Anyone for some Neopolitan?!

This is one of the cards we'll be making this Friday at my March Technique Class. We'll be using the Cupcake Punch to make the ice cream scoops! And the waffle cone is made with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

And the Chocolate (Soft Suede), Vanilla (starring as itself!) and Strawberry (Pink Pirouette) "scoops" are topped off with a Subtles Glimmer Brad!!

Here's a closer look at the Vanilla Satin tied off with linen thread. To be honest, I've seen this ribbon look, and was a little worried that it wouldn't stay too well - but I Like it!! It was easy to do , and Yes it does stay! - Kind of a fun different look!

And the best part - the Happy Birthday/HB accent piece is FREE! It's part of the Punch Bunch set for Sale-a-bration.


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Weekend Warriors!

This weekend, my daughter, Jessie and I were the "Weekend Warriors!" Not only did we do major closet cleaning (getting ready for new carpet in the bedrooms), with lots more to do - Ugh!!, but we also made these invites for a baby shower that she's hosting. We made 45 of them - and it was a fun team effort! We each did different parts - and boy did it make it go faster to have two working on them. Of course, it's more fun to work on stuff when you have someone to laugh and talk with too!

Here's a close-up of the cowgirl hat stamped in Espresso, colored in parts with Blushing Bride, accented in Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and "Rhinestoned!" And the bow is a "flat bow" to make it more practical for mailing.

And here's a close-up of the boot, same way the hat was done. The layers were done in Espresso, Blushing Bride, and the Designer Paper is from the Love Birds Scrappin' Kit.


Hope you had a great weekend,


Julie

Thanks to some awesome stampers out there!

What an awesome surprise to have received this award, and not once, but four times in the last couple weeks. It really means a lot to receive an award from your peers! Thank you so much to Debbie Martin, Ann Schach, Julie Marshall and Julie LeBlanc! When you click on their names you can check out their awesome blogs!

Along with the award comes the rules! I have to tell you eight things about myself, and then pass the award on to eight other blogs.

Some things about me:
1. I was born in California, and have lived here all my life.
2. We have a second home by the beach.
3. I have a craft room at our second home too! :)
4. I've been married for 20 years (this year will be 21!).
5. I have a daughter in college.
6. I have a son in high school.
7. I've been to every Stampin' Convention since I signed up in 1998.
8. I finally had my picture taken with Shelli Gardner for the first time at Leadership in Nashville this year!

And there are sooo many awesome blogs out there! As I was searching all my favorites, I found that many of them have been recently awarded. So, to keep it real and from being too repetitious, here are four that I'd like to pass it on to:

1. Jamie (Shabby Horse)
2. Jill (Jill's Card Creations)
3. Jennifer (Jennifer's Stamp Pad)
4. Nikki (My Sandbox)

I hope you stop by and check out their blogs! Some awesome stampers!!


Thanks again for the recognition!


Julie

A Pop of Birthday Brightness!

I've been fighting a little cough/cold/sore throat thing the last few days, and today after finally getting a good night's sleep, I got up and really wanted to make a card! I guess I'm feeling better! So I searched around (for probably a little too long!) on blogs for a Challenge to help motivate me.

I found this Sketch Challenge from Stampin' Royalty, and I really liked the simplicity of the layout.

Then after looking around (a little too long again!!), I found this color combination that I really liked!! It comes from this blog. So I was excited to get going....

I pretty much stayed with the Sketch, but my colors got a little skewed! I used Perfect Plum for Lilac and Vanilla instead of White.

I used one of the stamps from the new Bring On the Cake set. I got this set right when the Mini Catalog came out! I love having lots of options for birthday cards!!

In the middle of making the card, my daughter came in to check on what I was doing. I had most of the pieces ready to put together. But she gave me the idea to add the little edge of Victoria Crochet Trim under the Vanilla Satin - I love the girlie-ness that added!

I had a little lucky break when I made this oval with the Ovals Big Shot die. On a random piece of Vanilla, I had all the stamping and little Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border piece, with the pearls already stuck on all cute and ready to go - when I realized that I wanted it oval shaped. Ugh! Usually trying to punch or cut something with that all done - you know a mistake is ready to happen!!

But I got lucky and laid the stamped, ready to go piece onto the Ovals die (tried to center it), and then ran it through the Big Shot (even with the little pearls and all) - and my lucky day - it came out Centered, and with all the pearls still on!! Not something I recommend trying often though!

Anyway, I added the Crumb Cake Seam binding between the two oval layers - and I like that little frilliness too! And of course, just a "bit" of Shimmer Spray!


Have a great weekend,


Julie

PS. I'll try to post again tonight - I'm excited to say that I got a Blog Award!!

Bright and Funky, but Oh Sew Suite!

Not sure how I came together with these bright colors today?? Maybe the gloomy weather coming on makes me want to see the brightness?!

Anyway, I was inspired from Leadership to try putting the pompoms around a button (although the one at Leadership was a paper button). I found that the Mini Glue Dots were definitely the key to getting them to stick to this fabric brad. I have been using the Tombow glue for sticking the pompoms to paper.

Here's a closer look at the pompoms around the Fabric Designer Brad. The brad and the Designer Papers are from the Oh Sew Suite collection. I wasn't sure I liked the sewing stuff, but it really has grown on me!

And here's a close-up of a little extra smidge of pompom that I added to the card. I wanted to put some brads, but they just weren't looking right to me. And since we don't have any Melon Mambo brads, the pompoms did the job!

Oh, and the other colors are Daffodil Delight and Blushing Bride. And the stamp is from the set Hello, You - and it's FREE as a Sale-a-bration choice! I had looked past it many times, but for FREE - Woohoo, Love it!! You can have it for FREE too - just place a $50 order, or host a $300 workshop!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie

Doubly Challenged!

I saw that my good stampin' buddy Liz had joined in this cool blog hop/challenge, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon! The sketch came from Mary Jo Price-Williams of Technostamper. I loved this sketch because it's such a clean and simple look!

So while I was decided what stamps to use, I figured why not combine this Sketch Challenge with the SUO Challenge this week? And so I did - their challenge was to show what you're doing with Sale-A-Bration sets! That helped me decide to use the Sweet Summer SAB set, which I absolutely Love, by the way!!

Here's a close up of the flowers all cut out and watercolored, and touched with Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink.

And here's a close up of the banner (cut out from the Petal Cone Big Shot die), with a little bit of Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding scrunched under it. The "for you" comes from the Say it Simply set in the Mini catalog - love that little set, two sayings for $7.95!! Such a bargain!

As I was writing all this, I realized this can be a Triple Challenge - I think I'll enter this in Shelli Gardner's Challenge for this month too - What you're doing with Sale-A-Bration.

Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Here are the other participants in TSSC 162 Challenge:

Layers of Fun Flowers with a Mojo Monday

I made this card today for the Mojo Monday Sketch 179! Here's what the sketch looks like:

I used the Fun Flowers Big Shot die for the flower. And I added a couple 2 3/8" scallop circle punches in between. I also added some texture with Square Lattice Embossing Folder, and some Shimmer Spray and sponging with Soft Suede in here and there spots.

Also, behind the layered-up flower I used the friend Texturz Plate to add another little somethin' somethin' for the background.

And for the ribbon around the card, I used Twill Tape. I gave it a little sponging with Soft Suede too! I think the Soft Suede sponging kind of softens the look of the parts!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

A Happy Birthday that's Sew Suite!

This is a kinda quick card I made today with the Sew Suite Designer Paper and the Punch Bunch Sale-a-bration set. The colors I used are Baja Breeze and Tangerine Tango - kind of a little fun change of color combo!

Here's a little close-up of the Scallop Square Happy Birthday! OK, don't look too close, cause I don't have my Scallop Square Punch with me. I had to cut, - yes, with scissors :) - around the scallop edges!

Then, I like the Happy Birthday square in the Baja layered on top of it. It's the same stamp, just in a new color. And, boy do I hope that Stampin' Up! eventually sells a 1" square! That would make my life happier!

I also added some bling! And the little shimmer on the Tulip Frame edging is the Top Coat Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink - love that stuff, adds just a little here and there!

Hope you're having a great weekend,


Julie

True Friend Punch Bunch Flower!

Today is one of those great days to be inside making a card! It's rainy and windy outside, got the fireplace going inside... No pressing plans for the day, so why not have some fun creating?

I decided to use the SAB set, Punch Bunch. And I used the Fancy Flower XL punch.

I made the large flower first - I kept seeing the "true friend" being the center of a flower. I used Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron.

I used the Perfect Polka Dots and Square Lattice folders to give some more texture to the flowers. And, of course, a little Shimmer Spray on some of the different layers too - hope you can see some of that in the pictures!

I had to get a little creative for the So Saffron flower centers. (The Saffron flowers are made from the little Flower Fusion Sizzlets die for the Big Shot. - love those little guys!) I didn't have a punch with me that fit for the center - so I decided to do a little tearing from scraps. I kinda like how they turned out though - something different.

Another thing I didn't have with me was a border punch. So I used my 1" circle punch and did a make-do border sticking together a bunch of them!

Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Punch Bunch Candy Wrapper!

A super quick post today - just made this quick candy wrapper with the Big Shot. I used Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze ad So Saffron to color in the image on the SAB Punch Bunch for you stamp! It's so easy to use - Love it!

Here's a close-up! Added an extra layer Cherry Cobbler scallop for the background - I like the layered look, and of course a bling on it!!


Gotta run, but I'll be back this weekend - big plans to have with some stamping this long weekend,


Julie

Playing with Pals Paper Arts!

I decided to play along with the Pals Paper Arts Challenge this morning! I've had this "yo-yo" fabric circle thingy sitting on my desk since I got back from Leadership in January. - That's where I first saw it, and learned how to make it. So when I saw this sketch, I figured I could finally put the yo-yo to good use.

And here it is...

The fabric was part of a gift I got from Leadership, so I've been using it for little random things, and I love how it has the Designer Paper to match! The yo-yo is made by cutting a circle (easy with the Big Shot!), and then making stitches around the edge and cinching it up into a little puffy circle, or yo-yo! Fun!

Then I just layered it on a Marina Mist circle and a Rose Red Scallop circle, and of course, added a little linen thread to a button center - wahlah!!

One of my favorite things on the card is the embossed background. I like it because I had already put down the flowered piece of Designer Paper, and I realized that the Marina half needed a little something. So when I decided on the lattice folder texture, I figured why not do the whole card front? And I love how the texture looks over the Designer Paper too! Double cool!

And the saying, one of my new favorites, is from the new Bold Blossom set.


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

To Be or Not to Be...

That is the question...

Ever since I saw the little double milk carton crate that was made by Becky Roberts, I've been dying to make one! - Her tutorial was super easy to follow. But then I had to decide what to put on it, and what colors to use. My biggest challenge is always to use something other than my favorites (Crumb Cake and Baja!).

So anyway, I went with Regal Rose, So Saffron and Soft Suede for the colors. And I decided to use the Clearly for You set - Luuvv it!! :)

But then.... I wanted to use the Paper Daisies. So I went to town on the daisies - Smooch Pearlized Paint, textured and sponged the centers, added an antique brad. So, I love how they came out... until... I added them to the milk cartons!

I think they either look like fried eggs, or big ol' buggy eyes!! Hmmm...

So then, maybe they look better with no flowers?? Still dunno?? Maybe a cute little tag? Probably a work in progress for now...

But I do like how the little medallion thingy came out for the base of the crate! I love these little birdies! And yes, that little paper daisy is what started the whole fried egg thing?!?!?.....

OK, so just give in to one of those kinda days!


To be continued..... (and possibly finished, or decided upon...)


Julie


PS - Hey, maybe some Crumb Cake Milk Cartons would solve it?! :)

Mojo Monday on a Tuesday!

Boy, oh boy... today was a Tuesday that felt like a Monday! So I decided to take on the Mojo Monday Challenge! That'll make it a good Tuesday (or like a good Monday!?)!!

So I decided to use the very cool Sale-a-bration set, Sweet Summer, and "do it up!" I started out by stamping the flowers and stems, and coloring them in Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and Pear Pizzazz (soothing...).

Then I added a Crumb Cake, with a Polka Dot Embossing Folder Background, card base. Aaahhh... even more soothing! But then, of course, a little Smooch Spray and Espresso sponging...

And a great saying ("for you" from Say it Simply - and yes, it's a two piece set for $7.95 - YESSSS!!)... a little Espresso Taffeta, and a highlight here and there with Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink...

And it will all be good again!

And here's the sketch that helped me get it all started! You can go here to see other cards made with the same sketch.


Hope you had a good Tuesday!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Valentines in the Mail!

I made a few Valentines that I needed to put in the mail - and man, I felt like I had to really hold back!! I felt like I couldn't put much bling or much of the "good stuff" on them. Either you add all the good stuff, and then wait in line at the post office, pay extra postage and hope that it all stays in place and doesn't get wrecked in the mail. Otherwise, suck it up and just keep 'em simple!

Used up some of the Love Impressions paper!


At least used some Glimmer Paper to spruce up a couple of them!

And a simplified version of the one I made for my husband!


Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!


Julie

An Elegant Anniversary!

My husband and I were invited to an anniversary party for some of our super good friends who have been married for 25 years!! So I CASE'd this card from Stampin' Connection (Thanks Sandy Alexander!), except the original was made in gold and had 50 on it. I Love the Elegant look to it!

I just took one quick picture of it before leaving for the party! I was really happy with how it came out though! I even used my heat tool and embossed the greeting and the hearts!! And, of course, Shimmer Sprayed the background!

It was also kinda cool that I used the Always set - hadn't pulled that one out in a while, but I still love it!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Valentine with Lots of Texture!

I made this card for my husband for Valentine's Day. Once I got going on making it, I couldn't stop adding texture!!

One thing I really liked using was the Lots of Love Letterpress Plate. At first I didn't really like using it - I think because I thought you had to use the Craft Ink and make a big mess. But now that I figured out that you can just run them through like a Texturz Plate - get the impression, and sponge it to pop the image - I really like it!!

Here's a close-up of the Espresso brads stuck on top of a 1/4" Glimmer Paper circle. I got inspiration from my stampin' buddy Liz, who did that little layering of the circle with the brads - a fun detail!

And here's lots more Glimmer with the heart and Scallop Trim Border. I did lots of Shimmer Spray too!

And I added a Glimmer Brad to the Happy Valentine's Day banner to bring together all the glimmer!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie