Cupcake Camp Charleston 2014

This is how I spent a cool November 15, and it was SO MUCH FUN! 

"Cupcake Camp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and eat cupcakes for FREE in an open environment.
Cupcake Camp originated in San Francisco by Ariel Waldman, Lynn, Marianne Masculino and Cindy Li. Cupcake Camp promotes a true spirit of community and sharing, and Cupcake Camps now happen around the world and come in a wide variety of flavors and sizes. The most essential feature of a Cupcake Camp is that it brings together people to share their love of cupcakes!" -  CCC blog

Check out a few of the photos and then check out the links below for the dates for the next ones and to see if there are any coming to your area.

In the staging area/brewing room waiting on my display time

Giving away my cupcakes with fellow bakers! It was so much fun!

A close up of my Rainbow Surprise.

The inside of my Rainbow Surprise cupcake

Mini Junior Mint

Pumpkin Spice with Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting

Double Camouflage

Links:

CupcakeCamp.org

Cupcake Camp Charleston: Blog, Facebook, Next date is November 14, 2015

Cupcake Camp Summerville: Blog, Facebook, Next date is March 14, 2015

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1409

The next Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Laughter is the Best Medicine

I laugh in the face of breast cancer. Although cancer is no laughing matter, keeping your sense of humor really helps sustain your spirit through surgery, chemo and radiation treatments. Let’s make a card that starts a smile, or gets a giggle.
Let’s kick cancer’s sting with laughter- the very best medicine. Create an uplifting card with something funny on it, a pun, a joke, a funny picture. Go!

Read more: HYCCT1409 Laughter is the best medicine chat thread

Materials :

Cardstock : Recollections, Prisma, Blast Off by BoBunny
Die cut : Cricut Mini Monsters
Stickers : Multi-Color ABC by EK success
Other: Glossy Accents

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1408

The next SplitCoastStampers challenge is My Hero

During tough times, some people give us courage and hope by just being who they are! Your challenge is to make a card inspired by someone who is a hero to you, and tell us how they've positively influenced you. Your hero might be someone from the past, for example Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, or Eleanor Roosevelt, and you could use a quote on your card. Your hero might be someone close to you like a friend, teacher, colleague, or family member or a well known person you've admired from afar. Whoever you choose, your card could reflect something about their character, their job, or their life. Here's your chance to make a card with any theme or any technique, it just requires that you give a little thought to who has been a significant influence in your life! Be sure to tell us why you chose the person and why they're a hero to you!

Read more: HYCCT1408 My Hero Chat Thread

My grandma is one of my heroes. Shes a toughie and a sweetie and Lovey is the perfect name for her. My grandma spent over 50 years as a nurse, and loved it. Now she spends her weekdays sewing and crafting and her weekends at her flea market booth.

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections, Family Ties by Pebbles
Die cut : Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls
Markers: Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs,  Festive Berries, Antique Linen

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1407

Up next for the SplitCoastStampers Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Spoonful of Sugar

Since the chemo is so nasty, let's make something using a sugary treat image on our project to "help the medicine go down." Ice cream, donuts, chocolates, cake, cookies... I'm not partial when it comes to sugary treats!!!  Using pink is optional. 

Ream more: HYCCT1407 Spoonful of Sugar Chat Thread

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections,  Acorn Hollow by Little Yellow Bicycle
Die cut: Cricut Wild Card
Ink: Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs
Markers: Tim Holtz Mustard Seed
Other: Sakura clear stardust pen, Crackle Accents

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1406

Up next on the SplitCoastStampers Hope You Can Cling To challenge is A Bear For My Sister

This challenge is specially dedicated to my amazing Sister-in-Love....she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in March and just finished her last chemo treatment. She has recovered well from her double mastectomy although it took a lot out of her. She has the BEST attitude and humor and still thinks of others!! The first time we visited her in the hospital the morning after her first surgery, we brought a very soft blanket gift. Her oldest daughter told us that it is still her favorite gift out of everything she's received so far. It made me think that "comfort" is such a key in recovery.

So this challenge is called A Teddy Bear for my Sister since teddy bears are very much an iconic image of comfort. The challenge is to use a bear on your card/project. Any bear at all! Now of course you get bonus points for having a pop of pink somewhere! 

Read more: A Bear For My Sister Chat Thread

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections,  Yours Truly by Pebbles, unknown
Diecut: Cricut Create a Critter 2
Other: Glossy Accents

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1405

On SplitCoastStampers, the next Hope You Can Cling To 2014 challenge is Two by Two, Side by Side

"The Sister Study, A Study of the Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Breast Cancer.
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer more than 15 years ago. And almost ten years ago I joined the Sister Study, which is made up of 50,000 women whose sisters have had breast cancer. And let me just say that the areas of study are widely varied, and...ummmm...well, let's just say that they're...unique! 
This is the Sister Study logo...

...And so...
Your Challenge will be to use BOTH pink AND purple on your card...AND I want SOME element, or elements, of your card to be in twos. Two flowers, Two trees, Two gals...sisters!...you understand I'm sure!"

Read more: HYCCT1405 Two by Two, Side by Side chat thread

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections, Bazzill
Paper: unknown
Stamps: Momenta, Recollections
Ink: Archival Jet Black
Markers: Tim Holtz Festive Berries, Dusty Concord
Punch: Fiskars
Other: Glossy Accents

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1404

The next Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Holding It Together.

"Holding it together...or falling apart.When someone gets the diagnosis that they really didn’t want and hears that they have cancer, they can feel that their world is falling apart. Sadly many women who hear this news have families, and they have find that inner core of resilience to hold it together for their families. 
My challenge to you is to hold it together without your usual resources. No foam dots, no ATG or other tape, no wet glues or Glossy Accents, no glue gun...
You can use things like brads, eyelets, stitching (machine or hand), staples…
NOTE1: You can’t just make a flat one-layer card. You MUST attach something, even if it’s only a flower with a button stitched through the centre, or a snowflake with a brad to hold it on.Kudos and bonus points if you make at least at two-layer card.
NOTE 2: Keeping up appearances. Just as a wig or a stylish headscarf helps somebody going through chemo to look good and feel better even when all their hair has fallen out from chemo, we want our cards to look good.So you ARE allowed make a full card-front (full means the FULL size of the card base) and then attach that to a base with your regular adhesive of choice, to cover up the stitching, brad prongs and whatever else might be showing on the back of your card. But that is the only adhesive you are allowed to use."

Read more: HYCCT1404 Holding It Together chat thread

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections, Bazzill, unknown
Stamp: Stampin' Up (unsure of set, but it has a 2001 copyright date on it)
Ink: Archival Jet Black
Thread: Coats and Clark (pieces are stitched to the card and the inside thread are covered with a liner)
Other: My sewing machine (it's felt so unloved lately and was perfect for this challenge)
Sketch: OWH #123

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1403

The next Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Stripping Down.

"What is the first thing you have to do when you get a mammogram? Ya gotta strip off your top and your bra, right? So for my challenge, I'm asking you to look through your paper stash to find all those teeny strips that you never use (am I right??) and put them to use making your background for your card.
Pull out your patterned paper or cardstock or even little leftover strips from a technique you may have tried. Glue them together to form your background. Arrange them horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or do a technique such as the Herringbone background. Mix and match papers to your heart's content! BONUS POINTS if you use PINK!!! "

Read more: HYCCT1403 Stripping Down Chatter Thread

Materials:

Cardstock: Recollections, Bazzill, unknown

Stampin' Up Heart punch

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1402

Next up on SplitCoastStampers Hope You Can Cling to 2014 challenge is Hope Floats

"We all loved the Sandra Bullock movie "Hope Floats" (or at least I did) - your challenge for this card is to have your card reflect an image of something that floats - a life boat, a buoy, marshmallows in a cup of hot chocolate, a lily pad on a reflecting pond, an inflatable pool toy, a rubber duckie or anything else whimsical or serious. Include a message of hope, courage or inspiration on your cardfront."

Read more: HYCCT1402 Hope Floats Chat Thread

Materials:

Solid cardstock: recollections
Stamp: Momenta
Ink: Archival Jet black
Punch: American Crafts Knock Outs
Die: Cricut Craft Room Basics

Other: Recollections clear embossing powder, Silver Flower Soft

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1401C

"Hold on to your breath

Hold on to your heart

Hold on to your hope

It's an extremely chirpy song and I love the positivity of the lyrics. (Do you know where it's found? There's a video clip below!) Through difficult times in my life I have been able to keep pushing through by remembering to breathe, bringing my heart to each day, embracing and feeling my feelings, and holding on to hope. Sometimes we just need something (or someone!) to hold on to. To cling to! It thrills me that some dear ladies at MD Anderson will be holding on to the cards that we send, and soaking in courage.
For my challenge, I would like to see something on your card that we hold on to daily -- a HANDLE. 
It can be part of a shaped card (like the handle of a teacup or purse), or appear in a stamped image (like the handle on a wagon, door, coffee mug, or suitcase)."

Read more: Hold On To Your Hope Chat Thread

While I'm more of a coffee person than a tea person, I thought this would make a tea-rrific little card using some warm beverage themed items.

Materials:

Solid Cardstock: Recollections

Printed Cardstock: Canvas Corp.

Stamp: Latte Love by Fiskars

Ink: Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo

Markers: Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs, Old Paper, Pumice Stone.

Pen: Sakura white glaze

Twine: We R Memory Keepers

Die cut: Cricut Plantin' Schoolbook

Splitcoaststampers HYCCT1401B

The next SCS Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Shine On.

"Cancer is dark and ugly, but this month at Splitcoast isn't really about cancer... it is about HOPE. Hope for healing, hope for a cure and hope for support for the families and friendships that reel in the realization of a diagnosis and treatment plan. 
And, hope my friends isn't dark and ugly. Hope shines bright. Even the smallest candle flickering in the dark can be seen for great distances. That is one of the things we love about card making, no? Sharing a spark of light and encouragement with someone who needs a lift? Maybe someone close enough to feel the warmth of the candle flame and maybe someone who only sees the flicker at a greater distance? 
My challenge to you is to create a card that uses light to convey encouragement and hope ... a lamp, a candle, a lightbulb or sunshine! Let me see them glimmer and flicker, and shine on, dear friends... SHINE ON! "

Click here to see the Forum thread

Materials:

Solid cardstock: Recollections

Printed cardstock: 6x6 SN@P paper pad by Simple Stories
Diecuts: Cricut - Plantin Schoolbook for tag, unknown sun
Stamp: by D.O.T.S.
Inks: Archival Jet Black, TH Mustard Seed

SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1401A

Every October, over the past few years, SplitCoastStampers does a Hope You Can Cling Too challenge. Here's more information about it in their words:

Splitcoaststampers is proud to partner with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center for our fifth annual month long card drive to benefit those affected by breast cancer.Whether your stamps cling to acrylic, wood, or to your hard drive, they hold the power to convey hope and lift the spirits of anyone who sees what you create with them. That is the inspiration for our “Hope You Can Cling To” stamping campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When we began this event, we kicked this campaign off on World Card Making Day - a day of celebration of the power of a handmade card. The year we began, WCMD was October 1st, and so that is now our official kickoff date each year. We encourage papercrafters across the globe to put their talents to work creating beautiful handmade cards to send to patients and their families at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, and, in the process, turn our gallery pink! Hope is powerful medicine. Here is part of a letter from MD Anderson after last year's event: “On behalf of the breast cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas I’d like to say thank you for the beautiful handmade cards that you sent to us! The “Hope You Can Cling To” month long campaign was very much appreciated. The volunteers in our Breast Center enjoyed filling baskets with these special cards. As they made their visits each day and introduced themselves to patients, they encouraged each to select one of your handmade cards. These special cards truly offered hope and lifted the spirits of everyone during Breast Cancer Awareness month! I personally have had the pleasure of opening each envelope. What beautiful work you all have done for our patients.” - Maggi Suttles, Assistant Director, Volunteer Services, UT MD Anderson Cancer CenterMany in our community have been affected by breast cancer, directly or indirectly. We would love for each of the patients at the UT MD Anderson cancer center and their families to feel this same encouragement and inspiration and we know this community always rises to a challenge. There will be special challenges in our Splitcoaststampers Hope You Can Cling To Challenge Forum to inspire you throughout the month, and we will have some fun giveaways, including of course, some pink! We'll begin the campaign with three challenges on October 1st, and we will have challenges each day in October. So keep watching this space as we approach the exciting kickoff of Hope You Can Cling To!

For even more information, check out the SCS forum posts here. LINK

The challenges are named for Hope You Can Cling To 2014, and then in numerical order starting with 01. On the first day they did 3 challenges, so they are listed 01A, 01B, and 01C.

Here is my take on the very first challenge this year, HYCCT1401A: You raise me up.

"I wanted a challenge to start us off this year that I felt really conveyed what Hope You Can Cling To is all about - and that's raising other people up. Being strong when other people are weak. That's what you do so well, and I'm so, so grateful to watch all of you do it!
So I took my inspiration from the utterly fantastic Josh Groban song, You Raise Me up, and....
***********************************************************************

my challenge is Paper Tole!

Now paper tole is not just popping an element up on your card - it's a true technique that takes a little time and practice. You color several images, cut parts of them out, shape them using a stylus and a soft mat to have a rounded look, and then use a dimensional adhesive to pop them up over a colored version of your image. Take some time to learn this - it's very fun and such a unique look for your card!"

Read more about this challenge here: SCS HYCCT 2014 You Raise Me Up

Materials used:

Cardstock: Recollections and Bazzill

Stamps: Hanging Around by Newton's Nook Designs

Ink: Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn

Markers: Tim Holtz Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Old Paper, and Tattered Rose.

Embossing folder: Birch by Darice

Others: Green twine (unknown), orange twine (Newton's Nook Designs), tag is a trimmed down Cricut cut from Plantin Schoolbook.

Cheerful Teapotter Tuesday card for Canada

It may be a week late, but late is better than never. I used three different challenges for this card. I used an old Operation Write Home sketch, and two challenges from last week from Splitcoaststampers.

CAS293 - A touch of pink
MMTPT323 - bright and funny
OWH sketch 135

Recollections paper, stamps by Stamper's Best, Recollections, and We R Memory Keepers. plastic from Cricut cartridge packaging, Tim Holtz Mustard Seed marker, Marvy fine point gray marker, Sakura Stardust clear pen, Archival Jet Black ink.

A week of interruption in the craft room

So, since August, we've had a water leak under our kitchen floor. Because we live on a slab, it wasn't diagnosed until September, and then it was finally fixed last week. How did they fix it? Well, instead of tearing up the tile in the kitchen, they cut off the supply that goes under the house and rerouted it through the attic. Not a bad idea, since they are using a plastic tube instead of copper, plus m
y water will stay warmer since the attic is always warm.
So, since they had to bring the new pipes down from the attic, they had to tear into three walls that lead to the bathrooms. Ugh. So, they cut a hole in my master bath rooms, and two holes each on two of my craft room walls. Why my craft room, well, those walls are against both bathrooms, and both bathrooms have tile walls, so again they were trying to avoid cutting tile.
Great. Just great. There went my plans of crafting while they were working on the pipes. Sigh, So, as soon as the guy gets here he looks at everything and decides my room is the ideal place, and the wall where my 30+ dolls are is the first wall that needs cut into. EEK! So, thankfully my youngest one was home sick (not sick sick, but recuperating from a fever and wicked cough), so he and I grabbed my dolls in twos and threes and laid them on top of a sheet covering the dining room table and then covered them with another sheet to protect them from any drywall dust (I'm SO thankful that I did since my dining room is right next to the laundry room, which is where they actually started cutting into first). Next was all of the stuff on the other wall including my dresser full of ribbon. So, everything came down off the wall and was tucked away on the other side of my room and covered with more sheets. I'm glad I did that, since drywall dust went everywhere, but I made the mistake and took the sheets off of the stuff in my craft room too early and when the painter was sanding the patching he sent more drywall dust everywhere. Ugh. So, everything got a wipedown before it was reorganized and/or put away. Luckily the only casualty of my sheet covering rush was a corner of the glass in a 12x12 frame. All in all I have to say that was not too shabby,
I was able to get my room back together on Saturday, which was great since yesterday my youngest one had a birthday party to attend (totally off topic, but it was his first time on a go cart, and he drove it all by himself, three times!)
Here are some pictures of my room during and after.

In progress. They also had to cut into the wall that faces the door (where the picture was taken from)

99% done. If you look closely above the dresser, you can see two large squares of discoloration where they patched and painted.

My desk back in working order.

Now I can get back to work! Yay!

Low Country OWH at Crop for a Cure

For several years, Southern Scrapbookers has hosted a scrapbooking event called Crop for a Cure where the proceeds are sent directly to the American Cancer Society. Hanging out with friends, scrapbooking and cardmaking, and raising money for a great cause! Many that attend have had Cancer touch their life in some way, so not only are they having fun, they are raising money for a charity that is near and dear to their hearts.

I've attended this annual crop (held every October) for a few years, but this year was different. This year I did not attend as a cropper, but I did attend as a vendor. Being a vendor was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again. For my booth, I wasn't just a vendor, I was there on behalf of another organization that is near and dear to my heart, as well as some of the other croppers, Operation Write Home. A lot of croppers were either veterans, military spouses, and had a family member in the military. Being in Charleston, SC, we have two military bases (that have now merged into one joint base), so we have a lot of military people in the area, and even some retirees who have decided to settle down in SC (like my dad, who retired after 24 years in the Air Force). 

This was only the second time I've run a vendor booth. I did one selling doll clothes at a craft fair in NC several years ago, but this was my first one I've done for a non-profit. All I can say is WOW!

I was SO impressed by all of the ladies (and a gentleman) that opened their hearts and wallets to OWH. I received $40 in donations for shipping costs and 24 pieces of Any Hero Mail, plus a few blank cards for troops to use to write home. 

Yep, I think the weekend was a success! It was wonderful to get together with so many creative people and I was thrilled to introduce them to OWH. 

Here are a few pictures from the event last weekend.

Set up and ready to go on Friday evening.

Making cards on Saturday

Hanging out with the croppers on Sunday

Operation write home banner

I made this banner using my Cricut and the Elegant Edges cartridge and the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

I will be using it this weekend for my vendor table at the Southern Scrapbookers Crop for a Cure (proceeds from the crop fees go directly to the American Cancer Society) which just so happens to fall on World Cardmaking Day.

6x6 one sheet wonder Any Hero cards

10 cards using the Authentique Pride 6x6 pad. The directions I followed for this came from Kathryn's Cards blog. It called for 6 pieces of paper, but I ended up using 7 since the other side of the blue polka dots has some images that are best suited for fussy cutting.

All of the different designs.

OWH Sketch 7

OWH Sketch 1

OWH sketch 222

OWH Sketch 1

Kidney donation card

A friend of mine from high school has a wonderful husband and two sweet and beautiful girls. Her husband just received a kidney today from a total stranger. That means that he will be able to not only see his girls grow up but be able to be there more for them without having to rely on kidney dialysis. 

While the donor is a total stranger to me and the family, I thought he deserved a ton of thanks. So, I sent this card, along with a Bee Well Soon card to my friend's husband, as a thank you. I was looking for a Thank You stamp and came across this stamp set in my stash and knew that it was THE ONE.

Yellow paper by Recollection, green paper is a Stampin Up punch from Bazzil paper, green vellum is from The Paper Company, and the chevron paper is Fruitcake from Pink Paislee line Snow Village (2013). The stamp set is by Momenta and is stamped in Ranger's Archival Jet Black.

To read the wonderful story behind this card, check out the viral photo campaign that got nationwide attention and made for a very happy ending. GA police officer receives life-saving kidney from stranger

Pics from their Facebook page.

SCS sketch 267, a card for Grandma

A birthday card for my grandma. Her 86th birthday was the 17th, She's a pistol!

Inspired by SplitCoastStampers Weekly Sketch Challenge 267. Solid paper by Recollections. Printed paper from 6x6 Celebrate pad by KI Memories. Stamp by Newton's Nook and inked with Ranger's Archival Ink in Jet Black. Balloons and tag from Cricut. Twine from Newton's Nook. Happy Birthday embossing folder by Cuttlebug (Provocraft/Cricut).

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday, today's my birthday,

Happy birthday to me!

I love September and all that it stands for. Fall, football season, birthdays (me, my sister, one of my cousins, and my grandma), and my wedding anniversary.

Today I am celebrating by going to my local Make and Takes and then heading to get a massage using a gift certificate I got for my birthday last year.

A big chunk of my birthday present from my husband was the trip to San Francisco, which was part of his present too since his birthday was the second day we were there. Speaking of San Francisco, here are the pictures from our entire trip (minus the MIA pictures from the Golden Gate Bridge).

Day 1

Day 1

Day 2

The rest of the trip.

I hope that you enjoy the pictures and that today is as wonderful for you as it's going to be for me.

Tickle a Teapotter card swap on SCS

Happy September!
Over on Split Coast Stampers I participated in a card swap with the folks that do the Teapot Tuesday card challenges. We are called Teapotters and it's known as Teapotterville.  If you've never heard of it,  head over there and check it out.
I received this adorable card and a little cling stamp set from Mary. I love the stamping, coloring,  and die cutting.

Sneak Peek of San Francisco

Here's a sneak peek at a few things we've done in San Francisco.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6 is tomorrow. I will post more pictures over the next few days.