Happy New Year

I did not get enough Christmas cards made so made a few new year's cards to send to those I had not sent cards to. This fit the CAS challenge today on SCS, and I discovered a new challenge blog over on Pinterest in a post from Harriet Skelly called AAA cards. The challenge was to use gold.

I used Kitchen Sink stamps and peanut brittle and rich cocoa ink. For the diecut numbers I used a wonderful gold glittered cardstock.

As the old year rolls out, bad weather is rolling in, and the prison ministry that I take part in every year has been canceled because of weather and the safety of our travels there. Please lift up prayers for these women who had been selected to take part in the weekend. Pray that God will give us a chance to do this weekend at a later date, that the team will be able to serve without conflicts of dates, and pray a wonderful 2015 for everyone everywhere== no matter where they are, no matter what their circumstances.

CCEE1450

Join us in our last challenge for 2014. The challenge to to use an image of Santa on your card.  I have a sign up in my house that says, "Life-time fan of the HO, HO, man!"  This is a simple card that would be quick and easy to reproduce in a flash if you find yourself suddenly short on those last minute cards.

You can link your card over at www.cceestampers.blogspot.com ..

Here's hoping you and yours have a wonderful Christmas season.

Tic Tac Toe Fun

Lynn came up with a great challenge for us this week on CCEE Stampers. My choices on the tic tac toe game were Christ, star, and an animal. This stamp is from Sweet and Sassy. Come play along over at CCEE Stampers. Hope this finds you in joyful preparation of the Advent season. Love and peace to you and yours.

Paper Players 224

I've checked out all the challenges out there to find Christmas challenges that would motivate me to get a few more cards made tonight. I found that Paper Players has a great bingo challenge going this week. I am using white, glitter, and snowflakes. This was a fun card making use of the negative piece of a punched scrap. I put glittered paper behind it and let some of that paper peek out from the bottom.

CCEE1449

Sorry team to have been late with my card. I was gone all week and not in my own stamp room.  Things were so busy on my visit with family that stamping just did not get to be a part. So, I got home today and am late with my entry. My procrastination finally caught me this week. I should have gotten this card done last week or earlier.

Color throw Down 320

I loved this week's colors over on the Color Throwdown Challenge. After being away from my stamproom for a week, I was so anxious to do a little holiday stamping. My goal this season is to use up some of my stash, and give some of my old stamps a little love. The only thing new on this card is the kraft card that served as the base of this card. I dug the design papers from the draws full I already have. The stamps have been a part of my Christmas collection for some years now and I really haven't ever done very many cards with it.

ODBDSLC218

I have had an angel collection for years, and when my dear sister, Lynn gave me this set from ODBD for my birthday in August along with this awesome wings die, I could not have loved anything more.

 I have a dear friend who is terminally ill and hospice has been called in. I am praying God's angels are surrounding him and making this transition a peaceful one.

 Making this card was so theraputic for me, and to make it match the letters in blessings was just what I call a God thing.
My B is blue, L is lacy diecuts, E is embossed edge (on the left), S is stenciling on the background, S is for sponge that I used to apply the ink,I is for ink, N is for Nestabilities, G is for gold, and S is for scripture.

CCEE1447

The challenge this week is to use a photo or something to do with photography. I just had to make use of this cute House Mouse stamp. The layout was somewhat symbolic of a camera. Black with a round lens for the image and the rhinestones are for buttons or the flash.

If you choose to join us, please add your card to the link over at CCEEStampers blog and use the CCEE1447 as the keywords if downloading over at SCS.

Head right on over to see what terrific cards the DT has posted over on the blog.

CTD 319

Loved the colors this week for the Color Throwdown Challenge. I have been getting started on my Christmas cards. Decided these colors would be great for a Christmas card. I put navy ink on my embossing folder, spritzed it with water, and smashed the paper between the folder. Like how it turned out. I also used a border stamp from Matha Stewart, a Spellbinder poinsettia die, and a retire Stampin' Up sentiment from a retired Christmas set. Added some pearls for the center and had nice, quick and a great card to  add to my collection. I think this makes 26 that I have gotten done. Not sure how long my card list is going to be this year, so still plan to get a few more done.

Less is More week 198

 This is for the Less is More challenge this week to make a card with more than one tree.
The tree stamp is from an old Stampin' Up set. I used torn deisnged paper to provide the sky. The diecut used for the deer is from Impression Obsessions.  This was a quick and easy card that can easily duplicated.

CCEE1446

Maryann is hosting the challenge again this week for CCEE Stampers. She says:
" I love challenges, they make us think out side of the box when I came across this tutorial on Splitcoast stampers it reminded me that this is something I have always wanted to try. I hope you give it a try.
 Here is a tutorial link to help.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/bargello/"

I wanted to make my with fall colors and loved this blessing that I can send to someone this Thanksgiving.  I think the sentiment is from Sweet and Sassy stamps. One of the very first I ever ordered from them.

Come by the blog site to  see what the team has created with this technique. Join in on the fun and link your card to the linky over at CCEE Stampers.

CCEE1445

Maryann is challenging us today to do a card using a moustache in honor of Movember, which is a global  movement that raises funds for male issues. Okay, so I don't know many male stampers, but I know there are a few out there. Maybe if men need something in which to  calm down, stamping is what they might need to try. It works for me.

C4C260

This is for the Movember with a moustache. I decided to put a little Christmas to this one, although I don't live where it snows at all. I have only had one white Christmas in all of my 64 years. This is a window card with the face stamped and sponged on the inside of the card. Just having a little crazy fun here. Maybe I had too much Halloween.

CCEE1444 making a scene

Well, here is the reason I should not do my cards so far in advance. When I made my card, I was at Lynn's house (in September) and we used her computer to load this card and also her camera. I somehow have lost the card since then, so you will have to see the card I made for this challenge over on the CCEEStampers blog. You can however, leave your comments here if you like!!! I thought maybe I could copy it over from the CCEE website, but since it has not been scheduled to come up until later this evening, I was unable to do that. If I can get that to work later, I will try to load my picture over here as well.

Here it is!!

CCEE1443 fall colors

My sister, Lynn and I live on the Texas Gulf Coast and fall is probably more like a California summer. We are finally getting some relief from the heat, but fall colors just aren't happening too much around here. So, we asked our friends here on CCEE Stampers to share the colors they might be enjoying where they reside that are those rich and wonderful colors of fall: the oranges and reds, golden yellows, and rich browns. I used those I wish I were seeing on my card. If you chose to join us in this challenge, please post your card to the linky over at the CCEE Stampers blog, and if you link it to SCS please use the CCEE1443 as your keyword.

CCEE1442

It seems that October is the month when ghosts, ghouls, witches, and monsters of every kind are popping up everywhere. Have fun with this challenge and include one in your design. It can be a Halloween card, if you wish, or any type design a monster of some type may inspire you to create.

I found this old Basic Grey Halloween paper in my stash, and I found this little skeleton in the $1.50 bin at Michael's a month or so ago. I uaws versamark and white embossing powder for them. The pumpkin and letters are diecuts and the border srtipe peeking out on the sides is from Martha Stewart. Halloween colors are fun, and grandkids are the ones who love Halloween cards, so this one will end up in someone's mailbox. 

Join in on the fun and link your card over at the CCEEStampers blog. While you are there check out the fun cards from the design team. 

ODBDSLC 215

 

Since I used an Our Daily Bread Design stamp on this card as well as a ODBD die, I decided to use this "Hope You  Can Cling To" card that I plan to mail to MD Anderson for the  Breast Cancer Awareness month project going on at Splitcoaststampers to add over to the anything goes challenge over at ODBDSLC. I really liked the way my inked embossing folder looked after I ran it through the Cuttlebug.

 

Ombre card

 

I made this card for the JUGS 262 challenge this week and also for the ODBSLC215 challenge.

I used the ombre coloring by inking my embossing folder with various shades of oranges. I also inked my ODBD stamp that way as well. And as the final touch I colored my own oranges on this white seam binding to get the hombre look on it as well.  I love the oranges of fall and so that was my choice of color for this card.

CCEE1441

Lynn and I are hosting this challenge this week in October. It happens to be International Drum Month and October 12th is Universal Music Day. Music has always been a big part of the life of our families. Our parents were both drummers, my son, Josh is a drummer, as is Lynn's grand daughter, Piper. My dad and Lynn's grand daughter, Zoe were both drum majors leading their high school bands, and Lynn and I were both flute players. Lynn's son, Brian played a tuba, as did my son, Matt. Our grandfather was a drummer as well. So, we just thought it would be fun to have a musically themed week this week. I hope music has been a significant part of your life as well and hope you will join in for the fun at CCEE Stampers this week. Head over their blog to see all the cards from our design team and link your card there. 

CCEE1440 Breast Cancer Awareness month

Lynn and I are co-hosting the challenges for October. We thought the perfect way to start this month would be in making a pink card for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To take it one step further, why not send the card you made to a breast cancer survivor?

Be sure to get over to CCEEStampers to check out all the great designs from our design team. If you want to play along with us lease link up over at the CCEEStampers blog site and use CCEE1440.  as your keyword.

My card was made with a set from Flourishes. I also used one of my favorite Martha Stewart punches for the edges.

C4C255 Leaves

I don't usually have a Saturday that I have at home, so it was fun to do a challenge I haven't done in a while, the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge. Today the challenge was to use leaves. I inked my Darice embossing folder with fall colors, spritzed it with water then ran it through my cuttlebug. Then I diecut some Spellbinder leaves, and got out my favorite sunflower stamp from Flourishes. To keep that rustic look that seem to be going on my card, I tied some unraveled jute for my bow.  Fall is my favorite of all the season. I love the rich colors and cooler weather.

Zentangling through selections from Psalm

Motivated by a friend to

zentangle scriptures, I started this book

with selections of Psalms. Thanks, Shelley, for

being such an inspiration to me.

CCEE1439

This is Lois' final challenge fot this month and she chose to celebrate with National Dog Month. So, the challenge is to put a dog on your card.  I used some old Basic Grey design paper that had dogs on it, I used this great digi from Sassy Cheryl and even added dog paw prints that are brads. Thanks, Lois for all the great challenges this month for CCEE.

Pick out your favorite dog stamps or digital images and join in on the fun by adding CCEE 1439 as your keywords at SCS or link up to the linky over at CCEEStampers here. Check out all the cute doggy cards from the Design team while you are there.

CAS on sunday 9-21-14

The challenge over on CAS on Sundays was to use sequins. I used some gold sparkly ones on my card. The stamps I used are from Our Daily Bread Designs. I used peanut brittle ink from Memento and ivory paper from Recollections (Michael's)  My sweet sister gave me these stamps for my birthday back in August and I finally got the chance to stamp with them.

CCEE1438

Lois has another fabulous challenge for us this week over at CCEE. In honor of  "Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day" we are doing a word play on the word HUG. My h things are hexagon patterns in the embossed background and a hanger and the word "Hang". My u thing is underwear (an underwire bra to be exact). My g things are glittery ribbon and gemstones.  For a preschool and retired kindergarten teacher, I just love these word challenges.  Hope you will come join in on the fun this week and also get a peek at all the fabulous ideas other design team members came up with for this fun challenge. The stamp set I used is from Skipping Stones.

If you want to play along, link up your card over at CCEEStampers  and please use the CCEE1438 if you  load your card on SCS.

CCEE1437

These are Lois' words for this challenge: When I chose the theme for today's challenge, I must have been looking at the calendar for 2013 instead of 2014.  Odd Day was 9/11/13 -- it was the last time for 92 years that we will have a day featuring three consecutive odd numbers, the final "Odd Day" of the 21st century.  But let's celebrate it a year late by using an odd number of the same embellishment on our cards (e.g., 3 brads, 5 pearls, etc.)

So my odd card was a one color card. I used 3 different embossing panels for this card, an embossed sentiment that included 5 words of encouragement: amazing, wow, wahoo, bravo, nice job! I added 5 bunches of 5 leaved stems, Then finished off with one bow!!

To play along just link up over at CCEEStampers and if your card is loaded over at SCS use CCEE1437 as your keyword.

Now hop on over to see what the design team created for this fun challenge at CCEEStampers.

And I just realized there was no stamping whatsoever!! Hum, that is odd, right?

HMFMC178

Paper piecing is one of my favorite techniques so I had to hop right on this challenge today and see which of my House Mouse stamps would work with this technique. I settled for this one.
The design paper is from Graphics 45. I layered two buttons to add a touch of embellishment to the card. Hope you like it.

CCEE1436

Lois is our hostess today and in honor of Newspaper Carrier Day she has asked us to make a card using newsprint. I used an ivory cardbase and added purple cardstock with the newsprint.
I embossed the top panel of purple and then rubbed white craft ink over it.  On the newsprint, I embossed the flower image with white embossing powder. Then I colored it with Stampin' Up markers. The butterflies are a Martha Stewart punch.  I used a button for the center of the flower and pearls for the butterfly bodies.

Make sure you make it over to see all the terrific designs for this challenge over at CCEE Stampers.  Hope you can find the time to join us in this challenge and link it up over at CCEEStampers.  Make sure you use  CCEE1436 on your card if you download it to SCS.

ODBDSLC212

I have a friend battling cancer so I made this card for him. I like to always have the cross before me and the cross behind me in all circumstances. I know he will find comfort there as well.

I used a Paper Studio embossing folder on the the baja breeze paper. I used some Basic Grey deisgn paper, and punched the dark brown paper with a Martha Stewart corner punch and then arranged them together to go across the bottom. The brown strip across is taffeta ribbon.

I accented the cross with some brown pearls. I did this for the ODBDSLC212 challenge.

CCEE 1435 Herringbone

Hi everyone,

Amber is back today bringing us another fun challenge ... this time round it is a Technique challenge - Herringbone. A fun technique using up scraps of paper. Directions for this technique can be found in the Splitcoast Stampers Tutorial Section.

Make sure you head over to CCEEStampers to check out all the other Design Team cards.
Hope you find the time to play along and go here to link your card. .  

CCEE1434

Hi everyone,

It's challenge time again, this week Amber has us going Back to School! -  School starts back with many happy mommies doing the happy dance. So let's make a card or item that can be given to the teacher at open house or first day of school.

I love this Stampabilities stamp with this little bunny picking just the right apple from the basket to take to his teacher. It was colored with copic markers.  

Please join us over at CCEE Stampers and link your card there. . If you upload to another site such as Splitcoaststampers, please add CCEE1434 to your keywords.

Now let's see what the Design Team came up with for this week.

CCEE1433 Saying Goodbye

Hi everyone,

Amber is back today to bring you another fun challenge.

Saying goodbye challenge -Amber's oldest chilc heads off to college on the 15th... a whole 8 1/2 hrs away. So let's make a card saying goodbye. Can be a sympathy card or a safe trip/farewell card. Something that has to do with saying goodbye. 

I decided to make mine a sympathy card, which are always the hardest to make for me. 

Don't forget to get over to CCEE Stampers to check out ho the design team expresses farewell, whether the sad ones, or the happier ones. 

CCEE1431

It's a new month and we have a new hostess, Amber Hillman, who has challenged us to make a card having some object or animal you might see at a County Fair or 4-H. The colors for 4-H is green, so you get extra points for using it.

My experiences with County Fairs involved  gardeners, farmers, homemakers, etc. bringing, out some of their finest products from their efforts like vegetables, fruits, quilts, cakes, pies, canned vegetables, etc. Seeing all those blue ribbons and best of the show, I am sure were always a badge of pride for their efforts. So, on this basket of strawberries I gave a blue ribbon. I did not get the bonus points, but used those great American colors of red, white and blue as those are the three top colors of ribbons given. County Fairs seem so Americana.

Check out all the County Fair Fun over at CCEEStampers. 


Be

CCEE1431

/Although I was not familiar with this particular song of Bob Dylan's the title certainly was the  inspirtation for this card. The word "tangled" make me think of zentangling which is a form of art I have been experimenting with and the freedom and creativity and relaxation it has given me.  I decided to do it all in shades of blue again because of the title. If you would like to listen to this song of Bob Dylan's you can find the Utube here.

 

Join in the fun over at CCEE stampers and let's see how a song you like might inspire a card.

CTD302

I haven't played in the Color Throwdown Challenge in quite some time, but I had the colors for this week's challenge: bermuda bay, daffodil delight, and rich razzleberry.  The image is a digital from Sassy Cheryl Designs. Always in need of Birthday cards, I decided to use this cutie. I think I am going to write inside of it: "You make this birthday thing look like a piece of  cake!"  The image is colored with Copic markers and the bottom part of the card I embossed with my cuttlebug.  

CCEE1430

Hi all,
It's CCEE challenge time again, Shirley brings us another fun challenge this week.
It's a Recipe Challenge ..... Follow this recipe - Use 2 circles, 1 oval and two or more octagons (or hexagons/decagons) on your card.

I used a straight edged he octagon  and a scalloped edged octagon, a circle for the image, circles on the dotted paper, and an oval for the sentiment. The digital  image is from Sassy Cheryl Designs and the sentiment is from Sweet and Sassy. I added some twine to be a masculine  looking embellishment. 

Peep of the week challenge at Powerpoppy

Katie is being honored over on SCS as Queen for the Day, so I was inspired by a card of her''s in the gallery. I am using  I am also using this card for my Peep of the Week Challenge over at Powerpoppy.
I wish I could color as pretty as Katie does. I used some Basic Grey plaid design paper and a SU border punch trim to mine. I embossed the background and added an organdy bow. 

What a cluck!

Been out of town for the week serving with my Sunday School class at UMCOR in Louisiana. I forgot to preload my card to my blog before I left. Just had too much to do to get ready. Here it is finally. The CCEE challenge this week was to stamp a chicken. 

CCEE1428 - Repurposing

It's time for another CCEE Stampers Challenge and Shirley Quarry has another great challenge for us all.

Let's repurpose something. We all have bits and pieces of things we have saved in our stash for those "just in case we need it moments".

In my stash I had some cardboard coasters that I had saved to reuse in some form or fashion. So, I decided to make a little book of quotes and sayings. Thought it might a nice littel gift for someone. The stamps I used are from Hampton Arts and Verve.  I used twine to bind the book together. 

Hope you choice to join in on the fun this week over at CCEEStampers at www.cceestampers.blogspot.com

Come leave your card there on the Linky and check out the other team members great repurposing ideas.

ODBDSLC208

This is for the ODBDSLC208 challenge to make a birthday card. I used this Sweet Williams set to make the flower. I diecut with Spellbinders the fancy border, and I punched with a Martha Stewart punch for the ivory scallop piece. I had cut the leaves and hand wrote the sentiment so it would fit my space. I used a snowflake from Jolee for the center of the card.

Let Freedom Ring challenge

Here's my card for this challenge that Power Poppy has going this week. 

HOW TO PLAY: To play along with us this week, all you have to do is follow this little formula below! 

1 point for everyone who uses Power Poppy stamps or digis!

2 points if you use Power Poppy images with patriotic colors representing YOUR country

3 points for everyone who follows the first two steps plus uses one of our digi freebies!

A stay at the Teepee Motel

We finally did it. Spent one night at the Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, Texas. I never did find a comfortable place to sleep in our room, and our neighbors popped fireworks all night long it seemed like. But we can mark it off the bucket list.

CCEE goes Red white and blue

This week's challenge:

Since this is the 4th of July week in America, we surely need to make a red, white and blue card. Since everyone does not live in the U.S., it does not have to be a patriotic card.

Thanks, Shirley for leaving this challenge behind before you left.  It is a perfect one for this week. 

I made the red stripes with glittery ribbon, and the blue with stars is also ribbon. I have been giving some of my older stamps a chance to swim in an ocean of ink this summer. Some of them haven't seen ink in so long. I colored the SU Stipple butterfly with copic markers. 

Have a fun and safe 4th of July for all my American friends, and if you find a few extra  minutes, come join us over at CCEE Stampers. 

What's new at Power Poppy!

Trying out my new digital from Power Poppy. This was for Anne Harmon's challenge on SCS Technique Lover's challenge to make a non-iron alternative wax resist background . I used foil to apply the Versamark ink, then I added white embossing powder and then added red and orange inks over it. It just seemed like the perfect background for these geraniums. Hope you are enjoying all your flowering summer plants. While they bring smiles to our faces, according to Emerson, they make the earth laugh. I love that.

Trying out

CCEE1426 sunglasses

Anne's last challenge for us for June is SUNGLASSES! Summer time is here, the sun is overhead, and we all need to protect not only our skin, but also our peepers! Join in on the fun over at
CCEEStampers  and if you download over at SCS  use CCEE1426 for your keyword.

For my card I used an old retired Stampin' Up stamp set and the sunglasses are acturally a sticker embessishment I found on sale last week. Hope you are all having a fabulous summer and that you are enjoying some of your favorite seasonal things (like the beach)!!!

MOJO351

This is for the MOJO Monday challege #351. Not sure I got my sizing right, but wanted to use this pretty reversable design paper for this sketch. Here's the sketch:

The stamps I used are of course, from Verve.