We Create Blog Hop--Something Old, Something New!

Well friends, I know you are probably wondering what I've been up to, and the answer is...life!  I have had so many things going on at once, I just had to put my blogging, blog hopping, and creating on the back burner for a while.  I know many of you can understand my plight.  I have to admit, it has been enjoyable being able (forced) to create for this project, and although my new stamps will probably arrive sometime today (let's hear it for poor planning!!) I decided I would use a few of my favorite stamp sets that will be returning in the brand new Stampin' Up! catalog going live tomorrow, June 2!

I used Fabulous Four (a perfect, all-around sentiment stamp set) and Gorgeous Grunge (easily one of my all time favs) and the beautiful Flower Shop (bundled with a coordinating punch). We have great packaging options to satisfy many different needs. The Petite Café gift bag is a perfect bag for food items as it is poly-lined for yummy treats...like cookies!  The only returning DSP from the last catalog is Typeset Specialty DSP which is a lightweight paper, great for using with our wonderful punch boards. I topped it off with a Candy Dot and a Designer button to pull in my Crushed Curry color.  Hopefully, my new arrivals will inspire me to keep the juices flowing and I'll be able to share a few new projects from the new catalog soon!

I know the blog hoppers have some old and new items as well, go check them out and see their wonderful creativity!

I hope no one has forgotten about me, being gone so long!  I still love stamping and papercrafting, so keep checking in, I promise I'll keep coming back!!

Julie

Creativity Blog Hop!!

I had a glorious Easter, how about you? It was also my dad's birthday and LDS General Conference, so it was an even better Easter than normal (if that is possible!)  I was inspired, uplifted, and spiritually fed this weekend and I'm feeling encouraged to face life with strength and steadfastness, as well as feeling a deeper appreciation for my Savior's love and grace. 
I have to thank my friend Jeanna Bohanon for nominating me for the Creativity Blog Hop!  I'm honored that she thought of me! She is a sweet friend and a super creative person and I'm so grateful to know her!
My card is a CASE from a Stampin' Success demonstrator magazine.  I love the many samples Stampin' Up! shares.  I used Boutique Borders photopolymer set as well as Fabulous Four wood mount and Gorgeous Grunge clear-mount sets. I embossed the sentiment in gold and grabbed a few gold sequins for extra shine and tied it up with a Crisp Cantaloupe thick baker's twine bow.
What am I working on right now?  Honestly, I'm working on cleaning up my craft room!  When I go into my room, I have to clear a space just to create...that is not fun and certainly not conducive to creativity!! I've done a bunch of projects on MDS (not nearly as messy) and I am sad that it's being discontinued :(.  Lately, I just make bridal and baby shower gifts.
How does your work differ from others in your genre? I'm a CASE girl (Copy and Share Everything)!  I love to see what others have created and make it my own!  Even when I go to convention, I try to make the make & takes differently than they are displayed.
Why do you create what you do?  I LOVE to create for my friends and family! A birthday card, a baby onesie, a personalized gift for a bride & groom, it makes me happy to see them happy.  Even if I can add a small tag to a store bought gift, the recipient knows that I at least spent the time to create for them.
How does your creativity work? I like to imagine that I can just sit at my desk and beautiful creations flow from my head straight to my hands...sadly that is not the case!!  Usually, I'm frantically digging through my pile of scraps trying to find that last small piece of "just right" DSP (for sure an argument for hoarding paper!!) and searching for that one missing stamp from the stamp set that may or may not be in the stack of stuff in front of me as I'm walking out the door to attend some gathering or another. I actually create better under a bit of pressure, I don't like it, but it is what it is!

Thanks for joining me on this fun journey! The next person on the hop will be the fabulous Chrissy Neilson! She's a fairly new Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but not new to SU! by any means! I know that you will love whatever she creates--she is so talented!  Show her some love next Monday!!

Julie

You're the Best...Thank You!

I have a confession, I'm not a good "thank you" note sender!  Not that I'm not grateful, I'd just rather call someone on the phone or thank them in person.  I'm trying to do better, but I think it will always be a struggle.  So, with that said, I made a thank you card to send to a friend.  The background was made with the Arrows embossing folder, I stamped and cut out the washi tape strips sentiment from Tape It  and Hello, Lovely stamp sets. I added some baker's twine, glimmer paper and rhinestones to finish it off.

No matter whether you are a thank you note kind of person or more like me, remember to thank someone today!

Julie

One more week of Sale-a-bration

If you haven't guessed already, I kind of LOVE the Sycamore Street DSP from Sale-a-bration!  Although I'll be sad that I can't use in in demonstrations, I still get to use it in My Digital Studio!  It came on a disk that you can get for FREE when you have a qualifying order, so contact me or go to my website to see all the fun stuff you can get for free, but just for one more week--no pressure!  Don't forget to try the MDS2 30-day free trial while you're there!  So, since it's completely gorgeous here in Southern Nevada, I thought I'd make a fun, bright, cheery card, and what's more fun, bright, and cheery than a pinwheel?  This is made using the Pinwheel die for the Big Shot and all you have to do is put it together, easy peasy, right? Well, only if you have really great vision!!!  Ok, so it took me a bit of time to put the tiny brad though the tiny holes, but I love the final product.  I'm really thinking I need to make a larger one for decoration, so stay tuned!

I also have a fun My Digital Studio card that I created a while ago, but I decided to change up the colors I had originally done the card in and print it through Stampin' Up!'s great printing service.  These colors just say "Spring" to me, don't you think?  I picked them using the color combo selector in My Digital Studio, so I didn't even have to think that hard (I just added the Pale Plum)!

Hope the weather is looking brighter where you are!

Julie

Thankful Thursday

Since we honored our veterans this week, I decided that today I would share how thankful I am for all those who have served my country!  I imagine it cannot be easy to leave your friends and family behind to go into an unknown, dangerous land to defend your own country, and for those who willingly defend other countries, it's even more astonishing!  Where would we be without all those who have served, fought, loved and died for this country? I am so grateful for the supportive families of those who have served and are serving, and I share my deepest, heartfelt appreciation for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country they love!  I just don't know that "thank you" will ever be enough to express my gratitude, but it will have to do.

I would love to hear what you are thankful for today!

Julie