Cake Time

Today is sketch challenge time on the Bugaboo Challenge blog and I am playing along with the team.

Thanks go out to Bugaboo for asking me to play along with some of the challenges this month and for selecting me as December's Biggest Fan!  Of course I had to finish the month off with a penguin image - Penguin Birthday Tall Cake.

Smiles,

Julie

Details: Image Bugaboo, PP, Ink - Momento, copics and sentiment - Simon Says Stamp.

Warm Winter Wishes

I am playing along with the Bugaboo Design Team today for a theme challenge - Winter/Holiday.

My card features Snowman Star and is based on the latest Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.


Thanks to Bugaboo for asking me to play along with some of the challenges this month and thanks for selecting me as December's Biggest Fan!

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Image Bugaboo, PP - Simple Stories, Ink - Momento, copics and sentiment - Verve.

Cup of Cheer

Need a last minute gift card holder?  My children and I made these for their teachers, but each would be perfect to hold giftcards for anyone. 

These were made using the Cup of Cocoa and Tea Set cut files from My Scrap Chick.  Everything was cut out with my Cricut and then the kids (or at least one of them) helped layer, glue and sponge ink on the marshmallows.

Really quick and a fun presentation for gift cards.

Have a great day -  and good luck to any of the last minute Christmas crafters out there.  Today my plans are to start baking.  One of my sons and I were already searching the internet for tasty recipes this morning.

Smiles,

Julie

More Smiles

It's Your Next Stamp Fun Friday time! This month's theme is Anything Goes.  I went with CAS and those cute critters from the December release.

 

Smiley Happy Critter Crew Set One and the Balloon Trio Die Set, plus some BoBunny pp.

Be sure to check out the YNS blog - I know that there is lots of cuteness to be found!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Julie

A Penguin of Course!

At the end of November I received a surprising e-mail...I was selected as Bugaboo's Biggest Fan for December!  What an honor - I guess the word is out that I am addicted to the penguins :>)

I am playing along with the Bugaboo Design Team today for a challenge - a fun game of Bingo.  This one will take less time than a regular game of bingo, you only need to get 3 in a row.

My bingo is right down the middle, Distressing (with ink), Red & Green, and a Bugaboo image - a cute penguin of course, Little Penguin Winter - Reindeer.

Thanks to Bugaboo for asking me to play along with some of the challenges this month and thanks for selecting me as December's Biggest Fan!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image Bugaboo, PP - Simple Stories, Ink - PTI and Ranger, copics and Die - YNS Whatnots.

December 2012 YNS Release Hop - Full of Smiles

 

Your Next Stamp is offering a mini release this month featuring a new stamp collection from Cory Designs called Smiley Happy Critters! The first set is SO CUTE and guaranteed to make you smile! I know I smiled when I opened up my package and have not stopped!

 

There is also a new die collection called YNS Whatnots! YNS Whatnots Seasons Set One is jam packed full of small seasonal dies which are awesome for dressing up your cards and tags! Both of these products are available NOW in the Your Next Stamp Store! Warning…both of these collections are highly addictive so be sure to start your collection now as there will be lots more coming in 2013!  Yay!!!
 

My blog is the first stop on the release hop, which starts today and lasts until Saturday, December 15th at midnight EST. There are 3 prize packs hidden amongst the DT Blogs, and you must comment on all of the blogs to win! The winners will be posted on the Your Next Stamp Blog Sunday, December 16th.
 

Now on to my project for today...CAS plus a cute image - one of my favorite combos. 

Another great combo?  The new stamps combined with the small banner die.  I broke up the sentiment on some by only inking part to fit it on the banner.

 

 

 

The new stamps really do make me smile and I went a little wild and ended up with a gift set.

Now, these really are CAS, but I have to say that the "S" is a little deceptive, because I actually needed to recolor 1/2 my images after one of my assistants could not resist touching the glossy accented eyes.  Let's just say that I am going to have plenty of projects in the future with googly eyed cuties and it's okay because they look adorable with googly eyes.

To make this release even more fun and to let you buy more crafting goodies be sure to check out the Hop Special going on at the YNS Store! Enter code YNSDEC2012 to receive 15% off your entire order!
 

Now it’s time to hop on over to Amy's incredible blog for more smiles, but don’t forget to leave a comment before you go! Thank you so much for stopping by and happy hopping :)


Smiles,

Julie

Details:  Stamp - YNS Smiley Happy Criters, Die - Whatnot Seasons Set One, copics, white CS and BoBunny Dot paper. 

Sweet Christmas Tents

Let the Your Next Stamp sneak peeks continue!

 

This month's release is a mini one, featuring a new stamp collection from Cory Designs called Smiley Happy Critters (be sure to stop back tomorrow to see how cute they are) and a new die collection called YNS Whatnots. 

 

I have a "sweet" project to share with you today using the new die set. 

 

There are 12 dies in the set and I pulled out the heart, snowflake, man, and circle mini border to create mini 2" x 3" tent packages. 

 

These are just big enough to hold a few sweets - in this case M&Ms. 

 

So quick and easy, I simply die cut openings on a few and then used the die cuts to dress up others.  The circle mini border tops the flaps with embroidery floss to hold each closed.

 

Here are the details in case you would like to make some of your own.  Cut a 2" x 7.75" strip of paper and score at 3", 3.75" and 6.75".  Then fold where scored and decorate, super easy!  I used small Wilton bags and filled each with M&Ms.  I placed a bit of glue inside each strip at the bottom of the tent to hold the bags in place.  Then folded down the top and tied floss around to hold the flap down. 

Be sure to stop by the YNS blog to see all the cute creations by the rest of the DT.

 

Smiles,

Julie

 

Details:  Dies - YNS Whatnots, Corner rounder punch, DMC embroidery floss and Recollections patterned paper, plus M&Ms and Wilton mini treat bags.

YNS Fun Friday

It's Your Next Stamp Fun Friday!  This is my first time joining in the fun.  Fun Friday is a way for us to showcase the YNS cuteness and share ideas for using the stamps. Each month there is a different theme and this month's is Anything Goes - Karen is taking it easy on us!

With Christmas quickly approaching I am in holiday mode so I couldn't resist making a Christmas Card using Fhiona's Snowman. 

My card is based on December's SFYTT and full of Simple Stories paper. 

Be sure to check out the YNS blog - I know that there is lots of cuteness to be found!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Julie

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November

One of a Kind

I am playing along with this week's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch.  AND adding a card to the gift set that I am working on so you know there will be Cosmo Cricket paper on it... 

I bought the MFT set - Paper Dolls and the coordinating die at the request of my daughter.  She is a good stamp shopper already!

Here is the sketch to play along:


Smiles,
Julie

Purrrfect

I am squeaking in my take on the November SFYTT (and thinking of Alyssa S. as I do so!)!

This one combines a Pollycraft image with some of the Cosmo Cricket paper that you will be seeing lots of over the next month!

Here is the sketch so you can play along on this final day of November.



Smiles,
Julie

Snow to Go!

It's  YNS' last challenge of 2012! To fit with all the holiday baking we will be doing, our challenge this week is a recipe...throw the following into your papercrafting creation: Kraft, Ric Rac and Glitter.

Join us this week and you will have the chance to win a YNS gift certificate. If you use YNS stamps you may just be our next guest designer! You have until December 5th to play along.

Remember you do not need to use YNS stamps, BUT you may just win some!!!

I mixed together kraft, ric rac and glitter with the stamp set Believe in Magic, the Perfect Presentation To Go template and some yummy Cosmo Cricket paper to get this...



Now on to the fine print, the YNS Challenge Guidelines...
1. Every Thursday we post a new YNS Challenge.
2. You have the entire month to play along.
3. Link your challenge entry to the YNS Blog post and/or to this SCS challenge thread.
4. If you would like to post your challenge card in the SCS gallery please use the the code YNSC26.
5. You do not have to use YNS Stamps but if have some of our stamps we would love to see you ink up!
6. Every month we will pick a lucky participant to be our special YNS Rockin Guest Designer!!! Our Rockin' YNS Guest Designers get a Your Next Stamp!!! That's right, you'll get your hands on some yummy YNS rubber stamps before anyone else and you'll get to join us for our new release blog hop and sneak peeks! FUN!!! Plus you'll get the entire month of challenges in advance so you can play along with the YNS challenge team!!!!

I can't wait to see how your recipe turns out!

Smiles,
Julie

Birthday Fun

I have made a last minute decision to make several card sets for Christmas.  This is where the "last minute crafter" name comes from.  I am forever deciding I should make presents at the last minute.  I have lost count of the number of times that I am crafting in the car on the way to a party - sigh.  I should have learned my lesson by now, but alas, I have not.  Worse case scenario I will have to go shopping at the last minute!

Today's card features a cutie from Bugaboo.  Any guesses as to the image?  It is something that I am somewhat partial to lately...

Yep, a penguin.  I can't help it.  They are too C-U-T-E.  I may just need to get every penguin image from Bugaboo!  My thought for this set is to make a variety of cards all with the same patterned paper pad from Cosmo Cricket.  This card is actually #2 for the set, so I am about a quarter of the way done.

My card is based on sketch #124  from Bugaboo.
 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Smiles,
Julie

To Die For

It's the last Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge for 2012. The challenge this week is to die for...use die cuts on your creation.

We are sponsored by Fred, She Said Designs, which has a ton of wonderful digis to choose from.

I pulled out my watercolor pencils for this one...

Be sure to stop by the CSAYL blog and check out what the rest of the design team did with all the great digis from Fred, She Said Designs!

Smiles,
Julie
Details: Image - Fred She Said (Catchin' Flakes), CS - PTI, Die cut banner - Simon Says Stamp, watercolor pencils and sentiment - Verve.

Sending Love

This week's Your Next Stamp challenge is a sketch.  Play along and you will be in the running for a gift certificate to the YNS store. YNS stamps are not required but of course we love to see 'em!

 

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US and I have a card featuring Brooke from the USA, the perfect way to say Happy Thanksgiving and send a little love.

 
Yesterday I spent part of the day with my sons at school to help out with their Kindergarten Pow Wow. Their costumes didn't exactly look like Brooke's as theirs were made out of pillow cases - so cute! 

Brooke is colored up with copics and layered on Cosmo Cricket paper and the die cut band is from Spellbinders - new stamp, new paper and I am using the die that I have had for quite awhile for the first time.  I layered the die cut and colored the kraft paper with copics as I did not have the exact shade of red cs.

Here is the sketch to play along - a great one by Peggy.

Head on over to the YNS blog to check out the rest of the creations by my sweet teammates and link up your own project. You are also welcome to link your project to our SCS Forum and into the SCS gallery using the keyword YNSC25. If you use a YNS product then add the keywords YNS and yournextstamp.

Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,
Julie

Christmas Crayons

There are just 2 challenges left this year for Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week's challenge is to create a gift set for a teacher.  Our sponsor is Creations by AR and one participant will receive 2 templates of their choice.

We were lucky enough to get to play with a template and I chose the Crayon Box and card set...let's all just say awww in sync, because it is sooo stinkin' cute!

 

Christmas crayons - does it get any more fun than that???

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's creations, then play along!!!

Smiles,
Julie

Fishy Bubbles

This week's Your Next Stamp challenge is ANYTHING GOES!

I want to see your next post linked up over on the YNS blog.  One random participant will receive a gift certificate to the YNS store.  YNS stamps are not required but of course we love to see 'em!

My card features Snorkel Fun Fishy, lots of punched circles and embossing.

Head on over to the YNS blog to check out the rest of the creations by my sweet teammates and link up your own project. You are also welcome to link your project to our SCS Forum and into the SCS gallery using the keyword YNSC24. If you use a YNS product then add the keywords YNS and yournextstamp.

Join us and you may just win a YNS gift certificate!

Smiles,
Julie

Christmas CAS

Have you started Christmas crafting?  This week's CSAYL challenge is an easy one and we would love to see you play along - ANYTHING GOES!

I went CAS this week with a cutie from Your Next Stamp - Believe in the Magic.

My card was inspired by this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches - I am missing the deadline of course, but I like the simplicity.
 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,
Julie

Thanks in Aqua

It is time for a challenge from Your Next Stamp  and this time we are looking for a thank you card.  With the holidays fast approaching I am sure you will need a few thank you cards, so what better time then now to stock up. 

Today I am sending my favorite crafting colors your way (truth be told it is my favorite color for everything!). 

 

 

My card features flowers from Ann Ellis Sunflower (the set happens to be on sale right now!) and a sentiment from Seasonal Icons Two.  The layout is based on sketch #82 from Sketchbook Saturday.

Head on over to the YNS blog to check out the rest of the creations by my sweet teammates and link up your own project. You are also welcome to link your project to our SCS Forum and into the SCS gallery using the keyword YNSC23. If you use a YNS product then add the keywords YNS and yournextstamp.

Join us and you may just win a YNS gift certificate! 

Smiles,
Julie

Gift Giving Season

What are your favorite Christmas colors?  Use them on a project and share with us for this week's CSAYL challenge!!!

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Digi Stamps - Yay!!!


One random participant will win...

Well, if you have stopped by before then you know that aqua mist is my favorite color. This time around I combined it with a darker aqua from SU. 

 Since Christmas is fast approaching it is time to start stocking up on gift boxes.  This one is decorated with Bugaboo's Winter Penguin Star.

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Bugaboo, Template - Perfect Presentation, Ribbon - Offray, CS - SU and PTI, Sentiment - PTI, Ink - SU, Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug and copics.

Red, White and Teal!

It's November 1st - where has the year gone???!!!  Christmas is fast approaching and when I saw the latest color challenge from Your Next Stamp - Red, White and Teal - Christmas immediately came to mind.  

 

My card features the cute penguin from the Penguin Greetings set and the background paper was made using the trees from The Great Outdoors set. 

Head on over to the YNS blog to check out the rest of the creations by my sweet teammates and link up your own project. You are also welcome to link your project to our SCS Forum and into the SCS gallery using the keyword YNSC22. If you use a YNS product then add the keywords YNS and yournextstamp.

Join us and you may just win a YNS gift certificate!

My card is based on iSpy Sketch #39 - I really kept to the sketch with this one!

Smiles,
Julie

Happy Day

Playing with some new goodies! 

 

The cutie is Birthday Penguin Balloon from Bugaboo and the banner die is from Simon Says Stamp.

My card is based on the latest Bugaboo sketch challenge #122.

Smiles,
Julie

Christmas Circle

It is time for another Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge and this week the challenge is to use circles on your creation!!!

This week we are sponsored by Meljen's Designs and for playing along you may just win 4 digis of
your choice!


I played with one of my favorite types of images...snowmen with the Caroling Snowmen digi. 

My card is based on the October SFYTT.

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's fab creations! Then play along - wouldn't it be great to get a head start on your Christmas crafting???!!!
 

Smiles,
Julie
 

Details: Image - Meljen's Designs (Caroling Snowmen), CS PTI, copics and PP - Simple Stories.

YNS Hop for Hope

Hello! Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Hop for Hope Blog Hop!

 

We are releasing a very special set today in honor of breast cancer awareness month. This set was created by YNS illustrator Fhiona Galloway, who is currently battling breast cancer herself. We are dedicating our hop to this very special lady, along with all of the other amazing women who are fighting this difficult fight. We have several special guests joining us so you won’t want to miss all of the gorgeous creations!

 

The Fight Like a Girl stamp set retails for $15.00 and Karen is donating $3.00 from each sale towards cancer research. Are you ready to see what I made with this adorable stamp?  I created a card based on the Divas Saturday Sketch Challenge 212.

 

 

 

Now it’s time to hop on over to Amy’s blog! Thank you so much for joining us for this special hop, and don’t forget that by purchasing this adorable set, you are helping to find a cure for this terrible disease! 

Plus, we have a special prize ($20 YNS Gift Certificate) for one lucky hop participant so be sure to leave comments along the way!

 

Julie

Details: Stamps - Fight Like a Girl stamp set, PP - MME, CS - PTI, Embossing - Cuttlebug, Heart Die - Cuttlebug, banner die - Lil' Inker Designs and copics.

 

Sketch Time

Looking for something to jump start your next project?  How about a Sketch Challenge from Your Next Stamp?  Whenever I am at a loss, a sketch provides the best starting point.   

Here is the sketch this week and it contains a banner, one of my favorite go tos lately.   Create your own take on the sketch and link it up here...you may just win a gift certificate to the YNS store!

One thing to keep in mind, you are not limited to a card with this sketch, how about a scrapbook page or in my case, a tag...

 

Remember, you are not required to use YNS' stamps, but you may just win some. Just think of the cuteness you will receive if you win a YNS prize pack!!! Check out the YNS blog for all the details.

Head on over to the YNS blog to check out the rest of the creations by my sweet teammates and link up your own project. You are also welcome to link your project to our SCS Forum and into the SCS gallery using the keyword YNSC21. If you use a YNS product then add the keywords YNS and yournextstamp.

The other challenge design team members and I can't wait to see what you create!!!

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Stamps - YNS (Mini Ellie Loves to Skate), Die - Tags Galore 2 Die pssst, it is sale priced right now!, CS - PTI, Ink - Momento and PP - MME.

Just a Little Santa

This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is to use a classic Christmas color scheme - red and green.

We are sponsered by Limited Runs Digis!

 Little Santa is making an appearance and he is surrounded by Simple Stories paper.  Yes, for the second day in a row I am using the same paper.  Once it was out, I couldn't stop using it!

 

 

My card is based on Sketchbook Saturday Challenge 81.  

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's fab creations! Then play along...I see a finished Christmas card in your future!

 

Smiles, Julie



Details: Image - Limited Run Digis (Little Snowman), CS- PTI, Snowflakes - Cuttlebug Die,  DMC embroidery floss, and PP - Simple Stories.