Going Out With a Bang!

Today is the third Wednesday of the month, and it is my final Ready, Set, Go Challenge Card!  The 3 of us, Kelly, Jeanette and me, are back with our final  challenge--this one for December, our 56th month!  That means we are ending in year #5!  There have been some great cards made over this time and some very fun challenges too!   This is the last challenge that we are doing and Jeanette gave us a good one to go out in style!

Jeanette provided the final challenge for us: I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little sentimental thinking about this being our last Ready Set Go Challenge. Kelly, when you came up with this idea back in 2017, Barb and I quickly jumped onboard and it has been so much fun! THANK YOU for including me!

Now we’re at the end. This will be our 56^th and final Ready Set Go Challenge. I have tried to think of something that could make it memorable and challenging. Perhaps I was overthinking, but I kept telling myself that I wanted us to go out with a bang, as my Grandpa used to say. Though it was a common phrase and not original to him, I always knew it was his way of telling me to give it my very best. Don’t give up. Don’t slow down. End well.

Nothing I was coming up with seemed like a good ending… then it kind of hit me. Why not go with the idea of the word “Bang” for our last Ready Set Go Challenge. Define it how you’d like…

·       Include something on your card that makes a Bang, like fireworks or an old jalopy that backfires.

·       OR include something on your card that begins with each of the letters in the word B-A-N-G.

·       OR, since the word Bang has four letters in it, include four of something on your card.

·       OR… ???

No restrictions. You decide. But be sure to let us know how you defined Bang while making your card.

Ready. Set. Go!

I thought about this challenge for a bit and decided to go out with a bang by making 2 cards! Each of the depicts a bang!  First when a skier falls down, it is with a bang. And, in my days of skiing for many years, I did fall down and did bang.  In fact one time while skiing in college, despite the directive from my college basketball coach to not go skiing-I fell and broke my thumb. I did get it taped up and never missed a game, but telling her what happened was not fun!  The second card showcases an old truck that I am sure does backfire with a bang!  Both images are from some Unity Holiday Stamp Sets and some additional winter cards are always fun to make!

For the skier card, the image and sentiment are from the Unity set called Pain and Pride.  I colored the penguin with my Copic Sketch Markers.  The image was die cut from Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 2 and the sentiment cut from Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2.  I did some brush blending around the edge of the skier die cut.  The background paper is from Echo Park Paper called Winter Magic.  I also added a layer of Silver cardstock from The Paper Cut.   I added some blue bakers twine along with Lawn Fawn Prisma glitter and Chunky glitter for the final touch.  

For the red truck card, the image and sentiment are from the Unity set called Christmas Magic.  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  The image and sentiment was die cut from Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2.  The background paper is from Simple Stories Sample Vintage Line Rustic Christmas-Wrapped With Care. I tried to add some enamel dots and sequins but either looked right, so I left the card front plain to showcase the fun image.  

Here is the inside of both cards with another strip of the patterned paper:

Please be sure to check out the other Ready, Set, Go cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card.  I really hope you have enjoyed following along with us the past 5 1/2 years as we create with our Ready-Set-Go Challenges!  It has been Great Fun!

Image/Sentiment:  Unity Christmas Magic/Pain and Pride

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:   The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White, Silver Mirricard; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue; Echo Park Paper Winter Magic:  Simple Stories Simple Vintage Rustic Christmas-Wrapped With Care

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Lawn Fawn Prisma and Chunky Glitter; Gina K Master Layouts 2; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 2; Blue Baker's Twine

Hot Mess = Success!

Today is the 12th and it is time for another Hot Mess card.  This is card number 29 and we are well into year #3. The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success started with Kelly and the general theme 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 group of 6 and we will post a card each month on the 12th.  The links to the other 5 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 made a card using some of my Marabu Alcohol inks for colored layer with Yupo paper.  I moved the colors around with my Tim Holtz air blower and then I dried it with my Tim Holtz heat-it craft tool.  I die cut the panel with a Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle and layered in on a piece of Gold Cardstock from The Paper Cut.  I then used my Penny Black Joy die to cut three layers from the same gold cardstock.  I used a Taylored Expressions Weathered Embossing folder for the background.   I added some Stampin' Up Calypso Coral Taffeta Ribbon as the final touch.   I really like the look of this card and hope you do too.  I also sure hope my fellow messy ladies liked it too!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the gold cardstock:

Here are the links to the other members of Hot Mess ~ Success.  Please be sure to check out Jeanette's, Terry's, Kelly's , Carol's and Darlene's blogs. I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy and was successful in making some great cards!   We will all continuing this into 2022year, so be sure to check back to see what we are up to on January 12th.  

Image/Sentiment:  Penny Black Joy Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Yupo Cardstock; The Paper Cut Gold; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Calypso Coral

Ink:  Marabu Alcohol Inks

Accessories:  Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle Dies; Stampin' Up Calypso Coral Ribbon

Snowman & Bunnies

It is time for another The Three Musketeers post. We are ready to showcase the card we all created with the sweet Colorado Craft Company Snowman & Bunnies image I sent out for December for card #88!   All three of us sure have enjoyed the challenges every month and we hope that it continues for a long time! Kelly is up for the January 2022 challenge, so be sure to come back to see what we create!  That means we are in year number 7 with this fun challenge!

I colored parts of the sweet image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  The background paper is from a brand new Stampin' Up Designer Series pack called Peaceful place and I received a few 6x6 sheets at a recent stamp camp as an all day gift--thanks Sarah! The middle layer is some of the pretty Silver Mirricard from The Paper Cut.  I die cut the image and one of the coordinating sentiments with a Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle Dies.  I layered the image with the same silver metallic paper. I added a few silver sequins as a bit of bling to match the silver cardstock and shimmer on the background paper!  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!  They may post today or tomorrow, so be sure to check out their blogs for their card!   As I mentioned before, Kelly is up for our January  challenge.  Please be sure to join us again.  

Image/Sentiment:  Colorado Craft Company Snowman & Bunnies

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Cougar Opaque 110# White; Stampin' Up Basic Black, Basic Gray, Peaceful Place Designer Series Paper; The Paper Cut Silver Mirricard

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Markers; Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle Dies; Silver Sequins

Final One + Twelve

This is my final card for my One Plus Twelve challenge for 2021. This challenge was the brainchild of Kelly and she asked Jeanette and me to join her in this challenge in 2019. We are to use just one stamp, to make a card every month and post on the 3rd of each month.  It was so much fun that the three of decided to continue for our third year and pick a new image to use. And--yes, we are going to do it again in 2022--so be sure to check in on the 3rd of January to see what stamp each of us uses for next year.  

For 2021, I picked a Gina K Designs set called Thankful Greenery.  I think this set is so pretty and I can see in my mind many ways that I can use this image.  Plus--I now have 12 thank you cards this year!

For this month's cards, I stamped the image with Hero Arts Intense Black ink on white cardstock. I took out my Copic Sketch Markers and colored the image. I then die cut the panel with a Gina K Designs Decorative label Die.  I then layered a piece of green denim ribbon over the embossed panel and add a sentiment from the same set.  A few red enamel dots complete the card!

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of washi tape:

Please be sure to check out the other One plus Twelve cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card and that you might too!  

Image/Sentiment: Gina K Designs Thankful Greenery

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White;  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Mossy Meadow

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Gina K Designs Decorative Label Die; Stampin' Up Layered Leaves Embossing Folder; Red Enamel Dots

Art Impressions Double Duty

Here we are!  This is month #11 of another challenge for our group of 4 stampers—Barb, Jeanette, Kelly, and Carol!  This was a thought that I had in the middle of the night, similar to what Kelly has had in the past.  Plus, it is a bit of offshoot of our Stamp What Challenge! This one is called Double Duty! 

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 November,  the company that I picked was Art Impressions. They have some cute stamp sets, and I do have a few, especially snowmen.  For our challenge this month, I picked a a set called Seasons Greetings.  The sentiment is from the same set. 

For my first card, I colored the sweet snowman image with my Copic Sketch Markers. I added some Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter on his cap and on the snow.  Since it such a large image, I layered it over just one piece of cardstock and placed it over a fun dotted background from Doodlebug.  The sentiment was added on the top of the card.  Some purple sequins are the final touch.  

For my second card, I colored the same image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  Prisma Glitter again was added to this cap and the snowline.  This time I flagged the sentiment and laid it at an angle over the image. This time some pink enamel dots finish the card.  

I had a number of Double Duty elements on these cards.  I used the same image and the same sentiment.    Prisma glitter was used on both and I think each card has some fun colors!

Here is the inside of my cards:

I hope you enjoyed my card for our group.  Please be sure to check out the other Double Duty cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's,  Kelly's  and Carol's blogs.    I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of sets of great cards! I hope Kelly, Jeanette and Carol like my card. Whipper Snapper Designs is the company we will use in December so be sure to check back to see how we double up and make two cards on the 22nd!

Image/Sentiment: Art Impressions Seasons Greetings Stamp Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Rocco Rose, Coastal Cabana, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape; The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Doodlebug Polka Pals-Snow Dots; Pink Snowflakes is unknown

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black; 

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; Pink Enamel Dots; Purple Sequins; Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter

Ready, Set, Go a bit late

Today is not the third Wednesday of the month, but it is my Ready, Set, Go Challenge Card! For the third month in a row, I am late............  The 3 of us, Kelly, Jeanette and me, are back with another challenge for November, our 55th month!  That means we are into year #5 for us.

And--just a note about 2022.  We will not be continuing this challenge next year--we will be ending this as 5 1/2 years of cards!  There have been some great cards made over this time and some very fun challenges too!   This is the last challenge that I will provide for us and it is a combination of our first challenges.

Yes I provided the challenge for us this month: I looked back at our first challenges we did back in 2017 when we started.  Kelly started off in May of ’17 and asked us to create a card using our oldest stamp and newest stamp for a card.  The following challenge that I gave in June was to use the first letters of each of the words in of Ready-Set-Go and use something on your card that starts with the same letter.  For my final challenge, I am going to combine a variation these two themes

First—pick a stamp or set that you have had for more than 5 years as a tribute to our 5+ year challenge. Then, pick another stamp or set that you have had less than 5 months-one of your most recent ones. Then—use the letters R-S-G as a guide for at least three elements on your card that start with those letters.  Your card will showcase 2 different stamps or sets—an oldie and newer one, along with three special elements, reflecting the words Ready-Set-Go. 

I have truly enjoyed our monthly challenges and let’s go out in style with card #55, our second to last card!  Ready?  Set? Go!\

I picked a Stampabilities wood mounted stamp that I think I have had forever that I use often around Thanksgiving called Eat Beef.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp monthly kit that I bought recently--it is from a sheet of sentiment strips.   I colored the turkey with my Copic Sketch Markers and flagged the ends of the sentiment. The background paper is also from the same Simon Says Stamp kit from P13-The Four Seasons Autumn. A few more S's!  I added a layer of gold Mirricard for some glimmer and a G!  The gold ribbon was placed under the sentiment--a use of the R.   I added a few orange enamel dots for the final touch.

R--Ribbon        S--Simon Says Stamp, Stampabilities        G--Gold

Please be sure to check out the other Ready, Set, Go cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card. Jeanette is up for the final theme, so be sure to check back to see what we finish our challenges with on December 16th. 

Image/Sentiment: Stampabilities Eat Beef/Simon Says Stamp Thanksgiving Sentiment Strips

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:   The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White, Gold Mirricard; Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Early Espresso; P13 The Four Seasons Autumn

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Orange Enamel Dots; Stampin' Up Gold Ribbon

Last Mystery Image Swap

Today is the 18th and the due date for a Mystery Image Swap on SCS. This is my card for that swap this month.  It is a group of us who do a bi-monthly swap where we all use the same mystery image, sent to us by the hostess. This swap was created by Forest Ranger—Jeanette--way back in 2010.  Terry is our hostess this month and sent everyone this cute image from Altenew called Autumn Bounty. This is the 67th round for this group, but it is the last round.  It is being combined with the unidentified image swap, with a new name of Surprise Image Swap--SIS!  I have sent Terry images for the swappers and the next round will not be due until February 18th in 2022.  We will then be one combined group of 13 and will continue from there!

I think this image is so perfect for this time of year.  I colored it with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I die cut the image with a Gina Marie Designs Pierced Chain Rectangle die. The patterned paper is Illustrated Faith Seasons of Gratitude Paper Pack and is tone on tone leaves.   I added a few orange enamel dots along with linen thread as the final touch.  I did not add a sentiment so this card can be used for pretty much any fall occasion.  

Here is the inside of my card:

I hope you and all of the mystery swappers like my card.  If you check my sidebar on the left, you might see some other swappers who have posted their cards today or in the next few days.

Image/Sentiment:   Altenew Autumn Bounty

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  White; Stamp' U Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; Illustrated Faith Season of Gratitude

Ink:  Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Stampin' Up Linen Thread; Gina Marie Designs Pierced Chain Rectangle Dies; Orange Enamel Dots

Celebrating the Season

Today is the 15th and the day we post our card for our group, the Crafty Card Ladies!   The team names are the Pearls and the Diamonds--very Classy names for us!   For our November Challenge, Carol is the hostess for the Diamonds--the team I am on and Shelly is the hostess for the Pearls.   And we are all team Classy Card Ladies!  

This is the information that Carol sent to us: This month is Shelley's last month being a Pearl. We have been talking about the kit for awhile and I let Shelly pick the theme. She chose Celebrate the Season and we will be doing a tick-tac-toe card. I have never done one but in chatting with Shelly it uses a tic-tac-toe card which should be included in your kit. The challenge is to pick a row and use all 3 elements in the line, but can also contain any other items as well. Please let us know which line you chose to use so we can see on your creation the items you chose from the kit to match the line on the tic-tac-toe card. Shelly also said that she was using a image from Unity as she chose to purchase stamps for her group. I went to check it out and chose to also buy stamps for everyone as well.

Yes, this is the last month for Shelly to be with us as well as some of the other Classy Card Ladies.  Since we do not post a card made from a kit that is sent in December, we are showcasing our last card for this group--it has been a fantastic time! Carol did send us a sweet Unity stamp set called Winter Joy.  Thanks so much Carol--I love this set!  She also sent us the Tic-Tac-Toe board and I have checked off the boxes I have used--4 corners, plus the top row.  She also included some sweet Winter patterned paper, along with great ribbons ribbons and embellishments. 

I colored the cute snowman with my Copic Sketch Markers and added Lawn Fawn Prisma glitter to his hat, jacket and the snow he is on.  I die cut the image and a red layer with some circle dies. I picked the sweet silver dotted paper as it looked like small snowflakes.  I used the sentiment from the same set and flagged the ends.  The ribbon I picked from the ones Carol sent is so pretty, showcasing shiny blue and silver dots.  I added 2 of the large snowflakes and 3 of the iridescent enamel dots around the right star (cut they are hard to see)  This was fun card to make!

Here is the inside of my card, on a layer of another pretty patterned paper that Carol also sent:

I hope all of the Classy Card Ladies enjoy my card this month. Please be sure to stop in to see what all of the Diamonds as well the Pearls have created this month.  There are two members who do not have blogs: Suzy who is on the Diamond team and Debby who is a Pearl. You will be able to check out their creations in their SCS gallery, if you click on the link for their name.  All of the others should be found on my left sidebar.  I am sure you will enjoy all of the wonderful creations this month!  

As I noted above, this is the last month of the Classy Card Ladies Challenge.  Some of us will be back in January of 2022 with a new name, a returning member rejoining us, but missing some of the ladies who are in our current group.  It has been a blast--thanks!!!!!

Image/Sentiment:  Unity Stamps Winter Joy

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler; Assorted Patterned Papers

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Stampin' Up Mini Banner Punch, Linen Thread; Iridescent Snowflakes and gems; Dotted Ribbon; Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter