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; 

Seasonal Sprig

 

Today is the 25th and I am posting 4 cards 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 July,  I picked a bundle from Taylored Expressions called Seasonal Sprig. I used this set a few years ago for my swap cards at Stamp Joy--the event TE sponsors in the fall in Des Moines.  The set includes a stamp set, matching stencils, a set of dies and a coordinating cutting plate.

I decided to make 4 cards since I had the set out on my desk.  I first stamped the berry image and ink blended with Cherry Pop and Jalapeno.  I also stamped 3 of the sentiments a few times. I die cut two of the images with the matching die and the other two with the cutting plate, which made the frame too.  

For the white card below, the background is an Altenew embossing folder called Natural Wicker.  I also added some Glossy Accents over the red berries.  I added some green enamel dots around the image.  On the green card,  I added some TE silver glitter dots.   Both cards are glued flat.

For the Cherry Pop card below, the background is an Taylored Expressions embossing folder called Tweed. The frame has dimensionals for depth and I added some TE gold glitter dots.  The Peace on Earth card has a background embossed with Sizzix Pinewood Planks and some Pinkfresh Studio Glacier Jewels.

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


Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Seasonal Spring Stamp Set, Stencil Set, Matching Dies and the coordinating Cutting Plate.

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Taylored Expressions Cherry Pop, Japapeno

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Cherry Pop, Japapeno; Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Sizzix Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder; Altenew Natural Wicker Embossing Folder; Taylored Expressions Tweed Embossing Folder, Gold and Silver Glitter Dots; Pinkfresh Studio Glacier Jewels; Green Enamel Dots, Glossy Accents

Just Because

 

Today is the 25th and I am posting my 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 June,  I picked a stamp set from Gina K Designs called Autumn Silhouettes.  I think I used this once before in a SCT Crop & Create class that Gina taught a few years ago.  

I first ink blending the background, picking one of the color combinations in my Taylored Expressions Palette Playbook.  This set is from the Cotton Candy page.  The colors from top to bottom are Cotton Candy, Kiwi, Dill Pickle and Pineapple. I then stamped one of the silhouette images from the set in the middle of the panel.  I used my Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2 for the two layers--the stitched layer from the blended panel and a black cardstock backer.  The sentiment is from a Taylored Expressions set. I added some Pinkfresh Studio Silver Metallic Pearls around the image.

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


Image/Sentiment: Gina K Designs Autumn Silhouettes Stamp Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White and Black

Ink:  Taylored Expressions Cotton Candy, Kiwi, Pineapple and Dill Pickle; Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Pinkfresh Studio Silver Metallic Pearls

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

A Little Birdie Told Me

 

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 April,  I picked a stamp set from Cas-ual Fridays Stamps called Little Birdies.  There is a stamp set, a coordinating die and many sentiments.   

Because the die is solid, I die cut the image first and then placed the negative cut out in my Misti.  I then placed the birds image in the negative space to line it up on the lid.  I then stamped the image as it was perfectly aligned on the die cut piece.  I then colored the birds in the ROY-Red-Orange-Yellow start of the rainbow with my Copic Sketch Markers. I also stamped the two part sentiment and die cut them with my Taylored Expressions Sentiment Strips die set.  The background is a Stampin' Up embossing folder called BirchWood 3D. I added some Taylored Confetti Dots in the same colors as the birds for the final touch. 

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


Image/Sentiment: Cas-ual Friday Stamps Little Birdies Stamp Set and Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White 

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:   Stampin' Up Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder; Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Sentiment Strip Dies, Confetti Dots

Sponsored By Coffee

 

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 March,  I picked a stamp set from Picket Fence Studios called Sponsored By Coffee.  There is a stamp set, a coordinating die and 2 sentiments.   

I stamped the image on my panel and colored with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I die cut the image and one of the sentiments from a Taylored Expressions Sentiments die set. I used a quite old Darice embossing folder called Coffee Pots for the background.  I then used some fun coffee patterned paper from Bo Bunny  called Stay Awhile to make a strip for the front of the card.  Some brown bling from The Ton complete the card.

AND--tomorrow the retreat starts so we will all be together--I CANNOT WAIT!

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


Image/Sentiment: Picket Fence Studios Sponsored By Coffee Stamp Set and Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White Stampin' Up Pecan Pie, Early Espresso; Bo Bunny Stay Awhile Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Darice Coffee Pots Embossing Folder; Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Sentiments Die; The Ton Brown Bling

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

Happy Mail

 

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 January,  I picked a stamp set from Studio Katia called Flourishing Note.  There is a stamp set and 2 coordinating dies.

I stamped the envelope image on my panel and added the words happy mail in the middle.  I then die cut the image and colored the florals with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I die cut hello twice from white and layered then together.  I also die cut hello from black and then off-set the white a bit.  I used a Stampin' Up embossing folder called Tufted Dynamic for the background.  A few Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Pearls complete the card

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


Image/Sentiment:  Studio Katia Flourishing Note Stamp Set and Dies

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

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Tufted Dynamic Embossing Folder; Copic Sketch Markers; Taylored Expressions Bites & Pieces Black Pearls; 

Happy, Jolly, Merry, Bright

 First, I am wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

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 December,  I picked a stamp set from Impression Obsession that does not have a name, but I am calling it Happy, Jolly, Merry Bright. 

I recently made 2 cards for our Double Duty Challenge that used an older Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper pack called Festive Farmhouse.  That pack was still sitting next to my craft table, so I decided to pick it again. The stamp is a large rubber stamp and it does take a bit to get good coverage, even with a Misti.  I just realized that the B is not very dark, but oh well....................  I used my Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2 dies for the patterned paper layer and backer along with the stamped layer and backer.  Both of the top layers have stitching around the edges.  I added some Mossy Meadow Candy Dots to the top as they also were still out from another set of cards.  I tied a bow at the bottom with Mossy Meadow Braided Linen Trim. 

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 January 25th to see another fun card for The Encore Challenge in 2026!


Image/Sentiment:  Impression Obsession Happy, Jolly Stamp

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Festive Farmhouse Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow Braided Linen Thread, Candy Dots; Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2

A Christmas Blessing

 

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 November,  I picked a stamp set from Verses Rubber Stamps called A Christmas Blessing. 

I decided to pick a sheet of 6x6 Christmas patterned paper to stamp the sentiment.  I decided on a Unity Stamp pack called Old Fashioned Holiday from the November 2023 Whit Kit.  I love the vintage images and picked one that had an open area to stamp.  I think the Christmas tree and chair in the corner is too cute.  I used Versafine Onyx Black ink as the wording is quite small in some areas.   I layered the panel on a Garden Green cardstock and added no bling!

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


Image/Sentiment: Verses Rubber Stamps A Christmas Blessing Stamp

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Unity Old Fashioned Holiday November 2025 Whit Kit

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:  None

Encore Challenge

 

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 September,  I picked a stamp set and matching dies from Ranger and Simon Hurley called Penguins.  This set was a part of the Scrapbook & Cards Crop and Create from the fall of 2024.

I colored the two penguin images with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I used Honey Bee Stamps Snowflake Embossing Folder with a Pool Party panel. I then gently swiped my Hero Arts Unicorn White ink pad over the raised snowflakes.  The sentiment is from the same set and I placed it along with the penguins on the snowflake panel.  I added some Wink of Stella on the top of their hats and the balloon.   I added a few crystal bling in the middle of some of the snowflakes.  This will be a fun winter birthday card to send!

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


Image/Sentiment: Ranger-Simon Hurley Penguins Stamp Set and Dies

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque White; Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Pool Party

Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black, Unicorn White

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Honey Bee Stamps Snowflakes Embossing Folder; Crystal Bling; Wink of Stella