CCEE1322 - It's a Picnic

Shirley ended her stint as hostess of the CCEE Stampers on a fun note -- at a picnic.  I have to admit that I struggled with this one.  I didn't have a whole lot of stamp choices to make something look like a picnic.  I pulled one image from Mark's Finest Papers and another from Stampin' Up.  I even had to go out a buy the ant!  I found him on sale at Joann's.  I did have that little scene in my head for several days before I was able to finalize it on paper.

If you'd like to come to our picnic, hop on over to the CCEE Stampers blog and join in on the fun.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Celebrate Big; Stampin' Up - Basket Full of Fun; Rubber Stampede - Ant
Paper:  Mark's Finest Papers - Breezy Blue, Snow Storm Smooth; Recollections - Red Check DP; Paper Pizazz - Baseball Border DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: - Copic markers, Scallop Circle punch for cloud template, Sizzix Cloud die, Pop dots, Sponge dauber, Clear embossing powder

Speedy Fox and Friends - Joseph's Coat

This week's Speedy Fox and Friends challenge was definitely a big challenge for me.  It was to make a card using the technique Joseph's Coat.  I had never done this particular technique before, so I had to find the directions.  Once I found them, I gathered my glossy paper, brayer, and spectrum color ink pad.  First, my brayer wouldn't turn (not sure why, but it appeared to be "frozen").  I got it to turn a bit, but then I discovered that my spectrum ink pad was dried out in several places.  This definitely could have been disastrous.  I put on my thinking cap and decided that I would use my dew drop-shaped Memento ink pads and swipe them onto the glossy paper.  This actually worked rather well.  I then continued with the directions.  I'm not completely happy with the results, but I was not going to try this again.  I already had two pieces of inked glossy paper in the trash can!  Here's my card -- and probably the only card using Joseph's Coat that I will make.

If you'd like to give this technique a try, we'd love to see your card.  Link it up on the MFP Blog for a chance to win a free set of stamps.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Autumn Glory, Autumn Splendor

Paper:  Mark's Finest Papers Glossy White, Natural Vanilla Bean; SU Really Rust

Ink:  Memento Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion, Tangelo, Rhubarb Stalk; Versafine Sepia; SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Copic markers, Clear embossing powder

CCEE1321 Let's Go Fishing

Shirley asked the CCEE Stampers to go fishing this week.  My late husband was a big fisherman -- me, not so much!  But I did make a card for today.

I used a little fishie brad to hold the front closed.  And here's the inside:

If you'd like to join our fishing trip, stop by the CCEE Stampers blog.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - On the Fly, Get Reel, Celebrate Big
Paper:  MFP Garnet, Cream Linen; Basic Grey Oxford DP; Recollections Polka Dot DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Rhubarb Stalk
Accessories:  Copic and Prismacolor markers, Circle punches, Fish brad, Piercing tool, Pop dot

Speedy Fox and Friends - Window Card

This week's Speedy Fox and Friends challenge was to make some kind of a window card.  I saw a window card a couple of week's ago on SCS that I knew I was going to CASE at some point.  I loved the simplicity of it -- simple, yet very striking.  Here is a link to my inspiration today.   And here is my card:

I used the acrylic block technique, in which you stamp directly onto an acrylic block and then spritz with water -- then stamp onto paper.  I used watercolor paper and sprayed it with water again after I did my initial stamping, blending it with a waterbrush.  Once the paper was dried, I stamped the cattails silhouette twice to cover the bottom, after which I cut out the window with a circle nestie.  I added a few birds at the top.  The heron and cattails in the window are two separate stamps.

If you'd like to join in on the fun, make some sort of window card (there are many different ways to accomplish this), and link it up to the MFP Blog.  You might just win a free set of stamps.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Marsh Birds, Marsh Silhouettes, Scenic Selections
Paper:  Mark's Finest Papers Snow Storm Heavy, Watercolor paper
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Onyx Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Broken China, Chipped Sapphire
Accessories:  Copic markers, Circle nesties, Acrylic block, Water mister

MFP Blog Hop Day 4 - Now Showing

May Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured May 14th - Marsh Birds

Featured May 15th - In Tents

Featured May 16th - Space Fun

Featured May 17th - Now Showing

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 18, 2013 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday. May 17, 2013.

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Marsh Silhouettes"

 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"Lily of the Valley"
                                                      

Today's set is all about the movies.  My first card is a triple-feature.  Actually, the background is made with a sheet of three paint chips I picked up at The Home Depot.

Some of the sentiments in this set lend themselves very nicely to a birth announcement.  My grandson William  is already four years old, but he's the newest grandbaby I have.  So I pulled out a photo my son had taken at  the hospital on the day William was born and made a birth announcement.  The background is popped up with pop dots, so the recipient could pull out  the photo and stick it on the 'fridge!  As you could see on my first card, the top image is actually a "happy birthday" image.  So I put a little embellishment over the "clapperboard" that would be more appropriate for a birth announcement and then popped up the small container of popcorn.

I hope you have gotten lots of inspiration during this week's Blog Hop.  Please check out the cards made by the rest of the design team and comment, comment, comment.  Remember, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win a free stamp set.

Patty P.

Lois

Vicky

Jane C 

Debbie 

Pam 

Pat G 

Thrifty Stamper 

MariLynn 

Karen K 

Bonnie 

Kathy B 

Angela B 

Cathy C 

Toni 

Sue W 

Janine B 

An'jenic 

Shirley Q 

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co 

Card 1

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Now Showing

Paper:  MFP Blue Skies, Snow Storm Smooth

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:  Paint chips, Clear embossing powder, Ribbon, markers, Pop dots

Card 2

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Now Showing

Paper:  MFP Blue Skies, Snow Storm Smooth; Prima Sweet Fairy DP

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:  Circle nesties, markers, Pop dots, Baby embellishment, Photo

MFP Blog Hop Day 3 & CCEE1320 - Space Fun

May Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured May 14th - Marsh Birds

Featured May 15th - In Tents

Featured May 16th - Space Fun

Featured May 17th - Now Showing

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 18, 2013 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday. May 17, 2013.

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Marsh Silhouettes"

 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"Lily of the Valley"
                                                      

Today's set is too fun with its cute little aliens and space images.  Both my cards today are doing double duty.  The first one is also for Shirley's CCEE Stampers challenge -- Let it all hang out or over.  When I first read the theme for this challenge, I didn't have a clue what it meant.  Then I thought -- maybe she meant use the "out of the box" technique.    I stamped the alien and cut the Labels 4 shape, leaving part of his body and legs "hang out."  If you want to "hang out" with the CCEE stampers and play along, check out our blog.

My second card was also made for another challenge -- the Speedy TV Inspiration Challenge.  As I'm the hostess for this challenge, I made sure the theme coincided with today's new set.  This week's challenge is called appropriately enough "Outer Space."  I haven't made a spinner card in a very long time, but that space ship image just screamed "movement."  In case you've never played the Speedy TV Inspiration Challenge, I'd love for you to check it out.  I post three Pinterest photos and ask that you make a card using one of the photos as inspiration.  BTW, all three of my sample cards are different -- only one of them is space-related, even though the theme is "Outer Space."  BTW, by participating in the Inspiration Challenge, you have one more chance to win a free stamp set.

I hope you check out the cards made by the rest of the design team and comment, comment, comment.  Remember, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win a free stamp set.

Patty P.

Lois

Vicky

Jane C 

Debbie 

Pam 

Pat G 

Thrifty Stamper 

MariLynn 

Karen K 

Bonnie 

Kathy B 

Angela B 

Cathy C 

Toni 

Sue W 

Janine B 

An'jenic 

Shirley Q 

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co 

Card 1
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Space Fun
Paper:  MFP Dark Night Navy, Snow Storm Smooth, Lemon Slice; Paper Pizazz Blue Atom DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Tumbled Glass
Accessories:  Copic markers, Permapaque Copper marker, Labels 4, Copper brads, Copper eyelets, Copper twine

Card 2
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Space Fun
Paper:  MFP Dark Night Navy, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic markers, Spots and Dots embossing folder, Word Window punch, Pennies, Pop dots

MFP Blog Hop Day 2 - In Tents

May Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured May 14th - Marsh Birds

Featured May 15th - In Tents

Featured May 16th - Space Fun

Featured May 17th - Now Showing

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 18, 2013 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday. May 17, 2013.

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Marsh Silhouettes"

 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"Lily of the Valley"
                                                      

First off, I have to confess that camping is not my idea of a good time.  Two of my grandchildren were Boy Scouts, and they loved to camp -- so I was trying to channel them while making today's cards.  There are five images in this set, and I thought I would try to use as many as I could on my first (side-step) card.  I succeeded in using four of them, as well as the biggest sentiment stamp.

Still channeling my grandsons, I thought the campfire with the long sentiment encircling it looked like a Boy Scout merit badge for camping.  What do you think?

Be sure to check out the cards made by the rest of the design team and comment, comment, comment.  Remember, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win a free stamp set.

Patty P.

Lois

Vicky

Jane C 

Debbie 

Pam 

Pat G 

Thrifty Stamper 

MariLynn 

Karen K 

Bonnie 

Kathy B 

Angela B 

Cathy C 

Toni 

Sue W 

Janine B 

An'jenic 

Shirley Q 

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co 

Card 1
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers In Tents
Paper:  MFP Greener Green, Super Green, Desert Sand, Snow Storm smooth; scrap of sandy DP
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Rich Cocoa; Tim Holtz Distress Peeled Paint
Accessories:  Copic markers, Fiskars grass border punch, Sizzix Woodgrain embossing folder, Circle nesties

Card 2
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers In Tents
Paper:  MFP Snow Storm Heavy, Flecked Dirt, Greener Green; DCWV Photo matstack; Paper Pizzazz Brown Leaves DP
Accessories:  Copic markers, Labels 21, Circle nesties, 3-D Clear lacquer, Circle punch

MFP Blog Hop Day 1 - Marsh Birds

May Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured May 14th - Marsh Birds

Featured May 15th - In Tents

Featured May 16th - Space Fun

Featured May 17th - Now Showing

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 18, 2013 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday. May 17, 2013.

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Marsh Silhouettes"

 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"Lily of the Valley"
                                                      

I'm starting off this month's Blog Hop with a CAS card -- just one layer.  MFP's Premium Heavy White cardstock is 140-pound stock and makes a great one-layer card.  I embossed a border around the edge, just stamped the bird (which may be an ibis, I'm not sure) and greeting -- and I was done.

I got the inspiration for my second card while I was taking my morning walk.  The townhouse development in which I have lived for 28 years is located on Lake Triplet, one of a series of three lakes connected by canals.  We have a multitude of birds congregating in and around the lakes.  One bird in particular, a huge blue heron, often perches on our boat dock.  As I was walking around the lake the other day, I thought how lucky I was to be able to enjoy this scene every day.  When I got home, I was going to take a photo of the lake to use on my card.  Then I decided it was easier to Google "Lake Triplet" and find one.  So that is what I did.  Here is our lake:

I wanted to share a funny story about something that often happens on my walks.  Part of the walk goes through a park on the other side of the lake, and it happened again this morning.  As I was walking past the ball field, I heard the distinctive sound of a woodpecker.  I'm assuming that it's the same woodpecker each time because he does exactly the same thing every time.  I watched as he climbed up the "telephone pole" that holds the floodlights for the ball field.  He did not "peck" during his trip up the wooden pole.  But, when he got to the top, he climbed up onto the floodlight and THEN started to peck.  I'm not sure what he thought he was going to get out of that metal casing on the light.  Maybe he just liked the sound.  Could be that he's a Jamaican woodpecker, and it sounds like a steel drum!

The extra set this month is called Marsh Silhouettes, which coordinates very nicely with today's set.  Here is a card I made using that set.

I invite you to check out the cards made by the rest of the design team and comment, comment, comment.  Remember, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win a free stamp set.

Patty P.

Lois

Vicky

Jane C 

Debbie 

Pam 

Pat G 

Thrifty Stamper 

MariLynn 

Karen K 

Bonnie 

Kathy B 

Angela B 

Cathy C 

Toni 

Sue W 

Janine B 

An'jenic 

Kate Z 
Shirley Q 

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co 

Card 1
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Birds
Paper - MFP Premium Heavy White
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Tulip Border embossing folder

Card 2
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Birds, Gullible
Paper - MFP Premium Heavy White, Licorice Whips, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Copic markers, photo from the internet

Card 3
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Silhouettes
Paper - MFP Licorice Whips, Snow Storm Smooth, Watercolor paper; DCWV patterned paper
Ink - Versafine Onyx Black; Tim Holtz Distress Broken China, Chipped Sapphire
Accessories - Circle nesties, Polka Dot embossing folder, Pearls, Pop dots

Speedy Fox and Friends - Glitter

Today's Speedy Fox and Friends challenge is all about glitter.  I have a friend who LOVES glitter, so this challenge would be perfect for her.  I, on the other hand, find glitter rather daunting -- and messy!  So I chose to use glitter paper rather than actual glitter.

I chose not to put a sentiment on my card.  That way I could use it for anything.  The image comes from a brand-new mini set from Mark's Finest Papers called Lily of the Valley, which will be released on Tuesday.

If you'd like to play along with Speedy Fox and Friends (and maybe win a free stamp set), go on over to the MFP Blog and link up your glittery creation.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Lily of the Valley
Paper:  MFP Snow Storm Heavy; DCWV Glitter matstack
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic markers, Oval nesties, Sizzix Snow Flowers embossing folder

Oriental Screen

The card I made today was a total experiment.  I was on the Technique Junkies Newsletter site and saw an advertisement for their Move It and Shape It CDs.  Fortunately, you can link to the pictorial Table of Contents, which I followed and found a very cool Oriental Screen card.  I thought I would give it a try.  I didn't have the tools that the creator of the card used, but I came pretty close.

I used three different stamp sets from Mark's Finest Papers on this card -- Asian Delights, Mother's Magnolias, and Marsh Silhouettes (a brand-new set which will be released next week).  I figured the most important measurement was across the top with the "scallops," so I cut a piece of black cardstock 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and then punched the border.  It almost made it across.  I then just trimmed off the edge and scored between the sections -- which are about 1 7/8".  I then measured the centers at the bottom and punched out the "legs" of the screen with the label punch.  I cut four red panels 1 1/2" x 3 3/4".   I created the collage on a piece of white cardstock 3 5/8" x 5 1/2", which I then cut into four 3 5/8" x 1 3/8" panels.

Just to let you know, I fully intend to purchase those two CDs in the future.  Technique Junkies Newsletter will be participating in StampFest Orlando at the end of June.  I will definitely check out their booth!

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Asian Delights, Mother's Magnolias, Marsh Silhouettes
Paper:  MFP Licorice Whips, Deep Scarlet, Premium Heavy White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves; Versafine Onyx Black, Crimson Red
Accessories:  Copic markers, EK Success border punch, SU Curly Label Punch, Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks, Clear embossing powder

CCEE1319 - CAS Card with Scraps

Shirley's challenge for the CCEE stampers this week was to make a clean and simple card using scraps.  I'm sure we all have LOTS of scraps.  Here's my card, which is a sneak peek image of a soon-to-be-released set from Mark's Finest Papers called Marsh Silhouettes (the cedar leaf).  The sentiment panel was made with  green and white scraps.

If you've got some scraps and would like to play along with the CCEE stampers this week, we'd love to have you join us.  Stop over at our blog.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Silhouettes, Hello Butterflies
Paper:  MFP Premium Heavy White, Spring Leaf, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Memento Bamboo Leaves
Accessories:  Corner rounder

Speedy Fox and Friends - Faux Leather

Today's challenge on Speedy Fox and Friends is Faux Leather.  This technique is great for masculine cards.

I have a tutorial on my blog for using this technique.   If you'd like to give it a try and maybe win a free stamp set, link your card up to the MFP Blog.

CCEE1318 - Make It Shimmer

Shirley is the CCEE hostess for May, and she's starting off the month with a great challenge.  We were to make a card with shimmer; however, it's hard to see the shimmer on my card.  I used SU's Shimmer White card stock and pearlescent chalks.  You can see the shimmer IRL, but not so much in the photo.

I used a positive/negative technique which I saw in the Technique Junkies Newsletter last year.  It's a little different than another positive/negative technique which I have used before.  I think this Inkadinkadoo image is one of my favorite collage images.

We'd love for you to play along with the CCEE Stampers.  Just pop over the the blog and join in on the fun.

Stamp:  Inkadinkadoo (don't know the name)
Paper:  SU Shimmer White; Mark's Finest Papers Aged Berry, Licorice Whips, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accesories:  Copic markers, Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks, Rhinestone bling, Silver photo corners