Challenges with the Stampin B's and CCEE Stampers

The CCEE Stampers were challenged to make a fun get well card.  I think this House Mouse image fit the bill.  I paired in with this 'cozy' sentiment which I think makes it even more fun.  There are times when you don't feel up to par when you just might want to 'jump into' a hot cup of chocolate or tea or coffee to get 'cozy'.

The CCEE Stampers  blog should be a fun stop in blogland with all the fun get well cards.  Be sure to stop by.

The Stampin B's challenge this week was to make a gatefold card.  I am not a fan of alternate fold cards, but that is what is great about challenges.  They make us do things we would totally avoid......lol!!!!

I used an old SU snowflake image and a part of another SU image for the sentiment.  I had a hard time photographing this card as their is a metallic effect to the dp AND to the image, as I embossed it in gold.

Now....be sure to check out some fabulous gatefold cards at the Stampin B's blog.

Thursday with the Stampin B's and the CCEE Stampers

Shirley asked the CCEE Stampers to create their card/project with autumn colors.  I just LOVE autumn colors, so this was lots of fun for me.  I used the newly released set Country Thanksgiving by Marks Finest Papers.  I used some fabulous dp and the card just kind of came together on its own.

Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers Blog to see the colors of autumn in all their creative glory.

The Stampin B's were challenged this week to  use scoring on their cards this week. I went pretty CAS as I have started a new stash for my friend's daughter to use in her women's ministry. I used the scoring to 'frame' my main panel.

Be sure to stop in at the Stampin B's blog to see how the rest of the team 'scored'.

Thursday Challenges......

Shirley challenged the CCEE Stampers to a Columbus Day related challenge.  The theme is wide, but must be connected in some way to the Columbus Day holiday.  I chose the theme of ecean/navigation and made a lighthouse card.  It has been a longggg time since I got a lighthouse stamp out.  This one is from the now defunct Cornish Heritage Farms.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Columbus Day related creations at the CCEE Stampers Blog.

The Stampin B's were challenged to use birds, birds, birds.  I used a fab dove punch by EK Success, along with a border punch by MS.  I added some embossing, a bit of coloring (berries and leaves), and a bow.
We hope you will play along with us this week.  You can find inspiration at the Stampin B's Blog.

Challenges to Share

Shirley challenged the CCEE Stampers to create a card using their favorite color combo AND there must bee a half circle included.  Well....I didn't have to think very hard, as black and white OR black, white, and RED are my fav color combos.  I used a fab frame by Waltzingmouse Stamps and a great sentiment from Just Ritie to created my design.  I added some bling, some flourishes, and Primas.  To finish it off, I used a Cheery Lynn Designs Doily in RED for my half circle.

Please be sure to visit the CCEE Stampers Blog to see the fav color combos of the rest of this friendly and fabulous team.

Lois challenge the Stampin B's to create a one layer card.  Now THIS is a challenge for me, but I think I met the criteria.  I stamped a shadow stamp on the base paper, adding piercing on the top and sides.  I stamped my sentiment below the shadow stamping.  I then stamped and colored my leaves, cutting them out, and then popping them off the base.  Hope that was okay?????

The leaves and sentiment are images from the Autumn Glory set from Mark's Finest Papers.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the teams one-layer cards are....how about you?????  We can all find them at the Stampin B's Blog.

A Challenging Thursday

This card is done for the Stampin B's Challenge AND the CCEE Stampers Challenge.  Faith, the hostess for this week's B's Challenge asked us to make Halloween cards.  Cindy, the CCEE hostess for the month of September, asked us to use postage....either a postal image, postal edging, a postcard....or such.

The image and sentiment are from a set called Boo to You from Mark's Finest Papers.  The postage 'diamond' is an unmounted stamp I never marked.

Both teams would love for you to play with us.  Please visit the following blogs to see the talents of the team members.

Stampin B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog

Again.....an apology to my friends in blogland.  Time has not been available for much blog hopping to see what you have all been up to.  I promise I will try to get 'hopping' as soon as things quiet down on the medical front with my mother.

A Feminine Thursday of Challenges

This has been quite a week......a mix of good (Charlene's visit) and not so good (won't get into that...lol!!).....so I was so pleased that once again I could combine my two Thursday Challenges into one card.

The Stampin B's Challenge for this week was to use at least two border punches.  Well, I used one punch twice and another that is almost hidden by my image, but it really is there!!  The large punch is by EK Success and the hidden one is by Martha Stewart.  I also used a Marvy corner rounder.

Cindy is the hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge.  She asked us to use the color pink, and then either lace or a doily. My doily die is from My Favorite Things.

My image is by Penny Black.  The sentiment is a small stamp that I am sure has a company name, but I forgot to write it down.  If you need to know, just ask in a comment and I'll get the info to you.

Please be sure to visit the blogs of these talented teams to see all the wonderful cards they created.

Stampin B's
CCEE Stampers

Thursday??? Must be CHALLENGE time!!!

Cindy is the hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge this week.  She challenged us to make a circle card with some stitching on it.  Anne is our hostess for the Stampin B's Challenge, and, since it will be her 48th anniversary soon, she asked us to make an anniversary card.  This is my card for BOTH challenges.

I used my Creative Memories cutting system to cut my circle.  I layered it with doilies made with dies from Cheery Lynn Designs and My Favorite Things.  I addedd a store-bought blooms with some stitching on them and some small rhinestones.  I colored my image (from My Favorite Things) with my Copics and then cut it out.  This is a skill I am working on.  With my weak peepers, it takes longer than it should and isn't always smooth.  I then stamped the sentiment (also from MFT) and punched it out with my SU mid oval punch.  I then added a gingham brad as a flower center and it was done!!!!!

Now be sure to visit the team blogs of these two fabulous teams.

Stampin B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog

This second card is the one I did for Wednesday's Sketch Challenge on SCS.  I used Mark's Finest Papers set called Poppies, Poppies, Poppies for both the image and the sentiment.

And....on a personal note.....Thanks so very much for all your kind words on the passing of my beloved Pepper.  Your words were very kind and comforting.

Thursday??? Must be time for challenges!!!

This my card for both the CCEE Stampers Challenge as well as the Stampin B's Challenge this week.  It was also influenced by a recent release of Innovative Stamp Creations. 

Cindy is our CCEE hostess for September, and she challenged us to make an autumn card with stitching and a die cut (homemade or store bought).  Well, I 'fudged' a bit on this one.  It is definitely an autumn card, but my stitching is missing the thread (aka paper piercing) and my die cut is a true homemade one....an image cut out as a die cut.

Emily is our Stampin B's hostess for this week, and she challenged us to use a clip or pin of some type on our cards.  I chose to use a simple clear beaded pin from Mark's Finest Papers on my bow.

The stamps I used are all available from Innovative Stamp Creations, a site you might want to check out as they just released some fabulous new stamps, including some as gorgeous as the older ones I used today, which are also still available.

As I explained in my post late Monday, we were lucky to get our power on after a day and a half without it.  I am appreciative of that, but so very sad for the many who are still suffering the effects of Hurricane Irene.  The stories of the flooding in Vermont are so tragic......whole towns are cut off because of road and bridges washed out.  Here in CT so many are still without power.....you don't realize what no power means until you are without it......it is not just luxuries like internet and such that are lost, but gas stations, grocery stores, town services, and so much more.  I hope everyone is soon returned to normal AND that repairs are made to enable people to live and work without obstacles.  Hugs to all!!!

Now....to bring that touch of joy, be sure to visit the blogs of these two fabulous teams.  Their fabulous creations are sure to cheer you up!!!

Stampin' B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog

Wishing everyone a touch of joy in their day!!!

Time for the Thursday Challenges

Charlene, our CCEE Stampers hostess for August, had another interesting fact for us this week.

"The streets of Victor, Colorado, once a gold rush town, are paved with low-grade gold."

 GOLD is the operative word.  I used a set from Verses that I bought at the June convention in Springfield, MA.  I used my star embossing folder, adding some paper piercing, some golden rhinestones, and some golden web ribbon.

Brenda, our Stampin B's Challenge hostess this week, challenged us to make easel cards.  I used one of my 'found treasures' (while 'cleaniing' my stamp cave) as my image.  It is an unmounted bought years ago at convention, but I think it might be by Stamp Camp.  I added the sentiments, fancy tag, brads, paper piercing, and that is about it.  I think I will get some good use out of this now that it has been rediscovered.

Now be sure to visit both of these fabulous teams to be inspired AND to play along with us.

CCEE Blog
Stampin B's Blog

Stampin B's and CCEE Stampers Challenges

Charlene is our August hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge.  She has been sharing a fun fact with us each week and here is the one for today.....

 "You burn 26 calories in a one-minute kiss."

So the keyword for this week is KISS.  Well, I (like most of you) have thousands of stamps......and I really struggled with this one.  Finally I found this ancient SU get well set.  The image has the word 'kisses' on it plus the horizontal panel has 'kisses and hugs' symbols.  Phew......was so happy to find that set!!!

Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers Blog to see our 'kiss' gallery.

Vicki D. is our hostess for the Stampin B's this week.  She challenged us to use distressing on our creations.  My struggle with distressing is that I often make smudges or rips that I just can't live with.......and that happened this time too, but I was able to cover the worst ones up.....and, in the end, I was somewhat pleased with the final result.  What do you think????  It is certainly out of my comfort zone.

I used a newly released set by Mark's Finest Papers called Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement.

Now....don't get yourself all distressed....we've done that for you......so come check out our distressed creations at the Stampin B's Blog.

This second card will also be entered into Speedy's Friends Challenge as it was distressing this week.

CCEE and Stampin B's Challenges

This card is for my two Thursday challenges.....

Stampin B's -- As hostess, I challenged the team to use clouds in some way on their cards.

CCEE Stampers -- Charlene is our August hostess and she once again shared a fun fact.  ""When glass breaks, the cracks move at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour." GLASS is the operative word.

I used this fabulous window set from Flourishes.  If I am looking out a window (my glass) this is the view I would love the see each time.  As you will see, I have a huge area of the sky that is a cloud or two.  AND....this is one of my favorite sentiment stamps ever.  So true.......friends, whether near or far, are my world.

Please be sure to visit each blog to see the creativity of these two talented teams.

CCEE Blog
Stampin B's Blog

Two Challenges in ONE......

This card is for my two Thursday challenges.....

Stampin B's -- Lois challenged us to make a square b'day card with piercing.
CCEE Stampers -- Charlene found a site of fun facts.  This is the one she shared with us for this week........ "The best time for a person to buy shoes is in the afternoon. This is because the foot tends to swell a bit around this time."   The keyword of SHOES was chosen to inspire us.

Well.....I went right to my fav polka dotted heels by Verve.  There was a day that I used to wear shoes like this every day......now I am a Birkie girl!!!!  I used one of the sentiments from the same set, and kept the birthday sentiment for the inside.  I used some SU ribbon, my Spellbinder fancy die, my corner rounder (which I use so much that I need to sharpen it up with some aluminum foil soon....lol!!!)  I, of course, did the required paper piercing and finished it off with a touch of bling.  Truly a girly card.

Now be sure to check out the creations of both of these fabulously talented and fun teams.  Here are the links to get you to the team blogs.

Stampin B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog

Ribbons of Summer

This card is for my CCEE Stampers Challenge and my Stampin B's Challenge.  I am the July hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge, and I gave the team a 'seasonal' challenge.  We are an international team, with members from Canada, the United States, and Australia.  Most of us are in the midst of summer right now, but Frances, in Australia, is experiencing her winter season.  So....the team had a choice.....either make a summer or a winter card.  I went with summer.  I used the Adirondack Summer set from Mark's Finest Papers.

Faith is our hostess for this week's Stampin B's Challenge, and she wanted the team to use ribbon.  I used my fav summer barefoot twill for my ribbon element.

I sincerely hope you have time to visit the blogs of these two fabulous teams.  You will be inspired -- that I can guarantee.

CCEE Stampers Blog
Stampin B's Blog

Now...I just want to give you a heads up on a blog hop that will be starting at 9 PM tonight.  Totally Stampalicious will be releasing SIX new sets.....and PRIZES will be involved.  So...I hope you stop by again tonight...you could become a WINNER!!!!

Hugs, Neutrals, and MORE.......

As this month's hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge, I asked the team to make cards of encouragement....AND, if possible, to include a hug in some way.  I chose to use this sweet stamp, which was the gift of a dear stamping friend a few years ago and thought it was perfect to use today.  I use it often when encouragement or sympathy needs expression.  The sentiment I used is an unmounted one from a stamp convention.

For the Stampin B's Challenge, Vicky G. is our hostess.  She issued a color challenge -- ivory, brown, black.  As you can see I combined this challenge with the other.'

I sincerely hope you can find some time to visit the blogs of both these fabulously talented teams.  I know they will rock your socks off......so come on by....here are the links to get you there......

CCEE Stampers Blog
Stampin B's Blog

Here are a couple more I have to share:

This was my card for yesterday's Sketch Challenge on SCS.  I used the recently released Lilacs set from Mark's Finest Papers.

This is a card I did for Bugaboo's Christmas in July Challenge for today which was to use snow on your card.

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog.  I probably don't say that enough.

Have a fabulous day!!!

Ice Cream and Bling.....What a Delightful Day!!!

The challenge for the Stampin B's this week was issued by Pam.  She wanted us to bling it up AND go crazy with the embellies as well.  Somehow I think I made the bling part, and for the embellies part I added a border, an organza bow, and a Prima flower with pearls.

As hostess for the CCEE challenges this month, I noted that later this week, on July 17 (the third Sunday in July), is National Ice Cream Day.  So I asked the team (and YOU) to create a card/project with an ice cream image or sentiment.

Now you really must take some time this week to check out the work of these two fabulously talented and wonderfully friendly teams and see what they have created for your inspiration this week.

CCEE Blog
Stampin B's Blog

The Ocean and Chocolate....Two of MY Favorite Things

According to one fun calendar, today, July 7 is Chocolate Day.  So, as the CCEE Stampers Challenge hostess for July, I am giving you a choice this week.  Either make a monochromatic card in the chocolates OR make a card with a chocolate connection.  The eating of chocolate is optional, but encouraged.

I used this old image from a retired SU stamp set, along with a doily die from Cheery Lynn Designs, and some Prima flowers and leaves. I did just a touch of paper piecing on the corners.  The inside sentiment is an unmounted, unidentified stamp.  I used an EK Success border punch and a CB embossing strip.

Please be sure to stop in and visit the CCEE Stampers Blog to see the fabulous chocolate creations by this deeeeelish and deeeelighful team.

Anne is our hostess for the Stampin B's Challenge this week,  Her challenge was to use a beach scene, including some stamped or real sand.  Well...I had some fun with this one.  I LOVE the beach, the ocean,......and have spent large chunks of my life there.  As a stamper, I have collected variious stamps to create seascapes.  Today I combined some.  My main image (in the circle) is a stamp from Innovative Stamp Creations.  The stamp I used for the back panel sand/grass is from Stamp Happy.  The sentiment comes from a fabulous set from Mark's Finest Papers that will be released next week.

If you are looking for some tranquility or summer fun, be srue to visit the StampinB's Blog.  You will find lots of sand for your toes AND, I would think, some sunshine as well.  This fabulous team will be summer happy!!!

CCEE and Stampin B's go techie....well...kind of!!!!

Frances, our CCEE Stampers hostess for June, challenged us to get our Cricuts out and produce something on our cards from them.  Faith, our Stampin B's hostess for this week asked us to use two die cuts and add some paper piercing.

The vertical panel was made on my Cricut, using the Paper Lace cartridge.  The black swirls and the river rock shadow piece were created with the Cricut, and then I added a few more layers for the final panel.  For my die cuts I went pretty simple, using my circle and scalloped circles dies.  Paper piercing was easy for me as I use it on most cards.  I used the newly released set Sand, Surf, Relax from Mark's Finest Papers.

Now be sure to visit the team blogs to see the rest of the fab designs......

CCEE Stampers Blog
Stampin B's Blog

Challenge Combo -- Pink with Friendship

I combined the CCEE Challenge of using the color pink with the Stampin B's Challenge of using a friendship sentiment. I also corrected a goof from my Crazies Challenge from Saturday. Phew!!! That's a whole lot of 'stuff' in one card.......lol!!!!

On this card I used a die and stamp set from Lil' Inkers Designs.  This was the sponsor for Saturday's Crazy4Challenges.  And.....these were the items I forgot to use on Saturday.  So sorry, Laura!!!  The stamp set comes with several flag stamps and some sentiments.  I used the single line stamp on my banner pendants.  I also cut off some of the upper length as they would not have fit otherwise......and I used the die to cut them out.  I then added some Copic color on the outer ridge of the stamping to give it some color.  The focal image is from My Favorite Things, as is the sentiment.  The letters used on the banner are from an SU alphabet set.  The ribbon I used is from Mark's Finest Papers.

Here are the links to the challenge team blogs.  Please stop in to see the fabulous work of both of these teams.

CCEE Stampers Blog

Stampin B's Blog

The B's and CCEE's Are Challenging Again!!!!

I have a feeling that when you go to look at the rest of the Stampin B's cards, I will be the odd woman out.  Our challenge this week was to make a collage card.  I know, I know....this is not the typical collage card.  I really do try to mix stamped images into a stamped collage card, but I just am never pleased with the results.  So.....since the B's have 'no rulz', I went with another type of collage......the type where you bring different forms of elements together in one creation.  I honestly LOVE this card......so......I guess that is the most important thing, right?????

This is my fav ever image from Innovative Stamp Creations.  The sentiment is by another company but I forgot to write it down when I came up from the stampcave.  If you need to know, just ask in your comment.

Now be sure to go and check out all the fab collage cards at the Stampin B's blog.

Our CCEE Stampers Challenge team was asked to make western themed birthday cards.  Well, I just had to once again use the newly release Cowgirl Dottie from Totally Stampalicious.  She is so sassy.   The sentiment is an unmounted I bought at a stamp convention long ago and is not marked.  I used some stretch cording and a swirl brad, along with a MS deep border punch, SU oval punch, Sizzix embossing folder, and some rhinestones.

You can be sure that you'll find some rootin' tootin' western creations at the CCEE Stampers Blog.

Stampin B's and CCEE.....Must be Thursday!!!!

Shirley is our May hostess for the CCEE Stamper's Challenge.  She asked us to use flowers around our main image.  I used an old SU shell stamp and 'gussied' it up with my Spellbinders die,  a Prima flower, two pearled flowers from Michael's bridal aisle, a pearl flourish, a touch of paper piercing, an embossing foler and the fab copper cardstock from Mark's Finest Papers.

Be sure to check out the flowery post at the CCEE Stampers Blog.

Nancyruth is our hostess for the Stampin B's this week and she challenged us to create a spring scene.  I used an old SU stamp for the main image.  I then used an unmounted grass stamp to continue the grass to the horizontal panel behind the main image.  I then added the sentiment (forgot the company...just ask if you need to know).  A very easy card, but it sure says spring to me.

Be sure to visit the Stampin B's blog to get in the springtime mood.