Masculine Card Kits

Today is the last day of May and I am posting a set of cards for our newer challenge--Catch-up Club!  A few of my SCS and stamping friends, Darlene, Jeanette and Terry along with myself, have signed up for a number of virtual stamping events in the past 2 1/2 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 procrastinators that we are, to post cards we missed making.  So--here we are in our 6th month of The Catch Up Club!

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

These 4 sets of cards are from a recent virtual masculine card class sponsored by Sarah and The Paper Cut in Appleton.   I was not able to participate live, so I watched the replay a few days later and made the cards.  I bought two kits, so I have double of each of the cards.  Sarah included many options for the greetings.  The patterned paper was so fun and this is pack that is offered on The Paper Cut's website.  Sarah designs such awesome cards and many are fun folds!

 

Sarah offers many different kinds of classes through the year and kits can be ordered from their website.  And, there is an in-person class in September where we can make a boat-load of cards.  That will also be a virtual option.

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 today or tomorrow, but we have all promised to post cards that we have missed the making along the way!

Image/Sentiment: Masculine card kits from The Paper Cut--stamps are from Rubbernecker Stamps or Impression Obsession

Cardstock:  All included in kit

Ink:  Included 

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; All other items included in the kit

Easter Baskets!

 

Today is the day I am posting my card for our Challenge Your Stash group on SCS.  This is our 77th month of de-stash, so we are in the middle of our 7th year of challenges.  I cannot believe my thought about using what we have is now 6+ years old!   I really like these challenges and know they will continue as I know I have many, many items in my stash that I can use and love the fun challenges!

The premise is to create a card or something else that uses only items that are in your own stamp room--nothing new is to be purchased.  The hostess each month posts their challenge to the group. Each person in the group creates their card with their own image, their own papers, their own embellishments with their own supplies--using up items from their own stash!  The card can be for any occasion and each person is encouraged to send the card on its way to someone so it can be admired.  It is a way for us to step out of the box a bit and create something that follows a challenge--isn't that what a challenge is supposed to be.  And--no money is spent as all items are to be already available in each of own stamping spaces.

Sharon posted our May challenge--I am thinking of how we used to make May Day baskets and put them on the porches. Weave something or put a basket on your card.

I have had this panel with the Easter baskets sitting on my desk for a bit, waiting for a sentiment to use for my church next year.  Our church has a sister church in Milwaukee and we provide Easter and Thanksgiving meals to about 25 families.  Before Covid, these "baskets of food" were delivered to each of the families.  Now, we send a grocery gift card to them and I have made cards to go with each of the gift cards.  So--I always need to be sure to have enough cards for those holidays.  

I am not sure who makes the Easter basket patterned paper, but I picked the die from Impression Obsession.   I layered the words three times and the backer was cut from Early Espresso.  It was placed on a vellum circle over the patterned paper.  No embellishments were needed.   I hope Sharon likes my basket card!

 

If you check some of the blogs on my sidebar, you may find others who have posted their cards in the next few days. There may be more posted in the thread on SCS, so you might want to check out the link here.  We also have a keyword for the SCS Gallery--it is CYSMAY.  You might see many cards there if you do a search.  They probably will be posted today or in the next few days.

I hope you enjoyed my card and I know I am excited to check out what my other hoarders, I mean stash reducers have made!  Thanks for stopping by today!  For June, Shelly is up for our challenge.  Be sure to check back to see what we create then!

Image/Sentiment: Impression Obsession Happy Easter Die

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Cool Caribbean, Velumn; Easter Basket Patterned Paper

Ink: None

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Layering Circles Die

Four Seasons

These are four cards I recently made with a fun stamp and stencil set from Taylored Expressions called Four Seasons.  The two cards on the left were made with the coordinating Foil It panels. I used Copper Foil for the shine! I brush blended with my new Taylored Expressions ink pads--I recently bought the entire bundle.  The colors I picked were Candy Corn, Pineapple, Sprinkles and Lime Zest.  I received the newest colors last week, but I have not used them yet!  

The Thank You card was foiled and I used a Gina Marie Designs Peekaboo Rectangle die.  Then I trimmed in inside piece down so it looks more like a window card and the outer piece is on foam tape.  The Thank You was foiled in copper too and I used the On Occasion Foil It along with the coordinating dies. Some Trinity Stamps Bubble Bath Embellishments are in the middle panel.

The Thanks card was stamped in black ink and brush blended. I picked the Get The Word Out Thanks stamp and inked it with Candy Corn.  I layered it twice and placed it over a vellum circle.  Some iridescent gems were added on the circle.

Another foiled background was used for the Happy Birthday on a vellum oval.  I did foil the Happy Birthday from the On Occasions Foil It set and die cut it out with the matching die.  I have a number of foiled words from the same set ready to use when needed. I also added a layer of Old Gold Metallic behind the inked panel.  I used another set of iridescent gems around the words.  

And finally, the black Happy Birthday was die cut from the Foil It panel without any foil added.  The ink blended panel was die cut with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2 and layered with a black panel.  The additional sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp Birthday Sentiment set. No embellishments were needed on this card.

I hope you enjoyed my cards and I am set with 4 fun and colorful cards to send in the future!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Four Seasons Stamp set,  stencils and Foil It Panels, On Occasion Foil It Panels, Get the Word Out-Thanks/Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White, Old Gold Mirricard; Stampin' Up Black, Daffodil Delight, Cool Caribbean; 

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black; Taylored Expressions Candy Corn, Pineapple, Sprinkles, Lime Zest; Thermoweb Copper Foil

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Gina Marie Designs Peekaboo Rectangle Dies; Trinity Stamps Bubble Bath Embellishments; Iricedent Bling; 

Big Grumpy Cat

Here we are--this is the Double Duty Day!  This is the 29th month, so we are now in year #3

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 May, the company we showcasing is Taylored Expressions.  This is a favorite company of all of us. I have attended Stamp Joy events in Des Moines the past two years and plan to go again in October.  I have also participated in their virtual events that started during Covid and have continued to be held in the spring.  Taylor has also had classes in some of the other virtual events that have been held.

The stamp set I picked is an older one called Big Grumpy Cat.  It also comes with a matching die and 6 fun sentiments. I also have Big Grumpy and that also has some funny sentiments.  Both of the Grumpy sets make me smile.  For both cards, I stamped the image with my Hero Arts Intense Black ink and colored it with my Copic Sketch Markers. I die cut the image with the matching die. 

For the first card, I picked some fun patterned paper that highlights coffee.  The background shows some steaming mugs and I added a strip of coffee beans.  The ribbon is Early Espresso Taffeta from Stampin' Up--so appropriate!   

For the second card, the pattered paper highlights some to-go cups with cute words and phrases.  I used a Stampin' Up embossing folder called Tasteful Textile for some texture on the background panel. I added a few enamel dots on this card.

Both cards use the same Grumpy Cat image, along with the same sentiment.  They were both colored with Copic Markers.  I also used some patterned paper that highlights coffee in some form!  

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

Next month the company we are using is Simon Says Stamp.  So be sure to check out our cards on June 22nd!  

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Grumpy Cat Stamp Set and die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Calypso Coral, Night of Navy, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Perfect Blend and Pebbles Pick Me Up Patterned Paper

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Stampin' Up Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon; Enamel Dots

Create It 3 Ways IG Hop

 

This is a set of three cards that I posted on Instagram yesterday for a new hop called Create It 3 Ways! This hop is to showcase triple inspiration by creating 3 cards by choosing our own category to feature across all three cards.   The theme for May is masculine cards vby celebrating Father's Day or celebrating a male loved one.  My category was to use the same oldie but goodie Stampin' Up set called Dapper Dad.  I love the focal point of the bold images.

These cards also highlight a fun package of Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up called Country Club.  I love the plaids, argyles and the cute golf card paper! All of the sentiments are from various Simon Says Sentiment Strip Packs.  

This hop on Instagram will happen every month on the third Saturday--see, another three!  If anyone is interested in joining up, contact Amrita on IG @amritapettus.  I know I will be back hopping in June!

Image/Sentiment:  Stampin' Up Dapper Dad/Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Poppy Parade, Garden Green, Old Olive, Basic Black, Gray, Country Club Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black; Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Night of Navy

Accessories:  Cuttlebug Houndstooth Embossing Folder; Copic Markers; Gina Marie Pierced Chain Oval Dies; Stampin' Up Denim Ribbon; Enamel Dots

Best of the Bunch

Today is the 15th and this is my card for our The Creative Crew!  We are a group of 7 and all one team--Jeanette, Carol, Darlene, Lorraine, Terry, Tracie and me. Each month will be a new challenge posed by one of the members sending out a kit.  This month Tracie sent us all a sweet kit.  It was perfect for Tracie's theme of May Flowers! 

Tracie sent everyone this sweet image from Avery Elle called The Best of the Bunch.  I thought it looked like a raccoon, but when I got the details from Tracie, she said it was a fox!  I had already colored one of the images that she had die cut, so I went with it.  Fox-Raccoon? You Choose!  She also included some sweet papers by Echo Park along with some flowers from the Taylored Expressions Garden Variety set.  Tracie also had some sweet bling and fibers too--a Packed Card Kit!

I colored the "animal" image with my Copic Sketch Markers and found a sweet sketch from a 2022 Sheet Load of Cards layout that was able to showcase some of the pretty papers Tracie sent. The sentiment was from the assortment Tracie sent and I thought this was a pretty card for sending smiles.   I added the twine along with various bling to the card for the added sparkle!  This was fun card to make!

Tracie also asked us to tell what our favorite flower is.  My standard answer to that question--"Whatever is Blooming in our Garden at this Time".  So, right now, I love tulips, bluebells and lilacs.   Later it will be lilies and irises.  Also hydrangea and lupines.  Later in the summer will be sunflowers.  We start seeds under grow lights in the late winter and move them to our greenhouse early in May.  Mid-May I then transplant into the pots and baskets that are on our deck and driveway.   So, we have lots of petunias and colorful coleus in the greenhouse right now. There are a few buds of petunias ready to bloom.  I then move them out to their summer location Memorial Day Weekend as the chance of frost in Wisconsin is probably gone!

I hope all of The Creative Crew Gals enjoy my card this month.  Please be sure to stop in to see what fun crafty cards are posted this month.  All of the blogs can be found on my left sidebar.  Our teammate Lorraine does not have a blog, so please check out her card in her SCS gallery.   I am sure you will enjoy all of the wonderful creations this month!   

We will be back in June with the kit I will be sending out.  I do not have a theme yet, so had better start thinking!  Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun she has planned!

Image/Sentiment: Avery Elle Best of the Bunch

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  White;  Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Melon Mamba,  Granny Apple Green;  Echo Park Paper New Day Patterned Paper

Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Twine; Pinkfresh Gems; Taylored Expressions Garden Variety Dies for Flowers

Thankful

 

Today is the the 12th and it is time for another Hot Mess card.   This is card number 48, so we are at the end of year #4. 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 this month's messiness, I went with my Newton's Nook Basketweave Stencil.  I put a layer of Snowdrop White Paper Glaze from Picket Fence Studio on a piece of black cardstock.  After it dried, I put the stencil back on the top and then brushed blended some inks on the top.  I used Gina K Designs ink cubes in Red Velvet, Sweet Mango and Wild Dandelion.  I like that you still can see the black behind the basketweave.  I die cut the panel with my Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2--my absolute favorite die to use for a card front panel. I added a white layer behind the embossed panel, cut with the same die set.  I layered on a black notecard.  I then die cut Thankful from my Simon Says Stamp Thankful For You die set three times from black and placed it on the backer cut from white.   The sentiment is from a Gina K Designs Sentiment strip.  I added some Trinity Stamps Midnight Ball embellishments around the card!

I really like the look of my card and hope you do too.  I also sure hope my fellow messy ladies like it too!  Here are the links to the other somewhat messy crafters:   Carol, 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 to on June 12th.  

Image/Sentiment:  Simon Says Stamp Thankful For You Die set and Gina K Designs Sentiment Strip

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Basic Black; The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White

Ink:  Gina K Designs Red Velvet, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion

Accessories:   Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Picket Fence Paper Glaze-Snowdrift White; Newton's Nook Basket Weave Stencil; Trinity Stamps Midnight Ball Embellishments; 

Pinkfresh Florals

This is my May card for the monthly themed swap that Terry is hosting on SCS. Each month she will post a theme and we make cards using any stamp set we believe follows that thought. The theme for May is "Flowers" 

I have been playing with a few of my Pinkfresh Studio stamp set lately and they have beautiful florals.  This stamp set is called Hydrangea and Rose.  Plus, the set has coordinating washi tape along with a die set.  I went with the washi tape and then die cut the pretty colored flowers. The background is Stampin' Up's Greenery Cover Plate, cut from white.  I added an oval cut from Studio Katia's Dotted Oval Die, cut from Petal Pink. I then layered the die cut flowers around the oval.  The sentiment is from the same set and die cut with Gina K Designs Sentiment Strip Dies.  Petal Pink Pearl Embellishments from Trinity Stamps were added for the final touch.

I hope Terry and the others swappers like my card this month too! Terry has posted all of the 2023 themes, so be sure to come back to see what we create!  

Image/Sentiment:  Pinkfresh Studio Hydrangea and Rose Stamp set, washi tape and die set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Stampin' Up Petal Pink

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Stitched Greenery Cover Plate; Trinity Stamps Petal Pink Pearls; Studio Katia Dotted Oval Die; 

Alex's Florals

 

Today is the 9th and it is now time for another The Three Musketeers post. We are ready to showcase the card we all created with the Magnolia Stellata image from Crackerbox Stamps that Jeanette sent out for our May card, #105! That means we are in the middle of year number 7 with this fun challenge! All three of us sure have enjoyed the challenges every month and we hope that it continues for a long time! 

There is a bit of a story behind this pretty image!  This image was designed by a guy named Alex for Crackerbox Stamps and he lives in Ukraine.  He had to leave his house one morning after a nearby explosion and he now lives in a small apartment.  He drew the flowers in the recent release by Crackerbox and the company is donating all of the profits from the sales in April to Alex.  Because of this story and the beautiful image Jeanette sent, I too bought some of these stamps in April.  And, as a side note, they are based less than an hour from my house!  

I colored the die cut image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  For the front panel, I cut an oval from a piece of white with a Gina Marie Designs Oval Peekaboo die.  I then die cut the panel with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2 to get the stitching around the edge.  And, finally, I embossed the panel with a Simon Says Stamp folder called Magnetic 3-D.  I then popped up the panel over the colored image for the look of a frame.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp Sentiment set and was die cut with a banner from Gina K Designs.  The entire panel was layered on Certainly Celery and then a white card base, that was embossed with one of my favorite Stampin' Up embossing folders called Subtle Dynamic.  I love the bit of texture it gives to the base. I then added some clear bling around the image and they pick up the colors of the image.   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 great cards!  Please be sure to check back a few days on their blogs as my card is late. Kelly is up for our June challenge--please be sure to join us again. 

Image/Sentiment:  Crackerbox Stamps Magnolia Stellata/Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Package

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Spectrum Noir 100# Ultra Smooth Premium White; Stampin' Up Certainly Celery

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black  

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Gina Marie Designs Oval Peekaboo Die; Simon Says Stamp Magnetic 3-D Embossing Folder; Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder;   Clear Bling

Gift of Music

This is my May Crafters of Faith card.  This is a sweet group on SCS that Faye hosts.  Jeanette is the hostess this month and gave everyone this challenge:

Scripture:  Psalm 104:33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Challenge: Create a card/project inspired by one of your favorite hymns.

I looked and looked for an image to use for the theme, but did not not come up with one.  However, I picked one of my favorite D. Morgan stamps called Gift of Music.  I stamped the image and colored parts with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I layered the image on black and then on some musical patterned paper.   I added a few colorful enamel dots for the final touch!

I hope you and the others from the Crafters of Faith group like my card this month!  And, I hope that Jeanette is not disappointed that I did not totally follow her challenge.   We are to post on the 7th of each month, so if you look on my sidebar, you may see other creations.  I know that there will be many posted in the COF thread on SCS too!  

Image/Sentiment:  Stamps Happen D. Morgan Gift of Music

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Stampin' Up Basic Black, Basic Gray; Musical Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; Colorful Enamel Dots

Gold Sympathy

 

This is my 5th One Plus Twelve card for 2023--this is year number 5.   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 2023, I picked a Taylored Expressions stamp and die set called Graceful Ferns.  I think this set is so versatile and I picked the largest fern image to use each month.  There is a With Sympathy sentiment and coordinating die in the same set, so that is what I used this month.  

For my card this month, I first picked a 6x6 package of Crate Paper Ink Drops in Rose--love the movement of the colors.  I inked the image and sentiment with Versamark and used gold embossing powder.  I die cut the leaf image along with the sentiment with the coordinating dies.  I also die cut another leaf from the same set with The Paper Cut's Gold Mirricard.  I placed a panel from the patterned paper on the right side of the card base and then added the die cut elements.  I added some Taylored Expressions Gold Drip Drops for the final touch.

 

Please be sure to check out the other One plus Twelve cards to see what they picked for their stamp of the year for this challenge in 2023.  Here is a link to both Jeanette's  and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will enjoy checking out each of our cards using the same stamp for 2023. I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card and that you might too! Be sure to come back on June 3rd to see our cards for the next month!

Image/Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Graceful Ferns Stamp and Die Set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White' Crate Paper Ink Drops-Rose 6x6 Patterned Paper Package

Ink: Versamark and Gold Embossing Folder

Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Gold Drip Drops