Ecore Performance - April 2025

My friend Darlene developed the idea for this series and invited some of us to join her in the challenge. It's called Encore for a reason. We all have those stamps (or other card-making items) that we've only used once even though our intentions were to use them again - and again. After all, we invest a lot of money in our supplies for them only to be used once. So, this series is our opportunity to dust them off and use them a second time.

Challenge Description

Go and grab a stamp set, dies, stencil, etc - 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!

We'll be posting these Encore cards on or around the 25th of each month (I'm a day early as I have another obligation on my blog tomorrow.

This month I revisited the Unity Paws for Thought stamp set. This stamp set first appeared on a card on my blog on January 21, 2025 - you can see it HERE. It is such a cute stamp set - the pup is adorable, even if he does look a little sad - but on that first card I was disappointed that I colored the pup in such dark colors. I decided to use the stamp set again, with lighter color choices. Alas, this time I think I went too light. Oh well.

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Stamp: Unity Paws for Thought stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Opaque Accent 120# White and SU  Mossy Meadow CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and MFT Stitched Tag-Corner Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

SCS Sketch #SC1059

I have been part of the Sketch team on Splitcoaststampers for a few years now. Whether it's my week to create the sketch (the first Wednesday of each month) or I'm creating a sample card based on the sketch someone else created, I find that having a sketch to use can get my creative ideas flowing. 

There is a new sketch to work with every Wednesday. I encourage you to check them out.

Kim created this week's sketch - #SC1059:

My card:

As you can see, I flipped the sketch to make my card vertical instead of horizontal.

I hope you'll use the sketch to make a card, too.

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Stamps: Unity A Little Ruffled stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Pumpkin Pie CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: CC Designs Banners and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

Double Duty 2025 - April

In January of 2021, my stamping comrades Barb and Kelly and I debuted a new series/challenge. Double Duty was Barb's idea... and it is a GREAT idea! I've had so much fun with this series. Thanks for inviting me to play along, Barb!

This is Barb's description of the Double Duty concept...

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!  Post both cards on your blog on the same day—the 22^nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  Have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

Things have changed a bit in who's participating over the years, but not in the instructions. This year's Double Duty crafters are Barb, Carol, Darlene, Terry and me.

This month's company is Pink & Main.

Card #1

Card #2

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: the same 3 rhinestone embellishments and the same color of card base.

Let's check out the other Double Duty cards, too...

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Terry

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Supplies Used

Stamp/Die Set: Pink & Main Merry and Bright stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles 

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

CAS843 - Butterflies

Each Monday there is a new CAS Challenge on SCS. It's always fun to see what others create using the CAS theme.

Lisa is the host this week. She chose the theme...

Butterflies

Here's my card:

I hope you'll check out the challenge - HERE - and play along, too.

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Stamps: Gina K Friendly Silhouettes stamped with Versa Fine Clair Nocturne Ink

Ink (for Blending): Taylored Expressions Key Lime and Mint Julep

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Green Galore CS

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 1

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

Thank You for the Swag

One of the amazing things about the retreat I attended earlier this month was the amazing SWAG bag we received. WOW! I can't begin to explain how much we felt spoiled. There were dozens of companies who donated items to give to us. It was so fun to open that bulging bag and see all the great items.

The participants of the retreat each created thank you cards for 3 of the companies so we could send them a handmade thank you. These are the three cards I made (pardon the poor photographs).

Brass & Bliss

Taylored Expressions

Honey Bee

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From a Kit Series (PP) - April 2025

I started a new series on my blog in July of 2021. 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. That just shouldn't be so I'm going to commit to using a kit once a month for this "From a Kit" series.

As I mentioned in my May 2023 blog posts, the only "kits" I have left (after completing the first 21) are SEVERAL Stampin' UP! Paper Pumpkin kits. I also mentioned that I've discovered I'm not really very fond of the card designs found in the Paper Pumpkin kits... so I decided IF I'm going to use those Paper Pumpkin kits that I've invested in, I'll need to veer away from the designs as they appear in the kits. 

This month I made 4 cards using the May 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit - Hugs from Shelli.

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In addition to the Paper Pumpkin kit I used the following items...

CS - SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pretty Peacock, Rococo Rose, and Very Vanilla

Dies -MFT Stitched Rectangles, Pink Fresh Basic Label Frames and Simon Says Sentiment Labels

BK - Land and Sea Designer Paper

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.

This week the design team's cards are featuring the newly released Land and Sea designer paper. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Bare Trees and Mountains Stamp Set

Flocks of Birds Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Better Things Ahead Stamp Set

* * * * * 

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

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