CCEE'ers Protect Their Peepers with Sunglasses

It would take me hours to tell you the story behind this card......seems like I kept taking wrong turns in the creative process........ending up in a new direction each time......and even getting lost and almost giving up along the way.

The challenge was an easy enough one.  Anne asked the CCEE Stampers to create a card using sunglasses as a reminder to protect out eyes as the sun is getting stronger in the Northern Hemisphere.  No problem, I thought.  I have dies of glasses, a large stamp of glasses.......however.....I did not have any vellum or transparency that looked like the lenses of sunglasses......and that was the rub.......!!!!!  So I went to general plan 2.......I had buttons that were sunglesses......so I cut the shanks off and would use them as accents on my card.........but the design I had in mind just wouldn't work......but the beach scene was fine so I kept that element.  I then dug deep and found this image of sunglasses which I repeatedly stamped on the orange c/s.  However, the card looked EMPTY.....so forage I did and found this unmounted bather I don't think I have ever used before.  Colored her up, cut her out.....attached her to the card.......and then realized the orange piece probably should have been cut to look a bit more like a surfboard.....but I was not starting over again!!!   So, as they say.....IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!!!

It is also very appropriate as on the day that this posts, I will be ocean gazing......ah....love the ocean breezes, the salty air, the sun shining on my face, the smell of fresh seafood (esp. ''lobstah'), the sounds of the waves......and the good company of dear friends.

Can't wait to be inspired by the sunglasses creations of the rest of the team.  Let's all journey over to the CCEE Stampers Blog to be inspired.

Crazies Plan for Summer

Barbara wraps up her May hostess duties by challenging the Crazy4Challenges stampers to create cards that represent some of their summer vacation plans.

As you can tell from the name of my blog, I love being near the ocean (or other large body of water for that matter).  Each June, you will find me spending time in Maine near the ocean.  We have been going on this trip for over 45 years......and the view is just as beautiful now as it was years ago.

I find the ocean to be my place of tranquility.  The rhythm of the waves bring peace to my soul.

Anyhoooooooooooooooooo.......be sure to stop in to see what the Crazies are planning for their summer times.  Visit the Crazies Blog to check them out.

Barefoot with the CCEE

Frances gave us a fun challenge this week.  She challenged us to make a card with barefeet.  Well, surprisingly, I have quite a few stamps that fit this category.  There was one I was going to grab, but I had this feeling that Frances might be using that stamp (amd she did!)!!!  So I decided to use this stamp which I always think of as a self-portrait.





Can't wait to see the other barefoot creations by the team.  We can all see them at the CCEE Stampers Blog.  Stop by for a visit!!!

Summertime at the Beach with the CCEE

 

It was a good feeling to return to the stamp cave this week after a needed break.  The last two weeks were a tumultuous time for me.......with both tragic and joyful parts......that kept me away from stamping.  I am back now and ready to play with some challenges.

 

The CCEE Stampers Challenge this week, hosted by Sabrina, was to think of summertime at the beach.  Well, as anyone who know me could tell you, I LOVE the beach and the ocean so this was an easy one for me.  I decided to dig out this 'virgin' beach stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs.  It depicts the tranquility that I find when I am at the beach/ocean.  This is a simple card, leaving the focus on that restful hammock on this palm tree lined beach.  Just close your eyes and imagine yourself there......nice thought, eh????  The sentiment I used is from MFT (I think).

 

Now be sure to grab your pail and shovel and meet us at the beach inspired gallery at the CCEE blog.  We would love for you to 'play in the sand' with us, too!!!

 

and.........for those here in the U.S.

 

Happy 4th of July!!!

The Crazies Are Inspired

Barbara, our hostess for May gave the Crazies an inspiration photo this week.  Since it had a theme of sea life and the ocean, I was ready for this challenge.

The photo above  inspired the theme of my card and the color of the seashell border.  The stamp I used is by I Brake for Stamps.  The sentiment is from SU.

Now be sure to go to the Crazy4Challenges blog to see the creations this photo inspired.

Below is a second simple card inspired by the same photo and colors.

CCEE1229 -- Getting Punchie

Lois challenged the CCEE Stampers to get their border punches out this week,  She asked us to use two of them on our cards/projects.  

Other than the sentiment, no stamps were harmed in the creation of this card.  A dear friend had given me some beach related products, and I finally found the perfect time to use one of them.  The chair/sand/shells on the card are actually just one fabulous sticker.  I used an EK Success punch for my 'waves/water' and a Martha Stewart punch for my scalloped shell border.  Just a simple card that shows my love for the beach.

I can't wait to see what fabulous punchwork the rest of the team created!!  Join me in traveling to the CCEE Blog  to be awed and inspired!!!

Recreational Stamping.....FINALLY!!!

Lately it seems as if my stamping time is so limited that I do my DT and challenge team stamping and that is about it.  I am happy to say that this week I have done some of the daily challenges at Splitcoast.  (Things really were so much easier when Splitcoast was where almost everyone shared their artwork!!!!)  Anyhooooooo.......

This first card is one I did for both today's Tea Party Challenge (to use giraffes) and yesterday's CAS Challenge (use twine).  The image and sentiment are from Mark's Finest Papers.

This second card was done yesterday.  It was for the TLC Challenge (a beach scene) and the CAS Challenge (to use twine).

Stamping for fun is the best, isn't it??????

Crazy4Challenges -- A Sketch for YOU

This week, the Crazies are working with a fabulous sketch given to us by our July hostess, Kelli Jo.  I initially had a tough time with this one.  I made a card that I just was not happy with.......so put it away for a while and then started again from scratch.  Well, this time I just LOVE the resulting card.  Sometimes obstacles can become important in the creative process.....though at the time you are going through it, you just want to throw a fit......but of course then YOU would have to pick it up after.....so, no fit here....lol!!!

I used images, sentiment, and doilies from My Favorite Things to create this card.

Now I hope you will take the time to visit the Crazies Blog to see what the rest of the Crazy4Challenges DT created from this sketch.  We are all sure to be dazzled!!!

CCEE1228 -- Technique Thursday

Lois is our hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge.  She asked us to use the technqiue of reverse masking on our creations this week.

I used an ocean border frame I just had to have years ago, but then forgot about.......thanks to Lois asking us to use this technique, I broke into my 'frames' drawer and was so excited to discover this 'ocean water' frame.  This image always brings a smile to my face as I have been a water person my whole life.  Whether it was the ocean, the lake, the pong, or the pool, I was either swimming in it OR floating on top of it.  To this day, my favorite activity AND exercise is swimming.  I am lucky enought to do it year round due to a nearby town's indoor pool.  I swim at least 5.5 hours a week!!!  Having said that, this image makes me smile for another reason.........it is because it represents swimmers like me who aren't so svelte!

ANYHOOOOOO.....be sure to check out the fabulous reverse masked creations of the rest of the team at the CCEE Stampers Blog.

Crazy4Challenges -- TAG! You're IT!!!

Silke is our hostess this month, and she challenged the Crazy4Challenges DT to make tags this week.  At this time of the year, I think of beaches and warm, sunny days, and that is where my idea for this tag came from.  I used this whimsical image of toes in the sand, and added dimension to the sand with my Mudd Puddles.  I will probably use this tag on a friend's 'prize' when traveling to the ocean.

Now.....you have been tagged!!!!  So....go to the Crazies Blog to be inspired to go 'tagging' yourself.

Totally Stampalicious Monday

It's Monday, so therefore it is time for another Totally Stampalicious Monday.  Our chellenge this week was to think 'summer'.  This new 'Gus' set sure says summer.....on the beach you meet all kinds of people in all sorts of shapes and sizes who share a love for the beach!!!  Bless them all!!!

On this card I used MUD PUDDLES to create my beach.  It is a fab dimensional product.  I love this Malibu Sand version, but there are many different colors.

Now.....hop on over to the Totally Stampalicious Blog  to see the fabulous summertime creations of the DT and to get the details on how ou can play along.

Totally Stampalicious Release and Blog Hop

If you happen to be looking for today's CCEE Stampers post, please click HERE!

NOW.........on to the Blog Hop.........

Card using the set called Mildred Bingo.

Welcome to the 2nd Stop of the Totally Stampalicious MAY NEW RELEASE and BLOG HOP! We have FOUR BRAND NEW STAMP SETS from our fabulous Bugaboo line by artist Jodie Mackrell!!

The are AVAILABLE NOW at Totally Stampalicious!

Card made using set called Ballerina Brat.

 As always we'll be giving away PRIZES as well to THREE lucky Hoppers!!!

 1st Prize - All 4 New Sets 
2nd Prize - $15 Gift Certficate 
3rd Prize - $5 Gift Certificate

Card made using set called Gus Mantastic.

 All you have to do is hop along with us and leave your comments along the way and maybe YOU could be a WINNER!!!!

Card made using set called A+ Bears.

 Now it's time to hop on over to the fabulously creative Stacy's  Blog to see what AWESOME-NESS she has for us!!

Here is the entire line-up in case there are any glitches along the way!!

Totally Stampalicious

Joanne

Stacy

Angel

Kendra

Dawn

Lori

Jessie

Laurie

Becky

Joycelyn

Vicki

Sue

CCEE1212 -- Going Sentimental

Welcome to the CCEE Stampers' Challenge.  As hostess for the month of March, this week I asked the team to focus on the sentiment.  My mind is often 'at the beach' so that is where I went to choose a sentiment.  I added a small, dried starfish from a Fall trip to Maine as an embellishment.

I am really looking forward to vieving the sentimental creations of the rest of this fabulously talented team.  I know they will inspire me to spread my wings and use sentiments in a variety of ways.

Be sure to journey to the CCEE Stamper's Blog for inspiration.  AND....remember.....even if I may forget to tell you each week......that we would LOVE for you to play along with us.  Details on what to do are at the team blog.

The Crazies Take a Scenic Route

The challenge for the Crazy4Challenges this week was to make a scene....using a group of stamps and dimensionality.  Rolling hills and trees were mentioned, but I went with a seaside fun day.....flying a kite.  All stamps are by My Favorite Things, except for the grass/beach (if you want to know who does that just ask in your comment and I'll get back to you...I forgot to write it down.).  The fence punch is by MS, and the kite and cloud dies are from My Favorite Things.  I also used my Spellbinders and Copics.

I am sure a delightful gallery of surprises are awaiting your viewing at the Crazies Blog, along with some new team members, so be sure to check it out.

CCEE1204 Australia Day

Frances is our hostess for the month of January.  Her challenge to the CCEE Stampers this week is....

It’s a special day for all Aussies today as it is Australia Day! It is on this day in 1788 that the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove. So our challenge is Aussie related … I will give you a few options … use the colors green & gold on your card; create a beach scene (we love our beaches); use Australian Animals; Tongs (you wear on your feet btw) etc.

Well, as probably could be predicted, I went with the beach theme.  I had not inked up this set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, so this was a perfect excuse to do so.

Be sure to see how the rest of the team is helping Frances in celebrating her country's national holiday by visiting the CCEE Stampers Blog.

Our Electrical Power Has Returned.....Yippee!!!

We are rather spoiled in my little town.  We have a municipal power company and we really never lose power for any length of time.  That changed with Hurricane Irene.....Power was just restored at 10:45 tonight after being out since early yesterday afternoon.......and what a delight it is to return to normal routines, especially when rumor had it that we would be out of power for over a week as we had a catastrophic failure of all transformers (whatever that means....sounds terrible to me!!!)

Anyhooooo.....I have a few to share with you today.....now that I also can use my computer and have internet access.......

This is the card I did for Tuesday's Tea Party Challenge on SCS.  Its destination is to a fellow Tea Partier who is recovering from surgery.  I used a set from Mark's Finest Papers to create the card.

This next project is for the Totally Stampalicious Monday Challenge.  Thsi week we were to make bookmarks.  Be sure to check out the Totally Stampalicious Blog to see the other fabulous bookmarks.

This last one was created for the lifeguard at the nearby town hall pool.  I swim there three mornings a week yearround.  She has a young family and is leaving us to stay at home with her children.  Many of the swimmers during this session are retirees, so I just had to use my swimsuit ladies.

I apologize that I forgot to take the picture of the inside before writing in it, but I wanted to show you the other beauty.  They just make me smile!!!  Jen will be missed, as she had been the guard since I started going after retiring 5 years ago.  However, I am excited for her to be able to spend this time with her family.

Well......I am going to really enjoy my day tomorrow.  Will be able to get gas in the car, get a newspaper, drink hot or cold coffee, use lots of light when I read, AND I will be able to see in the stamp cave to stamp.  What a wonderful world!!!!!

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

The Crazies are Shakin' Things Up!!!

Cindy, our July hostess for the Crazy4Challenges Team, once again has us doing a different style of card.  This time our challenge is to make a shaker card.  My mind immediately went to the beach and sand, so sand is what my card is shaking up.  For my shell image and sentiment, I used a set by Mark's Finest Papers.  I added some border punch work and some Prima flowers along with some MS punched branches.

I am also entering this into the Speedy's Friends Challenge which was to have three hearts on your card.  Well, with my border I have many more than three hearts.

To see the other shaker cards created by the Crazies, be sure to visit the team blog.  We would LOVE for you to play along with us.

One for Jake and One for Fun

Jake is a 13 year old boy who has had multiple surgeries in his life........more than the number of his years.....and he is facing his 17th surgery this summer.  Jake is a fun loving guy and LOVES riddles, so that is the basis of my card.

To the left you can see the inside of the card and the answer to the riddle.

If you have time, it would be great if you could encourage Jake.  You could just tuck a riddle into the card.  You don't have to base the card on the riddle like I did!

If you want to play along just check out the Teapot Tuesday Challenge on SCS.

This second card is done for Bugaboo's Christmas in July Challenge for today.  They provided the image for us to use.  And.....you just have to make a card and link it to them.  Since they posted the challenges this past weekend, I was able to get this done a bit early.  If you click here, you should arrive at the list of challenges for the week.

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!!!