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