A CCEE Challenge and an Announcement!!

I have 3 projects to share with you today because I have an announcement that I'm thrilled to be able to make!! As you can see by the watermark on this card, I'm now officially a Verve Diva!! I've LONG admired Julee's images, as well as her skills as a stamper, so when she asked if I'd like to join the team, of course I said yes. I didn't even have to think about it!! Thanks Julee for this honor.

I simply adore Julee's new set Up, Up and Away. I LOVE hot air balloons; Love watching them and love riding in them. I took my first hot air balloon ride 7 years ago, and will get to go on my second one this summer. I can not wait! There is nothing like the peace up in the sky. No sounds except for the gases being released into the balloon. And when the pilot stops releasing them for a bit, pure quiet. No birds, no cars, nothing!! Tranquility!!

Okay, now on to the card, I only stamped the balloon shape from the set Up, Up and Away. I replaced the interior design with one of the extra designs that is in the set. I then colored it with copics and added a few multicolored mini rhinestones (Zva Creations).


I got this jar at Wal-Mart for $1.50. I loved the square panels and the ridges along the sides. It made for easy decorating. I just used my new Inverted Scalloped Circle Nestabilities. For the kraft layer, I first cut out the smaller shape. I then laid a larger one over the top and put my tan mat underneath so it didn't cut through, but embossed instead. For the top layer, I used the larger shape so that I had a nice matting around the star burst look.

If you click on the photo, you can see a closer look of the sentiment tag on the top. I rock 'n rolled the sentiment You're Red Hot ( Sweet on You) with Classic Red (Stampin' UP!) and Tuxedo Black (Memento). I love the look. The button is from PTI, and the swirls are a Stampin' UP! diecut. All the edges were ink distressed with Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink), and the Paper is My Mind's Eye from their Just Dreamy Collection.

Last, but certainly not least, I made this card for the weekly CCEE challenge. Since it's a new month, we have a new hostess with the mostest, and that would be Charlene!! For this first week, she provided us with a sketch.

I first stamped the Mentor, protector, etc. image, from the Protector set, with Faded Jeans (Ranger Distress) ....stamped off twice....onto Gray (Prismatics) for the bg in the oval. I then stamped *DAD* over it with Versamark and embossed it with Detailed Black ep. The edges are all ink distressed with Slate (Adirondack Dye Ink), and the texture was created with a Sizzix embossing folder. I finished it off with some sewing and a few brads, along with two punched stars made with the SU Star Punch.

If you'd like to see what the other gals have come up with , or would like to participate yourself, head on over to the CCEE Stamper's Blog by clicking HERE. We'd love to have you join us in this sketch challenge.

If you've stayed with me this long, I'm impressed! Thanks for stopping by!!!
I hope you have a fabulous week!!
Happy Stamping!!
Tosh

Supplies:
Stamps - Up, Up and Away, Sweet on You and Protector (Verve)
Paper - Prismatics, Little Yellow Bicycle dp (Balloon), MME dp (Candy Jar)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Slate (Adirondack Dye Ink), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink), Copics
Accessories - Nestabilites (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Ribbon (May Arts), Button (PTI), Mini Multicolored Rhinestones (Zva Creations), Star Punch (SU), Brads, Sewing Machine, Dimensional Tape, Flourish Diecut (SU)