Catch Up Club - May 2026

In a text conversation amongst friends in the fall of 2022, we agreed that we were all falling behind in creating with items from virtual events, kits, even groups we are in. From that conversation the idea of the Catch Up Club took formation. We decided it was time to work on those cardmaking projects that were waiting for our attention. 

On the last day of each month we've committed to sharing card/cards we have made from something we need to "catch up" on. 

You can view my original Catch Up Club post - HERE - for more details.

For this month's Catch Up Club post, I chose to complete one of the cards from Taylored Expressions Virtual Stamp Joy 2026 which took place on March 7th.

This card is from Session 7: 

It should be noted that while most cards posted on my blog are my own designs (albeit sometimes inspired by others), these Catch Up Club cards are not my designs. I've completed cards designed by the class instructor, so while I've made the card, it is not original to me.

Please check out the blogs of my Catch Up Club friends, too...

Barb

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

BK - Circle Stencil

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 Circle stencil. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Gladys' Farm Stamp

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Bird Sayings Stamp Set

Forest Animals - Fox Stamp Set

Pine Tree Trio Stamp Set

Flocks of Birds 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!

CYS Chickens

One of my favorite challenge groups is the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS, under the capable and organized leadership of my friend Barb. The idea is we can't shop for anything when making our monthly challenge card (which we post on the 28th of each month).

We take turns choosing the theme. This month it was Vickie's turn. Since May is International Respect for Chicken Month, she challenged us to make cards with Chickens as the main focus.

I hope Vickie, Barb and the other Challenge Your Stash gals like my card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set:  Unity What the Cluck stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

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

Dies: Impression Obsession Crazy Stitched Set and Spellbinders Precision Layering A2

Embellishment: Amazon Diamond Dots

SCS Sketch #SC1116

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.

Kim created this week's sketch - #SC1116:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Stamp Joy Set colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Papers: White and SU Cherry Cobbler CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Pierced Oval, Sizzix Squares, and Spellbinders Precision Layering A2

Embellishments: Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

Encore Performance - May 2026

My friend Darlene developed the idea for this series and invited some of us to join her in the challenge. It's called Encore for a reason. We all have those stamps (or other card-making items) that we've only used once even though our intentions were to use them again - and again. After all, we invest a lot of money in our supplies for them only to be used once. So, this series is our opportunity to dust them off and use them a second time.

Challenge Description

Go and grab a stamp set, dies, stencil, etc - your choice, that you have used once before and have always wanted to revisit it and use it again.  However, despite your best intentions, you have yet to use it!  

Now's your chance! Go dig it out and have fun with it once again.  Create anything you like, a card, gift card holder, decorate a gift bag, make a refrigerator magnet... whatever lights up your creative juices!

We'll be posting these Encore cards on or around the 25th of each month. I'm a day late this month as I had another card that needed to be posted on my blog yesterday.

This month I revisited the Unity Turtley stamp set. This stamp set first appeared on a card on my blog on June 9, 2025 - you can see it HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Encore Item: Unity Turtley stamp stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

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

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 1, Pink & Main Stitched Dome, and Spellbinders Large Standard Circles

Embellishments: Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

CAS900 National Wine Day

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 this week's hostess. She chose the theme...

National Wine Day

make a card with Grapes, Wine, Etc.

Here's my card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Technique Tuesday Luscious Grapes stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Olo and Spectrum Noir Tri-blend Markers

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

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 2 and Stamp Market Quick Strips

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

Double Duty 2026 - May

In January of 2021, my stamping comrades Barb and Kelly and I debuted a new series/challenge. Double Duty was Barb's idea... and it is a GREAT idea! I've had so much fun with this series. Thanks for inviting me to play along, Barb!

This is Barb's description of the Double Duty concept...

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!  Post both cards on your blog on the same day—the 22^nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  (Yes, I know it's the 23rd but my blog was busy yesterday so I am a day late this month.) Have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

Things have changed a bit in who's participating over the years, but not in the instructions. This year's Double Duty crafters are Barb, Darlene, Terry and me.

This month's company is Waffle Flower.

Card #1

Card #2

The thing/s that are the same on both cards (as per the challenge specifications) are: the layer of black backing the main panel and the trio of embellishments.

Let's check out the other Double Duty cards, too...

Barb

Darlene

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die Set: Waffle Flower Tulips stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and colored with Copic and Olo Markers

Sentiments Stamp Set/Die: PinkFresh Perfect Sentiments stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pineapple Punch and Pretty Peacock CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 1, My Favorite Things Inside & Out Stitched Arches, and My Favorite Things Mod Stitched Rectangles 

Embellishments: Sequins and Faceted Gems from unknown vendors

BK - Feather Stencil

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 Feather stencil. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Music Notes Stamp Set

Praise Him Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps items used:

Bird Sayings Stamp Set

Birds on Wires 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!

SCS Sketch #SC1115

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.

Marion created this week's sketch - #SC1115:

My card:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Sundry Sentiment

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Fun Stampers Journey Lemon Grass and SU Evening Evergreen, Island Indigo, Lost Lagoon, and Mellow Moss CS and Paper Studio Eucalyptus DP

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 13, Spellbinders Precision Layering A2, and Stampin' UP! Circles

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

CAS899 Monochromatic

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

Lisa is this week's hostess. She chose the theme...

Monochromatic

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/Dies/Stencils: PinkFresh Keepsakes of the Heart stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink and blended with Taylored Expressions Granny Smith, Kiwi, and Lime Zest Inks

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Wild Wasabi CS 

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 4

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones

Creative Crew 2026 - May

Yesterday was posting day for the Creative Crew, but my blog was busy yesterday so I'm posting today. What exactly is the Creative Crew? We are a group of 6 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 Tracie's turn to host. She chose a Floral theme.

She sent us:

Images from the Taylored Expressions Arch New Day stamp set

Sentiments from the Taylored Expressions Sundry Sentiments stamp set

Photoplay "Birthday Sparkle" papers.

THANK YOU, Tracie!

Here's my card:

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

Barb

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 Tracie sent)...

Cardstock: Recollections Black and SU Tranquil Tide

Dies: Gina K Master Layouts 1 and 4

Embellishments: Amazon Diamond Dots

BK - Horse Stencil

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 Horse stencil. You can check it out in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps store - HERE.

Card #1

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Horse and Sleigh Stamp Set

Card #2

Other Blue Knight Rubber Stamps item used:

Queen Anne's Lace and Barn 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!

Color Combination - May

I enjoy challenging myself to something new from time to time so this year I decided to have a monthly Color Combination series. I'll randomly select a card from one of the two original Color Cubes and make a card using that color combination. Each card has 5 colors on it. I'm giving myself the creative freedom to not use all 5 but I will try to use as many of them as possible and certainly no less than 3 of the colors.

This month's Color Combination is:

Here is my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Unity Poinsettia Poetry stamped with Lawn Fawn Jet black ink and colored with Copic and Olo markers

Sentiment: a Unity freebie

Papers: Recollections Black, and SU Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla CS 

Dies: Gina K Master Layout 1

Embellishments: Amazon Nail Art Rhinestones