Preble McDaniel

I want to complete at least one of my Camp Make-a-Mini projects. That would include landscaping. The first one is so close already so it the most likely I do. I try to set realistic goals for myself because I tend to have mini ADD. Ideally I can finish these 3 and then display them together.

Carla Mcintyre

Here we go again! Gearing up for the 2026 Challenge. The past challenges have really helped me work on some of the UFOs that have been pushed to the back of my cabinet. Once again, my goal is to use things in my stash and not purchase anything new (except for the Betterley’s calendar club or something new I just HAVE to have from any of the great miniature dealers). My focus this year will be to complete the 2025 calendar club from the Betterley’s, along with several other of Robin’s kits: 2 detective agency secret books, “A little witchy” kit, and “come fly with me” kit. Also “an Adoorable shop” kit with all the furniture and landscaping by Debbie Young. I’m also planning to complete projects from our local club and just maybe a few of the other UFOs hanging around here!

Kitty Mecham

I have been working on this French Victorian for about a year. It always seems to get pushed to the back when other projects pop up. So, I decided that this would be my 2026 CYLC project. After nearly finishing with the painting, I talked myself into wanting to wire the whole thing for lights. (Yes, I should have started with the wiring...) Originally I was going to use battery operated lights, but there are too many to turn on. I have been collecting some old 12v lights that I think would work well in this house. And as you can see, there are still a lot of other things that need to be finished - the bay window, front door, and windows on the first floor, walls, stairs, built-in shelving, and so much more! I have nearly all of the furnishings ready to be put in - if I could just finish with construction!!!

Laura Miller

Even though I have yet to complete a single YLP, I am going to try again! I decided on two really old UFOs for my YLP.

The first one started as a 1/4 inch scale kit by Lucy Hanson - bookend buildings with two slide-out rooms in each. I started turning the two buildings into a Natural history museum. I have one finished room, and two almost finished rooms. I have decided to add a wooden box between them to make a larger museum. 

Steps needed to complete this project:

Dust all three rooms I had previously worked on.

Repair a couple of items in two of the rooms.

Complete the two rooms with printies and people.

Add a floor and probably some walls and, maybe a staircase, to the wooden box I have added.

I will need to figure out what exhibits I will be adding then get or make what I need for those. (People, animals, etc.

I will be wiring the whole structure.

I will be adding windows and faux brick to the outsides of the buildings and finishing the roofs.

The second project is my Blue Rose Tea Room. I started this years ago. 

Steps needed to complete this project:

Wire and light the building.

I need to find or replace the roof and attach it.

Create a base for the building and landscape it.

Glue the porch roof back onto the building.

Add porch posts and stairs.

Add flooring to the building.

Completely furnish both floors.

Linda Napier

My year long challenge is to finish 2 quarter inch scale houses from my stash. One is the Creekside Studio and the other is the Maison de Campagne from Seaside Miniatures. I've never made a front opening kit so the Maison house will be different for me.

Dana Chester

I’m an Art Deco “diva”, in love with every decade and sub-style of the era. As an artist, and new miniaturist, I’m thrilled to be creating my first house in a mid-1930s moderne style with a “starter set” of rooms: kitchen, dining, living, bedroom, bath, and of course a staircase (to challenge myself), plus a sundeck. The walls and linoleum-style floor of the kitchen are complete, as well as the dining room, with a full-wall mural that I designed. I just put in the terrazzo living room floor and have started the stairwell. My kitchen cabinetry and appliances have been dry-fit with scrap cardboard, and I have a dining room table design in mind as well as furniture for the main living space. There’s a long way to go but I’m looking forward to creating every detail and learning throughout the process. So glad there’s a way to share my journey!

Sara Cook

I'm going to take another run at my House That JAK Built kit. I made a small room box last year as a proof of concept for my Mermaid Santa scene. I'm going to use what I learned from that to make a better version in the two-storey box. This mermaid is absolutely obsessed with Christmas and has collected so many things from sunken freighters. I'm planning to use several screens and microcontrollers, including a more refined version of the working TV I made for the scene last year. The JAK kit features a false back with room for wiring, making it perfect for my electronic tinkering.

Diana DeWalt

I think I will make John Wesley my 2026 project too. Maybe I'll make more progress.

Pam Doran

I have 2 challenges for 2026. One is the Craftsman Bungalow from Camp Make-a-Mini. I would like to complete the structure (inside and out) and leave the furnishing of it for another year. It has been sitting on my desk for 2 years and it is time to complete it and clean the area so I can pull out another UFO and complete that. The other is going to be an advent calendar house for my daughter. Originally these were 2 separate open-sided dollhouse kits and I am merging them to create a hinged enclosed dollhouse. I picked these up years ago at Michaels. The scale of the house is 1:24 and will be 3 floors, each floor and side will have a different scene. The inside will hold the advent boxes, the outside sections on each side are going to be open and covered with acrylic to show the scenes. I have been knocking this idea around for a few years, collecting accessories and ideas and its time to complete it. I'm hoping that joining the challenge will be the push I need to complete both these projects and give me the space and impetus to complete my other projects that linger.

Jean Ellsworth

I am going to try again this year to finish my "Manor House Miniatures" miniature shop. A replica of my shop which was open from 1975-1981, in Cincinnati, OH.

Kim Fitzsimmons

 For years I have wanted to recreate the central pictures in the children’s book, Good Night Moon. I purchased two rabbits at last year’s Tom Bishop Show in Chicago. The challenge will be the distortion in the picture.

Julia Greenhalf

Finally found the info on the Create site so here we go, nervously, of the projects I want to finish this year. I bought the original Creekside probably 9 or 10 years ago after being inspired by Paula Isaac’s interpretation of it. It’s been sitting in a box, labelled up, with everything thrown into the box that might be remotely used for it. I’ve also had True2Scale’s project for ages, I just love her Christmas Gingerbread houses. The last kit is one I received in a set of 4 which Laura Miler bought on my behalf, again Christmas!!

In the meantime, Linda and I are trying to finish Birdhouse Bluff; I’m on the last states of Raptoor’s 2024 Advent Calendar and Jane Harrop’s 2025 Advent Calendar are currently on the desk being worked on so setting myself a challenge without including these, was nerve wracking but must make progress!!

Eileen Herrstrom

For the 2026 Challenge, I plan to build this garage to accompany the 1/12-scale house and greenhouse that I’ve worked on during previous Challenges. This year, I’ll see how much I can accomplish: completing the structure, painting, and furnishing. Maybe I’ll even find a car to park in the driveway! Thanks for all your work on these projects.

Barbara Hopkins

I want to complete my lighthouse keeper's house in 2026. I've had both lighthouse and lighthouse keeper's house kits for years and it's time to put them together! I'll start with the keeper's house. It's all going to be the Lighthouse B&B; the keeper's house will be for registration, breakfast, and mingling with other guests.

Carol Johnson

I have chosen the following projects for my 2026 NAME Create Year Long Challenge. They only need to have the landscaping completed so this is the year to finish them all. 😊 Creekside Cottage, Birdhouse Bluff, Montana Homestead, Picket Hill, Carpathian Cottage, Stump House, Camp Make-A-Mini Cabin, 3 Shepherd Huts by Debbie Young, Petalstone, and the Camp Make-A-Mini Craftsman. Thank you for offering this challenge again this year. ❤

Kathy Koons

For 2026, I'm going to tackle some of my Robin Betterley Secret Books that have been waiting too long. I hope to do some others of hers from the stash, but these are the main ones I want to finish.

Sally Lonn

On Saturday at our monthly meeting our club project was given out ... a book nook in heavy cardboard from Houseworks and a kit to make a wood bookcase. I am not sold on what I will create but fairies keep talking to me, something other than books in a case ... wait to see what I can do with this ...