YNS September Challenge Revisited

Hi Everyone,
I am back with a second look at the Your Next Stamp September challenge!  Have you played along yet?

Stamp Set - Monster Mash
Dies - Stitching Holes Dies

Each month, there is a sketch and photo on the challenge blog to inspire YOU!!!  Take inspiration from one or both and then play along for a chance to win!!!  Check out the challenge blog for more details.

Smiles,

Julie

Just a Mini Slurp

Little Miss Muffet Stamps bi-weekly challenge time and this week it is time to Make it Mini...as in a mini card or ATC.

How about a project life insert featuring Swings 'n Slides Slurp?

Stay in touch with Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Facebook - Join the Little Miss Muffet Stamps' group on FB and keep up to date on what is going on!  

Little Miss Muffet Store - Shop, shop, shop!!!  

Smiles,
Julie

EEK!!!!!!

It's officially autumn where I live and Halloween is just around the corner!  Time to share some fall inspiration from Your Next Stamp!

My card is all about the spooky holiday next month...my children LOVE Halloween and LOVE the spooky side of it, while I like the cute side of it.  The YNS spider is the perfect stamp...scary but still cute!

Stamps - Spider from Fang-tastic Halloween and
sentiment from Ghostly Greetings
Dies - Stitching Holes Dies

I created the spider web with embroidery floss.  The YNS Stitching Holes Dies gave a great base to work off of, with evenly spaced holes.  I sewed the floss across the corner to each hole on the diagonal and then went back and wrapped the floss around each to create the web.

Be sure to head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog and check out all the creations by my teammates!  Leave a comment there for a chance to win a YNS prize!!!

Smiles,
Julie

A Flower for You!

Little Miss Muffet Stamps inspiration time!

That's Kiki Bloom popping out of the circle!

Stay in touch with Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Facebook - Join the Little Miss Muffet Stamps' group on FB and keep up to date on what is going on!  

Little Miss Muffet Store - Shop, shop, shop!!!

Little Miss Muffet Stamps bi-weekly challenge - the latest challenge is Anything Goes - how easy is that??? Be sure to stop by and join in the fun!

Smiles,

Julie

Party On

Hi Everyone!  I am sharing another clean and simple cutie today featuring some of the new release goodies available in the YNS Store HERE,

The squirrel from Piles of Smiles is perched atop a strip created by the Air Mail Die.

It's not too late to join in the new release blog hop...you have until September 17th to hop along for a chance to win a $20.00 YNS gift certificate.  Check out this post for  all the details.

Plus, check out the YNS Store....

Smiles,
Julie

Unique Blog Hop

Hi Everyone! 

Today I am participating in the Unique Blog Hop! It's a fun way for bloggers to get to know each other, for our readers to get to know us a little better, and maybe even introduce you to some new blogs!

   

I was tagged by my friend Laura Nehring from “The Crafty Sister”.  Thank you for tagging me!!!  We have served together on several design teams over the past few years.  Her coloring skills are drool worthy, and her card style is sure to make you smile so be sure to pop on over and say hi!

    

So, now it is my turn to answer a few questions, and then tag a blogger that I admire. 

           

1. What is my style, and how does my work differ from others?

   

I describe my style as clean and cute!  Minimal layers, lots of open space, and almost always a “cute” colored image.  I love to fussy cut and frequently fussy cut while on the go...in the car when I am a passenger, in a waiting room, whenever I have a few minutes of down time.

 

Stamps - YNS Cutie Patooties and YNS Whatnot Sentiments Set Two
Dies - YNS Talk Bubbles Die Set

Stamp -YNS  Jungle Critter Crew

    

2.  What am I working on?

    

I am contemplating making Christmas cards for my mom ;>)  Otherwise I have a few images colored up and ready to find a home on a card.

     

3. How does my creative process work?

     

Truth be told it takes me forever to finish a card!  I start off with my handy dandy little notebook that I always have on me.  Whenever I have few free minutes or a craft idea pops in to my head I jot it down. 

When I am given new release stamps I typically have a page for each set and sketch out a layout for each.  Once I have a layout I grab some paper and then color images to match.  For the most part I go through the process one card at a time, but really need to change that because I think it goes a lot faster when I have multiple images ready to go and then do the cutting and assembling all at one time.  

I recently did all 49 challenges for the Splitcoast Stamper's DTGD challenges - 49 unique projects.  For this one I had a page in my notebook for each challenge, drew a sketch, then picked out papers that I stuck in the page and once I colored the image I put that in there too.  I then started assembling the cards as soon as I had the majority finished.  Phew - it was a marathon, but the notebook kept me organized and was filled up quick...I just bought a new one that has a little pocket in the front which is perfect to stick all the fussy cut images.

    

4. Why do I create?

    

I create because it makes me happy!

I have been crafting for as long as I can remember.  Painting, quilting, and now stamping.  I have a need to craft and I love the creative process.  I work with numbers all day, so stamping is a break.  Card making is relatively quick and I can finish something within minutes as opposed to the months it takes to quilt. 

    

Scene cards make me happy!

Stamps - YNS The Funny Farm Crew and
YNS Funny Farm Animal Sentiments
Die - YNS Puffy Cloud Dies

    

I am tagging a super sweet crafter who has this amazing ability to combine a bazillion stamps on one card and create scenes that will make your jaw drop!  None other than Wendy McGaffey of "Wake Up With Wendy".  Wendy and I have worked together on several design teams and first got to know one another through the Your Next Stamp DT.

  

Wendy will be continuing the Unique Blog Hop on her own blog next Monday, September 22nd... but you should definitely go check out her blog right now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Julie

YNS September Fall New Release

Hello and welcome to the Your Next Stamp September New Release Blog Hop! 

The YNS Design Team members and I have been embracing the turn to cool weather in the northern hemisphere and creating fabulous fall themed inspirations for you! You are going to FALL in love with the new dies and harvest characters!!! There are even new dies for interactive cards so that your cards can "fall" too! Everything is available now in the YNS Store HERE. 

The hop begins on Peggy's blog and if you've been hopping along, you should have come from Jen's blog. Make sure you hop around to all of the blogs featured in the link list at the bottom of this post for lots of inspiration using the new products!

Leave a comment on all of the blogs for your chance to win a $20.00 YNS gift certificate.

The lucky winner will be announced on the Your Next Stamp Blog September 18th.

Now on to the inspiration I mentioned earlier...

Stamps - Piles of Smiles and Large Paint Splatter
I stamped the splatter twice in 2 different colors to create the background

Stamps - Piles of Smiles
Dies - Airmail
I used the Airmail die as a stencil by die cutting copy paper.  Then I simply lined up the paper over my card stock and sponged on ink.  To line up the  3 rows, I scored lines on the copy paper to help keep the die straight when running it through my die machine!

You may have read that YNS is getting ready to launch a new website in October and discontinuing the Digital Stamps line. Plenty of stamps are also retiring, so NOW is the time to stock up on your wishlists! Check out all the retiring stamps HERE!

Also, back by popular demand, all YNS Gumdrops will be on sale for for 25% off between September 14 to 18. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today and hopping along with us! 

Just one last stop on the hop...but before you go, don't forget to leave a comment, then it's time to head on over and visit Karen on the Your Next Stamp blog! 

Sweet and Sneaky

Shhhh, move in a little closer. Yep, that is perfect.   I want to tell you about all the fun that is happening tomorrow.  Get some comfy shoes on and get ready to hop, hop, hop with all of us at Your Next Stamp as we will be hosting a blog hop to kick off the release of new stamps and dies!  Okay, you really don't need comfy shoes, but a comfy chair might do.

Today I am sharing a sneak peek at one of the new stamp sets being released tomorrow from Your Next Stamp!  Are you in the mood for a little sugar?  How about some Sweet new sentiments for Halloween?  If you answered yes to either question then check out the new sentiment set Ghostly Greeting!
This set may be aimed at Halloween but there are definitely a couple sentiments that you will be pulling out all year round!

Stitched Fishtail Tags Two

I decided to make a couple tags to tie off little treat bags.  Yum and Fun!

Plus, check out the YNS Store....

Smiles,
Julie

YNS September Challenge

There is a new challenge up on the Your Next Stamp challenge blog  for September!  Have you checked it out?

My card for today features one the stamp sets being retired, Ann Ellis Sunflower.  You can still pick it up in the store at a great price - 50% off!, so head on over and check it out.  Plus there are lots of other great deals to be found in the "retirement bin" in the YNS store...this is your last chance to buy some super cute stamps! 

Each month, there is a sketch and photo on the challenge blog to inspire YOU!!!  Take inspiration from one or both and then play along for a chance to win!!!  Check out the challenge blog for more details.

My inspiration comes from this month's photo - yum!  All those colors came together on my card along with the idea of "stacked" flowers.

Smiles,

Julie

Smiles All Around

Little Miss Muffet Stamps bi-weekly challenge time and you have creative freedom with this week's challenge which is Anything Goes!  

How about a bit of yellow combined with blue and the stamp Kiki's Ice Cream?

Stay in touch with Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Facebook - Join the Little Miss Muffet Stamps' group on FB and keep up to date on what is going on!  

Little Miss Muffet Store - Shop, shop, shop!!!  

Smiles,
Julie

A Little Bit of Summer

Little Miss Muffet Stamps inspiration time!

Swings 'n Slides Wagon

Stay in touch with Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Facebook - Join the Little Miss Muffet Stamps' group on FB and keep up to date on what is going on!  

Little Miss Muffet Store - Shop, shop, shop!!!

Little Miss Muffet Stamps bi-weekly challenge - the latest challenge is Oh Baby!, be sure to stop by and join in the fun!

Smiles,
Julie