Under the Sea

Hi Everyone!

I have been busy stamping away (like a maniac)!   Almost every free minute has been spent creating cards for the Splitcoast Stampers Dare To Get Dirty (DTGD) challenges.   If you are a SCS Fan Club member then check out all the details HERE.  DTGD is 40 individual challenges which means I have 40 cards to make in just over a week!  

This is for Lydia's challenge...I need to keep the details under wraps, but I will say it was a fun challenge!

Ingredients:  Your Next Stamp Sea Creature Sentiments, Sea Creatures Set One and Large Ink Splatter stamp, Stitched Rectangle dies, YNS Banner/fishtail dies and Scrapworks Stitched Strips set

I had fun with this card.  I tried a new technique, watercolor stamping to create the background.   Here is the tutorial I used...basically, you simply wet your stamp with water and then stamp it over inked card stock.   I used the Ink Splatter background stamp and the water spreads out a bit so the pattern becomes less distinct.

I will be back with more DTGD creations.  As of right now, I have 14 cards made...

Smiles,

Julie

Band of Stars

Today's CAS creation for the SCS CAS Challenge #336 is full of stars.   The challenge is the theme "Under the Stars".  

Supplies:   Stamps - Verve, Dies-YNS Scrapworks Strips, Inks - SU, CS - PTI

I stamped directly on the base and then used the die cut strips to frame it on an angle.   All the colors of the rainbow are represented. To add interest, I placed the white on a yellow base.
My card is also for the latest Simon Says Stamp challenge - Anything Goes!

I am playing along with SCS DTGD challenges which means it is going to be a busy crafting week and a busy week on the blog. There are FORTY challenges and it is going to take awhile to share everything.  Last year, I did not even post every creation on my blog.

Have a great week.  

Smiles, Julie

A Little Crabby

Fun News Alert!

I joined the Splitcoast Stampers Clean and Simple team, which means you will be seeing CAS creations from me on Mondays!  

I would love to have you play along and share your projects.  There is a new challenge each week and no time limit on playing along.   If you want to be in the running for Favorite of the week though you need to load a picture of your project to SCS within the week. Click here for all the details.  SCS is free to join and a great inspiration resource, with challenges, tutorials, forums and more! You can also go with a paid membership, which will give you access to additional galleries.

This week's challenge is the theme Something Beachy.  So pull out your sunny stamps and get stamping! 

Ingredients:   Stamps - Your Next Stamp Sea Creature Sentiments, Sea Creatures Set One, Small Ink Splatter

I colored the crab directly on the card base and then cut out a strip of paper, stamped it with the ink splatter stamp to create sand and popped it up.   Not sure I want to see a crab on the beach, but he is cute on the card!

Have a great day!
-Julie

Get Whale

Happy FRIDAY!!!   Whooo Hoooo!!!   

Today's card is a get "whale" card based on Your Next Stamp's challenge #19!   A new challenge started today, so you will definitely want to head on over to the YNS Blog to see more inspiration from my teammates AND to join in the fun and link up your own creation.

YNS Ingredients : Sea Creature Sentiments | Sea Creatures Set One | Island Fun Die Set |  Stitched Rectangles Die Set | Gumdrops

I went with the sketch this time around.  Whenever I design the sketches, I always have a card in mind.   For this sketch, I envisioned a rectangle popped up on the base with the larger circles as clouds and gumdrops on each corner.   When it came time to make the card though I could not get the Sea Creature set out of my head.  I think it has to do with Amy Rohl and the nautical cards she has been creating lately!   

I can't wait to see how your interpret the sketch or colors...remember you only need to choose one and you can use any stamps you want.   

Do you have big plans for the weekend?   Mine involve some prehistoric creatures and 2 someones in my house celebrating a birthday.   Fun times ahead!!!

Smiles,
Julie

July Feature Day at YNS

Your Next Stamp is putting summer creations in the spotlight today!  The design team is sharing projects based on the theme "dear summer" AND giving you a chance to win a stamp set of your choice.   How cool would that be???!!!

For a chance to win, all you need to do is head on over to the YNS blog and leave a comment on the team Feature Day Post.   Easy Peasy!!!  Be sure to check out everyone's summer creations while you are there.

Here is my take on "dear summer"...what would summer be without swimming???   I took this as an opportunity to use my favorite summer stamp, Snorkel Fun Penguin.   This guy never fails to make me smile.

YNS Ingredients:  Snorkel Fun Penguin,  sentiment from Waddles Happy Brrr-thday! 

Hollyberry Red Gumdrops,  Stitched Square Die Set , Scrapworks - Strips Die Set 

My card is base on CAS(E) this Sketch #132.  

Have a great day!

Smiles,

Julie

Christmas in July

Today's post is of my first Christmas card for 2015!   

Supplies:  Stamps - MFT Thanks Snow Much, Dies - YNS Stitched Squares, Strip Dies and Heart from Overdue Library Card Set

My card is based on MFT sketch challenge #237 and is also for the SCS CAS Christmas in July challenge.  Now that I am thinking about it, I made a thank you card...hmmm, well I was thinking Christmas!!!

No worries if you have not started your Christmas cards, there are 161 days until Christmas, plenty of time for cards.

Smiles,
Julie
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Never too Old!

Your Next Stamp has a new challenge up today.   Challenge #18 is on for the next 2 weeks and one random participant will win a gift certificate to the YNS Store.   If you don't own any YNS stamps then this is your chance to go shopping.  Everyone is welcome to play along using any products.  There is a sketch and a color combo to choose from, check out the YNS blog for all the details.

My card is based on the sketch.   Whenever I design the sketches I always have an idea of how I would use the sketch.  I will admit that I modified the sketch a bit for today's card because I wanted to use the new Clowning Around set and use the sentiments at the top and bottom.

YNS Ingredients:   Clowning Around Stamp Set, Stitched Circle Dies, Circle Dies, Stitched Strip Dies, bow die from Rainy Day Die Set, and number dies from Talk Bubble Die Set.

Here are the sketch and colors so you can play along.

Smiles,

Julie

YNS July DT Dare

Your Next Stamp Design Team Dare Day

So what is Dare Day?   It is a challenge for the design team and an opportunity for YOU to win a prize!  Plus it is another chance to check out all the new products from the July release.

Head on over to the YNS blog and leave a comment on the DT Dare post for your chance to win!

The Dare this month is "floral".   I decided to go with the new Flower Ink Splatter stamp and create a mat behind the panda from the new set Word Critters Collection - Exotic Animals.

YNS Ingredients:  Word Critters Collection - Exotic Animals,  Flower Ink Splatter and Stitched Rectangle Dies

Now it is time to head on over the YNS blog to check out may teammates creations and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Smiles,

Julie

YNS July Blog Hop - HOP hop HOP

Hi there everyone and welcome to the Your Next Stamp July New Release Blog Hop!

If you have not already started your happy dance then get it going because all the new stamps and dies are available in the store right now.   

The blog hop starts at our July Guest Francine's blog so head on over there to kick it off.   Check out the full list of blog hop participants at the bottom of this post.   The more blogs you visit and leave a comment on the greater your odds of winning a $20 gift certificate to the YNS Store.  Woo Hoo!  You have until July 7th at midnight EST to leave your comments.

So what is all the excitement about?   The new release is full of sweet critters and a whole lot more!  Rainbows, flowers, penguins and a clown are just a few things new to the store today.   There are so many new stamps and dies that I can't list them all.  You will just have to visit all the blogs on the hop and then head on over to the YNS store to check it all out!

 My favorite new set is called Sticky Note and it does not have anything to do with office supplies...check out the FROGS!!!   Frogs are a fave in my household, we have a menagerie of animals, including a couple tree frogs.   They definitely stick to the glass walls of their tank.   Fun fact, did you know that frogs don't drink water?  They absorb it through their skin.   With 2 young sons we are constantly reading and learning about animals.

Here is my card featuring one of the frogs from Sticky Note.   I am going for the look of a poison dart frog with this one (I had a 7 year old consultant assist with the proper colors!).

YNS Ingredients:  Sticky Note Stamp Set, Stitched Squares Die Set, Scrapworks - Strips Die Set

My card is based on the latest SCS sketch.

Up next is a card featuring the new floral background stamp - Flower Splatter.   

YNS Ingredients:  Word Critters - Exotic Animals stamp set, Flower Splatter Stamp, Stitched Fishtail Tags Two Die Set

I misted watercolor paper with water and then stamped the flowers on it to give it a smudged/blurry result.   Once it dried a bit I stamped the flowers a second time randomly.  The tag features the armadillo and sentiment from the new set Word Critters - Exotic Animals.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have fun hopping and now is the time to also do the shopping as Karen is offering a discount in the store!

Smiles,

Julie

Your Next Stamp Exotic Animals Sneak Peek

I have a sneaky peek at Your Next Stamp's July release for you today.    Tomorrow is the big day when everything will be available in the YNS Store.   Stop back for a blog hop for your chance to WIN!!!

My card gives you a peek at the set Word Critters - Exotic Animals.   This set is full of little critters and word blocks...all the stamps on my card are from the set.

YNS Ingredients:  Word Critters - Exotic Animals and coordinating dies, Circle Dies, Stitched Circle Dies, and Stitched Rectangle Dies.

My card is based on SCS CAS challenge #331 - CASE this Sketch.   

See you tomorrow for the New Release Blog Hop!

Smiles,

Julie