The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Sep/Oct 2026

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the 15th of the month and that means a new challenge has started at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  We have a colorful optional inspiration photo this month and I was inspired by a few of the colors in the Bouquet.

Using the Gina K. Designs Sketched Flowers Stamp and Die Set, I've created a birthday card that's somewhat CAS and a bit vintage.

The background panel was embossed using the Altenew Garden Harmony 3-D Embossing Folder and lightly inked around the edges using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The flowers and sentiment were stamped using Catherine Pooler Inks.

The flower heads and sentiment were popped on foam pads, gold sequins and thread were added for additional interest.  

The team and I invite you to join us this month at the Challenge and share your Floral Focused projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

1. Sweet Stampin'
   
2. Crafty Catz
   
3. Can You Handle the Pressure?
   
4. Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge
   
5. Crafts Galore Encore
   
6. Triple B Challenge
   
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies
   
8. A Cut Above
   
9. Craft Rocket
   
10. Ellibelle's Garden Party
    

The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge for Aug/Sep 2026

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy August 15th!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog. The theme is Always Anything Florals Goes with an Optional Inspiration Photo:

For my team project, I was directly inspired by the photo and used the Altenew Paint-A-Flower Himalayan Poppy Stamp Set and colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers.  The card base measures 5.5" square and the patterned papers are from a 12" paper stack by Recollections.

The focal image and sentiment were cut using distressed edge nesting oval dies and popped on foam pads. Altenew's Gold Thread was added along with gold dazzles for additional interest and sparkle, along with white ink splatters.

The team and I invite you to join us at the Challenge this month and share your floral focused projects. Please stop by to see the amazing projects my teamies have created, you will be inspired by their beautiful designs. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Inkspirational

Creative Crafters

Creative Fingers

Cut it Up Challenge

AYLI Challenge - Alcohol Markers are my fav because I feel I have more control with them

Creative Inspiration

Ellibelle's Garden Party

Word Art Wednesday

Triple B Challenge

Moving Along with the Times

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

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

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

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Nov/Dec 2024

Happy Fri-YAY friends!  It's time for a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  We have a pretty Optional Inspiration Mood Board for you.  The mood boards are Always Optional, the only requirement is your design must be FLORAL FOCUSED.

I was inspired by the colors in this mood board and tried to match the Autumn colors in my design.  Using the Painted Flowers Stamp Set from Altenew, I've created a somewhat CAS styled card.

I've stamped the images randomly on a Tim Holtz watercolor card panel and colored them using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  The sentiment is from a Gina K. Designs Stamp Set.

To complete the design, I've added copper gems from Kat Scrappiness to highlight the sentiment.  The team and I hope you'll pop in and join us at the challenge, so see you there!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie

Creative Crafters

Creative Knockouts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Path of Positivity

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #22 - Oct/Nov 2024

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Our optional mood board contains rich and vibrant colors, perfect for the Autumn Season, or any season for that matter:

 

Using the Simply Spring Stamp Set from Altenew, I've water colored the image onto Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  In my opinion, just because the set is named Simply Spring, that doesn't mean you have to use it only for Spring themed cards.

After stamping the image, I heat embossed it in order to make the watercoloring a bit easier, this is a detailed image and I didn't want to worry about colors running into one another, the embossing adds a bit of a "wall", that contains the water. I've also heat embossed the sentiment.

Once the image was completely dry, I inked around the edges to give the piece a "frame".  Lastly, I've added clear. waterdrop embellishments to complete the piece.

The team and I would like to invite you to visit the challenge, and show us your floral focused projects.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Ally's Angels

Creative Crafters

A Place to Start

Path of Positivity

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

613 Avenue Create

Outlawz Sunday Song and Rhymes

Creative Fingers

AYLI - my "go to" shape is the rectangle A2 size, mainly because it's easy to photograph

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #20 - August/September 2024

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Thursday!  Today's the 15th of the month and that signals a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Summer is (hopefully) winding down and we'll be into the Autumn months soon, along with using those beautiful Fall colors.  Our inspiration board features some lovely muted tones:

My project this month features the retired Climbing Roses stamp set from Stampin' Up and I tried to incorporate the mood board colors into my design.  The images in the set are drawn so daintily and by stamping them twice, I've created a frame of sorts. I've colored the florals using Prismacolor Pencils and fussy cut the arrangements.

I've also die cut and used 1 part of the 3 part Triangle Madness Cover Die from Altenew as a backdrop to the floral arrangements.  The panel in background has been ink smooshed with tones of browns.

Lastly, I've stamped and heat embossed a sentiment, from the same stamp set, on a fancy oval die cut using a snippet of Stampin' Up Old Olive cardstock.  The sentiment and floral arrangements have been popped on foam for dimension.

The team and I invite you to please join us this month, we would love to see your Floral Focused projects.  Remember, the mood board is for inspiration but it's also a fun challenge to use the color palette.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Ally's Angels

Creative Crafters

Creative Inspiration

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Unicorn Challenge

Dream Valley

Aud Sentiments

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Word Art Wednesday

The Paper Funday Challenges - August 2024

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Wednesday!  Hurricane Debby came and went, she dropped loads of rain but thankfully we did not flood.  I cannot say that for other parts of Florida or the East Coast of the USA, so please pray for all those affected.

Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Themes are Always Anything Goes with an optional Twist, and this month, the twist is Summer Holiday/Vacation.  Our generous sponsors this challenge are Newton's Nook and Altenew!

For my team project, I've used the "Here for You" Stamp and Coordinating Dies Bundle from Altenew to create this somewhat monochromatic card.

I've stamped the images in Silver Pearl Embossing Power from Ranger, then heat set and cut out with the dies.  I've embossed a white background panel using a basketweave folder, then arranged the images and popped up the flower heads on dimensionals.

To complete the design, I've heat embossed the sentiment and popped on dimensionals, then added silver gems for that extra sparkle and shine.

We hope you'll join us at The Paper Funday Challenge this month!  We love visiting everyone and being amazed by the creativity.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B Challenges

Daisy Chain Challenge

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Unicorn Challenge

A Cut Above

A Place to Start

Die Cut Divas

Pearly Sparkles

Pin-spirational

Seasonal Blooms Welcoming Summer

Happy Sunday Crafty Friends!  I hope you've been well and experiencing nice weather.  Here, it's been very hot and humid, so I guess Summer has arrived in Florida (or did it ever leave?).

Today, I'm sharing a square card design featuring the Seasonal Blooms Stamp and Coordinating Die Set, which was part of the Craft Your Life Project Kit from Altenew.  This card measures 6" square.

To start I stamped and colored the floral images using Spectrum Noir Illustrator Alcohol Brush Markers.  I then die cut the cluster and set aside so I could lightly ink up the background with a shade of lilac, which gives a soft backdrop to the florals.

I've adhered the die cut directly to the black mat and stamped the sentiment that's included in the stamp set.  Lastly, I've added tiny pearls to highlight the sentiment.

But...that's not all!  Altenew has given me the opportunity to bless 2 of you with a $15 gift voucher for shopping.  So, get a chance to be one of the 2 winners of a Gift Card to Altenew!  

To enter, please visit my Instagram Page HERE - (or search for me @duncan_street_designs)  Follow the directions for your chance to WIN!  Winners announced on my IG account next Sunday, 09 June 2024. Thanks to Altenew for the sponsorship!  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Challenges Entered:

We Love Stamping

All Sorts

Cards Galore Encore

Incy Wincy

The Crafting Challenge

Carlin's Card Paradise

Once Upon a Time

(PIN)spirational

Scrapping 4 Fun

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Fab n' Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Krafty Chicks Challenge

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Double Trouble 6th Anniversary - Birthday Greetings

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  I'm honored to be a Guest Designer on the Double Trouble Challenge Blog today, and the team is celebrating their 6th Anniversary with a fun Raffle.  You have a choice of 4 Raffle Themes:  Anniversary, Father's Day, Birthday or Graduation.  The Option this round is:  Use Kraft Paper, Brown Paper Bag, etc.  And the third Option is to enter your project at any of the previous challenge partners.

For my project today, I've used the Altenew Potted Plants Stamp Set to create a Birthday themed Card and have incorporated Kraft Card into my design.

To start, I did a bit of minor masking to stamp the Terra Cotta Pot and Snake Plant (or mother-in-law's tongue, as my Grandmother called it).  The images have been stamped using Catherine Pooler inks in shades of green and brown.  I went over the stamp images using Prismacolor Pencils, in order to add some shading and highlights.

The patterned papers are from a Recollections Vintage themed paper pad, the greeting is from the Word Fragments Stamp Set by Woodware.  I've popped the focal panel and sentiment strip on craft foam, and added some golden thread from Spellbinders.  Lastly, chocolate brown gems from Kat Scrappiness have been added to finish out the design.  This card is giving me masculine vibes, which wasn't intended but I'm happy it worked out that way.  I needed more masculine cards in my stash.

Please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog and enter the Anniversary Raffle.  You're sure to have some fun and just may be a winner!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Outlawz Monday Greetings

We Love Stamping

Stamping Sensations

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Gem of a Craft Challenge

Polkadoodles

Daisy Chain Challenge

Creative Crafters

Ally's Angels

Rabisco

Crafts Galore Encore

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Smiles and Hugs

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  Our challenges are Always Anything FLORAL Goes with an optional mood board for inspiration.  The mood board this month is:

The colors in this mood board are gorgeous, although I'll admit I was a bit intimidated by them however, I decided to use this optional mood board as inspiration for my team project.

Using the Smiles and Hugs Stamp Set from Altenew, I've colored the marigolds (or possibly carnations) in colors I thought best matched those in the mood board.  I've colored the images using Prismacolor Pencils.

The florals and leaves have been cut using the coordinating dies, and the cluster has been popped on foam pads for dimension.  I've added a patterned background, containing foiled stars, along with a piece of torn vellum.  Lastly, I've added light peach enamel dots for added interest.  The sentiment is from the Tiny Talk pack by Tim Holtz.

We invite you to join us at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge this month by sharing your lovely floral focused designs.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Ally's Angels

Creative Crafters

Papercraft Challenges

SSS Wed Challenge

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspiration

Everybody Art

Unicorn Challenge

Make My Monday

Stamps & Fun = Creativity

A Place to Start

Aud Sentiments

Get Creative

Here For You - Hello

Happy Tuesday Friends!  Were you able to see the eclipse in your area yesterday?  Me, not at all, I'm in Florida and it just appeared like storm clouds were moving in...no big whoop!

Today is a quick share featuring some simple water coloring and the "Here for You" Stamp and coordinating Die Set from Altenew.

This is a large floral as you can see, my card measures the standard A2 size (4.25 x 5.5"), so I decided to keep it CAS.  I loosely water colored the image using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints on Tim Holtz watercolor card.  This is my favorite card for water coloring, it is bright white and handles lots of water. 

I've die cut the floral and splattered using white acrylic paint and added foam pads.  I've heat embossed the sentiment onto the background panel, covered it and splattered the background panel with turquoise and gold paint.  Lastly, I've adhered water droplets, matted with coordinating card and mounted to the card base. 

Quick and Easy card complete.  Every now and then I like to play with watercolor, however  I'm not very good at it, but I can paint loosely, and that's seems to be the style these days so there you have it...a bright and cheerful card for any occasion (is anyone getting Mrs. Crocombe vibes?...if you don't understand - watch her on the English Heritage Channel via You Tube).

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Unicorn Challenge

Outlawz Tuesday Color

SSS Mon Challenge

A Place to Start

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Die Cut Divas

Halloween Crafts and other Occasions

Scrapping 4 Fun

Four Seasons Challenge

Crafts Galore Encore

The Crafting Challenge

Rabisco Challenge

Inspiration Station Challenge April 2024 - The Blue Planet

Hi Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  It's a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  The month of April brings Earth Day (April 22nd) and our inspiration prompt this month reflects the Blue Planet and just how precious it is.

And as a bonus for the first 2 weeks of this month, we are collaborating with The Double Trouble Challenge.  We hope you'll visit their challenge and join in there as well. That gives you 2 chances to win! 

Now for my team project.  Using the Big World Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Altenew, I've created a CAS styled card, taking my inspiration directly from our prompt this month.

This is a layering stamp set, with various configurations for the continents. I stamped the Earth using Catherine Pooler Inks and die cut using the coordinating die.  I die cut the pedestal from silver matte card and layered the Globe on a snippet of patterned paper and blue mat, using nesting circle dies from Kat Scrappiness. I popped the earth on foam pads for dimension.

To help the silver pedestal stand out from the gray background, I've traced around the die cut using gray and blue Prismacolor Pencils.  The sentiment is from the same set, and the "world" die cut is included in the die set.  To finish the design, I've added silver sequins.  

We hope you'll be inspired by this months' photo prompt and create something to share with us.  And don't forget to play along at The Double Trouble Challenge, which you can find HERE.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

SSS Monday Challenge

Double Trouble

Outlawz Monday Greetings

The Crafting Challenge

Incy Wincy - based on the book "Around the World in 80 Days"

Crafts Galore Encore

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Pearly Sparkles

Scrapping 4 Fun

A Perfect Time to Craft

CAS on Friday

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #9

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Fri-YAY!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge, where the FOCUS is always Florals with an Optional Mood board for inspiration.  The board this month contains rich autumnal colors:

My team project this challenge features the Beautiful Blossoms Stamp Set from Altenew, and a total coincidence to the name of our challenge.

To start, I've stamped these gorgeous florals on a panel of Kraft card and heat embossed using Fine Detail Copper embossing powder.  I've done a bit of coloring with Prismacolor Pencils and diluted inks.

I was careful with the amount of water I used to dilute the inks as the card panel is not paper made for taking loads of water.  I've matted and adhered to the Kraft Card base.  The sentiment, which is part of the set, was stamped using a deep red ink from Catherine Pooler and the strip was popped on craft foam for dimension.  Lastly, a few enamel dots were added for additional interest.

Please visit us at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge and join in.  You'll definitely want to take a look at what my teamies have created, there's loads of inspiration waiting for you.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simply Create Too

Altenew Inspiration Challenge

Ally's Angels

Classic Design Challenge

World Wide Crafters and Colorists

AYLI - Autumn because of Football, Bonfires, Camping and the start of the holiday season

Penny's Challenges

613 Avenue Create

Word Art Wednesday

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday