Uniique Photo Creations by the CCEE

Maryann, our CCEE Stampers hostess for November, asked us to use photos in some way on our cards.  I immediately went to photos I have of my two of my three favorite places to vacation......Maine and Aruba.

The first a birthday card I created by printiing a picture of Nubble Light in York, Maine on cardstock using the sepia tones.  I kept it simple and neutral in tones as this is a masculine birthday card for a friend.

On the second, I used pictures of a divi tree and one of a palm covered table on the beach.  The glasses shown are a rubber stamp which I heat embossed and then cut out.  I then sized the pictures to fit in the glass lenses.  It didn't come out quite as cute as I thought it would.....it seems to need a 'nose' to fill in the empty area between the glasses and the sentiment.  Maybe I should have put a mustache......thinking of a previous challenge this month.....lol!!!

Be sure to visit the CCEE Blog.  I myself can't wait to see what the other team members created with their photos.

The Carolinas AND a Totally Stampalicious Reminder

I have had some posts recently, but I have actually been away for almost two weeks.  After a stressful September and early October, a vacation that had been put on hold was reactivated again at the very last miniute.  The Carolinas were our destination to see family and to relax  Here are just a few pictures to share......

Yep, that's right....that is our Angel enjoying the Grand Strand at North Myrtle Beach.  What a wonderful traveler she was....all sorts of new adventures for the girl.

This was my view each morning from my bedroom.  Nothing is better than waking up to the sound of the ocean.

.....and last, but not least, time spent with my nephew and his wife in their new home was very special.  We celebrated his birthday with a fabulous dinner and great chatter.

I am not even going to try to catch up on all the wonderful postings in blogland.......when I have the time I will peruse the work of my blogging friends, but just won't have time to truly catch up and comment. 

AND.......please be sure to check out the Totally Stampalicious Monday Challenge.  I do not have a card since we just returned today (Sunday) and I just didn't have the time to 'create' anything today.  A routine should be back in place by Wednesday.  And...while I was gone, Totally Stampalicious had a release.....lots of wonderful new sets, especially fun for holiday cards/packaging.  Be sure to check out the new sets HERE.

My disappointment on this trip was that I was unable to connect with two SCS/blog friends I had hoped to meet face-to-face, but it just didn't work out.....however I know it will during another visit to North Carolina in the future.

ISC Sneak Peek --- Serenity

Yep......I LOVE this one too....and so will anyone who loves the beach, ocean, summer, or just plain tranquility. What is better than a walk on the beach with the waves rhythmically hitting the shore, with the smell of the ocean, sand beneath your feet, the warmth of the sun, and the serenity of the whole experience. Well, this stamp sheet called SERENITY and the one I sneak peeked for you the other day called PICTURESQUE relay those memories of peace to me, and , my guess is, to many of you. Betsy at Innovative Stamp Creations outdid herself with these two stamp sheets, both of which include appropriate sentiments.

Now...remember....tomorrow (Monday) is the day for the start of the blog hop and YOUR CHANCE to win TWO stamps sheets. Don't let this chance pass you by. Also, on Tuesday there is going to be a special offer connected with the release. Stay tuned for details.

Now for the details.....colored with Copics, used SU piercing tools, Mother Nature's shell, Heidi Swapp ghost star (behind the shell), mini buttons, Clear Gel Pen (used on the water...does not show in the photo).


I edited this to add this new picture of our 'scalped' dog. For those of you not familiar with the Pepster from my avatar on SCS, there is a head shot on the right panel here on my blog. He went for a 'trim' and came home with 'almost' no hair. Oh well, it is summer and this surely is a summer-do!! No matter what, he is a cutie!!!

Scrapping Away....Dawn's Visit

Got another page done!! Am hoping to complete more of them, but I won't upload all of them. Won't bother you with all that!!! Well...we'll see......lol!!!!

Scrapping the Steamboat Trip

Using another dreary CT day to catch up on some digital scrapbooking. These pages are from the trip to Steamboat Springs. In the scrapbook, they will be placed side by side.

Hope you are enjoying some sunshine, or at least (like me) making the most of a gloomy day!!

LlamaMama Visit

Well......I had a fabulous, though short, visit with my dear SCS friend, Dawn Lusk aka DawnL aka LlamaMama. What a joy it was to meet her in person after many online chats, phone calls, and exchanges of cards! Her dear hubby took pictures of us, and some with Pepper, but of the ones on my camera this was the clearest. Unfortunately what they saw of Connecticut today was wet, muggy, and miserable. We now have some sunshine, so I am hoping that will catch up with them on their trip, as they have 'miles to go before they sleep'. I am wishing them sunshine for the rest of their East Coast trip.

Thanks so much, Dawn and Lloyd, for making time on your trip to 'meet and greet' me here in Connecticut!!! You're the best!!!! Oh....and before I forget, I was the happy recipient of some of Dawn's beautiful crocheted flowers which I coveted.....AND I now have a framed piece of Dawn's 3-dimensional artwork I will always treasure. Thanks so much, gf!!! It is gorgeous!!

I have been so lucky in the past month to meet several SCSer's face to face and they have all been simply wonderful!

Stampin B's Challenge #9 -- Use a Photo

Lois (Clownmom) is our hostess for the Stamping B's challenge today. Her 'assignment' was to use a photo on your card. I was determined to use one of my own photos. This is a picture I took in North Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago, and you can see it here on my blog to the right. I printed it on Blush Blossom cardstock by SU instead of on white photo paper....it gives it a softer and more artsy look, IMHO!!!! I then matted it in black (of course) and then mounted it on the base card of Pretty in Pink SU cardstock. I really wanted the focus on the photo, so I kept the embellishments to a minimun. I used a thin ribbon with a clear button and stamped the sentiment in the upper right. AND...that is it! This has to be one of the simplest cards I have ever made. I think I particularly like this photo as it reminds me of the silhouette images I love and use.

I have a busy day today, so who knows what I will accomplish today. Many 'irons in the fire' right now. Hope you have a wonderful Friday and a restful start to your weekend!!

A Welcome Visit -- Whirlwind Though It Was!!!!

If you are looking for the TSG Blog Hop Post, just scan down below this post. Thanks for stopping in and blog hopping for TSG!!!
Well, on a personal level, this was a cool weekend, as my nephew 'flew' in with his wife for a whirlwind wedding weekend. They are actually at the wedding in Massachusetts as I prepare this post. Many of you, both far and near friends, hear me talk about my nephews and godchild, so I thought I would share this picture with you. It has been a tradition (mine, lol!!) since the boys were young that whenever they came to visit, we took pictures under this Japanese Maple 'Bush' (really more like a tree). They used to fight me on this, but now they pose and smile, cuz they know that is now an official tradition......lol!!!! Jason and Lauren live in North Carolina now, so we don't see them very often. This year we were lucky because we had a family wedding they attended, as well as a couple of friends' weddings, like today's. I hope his friends continue to get married, as I get the bonus of seeing them whenever this happens.

While I had my camera available, I decided to take some pictures of some of my poppies that are blooming. They are gorgeous and such a vibrant color, but they don't last long. I must say that I am amazed that these poppies continue to 'pop' up each spring, as I truly do NOTHING to help them along. I do not have the green thumb in the family. My thumb used to be a bit greener, but now it has lost that hue....lol!!!! (Maybe from the pressure of all that stamping????)

Well....I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

A Big Thanks to My Colorado Hostesses

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

You are probably all tired of hearing about my trip to Colorado. I promise that this is my last post. However, it is my most important post. It is honoring the two ladies who were responsible for the fabulous time we all had.

Both Traci (tracim on SCS) and Cindy (Mothermark) hate to have their pictures taken, so I uploaded these in their smallest form. But I really wanted to publicly thank them for a fabulously wonderful trip!! They are both generous in spirit, kind to a fault, and fun, fabulous friends!!!

Have a wonderful day, all!!!

Rocky Mountain Heights ---- Colorado

Just sharing a few scenic pictures from our travels to, in, and from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We truly enjoyed seeing where the deer and the antelope play. The ride through the canyon on the way home was simply specatacular. And the rushing water flowed and followed the curves of the road......with the power of snow melts!!

Borrowed Pics.......

Thanks to peggysue, I have a few pictures to share with you until I get my new monitor hooked up on the main computer upstairs. As you can read in the post below, we had a fabulous time in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with Traci (tracim) and Cindy (Mothermark) as our hostesses. In the group picture you can see peggysue, Lois (Minister's Wife), Traci (tracim), Cindy (Mothermark) and moi (jojot). From that pic you can figure out the others. I will share more photos when I get back online upstairs.

You will notice in a couple of pics the polka dotted sweater I wore in Cindy's honor......she is the Queen of Dots, ya know......I am a mere princess of dots!!!

Cake and a Cutie!!!

This is a card that I actually made a while ago, but I had been holding on to it for a special project. However, in a senior moment, I failed to read the 'fine print' and did not use the given sketch to create the card so it was ineligible. However, I personally love this one. The colors are Cool Caribbean and Regal Rose, along with some designer paper ( I think it is SU), along with black and white. I used these fabric roses as I thought they repeated the look of the flowers on the cake. The Prima leaves do the same. I CB'd all layers, used my scallop (dimple) corner rounder, along with my Nesties. The finishing touch, which took me longer than the rest of the card, was the addition of the teenie crystal accents. Between my weak peepers and my stubby fingers it took me FOREVAH to get them somewhere near where I wanted them to be.......ah, the trials of a craftsperson!!! LOL!!!

The image and sentiment, by the way, are by There She Goes and come from a set called Cupcake Mix and Match.



Wishing you a fabulous start of a new week. Here in CT, we are expecting rain soon. However, we had a wonderful weekend. It was warm, sunny, and fun! My godchild celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday, as well as participating in the opening day ceremonies of Little League......becoming a T-ball coach for his 5 year old son's team. Go, Cardinals!!! Now isn't this just the sweetest little Cardinal you have ever seen?????

Have a fabulous day!

Joanne (jojot)