Brooms & Boos

 

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 September, I picked a set from Newton's Nook called Blooms & Boos. I send quite a few Halloween cards, so now I can add one more.

For my card, I stamped one of the 3 witch images and colored it with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I also stamped one of the sentiments along with 3 bats.  The background patterned paper and skull strip from both sides of an Echo Park Paper from the Happy Halloween line.  I die cut the sentiment and the black backer from a Taylored Expressions set called Modern Label Sentiments. I added some orange sequins on my card for a bit of bling!  I think it is a cute card and I hope you do too!

 

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 October 6th to see another fun card from a set Unused No More. 

Image/Sentiment:   Newton's Nook Brooms & Boos 

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Taylored Expressions Candy Corn; Purple; Echo Park Happy Halloween patterned paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Orange Sequins; Taylored Expressions Modern Labels Sentiment Dies; Copic Sketch Markers

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

Crafty Gnome

 

Today is the 19th, so here is my March 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 March card, I picked a fun Photo Play Paper stamp and die set called Crafting With My Gnomes.  And, the sentiment came from the same set. The Echo Park Paper patterned paper called Let's Create is the perfect match.  The Crafter sticker came from the same pack.  I used my Taylored Expressions All Planned Out 3 Die set for the layers.  I stamped the gnome image and sentiment with my Hero Arts Intense Black ink.  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and then die cut the image and sentiment with matching dies.  The sentiment die and backer is from the TE set.  I added some navy glitter dots around the card.  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 April 19th and will show you another gnome, so stay tuned!

Image/Sentiment:  Photo Play Stamps Crafting With My Gnomies Stamp and Die Set 

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Stampin' Up Night of Navy; Echo Park Paper Let's Create Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; Navy Glitter Dots; Taylored Expressions All Planned Out 3

Let's Get Crafty!

 

Today 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 February,  I picked a stamp set from Taylored Expressions called Gus and Gertie Get Crafty.  There is a stamp set, a coordinating die and 4 sentiments.  I think I sent this image once to the Creative Crew to use for the monthly challenge. 

I stamped the cute image on my panel and colored with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I die cut the image and 2 additional layers to make it a bit more sturdy along with added dimension.  I die cut one of the sentiments too. I used a brand new Stampin' Up embossing folder called Lovely Stripes for the background.  I then used some fun crafty patterned paper from Echo Park Paper called Let's Create to make two panels for the front of the card.   A few enamel dots complete the card.

The sentiment is perfect for this card as we are at 29 days until the No Foolin' Retreat.  YES, less than a month!

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


Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Gus and Gertie Let's Get Crafty Stamp Set and Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White Stampin' Up Basic Black; Echo Park Paper Let's Create Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Lovely Stripes Embossing Folder; Copic Sketch Markers; Enamel Dots

32 Christmas Cards

 

Happy New Year!

Today I am posting a set of 32 cards that I recently made, after Christmas, from an event that was held in July.  This was a class that Jennifer from Stamplistic taught in Crafters Classroom called The Big A2 32 Christmas Cards.  These are not my own designs, thought I might have tweaked a card or two.  

Crafters Classroom is a Saturday FB event that showcases maybe 8-10 companies once a month. I have participated with The Paper Cut classes nd this is the second time I have bought a kit from Jennifer.  This was a fun class that used just two 6x6 paper pack to make the cards--not one bit of stamping!  The Echo Park Paper Packs are called Christmas Time and Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.  It includes 8 pages of what Jennifer called "cut aparts" Those are the sentiments in the middle of each of the cards. 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.

 

The top set of cards was made with the Christmas Time package and those colors are more old fashioned or county colors.  The bottom set of cards uses the Have a Holly Jolly Christmas pack and they are the traditional bright colors and also some highlight holiday baking.  I now have a stack of cards ready to go for 2025!

I hope you enjoyed my cards!  

Image/Sentiment:  None!

Cardstock:   Card bases and patterned paper included in kit using Echo Park Paper Christmas Time and Have a Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 Paper Packs; Stampin' Up Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Garden Green

Ink:  None

Accessories:  Silver Bling Included 

Happy Holidays

 

Today is the 15th and this is my card this month for our The Creative Crew!  We are a group of 7--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, Lorraine sent out a sweet Christmas Kit! The image is from a Brutus Monroe set called Peppermint Lane.  She also sent a few different sentiments and the one I picked is from Close to my Heart called Happy Holidays.  Lorraine sent some images die cut with the coordinating die as well as a couple on quarter sheets of cardstock.  She also included some sweet holiday patterned paper.  I think Lorraine included some embellishments in the kits, but I did not get any.  I added my own.

I colored one of the die cut images with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I added some highlights with clear Wink of Stella on the roof and chimney were the snow is piled.  I picked the blue and white stars paper for my background and cut the layer and white metallic backer with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2. I added a black layer behind my sentiment and added the sentiment with foam adhesive behind it.  I added some peppermint candy clay embellishments on the sentiment panel.  This was a very fun card to make!  

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 fun holiday cards!

We will be back in November with another challenge that Tracie will sending out.  Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun is planned!

Image/Sentiment:  Brutus Monroe Peppermint Lane/Close to My Heart Happy Holidays Sentiment

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  White; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; The Paper Cut White Metallic;  Echo Park Paper Let's Go Camping Patterned Paper

Ink:  Black 

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers;  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Trinity Stamps Peppermint Candy Clay Embellishments; Clear Wink of Stella

Happy Howl-oween

 

Today is the 15th and this is my card this month for our The Creative Crew!  We are a group of 7--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, I sent out a Halloween Kit! The image and sentiment is from Newton's Nook and is called Happy Howl-oween!  I sent some images die cut with the coordinating die as well as a couple on quarter sheets of cardstock.  I included some cute Halloween patterned paper along with a strip of candy corn ribbon.

I colored one of the die cut images with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I added some highlights with white gel pen. I used three of the Halloween papers for the background and strips--one is the front and back side.  I punched out the sentiment and backer with my Stampin' Up circle punches. I added some black enamel dots with a bit of sparkle! The strip of ribbon is on the inside of my card.  This was a very fun card to make!  

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 fun grilling cards and see what my teammates like on the grill!

We will be back in October with another challenge that Lorraine will sending out.  Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun is planned!

Image/Sentiment:  Newton's Nook Happy Howl-oween

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Tim Holtz/Ranger Heavyweight Distress White; Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black; Echo Park Paper Happy Halloween--Bat Festival and Haunted Houses Patterned Papers

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black 

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers;  Stampin' Up 2 Circle Punches; Black Glitter Enamel Dots

Taylored Expressions Lily

 

Today is the 9th and it is now time for another The Three Musketeers post. This round, I was the hostess and sent out a pretty Big Blooms-Lily from Taylored Expressions!  I sent a couple images that I die cut with the coordinating die and a few on quarter sheets.    So for March, this is card #115 and we are into year number 10!  I cannot believe this trio has been going strong for 10 plus years!  

I picked one of the die cut images and colored it with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I added two layers under the image for some dimension and strength. I picked a yellow gingham patterned paper from Echo Park paper for the background.  I added a strip of white cardstock on the side, where I stamped a Happy Easter sentiment from a Sweet 'N Sassy set called He Lives.  For the final touch, I added some Pinkfresh Studio clear gems with gold dust around 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!  Jeanette will be up for our April challenge.   Please be sure to join us again. 

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Big Blooms-Lily stamp and matching die; Sweet 'N Sassy He Lives Sentiment

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight; Echo Park Paper Easter Wishes Patterned Paper

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Pinkfresh Studio Clear Gems with Gold Dust

Frosty Flakes

  

Today is the 15th and this is my card this month 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 I am the hostess and sent out a kit with this sweet snowman image from Penny Black called Frosty Flakes.  I also included some fun winter patterned paper from Echo Park paper and the Winter Magic Line along with some snowflakes for bling!

I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers and then die cut it with a Sizzix Dotted Square Die.  It is a very large image, so not much of the snowflake patterned paper was going to show, so I added two strips from the other two patterns for a bit of interest!    I added some of the Taylored Expressions clay snowflakes around the image. This was a very fun card to make!

I hope all of The Creative Crew Gals enjoy my cards 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 snowy creations this month!   

We will be back in February with the image Jeanette will be sending out.   Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun we  have planned!

Image/Sentiment:  Penny Black Frosty Flakes Stamp Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Gina K Designs Artist Choice White; Echo Park Paper-The Winter Magic Line--Winter Frost, Frozen Floral and Magic Snowflake Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intensified Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Clay Snowflakes; Sizzix Dotted Square Die

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

Easel Post-a-Note Holder

This is my January 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:  Isaiah 43:19 Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

Challenge: Do something new with this month's card/project (a new color combination, a new fancy fold, a new technique, etc.).

I decided to check out the tutorials on SplitCoast Stampers and this was the top one--Easel Note Holder.  I picked a fun 6x6 paper pack from Echo Park Paper called Let's Create.  Some of the panels were the exact size needed for the front of the easel.  And, I love the saying!   No embellishments needed! 

The following picture shows the open Easel Post-a-Note Holder

I hope you and the others from the Crafters of Faith group like my card this month!  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:  None

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Mint Macaron, Calypso Coral; Echo Park Paper 6x6 Let's Create Patterned Paper Pack

Ink:  None

Accessories:  3x3 Post A Note Pack

Haunted House

It is time for another The Three Musketeers post. We are ready to showcase the card we all created with the image from CC Designs called Haunted House that Kelly sent out for our October card, #98! 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! 

I think this is such a fun image.  Kelly sent us one image that she die cut and 2 on card fronts.  I picked the die cut one and colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers. The background bat paper is from Echo Park Paper and is called Happy Halloween-Graveyard. The reverse side has the Halloween words that I used on the bottom strip instead of a sentiment.    I added some black glitter enamel dots  for the final touch!   I hope Jeanette and Kelly along with you enjoy my card!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the patterned paper:

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!  They may post today or tomorrow, so be sure to check out their blogs for their card!  I am up for our November challenge.  Please be sure to join us again. 

Image/Sentiment:  CC Designs Haunted House

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  White;  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie; Echo Happy Halloween-Graveyard Patterned Paper

Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Black Glitter Enamel Dot