Sweet November Preview - Mermaids (Nami)

***This is my second post for the day. Scroll down for another C.C. Designs preview.***

Welcome to day one of July previews featuring Sweet November for C.C. Designs. The Mermaids are back this summer. Over the next three days we will be showcasing them for you individually; however, they are sold as a set of three.

First up is Nami. I cut the image out with Spellbinders Nestabilities with some out of the box action for the tail fins portion. I repeated the circles by adding air bubbles cut with the Bubbles Cutters introduced last summer. The sentiment is from the also new this month, AmyR Sweet Summer Sentiments and I stamped it onto a piece cut with the Banner Day Cutters. The patterned papers came from a couple of Echo Park 6x6 pads. Sequins are back in style so I broke out some older Doodlebug packages from my stash and added them here and there topping the larger ones with small jewels also by Doodlebug.

Products: Sweet November stamp and C.C. Designs Cutters, Echo Park dp, Doodlebug sequins and jewels, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R20; Hair-BG0000, BG000, BG53; Eyes-YG91, YG95; Top/Tail/Fins-G20, YG13, YG23; Shadows-B0000, B000

Be sure to check out the project that my fellow design team member Tress has created using this stamp.  Amy, the illustrator of the Sweet November line has a creative card to share with you and also outlines the details on a chance to win some blog candy. All you have to do is leave comments on our various blogs.

This stamp along with the other July stamps and dies will be available for purchase at the C.C. Designs store Thursday, July 4 at 9pm EDT.


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C.C. Designs Preview - Watermelon Abigail

Welcome to the first day of the C.C. Designs July stamp release! The Design Team has a really fun group of summer themed stamps to show you so let's get started.

I stamped up Watermelon Abigail from the Swiss Pixies line, coloring her up with Copic Markers. I took a "bite" out of the image panel using a Stampin' Up Ticket Punch and then added a black pearl.  I added a watermelon shaped sentiment from the also new Webbie Words Ants Go Marching sentiment set. The paper is all from the My Mind's Eye Up, Up and Away 6x6 pad matted with Bazzill Basics Card Shoppe (Candy Hearts) cardstock. 

Products: C.C. Designs stamp, Webbie Words stamp, My Mind's Eye dp, Bazzill Cardstock, Doodlebug pearls, PTI buttons, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R20; Hair-E30, E31, E34, E35; Clothes-W00, E81, Y0000, Y11, Y13, BG10, BG11, BG34; Watermelons/Grass-R30, R32, R35, G20, G40, G43; Shadows-BG70, BG0000

This stamp along with all the other July stamps will be available for purchase at the C.C. Designs store Thursday, July 4 at 9pm EDT.


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RIP Google Reader

I am sure you know by now Google Reader's last day of existence will be June 30. If you do not want to lose your current blog reading lists then you need to transfer them to another reader service asap.

After my initial freaking out over the Google announcement, I started researching alternatives. I started out by transferring my Google Reader list to several different ones. I then went cold turkey, completely abandoning Google Reader and started reading blogs through the new ones. I wound up trying out four different ones and if you follow the link provided there are instructions on how to move from Google to each service.

Netvibes - This by far was my favorite as far as the look and ease of use once I played around with it a bit. It isn't strictly a reader service - more of a dashboard. Don't be scared off by the premium price tag since the free basic service is all you need for blog reading. However, and it's a huge however for me, it does not provide timely feeds. Apparently they use some type of periodic polling type system to update the blog feeds. I actually used this one the most of the four but in the end I just could not tolerate the fact that feeds didn't update quickly. If they ever fixed that I would go back to it in a heart beat.

Bloglovin - This is one that a lot of people have endorsed but frankly it was my least favorite. I know why people endorse it - it's because you have to go to the actual blog to read the whole post. The people who like that are the ones who are sponsored and want you to see the advertisements and items for sale on their blog. It's fine if that is what you want to do but I have a lot of blogs in my reader list and I don't have the time or interest in clicking on each one individually. I want to scroll and read and only click over to the blog when I want to leave a comment!

The Old Reader -This one looks a lot like Google Reader although not as polished. My folders and blog lists converted over perfectly and it was easy to use. It's currently my second favorite but I could easily go to it if my first choice fails me.

Feedly -Admittedly, I ruled this one out first even though my folders and blog lists converted with no problems. But I was trying it out early when everyone else started looking around and it was so very slow. Apparently they have made some upgrades to servers as well as making some requested changes as I have no such issues with it now. And I think they will continue to make improvements to it. Currently this is my reader of choice but it really is a toss up between it and The Old Reader. I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

I hope you've found this helpful. I sure don't want to lose any of my readers!


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Catching Up (and a card)

I have been feeling very disconnected from my blog. The only posts you've seen from me are the ones I set up weeks ago to auto post for Design Team assignments. It's been super busy around here. Father's Day weekend was filled with family and I was busy the prior week with menu planning, grocery store runs and getting the house cleaned and ready for overnight and long weekend guests. Then my step-granddaughters who live in North Carolina stayed with us for a week longer. We had a fun week with them with lots of activities during the day and watching movies at night. We met their father half way between Alabama and North Carolina on Tuesday to get them home. Even at half way it's an all day trip.

And the big news is that we have a new puppy. We lost our little Yorkie, Chloe almost 7 years ago.  My husband declared that he never wanted another one, that he was too old to have his heart broken again.We had another dog for a while that we took in when my father-in-law passed away but she was old also and we had to put her down when she became too ill and wouldn't eat anymore. Don's feelings about her were all connected with his dad so that was so difficult for him to deal with as well. So again, I heard no more dogs from him. The past couple of years though we started talking about how much we missed having a pet. And I could tell he was warming up to the idea. Then my stepdaughter emailed me one day and said that she wanted to get her dad a dog for Father's Day! She wanted me to look for one here and when I googled yorkshire terrier puppies+Birmingham and what turned out to be our puppy popped up first! We timed everything so that I went to get her on the day she and our granddaughters were driving up from their beach vacation. It was a total and complete surprise for Don. And of course we absolutely love Zoe and she is part of the family already! We are going through the usual training problems but she is worth every minute of potty issues. She is very attached to us and has major separation anxiety issues which is a struggle as I simply do not know how to help her through it. Here is a phone snapshot taken the first few minutes at her new home which explains why she looking at us as if to say, "who are you people?" I promise I won't inundate you with puppy pics!

Now on to my card for today. I've actually had this one done for a while I love the cottage image from the Market Street Home Sweet Home stamp set. I've stamped it before but this time I wanted it to be more whimsical. Matching the sweet colors from the Echo Park Everyday Eclectic 6x6 pad I created a girly playhouse that you often see in backyards. I placed it in a "grassy hill" cut with a combination of The Cat's Pajamas Grass and the Holiday Toppers CutUps and added the sun and cloud cut with Lil Inkers Designs Large Sunshine and Rainbow and Clouds Die set. The image was placed on pop dots for dimension. Sadly, Market Street is now out of the stamp business.

Products: Market Street Stamps, Echo Park dp, PTI button, Kaisercraft pearl, The Cat's Pajamas CutUps, Lil Inkers Designs dies, Spellbinders Nestabilities
Copics: W00, E81, E84, G0000, G000, G00, RV00, R81, R83, R85, BG0000

I have to set my craft table back up as I put everything away for the big family weekend. I plan on doing that on Friday and hopefully get back into the creative groove.


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C.C. Designs Review - Sweet November

It's review day on the C.C. Designs blog and I am joining other members of the design team in showing you more projects using the June release stamps and dies. Today we are concentrating on the Sweet November line.

I stamped up Princess Eleonore from the Sweet November Princesses set again and I colored her up with Copic Markers as per usual. The patterned papers are from an older (and under-used) Authentique pad. The sentiment is from the Simply Enchanting (clear) set which also comes in rubber. I stamped it onto a tag shape, adding a rolled rose and doubled up a row of scallops for a border. Lastly, I added a smattering of Teresa Collins Enamel dots to the image panel and jewels to her crown.

Products: Sweet November stamp, C.C. Designs stamp, Authentique dp, Teresa Collins Enamel dots, My Favorite Things Die-namics, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R20; Hair-N1, N3, N5, N7; Eyes-B41, B32, B45; Dress/Crown-W00, E81, RV00, R81, R83; Floor-C00, C1, C5; Shadows-RV0000, RV00

This card along with many other Sweet November projects are on the C.C. Designs blog today.


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C.C. Designs Review - Princess and the Frog

It's review day on the C.C. Designs blog and I am joining other members of the design team in showing you more projects using the June release stamps.

I stamped the Princess and the Frog stamp which is part of the Drozy's Darlings line onto Copic X-Press It cardstock and then cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities. I colored with Copics as per usual. The paper is Jillibean Soup that I found in my old 12x12 stash. The sentiment is from the the new Simply Enchanting Sentiments (clear) set which is also available in rubber.

Products: C.C. Designs stamps, Jillibean Soup dp, May Arts Ribbon, PTI buttons, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E21, R20; Hair-N1, N3, N5, N7, N9; Dress-W00, E81, Y0000, Y11, Y17; Frog-G40, G43, G46; Stone-C00, C1, C5; Ground-W00, W1, W2, W5

There are more review projects on the C.C. Designs blog.


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Hi (June TCP Tuesday)

The  TCP Tuesday challenge is going strong. Have you made your card yet? The theme this month is to pile it on with embellishments and layers.

I used one of my favorite sets from the May release Reel Experts.  I used just a portion of the main penquins image cut with a Spellbinders Nestabilities and then added a sentiment from the Small Sayings set cut with the matching Talk to Me CutUps which I attached to a piece cut with the Luggage Tags Cutups. I added another  piece cut with the Heart Swirl, a snippet of twill ribbon and buttons for more embellishments. All the patterned paper came from the W R Memory Keepers Happy Campers pad.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and CutUps, W R Memory Keepers dp, PTI twill and button, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Copics: Penquins-YR31, YR24, W00, E81; Worm-E40, E42, E44; Shadows-BG0000, BG10

Here are the details to the challenge:

1. The first Tuesday of the month Alma will post a challenge on the Dancing in Pajamas blog. The challenge will also be posted on the TCP Splitcoaststampers forum and on the TCP Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design right on Dancing in Pajamas blog using the InLinkz button. (The challenge button will be posted on the right hand column of this blog so you don't have to search around). If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers using keyword TCPTUESJune13.
3. The Challenge will be a month-long challenge and you can play as many times as you like during that month.
4. Cards and projects must have at least one Cat's Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die in the project.
5. On the First Monday of the Month a winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and crowned Swanky Stamper.
6. The Swanky Stamper will not only be acknowledged as the Swankiest Stamper for that month, but will also receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND... They'll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig AND as snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The winner will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and this Blog. 

I hope you will join us this month! There is a chance for a fabulous prize and recognition of your superior card making skills!

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