1st Inkspirational Challenge of 2026! Word Prompt: Shiny/Shine

 The 1st Challenge of 2026 is up over at Inkspirational.  We're changing up our challenges a bit so be sure to check out the blog.  Our first challenge is a Word Prompt - chosen by DT Marlena.

I went with Shine:Star  AND Shiny:Gold Foiled Paper.  

I just happened to have an undecorated pine wreath to display my shiny paper star!

I found a video on how to make this lovely star on Pinterest/Instagram by FloralFlairStudio.

 I used 6  4"x 4" squares of foiled paper for my star.  It measures ~8" point to point.  Use smaller squares for a smaller star. It folds cleaner with thinner papers.

The gold is really shiny IRL. I tied a sheer gold ribbon at the top.  The center circle is made from two floral dies cut from metallic paper and a gold gem added to the center

You can watch the video to see how she folded each square - but I took some photos as I made each fold so I'd hopefully remember what I did!    This might seem clearer to you after you watch the video!

So, we hope you will join us for the 1st Inkspirational Challenge for 2026!  Link up your Shine/Shiny creation over at Inkspirational where you'll also find how the rest of the DT interpreted this challenge! 

This challenge ends on Jan 16th!

Also sending my star to:

Anything but a Card

ends 1/31/26

NBUS

First time using this pack of metallic papers 

First time using the pattern for the star  

Creative Inspiration Challenges

Anything Goes

ends 1/31/26

Crafts Galore

Anything Goes

ends 1/31/26

Paper:  Foiled Fundamentals 12"x12" Paper Pad - Recollections (Michaels), Kraft Stock Metallic Paper - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Other Supplies:  star instructional video, Tombow Glue (she used a glue gun), Stitchy Flowers and Leaf Dies (for star center) - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Gold Gem - Parklane, sheer gold ribbon - from stash.

December 2025 Card Chain Reveal

 Today's the big reveal of all the cards exchanged in December over at The Card Chain Challenge!  This month my card went to Jo in England ( I mailed it on Dec 8 but it still hasn't arrived😖) and I received a card from Pia in Norway!  Twenty three cards were exchanged in December!

We had rather specific instructions for this end of the year challenge!  Usually we just have to use one of the suggestions but for December we had to use ALL of these.

Challenge Directions 

 

Please use all the following options.

 

NBUS

(new but unused stuff) 
something from your stash that is unused
It doesn't have to be new, old unused stuff is OK too

AND 

your favourite 3 colours

AND

an animal OR a flower OR a fruit 

I used two newly purchased and never used until now dies - Stylish Oval Hello You Floral Dies from Spellbinders for the bloom and sentiment and Capsule Basics Die from The Greetery for the oval background.

I used 3 of my favorite colors to use together - blue, green and brown, using Ranger Distress Inks - Stormy Sky, Peeled Paint and Brushed Corduroy.

I rubbed the inks on my craft mat - one color at a time - spritzed with water and smooshed panels of watercolor paper onto the mat, drying between smooshings, continuing until I had the coverage I wanted on each panel

I die cut all the pieces of the floral stem in the three colors, glued the pieces together and layered it over the die cut oval and adhered the panel to a panel of DP.  The die cut sentiment is part of the floral die set.  I added 3 green enamel dots.

If you'd like to join in this fun card exchange challenge for January - check out this post over at The Card Chain Challenge where you'll find all the info you need -  you have until Jan 6th to sign up!

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

first time using the floral and oval dies

Die Cut Divas

Use a New Craft Item 

new floral and oval dies

ends 1/31/26

Paper:  Water Color Paper - Spellbinders, Blueberry Sky - Papertrey Ink, DP The Magic of Winter 6x6 pad - Echo Park.

Ink:  Ranger Distress Stormy Sky, Stormy Sky, Brushed Corduroy.

Other Supplies:  Stylish Oval Hello You Floral Dies - Spellbinders, Capsule Basics Die - The Greetery, craft mat, water mister, heat tool, green enamel dots - Altenew.