Play along with Retro Rubber and Tic Tac Toe!

 We always enjoy seeing all the wonderful combinations that this type of challenge inspires!  Join us at Retro Rubber!

 (As a side note--Retro Rubber was forced to close in the fall of 2025 due to the discontinuation of a blogger portal, so there is an option for pumpkins . . . )

 I may be late to the Postage Collage fad, but now I am totally onboard!  I knew that the ton of smaller stamps I have collected over the last three decades would come in handy someday!  The balloons, two of the sentiments, party hats, and sparkles are all from small sets acquired at Michael's and Joanns.  

 

This card is the diagonal of "purple, my choice, and square".  This actually started as a practice piece but morphed into a cute card!  I have found my new color cards to be very helpful in picking colors when I am stumped, this is inspired by Color Cube #066.

• The Waffle Flower Postage Collage Gifts stencil is used to create each of the different colored gifts.  I used the Altenew color familes of Lapis Lazuli, Shades of Purple, Bubblegum Dreams, Martian Terrain, Pocketful of Sunshine, and Frosted Foilage.   
•  Then out came to small stamps like Scrappy Cat's Birthday Wished from 2017 and Ms. Sparkle & Co Happy Birthday also from 2017.  All these images were stamped in Memento Grey Flannel.  The postmark and small envelope are from the WF Postage Collage Stamp set released 7/2023.
• Turns out I didn't like the Martian Terrain gift, so after using the WF Postage Collage die I discarded that piece and arranged the rest on grey cardstock trimmed with a WF piercing die from the A2 set.  
• The Celebrate today is from Altenew Blooms of Encouragement from 2024.
• Spellbinder's Classic Scalloped Circles was used to die cut one image, and XXXX
• Everything is mounted on an A2 size card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  This was fun card to create and share.

 CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB265.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

 

 

A sketch for Retro Rubber using Taylored Expressions

Now that we are back in the groove of playing with fun challenges, we at Retro Rubber have a fun sketch challenge for you!

 

Recently I've been inspired to play more with my new Color Cubes and explore different color combinations. Creating my own backgrounds and supporting colored cardstock makes this super fun! 

• Using Color Cube #98 I started with Altenew inks in Teal Tempest, Canyon Clay, Coral Red, Amber Blaze, and Toasted Mauve.  
• The background stamp is Four Seasons by Taylored Expressions released in 9/2022 with matching stencil is stamped in Tuxedo Black.   Using Color Cube #98 I selected Altenew inks in Teal Tempest, Canyon Clay, Coral Red, Amber Blaze, and Toasted Mauve to color in the stencil.
• The focal image is part of the Whimsical Wildflowers stencil set in the Arch Nouveau collection.   
• Arch Nouvoeau dies are used to die cut the focal image and the backer.  
• Teal Tempest is used to distress the card base and backing for the focal image.
•  Canyon Clay is used to color the contrasting cardstock.
• The sentiment is from the set from Scrapbook.com and was released in 2022.  It is a staple for my birthday card creations! 

Just a few reminders about our challenge guidelines:

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB264.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

 

Retro Rubber is back! Anything goes challenge!

 After WordPress closed down we here at Retro Rubber took a break to regroup.  Now we are back with everyone's favorite to showcase your latest, greatest make!  Anything goes at Retro Rubber!

 

Sometimes I just take time to sit and play with my crafting stash.  This is one of those times! I also had a huge number of birthday's coming up, so there was a purposed behind creating with some pretty images.

 

 

This is one of six cards created from this same stamped image.  All of the cards look different as the image was cut at differently and placed on the card front.

• The image is Altenew's Flourishing Garden released in 2023.  The image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.  I had a small selection of Altenew Fresh Die inks and used them to stencil in the layers.  Blue Horizons, Teal Tempest, Honeydew Glow, Lemonade Stand  and Peridote. 
• This kit include an embossing folder as well.  The cardstock I had to match wasn't large enough to create a full width card panel, so being creative I inked the edges in Teal Tempest after pressure embossing the cardstock.  
• After I decided on the placement of the floral images I trimmed the edges off of the card front and adhered the layers together.
• Scrapbook.com Happy Birthday sentiment is stamped on yellow cardstock in the Teal Tempest and die cut.   

Come and have fun with us and show us what you have created that is your favorite Anything Goes!  Just a few guidelines to follow:

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB263.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

Books books books! at Retro Rubber

If you are a bibliophile this challenge is for you brought to you by Retro Rubber!  I will admit my stash was a bit scant when it came to images for this challenge.  I did go looking for ideas and came across some lovely images . . . but the spirit of this challenge is to use what you have!  So I resisted the urge to find a retro image elsewhere at went with one I already owned.

 

I will admit my stash was a bit scant when it came to images for this challenge.  I did go looking for ideas and came across some lovely images . . . but the spirit of this challenge is to use what you have!  So I resisted the urge to find a retro image elsewhere and went with one I already owned from TPC Studio released in 2010.  It was a part of a Back to School Set.  It is an image I have used on scrapbook layouts for back to school.

•  The background is from a Judi-kins Stamp mounted on wood that has a copy right of 2000 printed on it.  An Excerpt of a story from the Book of Kells is the name of the stamp.  It is stamped in Versa Mark on Kraft cardstock.   My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Rectangles is used to die cut the image.
• The Books image is stamped in Versa Magic Jumbo Java and colored with Derwent Watercolor pencils.  The panel is cut with a smaller die from the MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles.  (As a side note I just found out the MFT has closed!  I will miss this fun company!)  
• The thank you sentiment is a Studio G image from 2009 stamped in Versa Magic Jumbo Java.  
• Fiber is tie around the front panel and then adhered with dimensional foam adhesive.  The entire panel is then adhered to the card base.   

We have  ton of fun over at Retro Rubber and would like to see how you play with this theme!   We do have a few guidelines:

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB259.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

 

Tic tac Toe! Pick your favorites!

 Tic Tac Toe stretches your imagination, as you selected which row or column to use!  Here is this fortnight's selection from Retro Rubber.   

 One of my favorite ways to color images is to use stencils.  For me the easy peasy way works best,  I've never really enjoyed coloring with alcohol pens.  One has to know what her skill set is!  I enjoy the Pinkfresh Studio images, and their first stencil sets came out with the long stamps that could stamp, color, and die cut all in one for multiple images.  This is the first of two cards created that met the Die Cut/Stencil/Sequins diagonal.

•  Pinkfresh Studio's Sunflowers from March of 2022 is used to create the flower images.  Stamped in Memento Tuxedo Blank and colored with the stencil set in Memento Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Rich Cocoa, Elderberry, Dandelion and Versafine Clair in Cheerful.  The set was released early to Support Ukraine, it was ready but not released--then the war in Ukraine began.  I love sunflowers too!
• The background is Pinkfresh's Argyle Stencil with a very feminine touch done in Memento Dandelion and Elderberry.  Several different colors of sequins are used to decorate the intersections and are adhered with wet adhesive.
• To add more interest a very old Spellbinders die, Floral Ovals from 2011 is die cut.  The center is die cut with a Spellbinders Petite Oval.  The frame is mounted to the base with dimensional foam adhesive.  The flowers are adhered to the frame, and supported with dimensional foam adhesive.
• Scrapbook.com's Happy Birthday stamp and die set is the sentiment.  The cardstock was inked with Memento Dandelion then stamped in Elderberrty to carry the color throughout the card design.

Here is the second card from the same stamping session.

 

 

• The background is Sizzix's 3D Textured Cobblestone with the edges inked in Versafine Clair Cheerful.  
• The card base edges are inked in Memento Pear Tart.
• The Sentiment is Perfect Sentiments foiled with Auro Glimmer foil. 

Do come and play with us at Retro Rubber, we would love to see your work!  There are a few challenge guidelines:

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB259.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Quick Graduation Card from a sketch

 I was in the mood to get a ton of things done today and on the list was a graduation card for an announcement that came a few weeks ago.  A quick search for a card sketch challenge and I found this one over at Freshly Made Sketches 698 that made this card go together in just 15 minutes!

The graduate will be going to a well known university in California, so I choose those colors for the card.  

•  From my scraps bin I found crimson cardstock and stamped an acient grad cap by PSX probably 1998 or so in Memento Luxe Wedding White and heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.
• The diploma is from Stampendous 1998 dated.  Stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
• The confetti is a stencil by Alex Syberis Designs called festive fun.  It is a two step stencil.  I used Altenew Mahogany Bark and Maple Yellow.
• The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background and I simply edged the strip in Maple Yellow.
• Adhered it all together and wooza, it is done.

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

 

 

Sketch Time for Retro Rubber

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of July?  At any rate we have another sketch challenge over at Retro Rubber, one created by yours truly.  

 

I didn't have specific images in mind when creating this sketch, but once it was time to make a card the stamps from Hero Arts release in 2017 of Color Layering Koi and Frame Cuts were a perfect fit.  When I lived in Japan as an exchange student I would marvel at the Koi ponds and gorgeous fish.  

To maintain a sense of proportions I decided a A7 (5" x 7") would work best.  I used cool serene colors for this card because this card would be sent to my mother for my dad's birthday.  One his birthday she visits his columbarium at the Willamette National Cemetery.  I cannot be there is person, but want her to know that I am there with her.  

• The koia, leaves, and water lily were stamped in layers with Versa Magic in Thatched Straw, Mango, Aspen Mist, See Breeze, and Night Sky.  
• The diagonal strip is masked off, and inked in Thatched Straw and the words stamped in Mango.   
• The light aqua card base is trimmed to 4.75" x 6.75.
• White cardstock is trimmed to 4.5" x 6.5" and a circle is die cut to match the sketch.  
• The bubble images are stamped inside the open area in Night Sky.
• The base and white cardstock is layered and mounted with dimensional foam adhesive to the card front.
• The sentiment is stamped in Night Sky and die cut with Fawn Cuts Banners and inked in Night sky as well.
• The image layers are added to the card.
• Nuvo Crystal Drops in Metallic Navy Blue are added to finish the card.

Crafting this card brought me peace too as I fondly remembered my Dad, it's been 3 years since his passing.  I am thankful for the parents that raised me!!!!

Please do join along with us at Retro Rubber.   We have a few simple rules.

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB259.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 5 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 5 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that dif