This week at Retro Rubber , we are playing Tic Tac Toe. I focused on DIE CUTS, DRY EMBOSSING, PATTERNED PAPER.  This is a card for a close f...

Welcome to our new challenge at Retro Rubber! For the first time ever, we are doing a tic tac toe challenge where you use three elements either across, down or diagonally. I opted for green, die cut and twine. All lovely elements. I was going to make a St. Patrick’s...

So much fun in this week's challenge at Retro Rubber - it's wedding time! That's right - get out your old stamps and create a wedding card....

Love is in the air this time at Retro Rubber with a challenge just in time for Valentine's Day. Just use hearts in your card and don't forget that the stamps you use must be more than a year old. You can use new other stuff - just the stamps have to be retro. Well, the best thing about this challenge for me is the chance to go back and revisit former favourites. One of my favourites is the retired Flowering Flourishes - so elegant - and that is dated from around 2012. Regular readers of my blog will know that I have recently become the owner of a MISTI and it is with pleasure that I tell you this card might well have been impossible without one and I no longer regret the price I paid for it! I used MISTI to stamp twice: once with crumb cake on white and once with versamark on Real Red, which I then embossed with white. Then I used a punch and dies from two other framelit sets to cut the hearts out of the red and overlaid them onto the Crumb Cake/Whisper White. Since the success of the design depended on the two images matching up perfectly, you can see why it would be pretty tough without the MISTI. I do like the effect it created. The 'congratulations' is from the now retired Zoo Babies set, which appeared in the 2013 catalogue. Even the paper is retro, coming from a paper stack that was in last year's Occasions catalogue. So please, get out your old stamps and show them a bit of love this Valentine's Day and show us what you've done. You have two weeks, until February 10, to join in. Don't forget to tell us how old your stamps are. Ingredients Card: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, scrap of DSP Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, Zoo Babies Ink: Crumb Cake, Real Red, versamark Other: white embossing powder, Sweetheart punch, Baker's Box thinlits, Mini-treat bag thinlits, pearl.

This week at Retro Rubber we have a theme challenge for you. Create a summer themed card, using at least one stamp that's a year or more old. Don't forget to tell us how old your retro stamp is. Since today is a cold and miserable winter's day, the prospect of writing up a summery card is quite appealing! For me, summer means long days at the beach. Beaches lead me to sea life and finally to Seaside Notions. This is one of my favourite sets from the 2019 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue, so this stamp set is just a year old and I'm delighted that it is carrying over into the 2020-21 Catalogue. For this card, I masked off a strip of the card front and ink-blended Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana before spritzing it with water to lift some of the colour. Then I stamped the bubble stamp in Bermuda Bay over the top. Finally, I flicked a little clear Wink of Stella over the whole card front to create a watery background for the seahorses. I used Stamparatus to mirror stamp the seahorse so that I had one facing each way. They were silver embossed and coloured with Stampin' Blends. We'd love to see what you do with this challenge. You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry at the Retro Rubber Challenge site. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below. Product List  Seaside Notions Cling Stamp Set [149278] $48.00 Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay [131286] $18.50 Silver Glimmer Paper [146960] $10.50 Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $21.00 Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [147098] $15.75 Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [147096] $15.75 Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad [147097] $15.75 Pool Party Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144605] $19.00 Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144600] $19.00 Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $19.00 Versamark Pad [102283] $20.00 Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131] $12.50 Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $14.00 Stampin' Spritzer [126185] $6.00 Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $10.50

Do you remember using brads way back in the day? I am pretty sure that I had them in every color you could imagine, especially  bright, primary colors to go

Hello everyone! Hello everyone, I am here with  Retro Rubber Challenge blog  and we have a new challenge, which is a sketch. Just follow...

This week at Retro Rubber we have a colour inspiration photo to get your creative juices flowing. Use the colours from this photo to inspire you, making sure that you use at least one stamp that's more than a year old. Don't forget to tell us how old your stamp is in your post. This was tricky at first because I couldn't get past the science experiment look of the photo but, of course, once I focussed on just the colours things got a lot easier. Such bright, vibrant colours: primary colours plus green and including two shades of blue... a sweet combination to work with. When I first discovered internet shopping for stamps in 2015, I discovered Clearly Besotted. This balloon birthday celebration set,  Make a Wish, was the first I bought from them. I pieced together strips of paper in the colours matching the balloons to make the side panel and I'm happy with how that turned out. So please, dig out your old stamps and give them a turn with this colour challenge. Don't forget to tell us how old your stamps are. You have until 10 March to join us and we'd love to see what you do. Ingredients Card: Whisper White, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Cucumber Crush. Stamps: Clearly Besotted Make A Wish Inks: Cucumber Crush, Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, Real Red, Daffodil Delight. Other: Black 0.5mm pen, Real Red twine, dimensionals

I'm very pleased to be joining you in this week at Retro Rubber , since Jane let me make up the challenge! I don't know about you, but I ...

I enjoy a Tic Tac Toe Challenge and that's what we've got for you this week at Retro Rubber Challenge. Extra special for me, as I got to make it up! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Of course, since this is RETRO Rubber, there's still the condition in play that you must use at least one stamp that's a year or more old AND give us an approximate age for it. I've used Animal Outing, which first appeared in the 2018-19 Annual Catalogue, for this baby card. I set out to play the centre horizontal: Baby - Embossing folder - Ribbon. I have - but I've also accidentally played the left hand vertical: Pastel Colours - Baby - Die Cut. I opted for a gender-neutral palette based around Purple Posy. To see what the rest of the team have done with this sketch, and to link up your entry, pop over to the Retro Rubber Challenge site. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below. Product List Animal Outing Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151281] $44.00 Purple Posy A4 Cardstock [150887] $18.50 Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $20.50 2019–2021 In Color 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [149617] $24.25 Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $12.00 Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [145058] $19.00 Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $19.00 Purple Posy Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [149566] $19.00 Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147283] $19.00 Purple Posy 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Scalloped Linen Ribbon [149706] $16.75 Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143704] $19.00 Stitched Shapes Dies [152323] $60.00 Layering Circles Dies [141705] $69.00

Time for a new challenge at Retro Rubber! This time around, we have an embellishment challenge. It's very easy: use buttons, bows (or both) on your card. As always at Retro Rubber, use at least one stamp that's a year or more old and give us an approximate age for it. By the time this post goes live, the new 2019-20 Annual Catalogue will be live and  you will be able to add to your stash with all the wonderful things in it. However, I'm always a little sorry when favourites retire and the stamp I've used is one such set. Sunshine Sayings is a wonderful collection of sentiments with a strong, unfussy font, that first appeared in 2016-17 Annual Catalogue. It was also fun to make this challenge a masculine one when buttons and bows seemed to be steering us towards feminine. The Wood Textures paper stack is another retiree which is excellent for adding a male vibe to a card. Luckily, I have a stash of it! The Pinewood Plank embossing folder gives a strong, deep impression but I've given it a light sponging with Sahara Sand ink to bring out the texture even more. All of us on the team at Retro Rubber would love to see what you do with this challenge. You can see what the rest of the team have done here. Why not have a look, then join in? You have until June 14 to play along with us. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas and provide you with Stampin' Up products. Message me by visiting my Facebook page  - there's a link in the sidebar of this blog. Or you can leave a comment below. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below will take you to my on-line store. Product List NOTE: Sunshine Sayings, Wood Textures DSP and True Gentleman buttons will be retired from 3 June. Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141594] $48.00 Early Espresso A4 Card Stock [121686] $17.75 Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock [121695] $17.75 Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177] $23.00 Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $15.75 Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad [147117] $15.75 Stamping Sponges [141337] $7.25 Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143708] $20.00 True Gentleman Buttons [145596] $14.75 Linen Thread [104199] $10.50

This week, it's time for my favourite kind of challenge: a Tic-Tac-Toe. Since Jane, our team leader, has let me design this week's challeng...

Hello, Stampers! You all just wow'ed us with our last challenge! Ribbons and twines can add just the right detail to your projects. This week we are

One of the many lovely things about Retro Rubber Challenge is that it lets you get out your old stamps and rediscover why you loved them in the first place. Stampin Up Aviary was the second set I got. Ever. I suppose that technically it was first equal since I got it in the same order as another set but I think of it as second. Anyway this critter challenge had me reaching for it. Birds are critters, right? They were certainly the only critters in my old stamps pile! These quirky little birds, along with the owl  - who does not appear here - are just adorable, especially when paired up with the birdcages in the set. But in this card, they're roaming free. The 'Just Because' comes from a set called A Dozen Thoughts, which retired with the last catalogue and I've had since it first came out. The curly font appealed to me and I couldn't help but use it as a perch for the smallest bird critter. Thank you, stampamajig, for letting me get that right! Somehow, I managed to channel the challenge graphic because it wasn't until I came to write up this post that I realised the background of this card owes a lot to the graphic in both colour and style! I masked off the strip, sponged it with Cucumber Crush and Delightful Dijon and flicked it with water to lift some of the colour. I thought about adding in some more to the silhouette but in the end, less is more. So, in the end a simple, quirky-critter general purpose card. Ingredients Card: Cucumber Crush, Watercolour paper Stamps: Stampin Up Aviary and A Dozen Thoughts Inks: Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon, Tuxedo Black Other: Cucumber Crush baker's twine, sponges and water.

52 weeks of crafting is a blog about simple homemade crafts, cards, tasty treats with a mission to start something new each week of the year.

It's time for a new challenge at Retro Rubber and this time it's a theme challenge: use modes of transportation in your creation. Of course, because it is RETRO rubber, you do also need to use a stamp that's a year or more old and give us an indication of the age of that stamp (or stamps). For this challenge, I did have to go to my retired shelves for a stamp set. Lift Me Up is a set that has been retired for a couple of years now but it remains one of my favourites. I have paired it up with the new Basic Border dies.  I used on of the Basic Border dies to create the three layers of clouds from which some of the balloons hang. I used the stitched curve die to create some hills for the balloons to float over.  You can see what the rest of the Design Team have done, and link up your entry, by visiting the Retro Rubber Challenge site here. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below. Product List Note: The Lift Me Up Stamp set and dies are retired items. Balmy Blue A4 Cardstock [147007] $18.50 Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] $20.50 Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577] $18.50 Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578] $18.50 Subtles 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) Designer Series Paper [155229] $24.25 Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $15.75 Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154899] $19.00 Night Of Navy Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154891] $19.00 Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154830] $19.00 Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882] $19.00 Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems [153547] $16.75

This week at Retro Rubber Challenge, it's Anything Goes week. Of course, since this is Retro Rubber, it's not quite anything goes. You still must use at least one stamp that's more than a year old and give us an approximate age for it. Anything Goes can be a problem for me - too many choices. So in looking around my craft room, I saw a card sent to me last year by my then Artisan Team mate, Leah Fedynak. It uses the Blossoms in Bloom stamp set and Many Layered Blooms dies from the 2020-21 Annual Catalogue. I loved it and decided to CASE it. If I was making this card, what would I do that was different? Here's my version... I watercoloured a whole rainbow of colours and cut the top layer of the flower die from it. Unlike Leah, I used both layers of the die and glued them together, then glued them to the base, embossed with Tasteful Textiles. I did not use staples, sequins or silver metallic thread and I used, as I often do, one angled end for the sentiment.  Thank you, Leah, for such a great card and for the inspiration to make my own version of it. What's your Anything Goes? You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry by visiting the Retro Rubber Challenge site. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below.  Product List Blossoms In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [158283] $46.00 Many Layered Blossoms Dies [153582] $95.00 Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] $20.50 Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $21.00 Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688] $18.50 Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $15.75 Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086] $15.75 Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $15.75 Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $15.75 Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [147098] $15.75 Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099] $15.75 Versamark Pad [102283] $20.00 White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $12.50 Heat Tool [129056] $60.00 Water Painters [151298] $25.25 Tasteful Textile 3 D Embossing Folder [152718] $19.00 Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $7.25

Hello everyone! I'm here with Retro Rubber Challenge Blog today and we have a new inspirational challenge.  Here is the picture below. ...

Welcome to a new challenge at Retro Rubber. It's one that everyone seems to enjoy - Anything Goes. Of course, since this is Retro Rubber, the standard rules still apply: you must use at least one stamp that's a year or more old AND give us an approximate age for it. This card uses not one but three older sets. One of the pleasures of getting them out after a break is that you can mix them up with new products. So while the sets are all older, this is the first time I've used the new Stampin' Up! Pigment Sprinkles. I'm loving the intensity of the colours, the ease with which they mix and bloom and the great little sprinkle pots (with lids) that they come in. The gold embossed leaves come from Colourful Seasons, one of my favourite sets from the 2017 Annual Catalogue. The background for them is from Artisan Textures (AC 2018). I use this set a lot but I love these two stamps because they remind me of rain drops. I've used a mix of Mossy Meadow and Golden Glitz. Golden Glitz is one of the stars of the 2019 Holiday Catalogue: a gold pigment ink that stamps with great shine and coverage so you have to look twice to check it's not embossing. I like the informality of the 'Thanks' from A Big Thank You. (AC 2018) To see what the rest of the team have done, and to link up your entry, pop over to the Retro Rubber Challenge site. If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below. Product List Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set [143726] $57.00 Artisan Textures Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151278] $36.00 A Big Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set [147377] $36.00 Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock [133683] $18.50 Granny Apple Green A4 Cardstock [147014] $18.50 Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $20.50 Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612] $19.00 Pigment Sprinkles [149663] $48.00 Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $15.75 Golden Glitz Delicata Metallic Ink Pad [150711] $23.00 Versamark Pad [102283] $20.00 Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $12.50 Seasonal Layers Dies [143751] $67.00