Hello Spring!

 

First--this is a bit of a sad day as it is the last day of the No Foolin' Retreat.  I am sure we all had an amazing time, but we will all be packing up to head home this afternoon.  But, we get to do it all over again in 2026--YAY!!!!!!!!

But also, today is the day I post a card 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 April, I picked a Sweet Newton's Nook stamp that I have not gotten inky called Hello Spring.  I picked this company as they are only a few miles from the retreat house and a couple of year ago, Jen, the owner and designer of Newton's Nook, stopped for a make & take with us.  So Fun!

For my card,  I stamped the image with Hero Arts Intense Black ink. I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and used rainbow colors for the word Spring!  I die cut the image and backer with a MFT Die Set called Stitched Arch Stax.  I had planned to make a acetate card with a clear middle, but I got messed up in cutting the pretty patterned paper.  So, the raindrops are in the background and the Spring Umbrella pieces are connected with a strip of acetate, that is over the raindrops.    I added some Stampin' Up Dots around the image which has dimension over the paper and acetate.

 

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,   Carol,   Terry,   Darlene,  Shelly, and Rebekah.  Be sure to come back on May 6th to see another fun card from a set Unused No More.  

Image/Sentiment:  Newton's Nook Hello Spring Stamp

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana; Taylored Expressions Candy Corn; Spring Patterned Paper; Acetate

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; My Favorite Things-MFT Stitched Arch Stax; Stampin' Up Dots; 

Happy Retreat Day

 

First--Happy Retreat Day.  Today is the start of the No Foolin' Retreat that I am hosting at Gather House in Waunakee.  I picked up Darlene at the airport yesterday.  This morning, we are meeting Terry at my house and caravanning the hour plus to meet Jeanette at the retreat house.  The 4 of us are going out for breakfast and then setting up for 3+ days of amazing fun, crafting, food, laughs and huge smiles with 11 sweet ladies. I am looking forward to a huge swag bag, sweet door prizes, a very funny and lively white elephant crafty game along with tons of giggles!  I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!  

But, then today is also the day I am posting my card for our first One Plus Twelve challenge in 2025.  This is year number 7.  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 Gina K Designs set called Blooming Sunflower.  The set includes a sweet  stamp set and matching dies for the image and all four of the sentiments.  I am excited that I get to use this set every month for all of 2025. 

For my card this month, I stamped the image with Versamark ink and added Brutus Monroe Penny Embossing Powder.  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and die cut both the image and sentiment.   I then picked a Pinkfresh Studio Cover called Dotted Chevrons plate for the background and used Copper Mirricard to match the embossing.  I added a panel of white that was die cut and layer three times with another Pinkfresh Studio Cover Plate called Simply Diamonds.    I added some Pinkfresh Glacier Jewels around the image and sentiment.

 

Please be sure to check out the other One plus Twelve posts to see the the stamp set for the 2025 cards that Kelly and Jeanette have created for April!  Here is a link to both Jeanette's  and Kelly's blog.  Be sure to come back on May 3rd to see another fun card. 

Image/Sentiment:  Gina K Designs Blooming Sunflower stamp and die set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White, Copper Mirricard

Ink: Versamark; Brutus Monroe Penny Embossing Powder

Accessories:  Pinkfresh Studio Simply Diamonds Cover Plate, Dotted Chevron Cover Plate, Glacier Jewels; Copic Sketch Markers