Happy New Year's Eve!

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Dec 31st, 2025.  As we approach 2026, I want to wish each of you a safe New Year's Eve.  Do you have plans for this evening?  As for us, we've been to our traditional NYE breakfast at our favorite diner, I'll be popping a Ham in the oven soon and we'll have a quiet dinner at home with hopefully, a toast of Bubbly at midnight to welcome in 2026....and That's a big "IF" LOL!

I have a quick share today featuring a card created with die cuts and heat embossing.  A simple make taking advantage of gold mirror card for lots of festive shine.

I've cut stars using a stitched nesting set along with a die cut focal.  The sentiment has been heat embossed with fine detail gold powder and cut with a stitched nesting circle die.  The sentiment has been popped on foam pads as well as a few stars.

That's all from me today.  I wish you all a great afternoon and evening, and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Simon Says Stamp Mon. Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Everybody Art

The CreaLadies Challenge

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

Let's Go Sledding!

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope you had a joyous Christmas.  We were blessed with family and friends, lots of good food and fellowship.  We took a trip down memory lane with old family photos.  The grade school years were not kind to me LOL; huge, round, plastic framed eyeglasses and the Dorothy Hamill haircut....oh my!

Today I'm sharing an adorable Sledding Bear, a free image from artist Elizabeth Dulemba.  She has many free coloring book pages, and the images are easy to resize for cardmaking.  I'm in the process of creating Winter themed cards and I couldn't resist this bear. 

Isn't he adorable?  I've colored him using Copic Alcohol Markers and turned him into a Polar Bear. The patterned paper is from a 12x12 All Seasons Mat Stack by Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) and the sentiment is from the Snow-One Like You Stamp Set by Pink & Main.

I've die cut the focal image using a scalloped stitched nesting circle die, and the sentiment was cut using a plain nesting circle die.  To embellish, I've added 2 die cut snowflakes and covered them with Crystal Stickles.  I've splattered the focal image with Dr. Ph. Martins Bright White Pen Ink to replicate snowfall.

That's all from me for today.  I hope you have a wonderful rest of your Saturday and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Cut It Up Challenge
TGIF Challenges

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Elli's Crafty Wednesday

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Hi Friends, it's Christmas Day!  The Christmas Story means something different for everyone, but for my family and I, it means the birth of a baby who was destined to save humanity from the sins of the world and to offer everlasting peace and love.

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

My card was made using a corner die from my stash, a sentiment from Memory Box that I've heat embossed with fine gold powder and embellishments punched from gold mirror card. I've layered the focal panel with a mat of gold mirror card as well.

Merry Christmas to you all! I wish you a blessed day full of Love. Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Word Power

Rudolph Days

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Aud Sentiments

AAA Cards

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Stamping Sensations

Happy Christmas Eve!

Hello Friends and Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you're enjoying time with family and friends.  For the past 30+ years, on Christmas Eve, I prepare a Lasagna with Garlic Butter Breadsticks and we eat, eat, eat!  For dessert, it's always a homemade Cheesecake while watching Christmas movies - specifically A Christmas Story.

After our meal and movie, we open gifts and then take a drive around town, looking at Christmas Lights.  Tomorrow we will travel to my younger brothers' house and spend the day with his family. I hope you are blessed with good food, family and friends!

Just a quick share today featuring snippets of patterned paper and a Quilt Square Pattern.  I like using snippets to create Quilt Cards and I find lots of interesting patterns for them on Pinterest.

I've embossed the quilt square and background panel using a folder from Penny Black.  I've popped the square and sentiment strip on foam pads and added a Baker's Twine Bow to give the design that extra Country Christmas vibe. This was an enjoyable card to create. 

What are your Christmas Holiday traditions?  Do you have things you do each and every year?  I would love to hear about them so comment below.  Have a blessed Christmas Eve, and I'll be back tomorrow to share my last Christmas card for the 2025 holiday season.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

The Male Room

Crafts Galore Encore

Kerst Christmas

12 Months of Christmas

Paper Rocks Scissors

Let's Craft and Create

Girlz Rebel Challenge

Ally's Angels

Christmas Joy and Merry Making

Hi Friends!  I hope your day is good and you've had an opportunity to find a moment of rest before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day arrive. I have a quick share featuring another Christmas Joy Mug from Angie Blom.  I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from a 12x12 Winter Stack from Recollections.

A very quick and easy card, the image is simple to color.  I've cut the focal panel using a stitched edge nesting oval die from Kat Scrappiness, added tiny peppermint candy and pearl embellishments; also from Kat Scrappiness, and a layer of Crystal Stickles on the Whipped Cream.

That's all for today. now it's time for a Christmas Movie and a Cup of Christmas Joy (in my case, Hot Cocoa).  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Passion for Markers

Art Nudge - 1225C

Make My Monday

A Place to Start (https://avenue613.blogspot.com/)

TGIF Challenges!

Creative Inspiration

Lil Red Wagon

Word Art Wednesday

ABC Christmas Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Christmas Joy Hot Cocoa to Go

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!  We're on the downhill side racing towards Christmas Day and I've been busy with last minute prep: baking and cleaning.  We only have 4 more sleeps till the Big Day!

Today I have a quick share featuring another Festive Mug from the Christmas Joy Mugs Cardmaking Kit from Angie Blom.  The images are easy to color and make adorable holiday cards.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and die cut the focal image using a nesting stitched rectangle die from Kat Scrappiness.  I've adhered to a red mat and popped on foam pads for dimension.  The patterned papers are from a Christmas 6x8 paper pad purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Lastly, I created my own embellishment dots using a hole punch. After attaching I've added Gold Stickles to them for that much needed holiday sparkle.  I wanted the card not too bulky as it traveled overseas.  Punching circles is therapeutic and a good way to use up small snippets of card too.

That's all for today, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

We Love Stamping

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Pattie's Creations

TGIF Challenges

Colorful Options

Word Art Wednesday

Mirtillamente

First Cup Challenges

Sparkling Season

Hi Crafty Friends and Happy Saturday!  I have a quick share for you today, but before we get to my holiday card, I want to announce a New Challenge that will be starting on the 20th of January 2026.  It's The Pick 3 Challenge. Please check it out, be sure to follow, spread the word and get ready to play along!

My card today is another fairly CAS design, using the Sparkling Season Stamp Set from Gina K. Designs.  This set was a Simon Says Stamp Stamptember offer a few years ago and it's a timeless holiday set.

I started with heat embossing the images and sentiment on Stampin' Up Blackberry Bliss card using Ranger Fine Detail gold embossing powder.  I've back the focal panel with gold mirror card and adhered to a Blackberry Bliss card base.

I use this set every year for at least 1 Christmas Card, I love the nostalgic feel of the baubles, the sentiment font and the elegant gold and blackberry together.  

That's all for today, so until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Sweet Stampin'

Crafty Calendar

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #682

Cardz 4 Galz

Lil Red Wagon

Word Art Wednesday

Shopping our Stash

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

A Perfect Time to Craft

Jingle All the Way

Happy Friday Everyone!  I hope your week went well and you're ready for the weekend.  I have a quick share today featuring the Jingle All the Way Digital Cardmaking Kit from Angie Blom.  There are pre-measured A2 panels in the kit and that's what I've used for my card today.

I've kept the design mostly CAS, but added ribbon as an accent.  I've colored the baubles using Copic Alcohol Markers.  I've also added Gold Stickles and White Gel Pen dots for that extra touch.

 

After attaching the holiday ribbon, I've added foam pads to the panel and adhered to a red mat, before placing on the card base.  

I printed the image using a laser printer, and when using laser printer toner, you can foil any image or sentiment.  In hindsight, I wish I had remembered to foil the sentiment.  But I do like the sentiment the way it is.  That's all for today, 6 more sleeps till Christmas! I'm grocery shopping this weekend for food and snacks.  Funny how much more we eat during the holidays! 

Until next time, Happy Crafting,

Donna 

**Challenges Entered:

Alphabet Challenge

Creative Fingers

Pattie's Creations

Krafty Chicks

Creative Knockouts

Word Art Wednesday

Dream Factory

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Make My Monday

  

Rustic Christmas Star

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday! The Countdown to Christmas is on, with only 7 more sleeps until the big day.  Are you winding down your shopping, gift wrapping and food plans?  

Today I'm sharing a Rustic styled Christmas Card that was quick and easy to make. I let simple die cuts, textures and plaid do all the work.

I needed a masculine card and I love plaid for guy cards.  Using items from my stash, I die cut a panel of kraft card, embossed it with a Swiss Dots embossing folder and die cut a star from the panel. I tied Baker's Twine around the panel and adhered to a plaid patterned mat.

I die cut a smaller postage stamp for the sentiment, which is from a Christmas Set by Memory Box.  I lightly inked around the edges with distress ink to give it a rustic look, popped on foam pads and adhered to the card.  Lastly, I spritzed the card with Shimmer Spray and called it complete.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

The Male Room

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Shopping Our Stash

Creative Crafting Uncles

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges

Double Trouble

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Baked Gingerbread Couple

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  I have a quick share for you today featuring an adorable Gingerbread Couple from the Baked Gingerbread Digital Stamp Cardmaking Kit by Angie Blom.  This set has cute images and sentiments, and I've colored this couple using Copic Alcohol Markers.

I'm always looking for easy to color and cute gingerbread images for Christmas Cards and these two fit the bill.  I've printed out the A2 sized panel included in the cardmaking kit and trimmed so I could add two mats.

I've added Crystal Stickles to the candy cane, peppermint candy, his bow tie and her necklace.  I've also added white gel pen doodles and wooden hearts. There ya' go, quick and easy!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Passion for Markers

Art Nudge - 1225B

Christmas Kickstart

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Digi Choosday

ABC Christmas Challenge

Mirtillamente

The Crafting Challenge

12 Months of Christmas

Colorful Options

Classic Design Challenge - Dec '25/Jan '26 - Make It Merry

Hello Friends and Welcome Back! It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Classic Design Challenge Blog.  The challenge is Always Anything Goes with an optional Twist, and the twist this month is: Make It Merry.  

We're celebrating the holidays this month and have 2 prizes - one from our generous sponsor Goha Designs and the other is a gift voucher from Digi Doodle Studios.  For my team project, I've colored the Racing Snowman from Goha Designs using Copic Alcohol Markers.

I love Snowmen and this guy is just too cute!  He's racing to catch up with Santa so he can help on Christmas Eve, I hope he makes it!  After coloring, I've fussy cut him and added foam pads.  I've also cut the patterned panel using a fancy edged rectangle die and added a die cut Star Swirl. 

The sentiment strip is from a pre-packaged Christmas Sentiment Strip Set by Simon Says Stamp, and it's on foam pads as well.  Lastly, I've added Crystal Stickles to his hat band and tail lights, and Glossy accents to the headlights. 

We hope you'll play along this month and share your creativity with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Crafters Cafe

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges

Double Trouble - 3 Stash Items: Dies, Paper, Sentiment Strip

Die Cut Divas

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Creative Knockouts

Creative Inspiration

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Dec '25 / Jan '26

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenge is Anything FLORALS Goes with an optional floral picture for inspiration.  The lovely picture this month is:

Purple is my favorite color and this bouquet would look lovely on my holiday table.  I was inspired by the colors and used the Poinsettia digital images from the Poinsettia & Holly Set by Fred, She Said for my team project, and colored the images using Copic Alcohol Markers.

I've kept this card CAS, and added a dark plum mat behind the focal panel.  It's coming across as black but it's Blackberry Bliss from Stampin' Up.

After coloring, I've splattered with Dr. Ph. Martin's Bright White Ink.  The sentiment is included in the set and I've actually printed the A2 sized panel that's in the set, leaving it oriented as it comes.

Lastly, I've added Gold Stickles to the flower centers and called it complete.  The team and I hope you'll join us at the Challenge this month as share your Floral Focused projects with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges

Make My Monday

Aud Sentiments

CD Sunday +

613 Avenue Create

Dream Factory

Creative Crafters

Triple B Challenge

The Flower Challenge

Sparkles Christmas Challenge

Pastel Christmas Joy - Mug Merry and Bright

Hi Friends and Happy Sunday!  Wow, it's the 14th of the month and we only have 11 more sleeps till Christmas Day!  Today I'm sharing another Christmas Joy Mug from Angie Blom.  This one just needed to be in Pastel Colors and I think it works.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are from the Merry Patterned Collection paper pad by Scrapbook.com.  I've cut 2 panels for the focal image, one a postage die and the other a stitched nesting die.

I've popped the panel on foam pads and added pink gems to complete the card.  The sentiment is included in this digital set.  I'm imagining this holiday cup is filled with Hot Cocoa, marshmallows and whipped cream.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna xx

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth Challenge

613 Avenue Create

Star Stampz

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Pattie's Creations

Krafty Chicks

As You Like It

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge

Christmas Joy Shaker

Hello Friends and Happy Thursday!  I hope your day is going well and you're ready for the weekend.  I have a quick share today featuring more items from my stash.

I've used a Plaid 6x6 Background Stamp from Honey Bee Stamps to create my own background, and a Steampunk styled Joy Ornament Die to create a mini shaker element for this Christmas Card. 

I've stamped the plaid background with Deck the Halls forest green ink from Catherine Pooler, and ink blended Rockin' Red and Cranberry Fizz Catherine Pooler inks for a two-toned look on the die cut, which I turned into a shaker element; it's filled with fine Gold Glitter.

I've splattered the plaid panel with Dr. Ph. Martin's White Ink and added a Baker's Twine bow to the Joy Ornament. I like to use Dr. Ph. Martin's White ink because it stays true white after drying, and doesn't pick up the color underneath.

No bells or whistles added, the glitter and splatter is enough.  I had fun with this one, I haven't made a shaker card for a while, and Christmas is the perfect time for shakers filled with glitter.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Little Red Wagon

Word Power

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Double Trouble - Red, Green, White and Gold with Baker's Twine

A Cut Above

Colorful Options

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Die Cut Divas

 

FaLaLa and Snowflakes

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday, does anyone say Happy Hump Day anymore?  I have a quick share featuring a large sentiment die and stenciled snowflakes.  This card was a fast make, the longest part was waiting for the ink to dry.

You've probably guessed by now that I've went shopping in my stash and used the Bundle Up Snow Stencil from Carta Bella and the FaLaLa die from Simon Says Stamp to create a simple yet festive Christmas Card.  I've used the sentiment die last year, however this year is the first for using this stencil.

I've used Unicorn White Ink from Hero Arts for the stenciling, and I've die cut stitched stars from silver mirror card to use as embellishments.  Lastly, everything has been popped on foam pads for dimension, and this card is complete and now in the post!

Have a fabulous day, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Little Red Wagon

Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge

Stencil Fun

Word Power

Word Art Wednesday

Art Nudge - 1225A

Christmas Kickstart

A Cut Above

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Funky Christmas Chicken

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was exceptional and your week ahead will be the same.  We had a rainy weekend here in Florida so I took some time to create Christmas Cards. I've addressed and posted off several but I like to keep a few on hand in case they're needed.

I've mentioned before that this season I've limited myself to any new holiday purchases, choosing instead to use what I have in my stash. I'm sure many of you can relate to having stash items that haven't been used, and this Chicken Set is an example of that for me.  It's never been inked, and  my sister-in-law sent it to me in a Crafty Christmas parcel last year.

The stamp set is silicone but stamps beautifully, and it has a coordinating die set, which I've used to cut out the chicken.  He's been colored with Copic Alcohol markers and the patterned papers are from a Christmas pad by Scrapbook.com.  I've used Nesting Circle Dies from Kat Scrappiness for the focal image.

I've popped the Chicken and Gift on foam pads, and made my own embellishments using a circle punch.  The sentiment is part of the set and has been adhered flat to the card panel.  That's all from me today, I hope you are putting the finishes touches on your cards for the 2025 Holiday Season,

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Path of Positivity

Triple B

Colorful Options

613 Avenue Create

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Sweet Stampin'

Polkadoodles

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Juggling Snowballs

Hi Friends and Happy Saturday!  I have a quick share for you today featuring a Snowman juggling Snowballs.  The Happy Snowman is a die set received as a gift last year and I've just gotten around to using it. I've paper pieced his festive outer wear, the snowballs and hat brim are cut from glitter card.

The patterned papers are from the Winter Wonderland 6x6 paper pad from Doodlebug Design, the sentiment is from the Trimming the Tree Stamp stamp and coordinating die set from Picket Fence Studios.  I've cut the sentiment several times and adhered each layer for dimension, used a nesting Arch Die from Hero Arts for the focal panel and popped the snowballs on foam pads.

That's all from me today.  I hope your weekend is a good one, full of crafty fun and rest.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Calendar

Cardz 4 Galz

Creative Knockouts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Cupcake Inspirations

Die Cut Divas

NBUS

The Four Seasons

12 Months of Christmas

Peeking Santa

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!  I have a quick share today featuring the Peeking Santa image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  He was an October 2025 Freebie for her newsletter and Patreon members and she hasn't offered him for sale yet, but she has some amazing digital stamps in her shop.  I've always loved Mo Manning's artwork and this Santa is drawn so realistically, this is the exact Santa I remember from my childhood. 

I've kept the image fairly large so he would take center stage, only adding a bit of patterned paper to represent a wall or door and added a bow for whimsy.  I've colored him with Copic alcohol markers and added Crystal Stickles to his hat fur.

I've fussy cut around his fingers and edge of the image so he would fit around the plaid paper, and now he goes in the post.  Have you started posting your Christmas Cards yet?  Time is flying by so we better shake a leg and get them sent.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Creative Fingers

Let's Craft and Create

Colorful Options

Creative Inspiration Challenges

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Diagonal from bottom left to top right

Creative Inspirations

Word Art Wednesday

Digi Choosday

I Spy with My Little Eye

Christmas Kickstart