CCEE2225 - June's Flower and Gemstone

Lynn's final challenge this month for the CCEE Stampers is dedicated to June.  She told us that the rose is the national flower for June, while the pearl is June's gemstone.  She asked us to include both of these beauties on our cards for this week's challenge.

Paper Nest Dolls makes such cute child images, and I chose one of them for my focal point this week  -- Emma with Rose.  I accented the center panel with three pink pearls -- thus covering both requirements of Lynn's challenge.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog for some more cards dedicated to the month of June.

CCEE2224 - National Insect Week

Lynn informed the CCEE Stampers that Juen 20-26 is National Insect Week.  She asked us to feature some type of creepy crawly creature on our design this week.

I don't really consider bees as "creepy crawly" creatures, but I did check to make sure they are considered insects (which they are).  My card this week is a mini slimline one featuring several brand-new dies from Karen Burniston.  That cute little bee and honeycomb are part of the new Flutter Charms set and the "Hi!" was made with the new Mini Alphabet and Numbers set.  I have been using that new alphabet set a lot -- I LOVE IT!  The frame was created using two dies from the new Short Rectangles - Crosshatch set.

Be sure to check out more creepy crawlies on the CCEE Stamper blog.

CCEE2223 - Father's Day

This coming Sunday is Father's Day, and Lynn asked the CCEE Stampers to create a card for the father of our choice (be it our father, our son, a neighbor, a friend, etc.) personalizing it by showcasing his favorite hobby.  I made my card for my brother -- who likes a good mug of beer and is a former construction worker.  (I don't know if they constitute "hobby," but he does enjoy both activities.

I used several Karen Burniston dies on this card -- both newly released and previously released.  The new one is the Landscape Rectangle Accordion.  The previously released ones are the Happy Father's Day sentiment (which I snipped into separate words), Happy Hour Charms, Cheers, Tool Charms, and the Purse Pop-Up.

Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers blog for more Father's Day cards.

CCEE2222 World Oceans Day

Lynn's challenge for the CCEE Stampers this week is based on the fact that yesterday was World Oceans Day.  She asked us to celebrate the oceans of the world with a nautical-themed project of our choice.  Winds, waves, boats, birds:  anything related to oceans will do. 

I recently watched a youtube video that Julie Creek (of Creek Bank Creations) did in which she made a stand-up mermaid card.  Although I didn't have many of the items she used on her card, I was able to recreate a similar one using supplies I had in my craft room.  The only Creek Bank Creations item I had was the ocean edges die.  My mermaids are from Paper Nest Dolls; the fish are from LDRS, the sentiment is from Mama Elephant, and the seaweed & coral are dies from CottageCutz.  Everything did come together quite well.

As you can see from the next photo, it is a 3-dimentional stand-up card.

Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers blog for more ocean fun.

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Mini Slimline Cards

The theme for this month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge is "mini slimline cards."  Both mini and regular-sized slimline cards are so very popular at the moment.  I admit that I have succumbed to the latest "fad" in card-making as well, so I really enjoyed making a card for the challenge.

My daughter is a big fan of mermaids, so she will probably wind up with this card.

 I used two of the newly released die sets on this card -- the Short Rectangles - Crosshatch and the Mini Alphabet and Numbers.  I am a big fan of that alphabet set, by the way.  I added the "you are" from Word Set 11 - Treasure and a mermaid from the Princess and Mermaid set.  The background is a piece of patterned paper from Whimsey Stamps, one of their packs of slimline backgrounds.

CCEE2221 - Country Cooking Month

Lynn starts her month-long turn as the hostess for the CCEE Stampers with a very interesting challenge.  She let us know that June is Country Cooking Month.  She asked us to create cards which feature fabulous bounty from the garden in the form of fruits or vegetables that we love to prepare and serve our family during the hot months of summer.    I had used the word "interesting" because I don't cook, so you can imagine my dilemma.  I pretty much stopped cooking after my husband died 19 years ago.  

I was, however, able to come up with a card for this challenge -- using my ABC's! A is for Apple; B is for Beets; C is for Corn.   And the new Mini Alphabet and Numbers from Karen Burniston were the perfect size!

I'm sure you'll find lots more fruits and/or vegetables on the CCEE Stampers blog!  Be sure to check it out.

Scor-Pal "More than One Score"

June 1st brings another Scor-Pal "More than One Score" challenge, and it also brings graduation time.  I recently watched a video (Wednesdays with Wendy) in which Wendy created a very clever graduation card.  As my great nephew will be graduating from high school this month, I decided to make one in his school colors of blue and gold. As you can see, it's a gatefold card -- but with a bit of a twist.    You have to flip up the mortarboard before you can open the card.

It was relatively easy to create.  First cut a piece of blue cardstock 4 1/2" by 8 1/2", scoring at 2 1/8" and 6 1/4".  Then cut a second piece of cardstock 2" x 2", scoring at 1".  Attach the small piece to the top center of the card base.

Cut a piece of white cardstock 3" x 3", cutting it diagonally.  Then cut one of the diagonal pieces in half as shown.  Attach one of the small pieces to each side of the gate.  Then add a 1/4" wide strip of gold along the edge.  This piece will be trimmed to fit.

For the mortarboard, cut a piece of blue cardstock 3" x 3" and place a brad at the center.  Loop the tassel around the brad.  Glue the mortarboard to the small 2" tab on the card base so that it lines up with the gold strips.

All that remains is to stamp the sentiment on a piece of 3" x 3" white cardstock, add the gold die-cut "celebrate" at the top and adhere to the inside of the card.  Add the year to the front, and you're done.