I thought I'd recap another fun and productive Carve December that was hosted by Julie at Balzer Designs at the end of last year, 2023. By the end of December, I had 36 new, hand-carved stamps to add to my collection.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMXuqmuaWFD8I-qaVpH45wljlABNsSdDHNR-PYIB0tnn-BBQBZTb0qHVtQi02r-QdkPdcoUj3TSyuxg_mpfTzcPqycS-koGdB83_RZh68RG_vsH7TTgaYdgJYocfOy8zQoPrwgrLsyT8KAcCVKgKfykNqRbCRn8Qf-cmR5wUro-44g2v0b4QTe-dVDOY/w490-h490/36%20stamps.HEIC) |
New stamps carved during Carve December Challenge 2023. |
2023 was the second year I participated in the Challenge. Here are a few of the stamped compositions I created.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDxhmaLxIyD71Jsm1w-zxCfiI5c_65nX9Y70R1a8YSuclx7CuStVQNwkwxd0yUDXKqOhRwJm3DKkMABxLpCaMcHTJjwZ3_XrLecOot7UKsnfAn5eCxE9ZVIoCFazQQj6-w59FTmSuomQjsGuwfSLqUUr38gxFw8y4iueb1-VubrtqAz_NQG1GCS6CEeA/w509-h509/4%20prints_birds.JPG) |
Compositions from various days of Carve December 2023. |
Seasonal botanicals were used as inspiration for new carves—paperwhites, poinsettias, holly leaves, mistletoe, and the Christmas cactus.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJo_QVRkhXaj5ES7HnhspHG6WaFMhBWxNUI4yVnoXIc_o-IToHa6eICGG_9tAUP593l2OHEmWevMaBOrBcmdk4aMtZG2WhVBXjqNepk2_NZ8HFPUdIGKBX-A0oXtV2c4ArykY_mb8_bNcW48DGbWzXT-Q0ESb-akmeFyrPNZd9_KtsX9VufiPGELcA9WI/w517-h517/4%20prints_botanicals.JPG) |
Several botanical images were carved for this year’s Christmas card. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKAD_ZjbsTW0OXZdrNQ2zFjVh6WCclMN1R3UrHd8oiZzej06ES4L3gE98DngXAAzWmqBMfAvUPCcDFlRu5epgpFKg-iF2wpA8b9ne0xgwXRWbIdoeOtRjZztUtOOC1fmgRKm1CQmXv7D1Kj0AuRiWbkxH09dJp7KzZc-t5R1XnVmgomDrTgJ2eddRlNg/w400-h400/CmasCactus%20and%20print.JPG) |
Christmas cactus stamp and its inspiration. |
I like stamping repeats and think they make wonderful compositions and patterns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg396osZXEl3QeJC13AK6z61t7WMF8rb3wULwMJsU92KRdI4ZqDTib1EHsknjpUUon_JQyyPXbnAhFMUVVG6h-C4jV8Gn6_Q63Yf10bvU1Gd03LYMJ33pn5xcpZl_ZKKqGwFZPcAgqXcGSfoQvrXQBjtSMzvKC2jM48k0Qv5IuBqwC89fVLhXykJUgevfY/w486-h486/4%20prints_repeats.JPG) |
I always enjoy the patterns created from repeated images. |
The last prompt of the Challenge was “sparkly.” For this prompt, I created several compositions using a combination of several of the new stamps. Just in time for the entrance of the New Year!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWClTV4NrW3wdSCajrHUgUprXQF4CPuKiTFy2Wp58lIYBJR4A4_eeS9uhqJ8R4bGCGr8sg68ZHua6EE6JJj0MnSiItQHKKyEGSvsVoEMUjlC6Qp9JOIY6N8eknifKfJF0nnTcYw9VzSazahiRgf19eFEwCEj-NHejP_Kg9qFp0g7U8GMtmOZak5NmY1I/w472-h472/sparkly_withStamps.HEIC) |
Combining several stamps in a composition. |
This is a glimpse of the area on the kitchen table—with stamp pads, stamps, stamp mounts, and sketchbooks—where I create sometimes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Z1A4eDVSsIN7r36498x8aWZ1PC30b9ky4-azZ-wmf0juflWGN1haAoQvBds12mrGO9p1UplyLTQLHdxgmhj3FFMAlAXdYCxd9qb3K6TnnMiIV-Y9uhejwEd6N6bgr4fY6xdmYMZDgg0c46pygBWZa9VH31MnQ6AHvcmtRurs5dUJDpzACAC1SpLw4E/w480-h360/stamping%20materials.HEIC) |
Stamping tools at the kitchen table. |
Junk Journal January 2024
I'm using some of the stamps from Carve December in my junk journal for Junk Journal January Challenge, hosted by @megjournals and @getmessyart.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG1wI9yQnpibVDa055aMEcIqaTCSZ1qt_hAJvjL7Z0xQ92shJSC_75b1paoc2nqTtPxafcqNIvQ8RREc-dcNIBUWGNO0Jcy61f9C4yaBE9znSHgbYofhlgq15YT4rj2fAvp1ojTOhWZ7l2gOh05Xl3gMf4tGIKaqY0odklebM7Yw8LPopyoXBmhcBaG4/w492-h369/JunkJournal2024_day5.jpg) |
Junk Journal January 2024: Day 5 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsyAst81UtUaTMvpKXh4rl8jOU8skNHBRC8fcgU55J_FF6NhgwXKCFhFXJ81V_Y9bgtcWH-mI1Dv9ZpUSc2RY9N5hnRz6WzPnk3v6JhGrFfw4Sa1wqiKbj6bBLxudXgXIq1TeG0PtnhEpT5V8SDd63N4j06bi-O0w7hA_nS6gQy6NFvnoQ0H1CvluPMk/w490-h383/JunkJournal2024_day10.jpg) |
Junk Journal January 2024: Day 20 |
Here's my 2024 junk journal that I'm filling with collages, paper scraps, paint, slow drawings, hand lettering, and of course, my new hand-carved stamps.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhOoeUVriXeXeUarchwvS0ECP0XJ0P-dZMjYM6jvZpjd32uelINKHrIQ6-w9QO-TlPNT2-oICpgEZtm6oTdFLcEb2sYFq-0i3oFhV5HUZxtR6Z7qQFS9OaYj5DMtWYca6h9AJ6SxZ9qcLgInh1rKNkAj-m5Sze12FV989BBijBrZSxJHB4nCzEmDlOnQ/w421-h421/JunkJournal2024_%20cover.jpg) |
Junk journal for 2024. |