YNS 14 Days of Holiday Fun: Day 11

Today marks Day 11 of the 14 Days of Holiday Fun from Your Next Stamp, and I've got the cutest darn owl for you, aptly named Holiday Owl. Remember that since he's being released today, you have the opportunity to purchase him to-day! Check out the YNS Blog for all of today's deals and details!

Because I fell head over heels in love with this owl, I decided to put him in a frame so I could look at him all season long! I've combined Holiday Owl with another really fun set, Happy Holidays Stamp and Die Set which is NOW available for purchase at YNS. Patterned paper is from Echo Park with lots of glitter sprinkled here and there, and everything is tied up with olive grosgrain ribbon, linen thread and a big old button! Last, but not least are those Snowflake Glittered Skittles you see here and there on the red snowflake paper.

 Here's a closer look at those adorable tree and stocking dies from the Happy Holidays Stamp and Die Set...

Thanks for stopping by for more YNS Holiday Fun today! I'll have one more day of Holiday Fun featured here on Thursday, so stop over!
~Amy

YNS #54 Challenge & Holiday Icons 3

Welcome to Day 7 of YNS' 14 Days of Holiday Fun! I'm sharing Holiday Icons with you today with a set of altered binder clips. I think these would make a fun little Secret Santa gift being quick, cute and economical! Simply cover the base of the clip, stamp/color and cut the Holiday Icons images and pop onto the clip with adhesive. I used Jody's super sticky foam boosters for mine. You can cover the back side of the booster with an additional die cut circle.

Now for the really fun part! Visit each of the blogs listed below, including the YNS Blog, and leave them a sweet little comment for your chance to win an awesome Your Next Die and coordinating stamp set! The contest runs for the next 24 hours, so be quick about it, and good luck!

YNS Blog

Jen del Muro

Wendy Ramlahkan

Kerri Michaud

Jen Roach

Diana Genario

Dana Joy

Amy Rohl

Maureen Wong

Peggy Toole

Thanks for stopping by!
~Amy

TCP Tuesday 182

 

Julie is challenging us to use acetate for this week's TCP Tuesday Technic Challenge, so I've used an acetate card base as my starting point. Layers of patterned paper, cardstock and die cuts make for a 'clearly' fun Christmas card!

Here's a detail shot of the die cut layers using CutUps Circus Panels and our lovely CutUps Snowflake...love how it looks all layered up! You'll notice the embossed Circus Panels layer between the largest and smallest layers of that set (if that makes sense)...sometimes mistakes turn out even better! My original intention was to cut through the acetate with the middle layer die, but my Big Shot didn't cut it (I'm in dire need of new plates), so I went with the embossed look instead. You can get your hands on nice, thick acetate at The Cat's Pajamas, and while you're there, add a spool of Beige Linen Thread to your cart for all of those Christmas tags and cards you'll be tying up in the next couple of months! I should also mention that my sentiment is from A Beary Good Year, and the tiny stars are from Admit One.

Don't forget to check out Julie and Alma's blogs for complete TCP Tuesday details!
~Amy

Spooky and Sweet {JiFFy}!

It's time to get JiFFy in October with my fellow gal-pals: Carole, Michele and Lori! If you're not familiar with our monthly JiFFy challenge, it goes something like this: one of us chooses the paper while another chooses the image to work with, and there you have it--the JiFFy (Just For Fun) challenge! This month our image is "Tabitha" from Taylored Expressions and our paper is "Countryside" from Crate Paper's Farmhouse Collection.

I have to admit that while I love both the paper and the TE cutie-witch Tabitha, mixing the two was a little bit of a challenge for me, so I went with "who says you have to use traditional holiday colors", and I quite like Tabitha dressed in 'olive aqua pumpkins'! To go along with the country-farmhouse feel of the paper, I added a bit of twine, burlap and buttons...oh, and that adorable little picket fence! I absolutely adore the size of the fence and if you likey-it too, you can find it at Taylored Expressions as well!

Thanks for stopping by today. I'll be back quite often this week with TCP Tuesday and more of YNS' 14 Days of Holiday Fun!
~Amy

Snowman Delight from YNS!

Welcome to Day 1 of 14 Days of YNS Holiday Fun with a preview of a must-have set, Snowman Delight!

I knew I had to make some sort of winter wonderland for this adorable snowman, and a snow globe it was! I omitted the acetate overlay as seen on many of the snow globe cards I looked at so I could pop up the snowman and let his bits of glittery sparkle show through here and there and everywhere! You'll notice some fun Snowflake Glittered Skittles directly below the sentiment...available from Your Next Stamp, so be sure to check them out along with a great assortment of embellies Karen carries in the YNS Store! One other fun detail is the stamped kraft layer which is stamped with a smaller snowman, part of the Snowman Delight set...so cute for a patterned paper as seen here, or how about all those holiday gift tags we'll be stamping up very, very soon?!

Be sure to stop over at the YNS blog today for more previews of upcoming sets as well as all the details on when you can purchase all of the new goodies. Each day a new set is previewed, it will also be available for purchase as an 'early bird' special. Definitely head on over to the YNS blog for all of that info, along with your chance to win a stamp set! Karen has options for you all...options are good!

Thanks for stopping by~Amy

TCP Tuesday 181: Just the Two of Us...

...we can make it if we try, just the two of us...you and I! Ok, enough singing for now, but hey, I'm so inspired by this week's Inspiration Challenge hosted by Jen that I can't stop singin'! Here's Jen's inspiration piece...

My record shaped card label is stamped with the two sheep from Ewe Complete Me and layered atop a red circle with just enough room for the sentiment. The heart is from Simply Said, just the perfect size! My original intention for the record grooves was to use my round Nestabilities dies as a guide to emboss circles, but after one not-so-great attempt at that, plan B came into play: wonky sewn circles...I like!

Be sure to check out Jen's blog for all the details of TCP Tuesday and have a great week!
~Amy

Craft Sale Fun!

I was approached earlier this week by a gal who is hosting an in-home boutique this weekend, asking if I'd be interested in bringing over some of my papercrafts. What is that you say: a legit reason to craft away the weeknights, I'm in! Here are the items I'm taking along with links to these crazy cute ideas! Thanks Jennifer and Kerry!

Jennifer Holmes showed off these adorable Witch Hat Pencil Toppers. I used the same Silhouette hat but topped mine with a TCP sentiment from Witchy and TE die cut bat.

Bottle Scarves that I've shown before HERE but got the original idea from Zakka Life...

These are addicting to make, and can be used on a bottle of wine as well as bottles of beer, my friends!

Notepad ideas from Papertrey as well as my favorite craft sale go-to website, the adorable Kerry at Kerry's Paper Crafts...

Magic Reindeer Food is another find at Kerry's Paper Crafts...

I'll also have loads of 'handmade' cards for sale, wink! If you live in the western Wisconsin area and are looking to get out and about tomorrow, here is the information for the Shopping Boutique:

Sunday, October 16
11am-3pm
W4262 430th Ave
Ellsworth

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping!

~Amy

YNS Challenge 53: Halloween!

It's all things Halloween for YNS Challenge #53, and in honor of that Karen would like to offer up a free YNS Halloween digi to everyone who would like to participate in this week's Halloween challenge. All you need to do is email her (karen@yournextstamp.com), let her know you'd like to participate in challenge #53, and she'll send a digi to you--how cool is that?! In addition to that, you can also win EEK the Bat cling stamp by playing along as well as the YNS blinkie to display on your blog! Finally, yours truly is YNS53 challenge hostess, and I'd like to show you a really quick, easy and cute Halloween treat bag idea for you to try!

Here's what I used to make these treat bags:

• 3 3/4 x 6 inch glassine bags
• YNS Spooktacular stamp set
• 2 1/2  x 3 inch piece patterned paper
• 1 3/8 inch circle punch
• staples, mini clothespins, etc.

Directions:

• Stamp desired Halloween image on lower edge of glassine bag and set aside to dry.
• Stamp sentiment on lower edge of patterned paper (2 1/2" end) and notch a banner edge with scissors.
• Punch circles from desired patterned paper or cardstock.
• Fill glassine bags with desired treats and fold top edge over about 1/2".
• Fold stamped banner and punched circle over top edge of bag and staple to secure.
• If using a mini clothespin, staple bag under the punched circle; adhere circle and attach clothespin.

This is a great way to use up scraps of patterned paper and cardstock, so have fun with these! Be sure to hop on over to the YNS Blog for all the challenge details along with everyone playing along with more yummy Halloween samples!
~Amy

TCP New Release Blog Hop + Sketch Challenge

Welcome to the TCP New Release Blog Hop! I sure enjoyed chatting with you gals at the PJ Party last night, and I hope you're not too tired from all that chatting and shopping to do a little blog hopping today! You may have hopped here from Jen's blog, and I'm so glad to have you!

This week's TCP Tuesday hostess is Leigh and she's got a fun (and challenging) sketch for you to try. I used my Silhouette to cut the star for my card, measuring approximately 4.25" across with my total card sizing out around 5" or so. More importantly, my card uses the now available and simply adorable set, Bearing Presents, along with the delicious papers from Authentique (do I ever looove their stuff!).

I did take the liberty to add an additional vertical layer on which I stamped my sentiment above and below the main image layered panel, so you won't see that layer in Leigh's original sketch.  Please be sure to start out at there if you're a top-to-bottom kinda gal, or you can just hop along to Maggie's blog when you're finished here!

Here's a little reminder of what the entire Bearing Presents set looks like...{smile}

Have a great Tuesday!

~Amy

Sneaky Peek: Clownin' Around!

The 'Penguins' are at it again! I couldn't resist doing something fun with them, so instead of my usual Bingo card routine, I opted for something I've never attempted before--a side step card. Of course, SCS has tutorials for anything and everything a stamper could ever want or need, and I found the directions for the side step card nothing less than EPMC (easy peasy mac 'n' cheesy)! Click HERE for the tutorial I used by the one and only, Beate!

Here's a closer view of the side steps...

You'll also notice the CutUps Circus Panels, Big Top and Big Ticket dies in action. These dies are the epitome of fun & function...gotta have 'em, folks! Ü

Now, be sure to stop over at Alma's blog to see which of the Cat Packers is posting their Sneaky Peeks today, AND remember to comment on the In It To Win It thread at SCS for your chance to win Clowning Around!
~Amy

Sneaky Peek Day 6: I Love You Bunches!

Today's Sneaky Peek involves cute little monkeys in the mood for love, sharing bananas and what-not! The set includes various vines and add-on bananas so you can create a whole bunch, like I did here! I couldn't go another day without using the new CutUps Circus Border and Circus Panels, and the CutUps even cut through burlap! You do have to be quite careful with the outside edges of the die cut shape as is easily frays.

Check out Alma's blog for everyone participating in today's Sneaky Peek! I'll be back with yet another SP tomorrow, so come on back, ya hear! Hey, and don't forget about In It To Win It...all you have to do is comment about anything on this thread to be eligible to win the Sneaky Peek set of the day!
~Amy

Sneaky Peek Week: Presto!

I'm going to make this lickety-split quick because I totally forgot to finish my post for today's Sneaky Peek as I got sidelined this morning by, what else, stamping! I used some fun October Afternoon patterned paper along with today's featured set, Presto! I've also made use of the awesome new CutUps Circus Panels, a couple of buttons and some Cherry Divine Twine.

Stop over at Alma's blog for a list of everyone Sneaky Peeking today, and I'll see you tomorrow with more Sneaky Peeks!
~Amy

Step Right Up for Sneaky Peek #3!

Today's Sneaky Peek set is what this release is all about--Step Right Up with PJ Bear running the show (circus), so let's get it started with one of my favorite mediums, if you will: the B-I-N-G-O card!

I've combined my authentic vintage BINGO card (that my BSF Leigh gave me) with some of my fa-vor-ite papers from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found: Breeze 6x6 pad, linen thread from TCP, fun little leaf stick pins, and so on. BUT...I do need to call your attention to a few of the images and CutUps that you're seeing here...I know you saw them, so let's dish, huh?!

I showed off a bit of Admit One along with the CutUps Ticket die on Tuesday, so OF COURSE I had to throw that into my Bingo card menagerie, but that's not even the half of it--did y'all see PJ, the CutUps Big Top, Circus Border and Circus Panels?!?! Yep...gotta have 'em, so stop wondering if you should/you shouldn't/you should, cause you HAVE to have them. Yep.

Here's an up-close look at Big Top and layered Circus Panels (labels)...c'mon, what else can you ask for?! I'll tell you right now that the CutUps Big Top is just as easy as it looks...snip and piece it together. Alma's done all the ground work for us here, girls; all you do is mix/match those purty patterned papers and you've got circus magic!

Ready to Step Right Up for more fun?! Head over to Alma's blog for a list of everyone Sneaky Peeking today, and then come right back here Saturday for more Sneaky Peeks!
~Amy