You Make My Heart Happy

NOTE: This is my second blog post of the day. My Catch Up Club card is in the next blog post. 

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 my turn. These were my instructions: My husband Brent and I celebrated our 40th anniversary earlier this month. The color for 40th anniversaries is Ruby Red, so let's make monochromatic RED cards this month. They do not need to be anniversary cards.

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Unity Inked Florals and Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Hammermill 110# White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Memory Box Hex Half Pinpoint, MFT Stitched Rectangles (inside), Your Next Stamps Fishtail Banner, and Your Next Stamp Heart Banner

Embellishment: Buttons Galore Cherry Rhinestones

Catch Up Club - February 2023

In a text conversation amongst friends in the fall of 2022, we agreed that we were all falling behind in creating with items from virtual events, kits, even groups we are in. From that conversation the idea of the Catch Up Club took formation. We decided it was time to work on those cardmaking projects that were waiting for our attention. 

On the last day of each month we've committed to sharing card/cards we have made from something we need to "catch up" on. 

You can view my original Catch Up Club post - HERE - for more details.

For this month's Catch Up Club post, I chose to use complete another card from the C9 Summer Camp virtual event.

 Cardscapes with Laura Bassen

Birthday Wishes Card

It should be noted that while most cards posted on my blog are my own designs (albeit sometimes inspired by others), these Catch Up Club cards are not my designs. I've completed cards designed by the class instructor, so while I've made the card, it is not original to me.

Please check out the blogs of my Catch Up Club friends, too...

Barb

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

CAS731 Keeping Warm

It's Monday, which means there is a new CAS Challenge on SCS. I always love seeing the cards made for the challenges and this week will be especially fun, since I'm the host, which means I chose the challenge theme.

The theme is... 

Keeping Warm

That has so many possibilities - campfires, cups of coffee/tea, sweaters and other warm clothing, cozy fireplaces, etc.

Here's my card:

Lest you think I spent a lot of time making that amazing designer paper, think again. After all, this is a CAS card. That's actually a scrap of handmade designer paper that my friend Terry made and included in a card kit for the Dueling Darling group several months ago. Thanks Terry!

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Papers: Hammermill 110# White, Recollections Kraft and Black, and SU Chocolate Chip CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Art Impressions Java Gift Card Holder, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Sizzix Dome

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Painting Beads

Alternative Coloring - February

You've probably noticed a couple of things if you check out my blog very often.

One - I love to color. 

Two - I mostly color with Copic Markers.

I own several other coloring mediums but just seem to gravitate toward my Copics. There's nothing wrong with that, but I've decided to challenge myself to stretch out of my coloring comfort zone just a wee bit this year. Once a month I'll be sharing a card in my Alternative Coloring series. Only rule is, I must color with something other than Copics.

I watercolored the image for a soft look.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Taylored Expressions Meadow Flowers stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink and watercolored with Karin Markers

Papers: Canson Watercolor Paper, Hammermill 110# White (inside) and SU Blushing Bride and Parakeet Party CS, and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and a Heart/Circle freebie from Taylored Expressions

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Painting Beads

Fan Club Christmas 2023 - February

It is no secret that I am a fan of Splitcoaststampers. I joined in January of 2008 and it soon became a place that I loved. Many friendships have been made there, I've gained inspiration and been challenged to try new things, I've participated in swaps and challenges and special events. Many of you totally understand what I mean when I say SCS is my happy place because it's your happy place, too. 

I didn't know there was such a thing as an SCS Fan Club in those days, but when I heard about it, I decided to join, thinking I could give back a little bit to the site that means so much to me. Little did I know that I get much more as a fan club member than I ever give. There are just so many fun perks, the monthly Fan Club Christmas/Winter Challenge, being one of them.

Each month you'll find a card here on my blog that I've made with for that month's challenge... but of course, I can't share what the theme is. If you are an SCS fan club member, you can learn all the details there. If you're not, I hope you'll enjoy my card anyway.

Here's this month's card...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Northwoods Christmas Candle stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Hammermill 110# White, Recollections Black, and SU Mossy Meadow CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles, Pink Fresh Essentials Blanket Stitched Ovals, and Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics

Embellishments: Gina Marie Glitter Enamel Dots

BK - Forest Friends Die Set

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.

For today's card I used the Forest Friends die set today.

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

Card #1

I paired the fun die with a stamped image of the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Winter Cabin in the Woods stamp set when making this card. The image is actually intended to be a snowy scene, but with a bit of greenery (coloring) it becomes a scene fit for the leaves in the die (we all know there aren't leaves on trees in the winter, right?). 

Another option if I'd wanted to keep it a wintery scene would have been to carefully use a pair of sharp scissors to remove the leaves and the sprigs of grass from my die-cut piece.

Card #2

I wanted my scene to have more depth when creating this scene so I stamped the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Silhouette Rocks and Trees stamp directly onto a piece of designer paper. I then added some deer to the scene by stamping the medium-size deer family from Blue Knight Rubber Stamps' Buck, Doe, and Fawn stamp set. 

* * * * * 

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!

Double Duty 2023 - Sentiment

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.

Up to this point each month's Double Duty post has featured a stamp company. This month we're changing things up a bit. Instead of a company the instructions were to use a single sentiment from any stamp company; no images.

I chose a sentiment stamp/die set that I was so excited to receive in a mystery box that I purchased from one of my most favorite crafting super-stars. Who? Lauren Bassen. She is AMAZING!  

The stamp/die set is from Simon Says - Spring in My Step.

Card #1

Card#2:

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: All papers, some of the dies, and the embellishments.

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

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die Set: Simon Says Spring in My Step stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Papers: Hammermill 110# White, Recollections Black, and SU Crushed Curry CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 2, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics 

Embellishments: Gina Marie Glitter Enamel Dots

SCS Sketch #946

I find that having a sketch to use can get my creative ideas flowing, so I love being part of the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge team. There is a new sketch to work with every Wednesday. I encourage you to check them out.

Here's this week's sketch - SC946:

My card:

It's always acceptable to tweak the sketch a wee bit and make it your own (there are no SCS police), so that's what I did.

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Gina K Petite Geranium stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Hammermill 110# White and SU Basic Black CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Hello Bluebird Nesting Half Circles and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Heart-shaped Brad from an unknown vendor

Just Wanted to Say Hello

I dug around in my scrap file. Are you surprised? One of the categories is "Altered Papers" - those papers I've messed with in the past and then never completed a card with them.

I found a gorgeous green leaf foiled piece that I did at a retreat I went to a few years ago. (Tracie, do you remember what year it was? It was such fun meeting you and your gang there!) I know it was pre-pandemic.

The foiling was a hands-on demonstration that was an option during the retreat. I don't know what supplies were used. But I do know it was way past time that I use that gorgeous "altered paper" on a card.

I toned down the leaves behind the die-cut greeting with a half circle of parchment paper so that area wouldn't look so busy.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Hero Arts Hello There Stamp & Cut stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Papers: Hammermill 110# White and SU Basic Black CS, Fiskars Parchment Paper, and Altered Piece and other papers from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Slanted Sentiments, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Pink & Main Stitched Dome

Embellishments: Pretty Pink Posh Onyx Pearls

CAS730 Add a Bow

It's Monday, which means there is a new CAS Challenge on SCS. It's going to be fun to see what others create this week.

The theme is...

Add a Bow

Here's my card:

The sentiment inside is a piece from an ephemera packet that I received from Paper Fresh Studio.

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Papers: Hammermill 110# White and SU So Saffron CS and Glitter DP from my scrap file

Embossing Folder: Memory Box Floral Corner 

Ink (for blending): Taylored Expressions Banana Cream, Lemon Meringue, and Pineapple

Sentiment (inside): Pink Fresh Ephemera

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles, Stamp Market Quick Strips, and The Greetery Fit to Be Tied

Embellishments: Studio Katia Pineapple Delight Crystals

I Love Leftovers

This past Sunday - the 12th - I had a card here on my blog for the Hot Mess Challenge. You might have seen it, but if not, you'll find it HERE.

When I finished making that card I had the "leftovers" from the die-cut sentiment and I thought it was just too pretty to throw away so I set it aside to use on another card/project.

This is the piece I'm talking about (with a piece of black CS behind it)...

I pulled out some designer papers and some dies and put together this card with the leftovers...

I placed rhinestones in the center of the flowers - the light makes them look yellow, but the rhinestones are really a light red color with yellow highlights.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment Die: scrapbook.com I Love You

Papers: Canson White Coldpress Watercolor and Hammermill 110# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pineapple Punch CS and DP from my scrap file

Messy Medium: Hero Arts Dandelion Liquid Watercolor Paint, Creative Expressions Pink Blossom Pixie Powder, and Nuvo Catherine Wheel Shimmer Powder

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles & Stamp Markep Quick Strip

Embellishments: Buttons Galore Cherry Rhinestones

BK - Path to the Beach

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.

For today's card I used the Path to the Beach stamp set today.

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

I used the masking technique to blend ink directly onto the image on both of these cards. The colors of ink were the same on both cards so any variation is the result of the amount of ink I blended onto the stamped images.

Card #1

I added a sailboat brad and flip flop brads for a playful look.

Card #2

After blending ink onto the image I die-cut an oval out of the piece. I was disappointed when I discovered it wasn't straight enough to suit me. Rather than tossing it and throwing it away, I die-cut a larger oval with black cardstock and then tilted the image a bit inside it. I think if I hadn't mentioned my "oops" people would think I just intended to do it this way.

There are no mistakes in creativity, only happy accidents. ;)

* * * * * 

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!