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).