CCEE1415 Bunny or an Egg

For Kathy's 2nd challenge, a card for Easter with a bunny and/or an egg.  Here's mine:

I put my sweet bunny (wearing her Easter bonnet) on dimensionals, over two different nestabilities.  She is surrounded by flowers in purple with white pearl centers.  The big double bow matches her hat and dress.  I think she's pretty spiffy!

Please join us, and link your card HERE.

Sore Fingers, fabulous results!

After much consideration, I decided to take my stamps off their wood and sponge, and deal only with the rubber.  I started this painful project about two weeks ago, and thanks to some help from my mother and DH, I finished yesterday.

I ordered Stamp DVD cases (300 of them!), and put the stamps inside, labeling the spines, and of course, alphabetizing them.  My SU sets are separate, also my holiday themes.  From now on, it's acrylic blocks for me.  I can't believe I got them all in one bookcase!

 

Here are the boxes I emptied of stamps.  Some of them were in my craft room, and others were under beds upstairs.  This does NOT include all my SU sets that were already in my craft room.  Luckily, I didn't count boxes, cases or stamps, or I might have had more than palpitations!

 This is the single bookcase that holds all the stamps.  Beside is obviously the case holding the large bg stamps I didn't peel off. 

Here is an example of two SU sets in one case.  Under the plastic on the outside are the pages from the catalog showing which stamps are included, so I don't have to open a case to know what's inside.

I still have TONS of work to do, but I had been asked what I was doing unmounting my stuff, so here is where I am.

My fingers need to heal, then I'll be back.

CCEE1414 Different Stamps

Our hostess for the month of April is Kathy Bradley.  Her first challenge too us is to use 3 different stamps/digital images (a sentiment CANNOT be one of the stamps/images).

Here's mine:

I used three different owl images, a branch for them to sit on from Sizzix, and LOTS of leaves.  The bg paper is a tree.  I'm not very fond of the coloring, so I hope I made up for it with the googlie eyes and dimensionals.

Please join us, linking your card HERE.

CCEE1413 Recipe

Joanne has challenged us to follow a recipe:
Flowers + Pearls + Heat Embossing + Dry Embossing + Person Image

Here's what I did:

I think the card is pretty much self explanatory.  I added some Sizzix leaves to give a grounding to the flowers, that were all punched.

This is my favorite face image - A Gibson Girl stamp.  I love to use it with funny sayings because it seems so beautiful and serene that a goofy sentiment is in direct opposition to it!!

Please join us in this fun challenge, and be sure to link your project to our blog HERE.

A Tuesday Surprise

I seldom post on the day of the Color Challenge on SCS, but was pleased with my results, and decided to share.  This card uses three of the colors requested (guava, green, black), and a lot of die cuts, a new stencil (which I love!), and a big nestie as a bg.  I hope you like it too.

CCEE1412 Spring or Autumn Scene

Here's Joanne's challenge:

Spring has Sprung here in the U.S.  Frances, in Australia, is facing Autumn.  One thing these two seasons share are bright blue skies and lots of color in nature.  Make a card/project with a spring or autumn scene including blue skies.  (She added...extra points if it's a birthday card....her sister's birthday is today!)

Here's mine:

Bright colors of orange and blue, skies with puffy clouds, and a kite for Spring.

I added a little faux stitching and twine, and some piercing, in Joanne's honor.  Somehow I forgot the birthday aspect, so no extra points for me!!

Please join us, this week and every week, for some fun.  Be sure to add CCEE1412 to your keyword if uploading to SCS, and link your card or project HERE.

CCEE1411 Snacks

Our hostess, Joanne, says today is Popcorn Lover's Day.  Popcorn is her favorite snack. (Mine too!) Tomorrow, March 14th, is Potato Chip Day, another popular snack.  Her challenge to us today is to make a card with some kind of a snack connection.

Obviously, I had to go with Popcorn.

 I used the SU set, Sweet Treats, for my card. I  colored and cut out the bag and popcorn, popping them up (of course!).  The card is yellow, and has been punched with the Curve Punch.

This card will go to my grandson Jake, who makes popcorn every time he comes to visit!!

Please join us this week, and every week, making sure to link  your card HERE, and adding CCEE1411 to your keyword if you upload to SCS.

CCEE 1410 Art

Our hostess for the month of March is Joanne.  Here is her challenge to us:

Michaelangelo's birthday was March 6, 1475.  Let's honor this wonderful artist with our cards this week.  Either have a sentiment that refers to ART in some way or have an image that shows an artistic tool (ex. paintbrush, pen, artist palette).  Let's get our artsy vibes flowing.

Here's mine:

Everything here is Italian - the script, the book pages, the stamp.  Oh wait.the pen and glasses are not....or maybe they are!

I used parchment paper, and predominantly Sepia ink.  The pen nib is gold, and the barrel of the pen an old-looking green.  I had the stamp just begging to be used with a blob of ink, and the glasses have shiny frames.  I hope you like it.  I had such fun putting it together.

Please join us, linking your creation HERE.

CCEE1409 Chocolate Birthday

Today the challenge from Vicky is Chocolate for her 70th birthday.  In her words,
"Well, it's my 70th birthday. One of my favorite things (as evidenced by my waist!) is chocolate.  Let's see some chocolate on your cards..you can use chocolate images, cocoa, chocolate chip paper....anything representing chocolate...the more chocolate, the better!"

Here's my birthday card for Vicky:

Here's some milk and dark chocolate.  The Manhattan Flower ef from SU is embossed in white (chocolate of course!), and popped up in layers.

I think it looks almost good enough to eat!

Happy, Happy Birthday, dear friend!!  You beat me to 70 by 3 months!  Let me know how it is, okay?

Please join us in making a card for Vicky, and posting it HERE.  See you next month for a whole new group of challenges from Joanne.

CCEE1408 Delft Tile

Vicky's challenge this week is to use the technique called "Delft Tile".  You can find the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.  This was fun, and to do a second time, I would do a better job, but I liked this card, nonetheless.  Here it is:

I stamped Antique BG (SU) in brilliant blue after scoring the cardstock.  The teapot is popped up. 

I hope you will want to try this, and join us HERE to link your card.

See  you again next week.

CCEE1407 Punch Art

Vicky, our February hostess, challenged us to make Punch Art - 3 or more punches to create something (no dies, just punches).

I cased a card I found online, using the bird punch from SU, and two heart punches.

The flower is sponged with lavender and celery, and the petals are curled with my bone folder.  I added green glass micro beads to the center.

I did use an embossing folder after two of the layers were put together, and decided not to tempt FATE by adding a sentiment.

Please join us this week, linking your card HERE.

CCEE1406 Paper Mosaic

Our Hostess for the month of February is Vicky Gould.  She has chosen some pretty challenging themes for us, and YOU!  The first of these is for today.....Paper Mosaic.  The technique is to cut little pieces of paper, and glue them down in a mosaic pattern, then stamp and cut out.

Here's my mosaic (and I hope you like it!)

 

I used  bits of yellow, orange, and rust paper, made my mosaic, then cut out the shape of Africa.  The dancer and sentiment are from Rubbernecker Stamps.  The brads are dark brown.... sort of hard to see, and the whole background is sponged in the three colors as well.

Please join us in this interesting technique, linking your card or project HERE.  See you again next week.

Birthday Boys!

Sunday we celebrated the combined birthdays of DH, eldest son, and grand.  John was 13, finally a  teenager, on January 30, David was 49 (OMG!) on the 31st, and Jay will be 72 on the 14th of February (Valentine's Day).  Here they are:

Just as they were to blow out the candles, David put an envelope in front of his mouth!  I guess Grampy and John had to do all the hard work themselves.  With 16 of us, we made VERY short work of the cake.

CCEE1405 U is for Umbrellas

Sabrina's last challenge to us for January is the following:
"Here in Ireland it rains at this time of year. A lot. Umbrellas are very important.  Bonus points if you also bring good raingear along:D, but sunshades and beach umbrellas are also perfectly suitable for the challenge."
Here's what I did.



I found this wonderful image online, and printed it three times.  I popped up the entire umbrella and the bunnies first.  The 2nd layer has the two bigger bunnies popped, and the upper part of the umbrella.  I hope you can see all the popped up parts.

I think this will make a cute Easter card, don't you?

Please join us, and link your project HERE.

CCEE1404 Bright Flowers

Sabrina challenged us to "bring some colour to January with some bright flowers".  Here are mine:

Now I know there are no tulips and Hollyhocks or gladiolas to bloom in January in Massachusetts, but they are colorful, aren't they?

Please join us in making some bright flowers. Be sure to link your card or project HERE.

CCEE Special Tribute to Charlene

Our dear teammate and special friend, Charlene Merrick, passed away, after a battle with brain and liver cancer.  We believe she is now at peace, and no longer suffering.

A warm, friendly, and whimsical woman, she loved Penguins, M & M's, and the color purple.  In her honor we are adding a special addition to our weekly challenges.  Please join us in remembering LilLuvsStampin'.

Here is Charlene's beautiful card from her gallery on SCS:

And here is my version done in shades of purple:

CCEE1403 Poetry Inspiration

Sabrina challenged us to be inspired by the words and imagery of this poem.

Ars Poetica by Archibald MacLeish

A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit,

Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb,

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown -

A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.
*
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs,

Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind -

A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs.
*
A poem should be equal to:
Not true.

For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf.

For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea -

A poem should not mean
But be.

Here is my card:

Thanks for looking.  Please join us in this wonderful challenge and link HERE.

CCEE1402 Bordered Sentiment

Our challenge from Sabrina this week is to make a card using a technique called Bordered Sentiments, which you can find HERE on SplitCoastStampers.

It's an easy tutorial, and one I'll use again, as I was unfamiliar with it.

Please join us, and link your card on our BLOG.

Feel Better Soon!

A Cyber friend had gall bladder surgery yesterday.  This card was made this morning for her......and the best part is, now that she's had the surgery, she's feeling MUCH better.  Been there, done that.  what a relief it is to be able to eat and not go into those awful spasms!!  I think she will like this!

A Terrible Loss

Our CCEE teammate, Charlene Merrick (aka LilLuvsStampin) passed away after a battle with liver and brain cancer.  She was the sweetest woman ...... gentle, kind, and full of good humor.  We will miss her terribly.  Julia Aston and I were to get together with her two summers ago when she was in our area, but the night before she was rushed to the hospital, and had her gall bladder removed.  She went home to recuperate.  We kept in touch by internet, and when she was diagnosed with cancer, we sent her cards of cheer every week.  I cased a card of hers to send to her family to let them know how much I personally cared about her.

The only blessing is that she is now at peace and the pain and suffering she was enduring is done.  Remembering you with love, dear friend.