Catch Up Club - May 2025

In a text conversation amongst friends in the fall of 2022, we agreed that we were all falling behind in creating with items from virtual events, kits, even groups we are in. From that conversation the idea of the Catch Up Club took formation. We decided it was time to work on those cardmaking projects that were waiting for our attention. 

On the last day of each month we've committed to sharing card/cards we have made from something we need to "catch up" on. 

You can view my original Catch Up Club post - HERE - for more details.

For this month's Catch Up Club post, I chose to complete the cards from 2 Paper Cut classes I signed up for in April.

Crafters Classroom Cards with Circles

Some Bunny Loves You

Hoppy Birthday

All Ears Circle Card

Don't Worry

Fun Time Thursday Floral Cards

Spring Greetings

Dainty Blooms

Floral Happy Birthday

Clementis Bloom

It should be noted that while most cards posted on my blog are my own designs (albeit sometimes inspired by others), these Catch Up Club cards are not my designs. I've completed cards designed by the class instructor, so while I've made the card, it is not original to me.

Please check out the blogs of my Catch Up Club friends, too...

Barb

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

BK - Cloudy Sky 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 Cloudy Sky designer paper. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Beached Row Boat Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Chickadee In the Woods Stamp Set

Chickadee in the Woods Die

* * * * * 

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!

CYS Birds

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). I'm a day late posting as I had another commitment on my blog yesterday.

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Sue's turn. She challenged us to make a bird-themed card.

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity The Sweetest Spring (February 2025 KOTM) stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and Amazon 120# Black CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Pink & Main Extra Large Sentiment Strips

Embellishment: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

SCS Sketch #SC1064

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 - #SC1064:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Pink Fresh Perfect Sentiments stamped with Taylored Expressions Blueberry Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Night of Navy, Real Red, and Very Vanilla CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Sizzix Squares

Embellishments: Celebrate It Twine

From a Kit Series (PP) - May 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 April 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit - Sentimental Rose.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

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

CS - Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Cameo Coral, So Saffron, and Wild Wasabi

Dies - Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles, MFT Stitched Rectangles, Paper Roses Stitched Circles, Pink Fresh Basic Label Frames, and Taylored Expressions Sentimental Strips

Ink - VersaFine Clair Nocturne

CAS848 Masculine

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

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

Masculine

Here's my card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: from Unity Grab Bag purchases stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Papers: Amazon 120# Black and SU Confetti Ivory and Confetti Tan CS 

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Spellbinders Precision Layering A2

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Matte Finish Brads

Encore Performance - May 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.

This month I revisited a die set from Erin Lee Creative called Sunset Circle. It first appeared on my blog on February 16, 2022 - you can see it HERE. I used colored cardstock with the die at that time. Today's card used white cardstock and some ink blending.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: Pink Fresh Perfect Sentiments stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink 

Taylored Expressions Ink (for blending): Candy Corn, Lime Zest, Mango, and Watermelon

Papers: Opaque Accent 120# White and SU Daffodil Delight and Natural White CS and Other Papers from my scrap file

Dies: Erin Lee Creative Sunset Circle, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Sizzix Woodlands

BK - Cloudy Sky 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 Cloudy Sky designer paper. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

He Is Risen Stamp

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Foot Bridge Stamp Set

(unfortunately it is discontinued)

* * * * * 

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!

Double Duty 2025 - May

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 PinkFresh Studio.

Card #1

Card #2

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: the same colors (image and cardstock), the same frame, and the same embellishments.

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

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die/Stencil Set: Pink Fresh Inky Bouquet stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and color blended with Taylored Expressions Guava, Latte, Lime Zest, Mango, Peapod, Sweet Corn, and Toffee Inks

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Amazon 120# Black, and SU Rose Red CS 

Dies: Pink Fresh Dotted Chevron and Pink fresh Stitched Scallop Rectangle Frame 

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

SCS Sketch #SC1063

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.

Marion created this week's sketch - #SC1063:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment: Pink Fresh Ephemera Pack

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Poppy Parade CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Masculine Cards Class

I've signed up for some classes offered by The Paper Cut the last couple of months. The Fun Time Thursday Masculine Cards class was this past Thursday. I watched live and created the cards a bit more slowly than Sarah did (the instructor) but not too much so. I did make a few alterations, too, but that's okay. Sarah actually encourages the participants to do so by say, "You do you."

Mini Z Fold Card

A bad day of golfing always beats a good day of work.

Pickleball

Inside: Age is just a number, your Pickleball score is what counts!

Barrel

Fisherman

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!