Friday, January 16, 2026

Winter Ballerina

Today I'd like to share with you another lovely image from Moondrea Designs.  This is this month's freebie for entering in the progressive challenge last month.  Winter Ballerina is also available in their Etsy store for a limited time. 



Images like this with lots of ruffles or lace and lots of twists in their hair are a Copic colorist dream for coloring - at least for me.  Winter Ballerina was no exception.  I completed the card by die cutting the image with Gina Marie Designs Looped Lace Rectangle Die  and double matting. 

If you haven't found Moondrea Designs on Facebook or Etsy, you should look them up and see all the lovely images available.  I'll be entering her in this month's Progressive Challenge also.  

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring. 

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:  

Craft Rocket Challenge ~ Challenge 32 ~ Something New  

I Love Promarkers ~ January Challenge  

Morgan's Art World ~ Challenge 96  

Moondrea Designs ~ Progressive Challenge ~ January


Copics:

Hair: E41, E42, E43, E44, Dress: R43, R32, R22, B16, B06, B04, B01, Flower: R43, R32, R22, R14, Y26, Y28, YG63, Necklace: B0000, Snow: B60, Headband: B16, Y26, Sparkles: Stickles, Crystal Ice

Products: 




    

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Sending You a Big Hug

This morning I am posting with the Classic Design Challenge Blog as we open the January/February 2026.  We are off to a great start with Patties Creations as our sponsor and an optional twist of 'Use Circles".  

I selected Patties 'Bear Love With Balloons' for my Design Team card.



 

He was a fun image to color with my Copic markers and will work for several different occasions even though I made this one for a special birthday.  I used Pink & Main Stitched Rectangle dies for the edges on the completed image and peach matting then attached them to the dark brown cardstock card base. The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions, Sentiment Strips Background, and is raised with a foam strip on the navy strip, then added to the bottom of the card.  Lastly I added three blue/green circle dots in the upper right corner to add a little bling to the card design.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been working on.  I hope you will now pop over to the Classic Design Challenge and view the other Design Team card and also enter your card on the our Classic Design Challenge.   

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:  

Double D Challenge ~ Happy 10th Birthday  

I Love Promarkers ~ Challenge 598  

Addicted to Stamps ~ Challenge 508 ~ Birthdays  

Crafts Galore Encore ~ January Challenge  

Patties Creations ~ Challenge 238


Copics;

Bear: E21, E25, E27, R46, E57, E13: G21, G24, G28,  Balloons: G24, G28, B04, B06, YR07, YR12, Shadow: W2, W4

Products:

 Patties Creations, Bear Love with Balloons

Taylored Expressions, Sentiment Strips Background  

Pink & Main, Stitched Rectangle Dies


Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Be Not Conformed

I hope you are back today to follow up with the Annual Christmas Word Art Wednesday Blog Hop that we've been commenting for FIVE weeks!    Although I've participated in blog hops before, this was my first one with the WAW team and I have to say - What Great Prizes!  That sure makes it even more FUN!

 First for this challenge, we have a NEW sponsor.  We are super excited to have Bramble Fox from the UK!  They are offering a $25 gift certificate to the winner of the entries during this challenge.  Be sure to get your cards entered on the Word Art Wednesday blog, Week #734-735.  

Our featured scripture is from Romans 12:2.  As always it is free for you to save and use on your cards and future projects.  Simply right click and save to your device or system files. You'll find it at the bottom of the blog.

For my project card, I've used one of the digital butterflies from Graciellie Designs, 'Butterflies' and allowed it to slightly overlap into the words of the scripture. 




After printing, I used Copic markers for the coloring and then used Pink Fresh Studios Ornate Banner die for the decorative edge.  I added a piece of white woven ribbon down the left side after mounting the image and background paper to the card base.  Lastly I applied two coats of clear Wink of Stella to the wings of the butterfly for a little additional sparkle. 




The free scripture from Romans 12:2 ~



Now back to the Christmas Blog Hop! 

The winners from all the comments both on the Word Art Wednesday Blog and each Design Team member's Blog were drawn randomly.   
The winner of my prize set, shown below is Bonnie Lynn.   YIPPEE! 
You have 2 weeks to contact me and provide your mailing information to receive your prize.  


Many thanks to each of you for taking the time to come by and comment.  Be sure to check the Word Art Wednesday January 7th challenge to see if YOU were one of the additional winners from the sponsors, and the directions on contacting Karen.  

Hope you'll visit me on a regular basis. 
Blessings ~ 

Pam's Pearls 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges: 





Copics:

BG49, BG45, BG000, G09, G03, G00

Products

Graciellie Designs (discontinued)







 

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

The Best of 2025

What a year it has been! 

For us personally, we never would have dreamed that this year Carl's brother would have been murdered, that Carl would have both hips replaced or that I would agree to acupuncture for pain relief knowing my fear of needles just to name a few.  How TRULY GRATEFUL we are to God for his abundant Grace to get us through LIFE each and every day!  While we are looking forward to 2026, we aren't praying for a better year, but for strength and courage to handle what is already laid out for our lives next year.  This is my prayer for you also. 

Now on to my pick for the top card image for each month.  With about half of the total amount for the year, it sure made it a lot easier to pick for most of the months! 



The Best of 2025!




March

April

May

June

July

August




November

December

Which one is your favorite?

Thank you for visiting and commenting here on my blog and on my Facebook and other social entries.  Your comments touch my heart and I am grateful. 

Here's to more crafting, coloring and card making in 2026! I hope you'll be joining me.

Pam's Pearls


Monday, December 29, 2025

Moondrea Designs

Sliding in an extra Christmas design for the December Progressive Challenge from Moondrea Designs, with 'Teddy2'.  


Be sure to check our their Progressive Challenge each month on their Facebook page ~ Moondrea Designs!  

Now I have my first Christmas card for the 2026 stash! 

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card in the following challenges: 

Moondrea Designs ~ December Facebook Challenge  

C.R.A.F.T ~ Challenge 770  

Creative Knockouts ~ Dec 18th ~ Tis the Season  

Addicted to Stamps ~ Challenge 507


Thursday, December 25, 2025

Merry Stampscape Christmas

My dear friend Lisa gave us another lesson in using Stampscape stamps this past summer at Stamp Camp. I loved the projects we made and was determined to do more with them when I got home.  Then a month goes by, then three months, and more.... I know you've never done this right?

At one point I did get the supplies out and inked up a few of the stamps - with the wrong ink!  What a mess that adventure was!

But finally in November I got my act together after coming across one of the example cards* that I really liked and that I had all the stamps for.    It wasn't too complicated and I could add a little color here and there and have my Christmas cards.  

Here's  the 15 finished cards.  No two are the same and I don't think there will be any more like these.  They were made for special friends and a few extras. 




These are step by step instructions requested by a couple of my friends.  I am not an expert, just a beginner and this is just the way I made this card. 

For these I used a 4" x 6" glossy photo paper rectangle and Memento Ink ~ Summer Sky, Bamboo Leaves.  New Sprout and Versa Clair Nocturne.

Start by using the ink pad and lightly rubbing clouds across the top edge of the photo paper, coming down about one inch.


Next Stamp Pine Row (150E) with the Summer Sky, and stamp a row down about 1 1/2" from the top.


Repeat still using the row of Trees, but use the Bamboo Leaves, stamping down about 1/2" from top of the trees, 


Repeat the row of trees stamping one more time, this time using New Sprout and stamp between the blue and green previous stamps. 


For the snowy hillside , we're going to use a water pattern stamp (231C) and the Summer Sky ink.  Stamp rows with the water pattern, going across- from the header of trees, to the bottom of the card.


Stampscape 196F Pine Tree is the next stamp to be used.  Stamp with the Bamboo Leaves first, followed by the New Sprout.  

Stamp one green tree to the left of center, and a second green tree a little shorter and to the right edge.  Use the Bamboo Leaves first then the New Sprout, stamped slightly off the first image. 



You ca also put a washi tape mask on the bottom of the tall pine to help with stamping just the top of the tree.


For the third tree I used Versa Clair Nocturne and stamped the Pine tree in the center at least 3/4" from the center bottom of the card front.  Then you can stamp over it with the Bamboo Spring to fill in some the foliage  At this point you can also add in a small animal if you'd like.  I selected the Bear (167A) and the Buck (008A) and used each on separate cards..


The next part is optional.   I used an angle brush and filled in some of the blue snowy shadows under each of the tree with the memento summer sky ice.


and also filled in some of the background with the Bamboo Leaves.


I used Catherine Pooler, Gingerbread ink to add tree bases and shadows.


Then I added snow with the white galaxy marker and added the metallic tree ornaments with magenta/pink and royal blue gel markers.

I added a black liner mat and then a mauve mat to each card front then mounted on the 5" x 7" card base.  Inside each card is a computer generated sticker that reads 
"Thinking of you a Christmas!"

I hope you are having a very Merry Christmas Day! 

Pam's Pearls


I will be entering this card in the following challenges:





Products:

Stampscapes, Log Cabin Set


* Idea reference card  ~ Darsie Bruno, 2007



Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Alpha Y ~Which Snowman are YOU and Alpha Z ~ ZigZag Snowflkae Border

Christmas Eve Day ~ a special day for my family as our tradition is to celebrate today at my Dad's and then each family will go to their respective churches for Candlelight Services.

We'll be missing part of our family, my nephew and his family live in AZ. But we'll facetime with them around the room and are grateful for that technology.  

My Alpha Y Christmas card is the one I sent to this family of five, asking Which Snowman are YOU?  I made this card by taking five different snowmen from Beccy's Place and lining them up (squeezed them in ) since there are 5 of them.  Didn't it turn out super cute! 

The last Alpha card is Z ~ I've used All Dressed Up's, My Little Elf and added a Zig Zag Border.  I love using the magenta color at Christmas time. 


I hope you've enjoyed my sharing of the cards through the alphabet.  I have one more special on tomorrow, so please come back again.

Merry Christmas Eve ~  

Pam's Pearls




Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Half Year Birthday

I'm sure anyone who has or had a family member with a birthday near Christmas has heard of or celebrated half year birthdays!

Today is my very special friend Linda's "for real birthday". We celebrated the first half back in July.  It's a lot of fun for both of us  ~ so if you have a friend who's birthday falls in this December Christmas seasonal window, consider surprising them next July with a 'half birthday celebration'!!!

Linda loves many things and among those things are gnomes and the color purple.  What better combination for her real birthday card! 



The image is 'Gnome with Birthday Cake' and is from Lee Holland Art.

The inside is a stamped image from Stampin' Up,  Big Wishes set.  I used My Favorite Things, 'Elegant Stitched Stax' die set throughout the card design.




 Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring.  Join me in wishing my friend a very Happy Birthday! 

Happy Birthday Linda! 

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges: 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends ~ Challenge 268  

Creative Fingers ~ Challenge 313  

Creative Inspiration ~ Challenge 33

Copics:

Cake & Icing: Y21, Y20, V12, V15, V17, Candles: E2, BG45, BG49,  Flame: R14, Hands: YG95, Arms and Shoes: YG91, YG93, YG95, Hill: G95, Background: BV00,  Inside  Candles: V12, V15, V17


Products: 

Lee Holland Art, Gnome with Birthday Cake

Stampin' Up, Big Wishes

My Favorite Things, Elegant Stitched Stax

W ~ Gold Wired Lantern and X ~ XOXO

W ~ Gold Wired Lantern

December 23 ~ Alpha W


I think I ended up with four cards that would work for Alpha W but this one was a 'new to me' image.  It was a free image from Beccy's Place before she closed the digital part of her business. 

I colored the WIRED part of the lantern a golden shade of gold / bronze and used lavender and yellow as the accent colors.  After adding the double mats and securing to the yellow card base,  I added small enamel dots for the flower centers to complete the design.



Tis the season - 

Alpha X ~ XOXO

Love this cute little Whimsy Stamps 'Snowman with Bird' stamp.  I added a vellum Christmas tree for the background and a tiny sign with the alpha x - 'XOXO' , and the acetate Merry little Christmas!  Of course, colored in my favorite color Purple! 



Pam's Pearls