We Create Blog Hop--Step it Up November

How was your Halloween?  I had to work last night but it we made it fun!  It's really amazing that most of the Christmas items are on the floor already at my store and pretty much all of it is somewhere in the stockroom!  I know that shortly, the Christmas music "loop" will be playing and I will get to listen to the same Christmas songs...every. single. day.  Oh well, that's life in retail!!

This month, I made a card that really can be used all year long, but I gave it a fall look.  I love the Wonderous Wreath stamp set for that reason.  Even though it is technically a Christmas set, just changing the colors can take it through the whole year.  Now that's versatility.

The first card is a simple one-layer card with a bit of added dimension with the Linen Thread bow and a bit of Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details.  This was pretty much a 5 minute card (other than the drying time of the DD).

The stepped up version has some of the same details, but I used the wreath Framelit to cut out the wreath and embossed the  Very Vanilla card stock with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I used the sentiment from our new October Paper Pumpkin set (you really should sign up for Paper Pumpkin!!) I embossed the "Thinking of You" in gold embossing powder and 'fussy cut' around the words.  I tied it all together with a little bit of Cherry Cobbler seam binding (which I figured out later that we no longer carry--sorry!) You can use any trim to tie the card.

I have really enjoyed stepping up my projects the last few months! I really makes me think about the project from start to finish (I'm really a create-as-I-go type of girl!) I love the process!!

Enjoy the rest of the bloggers!

I'm sure November is going to fly by! We've had a pretty mild October, but I think our wonderful weather is over! Welcome winter!

Julie

We Create Blog Hop--Step It Up October!

Well, before I get to the fun project for today, I just have to share something I think is amazing!  Last week my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!! I know, can you believe it?  I'm so not old enough to celebrate 25 years of married bliss (ok, yes I am) but in truth, we have been a couple for 26 + years and I am more in love with him today than all those years ago.  In an age where temporary and convenient is the norm, having someone who has promised to love me for eternity as well as making that covenant with God, makes me try harder to be a better person.  Marriage takes a lot of work and both people need to give all they have to that relationship.

Well, enough of these lovebirds!!

It's time for Halloween! And Stampin' Up! has some absolutely adorable Halloween stamps, paper and accessories in the Holiday Catalog.  I have this super cute set for today's project:

Howl-o-ween Treat Stamp set

This set actually has a Framelit set that goes along with it, which also includes a "BOO!" Framelit for fun!  

This is the original version.  I used the Fry Box Bigz die  and the Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper and then also used the scallop die from the Circle Card Thinlits die for the tag.  Fun for a party favor or a treat for your neighbor kids (not all trick-or-treaters, just the special ones!!)  I found these cinnamon roll pretzels at Winco--yum!  This is a simple, cute idea that you really can use for anytime, just change out the paper and stamps and go!

Here is the stepped up version!  Don't you just love the Black Glimmer paper?  It is beautiful in person!  I took my Heart punch from the Itty Bitty punch pack and punched out 6 hearts and glued them to the inside of the box for a scalloped edge, added the BOO! and the cute jack-o-lantern and then I took a Vintage Faceted Designer button and inked it with the new Basic Black Archival ink pad and glued it on my spider! So fun!!  I love the look of the Glimmer paper!! I love to add a bit of sparkle whenever I can.  

Time to check out what Tanya has stepped up this month!

                                                     

I'm getting all my decorations out for Halloween, how about you? I love fall!

Julie

We Create Blog Hop--Step it Up!

Here we are, another month, another blog hop! We are still working on stepping up our basic cards, and I hope you are enjoying the projects the other bloggers are sharing.  Today, our new Holiday catalog goes live!! YAY!!!  You will not believe all of the fantastic new products!  Check it out here.

One of the new hostess sets is called Six Sayings.  It is a set that I won at the past Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City!!  I love the font used for this "thankful" stamp and thought it would look oh so lovely with gold embossing.  The original card is very basic, I only used the Watercolor Wash background stamp on Old Olive card stock with the "thankful" stamp.  I added some of the simple Blackberry Bliss striped cotton ribbon to coordinate with the card stock and a Very Vanilla Candy Dot.

The "stepped up" version added splatter from Gorgeous Grunge, a crinkled piece of Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper, and a strip of Burlap Ribbon (which I cut in half).  I also distressed and inked the edges of the card stock.

I would love to hear which new stamp set is your favorite from the new Holiday catalog, I have several...it's so hard to pick one, but prepare to see Howl-o-ween Treat bundle projects soon!

It's on to Tanya, let's see what she's come up with!

I have to admit, I'm not quite ready for summer to be over, but I do look forward to autumn! I know it's right around the corner!  Enjoy the last few days of summer!

Julie

We Create Blog Hop--Step it Up!

We have decided that our readers would probably appreciate something different, so we will be doing "step it up" posts for the remainder of this year's blog hop posts.  We will all be creating a simple card or project and then step it up by adding a few more details.  We hope that will get your juices flowing.

Today's card is the one I made for this years Stampin' Up! North American Convention. I usually don't make a lot of swap cards, but I was asked by my friend Jeanna to join an "organized swap" which is one that is planned ahead with a set amount of people.  We met at Red Rock Brewery for some yummy dinner and passed our swaps around the table.  It's always fun to meet new people and share some great ideas.

I started with Hello Honey card stock and used my circle Framelits to punch out the opening.  I stamped the candles from Build a Birthday Photopolymer stamp set with Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay and Tangerine Tango on Whisper White card stock.  I added a "Celebrate" stamp from my favorite birthday set Endless Birthday Wishes which I punched out with my new Washi Label Punch. (You totally need this one!)  For a little bit of dimension, I layered with another piece of card stock in Pool Party.  Easy peasy and only took me a couple minutes!

The "stepped-up" card added the Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (TIEF), stamped some dots on the Pool Party cs, curled the Washi Labels with the bone folder to add more dimension and glued some Pear Pizzazz 1/4" cotton ribbon and a little star punched out of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper .  This took me a few extra minutes than the first one and has much more texture and dimension. Doing 20 of these for a swap took a bit of time, but I was pleased with the outcome!  It was nice to have some extra help as well! (Thanks Jeanna B!!)

Convention was so much fun, but it has come to an end in more ways than one! Stampin' Up! has decided to change the way they gather with all the demonstrators throughout the world and as the company grows, change is inevitable.  I'm anxious to see the new directions SU! is taking, I'm sure it will be a blast!

Time to see what the rest of the "hop girls" have to share!  I'm sure it will be great!

Hope your weekend is filled with some creativity!

Julie

Summertime!

{YAWN} Aw man, I am pooped!  I haven't been sleeping as well and I am feeling it!  I've been able to make a few things for different occasions, but I still struggle most days to find time to do the things I want to do instead of the things I have to do.  I love the new catalog and I have enjoyed playing with a few of the new items I've purchased.  I'm really looking forward to our final Stampin' Up! convention coming up in just a few weeks...YAY!!!  SU! is changing the way they do their annual conventions now that the company is all over the world. I am really looking forward to see the fun and excitement the new changes will bring.
I thumbed through the new DSP paper pack called Cherry On Top--how darling it that?  There are beautifully-colored patterns that are just perfect for celebrations.  I used a returning favorite Endless Birthday Wishes and my go-to Framelit Chalk Talk as well as the Ovals Collection for the scalloped edge.  My little tag has a fun cupcake I made with the Cupcake Builder punch and the 1" circle punch. Doesn't it look good enough to eat?  Ok, I really need to get to bed, but don't forget to visit all the other bloggers to see the fun they've created!

Make sure you check out the new catalog if you haven't seen it yet and you should follow me on Instagram (Stampinjul) and or Twitter (@stampinjul) if you want to see some of the fun happenings at this last convention!  Both links are on the right side of my blog! See you soon!

Julie

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