Mood Board Challenge from A Cherry on Top

Lately, life has been filled with non-crafty responsibilities, and my creative time has felt a bit limited. Still, whenever I need to pause and reconnect with that side of myself, the challenges from A Cherry on Top are my go-to source of inspiration. They remind me why I love creating — the simple joy of turning an idea into something tangible.

This month’s Mood Board Challenge featured a moody mix of black and rusty orange, inspired by the beauty of autumn. I leaned into the season’s warmth and nostalgia, incorporating leaves, pumpkins, and the word “autumn” into my design. It felt grounding — a quiet nod to change, reflection, and creativity in transition.

All of the elements came from Creative Fabrica, and I used my Eclips to bring each piece together. The process was a gentle reminder that even during busy seasons, carving out a little time to create can feel like a deep breath — a reset for the spirit.

Halloween

 Pumpkins to hold Halloween Treats.

Autumn Gnome Decor by Dreaming Tree

Autumn is my favorite time of year to make special projects - probably because we don't really have autumn here in Arizona!  Dreaming Tree's many autumn projects are perfect for decorating your home quickly and easily.  The Autumn Gnome Decor is a great way to add fun to your decorating.  This svg file is available at Dreaming Tree.  This weekend some of my scrappin' buddies have been invited for a weekend crop - with a "gnome" theme.  I put this together as a hostess gift for the gracious scrapper who invited us.

Got Pumpkin?

My share today is using an SVG from Heart-Filled Spaces.  This pumpkin is using tan paper and cut with my Eclips.  The leaf and stem are from scraps in my stash.  Finally, I added an LED light available at the Dollar Tree - comes with remote and the recipient can get a variety of looks with all the different colors and functions.

Sky Scenes papers at We Are 3

I'm in love with Sky Scenes...Beautiful!  This card almost made itself.  The sentiment is from the Autumn set....all I added were a simple flourish.  I'm pretty tickled with how this turned out.

Scrap Squad Virtual Crop Sketch for Scrapbook Generation

One of the new monthly challenges on the Scrap Generation Scrap Squad Facebook Page:  Allison Davis Sketch.  Here it is.

I started adding color blocks on the base.  Then I used an ice cream cone svg to make the banners.  Next came the matting and fall leaves.  I have no idea how long I've been holding onto those leaves!  They worked like magic!  Woo Hoo!  Now for the title.  I started with a title from Miss Kate Cuttables - Soak up the Sun.  Just didn't fit my layout, so I edited it to change the Sun to Color.  Every scrapbook project needs journaling, don't you think?  I hate to journal, so instead used a quote found in my stash.  I also found some additional text embellishments to add.

We Are 3 Hibernate

This basket is Bushel Basket by Dreaming Tree, and I used Papa Bear from Design Bundles, along with a sentiment from Hibernate by We Are 3. The beautiful paisley pattern is Howdy Autumn by We Are 3. This would be a fun little gift, filled with candy, for a shut-in during this Coronovirus Quarantine.

 

Happy Birthday!

When I printed these papers from Plaids Stripes Neutral, I was inspired by a soft, almost felt texture the papers took on. I couldn't resist adding embellishments that made me think of cool weather and Cardinals - memories from my Michigan home. I started with layering three different papers from the collection. Then I dipped into my stash. I added a bit of texture with a piece of burlap. I added a cardinal and a branch from my stash.  The sentiment is also from We Are 3 - Number Birthday.

  

   

Mini Daisy Treat Bag for Eclips Users

Just look at how well that plaid fits this treat bag. For the Sizzix Eclips challenge, we were to use the Clip Path function - which I had managed to avoid up 'til now.  The plaid paper is from K Becca's Halloween Sample Kit, the flourish design is Festival from Shabby Princess. Using Clip Path, I was able to center the plaid and flourish designs. The treat bag is the free Mini Daisy Treat Bag from Dreaming Tree. I was so excited about learning the Clip Path function, I kind of ignored other parts of the bag file (daisy and flap outline). Since I wanted to see the centered flourish, I didn't add the flower - instead I used a metal brad from my stash. 

Freebie Progressive Challenge - Featured Stamper Challenge

Notice that I got smart today and combined two of my favorite challenges - using the freebie My Best Friend from All Dressed Up. I looked at the papers in my stash and came across these papers from We Are 3 - Rainbow Gingham and Howdy Autumn. Funny because when I color images, I usually color without any papers in mind - so these mustard papers just happen to be perfect for my colored image. Both the image and the papers are digital. Then I added a couple beads. Not creative or elaborate as other entries in these challenges, but I love the way it turned out.

    

Creepy Cute Halloween

I did this one for The Outlawz Paper Ala Mode Challenge using Creepy Cute Cafe from our sponsor, Lizzy Love at Oddball Art. You can buy it HERE. It a color challenge today, using Autumn Colors. So, of course, with that for inspiration, I just HAD to color the Creepy Cute Cafe. The Cafe is colored with a mixture of digital coloring and digital paper piecing. I create four copies of the image and popped up some pieces for dimension...then added a little fiber.

 

Freebie Progressive Meets Cute Halloween

Time for another challenge at The Outlawz Progressive Freebie! This month it's Winnie Wednesday Dogbat from Polkadoodles. I decided to paper piece Winnie Wednesday's outfit using patterns from Cute Halloween (We Are 3)...the bright orange background also comes from the Cute Halloween collection. I teamed her up with a haunted house. How fun! I cut both on my Eclips and pop dotted them on a layered-doily heart-shaped card. This card is also for the Stashbuster challenge for Eclips Users (I pulled the heart svg, house, svg, and moon sticker out of my stash). 

This image is so sweet....soooooo cute!  Now if you love Winnie Wednesday and her Batdog, you MUST check out the Freebie Progressive Challenge.  If you're not familiar with the challenge, be sure to read the rules on how you can receive this digi FREE.

More Howdy Autumn

Another quick card today. Three strips of Howdy Autumn - and Halloween Boo embellies from my stash. 

More Howdy Autumn Fun

I have another card using Howdy Autumn - loving this paisley. I wanted to use some things in my stash, so found this digi - and some fun black cat stickers that have been hanging around for years....this is what I came up with. 

New Autumn Images

I love Halloween - so was looking forward to a Halloween gift bag for our local gift bag swap this weekend. I went more for an Autumn look, rather than Halloween for a little more usefulness. I have tons of Halloween goodies, but I was dying to use the new Harvest image from We Are 3. I found the bag at Hobby Lobby for like $1 - cheaper than paper bags! Printed Harvest on printable iron-on transfer and cut it with my cutter - and to give it more of a Halloween touch, I added a tag using the Boo Pumpkin. I'm so excited about sharing this at the swap - I'm guessing they'll think I took the easy way out and bought the bag already printed.

        

We Are 3's Howdy Autumn and Jungle Leaves

This week at our local SALA group, the card swap theme is "It's a Jungle Out There." I don't know much about the jungle, but relied on Creative Fabrica's Tropical Jungle clipart to guide me. I never associated pineapples with the jungle - but then I never realized beans were grown in Ubly until I moved there. I was particularly excited to go the pineapple route rather than having to color a zebra or elephant or tiger or lion. I chose to make a super simple card using Howdy Autumn papers from We Are 3. All I added was clipart and a ribbon and bow. EASY! Be sure to visit We Are 3 and view what other Design Team Members are making.

Autumn at We Are 3

It's Autumn back in the Midwest - and Bonnie has made some fun Autumn papers - Autumn Flannel. You can't have fun "flannel" paper without making a flannel "shirt." I printed the flannel paper on both sides of my cardstock and made an overlapping gatefold card. I trimmed the top to form a collar, folded back the shirt collar, added a "cuff" and buttons. I finished the card off by adding a nice bright white "t-shirt" inside for adding the sentiment.

Splitcoast Stampers Featured Stamper Challenge

Happy Sunday, Everyone! I looked at this week's Featured Stamper's gallery, and it was an explosion of beauty. Since I'm on a mission to use things from my stash, I chose a card that inspired me to make th is simple card using papers, flowers, and sentiment from my stash. This card came together quickly and easily.

Outlawz Freebie Progressive

I really enjoy the Freebie Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz because I use it to practice coloring images I might not otherwise color. I was so thrilled to find this month's - how generous of our sponsor Imagine That Digistamp! I used the image with a cherry on top - Hah, I thought it was an apple for my fall-themed paper choice! Now have you ever seen an apple on top of a pumpkin spice latte? Don't know what I was thinking! The sentiment is from their Coffee Sentiment set.

My patterned papers are from the Autumn Woodland collection (We Are 3).

Use Your Scraps

This week at Paper Ala Mode, we're featuring scraps! Woo Hoo! Now we can get rid of some of our stash! I decided to use just a couple pieces of scraps from my last set of cardmaking. Click HERE for the image from our sponsor, Createful Heart Designs...Ms. Scarecrow with Squirrels.