Do You Hear What I Hear?

Is it Thursday already? Yikes!! Sorry for the long absence. I've been busy with Christmas decorations, etc. Christmas will be upon us in no time!! What fun!!

Well, being that it's Thursday, I have a CCEE Stamper's card to share with you. Charlene has challenged us to make a card inspired by the song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Of course I thought of a lamb, music, star and manger scene. Well, I don't have a lamb image, so it's just the manger scene for me. I thought about adding some music too, but in the end, I just stuck with Manger Peace by Stampendous. I think this scene is just precious. I stamped it with Tuxedo Black (Memento), and colored it with Copics. I added some sparkle to the wings also with my trusty Quickie Glue Pen and some Glitter.

I did use a new toy on this card too!! Spellbinders has paired up with JustRite to make some diecut sets that go with their images!! Now that made my heart go pitter-patter I tell ya!! I framed my sentiment with the label frame from the Nested Frame set. The sentiment is from JustRite's Christmas Nested Frames and Occasions set.

The dp is all from BoBunny, and the punches are EK Success and Fiskars. I also added some Seam Binding Ribbon, a PTI button, some Burlap String, and a couple of Kaisercraft Pearls on the tag.

That's it everyone. Be sure to check out what inspired the rest of the gals over at the CCEE Stampers Blog.

I hope you all are enjoying the Christmas Season.
Happy Stamping!
Tosh

Manger Kisses

Isn't this manger scene just precious? I love these sweet little angels from the Manger Peace set by Stampendous that I got from Stamper's Dream. They're stamped with Tuxedo Black (Memento) onto Neenah Natural cs, and are colored with Copics with a bit of glitter added to the wings. I framed them with Circle, and Lacey Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), and used Mojo Monday Sketch #162 as my inspiration. The dp is Tradition by Fancy Pants, and the borders were made with EK Success Punches. I also added some Kaisercraft Rhinestones and a bit of sewing around the edges.

That's it for today.
Stop by tomorrow for some more Verve Sneak Peeks.
Happy stamping my friends!
Tosh

A Polar Christmas

Okay, I LOVE polar bears. I don't know why. Maybe it all started with the Coca~Cola commercials. But I think they are just adorable!! So I was thrilled to see this darling bear by Stampendous in the Stamper's Dream on-line Store. This Polar Christmas Set comes in cling with this very charming sentiment. I colored her with copics and added a bit of glitter and dimension to the dots on the package with a new fun product called Opac Gloss Gel. I just sprinkled a bit of glitter over it while it was wet.

Now, see that lined paper in the back? That was made with the Notebook Cover~A~Card bg image from Impression Obsession. I love that I can have any color notebook paper at my fingertips. For this piece, I just stamped it on Ivory cs and used my Ranger Distress inks to dirty it up with a variety of colors. I then punched the border with my EK Success Paper punch border. I love the look and it's so easy to make.

That's about it for the card. The rest is pretty self explanatory. I do have a heads up for ya though!!


Check this out!! Stamper's Dream is offering an additional 10% off all merchandise listed in the Sales and Specials Category. All you need to do is enter the coupon code 10OffToday at checkout. The order minimum is only $25 to activate the coupon code. And there is some pretty awesome stuff on sale. Go see for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a super week this week!
Happy Stamping!
Tosh

Stamps: Polar Christmas Set (Stampendous)
Paper: PTI, Webster's Pages
Ink: Black Onyx Versafine, Ranger Distress
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, Distrezz-it-all (Zutter), Twine, Gloss Gel (Viva Decor), Button (Buttons Galore), Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Quickie Glue Pen, Glitter (Glitter Ritz)

A CCEE Sketch Challenge

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for another CCEE challenge. We'd love to have you join us too, so head on over to the CCEE Stamper's blog for all the details.

For today's sketch, I used Stampendous' Ornament Greetings that I got from Stamper's Dream. I LOVE this fabulous set of ornaments. They're so elegant and versatile. I also stamped a bg image, from Tim Holtz's Urban Tapestry set, over the Ornament Panel bg to give it some texture.

Just a heads up....It's Verve's Anniversary this month, and Starting Sat., I have a bunch of sneak peeks to share with you. Also, Stamper's Dream is having another JustRite week to introduce you to their newest releases. So, drop by often this next week, because I'll have a slew of cards and projects to share with you.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a super weekend!!

Stamps: Ornament Greetings (Stampendous), Urban Tapestry (Tim Holtz)
Paper: Kraft (PTI), Spiceberry (MemoryBox)
Ink: Tuxedo (Memento), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress), Versamark
Accessories: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), Copics, Glitter, Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Sewing Machine, Detail Black ep, Piercing Tool

CCEE Monkey Business

Hello!! It's time once again for a CCEE challenge that I do with a group of 7 stamping friends. This month Frances (StampOwl) is providing the challenges for us. Now, normally, I would say Frances (who I affectionately call *Hoots*) is the one who always has my back. She's always on the ball, very organized, and sticks up for me when the other group members get ornery. And believe me...most in this group are just plain stinkers!! Well, this time, she joined forces with the enemy!! (That would be the ornery ones in the group) Now, we've been doing these challenges every Monday for over 2 years. And we pretty much know each others strength, weaknesses, and dislikes. So, knowing all too well that I don't like working with monkeys, Frances still went ahead and chose the CNFS (Catchy Name Featured Stamper) copsmonkey. Grrrrr....so, this card is so out of my comfort zone on many different levels. 1. It had to have a monkey on it. 2. Have any of you seen an elegant monkey? Vintage even? Nope...neither have I, and whimsical is waaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone.

Before you start thinking I have anything against Jeanna (copsmonkey), I should clarify that she's married to a cop and he calls her his *monkey*. Thus the name. So, in my opinion, they're tops!!! They both serve people. How could I not step out of my comfort zone to feature Jeanna. I mean, I so respect the sacrifice they both make to help make our towns a better place.

So, I have to appologize for the fact that this isn't my best work. I really did try. Blame Frances!!! LOL

Cheers to you Jeanna and hubby!!! Thanks for all you do!!

Okay, now that's enough whining for one day, doncha think? For this card I used Stampendous's Changito Cheer image. He's actually coated with some Coffee Brown, and Brown Sugar Sparkly Fluff. I used a Quickie Glue Pen to adhere the fluff so the coloring will show through. I also added some sparkle to the pompom with the Quickie Glue Pen and some Ultrafine Transparent Glitter. I created my own sentiment by using the Harmony Rectangular Stamper set with the 50 pt Upper and Lowercase Trompe Script, and 15pt Times Roman (JustRite)

For the cardstock bases and matting, I used Rose Dark, and Intense and Iced Kiwi. The decorative paper is Colorful Christmas (My Mind's Eye).

Finally, I added a few embellishments: Sizzix diecut tags, Making Memories Ribbon and Button, Heidi Swapp brads, Zva Creative Multicolored Mini Rhinestones, a Martha Stewart lacy eyelet border puch, and some ink distressing with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress). I also added some piercing to frame it up a little more, with my Making Memories Piercing Tool.

eta: In my haste to get this card uploaded to my blog, I forgot to include some pertinent info. The sketch is from Week 3's Viva La Verve Sketch. The twist was to make this for a special person. Isn't a CNFS cop's wife special? Oh YEAH!!

Whew...that's finally it. If you want to see what monkey business the other gals are up to, head on over to the CCEE Stampers blog. We'd love to have you play along with us also. Just follow the Frances' directions on the blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by!!
Happy Stamping!!

Fish Lips

It's time, once again, for CCEE's CNFS (catchy name featured stamper). Cindy (Mothermark), chose FishLips this month. So we were to include a card with a fish on it. I chose this cute fish from the Loads of Sushi (Stampendous) set.

See the fish lips? *grin* I made them kissing the acetate window and even added crystal lacquere to make them *glossy*. The fish was colored with copics, and has a touch of glitter to glam her up a bit. The washing machine is also colored with copics, and has an acetate window. Obivious, I know since you can see the smudge. Oh, how I can't wait to learn how to use my photoshop program for those editing purposes. LOL

I embossed the Frosted Cobalt (Prismatics) layer with the Cuttlebug bubbles folder, sewed randomly around the edges, and ink distressed it all with Mushroom (Adirondack Dye) Ink.

The sentiment was stamped with Tuxedo Black (Memento) onto Birchtone Light and was cut out with the Ribbon Tags Trio oval (Spellbinders). I sponged the inside of the shape with Mushroom (Adirondak) ink before removing the die. I also scored on either side of the ribbon with my Scor-Pal.

To see what the other girls have come up with, check out our CCEE blog. We'd love to have you play along too. All you have to do is make a card with a fish on it and leave a link in the comment section of the CCEE blog post.


Supplies:
Stamps - Loads of Sushi (Stampendous)
Paper - Birchtone Light and Dark, Frosted Cobalt, White (Prismatics), Neenah Solar White
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Mushroom (Adirondack)
Accessories - Brad, Copics, Spellbinders, Buttons (Stampin' UP!), Ribbon (American Craft), Corner rounder, Sewing Machine, Cuttlebug, Sponge, Dimensionals

2 Cards 2 Challenges

Good Wednesday Morning!! I made a card for SCS's Sketch Challenge and Color Challenge today.

The first one is for SCS's Sketch found HERE.
I stamped this charming Merry Chrismoose (Isn't he the cutest?) with Tuxedo Black (Memento) onto Neenah Natural White and colored him with my copics.

The Tinsel Town Trees (Pink Paislee) were rock and rolled with Always Artichoke (SU) and Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink)

I added a touch of sparkle, just for fun, with my Quickie Glue Pen and Lily White Sugar Coating (Doodlebug)....it's on sale too....Woo-Hoo!! Check out all of Michelle's Doodlebug products for a great sale.

I used my Spellbinders Tag Trio for the sentiment!

The rest here is pretty self explanatory.


Supplies:
Stamps - Merry Chrismoose (Stampendous), Tinsel Town (Pink Paislee)
Paper - K&Company, Suede Brown Medium (Prismatics), Neenah Natural White
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories - Copics, Nestabilities, Corner Tag Punch (SU), Glitter, Dimensional Tape, Quickie Glue pen, Cuttlebug, Ribbon and Fibers



I made this second card for SCS's Color Challenge. We had to use the colors Sahara Sand, Black, and Very Vanilla. I didn't use SCS cs, so I got as close to the colors as I could.

I stamped this gorgeous Northwoods image with Tuxedo Black (Memento) on to Neenah Natural White cs, colored it with my Warm Gray Copics, added Frosted Lace Stickles to the leaves, and cut out the image. I then ink distressed all the edges with Sahara Sand (SU).

The base behind the flowers is the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities diecut, the back panel is dry embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, and the middle horizontal strip was cut with a Martha Stewart Border punch.

For a final touch, I punched the corners with my SU Corner Tag punch and added Pewter Pearls (Kaisercraft)

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you're having a fabulous week. I won't be posting for a few days again because I'll be watching my oldest compete in college swimming. I'm looking forward to that!!

Happy Stamping!!!
Tosh


Supplies:
Stamps - Poinsettia (Northwoods)
Paper - Neenah Natural White, Bazzill, Black
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Sahara Sand
Accessories - Frosted Lace Stickles, Pewter Pearls (Kaisercraft), Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Punch, Corner Tag Punch (SU), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Dimensional Tape

Sweet Ali!!

Hello there all my stamping friends!! I'm so sorry for my long absence. Believe it or not, I lost my internet connection last Thursday and haven't been able to get on since. Just a bit ago a wonderful computer guru just got me up and running!! Woo-Hoo!! I sure don't want to go through that again!! However, I did get a ton of organizing accomplished in my stamp room!! That's about the only bright side! *grin*.

Well, with all that said, I'm slow at getting my CCEE card up again this week. Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) is in charge of the challenges this week, and they're awesome!! For our first week we were to follow SCS's Sketch #75. If you click HERE, you will be connected to our CCEE blog and the sketch is there for you to see. We'd love to have you play along too.

I made this card for a darling little angel named Ali, Laurie's (Lauraly) daughter. She has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and is in Seattle right now having some tests done to determine the best possible action to take. If you'd like to know about her progress, there is a thread HERE on SCS where friends have been keeping everyone informed, and now that I have access to the internet, I will be updating the thread as I learn new info. If you'd like to send a card to her while she's in the hospital (it could be two weeks or more), email me and I'll get the address to you. Her favorite colors are bright pink and Gable Green. She loves puppies and horses too.

Supplies: Stamps - Summer Ice Cream (Sugar Nellie), Sentiment (Hey There Cupcake - Stampendous) Paper - Kaisercraft, Bazzill, Neenah Natural White Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento) Accessories - Copics, Nestabilities, Rhinestone Flower (KaiserScrapbook), Rotary scallop, Certainly Celery Ribbon (SU), Dimensional tape, Glitter

Pink Manger Kisses

I made this card for two challenges on SCS today. Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness month, SCS is hosting a challenge to make cards with any amount of pink on them to send them to Chemo Angels. If you'd like to know more about this generous program, click HERE. For the challenge itself and how you can help, click HERE.

This card also fits under the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS found HERE. We were to make a card with a sentiment of only "one word".

I stamped the Manger Kisses (Stampendous) with Tuxedo Black (Memento) ink twice onto Neenah Natural White and colored it with my copics. I cut out both angels and popped them up with Dimensional tape and added Frosted Lace stickles to the wings and flower. The flower has a Blush Pearl (Kaisercraft) in the center.

The Believe sentiment is by Inque Boutique's "A Word or Two" set, and is colored in with a pink copic. That should about do it for the details...

I hope you are having a fantastic week!!
Happy Stamping!!

Supplies: Stamps - Manger Kisses (Stampendous), Believe (A Word or Two - Inque Boutique) Paper - Je' Taime (My Mind's Eye), a textured dp (?), Blush Red Medium, Vanilla Cream, and Suede Brown Medium (Prismatics), Neenah Natural White Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Tea Stain (Ranger Distress Ink) Accessories - Stickles, prima flower, Pearl (Kaisercraft), Sewing Machine, Copics, Nestabilities, Scalloped Rotary cutter

Merry Chrismoose!!

I always look forward to participating in Rox's Sketch Challenges on Wed. And today was no exception!! I had a ball with this layout!

The Merry Chrismoose (Stampendous) image is stamped with Tuxedo Black (Memento), colored with copics, cut out, and mounted onto Light Birchtone (Prismatics). I also sewed around all the panels. The rest is pretty self explanatory.

Check this out!
Michelle is also having a sale on all her Halloween stamps!! Be sure to take advantage of the sale while her supplies last!!!


Supplies:
Stamps - Merry Chrismoose (Stampendous)
Paper - Laundry Line (My Mind's Eye),
Light, Medium and Dark Birchtone (Prismatics)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut (Ranger Distress ink)
Accessories - Copics, Nestabilities, Sewing machine, Ribbon (Making Memories), Brads, Small Oval Punch (SU), Button, Twine, Dimensional Tape

CNFS - Stamps'nCoffee

It's time once again for our weekly CCEE challenge. This week was our CNFS (Catchy Name Featured Stamper) that we choose from Splitcoaststampers.

Stamps'nCoffee was chosen for this week. We were to have a coffee theme, and to receive a bonus we had to include a *stamp* somewhere on the card. Well, I'm all about bonuses even if they mean diddly!! So my stamp is in the bottom left corner of this tag card.

If you'd like to see what the other girls did with this theme, check out our CCEE Stampers blog. You can play along too. We'd love to see what your ideas are!!

Those of you who know me know I'm not a huge fan of monkeys. But this little guy is actually growing on me. I'm starting to really grow fond of him. Isn't he sweet with this warm cozy cup of coffee?

I colored this Changito with Cocoa *coffee...shhhhh* (Stampedous)with copics and used my Nestabilities to cut the framing out. Each panel is mounted with dimensional tape. I also sewed around the edges to keep the country cozy theme going.

Supplies:
Stamps - Changito Cocoa (Stampendous)
Paper - Intense Teal and Suede Brown Dark (Prismatics), Jade's Garden (Kaisercraft)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Brushed Corduroy (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories - Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, scallop rotary cutter (Fiskars), sewing machine, Circle punch 1", American Craft Ribbon, Tag Corner Punch (Stampin' Up), brads, dimensional tape, make-up sponge

My first Changito....

I don't always get to play in the SCS challenges, but I liked today's Sketch and picked out my papers and image last night. I finally got the opportunity to finish it this afternoon.

It's an easy one...no frou-frou, and minimal embellishing. I don't have much time today, but I wanted to use some of the images that Joy and Daisy (Eclectic Paperie) were kind enough to send me.

This little guy is Changito Shovel, and looks so darling as he works so hard. I colored him with copics, added frosted lace stickles to the snow, flakes, and hat, tied some ribbon, glued the flake to the center and added some stickles to that also. I *tagged* the corners with my Stampin' Up corner tag punch, and that is IT!! Woila...simple, but cute!

Supplies:
Stamps - Changito (Stampendous)
Paper - Isn't It Romantic (Inque Boutique), Crabapple Dark and Medium and Sage Medium (Prismatics)
Accessories - ribbon, copics, stickles, snowflake brad, corner tag punch (Stampin' Up)

Manger Kisses

SCS's color challenge today was a farewell to the last *in colors* We could use any neutral with one of them. I chose soft sky.

I thought it would be perfect for this darling image called Manger Kisses by Stampendous. This was a definite *have to have* stamp.

I wanted to keep the bg soft, so I used one of my absolute favorite stamping lines...Tres Jolie by My Mind's Eye. Yummy!! I also edged the bottom of the ivory panel with one of the new cuttlebug border panels. LOVE 'em!! The pearls are by Kaisercraft, and Michelle will have those in store really soon. Talk about GORGEOUS!! She should also have the new cuttlebug folders soon too. Be sure to check there often. New stuff is arriving all the time!!

I stamped the image with Tuxedo Black (Memento), colored it with my copics, and coated the wings with Lace Stickles.

This is a pretty straightforward, easy-peasy card, but I'm happy with the soft look and the simplicity of it.

I hope you have a blessed week. Thank you so much for dropping in. Hopefully I've been able to inspire you to ink up those stamps. What awesome therapy!!

Supplies:
Stamps - Manger Kisses (Stampendous)
Paper - Tres Jolie Mon Cheri (My Mind's Eye), Island Mist Light and Vanilla Cream (Prismatics)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories - Nestabilites, Cuttlebug, Pearls, stickles, offray ribbon, Tag corner (SU)

Patriotic Challenge

It's the 20th today, and that means it's time to make a card for the Dirty Dozen Alumni Challenge. Here are the rules we had to follow.

Challenge Focus: "Inside & Out"......stamp and decorate both the inside of your card AND the outside of the envelope. (any card size is ok) Please upload two photos.
Required Element: Patriotic element - interpret this any way you like (ex. color scheme, sentiment, image, whatever)
Restricted Element: No ribbon
Optional - Send your card to the troops so that they can in turn mail it home to family or friends (all themes and occasions welcome). If you choose to do so, Beate has agreed to accept them and send them to her husband. Please include the envelope with the card and mail them to Beate. Thanks!

Now, to the construction of the card:
I realize others have made star shapes before me, and I also know that my good friend Carolyn King (Cammie on SCS) has made many cards with the centers being the actual card, but I couldn't find one to link too. So those of you who have ventured into the card shape world before me...thank you so much for the inspiration. It really helped me this week.

For the star shape, I just photocopied my Cuttlebug star diecut and magnified it a gazillion times. *grin* I then cut it out and traced it onto Kraft CS and framed it with chocolate chip. The center circle opens to the left. To make that I just folded chocolate chip cs in half and put a nestabilities circle slightly off the fold and ran it through my cuttlebug. I then put Basicgrey magnetic snaps on the inside under the cs pieces so it stays closed. I love those little magnets. They're quite flat and VERY strong. The image: Biker Bee (Stampendous), is colored with copics and is stamped over with SU's Sanded bg stamp in Creamy Caramel to further distress it. The background stamp is the Broad Stripe Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms. The punched star is also cuttlebug star diecuts. I sewed (very sloppily) around the edges, and wrapped some twine around a couple of the star points. (I was told twine was okay to use instead of ribbon...no buzzers here...*grin*)



Now for this challenge, we also had to decorate an envelope and the inside of the card. This is something I rarely do because it takes me hours, sometimes a whole day, to construct a card. So the thought of doing the inside and an envelope too makes me cringe. But, alas, to follow the rules, I did. The stamps I used were: Starstruck and Sanded (Stampin' Up)

Supplies:
Stamps - Biker Bee (Stampendous), Starstruck, Sanded (Stampin' Up), Broad Stripe Backgrounder (CHF)
Paper - Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp (Stampin' Up), White (Papertrey)
Ink - Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Walnut (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories - Cuttlebug Star diecuts (Provocraft), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), twine, sewing machine, sponge, copics, scotch mounting tape, basicgrey magnetic snaps

Cupcake Challenge

A couple of us decided to challenge each other to use Hey There Cupcake by Stampendous and Cupcake paper by Basicgrey.

Check out Laurie's and Cam's awesome creations.

This is what I came up with. The cupcake is stamped with Adirondack Latte, and is colored with copics. I added a bit of bling with my Quickie Glue Pen and Ultrafine crystal glitter. The dots were added with my "oh so awesome" Inkssentials Opaque Pen.
The cherry is coated with crystal lacquer.

All the circles are Nestabilities and are ink distressed with Ranger Vintage photo Distress Ink.

The stamp images and paper can be found at Michelle's fabulous store: Stampers Dream!! She has everything your little heart could desire...May Arts ribbon, stickles, Basicgrey, Northwoods, Hero Arts, Inkadinkado, Penny Black, Inque Boutique and much, much more!!! Check it out!!!

Supplies:
Stamps - Hey there Cupcake (Stampendous)
Paper - Cupcake (Basicgrey), Bazzill, Papertrey White
Ink - Latte, Cranberry (Adirondack), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
Other - Copics, Quickie Glue Pen, Nestabilities, crystal lacquer, ultrafine crystal glitter, offray ribbon, dew drops, scotch mounting tape, sponge