Colorful Options Challenge – January 2026

Our Colorful Options Challenge is here, and we’re so excited to kick off the new year with wintry blues—ice, snow, and sky! Play along with cool winter hues or jump in with the always-open rainbow option and use any colors that make you happy. We can’t wait to see what you create!

For my card, I had fun creating a cozy winter scene using the adorable snowman couple from Pink and Main’s Snow Sweet stamp set. These two are just so cute and perfect for a winter card. I colored them with Copic markers in blue tones to fit this month’s Colorful Options Challenge, then used the matching die to cut them out.

I kept the background fairly clean while still adding interest. I die cut the Pinkfresh Studio Starry Scalloped die from blue cardstock and adhered it to a white panel, which was then mounted onto a white card base. To ground the scene, I die cut a snow drift and placed it near the bottom of the panel, letting a bit of the scalloped edge peek out underneath for extra texture.

The snowman couple is popped up with foam tape to give them some dimension and help them stand out from the background. I stamped the sentiment in black ink on white cardstock, trimmed it down, and tucked it right along the edge of the snow drift. To finish the card, I added a few snowflakes from the same set for a simple, wintry touch.

I love how this card came together—sweet, clean, and full of wintry blues. Be sure to check out the team’s inspiration on the blog here for more ideas using this month’s Colorful Options Challenge.

Copic colors used:

Snowgirl: B60-B63-B66

Snowboy: B93-B95-B97-B99

Black: C1-C3-C4-C6

A Cozy Penguin in My Cocoa

Hi friends!

I’m so excited to be a guest designer for the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge #49 this month! 

I used The Paper Shelter’s There's a Penguin in My Cocoa digital stamp, and let me tell you, this little guy is just too cute for words. I knew right away I wanted to make a bold, cheerful Christmas card that really lets him shine.

Focal Fun

I printed and colored my penguin directly on a panel using Copic markers — love how digital stamps make it easy to size and tweak to your card design. The penguin came complete with his cozy cocoa mug and gifts on either side, so he practically screams Christmas cheer!

To frame him, I added a red mat. I knew I wanted the card to pop, and red + green + hints of blue seemed perfect for that festive punch.

A Playful Floor

Next up: the “floor.” I cut a small strip of red-blue diagonal striped paper — kind of like a fun little rug for our penguin. Placing it under the focal panel gave the scene a nice grounded look and a subtle nod to the bold holiday palette.

The Snowflake Background

I used a snowflake pattern paper behind the panel to add texture and interest. Because the penguin panel is bold and full of color, I kept the background slightly muted so it wouldn’t compete.

The Sentiment Dilemma

Now, here’s where things got fun (and a little tricky). I wanted the sentiment to feel playful and whimsical, so I decided to go with a fishtail banner. I tried a few options — red fishtail with white embossing, white fishtail with red stamping, and even playing with double layers. Honestly, they all looked great!

In the end, I went with a white fishtail stamped in red, angled slightly in the top left corner for a whimsical touch. Foam tape helped it pop above the penguin without smushing the stamped panel — because yes, this little penguin deserves all the room to shine!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this sweet penguin made you smile!

CHALLENGES:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Word Art Wednesday - #730-733

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for Yummy *hot cocoa

Christmas [or not] Bingo - B (Christmas-Free-Digital)

Critter Crazy - #106

Cozy Winter Critter Card – Guest Designer for Critter Crazy Challenge

Hi friends! 

I am so excited to be a Guest Designer for the Critter Crazy Challenge! This challenge is always Anything Goes, with the fun requirement of including a critter, which makes it one of my favorites to participate in. For my card, I chose an adorable polar bear from the My Favorite Things Polar Bear Pals stamp set to create a cozy winter scene.

I started by layering patterned papers from Honey Bee Stamps Vintage Holiday. The main background is a soft pink snowflake panel measuring 4 x 5.25 inches, and I added a vertical navy blue snowflake strip, sized 2 x 5.25 inches, on top. The blue strip runs from top to bottom, creating contrast and interest without overpowering the design. I adhered the panels together and ran the combined piece through my die cutting machine using the My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Rectangle Die, which adds a subtle stitched detail to the edges.

To frame my polar bear scene, I die cut a scalloped circle from white cardstock using the Pinkfresh Studio Essentials: Stitched Scallop Circle Dies, then layered a smaller stitched circle on top. Before assembling, I added soft shading to the upper portion of the stitched circle using Distress Oxide Stormy Sky, creating a gentle winter sky behind my critter. To ground the bear, I adhered a snow drift along the bottom of the circle, using foam tape on the left side to lift it slightly and add dimension.

The polar bear and his bucket of fish were stamped and colored using Copic markers, keeping the bear soft and neutral while adding a pop of pink in the fish to coordinate with the pink background panel. I popped the bear up with foam tape and adhered the bucket behind him with liquid glue, letting it tuck naturally at his side.

To add a little winter sparkle, I scattered glittery snowflakes cut from the Waffle Flower Crafts Small Snowflakes Die, layering a few for dimension and slightly rotating them to create a natural, falling-snow effect.

The sentiment comes from the Polar Bear Pals stamp set and was stamped in VersaFine Black ink. I die cut it using one of the pretty Scalloped Sentiment Label Dies from La-La Land Crafts and placed it near the bottom of the panel to balance the design and keep the eye drawn to the center scene.

I love how the combination of soft pinks, deep navy blues, and crisp white cardstock creates a cozy, wintry feel. The layered stitched elements, gentle ink shading, and a little sparkle all come together to highlight the sweet polar bear and his bucket of fish, making this card playful, heartwarming, and perfect for any winter occasion.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you’ll join us over at the Critter Crazy Challenge and share your own Anything Goes project featuring a critter. I can’t wait to see what everyone creates! 

CHALLENGES:

SSS Monday Challenge - Sparkle & Shine

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Word Art Wednesday - #730-733

Christmas [or not] BINGO Challenge - #17 *N (Winter-Blue-Free)

Die Cut Diva's - January

Fresh Layered Florals | Altenew Ambassador Project + Discount Code

Hi friends!

I’m excited to share my final Altenew Ambassador card for this month, featuring the Flowers & Petals Layering Stencil Set.

This layering stencil makes it so easy and fun to build full, vibrant backgrounds. I worked through each layer, adding color with Altenew Fresh Dye Inks — for the foliage, I used the Green Fields Set (Forest Green, Evergreen), and for the flowers, the Red Cosmos Set (Frosty Pink, Coral Berry). The result is soft, fresh, and perfectly balanced!

Layering stencil sets are truly one of my favorite products to create with. They allow you to achieve a detailed, professional-looking background without all the fuss, making them perfect for both quick cards and more polished projects.

Once the stenciling was complete, I trimmed the panel to 4" × 5.25" and adhered it to a coordinating green card base, which really helps frame the floral design. After finishing the background, I pulled out the Timeless Sentiments Die Set and die cut the sentiment twice from white cardstock and once from green cardstock for the shadow. I adhered the layers together with liquid glue for a sturdy, dimensional look.

Before attaching the sentiment, I added a ¾" strip of pink cardstock, trimming one edge on a slant for a little extra visual interest, and popped it up with foam tape. I then adhered the layered sentiment on top using foam tape as well. To finish the card, I added a few Satin Gold Sequins for just the right touch of shine.

This project was such a fun way to wrap up my Altenew Ambassador projects for the month, and I hope it inspires you to pull out your layering stencils and create something beautiful!

💖 Exclusive Discount Just for You!

As a thank you for stopping by, I’m excited to share an exclusive Altenew discount code you can use on your next order:

Code: CARRI8OFF
Offer: $8 off orders over $79

How to use:
Add at least $79 worth of products to your cart and enter CARRI8OFF at checkout to receive $8 off.

Link to use: https://altenew.com/discount/CARRI8OFF?sca_ref=8220313.qLUMLsORyQ 

Valid:December 30, 2025 at 12:00 am EDT through January 6, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT

One-time use only. Cannot be combined with other order codes.

Thank you so much for all the support and kind comments throughout the year. As 2025 comes to a close, I’m so grateful for this creative community and for the opportunity to share my love of cardmaking with you. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings!

Several affiliate links are used in my posts. This means that, if you click on one of my links and make a purchase from that company, I will receive a small percentage of the sale without any additional charge. I appreciate your support greatly.

CHALLENGES:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Altenew A Year in Review Inspiration Challenge December 2025 - Inspired by the November Challenge

Word Art Wednesday - #730-733

Triple B - December *Blooms

Fueled by Coffee & Quokka Cuteness

I was definitely feeling a bit of a caffeine rush when I sat down to create this card, so it felt only right to reach for the Kat Scrappiness Coffee Quokka Stamp Set and the coordinating Coffee Quokka Paper Pad. This little coffee-loving quokka is just too cute, and he completely set the tone for a cozy, playful card design.

I started by stamping the quokka image and coloring it up with Copic markers, keeping the colors soft and warm to match the coffee theme. Once the coloring was finished, I fussy cut the image (even though there are coordinating dies available — sometimes I just enjoy doing it the old-fashioned way!).

Next, I pulled out the Coffee Quokka Paper Pad and selected three fun coordinating patterns. To give each one its own moment, I die cut them using a stitched circle die set, choosing three different sizes for visual interest. I arranged the circles on a white panel trimmed to 4 x 5.25 inches, overlapping them slightly for a playful layered look.

On the smallest stitched circle, I stamped the sentiment so it felt naturally integrated into the design. Then I popped the quokka up with foam tape and adhered him right in the center, touching all three patterned circles to really anchor the focal point.

To add a little extra detail, I stamped the coffee bean image where the circles meet — it’s a small touch, but it adds so much charm and reinforces the coffee theme. I also softly inked around the edges of the panel with a light brown ink to warm everything up.

To finish the card, I adhered the panel to a pink mat and then mounted it onto a brown card base, which felt like the perfect cozy color combination for a coffee-inspired card.

This card was such a fun one to make, and it definitely makes me smile — and crave a cup of coffee! Thanks so much for stopping by today. 

CHALLENGES:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Add a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday - #730-733

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Parque del Cafe

Sparkly Snowman Tag for the Holidays

I’m playing along with the Jaded Blossom December Challenge (all about tags!) and having so much fun with some new crafty goodies!

I die-cut the snowman from white cardstock using the Gnome Friends: Snowman Dies, then dressed him up with patterned paper from Kat Scrappiness Bright Christmas 2 Paper Pack for his scarf, mittens, and earmuffs. Those little details give him a cozy, festive personality!

I started by cutting the panel using the La-La Land Crafts Large Stitched Tag Dies. Once the tag was cut, I created a snowy backdrop by spreading embossing paste through the Snowstorm Stencil from Jaded Blossom, then sprinkled Lindy’s Gang Under the Sea #1 Shimmer Shaker in Sea Turtle Teal and Starfish Foot Fuchsia. A quick spritz of water adds sparkle, and just like that, the background comes alive!

To finish the panel, I added a snow drift along the bottom for a cozy, wintry touch. 

The sentiment is from Sunbird Spark – Most Wonderful Time which was heat embossed in white and trimmed before adhering. I finished the tag with pink twine and a snowflake embellishment on the ribbon for a little extra holiday sparkle.

I love how this little snowman tag turned out! Handmade tags like this make gifts extra special, and it’s so much fun to mix textures, shimmer, and cozy details. Happy crafting!

CHALLENGES:

SSS Monday Challenge - Sparkle & Shine

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Word Art Wednesday - #730-733

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Blizzard Beach

Double D - Dec *Snowman

Allsorts - #839

Creative Knockouts - #561

Double Trouble - #206 Something, Anything, Everything from my stash - 3 dies from my stash / 2 magical shaker colors from my stash / 1 snowflake embellishment from my stash

La-La Land Crafts December Kit of the Month

The La-La Land Crafts December Kit of the Month is here, and it’s filled with the cutest cozy winter elements—perfect for creating magical seasonal projects. This month’s kit is all about adorable owls, moonlit scenes, and forest vibes that come together beautifully for winter cards and more.

What’s included in the December Kit of the Month:

Owl Hoodie Marci Rubber Stamp – an absolute show-stopper with the sweetest winter outfit

Real Hoot Clear Stamp Set – packed with coordinating owl images and sentiments

Moon Frame Die – ideal for creating dreamy nighttime scenes

Tree Hollow Die – perfect for adding depth and woodland details

Copic details: 

Marci Skin: E000-E00-E02, R20

Hair: E50-E51-E53-E55-E57 

Hoodie: C2-C3-C4-C5-C7 

Shorts: B32-B34-B37 

Boots: E30-E31-E33-E35 

Additional Products:

Winter Forest Paper Pack

Layered Pinecone Die

Copic details:
Owls: E42-E43-E44-E47
Red: R21-R05-R08 
Green: YG61-YG63-YG67
Yellow: YR30-YR31-YR21

Additional Products: 
Stitched Sun & Clouds Die

Christmas Traditions Paper Pack

Snowbanks Die

Copic details:
Owl 1: C0-C1-C3-C4-C5
Outfit: B000-B00-B01-B02
Owl 2: E51-E53-E55-E57
Outfit: RV21-RV23-RV25-RV29 

Additional products: 
Snow Time Stencil Set

Icicles Border Die

Snowbanks Die

Color-Me Enamel Dots

What I love most about this kit is how effortlessly everything coordinates. The stamps and dies mix and match so well, making it easy to create multiple looks—from playful to serene—all from one kit.

If you’re looking to add some owl-some charm to your winter crafting, the La-La Land Crafts December Kit of the Month is a must-have. I can’t wait to see all the creative projects this kit inspires!

Cozy Winter Sled Card – Altenew Ambassador Project for December + Giveaway

Today I’m sharing my first Altenew Ambassador project for December, and this one brings all the cozy winter charm I love — classic holiday colors, elegant details, and a nostalgic sled scene that feels straight out of a storybook.

I began with a deep blue background created with the Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die, which gives the card a swirling, winter-breeze effect. I added a light metallic gold splatter across the panel for a soft, shimmering accent.

For the focal point, I used the Timeless Sled Layering Die Set from Altenew. The sled is made up of several layered pieces, and once assembled, it has such a beautiful dimensional look. I kept the seat clean and bright with the little throw pillow tucked at the top — one of my favorite details in this set.

To decorate the sled, I created a little winter vignette around it instead of placing everything directly on the seat. On the bottom right, I arranged two poinsettias, staggering the petals slightly to give them that natural, layered fullness. 

Behind the sled, I layered a mix of green branches and a few soft brown sprigs from the Branches and Berries Die Set to build depth and contrast. The blend of greenery, muted tones, and floral touches gives the sled a cozy woodland feel, almost as if it’s nestled into a quiet winter forest. On the bottom left, I added a pair of holiday gifts topped with gold bows, tucking a small holly-and-berry branch between them for a festive pop. 

I framed the panel with a Brushed Gold Metallic Cardstock mat and layered it onto a crisp white card base, letting the gold accents catch the light and add a subtle holiday glow. To complete the design, I added a small festive sentiment from the Sleigh Ride Greetings set, carefully heat-embossed in gold for a delicate touch of sparkle. The result is a card that feels warm, elegant, and perfectly captures the timeless charm of the holiday season.

💛 Giveaway Alert! 💛

Want to get your hands on some of these gorgeous supplies? Head over to my Instagram here to enter the giveaway!

I'm so thankful for this opportunity with Altenew and for all of you who support my creative journey. Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope this cozy sled scene inspires your own winter crafting! All main products used in this project are listed below.

Products featured:
Altenew Timeless Sled Layering Die Set
Altenew Sleigh Ride Greetings

Altenew Branches and Berries Die Set 

Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die

Brushed Gold Metallic Cardstock

CHALLENGES:

SSS Monday Challenge - AG Christmas

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Wrap it Up!

Word Art Wednesday - ##730-733

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Holiday World

Creative Knockouts - #561

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2550

Classic Design - #12-2025

As you Like it Challenge - My new favorite die set - so festive and fun