Balloon Bundle

 

Today is the 25th and I am posting a card for the The Encore Challenge!  This is a monthly challenge with a group of friends from my April Retreat.  Some may post on their blog and I will note those with blogs at the end of this post.  And, some might post on other social media. Darlene came up with this challenge and these are her words:  Go and grab a stamp set, stencil or dies--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! So--Encore Challenge! 

My plan is to pick a different company each month to highlight and maybe even a different product than the month before.  For August,  I picked a stamp set with the matching die from MFT-My Favorite Things called Balloon Bundle.  

I always need birthday cards and I could tell this stamp was used once as one of the sentiments had a bit of ink staining and the die had some tape residue........  I stamped the balloon image and the sentiment.  I picked a color combo from one of my Taylored Expressions Palette Playbooks--Blue Cheese.  I matched my Copic Sketch Markers to the 3 colors--Blue Cheese, Popsicle and Candy Corn--for coloring the balloons.  The background is a Taylored Expressions Embossing Folder called Shoutout Birthday.  I die cut an oval from vellum and my Sizzix Dotted Oval and added foam squares behind.  The sentiment was but with a MFT Slanted Sentiment Die.  A few Glossy White Rhinestones from TE were placed around the oval.   

I am not sure who will post each month on their blog, but this is a list of the other ladies who do have blogs.  Jeanette, Terry, Darlene.  Be sure to come back on September 25th to see another fun card for The Encore Challenge!


Image/Sentiment: My Favorite Things-MFT Balloon Bunch Stamp Set and Matching Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Taylored Expressions Blue Cheese, Oreo, Popsicle; Vellum

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Shoutout Birthday Embossing Folder, Bits & Pieces Glossy White Rhinestones; Sizzix Dotted Oval Die; MFT Slanted Sentiment Die; 

Floral Laurel

 

Today is the 22nd and it is Double Duty Day! This is the 67th month, so we are in the middle our 6th year!  More Doubling Up!

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!  We will post both cards on our blog on the the 22nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  We will be sure to have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

For August, the company we picked was Altenew.  I have a number of Altenew floral sets as that is really what they are known for!

The set is called Floral Laurel.  There is a stamp set, matching dies, stencils along with a embossing folder.  I stamped the 2 laurel images two times and then ink blending with Pinkfresh Studio ink cubes.  I die cut all 4 sections and 4 different sentiments from the set with the coordinating dies.  I used the embossing folder on both white and Brussels Sprouts.  I die cut the each of the panels with a die from Taylored Expressions All-Planned Out 4 for a stitched edge. I placed both laurel images on the background to create a wreath.   

The images on the white panel are much lighter as I used whatever ink ws left on the brush from the other images. I picked Sending Peace for this card and layered it 3 times.  I added some white enamel dots around the image. 

For the Brussels Sprouts background, I ran my sanding block over the top of the  background panel and it took a bit of color off of some of the images.  I added green enamel dots around the image.  The Thinking of You sentiment is layered 3 times.

Please be sure to check out the other Double Duty cards. Here is a link to Jeanette's,  Darlene’s,  and Terry's blogs. I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of sets of great cards. 

Next month we are going to use Unity Stamps as our featured company.  So be sure to check out our cards on September 22nd!    

Image/Sentiment:  Altenew Floral Laurel Stamp Set, 3-Piece Stencil Set, Coordinating Dies and matching Embossing Folder

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Taylored Expressions Brussels Sprout

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black; Various Colors of Pinkfresh Studio Ink Cubes

Accessories: Taylored Expressions All Planned Out 4 Die; Green and White Enamel Dots

Evanora

 

Today is the 19th, so here is my August At Home With Gnomes.  I am doing a monthly challenge for myself to use one of the many gnomes stamp or die sets that I have.  Each month I will create a card using one of my many gnome images and I plan to post on the 19th.

For my card this month, I picked a fun Whipper Snapper Designs stamp called Evanora.   I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and die cut the image along with a black backer with a Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle Die.  I decided to use some of the many Halloween patterned papers I have so I picked some from the Echo Park Paper Happy Halloween line.  I added some Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones.  I think this is a fun card.

I know I have enough gnomes to use a different one each month.  I will be back on September 19th and will show you another gnome, so stay tuned!

Image/Sentiment:  Whipper Snapper Designs Evanora Stamp 

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Stampin' Up Black, Plum Punch, Green; Echo Park Paper Happy Halloween--Bat Festival and Haunted House

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones; Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle Dies

Unexpected Blessing

 

This card was posted yesterday on Instagram for a hop called Fans of Taylored Expressions! I love Taylored Expressions and many of my friends also do.  So--I wanted to join a group that loves them!!! And, I found my people!  The hop is always the third Saturday of every month. 

This month’s theme is cards for Cardmaker's Choice.  So--anything goes!

I picked a Taylored Expressions stamp and matching die set called Unexpected Blessings. I stamped the two floral images with Oreo ink and colored them with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I then die cut the images plus two more pieces of each one for added dimension and to add some strength to the corner images. I stamped one of the sentiments from the same set and die cut it with a stitched die. I used a newer Taylored Expressions embossing folder called Fineline Frame for the background.  I placed the floral images inside of the embossed rectangle and added the sentiment in the middle. I added some Lime Zest Glitter Drops around the images for the final touch! 

This hop on Instagram happens every month on the 3rd Saturday with different themes.   I know I will be back hopping in September!

Image/Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Unexpected Blessings Stamp and Die Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Taylored Expressions Sugar Cube

Ink:   Oreo

Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Fineline Frame Embossing Folder; Bits & Pieces Line Zest Glitter Drops; Copic Sketch Markers

Millie's Haunted Halloween

 

Today is the 15th and this is my card this month for our The Creative Crew!  We are a group of 6--Jeanette, Darlene, Lorraine, Terry, Tracie and me. Each month will be a new challenge posed by one of the members sending out a kit. For August, the last month of this round, Jeanette and I teamed up with the challenge-- a color and sketch challenge.  I picked a random card from my Color Cube, #191, and Jeanette came up with a sketch--they are pictured below.  

I decided to make a Halloween card with some non-traditional colors.   I picked Guava, Jujube and Black--three of the colors in the card.  I went with some Taylored Expressions products--Millie's Haunted House stamp set with the matching dies for the image and sentiment.  I colored Millie with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I then cut the image with the coordinating die and the sentiment with a TE sentiment strip die. I then used the TE Drifting Diamonds background stamp for the 2 rectangles, stamped tone on tone with Jujube.  I die cut a Black Licorice backer with a Gina Marie Stitched Rectangle Die.  I also die cut the Guava square with a Gina Marie Stitched Square die and the Jujube circle behind the square with a Gina Marie Stitched Circle--yes a number of Gina Marie die sets used!  The card base is Black Licorice and the stitched background is embossed with a Stampin' Up folder called Subtle Dynamic.  I added a few Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones around the image.

OOPS--after looking at a few other cards, I realized I forgot the 3 dots below the image from the sketch.........................  Creator Liberties!  

I hope all of The Creative Crew Gals enjoy my card this month.  Please be sure to stop in to see what fun cards are posted this month.  All of the blogs can be found on my left sidebar.   I am sure you will enjoy all of the cute cards.

For September, Jeanette and I are up for another challenge, but we are not sure what it will be yet.   Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun is planned!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Millie's Haunted Halloween Stamp and Die Set, Drifting Diamonds Background Stamp

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut's Cougar Opaque 110# White; Taylored Expressions Black Licorice, Jujube and Guava

Ink:   Hero Arts Intense Black; Taylored Expressions Jujube 

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Sentiment Strip Die, Black Rhinestone Bits & Pieces; Stampin' Up Subtle Dynamic Embossing Folder; Gina Marie Designs Stitched Square, Circle and Rectangle Dies; 

Noel

 

Today is the 12th and it is time for another Hot Mess card.   This card is #84, so we are into year #8. The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success is to Get Messy and you will have Success!  Messiness can be almost anything that we come up with--glitter, alcohol inks, glimmer glitz, sponged backgrounds, etc., anything that is a bit messy.  We are a very fun group and will post a card each month on the 12th.  The links to the other members are on my left side bar and I will also link them at the bottom at this post.

For my messiness this month, went with some ink blending and then added some paste for the messy part!  I picked a fun Brass & Bliss 3-piece stencil called Holly and Berries.  I ink blended the leaves with Taylored Expressions green inks.  I then used Simon Hurley's Bee Sting Asto Paste for the berries.  In hindsight, I should have ink blended the berries with red first and then added the paste. There are some open white spots in the berries...... The sentiment is a Penny Black die called Immense Noel, which was cut from The Paper Cut's Red Lacquer Metallic.   

I like this colorful card and hope you do too.  I also sure hope my fellow messy ladies like them too!  Here are the links to the other somewhat messy crafters: Darlene, Jeanette and Terry.I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy this month and was successful in making some great cards!   Be sure to check back to see what we are up in September!

Image/Sentiment: Penny Black Immense Noel Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White, Red Lacquer; 

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Wintergreen, Cilantro

Accessories:  Simon Hurley-Ranger Bee Sting Astro Paste; Brass & Bliss Holly and Berries Stencil

Let It Snow

 

I made this snowy card when I had my a binder with holiday stencils on my craft desk.  I picked a Brass & Bliss stencil called Snowflake.  I ink blended 3 blue shades of Taylored Expressions colors, though it really does not photograph with the variety colors.  The sentiment is Lawn Fawn's Giant Let It Snow die, which was cut from The Paper Cut's Stardream Metallic Blue.  I added some Pinkfresh Studio Glacier Jewels in the middle of some of the snowflakes.  

I like this snowy card and hope you do too.  Soon, it will be winter and time to send Christmas cards...............................

Image/Sentiment:  Lawn Fawn Giant Let It Snow Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White, Stardream Blue Metallic; 

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy, Bleu Cheese, Gumball

Accessories:  Pinkfresh Studio Glacier Jewels; Brass & Bliss Snowflake Stencil

Nice List

 

Today is the 9th of the month and here is my card for another The Three Musketeers post. This round, Kelly was the hostess and sent out a sweet elf image and 2 sentiments from Avery Elle called Nice List.  For August, this is card #144 and we are now in year #12!  I cannot believe this trio has been going strong coming up on 13 years! 

I colored the sweet elf that Kelly had already die cut for us with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I also colored the ornament Kelly included in the kit and each of us got a different small Christmas image.  I decided to use one of my newer Newton's Nook dies called Card Layout 7.  Jen, the owner and designer for Newton's Nook, came to my retreat in April for a make & take and showed us many of these fun Layout Dies!  I used a 6x6 Christmas Party patterned paper pack, also from Newton's Nook for 2 of the stitched panel.  I used a lime green metallic for the middle panel.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I did not add any bling at all to this card.  I hope Jeanette and Kelly along with you enjoy my card!  

Please check out the other Musketeer's cards.  Here is the link to Jeanette's blog along with Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of fun Christmas cards!  I will be for our September challenge, so please be sure to join us again next month!  I had better decide what image to send! 

Image/Sentiment:  Avery Elle Nice List

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  White; Taylored Expressions Cherry Pop; The Paper Cut Lime Green Metallic; Newton's Nook Christmas Party

Ink:   Memento Black 

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Newton's Nook Card Layout 7

Today I am Thankful

 

Today is the day I post my cards for our challenge called Unused No More!  This is a monthly challenge to be posted on the 6th with a group of friends from my No Foolin' Retreat.  Some may post on their blog and I will note those with blogs at the end of this post.  And, some might post on other social media.  Those that participate each month will send a picture in the text thread we have between us, showing our creation.  The premise is to use a stamp set, stencil die, hot foil plate or press plate that is new and has never been used.  So--Unused No More!  

My plan is to pick a different company each month to highlight and maybe even a different product than the month before.  For August, I picked a set from Unity called Today, I am Thankful, that includes some wonderful sentiments.   I do make about 30 Thanksgiving cards each year that our church uses to send grocery gift cards to members of our sister church in Milwaukee--so these 2 cards are a good start!

For my cards, I stamped the sentiment with Taylored Expressions Chocolate Truffle ink.  I die cut the sentiment with an older Spellbinders die called Labels 7--one of my favorite as it looks like a open book!  The background patterned paper is from a Carta Bella 6x6 paper pack called Americana.  

 

I am not sure who will post each month on their blog, but this is a list of the other ladies who do have blogs.  Links to the blogs of Jeanette, Terry, and Darlene.  Be sure to come back on September 6th to see another fun card from a set Unused No More. 

Image/Sentiment:  Unity Stamps Today I am Thankful

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Ivory Metallic; Stampin' Up Early Espresso; Carta Bella Americana 6x6 patterned paper

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Chocolate Truffle

Accessories:  Spellbinders Labels 7 Die; Stampin' Up Soft Suede Ribbon

Thank You

 

Today is the day I am posting my card for our One Plus Twelve challenge in 2026.  This is year number 8.  For this challenge, we are to use just one stamp, to make a card every month and post on the 3rd of each month.  For this year, I picked a Pinkfresh Studio set called Amazing Things.  The set includes a stamp set, matching dies, a 5-piece stencil set and a better press set. I am excited that I get to use this set every month for all of 2026 and have so many options.   

For my card this month, I used the press plate with hot foil for the image.  I then brush blended the image with the stencil set using shades of pinks and greens with Taylored Expression inks.    I then die cut the floral image with the matching die and layered twice. The background is a Simon Says Stamp Embossing Folder called Dotted Spiral. The sentiment is foiled from the same set.  I added some green Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Confetti Dots around the leaves.

 

Please be sure to check out the other One plus Twelve posts to see the sweet cards that Kelly and Jeanette have created for July!  Here is a link to both Jeanette's  and Kelly's blog.  Be sure to come back on September 3rd to see another fun card. 

Image/Sentiment: Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things press plate, stencil and die set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; 

Ink:  Pink Hot Foil; Taylored Expressions Key Lime, Mint Julep, Strawberry Milkshake, Pink Champagne, Rose Water

Accessories:  Simon Says Stamp Dotted Spiral Embossing Folder; Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Confetti Dots

Christmas in July

 

Today is the last day of July and I am posting a group of cards for our challenge-The Catch-up Club!  A few of my stamping friends, Darlene, Jeanette and Terry along with myself, have signed up for a number of virtual stamping events in the past 4+ years.  One of the benefits of these events are that they are available to rewatch or even watch for the first time at a later date as they are all recorded. The 4 of us "try" to watch live and chat by texting during the event.  But, life steps in and there are times when one or more of us are not participating during the live.  Then, the kits from sponsors sits in our stamping area until we are ready to watch the video and create.  During one of the events, we decided we needed to push ourselves (and each other) to get some of these events done!   So--we all decided to devote one day a month, the last day of the month for the somewhat procrastinators that we are, to post cards we missed making. 

 So--here we are in our 38th month of The Catch Up Club!  So, we are now on year #4

Reminder--these are not my own designs!  The cards are the designs of the other instructors from these classes.  I am just recreating the cards from the class. This month the creations are again from Sarah and The Paper Cut.

These Christmas cards from a Gold Trees parts & pieces kit that I recently bought at one of their Comment Sold Sales.  There were enough pieces for 15 cards and I also added a die cut tree in the inside of all of the cards.  There were 3 full kits, minus the sentiment, which was to be a gold embossed Christmas saying.  Then, there were enough parts to make 12 more cards--all of the background pieces, the trees and the gold strip.  I have many pieces left over that was die cut for the arch.  I used Christmas Sentiment pack from Pinkfresh Studio that were all gold foiled.    So, I finished the month with Christmas in July!

 

Sarah offers many different kinds of classes through the year and kits can be ordered from their website.  I have a few other virtual classes from The Paper Cut that need to be completed.   And, I also have parts of other virtual events and classes from many previous classes!

On a side note, this past weekend was the final sale at The Paper Cut in Appleton.  Sarah has sold the business to Brass & Bliss, so everything is moving to Tennessee.  Sarah still hopes to offer monthly classes with kits, but is not sure yet how everything will go.  It is good that I still have a number of full kits still to complete and I recently got maybe a dozen parts and pieces kits to make also!  I will be busy for a few months and I do hope that Sarah will continue to create kits!

I hope you enjoyed my cards!  Here are the links to the other of the Catch Up Club.  Please be sure to check out Jeanette's, Terry's, and Darlene's blogs.  They may post tomorrow or in the next few days but we have all promised to post cards that we have missed the making along the way!  Come back in August to see what else I am behind on!

Image/Sentiment:  Pinkfresh Studio Christmas  Sentiment Pack

Cardstock:  All included in kit--all are available from The Paper Cut

Ink:  None

Accessories:  Brass & Bliss Evergreen Trees Dies, Arch Die Set