1 + 12 = Crafty Bliss in '26!

February's Inky Paws Challenge #249!

 Hi friends ~

Happy February!  

We are already one month in the new year AND

it's the first official day of the new Inky Paws Challenge 

from Newton's Nook Designs.

              Before we head to the challenge deets, some NEWS!

*There is a HUGE retirement sale happening right now

with amazing prices and a PURR-fect time 

to scoop up your favorites!

We know it's always hard to see a favorite stamp go 

but you know what that means ........ 

something new and exciting is coming!

For February, the challenge for the entire month is a wonderful sketch 🠋

 Remember to use your favorite Newton's Nook products - 

use those stamps, dies, stencils!

You can link up your cards and one (1) lucky winner

is chosen to win $20.00 in store credit to the NND shop!

(You can read all the details here)

And my card!

Products used:  

Puppy's Bubble Tea clear stamps

Puppy's Bubble Tea outline dies

Basic Frames die set

Lovely Hearts 6 x 6 paper pad

Love and Woofs 6 x 6 paper pad

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Head on over to the Inky Paws Challenge blog

 to see the wonderful DT inspiration

and the shop to pick up your favorites!

~Kelly

A cut above challenge - use die cuts

Aud sentiments challenge blog:  dies/love

Pammies inky pinkies - AG

Inky Paws Challenge - Week 4!

 

Hiya friends!

We are 4 weeks into January?!  

I can't believe how fast this month is FLYING!

I've been training daily, and really hard,

and am so out of touch with days of the week.

Last week, I was bike riding with my granddaughter

and thought it was Wednesday and she insisted it was THURSDAY 

AND ...

she was right, LOL! 😇

So, just in case you needed to know, today is Monday :)

That also means Week 4 of the Newton's Nook Designs

Inky Paws Challenge and an opportunity to win $20 in NND

store credit for one (1) lucky winner!

 (rules apply, see them here)

Here's my card:

I used:

Christmas Time Dogs clear stamps

Christmas Time Dogs matching outline dies

You may notice this is not Christmas themed

as I fussy cut the hearts from the Love and Woofs paper 

and added them to his paws as he's holding them.

I also used the Lonely Hearts paper pad , Essential Tags set,

 A2 card layout die, and the Frames and Flags die set.

A lot of mix and match!

And somewhere along the way, I lost a heart.

See the blue one?

It's missing ... just like that Wednesday I lost, LOL!

I can't wait to see your cards - be sure to follow the link 

to add your card to the line up of talent.

I'll be back next week

and there's a brand new challenge for February ... stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting!

~Kelly

Color Me Happy: January

 Hi friends!

Today is the premiere of a new series 

I'll be attempting doing this year ~ 

Color Me Happy!

This series will be a year long coloring exploration of 

all the mediums that I have - from markers to colored pencils.

In order to give a true view of  how much I like/love each one,

I am using the same stamp, different mediums.

The stamp I chose for this fun series is Gina K Designs

A Bit Of Spring.

January:  Prismacolor Markers!

They are vastly my most reached for marker!

Why I like them?

* Longevity - I have had them for YEARS.

* Saturation - they blend and cover a stamped image

and layer beautifully. 

* Alcohol-based - blendable colors that don't bleed!

Some markers go way outside the stamped line

and that's a deal breaker for me.  Prismacolors stay put :)

                In true Kelly fashion, I added a few recycled items 

to incorporate my love of upcycling in crafts.

I'll be back in February with another medium, same stamp!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kelly

Entered to:  Pammie's Inky Pinkies: Anything Goes

Path of Positivity:  Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar:  Use New Things (stamp is new!)

Sisterhood of the Snarky - New or Never

1 + 12: Crafty Bliss in '26!

 

Hi friends!

We're moving from 1 +12 Thrives in '25 to 

Crafty Bliss in '26!

Welcome to One Plus Twelve,

 my FAVORITE personal card challenge of the year!

Am I late?

I am, fashionably so 😆

This year was a struggle.

I knew exactly the stamp I wanted to use months ago

and missed the release due to an out of town trip.

GARSH!

I stalked it for weeks, then months, praying for a restock

and finally asked the ownerif it was coming back, 

much to my dismay,

 the answer was a resounding no :(

Scouring resale boards and asking everyone proved fruitless,

so I eventually gave up ... but haven't forgotten!

Maybe one day.

 

Onward!

No sense cryin' over spilled milk ..

or whatever Martha Washington said 😆

 Just in case you are asking yourself WHAT IS ONE PLUS TWELVE?

This idea is my 'baby' 💖

The idea is:

We spend so much money on our crafty supplies 

and often would get a stamp/die/product and use it.

Just once.

So the challenge is to use a singular chosen stamp once a month =

One (stamp) Plus Twelve (months) of cards!

So, you will see today's stamp 11 more times this year.

I asked my friends Barb and Jeanette to join me when 

I dreamed up this idea (literally) and we are still going strong.

We each pick a stamp and keep it a secret until reveal day.

Hopefully they brought snacks because reveal day was January 3rd 

and they are probably starving by now otherwise .....

Like I said .... fashionably late 😯

What I chose as a replacement!

2026:  Never Give Up by Pinkfresh Studio.

It's a lovely floral stamp with a die, stencils and betterpress plate.

My BP is still sitting in a box - may this be the thump upside the head

nudge I need to actually use it :)

It is fitting for the hope of a new year and not just in name only.

I am aiming for a year of wonder and goals and surprises!

I also used Lindy's Gang Magicals to incorporate a burst of colors

and love how they married together to do their own thing.

And, 

I already have the next 2 months made for February and March

and they are .......... dare I say ....... weird.

But so am I, tee hee! 😂

My friends Jeanette and Barb posted on their blogs. 

I'm sure it will be a fun year ahead!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kelly

Inky Paws Challenge - Week 3!

 

Hi friends!

I hope you're doing amazing! :)

It's Week 3 of the Newton's Nook Designs

Inky Paws Challenge and an opportunity to win $20 in NND

store credit just for playing along!

 (rules apply, see them here)

For my card, I used these NND products:

* Sky High Celebrations clear stamps

* Sky High Celebrations die cuts

* A2 Card Layout 2 die

* Christmas Party 6 x 6 pad 

* Christmas Basics 6 x 6 pad

Use Cinnamon Red, Soft Pink, Lilac, and Buttercream White with your NND products!

I hope you can play along with us and make some fun cards 

with the challenge!   Remember to link your cards 

on the blog before the closing date.  

Happy crafting!

~ Kelly

Heart to Heart with Simon Says Stamp!

 Hi friends!

It's time to have a Heart to Heart ...

with the Simon Says Stamp new release!

That is the official name AND

it has a stamp of PAW-proval (scroll down 🠋)

I am BEYOND delighted to have been sent this amazing

 Simon Says Stamp set to work with

 called Make My Heart Flutter.

I love creating with florals in my cardmaking

and this is easily going to be a favoite for this year -

a gorgeous flower, beautiful butterflies and versatile sentiments!

I used a stencil to create a fun look with the distress oxide inks

and stamped/die cut the flower and butterflies.

I love how it looks like designer paper

yet none was used ....

 just cardstock, ink and lots of elbow grease! :)

Normally I'm a cool girl (awww, shucks!)

No, really - like cool colors - the greens, blues, purples ..

I. do. not. like. pink.

No, nope, NOPE ..... 

it's usually my last color selection, TBH!

But, warm tones especially when married are kinda groovy.

However I ended up with this color combo, I like it!

And apparently so does Kitty ~

 he is giving it a FULL white paw inspection and his paw-proval!

This is the new stray that wandered into our yard around Christmas-ish.

We tried so hard to find his home - or A HOME - but no luck .. yet.

Cross your paws!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kelly

Inky Paws Challenge: Week 2!

Hi friends!

I hope your week is off to a good one :)

This is Week 2 of the Inky Paws Challenge from 

Newton's Nook Designs.

For the month of January, the challenge is a sketch:

You can see the details on how to win here on the blog 

and have a chance to win $20 in NND store credit to shop!

YAY!

Here is my card using the colors and these NND products:

* Dainty Daisies clear stamps

* Dainty Daisies die set

* Basic Frames die set

* Christmas Basics paper pad

It is always nice to have those 'stock cards' on hand ...

birthdays, thank yous, anniversaries, etc!

One more for my stash!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kelly

Clean slate!

 Hi friends!

Today I'm sharing 2 cards with a common theme:

clean slate!

This two-fer set is for an Instagram Friday card group

where we create a card/project with a theme.

I was going for a black chalkboard look

with inspiraitonal messages design to motivate .... ME!

Sort of :)

I am donating these cards but the inspiration is encouragement.

2026 is a year of making plans, meeting goals and

 making. stuff. happen!

My daughter and I are planning a marathon this year

and I've been doing mini-runs to train and prepare.

In fact, I'm signed up for a few 5K's - one next week.

Running all the way into a donut shop is more my jam

but I'm behavin'!

But I digress!

My cards are using alcohol inks in one of my FAVE color combos.

I paired it with black and white for contrast since these colors

are so vibrant and in-yo-face!

The sentiments are from a TH pack and I chose ones that

go along with the themes of new year's goals.

That's it for today's post!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kelly

3M: Round 1 - January

 Hi friends!

It's a brand new round of 3 Musketeers (3M) cardmaking

and (according to the historian, Barb) we are on our 12th year!

The 3M is based on a mystery image sent to the 3 of us

on a rotating basis and we each create a card with that image.

1 image - 3 different takes!

This month, Jeanette is the hostess and sent us a very generous

stamp set from Stampendous!

Thank you SNOW much!

Here is my card:

Be sure to see what Barb and Jeanette created

 as well with this adorable set!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kelly

2026 ~ Word of the Year & Crafty Goals!

 Welcome 2026!

Each year, I share on my blog a word of the year 

that becomes my guide in this journey called life.

As you may remember, I don't seek out a word ~

 it always manages to find me and

usually in the most obscure times like sitting in church !

True story! And it will always be my favorite :)

This year, my word is SURPRISE!

I was talking with my youngest daughter one day 

and in the conversation she said "Mommy, you are a surprise"

She said it with such love and the warm fuzzies I felt 

in that moment just melted my heart.

Surprise doesn't always mean shock, astonished or unexpected ~

it has a quiet, reserved feeling of amplifying joy.

And I thought, that's what I woud like to share - always.

At the beginning of December (already marinating in my word),

I remember thinking I won't see Surprise 'out in the wild'

like I did with my 2025 word, Peace.

And. just. like. that ..........

See!  

Already a surprise! :)

A few of my Crafty Goals for this year:

* I'm delighted to be on the Whimsy Stamps design team,

continuing onward with another year! Thank you! 💗

* I was invited to join the Newton's Nook Designs DT

Immediate YES!  A delightful paw-sitive adventure!

and

* Social Engagement DT for Simon Says Stamp monthly release!

BEYOND blessed, I tell you!  

🠋

* 2 NEW challenges for 2026!

* Color Me Happy! x1 per month personal challenge using different coloring mediums, same image. That image IS already picked out, LOL!

* Magpie Makes!  I'm a runner - and forager.  I find THE THINGS.

And sometimes (okay, OFTEN) I bring them home :)

I have always been a magpie, a recycler and thrifty, and this

monthly art assemblage with foraged materials has me beyond giddy!

I'm also continuing in 2026:

* One Plus Twelve card challenge ~ my favorite card challenge.

It's one that I created with the idea of stretching

our stamps and I just adore the challenge.

Do I have my 2026 stamp?  Still no ...... YIKES!

I usually have it months ahead 😨

The one I wanted to use MOST IN THE WORLD has been sold out for months.

For some reason, I'm struggling with letting it go ......

* Card Clubhouse  ~ My Instagram Wednesday card group ~

We have rebranded but still going strong. 

* Kell-of-a-mess (formerly Hot Mess cards)

I'm returning to the fun of making a mess, but only on cards.

* 3 Musketeers mystery image card creation group continues...

(No clue what year we are on, I always check what Barb says.)

* FAN-tastic SSS Monthly Hop 

(we are a group of IG friends that post x1 per month

our favorite Simon Says Stamp creations)

* The ProCRAFTination Club

(we are a group of IG friends that post x1 per month

a creation based on a subscription kit, online class, Crop N Create,

C9 virtual retreats and camps, etc - it's a GET 'ER DONE concept!

For me, I sign up, watch (or am away when it takes place) 

and my boxes stack up!

I'm sure I'm missing a few bits here and there 

but it will be some new, some similiar, some

 not-a-clue-what-I-am-doing!

Thanks for making it this far 💗

Wishing you a year filled with SURPRISES!