Monday, January 25, 2016

Sweet Treats

This week I am hosting Splitcoast Stamper's CAS challenge and I am looking for sweet treats on your creation!   With Valentine's Day just a few weeks away, you could combine it with that, but pull out a cupcake and make it a Birthday card.   Let your creativity flow, but keep it Clean and SWEET!

Chocolate covered strawberries - YUM!!!

YNS Ingredients:   I Love Chocolate Stamp set & die set and Stitched Rectangle Die Set

Hope your week is off to a sweet start!

Smiles,
Julie

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Toucan Love

Today on the Your Next Stamp Blog we are giving you another chance to win a stamp set!   It is Feature Day and the DT is featuring creations related to LOVE.   Leave a comment on the YNS blog for your chance to win.

With Valentine's Day a few weeks away, it was the first thing I thought of with the word "love".
  
YNS Ingredients:  Jungle Critters


Ever since I saw a card created by one of the YNS challenge participants with the toucan in the tree I have wanted to give it a go.   Silly me never even realized that the tree in the stamp set was designed for he bird to sit in!
Nothing like a pink toucan in love!


Don't forget to head on over to the Your Next Stamp Feature Day post and leave a comment.   Which stamp set would you choose if you won???

Have a great day!
Smiles,
Julie

Friday, January 22, 2016

Cupid Calling

 Ready for a new challenge?

Your Next Stamp's Challenge #31 starts today and there is a new sketch and color combo to choose from.   Plus chances to win a YNS store gift certificate.   

Yes, you read that right...chanceS to win.    We are started an additional Social Media aspect to our challenge.  If your challenge creation features YNS products, then take our social media mini challenge to be entered in an extra prize drawing!   
In addition to the inlinkz link up on the YNS blog, add your challenge creation to Instagram with "#yournextstamp" and "ynschallenge31", the YNS Facebook page, and/or your SplitcoastStampers gallery with keyword "yournextstamp" and"ynschallenge31" and be sure to mention the YNS Challenge.   There will be a separate drawing for all challenge projects added to those 3 social media sites during the challenge time period.  If you add to one site then you receive 1 entry in the drawing.  If you add to two you will receive 2 and 3 entries if you add to all three.   Remember, this is only for challenge creations featuring YNS products.  The random winner will receive a YNS Store gift certificate for $20.  That means potentially you could win twice - once on the blog and then again for sharing on social media!
Check out the YNS blog for all the details and to link up your creation.  

I am having fun creating Valentines and this time around it is Cupid!

YNS Ingredients:   Lovestruck stamp set, Stitched Square die set, Circle Stitching Marks die set, Circle die set 

My card sticks closely to the sketch for this challenge.



Smiles,
Julie

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Shhhhhh...More Valentine Fun

Did you join in the fun on FB with The Cat's Pajamas January Release pajama party?   Today I am sharing the creations I shared at the party for anyone who missed it.

Love continues to flow with this release and I pulled out the set Just Let it Happen again.   Warning, this set is hard to resist.
TCP Ingredients:  Just Let it Happen stamp set, Nested Heart Dies, He Said She Said Die
The swing was fussy cut out and embroidery floss was added to hold the swing up.   The top of the swing is hidden under the cloud created by the He Said, She Said die.   The cloud is topped off by  a couple of layered hearts from the Nested Heart die set.


TCP Ingredients:   Conversation Hearts Stamp Set and Nested Heart Die Set

If you are looking for a quick way to top Valentine's Day treats then the Conversation Heart stamp set is the way to go.   It is great for cards too.

Smiles,
Julie

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Your Next Stamp January DT Dare - Treats

It's dare time on the Your Next Stamp Blog
  
The design team was dared to use something old and something new from our paper crafting stash.   We accepted the dare, which means YOU COULD WIN a stamp set of your choice by heading over the YNS blog and leaving a COMMENT on the DT Dare post!

My project is Valentine's Day treat bags featuring old and new supplies...
YNS Ingredients:   Cute Little Shopping Bag Die | I Love Chocolate stamp set | I Love Chocolate die set
My project for today uses quite a few NEW things:  Cute Little Shopping Bag die, linen card stock, I Love Chocolate stamp set and dies, and even the copics used to color the cupcakes are 3 new shades of pink I picked up with a gift certificate I received from Christmas!   As for OLD, it would be the ribbon. 

The cupcakes were all colored with the same 3 colors of pink, alternating the color of the wrapper, frosting and heart of each to add a bit of variety.


Each bag is filled with 4 Dove chocolate hearts.   The bag could probably hold 5, but I wanted to spread the candy evenly between the 9 bags I created.   

Don't forget to head on over to the Your Next Stamp DT Dare post and leave a comment.   Which stamp set would you choose if you won???

Have a great day!
Smiles,
Julie

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

The Cat's Pajamas January Blog Hop - Shhhhh...

Welcome to The Cat's Pajamas January new release HOP!   Are you ready to get started???!!!   

You should have arrived here from Wendy's blog, but if you are just stopping by to say hi and came across this wonderful event then you will want to head on over to Deborah's blog to start at the very beginning!   Hop along and leave a comment on each of the blogs for your chance to win a TCP prize!  

Love continues to flow with this release and for the hop I once again pulled out the set Just Let it Happen and paired it with the new Small Envie die.   

TCP Ingredients:   Just Let it Happen, Small Envie Die


The Small Envie Die is the perfect size to send sentiments!  My card was water colored with Zig Water Color Brush Markers on water color paper.



Today is also TCP Tuesday which means we have a new challenge starting up.   This is another way to win a TCP prize, so join in the fun.   The challenge is ANYTHING GOES! 
  

After you are done hopping be sure to check out the new release in the TCP store!

The next stop on the hop is Brenda's blog so head on over there to make sure you do not miss a thing!

Happy Hopping!
Smiles,
Julie




Monday, January 18, 2016

Monday CAS Fun - Skating on Ice

This week's Splitcoast Stamper CAS challenge is Snow and Ice!   Where I live we don't have either yet this year, but fortunately a girl can play on paper ice.

Actually, today it is a penguin playing on ice.   

Ingredients:   The Cat's Pajamas Pray for Snow stamp set, Your Next Stamp Forest Friends Scene Die Set (Hill), PTI Paper

The penguin is skating on ice surrounded by all the white snow! The plaid was glued directly to the base and then the white panel was die cut and popped up with foam dots over the plaid.

Happy Monday!
Smiles,
Julie

Sunday, January 17, 2016

TCP Sneak Peek Day Six - In the Kitchen

Welcome to Day 6 of The Cat's Pajamas' January New Release sneak peeks!  Today's Sneak Peek is sure to get you cooking...or at least thinking about cooking.   

Are you "in it to win it?"   For the chance to win a gift certificate to the TCP store simply leave a comment on each design team members blog peeking a new stamp or die set each day.  The full list of sneaks will be posted on the TCP blog so head on over there to get "in it to win it"!   

Kitschy Kitchen is the set we are peeking.  It is a fun kitchen set full of smiles, puns, and happy utensils.  Yes, all 3 go together.


TCP Ingredients:  Kitschy Kitchen and Nested Heart Dies



The bottom half of this card features the nested heart dies which have been layered on top of one another.   With the yellow hearts on the yellow card base it really creates subtle texture similar to embossing.  Just one more way to get the most out of your dies.




The peeks continue through January 18th.   There is a party of Facebook on the night of the 8th (with chatter, prizes and more peeks) and then we will end the January Release fun with a hop on the 19th.


Stay up to date on all things TCP over on the TCP blog and head on over to see which design team members have peeks at Kitschy Kitchen.

Smiles,
Julie

Saturday, January 16, 2016

YNS January New Release Blog Hop - Love and a Hen

The day has arrived!  Your Next Stamp's January release products are now available in the store AND we are hosting a blog hop to celebrate.

Follow the hop list at the very bottom of my post and be sure to stop by and leave a comment for each stop along the way.  The more blogs you visit and comment on, the great your chances of winning.   So what could you win?   A $25 gift certificate to the YNS store - woo hoo!

This release is full of love, sass and of course is tons of fun!

When it comes to getting older and celebrating birthdays it is important to face it with a bit of humor.   The new set Mother Hen definitely has the sentiments to make your card recipient smile.


YNS Ingredients:   Mother Hen Stamp Set, Stitched Rectangles Die Set, Scrapworks Stitched Strips Die Set




Up next is a card featuring the new Love to Plan stamp set.   It is contains a ton of stamps designed to accent your calendars, but I wanted to show that it can be used for more than just that!
YNS Ingredients:  Love to Plan stamp set, I Love Chocolate stamp set (sentiment), Stitched Square Die Set
I took 9 of the images from the set and arranged them inside the square then colored each up.   Sweet and simple!

You are definitely going to want to do some shopping once you are done with the hop.  Karen is offering a great discount in the YNS store.


So are you ready to keep on hopping?   Have fun and thanks for stopping by today!
Smiles,
Julie

YNS January Sneek Peaks - Sweet Treats

How about a sneak peek at one of the new sets being released from Your Next Stamp tomorrow?! 

  Yes, it is almost January release time and first up on the agenda are a couple of cards featuring one of my favorite sweet treats CHOCOLATE!   

YNS Ingredients:  I Love Chocolate stamp set and die set, Stitched Rectangles dies and Gumdrops
The new set I Love Chocolate is full of chocolate images and sentiments.

YNS Ingredients:  I Love Chocolate stamp set and die set
Behind each dessert is some water coloring created using Zig brush markers.   Sweet and simple!

Stop back tomorrow for the YNS New Release blog hop!  You will get a chance to see all the new products in action and everything will be in the YNS store.

For a list of everyone sharing peeks today head on over to the YNS blog.

Smiles,
Julie

Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Cat's Pajamas January Day 3 Sneak Peek - Lace Galore

Welcome to Day 3 of The Cat's Pajamas' January New Release sneak peeks!  

Are you "in it to win it?"   For the chance to win a gift certificate to the TCP store simply leave a comment on each design team members blog peeking a new stamp or die set each day.  The full list of sneaks will be posted on the TCP blog so head on over there to get "in it to win it"!   

Today we are sharing peeks at an intricate new die, the Lacey Heart Die.  
This is the die that takes flourishes to the extreme!




For my card, I die cut 2 of the Lacey Hearts and laid them directly on the card base, adhering each with liquid glue. The new Always die is layered across the center.
  

The peeks continue through January 18th.   There is a party of Facebook on the night of the 8th (with chatter, prizes and more peeks) and then we will end the January Release fun with a hop on the 19th.
Stay up to date on all things TCP over on the TCP blog and head on over to see which design team members have peeks at the Lacey Heart die!     
Smiles,


Julie

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

TCP January Sneak Peek Day 2 - Owl Love

Welcome to Day 2 of The Cat's Pajamas' January New Release sneak peeks!

Each month we ask the question...Are you "in it to win it?"   For the chance to win a gift certificate to the TCP store simply leave a comment on each design team members blog peeking a new stamp or die set each day.  The full list of sneaks will be posted on the TCP blog so head on over there to get "in it to win it"!   

Today we are sharing peeks at the stamp set "Owl You Need is Love"!   Owls and Love are meant to go together and this set has 2 cuties ready to share the love.


TCP Ingredients:  Owl You Need is love Stamp set

For this card, the base was cut slightly narrower, so that when the sentiment strip is added the total width is a standard A2 card.   This way it will easily fit in an envelope, which is always important to me.


The peeks continue through January 18th.   There is a party of Facebook on the 18th (with prizes and more peeks) and then we will end the January Release fun with a hop on the 19th.
Stay up to date on all things TCP over on the TCP blog and head on over to see which design team members have peeks at Owl You Need is Love!     
Smiles,
Julie

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

TCP January Sneak Peek Day #1 - Love and Chocolate

Hi Everyone!
Get ready to smile, because today we are sharing our first peek at The Cat's Pajamas' January New Release!   

Each month we ask the question...Are you "in it to win it?"   For the chance to win a gift certificate to the TCP store simply leave a comment on the design team's blogs peeking a new stamp or die set each day.  The full list of sneaks will be posted on the TCP blog so head on over there to get "in it to win it"!   

The set in the spotlight today is "Just Let it Happen" and love is in the air with this one or perhaps I should write love is in the mail.

This card is for all those chocolate lovers out there...


TCP Ingredients:   Just Let it Happen stamp set and Love Topper Die (we will be sharing more of the topper soon)
  Keeping it CAS and traditional Valentine with white and red.  The shine on the candy box was created with Wink of Stella.  The bottom white mat features the Love Topper Die which is also part of the January release.  The team will be sharing more creations featuring it in a few days.

So are you smiling yet?   Check out all the cute stamps in this set.  With so many different stamps and sentiments to choose from this set can be used for a ton of occasions.
 

You are going to want to stay up to date on all things TCP over on the TCP blog.   The peeks continue through January 18th.   There is a party of Facebook on the 18th and then we will end the January Release fun with a hop on the 19th.  

Smiles,
Julie

Friday, January 8, 2016

YNS Challenge #30

We are already up to Challenge #30 at Your Next Stamp.   
Have you been joining in the fun?   If not, make it your New Year resolution to join in!
One random participant will win a gift certificate to the YNS Store.   Check out all the details on the YNS blog and play along!

So which one inspired me this time around?   The sketch...have to be honest, I made my card before I created the sketch for this one.   That is one of the perks of creating the sketches ;>).   Usually though, I put together the sketch on paper, with an idea of how I plan to use it, and then create my card.   
YNS Ingredients: Waddles – Happy Brrr-thday stamp set | Waddles – Happy Brrr-thday die set | Forest Friends Scene Dies (curved line)


 Here is the sketch and color combo for #30.  Which one inspires you?   Another perk of choosing the challenges is picking color combos.   It takes a lot of will power to not include my favorite color aqua/teal for each challenge!   I do give in once in awhile though and this challenge has it.

Smiles,
Julie

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Winter Sniffles

It's that time of year...
resolutions
and
sniffles!

Never fear though, the Cat's Pajamas has a new challenge starting today to help with your crafty resolutions
AND
my card for the challenge will help with that winter cold you are getting over!

TCP Ingredients:  Bounce Back stamp set 

The new challenge is ANYTHING GOES!    So let your creativity flow and start crafting.   One random participant will win a gift certificate to the TCP store.  Join in the fun on The Cat's Pajamas blog.

Smiles,
Julie