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

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

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

Christmas Joy Mug - Santa

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  I've got a quick share today featuring an image from the adorable Christmas Joy Mugs Set by Angie Blom. This digital set contains 8 different mug images and sentiments, and I'm working my way through all of them, coloring each with Copic Alcohol markers.

I've kept the design fairly simple, letting the Santa Mug take center stage.  I've never had a Hot Cocoa topped with red whipped cream but there's always a first time for everything!  The Buffalo plaid paper is from the 12x12 Christmas Plaid Kit by Reminisce. 

To finish the card, I've added red sequins around the focal image and Crystal Stickles on the Pom Pom and cup lip.  The images in the set are super cute and easy to color.  That's all from me today, I'll be back soon to share more of the Christmas Joy Cups.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Fab 'n Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Crafty Gals Corner

First Cup Challenges

Passion for Markers

Hand Stamped Sentiments

Mirtillamente

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge

Inspiration Station Challenge #80

Hello Friends and Welcome to the 1st Monday of December 2025!  Wow, we're on the countdown to Christmas now and I hope you've made some headway in decorating, cardmaking and gift purchasing. Today also begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and we have a cozy scene to inspire us:

For my project, I was directly inspired by the rustic Christmas Tree and I've used the O Christmas Tree Bundled Kit from Taylored Expressions.  I've purchased very little this holiday season, opting to go with my stash but I couldn't resist this bundle when it was offered at a special price in July. 

To start, I've heat embossed a background panel using the snowflake cover stamp in white sparkle power.  The tree has been layer stenciled with Catherine Pooler inks and the plaid paper is from a Craft Consortium 12x12 Christmas pack I've had for years.

After the ink dried, I die cut the tree and adhered flat to the panel, which was cut using a postage die from Catherine Pooler.  The sentiment is popped on foam pads and I've added a die cut glitter foam star to the tree top.  Lastly, I've added a few red gems and sprayed everything with Shimmer Spray.

The team and I hope you'll stop by the Inspiration Station Challenge and play along with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Make My Monday

A Cut Above

The Crafting Challenge

Die Cut Divas

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

A Place to Start - (adding link for 613 Avenue Create so I can enter my card at A Place to Start)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Just Us Girls

Give Us a Kiss by Penny Black

Happy Monday!  It's the start of another week, inching closer to Thanksgiving here in the States, and the Christmas Holidays.  As usual, I'm behind the 8-ball with Christmas Cards so I sat at the craft table off and on all weekend and created several.

Today I'm sharing the "Give Us a Kiss" wood block stamp from Penny Black.  This one dates back to 2010, and I'd forgotten I had this one.  It always surprises me what I find when I dig deep.

Nothing stamps quite like a wood block stamp, and Penny Black images are timeless. I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers and the patterned papers are snippets from Echo Park 6x6 Christmas themed pads. The papers were already cut into triangle shapes from another project, and it's a shame to waste them.

No bells or whistles have been added, only a Baker's Twine Bow to give the design a finishing touch.  The focal image had been matted and popped on foam pads for dimension.

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

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

A Place to Start

Crafty Animals

Critter Crazy

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Neglected Stuff

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Nov/Dec 2025

Happy Saturday Friends, it's the weekend and time for a new challenge at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The Challenge is Always Anything FLORALS Goes with an optional Inspiration picture to get you started.  The picture this round is full of warm, wintery colors which I used to inspire my coloring.

I've colored the Snowdrops and Tea Roses Digital image from Power Poppy using Copic Alcohol Markers, and used colors from the inspiration picture, to create a Christmas Card.  The sentiment is included in this digital set.

While chomping the corners with a fancy punch, I slipped on the top right corner so I've added a plaid banner to cover the boo-boo.  I'm not exactly happy with it but I wasn't going to start over with coloring (thanks Dear Husband for saving my tears and coming up with the idea to "just cover it up").

I've been a huge fan of Power Poppy for years, and this image is just one of many holiday images she has to choose from.  I would love to have this bouquet front and center on my holiday table.

The team and I invite you to share your floral focused projects with us, we always look forward to seeing everyone's creativity, so join us!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Krafty Chicks

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Crafty Gals Corner

Word Art Wednesday

Triple B Challenge

The Holly and Ivy Challenge 

Unicorn Challenge

Creative Fingers

Rudolph Days Holiday Challenge - February 2025

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  I've been invited to join The Rudolph Holiday Challenge as a Guest Designer for the month of February and what a better way to start on my holiday cards for the 2025 Season, since I'm a terrible last minute Christmas Card creator, plus I'm honored for the invite!

My card features an adorable, gift bearing Elf from Bugaboo Stamps.  Sadly, Bugaboo is no longer in business but I've always loved Jodie's art work and I have quite the collection of her images.

I've colored the image using Copic Alcohol Markers, the patterned papers are from the Gnome Christmas 6x6 Mega paper pad from Hobby Lobby, and the sentiment is a pre-made strip from a holiday pack by Simon Says Stamp.

The focal panel has been cut using a fancy edged nesting rectangle die and popped of foam pads for dimension.  The sentiment has also been elevated and I've added red gems for a finishing touch.

It feels strange yet satisfying to have completed a holiday card at this time of year.  I may try to keep this up so I'm not completely stressed in November and early December, so we shall see.

Please pop over to the Rudolph Days Holiday Challenge and get some early festive inspiration.  Create a holiday card and we hope to see you there!

Until next time, Happy Crafting.

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Holly & Ivy Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap

12 Months of Christmas

Kerst/Christmas Facebook Challenge

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

CD Sunday +

Love Those Pretty Papers

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Holiday Candle Arrangement

Happy Christmas Eve to you and yours, just 1 more sleep until Christmas Day!  I have a quick share for you featuring the Holiday Candle Arrangement Stamp Set from Hero Arts #CM648.

I've had this set in my stash since last year, and I found it while searching for the sets I wanted to use this year.  I was surprised when I realized I hadn't opened the package and a bit ashamed that I bought and then forgot.  

I've colored the image using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Makers and die cut the focal image using a nesting postage die from Hero Arts.  The extra postal stamping is from a stamp set from Penny Black and the sentiment strip is from a pre-packaged set from Simon Says Stamp.

The sentiment strip and focal panel have been popped on foam pads for dimension.  I've also inked around the edges of the focal panel with Catherine Pooler "Mint To Be" light green ink.  The patterned papers are from the Rustic Noel 6x6 paper pad by The Paper Studio.  

Last but not least, Crystal Stickles were added to the candle flames, holly berries and leaves.  I'll be back tomorrow to share my last Christmas Card for 2024.  It's hard to imagine we will be celebrating the New Year next week.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Passion for Markers

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

A Cut Above

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Ally's Angels

Papercraft Challenges

Creative Crafters
The Dream Factory

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - inspired by the song "Light the Candles All Around the World"

Word Art Wednesday

Gingerbread Postage Collage

Happy Monday Crafty Friends!  I have a quick share for you today featuring the Waffle Flower Postage Collage Gingerbread Stencil and Die Set.  I love Gingerbread; freshly baked Gingerbread is the best with a cup of Hot Cocoa but I digress, I'm supposed to be sharing details of my card.

Using inks from Catherine Pooler, I've went with a traditional Gingerbread color, along with Mint and Chocolate Chip colors.  The Waffle Flower Holiday set is truly fun and festive, and the stencils are very easy to line up and ink blend through.

After stenciling the images, I've cut out the panel using the coordinating postage die, the sentiment was stamped in Dark Brown ink and popped on foam pads for dimension.  Lastly, I've used Gold Stickles to highlight areas on the "stamps".  

That's all I have to share today.  We have 2 more sleeps until Christmas Day and I'm finalizing my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus..this truly is my favorite time of year!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

A Cut Above

Cutie Pie Challenge

All Sorts

Inkspirational

Stencil Fun

My Time to Craft Christmas

Inspired By...

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Love & Magic

Hi Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday!  This day has almost gotten away from me, and I wanted to make certain to share another Christmas Card with you.  This one features the Love & Magic Stamp Set by Penny Black #30-923.  I've treated myself to several festive Penny Black sets this year and I've made use of each of them.  This one contains a darling image that I've colored with alcohol markers.

After stamping and coloring, I've die cut the focal image using a stitched nesting rectangular die from Kat Scrappiness.  The patterned papers are from the "Holiday" 6x6 paper pad by American Crafts.   The sentiment is included in the stamp set, and the strip has been popped on foam pads for dimension.

To finish off the design, I've added my trusty Crystal Stickles to the furry hat band, Pom Pom and Holly Berries, along with red sequins from my stash.  That's all for today my friends, so until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Girlz Creative Christmas

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth Christmas

613 Avenue Create

Dragonfly Dreams

Stamping Sensations

All Sorts

Sweet Stampin'

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Lil Red Wagon

Penny Black Saturday Challenges

Love Those Pretty Papers

Poinsettia Postage Collage

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope your week went well and you're finishing up your holiday plans.  I want to ask everyone for their prayers for Germany and especially those affected by the senseless act of violence at a Christmas Market on Friday.  This is a horrific I pray for comfort and peace for all those affected.

I have a quick share today featuring the Poinsettia Postage Collage Die and Stencil Set from Waffle Flower.  I love the stencil sets, they are so easy to put together and make such lovely Christmas cards. 

Instead of the traditional Red Poinsettias, I've went with pretty shades of Pink Inks from Catherine Pooler.  I'm pleased with the outcome.

The sentiment has been popped on foam pads for dimension and I've added Crystal Stickles to the flower centers and holly berries.  Quick and easy card, and perfect for those last minute card needs!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Polkadoodles Gem of a Challenge

Inkspirational

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Creations in Pink

Aud Sentiments

Word Art Wednesday

Pearly Sparkles

Happy Snowman

Hello and Happy Thursday to you! It's a gloomy, overcast day here in Florida so what better way to spend the day than to wrap Christmas Prezzies, drink Hot Cocoa and do a bit of cardmaking?  I have a quick share for you today featuring the Happy Snowman Stamp Set from Penny Black #30-503.  I went with a CAS design on this one.

He's truly a Happy Guy, especially since it's snowing.  I've colored him with alcohol markers, and it's very hard to see in the photo but I've splattered the panel with Dr. Ph. Martin's White Ink and spritzed with Shimmer Mist.

The sentiment is included in the stamp set, and this image is so versatile.  You can use to make a holiday or winter card, I've went with a holiday theme, my Merry Christmas message is inside.  That's all I have for today, I hope you have a fantastic day and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Inspired By... the Christmas Vibes in the Photo

Cardz 4 Galz

Digi Choosday

Polkadoodles

Pink Gem Challenge

Sweet Stampin'

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

The Male Room

Passion for Markers

Cutie Pie Challenge

 

The Star

Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week has gone well thus far and you've made progress with your Christmas preparations.  Today I have plans to wrap gifts and get them under the tree...we shall see how that goes.  But for now, I have a quick share featuring the Penny Black Stamp Set titled The Star #31-082.

Isn't she just the sweetest?  I've colored her using alcohol markers and cut out the focal image, along with the sentiment and mat using nesting circle dies from Kat Scrappiness.

The patterned paper is from "Miss Mary Christmas" 6x6 paper pad by Hobby Lobby and the sentiment is from a holiday set by Memory Box. Before cutting out the focal image, I've splattered it with Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White ink to give the illusion of snow.  Lastly, I've added a green twine bow and Crystal Stickles to the Star.

I hope you have a great day!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

The Holly and Ivy Challenge

Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge

Star Stampz

Double Trouble

Jingle Belles

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Cutie Pie Challenge

Joyful Journey

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  I hope your week was awesome and you're getting into the Christmas Spirit.  Today, I have a quick share featuring an adorable sledding Squirrel.  The stamp set is the Penny Black Joyful Journey #30-761.  There is a coordinating die set, which I've used to cut out the images for my card.

I've colored the images using alcohol markers and created a snowy hill by hand trimming a piece of white card.  I've stamped the sentiment and then embossed the "hill" with a snowflake embossing folder from Darice.

The background paper is from a holiday paper pack by Alina Crafts, and the images have been popped on foam pads for dimension.  Lastly, I've added my trusty Crystal Stickles to the holiday packages.  I hope the packages and parcels are strapped on the sled as I think they may be going faster downhill that it appears.

Have a fantastic weekend and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Di's Digi Designs

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Sweet Stampin'

Crafty Calendar

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Critter Crazy

Crafty Catz

Krafty Chicks

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Fab 'n Funky

A Place to Start

Flowering Santa

Happy Fri-YAY friends!  I hope your week has been great; if you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, that it was a day filled with blessings.  We had a quiet family day with lots of food, laughs, football and naps!

I have a quick share for you featuring the Flowering Santa digital image from Power Poppy.  The image caught my eye, I just had to have it, so unique and the artistry is amazing.

Santa's beard is full of holiday florals and I've colored the image using alcohol markers. After coloring, I fussy cut the image and popped on foam pads.  The background panel is embossed with a 3-D poinsettia design; the embossed panel was gifted to me in a card swap.

 

You can see a bit of the embossing in this photo, and of course the Crystal Stickles covered poinsettia flower.  The sentiment is pre-made from a package of sentiments by Simon Says Stamp.  Lastly, I've added silver sequins to complete the sparkly, holiday design.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, tomorrow we plan on putting up the Christmas decorations.  I love all the decor and twinkling lights but it is becoming harder and harder to get it all up.  I may have to think about downsizing the decorating.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards

Jingle Belles - inspired by the Christmas vibe and the Poinsettia flowers

Krafty Chicks

C.R.A.F.T Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Word Art Wednesday

Passion for Markers

Girlz Creative Christmas

CD Sunday +