Blog Candy Winner!

The winner has been drawn by a very fancy and technical device........the 9 year old chose a number and recorded it for you!

Lisa V said... Olivia back to school. one last week of summer vacation and my two are going to school one for the first time and a card in the lunch box would be a fun surpise for them. Lisa 3:01 PM

So.....Lisa V....you are the winner! Send me an e-mail at caspen1973@yahoo.com so I can get your address and we will get you your $5 CC Designs gift certificate!!!

Another Simple Bee

My first sample for the August releases was a simple card done with the standing bear from Bear Hugs and this is one that was made at the same time. A simple card done with the bee. The paper pierced circle came from the Stampin' Up! brass embossing template, Punches Plus. I love this template for paper piercing! There isn't muchelse to be said about this one, I just thought it turned out sweet.

A Little Bit of Everything - CC Designs Style

Here is a project I forgot to share! I used a little bit of everything on this one (all stamps from CC Designs)...The adorable bees from Bear Hugs and the tree limb is from Olivia's Birdies, the clouds are from the Sugarplum Scenery set, a cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots) and some Stampin Up Designer paper (Cutie Pie). I really love how this turned out! The only thing it is missing is a bee hive hanging from that branch! Since these are yellow and black they aren't honey bees so it may be "correct" to have a hive hanging from the branch. Did you know that honey bees are brown and black and they typically don't build hives just hanging from a branch - they need an open cavity to hold all their honey (just some useless info from the wife of a bee keeper!). Anyway, I was really happy with this after it was done. I colored everything with Stampin Write markers and added Stardust Stickles to the clouds and the bee wings. I love the sentiment "What's the buzzzz?" Christine has been turning out some WONDERFUL stuff lately hasn't she? Just wait till you see what is up for September. I got my sets yesterday and I think that some of the commenters for the blog candy below will be happy to see what we have in store for you. A little bit of everything again this month...some more Lucky and more Olivia coming!!!

BLOG CANDY!!!

Hey all! CC Designs just finished another release right? We have the adorable bears and bees - Bear Hugs, the Sugar Plums Sentiment set that goes with...EVERYTHING, the Sugar Plum Scenery set and of course....OLIVIA and her Birds!!! Right now Christine is offering up an All That Scraps gift certificate for $5 if you post a comment here. I will post the winner on Tuesday. But, since you have seen Olivia, tell me - what would you like to see Olivia doing next?

Sock Monkey Returns

Here is another Sock Monkey project (I used the same colors as the one from my open house...I really like So Saffron, Tangerine Tango and Kraft together, they look very "fallish"). I am going to try something new with my stamp clubs this year. We are going to do a Sketch Theme all year. Most of my stamp clubs are made up of ladies who have been stamping for some time. One group most of the ladies have been in a stamp club with me for 4 or more years. So, I find myself having a hard time showing them new techniques. Of course though they still comment that they have a hard time knowing what to do with their stuff when they get it. I know I have that problem sometimes! So, we are going to do a new sketch at each meeting. But since we do two cards we'll turn the sketch on its side and try to mix it up a bit. My hope is that they will learn how to look at samples in the catalog and figure out the sketch and use it to work for them. Plus, they will have several sketches from me by the time we are all done meeting. Anyway, this card is one that we did at our stamp club meeting this week. The ladies did the Heard from the Heart card from below and then this card. See how we used the same sketch? We just turned it on its side and made our matted pieces wider. In addition, rather than doing the middle panel with a single stamped image, we made that section three circles instead. The ladies at the meeting told me I was stretching it, but that is the point! INSPIRATION GIRLS!

I have decided to stop posting the "Supplies Used" at the bottom of my posts, just to save time in typing it all out. Besides, I typically type somewhere in the body of the post most of the supplies I have used. Of course if you have a question about something please just post in the comments section and I'll be sure to answer you!

Open House Success

My new catalog open house was Saturday and I felt it went really well. It was so nice to see some of the ladies that I hadn't seen in a few weeks. I sold some used sets to clear out space on my shelves for more goodies and I think they liked the projects. They did the Sock Monkey card I already showed you, and they did this simple and easy card that showcased the Heard from the Heart set (I LOVE this set and it is on sale, I LOVE that even more!!). My guests were even able to use the new scallop edge punch! I wanted something simple that didn't need a lot of "stuff" or a lot of work. I think this fits the bill. The background is stamped with the big swirl from Doodle This, otherwise the only other stamping is the words. I can't wait to get all the new goodies I ordered from the open house, like A Rose is a Rose, Crazy for Cupcakes, Bella Rose paper, and more! So tell me, what are some of your favorite new things from the new Stampin' Up! catalog???

All That Scraps Guest Designer

All That Sraps is having a Guest Designer for October!! Check out the post at the All That Scraps blog: http://atsblog.typepad.com/ats/. If you get chosen by Amy and Christine, you get all the stamp sets that are released in October!! What have you got to lose? Start uploading to the All That Scraps gallery and maybe you'll be swimming in new stamps soon!

All That Scraps Challenge

It's Wednesday so it is time for another Sketch Challenge at All That Scraps. I have one submission done for it but I am hoping to stamp a bit later today and do another. This one uses Olivia's Birds, the branch from A Hootin Good Time, and the sentiment is from the Sugar Plum Sentiment set. I totally used Katie Stillwater's idea to use this birdhouse on a winter card. I wanted something simple that would be easy to duplicate for Christmas cards if you like. I added some Robin's Nest Dew Drops from the Poinsettia collection along the side and some beautiful paper from Basic Grey. Are you thinking Christmas cards yet???

Sock Monkey with a Cupcake

My New Catalog Open House will be on Saturday so I have been working on projects...We'll do 2 projects this year, one of which uses the new Sock Monkey set. I needed a project that would showcase this fun set but wouldn't take the participants too much time to work on. Not everyone enjoys watercoloring so I didn't want to overwhelm those who don't like to do it. This is exactly what I was wanting! I stamped Sock Monkey in Close to Cocoa on Kraft cardstock. Then I stamped the cupcake from this set onto white cardstock. I colored it with Tangerine Tango ink, Ruby Red marker and a So Saffron Marker. I even gave the cupcake some sprinkles. I then used the Stampin Up! circle punches and scallop circle to make the cupcake stand out. It is also mounted with dimensionals. So..what do you think?

Have a Birdie-ful Day

When I finished this card for the release I was so happy with it. It came across just as I had wanted it to. When Christine was working on the new Olivias Birds set, she showed the design team the images that she had drawn and a few of the girls started shouting out different sentiments that they would like to see and I suggested a bird bath. I was SHOCKED when Christine said that she had drawn a bird bath previously but it wasn't any good. I asked her to try again and within a matter of a couple hours (if that much!) she came out with this bird bath...it is PERFECT! I LOVE IT! This card uses one of the grass images from the Sugarplum Scenery set and everything else is from Olivias Birds set. I wish I could remember the name of the paper...it was from Stampin Up a couple years ago - I think it may be Spring Showers. Anyway, I loved that paper and still have some pieces - it worked perfectly don't you think?

Supplies Used: Close to Cocoa cs, ink, Blush Blossom cs, Whisper White cs, Certainly Celery SW Marker, Going Grey ink, Bashful Blue ink, Grosgrain Ribbon, Brads, Creamy Caramel SW Marker, Black Staz On, So Saffron SW Marker, slit punch, Olivias Birds, Sugarplum Scenery Set.

Sweet Notebook

You can see pieces of the new Sugar Plums Scenery Set on this project...I am quite excited about this little sample! SEVERAL months ago I purchased a Bind It All thinking I would have loads of fun making notebooks. Well, I have been so intimidated by it that I have only used it to punch holes!!! Well, for these new releases Christine was asking for us to make some 3-d projects...soooo...I busted out that Bind It All and created this little notebook. I plan to use it to keep track of the names, addresses, birthdays of all my stampin friends. I have needed something like this for some time so this book is long overdue!

The Sugarplum Scenery set includes all the things you are going to need to create spring/summer scenes for your CC Designs stamps. Several different kinds of grass, several clouds, several flower tops, a stem, a couple different leaves...it's all in there and it really takes your work to a whole new level. This sample uses the grass and flower parts from the Scenery set and the bee is from the new Bear Hugs and that sentiment...yup...another set that will be available soon! Most of the design team sneak peeks this month have pieces of this scene set mixed in with other stamps on their projects because it is just a super set! Don't forget to be checking out the All That Scraps blog each day...if you post a comment you are entered for a chance to win a free stamp set each day!

Supplies Used: Sassafrass Lass designer paper, Baja Breeze cs, Real Red cs, Stampin Write Marker, Regal Rose SW Marker, Certainly Celery SW Marker, Gable Green SW Marker, Regal Rose SW Marker, Close to Cocoa SW Marker, Summer Sun SW Marker, Black SW Marker, Black Staz On, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, ribbon Target Dollar Spot, SU Scallop Edge punch, Sugar Plums Scenery set, Bear Hugs set, Sentiments set.

Meet Olivia

If you haven't "met" Olivia yet, here she is! The other design team members have done an AWESOME job with set, you have to run to the All That Scraps gallery and check out the entries for today.

Olivia is part of a new line of stamps from C.C. Designs called Sugarplums and I happen to know there are more sets featuring Olivia and a friend coming soon! This card was made to match the one in the post below and all the supplies are the same...aren't they cute together?

Stampin Up Sets for Sale

I have the new catalog in my hands and my list is BIG this time. I need to clear out some room on my shelves and make room for more stuff! Check out these sets for sale and contact me at caspen1973@yahoo.com if you are interested in any of them! All of them are mounted and used.

• Print Pattern $10
• Dotted $10
• Word by Word $10
• Swell News $15
• So Much $22
• Looks Like Spring $15
• All About You $15
• Mini Messages $5
• Favorite Friends $10
• Love Matters $15
• Birthday Banter $15
• Time Well Spent $15
• Naughty or Nice $12
• Rough Edges Alphabet $12

Olivia's Birds

OK...so, today and tomorrow are the release days I have been waiting for because I am really proud of the projects I turned out for this set. It was a great mojo night! I think that night I made like 4 projects and loved them all! Here is the first sample from the set called Olivia's Birds. Christine put everything you could possibly need in this set to make lovely spring/summer cards. Everything you see here is in the set (and more of course!) And Christine was so smart she made 2 of the birds. Sometimes you get a set, start playing with it and realize the kid, animal or whatever is facing the wrong direction and you don't want to mess with "mirroring" so you just give up. WELL, our gal Christine made the birds each facing a different direction! PLUS in this set there are 2 birds flying that she did the same thing with....genius I tell you!

This card was so much fun to make. I knew I wanted the nest sitting on the branch with the birds in it. The colors came from one of my favorite designer papers from Stampin Up!, Fall Flowers. I love the softness of this paper. Then of course I had to use the scallop edge punch (of course!) and it helped immensely that the Robin's Nest dew drops (from the "Water" collection) had some it in that matched perfectly. (Got those from genius Christine at All That Scraps). After water coloring everything I popped the nest and the birds up on dimensionals. For the ribbon I just layered a piece of white narrow grosgrain on top of my wide Old Olive, did a little faux stitching and BAM - it's done. Do you like it? (I'm such a sucker for affirmation!)

NOW .... are you wondering who Olivia is? You'll have to check back later to find out!

Supplies Used: Soft Sky cs, ink, Whisper White cs, Old Olive ink, cs, Creamy Caramel ink, Close to Cocoa SW marker, So Saffron ink, Aquapainter, Always Artichoke SW Marker, Black Staz On ink, Scallop Edge Punch, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Olivia's Birds set.

Sweet Baby Bear....

Time for new releases from C.C. Designs!!! Most of these samples have been done for 2 weeks or more when I had a big burst of stamping mojo going on and I have been dying to share them with you! The official release will be Monday the 11th at 10 pm est at All That Scraps (check my sidebar for a link). We will have a release party in the forum at 8 pm.

The sets for this month are so fun!! I tried some MyTime style cards and this is one of them. Sweet and simple. I actually really like how this one turned out. It uses a new image of the bear we first saw last month. This new set is called Bear Hugs and includes another bear, 2 bees and some sentiments. Rather than color the bear brown, and since I needed a baby girl card, I made this card all girl! The image was colored with Pretty in Pink ink and an aqua painter. Of course that scallop edge is made with the new Stampin Up! scallop edge punch. I love the ribbon - the solid pink ribbon is a velvety ribbon (from the Target Dollar Spot ages ago) which makes me imagine what this cuddly little girl would feel like! The bow is made from Stampin' Up!'s pink grosgrain. Next time you need a card, try going simple and see how you like it!

Supplies Used: Whisper White cs, Pretty in Pink cs, ink, Soft Sky ink, velvet ribbon, pink gingham ribbon, Black Staz On, Scallop Edge Punch, Bear Hugs set.

Heard from the Heart Elegantly

Another swap that I did for Jami...This time I had to use Heard from the Heart (which I really love!). I really wanted one of these sentiments to be the focal point so I just used my Paisley background stamp and stamped it with Versa Mark and heated up Clear Embossing Powder for my main panel. Then I used my black ink and stamped the greeting on a strip of the new Baja Breeze paper and did the same for the main panel. I also used the new scallop edge punch from Stampin Up! to make it appear more soft. I think this would be a great wedding card...what about using navy and gold or navy and silver? I think just about any colors would work well. Anyway, I'm still patiently waiting for those catalogs!!!

Supplies Used: Basic Black cs, ink, Baja Breeze cs, Versa Mark ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Scallop Edge punch, handheld circle punch, Silver Brads, Paisley background stamp, Heard from the Heart.

Sock Monkey - NEW Stampin Up! Set

Here is the first project that I did as a swap for Jami's Preview Swap at SCS. I call this the "famous" stamper swap because several of the girls are either ex-Dirty Dozen girls or have been published or are stampers like Taylor VanBruggen....I am so lucky to have been asked to join them but I must say that the pressure is always one when creating for these ladies!

This is the new set, Sock Monkey...I bought it because my youngest loves monkeys and I really liked the accessories that were in the set - a cupcake, heart, flag, flower, party hat, etc. I also used the new color Tangerine Tango as my base color and the color for the monkey's mouth, butt, feet and arms. Making 8 of them took me awhile and I did it in stages. By the time I was done I was saying, "Why do I always watercolor for Jami's swaps???" But seriously it was fun!

I stamped the hat in Black Staz-On and then did some masking of the hat and added the monkey. I added the flag and then did a cupcake separately. I cut the cup cake out and used dimensionals to pop it up. The rest is pretty self explanatory. I hope you enjoy it! Those new catalogs should be here anyday!

Supplies Used: Tangerine Tango cs, ink, Bashful Blue cs, ink, Old Olive cs, ink, Close to Cooca ink, So Saffron ink, Stampin Dimensionals, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing mat and tools, Stamp a ma jig, Sock Monkey.

NEW Stampin' Up! Information

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!? Stampin' Up! is going to begin selling the Big Shot and some dies! How exciting! I also can't wait to see more of a line of products that Shelli had a hand in developing. I can't wait to get this new catalog!