Today is the last day of January and I am posting a set of cards for our newer challenge--Catch-up Club!  A few of my SCS and stamping friends, Darlene, Jeanette and Terry along with myself, have signed up for a number of virtual stamping events in the past 2 1/2 years.  One of the benefits of these events are that they are available to rewatch or even watch for the first time at a later date as they are all recorded. The 4 of us "try" to watch live and chat by texting during the event.  But, life steps in and there are times when one or more of us are not participating during the live.  Then, the kits from sponsors sits in our stamping area until we are ready to watch the video and create.  During one of the events, we decided we needed to push ourselves (and each other) to get some of these events done!   So--we all decided to devote one day a month, the last day of the month for the procrastinators that we are, to post cards we missed making.  They could be from a virtual event or maybe another challenge that was missed.   So--here we are in our 3rd month of The Catch Up Club!

 

These 3 cards were made from a fun Hero Arts stamp and die set called Yay! Birthday Bundle, plus the Party Confetti stencil, taught by sweet Laura Bassen.  The top card used watercolor cardstock and I water colored with Taylored Expressions ink cubes.  For the bottom two cards, I used Concord & 9th ink cubes for all of the rainbow colors! I used my Gina K Master Layouts 2 and a sentiment strip die on the Hooray card.  All three cards have enamel dots as the final touch!

Today is the day I am posting my card for our Challenge Your Stash group on SCS.  This is our 73rd month of de-stash, so we are just starting our 7th year of challenges.  I cannot believe my thought about using what we have is now 6!   I really like these challenges and know they will continue as I know I have many, many items in my stash that I can use and love the fun challenges!

I posted our January challenge--Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary for 6 years of this group. Make a celebration card that has metallic on it.

I recently bought this Spellbinders Happy Anniversary Vignette die set.  So yes, it technically was in my stash as I did not buy it specifically for this challenge. I bought it a I needed something to make anniversary cards and this set of 4 dies was perfect.  I die cut the middle section with Copper Mirricard from The Paper Cut and the filigree border from Opal Mirricard, also from The Paper Cut.  I then embossed a copper panel with my Spellbinders Geo Screen folder.  I added a few ivory pearls around the card, thought they are a bit hard to see.  There is lots of shine and sparkle on this card and it was pretty easy to make.  

 

Today I am showing you my January card for my challenge for 2023--At Home With Gnomes.   I really like gnomes and I have quite a few stamps or sets, so I really, really need to get on it!  They sure are so dang cute!

This was a pretty easy card to put together--the fold is called center stairstep.    The gnome is from a newer Stampin' Up set called Kindest Gnomes.  It is a fun set and also has a set of matching dies.  There is a new stamp set from Stampin' Up that will also match these dies--it is on my January hostess club order!   I colored the sweet gnomes with my Copic Sketch Markers. The sentiment is one of the cute ones from the same set. I cut it as a tag and added some Bermuda Bay baker's twine.   The cardstock is Pool Party and the patterned paper is from Stampin' Up too called Storybook Gnomes.  I embossed the side panels with myt Softly Falling folder.  

I hope you come back and join me during 2023 for more At Home with Gnome cards!  

Here is my card for a 2023 Monthly Challenges--Taylored Expressions Tuesdays!  I "tried" to do this in 2022, but was not successful.  I am really gong to do better this year.  I am challenging myself to make a card once a month using one of the many Taylored Expressions stamp sets that I have and am calling it TE Tuesdays! 

Here we are--this is the Double Duty Day!  This is the 25th month, so we are now starting our new year, #3

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!  We will post both cards on our blog on the the 22nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  We will be sure to have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

Today is the 15th and this is my card for a old group with a new name (old as in been around for awhile--not old ladies!) The new name for our group is The Creative Crew!  The original was founded 11 years ago and there are a few of us that are the original members.  Jeanette is still our team leader and I have volunteered to help her out when needed--like our challenge this month! We are now a group of 7 and all one team--Jeanette, Carol, Darlene, Lorraine, Terry, Tracie and me. Each month will be a new challenge posed by one of the members sending out a kit.  This month Jeanette and I kind of worked together for the kits. 

Here is the inside of my card with a strip of the fun patterned paper:

I hope all of The Creative Crew Gals enjoy my card this month.  Please be sure to stop in to see what fun crafty cards are posted this month for our first challenge--a mash up with a snow theme.  All of the blogs can be found on my left sidebar.  Our teammate Lorraine does not have a blog, so please check out her card in her SCS gallery.   I am sure you will enjoy all of the wonderful creations this month!   

We will be back in February with the kit Darlene is sending us.  Be sure to check in with us on the 15th to see what fun she has planned!

Today is the the 12th and it is time for another Hot Mess card--this time 2 cards.  This is card number 44, so we are into year #4. The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success is to Get Messy and you will have Success!  Messiness can be almost anything that we come up with--glitter, alcohol inks, glimmer glitz, sponged backgrounds, etc., anything that is a bit messy.  We are a very fun group and will post a card each month on the 12th.  The links to the other members are on my left side bar and I will also link them at the bottom at this post.

For this month's messiness,  I decided to pick two tubs of Sizzix Luster Wax that I have had for a few years.  I was introduced to them in a virtual event in 2020 and bought a couple of colors.  There are 4 available and I have three of them. You use your finger and rub the wax over your cardstock. It looks best when used over an embossed panel and I think darker cardstock.  I picked Sizzix 3-D folders to use, along with Lilac Rainbow and Silver Luster Wax.  Both panels were then die cut with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2--love the stitching border!

For the Lilac Rainbow, I embossed Basic Gray cardstock with a Sizzix Doily folder.  The Hello Die is a Gina K Designs--layered three times with Gorgeous Grape cardstock.  The sentiment strip is also from Gina K Designs.  Some black matte enamel dots are the final touch.  There really is quite a bit of rainbow colors as you move this card.

For the Silver Wax, I picked Basic Black cardstock and the Intertwine embossing Folder.   I die cut the Lawn Fawn Giant Thank You for The Paper Cut's Silver Mirricard and layered a bit off set over another layer of black cardstock.  The sentiment is again a Gina K Designs and this card has shiny black enamel dots.

I really like the look of my card and hope you do too.  I also sure hope my fellow messy ladies like it too!  Here are the links to the other somewhat messy crafters:   Carol, Darlene, Jeanette and Terry.   I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy this month and was successful in making some great cards!   Be sure to check back to see what we are up to on February 12th.  

Image/Sentiment:  Gina K Designs Hello Die, Sentiment Strips; Lawn Fawn Giant Thank You Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Silver Mirricard; Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape, 

Ink:  Sizzix Luster Wax--Silver and Lilac Rainbow

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Sizzix Doily and Intertwine 3-D Embossing Folders; Matte Black and Shiny Black Enamel Dots

This is my January card for the monthly themed swap that Terry is hosting on SCS. Each month she will post a theme and we make cards using any stamp set we believe follows that thought. The theme for January is "Use Your Words" 

I picked one of my favorite wood-mounted stamps from The Paper Inspirations called Thank You Calligraphy.  I have a few stamps that are like this with others themes and really like using them!  I stamped with Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grape to match the Designer Series Paper also from Stampin' Up called Hydrangea Hill.  I used two of the patterned papers and added a piece of 5/8" white grosgrain ribbon over the stripes.  No embellishments were needed!

Here is the inside of my card with a strip of the patterned paper:

I hope Terry and the others swappers like my card this month too! Terry has posted all of the 2023 themes, so be sure to come back to see what we create!  

It is time for another The Three Musketeers post. We are ready to showcase the card we all created with the image from Northwoods Rubber Stamps that I sent out for our January card, #101! That means we are in the middle of year number 7 with this fun challenge! All three of us sure have enjoyed the challenges every month and we hope that it continues for a long time! 

I think this is such a pretty winter image and yes, it is very large!   I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I then layered the image on black and mounted on a top fold card base.  I knew I wanted to use one of the two sentiments I included in the kit so I did end up covering up part of the top of the image with the banner.  I did not add any embellishments as I wanted the image to be the showcase.  I hope Jeanette and Kelly along with you enjoy my card!

This is my January Crafters of Faith card.  This is a sweet group on SCS that Faye hosts.  Jeanette is the hostess this month and gave everyone this challenge:

Scripture:  Isaiah 43:19 Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

Challenge: Do something new with this month's card/project (a new color combination, a new fancy fold, a new technique, etc.).

I decided to check out the tutorials on SplitCoast Stampers and this was the top one--Easel Note Holder.  I picked a fun 6x6 paper pack from Echo Park Paper called Let's Create.  Some of the panels were the exact size needed for the front of the easel.  And, I love the saying!   No embellishments needed! 

The following picture shows the open Easel Post-a-Note Holder

I hope you and the others from the Crafters of Faith group like my card this month!  We are to post on the 7th of each month, so if you look on my sidebar, you may see other creations.  I know that there will be many posted in the COF thread on SCS too!