Here are the participants in the Create Year Long Challenge for 2025 (CYLC2025).
Participants are in alphabetical order by last name. This is the first half of the alphabet. Participants with a last name starting with A-L are on this page.
Participants with a last name starting with M-Z can be found here.
Completed projects can be found here.
From Rafa Acevedo:
I plan to complete the living and dining areas of The Harrison from Greenleaf dollhouse that I purchased over three years ago.
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From Suzie Aguilar:
I decided to go ahead and join the CYLC again this year because I have plans to completely finish Sweet Rose: the structure, the furniture, and landscaping. It may seem like a fairly easy task but I’m easily distracted by other UFOs and commitments. The quarterly submissions will draw me back to my goal!
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From Erin Andersen:
My plan is to make a room book or book nook of a craft room that will show all the different arts & craft hobbies I've tried over the last decade or so since being physically disabled and unable to continue my past lifestyles (distance running and work/workaholic). I don't really have a starting point picture as I'm not using a kit. My goal is also to use as many supplies as possible that I have on hand along with upcycling recycling/trash.
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From Barb Antol:
First up is the New York Style Building kit from Cornel’s Creations. I’m doing this one as a tribute to our rescue kitty, Bella Donna, who came from Brooklyn. I’ve wondered what her life would have been like if she hadn’t been sent to the shelter, but had lived her whole life happily in Brooklyn. This brick style building is where I imagine she shared a loving home with her original person.
The second is The Hermitage kit from Petworth Miniatures. This is a quirky little building which I plan to do in Steampunk style. I’m going to use all the kits I had gathered for the Neverwas project. (For me, it sadly never was 😔). It will be home to the little Steampunk couple that I bought from Sally Reader.
The plastic bins underneath each kit have all the accessory and furniture kits I have to build for each project, so I will be busy 🥰 Both are 1:48 scale.
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From Marie Arighi:
I plan to turn this $7.00 thrift store dollhouse into an Italian Villa - inspired by my 1st trip to Italy this past November.
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From Alice Barber:
I would like to complete these 2022 monthly Betterley kits. I keep starting new projects, so hopefully this will be a motivation to finish these.
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From Mary Barrett:
The dream is a grove of trees with a series of tents nestled among the branches, one tent to act as a living area, another for cooking, one for sleeping and more to be added, if need be. I am so excited to start working on my "tree house". I started it in 2024. I am going to finish it this year.
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From Cassidy Beeman:
I’m planning on making the Potter half scale kit from Amy of littlevintagelane. I’m going to complete the inside and outside, making it a home decor shop.
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From Kathy Biggs-McNeely:
I bought this bar cabinet a few months ago from a neighbor. It's going to be Hitty's house.
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From Emily Blair:
For my year long project I will be attempting to complete both the Hole in the Wall Pub kit and accompanying furniture kits from Petworth Miniatures. I got these kits two years ago and never touched them. Wish me luck!
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From Jene Bondi:
I hope I don't flood like I did last year. I want to finish a few projects but I'm only going to choose 1. This is my Witch Shop that I got for a steal of $50.00 at my local dollhouse store for my birthday. I absolutely love the colors!!! It is 1/12 scale. First thing first is I got to cut away the 2nd floor. It's going to be called Wobblewand & Hootwhistle.
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From Cindy Bottasso:
I’m joining the group of people making Debbie Young’s Sweet Rose Cottage. I plan to make all the furniture myself as I’m learning about my laser cutter. Also I want to finish my Halloween house by the Stewart’s.
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From Barbara Bower:
I am planning to make the kit Sweet Rose Cottage.
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From Jessica Boyd:
For my 2025 Year Long Project, I would like to complete this Christmas dollhouse so it’s ready for display next Christmas! 🎅🏻
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From Jennifer Brodeur:
I have two projects for my challenge. The first is to finish the Name Day project from last October: The Three-Sided Vignette (originally the 2023 Name Day Project), which I am doing in steampunk, half-scale. (See Photo 1)
The second project is to begin my from-scratch Rhosgobel roombox, also half-scale. Rhosgobel is the house where Radagast the Brown lived in the movie, The Hobbit. (See Photo 2).
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From Jackie Browder:
My YLC 2025 is to complete Debbie Young's Sweet Rose Cottage kit. The whole thing: house, landscaping, furnishings, and display case (if needed). I am trying to not get 95% done, and move on to another project! The furnishings will be a little difficult, since I did not buy the furniture kits, and I will be furnishing the house by using my swap stash, and by making my own furnishings.
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From Susan Buffaloe:
Over the past few years my family has gifted me these room box kits for birthdays and Christmases. My year long challenge is to customize and complete these 4 kits.
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From Pam Carroll:
I am doing the glass slipper kit which is a shop for princesses.
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From Chrissie Clapp:
I have 4 projects I hope to get done this year.
1 - Pickett Pond. Haven’t started.
2 - 9 buildings of Wandlyn Way 3 started, the rest in boxes still.
3 - Sweet Rose. Started on floor. Rest in box
4 - 1/2 inch Loren Korff house. It is in my storage unit so no pic. It is halfway built but no interior work
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From Brenda Colby:
A favorite travel destination of mine is Quebec City, and one of my favorite restaurants there is Le Lapin Sauté. I started construction many years ago on Suzanne and Andrew’s Miniatures quarter scale (1:48) project representing buildings in Quebec City. Technology has moved on since beginning this project, so I have partially disassembled it and will begin anew by replacing the 12V lighting system with a 3V one. My goal is to finish the exteriors of these three structures, plus a fourth, and to complete the surrounding landscaping in 2025. Any completed interiors will be a bonus.
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From Debbie Colombo:
I am going to work on my manor house. It's my intent to get at least the outside, the wiring, and the wallpaper done this year. I changed it because this is a wall hanging house and when it's done, it gets hung up and it's out of the way!! Woo hoo!!
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From Sara Cook:
I bought this room box kit at the Good Sam show’s white elephant sale, and my plan is to turn it into something in 2025.
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From Dia Crissey-Baum:
Well, I enjoyed the CYLC for the most part last year, but I only got two of the six projects I picked out done last year. So, this year I’m going to simplify a little. I’ve got a bunch of Roundtable kits that have just been sitting around for a ling time, so those are on my list. The other thing is a stump house or fairy house I started last year. I’m the projects person for our mini club (Atlanta Miniature Society) and we thought we’d do some kind of fairy house, and this was my demo piece to show everyone how to make a house with concrete and fabric. Then we got distracted planning our retreat and haven’t done anything else with our fairy houses. I’ve got a little of the interior done but it has a long way to go. Hopefully this year will be a better year than last year and I’ll have plenty of time for minis!
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From Lynn Culbreath:
This is a rehab that will be all white. I’ll put the red shutters back on and new floors. It was originally a dollhouse for my granddaughter, but I built her a more modern house so she can leave mine alone (not working!) 😊 This one will become mine.
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From JoAnne Cutting:
Given my incomplete results for the last two years, I'm downgrading my expectations for 2025. I have boxes of unopened kits that have been set aside "until I get time." Well, I'm retired and life seems to be settling down some so Now is The Time. My goal is to finish six kits, chosen at random from the two boxes I grabbed this week. If I complete more, that'll be terrific, but since I've already proven my slow-as-a-sloth progress, I don't want to set the bar too high. Maybe the third time will be the charm! Ever in hope!
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From Diana DeWalt:
I'm submitting my John Wesley project to be completed this year. It's been sitting in this state for quite some time. I need a push.
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From Meg Dietrich:
For several months (years), I have been collecting items to go in a 1770s cold storage pantry. The idea came to me while reading Diana Gabaldon's books in the "Outlander" series. Her descriptions are so well researched that I can visualize the room. So in 2025, I intend to put my accumulated stuff in the right room and have a finished cold pantry to enjoy.
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From Carolyn Eiche:
For this year's CYLC I've decided to finish up 10-13 unfinished projects.
Some are partially built, some need their finishing accessories or furniture built, landscaping done. A couple others are 90-95% finished and just need that final thing done to complete it entirely. All were put aside at some point to start something new because I hit a roadblock on finishing. In no particular order:
1) Debbie Young Around the World spice shop
2) True2Scale Garden Arbor
3) Robin Betterley's Briarwood kit
4) Robin Betterley's 1/144" Cafe
5) Pet shop made from Debbie Young kit, I kitbashed
6) 2023 NAME DAY project
7) 2023 Camp Make-A-Mini Shepherd's hut
8) Mini Cousins Hot Dog Stand
9) 2024 Camp Make-A-Mini building
10) May room from Robin Betterley's 2023 club project
Not pictured, but hope to finish off:
Landscaping of the Bed and Breakfast from 2024 National and my Pink Lemonade house. 2021 Camp Make-A-Mini Cabin finishing touches.
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From Crystal Dezenosky:
I mainly work in 1:48 scale but realized I miss working in 1:12 so I bought this Beachside Bungalow on Facebook Marketplace and I have decided that will be my year long challenge. It is still in the box, never been opened. I am hoping that by the end of the year it will be built, painted, lit, decorated and furnished. Hopefully if I have time left over, I will put it on a base and landscape it as well. Looking forward to seeing if I have what it takes to get it all done in a year. Normally in the past it takes me many years to complete something like this.
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From Kim Fitzsimmons:
I truly enjoyed the 2024 challenge. The logical step is to now take my Stephen King house structure and complete/furnish the interior … BUT I need to step back and do something else this year. I’m going OPPOSITE! 1:48 scale has fascinated me. I purchased a beach house kit that I want to do in the colors of Key West cottages. No dark and dreary vampire room. Bright colors inside and out. A bit quirky just like the wee artist that lives in it.
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From Beverly Fleming:
I'm going to try & finish Sweet Rose house w/Debbie.
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From Natalia Frank:
Entry 1: Christmas Cottage. I put this cottage together last year. This year, I would like to concentrate on finishing the interior of it with the Christmas theme in mind.
Entry 2: Crow's Nest Resort. The goal is to keep working on the interiors of the resort building.
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From Julie French:
I’d like to attempt to complete my RBM calendar from 2022, again, since I failed in 2023 and 2024 😂🤦🏻♀️ I have 6.5 months left to finish from the calendar kits.
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From Sheila Froendt:
I would like to join the 2025 Create Challenge. I have a one-quarter scale whimsical house (for fairies, of course) that I have yet to begin. I also have several kits for furnishing the house as well as a large box of landscaping materials/accessories for a whimsical yard. It is a big project and this contest is just the motivation I need to get it completed in 2025. This will be fun! I look forward to submitting my progress each quarter.
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From Carol Gambrill:
For the 2025 Challenge I'll finish redecorating my inch scale dollhouse. In 2024, I started the latest round of changes*. This year I'll focus on the basement, primary suite, living room and kitchen. (* I bought this house in 1995 ish and first finished decorating it in 1999. I love tweaking it.)
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From Karen Gates:
This dollhouse has unfortunately been in storage for 20 years, so my Create Year Long Challenge is for 2025 is to repair the porch, roof, chimney (the bricks are on sideways 😝), outdated wiring, flooring … oh my goodness it needs a lot of work. I am looking forward to putting this wonderful gift from my then 6 year old son back together.
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From Jean Gibson:
Here are 20-plus projects that I am going to be working on for this 2025 challenge. Large projects include a baby house along with a tiny baby house and Noah's Arc. Also, there are some theaters, cuckoo clocks, some new items, and some catchup ones as well. Good luck to all!
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From Laura Goerzen:
My challenge is to complete the structure, trim, and wallpaper of this RGT Allison Jr. dollhouse so that it is playable for my daughter. I also hope to finish it with enough flexibility so that I can change and add to it when she's done playing with it. The topping on the cake of this challenge would be to have an official spot for the dollhouse in our house other than our guest room floor!
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From Bonnie Helterhoff:
This is small building I started long ago. I have decided to use the Autumn Pantry I found on Pinterest as my inspiration. My building is a different shape but I think having the porch area will lend itself well to this concept. I suspect I will be repainting as the red just isn’t right.
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From Eileen Herrstrom:
I will build and furnish a conservatory as an adjunct to the 1” scale dollhouse I completed in 2024. This will be a replacement for the greenhouse attached to my dollhouse that I lost to a fire in 2023 (left). I rescued most of the accessories and will reuse them in the new building (right).
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From Lisa Holm:
Going to attempt to commit to this idea. First picture is of a 3 story San Francisco house (where I stopped when the electricity got challenging, but I’m better at soldering now) and the second picture is project number 2, finishing the 2023(?) Betterley secret calendar….
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From Kristie Horrell:
I am going to complete the Sweet Rose House and the Warm Wishes kit.
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From Carol Johnson:
For 2025 my goal is to finish the following projects: Birdhouse Bluff, Montana Homestead, Creekside Cottage, 2023 Secret Spaces, Camp Make A Mini, Stump house, Carpathian Cottage, Pickett Hill, and Debbie Young's three Shepherds Huts. It will be a fun year! 💕
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From Laura Johnson:
This is my new challenge. I have assembled most of the structure. it is the B & B Thursday Night Project (by Debbie Young) from the 2025 convention.
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From Shirley Kerasiotis:
My ambition is to build Birdhouse Bluff, make all the furniture and landscape the base but I will be very happy if I can at least get the house built. Attached is a photo showing all the kits and parts for Birdhouse Bluff.
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From Casey Kildow:
My plan is to use the kit, specifically the Sweet Shop model that’s included in it, and build/modify it into Honeydukes (candy store from Harry Potter). So I will be adding in extra things not included in the kit.
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From Kathy Koons:
2024 was incredibly difficult for my family due to health problems and losses. Christmas is the one season that always gives me joy, even in 2024, when we couldn't decorate. So, I've decided to make 2025 a year of joy, by completing the Christmas kits in the photo. It turns out that there are far more True2Scale micro gingerbread kits in my stash than I expected, too.
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From Debra Kuckuck:
Like many long-time miniaturists, I find myself with boxes of random miniatures I bought in my early years, just because I liked them. I also have a set of three pastry domes. I organized my miscellaneous minis by calendar month. I’m going to continue my 2024 CYLC as I try to make as many sets of domed vignettes as I can, with the plan to change them monthly.
The second photo shows my set of domes for May, from last year’s challenge.
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From Sherri Lackey:
I plan to do A Little Merry from Robin Betterley for my year long project. If I get it done I will start on the Secret Christmas House.
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From Lesia Lennex:
My goal is to finish Nick's Cottage in 2025. I think it can be done! I made the shell in 2016 at Gals, Gangsters, and Gatsby. I then spent another 6 months on finishing the shell and making furniture. It's good to take our time and finish things the right way! I'm making progress on Nick's Cottage, the back half. I've completed the first floor, prepped the landscaping, porch, chimneys, windows, and some of the upstairs wallpapering. I've also completed the first level exterior shingling/ painting. and the openings are cut for the downstairs lights. I don't know if I'll keep the carpets in it but they're in the right time frame if I do.
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From Bonnie Lesher:
I want to join the challenge to have to push to get something done. I became a NAME member last August. I attended my first National convention in Nashville, TN last year. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing in this project. This will be a challenge for sure!! I bought the kit about 3 years ago at a regional ‘estate sale.’ It looked super cute and I do like the 1/4 scale best. Here’s to a year of work and completion.
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From Doreen Lindsay:
For my year long challenge I will be starting off with two projects - Sweet Rose from Debbie Young and the Winter Wonderland from Karen Benson plus all the interiors kits. If I complete both, I will do a third project but not sure what yet.
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From Sally Lonn:
Hello, I think these challenges are what keep me going....
From The Fresno Small Scale Inside/Outside convention of 2007, here are my winnings. A bag of stuff, some pictures of Brambly Hedge books, and a huge cupboard with some artwork. I'm not sure what I will do with everything, but willing to give it a try. From 2010 two very talented, Seattle/Vancouver BC, ladies, Georgia Matuschak and Lori Ann Potts made this kit, A Ladies Sewing Secretary. I think it is time that I tackle this project. Which I think will lead into a larger project as I get going. I found these projects as I was cleaning out all of my quarter scale stashes, although I kept a couple. I have more projects than I will get done, but that is the fun of miniatures.
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From Joshua and Elizabeth Loper:
My daughter and I are going to build a ship's compartment. The dollhouse is being built in compartments and is based on a US Navy cruiser around 1895. It will be part of the gun deck with working machinery and hoists in 1/12 scale.
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