Those Monday CCEE Challenges

Challenge: Use the spotlight technique.
The background on the black cardstock is almost impossible to see in the photo. To create texture and depth, I stamped Fine Lace in versamark and embossed it in black. The black button is dotted with 3D paint.

Recipe: Stamps- Upsy Daisy, Delight In Life, Fine Lace (all SU); Paper- black, white, pink passion (SU); Ink- black archival, versamark; Accessories- pink passion and always artichoke SU markers, circle punches, Prima flower, black button, white Scribbles 3D paint, black ep.

Challenge: Use pink, white and kraft as the color scheme.

Recipe: Stamps- Warmest Regards (SU); Paper- kraft, vanilla, DCWV (Old Work Stack), My Mind's Eye (Bohemia); Ink- basic brown (SU); Accessories- blush pearls (Kaisercraft), scallop edge punch, foam dimensional tape.

I'm trying to remember if I ever actually explained the CCEE I frequently mention. And I just realized that I'm not sure I remember exactly what the letters stand for, lol! One of the c's is for challenge and the e's are definitely for "eager eight". Anyway, it's a group of eight stampers who met through the SCS website, mostly by mutual admiration of each other's work. Some of the girls got the idea to put together a group to do weekly challenges. A challenge is a great way to grow in your art because it forces you out of your creative box...to use colors you might not normally put together, a technique you've never tried, change your stamping style, focus on a particular subject, etc. Over time, we've adopted a basic format. Each member is the hostess for a month and creates the weekly challenges. One is usually a supplies challenge for which she mails out the desired supplies we are to use for that particular project. That might include cardstock, or designer paper, or stamped images, or embellishments (ribbon, brads, charms...) in any combination. I think this is my favorite. It is so fun and amazing to me how different the cards are, using exactly the same materials. Another standard challenge is the 'featured name'. An unusual, fun, or creative screen name is chosen from among the posters on SCS, you create a project inspired by that name, and then mail the cards to her. The rest of the weeks are left to the (sometimes whacky) imaginations of the monthly hostess.

One of our eight (Frances, who lives in Austrailia) created a blog on which we post our resulting projects every Monday. If you're interested in seeing our work, the blog is listed along the left side of my blog. The eight of us represent Texas, California, Michigan, Canada, Ohio, Colorada, Australia, and Maryland. Isn't that awesome? I'm old enough to still be in awe of modern technology. :)