Add a Little Sparkle

Are you ready to add a little sparkle to your life?   There is a new challenge up on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and we are looking for just that, a little sparkle!

Boo Y'all

The edges of the card were masked with painters tape and then purple ink sponged on.  Everything was colored up with water color markers and then stickles were added to the scythe.

Here are the challenge details:
• Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.

• If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button by the Monday, 11:55 EDT before the next challenge.

• You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.

• On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

So pull out your stickles, sparkly embellies and if you are really daring - glitter, then join in the fun! Happy Stamping!

Julie

Sneaking a Peek at the September TCP Release

Are you in it to win it?  That is the question!   I hope the answer is yes, because wouldn't you love the chance to win a gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas Store?!  It is Sneaky Peek week, which means next Tuesday new items will be arriving in the TCP Store.   

Each day between now and next Tuesday, a different member of the TCP team will be sharing peeks at the new release.  My day is today and I have 3 cards for you using the 3 new stamp sets and 1 new die set.

Up first a clean and simple Christmas card that is just a wee bit non-traditional as I went with cream and black.  

Santa's beard is part of the new Christmas Cookies stamp set and the large bold sentiment at the bottom is from the Big Holiday Words stamp set.   To create the frame around the beard, I used the coordinating Beard die set.

Here is another using the Christmas Cookies set.  This time it is paired up with the Ornaments die set.

Finally, something for our latest TCP Tuesday challenge which is looking for a fall or winter holiday creation.   I went with a spooky card featuring the new Creep it Real stamp set.

Of course, when a cute bunny is involved it make it creepy cute!

Here are the challenge details:
• Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.

• If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button by the Monday, 11:55 EDT before the next challenge.

• You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.

• On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

Here is a recap of all the new goodies featured on today's cards...

That's it for now!  Leave a comment here or on my IG posts (where I go by julie_elak)to be entered in the draw to win a $10.00 TCP store  Cat Cash Voucher.  If you leave a comment on both then that it twice the odds that you may win!  The winner will be announced on the TCP blog tomorrow.

Set a reminder for next Tuesday when the release hits the TCP store and the team will be back with a new release blog hop and more inspiration!

Smiles,

Julie

Halloween Jars

The Your Next Stamp blog has been full of treats this week!   It is our Halloween Designer Showcase series and the team has been sharing creations featuring a variety of YNS products.

My project for the week is painted jars which are decorated with vinyl die cuts.

It took longer to paint the jars than it did to decorate with the die cuts.   The Your Next Stamp dies cut through the vinyl easily and since there was adhesive on the vinyl it made creating a decorative scene even easier.

 

Start off by washing the jar, then wipe it down with rubbing alcohol.   Apply one layer of acrylic paint to the outside of the jar and let dry.   Add vinyl die cuts and then use a spray sealer to protect it and add shine.   3 layers of sealer was used on these jars.

YNS Ingredients:  Halloween Phoebe Die Set | Spooky Halloween Scene Die Set 

Although these jars work great filled with treats, each could also be used as luminary, by adding a battery operated tea light.   The single layer of paint let the light through and added texture to the night scene.   Here is the orange jar lit up; the light did not shine through the purple as well.

Be sure get all the spooky treat filled inspiraton from the rest of the team on the YNS Blog.

Have a happy Halloween!

Smiles,
Julie

YNS Spooky Feature Day

Today on the Your Next Stamp Blog you can win a stamp set of your choice simply by leaving a comment on the Design Team Feature day post!

The post is full of Spooky/Scary creations.  I went with zombies, because I definitely do not want to encounter any in real life!  Although these guys look a little goofy vs. super scary!

YNS Supplies: SpookTacular Halloween stamp set | SpookTacular Halloween die set | Scrap works - Strips die set

Click HERE to head on over to the YNS blog for your chance to win!
Smiles,
Julie

Your Next Stamp Challenge #25 - Boo!

YNS has a new challenge up today!   Play along for your chance to win a YNS Gift Certificate.

BTW, did you see that there is a YNS blog hop going on right now?   Hop along to check out all the new products released in October and leave comments for your chance to win a YNS gift certificate.

Okay, back to Challenge #25...
My card is loosely based on the sketch and pulls in all the colors.  The colors are perfect for the fall or Halloween and the sketch features a circle.   Head on over to the YNS blog for all the details and to see the colors and sketch.

Now I need to prepare you, my card is chock full of YNS products.   It uses 4 different stamp sets and 5 die sets!   Plus a gumdrop, think of it as the cherry on top!

YNS Ingredients:    Phoebe with her Wagon stamp set | Halloween Pumpkins stamp set | Silly Monsters Incognito Three (cat accessories) | Happy Day Sentiments stamp set | Scrapworks - Strips die set | Stitched Fishtail Tags die set two | Circles Die Set | Circle - Stitching Marks Die Set | Stitched Square die set | Black Gumdrop 

That is Phoebe on my card and I dressed her up for Halloween using the Silly Monsters Incognito Three stamp set.   This set is full of accessories, like the cat ears, tail and whiskers.   This accessory filled set goes well with the YNS monsters, critters and Phoebe too!  I can't wait to try it out with other YNS characters.  
The pumpkin Phoebe is pulling along is from the Halloween Pumpkins stamp set.  I masked the wagon and added the pumpkin.  Normally I am not a fan of masking, but using a MISTI makes it easier.   I do about 95% of my stamping with my MISTI now.   If you are not familiar with the MISTI check out the Whatcha Watching? videos Maureen posts on YNS...she is a great enabler and convinced me I needed a MISTI - she was right!

Have a great weekend!  Find some time to play along with us, I look forward to seeing how you interpret Challenge #25.

Smiles,
Julie

YNS Challenge #23

I am late for posting my own card for Your Next Stamp's 23rd challenge.   A busy week and posting completely slipped my mind!   

I went with the colors for this one and came up with a Halloween card...

Back to School Die Set | Fishtail/Banner die set one | Circles Die Set | Fang-tastic Halloween | Scribbled Alphabet


Which will you choose? 

Play along over on the YNS Blog!

Smiles,
Julie

Purrrfect Day!

Little Miss Muffet Stamps inspiration time!

With Halloween just hours away, I colored up Polka Dot Pals Zappa.  She may be ready to trick or treat, but she is also purrrfect for a Birthday card too!

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 "If You Go Down to the Woods"!   Be sure to stop by and join in the fun!

Smiles,

Julie

Spooky Yet Sweet

Little Miss Muffet Stamps bi-weekly challenge time and this week it is ANYTHING GOES!!!


With Halloween just a few weeks away I could not resist coloring up one of the newly released stamps, Skelekinz Pumpkin.  Spooky yet sweet and CAS with a touch of stitching.

Stamps - LMMS Skelekinz Pumpkin and sentiment from YNS Ghostly Greetings, Dies - YNS flag/banner dies and stitching hole dies.

The layout is based on SCS sketch #506.

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

Spooky Sketch

Halloween is a week from today.  Have you finished all your crafting?  This week  Little Miss Muffet Stamps is having a Spooktacular challenge!  This is your chance to finish up your spooky Halloween crafting.

Fancy Sunbonnet Witch is ready for trick or treating!

My card is based on sketch #39 from I {Heart} Sketches.

Check out the LMMS Blog for more inspiration from my teamies AND to play along!

Smiles,
Julie

BOO!

Happy Friday!!!

Today it is all about Halloween and I have a fun Halloween framed "BOO!" to share with YOU!

My crafty decor is for the Your Next Stamp's October Fun Friday Challenge!

 

 

So what is the FUN FRIDAY CHALLENGE??? It is your choice of a sketch or inspiration photo or you could go wild and crazy by combining the 2! The sketch and inspiration change each month. Check out all the details on the YNS Challenge Blog.

I took my inspiration from this month's photo and let Halloween take over!

 

 

My creation features each of the spooky cuties from "Fang-tastic Halloween".  They are ready to SCARE!

 

Okay, not too scary, but spooky fun!  I now have a little bit more Halloween inside to go with all the Halloween decorations outside.  My husband and kiddos love Halloween, I am along for the ride ;)There is a graveyard in my front yard with strategically placed bones and smoke, not to mention bats and ghost flying by.  Plus, can't forget the numerous blowups that adorn my yard from time to time.  One of my sons plans on staying home to hand out candy - so long as his siblings share their Trick or Treat take with him!

 

Play along and make your own Halloween spooky scene or be inspired by the sketch, you may just win a prize! Remember that YNS stamps and dies are not required, but we do love to see 'em!

Here are the sketch and photo to get you started:

Smiles,

Julie

Just a Treat

It's new release day at Little Miss Muffet Stamps and with Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner you are going to have fun with this release!

My card features Skelikinz Balloon and she is ready for Halloween!

Just a wee bit spooky!

Be sure to head over to the blog for more inspiration and check out the new stamps in the store!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamp - LMMS Skelikinz Balloon, Sentiment - YNS Monster Mash Set, CS - PTI, EF - Cuttlebug, Ink - Momento and Copics.

Spooky YNS September Blog Hop

Today's the day!  The September Your Next Stamp New Release Blog Hop starts!  There are so many fun, cute, spooky stamps to choose from, you are in for tons of treats.  Everything is available in the store right now so no need to wait.

 

We would love for you to hop along with us for your chance to win one of these adorable new sets.

  

The hop begins on Jen’s Blog, and mine is the second stop.  You have until Tuesday, September 25th at midnight (EST) to leave comments on all of the DT blogs for your chance to win!  Karen will announce the winners on theYNS Blog Wednesday, September 26th. 

Now on to my trio of cards using some of the new goodies!!!  First up, the entire reveal of my sneak peek from yesterday...

Did you guess right?  The bat and sentiment are from the new set Fangtastic Halloween.  The circle behind the bat was cut out using one of the new dies that is part of the Kup Topper Die set - this circle is a great size for my latest favorite lo/mat arrangement with the circle.  Of course there is a banner die on my card - love those!

 

 

The vampire and sentiment on card #2 are also part of Fangtastic Halloween - just a wee bit scary and a whole lot of fun!

 

 

Finally, I am sharing one of the monsters and sentiments from Silly Monsters.  These guys are great for Halloween and Birthdays!

 

As always, Karen is offering some amazing hop specials!  You will receive 15% off your entire order through September 27th!  Online code is YNSSEPT22NR

 

Now it’s time to hop on over to Kerri’s blog, but don’t forget to leave a comment before you go!  If you get lost along the way check out the links below.  Happy hopping and shopping!

 

Smiles,

Julie

Happy Halloween

Ghosts, goblins and pumpkins galore. 
Add a little snow to that and you have Halloween at my house. 
There may be snow outside, but I am still thinking Halloween and here are a couple of little "last minute" gifties I put together for my sons to give their teachers. 

The images are from the Whimsie Doodles' Halloween Hootenannies Gift Tags set - too cute!  Just love those fangs on the kitty :>).  These are also for the Wee Memories Brads Buttons or Bows challenge.
It has been quite awhile since I posted!  We took a vacation to Walt Disney World (yay - so fun!) and now we are without power due to the snow that fell on Saturday (Booo Hooo to that!!!). 
I could not resist sharing a pic of my front yard prior to the arrival of the snow. This is my son J and Dr. Bones.

When the skeleton arrived, affectionately named Dr. Bones, he became my son J's best friend. The first night at dinnertime Dr. Bones needed his own plate because J said he was hungry - he does look like he has not eaten in awhile :>).
Happy Halloween!
Smiles (even in the dark),
Julie

Flashback Friday

Yay, I get to play along with Flashback Friday! This time around the challenge is to re-post your first tag.
Here we are from Fall of 2009...

Not too scary :>)
Smiles,
Julie

Whimsie Doodles October Release

Halloween has never been cuter!  Whimsie Doodles new release is full of adorable Halloween and Christmas images.  I am sharing Halloween today, but those Christmas images are calling my name, so you know I will be coloring some up very soon!

My first card uses "Skinny Witch Flying" and I kept it on the CAS side with a full moon in the background and strips of patterned paper.  The "10/31 Boo!" is an SRM sticker - so easy to use!  This card is for the Raise the Bar Hat's Off challenge and The Pink Elephant Trick or Treat Challenge.

Next up is a card using "Skinny Witch" and this time I pulled in tons of patterned paper for the October SFYTT.  After waiting until the last minute to finish the September sketch I learned my lesson, it is sooo much better to cross it off my challenge wish list earlier in the month.  This card is also for the Paper Sundaes Lots of Layers challenge, there are 6 with all the mats.   Plus, the ABC DT Challenge - Pumpkins, yep, I have one :>)

Be sure to stop by the Whimsie Doodles blog to check out all the other creations from the design team.  Then it is time to visit the Whimsie Doodles store to shop for some of these cuties!
Smiles,
Julie
Images - Whimsie Doodles, PP - Martha Stewart and DCWV, Ribbon - stash, copics, stickers - SRM, and punches - (Bat) Martha Stewart.