Challenge Time

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

Head on over to the YNS blog for all the details and to see the colors and sketch.

YNS Ingredients:  Sprinkles - Hoppy Holidays  | Stitched Rectangle Die Set

My card is based on the sketch.  This sketch is pretty simple so that you have room to interpret the main rectangle space.  My card has 2 rectangles layered over one another.

Have a great weekend!  Find some time to play along with us, I look forward to seeing how you interpret Challenge #26.

Smiles,
Julie

Cruisin' Along

Welcome back!   Have you been looking for a challenge?   The Cat's Pajamas new Tuesday Challenge is Anything Goes!  I know, an easy challenge, but let your creativity flow and get crafting!

 Today I have "just a note" for you!  

TCP Ingredients:   Wavy Stitched Border Die, Travelin' Man stamp set, Simply Stacked Sentimens stamp set

All the stitching on today's card was created with one die.  Yep, just one die!   I used the Wavy Stitched Border die for everything.   Simply, run it through once, then flip your paper around to get the straight stitched strip.  

To get the stitching on the side only do not run it through the machine completely, just enough to get the straight edge of the die.

Stop on by the TCP blog for all the challenge details.  Play along and you may just win a gift certificate (aka Cat Cash) to TCP store.

Smiles,

Julie

CAS Clear Snow

This week's SplitcoastStamper CAS challenge is to use acetate on a holiday creation for Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Confession time, I needed to dig deep in to my stash to find what I wanted for this card.   Embossable acetate!  

Supplies:   YNS Warm Winter Wishes Stamp Set

I attached the acetate with tape and then hid it behind the strips of burgundy.   I bought this acetate years ago, but I don't remember ever using it.   I don't know why, because it is very cool and easy to use.

Clearly you must join the CAS team in challenge CAS348!

Smiles,
Julie

YNS Feature Day - Fall

This month's Your Next Stamp Feature Day is a theme - "Fall".   For your chance to win a YNS stamp set of your choice pop on over to the YNS blog and leave a comment on the Feature Day post.

So how did I interpret fall?   Well, with leaves and a squirrel of course!

YNS Ingredients - Piles of Smiles Stamp Set

Clean and fun - all that fussy cutting on this card ruled out "simple", but all that cream makes it a clean layout.

Piles of Smiles,

Julie

CAS Monster

This week's Splitcoaststamper Clean and Simple challenge is Me Want Candy.  It is a photo inspiration featuring a cute monster basket and tons of candy.   I focused on the monster and let the patterned paper do all the work with a simple layout.

Supplies:   YNS Fang-tastic! stamp set and Stitched Rectangle dies

Why don't you join in the CAS347 challenge and finish up your Halloween creations!

Smiles,

Julie

YNS October DT Dare Post - A Gift Idea

Would you like to win a stamp set from Your Next Stamp?

If you answered "yes" then head on over the YNS Blog right now and leave a comment on the October DT Dare post by October 20th!

Each month, the team is dared to create a project for a specific challenge.  This month's challenge is to use sparkle and shine.

What is the easiest way to add sparkle you ask?   YNS Gumdrops!

I created a set of 3x3 note cards for this month's dare and each card and the tote has sparkly gumdrops.

YNS Ingredients:   Sprinkles Hoppy Holidays stamp set | Stitched Square Die |Scrapworks Strips die set | 3x3 Envelope Die | Gumdrops

Each note card has a stitched square layered over strips of red.   The envelopes were created with the 3x3 envelope die.   The tote holding the cards and envelopes is super easy to make.   I used this tutorial on SCS for a 3x3 note card tote.

Now go forth and comment on the YNS blog DT dare post.   I know you want to win a set, I just know it!

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

Your Next Stamp October Release Blog Hop

Happy HOP day!!!    

Today is the Your Next Stamp October new release blog hop!  

The new release is full of FUN!  There are tons of new stamps and dies.   I know I write it all the time, but everything is so CUTE!   Penguins, bunnies, and more penguins and bunnies are in this release, along with a new Phoebe set, isn't she the sweetest???!!!    There are Christmas sets to be found and even some for the fall.    I know you will FALL in love with all the new goodies.   Fortunately you do not have to wait to shop, because everything is available in the YNS Store right now!

Hop, hop, hop using the inlinkz list at the bottom of this post and leave a comment on each blog as you go.  The more comments you leave, the greater your chances of winning a $25.00 gift certificate to the Your Next Stamp store!!!  To be in the draw to win the gift certificate be sure to leave all your comments by October 17th at midnight EST.   

So what did I create for today?   I have 2 cards to share with you and each uses a color palette of ocean tides, cream, and linen.  Oh how I love all the shades of aqua.  

YNS Ingredients:   Waddles Homemade with Love stamp set and die set, Stitched Rectangle Dies

Here is one for Allsorts no designer paper challenge.  Admittedly when I am in a CAS mood, that is not too much of a challenge ;>)
It is also for the Crafts Galore Encore Create a Card Challenge.

YNS Ingredients:   Pajamas All Day stamp set, Stitched Square dies

Here is a tip to get more out of your rectangle dies.    Each of the sentiment panels has stitching on it that was created using the largest of the rectangle dies.   I ran the strip through my die cutter getting the embossing/cut on the top side of the strip.   Then flipped the strip over to get embossing on the bottom.   

So what else is being released you ask???   Get hopping to see all the other amazing creations from my teammates and then check out the YNS Store for some shopping!
   
Karen is offering a 20% off discount in the store, even on the new release products.

Smiles,

Julie

YNS October Sneak Peek - Christmas Dreams

Tomorrow is the Your Next Stamp October new release Blog Hop!   Whooo hoooo!
We wouldn't want you to have to wait a whole 24 hours, so today the design team each has a sneak peek at the new release.

Pajamas All Day is the new set I am giving you a peek at.   What a great name, doesn't it sound ideal? Especially if it is rainy or overcast where you are.  

Take a look at this cutie who fell asleep on the chair with dreams of candy, cookies, and carrots...

YNS Ingredients:  Pajamas All Day stamp set

Yep, that is a bunny snoozing away!    The chair was paper pieced and then I used copics to add in shading.   

This set is great for Christmas, but it also works for an everyday card.   Stop back tomorrow for the Blog Hop to see a non-Christmas card created with this set.   

I have seen some of the creations for tomorrow's hop and let's just say you won't want to miss out. Plus, you definitely don't want to miss the chance to win a YNS gift certificate.

Smiles,
Julie

Ski Penguin

Hi everyone!   The Cat's Pajamas new Tuesday Challenge is Anything Goes!  It does not get any easier than that!  

Have you started counting down to Christmas?  I have not started tracking the # of days officially, but with an open challenge like anything goes, I decided to go with a Christmas card.   A penguin and lots of purple with a bit of sparkle on the snowy hills.

TCP Ingredients:  Pray for Snow Stamp set, He Said She Said die set (for the hills)

Stop on by the TCP blog for all the challenge details.  Play along and you may just win a gift certificate (aka Cat Cash) to TCP store.

Smiles,

Julie

Woven Clean and Simple

This week's Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple challenge is to "Use Your Words"!   We want you to pull out your word and sentiment stamps and put them to work while you leave all your image stamps behind.   Embellishments, die cuts, and patterned paper are fine to use, so get creative!

My card features a sentiment, a gumdrop and patterned paper.   I started off by cutting strips of paper and then randomly weaving the strips together.   The strips were glued down to the card base and then vanilla paper was layered over it.

Use Your Words and join us in the CAS challenge this week!

Smiles,

Julie

Simple Sketch, Spooky Colors

We have a new challenge up at Your Next Stamp and I have spooky inspiration to get you started!

Here is my take on the sketch:

YNS Supplies:  Tricky Tonic Stamp Set  | Stitched Rectangle Die Set

Play along for your chance to win a YNS gift certificate.  Stop by the YNS blog for all the details, to see the spooky creations from my teammates and to link up your own creation.   

Smiles,
Julie