CCEE2003 - Book Publishers Day

This week Lynn asked the CCEE Stampers to create a card which features characters, a theme, or a quote from one of our favorite books!  Bonus points if it is on the current best sellers list.  My favorite series of books is not on the current best sellers list (no bonus points for me), but I LOVE the Lord of the Rings trilogy (along with The Hobbit), having read them several times.

Last year I bought a Divinity Designs (Our Daily Bread Designs) diorama die at a stamp show.  It took me from June until December to use it, but I've used it more than once since then.  This was the first card I made with it.  You can see Gandalph, Frodo, and the other hobbits inside my diorama.

My friend knows I love Lord of the Rings and gave me a new book for Christmas.  So, as a bonus, I decided to make a bookmark to use while I'm reading this book.  It looks pretty interesting!

Check out the reading list of the rest of the team over on the CCEE Stampers blog.

CCEE - In Memoriam Joanne Grzelak

Today the CCEE Stampers are dedicating our blog posts to our dear friend Joanne Grzelak, who departed this world in late May.  Joanne was known and loved throughout the stamping community, and she will be missed.  She was one of the first people I "met" on Splitcoaststampers, where she was known as Jojot.  Her beautiful cards had several on-going themes -- her love of the ocean, paper-piercing, and her distinctive red/white/black color combinations.  I chose two of these themes for my card, dedicated to her:

We have a special blog post today, on which we have all made cards in remembrance of Joanne; and we hope you will join us in remembering her today.  If you would like to see how Joanne's former teammates have honored her, please join in on our blog hop.


CCEE Stampers 
Frances Byrne
Lois Bak
Karen Ostergard
Liz Williams
Vicki Garrett
Rebecca Ednie
Kelly Santi
Karen Aicken
Vicky Gould
Maryann Einam
Anne Harmon
Nicky Foden
Lynn McAuley
Kathleen Adams
Crazy 4 Challenges 

All Is Calm

Happy Christmas Eve!  I hope you have all your Christmas shopping, wrapping, baking, and card-making finished.  If not, I have one last, rather quick and simple Christmas card to share with you today.   I love the way silhouettes look on a card.  This one was made with a not-so-new silhouette die from CottageCutz called Away in a Manger.

To start my card I cut the silhouette from black cardstock.

And then I cut my cardstock as follows:

White - 8 1/8" x 5 1/2", 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Black - 4 x 5 1/4"

I cut the smaller white piece larger than I will eventually need; but, because I am going to sponge the background, I made it slightly larger to allow for trimming after I've finished my sponging.   Then, using four different distress inks, I sponged my background.

I then trimmed the piece down on all four sides to 3 3/4" x 5".  What this does is eliminate the darker color around the edges where the sponge initially hit the cardstock.  And then I constructed my card base.

After gluing down the silhouette at the bottom, I stamped the sentiment in the upper left-hand corner, and my card was finished.

As promised at the beginning of this post, this card went together quite quickly.  The CottageCutz die I used on it is:

CCEE1819 Anne's Favorite Color Red

Anne continues as hostess of the CCEE Stampers blog this week and asks us to make a card using her very favorite color -- RED.  I was happy to do so and also to wish her an early Happy Birthday, which is in two days.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog for some more bright red creations.

CCEE1807 - Tic Tac Toe

Kelly gave the CCEE Stampers a choice this week -- a Tic Tac Toe challenge.  We could actually choose what we wanted to do -- based on one line or column of the Tic Tac Toe form.

I chose the first column -- Add a sentiment, Shaker Card, Sequins.   It may still be pretty cold where you live, but it's rather nice in Florida, so I made a spring-like card.

Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see what direction the rest of the team went.

CCEE1710 - National Bubble Week

Lynn continues as hostess for the CCEE Stampers this week.  She told us that it is National Bubble Week.  She gave some ideas for a card -- "This might include making use of a technique like painting with bubbles or bubble wrap on a brayer, or a bubble stamp or image of children blowing bubbles."  At the risk of being in a rut, I have another fish card this week; but I just had to use this cute little Impression Obsession bubble die set.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see some more bubble fun.

CCEE1629 - Beach

Most of the CCEE team (with the exception of Frances and Maryann) are in the midst of summer.  So Joanne asked us to create cards that honor beaches in some way.  One of my favorite beach stamps is this one from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I added the flip-flops for my daughter!

Come celebrate the summer with the rest of the CCEE Stampers on our blog.

CCEE1619 - National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

According to the National Calendar, today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.  Maryann reminds the CCEE Stampers that it is a chronic disease from which she suffers and for which there is no cure.  We all hope that maybe some day there will be one.  She asks us to make a Get Well card and add a purple ribbon.  I have several friends who suffer from this debilitating disease.  This card is for them as well as Maryann.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog for some more wishes.

Scor-Pal "More Than One Score" Challenge - Decorative Corner

I'm happy to serve as the hostess of the Scor-Pal April "More Than One Score" challenge today.  The theme I chose for this month is "April Showers," and my card is a relatively simple, but interesting, one -- a Decorative Corner card.  Here it is:

Start by cutting the card base 5 1/2" by 8 1/2".  Score along the long side at 2 1/8", 4 1/4", and 6 3/8".

Cut a strip of the same cardstock 1" x 5 1/2" and score at 1/2".  Adhere strips of Scor-Tape on each side.

Adhere one side to the end panel of the card base.

Cut four panels of coordinating cardstock 5 1/4" x 1 7/8" and three panels of patterned paper and one panel of neutral stamped/decorated cardstock 5" x 1 5/8".  Adhere the patterned paper and stamped panel to the cardstock panels, as shown.

Adhere these panels to the card base.

Glue card base together, forming a "standing block."

Cut two 1" circles, score in the center, and apply a small piece of Scor-Tape to one half of each circle.

Attach the two circles to the front corner of your card, as shown.  These will serve as "hinges."

Cut two nesting die-cuts and decorate as you desire.  I chose ovals for my card.

Attach this panel to the two small circle hinges and complete your card.  I added a cloud to the left-hand panel.  The card will fold flat for mailing in an A2 envelope.

I hope you will join in the More Than One Score challenge.

CCEE1518 - National Astronomy Day

Frances told the CCEE Stampers that April 28 was National Astronomy Day and asked us to create a card/project which includes stars in some way.  It just so happens that back in December I gave myself a Christmas gift of a stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs called Shine On, which is filled with stars and has a matching die set.

I encourage you to go star gazing at the CCEE Stampers blog!

Center-Step Garden Card

I had cut a base for a center-step card a week or so ago and wound up not using it.  I came across it today and decided to make a card with it.  Our Daily Bread Design's sketch challenge is still going on, so I took a little bit of artistic license with the layout and created this card:

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs - Morning Glory, Hyacinth
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Orange, Spring Leaf, Lemon Slice, Snow Storm Smooth; Debbie Mumm Tropical Flowers DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities dies, MS Fence border punch, Enamel Dot stickers, Fiskars Grass punch, Ribbon

Our Daily Bread Designs Sketch Challenge 230

Several years ago I won a series of stamp sets from Our Daily Bread Designs -- and promptly fell in love with their stamps.  I used stamps from those sets for their current sketch challenge - ODBDSL230.

I thought this layout could convey looking out at the ocean through a porthole, so I used wood grain patterned paper for the center section of my card.

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs - The Sea, The Mighty Sea
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Breezy Blue, Snow Storm Smooth, SU retired DSP, My Mind's Eye Necessities * Wood
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle
Accessories:  Copic markers, Circle Nestabilities

ODBD Sketch Challenge ODBDSLC226

Our Daily Bread Designs Blog posted a new sketch challenge today.  I recently bought some pretty sets from ODBD and decided to use one of them for this challenge.  I took a little artistic license with my card -- rotated the sketch and used a die that's a bit bigger than the element in the sketch.  Hopefully, that won't be held against me.

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs - Morning Glory
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Blue Skies, Snow Storm Smooth, Black Linen; Authentique Journey DP
Accessories:  Copic markers, Labels 26, Scallop and Circle punches, Ribbon

SCS Inspiration Challenge - Candle Pinterest Board

The Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers is my favorite one of the week.  For today's inspiration site, Audrie chose her Favorite Candles Pinterest Board.  What wonderful choices we had for inspiration -- so much so that I actually made two projects -- one card and one tag.

For my card, I chose this gorgeous candle which reminded me of hyacinths, so I used my new ODBD Hyacinth set to create a birthday card in the colors on the candle.

I stamped the image twice and cut out the center frame, which I popped up on foam dots.  I am entering this card in the Our Daily Bread Designs Anything Goes challenge.

For my tag, I chose these owl candles and used a new Elizabeth Craft Designs tag die called Tags & More 3 - Leaves.  I cut the tag out twice, once in dark green and once in white.   For the white one, I also used the leaves die at the top.

I love using googlie eyes on my owls.  It makes them look wiser, don't you think?

Card
Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs Hyacinth
Ink:  Memento Grape Jelly, Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight White, SU Perfect Plum, MFP Stamp Shop Snow Storm Smooth, DCWV Silver Glitter paper, Paper Pizazz Soft Purple Fern
Accessories:  Copic markers, Labels 26 dies, Foam pop dots

Tag
Stamps:  MFP Stamp Shop Owls, Autumn Splendor
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Snow Storm Smooth, SU Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Copic markers, Elizabeth Craft Designs Tags & More 3 - Leaves dies, Googlie eyes, Ribbon

Double Inspiration Challenge

The Free4All challenge on Splitcoaststampers and the challenge on Our Daily Bread Designs blog were both Inspiration Challenges this week -- and both used the color pink -- so I combined them for my card today.

I had a small piece of this pretty designer paper, which has a couple of shades of pink on it.  So I was able to use two different shades of pink for my card base and embellishments.  I used the word "Celebrate" on the pennant swag and figured I could put the appropriate sentiment on the inside when the occasion arises.

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs - Christmas Pennant Swag
Ink:  Rose Red
Paper:  MFP Stamp Shop Precious Pink, Razmataz Berry; Sandylion DP
Accessories:  ODBD Pennant Swag die, Spellbinders Aster Flower Topper die, Brads

Color and Sketch Challenges

The current Our Daily Bread Designs challenge is a Color Challenge, using one of my favorite colors PURPLE as well as a pink and a cream.  I decided to use the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers as my layout.

I found two different designer papers in my drawer, one of which also had some pink in it.  I wanted the pretty star to be the focal point of my card so I cut it out with a die and popped it up on foam pop dots.

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs Shine On
Ink:  Memento Elderberry, Grape Jelly, Lulu Lavender; Ranger Distress Spun Sugar
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight Cream, SU Elegant Eggplant; various DP
Accessories:  Our Daily Bread Designs Sparkling Stars die

Exciting News

I've got some great news to share today.  I've been asked to join the Blog Team for CardMaker magazine for the next six months.  I've looked at CardMaker for many years and on several occasions thought, "Gee, I can do that."  So I started to submit cards for publication.  It took a while, but I finally was published last year, which was very exciting to say the least.  And when they asked me to join their blog team, I was over the moon!  If you don't yet follow the blog, you should.  You can get it delivered to your e-mail just by signing up here.

On another note, I thought I'd share a couple of cards I made for challenges over on Splitcoaststampers this weekend.  Friday's Free 4 All challenge was a true "free for all."  All we had to do was upload a card we were working on at the moment.  I was trying to catch up on a couple of other challenges and made this one, using some new stamps that I had just purchased from Our Daily Bread Designs.

I love stamps and dies that coordinate with each other, and this is a perfect example of that.

My second card uses my new favorite Stampin' Up set, Four Feathers.

This was for the Inspiration Challenge on Saturday.  As it turns out, this card also has stamps and dies that coordinate.  I didn't realize at the time, but the color palettes of both cards are very similar.

Yesterday's Featured Stamper, Torico, has a really fun gallery.  As I was looking through it, I actually found two cards I liked and tried a little experiment to see if I could CASE both of them into one card.  Here are links to her two cards:  Let It Snow and 'Tis the Season.  Here's my card:

Card #1
Stamps:  ODBD Shine On
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight White
Accessories:  ODBD Sparkling Stars dies, Enamel Dot stickers, Foam pop dots

Card #2
Stamps:  SU Four Feathers, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  SU Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore; Versafine Deep Lagoon
Paper:  SU Green Galore, retired DSP
Accessories:  Feathers Framelits dies, Brad, clear embossing powder

Card #3
Stamps:  MFP Stamp Shop Crisp Winter
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose, Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw; Versafine Onyx Black
Paper:  Recollections Heavyweight White, Black
Accessories:  Heidi Swapp birch trees stencil, Sponge applicators

Teapot Tuesday and Blog Win!

I recently visited a blog hop sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs for their February release -- mainly because I wanted to see what the design team did with the ocean stamp, which I thought was outstanding. I figured I might as well throw my hat in the ring, so to speak, and commented on all the blogs -- maybe I'd win something. Well, what do you know -- I won the whole release, all three sets. Doing the happy dance here!!! 

This week's Teapot Tuesday destination is South Carolina, where Robin, another teapotter, lives. Her husband recently died suddenly. If you'd like more information, here's the link to this week's tea party. Cindy related that Robin would one day like to have a condo on the beach, so I thought my newly-acquired ocean stamp would be perfect. Maybe this would be what she might see while sitting in her condo.

I don't know if you can drive on the beach in South Carolina, but here in Florida (particularly in Daytona Beach) cars drive up and down the beach all the time. That is Robin's yellow Mustang there on the sand!