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

Holly Jolly Christmas with Your Next Stamp

It's release time at Your Next Stamp and Karen, the owner, asked me to be a guest designer!   So exciting!!!  As if you could not tell from the title of my post, I am thinking Christmas.  Today's cards are both made with the new stamp "Holly Jolly Gifts".

Ooooo, don't you just love all those gifts in a row.  Plus, I can see this being used beyond Christmas.  Wouldn't these make great Birthday presents?
Besides multiple occasions there are also so many ways to use this stamp.  Copic colored gifts such as my fist card, or CAS which is the second card I am sharing with you.

Check out all those layers.  I colored in the bows and added a little bling.
Now wouldn't these gifts also look great paper pieced?  Or how about just a couple on a gift tag?
Tons of uses.
Be sure to head over to the Your Next Stamp blog to check out all the release details.   This release is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. 
A huge thank you to Karen - I always enjoy crafting with Your Next Stamp!!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - (Holly Jolly Gifts) Your Next Stamp, CS - PTI and SU, Ink - Momento and SU, PP - Simple Stories, copics, ribbon and rhinestones.

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.

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

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.

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.  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.

Whimsie Doodles images are not required, but we all love to see them!  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.

Be sure to stop by the store to check them all out!

I will be back later this month to share my project.  Promise!

Smiles,
Julie

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.

Block Stamping

Every couple of week's Yvonne Yam has a guest designer on her blog.  Always someone fabulous ;>)  This time around the guest is Piali and she is challenging us to ink up an acrylic stamp block and use it as a background - clear block stamping.

Well, I did not go back and read the challenge before I started crafting.  I used the ink pad itself as a background and I am so happy I made the mistake because I am liking the results!!! Are you like me and remember when SU changed the packaging on their ink pads.  For all the "new" style ink pads I own there is a little warping going on, finally I have a reason to like the warping.  It created such a great highlight with the "white space" in the center.

Once I made one, I had to make another.

 This one is for the Outlawz Paper Ala Mode challenge, to make a non-fall card using fall colors. Check out all the details on the Outlawz forum.  There is a huge party going on right now! 

Of course after I made a couple I had so much fun (translation quick and easy) that I went a little crazy and made over a dozen more for note card sets.   I promise to share, but first I need to finish something to go with my note cards.  Ooooo and I am having so much fun with what I am working on (translation for that one is that it is fun, but it is taking forever to finish!).

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - PTI, Ink - SU, CS - PTI, Embroidery Floss - DMC, Button - PTI and Tim Holtz distressing tool - I splurged and replaced my serrated kitchen knife with a real distresser :>)

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.

A Sneak Peek!!!

It is almost Whimsie Doodles release time!  There are some cute, cute, cute images on the way.  Here are a couple sneak peeks...what do you think you see?

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for the full reveal!
Smiles,
Julie

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