From a Kit Series - Take 10

I started a new series on my blog in July of 2021. The idea was born from the fact that I have 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'm going to commit to using a kit once a month for this "From a Kit" series.

This month I used the September 2021 Hero Arts Kit of the Month.

I love the stamp/die set included in the kit and the fact that it has layering stencils makes it so quick and easy to color the image. There was even a blender brush included as well as four ink cubes. 

The kit included two sentiment dies - Hello and Thanks. Those will certainly get a lot of use.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

In addition to the Hero Arts September 2021 Kit of the Month, I used some CS (Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Early Espresso), a die (MFT Stitched Rectangle), and some bling (Pink Fresh Metallic Pearls Sparkling Champagne).

Eat Cake & Celebrate

I {heart} SCS.

I'm pretty sure it's no secret - splitcoaststampers is my happy place. It's where friendships are made. It's where inspiration is gleaned. It's where tutorials are found. Oh, and did I mention, CHALLENGES (new ones each day of the week)! 

Each challenge has a few people who know the themes ahead of time and create cards/samples to be shared when the challenge is introduced. I was delighted when I was asked to join the Sketch Challenge design team for six months. Each Wednesday (February - July 2022) I'll share the card I made for the current week's Sketch Challenge. 

This Week's Sketch (#SC912):

Here's my card:

I hope you'll check out the Sketch Challenge - HERE - and play along. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Stamp/Die Set: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthday stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Paper: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Green, and SU Blueberry Bushel, Real Red and Summer Sun CS

Dies: MFT Balloon Builder and MFT Stitched Rectangle

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Matte Finished Enamel Dots

Butterfly Beauty

One of my favorite challenge groups is the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS, under the capable and organized leadership of my friend Barb. The idea is we can't shop for anything when making our monthly challenge card (which we post on the 28th of each month).

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Tracie's turn. She challenged us to include a butterfly on our cards. I can do that. THANKS for a great theme, Tracie!

I hope Tracie, Barb and the other Challenge Your Stash gals like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Picket Fence Swallowtail Beauty stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers, then stamped again with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque White, Recollections Black, and SU Almost Amethyst CS 

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishment: Taylored Expressions Drip Drops

Dirty Dozen 2021, June

I had the amazing honor of being invited to join the ranks (or dirt pile, as they lovingly refer to it) of the Dirty Dozen on SCS last year. My term was from April through September. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had fun creating 6 (or more) cards for each of the themes.

April - Grand Opening

May - Family Tree

June - Juke Box

July - Come Fly with Me

August - Kitchen Sink

September - Popping In

Dirty Dozen members have some guidelines to follow. One of them is we can't share our cards for at least six months after the month in which they were released, hence the reason why I didn't show them when I made them.

Another guideline is we are to choose our own personal favorite of the cards we make each month. Sometimes that is easy to do; other times, not so much.

This blog post shows the cards I made for the June Juke Box theme, beginning with my personal favorite, followed by my other cards, in no particular order.

"Tiptoe Through the Tulips"

Waffle Flower - Tulips

"Return to Sender"

Gerda Seiner - Puppy Mail

"Oh Lord, It's Hard to Be Humble"

Sparkle 'N Sprinkle - Spring Chicken

"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

Whipper Snapper - Mullign

Whipper Snapper - Stop the Downpour

"These Boots Are Made for Walking"

Unity - Determination

"Hound Dog"

Tim Holtz - Crazy Dogs

"On the Road Again"

Gerda Steiner - Vrooming By

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

It's a Wild Rose

I've been a member of the Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Society for a long time now... receiving the club flower stamp set each month. I hoarded them for a while, then started a series on my blog, committing to using them. 

I thoroughly enjoy this series because flowers are my favorite thing to color. 

This month's Greenhouse Society stamp set is Wild Rose.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday Wild Rose stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

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

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 1 and 2, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Unity Scallops and Rectangles

Embellishments: Studio Katia Pineapple Delight Crystals

BK - Bird Bath

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.

I used the new Bird Bath stamp today.

You can check out the stamp in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

For this first card, I stamped the image in its entirety and used blending brushes to blend ink onto the grass and sky before coloring the rest of the image with Copic Markers.

Card #2

I used just a portion of the image on this card and included a sentiment from the stamp set.

I think it's amazing to see how one stamp looks so different depending on how it's used. 

* * * * * 

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

VSN - Summer Festival

Life has a way of messing with my plans... and I know when it's time to wave the white flag in surrender. I'd hoped to create cards for most (or even all) of the VSN challenges but that just isn't going to happen. I have two more to share today (they are actually from the VSN Mini session that took place on May 27th), and that's all I'm going to get made. Shucks.

Kim's Blue Ribbon Winners!

Stampendous - Funny Farm

Altenew - Mix & Match Frame Die Set

Time to make - 50 minutes

Misti's Festival of Flowers

Impression Obsession - Sketched Vintage Bloom

Gina K - Wild Rose Mini (sentiment)

Rubbernecker - Rectangle with Pierce Die

Stampin' UP! - Stitched Shapes (Oval) Die

Time to make - 45 minutes

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Double Duty 2022 - Whipper Snapper

Please Note: This is my second blog post of the day. If you are here to see my card for this week's SCS Sketch Challenge, please keep scrolling as it is the next blog post, or to go there immediately, click HERE.

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!

Over the past year, things have changed a bit in who's participating, but not in the instructions. This year's Double Duty crafters are Barb, Carol, Darlene, and me.

This month's company is Whipper Snapper. I chose both an image (Rainy Day Renee) and a sentiment (Friends Are the Umbrella).

My Cards:

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: Every die I used has stitched edges and the embellishments are the same on both cards, as is the card base.

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

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Rainy Day Renee and Friends Are the Umbrella stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Pineapple Punch CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles, Pink & Main Stitched Arches, and SU Stitched Shapes (Circles)

Embellishments: Maker Forte Rhinestone Hearts and Nail Rhinestones from Amazon

Cosmos Bloom

I {heart} SCS.

I'm pretty sure it's no secret - splitcoaststampers is my happy place. It's where friendships are made. It's where inspiration is gleaned. It's where tutorials are found. Oh, and did I mention, CHALLENGES (new ones each day of the week)! 

Each challenge has a few people who know the themes ahead of time and create cards/samples to be shared when the challenge is introduced. I was delighted when I was asked to join the Sketch Challenge design team for six months. Each Wednesday (February - July 2022) I'll share the card I made for the current week's Sketch Challenge. 

This Week's Sketch (#SC911):

Here's my card:

Yes, I know the sketch is a square card, but I switched mine to A2 size.

I wish the pictures did the background piece justice. It just looks dark, but in reality it is a subtle designer paper.

I hope you'll check out the Sketch Challenge - HERE - and play along. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Stamp/Die: Honey Bee Cosmos stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Accent Opaque White and SU Pretty Peacock CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and SU Stitched Shapes (Squares)

Embellishments: Buttons Galore & More Rose Gold Rhinestones

Travel the World - South Sudan

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world. By the end of 2021, I'd virtually traveled to 145 countries and plan to complete my journey to all 195 countries by visiting the last 50 this year.

This week's country is...

South Sudan

South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and Central African Republic to the west.

After 50 years of intermittent civil war with the northern half of Sudan, South Sudan signed a cease fire in 2005 and with a 97% vote for independence, South Sudan became a nation in July 2011, making it the newest country in the world.

The first child born after the independence of South Sudan was a boy and was given the name ‘Independent’. 

South Sudan is a very poor and under-developed country. It has extensive oil fields that form the basis of the country’s economy. But since the country is landlocked, it runs almost all of its pipelines through Sudan. After a 2012 dispute with Sudan, there is a temporary suspension in production of oil which has shaken the economy.

A large portion of the population engages in subsistence farming and livestock keeping.

Wealth in South Sudan is measured by how many cattle a family owns.

Most locals engage in small businesses such as the selling of vegetables to earn a living.

South Sudan is a multilingual country with people speaking over 60 indigenous languages because of the diversity of their ethnic groups.

The official language of the country is English.

Most people in the country reside in rural areas and live on less than a dollar a day. People live in thatched-roofed houses located in areas with poor sanitation. Eighty percent of the population has no access to any toilet facility.

South Sudan offers practically zero tourist infrastructure, no paved roads and the communications infrastructure is almost non-existent.

South Sudan has an abundance of wildlife including giraffes, buffalos, lions, elephants and hartebeest (large antelope).

Nimule, South Sudan's small but breathtaking national park was home to the now-extinct white rhino. Today a large number of hippo, the Ugandan kob, buffalo and elephants live there.

Boma National Park in South Sudan is home to one of the world’s great wildlife migrations where an estimated 1.3 million antelope move across the landscape in search of good grazing. 

The longest river in the world, The Nile, runs through South Sudan. The White Nile, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, runs through South Sudan’s capital city.

South Sudan is a little smaller than the state of Texas, but it has one of the biggest swamps you'll find anywhere on the planet, called the Sudd (pronounced SUD). A lot of thick, reedy water plants grow in the water, making it hard to pass through. However, animals like birds, fish and hippos like to hang out there, but so do mosquitoes.

Traditional dress varies throughout South Sudan and among ethnic groups. Because of the hot climate, clothing tends to be loose-fitting and of light material.

Communal meal sharing is a common practice among most of the communities in the country. People prefer to live in close proximity to their families and relatives.

The diet for most people in the country includes milk, peanuts, honey, fish, meat, finger millet, beans, vegetables and more.

Sorghum is the main cereal crop. Other crops include maize, rice, millet, wheat, mangoes, peanuts, and sesame. The South Sudanese also fish on the country's extensive river network and in the Sudd. Most of the catch is consumed locally. But some seafood is dried and salted for export.

In South Sudan, the greeting is an important part of the culture.

South Sudan has the highest illiteracy rate in the world. Only 16% of South Sudanese children ever go to school and only 1.9% complete primary school.

It is much more common for boys to go to school than girls.

Wau is a multicultural city with several of South Sudan’s most populous tribal groups living there. The city has a lot to offer; from old colonial Buildings to the ramshackle huts and marketplaces constructed from the raw materials of the African bush. It is also home to St. Mary's Cathedral, which is famous for the architecture and its huge size.

South Sudan has a rich tradition of folk music that reflects its diverse indigenous cultures. For example, the folk music of the Dinka people include highly appreciated poetry, while the Azande are especially known for their storytelling. 

In the Republic of South Sudan, the majority of the children have to follow in the footsteps of their parents professionally.

Games and sports played in the country include football, basketball, wrestling and mock battles.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about South Sudan... It is common to pay a man in cattle for the opportunity to marry his daughter should there be several men competing for her.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Picket Fence No Need to Tip stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Paper: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Basic Black CS and Paper Studio Red Gingham DP

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Simon Says Sentiment Labels

Embellishments: Paper Studio Brads