06 March, 2026

Wildflowers

Hello and welcome to yet another challenge over at the Alphabet challenge blog. We've reached the letter W, and your task is to showcast "wildflowers" on your creations. With nature awakening, I'm sure you'll find plenty of ideas everywhere. And of course, the DT has been busy as well, preparing a variety of wildflower-inspired art for you. 

As for my DT project, it goes way back to my rehabilitation last year. I found a wooden bunny during crafting therapy, and I knew immediately that I'd like to bring it to life somehow. As I focused on other projects, however, I only managed to cover the silhouette in white acrylic paint. I then took it home, but never really found the time to finish what I had in mind. Partly, because I couldn't pick the right napkin for decoupage, partly because renovations & moving, and mostly due to health issues. 
When I packed for this years' rehabilitation, I decided to take the bunny with me. I also packed a couple of art supplies which I'd leave in the crafting room fto refill the stash. Amongst the things I wanted to keep for myself was a napkin with wildflowers - you see, I already had a faint idea on how to decorate that bunny, except I ran out of time before I left for rehabilitation.
Once I found myself in the art therapy room, I quickly picked my crafting supplies. I covered the bunny in another layer of white acrylic paint and proceeded to cut out a couple of wildflowers. Turns out the bunny silhouette was rather small in comparison to the blooms, but I tried to pick the ones that wouldn't look all too odd. I also decided to add a bee on each side.
When that was dome, I placed them onto the bunny, and added a bit of grass by using different shades of green acrylic paint. I then sealed everything with napkin glue. 

And then, I started looking for a location for the photoshoot. I figured it would be fitting to include some wildflowers which came out out during the past warm and pleasant spring days. I sneaked my bunny into the local rose garden, where patches of primroses grow along the paths. The bunny seems to blend in with its flowers, and doesn't the bee look like it's alive? 

Fun fact: this was only my second attempt to get decent pictures. In my first try along the road, I managed to incorporate some primroses as well, but the direct sunlight seemed to cast a strong contrast between the surfaces, which is why I figured the shady gardens would be more suitable.
However, as I was packing up, I noticed a movement in the grass... a tiny red button crawling onto the primrose blooms... 
I can't help but the sight of a ladybug is like an instant shot of happiness to me, and you can imagine my surprise when I discovered a whole ladybug family! Apparently, they spent the night under an old leaf and were only waking up when I barged in with my bunny. If only I could know what they were thinking?

challenges:
- 613 avenue create: ATG with optional twist "things with wings"
- a place to start: ATG with optional twist "small critters"
- C.R.A.F.T.: spring/Easter/ATG
- card free zone: ATG but a card
- crafty catz: ATG
- creative inspirations: cute critters
- critter crazy: ATG animals
- little red wagon: include an animal
- morgans artworld: ATG
- moving along with the times: birds and/or bees
- nachteulen: ATG
- traumfabrik: Sing - all kinds of animals
- vesela hiska: daisy
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21 February, 2026

Volume (dimension)

Hello, and welcome to another challenge over at the Alphabet challenge blog. I'm back from another break - I meant to improve my routines after the new year already, but it didn't work out. I'm trying to stay afloat with everyday chores, dealing with pain issues still, and after ages, I managed to create some DT inspiration for the theme "Volume", which wants to see some depth in your projects. Use foam pads to raise parts of whatever you'll show us, we can't wait to see what you'll come up with. 

As I had limited time to create something, I opted for a small card base - one of those that can be placed on a bouquet, a box of chocolate, or any kind of a "just because" gift. I went through my paper stash, where a strip of autumn-inspired patterned paper caught my eyes. To be  precise, it's part of the album cover of a paper set, which featured a strip with samples of the papers inside - but I think it looks way too pretty to be thrown away.
Then, I remembered this tiny little penguin in my stash - it was on the wrapping of a children's face cream for cold/rainy weather, and you *may* remember I used it before ages ago. 
I think it couldn't be more perfect for the occasion. It matches both the colour scheme and the autumn feeling I was going for. I cut it from the packaging and placed it on a piece of light orange cardboard. I then took a piece of light blue paper to place onto the card base - I figured the blue and orange would be balanced out by doing so. 
I then took a bunch of colourful snippets from my paoer stash to punch out some autumn leaves. I basically decided to stick with the colours in the background, placing the leaves as if they were dancing in the wind. Then, I added a tiny gold sticker in the top and bottom part of the blue background. The reasoning was that the blue strips looked just a bit too big compared to the small amount of blue on the sides. I therefore used those decorative borders to elongate the patterned paper for a bit, and also to add a bit of bling to the card. I think it turned out quite fine, what about you?
To emphasize the rainy weather, I added a couple of tiny blue gemstones to the penguin motif. Once everything was done, I placed said picture on 3D adhesive pads to elevate it from the background papers. 

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG with optional twist "animal magic"
- a place to start: ATG with optional twist "small critters" (I'm not sure whether it counts for the twist, but I like to think this is a small penguin)
- allsorts challengeblog: ATG (the focal penguin image comes from the packaging of a Paediprotect skin cream for kids, it features their old logo which is not available anymore)
- as you like it: cute or elegant (while I try to add a bit of elegance to every project, my emphasis is always on the "cute". I like to work with cute motifs because they go well with my paper stash, I like to add cute little details like paper flowers punched embellishments, and I think that even the most elegant occasion can go with something cute when the opposite is not always the case.)
- crafty catz: ATG
- critter crazy: ATG animals
- fabnfunky: dies or punches (punched leaves)
- little red wagon: just the way you are
- lovethoseprettypapers: ATG patterned papers
- nachteulen: ATG
- traumfabrik: Sing - all kinds of animals
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