Encore Challenge

 

Today I am a few days late, but I am posting my card for the The Encore Challenge!  This is a monthly challenge to be posted on the 25th 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 May,  I picked a stamp from Taylored Expressions called Patriotic Prose-Brave as I am making 22 invites for our 4th of July party. 

I have lots and lots of 4th of July/Patriotic patterned paper, so I picked the background out first.  I thought the fireworks pattern would not complete with the stamped sentiment.  I used Taylored Expressions Watermelon ink and also a layer of cardstock behind the patterned paper.  I added some red and blue enamel dots around the sentiment as my only embellishment.  21 more to go!!!!!!

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 June 25th to see another fun card for The Encore Challenge!


Image/Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Patriotic Prose-Brave Stamp 

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Taylored Expressions Watermelon; Masterpiece Studio Patriotic Stars Patterned Paper

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Watermelon

Accessories:  Enamel Stars

The Patriotic A2

 

Today is the last day of June and I am posting a set 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 3+ 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 15th month of The Catch Up Club!

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 from Jennifer at Stamplistic, called The Patriotic A2.

These cards are from class from a Crafters Classroom on June 8th.  It is a Saturday FB event that showcases maybe 8-10 companies once a month. I have participated with The Paper Cut classes, but this is the first time I have bought a kit from another company. This was a fun class that used just a 6x6 paper pack to make the cards--not one bit of stamping!  The Echo Park Paper Pack is called Stars and Stripes Forever.  It includes 8 pages of what Jennifer called "cut aparts" Those are the sentiments in the middle of each of the cards.  

I decided to order this kit as I have a family and friends 4th of July picnic at our house every year on the Sunday closest to the holiday.  July 4th was my dad's birthday and we always had a picnic/party at the farm.  I have been hosting for over 25 years and we usually have around 30 adults and kids come. I send handmade cards each year with the invitation inside and I used all I had for this year.  So--now I have a stash for 2025.  All of the cards are flat, other than a bit of bling, so they are easy to mail!  The cardbase and bling was included in the kit.  I added a layer of cardstock behind the sentiment and the patterned paper.

 

I enjoyed the simplicity of these cards and I also ordered the kit for July, which are Christmas cards, using a holiday 6x6 paper pack.  Maybe I will watch live--but I doubt it!   I have a few other virtual classes from Sarah and The Paper Cut that need to be completed. And,  I also have parts of other virtual events and classes from 2023 and earlier this year that need to be completed.   I am already way behind, so more Catch Up to Come!

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:  None!

Cardstock:   Card bases and patterned paper included in kit using Echo Park Paper Stars and Stripes Forever 6x6 Paper Pack; Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy

Ink:  None

Accessories:  Silver Bling Included 

Gnome of the Brave

Today I am showing you a card for my monthly challenge for 2021--At Home With Gnomes. Each month I will create a card using one of my many gnome images. 

For this card, I picked gnome and sentiment from the Unity Stamp Set called Gnome of the Brave!  I colored this cute image with my Copic Sketch Markers. I used some fun patterned star paper from We R Memory Keepers.  I picked a fun sentiment from the many in this set.   I added a few red pearls along with red, white and blue baker's twine for the final touch!  

Here is the inside of my card:

I am sure I have more than enough gnome images to use a different one each month.  I will be back in August and will show you another gnome, so stay tuned!

Image/Sentiment:  Unity Stamps Gnome of the Brave Stamp Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler; We R Memory Keepers Stars Patterned Paper

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Red Pearls; Red, White and Blue Baker's Twine

Home of the Brave

This is my card for our June swap for my local stamp store called Polka Dots.  The theme is Summer or Patriotic!  I picked a favorite stamp set from Taylored Expressions called Home off The Brave-and it comes with a coordinating die set. I stamped the flag with my TE ink cubes--easy to do!  The background paper is from a Our Memories for Life pack called Red, White & Beautiful.  I see that I did not cut the sentiment strip very straight--oh well, it is on an angle for a reason!  We also include envelopes with our swap cards, so I stamped a heart image on the corner!

Here is the inside of my card:

I am sure I will get back some sweet cards!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Home of the Brave stamp and die set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White ; Stampin' Up Night of Navy;  Gina K Designs Lipstick Red;  Our Memories for Life Red, White & Beautiful

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp Intense Black; Taylored Expressions Blue Corn, Cherry Pop

Accessories:  None

Crafters of Faith

This is my July Crafters of Faith card.  This is a great group that my friend Kelly started on SCS and we are well in our 4th year.  Kelly is the hostess this month and gave everyone this challenge:

Scripture:  Psalm 33:12 (KJV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Challenge:  July is often remembered for the 4th of July, backyard BBQ's, picnics and school being out for the summer! Let's take a moment to reflect that it also means a great freedom for all of us and celebrate spiritually as well. Create a card/project with a flag somewhere on it - either a stamp, die cuts, the colors red/white/and blue!

I picked a Taylored Expression stamp set called Home of the Brave that I got last year but have not inked up yet. I used my Stampin' Up Real Red and Night of Navy spots to ink up the image as they are much easier to control that full sized ink pads.  I then die cut the image with the coordinating die called Land of the Free.  The blue background is embossed with one of my favorite folders--Subtle Dynamic from Stampin' Up.  The sentiment is also from the same set and I added a few Navy Glitter Enamel Dots as an embellishment. I really like the look of this card!  And, if you look back at my 4th of July card, you will see that I used the frame of the die cut on another card, so be sure to check it out!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of Patriot Patterned Paper:

I hope Kelly and the others from the Crafters of Faith group like my card this month!  We are to post between the 7th and 10th 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!  Liz is up for our August challenge, so be sure to check back to see what I create!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Home of the Brave

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Neenah Class Crest Solar 110# White; Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy;

Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy

Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Land of the Free Die;  Stampin' Up Subtle Dynamic Embossing Folder; Blue Glitter Enamel Dots

Happy 4th of July

This is a fun card to celebrate the holiday today!  Today is a special day as it is my dad's birthday and we always had a picnic at the farm when he was alive.  After he passed in 1989, I took on the tradition of holding the family party.  Last year we had 46 family and close friends attending the cookout!  We decided that we could not hold it this year so we will sure have a huge bash in 2021.  We are going to go to a friend's house for a cookout and will have the traditional Brads, Italians, Hash Brown Casserole, Baked Beans and a few beers!

I made a card using the Taylored Expression Land of the Free die that I am posting on the 8th and I used the frame of the USA for this card.  The sentiment is from the Home of the Brave stamp set and I used my coordinating Simple Strips Dies and Backers to cut it out.  The blue star patterned paper is Reminisce and is called G'Day--the backside is actually Australian words!   The final touch are some red sequins.  I really like the look of this card!  And, be sure to check out my card next Wednesday to see the "other half" of the die!

Here is the inside of my card:

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Home of the Brave

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Neenah Class Crest Solar 110# White; Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy; Reminisce G'Day Patterned Paper

Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red,

Accessories:  Taylored Expressions Land of the Free Die, Simple Strips and Backer Dies; Red Sequins

Friday's With The Project Bin

Happy Flag Day!

It is Friday, so  that means that I am back with another card for The Project Bin Stamps--A Way With Words!  Every Friday,  I post a card made from one of their great photopolymer stamp sets.  So, please plan to come back each week to see what I have created--I think you too will love these great sentiment stamp sets.  And, remember, some of the sets come with matching steel dies! Denise is the owner, founder and creator of these wonderful stamp sets.  The sentiments she has for us to ink up are just perfect for any holiday or time of year.  Please be sure to go and check them out! 

I am so excited to see what great stamp sets Denise has in mind for the future.  I am sure she will have some wonderful sentiments for us to ink up and for you to consider purchasing!  I just know you too will love creating cards with these stamp sets!!!  

If you want to check out more creations from the design team, be sure to check out The Project Bin Blog as often as you can.  Every day there is a different card posted by one of more of the design team members.  

I used one of my favorite stamp sets--Red, White & Boom!  This set comes with 8  great sentiment and image stamps, that can be used for almost any patriotic occasion.  It is a great summer set!  I plan to use this card as an invite for our annual 4th of July party this year!  AND--as a bonus, you can get this set free during the month of June.  Be sure to check out the store to see details!

Here is Red, White & Boom! stamp set:

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope you have enjoyed my card for The Project Bin. Check back on every week, any day for inspiration for the team but especially on Friday's to check out my cards. I am so excited to be on this wonderful design team!

Image/Sentiment:  The Project Bin Red, White & Boom Stamp Set

Cardstock: Recollections 110# Ivory; Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy; Echo Park Let Freedom Ring Patterned Paper

Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red

Accessories:  MFT Stitched Dome Frames; Stampin' Up 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon; Gina Marie Designs Blue Glitter Dots

Friday's With The Project Bin

It is Friday, so  that means that I am back with another card for The Project Bin Stamps--A Way With Words!  Every Friday,  I post a card made from one of their great photopolymer stamp sets.  So, please plan to come back each week to see what I have created--I think you too will love these great sentiment stamp sets.  And, remember, some of the sets come with matching steel dies! Denise is the owner, founder and creator of these wonderful stamp sets.  The sentiments she has for us to ink up are just perfect for any holiday or time of year.  Please be sure to go and check them out! 

I am so excited to see what great stamp sets Denise has in mind for the future.  I am sure she will have some wonderful sentiments for us to ink up and for you to consider purchasing!  I just know you too will love creating cards with these stamp sets!!!  

If you want to check out more creations from the design team, be sure to check out The Project Bin Blog as often as you can.  Every day there is a different card posted by one of more of the design team members.  

I used one of my favorite stamp sets--Red, White & Boom!  This set comes with 8  great sentiment and image stamps, that can be used for almost any patriotic occasion.  It is a great summer set!  I plan to use this card as an invite for our annual 4th of July party this year!

AND--as a bonus, you can get this set free during the month of June.  Be sure to check out the store to see details!

Here is Red, White & Boom! stamp set:

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope you have enjoyed my card for The Project Bin. Check back on every week, any day for inspiration for the team but especially on Friday's to check out my cards. I am so excited to be on this wonderful design team!

Image/Sentiment:  The Project Bin Red, White & Boom Stamp Set

Cardstock: Recollections 110# Ivory; Stampin' Up Real Red, Night of Navy; Reminisce Red Glitter Stars Patterned Paper

Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 4 Dies; Stampin' Up Night of Navy Seam Binding; Red and White Glitter Dots

Happy 4th of July

I wanted to post a card today to honor the 4th of July holiday.  This image is from Melonheadz and I love this guy!  Happy Birthday United States of America!  I hope you all have a Fantastic Day!

Image/Sentiment:  Melonheadz July 4th 2013 Combo Pack

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Recollections 110# White; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy; Pebbles 4th of July Patterned Paper

Accessories: Stampin' Up  Designer Label Punch; Red, White and Blue Baker's Twine; White Star Brads