22 Mar 2026

Thank you and Goodbye

18:54 Vannessa No comments

Good morning to all our Paper Shelter fans. Today is a very sad day for all of us here on the Paper Shelter Challenge blog team. 


In case you have not seen it, the Paper Shelter Store has now closed. Pedro has made the very tough choice to close the store and consequently this challenge blog, as like many other small business owners at the minute, the store was not generating enough sales to cover the costs of running it and paying the fees that hide behind the store front.

It is with a very heavy heart that we all have to say a sad goodbye to you all. I joined this challenge blog way back in 2014 and have loved being part of the team, progressing up to team leader for the B team and then to the team leader for the whole challenge blog when Linda left a few years ago. We have had so many great design team members over the years and I know I will miss working with this fabulous group of such talented crafters and card designers. 

We will also greatly miss you, our fans and all your amazing creations as well. I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you who have supported The Paper Shelter store and the Challenge blog with your creativity and fantastic interpretations of our challenges. 

This blog will remain open for the time being for you to use as inspiration for the adorable images that Pedro and Veronica have created over the years. 

Thank you all once again for your support over the years with our challenges. 

Hugs, Vannessa and the rest of the TPS Design Team

10 Mar 2026

Challenge #667 - Anything Goes with the Optional Twist of using our Tic-Tac-Tie Board

20:32 Vannessa 3 comments

  Good morning to all our Paper Shelter friends and welcome back to this fortnight's new challenge. We have a really fun one for you this time! 

Remember each challenge will now last for 2 WEEKS, so that gives you extra time to add your cards and projects each time. And remember you can enter up to 3 projects/cards in each challenge as long as one of them includes a project from The Paper Shelter store. 

As you know by now, all of our challenges are now ANYTHING GOES with an optional twist each week. Should you include a card or project using the optional twist in our challenge, you will have double entries to win the fantastic weekly prize.

Our optional twist this week is...


You can create any project you like and can use any image, but if you want the chance at double entries to this fortnight's challenge, then create something that uses elements from the above board. Can you complete a row? Or what about a full house as some of our DT members did?!

 Remember using one of the fabulous stamps from The Paper Shelter also makes you eligible for this week's top fantastic prize of 6 digital products from the store! There are so many fabulous images and colouring books in The Paper Shelter store, so why not pop on over there and treat yourself to a new one for this week's challenge?

We can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this time!

Our design team members have all made a fantastic collection of cards and projects this time, using so many different, fabulous images for inspiration as well. Be sure to click on their blog links to find out more about each of the projects and the digi stamps they have used too. 

Before I share their cards though, I'm sure you are eager to know who won our 

ATG/Embossing Challenge

The lucky person chosen by Random Org is:

Here are your random numbers:

18

Timestamp: 2026-03-10 20:27:25

Congratulations to Darlene!

Thank you so much for joining in the challenge this time with your stunning card! We now have a quicker way for you to claim your prize of 3 products from the Paper Shelter Store and this is by clicking on the Contact Link at the top of the blog. This will take you directly to a page for you to fill out with your choices.

Please can you also add ATG/Challenge #666 Embossing Winner in your subject line, so that it makes it easier for Pedro to see your choices? Please can you also make sure you claim your prize by Monday 23rd March?

As always for this week's challenge our sponsors are The Paper Shelter and they are generously offering a really fabulous prize of up to 6 digital products from their store.
 

 I know that you have heard this before, but this amazing prize will only be given if you have used one of our products on your card which could be either an image, paper or printable. 

However, even if you haven't used an item from The Paper Shelter and you are picked as a winner you will still receive 3 digi images of your own choice, so I'm sure you will agree that it's still worth taking part in our challenge. 

So many more of you are actually using The Paper Shelter items in your creations so a lot more winners are now winning the full 6 digital products prize, which is just fantastic!

You can enter up to three projects but one of these must show one of our products please; its only fair you do so. 

Please make sure your project is a new project for this challenge and not one that has been entered in previous challenges. No backlinking please. 

Now for our Design Team and their fabulous cards using so many different gorgeous images this week for our favourite things challenge! I know you will love them and I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration from them for your own cards and projects.

Vannessa using Ready For School

Using hand-coloured image, die cuts, ribbon, pretty papers, spots & stripes

Cathie using Disco Girl & Funky Girl

 Using stencil, beads , buttons , pearls and die cuts 
bottom row bingo

Ilonka using Enchanted Rockabilly

Using stencil, die cuts, pretty papers, hand-coloured image.

Jenn using Really?!

Using stencil, pearls, die cuts

Maria Tinyworks using Leprechaun St Patrick Day

using stencil, pearls, die cuts

Jane using Feminine Elegance

Using A Full House

Nicola using Victorian Gothic Dolls PG10

Using A Full House

Granmargaret
using pre-coloured Ribbon Dance and Birthday cupcake paper pack

Using ribbon, pretty papers, flowers


Using pretty papers, spots or stripes, die cuts

Maritza using Snug But Stylish

Using A Full House

Kitty using Tulips

Using hand coloured image, free, spots/stripes, pretty Papers, Die Cuts

Natascha using Bunny Princess

Using ribbon or twine, hand coloured image, stencil

Kel and Anet are both taking a break this challenge. 

We are also saying a sad goodbye to Merja, who has been on the DT for a very long time now. Her fabulous creations will be sorely missed and we wish her all the very best for her future adventures. 

 Aren't these projects all so amazing?! I love how many different images have been used on each of these cards and how the DT members have used this week's optional twist of using our tic-tac-toe board. The designs of every project are just so fabulous! Thank you so much for creating all these amazing projects.

Don't forget if there is a image which the Team have used above on their card which you would like to use for your own, don't forget to click on the "Using" link above each of the cards and it will take you directly to the webpage where you will be able to buy it. They really are fabulous value too.

And now it's over to you to show us what you can do with this week's challenge theme "ATG/
Tic-Tac-Toe". We are all looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with it. Remember this challenge will last for 2 weeks so will close on Tuesday 24th March, so plenty of time to get your cards and projects in! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

25 Feb 2026

Challenge #666 - Anything Goes with the Optional Twist of Embossing

09:00 Vannessa 4 comments

 Good morning to all our Paper Shelter friends and welcome back to this fortnight's new challenge. First off, a huge apology from me. I set the dates wrong on the inlinkz link up and didn't check it until the Monday before the challenge was supposed to have finished and saw what I had done! I did add another link up to the post, but if you tried and couldn't add your card, then I do apologise. No excuses really - I didn't check the dates carefully (but I have for this fortnight's challenge, I promise!)

Remember each challenge will now last for 2 WEEKS, so that gives you extra time to add your cards and projects each time. And remember you can enter up to 3 projects/cards in each challenge as long as one of them includes a project from The Paper Shelter store. 

As you know by now, all of our challenges are now ANYTHING GOES with an optional twist each week. Should you include a card or project using the optional twist in our challenge, you will have double entries to win the fantastic weekly prize.

Our optional twist this week is...

"Embossing"

You can create any project you like and can use any image, but if you want the chance at double entries to this fortnight's challenge, then create something that uses embossing - either hot or cold or even with premade embossed papers! 

 Remember using one of the fabulous stamps from The Paper Shelter also makes you eligible for this week's top fantastic prize of 6 digital products from the store! There are so many fabulous images and colouring books in The Paper Shelter store, so why not pop on over there and treat yourself to a new one for this week's challenge?

We can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this time!

Our design team members have all made a fantastic collection of cards and projects this time, using so many different, fabulous images for inspiration as well. Be sure to click on their blog links to find out more about each of the projects and the digi stamps they have used too. 

Before I share their cards though, I'm sure you are eager to know who won our 

Colour of Love Challenge

The lucky person chosen by Random Org is:

Here are your random numbers:

15

Timestamp: 2026-02-24 22:12:34

Congratulations to Craftyhairlady!

And this is her fabulous card using the perfect Hey Baby!


Thank you so much for joining in the challenge this time with your stunning card! We now have a quicker way for you to claim your prize of 6 products from the Paper Shelter Store and this is by clicking on the Contact Link at the top of the blog. This will take you directly to a page for you to fill out with your choices.

Please can you also add ATG/Challenge #665 Colours of Love Winner in your subject line, so that it makes it easier for Pedro to see your choices? Please can you also make sure you claim your prize by Monday 9th March?

As always for this week's challenge our sponsors are The Paper Shelter and they are generously offering a really fabulous prize of up to 6 digital products from their store.
 

 I know that you have heard this before, but this amazing prize will only be given if you have used one of our products on your card which could be either an image, paper or printable. 

However, even if you haven't used an item from The Paper Shelter and you are picked as a winner you will still receive 3 digi images of your own choice, so I'm sure you will agree that it's still worth taking part in our challenge. 

So many more of you are actually using The Paper Shelter items in your creations so a lot more winners are now winning the full 6 digital products prize, which is just fantastic!

You can enter up to three projects but one of these must show one of our products please; its only fair you do so. 

Please make sure your project is a new project for this challenge and not one that has been entered in previous challenges. No backlinking please. 

Now for our Design Team and their fabulous cards using so many different gorgeous images this week for our favourite things challenge! I know you will love them and I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration from them for your own cards and projects.






Ilonka using Daisie's On My Hat


I have used an embossing folder, as well as heat embossing




Granmargaret
I used pre-coloured Ballerina with embossed papers






Kitty using Casual Boy



Gina using Just Taking My Duck for a Walk
 

Maria Tinyworks using Love is Chemistry


Merja and Anet are both on a break this week.

 Aren't these projects all so amazing?! I love how many different images have been used on each of these cards and how the DT members have used this week's optional twist of using their favourite things. The designs of every project are just so fabulous! Thank you so much for creating all these amazing projects.

Don't forget if there is a image which the Team have used above on their card which you would like to use for your own, don't forget to click on the "Using" link above each of the cards and it will take you directly to the webpage where you will be able to buy it. They really are fabulous value too.

And now it's over to you to show us what you can do with this week's challenge theme "ATG/
Embossing". We are all looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with it. Remember this challenge will last for 2 weeks so will close on Tuesday 10th March, so plenty of time to get your cards and projects in! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

11 Feb 2026

Challenge #665 - Anything Goes with the optional twist of Colours of Love

09:00 Vannessa 6 comments

 Good morning to all our Paper Shelter friends and welcome back to this fortnight's new challenge. As a reminder, we have made a couple of little changes to how our challenges run for the new year. Firstly, both of our teams have joined together to make one big team, so you will get double the amount of absolutely fabulous inspiration for each challenge.

Our second change is that each challenge will now last for 2 WEEKS, so that gives you extra time to add your cards and projects each time. And remember you can enter up to 3 projects/cards in each challenge as long as one of them includes a project from The Paper Shelter store. 

As you know by now, all of our challenges are now ANYTHING GOES with an optional twist each week. Should you include a card or project using the optional twist in our challenge, you will have double entries to win the fantastic weekly prize.

Our optional twist this week is...

"Colours of Love"

You can create any project you like and can use any image, but if you want the chance at double entries to this week's challenge, then create something that use YOUR colours of love! You do not  necessarily have to use reds and pinks, which are traditional Valentine's Day colours. You could any colour that represents love to you! 

 Remember using one of the fabulous stamps from The Paper Shelter also makes you eligible for this week's top fantastic prize of 6 digital products from the store! There are so many fabulous images and colouring books in The Paper Shelter store, so why not pop on over there and treat yourself to a new one for this week's challenge?

We can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this time!

Our design team members have all made a fantastic collection of cards and projects this time, using so many different, fabulous images for inspiration as well. Be sure to click on their blog links to find out more about each of the projects and the digi stamps they have used too. 

Before I share their cards though, I'm sure you are eager to know who won our 

These are a Few of my Favourite Things Challenge

The lucky person chosen by Random Org is:

Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2026-02-10 20:30:53

Congratulations to Yvonne!

 Thank you so much for joining in the challenge this time with your stunning card! We now have a quicker way for you to claim your prize of 3 products from the Paper Shelter Store and this is by clicking on the Contact Link at the top of the blog. This will take you directly to a page for you to fill out with your choices.

Please can you also add ATG/Challenge #665 Favourite Things Winner in your subject line, so that it makes it easier for Pedro to see your choices? Please can you also make sure you claim your prize by Monday 23rd February?

As always for this week's challenge our sponsors are The Paper Shelter and they are generously offering a really fabulous prize of up to 6 digital products from their store.
 

 I know that you have heard this before, but this amazing prize will only be given if you have used one of our products on your card which could be either an image, paper or printable. 

However, even if you haven't used an item from The Paper Shelter and you are picked as a winner you will still receive 3 digi images of your own choice, so I'm sure you will agree that it's still worth taking part in our challenge. 

So many more of you are actually using The Paper Shelter items in your creations so a lot more winners are now winning the full 6 digital products prize, which is just fantastic!

You can enter up to three projects but one of these must show one of our products please; its only fair you do so. 

Please make sure your project is a new project for this challenge and not one that has been entered in previous challenges. No backlinking please. 

Now for our Design Team and their fabulous cards using so many different gorgeous images this week for our favourite things challenge! I know you will love them and I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration from them for your own cards and projects.


 Aren't these projects all so amazing?! I love how many different images have been used on each of these cards and how the DT members have used this week's optional twist of using their favourite things. The designs of every project are just so fabulous! Thank you so much for creating all these amazing projects.

Don't forget if there is a image which the Team have used above on their card which you would like to use for your own, don't forget to click on the "Using" link above each of the cards and it will take you directly to the webpage where you will be able to buy it. They really are fabulous value too.

And now it's over to you to show us what you can do with this week's challenge theme "ATG/
Colours of Love". We are all looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with it. Remember this challenge will last for 2 weeks so will close on Tuesday 24th February, so plenty of time to get your cards and projects in! 

HUGE APOLOGIES TO EVERYONE. I MESSED UP THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE CHALLENGE, SO HAVE SET UP ANOTHER LINK FOR THOSE WHO WOULD STILL LIKE TO ENTER AND HAVE EXTENDED IT TO 10PM TOMORROW EVENING.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

28 Jan 2026

Challenge #664 - Anything Goes With The Optional Twist of "These Are A Few of My Favourite Things..."

09:00 Vannessa 2 comments

 Good morning to all our Paper Shelter friends and welcome back to this fortnight's new challenge. As a reminder, we have made a couple of little changes to how our challenges run for the new year. Firstly, both of our teams have joined together to make one big team, so you will get double the amount of absolutely fabulous inspiration for each challenge.

Our second change is that each challenge will now last for 2 WEEKS, so that gives you extra time to add your cards and projects each time. And remember you can enter up to 3 projects/cards in each challenge as long as one of them includes a project from The Paper Shelter store. 

As you know by now, all of our challenges are now ANYTHING GOES with an optional twist each week. Should you include a card or project using the optional twist in our challenge, you will have double entries to win the fantastic weekly prize.

Our optional twist this week is...

"These Are A Few of My Favourite Things..."

You can create any project you like and can use any image, but if you want the chance at double entries to this week's challenge, then create something that follows this mood board! You could include your favourite theme, colours, embellishments, layouts, image, type of card to make and so on...

 Remember using one of the fabulous stamps from The Paper Shelter also makes you eligible for this week's top fantastic prize of 6 digital products from the store! There are so many fabulous images and colouring books in The Paper Shelter store, so why not pop on over there and treat yourself to a new one for this week's challenge?

We can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this time!

Our design team members have all made a fantastic collection of cards and projects this time, using so many different, fabulous images for inspiration as well. Be sure to click on their blog links to find out more about each of the projects and the digi stamps they have used too. 

Before I share their cards though, I'm sure you are eager to know who won our 

Wintery Mood Board Challenge

The lucky person chosen by Random Org is:

Here are your random numbers:

3

Timestamp: 2026-01-27 21:46:12

Congratulations to Beebeebabs!

 Thank you so much for joining in the challenge this time with your stunning card! We now have a quicker way for you to claim your prize of 3 products from the Paper Shelter Store and this is by clicking on the Contact Link at the top of the blog. This will take you directly to a page for you to fill out with your choices.

Please can you also add ATG/Challenge #663 Wintery Mood Board Winner in your subject line, so that it makes it easier for Pedro to see your choices? Please can you also make sure you claim your prize by Monday 9th February?

As always for this week's challenge our sponsors are The Paper Shelter and they are generously offering a really fabulous prize of up to 6 digital products from their store.
 

 I know that you have heard this before, but this amazing prize will only be given if you have used one of our products on your card which could be either an image, paper or printable. 

However, even if you haven't used an item from The Paper Shelter and you are picked as a winner you will still receive 3 digi images of your own choice, so I'm sure you will agree that it's still worth taking part in our challenge. 

So many more of you are actually using The Paper Shelter items in your creations so a lot more winners are now winning the full 6 digital products prize, which is just fantastic!

You can enter up to three projects but one of these must show one of our products please; its only fair you do so. 

Please make sure your project is a new project for this challenge and not one that has been entered in previous challenges. No backlinking please. 

Now for our Design Team and their fabulous cards using so many different gorgeous images this week for our favourite things challenge! I know you will love them and I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration from them for your own cards and projects.

(Favourite things - Hallowe'en, ribbon, glitter, patterned papers)




Cathie using  A Papercraft Fun


Jenn using Fortune Teller


Maria Tinyworks Using: Enchanting Fae Faces


Granmargaret
A few of my favourite things are fairies, flowers, butterflies and dragonflies.  My favourite colours are purples and pinks.  I used pre-coloured The Fairy of the Roses and Lovely Bugs paper pack

Anet using Can't Take My Eyes Off You


Jane using Keep Warm 
(Fave things: dogs, snow, blue & circle cards)


Nicola using A Beauty To Die For
My favourite things - purple, humour, bats & Halloween/spooky things


Maritza using PDF coloring book Christmas Cuties


Kitty using Cupcake Birthday
(favourite things birthday die, candle die, bunting die, Promarkers, Letratag)


(favourite things - green, Halloween, stencilling)


My favorite things: Fall, Squirrels and Purple
 

 Aren't these projects all so amazing?! I love how many different images have been used on each of these cards and how the DT members have used this week's optional twist of using their favourite things. The designs of every project are just so fabulous! Thank you so much for creating all these amazing projects.

Don't forget if there is a image which the Team have used above on their card which you would like to use for your own, don't forget to click on the "Using" link above each of the cards and it will take you directly to the webpage where you will be able to buy it. They really are fabulous value too.

And now it's over to you to show us what you can do with this week's challenge theme "ATG/
Favourite Things". We are all looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with it. Remember this challenge will last for 2 weeks so will close on Tuesday 10th February, so plenty of time to get your cards and projects in! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter