Retro Rubber #275 - Colour Challenge...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

This time we have a colour challenge for you. This palette was chosen by me, I love ceramics and the plates really drew me in!

I thought this cute set by Avery Elle 'Rawr' that I have had since 2020 would work well with the colours. I basically built a collage of rectangles in the colours, creating a background for my sweet Dinos. I coloured the Dinos using colours/tones from the palette. The banner die is also by Avery Elle, but is ancient and from 2015!!

I can't wait to see how you use the colours, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends July 10th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge, and please only enter 5 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #264 - Sketch time!

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

We have a sketch for you this time.

You know how much I love a sketch!

I needed a hello card for a friend, and I thought this awesome set by Avery Elle 'Stuck on You' would be perfect. I used a scalloped circle die to add a bit of interest and the sentiment is also by Avery Elle 'Speech Bubbles'. I love the little faces you can add to the cacti! I coloured them using Altenew Markers.

Supplies: Avery Elle 'Stuck on You' and 'Speech Bubbles' - I have had both since 2020. Scalloped die is by The Works.

Show us your interpretation of the sketch, pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends February 6th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge, and please only enter 5 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #262 - Books books books...

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

This time we have a theme for you -

My Momma was a Librarian, so of course I love books. But these days, I am Kindle-based.

I love these two stamp sets by Avery Elle 'Feels like Home' and 'Feels Like Home Addition', I have had them both since 2022. How cute is that bunny with his/her carrot book :)

I stamped and die-cut all the stamps I wanted for my card. I used Big-sexy (Brother scan'n'cut) to cut the stamps. I CASEd a card I had seen, because I loved the blended background that anchors the whole thing.

I coloured the stamps using Altenew markers, and I played with the layout before I stamped my sentiment, which is from the stamp sets. I mounted everything with a skinnier foam tape to get a bit of dimension but not too much.

Love how this came out.

What book stamps do you have in your stash? Don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends September 5th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge, and please only enter 5 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx 

Retro Rubber Challenge #250 - Under The Sea + giveaway

 

Hey,

Welcome to the 250th Retro Rubber challenge.

I can't believe that we are at our 250th challenge!! I have been here since the beginning and I am so thankful to consider Jane who runs the team a friend, she is a legend.

We have a fun under the sea theme for you this time.

I believe that I saw a similar version of my card somewhere, but I can't find it now, so this might technically be a CASE.

I loved the idea of an unusual take on under the sea and this set by Newton' Nook 'Shrimp Cocktails' (I've had it since 2019) was perfect for this silly card!

I drew x2 lines to mark off my light source, then I masked and blended the blue and the yellow panels. I spritzed it with water to add a bit of a sea feel.

I found the perfect table stamp from an Avery Elle 'Feels Like Home' set that I have had since 2021.

I added the sentiment from the set and some bling as the finishing touches.

Honestly, I couldn't love it more!

As we are at the 250 mark how about a giveaway?! Enter the challenge and leave me a comment here or on Instagram and I will pick a winner for a little prize :) Sadly due to high postage costs, giveaway is only open to US residents.


Show us your interpretation of the theme, pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends March 11th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge, and please only enter 5 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #249 - Tic Tac Toe...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

This time we have a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge for you.

These are always so fun and it's great to see what other people make using the same row that you chose!

I went with the diagonal row from bottom left to top right - Bold Sentiment/Your choice (hearts)/Die-Cut.

I got the Xoxo die last year and thought it would make fun vday cards. It's by Lawn Fawn. I added my fave Hero Arts Tiny Hearts Background stamp, I am surprised that this stamp is not worn out, as I got it in 2018 from a Jenn Shurkus destash! I used Altenew Pink Diamond ink. The cute little Love Cupids by Mama Elephant work so well here, I love this set I've had it since 2023 and it was NBUS!! The sentiment stamp is my fave vday sentiment stamp by Avery Elle from their Peacock set that I have had since 2019.

I made a bunch of these in time for Valentine's Day, as they were so fun and easy to make.

We can't wait to see which row you use, and pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends March 7th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge, and please only enter 5 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

2024 Hops: Mini Hops

Hey,

This is the 3rd post in my 2024 hop series.

Kelly Santi organises all of the hops. This year I have done 6 hops with Kelly and the gang - 

• Ring in the New Year
• Spring Hop
• Sunshine Awareness mini hop
• Shark Week 2024 mini hop
• Summer Soiree
• Fall Friends

In this post I am showing the cards from the 2 mini hops we did. 

My main card is from the Sunshine Awareness hop in May - basically highlighting the risks of being in the sun without protection. Skin cancer from sun damage is sadly on the rise. I used an all-time fave stamp by Unity Stamp Co and wrote my own sentiment.

The next card, probably doesn't need explaining, but it was for the Shark Week hop, as a fan of Sharks, I love Shark Week in the cardmaking world, as I get to use all my fave Shark stamps! This one is 'Seaprise' by Avery Elle.

Both fun cards and it's always nice to do a hop that raises awareness about something.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #235 - Colour Challenge

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

Time for a colour palette challenge! If you know me, you will recognise these as my fave colours lol!

I love Gracielle Design, she makes amazing digital stamps. The one I used here is called 'Tea for the soul' and I have had it since 2019. I printed the cup and the sentiment and coloured the cup using Altenew markers. I created the fun lemon background using stamps by Avery Elle 'Funny Faces' from 2022.

I really love the colours on this card.

I hope you are inspired by the colours, can't wait to see what you make, pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends July 26.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #214 Let's Get Sketchy..

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

If you are in the big bend area of Florida, like I am, please be safe and take care in the storm x

We have a sketch for you this time.

You know how much I love a sketch!

I decided to pull a couple of old faves from the archives for this card. The side panel is a Hero Arts background stamp 'Lines' that I have had since 2015! I used a scrap I found on my desk for the other part of the sketch LOL. The cute Monster is by Neat & Tangled 'Little Monster' and I have had it since 2018. I always love colouring the word, it always looks so fun. The rest of the sentiment came from a Avery Elle set 'Peek-a-boo Balloon' and that is from 2019. 

A great mix of older sets to create a fun card.

Now it's your turn! Show us your interpretation of the sketch and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends September 8.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

I will be taking a short break to enjoy the multiple festivities around my 50th Birthday! But I will be back on October 10th.

Cx

The Library Challenge #81 - Drink, Read & Be Happy..

Hi,

Happy Wednesday to you!

I haven't played along with a card challenge in quite a while, but I saw that The Library Challenge had restarted and I loved the inspiration image.. so I made a card for it :)

Here is the challenge inspiration.

I was inspired by the diagonal design, the colours and just the idea of reading.

I have had these new-to-me Avery Elle stamps (Feels Like Home & Feels Like Home addition) on my desk for a while and aren't they just perfect for this challenge!

I stamped the chair first, so I would know where to add my blue diagonal paper piece. After I had finished colouring my little scene, I decided to add the bottom blue strip to anchor the chair and the table.

The sentiment is by Unity Stamp Co and from the 'Chapter One' set and sums up how I feel after work each night, when I sit in the lanai with a drink and my book!

Fab challenge, so happy it's back and that I carved out time for a play.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #208 - Sweet Summer Colour Challenge...

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

June already!

This time we are all about sweet summer colours - we want you to use at least 3 of the following 5 colours - yellow, pink/red, green, orange or brown.

These colours are so fun! I used yellow, pink AND red, green, orange and brown. LOL.. all of them in fact.

I used an MFT wave stencil with distress oxides to create the waves for my Octopus. I added a few bubbles for a little bit of added interest.

I love Octopus stamps and this one is one of my faves from the 'Mr Octopus' set by Sweet Stamp Shop (who are sadly no longer in business), I have had this set since 2017. The ice cream and lolly and sentiment are all from the Avery Elle set 'Skating By' that I have had since 2016 and I love all the small elements in this set.

He's so kooky I love him!

Will you be like me and use ALL of the colours? Can't wait to see your creations, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends June 16th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Fusion Card Challenge - Colour Palette - Flowers..

Hey,

Welcome to another fantastic Fusion Card Challenge.

This time we have 'Colour Palette - Flowers' for you. As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I loved both, so I fused them!

I loved the colours and it was fun to colour my leaves using blue instead of green.

I used a fave stamp by Ellen Hutson 'Mondo Wildflowers' and I watercoloured it and then die-cut it.

I decided to heat emboss the sentiment, which is from the Avery Elle 'Orchid' set. 

Such an easy and fun card to make :)

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Excited to see what you make

Challenge ends on July 5th.

Cx

Fusion Card Challenge - Wheel Wreath..

Hey,

Welcome to another fantastic Fusion Card Challenge.

This time we have 'Wheel Wreath' for you! As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I went with the inspiration image this time.

I was inspired by the wheels and the wreaths. I love this Star Wreath die by Avery Elle, I find it can be used for any occassion! The bike is by Clearly Besotted from their 'Happy Days' set. I wanted to use the typewriter sticker for my sentiment, but it didn't pop off of my card blank, so I added a teeny tiny piece of glitter washi tape. Final touch, add a few bling bits!

Sadly you can't see how sparkly my wreath is, but you can see all the glitter that fell off it onto my card :(

Anyway, I love it and it's off to my friend who is a keen cyclist.

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Can't wait to see your makes. 

Challenge ends on June 21st.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #178 - Anything Goes...

Hey,

WHOOPS!!! I got all confused and jumped ahead two weeks! So I am re-posting this one!

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

We have everyone's fave this time - Anything Goes!!

This is my fave challenge, as I get to raid my stash and I like to mix old with new.

The sentiment is by Concord & 9th from their 'Snail Mail' set that I got last year (Happy Birthday is from the Avery Elle set), paired with my all time fave Avery Elle 'I'm Late' snail stamp that I have had since 2017.

I kept the whole thing simple and popped my happy little snail for some interest. I love adding white gel pen to his balloon and hat.

What will you find in your older stash to play with? Can't wait to see, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends March 25th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Fusion Card Challenge - Thank You

Hey,

Welcome to another fantastic Fusion Card Challenge.

This time with have 'Thank You' as a theme. As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I loved both, so I fused them!

I liked the idea of a 'Thank You Dog', so I used the awesome Avery Elle 'Hot Dog' set, I think this stamp with the dog carrying a gift is my fave one.

I stamped it onto a die-cut circle - the die is 'Brilliant Rings' by Poppy Stamps and Jennifer Maguire 'enabled' me to buy it last year with her 'Fave Dies of 2020' video. This set of dies get a lot of use, I love the extra detail on the edges.

I paired my image with x2 paper scraps to match the sketch and added one of my fave go to's - a simple sentiment strip by Taylored Expressions.

Love this fun and simple card.

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Can't wait to see your makes. 

Challenge ends on May 25th.

Cx

Fusion Card Challenge - Poppies

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Fusion Card Challenge.

This time we have 'Poppies' for you! As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I was inspired by the Poppies in the photo. I love Poppies, Hubby bought me white ones last year in my Anniversary bouquet and they were gorgeous.

This stamp by Unity Stamp Co 'Poppy Girl' is one of the most overused things in my craft room. She is so much fun to watercolour (which I did here) and is just so impactful, I use her all the time.

I added a simple sentiment (Avery Elle) and used a fancy die to add interest.

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! 

When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Can't wait to see your makes. 

Challenge ends on April 27th.

Cx

Koala Hugs..

 

Hey,

Happy Friday!

Recently whilst in Connecticut, we dropped into Papercraft Clubhouse - LOVE Tracie and Jona.

I saw the sample for the Avery Elle 'Sending Hugs' set - I am a big Avery Elle fan and the sample made me NEED this set LOL.

It is so much fun, as the envelope is actually x2 pieces that you sandwich the Koala (or other critter from the set) between.

I added a Gina Miller cover plate and watercoloured the stamp. Teeny bit fiddly, but somethings are just worth the extra effort.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, I'll be brunching, desking and relaxing.

Cx

Fusion Card Challenge - Eggs

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Fusion Card Challenge.

This time we have 'Eggs' for you! As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I was aiming for a fuse, but I am not 100% convinced by my sketch interpretation... 

But I loved all the brightly coloured eggs, so I am on point with the photo!

I am a big fan of Panda's they are perfect for all genders, ages and occasions. I love this little cutie, by Wplus9 from 'Friends for all Seasons'. Isn't he adorable holding his little basket of eggs! 

The background paper is from an Easter kit I bought a couple of years ago by Lil Inker, who sadly are no longer around. I love their stuff. 

My rounded dies are by Sizzix and I think I have had them for over 10 years, they are actually way more useful than I thought they ever would be!

The sentiment is from the same set as the Panda and made me smile so I used it here.

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Can't wait to see your makes. 

Challenge ends on March 30th.

Cx

Christmas Comes Early...

 

Hey,

Most people that know me, know I start making my Christmas cards on 1st of August (my Momma's bday) and they have to be mailed by 5th December (my Poppa's birthday). 

I LOVE sending Christmas cards, but I really hate making them... So I devised this system several years ago and it really works for me.

Because I start so early I miss all the fabulous Christmas / Holiday releases. BUT it does mean that I can get things in post-Christmas / New Year sales.

This year I ended up with a HUGE pile of Christmas sale goodies. So in January, I made at least one card with each of them.

The main card uses a set by Avery Elle 'Santa Jaws' - this was a must-have for me, I love Sharks and all things nautical. And the punny sentiment - just too much!

This set is by MFT 'Happy Llama Days' and I bought it second-hand because I loved it so much! How fun are these festive Llamas.

My friend and amazing teacher Jenn Shurkus, sent me a Christmas card using this set 'The Man, The Myth, The Legend' by Simon Says Stamp and I was like WTAF?! I have to have that. Isn't it amazing?!

The last two photos are of the cards I made using the Dino-Mite Christmas set by Ellen Hutson. I LOVE Dinos and they played so nicely with a bunch of scraps I had!

I actually made multiples of all of these cards and a few more, that I will show you at some point ;) and ended up with 40 cards - LOL. Yes, I am insane.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #153 Tic Tac Toe...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

We have an awesome Tic Tac Toe board by our very own Jan this time!

I think Tic Tac Toe is one of my faves. I chose the diagonal line birthday-the ocean-blue.

Three of my fave things!

I think this stamp by Sweet Shop Stamps is one of my all-time faves, it's called 'Hello Florida' and I have had it since 2017. For me, it really screams Ocean and with the little boat and the mermaid, I'm not wrong - right?!

The stamp doesn't need much, so to keep with the blue part of the ttt board, I coloured it mainly using blue Copics and stamped my sentiment in blue. The sentiment I feel pretty proud of, as I curved the stamp to get that effect, as I thought it emphasised 'swell' even more. It is from another all-time fave set 'Sea-prise' by Avery Elle (owned since 2018).

Sadly no matter how many times I tried to photograph it, I could not capture the beautiful duck-egg blue of my background paper, it looks a bit green, but I assure you it is blue!

I'm excited to see which line you will choose, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends March 12th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #152 Let's get Sketchy...

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

We have a sketch for you this time, created by me!

You know how much I love a sketch!

I decided to make a Valentine's card and I just so happened to have a bunch of scraps on my desk that were the right size for the sketch. So it got a bit pink there for a moment, but I fixed that by colouring the cute Dinos blue and blending the die-cut circle in blue!

The Dinos and the top left sentiment are by Recollections @Michaels and I have had them since January 2020 (just squeaking in there..). The Valentine's Day sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp 'Pawsome Love' set and that is from late 2019.

I think the best thing about this card is that I was able to use a bunch of different dies. The fishtail banners and sentiment banners are by MFT, the hearts are from a heart confetti set by Avery Elle and circle is 'Brilliant Rings' by Poppy Stamps.

Another wonderful VDay make that went into my personal stash.

Show us your interpretation of the sketch and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends February 26.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx