The Party Train is in the Station! Creations by AR Sept Blog Hop!

One picture is worth a thousand words right?!  So how about 6 pictures??   This is Adela's fun Party Train template - her September design for Creations by AR.  I made mine a Halloween Party Train - isn't this just the cutest thing?

 I had a package of all these Halloween sparkly foam things in my drawer for years - I knew I was saving them for something!

I made the ghosts and tree with Sizzix's dies.  The metallic signs were another thing found in my drawer.

 Look at the details on this template -   the fun junction plates shown above -  the cow catcher on the front of the engine shown below - and it all goes together super easy with Adela's illustrated step by step instructions included with the template!

 I decorated all the way around - here it is from the other side

 Adella's templates come in three formats -  PDF for printing and hand cutting (which I use), SVG and DXF that work with cutting machines such as the Silhouette.

Now the happy dance part!   You have 9 chances to win this delightful Party Train Template!  Just leave a comment on each of the Design Team posts -   Each of us will pick a winner from our own blog!

Leave your comment here by Sunday noon time EST.

I will announce my winner on my blog on Monday!

Here are the links to the design team's blogs -  let's check out what style train they created today!  I know I CAN'T WAIT to see and be inspired!

Adela Rossol:   http://cbyar.blogspot.com/

Amy Park:   http://tethered2home.com/ 

Julia Aston (You are here):  http://www.createwithjulia.blogspot.com

Lisa Somerville:   http://www.lisasomerville.com/

Lori Brown:  http://savingmine.blogspot.com/

Lyn Bernatovich: http://lynspaperpetunia.blogspot.com/

Magdalena Cortez:   http://axesdesigns.blogspot.com/

Patti J. Gilliam: http://www.cherisheachpreciousday.blogspot.com/

Sue Kment:   http://suesstampingstuff.blogspot.com/

Paper:  Smokey Shadow, True Black, White - PTI
Accessories:  Template by Creations by AR, brads - Imaginisce, Scor Pal, Scor Tape, foam tape, bat/moon sticker - Sandy Lion, glitter stickers - Creative Hands, ghost and bare tree dies - Sizzix, basket shred - Michaels, circle punches - SU, circle Nestability.

Fall Blessings

Today I'm sharing another card I made combining several of the Split Coast VSN weekend challenges.

The challenges were - to use apples, to use Red,  to use classroom supplies ( I used cork) and the ABC challenge- I used apples, basket, cork!

I stamped my image on the thin cork and colored it with Copics. I wasn't sure how the stamping would look on the cork or how the Copics would color on it -  but it worked out nicely I think!   I layered the cork to a black panel. I stamped the sentiment on my red card base and then embossed the card with Square Lattice by SU. To finish - I adhered the cork panel to the card and added 3 clear gems beside the sentiment.

My stamps are from Peace & Plenty by Waltzingmouse a wonderful stamp set for fall!

I'm also entering this in the Cas-ual Friday challenge -  fall fun

Our days are getting cool here in New England and we're seeing pumpkins at the farm stands!

I hope you can stop by on Thursday -  I'll have a really fun Template by Creations by AR to share with you!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Peace & Plenty
Paper: Pure Poppy, True Black - PTI, thin cork board - Michaels
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Copics - R14, R29, BG96, YG03, E35, E37, Scor Tape, Adornit Gems, Square Lattice Embossing folder - SU

A Rack of Friends

Tuscan is not my decorating style - but there sure were a lot of lovely things in the Bella Soleil inspiration web site for the Split Coast Inspiration challenge this past Saturday.

I was inspired by one of the examples Steph showed us - this wall wine rack

And here is the card I created

I used Grunge Paper for my rectangles. I embossed them with a bark embossing folder and colored them with Ranger Distress stains.  I embossed the card base with my Bricked embossing folder. Then I sponged the panels and the card base with Brushed Cordauroy.

I layered the panels onto the card popping up alternating ones. I cut the sentiment with a Hexagon Nestie, sponged it before taking it out of the die and layered it onto the card with foam tape.

My sentiment is from the Discover Word Set by Rubbernecker.

I participated in the Virtual Stamp Night over on Split Coast this weekend -  so I'll be having several cards to show you over the next few days!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!

Stamps: Rubbernecker - friends from Discover Word Set
Paper: Rustic Cream - PTI, Grunge Paper - Tim Holtz Ideology
Ink: Archival Coffee, Ranger Distress Brushed Cordaroy
Accessories: Ranger Distress stains - Worn Lipstick, Picket Fence, Weathered Wood, Scattered Straw, Hexagon Nestabilities, Sizzix Bricked Emb Folder, Spellbinders Bricks and Bark M-bossabilities

Smackin' Backgrounds!

I have two cards to share today -  using a fun and easy background coloring technique that I just learned over on Split coast.  It's called Smackin' Acetate and you can find Beate's tutorial in the SCS forum here.

I made this one for the Ways to Use It Challenge - to use your markers in different ways - I liked the look of the Smackin Acetate tutorial listed on the challenge as a possible technique to use. I recently purchased some Ranger Distress markers ( like Beate used in the tutorial)  so was happy to learn a creative way to use them!

I colored areas of the acetate with my markers, misted the acetate with my Mini Mister and pressed the acetate sheet onto my card.

I let it dry (drying time will vary depending on how much water you 'spritz'!  I just did two quick spritzes  about 10" away from my card and it dried in a minute or two) and then just stamped this Rubbernecker Grateful Thought sentiment on it! I love the way the misted markers look!  I thought about adding some ribbon or rhinestones or even a butterfly ..... but decided to leave it CAS - I think it's pretty enough as it is!

I used this technique again for Karen's SCS color challenge this week (SU colors of Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals and Lucky Limeade) - I had the Pink Pirouette card stock - but used  Ranger Distress markers for the other colors. I colored on the acetate with my markers - misted with water and laid the acetate against the card, rubbing over the top a little to transfer the colors to the card.

This Rubbernecker image is called Floral #4 and the 'celebrate' is from the Box Word Set.  I did add a few Tiny Twinkles to this image for a little sparkle!


A Grateful Thought
Stamps: Rubbernecker - SO Prayer of Heaven Text
Paper: white, clear cardstock - PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Ranger Distress Markers - Weatherd Wood, Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, Mini Mister - Ranger, water

Celebrate 
Stamps: Rubbernecker - Floral #4 , Box Word Set
Paper: white - PTI, Pink Pirouette SU, Acetate - PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: glue pen, tiny twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Ranger Distress Markers - Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, Shabby Shutters, Ranger Mini Mister, Water

WMS Blog Party - Autumn

Today I'm participating in the Waltzingmouse Blog Party (it happens every 17th of the month and the topic is announced on the WMS blog on the 1st of the month so you have plenty of time to create!)

This month's theme is Fall/Autumn - using fall colors and/or fall stamps!   You will find all the details of the party here.

I used Saturday's WMS sketch for my card today.

and here it is!

I inked the trees from Teeny Trees with 3 different Memento colors and stamped them on Rustic Cream cardstock. I stamped the tree trunk over the trees and then sponged the squares with Mustard Seed Distress Ink.  I layered them to Tempting Turquoise squares and layered them over the DP with foam tape.  I stamped the sentiment (also from Teeny Trees) and cut it with a banner die and sponged the inside with Mustard seed before removing the die.  I curved the banner on my finger and layered it over the DP with foam tape, doubling it up in the center to give it contour.  I tied the wrinkled seam tape around the top in a triple bow before layering the panels to the card base and then added the rhinestones!

So get cracking on your fall card and link it up over at the WMS blog - you have 24 hours!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:
Crazy for Challenges - C4C154- anything goes with a fall twist
 365 Cards Day 199 - Five for Fall - use 5 items to create a fall theme card - I  used paper, ribbon, stamps, rhinestones and a Nestie banner!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees

Paper:  Rustic Cream - PTI, Tempting Turquoise - SU, DP Bo Bunny Forever Fall

Ink:  Archival Coffee, Ranger Distress Mustard Seed, Memento Canteloupe, Tangelo, Potters Clay, Lady Bug

Accessories:  foam tape, wrinkled seam tape, Lacey Nested Pennants - Spellbinders, rhinestones - Kaiser, Zutter Corner Rounder

Christmas Pines

Well - in just 3 short posts I've gone from Summer, into Fall and now straight to Winter!  I just had to share this card and the posts that inspired me.

 Loll is the Queen for the Day over at Split Coast this week -  and I cased  her Delicate Branches card.  She masked and sponged to create her wonderful shadows and she also gave credit to Heather Telford for inspiring her.  Heather used a technique of stamping the image twice - once with Versamark then again in black slightly off set - then clear embossing.  When you mask the slopes and sponge - the ink doesn't color where the embossing is so you get this nice 'snow shadow'.  I added some silver pearls for forest ornaments!

Now I must say -  I didn't come close to Loll's or Heather's beautiful designs - but I'm happy with my first shot at it and will work on the techniques they used to achieve their great shading!

I'm entering my card in this week's CAS-ology Challenge - sky .

I wonder what season I'll be in for my next post?!

Stamps: Rubbernecker - 3 tree Group, Merry Christmas - #2 Merry Christmas
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky
Accessories: clear embossing powder, silver pearls - Michaels

Fall IS coming - right??!

So here it is -  a fall card!   Telling me - YES!  this long - hot - humid- summer is finally coming to a close!

I used the colors from today's color challenge over on Split Coast -  2 shades of orange and dark blue!  I did a lot of dry embossing on this -  the back panel and the image panel after stamping - love this look!  When I was done -  it seemed like too much white (even for 'clean and simple' me!).  I found these Jolee leaf stickers in my old scrap booking stuff and they were just the ticket to fill the space and add a little dimension!  Plus - they were in the right colors!

My stamps are from the wonderful fall set by Waltzingmouse appropriately called Peace and Plenty!

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

 Raise the Bar Challenge -   Celebrate Fall
Cas-ual Fridays -  embossing

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Peace and Plenty
Paper: white, enchanted evening, canyon clay - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Scattered Straw - Ranger Distress,
Accessories: Copics: YR04, YR07, YR24, Square Lattice Embossing folder - SU, rhinestones - Kaiser Craft, ribbon - Orange Zest polka dot satin - PTI, Jolee's Stickers.

A Last Taste of Summer!

Goodness - it's been a while since I posted here!  I've been busy making creations to submit to the Papercrafts call that were due tonight (!) as well as making bunches of baby cards for my friend who owns a baby clothes shop.

But I did want to share this super fun summertime dessert treat that my blogging friend Mara posted a few weeks ago. (she has the MOST mouth watering recipes on her blog along with her delightful cards!) She found the original recipe at Glorious Treats.  I finally made it this past weekend.

It's Rice Krispies Watermelon!!

Look how fun this looks on a plate -  I took one to my grand nephew's 2nd birthday party on Saturday and the 2nd one to church for coffee hour on Sunday -  it was a big hit both days.

 I used mini chocolate bits for my 'seeds' - how cute are these slices?!

I'll be back tomorrow with a taste of fall!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Challenge of Three Colors and a New Pink Baby!

I'm this week's hostess for the color challenge over on Split Coast - and my color choices are Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip and Gumball Green - an odd mix right?! Well - I was inspired by some sheets I saw on the cover of The Company Store Catalogue!  Not sure you can see it in this pic - but the flowers are actually outlined in brown and the leaves are a soft green.

And here is the card I was inspired to create.

My dessert option was to make your own patterned paper - which I did by stamping these flowers with brown ink - masking each flower and sponging the open areas with Ranger Distress Iced Spruce (not having Basic Grey Ink!) Then I colored the leaves with a green Copic. I layered the image panel to Basic Grey and then Chocolate Chip, tied grey wrinkled seam tape around the panel and through the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag stamped sentiment and tied a triple bow!

I'm on vacation this week but Kent is not  - so I'm looking forward to getting in some fun stamping time!

And I just have to introduce you to my brandy new Grand Niece - Mila (pronounced Mee-la) - Isn't she just the sweetest little bean??!!!

 These puffy white shorts have 2 rows of ruffles on the bum! - And yes, they do make her tiny little butt look big!

I saw her on Sunday and I'll be seeing her again on Thursday -  can't get enough of this cute little munchkin!  Her big brother, 2 year old Landon, has been more than happy with his new little sister!

Of course - he's older and into more grown up things now!! Now tell me - is love of cars in the male genetic makeup??!!  Landon hopped into Kent's car (I was right with him of course!) - started steering - pointed to where the key should go - and put his hand on the stick shift!!??!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Garden Flowers, Fancy Phrases
Paper: White - PTI, Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip- SU
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, New Sprout, Ranger Distress - Iced Spruce
Accessories: Copic - G82, foam tape, Eclipse Tape, Blending tool - Ranger, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, Ribbon Tag Trio 2 - Spellbinders

Stampin' Sisterhood Sept Challenge SS#21 AND 25% off!!

It's the first Sunday of the month and that means Jacquie has the Stampin' Sisterhood September Challenge up!  This month she has an inspiration photo for us - appropriately enough - the theme is school!

I was inspired by the ruler and primary colors in creating my card today.

I used the fun Rubbernecker Alphabet Set #3  and a piece of ruler twill from Michaels.  I also added black rhinestones symbolizing 1...2...3.   I adhered the red, orange and yellow strips to another piece of card stock and then cut the panel with a Deckled Mega Rectangle Nestability.  I layered it to a piece of black card stock with foam tape to give the impression of a blackboard in a classroom!  To finish it off I adhered the ruler twill along the bottom with ScorTape.

You have all of September to link your challenge card over at the Stampin' Sisterhood blog where all the details will also be found -  just click on the challenges tab at the top of the blog to take you right to the current challenge!  You could win a Rubbernecker stamp of your choice!  We hope you'll join in!

There's also a big SALE going on over at the Rubbernecker store through Sept 5th!  (which just happens to be my birthday!)  25% off all accessories - think Tim Holtz, Spellbinders, Memento Inks etc, etc!!

I'm also entering this card in the CCEE challenge  and CAS-ual Fridays Challenge-  back to school!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker - Alphabet Set #3  Pup Cat
Paper:  white, True Black, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, Fine Linen - PTI
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories:  Foam tape, ScorTape, Deckled Mega Rectangle Nestability, ruler twill - Michaels, rhinestones - Kaiser.