around to using it. I've paper pieced his festive outer wear, the snowballs and hat brim are cut from glitter card.

The patterned papers are from the Winter Wonderland 6x6 paper pad from Doodlebug Design, the sentiment is from the Trimming the Tree Stamp stamp and coordinating die set from Picket Fence Studios.  I've cut the sentiment several times and adhered each layer for dimension, used a nesting Arch Die from Hero Arts for the focal panel and popped the snowballs on foam pads.

That's all from me today.  I hope your weekend is a good one, full of crafty fun and rest.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Calendar

Cardz 4 Galz

Creative Knockouts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Cupcake Inspirations

Die Cut Divas

NBUS

The Four Seasons

12 Months of Christmas

Peeking Santa

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!  I have a quick share today featuring the Peeking Santa image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  He was an October 2025 Freebie for her newsletter and Patreon members and she hasn't offered him for sale yet, but she has some amazing digital stamps in her shop.  I've always loved Mo Manning's artwork and this Santa is drawn so realistically, this is the exact Santa I remember from my childhood. 

I've kept the image fairly large so he would take center stage, only adding a bit of patterned paper to represent a wall or door and added a bow for whimsy.  I've colored him with Copic alcohol markers and added Crystal Stickles to his hat fur.

I've fussy cut around his fingers and edge of the image so he would fit around the plaid paper, and now he goes in the post.  Have you started posting your Christmas Cards yet?  Time is flying by so we better shake a leg and get them sent.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Fingers

Let's Craft and Create

Colorful Options

Creative Inspiration Challenges

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Diagonal from bottom left to top right

Creative Inspirations

Word Art Wednesday

Digi Choosday

I Spy with My Little Eye

Christmas Kickstart

Christmas Joy Mug - Santa

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  I've got a quick share today featuring an image from the adorable Christmas Joy Mugs Set by Angie Blom. This digital set contains 8 different mug images and sentiments, and I'm working my way through all of them, coloring each with Copic Alcohol markers.

I've kept the design fairly simple, letting the Santa Mug take center stage.  I've never had a Hot Cocoa topped with red whipped cream but there's always a first time for everything!  The Buffalo plaid paper is from the 12x12 Christmas Plaid Kit by Reminisce. 

To finish the card, I've added red sequins around the focal image and Crystal Stickles on the Pom Pom and cup lip.  The images in the set are super cute and easy to color.  That's all from me today, I'll be back soon to share more of the Christmas Joy Cups.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab 'n Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Crafty Gals Corner

First Cup Challenges

Passion for Markers

Hand Stamped Sentiments

Mirtillamente

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge

Inspiration Station Challenge #80

Hello Friends and Welcome to the 1st Monday of December 2025!  Wow, we're on the countdown to Christmas now and I hope you've made some headway in decorating, cardmaking and gift purchasing. Today also begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and we have a cozy scene to inspire us:

For my project, I was directly inspired by the rustic Christmas Tree and I've used the O Christmas Tree Bundled Kit from Taylored Expressions.  I've purchased very little this holiday season, opting to go with my stash but I couldn't resist this bundle when it was offered at a special price in July. 

To start, I've heat embossed a background panel using the snowflake cover stamp in white sparkle power.  The tree has been layer stenciled with Catherine Pooler inks and the plaid paper is from a Craft Consortium 12x12 Christmas pack I've had for years.

After the ink dried, I die cut the tree and adhered flat to the panel, which was cut using a postage die from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment is popped on foam pads and I've added a die cut glitter foam star to the tree top.  Lastly, I've added a few red gems and sprayed everything with Shimmer Spray.

The team and I hope you'll stop by the Inspiration Station Challenge and play along with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Make My Monday

A Cut Above

The Crafting Challenge

Die Cut Divas

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

A Place to Start - (adding link for 613 Avenue Create so I can enter my card at A Place to Start)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Just Us Girls

Christmas Tree Blessings

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope you're week was great, and if you celebrated Thanksgiving, that you had a blessed day full of love and good food.

I have a quick share today featuring the Christmas Tree image from the newest set by Angie Blom, Tree Blessings. It's an easy color, and I used my Copic Alcohol Markers.

I've kept the design CAS, which is hard for me.  I didn't resize the image much, so basically used it as is.  I've used dies from Catherine Pooler for cutting the mat and focal panel.  The sentiment is a pre-made strip from Simon Says Stamp, and it's been popped on foam pads.

That's all from me today, I'm off to get some lunch, tidy up and settle in for Christmas Card making and college football. Have a wonderful day, until next time, happy crafting!

Donna

Challenges Entered:

Creative Fingers

Pattie's Creations

Inspired By Challenge

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Gals Corner

Passion for Markers

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies