2026

January 1st. A new page on the calendar. A new year to explore. 

New goals. New challenges.

New beginnings. A fresh start.

Am I the only one who enjoys moving into a new year? I suspect I'm not.

For the past several years I've chosen a Word of the Year to shape its direction. This year the word came to me a few months before the new year was to begin. I was in a meeting and the speaker talked about how Christians are supposed to sparkle. She said the definition for Sparkle is to shine brightly because of reflected light. As believers the Light of Christ is to sparkle in our lives. I think that's the perfect word of the year. I want to Sparkle in 2026.

In addition to revealing my Word of the Year at the beginning of each year, I usually also share my crafting-related goals. Last year I had three goals. One of them I totally failed at so I'm making it a goal again for this year.

Here it is: In an effort to stretch myself and learn new skills I am going to commit to watching at least one crafting YouTube video each week - Jennifer McGuire, Gina K, Simon Hurley, or similar artists. I've never been one to watch YouTube videos, but I have some friends who watch them regularly and they speak so highly of the things they learn. 

Here are three other goals for 2026:

1. Finish setting up my inventory. Evernote rates increased so much that I've canceled that and began switching my inventory to One Note in November. I still have a lot to upload. My plan is to finish that in 2026.

2. Regularly upload pictures of my cards to Instagram (I used to do this, but have failed to do so with any regularity of late). I also want to get back in the habit of leaving comments on my friends blogs.

3. Begin the habit of commenting in stamp company blog hops. 

Here are the things you will find on my blog in 2026, most of them a continuation from 2025:

3rd - 1 + 12 series

6th - Unused No More series

9th - Three Musketeers series

12th - Hot Mess series

15th - The Creative Crew group

22nd - Double Duty series

25th - Encore series

28th - Challenge Your Stash series

Last Day of the Month - The on-going Catch Up Club

I plan to start a new monthly card series - my own Color Combo series, using randomly selected color schemes from my Color Cubes.

I continue to serve on the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps design team (every Friday).

I also remain on Splitcoaststamper's CAS Challenge team (on Mondays) and its Sketch Challenge team (on Wednesdays). 

SCS Sketch #SC1095

I have been part of the Sketch team on Splitcoaststampers for a few years now. Whether it's my week to create the sketch (the first Wednesday of each month) or I'm creating a sample card based on the sketch someone else created, I find that having a sketch to use can get my creative ideas flowing. 

There is a new sketch to work with every Wednesday. I encourage you to check them out.

I created this week's sketch - #SC1095:

My card:

I hope you'll use the sketch to make a card, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: from a Crop & Create Virtual Event - colored with Olo Markers

Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Simple Strip in Reverse

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and Amazon 120# Black CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and SU Circles

Embellishments: Rhinestones from an unknown vendor

Favorites of 2025

For the past few years I've put together my Favorites post where I choose my personal favorite card of each month of the year and repost those here on my blog on (or very close to) December 31st. I hope you like re-visiting these with me.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! 

CAS879 Clocks

Each Monday there is a new CAS Challenge on SCS. It's always fun to see what others create using the CAS theme.

Pam is the host this week. She chose the theme...

Clocks

Here's my card:

Here's the inside of my card:

I hope you'll check out the challenge - HERE - and play along, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Our Daily Bread Time stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink 

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Amazon 12# Black, and SU Crumb Cake CS 

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and SU Circles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

CYS Oldie, But Goodie

One of my favorite challenge groups is the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS, under the capable and organized leadership of my friend Barb. The idea is we can't shop for anything when making our monthly challenge card (which we post on the 28th of each month).

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Barb's turn. She challenged us to use a Christmas image that is more than a few years old. She's calling this challenge Oldie, But Goodie.

I've had this stamp for more than 15 years. I actually bought it at a unmounted overstock Whipper Snapper sale hosted in Wisconsin. We were living in northern Illinois at that time so of course I drove the 1 1/2 hours to attend the sale.

The inside of the card has a Merry Christmas sentiment.

I hope Barb and the other Challenge Your Stash gals like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Whipper Snapper stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Night of Navy CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and MFT Stitched Tag-Corner Rectangles

Embellishment: Amazon Diamond Dot

Unity Advent Calendar 2025

This is my fourth year to purchase the Unity Stamp Company Advent Calendar. I challenge myself to open each day's door and create a card with the stamp inside. There's an album in the Unity (show & tell) group on Facebook specifically for the cards made with the Advent Calendar stamps so it's easy to see what others are making with the stamps, too.

This blog post shows the cards I've made each day.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Unfortunately I couldn't use this stamp as it is a martini glass with drinking woman sitting in it.

Day 24

In a Manger

Merry Christmas!

My husband is what is called an Association Mission Strategist. Ours is an association of 23 churches, each one autonomous. As an association, the churches unite for training, ministry, and more. My husband's job in part is to help oversee that. 

At Christmastime we always send a handmade card (by me) and poem (written by my husband) to each ministry family in our association. As is my norm, I'm sharing the card I made for them here on my blog on Christmas Day.

You can see my previous ten cards via these links if you're interested...

Missing Things - 2015

Jesus Is the Reason - 2016

A Bethlehem Night that Changed the World - 2017

Joy to the World - 2018

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him - 2019

Merry Christmas Poinsettia - 2020

Love Was Born in a Manger - 2021

Silent Night, Holy Night - 2022

The Lord Has Come - 2023

All Is Calm - All is Bright - 2024

My husband has announced his retirement, effective March 31, 2026, so this will be the last of these annual Christmas card posts. 

Here is this year's card:

Here's the inside:

I usually make all of the cards exactly alike but this time I did use some different color combinations as seen in the following photos.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Papertrey Ink The Greatest Gift stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White CS and various SU CS and Glitter/Shimmer Papers

Dies: The Greetery Big Beautiful Bow and Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles