Retro Rubber Challenge #273 - Tic Tac Toe...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

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

I love a tic-tac-toe board and I gave this board to my friends on our recent playdate and we all made fun cards.

I went with the 1st vertical row die-cut, blue and stencil.

I used blue distress oxide ink through an old faithful fan stencil by Dutch Doobadoo. I've had it since 2016 and the birthday sentiment is from 2025 by Scrapbook.com

I added a little blue glittery strip to lift the sentiment off the stenciled background.

Fun card, kinda feels masculine.

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

Challenge ends June 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 5 challenges, including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber #271 - Colour Challenge - Cotton Candy Spring...

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

This time we have a colour challenge for you - pretty springy candy colours!

These colours were so much fun to work with!

Of course, I had to grab my fave MFT Mini Cloud Edger stencil to create a pretty sky for the card I had in mind. I added a Taylored Expressions grass die-cut and then die-cut the whole panel using a stitched rounded rectangle die.

I love this Mama Elephant 'Little Line Agenda' set (I have had it since 2024). It's always so cute. I coloured one of the lines using the colours from the challenge and added a bit of grey for the bunnies. It's very easy to fussy cut, so I did that and popped it up with some foam tape. I mixed a couple of sentiments to get what I wanted.

How will you use the colours? I 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 May 15th.

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 #258 - Happy Birthday!

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

It's time for a Birthday theme -

I came across this stamp set while looking for something else, and I thought it would make a unique birthday card. 

The set is 'Stick with Me' by Jillibean Soup and I've had it since 2017. I cannot get over how cute the cactus is with googly eyes! I decided to draw an outline on the card blank and I am loving that as a detail.

I can't wait to see how you play with the theme. Don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber, and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends July 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

Unleash the Kracken...

 

Hey,

Happy Friday!

I was recently laid off from my job, so I have some time on my hands :) 

It was Hubby's 45th birthday last Sunday and I had real trouble making him a card. I made a bunch of them and finally had an idea that I liked LOL.

I started by creating the cloud background using my fave MFT Cloud stencil with distress oxides. I then die cut that panel to shape, as that shape would inform the placement of my elements.

The Kracken is a fave stamp by Avery Elle and the ship and the cake are part of the set too. 

I decided that my cloud dies by Lawn Fawn looked like sea when you use the other side. I cut them in 2 colours and stacked them using foam tape. I tucked the Kracken in and added the cake, the ship and the rest of the sentiment.

I am so happy with it and Hubby loved it too!

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #212 - Anything Goes

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge. Can you believe it is August already?! And today is my Momma's birthday!

It's everyone's fave 'Anything Goes'.

I have had the MFT 'Martini's on Me' set since 2013 and I can clearly remember thinking 'should I spend this much money on a small set'. LOL now 10 years later and so much use, I think we can agree it was a great investment.

It recently got a new lease of life, as I got these Mama Elephant 'Birthday Messages' (2021) and they have perfect sentiments for this set, including the one I used here.

The cards are so simple, just stamp, colour and mount onto the card blank. I gave one of them to a friend and she loved it. I think these will be becoming a staple in my birthday card box.

What are you going to dig out of the archives? Don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends August 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 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Blog Challenge #203 - Happy Birthday...

Hey,

Hello from Miami!! Well I am on the road on the way back, after a long weekend of dancing with Hubby!

Are you ready for another fun Retro Rubber challenge?

This time we are after birthday cards - easy peasy for us cardmakers.

Birthday cards are always needed and I love making them.

Recently I was on a mission to make a bunch of masculine cards.

I was gifted this wonderful Tim Holtz set 'Inquisitive, Dots and Arrows' in 2021 by a friend. It is the smaller set that he produces for Joann's so you also get a stencil.

I used the stencil and the background stamps that came with the set to create a fun background for my dude! I used Distress Oxides for the stenciling and the stamping - did you know that Oxides stamp really well? I stamped my fave dude from the set and then he was cut out using my Brother Scan n Cut (aka big sexy).

I added a small Happy Birthday stamp - this is one of x3 HB stamps that I keep in my top desk drawer, because I am always looking for a birthday stamp for a last minute make lol! So a couple of years ago I decided to pull out 3 that would suit all my needs, so I have this small one, a small scripty one and a larger more graphic one. Handy!

I can't wait to see which stamps you pull out to make your birthday card, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends April 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 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Retro Rubber Blog Challenge #202 - Anything Goes...

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

This time, it is everyone's fave 'Anything Goes'.

I made this card for my godson who turned 21 last week - how is that possible!? He loves graphic design and is studying photography. 

I used new Heidi Swapp 'Countdown Outline' stamps that were a gift from a friend, to create the fun background. The sentiment is by Taylored Expressions and is one of their simple strips series 'Birthday' from 2021. 

I wanted to add a camera, so I dug through my collection and came up with this seriously old stamp by Tim Holtz 'Mini Blueprints' from 2013 - why don't I use this set more? I stamped it, drew an outline, and then cut it with my Brother Scan n Cut.

I wanted a bit of shimmer, so coloured a few of the numbers using a Sakura gellyroll starbust gel pen.

It came out even better than I expected!

Time for you to rummage through your older stamps and show us anything you like! Don't forget to swing by Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends March 24th.

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 Blog Challenge - #194 - Colour Challenge - booyah! It's the 90's...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

We have colour challenge for you this time.

I love these colours together, they work so well.

I used an old layering stamp from The Works in the UK, I have had it since 2017. I stamped the bigger flower in yellow and the x2 center pieces in orange and brown. The little strip is by Taylored Expressions and I trimmed it down so it was a bit smaller, as I thought that worked better here. I added a red heart and some twine to finish it off.

I felt it was missing something, so repeat stamped happy birthday and that made me happy!

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 November 4th.

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 - Kitty Butterfly...

Hey,

Welcome to another fantastic Fusion Card Challenge.

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

I decided to be brave and fuse them because I had a crazy idea in mind..

I used a pencil to recreate the sketch on my white panel and then I masked off all the individual areas and blended them using distress oxides. I was pretty pleased with the outcome.

I knew I was going to use this amazing stamp by Carabelle Studios x Birgit Koopsen 'Cat Angel' - isn't it gorgeous.

It came out exactly as I had imagined and I just added a simple Happy Birthday and it is now winging it's way to my boss in London.

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 August 17th

Cx

Critter Crowd Birthday...

Hey,

Happy Sunday to you!!

This set is one of my all-time faves - Critter Crowd by Simon Says Stamp for Stamptember 2019.

I love using it, it makes such gorgeous cards. These ones are for charity, Scrapbook.com run Cards for Kindness and I like to send a bumper box of approx 150 cards every 3 months. This time they were requesting kids birthday cards. This set is perfect for that subject.

Pretty easy to make, I stamp and watercolour them (watercolouring bigger batches of cards is much quicker for me than colouring with markers), blend the bottom of the panel, stamp the sentiment and then assemble.

I always make a few extra for myself, but I am running out of little kids....

Cx

 

MFT Challenge - Slimline Birthday...

 Hey,

Happy Monday!

Today I got the first dose of the vaccine!!

I hardly ever join in card challenges at the moment, been a bit distracted by all my digital playing.

But the current MFT Slimline Challenge sparked my interest.

I used Pink Fresh Studio Slimline dies (as these are the only ones I have!) and created this fun card. I am OBSESSED with the mini and micro cloud edger stencils, I cannot stop using them and they look amazing on a slimline card - cue me making these cards forever LOL. I used the mini version for this card.

I stamped the sentiment repeatedly (from Essential Sentiments), not only to fill the space but to create a bit of interest. I love the Zippy Zebras set and the one on the scooter is my fave and I used the butterflies from that set around my sentiment on my background. The grass die is by Lawn Fawn.

Fun card, that I am super happy with - now who do I send it to...

Cx

Highlight Stamping...

 

Hey,

Happy Saturday!

Can you believe it will be March on Monday?!

I am sure it has been at least 2 weeks since you saw a Monster card from me LOL.

I love this set by Taylored Expressions - 'Little Monsters' and I saw this idea of repeating the stamp (by masking it) and only colouring one of the images, I believe it is known as a highlight stamping.

It came out so well and I'm super pleased with my masking here! I added a little strip of glitter paper and a sentiment from the set.

Hope you have a great weekend. I am playing at my desk and playdating with JT tomorrow.

Cx

Digital Card!

 

Hey,

Hope you are having a great weekend?

I am having a quiet one at my desk, as I have both physical and digital projects I want to catch-up on.

This month I have been playing along with the Sweet Shoppe Designs 15th Birthday Bash.

The challenge for Friday was to make a digital birthday card! Go on admit, you were not sure that it was digital!

I loved this challenge and the card even looks like something I would make :)

I used all products from SSD 

-

Blagovesta Gosheva - Stay Original (retired)

SSD - It's My Birthday Too (FWP)

Erica Zane - Level Up Pins

Janet Phillips - All Those Pages - Singles Template (I used it as the base for my card)

I wouldn't have considered a digital card - but now I am wondering if there might be a few more of them in my future..

Cx

Happy 70th Birthday....

 

Hey, 

Well, it has only taken me nearly 2 months to finally post this card!!

My Dad turned 70 at the start of December. It was pretty sad for me, as I am an only child and I had planned on popping home to surprise him, but Covid put an end to that.

Instead, I made him this super fun interactive card, sent him cake and a ton of gifts. I stayed up late to call him at 9am GMT, which was a big surprise and made him super happy.

Here is the inside of my card - 

This die is the Gatefold Reveal die by Taylored Expressions and it is one of my all-time faves. Super easy to use.

For this card, I used a piece of birthday paper that I cut to size and I used a stencil for the inside. I love Thickers stickers and these ones feel very male. The sentiment outside is by Studio Calico and the one inside is by Scrapbook.com

I am so pleased that it arrived on time and that my Dad loved it. It's always worth the effort when you hear that the card was well received.

Cx

Stamping over a background..

 

Hey,

Happy Friday!

Well, I don't know about you, but I am glad that the first week of work is over and passed easily, now I get to enjoy the weekend.

I got this great Spellbinders stamp from Jenn Shurkus' destash last year. But as you can see it is quite big! So I decided I would stamp over some fun backgrounds.

Creating the backgrounds is simple. I used a zigzag background stamp I have, inked it up using distress oxide's and spritzed it with water, I laid my watercolour paper down on the stamp and then dried it and repeated the process until all the ink was gone. You only need to ink the stamp once.

As you can see when you stamp over it, the zigzags show through, but the majority of that is hidden once you colour in the stamp. I kept the colouring simple and used Copics for the bigger areas and Sakura Gellyroll Starburst gel pens for the smaller areas to add a bit of sparkle.

I ended up with a bunch of fun cards.

Have a great weekend, I will be watching NFL wildcard weekend, trying not to be too sad about the end of the NFL season.

Cx

Happy Birthday to me..2020 style..

 

Hey,

Well, we all know that I love to wish myself a Happy Birthday and write a little post.

2020 is a bit of a different one right?!!

With the global pandemic, this year hasn't been quite what any of us expected.

I won't be out partying this year or traveling somewhere to celebrate, but the truth is I am actually ok with that. I have actually had a really nice 6 months since the lockdown. Hubby and I found a new normal being in our tiny space all the time and we have tried out new recipes and the cake eating has been off the charts. Summer was wonderful, I spent a large amount of it, just sitting outside on a bench in our complex, reading and watching the world go by.

All of my family, chosen family, and friends are safe, happy, and as healthy as they can be right now, so to be honest that is all that matters.

I have learnt how to be at home, I am not always running from thing to thing and that is a really good thing for me. I have also become a digital scrapbooker - because I had time to teach myself Photoshop and it has been very therapeutic to go through my photos and scrap about me and my people. It's also been a great way to revisit fun times and memories, keeping me attached to what is important.

Here is one of my latest layouts - 

I have embraced wearing a mask, it is the right thing to do and I actually like the fun little twist the patterns add to some of my more somber outfits! Note that I had to show you a photo of me in a leopard print mask - if you know me, you know I LOVE Leopard print.

This week I will be at home with Hubby enjoying my week off and turning 47 quietly but happily.

I also have some awesome news to share with you on Thurs..so come back then for an update.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #144 Anything Goes...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

I am counting down to VACAY!! I have my birthday week off next week, there is gonna be a whole lot of eating and crafting!

But before then, we have everyone's fave Anything Goes..

By now you should not be surprised to see a Monster pop up on most of my cards, I LOVE Monster stamps and I am so lucky that my friends are constantly gifting them to me. To date I have not had a duplicate, which is amazing.

I chose this Hero Arts 'Eat Cake All Day' set (I've had it since 2017) deliberately because it was given to me by my friend Cheiron, who I was introduced to by Jenn Shurkus who was the previous owner of the MFT Birthday Speech Bubbles set (Jenn bought it in 2016).

I love these ladies and I thought it would be fun to make a card that combines things from them :)

As you know I am a big fan of Altenew inks and I used x3 of them to stamp the bubbles here - Starlight, Tide Blue and Sea Breeze.

It felt like the Monster needed something and so I hunted through my dies and came up with a bow-tie for him from the Elizabeth Craft Designs 'Party Accessories' set. Perfect!

Your turn to dig out something neglected and show us what you can do with it. Also, pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends October 2nd.

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

Happy (belated) Birthday Momma..

 

Hey,

So my Momma's birthday is 1st of August (I didn't forget..), but that was just as I was coming out of a crazy work period!

I love to make her cards that are a bit more involved for her birthday. This year I went with a bird slider! My parents have an amazing garden and they get all kinds of birds and I thought she would like this. 

She did (phew).

Here is a photo showing it after the 'slide'

The cute birds are by Elizabeth Craft Designs 'Feathered Friends' and the slider mechanism is also by them, from a set with all different kinds of slider channels. The papers are by Lawn Fawn and the sentiment is MFT with teeny glitter stickers.

I love easy interactive cards.

Cx

Balloon Car..

 

Hey, 

Happy Friday!

If you are in the US, you are probably dancing for joy at the long weekend ahead of us (Labor Day). BUT it does mean that the Summer is officially over, which makes me so very sad.

I am excited for the weekend, as tomorrow, I reunite with most of the craftgang for a fun socially distanced playdate at Tiffs house! Yay! We haven't all been together since FEB!!

I am a big Avery Elle and own a TON of their stamps.

I really loved their Journey set, even though the car looks like it should be only used for Weddings, the set comes with sentiments that mean you can use it for birthday's too - which is what I did here.

I love that you can stamp in the license plate slot!

These were really easy cards to make, I stamped, coloured and die-cut the cars. I die-cut the white background panel - the die is from The Words and is one of my current faves. 

Before I added the cars to the card front, I stamped some fun confetti, streamers, and stars in coordinating colours. 

So simple and fun. And a bit of a surprise for the recipient.

Have a great long weekend.

Cx

Paper Smooches: Birthday Fishes...

Hey,

Its official Paper Smooches are no longer, sad times, but happy times for Kim the owner as she goes on to the next phase of her life.

The challenge (which I have foolishly only recently discovered) is still alive and well!

The current challenge is a birthday challenge 

I love the 'Birthday Buddies' set by PS. Once again I opted to use the fish to create a background. I can't tell you how many times I have done this with this set!

This time though I colored them using just x2 colours and I added googly eyes!

The sentiment I heat embossed onto a coordinating piece of card stock.

Such a simple, but effective card. I love using this idea to make cards, stamping my own backgrounds, and colouring them is like creating my own colouring book pages!

Cx