Wrapped in Warm Holiday Wishes

The July challenge at STAR STAMPZ is "Christmas in July or anything goes". Here's my project using a cute digi called Cup of Cocoa.

There's something so comforting about a warm drink on a chilly Winter day, and this sweet little image captures that feeling perfectly ! Bundled up with cozy earmuffs, a scarf, and a steaming cup in hand, she's ready to enjoy everything the holiday season has to offer.

I paired the adorable stamped image with festive patterned papers featuring cheerful snowmen and Christmas trees, then layered everything with bold red cardstock to make the colors pop. A snowy ground and soft blue splatters complete the winter scene, while the "Warm Holiday Wishes" sentiment ties the whole design together.

Sharing my project with:

~Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge-Christmas card with coffee, tea or hot cocoa

~Crafter's Cafe-Christmas

~Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap-anything with patterned paper

~Merry Little Christmas-anything Christmas

~Moving Along With the Times-coloring medium (I used Copics)

~Rudolph Day Challenge-anything Christmas

~Sparkles-kids

~613 Avenue Create-any holiday (Christmas)

~Peace On Earth-Christmas

~Make My Monday-Christmas

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

☕ A Hug in a Mug ☕

The new challenge at FIRST CUP CHALLENGES is "always anything with a drink/beverage".

There's nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a warm cup of hot cocoa on a chilly Winter day. This card was inspired by that cozy feeling—the simple comfort that makes the Christmas season so special.

The beautiful sentiment, "Hot cocoa is like a hug from the inside" is the star of this design. I paired it with traditional Christmas colors of red, green, and white, then added white glittery paper to resemble a blanket of fresh snow. A touch of red-and-white baker's twine and a sweet candy cane embellishment finish the card with a festive touch.

I love how this design reminds us to slow down, enjoy the little moments, and share warmth with the people we care about. Whether it's sent with a heartfelt message or tucked alongside a packet of hot chocolate as a small gift, this card is sure to bring a smile.

I hope this card warms your heart.

Materials-cardstock, Echo Park pattern papers and sticker, baker's twine. glitter paper (dollar store)

Sharing my project with:

~Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge-Christmas card with coffee, tea or hot cocoa

~~SPECIAL MENTION~~

~Merry Little Christmas-anything Christmas

~Shopping Our Stash-you're so sweet

~Word Art Wednesday-anything uplifting/encouraging

~Creative Knockouts-Christmas

~Word Power-sentiment is main focus

~Christmas or Not BINGO-B (Christmas, red, free)

~Classic Design Challenge-anything goes

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

Bunny Kisses & Christmas Wishes

Today I’m sharing a sweet and cozy holiday card that captures all the warmth of the Christmas season. I created this card using soft pastel tones, snowy details, and the cutest little bunny bundled up with a cup of hot chocolate. The winter background and hanging ornaments add such a peaceful festive feel, while the sentiment "Celebrate the Season" brings the whole design together beautifully.

I love how the soft pink accents give this Christmas card a gentle and whimsical touch instead of the traditional bold holiday colors. The adorable image instantly makes me think of cozy winter afternoons, warm drinks, and quiet snowy days.

To finish the card, I added dimension to the focal image and sentiment to help them stand out against the snowy background. This card will be perfect for sending warm seasonal wishes to someone special.

Sharing my project with:

~Caffeinated Christmas-any Christmas card with coffee/tea/hot chocolate

~~SPECIAL MENTION~~

~12 Months of Christmas-Christmas card

~Carlin's Challenge-animal starting with CARLI or N (R-rabbit)

~Creative Friday-any animal

~Creations in Pink-project mostly pink

~~TOP 3~~

~Critter Crazy Challenges-anything featuring critter

~Jingle Belles-dashing through the snow

~Merry Little Christmas-anything Christmas

~Sparkles-pastels and rabbits

~~TOP 3~~

~Holly & Ivy Christmas-anything Christmas

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

Bloom Where You’re Celebrated

I loved designing and creating this sweet shaped birthday card with my Cricut ! I designed the card in the shape of a cup and added a bright layered flower to make it extra cheerful and dimensional. The soft speckled background gives the card a fun handmade feel, while the flower adds a lovely pop of color.

One of my favorite parts of making shaped cards is that they instantly feel extra special and unique. This design would be perfect for any flower lover or someone who enjoys a cozy cup of coffee or hot chocolate! Inside, I added the sentiment: “Wishing You a Blooming Beautiful Birthday” to tie in perfectly with the floral theme.

I love how Cricut makes it easy to create custom shapes and layered elements that really bring a card to life. This project was such a happy and colorful make, and it definitely brightened my crafting day today!

My Blooming Beautiful Birthday card can be found at Cricut Design Space.

Sharing my project with:

~Art Nudge-photo inspiration #526A

~AAA Birthday-any birthday card

~Daisy Chain-layer it up

~Lattes & Layers with Laurel-coffee/tea/hot chocolate and "bloom"

~Die Cut Divas-diecuts and celebrations

~Farm Quest Grocery Game-anything food-related

~Girlz Creative Crafts-food/drink

~Heart's Quest Celebration of Love-birthday

~Triple B-birds, blooms or butterflies

~A Place To Start-anything goes

~~RISING STAR~~

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

Sweet Sips & Holiday Smiles

The challenge at FIRST CUP CHALLENGES is posted and it's "always anything drink/beverage-related".

For this card, I turned to my Cricut to create a fun and festive shaped design that’s full of holiday cheer. I went with an adorable coffee mug theme—because let’s be honest, Christmas and coffee go hand in hand !

I layered the mug using warm brown tones and added a sweet smiling gingerbread face to give it lots of character. The whipped cream topping, candy cane stirrer, and glittery peppermint accent bring in those classic Christmas details and a touch of sparkle.

Inside, I added the sentiment “Another Christmas, Another Coffee” which makes this card perfect for all the coffee lovers in my life. It’s lighthearted, relatable, and just a little bit cozy—exactly what I love about holiday crafting.

I really enjoy creating shaped cards with my Cricut—they’re a great way to step outside the traditional rectangle and make something a bit more playful and memorable.

My Gingerbread Coffee/Hot Chocolate Christmas card can be found at Cricut Design Space.

Sharing my project with:

~Girlz Creative Christmas-anything goes Christmas card

~Caffeinated Christmas-any Christmas card with coffee/tea/hot chocolate

~Crafter's Cafe-no squares (option)

~Die Cut Divas-diecuts and celebrations

~Farm Quest Grocery Game-anything food-related

~Girlz Creative Crafts-food/drink

~Merry Little Christmas-anything Christmas

~Peace On Earth-anything Christmas

~CRAFT-Christmas

~Creative Friday-show completed inside

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

Christmas Candy Canes, Hot Cocoa & Cuddles

This is a "butterfly hinge" card. I used coordinating pattern paper on it (some VERY OLD Stampin' Up paper!!). The mug can be removed and used as a cute ornament for the tree,

My Christmas Mug card can be found at Cricut Design Space.

Sharing my project with:

~Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge-Christmas card, coffee (or tea, or cocoa) and snowflake

WINNER (to be a GDT)

~Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap-use pattern paper

~Love Those Pretty Papers-anything with pattern paper and option (fancy folds)

~Pearly Sparkles-something old (pattern paper-over 10 years I'm thinking), something new (new style of card that I've never made before)

~Girlz Creative Christmas-anything goes Christmas

~Peace On Earth-anything Christmas

~ABC Christmas-A is for anything goes

~Crafty Gals Corner-snow______ (flake)

~~TOP 3~~

~Sisterhood of Crafters-snowflakes

~Wednesday's Creative Inspirations-something old (pattern paper-over 10 years I'm thinking), something new (new style of card that I've never made before)

~Jingle Belles-something old (pattern paper-over 10 years I'm thinking), something new (new style of card that I've never made before)

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~

Happy Holidays Gingerbread Man in Cup

My Gingerbread Man in Cup card is at Cricut Design Space

Sharing my project with:

~Caffeinated Christmas-Christmas, hot drink, holly

~~SPECIAL MENTION~~

~12 Months of Christmas-Christmas card

~Christmas Bingo Challenge-O (layers, twine, rectangle)

~Send a Smile 4 Kids-Christmas

~~TOP 3~~

~Aud Sentiment-sentiment and Christmas

~Dream Valley-occasion other than birthday

~Monday Greeting Challenge-greeting and heart (on patterned paper)

~Holly & Ivy Christmas-anything Christmas

~CRAFT-Christmas

~My Time to Craft-Christmas

Happy Crafting, 

~DEANNE~