The 100 Day Project 2026 - Day 1

The 22nd February 2026 is the first day of "The 100 Day Project" and I have decided to take part in it.

The idea is that for the next 100 days, you commit to doing a bit of quick crafting of maybe 5-10 minutes long. There are no prompts, so you can create anything you want in what ever format you prefer.

For my project, I have cut lots 4x4" squares of white card to work on.  My plan is to use a collage style with stamps and stencils, that in itself is not a challenge for me, but commiting to 100 days is.  You may recall I completed a similar challenge a couple of years ago.

For my Day 1 make, I have used " Bluebird" Ranger Archival Ink through the Funky Fossil Designs "Bokeh Builder Stencil".  

I used a piece of Dina Wakely collage tissue paper with birds on glued over the top of the circles.  I then edged the circles with small pen strokes using a black fine liner pen. I used an "Aqua Green" Posca Pen to make polka dots within the circles

Finally, in between the circles, I have used a striped stencil with "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink to create the stripes.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 8

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2026:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 8 is "String"

For my Week 8 "String" tag, I've used blue and green patterened papers to cover a plain tag.  I then used the Sizzix / Stampin' Up "Swirly Scribbles Thinlit Dies 141497, to cut various shapes in different coloured card.

I put wet glue down on to the tag and made use of a piece of string that had wrapped a package, starting in the middle of the glue circle, I tightly wrapped the string tightly round itself to create what looked like a mini drinks coaster.  I then added further circles of string around it with informal gaps to replicate a nest.

I used more wet glue to stick the die cuts into position.  With the eggs, I added speckles of colour using Posca Pens.

Rummaging through my stash I came across a shape of a cardboard bird.  I covered it in patterned paper and then inked some of the edge and stuck into position.

Finally, I used a gold coloured gel pen to add highlights to the nest area.  I used a word sticker saying "expecting", mounted on to a piece of card and then also edged in gold coloured gel pen.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 7

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2026:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 7 is "Oriental / Chinese New Year"

For my week 7 tag, I used white card for the base and cut a circle out of black card and placed the black card over the white, to expose the white circle.  

I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the fish, which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Dreaming of Japan" stamp set.

I used a pencil to draw wavy lines, then painted the areas between the lines using Derwent Inktense pencils, applied with a paint brush.  I used three shades:  Iron Blue, Bright Blue and Deep Indigo.

I used "Wild Flame" Derwent Inktense pencil along with a gold gel pen and black fine liner pen to colour the fish.

I stamped the "Friend" greeting, which is also part of the Funky Fossil "Dreaming of Japen" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, I used a gold coloured gel pen to add lines and dots to the blue background, also edging the cirlcle in the same colour.

Walking on sunshine by Heidi Swain - Book Review

I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity from the publisher Simon & Schulster UK, to read and review "Walking on sunshine" by Heidi Swain, one of my favourite authors.

Previously, books written by Heidi Swain are based in Norfolk, but this book has jumped the county lines into Suffolk. It features a village called "Willowell", where the main character, Tilly used to spend childhood summer holidays with her Dad and brother.

Tilly returns to Willowell to scatter the her Father's ashes, which brings back many memories of her halcyon summers, especially the fields by the river and her dream house "Fernside".  On her journey to Willowell she meets James, her "Meet Cute" who rescues her hat.

Tilly is at a crossroads in her life, she has given up the job that she hates, handed in her notice on the flat share and has the seeds of a business idea she would like to grow.  She spots a "For Sale" sign for Willowell woods that would be the perfect location for her new venture.

Life takes a turn when Tilly meets the owner of the woods, Constance" who can make Tilly's dreams come true.  But things like a love life can get in the way of Tilly'a plans.

I really enjoyed reading "Walking on sunshine".  The writing flows beautifully, allowing the reader to visualise everything.  In my opinion, this book is a must read and is available to pre-order on Amazon or purchase in the shops from 23rd April 2026.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 6

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2026:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 6 is "Woodgrain/ tree bark"

I painted a white tag with pale green/blue water colours for the base of the tag, then used Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" light brown ink to stamp the Funky Fossil Designs "Woodgrain" stamp".  I then repeated the proces in different areas using the same stamp but with "Acorn" mid brown Versafine Clair ink

In the gaps, I then stamped the Funky Fossil Designs "Vintage Script" stamp in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

Next, I lay the Funky Fossil Designs "Large Polka Dots Stencil" over the tag and applied "Avocado" green Versafine Clair ink through some of the dots.  I then stamped the Funky Fossil "Ferns" using "Fallen Leaves" dark brown ink.

I used Derwent Inktense pencils with a paint brush to add extra colour to the woodgrain/bark,  I used a gold pencil to outline some of the green circles and to edge the tag.  Finally, I added a Tim Holtz "Ideaology" word sticker saying "Explore".

Funky Fossil Designs "Happiness Blooms" Good Luck Card

 

Another brief trip into the craft room this afternoon, making this "Good Luck" card.

I used a circle aperture stencil shading the edge with "Mint Chill" 49 and Market ink to give a very soft colour.

I used Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink to stamp the Funky Fossil Designs 'Happiness Blooms" and the greeting from the Funky Fossil Designs "Stripped Back Sentiment" stamp set.

I used two Derwent Inktense pencils "Maethyst" and "Olivina" to colour the stamped image, finally adding some dots of white Ranger "Enamel Accents".

Funky Fossil Designs "Beauty In Boom" thinking of you card

I slipped into the craft room for half an hour again today and made this card.  Nothing too strenuous, using a piece of Prima Marketing patterned paper, from their "Zephyr" 6x6 paper stack, for the base.

I used Versafine Clair to stamp the Funky Fossil Designs "Beauty in bloom" face and flowers.  Stamping the flowers again on to white card and fussy cutting then sticking them on to the card.

Finally, I used a sentiment from the Funky Fossil Designs "Stripped Back Sentiments" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.