Flower Powered

I just recently learned of Whimsy Stamps after seeing some cute cards posted in a gallery. I do not own any of their adorable stamps yet, but there is one monkey in particluar that I just LOVE :>) Today's card is for the Whimsy Stamps recipe challenge; the required ingredients are 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon and 3 different embellies. The contest closes Monday at 8am, so there is still time to join in!
Details: SU By Land and Pocket Full of Posies Stamp sets, SU Very Vanilla and Wild Wasabi CS, SU So Saffron and Really Rust Ink, K&Company Wild Saffron DP, Prima Flower, SU Button and stash brads. The sentiment was done in MSWord and I left spaces to stamp in the flowers for the "o"s.

BTW - Michael's stores in my area are having clearance sales on K&Company - the discounts are huge, some items are about 70% off (can't go wrong with that!). Of course, my fortune cookie from Thursday night read something about watching spending because "even small leaks sink ships" - what kind of fortune is that?!?!?! LOL, I guess it was because I stopped at Michael's earlier that day!

Smiles,
Julie

Flip Flopping Along

I am so excited with how my Sister-in-law's B-day present turned out. I found a cute bathing suit cover up in black and white that looks more like a dress than coverup. It inspired me to create a black and white card and a matching jewelry box. Of course when I think of a bathing suit, I think of flip flops and yes, there is a pair included in her gift, so a flip flop card is perfect :>). I just love how it turned out - it looks so real!

This card is for the There She Goes June challenge to make a card not the usual size! I just came across Jessica's blog because I read Jessie's blog - Addicted to Stamps. {Love her blog :>)}

I traced one of my own flip flops (yes, that I wear, but it was clean, promise!) onto paper and then reduced it on my scanner to get a size that was 8 1/2 " wide. The white and black pattern was created with a stamp from SU Best Blossoms. I wanted something simple and leaning toward elegant to match the feel of the coverup.

My SIL is also receiving matching jewelry, so of course I needed something to put it in. I went right to the "Ready, Set, Wrap" template from Lauren Meader, available thru Papertrey Ink.

This template is the perfect size for jewelry and would also be great for shower favors - it was really easy to put together. I added the chip board and chain to dress it up a little.

Details: SU Whisper White and Basic Black CS, SU Best Blossoms Stamp Set, white sticker dimensional dots.

Well I hope my SIL likes her gift. At the very least it all matches :>)!

Thanks for looking!

Smiles, Julie

Crayon Desk Organizer

Thursday was my daughter’s last day of Kindergarten (sniff, sniff) :>)! I made her teacher this gift using Lauren Meader’s “From the Desk Of” template available at Papertrey Ink.

Details: SU Real Red & Whisper White CS, ink - every color from the SU bold brights family, and SU Crayon Alphabet & Kids stamp sets. Wish I had better pictures to share, there was no sun to be found on the day I finished the set!

The desk organizer was inspired by Crayola paper products I found in Michael’s for $1!! Lauren’s challenge for this week is to make your own DP and use it with one of her templates. I made both the Crayon background paper and alphabet border, and also put a name plate on the unseen side of the organizer. Crayon Kids (retired from SU) is one of my most used stamp sets, I reach for it all the time for a variety occasions. I have made Easter, baby, & thank you cards, I could go on and on. If you have connections with SU, encourage them to bring it back!!

Be sure to check out all the templates available at Papertrey Ink. There is a variety and all are such fun – not your typical boxes. The templates are super easy to use and I like being able to print directly onto cardstock, which means no measuring.

I will have another template project soon, I am working on my SIL’s Birthday present :>).
Smiles, Julie

Little Buckaroo

I am back with the sweet little cowboy from the Weiman Wranglers stamp set available from Pink Cat Studios (read my last 2 posts for more details). This card is for the challenge Heather is sponsoring on her blog with the Wranglers stamp set, head over Heather's Heavinly Stampations to check it out. I can not say enough how great it is that everyone is joining together. I am still relatively new to reading other's blogs, never mind writing my own, participating in challenges and even posting to galleries. I wish I had started sooner because the crafting community is the BEST and I love it all!!


Now back to the card :>) I know that the Digi stamp has the balloon, but my mind went right to cowboys and ropes! Love the fact that it is so easy with a digi to erase the balloon before I print out the image. I kept the layout simple because the roping on the outside is about to take over!
Supplies: SU Kraft CS, SU retired DP, denim - SU Ballet Blue CS, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy Ink, plus Color Box white pigment ink, and a ton of twine!

I made the faux denim paper following instructions over at SCS; it is this week's technique challenge and denim fits in perfectly with my buckaroo. Yes, I admit, this is the first time I have taken part in any of the SCS challenges - you would never know that I have been checking out the galleries for ideas for years. There is also lots of paper piecing on this one because I had the perfect paper for clothes - just love tying it all together {LOL}!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend! Please, please, please no rain in the northeast. I have personally had enough of the rain and this is coming from someone who is happy to stay inside and craft!! The weather is affecting taking pics of my projects {LOL}. Plus, my children love being outside!

Smiles,
Julie

Cutie Patootie Cowgirl!

The Weiman Wranglers digi stamps are so sweet and for a wonderful cause!! Head on over to Pink Cat Studios to get your own and learn more about young Ethan Weiman for whom this set is in honor of.

Of course I went to the girly flower paper first :>)! Here she is riding along:

Details: SU CS - Kiwi Kiss, Deja Vu Dog Flowers DP, CB embossing folders, embroiderly floss.

Yes, she has real hair {LOL}, well, embroidery floss hair. As soon as I saw the braids, I knew I wanted texture. The curls on top were done by carefully cutting red line tape to match the curves, then twisting the floss over the tape.

There is some paper piercing, paper piecing, and sewing machine stitching in there too. The layout is based on Jen's 6/20/09 SFYTT. This card is for Lauren Meader's challenge found here.

I will be back before the week is over with a card featuring Ethan :>) for the other challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop by Pink Cat Studios for your own copy of this wonderful digi set!

Smiles,
Julie

Make-a-Wish

I am truly impressed by how the paper crafting community joins together to support one another. In honor of young Ethan Weiman, who passed away on June 12th from Neuroblastoma cancer, Pink Cat Studios is releasing the new Weiman Wranglers digital stamps to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. By purchasing these digital stamps you will help brighten the day of a sick child as the money raised will go towards making one of their dreams come true.

Here is the adorable set:

To purchase this set and find more links to learn more of Ethan's story, go to the Pink Cat Studios link HERE.

In addition to the set, several other people are joining in to support the cause. Check out Lauren's Blog, Heather's Blog , and Vicki's Blog with contests involving the stamp set and to spread the word!!

I already purchased my digi set :>)

Small smiles today - such a sad story, but such wonderful people are out there making a difference!

Julie

Scrapbook Recipe

No flour in this recipe :>) Yes, a scrapbook recipe. I took part in a challenge that gave a list of "ingredients": 3 photos, 3 different colors of cardstock, 2 different patterned papers, 2 buttons, 1 piece of ribbon, and 1 optional embellishment. This made me think outside my comfort zone trying to figure out how to incorporate all the pieces. I am really loving challenges, sketches, etc to jump start my projects!

Details:

SU paper (the designer paper is retired, but I wish SU would make it again!), Offray ribbon, SU Buttons

The photos are from Sesame Place in PA, one of our favorite places to visit. We are hoping to get there again this summer - watch out Elmo, here we come!

Thanks for looking!

Smiles, Julie

The Monster is Done

First, here are some pics of wedding cards I made over the weekend. I was inspired by the one color challenge I did a couple weeks ago and this time decided to go with white.

I pulled out a stencil and paste that I have not used in years!! Along with a CB embossing folder {thank you to my sister for buying me the CB for my B-day, I did not think I would ever use it, but I LOVE it!!}, plus some ribbon and even with just one color, there is so much texture. I love the way the ribbon turned out and will be using this method again. I punched a hole thru the paper behind the ribbon and pulled a second piece of ribbon up thru the hole around the horizontal ribbon and back down to form a knot, securing the second ribbon with tape on the back of the paper. It lies so nicely and no fussing to make a perfect bow!

The second card is based on the 6/6/09 sketch from Lauren Meader here.

Now on to the monster...here it is, "the cake" for my daughter's Daisy troop picnic. There are no monsters on the cake, monster refers to the size! I admit, it is big. My husband said there was enough cake to feed everyone at the picnic and at the little league game in the park!! I did not mean to make it so big, but the pan the next size down did not seem large enough. I guess I should have just believed the serving chart which showed servings at um...128 :>). Mind you those are wedding cake servings and everyone knows those are teeny tiny.

16" x 16" and 4" high...I should have taken the picture with something else in it besides the cake so that you could tell just how big it was (but the cake was too big to get anything else in the shot ;>) )!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles, Julie

Scrapping Thursday...errrrr Saturday

Where did the week go?? I meant to post the following LO on Thursday, but it has been a busy week and although I have squuezed in a few cards, I have spent alot of my time working on a cake (aka THE MONSTER) for a picnic today {I promise to share more when it is finished - LOL!!}. Anway, here is my LO for today...

As you know, I am way behind in scrapbooking and we also take a ton of photos. This LO has about 15 photos on it! Yes, all on 1 page!!

I read about cutting the page sleeve to make pullout slits on or in CK last year (I think). I recently came across these accordian cards that I had hidden away and got the idea to make a photo pullout. The accodian like card is anchored down on either side by velcro tabs. You can open one side at a time to turn it like a book, or open both to pull out all the way. I love the presentation and that I can fit in so many pics!! I guess I will finally be using spacers in the album I put this page (I have a collection of spacers from all the refill kits I have ever bought since I never use them)!
Details: DP - SU , CS - SU , Joanns brads & velcro.

Have a great weekend!

Smiles, Julie

Wild About Stamping

Today's card uses the SU Wild About You set. When I bought the set, there were naysayers...friends who asked why and wondered how versatile it would be. I have proved them wrong by using this set for Birthday cards and even Halloween (I was sure to send those cards to the naysayers :>)! )
This time around, I am basing my design off the 6/4/09 sketch challenge from Stamp TV. I came across Stamp TV during SOA week; they sponsored several challenges and the sketch that inspired me to make the bug box :>). Join me for this weeks challenge, it is open thru Thursday, June 11th, at 8am CST and one winner will receive a Gina K stamp set - check it out here.



Details:
All SU: CS - Pacific Point, White, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue. Ink - Groovy Guava, More Mustard, Lovely Lilac, Black. Ribbon Wild Wasabi. Scallop Circle Punch. Eyes are from Michael's.

I know, a little crazy color combo, but it seems to work - I have a ton of Bashful Blue so I am trying to find different ways to use it!
Smiles, Julie

Scrapping Thursday

Well, it should actually be called scrapping Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - that is how long I have been working on this page for the Love Me Some New BasicGrey! contest on the pagemaps blog. It is based on this layout:


Here is my take..I kept switching the patterned paper, because I want the photo to be the focus, but LOVE all the beautiful patterns: Details: [not the best photo sorry!- I will try to retake it on Saturday when the sun comes out :>)]DP - SU Raspberry Tart, Cardstock - SU, Stamp - SU, Buttons - SU, and Ribbon - Michael's $1 bin - it is the reverse side of a printed ribbon! Plus, lots of dimensionals to pop up the flower petals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,
Julie

Oh Boy, Oh boy!

Here are my favorite creations from SOA week and both are for the boys.


It all started with a card. The card challenge layout contained lots of circles and I began by putting a bug on each circle. I then started thinking about a magnifying glass and this is the result:




If you have bugs, you need a container to put them in, and the magnifying glass would fit in perfectly with the SOA challenge to use a clear element with one of Lauren’s templates from Papertrey Ink. Here is my bug collector kit, made from the "Let's Do Lunch" template:



Details for both projects:
Stamp - SU Bug Builder
Paper - Cardstock SU Very Vanilla and Old Olive, DP K&Company Hopscotch
Ink - Stayzon Black
Font - CK Buddies
Hardware - tool box kit(no manufacturer listed, hmmm) and a little bit of ribbon for the handle.
The bugs are paperpieced and popped up with dimensionals on the card. The poem was printed out in MS Word.


I had so much fun making these, I envision putting a real magnifying glass and other buggy stuff inside as a gift idea.


Tips: For the Bug Collection mat, I cut out the center of the Old Olive CS base so that it would be more flexible and adhere to the curve of the lid. The Vanilla is not as stiff as the Olive so it bended without resistance and hid the hole in the Olive {sorry for the pun :>)}. General Tips: Be sure to print the template in draft or a lighter color than black so that the pattern lines do not show as much. If printing on patterned paper print it on the reverse side so the template lines do not show {yes, I have done it wrong in the past :>) }.


Lauren’s templates are easy to use and go together very fast. All you have to do is print the pattern onto cardstock and cut it out. No measuring, which I love! Head over to Papertrey Ink to see all the templates available. I made a few projects using another of her templates, but will not be able to share just yet (I like B-day presents to be a surprise :>)! )


Smiles,
Julie

Title Earned

Yesterday was the last day of SOA and I earned the title of my blog, by submitting my last project at 11:58 p.m. - yikes, ok, so it was not the last minute, but pretty close to the 11:59 deadline!!

So here are a few more cards I created for the SOA challenges:

Details:
Stamp - Sweet 'n Sassy digi Forget Me Not
Paper - SU Pink piroutte; Old Olive, DP is from Sandylion Misc - Distressed Paper edges and stitched it all by machine



Details:Stamp - Image SU Both Way Blossoms (one of my fave "go to" stamps, sentiment SU Delight in Life
Paper - SU DSP Delicate Dots, SU CS Bashful Blue, So Saffron and GreenMisc - I used the SU circle scallop punch to form the border around the circle - just punched it out a bunch of times and arranged those around the circle - I get so much use out of the scallop punch. Sheepishly, it is not even mine, I have been borrowing it from my sister for about 9 months LOL!
Laugh for the Day: Yesterday was crazy, I was trying to finish projects and get ready for a party we were going to in the afternoon. I started off the day baking a dessert for the party, it was "Baking with Julie" because my sons were so cute sitting in their chairs watching as I explained every step. Anyway, it was my first time making the dessert and I got to make it twice...after the first one was finished, one of my sons pulled it off the counter and it landed top down on the floor, completely unsalvagable!! I debated about running to the grocery store, but I was determined to make the dessert. It was worth it, I highly recommend "Brownie Goody Bars", brownies with frosting, chocolate, rice crispies and peanuts - yummy :>)
Oh yeah, by the way, I won one of the daily contests from Saturday {yah!} - Stamp with Dawn and Friends, which is an online forum with challenges, etc. that lasts 24 days. I will be very busy in July!!

Smiles, Julie