Going 'CRAZY' for the Fall Colors

Today is the day for another Crazy4Challenges post and challenge.  Jessie is our hostess for October and this is her challenge......

Hey there stampers! It's Jessie again with this week's challenge, and this week I have a fun fall themed color challenge for you!!! One of my favorite things about Fall is when the leaves start to change colors and everything turns into a beautiful, colorful mosaic. You can used these colors to create any kind of card, or altered item you like, the sky is the limit!



 I used this fabulous zentangled stamp to use the chosen colors.  The panel with the stamped image is yellow even though it appears white/ivory in this picture.  With the fabulous leaf image, I kept the design on the simple side.

Be sure to visit the Crazy's Blog to see the fab Fall colored creations by the rest of this talented team.

Going 'Technie' with the CCEE

Maryann is the CCEE Stampers Challenge hostess for November.  This week she asked us to make cards using the bargello technique.  This happens to be a technique that I really like so I was glad to play with it again.

Instead of using for my entire background,  I used it for a small panel on the bottom of the design.  Splitcoast has a wonderful tutorial on this technique if you want to check it out.  The only stamping was the leaf.  I did not put a sentiment as I am undecided if I will use it for a Thanksgving card or a masculine birthday card.  We shall see......!!!!

Be sure to visit the CCEE Stampers Blog to see how the rest of the team enjoyed this technique.

The CCEE'ers Enjoy Autumnal Colors

This will be a quick post as it is minutes to posting time.

Lynn and Liz, the CCEE Stampers Challenge hostesses for October, asked us to use the colors of the season on our creations this week.

I used a set by Sweet n' Sassy Stamps to create my background, and a sentiment stamp by Stamp Studio to finish it off.  The leaves were hear embossed with copper embossing powder.  To the sentiment panel I added a border with a MS punch.

Be sure to check out the autumnal gallery at the CCEE Blog.

The Crazies Give Thanks

Anja, our Crazy4Challenges hostess for November, asked us to make 'thanks' cards this week.  I actually dug out an old SU leaf set that I had never used and embossed the leaves on mustard cardstock.  After doing that I felt that it needed a bit more interest in the background, so I overstamped the leaves with an old retired SU background linear stamp.  Must say I love the results.  Am hoping to make a few more of these to send out for Thanksgving...although time is running out for me.  I finished it off with a mustard horizontal panel with piercing, square goldtone brads, and the sentiment.

Now be sure to go to the Crazies Blog to see the 'thankful' wishes of the rest of the team.

CCEE1246 - Thanksgiving......Autumn

Vicky is our hostess this month, and this week she challenged the CCEE Stampers to create a card/project with a Thanksgiving or Fall theme.  I used the leaf image from Hero Arts, the doily from SU, and the sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers to create this card.  My colors are olive and rust (even though the rust looks like orange in this picture).

We hope you will play along with us.  Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers Blog for outstanding inspiration as well as for details about how YOU can play along and inspire US.

The Crazies Give Thanks

Andrea challenged the Crazy4Challenges gals to create thank you cards OR Thanksgiving cards.  I did one that could go either way.  I was totally influenced by a beautiful card I saw on Pinterest a while back.  However, I must apologize for the shocking backdrop on this picture.  In real life the orange wasn't quite so blinding.  The card, in real life, is rich and WHITE.  I have a real problem with white cards......have a hard time photographing their clean crispness.  Oh well....thus goes life!!!!

The leaf used here is by Hero Arts and the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers.

I look forward to seeing the creations by the rest of the team.  If you don't want to miss out on the dazzling inspiration, be sure to stop in at the Crazies Blog.

I'm Late....I'm Late....Even though I was EARLY

My title refers to the fact that I had this challenge card made wayyyyy ahead of time....HOWEVER....I forgot to create this post....so now it is LATE!!!!  Oh well, that's the way life goes sometimes.

Tosh is our CCEE Challenge hostess for November and she challenged us to a countdown challenge.  This week we had to use 4 different types of embellishments.  I used ribbon, brads, rhinestones, and a metal leaf.  I also used this set called Country Thanksgiving from Mark's Finest Papers.

Please be sure to stop in to the CCEE Blog to see the variety of embellishments AND some fabulous cards by my very dear stamping friends.

Thursday with the Stampin B's and the CCEE Stampers

Shirley asked the CCEE Stampers to create their card/project with autumn colors.  I just LOVE autumn colors, so this was lots of fun for me.  I used the newly released set Country Thanksgiving by Marks Finest Papers.  I used some fabulous dp and the card just kind of came together on its own.

Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers Blog to see the colors of autumn in all their creative glory.

The Stampin B's were challenged this week to  use scoring on their cards this week. I went pretty CAS as I have started a new stash for my friend's daughter to use in her women's ministry. I used the scoring to 'frame' my main panel.

Be sure to stop in at the Stampin B's blog to see how the rest of the team 'scored'.

MFP New Release and Blog Hop

For my Thursday Challenge cards (Stampin B's and CCEE Stampers) please click HERE after checking out this MFP post.


Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

Country Thanksgiving Set Used

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

Cardinals in Winter Set Used

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

Crazies Go Leaf Crazy

Tammy, our Crazy4Challenges hostess for October, gave us a recipe challenge.  Here is the list of what we needed to use....

Only Leaf Images (yep)
Rust or Burnt Oragne Color (but can have other colors too) (yep)
2 fibers (yep....ribbon and copper cording)
3 embellishments (yep.....1 black flourish, 1 leaf brad, 1 die cut for sentiment)

I think I have them all covered.  PLUS....I have another Thanksgiving/Autumn card for my stash.  Thanks, Tammy.  My sentiment and leaf image are fromt he Autumn Glory set by Mark's Finest Papers.

Be sure to check out the other fabulous leaf creations by the Crazies by visiting our blog.

Challenges to Share

Shirley challenged the CCEE Stampers to create a card using their favorite color combo AND there must bee a half circle included.  Well....I didn't have to think very hard, as black and white OR black, white, and RED are my fav color combos.  I used a fab frame by Waltzingmouse Stamps and a great sentiment from Just Ritie to created my design.  I added some bling, some flourishes, and Primas.  To finish it off, I used a Cheery Lynn Designs Doily in RED for my half circle.

Please be sure to visit the CCEE Stampers Blog to see the fav color combos of the rest of this friendly and fabulous team.

Lois challenge the Stampin B's to create a one layer card.  Now THIS is a challenge for me, but I think I met the criteria.  I stamped a shadow stamp on the base paper, adding piercing on the top and sides.  I stamped my sentiment below the shadow stamping.  I then stamped and colored my leaves, cutting them out, and then popping them off the base.  Hope that was okay?????

The leaves and sentiment are images from the Autumn Glory set from Mark's Finest Papers.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the teams one-layer cards are....how about you?????  We can all find them at the Stampin B's Blog.

Going Sketchie with Roxie

Can you tell how much I am loving this leaf image from Mark's Finest Papers.  I keep grabbing for it.....love it in multiples, love it layered, love it cut out, love it in all color combos.  As a leaf lover from way back, this is one of my favs 'evah'!!!

This card was made for the sketch challenge at SCS.  Thanks to Rox for keeping us sketch inspired each week.  I just love sketches.

With all the craziness of my life lately, it is fun to pull out some fab dp, use my fav leaf image and PLAY for a bit between the 'cares of the world'.  Hopefully my 'real' life will quiet down soon and settle into a new normal and I'll have time to see all the wonderful creations I know everyone is making and sharing on their blogs.

Hugs to all.....

Thursday...Must Be Stampin B's and CCEE Time!!!!

This card was done for both of my Thursday challenges.  I used a set from Mark's Finest Papers.

Vicky Gould, our hostess this week for the Stampin B's, asked us to use two or more Spellbinders/dies.  I met that requirement as I actually used 5 different dies on this one.  (....always an overachiever....lol!!!)

Cindy is our September hostess for the CCEE Stampers Challenge, and she wanted us to use a bird on our card/project.

It would be fabulous for you to play along with the teams.  Have some fun....STAMP!!!  To get your mojo going, visit the team blogs to be inspired.

Stampin B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog


Now...let me share a card I made for Wednesday's Sketch Challenge. 

This card was made with a recently released set from Mark's Finest Papers called Autumn Glory.

MFP Blog Hop and Release

Click here to see pictures from my visit with Charlene (LilLuvsStampin).

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory. Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Autumn Glory? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Autumn Glory. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

The Crazies go AUTUMNAL in color!

Barbara challenged the Crazy4Challenges team to a color challenge this week.  Olive, orange, yellow, and brown were the colors.  I used a Mark's Finest Papers set that will be released soon for my leaves.  The set is called Autumn Glory.  It will be available next week.  I also used some autumnal dp, a fancy autumn brad, and some twine, along with some rhinestones that match to rhinestones on the brad.

Now be sure to check out the Crazies blog.  I think you are sure to see some beauties in this fabulously warm and earthy color combo.

This card will also be entered into Speedy's Friends challenge which was to use a punch.  It is kind of subtle, but I did use a corner rounder punch on the main panel.

Thursday??? Must be time for challenges!!!

This my card for both the CCEE Stampers Challenge as well as the Stampin B's Challenge this week.  It was also influenced by a recent release of Innovative Stamp Creations. 

Cindy is our CCEE hostess for September, and she challenged us to make an autumn card with stitching and a die cut (homemade or store bought).  Well, I 'fudged' a bit on this one.  It is definitely an autumn card, but my stitching is missing the thread (aka paper piercing) and my die cut is a true homemade one....an image cut out as a die cut.

Emily is our Stampin B's hostess for this week, and she challenged us to use a clip or pin of some type on our cards.  I chose to use a simple clear beaded pin from Mark's Finest Papers on my bow.

The stamps I used are all available from Innovative Stamp Creations, a site you might want to check out as they just released some fabulous new stamps, including some as gorgeous as the older ones I used today, which are also still available.

As I explained in my post late Monday, we were lucky to get our power on after a day and a half without it.  I am appreciative of that, but so very sad for the many who are still suffering the effects of Hurricane Irene.  The stories of the flooding in Vermont are so tragic......whole towns are cut off because of road and bridges washed out.  Here in CT so many are still without power.....you don't realize what no power means until you are without it......it is not just luxuries like internet and such that are lost, but gas stations, grocery stores, town services, and so much more.  I hope everyone is soon returned to normal AND that repairs are made to enable people to live and work without obstacles.  Hugs to all!!!

Now....to bring that touch of joy, be sure to visit the blogs of these two fabulous teams.  Their fabulous creations are sure to cheer you up!!!

Stampin' B's Blog
CCEE Stampers Blog

Wishing everyone a touch of joy in their day!!!

Thursday was a 'Challenging' Day

My nephew and his wife from North Carolina flew up here for a brief and sad visit.  My nephew's stepsister's 9 year old daughter lost her battle with brain cancer.  So Jay and Lauren flew home for the wake and funeral.  I hung around home yesterday cuz  I wanted to see them before they headed up to Boston for their flight home.  So....I played in the stampcave AND got assorted chores done.

So I have a few cards to share from yesterday as well as one from Tuesday.

This first card is one I did Tuesday for the Color Challenge at SCs.  The image and sentiment are from SU.

This second card was done yesterday for the WT Challenge on SCS.  Our goal was to create using green.  The image used is called Foliage and is by Innovative Stamp Creations.  The sentiment comes from a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set.

This third card was also created for the WT challenge on SCS (using green).  I also did it for the Totally Stampalicious challenge this week which was to use a RED bow.  The sentiment and this fabulous image are digis from Bugaboo Stamps.  (and....let's all send good wishes that ALL my digis on my old fried computer hard drive can be saved.........I would be heartbroken to lose all of them......can you hear me whining????)

Thanks so very much for taking  a few moments of your day to stop by.  I really do cherish your visits.  AND.....I send hugs to all.

CCEE and Stampin B's Challenges

CCEE Challenge  - CCEE1043
Hostess - Shirley Quarry
Challenge - CAS card

All images and sentiments are from Flourishes.  CAS cards are a real challenge for me, but I always feel so good when I feel like I accomplished one.  And....today I must say I am happy with the results.

Now....be sure to go check out the dynamic CAS creations of the rest of the team at the CCEE blog.

I  am also enteriing this into Flourishes weekly challenge which this week asks you to make a card without buttons and bows.


Stampin B's Challenge

Hostess - Brenda

Challenge - Thanksgiving card using pumpkins

Thanksgiving was our goal in the creative process this week and we were to have pumpkins on our cards.  I used my new fav layout again to create this one.  I used a variety of leaf stamps to create the horizontal panel and embossed it with 'coppery' embossing powder.  The pumpkin image is from an individual stamp that I cannot put my hands on right now......but if you want to know, just ask in a comment and I will search for it and get back to ya'. 

Be sure to stop by the Stampin B's blog to check out the Thanksgiving creations of the rest of the very talented team.'
'

ISC Release Cards......Better Late Than Never......and I'm Back!!!!!

While I was away in the Carolinas, I was supposed to have a few blog posts for the Innovative Stamp Creations recent release.  However, that was one thing I just couldn't get done before my extended trip to North and South Carolina.  So today I am sharing all the cards I made for the release.

I apologize for the poor photos......my natural light bulb decided to 'go on vacation' and this was the best I could do without it.

So...here ya go.......I will put the names of the sets below each card.

Autumn, Winter Season

(sentiment comes from the previously released Passion Flower sheet)

Foliage

Fall in New England

Fall in New England

Foliage (vertical panel)

Autumn, Winter Season (image)

Fall Is Near

Now....if you have not done so already, use the links in my sidebar to go see the work of the rest of the Creative Architect team AND go to Innovative Stamp Creations to see the complete sets which are available NOW for purchase.

By the way....I had a FABULOUS vacation....walks on the beach, time spent ocean gazing, swimming, reading on the rooftop patio, hot tubbing, good eatin', and lots of laughs.......so hard to return to reality.

 

Speedy's Friends and Crazy4Challenges

Speedy's Friends #20
Hostess - Joanne Travis
Challenge - Fall Colors

This basket of leaves just says "FALL" to me!!  So many happy memories from my youth of raking up leaves from nearby maple trees and then jumping into the leaves.....and repeating that whole process over and over again.  This image comes from a set of stamps recently released by the Speedy the Cat Designer Collection from Mark's Finest Papers.

Be sure to visit the MFP blog for details on how you can play along AND to see the fab creations by the rest of this fabulous team.


Crazy4Challenges -- C4C54
Hostess - Joycelyn
Challenge - Color challenge of kraft, red, and black

I actually used this same color combo for last week's Crazies card.  It seems to be a color combo I am drawn to lately.  This adorable winter Flopsy image is from My Favorite Things (MFT).  The punch is a MS punch.  The sentiment came (I think) from a CHF's set.

A visit to the Crazies blog is in order.  There you can see the work of the rest of this creative team AND you can get details on how to play along.