Springtime Magic

More garden progress. The photos are a week apart. Isn't it amazing how fast things grow? We've just had a full day of rain. When the sun comes out things are going to go nuts blooming.

Basic Grey, Of Course!

When it came to chosing supplies for the last challenge, you know I had to chose Basic Grey. I sent everyone three different designer papers, of which they had to use at least two, and a crystal brad. The rest was up to the individual. This is always my favorite challenge, because I am continually amazed at the vastly different designs, using the same supplies. If you're interested in seeing any of the challenges I've mentioned, just click on the 'CCEE gallery' on the left side of my blog.

Recipe: stamps- source unknown; paper- pink, ivory, Basic Grey dp (Bittersweet Collection); ink- black archival; accessories- brad, ribbon (Offray).

Specialty Papers

You know those gorgeous and unusual designer papers you come across that you just have to buy because they are so beautiful, and then you put them in a folder to use on some special project, but you never do because they're too pretty to use? Or is it just me who does that? Well, that was the challenge I issued to my fellow CCEE'ers for the third Monday. Make a project using some kind of specialty paper...flocked, metalic, embossed, vellum..to name a few possibilities. I chose a lavender tinted printed vellum. I stamped the pansy using white pigment ink and embossing powder. Photographing this card was difficult and the embossing ended up looking cream, but it truly is white on white.

Recipe: stamps- pansy (PSX), butterfly (Inkadinkado); iink- white pigment (Colorbox); paper- white, lavender Bazzil, printed translucent lavender crescent (The Paper Company); accessories- Cuttlebug embossing folder, white ep.

Imamuttnut

The second Monday challenge in May was the featured stamper name. I chose 'imamuttnut' because it was so cute. Plus, how could it not be fun to do a card with a dog on it?

Recipe: stamps- Friends Furever (MFT); paper- brown Bazzil; Basic Grey dp, white; ink- black archival; accessories- Prismacolor pencils, Turpenoid, pop dots; techniques- paper piecing.

Mom's Day

It was my turn to do the CCEE challenges for the month of May. And since the first Monday was the one preceding Mother's Day it was a natural choice for that to be our first challenge. I chose Basic Grey designer paper (so what else is new?). I thought it would be cool to pop the letter's of "MOM", but didn't have any chipboard alphabets. So, I stamped the letters from the Headline Alphabet with pigment ink onto a thin chipboard restaurant coaster, and cut them out. It needed something else, so I cut a circle from the dp and pop dotted it. Although the photo doesn't really capture it, I painted the green flower and the center of the cutout circle with diamond Stickles for a little bling. (You should have heard my girls when they first heard me use the word 'bling'....you'd think I was old or something.) :)

Recipe: paper- black, Basic Grey (Eva series); ink- claret (Ranger Antiquities); stamps- Headline Alphabet (SU); accessories- diamond Stickles, pop dots, chipboard restaurant coaster, eyelet border punch (SU), black grosgrain ribbon (Offray).

Everything Old is New Again!

That's the name of the last CCEE challenge in April. Cindy's challenge to us was to use something we haven't used for a while or have had for a while and never used. I chose eyelets. I have oodles and haven't used them for ages. The sentiment on this card is one I've had for a while and love. It needed, of course, a train stamp which I didn't have. When Stampin'Up came out with this train I knew this was the one. And I love how these silhouette stamps look on the distressed Basic Grey designer papers.

Recipe: paper- navy linen, white, Basic Grey (granola series); ink- black archival; stamps- Happiness Is a Journey (SU), sentiment (Inkadinkado); accessories- eyelets.

For the Birds

I've been feeding birds for years, but this year I'm having a ball bird watching. For Christmas my son N got me something I really wanted...a good pair of binoculars. A gift card for borders was used to purchase a bird book. I'm a big-time list maker, so of course I'm keeping track of all the species I've seen (31 so far). The photo isn't that great, but I don't have a telephoto lens. This red bellied woodpecker is a daily visitor.

Cindy's Sketch Challenge

One of the April challenges for my CCEE group was a sketch provided by Cindy H. Having a layout to follow sure makes designing a card much simpler.

Recipe: Stamps- Le Jardin Botanique (SU); Paper- pink, white, pink marbled; Ink- black archival; Accessories- Cuttlebug, Creative Memories oval cutting system, sheer pink ribbon (Offray), charm.