Encore Performance - December 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 posting early since my blog will be busy the next several days.

This month I revisited the penguin couple stamp from the Gina K Playful Penguins stamp set. This stamp first appeared on a card on my blog on December 17, 2022 - you can see it HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: Gina K Playful Penguins stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Opaque Accent 120# White and SU Balmy Blue CS and DP

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Stencils/Ink: A Colorful Life Falling Snow Stencil blended with Taylored Expressions Cotton Candy Ink and Picket Fence Falling Snowflakes Stencil blended with Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy Ink

A Special Post Office

My husband has been preaching at Calvary Baptist Church in Effingham for the past few weeks. The people have welcomed all three of us and made us feel so welcome in their church. 

We've enjoyed seeing their Christmas decorations and to learn a bit about some of their traditions, such as the Christmas card mailbox. It is my understanding that this began many years ago with the children collecting cards at their postal counter and placing them in the appropriate slots. Then at the specified time, they delivered the cards to the recipients. Members were encouraged to put the money saved on postage into the special offering.

Now the postal station is placed in the gathering room for self-service usage. 

Being a cardmaker, I decided it would be fun to make a card for each person/family's mail slot.

I used the Spellbinders Christmas Gospel Press Plates that my friend Barb gave me for the card. Thank you, Barb! The sentiment on the front is from the Joys of Life Oh Christmas stamp set.

The verse inside is from the same Spellbinders Press Plate:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Press Plates: Spellbinders Christmas Gospel inked with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Stamp Set: Joys of Life Oh Christmas stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Crushed Curry CS

Inks (for blending): Taylored Expressions Bleu Cheese and Pineapple

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 2 and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishment: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestone

SCS Sketch #SC1093

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 - #SC1093:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Wander and Wonder KOTM (Sept 21) stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Evening Evergreen CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 2, MFT Stitched Rectangles, Paper Roses Stitched Circles, and Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Strips

CAS877 Christmas Presents

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...

Christmas Present

Here's my card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Whipper Snapper Bear & Present stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Sentiment/Die: Taylored Expressions Christmas on Repeat and On the Block Merry

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Taken with Teal CS 

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

Creative Crew 2025 - December

It's posting day for the Creative Crew. What exactly is the Creative Crew? We are a group of 6 card-making friends from various US locations who have a fun monthly creative adventure with a secretive twist. 

Most months one of the group's members acts as hostess, meaning she chooses a theme and then sends each of the group members a theme-appropriate image and some designer paper. The host can also include a sentiment and/or special item if she chooses to do so. The group members all receive the same items, but there is to be no conversation about what was received or the cards we're making. Then, on the 15th of the month, we all reveal our cards.

Occasionally we shake things up and instead of having a hostess we have a common theme and everyone uses her own supplies for the card. This is one of those months. 

Color/Sketch

Barb chose a color combination by randomly choosing a card from her Color Cube.

I created a sketch.

It's going to be fun to see the cards the Creative Crew members make with these colors/sketch.

Here's my card:

Be sure to check out all of the Creative Crew cards:

Barb

Darlene

Jeanette - that's me

Lorraine - SCS Gallery

Terry

Tracie

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment: Unity Nestled Near at Christmas stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers and a sentiment from Pink Fresh

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Basic Gray, Cajun Craze, Cinnamon Cider, Mossy Meadow, and Pear Pizzazz CS

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 2, Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles, MFT Stitched Rectangles, Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Strips, and Unity Scallops and Squares

Embellishments: Gina Marie Enamel Dots 

BK - Mountain Flowers

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 Mountain Flowers stamp. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

A sentiment from Blue Knight Rubber Stamps

Majestic Pines Stamp Set

Card #2

A sentiment from Blue Knight Rubber Stamps

Shoreline 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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

SCS Sketch #SC1092

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.

Lisa created this week's sketch - #SC1092:

I flipped the sketch on its side to make my card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Gina K Thankful Magnolia stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Sentiment: Sassy's Cards & Gifts Simple Favorites Vol. II

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

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Glitter Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

3M Grinch-Mas

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 my turn. I chose the Crackerbox Grinch and Saying stamps.

Here's the inside of my card:

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

Barb

Kelly

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment: Crackerbox Grinch and Saying stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

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

Dies: Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishment: Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

CAS876 Do You Want to Build a Snowman

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

I am the host this week. I chose the theme...

Do You Want to Build a Snowman

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: Stampalicious Winter Snowbird stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Lemon Lime Twist CS

Dies: Altenew Featured Sentiment and Brass & Bliss Stitch Dot Nested Rectangle

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

Unused No More - December 2025

It's the 6th of the month - time for the Unused No More Challenge. Not sure what that is? Knowing we have stamps and other products we've not used, Barb created the idea for this challenge and invited others to join her in the fun.

The challenge each month is to pick a stamp set, stencil, die, hot foil or press plate (or maybe something else I have not thought of) that you have not used yet—still new in the package or your storage choice.

Make a card or another project, giftable, ATC, etc. with the new item and now it is used!

This challenge is exactly what I need! I'm not going to name how many unused stamps I have (not to mention dies, embossing folders, stencils, etc.) but I will tell you this - over 35% of the stamp sets I own are currently unused (at least by me - some of them I have purchased second-hand). That's ridiculous! I need an intervention and Barb has created it for me. It's called Unused No More.

I made a card this month using The Rabbit Hole's 1 Line Holly stamp set.

There are several of us in this group, but these are the ones that have blogs if you'd like to check out their Unused No More cards/projects:

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: The Rabbit Hole 1 Line Holly stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers and a sentiment from Joys of Life Oh Christmas stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Ink (for blending): Taylored Expressions Potato Chip

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Real Red CS

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 2

BK - Sheet Music

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 Sheet Music stamp. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Praise Him Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Wedding Couple 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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

SCS Sketch #SC1091

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.

I created this week's sketch - #SC1091:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Birch Press Contempo Greetings stamped with Concord & 9th Wheat Ink

Papers: SU Pecan Pie and Very Vanilla CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 5, MFT Stitched Rectangles, and Whimsy Quick Strips

Embellishments: Gina Marie Enamel Dots