February 2026 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 Today's the day they reveal all the cards sent out for the February Card Chain Challenge over at the Card Chain Challenge Blog!

For February, I sent a card to Wendy in Ireland and received a card from Joanne in CT.

This month I used one of the suggested Themes - On The Farm!

This adorable Highland Cow is an 'already colored' DIGI I purchased on line by Hetty Clare called Cute Cow (I found her on Etsy a few years ago but it appears she is no longer selling there)

I actually met some of these beautiful Highland Cows when my son and I went on a tour of Great Britain way back in 1995- finding them on a farm in Scotland!

  

I checked on line that they are also in Ireland since I was sending my card to Wendy in Ireland!

I added the clay flowers from The Greetery between the horns and on the grass, as well as the sentiment that I made up and printed on my computer.

Now's the time to sign up for the March Card Chain Challenge!  You'll find the challenge and the sign up with instructions on 'how to'  here at The Card Chain Challenge.

Sign up ends March 6th!

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

first time using the Cute Cow

Critter Crazy Challenge

Anything goes with a featured critter - ends 3/25

Four Seasons: Spring

ends 3/25

Paper:  White - PTI

Other Supplies:  Digi Image -  Cute Cow: Hetty Claire, computer generated sentiment, Garden Bits Clay Flowers - The Greetery.

Inkspirational #362 - Word Prompt: Use Stencils

 The latest challenge is up over at Inkspirational! Use Stencils

with the optional twist of Plaid: 

I just went with stencils, using a new stencil set from Waffle Flower called Postage Collage Woof and I made a loss of dog Sympathy card.

 The frame and hanger are from Postage Collage Frames Dies/Waffle Flower, and the embossing folder is 3D Molded Frame/Spellbinders. 

I just used one of the dogs from the stencil set for my card.   

Here is the full panel which has a good variety of breeds represented!

So please join us over at Inkspirational and show us your creation using Stencils (optional twist: Plaid)!

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the Postage Collage Woof Stencils

Just Us Girls

ends 3/4

Krafty Chicks Challenge

ends 3/3

dark colors and dog theme make it masculine

Stamps:  Pet Sympathy - Miss Inks Stamps.

Ink:  Nocturne Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress Weathered Wood, Black Soot, Tea Dye and Barn Door.

Paper:  White, Cocoa Bean - Papertrey Ink, Metallic Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, DP Pawsome Prints 6x6 - MFT.

Other Supplies:  Postage Collage Blocks Die and Postage Collage Frames Dies - Waffle Flower, Postage Collage Woof Stencils - Waffle Flower, 3D Molded frame embossing folder - Spellbinders.

Inkspirational Challenge #361 - Visual Prompt

 It's time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational!  And it's a lovely Visual Prompt!

I was inspired by the bunch of flowers on the right side.

I recently purchased this lovely Better Press Plate from Spellbinders called Pressed Bouquet and I thought it looked alot like the flowers on the prompt.

I used Copics to color the image, added a Sentiment Strip from Waffle Flower and 3 enamel dots from Altenew. 

How will you be inspired by this Visual Prompt?   Please link up your creations over at Inkspirational so we all can see! 

 

This challenge ends on Feb 27th

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using this Pressed Bouquet Better Press Plate

Time Out Challenge

Used 2 red and pink  ends 2/18

Seize the Birthday

anything goes

ends 2/24

Paper:  Better Press Porcelin Paper - Spellbinders

Ink:  Black Better Press Ink - Spellbinders

Other Supplies: Pressed Bouquet Better Press Plate - Spellbinders, Copics R37, RV32, YG11 YR21, enamel dots - Altenew,  Aloha Sentiment Strips - Waffle Flower.

Sending Hugs XO

 One more Valentine I wanted to make for a few challenges out there before the deadlines!

Pretty straight forward -  I layered die cut hearts in pink, red and DP using Heart Nestabilities.  I embossed the background on a light gray (neutral) that I embossed using Art Deco EF from Sizzix.  The sentiment hearts are up on foam dots.  Card size is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"

Sending my card to:

The Color Challenge

Ends 7/14

Time Out Challenge

Pick 2   Heart Pink Red ends 2/18

NBUS

1st time using the Bunny Love stamp Set (sentiment)

Inkspirational: XOXO

ends 2/13

Just Us Girls

ends 2/18

Stamps:  Bunny Love (sentiment) - Sizzix.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  Pure Poppy, White, Pale Peony, Soft Stone - PTI, DP Valentine's Day - Recollections.

Other Supplies:  Heart and Scalloped Hearts - Nestabilities/Spellbinders, Emb Folder - Art Deco - Sizzix, foam dots.

January 2026 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 Today is reveal day over at The Card Chain Challenge - when we see all the cards that were exchanged for the January Challenge!   I sent my card to Hilary in the UK and I received a card from Joanne in CT.

We are always given options for our card designs - we can use all the options or as little as one!

This month I used the colors, the theme of friendship and the technique of layers!

These are not colors I would usually choose to use together - so it was a good creative challenge for me to use them! 

 

I used two different die sets - Infinity Punch and Pierce Plate from Sizzix for the background and Stylish Oval Hello You Floral from Spellbinders for the flowers and leaves.

  

The sentiment is from A Little Message Sentiments Press Plate and die set from Better Press.

I sponged the edges of the lighter petals with ink matching the darker petals.  I inked the edges of the leaves with ink matching the lighter petals and I added some acrylic dots!  The one largest flower is up on foam dots.

We'd love to have you join us for the February Card Chain Challenge you'll find all you need to know about signing up and options for your card design there!

Sign up ends on Feb 6th

Paper:  Terracotta Tile, Melon Berry, Harvest Gold, White - Papertrey Ink, Porcelin - Better Press.

Ink:  Terracotta Tile, Harvest Gold, Melon Berry - Papertrey Ink, Better Press Black.

Other Supplies:  Stylish Oval Hello You Floral Dies - Spellbinders, Infinity Punch and Pierce Plate - Sizzix,  A Little Message Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set - Better Press, foam dots, yellow acrylic dots - Altenew.

Inkspirational #360 - Word Prompt: XOXO

 It's time for the next Inkspirational Challenge #360!  

My roller skating pup has the XO 'balloon' string in his mouth as he skates down the road!  The XO, dog collar and skates are cut from metallic red so they are shiny IRL. 

The XO is from an old slimline die, Stack Words: Valentine from Tim Holts/Alterarations.  The dog is from a new purchase - Roller Disco Dottie from Spellbinders.

What does XOXO inspire you to create!?   Please link up your creation over at Inkspirational where you'll also find inspiration from the rest of our creative team!  

The challenge ends on Feb 13!

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using Roller Disco Dottie Die!

Love those Pretty Papers

ends 1/31

Die Cut Divas

Use a new crafty item  ends 1/31

New Roller Disco Dottie Die!

Shopping Our Stash

Love Me Do  ends 2/9

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink, Metallic Red from stash, DP Gosh I Love You - Unity.

Other Supplies:  Stack Words: Valentine - Tim Holtz/Alterations (retired), Roller Disco Dottie - Spellbinders, Bakers Twine - JoAnn, foam dots.

Inkspirational #358 - Shades of Blue

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational today - #358 Shades of Blue

I made a 3 1/4" x 4" encouragement card with a Knot Bird made from Yasutomo All Blue Orgami Paper - perfect for this challenge!  

I found a tutorial for making a Knot Bird on YouTube by

Karen Elaine and there are lots of samples by others on Pinterest.

I used Origami paper as it is thinner and easier to make a knot with it.

  

This Origami paper is one sided and the back is white, so the head on one side and the tail on the other side of the knot end up white. I used coordinating Copics to color the white ends.  You trim one end to be the head and you trim the other end to be the tail.

Cut a tiny triangle out of black card for the beak and glue it on - use a black marker to make the eye.

Your bird can be used facing either way as both sides work.

I made my birds with strips 5 7/8" x 3/4".  

My origami paper is 5/78" x 5 7/8" so that's why I made it that length.

I did later buy some Origami paper printed on both sides but haven't used it yet.

Here is the flock of birds I whipped up in a short time -  and some bird affirmation quotes I found by Google-ing.

I smooshed the panels and the card base on my craft mat using Ranger Distress Broken China spritzed with water.  It gives them a white cloud -  blue sky look!

I die cut the quotes with rectangle dies.

I adhered the quote to the card base, adhered the bird on a foam strip, drew her legs with a fine black marker and added 3 blue enamel dots!  

Please join us and show us how Shades of Blue inspired you to create!  Link up your creation over at the Inkspirational Blog where you will also find some lovely inspiration by the rest of the DT!

This challenge ends on Jan 30th!

Also sending my card to:

Love Those Pretty Papers

anything goes ends 1/31

Make My Monday

Use Paper with a Pattern  ends 1/25

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge

anything goes  ends 1/30

Creative Inspiration Challenges

Always anything Goes  ends 1/29

NBUS

First time using this Knot Bird pattern and this Origami paper

Color Hues

ends 1/29

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Yasutomo All Blue Origami Paper (I found it on Amazon, Blick also has it).

Ink:  Ranger Distress Broken China

Accessories:  Blue Copics to cordinate with the paper colors, computer generated Bird Quotes, Rectangle dies - Nestabilities, Stitched Mat Rectangles - Lil Inker Designs (retired), craft mat, water mister, enamel dots - Altenew, heat tool to dry the smooshed panels.