From a Kit Series (PP) - July 2025

I started a new series on my blog in July of 2021 - AND THIS IS MY LAST POST IN THIS SERIES. The idea was born from the fact that I have had a lot of unused card/stamping kits just waiting to have some attention. Sheesh! Seems as though I buy them and they just sit. That just shouldn't be so I made a commitment to use a kit once a month for this "From a Kit" series.

I am happy to say that I used my last kit from my collection of kits for the cards in this blog post. YAY me!

This month I made 4 cards using the March 2024 Paper Pumpkin kit - Memorable Meadows.

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In addition to the Paper Pumpkin kit I used the following items...

CS - SU Orchid Opulence

Dies - MFT Stitched Rectangles and Sizzix Squares

Ink - Taylored Expressions Peapod

BK - Fence and Daisies

Fridays are special days - who doesn't love TGIF, right? But here on my blog Fridays are also special because they are the day I get to post as a design team member for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps.

This week the design team's cards are featuring the newly released Fence and Daisies stamp. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1 (watercolored with Karin Brushmarker Pro Markers)

Card #2 (colored with Copic and Olo Markers)

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Clever Fox Stamp Set (sentiment)

* * * * * 

You can find each of today's featured stamps HERE, at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web store.

And... don't forget to join us at the Fan Group and YouTube Channel:

Fans of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps (Facebook group) is HERE

and the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps YouTube Channel is HERE

Jeanette Cloyd, Design Team Member

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Encore Performance - July 2025

My friend Darlene developed the idea for this series and invited some of us to join her in the challenge. It's called Encore for a reason. We all have those stamps (or other card-making items) that we've only used once even though our intentions were to use them again - and again. After all, we invest a lot of money in our supplies for them only to be used once. So, this series is our opportunity to dust them off and use them a second time.

Challenge Description

Go and grab a stamp set, dies, stencil, etc - your choice, that you have used once before and have always wanted to revisit it and use it again.  However, despite your best intentions, you have yet to use it!  

Now's your chance! Go dig it out and have fun with it once again.  Create anything you like, a card, gift card holder, decorate a gift bag, make a refrigerator magnet...whatever lights up your creative juices!

We'll be posting these Encore cards on or around the 25th of each month. (I'm a day early this month since tomorrow is a DT day on my blog.

This month I revisited the Impression Obsession Snowman in Scarf die set. This die set first appeared on a card on my blog on December 7, 2024 - you can see it HERE. I used a combination of solids and designer papers to make the snowman on that card. This time I used white CS and ink blending.

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Encore Item: Impression Obsession Snowman in Scarf ink blended with Taylored Expressions Candy Corn, Cookie Monster, Cupcake, Dill Pickle, Lime Zest, Oreo, Salt Water Taffy, and Watermelon Inks  

Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse Everyday Occasions

Papers: Opaque Accent 120# White and SU Soft Sky CS 

3D Embossing Folder: Sizzix Winter Snowflake

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

SCS Sketch #SC1072

I have been part of the Sketch team on Splitcoaststampers for a few years now. Whether it's my week to create the sketch (the first Wednesday of each month) or I'm creating a sample card based on the sketch someone else created, I find that having a sketch to use can get my creative ideas flowing. 

There is a new sketch to work with every Wednesday. I encourage you to check them out.

Kim created this week's sketch - #SC1072:

My card:

I had the first of two cataract surgeries a little over a week ago so right now I have one eye that is seeing well (the repaired eye) and one that is awaiting surgery and not seeing well. I say I have dueling eyes. That being said, detail work is a bit challenging. I'll be kind of happy to get the second surgery taken care of next week.

This is the first image I've colored since the surgery. I don't think it looks too bad considering.

I hope you'll use the sketch to make a card, too.

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Stamps: Gina K Thank You Friend and Pink Fresh Beyond Happy (sentiment) stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Wild Wheat CS 

Taylored Expressions Inks (for blending): Avocado and Pineapple

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 13 and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

Double Duty 2025 - July

In January of 2021, my stamping comrades Barb and Kelly and I debuted a new series/challenge. Double Duty was Barb's idea... and it is a GREAT idea! I've had so much fun with this series. Thanks for inviting me to play along, Barb!

This is Barb's description of the Double Duty concept...

Each month, we get to pick a stamp set from a predetermined company. Then, we will use that one stamp set and make two cards from the set.  Different images and sentiments from the same set can be used, or use the same image two different ways—Double Duty either way!  But, as an added challenge, one item must be used on both cards—same color cardstock, same ribbon, same stencil, same something.  Double Duty Again!  Post both cards on your blog on the same day—the 22^nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  Have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

Things have changed a bit in who's participating over the years, but not in the instructions. This year's Double Duty crafters are Barb, Carol, Darlene, Terry and me.

This month we've changed things up a bit. Instead of a stamp company, this month's theme is Christmas.

Card #1

Card #2

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: the same die sets and the same placement of embellishments.

Let's check out the other Double Duty cards, too...

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Terry

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Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Spellbinders House Mouse Merry & Bright stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Pineapple Punch and Watermelon Wonder CS 

Dies: Simon Says Sentiment Labels and Unity Scallops & Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

CAS856 National Ice Cream Day

Each Monday there is a new CAS Challenge on SCS. It's always fun to see what others create using the CAS theme.

Pam is the host this week. She chose the theme...

National Ice Cream Day

Here's my card:

I hope you'll check out the challenge - HERE - and play along, too.

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Stamps: Whipper Snapper Emery stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Heart-shaped Brads from an unknown vendor

Spellbinders - Santa's Elves (Girl)

I am honored - beyond measure - to be guest designing for Spellbinders again. I received a fun Fun FUN Christmas die set to use. It's called Santa's Elves and can be found HERE.

I used the boy elf on an earlier card (HERE) and am using the girl elf this time.

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Spellbinders Dies: Essential Stylish Oval and Precision Layer A2

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Blush Blossom, Call Me Clover, Close to Cocoa, and Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file