Sketch for Retro Rubber makes a fun Birthday Card

 So many shapes could be used for this fun sketch from Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  My vision was one of balloons!

 The image is a mini release from Altenew in 2020 named Mini Delight Birthday Love.  The background hearts are ANCIENT, a Fiskars roller from about 1990.  The small heart's origin is unknown from probably pre-1990.  The ombre' effect on the balloons is created by using Kaleidacolor inks.

• The background is brayered with Kaleidacolor in Spectrum.  Spectrum has been in my stash since early 1990.  When I was on the Design Team for Imagine Crafts I finally purchased the reinkers to make it nice and juicy again.  The pad still works wonderfully!
• The balloons are from a selection of Kaleidacolor pads: Blue Breeze, Fresh Greens, Berry Blaze, and Desert Heat.  I stamped and die cut enough balloons for four cards using the spectrum of colors.  
• The edges of the background card front and of the card panel are inked with Versafine Clair in Nocturne. 
• The balloon heart placement is determined then the small heart stamp is alternated to give the card a cohesive design.  
• The sentiment is from Scrapbook.com and stamped in Nocturne and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.   

I hope you have fun using this sketch and share your creation with us at Retro Rubber! 

 

 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 RRCB272.  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.

 

Pastel Color Challenge for Retro Rubber

 Spring often has many soft pastel colors, this challenge is to represent those tranquil shades. Please join us at Retro Rubber and play along!

 I wanted to represent some delicate spring flowers and choose to use an image from Altenew names Flourishing Garden released in 2023.  It was a Craft Your Life set with stencils, dies, and embossing folder.

• The image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and ink stenciled in Altenew Arctic, Rose Quartz, Pastel Sunrise, and Strawberry.  Then it is die cut before trimming part of the image for the card front.
• The coordinating embossing folder is used to pressure emboss vellum for a delicate look.  The vellum is adhered to the card front using sticky dot adhesive. The Floral image is added.
• The sentiment is Spellbinders BetterPress image from A little Message Sentiments.  I batch produce the sentiments when I am feeling not-so-creative for future use.

Another card was created from the same session using another part of the Flourishing Garden image.  Thin ribbon, and a few sequins embellish the front of the card.

 Which one do you like better?  Thanks for stopping by!

 

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 RRCB271.  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 Singing in the Rain

Spring is often a time that has rain as a seasonal hallmark.  Our fun challenge for this time around is Singing in the Rain.  Come join us at Retro Rubber!

 

 

I had a sweet image in mind from 2016, that is a House Mouse design from Sampendous.  Monica with a Cling Rain Flower.  She is a cute little mouse hiding from the rain under a flower!

 

• The image is stamped on smooth cardstock with StazOn Jet Black.
• Water colored with Derwent Water Color pencils.
• To add to the rain theme I decided to make it a shaker card.  The front panel is die cut with Pinkfresh Studios Stitched rectangles and Simon Says Stamps Stitched Ovals.  Then it is pressure embossed with Cuttlebug Kaleidoscope embossing folder.
• The image has dimensional foam adhesive around it to create room for the shaker bits of Recollections glitter and Suze Weinburg's Mini Mosaics in Blue Ice.  A layer of acetate is added before adhering the front panel.

 

 

This is the card with the shaker bits showing.

 

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 RRCB270.  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.

 

 See you soon!

 

Warm Wishes for Retro Rubber

 Last fall we had a brief interruption in our challenges at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  It was decided to use some of the challenges planned for last year in the new year.  This is one of those, so it has a more wintry Christmas themed Tic Tac Toe board for you to play with!  Consider it a start on Christmas cards for 2026!

 

I played with the vertical row of Pines, Your Choice, and Snow.  Also added a tag, ribbon, and die cut.  Almost went for black-out but sequins and rhinestones didn't fit the overall vibe of the card.

I have a nice image from 2015 by Technique Tuesday.  I do miss the realistic clean style of many of their images.   I am glad I have a nice selection to play with, and this Pine Bough is one of them!

• The image is stamped in VersaFine Nocturne and then colored with Derwent Water Color Pencils.  That is the best way to add some color to the pine needles in my opinion.  I have the pleasure to actually see these beautiful birds here at my home in Northern Minnesota.
• The sentiment is from the same set and is also stamped in VersaFine Nocturne.  The images are die cut with the coordinating dies.  
• Kraft cardstock creates a tag by using the Paper Studio Tag punch to get the decorative top edge.
• Added a ribbon to the tag from my ribbon scraps. 
• The front of the card base is pressure embossed with Darice's Snowflakes embossing folder.   
• All the layers are adhered together, and my first Christmas card for 2026 is done!

Please do play along and show us over at Retro Rubber what you can come up with for this challenge! 

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 RRCB269.  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.

 

Sketch Challenge at Retro Rubber Beach Scene

We have a clean and simple sketch for you to give a try at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  It should be fun to see what you create!  I gave it two tries and had fun with both!

 

 

This is actually what I decided I really liked for this challenge.  It reminds me of wall art where the scene is stretched over several panels on the wall.

•  The stamp is Hero Arts Color Layering Waves from 2019.  I used Altenew inks in Sand Dunes, Rocky Shore, Iceberg, Eastern Sky, Ultramarine, Arctic, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, and Sapphire.  
• The sentiment is from another Hero Arts set Mountains at the Lake.  The flying bird silhouettes are also from this set.  
• The die cut Adirondack chair is Taylored Expressions and a scrap of Distress paper was used.  To get the chair to face the direction I wanted I actually cut it in reverse and them flattened the rolled edges on the die cut.    
• The background texture is a press plate by Altenew named Burlap. 
• All the edges of the image and the sentiment were inked with the Sapphire ink.  

This is my first try:

•  For color inspiration I used Color Cube card 692.
• The birds are from Technique Tuesday's Chickadees 2.0 released in 2017.  They are stamped in VeraFine Clair Nocturne and head embossed in iridescent embossing powder.   Then colored with Prisma color pencils and die cut with coordinating dies.
• The chickadees are mounted on My Favorite Things Die-Namics Wonky Stitched Rectangles which are then mounted to a pre-printed A2 card base.   
• The sentiment is stamped on a matching piece of cardstock and die cut with the coordinating die.  
• Everything is adhered together for a quick finished card!

I hope that you will share you sketch inspiration with us over at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog! 

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 RRCB268.  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.

 

  

Pretty color challenge for Retro Rubber

Where I live we are still in the midst of winter, not quite spring so it was fun to play along with this color challenge and look forward to warmer weather and blooming plants! 

Somehow color challenge reminds a bit of spring in Japan (or Washington D.C.) with the blooming Cherry Blossoms.  I was fortunate as a teen to spend a spring in Japan enjoying the beauty of all these light pink flowers, with dark magenta centers.  Looking through my stash I found this Blooming Branches from Technique Tuesday circa 2019. 

• Focal image image is stamped in VersaFine Clair Shady Lane and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Sentiment is stamped in the same way.
• Pulled out an old coloring media, EK Success Chalks in several palettes.   With small applicators it is easy to shade and quickly color the image.
• Waffle Flower A2 Piercing Dies are used to die cut the focal image and the backing layer.  
• To add a little interest the A2 card base is stamped with the same image with VersaFine Clair in Shady Lane several times around the edges. 
• The layers are adhered to the A2 card base with dimensional foam adhesive.  

 This was a fairly quick and easy card to put together.  In fact I tried a slightly different version as well using Technique Tuesday's Wild Roses released in 2016.  Added yellow to the centers of the roses to match what they look like in nature.

 

Which one do you like better?  Thanks for stopping by and know that your comments are appreciated!

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 RRCB267.  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.

 

luck o' the Irish challenge at Retro Rubber

Here we are creeping to the end of February already and a new challenge from Retro Rubber.  Time to get ready for March and of course everyone is Irish come March 17th!  So let's celebrate with a little luck O' the Irish!

 

 There are so many things to work from with this challenge image.  I choose the Celtic and four leaf clover theme.

I knew this background image was perfect.  It is a red rubber stamp mounted on wood from about 1990, "an excerpt of a story from the books of Kells" made by Judi-kins.  This was one of my favorite companies in the 90's and 00's with all of their themed international stamps.

•  The image is stamped in Memento Bamboo Leaves on the front of an A2 size card base and on a light green cardstock.  The resulting green cardstock is die cut to a frame with dies from Waffle Flower.
• The "lucky" die cut is from Concord & 9th Lucky die and stamp set.   The sub-sentiment is from the same set and is stamped in Memento Bamboo leaves as well.  
• The four leaf clover is an ancient Quickutz die and is used to die cut several colors of coordinating green from my scraps stash.
• All the layers are adhered together.

I hope you enjoy playing along with the challenge from Retro Rubber. 

 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 RRCB266.  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.

 Please do play along!