Welcome! At Inspired By, we believe creativity can spark from the simplest things—a cozy photo, a fun sketch, or a seasonal theme. Each week we share a fresh inspiration image and a coordinating sketch to get your ideas flowing. Whether you’re into cardmaking, scrapbooking, mixed media, or any type of project, you’re invited to interpret the challenge your way. There’s no right or wrong—just inspiration and creativity. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Current Challenge

recent posts

  • Some things just get better with age with MarDi

    Sometimes it’s easy to know what direction to take when I see the Inspiration prompts for the Inspired By challenge but this one really challenged me.

    I love the pretty colors and clean stripy lines in the photo but I was initially too focused on the tulips and started in a direction I didn’t like, so I scrapped that project and started combing through my stash for inspiration. As soon as I saw the MFT Stamps Kitschy Kitchen set, I had my direction. I was even able to work in the sketch, which always feels like a bonus to me.

    The cute sentiment is from a Mama Elephant set called Birthday Messages. I really like this sentiment set because the print is really small and works nicely when you don’t want the sentiment to detract from the design.

    How would you approach the inspiration prompts for this week’s challenge? I’m excited to see what you create. ~MarDi

  • Winner… Inspired by Spring Blooms

    Wow spring is definitely in the air with so many gorgeous creations in the gallery last week! (Though right now, where I am it is VERY cold and I am looking forward to getting back home to the West Coast tomorrow). It was difficult choosing a winner!

    Chris Lawlor

    This is just so bright and cheery! Love the flowers, especially the polka dot centre and that it is a shaped card. Congratulations Chris!

    Now don’t forget to play along this week

  • A Casserole Collection…with Kelly

    As soon as I saw this week’s lovely “Spring Brights” dishes, I thought of my family’s CorningWare set used at all of the potlucks and events of my youth in the 70’s and 80’s! I currently live about 90 minutes north of Corning, New York. So these “Classic Casserole” dies from Hero Arts hold a special place in my heart.

    To feature my collection of casserole dishes, I made a fun fold card called a “Surprise Pop Up “ after watching a tutorial on YouTube from Creative Moments by G (Georgia Lane).

    I made little shelves out of woodgrain cardstock and The Greetery’s “Curio: Cover” dies. I added a sentiment from “Bake Someone Happy” on a “Crimped Circle” die cut.

    My dishes were made from colorful paper in the Carta Bella “Farm to Table” collection. Our classic CorningWare was the white set with the blue flowers! But I think these colors would make a pretty awesome set, too.

    Join us for this week’s challenge…and you don’t even have to bring a dish to pass (unless that’s where inspiration takes you)!

  • Bright Blooms &Happy Days

    Here in the Midwest it was almost Spring and then Winter returned….but I have noticed some buds on lilacs and some bulbs beginning to peek through. Hoping that warm weather returns and April showers will bring May flowers.

    I was inspired by the bright colors and the tulips. I always enjoy creating shaped cards and this was the perfect svg to use for the challenge. Sometimes the simplest can bring the brightest smiles and this colorful arrangement definitely feels like a bouquet of happy days.

    Cathy

  • Oh Crop with Laurel

    Hey Laurel here with my take on this week’s inspiration. When I saw the stripes and the bright happy colors I thought of the new Craft Room collection by Echo Park. So many fun things in this collection, perfect for us crafters. When I saw the Oh Crop chipboard element I thought I would make a Oh Crop I missed your birthday but then this came to mind. I used the sketch and this is what I came up with.

    It was a good excuse to use this neglected stamp and die set from CTMH that I had to have (and don’t think I ever used…. ever done that?😉)

    Can’t wait to see how you are inspired! Be sure to share it in our Facebook group after you link up.

  • Inspired By… Spring Brights

    This week’s Inspired By Challenge is bursting with cheerful spring brights! 🌷✨ Vibrant pops of coral, sunshine yellow, soft pink, and refreshing aqua bring this playful scene to life. With colorful vases, fresh tulips, and bold modern stripes, this image feels like the perfect celebration of spring’s joyful energy.

    Will you be inspired by the lively color palette, the clean geometric shapes, or the fresh floral accents? Maybe it’s the mix of modern design and bright seasonal blooms that will spark your creativity.

    However you interpret it, let these bold colors and happy spring vibes guide your project. We can’t wait to see how this bright and playful inspiration comes to life in your creations!

    Join us for #IB379 and don’t forget to tag your project with #inspiredbychallenge so we can see what inspired you!🌸🎨

    Von Marie


    Kelly Schirmer

    MarDi

    Cathy Harper

    Laurel Seabrook

    Amy Tsuruta

    Don’t forget to link up below and be sure to share your creation in our Facebook Group.

    You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

    Click here to enter
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  • Hi Friend with Amy

    Hello and Happy Friday Eve! My project was inspired by the newest Inspired by Challenge: Spring Blooms

    I was inspired by the theme and colors. My card features the following Concord & 9th products:

    • Concord & 9th – Afternoon Tea | dies
    • Concord & 9th – Friendly Floral | dies
    • Concord & 9th – Quilted Card Front | dies
    • Concord & 9th – Slanted Shortcuts | dies

    There’s lots of texture on this one!

    I combined these Concord & 9th cardstock colors:

    • Sea Glass
    • Parsley
    • Sunflower

    I can’t wait to see how you’re inspired!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  • Where Flowers Bloom…With Von Marie

    Hello everyone Happy Tuesday! Von Marie here and I’m so excited to be on the Inspired by…Blog today.  This week our theme is Spring Blooms and we also have a fun New card sketch. Come Play Along With Us!

    Okay Let’s Get started:

     Here’s how I was Inspired: The word Spring, yes I’m excited for Spring and this cute teapot planter. The card Sketch is so great too! How are you inspired?

    I used Lawn Fawn Stitched Teapot Dies for my Teapot Planter.  I cut it out with white heavyweight cardstock and then ink blended my teapot and handle with Catherine Pooler Stone Blue dye ink.  I cut out my flowers with Spellbinders Simply Perfect layered Blooms and Sealed Blooms die sets using The Paper Insider for the yellow and green cardstock.  I glued my stems and flowers using liquid glue and arranged them in my teapot planter to my liking.  I then placed all in my stamping platform and inked a sentiment from Spellbinders Fragrant Flowers Stamp Set with Versafine Onyx Black ink.

    I then arranged my flowers a little more and then glued to a pre-scored blue polka dot A2 side folding card base from a Pebbles card making Paper Pad. I think I did okay with the sketch and I love how my card came out. You still have time to join us, a New Challenge starts every Thursday at 5:30 AM PST. and the winner announced on Sundays.

    How to join this challenge? Create a card inspired by the photo or Card Sketch or both.  Link your card to the Inspired By…Blog. Show us your card in our FB group too.  We would love to see!

    Crafty Hugs

    Von Marie

  • Happy Birthday Spring Blooms with MarDi

    As soon as I saw the inspiration photo for this week’s Inspired By challenge, I knew I wanted to use my Honey Bee Stamps Teapot & Cup die for this pretty teapot vase.

    For my flowers, I used Honey Bee Lovely Layers: Cherry Blossom. I think they worked out nicely, as they look a little like spring wildflowers when cut apart from the branch.

    I wanted to keep the background clean to focus on the pretty vase and flowers. I used Honey Bee stamps Eyelet Lace embossing folder and paired it with a Sizzix 3D lace embossing folder. I think I did a decent job following the sketch as well.

    Finally, I added a happy birthday sentiment from a previous Hero Arts kit, as I will be adding this card to my birthday card stash.

    I don’t think anyone would disagree that this pretty inspiration photo has all the springtime vibes.

    We are eager to see how you use your crafty stash for the Spring Blooms challenge this week. ~MarDi

  • Winner… Inspired By Donuts

    So many sweet designs in the gallery last week. Made me want to go grab a donut (my favorite are the glazed ones)

    Carol Mc

    Such a fun card. I love the donuts and that was a great way to use the sketch laying them on top of a cookie sheet! Congratulations Carol!

    Now don’t forget to play along this week