Sweet Stampin' ~ New Year Challenge

Hey crafty friends, I'm taking the month of January to refuel and fill my cup again, 2024 was an exhausting year for me, so I'll be posting a little less during January, just to catch my breath. I've not had a creative break in 7 years! So I'm popping in with a quick post to share my contribution for the first Sweet Stampin' challenge of 2025, which has the theme 'New'. You can interpret that as you like, New Baby, New Year, New Job, New House, New Stash, as long as you can reflect something is 'New' for you, you can link to this challenge. 

I used a really gorgeous colourful page from the new Slimline Retro Vibes Paper Pack from Whimsy, new in my stash, to create the base layer to the card. I used a fabulous Mix 'n' Match Scallop Rectangles Die Set to add some scallops top and bottom on the Grinch image panels. 

I was posting these internationally, so I kept the design pretty flat, though I did pop up the biggest heart in the card above. I also carefully cut with an exacto knife the Grinches hands, so I could tuck the tiniest heart from the die set into his hands. A subtle but sweet touch on that card.

I really love the 'redemption' arc in the Grinch story, so I wanted my card to have a positive vibe, not the grumpy sentiments that actually come with the images. I know there are those that struggle with Christmas and totally feel the 'bah humbug' vibe, but I wanted these cards to be uplifting and encouraging, so I printed the excerpt from the story and printed it inside both cards. I used the hearts from the Slimline Heartbeats Die Set to hat tip that part of the story. I love the way the elements all worked together to achieve this more upbeat Grinchy vibe.

I hope you'll come play along with us for our first challenge this year. We've had such fun last year with our challenges and it's been so lovely having folks come play along so consistently. We try to bring accessible and fun challenge themes and hope you'll come join us this year. Hugs and happy crafting! Wends xoxo

(I share thumbnails to the elements I design with in order to make your search for them easier, in case you like something I've used. I do use affiliate links where possible, which gives me a tiny commission but costs you no extra whatsoever. It helps the companies I design for to improve their marketing practice and track my contributions. I am deeply grateful if you use them for these reasons. I am proud to design for the companies I do and always feel happy to share where my inspiration and where my crafty stash comes from. I am occasionally gifted products to use, but I only design for companies whose products I absolutely love and buy for myself. My opinions are always my own.)

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