Sweet and Simple Valentine

I am sharing a sweet little ole simple card with you today in celebration of Valentine's Day.

I was inspired by all the wonderful creations I have seen lately with images colored on kraft.  My card features one of the cuties from YNS' Critter 2 set and a sentiment from MFT combined with MME patterned paper.
My card is for the Outlawz CAS Valentine challenge.

Have a SWEET day!
Smiles,
Julie

No Ink???!!!

This week's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge is "No Inky Yet".  Use a stamp that has seen little or no ink!  Play along and you may just join us as a guest in August!

I pulled out one of the PTI Tag Its sets.  I bought this one last fall and never found time to ink it up!
Be sure to check out the rest of the CSAYL team's joyful creations and then play along!!!  You know you have stamps out there that have never seen ink, don't you???
My card is also for the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge - Christmas in July, do you have the song Holly Jolly Christmas running through your head too??? 

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamps - PTI - Tag Its, CS - PTI, Embossing Folder - I made my own by stacking 2x2 squares of paper!, rhinestones from my stash, copics and Momento ink.

Party On with Outlawz

Today I am sharing cards for the Outlawz 2,000 member party!

First up, the Twisted Thursday challenge which is to create a card that represents where you are from.  I went with red white and blue for the USA and a retired digi from Little Paper Shop - Ice Cream Tyson.  It is summer here and my kids are always listening for the ice cream truck - not sure they would really share with our dog though!

I went with red, white, and blue.  The hat and shorts are paper pieced with BG pp.
This card is also for:
The Clear Dollar Stamps Clearly Inspired Challenge #55 - Some Like it Hot.  On a hot summer day (which today is!) ice cream is the way to go!
Raise the Bar challenge #108 - Red, White and Blue - just a touch of red on mine on the dog collar.

Next, the Sketch Challenge...I decided to use Connecticut's state animal, the sperm whale - think Moby Dick.  I used stickers - yikes!  I never use stickers, but I could not find the digi I had in mind and I was rearranging my craft area this morning and found this whale sticker.  I layered the stickers and popped one up with dimensionals.  Quick tip - To get rid of the stickiness, dust the back of the sticker with corn starch.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!  I went blueberry picking this morning and hope to make jam tonight.
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  CS - PTI, copics, Embossing folder - Cuttlebug, Button - PTI, banner made with Lil' Inker Designs flag die, sentiments from Lil' Inker Designs.

Seeing Stars

Oh my, I have been on a patriotic color kick lately and loving it.  It all started with the Outlawz 2,000 member party challenges which have been about where you are from, which for me is the USA.  When I saw that this week's CAS challenge on the Outlawz was stars I almost reached for the patriotic colors, but then decided, how about purple???

The stamp set is from Verve and I do not have a star die to match, so I cut out the star using my Cricut - not perfect, but it works!

Smiles,

Julie

Details:  Stamps - Verve, CS - PTI, Ink - SU, and dimensionals.

More Banners

I have more cards to share today.  I am attempting to finish as many of the Outlawz 2,000 member party challenges as I can!  The deadline to enter has been extended until July 7th, so everyone has time to join in the fun.  I am sure many of you in the USA have made patriotic cards this week, why don't you check out the Outlawz forum???  It is free to join and full of inspiration and wonderful crafters (plus prizes :>) )!!!

Remember my banner card from a couple days ago?  I decided to flip it and limit the colors.  Honestly, this is such an easy card to make and since I can get stuck making masculine cards sometimes, I may just have to make more of these so that I have extra cards on hand!

This one is perfect for the Outlawz Paper Ala Mode Challenge - to create a card using your country's colors.

Now, what to do with extra banners?  How about just using a few on a card...

This one is for the Outlawz Color Challenge - Use the colors of where you are from - well, I went with Red, White and Blue for the USA.  I don't even know if my town has it's own colors!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamps - sentiment on first card - PTI, Image on second card - MFT, Sentiment on second card - Lil' Inker Designs, PP - Basic Grey (PB&J), CS - PTI and SU, Ink - SU, Die - Banner from Lil' Inker Designs, and copics.

Happy 4th!

If you are in the US, Happy Independence Day!  

This image is the latest freebie from Whimsie Doodles!  Yes, this cutie is a freebie!  There is also a Canada Day freebie available too!

Want to find out when freebies are being offered?  Be sure to like Whimsie Doodles on Facebook or  follow the blog. 

My card is for the Outlawz 2,000 member party Greetings Party Challenge - "Your Country".  For me, that means the USA and what better image than one that has sparklers. 
The latest Little Miss Muffet challenge is "Sparkle" - I went with rhinestones and stickles.

My family's celebration will be low key this year as the holiday falls in the middle of the week.  We will be home and hopefully the sun finds it's way out so that the kids can play outside and we can do a few fireworks at night.

 Have a wonderful day!

Smiles, Julie

Details:  Image - Independence Day (Whimsie Doodles), Star stamps - Verve, rhinestones, Stickles - Star Dust, Ink - SU, copics, CS - PTI and SU.

Beach Babe

I live in the United States and the Fourth of July is tomorrow.  We actually already started celebrating by going to see fireworks tonight.  So with that in mind, I decided to pull in some patriotic colors and stars on today's card...Beach Hat Ava put on her star bathing suit, grabbed her striped towel and she is heading to the beach!

My card is based on the final Card Patterns sketch - #172.  I will miss Card Patterns, my Saturday mornings will not be the same without it.  I may not have found time to play along each week, but the sketches were always inspiring and I have been introduced to so many wonderful crafters thru CP.  Fingers crossed that they pass the torch to a new team!

My card is also for the Simon Says Stamp - Sporty and/or Patriotic challenge. 

Plus, the Outlawz 2,000 Member party continues and the deadline to play along has been extended.  The Copic / Promarker challenge is to create something that represents where you are from.  Ava represents the USA and the beach - I live in Connecticut which has one border that is shoreline.  The beach is about 1/2 an hour away!

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Image - Whimsie Doodles Beach Hat Ava, CS - PTI and SU, Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug, PP - October Afternoon, Sentiment - SRM Sticker.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christmas Math

1 Cas-ual Fridays sketch from challenge 29 from the fabulous Karen Baker

+ 1 Christmas Stampin' All Year Long inspiration challenge

= 1 Christmas Card for the Outlawz Paper a la Mode holiday card challenge

It also = 1 Christmas Card off my list!!! 

Oh how I wish I had been playing along all year with CSAYL!!!  I don't know about you, but I have a long list!

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - (Holiday Tree) PTI, Embossing Folder - (Snowflakes) Sizzix, CS - PTI, Ink - SU, and silver baubles - rhinestones that I flipped upside down.

Think Pink

The October Whimsie Doodles Challenge is to "THINK PINK" in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  To be entered in the random drawing for a Whimsie Doodles prize all you need to do is create a card/project for breast cancer awareness or with pink as the main color. Whimsie Doodles images are not required, but we all love to see them! You have until October 25th to link up your project to the Whimsie Doodles Blog.  Head on over to the Blog for all the details.

Melyssa has created some wonderful images specifically for Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Each image is $2 and all proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research.  Stop by the Whimsie Doodles Store to check them all out!
Here is my card featuring Hope Fights.  Unfortunately so many of us have been impacted by breast cancer in one way or another.  This card is going to be sent to a truly awesome woman who is "fighting like a girl" right now. 

My card is also for this week's copic challenge on the Outlawz forum.  I recommend checking out the forum and all the fun challenges.  It seems like a really great group - supportive and sweet and generous!

Somehow ending with "smiles" just does not feel right for this one.
Stay strong!
Julie
Details:  Image - (Hope Fights Skirt) Whimsie Doodles, PP - Basic Grey, CS - PTI, Copics.

Thanksgiving CAS

Once I pulled out my Verve Bountiful Harvest set and it was easy to keep using all the wonderful Thanksgiving images.

I made today's cards for the Outlawz 1,000 member party challenges and although it is too late to join in the party fun, there are new challenges everyday!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - Verve, Ink - Momento, Copics, Buttons - PTI, PP - Simple Stories, Embossing Folder - Polka Dots Cuttlebug.

Outlawz Copic Challenge

1
2
3
Pumpkins
Happy Harvest!

 

The Outlawz Copic challenge this week is to make a fancy fold card.  This is a gate fold card made following the SCS tutorial found HERE. The DSP is some old SU that I inked up a bit to soften the white.
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - Verve, PP - SU, CS - PTI, Ink - Momento, Copics, Twine - PTI and button - stash.

Outlawz Sketch Challenge

The Outlawz party continues and today I am sharing a card I made base on the sketch challenge.  This is my favorite stamp from Your Next Stamp - Kite Flying Fhiona.

A happy and sunny card!  Hope your weekend is happy and sunny too!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - YNS (image), Verve (clouds) and PTI (sentiment), PP - MME and Cosmo Cricket, Ink - Momento, CS - SU, Copics, Twill - PTI and embroidery floss.

The Outlawz 1,000 Member Party

There is a new (to me) challenge forum in town and they are celebrating in style...The Outlawz!  Here are all the details:

Whoo-hoo! The Outlawz is celebrating

1000 Member Party!

Monday, October 3, 2011, 12:01 AM EST
until
Sunday, October 9, 2011, 11:59 PM EST

There are 5 games, a tutorial blog hop,  2 scavenger hunts and 7 challenges. All seven challenges will be participating in the party from start to finish. Unlike a regular week, all of the challenges will start on Monday, Oct 3  and each will have a different challenge for you to play to win prizes!   The Challenges are located in the Challenge tab in the top tool bar with a drop down menu.  Make sure you visit all 7 challenges to win more prizes!

Important: The 1000 Member Party has a tab in the top tool bar too with a drop-down menu. Make sure you access all 7 links in the menu to participate in the games, banner posting contest, and blog hop and to be eligible for more prizes!
That is a total of 14 places to visit and participate to win all the wonderful gifts the sponsors have donated for the party!

Let’s give our sponsors a huge THANK YOU! Without them, we would not be here!

Sincerely,
The Outlawz Design Team

Thanks to my sis for letting me know about the new forum.  She knows how much I like crafty challenges!
Smiles,
Julie