Take Me Out to the Ball Game

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."
Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Jack Norworth

It is time for a new challenge at the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog.  The latest is to create a project inspired by a song (your choice) and after Christmas carols my next thought was baseball.  Can you guess which stamp I pulled out based on the song I chose above?

Yes, "Baseball Boy".  He is the perfect image to adorn some boxes of Cracker Jacks!  To make the baseball I printed an image of one out on copy paper and used that as a piercing template.  I took the sentiment from the set and created my own patterned paper for the sides. 

I kept his uniform a mix of red and blue as I live in Connecticut where we do not have a state major league baseball team.  Instead, the state is split mostly between Red Sox (red) and Yankees (blue) fans.  My family is even split between the 2 teams.  It is always a laugh to hear my grandmother giving my father a hard time when "her" Red Sox and beating "his" Yankees!

Be sure to check out the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog for all the details on the Song Inspiration Challenge.  There are prizes and who wouldn't want to win some YNS cuties????!!! 

Today is a little bittersweet as this is the last day of August and my final post as a  guest designer for Your Next Stamp.  Such a fun month with YNS, with a Birthday party and lots of challenges.  Thank you again Karen for asking me to join your team this month!!!  Never fear, there will still be lots of YNS in the future, I just got some new goodies in the mail and I can't wait to finishing inking 'em up!

Smiles,

Julie

Details:  Stamp - (Baseball Boy) YNS and Alphabet - (Harold's Alphabet) Lawn Fawn, CS - PTI, PP - Bo Bunny, Embossing Folder - Brick Wall (Tim Holtz), Copics, Embroidery Floss - Martha Stewart, Ink - Momento and SU, Brads - stars from stash and Cracker Jacks!

I'm a Doodlicious Diva

I have always wanted to be a diva.
Now I am a Doodlicious Diva!
I am on the Whimsie Doodle design team!!!

Be sure to check out the Whimsie Doodles blog and store!!!

I am so excited that Melyssa asked me to join the team. I really enjoy working with digis and have been missing the design team atmosphere. This announcement really makes my week.

Just a note, I may be a little slower than usual to visit everyone this week, we are without power at my house as a result of the hurricane over this past weekend. By the time the hurricane reached us it was a tropical storm, but still windy and wet. Word is that it could be a week before power is returned since about 1/2 the state was in the dark. Of course the power is on where I work. I am teaching myself how to use my husband's IPad but it sure is taking me forever! Any new crafting just is not happening but I do have a couple posts that I pre-scheduled. Normally I craft after the kiddos go to bed, but flashlights and candles do not work too well.

Smiles,
Julie

Just for Fun

My daughter and I were crafting yesterday :>)
I pulled out a new stamp from Your Next Stamp and she pulled out everything else in my crafting area!

Just a bit of fun with new goodies, the image is Vroom! and my card is based on sketch #143 from Sketchy Thursdays on Tracy's blog Eat Sleep Stamp.  Did anyone else ever want to own a Mazda just so they could say "zoom zoom zoom"?  Silly, but when I saw Vroom! in the new release from Your Next Stamp I immediately thought of those Mazda commercials.  As a reminder, there is a huge sale going on at Your Next Stamp thru August 29th.

As for my daughter, I told her about the Simon Says Stamp Summer Holidays Children's Challenge and she was happy to start crafting.

Smiles,
Julie (and Miranda)

Another Christmas Card!

Yes, I am back with another Christmas card.  I continue to shock myself!  Here is CAS with a bit of Whimsie :>)

The image is a digi from Whimsie Doodles' "Christmas Greetings" set.  I enlarged one of the circle tags and then fussy cut out the main image.

This weekend while visiting challenge blogs I established a list of challenges that just seemed made to go together.  Normally, I combine maybe 2 or 3 challenges at the most, but today's card is for 6 challenges:
Sketch - Clean & Simple Stamping #154  and Jingle Belles - Use Clean & Simple Sketch with a CAS design.
Non-traditional colors - Christmas Stampin' All Year Long
3 Patterned Papers - Whimsie Doodles Wednesday Challenge
Craft Itinerary - Embossing, Kraft, and Stitching - Desert Island Crafts Challenge 14
Punches - Playing in Paradise challenge #29
Thanks for stopping by!!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Image - Whimsie Doodles Christmas Greetings, Sentiment - Verve Merry Wishes, CS - SU Crumb Cake, Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black, PP - My Mind's Eye Life of the Party, Circle punches, copics and Embossing Folder - Sizzix Plaid.

Inspired by Limes

The new challenge on the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog is to create a project inspired by fruit.  I was inspired by limes.  Perhaps more accurately, margarita mix.  Don't you think margaritas are the perfect "happy" drink for a celebration??!!!  Hence, a dressed up bottle to say congrats and a card to accompany it :>)

I used "So Happy For You" from Your Next Stamp, then added on some glittery salty waves and glossy accents.  CAS, but in color. 
Be sure to check out all the challenge details on the Your Next Stamp Challenge blog.  P.S. There are prizes!
Side note:  When my husband saw me taking the mix and a margarita glass out he asked if I was really having a margarita. We had returned home after spending a rainy day at the aquarium and let me say that I was not in a celebrating type of mood, more of a sleepy sort of mood :>)
Smiles,
Julie
Details: Stamps - (  ) YNS, CS - SU and PTI, Copics, Glitter - Stampendous, Glossy Accents, Dimensionals, Embossing - (Plaid) Sizzix, Circle Punch, and stitching.

A Cat, A Button and A Get Well Wish

I am a firm believer that once you are prepared for something it will not come true.  Therefore, one can never have enough get well cards on hand!

The All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge Blog is asking us to make our own buttons this week.  Well, I fortunately own the TCP Buttons Cut Up die.  That made this challenge a little easier.  The ability to customize buttons is the main reason I bought the die.  Normally I rely on patterned paper, but this time around I cut out the button from turquoise cs, then hand drew on a flower to match those on the bed spread in the image.  The stem of the flower was hand drawn as well.  Just a sweet CAS way to send a smile!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - (Better Get Better) TCP, CS - SU and PTI, Copics, Ink - (Tuxedo Black) Momento, Button - (Button Cut Up) TCP and embroidery floss.

Christmas Continues

I have another Christmas card for you today.  I am surprising myself in that I really figured it would be a couple more months before I thought about Christmas again.  I guess all it took was a good inspiration.

The Christmas Stamping All Year Long challenge this week is a sweet inspiration photo and I decided to interpret it as a sketch.  Just a bit of fun with the banner and "Away We Go" becomes a Christmas stamp.  

Smiles,

Julie

Details:  Stamp - Image (Away We Go) TCP, Sentiment PTI, CS - PTI and SU, Copics, Embossing - (Swiss Dots) Cuttlebug and (Snowflakes) Sizzix, and Ink - SU and Momento.

Your Next Stamp's 2nd Birthday Blog Hop

It's time to PARRR-TAAAAY!!!!  

 

Welcome to YNS' 2nd Birthday Blog Hop, we are so happy you are here celebrating with us!  If you have just stopped by my blog to say "hi" and want to join in all the fun and games you can go to the start at Peggy's blog.  If you have been hopping along and are arriving from Crystal's blog then you are right where you need to be!  If you get lost along the way visit the YNS blog for a complete list of participants and all the details.

What is a birthday party without games and some AMAZING prizes? Well we have a fun little puzzle for you to solve along the hop and when you do you will be entered into the draw for one of TWO amazing YNS prizes!  Not everyone has a puzzle piece so you need to pay attention, and click on the puzzle pieces, following the directions as you find them along the way. [3rd party cookies must be enabled to do the puzzle] When you are done put them all together at the end of the hop for your chance to win!  You have until Monday, August 15th at Midnight EST.

Now on to the new stamps...oooo, new stamps, don't you just love new stamps??? I am so lucky to be one of the guest designers this month.  My first 2 cards are made with the new goodies that I got to play with, "Seasonal Icons Set Two", which is a set of 4 summer images and sentiments.  This set is among the new stamps being released today.
I kept it CAS, but colorful, with some fussy cutting and dimensionals.

My Second Card was inspired by this one by Emily Leiphart.  Emily lined up a bunch of shoes in a row and I loved the look so I decided to line up the flip flops with some overlapping and color away the flowers.

(This card is for Wee Memories Challenge #63 - Dare to Color)

Finally, what is a Birthday party without a Birthday card?  Here is one of my favorite YNS images, Snorkel Fun Penguin holding up a B-day flag - I was thinking that he looks a little scared about snorkeling and the flag reminds me of an SOS of sorts!

(This card is based on the August 2011 SFYTT)

Before you go, you may want to check out THIS...

YNS Birthday Puzzle Piece

There are also lots of amazing deals right now in the YNS store to celebrate and you don't need a code!  The next stop on the hop is Dana's blog!  Good luck and happy hopping (and shopping)!!! 

Smiles,

Julie

Christmas in August

After last year's Christmas crafting rush I told myself to start earlier.  Hmmmm, it has not really happened.  I think I have one card done :>)  So, when I saw the latest Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge - to create a holiday project with a bird on it, well I decided I better play along.  The sponsor for the challenge is Pink Cat Studio, so I searched thru my stamps and came across this little guy and decided to turn him into a little Christmas fairy.

One of the layers there is fabric.  I have wanted to give it a try so why not now :>)
Have a wonderful day!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - Image PCS and sentiment LPS, Ink - Momento and SU, CS - PTI, fabric - stash, Embossing folder - Sizzix, and copics.

Happy Birthday Amy!

It's time to party!!!
Yes, it is Amy Tsuruta's Birthday!!!
If you have never visited Amy's blog before then you need to.  She is one of the most generous and kind bloggers out there!  Plus all the fabulous paper crafting projects she creates are so inspiring.  Be sure to stop by her blog and leave her lots of Birthday wishes!!! 

I have been leaning towards CAS cards lately, but for this card I included lots of patterned paper and stitching which Amy uses frequently on her cards.  Also, if I remember correctly, Amy's son made a comment about CAS cards :>)  
My card is based on the sketch from TCP Tuesday #170.  The image is a cutie from TCP's "Away We Go".  My card is also for this week's All That Scraps challenge - Anything Goes!
A special thanks to Yvonne Yam who was sweet enough to coordinate this on-line party for Amy!!!  Don't you think every week should start off with a party??!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp TCP, PP - (Togetherness) Cosmo Cricket, CS - PTI and SU, Button - PTI, Twine - All That Scraps, Copics, Corner Punch - SU, and plus I almost forgot, my crimper!

Your Next Stamp Birthday Party!

Your Next Stamp turns 2 on August 10th. 
Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Be sure to join in the fun with a celebratory Blog Hop! 
In preparation for the hop, Karen is having a share 'The YNS Birthday Badge' Contest!  
All you have to do is spread the word about the Birthday Blog Hop.

Head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog for the contest details and to check out the prize (pssst, it's cute!).

Smiles, Julie

Beautiful Borders

Are you ready for a challenge?  The Your Next Stamp Challenge is Beautiful Borders, include a fancy cut border on your creation.  I think this one is easy for most...borders, borders, borders. This one is not easy for me though as...I do not own many border punches!  Yes, I own a Cricut and I am sure I could have found something to use.  Instead, I decided to turn my scallop border into a fancy border by layering and embossing.  My goal was to create a lace like background.

The stamp is Shirley Temple Ellie from YNS and I used sketch #141 from Eat Sleep Stamp Sketchy Thursday.

Now if you would like to play along check out all the details on the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog.  There are prizes to be won.  You are not required to use a YNS image, but who doesn't love seeing them?!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - (Shirley Temple Ellie) YNS, Embossing - (Swiss Dots) Cuttlebug, CS - (White and Aqua Mist) PTI, Ink - Tuxedo Black) Momento, Copics, Ribbon Michael's.

Flying on By with a Birthday Hi!

Last week was the PTI blog hop.  It was also when my computer decided it no longer liked pictures.  Alas, I missed the hop!  But, I did create something, so I thought I would still share albeit a week late!

I was inspired by the colors and the panels in the photo.  I am in need of masculine Birthday cards, so I kept it on the CAS side.
Smiles,
Julie

August Fun with Your Next Stamp

Happy
Happy
August!
It is guaranteed to be a fun month for me, not only is there still lots of time left to enjoy the summer, but I am also a guest designer for Your Next Stamp!!!  Thank you Karen for asking me!  All the YNS images make me smile and are so cute, cute, cute!!!  I did a little happy dance when I received the e-mail (fortunately I was not at work at the time!).
I came across Your Next Stamp images while visiting Kerri's blog "Cards by Kerri".  She creates the sweetest cards and I really think I use the word "cute" in almost every comment I leave for her!  So I also have to send a thanks to Kerri for enabling me and introducing me to YNS :>) 
Now on to my first guest creation using Rainy Day Fhiona...

This is definitely one of those images that I had to have because it makes me smile!
Be sure to stop back often this month, I guarantee there will be a lot of Your Next Stamp goodness to be found.  Most of you probably realize that there is YNS goodness even when I am not a guest designer, but I promise I will be sharing even more this month - there is lots of fun, fun, fun in store!!!
I would also love for you to check out the Your Next Stamp blog!!!
My card is for the Wee Memories CAS challenge and  the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Friends are Heaven Sent!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - (Image - Rainy Day Fhiona and sentiment from Kite Flying Fhiona) YNS, PP - Beach Bum, CS - SU, Ink - Momento, Button PTI, copics and circle punches.