Use the Force! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's me who's got the last LRW challenge of the year as we tetter on the edge of 2025, and I'm saying, "Use the Force!" which mean I want to see some pressure exerted on your make.  It could be with an embossing folder, or die cuts, or foiling, or letterpress, or punches or even stamping!  That's a whole lot of different techniques right there, so you don't have an excuse not to join in.  (-;

This is what I did.....

Look it's another tag!  I KNOW!  Bear with me for some explanation.....

As I said in a previous post, I've generally been rubbish at making tags....but I might have broken that curse.  (Though, probably shouldn't call it a curse.  Coz if it was a curse, it's not very concerning as far as curses go.)  For Christmas, I'm in charge of making the handmade items for the lil Christmas bags for the Board members for my one job.  (I work for a hospital foundation which raises the money needed to buy equipment for the hospital, as there is no funding for equipment from the government.)  So, I do the cards and small handmade item (this year it was tree slice ornaments that were painted and had a vinyl sentiment applied - got the idea from here).  This year I also included tags for the outside of the bags as I had found a tag kit I must have gotten for free from somewhere a long time ago (because finding it was a total surprise to me).  The kit didn't have enough tags for all the gifts so I ended up making two more on my own - this one and the one posted earlier this month.  Another total surprise to me....not only were/are those two tags postable, I actually like how they turned out.    

So, since I was lucky enough to make a total of two whole tags I liked, I decided that I would make tags again for next year's Christmas bags.  Because, truth be told, I've already got two baskets full of cards that don't have places to go, and while it's sometimes nice to make things that don't have a specific purpose, just because I have an inkling to make them, I don't really want to have three baskets full of cards that don't have places to go.

All this to say.....you'll probably be seeing a lot more tags in the future.  Since nothing stymes my mojo more than having to make something RIGHT NOW, the plan is to start making the tags tout suite, and have them all ready in good time for Christmas 2026.  I guess we'll all see how that turns out.  (:

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

A Place to Start:  winter things

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  tags

Peace on Earth:  inspiration picture

Cut It Up:  anything goes with a die cut

ABC Christmas:  Y is for yummy

Simon Says:  add a sentiment

The Sisterhood of Crafters:  anything Christmas

Christmas Card! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Chrissy's turn to choose the challenge and she wants to see those Christmas cards!  If you've got all your cards made for this year, you could start on next year's stash.

This is what I did....

This is the card I made for my first grandbaby's first Christmas. ♥  He's seven months now and has started crawling.  Pretty sure he's going to be the star of Christmas this year.  Digi is from A Day for Daisies.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Well, that'll be all for me before the 25th.  LRW will be off next week and we'll return with me as the host on December 31st.  Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and I hope you receive some crafty goodies as gifts.  (:

Also for:

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Peace on Earth:  anything Christmas goes

Crafty Calendar:  Christmas

Sweet Stampin':  Christmas

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

As You Like It:  festive creations

ABC Christmas:  Z is for stripes

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

The Male Room:  Christmas colours + for a male

Addicted to Stamps:  Christmas

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie:  inspiration photo

Pinspirational:  inspiration photo

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Aud Sentiments:  traditional Christmas + sentiment

J for Just One Word @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Imke's turn to choose the challenge and she's on her last letter for this year - J - and she's saying, "J for Just One Word" so brevity is theme for this week.  (-;

This is what I did.....

....it's a tag!  I KNOW! (That last screamed sentence is for those who have seen my failed attempts and grumblings about past tags/tag challenges, and here I went and made a tag even though I didn't have to specifically make a tag.....what?!?!?!?!?!?!)  Tag dies are from the now closed Your Next Stamp and the other dies are from Recollections (via Michaels).

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Jingle Belles:  wrapping up

CRAFT:  Christmas

Crafty Gals Corner:  tis the season

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky:  Christmas

The Sisterhood of Crafters:  anything Christmas

613 Avenue Create:  sparkle (Not showing that great in the photo but the 'peace' is cut from glitter fun foam.)

Simon Says:  sparkle

Dragonfly Dreams:  tags

Peace on Earth:  inspirational photo

Crafty Calendar:  Christmas

Critter Crazy:  anything goes with a featured critter

Die Cut Divas:  Christmas

A Cut Above:  anything goes with a die cut

A Place to Start:  winter things

Neglected Stuff:  anything goes with neglected stash - tag dies

Sad Songs (Say So Much) @ Little Red Wagon

 This week at

it's Kate's last Elton John themed challenge and she's going with "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" which means she would like to see those sympathy cards.

It's always nice to have sympathy cards ready in the stash, I think.  I'm not a fan of making them specifically, iykwim.  I also like to keep them mail-friendly.  So, this is what I did....

Hard to tell from the photo, but I added a couple of embossed lines at the top because, well, I thought it needed something up there.  As you can see, the plant hangs over the edge....I might end up trimming it....or pruning, I guess (: .....before it's sent.  But, for now, I left it.  Die is a no-namer, stamp is from My Favorite Things (still can't believe they closed).

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

A Cut Above:  anything goes with a die cut

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Just Add Ink:  dies

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Pearls, Sequins & Gems, Oh My! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Pearls, Sequins & Gems, Oh My!" which means she wants to see those projects with....well....pearls, sequins & gems.

This is what I did.....

This was one of those cards that didn't even come close to what I had originally thought I was going to do.....and that's okay, because I do like how it turned out.  I was planning on being A Very Good DT Member and use pearls, sequins and gems on my card but it was just pearls in the end.  But look at that splatter!  Pretty good, if I do say so myself.  I will also say that I had nothing to do with it and it's just an aspect of the patterned paper.  Did I make you jealous for a moment?  lol

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

As You Like It:  favourite embellishment - Pearls, gems, enamel dots are my favourite embellishments

CRAFT:  Christmas

Craft Rocket:  Christmas

ABC Christmas:  X is for stitching

Crafty Gals:  tis the season

Merry Little Christmas:  anything Christmas goes

The Holly & Ivy:  anything Christmas goes

A Cut Above:  anything goes with a die cut

A Place to Start:  something new - Both the dies are new

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  feminine

Peace on Earth:  anything Christmas goes

Allsorts:  focal sentiment

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Simon Says:  anything goes

Let's Fly! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I'm saying, "Let's Fly!" which means I want to see those things that fly or anything in the sky.

This is what I did.....

I used this sweet watercoloured style bird from SmartFoxArt from Etsy.  I was having trouble trying to find a way to add a sentiment so I pulled out this old sticker from my stash.  Does it bother me that you can clearly see the clear sticker?  Yes.  But it turns out that while the sticker might be in its teens, the sticky on the sticker is stronger than heck so I couldn't pull it off once it was on there without having to reprint and redo, which is why I decided to leave it as is.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Crafty Catz:  anything goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

As You Like It:  favourite embellishment - I love pearls and gems.  I use them on almost every card I make.  In fact, I've joked to myself about not using them and have said, "But, is it really a JanR card if it doesn't have something in the corner?"

Ellibelle's Garden Party:  anything goes with something from a garden

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  anything goes

Crafty Animals:  anything with an animal goes

Triple B:  birds

A Place to Start:  something new - The image is new.

Dream Valley:  2 or more patterned papers

Neglected Stuff:  use neglected stash - that evil sticker

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Gold or Silver! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Chrissy's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Gold or Silver!" or you could.....

do both!  And have neither one be that obvious when you take a photo!  The sentiment is foiled with silver foil, and the mat for it is gold mirror cardstock.  There's also gold mirror accents on the patterned paper.  I was really hoping I had gold stars in my stash but didn't so I went with black ones.  Now, if I was an Exceptional DT Member, I would have used green foil on the holly leaves, but I was being lazy and the thought of trying to get a little piece of foil over the leaves and nothing else seemed to me, a monumental task.  In looking at it on the screen, I don't think it would have been as difficult as I had thought.  Oh well, what's done is done.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Allsorts:  Christmas

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

CRAFT:  Christmas

Craft Rocket:  Christmas

ABC Christmas:  X is for stitching

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

The Holly & Ivy:  anything Christmas goes

Unicorn Challenge:  Christmas

Aud Sentiments:  Christmas + sentiment

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Merry Little Christmas:  anything Christmas goes

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Peace on Earth:  anything Christmas goes

Just Us Girls:  anything goes

Tic Tac Toe:  red, gold, silver

I is for Ice Cream! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Imke's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "I is for Ice Cream!" so let's see those project with one of the yummiest of treats - ice cream!

This is what I did....

Now, I love me some ice cream but I would never get hard ice cream in a cone.  Cones are meant for soft ice cream, imo.  Hard ice cream is for bowls, then into the microwave for about 30 seconds....and if there's syrups and whip cream - all the better!  (:

Digi is from Melonheadz Illustrating.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Cardz 4 Galz:  colouring

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  anything goes

Shopping Our Stash:  a few of my favourite things - ice cream, digis & Prismacolor pencils

A Place to Start:  something new - new to me digi

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  feminine

GDT @ Christmas [or not] Bingo Challenge

I'm doing a GDT spot at Christmas [or not] Bingo Challenge!   Here's the bingo card....

I went with O and I used the whole column.  (:  This is what I did....

So, I've got CAS ✓, no stamping ✓, free ✓, distressing tool ✓ and gems ✓.  And that's about that.  (:

If you would like to join in the challenge, or see what fabulous makes the DT has created, just click on over.

Also for:

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

CRAFT:  Christmas

Krafty Chicks:  anything goes

ABC Christmas:  U is for uncluttered

Simon Says:  anything goes

Tic Tac Toe:  leaves, free, die cuts

Candle in the Wind @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she's continuing with her Elton John songs theme with this week being "Candle in the Wind" which means she'd like to see any type of light source.

I took the challenge fairly literally and this is what I did....

I went with candle from Pernilla Nilsson.  She used to share her digis on Facebook, freebies and to purchase, but I'm not finding anything through a couple of searches so I'm afraid I can't provide a link, which is unfortunate because I really like her work and would love to share it with you all.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Addicted to Stamps:  any occasion

The Holly & Ivy:  anything Christmas goes

A Place to Start:  anything goes

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes 

Peace On Earth:  anything Christmas goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Simon Says:  anything goes

Not a Card! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Not a Card!" so she wants to see anything but.

This is what I did....

I delved into my drawer of items to alter and pulled out this lil shadow box.  Dressed it up with some Christmas paper and embellis and that was that.  I'll probably add a ribbon to hang it, and I'll find a spot for it for Christmas.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Captain's Log @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I'm saying, "Captain's Log" which means I would like to see either wood/faux wood, an image of wood (trees, logs), a log as in record like a diary page or calendar etc, or you could even choose the "Captain" part and go with the captain of a ship or armed forces themed.  I'm not that picky, if you can link what you made to the challenge theme somehow, it's all good.

This is what I did.....

As you can see, I've got some wood patterned paper, as well as a house which is constructed with wood.  House and sentiment were made in Canva.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Love Those Pretty Papers:  anything goes with patterned paper

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Halloween! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Chrissy's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Halloween!" which means she wants to see those projects all about that spookiest of days, October 31st.

This is what I did.....

I used a digi from The Cat's Pajamas, which sadly, is no longer in business.  ):

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky:  colours of autumn

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Crafty Calendar:  Halloween

Love Those Pretty Papers:  Halloween colours

Craft Rocket:  Halloween

Shopping Our Stash:  Halloween

Unicorn Challenge:  Halloween

A Place to Start:  pump it up for pumpkins

Neglected Stuff:  anything goes with old stash - The patterned papers and the witch charm are all at least ten years old.

Two Old Bats Halloween:  anything goes Halloween

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie:  inspirational photo

Christmas [or not] Bingo:  I - Halloween, orange, paper piecing

H is for Holiday! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Imke's turn to choose the challenge and she's continuing to take us through the alphabet with this week being, "H is for Holiday!".  Lots of projects you could make with that theme.

This is what I did.....

Every year for the past......I'm gonna say, like, eight....I've made a card using this digi from Tiddly Inks.  Obviously, it's one of my favourites.  I was actually thinking about skipping this year, as every female I know, who I give a Christmas card to, has already received one with this super sweet image.  But, this year I garnered a new Sub-Baby, so I was able to use it again.  Sentiment was part of the patterned paper pack that happened to work really well for this card.  A couple of gems, and that was that.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

CRAFT:  Christmas

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  anything goes

Addicted to Stamps:  Christmas

The Holly & Ivy:  anything Christmas goes

A Place to Start:  anything goes

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Peace On Earth:  anything Christmas goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

I'm Still Standing @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she's continuing to take us through Elton John songs with this week being "I'm Still Standing" which means she wants to see those encouragement cards.

This is what I did.....

I used a freebie from Melonheadz Illustrating and made a (fairly cas) good luck card.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Crafty Catz:  anything goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Simon Says:  anything goes

Slimline! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying she wants to see those slimline cards.  Generally, slimline cards are 3.5" x 8.5" but I'm betting she'd be happy seeing cards that are long and slim, even if they're not exactly "right".

I've fudged the measurements on slimline cards before but this one is indeed 3.5" x 8.5".....

When I was routing around in a drawer I came across these dog stickers I don't even remember buying....so I'm thinking I've had them for awhile.  (It's better to think that than to think I bought them recently but completely forgot about it!)  I thought they'd be perfect for this.  Admittedly, this card ended up so far away from what I had originally planned that you'd need a telescope to see it.....and that's only if the curvature of the earth didn't get involved.  I mean, grey grass?  But, I quite like it, and despite changing....well everything....it came together easily so I'm happy with the result.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Crafty Catz:  anything goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

Creative Animals:  anything goes with an animal

Fab 'n' Funky:  cute

Critter Crazy:  anything goes with a featured critter

A Cut Above:  anything goes with a die cut

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Neglected Stuff:  anything goes with old stash

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I'm saying, "Tea.  Earl Grey.  Hot." which means I want to see those makes that include hot drinks.

This is what I did....

Sentiment was made in Canva.  I'd like to point out that the seam binding, while maybe doesn't match exaaaaaaactly with the pink on the card, is definitely a lot less peach than it looks in the photo.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Allsorts:  birthdays

Crafty Calendar:  lots of layers

Sweet Stampin':  use your favourite colour - My favourite colour is blue.

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  happy birthday

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

As You Like It:  layered or flat? - I love layered cards because then you can use more patterned papers.

Fab 'n' Funky:  cute as a button

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters:  birthdays

A Cut Above:  anything goes with a die cut

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Dream Valley:  2 or more layers

Love Those Pretty Papers:  anything goes using patterned paper

Simon Says: layer it up

Just Us Girls:  die week

Fancy Fold! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Chrissy's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Fancy Fold!" which means she wants to see fold that are beyond the standard card fold.

I struggled with this one.  Had an idea to do "curtains" as my fancy fold but just couldn't make it work.  Then I tried sticking with the same theme and doing "blinds" instead and have it be an interactive card but I couldn't get that to work either.  This is what I ended up doing....

Normally I'd say, "....but I got there in the end", but did I?  I don't think that's the case with this one.  Not to mention, those shutters hardly qualify as "fancy".  At any rate, I ran out of time to make something else so this'll have to do.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

G is for Gentleman! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Imke's turn to choose the challenge and she's continuing to work her way through the alphabet and she's saying, "G is for Gentleman!" meaning she wants to see those masculine makes.

This is what I did.....

I went with this amazing digi from Poppy Lane Digital (whose Etsy shop appears to be closed ): ) and made a birthday card.  I absolutely love this style of digi stamp.  Sentiment was made in Canva.

I need to make a very important announcement.  Even though the sentiment states "When life sends you a birthday...eat cake!" I would like to point out that anytime life sends you anything is an appropriate time to eat cake.  Got sent an email?  Cake.  Got sent to the 'next available agent'?  Cake.  Got sent a package from Amazon?  Well, hopefully it's cake, because cake.  I rest my case. 

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

As You Like It:  favourite colouring medium - I love me my Prismacolour pencils!  Easier to control how much colour to put down and less expensive than markers.

A Place to Start:  anything goes

Dream Valley:  2 or more papers

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  lots of layers

Allsorts:  something that begins with B - birthday, blue, blow

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Simon Says:  anything goes

Circle of Life @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she's continuing with Elton John themed challenges and she's saying (singing), "Circle of Life" which means she would like to see a circle or circles on your project.

This is what I did.....

Let's see, I've got a circle wreath on a stitched die cut circle on a scalloped circle with some pearls which are also circles.  And, if you want to get really technical, there are a lot of dots on both the wreath and the patterned paper which could also count as circles, so I think I'm covered.  Digi was made in Canva.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams:  lots of layers

Allsorts:  something that begins with B - blooms, bride, be

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Ellibelle's Garden Party:  anything found in a garden

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  anything goes

Addicted to Stamps:  any occasion

Unicorn Challenge:  girls

Beautiful Blooms:  floral focused 

Triple B:  blooms

A Place to Start:  summer things

Simon Says:  stitch it