Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Time to get Sketchy at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog

 This is the last sketch challenge of the year over at Retro Rubber.  Check it out and have some fun!

 

I am finishing up the fall season be fully ready to switch into the winter and Christmas season.  Here is my fall version:

 
I had a lot of fun with the textures in this card.  The stamp is an but goody from a 2014 Color Layering Stamp from Hero Arts called Fall Leaves.
  • Starting with water color paper I stamped the branches in StazOn Timber Brown.
  • The different layers are Altenew inks in Citronella, Honey Drizzle, Melted Butterscotch, Amber Blaze, Maple Yellow, and Burnt Red.  They are spritzed with water to bleed the colors a bit.
  • The sentiment is stamped in Burnt Red and die cut with my go to Lawn Cuts Everyday Sentiment Banners, along with a shadow.  
  • The focal image is die cut with Simon Says Stamps Stitched Ovals.
  • The background strip is trimmed before being pressure embossed with Darice Falling Leaves embossing folder.
  • The background is Darice Crackle embossing folder.   
  • All the layers are adhered together.

Enjoy this challenge and play along.

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 RRCB284.  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.

 


Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Fall color palette at Retro Rubber

 What is amazing about this particular color palette is that I do see these colors along my street right now!  This is one of my favorite times of the year here in Northern Minnesota.  Please do check out our challenge at Retro Rubber and play along!  

 
 
  
 There really are lime green leaves still on our trees!
 
This is my version of the color choices using a very old set by Technique Tuesday released in 2013, I give thanks.  
  • The background is the lime green color with Taylored Expressions Fall Foliage Background stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and stenciled in Memento Tangelo, Altenew Melted Butterscotch and Mahogany Bark.
  • The leaves by Technique Tuesday are stamped in Rich Cocoa and die cut.
  • The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday's Echinacea released in 2017.
  • The card is edged in Rich Cocoa ink after assembly.

A clean and simple design makes for a quick card!  Please do join us at Retro Rubber with this lovely color palette.

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 RRCB282.  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.

 

 

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Feels like Fall theme for Retro Rubber

 The leaves are starting to change here in Northern Minnesota, prime leaf peeping season is just in the next week or so!  Our theme at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog is:

 

My sister-in-law is a self described witch because her birthday is Halloween.  She loves to dress up for the holiday, and finds all things Halloween fun!  She enjoys the witch themed cards that I create for her birthday.  Here is this year's version.


  •  Joy Clair Trick or Treat set from 2016 has several pumpkin images with a couple of different choices for the centers.  All are stamped in VersaFine Clair Pine cone and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. 
  • The images are colored with Powder Puff Chalking inks in Rusty Nail, Sunset, Rouge, and Kokomo.
  • The sentiment is from Scrapbook.com Happy Birthday set.  This set is so versatile!  Sentiments in all fonts and sizes along with matching dies.  It is the only birthday sentiment set you will ever need.  The image is stamped in Altenew Mahogany Bark and then die cut.  
  • Altenew Burlap die is cut, and Burlap Press Plate provides nice texture to finish the layers of the card.   

Thanks for stopping by and we hope you play along 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 RRCB282.  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.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Play the Tic Tac Toe board with us a Retro Rubber Challenge Blog

 Come have some fun with us a Retro Rubber Challenge Blog and play along with the fun autumn themed board.

 

This was a challenge I created for the team, and I did have fun with the game board.  I decided to go with a set from Concord & 9th that I purchased new back in August of 2021 called Harvest Wreath Turn-About set and dies.  It is very versatile!  


  •  The background is stamped four times in four different ink colors.  I used my Altenew Stamp Wheel which makes is super simple to rotate the image 90 degrees before stamping the next color. The card uses the following Altenew inks: Maple Yellow, Amber Blaze, Melted Butterscotch, Canyon Clay, Burnt Red, Mahogany, and Sand Dunes.  
  • There are smaller stamps that create the splatter  to finish out the rest of the card base.   
  • The card base is die cut with Waffle Flower's Deckled Frames then distressed further and then inked with Mahogany ink.
  • The Happy Birthday sentiment is at least 15 years old and is by Imaginesce, All Kinds of  Happy.  Further embellishment is all from the Harvest Wreath set as well as the circle die. 
  • The leaf die cuts were inked with the matching inks  after they were cut.
  • The card base edges is inked with Mapple Yellow.  
  • The layers are adhered together, with dimensional foam adhesive used under the circle.  The leaf dies are adhered to the back of the circle before it is adhered to the card base to give it all a bit of dimension. 
  • To finish off the card Darice Hemp twine is tied in a bow and adhered with a small glue dot.

This card was super fun to make and I really like the final result.  I hope you have as much fun as I did!  

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 RRCB281.  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.

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Sketch time at Retro Rubber

 A good sketch is a great way to start a card.  We have a nice sketch to work with at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  


For my sample I started with the image I wanted to use.  We have some very pretty Coneflowers in our wildflower garden bed, so I decided to use Altenew's Mini Coneflower released in 2023 for the image.


  •  The Mini Conflower is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored with Altenew inks in Golden Honeycomb, Amber Blaze, Baby Pink, Fuchsia, and Magenta.  I used a Fantastix to do the coloring as the image is smaller.  The stem was colored with a colored pencil, yes it is a tiny bit green!
  • After searching through my mixed media scrap bin I found a few bits that would work as the other parts of the sketch.  The rectangle under the image is Fireworks! sprays in Tangelo and Dandelion.   The Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles die is used to created the rectangle.  
  • The blended strip is glossy cardstock inked with Kaliedacolor Dessert Heat.  
  • The create some textural interest, the Altenew Burlap Press Plate was used as an embossing folder on the card front.  A bit of Altenew Peachy Glow ink is rubbed on the surface to add color.  
  • The sentiment is the Spellbinders BetterPress for life sentiments.  
  • The layers are adhered together for the finished card.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I do enjoy reading your comments!  Check out the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog to see what the other team members came up with for this sketch!  

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 RRCB280.  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.

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Anything Goes! at Retro Rubber

Everyone's favorite challenge to enter is anything goes, right?  I do enjoy seeing all the different styles of cards that show up on these challenges!  Join us over at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog and play along.

 

 

There are many birthday cards I like to send out for the month of August.  It is by far the most busy month for me to send greeting to my family and friends.  Here is one I created using the Altenew Alluring Orchids released in 2024.  What I like about this set is the spots at the center of the flower are a stamp, making them very easy to add to the flower.


  •  The outline of the orchids is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.  
  • Altenew's Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Jazzberry, Soft Lilac, Lavender Feilds, Deep Iris, Midnight Violet, and Matcha Tea are applied through the layered stencil sets.
  • Midnight Violet is stamped on the image with the corresponding stamp.   
  • The image is die cut with the matching die.
  • Cardstock is inked with Matcha Tea and the sentiment from Scrapbook.com Happy Birthday is stamped in Midnight Violet before die cutting.
  • The black background is splattered with Spellbinders Opaque White water color.
  • The layers are adhered together and the edges of the orchid image are trimmed off the card edges.

Thanks so much for checking out the blog, it is always wonderful to read your comments.

 

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 RRCB279.  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. 

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Off to the Tropics

To start out our challenges for August we are going to the Tropics at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  This is a challenge I submitted for our group, and I had a lot of fun playing with my stamps.  
 
 I choose a stamp set from Pinkfresh Studios released in 2022, Hibiscus.  At that time their stamp/stencil/die sets were designed with a matching washi tape.  I have one of two of these sets with the washi tape, and a few more of the stamp/stencil/die.  This is my favorite card of the series I made with two stampings of the main image.


  •  The image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.
  • Altenew inks used to stencil the images: Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Jazzberry, Eucalyptus, Forest Green, Golden Honeycomb, and Amber Blaze.
  • I liked the inspiration image and copied it by using Kraft cardstock and Hero Arts Nest Wood Frame Shapes from 2019.
  • Hero Arts It's Your Day from 2015 provided the sentiment stamped in Amber Blaze.


 
One image from the set is a large focal point.  The Sentiment is Technique Tuesday Large Birthday from 2019. 

 

Another version with Hero Arts Wood grain Fancy Die for a background.  Sentiment is Scrapbook.com from 2022, stamped in Fuchsia. 


 The final set has the same background with an oval die cut added.  The die cut is made by using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Ovals from 2015.  The sentiment is another one from the Scrapbook.com Happy Birthday set.

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 RRCB278.  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. 

Thank you so much for checking in here with me!  Please make your own Tropical Flowers project and join us at Retro Rubber!