The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #108 - Out of the Woods

Happy March, everyone!

As our elf this month I'm delighted to welcome self-confessed walking craft store explosion, the rather wonderful Wendy from Cartai!

"Dia dhuit, everyone! I’m Wendy, coming to you from the land of horizontal rain and the firm Irish belief that a properly brewed cuppa is a valid medical intervention for everything from a flat tyre to a soul-crushing paper cut.

By day, I’m an RNID, but the second those scrubs hit the laundry, I transform into a card-making whirlwind fueled by glitter, caffeine, and a collection of Promarkers that could probably be seen from space. My style is CAS, though in reality, it usually involves me cheerfully wrestling a piece of cardstock into submission while my Silhouette Cameo stares me down with pure notions. Honestly, we are basically married at this stage, we’ve had more late-night domestic disputes over registration marks than I care to admit!

A huge thanks to Jo for the invite. I’m delighted to join the Christmas Kickstart fun! ❤️"

Thanks so much for agreeing to lead the fun this month, Wendy, it's great to have you here!

Wendy has chosen a super-fun theme for us...

Challenge #108 - Out of the Woods

We'd love to see your take on our challenge, and here's what Wendy has created to get the party started!

Wendy's woodland cuties are simply adorable, and just look at those fairy lights and her beautiful colouring. Please drop by at her blog and leave her some love. 

Here's my take on the theme. I think my creature is venturing out of a forest rather than a wood, but it was fun to make this card!

The gorgeous Rudolph is here with his March Random Raffle Prize.

Please check our Challenge Guidelines before linking up in order to be eligible to win Rudolph's sweet prize. 

Come and join the fun - we can't wait to see what comes out of the woods on your card!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 - Reminder

 

Welcome back to the February Challenge where we are in the very talented company of  Carol Mayne from Just Me: c. 

 

Carol has chosen a fun theme and I'm amazed at how many different ways you guys have found thus far to interpret a festive sing-along. 

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107

 - A Christmas Sing-Along!

Being a kindly elf, Carol has made a second card for our challenge, and she has chosen one of the most (in my opinion) beautiful Christmas carols for her theme. Isn't this a beauty! You can find all the details of how Carol made her stunning card by heading here. 

Here's a reminder of her first card for our challenge together. 

I just fell in card-love when I saw this 'pop up' as I opened Carol's email. The colours and that design - just perfect! I loved the bold background too, and hunted through my background stamps for something with a similar feel. 

You can find all the details of how I made my card over on my blog. And you can find all the details about Carol's card on her blog here - please head over and leave her some love.

Let's say 'Hi' to once again our favourite reindeer with his cute February Random Raffle Prize. 

Rudolph respectfully requests that you please take a peek at the Challenge Guidelines before linking-up. 

Carol and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with for this fun challenge!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Let's Trim the Tree for Challenge #106

Hi there, it's time to Trim the Tree for Challenge # 106 where we were joined by Chris Lawlor as our elfin guest.

 Thanks so much, Chris, it's been a real treat partnering with you for January.

Chris picked a very popular theme for our first challenge of the year as we played Dreaming of a PINK Christmas. This one really seems to have hit the spot with you all as we had 40 cards in the gallery, which is a bit of a record for January. A big thank you to everyone who joined us - your cards were all gorgeous and very, very pink. 

As always, just choosing a few cards to showcase proved tricky, but here are some of the cards that rocked our festive socks this month.

Our Top Picks for this challenge are:

#13 - Linda W.

We both love all the details on this beautiful card. 

Just look at how Linda created that gorgeous layered sentiment and the bear's cute outfit.

#20 - Loll

Just look at that dainty little snow globe scene. So pretty, and such lovely colours too.

#27 - Heather 

So many pretty papers and shades of pink here. Lovely!

Our Winner and Star on the Tree for this week is:

#37 - Greta

There's something just so lovely about Greta's pink angel card. 

Congratulations to you all, I hope you'll enjoy flaunting your blog badges for all the world to see!

Finally, here's Rudolph! And by the way, Rudolph is very grateful for your kind comments about his photo-shoot makeover. 

 

 

Our Winner of Rudolph's Random Raffle for January is 

#9 - Linby... It's you!

Congratulations, Linby, please email me a dottypudding (at) aol.com with your snail mail address so I can connect you with your prize. 

Thanks once again to our fabulous elf, Chris, and to everyone who joined us in January.

Challenge #107 is already open and we have a new elf to inspire us, so why not come and join the fun!

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 - A Christmas Sing-Along

 

Welcome to the February Challenge! I'm delighted to welcome back a returning elf - Carol Mayne from Just Me: c. Carol is as talented as she is lovely and I urge you to go take a look at her wonderful blog. Prepare to be 'wowed'. Thanks so much for leading the fun, Carol, it's great to be crafting with you once again!

Carol has chosen a brilliant theme for our February Challenge, and so we invite you to play...

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107

 - A Christmas Sing-Along!

We'd love to see your cards on the theme of singing and the songs, hymns 

and carols we might sing during the festive season.

Here's Carol's first card to inspire us.

You can find all the details about Carol's fabulous card by heading over to her blog here. 

Here's one of the cards I've made to play our theme. I had so much fun putting this one together!

And please say 'Hi' to our favourite reindeer with his cute February Random Raffle Prize. 

Rudolph respectfully requests that you please take a peek at the Challenge Guidelines before linking-up. 

Carol and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with for this fun challenge!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 - Reminder

Welcome back, and a big thank you to everyone who has joined our challenge thus far. We're playing with Guest elf Chris Lawlor, and she's picked a perfect theme to start a new year of Christmas cardmaking for us.

Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Chris made this gorgeous gate-fold card for our challenge.

Isn't this just lovely!

There was so much to be inspired by with Chris's card and it took me a while to decide where to head with my card, but this is how things ended-up.

I like how Chris paired the pink inked patterns with the white card. I did try it for my card, but it looked a little stark so I stamped on pink cardstock and liked the warmer look. I noticed Chris had used gold thread for her baubles (such a nice detail) so decided to add some gold to my card too. A few darker pink gems finished the clean, simple look I was trying to achieve. 

You can see my second card over on my blog.

Now, let's say hello to Rudolph...

He's picked a fabby prize for his first Random Raffle of the new year.

Please read the challenge guidelines before you enter.

Chris and I both hope you'll come and play along as it's never too early to get working on your cards for Christmas 2026.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year and that we're all safe and ready to make cards again!

We have a very talented Elf to Kickstart 2026; please welcome the lovely Chris Lawlor. 

"Hi everyone! I am delighted to be a guest elf this month!

A little about me:

I work full-time in marketing, I am married and we have a 19- year old son. I have enjoyed paper crafting since I was in high school! I purchased a stamp set from Paragon Catalog and collected many wood mounted stamps from there. I took a long break while my son was young and then got back into card making 10 years ago. I was very excited to see the changes with clear polymer stamps and die cutting.

My favorite techniques are alcohol marker coloring, ink blending, stencils and die cutting. I enjoy creating cards to bring happiness to others.

For the January theme I have chosen Pink Christmas! I hope this inspires you to get a jumpstart on creating for Christmas 2026!"

Thanks so much for agreeing to be our Elfin Muse for January, Chris. You really have picked a great theme.

Join us as we play...

Challenge #106 - Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Chris made this gorgeous gate-fold card for our challenge.

Such beautiful details, and so much work involved.

Isn't this just stunning!

Here's what I made to play our theme: 

You can find all the details over on my blog.

Rudolph had a little photo-shoot during the festive period, and here he is in all his gorgeous glory. He tells me he's been working-out!

Rudolph picked a fabby prize for his first Random Raffle of the new year.

Please read the challenge guidelines before you enter.

Chris and I both hope you'll come and play along as it's never too early to get working on your cards for Christmas 2026.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter