Can Anyone Get Enough Crumb Cake?

...I guess not me!! I can't stop using Crumb Cake!! I just LOVE it! But, don't worry if you're coming to this Friday's Technique class, it won't all be in Crumb Cake.

Anyway, I was asked by a friend to make a 60th Birthday card. And, since there were no requests or preferences on what to make - I went to my favorites, Baja, Crumb and Soft Suede. I know, sorry to be boring in my color choices, but there's just something comforting and yummy in these colors to me!

I really wanted to use the Simple Numbers Big Shot dies to make the 60! And it made an easy stand-out focal point for the card. And I hadn't used my Top Note die for a while, so I busted it out too!

Then I decided to go for some new stuff, and I used one of the new Ribbon Roses (nice that they're all ready to go, just glue dot 'em on!). But I felt like it needed some "leaves," so I made them with 1/4" Celery grosgrain ribbon. And, I hope you can see in the picture that I Shimmer sprayed the background, the numbers and the banner piece. It's always hard to get the "shimmer" in the photo, but I thought it kinda worked this time.

And I used the "birthday wishes" from the the SAB set, So Happy for You. You can get this set (with 12 stamps) for FREE with a $50 order right now - How Cool is that?!

Finally, on the left side of the card, I added a Bold Ribbon statement with the Striped Grosgrain and a BIG button! To get the scrunchy look with the wider ribbon, it worked better to double-up the Sticky Strip row before scrunching - it just helps it stick down better.

I hope the recipient likes the card, and that all her 60 birthday wishes come true!


Thanks for checking it out,


Julie

Lovin' Fun Flowers!

I started this card this morning, while I was away for the weekend, and with limited supplies, and then I finished it when I got home today! Really all I added when I got home was the Bling - a girl's gotta have her Bling!!

I decided to play it for the Paper Players Challenge #32 because I had so much fun with the Challenge last week! And the Challenge this week is Anything Goes - how cool is that?!

I used the Fun Flowers Big Shot die with Whisper White. And I used stamps from the Clearly For You set. I also used the new Framed Tulips Embossing Folder for one of the background layers. And the colors are Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede.

For the layered "Fun Flower" I used lots dimensionals to pop it out there! After I had stamped and sponged all the pieces, I realized I wanted to "finish" the center of the flower with a brad or button. But, because I wasn't at home with all my goods, I had to work with the stuff I brought (ribbon). So with the Baja Breeze Seam Binding, I knotted and twisted it into a little "bun" and made my center!! It was kind of a lot of work, but I like the end result of it. - Although I won't be giving up brads and buttons quite yet, it was a good substitute with limited supplies!

And one of my favorite parts of the card is the butterflies. I stamped them in Baja, then Crumb Cake and then a little edge into the Soft Suede to create a multi-colored effect! (I got that idea from some of the stamping I've seen from my Artisan Award-winning buddy Liz!) And I like how that technique gives each butterfly a unique look!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Cheating for Valentines!

This is a card I got from my stampin' buddy, Dena! When her swaps came, all made with the set Valentine Defined, I wouldn't have imagined a card like this - and I LOVE it!! I guess that's part of the reason we swap - to get someone else's ideas too! I especially love how she used the Fun Flowers Big Shot die in Cherry Cobbler, but then added sponging and stamping to the different layers. It makes the flower pop out!

And, cool that this card could easily be used for any occasion!


Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

Clearly Plain and Simple!

I got this set, Clearly For You, at Leadership. And I must admit, I didn't think it was a set I'd use very much. But, now that I have it, I really like it - it has so many cute little stamps in it (12 images)! And, all the stamps are so easy to layer and create a cool vintage look.

I kept the card very simple - no layer! I mainly focused on the tag.

On the tag part, I used the Decorative Label punch and the Wide Oval punch. My favorite part of it all is how the Smooch Spray sets it all out there!! Oh, and, maybe the bling, and I guess the Victoria Trim - OK, I like it all! It still is simple, but I like it! And the colors are Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla, and some Soft Suede (ink and sponging).


Thanks for checking it out,

Julie

So Happy for You, Sale-A-Bration!

Here's a fun card I made with the new Sale-A-Bration set, So Happy for You. The only stamping is the words, but the set has 10 pieces, 5 word/sayings and 5 little images - and I Love the quirkiness of these letters - so fun!!

I also used the new Fun Flowers Big Shot die, with Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz. I added the Dotted Embossing Folder on the base of the card, some Pear Pizzazz Designer Paper, Dotted Scallop Edge Border Punch, Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly Ribbon and a Bitty Button! So many cool added details...

...Which help to add up the cost of materials, just so you can earn the So Happy for You set for FREE!! Because, right now for every $50 you spend from any Stampin' Up! catalog, you get to choose a Sale-A-Bration choice! And there are LOTS!!

Here's a copy of the catalog of choices, and if you don't already have a copy of your own, email me a message and I'll get you one!

Have fun getting the most for your Stampin' Up! dollar during Sale-A-Bration!


Julie

Download the Sale a Bration mini catalog

Download the Sale a Bration examples supplies list

Photos of the SAB 2011 extra Catalog Images

A Cupcake for Mojo Monday!

These Sketch Challenges have really got me motivated again! I find myself really doing my own thing, instead of just looking for good stuff to copy (although that's not always a bad idea either!).

So this card is made with the Create a Cupcake set and punch, and the colors Soft Suede, Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake. I also used a bit of Red Glimmer Paper (perfect for the cherry on top!), a Bitty Button, and a Subtles pink brad.

And the close-up of the cupcake shows the "frosting" technique we've done before! Remember - "green glue" and embossing powder? Although, this time I just used Clear Embossing Powder.

*Edited to Add: To make the frosting, use the Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue, aka "green glue" just swirling it around in the area you want frosting. Then cover the glue with embossing powder. I used Clear, but you could use iridescent ice, a mixed color, whatever... Then heat the embossing powder. Kinda fun because it gives a little puffier look than regular embossing.
(This was a technique in a Stampin' Success)

And, here's the Mojo Monday Sketch that I used:

Have a great Monday! Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

A Paper Players Challenge!

I decided to try another Sketch Challenge today! I'm kinda liking this! Once I can be decisive enough to pick a set and the colors I want to use, the Sketch Challenge really helps guide the card.

So this Sketch Challenge, PP31 is from The Paper Players. I kinda switched up the orientation of it to fit the bird.

The set I used is the new Nature Walk from the Occasions Mini Catalog. And I used the set, You're a Gem, (also from the Occasions Mini) for the "Enjoy" and "Friend" sayings. I used Marina Mist, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso.

I tried to get a close-up to show the Shimmer spray, but it's kinda hard to see!


Thanks for checking it out!


Julie

InSync at Leadership!

OK, so we didn't really see In Sync at Leadership (I know dating myself! And, they aren't a group anymore, are they?) - and, yes, we were in Nashville!! But - after we all got up and got ready on the first day, Dena, Liz and I realized we were all dressed to coordinate! Browns and pinkie-peach, or, yes, Chocolate Chip and Blushing Bride!

And, wonder how we got a picture of the three of us? We ran into a familiar Stampin' Up! face (who Dena stopped to chat with, and introduce us to!), Pam Morgan!! She took our picture - Love how Leadership is small, and more personal like that!

So, yes, then we had a stranger take a picture of the four of us! Gotta have proof of those "Celebrity Moments!" Just a bummer that Pam didn't have the psychic abilities for the color matching of our outfits that day!

So, then Day 2 (that was really the first day of Leadership classes), we met up for lunch - and lo and behold, it was Basic Gray Day! We weren't even staying together to plan all this color-coordination!

Just somehow - InSync!


Julie

I Am Challenged!

Yesterday I thought I'd try to make a card based on a sketch challenge I saw on Pals Paper Arts. So I came up with this card. But now my biggest challenge is to figure out how to link all the right things in all the right places to link back to their page! I'm so one of those people that needs someone to show me how to do it! Anyway, I may be back to edit when I can figure it out.

In the meantime, I used some of the new Springtime Vintage fabric for the bow. And I used the new Bring on the Cake birthday set. And, for some texture, I used the Lattice folder on the Rose piece in the background, Some Crumb Cake Seam Binding, scrunched of course, and some Rhinestone bling!


Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

Wanna Get Filled with Love?

These two Valentine cards are both made with the Filled with Love set - that's only available until January 24th! So, there are only a few days left to get "filled with love!"

And when you purchase it with the Love Patterns Designer Paper Pack, you'll get a FREE package of Bitty Buttons (a $4.95 value). You can get more details by clicking on the photo-ad to the right!

If you look closely at the two cards above, you'll see that I used the set, the papers and the Bitty Buttons on each one! And it doesn't just have to be for Valentine cards, you can send a Love card anyday!


Julie

Lookie What I Got!

This garland was a gift from my Leadership roomie, Liz! And I absolutely Love it! I actually hung it in our hotel room while we were in Nashville, and then carefully packed it away for the trip home!

I love all the detail - check out this close-up of the heart:

She used the Petal Cone die to make it, and used lots of layers - the Lots of Love Letter Press Plate, Some awesomely sparkly Glimmer Paper for the scalloped edges, and the First Edition Specialty DSP for the tops of the hearts, and my favorite... the rhinestone bling and scrunchy Seam Binding that separates the heart.


I will be proudly displaying this for Valentine's Day!!


Julie

Good Times and a Fun Little Card!

This is one of my favorite pictures from Leadership! It's my upline, Tami, and my sideline, Liz and me! We were waiting (inside at the Opryland) for the bus to take us to the Manager's event! I felt so happy to be a part of the Manager's Celebration!! We all got cowboy hats, and we were off to the Wildhorse Saloon. It was super fun - good food, great Country Music, billiards and even air hockey.

The Manager's Event was the first night of lots of fun. I'll share more pictures later!

And, here's a cute card idea I saw from another Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Brenda Quintana. I couldn't resist CASEing it! It uses the set, Filled with Love (only available until January 24th - with the special), and it's a 3" x 3" card. I love the idea of punching out the center of the O and putting the Hershey's Kiss in it!

The 4" x 6" cello makes a perfect little "envelope" for it too!


Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

I'm Back..and with Lots of Great Swaps!

I just got back from Leadership last night. I had great intentions of posting stuff while I was there, but it just didn't happen. The events didn't end each night until 10:00, long and jam-packed days! But, the good news is that now I have lots to post for the coming days!

This is one of the cards I got while swapping - and I love all the texture in it. It has inset embossing, and the new embossing folder, Tulip Frame. Plus, I like the Modern Label punch with the saying and the Rhinestone bling! And it's made with the Valentine Defined stamp set from the Mini.

Are you getting ready for Valentine's day yet?


Julie

Valentine Defined!

This is a super cute card made by my stampin' friend Dena! It's made with the set Valentine Defined, from the Occasions Mini. Pretty simple idea - but very cute!

I'm off to Leadership today, but I'll be bringing my laptop - so hopefully I'll have some posts to share!


Julie

Bold Blossom Beauty!

I'm super excited to be getting ready for the Stampin' Up! leadership conference this coming week! This is one of the cards I'll be swapping while I'm there.

I wanted to use a set from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. And I Love the simplicity of the Bold Blossom set!! Then I chose some of my favorite colors (Of course, one has to be Baja Breeze!! - but also, Crumb Cake and Pear Pizzazz), and one of my favorite layouts - and there you go! Also, I added some bling - a girl's gotta have bling!

I had one happy accident while putting the card together. When I stamped the words on the card, they came out crooked (Ya, first time that happened - Not!). But I thought instead of turning it over, or throwing it away, I'll stamp the saying on a scrap and then punch it out. So there it is punched with the wide oval and stuck on the card - Straight!! And I kinda like the little extra with the look of the extra "layer."


Julie

A Little Gift "Filled with Love"

Here's a quick little Valentine gift for someone! I've made these post-it note keychains lots of times - just change up the cover for whatever theme/whoever you want to give it to. I really like the color combo - Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo. It kind of started from the post-it note paper I had.

Then I knew I wanted pink with it - and wah lah! the color combo happened! Anyway, I also used the Filled with Love Set heart, with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit behind it, and a Heart Bitty Button to accent the front - Fun!!


Julie

A Calendar with it All!!

Here's the Pop-up Post-it Note Desk Calendar that we'll be making at Technique Class this Friday! I'm really excited about how cute this is!! We'll be using the new Springtime Vintage Designer Paper, and the new Fun Flowers Big Shot die!

And how cute (and practical!) will this be sitting on your desk?!


Hope to see you on Friday!!


Julie

Pom Poms and Cupcakes!

Just one more cupcake... Well, can anyone just have one cupcake?? Not me! I love this cupcake, but I especially love the new little pompom trim along the side of it - SO cute!! And, my picture is a little off-color, but the ribbon is our new Crumb Cake Seam Binding!

Tomorrow is the big day!! You can start ordering all these awesome new things from the new Occasions Mini Catalog! ANd when you buy $50, you'll get a Sale-A-Bration pick! I Love Stampin' Up!!


Julie

My Favorite Cupcake!

I finished and sent off my Create a Cupcake card swaps a couple days ago, and this one was my favorite! I think I just like the color combination (Pink Pirouette and Pear Pizazz), but also I really like the little piece of Designer Paper with the hearts (they're dry embossed, and super cool in real life). The paper comes from the new Love Impressions Designer Pack - too cute!! And the ribbon is the new Pear Pizazz Seam Binding.


And, it might be a little hard to see in the picture, but the cherry on top of the cupcake is made with the new red Glimmer Paper - Love it!!!


Happy New Year!!


Julie