Catch Up Club!

Here we are...the last day of the month and that's posting day for some Catch Up Cards.  

A few friends and I decided that we would make a point to complete a card or two from challenges, classes, kits, etc. that we are behind on. Voila! The Catch Up Club was formed.

Here are 2 cards from last October's Crop & Create Delivered virtual card making event.

The tutorial was led by Meghann Andrew for Elle's Studio and was entitled "Clean and Colorful Cards.

She had us cut strips of the colored stock and glue them to a piece of scrap paper. Then we cut this and used it to create the backgrounds. I thought it was a great idea!

The stamp and die set is called "Sincere Sentiments Best of Friends" and I really like it.

The sentiments and flowers stamp nicely and the dies are easy to use. This is a versatile set that will see a lot of use by me.

I also enjoyed learning the "color blocking" technique with the strips of card stock. A nice and economical way to use paper to liven up your cards.

2022 is drawing to a close today. I wish all of you many blessings in 2023. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the blogs of my Catch Up friends:

Barb's Inkin' to Retirement

It's Totally Terry

Cre8tive Play: It's Cheaper than Therapy

The Catch Up Day!

Some good friends of mine, who also love paper & ink, were chatting about how behind we all are on our card making commitments and classes.  Long story short, we decided that the last day of each month would be our Catch Up Day.  Whether from a kit, a challenge, or a class, we would post a card that gets us one step closer to being up to date!

This is a card from Crop & Create Delivered held from September 29-October 1, 2022.  The course was taught by Kelly Kohout for Honey Bee Stamps. 

The stamp and matching layering stencils are called "Always on my Mind" by Honey Bee Stamps.

The image is stamped and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  Then the layering stencils are used to apply colors.

I varied the class sample just a bit and used Old Olive by Stampin' Up to layer the panel. The panel is Spectrum Noir's Ultra Smooth Premium White card stock. This paper blends so nicely. It's almost like blending on the glass mat!

This last weekend I called a dear friend back in New Hampshire and we caught up with everything. It was so great to hear her voice! I'm sending this to her, because we all have too few dear friends and I want her to know how special she is!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and if you want to see some great catch up cards, drop by my friends and see their creations:

Barb's Inkin' to Retirement

It's Totally Terry

Cre8tive Play: It's Cheaper than Therapy

Wishing all of you  a wonderful week!

October Duel: Gotcha Day!

I'm a day late, my apologies! It's pathetic because my card was actually finished a few days early 😞

Our lovely Kelly was the hostess for both teams this month and came up with a really great theme: "Gotcha Day"  This is to honor the one year anniversary of her adopting a Siamese cat who needed nursing, physically, emotionally and mentally.  The theme is to recognize all rescued animals on the day that their humans adopted them.  Pretty cool!

Here's my card:  

The adorable kitten and chicks is from CC Designs.  The image is colored with Spectrum Noir and Stampin' Up  markers.

Kelly included designer papers from S.E.I Crafts, "Madeleine Collection". I used Card Layer 2 Dies by Jaded Blossom to create the background panels.  

Enamel dots, ribbon and button are from Kelly's stash. 

This posting would not be complete without including a photo of my own little rescue guy, Dobby:

Dobby is a 7 year old Havanese that I adopted when he was 4. Unfortunately his timid little soul was subjected to some harsh human behavior and he can be so scared.

But he has come a long way and has finally started trusting people that I introduce to him!! A Havanese is a perfect breed for quiet living, they rarely bark and love their sleepy days on the sofa.  

They are non-shedders and have hair, not fur, which is great for those with allergies.

I'm so lucky to have this little guy in my life. Dobby is a devoted friend and a loving companion. 

Thank you for such a wonderful theme, Kelly! It's great that we can raise the awareness of adopting pets and giving them find a Forever Home!

September Duel: It's a Free For All!

It's the 15th of the month and time to post our Monthly Duel cards!  

Terry and I are the hosts for the two teams of the Dueling Darlings, and we chose a "Free For All" theme.  We decided to send out the little freebie stamps that we all receive from time to time. You know, when you receive an order and the vendor includes a little gift?  So everyone received a little stamp and coordinating papers and embellishments.

Here's my card:

I used a cute little cake and sentiment set that came from Taylored Expressions.  It's colored with Spectrum Noir markers and the entire cake and plate are coated with a  clear glitter pen, also by Spectrum Noir.

The top of the banner was punched with a tag punch by Stampin' Up.

Designer papers are all by American Crafts, and so is the ribbon.

Gems are from the Paper Studio.

The papers are cut with a fun die set by Jaded Blossom called "Card Layer 2".

These die sets are made so that multiple coordinating shapes can be cut from a 6x6 piece of paper in one pass!  You may want to check them out here: jadedblossom.com. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the blogs and galleries of the other Dueling Darlings! 

June Duel: Women of Strength!

I'm finally catching up on the Duels!  June was hosted by Jeanette for both teams and she wrote: 

"Knowing that we all face challenges from time to time, I wanted to remind all of us that we are 

Women of Strength"

Here is my card:

Image: Hello Bluebird, "Frosty Mornings"

Sentiment: "Next Level Amazing" by Simon Says/Pink Fresh

Papers: Moxxie Coffee Addict (the circles at the bottom of the card)

Paper Studio Cozy Little Christmas (green polka dot)

Recollections Stocking Stuffer (green striped layer)

The background panel is from Jeanette's stash. 

Ribbons: Ribbon Boutique (brown polka dots) and Sheer Creations (green sheer).

Jeanette made our kits with a special nod to Kelly, our friend and fellow Darling. Green is Kelly's favorite color, and coffee is her favorite beverage. Kelly also uses circles on a lot of her cards, so I tried to do that here!

Jeanette made an extra request: "...post a story or thought that highlights Kelly's strength". Hmm...there are so many over the years... How about a list of words that immediately come to mind when thinking of Kelly?

• Devout
• Family 
• Loving
• Faithful
• Creative
• Compassionate
• Fun!

No doubt that this list could be a LOT longer, and it would all be true!  We are blessed to have Kelly in our lives and I am blessed to have her as a friend.

Crafting Duel (August)

 Hello!

Barb and Lorraine chose "Crafting" as the theme for our August Duel.  I'm on Lorraine's team and she sent us the most wonderful kit.  Sweet papers, adorable die cuts, images and sentiments and a bag full of sequins and gems.

Here's my card:

I tried to use every page of the lovely papers she sent to us. 

Kit Contents:

• Images and Sentiment: "Craft Notes" by Gina K Designs. Sentiment stamped with Primaworks Primrose Pink ink.
• Designer Papers: "Love This", "Bright Ideas" and Cute & Crafty" by Doodlebug Design Inc.
• Ribbon: Offray
• Gems from Lorraine's stash

Lorraine, I am sorry that my card is late. As you said, "Crafting is my hobby, relaxation and escape all rolled into one!"  I couldn't have said it better myself!

Thanks for stopping by

Double Duty-Squared!

On the 22nd of each month a group of friends have a challenge called Double Duty. We have a predetermined stamp company assigned to each month. We are to make two different cards, using the same stamp (or stamp set) from the designated company. 

As another way to double up, at least one item has to be used on both cards. It could be card stock, an embellishment, embossing folder, a stencil, etc.

Since I'm a bit behind on this fun challenge, so this month my Double Duty is squared! That is, I'm posting 4 cards. The current month's DD and the DD from May.

July's Double Duty:
Unity Stamp Co. 

Both cards use the same stamps, same ink colors and same card stock. Both are highlighted with Spectrum Noir's glitter pen.

Stamp Set: Born Again Today by Unity Stamp Company.

Card Stock: Stampin' Up Barely Banana and Cameo Coral.

Designer Paper: "Vanilla Sunshine" paper pack by S E I.

Ink: "Ocean Mist" by Gina K Designs. 

Embellishments: hearts and ribbons are from Stampin' Up. 

May's Double Duty:
Stamping Bella 

Both cards use the same stamps, the same marker colors, the same stencil and the same card stock. Both are highlighted with Diamond Stickles and a clear rhinestone on her belt.

Stamp Set: "Tiny Towne Haley the Super Hero" by Stamping Bella.

Stencil: "Here Comes the Sun" by Taylored Expressions.

Card Stock: Purple and yellow from my stash, possibly Stampin Up.

Ink: Image is stamped with Hero Arts INTENS-ified black. Stenciled yellow is Pineapple by Taylored Expressions & the purple is Plum Punch by Gina K Designs.

Markers: Spectrum Noir.

Please visit the blogs of my team mates and admire their own Double Duty Cards:

Barb

Jeanette

Carol

Thanks for stopping by. Please be kind to a neighbor or a random stranger today!