Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Wishing You the Best

I've been a member of the Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Society for a long time now... receiving the club flower stamp set each month. I hoarded them for a while, then started a series on my blog, committing to using them. 

I thoroughly enjoy this series because flowers are my favorite thing to color. 

This month's Greenhouse Society stamp set is Pomegranate.



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set
: Technique Tuesday Pomegranate stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers 

Papers: Neenah 110# White and SU Watermelon Wonder CS 

Dies: Pink Fresh Diagonal Stitched Rectangles 

Embellishments: Cloud 9 Rain Drops

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Christmas Leftovers

One of my favorite challenge groups is the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS, under the capable and organized leadership of my friend Barb. The idea is we can't shop for anything when making our monthly challenge card (which we post on the 28th of each month). 

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Kari's turn. She challenged us to reuse, recycle, or repurpose on our cards. 

I have a little container of what I call card parts. It contains bits and pieces of cards that fell apart or cards that never came together. There are also a few items in the container that I didn't make, but received from someone else so it truly is a hodgepodge of items.

I decided to attempt to make a card mostly using items found within the container.

I had fun snooping in this container until I found some items I thought had potential for this month's card.


The only thing here that I did not make is the tag and I honestly don't remember who gave it to me or I would give credit. My apologies to its creator.


Here's my card:


I hope Kari, Barb and the other Challenge Your Stash gals like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only things I used on my card other than what I found in the container was some CS (Fun Stampers Journey Rock Candy), Pumice Stone Distress Ink blended on the embossed piece, Zig Wink of Stella added to the little twigs, a bit of ribbon recycled from another project, and a MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle Die

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Bring On the Snow!

Kelly, Barb, and I have been creating together as the Three Musketeers every month since November 2014. We all three create a card using the same image. I always enjoy seeing how different our cards are, even though we use the same image. This is one of my favorite posts of the month. 

We take turns choosing what stamp will be used. This month it was Kelly's turn and she chose Newton's Toboggan from Newton's Nook. She said she chose it because it has 3 (us) kitties and snow/winter (when we met at Stamp Camp!) 

I have such fond memories of our time together for camp so this image set brought lots of smiles.

Of course, I'm very VERY tardy in creating/sharing my card. I'm working at catching up one-card-at-a-time.




Be sure to check out Kelly's and Barb's cards on their blogs, too.






Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment
(provided by Kelly: Newton's Nook Newton's Toboggan - I colored it with Copic Markers

Papers: SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Paper Roses Stitched Circle

Embellishment: Ribbon Boutique Ribbon and Stickles Glitter Glue

Friday, November 26, 2021

Blue Knight Soccer

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 Soccer stamp set today.

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


Card #1

I stamped the image directly onto some designer paper for this first card. I used a Misti so I could re-stamp it a few times to get a good crisp image. I layered that piece onto another piece of designer paper with a slight tilt for some fun.


Card #2

I used  Whimsy die (Window 1) to create this playful card design. I just happened to have some soccer designer paper so it was a great complement to the fun image.

The sentiment on this card is from the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Mini Greetings 1 stamp set.



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!

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Hello Sunshine

First, let me begin by wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your day will be spent with people you care about doing things you enjoy doing. I know that's something I'll be doing today. I'll also be reflecting on the many things for which I am thankful. The list truly is a long one.

One of the many things I'm thankful for is those of you who follow my blog regularly as well as those of you who only stop by occasionally. I love maintaining my blog and sharing my cre8tivity with you regularly. That being said, you might have noticed I haven't posted much this month - and I'm way behind in some of my regular features. 

My mother passed away on November 5th. We left to go to Missouri for the funeral and to spend some time with my dad, helping him a bit. It's truly been one thing after another since returning home... and I am feeling quite overwhelmed with all that must be done as well as what hasn't been done.

I've decided the best thing for me to do - for me - is to give myself some grace. Therefore between now and the end of the year (it's really only a month away) I'm going to work at catching up some friend/challenges I missed (Crafters of Faith, Three Musketeers, Stamp What, Hot Mess, Double Duty)... but I'm going to skip doing the challenges I just do for me (like the Made from a Kit series). I am going to do one more Travel the World series cards, which will be #45 for this year. That will leave me exactly 50 countries left to do, which I'll start in January.

I said all that to say this - you'll be seeing less activity on my blog through the end of 2021... but that's okay. 

Now, before you go, check out this card. I actually made it before the 5th, but hadn't even taken the time to get photos taken and post it here on my blog. Sheesh. It's about time.



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Hello Bluebird Garden Friends stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU So Saffron CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Catherine Pooler Sunburst, MFT Stitched Rectangle, and Simon Says Hello Sunshine Frame

Embellishment: Gina Marie Enamel Dot

Friday, November 19, 2021

Blue Knight Island Reflection

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 Island Reflection stamp set today.

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


Card #1

For this card I simply stamped the image onto white cardstock and colored it with my Copic markers. I wasn't happy with the reflection of light in the water - it looks green due to the yellow and blue blending together. I decided to try something a bit different when coloring my second card.

The sentiment on this card is from the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Chickadee on a Fence Post stamp set.


Card #2

For this card I again stamped the image on white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers, but I went with darker colors and didn't create a sunset/sunrise instead choosing for a glow across the horizon.


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!

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Falliday Fest Floating Strips

One of my favorite events on Splitcoaststampers is Falliday Fest. There are several challenges during the event - tutorials, themes, and so much more. It isn't too fast-paced, but at the same time it does offer some new things to try as well as some well-loved things we've done before. I look forward to it each year.

This year I was especially excited because I was hosting one of the challenges - a tutorial I'd never done before but thought it looked easy enough and lots of fun.

I waited expectantly for Falliday Fest to begin.

Then.

Such a little word, but it packs a wallop. Then my mom passed away and a quick trip out-of-state was necessary. I missed ALL of Falliday Fest, including my own challenge, but fortunately I'd already created a card for it and had my post ready to go live... so live it went. You can check out all of the details of my Floating Strips challenge, as well as a link to the tutorial, by going - HERE.

A bit of acetate, some strips of paper, etc... and in less than 45 minutes, I had made my card.



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White, Recollections 110# Black, and SU Bumble Bee, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, and Cinnamon Spice CS

Leaf: from my scrap file, blended with Lawn Fawn Carrot and Lobster Inks

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle ad Paper Roses Hello Chunky Double Layers

Embellishments: Black Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Old & New Ready, Set, Go!

This is the third Wednesday of November, which means it is the day that Kelly, Barb, and I reveal our Ready, Set, Go cards. 

Not sure what Ready, Set, Go is? Well, it's a lot of fun! And a bit of creativity. And an extreme challenge theme.

Ready, Set, Go is an idea that Kelly came up with and she invited Barb and I to join her on the adventure. We take turns choosing the theme (this month it's Barb's turn), but the idea is for it to be a bit more challenging than just the average theme.

I've thoroughly enjoyed these challenges, but alas, all good things must come to an end. We have decided this will be our last year to do the Ready Set Go challenges, so this is our second to last one. (I'll be choosing the theme for next month so be sure to come back to check it out, too.)

This is what Barb had to say about this month's theme...

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!

How fun is that?!?!?!?!

I followed the rules... I know, surprising, isn't it?

Old Stamp (I've owned it for over a decade if my memory serves me correctly) - Rubber Stampede Sunflower II

New Stamp (I just recently purchased it and it hadn't even been inked up yet) - Rubbernecker Freehand Border

Letter R - Rhinestones, Ribbon, Rubbernecker, Rubber Stampede

Letter S - Sunflower, Stitched, Single Layer (not counting the card base)

Letter G - Gingham, Garden Green, Greeting


Be sure to check out Barb's blog and Kelly's blog to see what they did with this Ready Set Go theme!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Rubber Stampede Sunflower II, Rubbernecker Freehand Border Large, and Technique Tuesday Lots of Sentiments stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Garden Green CS 

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles 

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones and SU Ribbon 

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

2021 Travel the World - Week 44

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, so I continued the series in 2020 and here I am in 2021, the third year of traveling the world. 

This week's country is...

Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia is an island nation made up of over 600 islands located in Oceania.

Because it’s a group of islands it does not have any bordering countries, however its nearest neighbors are Guam to the North, Nauru and the Marshall Islands to the East, Australia and Papua New Guinea to the South and Philippines to the West.

The country is often simply called Micronesia; however, it is not to be confused with the wider cultural and geographic region of Micronesia which includes more than 2,000 islands including the nations of Palau, the Marshall Islands and NauruKiribati and of course, the Federated States of Micronesia.

The terrain varies wildly from island to island, with some consisting of lovely low coral atolls to volcanic outcrops and high mountains with incredible views!

The temperature in Micronesia is consistently warm year-round.

The islands were first sighted by Europeans in 1500 by Spanish explorers. Micronesia was colonized by Spain in 1886 who then sold the islands to Germany in 1899. Japan then occupied the islands from 1914 until 1944.

Micronesia has 5 main archipelagos that surround it, they are the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands and the Line Islands. However, they also have many other islands that surround them and some of them remain unexplored.

The total land area of Federated States of Micronesia is only 271 square miles, however this is spread out over an incredible 1,003,866 square miles  of ocean - an area approximately five times the size of France.

The Micronesia island of Pohnpei is so small that there is only one main road, and all the locals know each other very well, as well as where everyone lives. Very much like a small village, there are no addresses as a result.

The tiny Micronesian island of Kosrae has almost no reported crime, making it one of the absolute safest places on the planet. Unrelated, but they also don’t have any crocodiles, snakes, or any other dangerous creatures like this, unlike neighboring islands.

Micronesia is home to the only ancient city ever built on a coral reef. The country’s Nan Madol is an ancient city that was constructed in a lagoon between 1200 and 1500. The site consists of at least 100 small artificial islands which hold remains of stone palaces, temples, tombs and houses.

While English is the official language, there are eight other languages spoken in Micronesia: Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi.

Micronesia is one of the least visited countries in the world. It only receives around 30,000 tourists a year.

Micronesia produces vegetables, fruit, coconuts, pigs, chicken and fish.

As this tiny country cannot rely too heavily on tourism because of how isolated it is, fishing and related activities support most of its economy. Micronesia specialises in fish processing and exports fish as well as fruit and nuts. It also exports craft items made from wood, pearls and shells.

The Micronesian island of Yap has hundreds of giant discs of rocks dispersed across it. Known as rai, the stones have been used as a form of currency for centuries even though many of the stones are too heavy to move.

Every year on the island of Yap, the Homecoming Festival or ‘The Taste of Yap’ is celebrated. Activities include a stone money ceremony, canoe building and traditional dancing such as the men’s standing dance and a stick dance.

The capital city, Palikir, is one of the world’s smallest capitals, with only about 7,000 inhabitants.

Micronesia is situated in between the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Philippine Sea, which means that these islands are home to the world’s most amazing coral reefs.

The tiny Micronesian island of Mogmog is home to the largest terrestrial arthropods (crabs) in the world. The crabs have a leg span of nearly one meter and can crush coconuts with their pincers.

Micronesia is one of just 22 countries not to have an army. Instead, as a former US-administered territory, the USA provides aid and is responsible for Micronesia’s defense. In return, the USA can maintain military bases in Micronesia.

It is estimated that over 50 ships have sunk around the island of Chuuk after Operation Hailstone during World War II, when the Japanese base around there was destroyed. This means divers come here to explore the wreckages underwater, an interesting Micronesia fact.

Micronesia is home to the longest-running humanitarian airlift in the world. Operation Christmas Drop is an annual military training operation that airlifts Christmas gifts and humanitarian aid to Micronesia. It began in 1952 and continues to this day.

In 2018, a plane sunk in a lagoon after overshooting the runway in Micronesia. Fortunately, all 57 people on board were rescued safely.

Nightlife is nearly non-existent in Micronesia. People prefer to sleep, retiring to bed early.

Micronesia is home to the most color-blind place on Earth. Worldwide, only one in every 30,000 people have achromatopsia (color blindness). But on Pingelap atoll in Micronesia, one in 10 people are afflicted.

There is an unusual tradition in Micronesia. Every New Year, locals change their names to confuse evil spirits.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Micronesia... On one Micronesia island if you walk into any village with nothing in your hand it is customarily believed that you have ill intentions; therefore you have to carry a green leaf as a peace sign when visiting Yap.



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Stampin' UP! Gorgeous Leaves stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves and Desert Sand Inks

Paper: JoAnn's 110# Kraft, Neenah 110# Solar White, and SU Creamy Caramel CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles, Paper Roses Hello Chunky Double Layered, and Pink N Main Concave Rectangles

Embellishments: SU Linen Thread