Ways to Use It - Lots of Layers

It has been quite a while since I've created a card for one of the regular daily challenges on SCS so I decided it was past time to do that. I checked out all of the current challenges and the one that caught my eye is the Ways to Use It Challenge (#WT979) which calls for lots of layers. I can do that. In fact, the card I made has nine layers plus the card base on the front and two layers plus the card base inside.

You might be wondering how I count that many, since three of the layers are hidden. I wanted the snowman piece to pop up off the card, so instead of using foam pieces, I diecut three circles from 110# CS and layered them to accomplish the look I wanted.

Nine Layers:

Image (plus three circles under it)

Sentiment

Designer Papers (four)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Snow What Fun stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers and a Sparkle Marker from scrapbook.com

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Soft Sky CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle, Paper Roses Stitched Circles, and SU Circles

Embellishment: Snowflake Brad from an unknown vendor

There's More than One Pink

This month's Misti Monday Challenge on SCS is one to honor the owner of Misti by using pink on our cards. Iliana's invention of the stamping platform was a game-changer for many stampers, including me. When I started stamping we used wooden block stamps and often had to toss the stamped image in the trash and start again, simply because we didn't get a good coverage of ink. With the Misti, that has changed. Most of my stamps are either cling or clear and I love the option of being able to stamp again and again - and even again if I need to.

I created my card using my Misti, and yes, I did have to stamp a second time on the flowers. 

I colored the flowers with Copic Markers - Pale Pink is the predominant color. The cardstock base is Stampin' UP!'s Petal Pink. None of these are the bright pink of the Misti, but there's more than one color of pink.

There's a flower on the inside of my card, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Honey Bee Cosmos stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White, Recollections Black, and SU Petal Pink CS

Dies: Gina K Basket Weave Cover Plate, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Paper Roses Hello Layered

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones

Dueling Darling 2 - January 2022

You might remember that for ten years I was part of a group called Dueling Darlings. Then last year the group was revamped and renamed - Classy Card Ladies. This year we've revamped again. Some new players; others that have been with us from the beginning or at least for a while. And again, a new (sort of) name - Dueling Darling 2.

To kick things off Kelly and I are hostesses, which means we put our heads together (or fingers, since it was via text messages) and came up with a theme. We discovered that January 15th is National Strawberry Ice Cream Day so decided to go back to our beginnings and mimic the very VERY first theme as Dueling Darlings. That theme was simply Ice Cream BUT this time it is...

Strawberry Ice Cream

I sent kits to Tracie, Darlene, and our newest member, Lorraine. Kelly sent kits to Barb, Carol, and a returning member, Terry.

My kits included the following items:

Image/Sentiment - Colorado Craft Company Ice Cream Day Mini stamped on Neenah 110# Solar White CS with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (I colored with Copic Markers)

Designer Paper - Bella Blvd Freshly Picked (strawberry paper) and others from unknown vendors

Ribbons/Fibers - American Crafts (green) and others from unknown vendors

Embellishments - Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots, Oriental Trading Strawberry, Paper Studio Brads, Prima Flowers and Sequins from an unknown vendor

Now, let's duel.

Be sure to check out all of the Dueling Darling 2 cards:

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Jeanette - that's me

Kelly

Lorraine - SCS Gallery

Terry

Tracie

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

I used some CS (SU Garden Green) and My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle Dies in addition to the items in my kit to make my card.

Blue Knight - Pine Cone Swag

Fridays are special days - who doesn't love TGIF, right? But here on my blog Fridays are also special because they are the day I get to post as a design team member for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps.

I used the new Pine Cone Swag stamp set today.

You can check out the stamp set in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

You will notice in the stamp set that it is a very symmetrical image (two mirror images of pines and a pinecone)... but my cards are not. That was really very easy to achieve. I stamped the image as it is, but then also stamped the pinecones again on another piece of paper. I fussy cut the  pinecones and attached them to my cards. This also allowed me to stamp the pine in green and the pine cones in black.

These cards are mini slimlines, which fit this stamp set perfectly.

Card #1

Card #2

I think it's amazing to see how one stamp looks so different depending on how it's used. 

* * * * * 

You can find each of today's featured stamps HERE, at the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps web store.

And... don't forget to join us at the Fan Group and YouTube Channel:

Fans of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps (Facebook group) is HERE

and the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps YouTube Channel is HERE

Jeanette Cloyd, Design Team Member

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

From a Kit Series - Take 5

I started a new series on my blog last July. The idea was born from the fact that I have a lot of unused card/stamping kits just waiting to have some attention. Sheesh! Seems as though I buy them and they just sit... so it's time to take action.

After four months I took a couple of months off (I actually took a break from several card series, etc. to give myself time to catch up after losing my mom). Now it's a new year and I'm ready to get back to using these accumulating kits.

This month I pulled out Tonic Craft Kit 22 - The Oval Frame Kit. I purchased it on clearance long after it was current. This kit included some fun stamps and dies, papers, Nuvo products, and more.

I discovered that one of the markers had completely dried out, but other than that the kit seemed to be in good shape. I had a lot of fun using several of the items to create my card. (I especially liked the Nuvo Spray!)

I'm keeping the Nuvo items, but have put the stamps and dies in my donate box so hopefully someone else will be able to enjoy them.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing I used to make my card other than what was in the kit was some CS (Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Garden Green) and My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle Dies

Hot Mess - Take 30

It's the 12th of January, time to get messy. (insert deer-in-the-headlight look) As you likely recall from previous 12ths, I am not one who likes messes. Not one bit. BUT a challenge is only a challenge if it stretches you, and I'm up for the Hot Mess Success Challenge. 

Barb, Carol, Darlene, Kelly, and I create cards for the Hot Mess Success challenge each month and share them on the 12th. 

It's Anything Goes - as long as there is something messy involved.

I always have a difficult time deciding what to do with these cards. As I pondered this month's "mess" I saw a fairly new stamp set sitting on my desk - CC Designs Otters. It was still in its original packaging so I decided to use that packaging to do some ink smooshing onto a piece or cardstock. The look I was going for was water (since otters like to play in the water), so I chose the Ranger Salvaged Patina Distress Ink for this technique. A bit of water to make it moveable and the smooshing began. It didn't come out quite like I envisioned but I didn't hate it so I continued on to make the card.

This card had a few snafus along the way - the otter die slipped a bit cutting it crooked and speaking of crooked, the sentiment and DP strip are crooked, too. UGH! I guess this card is a mess in more ways than one.

Be sure to check out the other Hot Mess gals blogs, too, to see their cards (you'll be WOW'd!)... 

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Kelly

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: CC Designs Otters stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Messy Medium: Ranger Salvaged Patina Distress Ink

Dies: MFT Mod Stitched Rectangles and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Spectrum Noir Glossy Highlights and a Heart I received as a gift from Unity Stamp Company

2022 Travel the World - Week 2

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world. By the end of 2021, I'd virtually traveled to 145 countries and plan to complete my journey to all 195 countries by visiting the last 50 this year.

This week's country is...

Singapore

Singapore officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state Southeast Asia.

Sang Nila Utama, a Palembang prince, saw what he thought was a lion on the island; and thus he christened it as Singapura, which translates to 'lion city' in Sanskrit. However, there were no lions in Singapore at that time. Lions were only brought in modern times for the zoos.

Contrary to popular belief, Singapore is not a single island, but 63 in all; comprising of other offshore islands also, such as Sentosa Island, Pulau Ubin, Sisters’ Island and St John’s island among others.

Singapore is one of the 20 smallest countries in the world. 

Singapore is less than 100 miles from the Equator. It has a tropical rainforest climate. There are no seasons. It’s always between 25 to 35°C (77 to 95 °F). Yes. It’s a well-known fact that Singapore is Hot. All. The. Time. 

The tallest indoor waterfall in the world is located in Singapore at the Gardens by the Bay, and it stands at a height of 115 feet.

Singapore is home to the world’s very first night zoo. Opened in 1994, the 35-hectare park features over 1,000 animals in their naturalistic night-time environments.

While its land mass is small, Singapore has approximate 2,000 miles of roads. If you could unwind the roads end to end, they would take you from Singapore all the way to Hong Kong.

There is a maximum limit to how high buildings in Singapore can be built, which is 280 meters (918 feet). The Tanjong Pagar Centre, opened in 2016, is Singapore’s tallest building at 290 meters. Special permission was granted to it to exceed the usual height restriction of 280 meters.

Singaporeans are the fastest pedestrians in the world, walking at a speed of about 6.15 kilometres per hour. That's nearly 4 miles per hour.

Military service is mandatory for all men in Singapore for two years after finishing high school. And every year, servicemen need to return to train till they are 40 years of age.

Singapore has more tourists that local citizens.

The Changi Airport was voted as the World’s Best Airport for the fourth time in a row in the year 2016.

One can actually sit and enjoy free movie screening 24/7 at the Changi Airport.

Singapore's train system is one of the best in the world. Likewise its taxis and buses are reliable, affordable and efficient.

Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. Only those with medical prescription can chew gum!

There is an actual law against not flushing the public toilet after using it in Singapore.

Singapore is very passionate about toilets indeed. The government actually tabled a UN resolution to mark November 19th as the World Toilet Day, and in 2001, the World Toilet Organization came into being.

Afraid of the growing hippie culture across the globe, the government imposed a ban on long hair for males in the 1970s.

Every day, two new restaurants open up in Singapore; which is huge, given its small size.

Singapore is also home to Sunda pangolins, or scaly anteaters. They live in the Central Catchment Area, and each adult anteater can eat around 70 million insects a year.

Singapore has a public education program known as the Singapore Kindness Movement. The program focuses on teaching kindness and graciousness in Singaporean society. Accordingly, this non-profit organization movement started back in the year 1997 and reaching people to achieve its “inner peace”.

The National University of Singapore has a first of its kind "Hug Me" Coca-Cola vending machine.

Singapore also set a record for line dancing in 2002, when 11,967 people participated in a line dance.

Singapore residents have one of the best life expectancies in Asia, with an average life span of 84.

The Singapore Flyer is one of the most famous and tallest observation/Ferris wheel in the world. The construction of the Singapore flyer took 2 and a half years to build. It has 28 air-conditioned capsules with a capacity of 28 passengers. 

The field of vision from the Singapore Flyer opens up an impressive aerial view of the city and the Singapore Bay from a “bird’s eye view”. Passengers can even catch a brief look at the coasts of Malaysia and as far as Indonesia. Equally important, passengers may opt for a fancy lunch or dinner set during the 30-minute journey.

The more popular sports in Singapore are basketball, football, swimming, badminton, cycling, rugby and as well as weightlifting. 

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Singapore... Every first Sunday of November, Singapore celebrates the Tree Planting Day. Citizens and diplomats (including Singapore’s Prime Minister) participate in this environmental movement.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Stamp Anniething Here's the Dirt stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Cinnamon Cider CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Paper Roses Stitched Circles

Embellishments: Dragonfly Brad from an unknown vendor