Creative Crew 2026 - February

It's posting day for the Creative Crew. What exactly is the Creative Crew? We are a group of 7 card-making friends from various US locations who have a fun monthly creative adventure with a secretive twist. 

One of the group's members hosts each month. As host, 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.

It's always fun to see how each person uses the image/papers.  

This month it was Darlene's turn to host. She chose stretch our creativity a bit by sending items  to make an...

Accordion Base Card

Darlene sent us enough pieces from the Concord & 9th Accordion Base Dies to make two cards, which is a good thing, as some on us might have needed a do-over. I'm not naming any names. LOL!

THANK YOU, Darlene!

Here's my card:

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

Barb

Carol

Darlene

Jeanette - that's me

Lorraine - SCS Gallery

Terry

Tracie

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

I used the following things from my own stash (in addition to the items Darlene sent)...

Stamp/Die: Hello Bluebird Garden Friends stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Olo Markers

Taylored Expressions Inks (for color blending): Granny Smith and Sprinkles

Dies: Gina K Sentiment Strips, Impression Obsession Cloud Border, and MFT Stitched Snow Drifts

Peek-a-Bee

It seems like I've been using a lot of Unity stamps lately. There's a good reason for that. They have some fantastic stamp sets! Case in point: the stamp set I used on today's card. 

Isn't this the cutest bee?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Peek-a-Bee stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers and a Glitter Pen on the Wings

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

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and Spellbinders Precision Layering A2

BK - Butterflies and Branches

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

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Breezy Grass Stamp Set (sentiment)

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Silhouette Birds and Branches Stamp Set

Bird Sayings 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!

Hot Mess - February 2026

It's the 12th of the month, 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, Darlene, Terry, 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.

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

Barb

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: Gina K Thankful Magnolia stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Olo Markers

Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse Everyday Occasions

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Bermuda Bay CS and DP from my scrap file

Messy Medium: Taylored Expressions Gumdrop, Mango, and Persimmon Ink (for blending) and Dr. Phil Martin's Black Star Ink (for splattering)

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 1 and Pink Fresh Sparkling Diamonds

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

SCS Sketch #SC1101

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 - #SC1101:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: Pink Fresh Inky Bouquet stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink 

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Pretty Peacock CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles, MFT Pierced Ovals, and Sizzix Squares

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

3M Snowflake Kisses

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. She chose the adorable Gina K Snowfake Kisses stamp set.

Thank you, Kelly!

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

Barb

Kelly

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment (provided by Kelly): Gina K Snowflake Kisses - I colored it with Copic Markers

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

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 2, MFT Stitched Rectangles, ane Stamp Market Quick Strips

Embellishment: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

CAS885 Heart

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...

Heart

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: CC Designs String of Hearts stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Lemon Lime Twist CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 4 and 13 and Spellbinders Precision Layering A2

Embellishments: Enamel Heart from unknown vendor

VSN Go for the Gold

This past weekend was VSN on Splitcoaststampers. The theme was Go For the Gold. There were 14 challenges. While some participants make cards for each one of them I am only able to do a few of them. Today I'll share two of the cards I made.

Susan's Gold Stars on a CAS Card Challenge

Image: CC Designs Star

Melody's Wave Your Flag Challenge

Image: Taylored Expressions Sketched Flag

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Unused No More - February 2026

It's the 7th of the month. Yesterday was the day for the Unused No More Challenge but I'm a day late as yesterday was a DT day on my blog. Not sure what the Unused No More Challenge 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 Penny Black Flower Festival stamp. I got it several months ago when I just happened to be in a Goodwill store about an hour from our home. In fact, I got a whole box full of name brand stamps and dies for just a few dollars. I was so excited - but apparently not excited enough to use them. Sheesh. 

Well, at least this one is Unused No More.

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

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Penny Black Flower Festival stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Olo Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and Amazon 120# Black CS and MFT Black/White Stripe DP 

Dies: Unity Scallops and Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

BK - Tree and Snowy Field

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 Tree and Snowy Field stamp. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Forest Animals - Fox Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Flying Swans 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!

VSN Go for the Gold

This past weekend was VSN on Splitcoaststampers. The theme was Go For the Gold. There were 14 challenges. While some participants make cards for each one of them I am only able to do a few of them. Today I'll share two of the cards I made.

Vikki's Made of Snow Challenge

Image: Whipper Snapper Think Snow-Man!

Angie's Jump for Joy Challenge

Image: Whipper Snapper Kennedy

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

SCS Sketch #SC1100

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 - #SC1100:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Unity Hello Warm Fuzzies stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: Hammermill 100# White and Amazon 120# CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Altenew Featured Sentiments, MFT Stitched Rectangles, Paper Roses Stitched Circles, and Sizzix Dome

Using this ONE Stamp for Kicks in 2026 - February

The 3rd of each month is a special day here on my blog - it's the day that Kelly (the founder of this series), Barb, and I share our One Plus Twelve cards. The idea is to use the same ONE stamp (not a set) each month to create a card. Sentiments can be used, too, if we choose.

We started this series in 2019; it's hard to believe we've been doing it that long. 

My ONE stamp this year is a beautiful floral from the Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things stamp set.

This month I stamped the image on a larger piece of white CS and then used a rectangle die to use only part of the image. I colored it with Olo Markers.

You can see Barb's (amazingly, Barb picked the same stamp I dsid this year) and Kelly's cards on Instagram as well as their blogs...

Barb's blog

Kelly's blog

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Olo Markers

Papers: Hammermill 100# White, Recollections Black, and SU Calypso Coral CS 

Dies: Honey Bee Sweet Stack Rectangles and MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

CAS884 Rivers

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

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

Rivers

Here's my card:

I stamped directly onto a piece of very subtle designer paper from my scrap file. I really wish I'd taken a picture of it before I stamped on it but I didn't think to do that. It was two-tone of blue. I stamped it so the sky was the lighter color and the river scene was the slightly darker shade of blue.

Here's the leftover scrap that kind of shows the two shades of blue:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Silhouette Mountain River and Flower in Grass stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink 

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

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 1

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots