Party On!

This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is to create a party favor.  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 went with Winter Tree Set, some Verve stamps, ribbon and pearls. 

I made 8 templates and plan to put these on the table for Christmas dinner.  First, though, I need to buy ribbon to finish the other 7 :>)
Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's party favors, then play along!!! Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Template - Creations by AR (Winter Tree Set), Stamps - Verve, Tag die - Cuttlebug, Ribbon from my stash, CS - PTI.

Have Car Need Gas $

Today is the fourth Your Next Stamp challenge and it is a sketch!  My favorite type of challenge.  Sketches are perfect to get the mojo flowing.  Play along with us on SCS or link up on the Your Next Stamp blog.

You may just win a gift certificate to the YNS store. You can use any stamps you would like - although we would love to see YNS.

Recently, a friend mentioned that her soon to be 16 year old daughter said she was going to have to ask everyone to get her gas gift cards for her Birthday so she could afford to drive. Well, that seems like a boring gift, so what better way to dress it up then to make your own packaging.

I made a slider box following the SCS tutorial. I made a couple changes on my box - first, I used cardboard for the slider frame (regular cs didn't lie flat when I opened the drawer) and second, I made my tag 2" wide so that I could tape the slider frame to the box frame (once again so that the frame would not go anywhere!). The cutie on the top of my box is Vroom! from Your Next Stamp.

Be sure to play along with this great sketch from Kerri...if you use YNSs on your project you may just be choosen as our monthly Rockin' YNS Guest Designer. Wouldn't you love to see you name in the spotlight and win a YNS prize pack???!!! Check out all the details in the SCS forum HERE!!!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamp:  Vroom! (YNS), CS - PTI, PP - Simple Stories, Ribbon and Buttons - PTI, Copics, Ink - Momento, and Die - Nestabilites Curved Rectangles.

A Cute Monster?

CAS
cute
and
for the boys!

Here is one image that was just way too cute to pass up the last time I went shopping at Pollycraft.  The Pollycraft store is now closed, but many of the images are now available at Little Miss Muffet Stamps.

My card is based on Red Hot Stampers Sketch Challenge Blog - Sketch #38 - This is a "new to me" blog and I was inspired by this sketch from several weeks ago.

Plus, the latest challenge at Little Miss Muffet Stamps is Loads of Layers -  I have 'em, even on a CAS card - all those circles were layered on, the banner is layered as is the center panel ;>)
It is also for the Birthday challenge on Moving Along with the Times - which happens to be celebrating a 3rd Birthday!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Pollycraft (Lil' Monster), Sentiment - Lil' Inker Designs, Banner die - Lil' Inker Designs, Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug, CS - PTI and SU, Ink - SU, glossy accents and copics.

On the Boardwalk

It's time to play along with the CAS challenge team at The Outlawz.  Spring has ended and summer officially began on June 20th. This week's challenge is to make a CAS card with a summer theme. You can use flowers, beaches, camping or any other stamps that make you think of summer.

My first thought was of flip flops and the beach...my pairs of Your Next Stamp (Seasonal Icons 2) flip flops are on the boardwalk...

It is the perfect time to join in the challenges on Outlawz (it is free!) because there is a big 2,000 member party going on.  That means extra prizes and lots of fun!!!

This one is also for the Raise the Bar June Summer Challenge and the Creative Card Crew 1-2-3 Challenge (1 - twine knot, 2 - words and 3 - flip flops!).

Smiles,
Julie
Details: Image - Seasonal Icons 2 (Your Next Stamp), CS - PTI, Copics, Twine - The Twinery, glossy accents and Tim Holtz embossing folder.

SFYTT - June Reminder

There is just one week left to play along with June's SFYTT.   I could not resist inking up Cutie Cat again from this month's sponsor Lil' Inker Designs.

Here is the sketch...it's a good one!

Now on to all the challenge details...

Head on over to Jen's blog and link up your own take on the sketch.

Smiles,

Julie

Details: Stamps - Lil' Inker Designs (2 Cute Ink - Cutie Cat), Flag Die - Lil' Inker Designs, CS - PTI, ribbon from my stash, Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug, Ink - SU, and copics.

Christmas Case Study

This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is a fun one!  CASE one of your old Christmas cards or one from a blogging friend.  I headed on over to Leigh Ann's blog, Paper Chase.  She has been one of my biggest supporters from early on and she always has the best layouts on her cards.  I came across this one...

(Leigh Ann's card)

And here is my CASE of her card...

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's creations, then get started on your Christmas crafting!   Link up your own CASE study and you may get to be a guest designer for a week in October.

My card is also for the ABC Christmas Challenge - "L"yrics and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" comes to mind with this one.  
Smiles,
Julie
Details for my card:  Image - Whimsie Doodles (Christmas Greetings), PP - Simple Stories, CS - PTI, Copics, Twine and Button from Stash.

Anything Goes - YNS Challenge

Today is the third Your Next Stamp challenge!!!  ANYTHING GOES!!!  How easy is that???!!!  Play along with us on SCS or link up on the Your Next Stamp blog.

You may just win a gift certificate to the YNS store. You can use any stamps you would like - although we would love to see YNS.

Well, you know how I love scene cards, so I created a mini scene with the clouds.  Love these cloud dies from YNS. 

My card is based on sketch #110 from Twisted Card Sketches.  The twist this week is "couple"...well, I am going to interpret that as I used a couple cloud dies on this one (1 big, 1 small).  Stretching it a bit I guess, but at the very least I want to give the TCS girls credit for the LO - I saw it and immediately thought of clouds to go with Rainy Day Fhiona. 
Also, the Paper Players are celebrating their 100th challenge!  Whoo Hoo!!!  I remember when I first started checking out their challenges (back when the challenges were on Lesley's blog).  The 100th challenge is to choose any previous challenge, so I am going with #37 Spring has Sprung...umbrellas always make me think of "April showers bring May flowers"!

Check out the rest of the Challenge Team for inspiration and then join us over on SCS or the blog! We don't want you to miss the fun!!! You may just win a gift certificate to YNS!!!

PLUS if you use YNSs on your project you may just be choosen as our monthly Rockin' YNS Guest Designer. Wouldn't you love to see you name in the spotlight and win a YNS prize pack???!!! Check out all the details in the SCS forum HERE!!!

What about a SALE???!!!  Enjoy 15% off your entire order in the Your Next Stamp Store- this includes sale items!

How about a chance to WIN a YNS Stamp???!!!  Head on over to the YNS blog and answer this question:  

If you could pick any YNS stamp as a prize which one would you pick?    You have until June 22, 2012 to play along CLICK HERE to head over to the blog!

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Stamp - Rainy Day Fhiona (YNS), Sentiment - Ellie Loves Lattes(YNS), Cloud Dies - YNS, Banner Die - Lil' Inker Designs, Ink - Momento (Tuxedo Black), CS - PTI, Glossy Accents, copics, PP - MME and embossing folder - Cuttlebug.

So Are You Ready to Hop???!!!

Are you ready for some fun this morning?

The Whimsie Doodles divas are celebrating the launch of Emily Martina's new blog, so grab your coffee or wake up beverage of choice...
and let's get started on our hop! 

Not only will you see some wonderful eye candy as you hop, you will also get this super cute image from Whimsie Doodles for free!

Visit all of the following blogs (in no particular order) and retrieve a special letter from each one. Then look at the jumbled letters  and unscramble them! The word scramble solution will be your special discount code* for the Whimsie Doodles store, and this  super cute image will be yours!

*The code will be good until midnight Friday June 23, 2012!

Emily Martina

Julie Elak {that's me!}

Kim O'Connell

Laura Nehring

Marlene Gomez

Melyssa Connolly

Min Kwiatkowski

Nikki Tanner

Paula Riley

Here is the eye candy sponsored by the letter "S"...

Now it is time to hop, hop, hop!!!

Visit the divas to collect your letters and  see some super mojo inspiring projects!

And before you leave, in case you missed it here is one of your letters...


"S"miles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Whimsie Doodles (Blogger), CS - PTI, Button - stash, Cuttlebug embossing folder, and copics.

Good Luck

Don't you just love pennants?  I was inspired by a card Tracy Schultz made found HERE.

I made this card for my boss who recently moved to a different department.  Gator and Friends seemed like the perfect image to send someone best wishes from a group of people (I am the {self} designated card maker for my department).

Note: I finally bought a pennant die (and a coordinating set) from Lil' Inker Designs - the pole won me over and the sentiments in the stamp set cover every occassion - it was hard to resist :>).  

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Gator and Friends (Whimsie Doodles), Dies - Lil' Inker Designs, copics and CS - PTI and SU.

Summer Fun Continues

There is lots going on at Your Next Stamp...

First up, there is still time to link up your Summer creation to this post on the YNS blog.  Remember, you do not need to use YNS stamps to play along.  You have until midnight on Wednesday, June 20th.  One random participant will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the YNS store.

Next, how about a SALE???!!! Enjoy 15% off your entire order in the Your Next Stamp Store- this includes sale items!

How about a chance to WIN a YNS Stamp???!!! Head on over to the YNS blog and answer this question:

If you could pick any YNS stamp as a prize which one would you pick? You have until June 22, 2012 to play along CLICK HERE to head over to the blog!

Smiles,
Julie

A CAS Guy Card, Plus It's Cute

It's time to play along with the CAS challenge team at The Outlawz.  Today in the USA we are celebrating Father's Day. In honor of the men in our lives, this week's challenge is to create a CAS masculine card.

I created a frame with scrap paper to use as a stencil, then stamped the background.  Clean and Simple, masculine, and I still managed to get some cute in there! 

My card is also for the DYSU #76 Boys/Men Masculine challenge.

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Image - Single Turtles (Whimsie Doodles), Background Stamp - Tin Types (PTI), Ink - Vivid, and copics.

Flowers and a Frog

My family has a fascination with frogs.  I don't mind frogs, so long as they are not in my house and my dog is not trying to chase them.  Lucky for my dog there are not any poisonous varieties native to Connecticut.  Lucky for the frogs they have rescuers in the form of my sons.  I won't even get into the details of what the frogs do when my dog catches them - let's just say it's icky and the frogs always get away safely!

Frogs can even be cute, especially when they are on paper and holding a flower.

I saw the June sketch from Artful Delight and couldn't resist playing along.  Plus, it was designed by Karen B so that is a double bonus!  

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Pollycraft (frog), Sentiment - Lil' Inker Designs (Sentiment Flag Additions), Die - Lil' Inker Designs (Sentiment Flag Original - I didn't run it all the way thru my Cuttlebug and then flipped it and didn't run it all the way thru again to create a banner), CS - PTI, Ink - Vivid (olive), Brads - SU (when was the last time you used brads???),  copics, PP - MME, and ribbon - PTI.

Reindeer Games

Are you ready for a game?  This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is TIC-TAC-TOE - use 3 in a row on a Christmas crafty project and you may just win a prize from the Digi Doodle Shop!!!

I was lucky enough to get to play with with image Cecil Wrapped Up from the Digi Doodle Shop!

Do you see how I got Tic Tac Toe? I admit, a little subtle, but there is yellow in there, a button and the sentiment is an SRM sticker!

My card is based on Card Patterns sketch #169.

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's creations for inspiration and then get crafting!

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Image - Digi Doodle Shop (Cecil Wrapped Up), CS - PTI, Button and Ribbon (PTI), PP - Cosmo Cricket, and copics.

Summer!

Today is the second Your Next Stamp challenge on Splitcoast Stampers!  I am the hostess and I would love to have you stop by to say hi AND play along!!!

The second challenge is an easy one - I know it is on all our minds...SUMMER.  Next Wednesday is the first day of summer, so pull out those stamps that remind you of fun in the sun and get creative.  Then add your project to SCS with the keyword YNSC2 OR to make it even easier you can link up your creation on the YNS blog.  You may just with a gift certificate to the YNS store.  You can use any stamps you would like - although we would love to see YNS. 

Did you notice, I am jumping on a trend.  There is NEON on my card, well, as close to neon as I will probably ever get.  My card features lots of glossy accents and bling along with the flip flops from Seasonal Icons 2 - there are 4 great summer images in this set.

That bling is perfect for Top Tip Tuesday's 78 challenge Sparkles Galore.

Check out the rest of the Challenge Team for inspiration and then join us over on SCS! We don't want you to miss the fun!!! You may just win a gift certificate to YNS!!!

PLUS if you use YNSs on your project you may just be choosen as our monthly Rockin' YNS Guest Designer. Wouldn't you love to see you name in the spotlight and win a YNS prize pack???!!! Check out all the details in the SCS forum HERE!!!

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Stamp - Seasonal Icons 2 (YNS), Sentiment - Harold's Alphabet (Lawn Fawn), CS - PTI, Glossy Accents, rhinestones from my stash and copics.

Pinwheels for You

Here is an easy cheerful project with minimal stamping...

The pinwheels are made with the Lil' Inker Designs mini pinwheel die.  I had a helper, one of my sons did all the cuttlebug cutting.  Once the pinwheels were put together (super easy) I added each to a skewer using glue dots.  I punched a circle from the PP and used that to cover up the back of the pinwheel and hide all the glue dots.  Originally I was going to make my own greenery for the bouquet and purchase moss or something to cover a styrofoam base.  On the way to the craft store though I decided it would be much easier and less expensive to just buy a plant and dress it up!

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  PP - MME, Die - Mini Pinwheel Lil' Inker Designs, Sentiment - Verve, and brads from my stash, plus skewers and a chocolate bar from my kitchen :>)

Sweet Sweet Sweet

It's time to play along with the CAS challenge team at The Outlawz.  This week it is all about the fruits of our creative labors. We challenge you to make a CAS project with a fruit theme. It can be the stamp you choose, the paper, a die cut...maybe you are even inspired by a fruit named ink or cardstock?

Well, is there anything sweeter than "Watermelon" from Whimsie Doodles.  This cutie was perfect for this challenge because she is sweet, sweet, sweet.

Be sure to create your own fruit inspired project and link it up at The Outlawz.

Smiles,
Julie
Details: Stamp - Watermelon (Whimsie Doodles), Sentiment - Verve, Ink - Momento, copics, CS - PTI, Ribbon - PTI, and Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Christmas Fun

Have you started getting ready for Christmas?  Now is your chance to start and get the chance to win a prize at the same time.  This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is ANYTHING GOES!  Easy peasy!

My card is based on this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch #160. 
Plus I was inspired by a song for the latest Creative Card Crew Challenge, can you guess which one...Santa Claus is Coming to Town (in about 199 days!).

I also wanted to share how I got the green pattern paper to match my image.  I did a stamping no no and colored up my image before I had decided what I was going to do with it.  Usually, at the very least I have patterned paper in mind when I color, but not this time.  Soooo once it was time to put my card together I realized that I did not have any bright green or red patterened paper.  I did have some lighter green paper from Basic Grey (in a scrap pile no less), so I used my green copic over it to get it to match - super easy and I didn't have to buy paper.  Here is a pic with the original green pp at the bottom.

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's creations for inspiration and then get crafting! 

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Image - Whimsie Doodles ('Santa Express), Senitment - PTI, CS - PTI, Copics, Twine - TheTwinery, PP - Basic Grey, Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug, and Button - PTI.

Let the Games Begin

Today marks the first Your Next Stamp challenge on Splitcoast Stampers - hooray!  

The first challenge is a color combo.  Pull out your stamps (any manufacturer will do - although we would love to see YNS), ink 'em up, and then create a project using Pink, Green and Orange. 
Doesn't it sound like a happy combo?
How about a party?

This card features YNS' "Rosa from Mexico" which is on sale right now!
Check out the rest of the Challenge Team for inspiration and then join us over on SCS!  We don't want you to miss the fun!!!  You may just win a gift certificate to YNS!!!

PLUS if you use YNSs on your project you may just be choosen as our monthly Rockin' YNS Guest Designer.  Wouldn't you love to see you name in the spotlight and win a YNS prize pack???!!!  Check out all the details in the SCS forum HERE!!!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamp - Rosa from Mexico (YNS), Sentiment - Harold's Alphabet (Lawn Fawn), CS - PTI, PP - MME, ribbon from my stash.

A Smile Sort of Card

I have another new cute Whimsie Doodles image to share with you today...let me introduce "Lady Bug Day"!

This is the sort of image that could be used for so many occasions or just to send a smile!  I definitely need to send out more cards to say "hi".

   

My card is based on Card Patterns sketch #168.  Always good sketches to be found there.

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Lady Bug Day (Whimsie Doodles), CS - PTI, Ink - Momento, Sentiment - Harold's Alphabet (Lawn Fawn), Ribbon - PTI, Copics and Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Whimsie Doodles' June Release

It's June release time at Whimsie Doodles!

Are you ready for some SWEET images?
How about "Yummy"???

Such a cutie...the LO was inspired by a card I saw by Joanne Basile.  I even stole her idea for the crimping.

Do you see the dimension on the watermelon and bows - I got the idea of using my embosser on the back of part of the image from this card by Cheryl.  Subtle but effective.

 

Now be sure to check out the rest of the DT {see the sidebar} and the Whimsie Doodle's blog, then start shopping at the store!

Smiles,

Julie
Details: Image - (Yummy) Whimsie Doodles, CS - PTI, Copics, Ribbon - PTI, PP - MME.

Whimsie Doodles Sneak Peek

The Whimsie Doodles June release is tomorrow. 

So what do you think it is?

Stop back tomorrow for the full reveal!

Smiles, Julie

Happy Happy Day!

Not only is today's card "happy", I am happy to announce that I was asked to be a guest designer this month on the CAS challenge team at The Outlawz.  What a wonderful surprise to receive the e-mail asking me to join the sweet gals on the CAS challenge team.   Each Sunday this month I will be sharing a clean and simple creation. 

If you have never heard of The Outlawz now is your chance to check out the forum.  There are daily challenges and lots of great people, not to mention prizes and it is FREE to join!

Sooooo, the first challenge for June is to create a CAS card with a happy or joyful theme and colors to celebrate the start of summer! 

The frame was created with my nesties Label 1 and the stamp is "Seasonal Icons 2" from Your Next Stamp.  Happy, Sweet and Simple!  Now go to your happy place and create a happy card, then link it up HERE.

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - Season Icons 2 (YNS), Ink - Momento, copics, CS - PTI, Twine - The Twinery, Die - Labels 1, and Tim Holtz embossing folder.

Sweet Summer Thanks

A couple weeks ago I received an unexpected e-mail, the type that made me stop and ask myself if I really was reading the e-mail correctly.  Today is the first Saturday of the month...many of you may realize that is when Jen Del Muro's monthly Sketch For You To Try is revealed.  I am so very excited and honored to be June's guest designer.  

I have been a fan of SFYTT for a looong time. Jen Del Muro's blog was one of the first blogs that I found when I ventured out onto the web to look for ideas.  This card is dedicated to Jen, Susan Liles, and everyone on the SFYTT team.  Thank you for having me as a guest this month, you really did make me smile!

I was lucky enough to get to play with goodies from this month's sponsor Lil' Inker Designs. 

 The cat, sentiments, and flag die are all from Lil' Inker Designs.  Let me just add that I bought a few more goodies as I was checking out the store.   I highly recommend heading over there and browsing, there are so many innovative dies, not to mention cute stamps!

So are you ready to play along?  Here is the sketch...

Now on to all the challenge details...

Head on over to Jen's blog and link up your own take on the sketch.

This card is also for the Moxie Fab World Gingham Challenge - gingham clouds add a wee bit of whimsy (or at least that is what I was aiming for!).

Phew...thanks for staying with me until the end! 

Smiles,

Julie

Details:  Stamps - Lil' Inker Designs (2 Cute Ink - Cutie Cat), PP - Simple Stories, CS - PTI, Sentiment Flag Die - Lil' Inker Designs, Cloud Die - Your Next Stamp,  Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black, Button - PTI, Copics, and twine from May Arts.

CSAYL - Monochromatic???!!!

It's Friday, time to get ready for Christmas.  This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is to create a holiday project with a  monochromatic color scheme. 

Our sponsor this week is Perfect Presentation. One participant will win a template of their choice.



Ummmm, did I mention this is a challenge?  One color - yikes!  I almost went with my ole standby aqua, but then saw that I had tons of patterned paper in a shade of red and a candy cane came to mind.

Tons of sewing on this one - every stripe is a different strip of paper (I kept thinking of Amy Tsururta as I did all this sewing - :>) ).

Did you notice that my "tag" is really a holder - perfect for cocoa (or a gift card or candy bar)!  Yes, I know June is really not the time of year to think about hot chocolate (but frozen hot chocolate would be delish!).  This is the appropriately named template "Tag Pouch" from Perfect Presentation - it is just a $1, what a steal! 

Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's creations!  Then link your own project for a chance to win.

Smiles,
Julie

Details: Image - Whimsie Doodles (Snowman), template - Tag Pouch (Perfect Presentation), PP - MME, CS - PTI and SU, copics and stash button and ribbon.