To the Perfect Pear, I Mean...Pair!

I am so excited to share this little project with

you, but I must admit I got this in just under

the deadline, in more ways than one!

My friend Jenny over at Wee Memories

is hosting this fun 'fruit-themed' challenge

this week and I couldn't wait to break out

my new BasicGrey!

I LoVe this new 'Pyrus' collection and was so happy to find

it on my recent shopping excursion.

The stamps are from PTI & StudioG.

Now for the even bigger reason why I am so excited

to share this little card with you is because by

the time I post this, it will be

Jenny's wedding day!

How cool is that??!!!

I look forward to sending this card on to

the newlyweds and hope it brings a little smile.

I wish Jenny and her fiance all God's blessings on

this new chapter in their lives.

One more quick note.....

Tomorrow over at The Play Date Cafe

we will be posting our next

Open Design Team Call.

We are excited to be adding designers to

The World's Best Design Team

and who knows....

it might just be you!

The Golden Rule with Elusive Images

I LoVe this sentiment, don't you?!!

I feel like it's a part of the

'Great Commandment'

and

'The Golden Rule'

all wrapped into one sweet verse.

Speaking of LoVe...

Yep, you guessed it!

I absolutely LoVe this color combo

at The Play Date Cafe.

As your host this week, I wanted to help

inspire you to start creating your holiday cards

 a little early this year, but I couldn't go with

the standard green & red...oh no!

How about a little

Green & Melon!

All of our designers were given a variety of amazing rubber

stamp images from this week's sponsor

This was my set....

As you can see, I only used a portion of

the large poinsettia image and the verse.

It's important in the creative process to remember

that you don't have to 'follow the rules'.

(not to be confused with following 'the golden rule')

In other words, when you get an idea in your

head go outside the box to make it work for you.

Just need a small poinsettia and all you have is

this big one?  You get the idea!

Glenda Waterworth, owner of Elusive Stamps is

this week's guest designer and has most generously

offered our 'Cup of the Week'

Four amazing stamp collections

worth $100!

And that's not all!

For the first time, 'The Fab 4' will also

win one each of the same great collections.

So you have to play...

you have more chances to win!

Get over to The Play Date Cafe

and check out all the inspirational designs

from 'The World's Best Design Team'!

See you there!

A Prize and Sharing Some Shopping!

First things first.

My sincere apologies with being so tardy with

the giveaway from my week of GIU.

Many of you know that I was away for a few

days celebrating my birthday

(more on that next)

and last week just flew by with a multitude

of creative deadlines & life as I know it.

Thank you to all who visited during GIU

and I hope you will continue to peek 

inside The Open Window.

Without further delay

congratulations to my birthday twin

StampinCathy!

Cathy...get in touch with me at julieranae@hotmail.com

because you have a choice between 4 different sets from Unity!

Now on a loooong personal note....

I thought I would share a little of my birthday shopping

with you.  Some of these things you have already

seen in action as I have 'broken them open' 

and played...and posted...and played some more!

This is the front of the fab Hilton Garden Inn.

The trees are already turning up in Central Wisconsin

which is always a bonus having a birthday in September.

I hinted on Facebook often about just how close

I was to Archivers...and here is the proof...

Just to the left, you see the back courtyard of our hotel

and what's that I see just a few steps away?

So yes, I was very fortunate to spend most of my

Sunday in the workroom, playing and shopping.

Paul watched football, then came down to see

what I was up to, treated me to coffee at Starbucks

(also next door...I know!).

Here's where I share a funny side story....

Paul noticed that our keycard was not locking the

door properly in our room while I was away.

Can you see it coming?

I decided to take a break to go get my camera,

got to the room to find it completely empty.

Everything was gone.

A trip to the front desk proved that they indeed

had moved us, and apparently I kept passing

Paul in the elevator.  By the time I found him,

he was in Archivers looking for me.

By the way...we were upgraded for the inconvenience

to a beautiful 4 room sweet with a whirlpool bath.

So our second night there was quite a lovely surprise.

There was a nice little make 'n take that day...

It was Tim Holtz weekend there and with a

$30 purchase, you got an Archivers tote

designed by Tim.

Oh!  Speaking of surprises....

When we arrived at the hotel on Saturday afternoon,

the hotel clerk informed me that there was a 

gift card waiting for me over at Archivers from Sarah.

My dear bestie from England made 2 phone calls

to get it arranged...Bless her heart!

She only knew the details because I had

shared them here with you.

It made me a little 'teary' to know that I have a

friend who would think to do all that to

make it happen....so what did I get?

Here's the tour.....

Sarah wanted to make sure that I got that Tim Holtz bag!

I also received two wonderful packages by mail from

my dear friends Savannah & Michele.  Michele sent

me this fabulous Martha punch and Sav sent the rest...

All were such lovely surprises!

I have the best husband!

I used to own my own store and spent 12-14 hours a day

there, he thought I would never want to spend time

the way I did that day.  When that was my request,

he made it happen and even 'indulged' me.

Two more little photos....

This is my favorite thoroughfare through Madison.

We go up there once or twice a month.

We spend so much time on this road getting to our

favorite places.  I love how the changes in color

make this a lovely drive.

And finally.....my family treating me to Red Robin...yum!

From top L:  my son Alex (22), Alex jr (2) & his mom Jayme

CJ (7), Mallory (CJ & Caleb's mom) (26), Caleb (5),

myself and Paul.

(I love little Caleb peeking over his mom's shoulder)

Thanks so much for spending some major time with me!

I appreciated all of the birthday wishes that came my way.

It made turning 50 that much sweeter...

Nothing Like a Challenge on World Card Making Day!

Happy World Card Making Day!

I think today is going to be a fun day all

across blog land as so many paper crafters are

taking part in sharing their creations.

I actually am sharing this card with a few challenges.

Taylored Expressions

Sketch Challenge #130

Wee Memories Scrappy Saturday Challenge

'CAS or Tags'

Unity Stamps/SCS
'Handmade Flower Embellishments'

The City Crafter Challenge

'Flowers and Frills'

and here is my offering...

I absolutely LoVe these new papers from BasicGrey.

The 'Jovial' Collection.  Both the background and

flower were created from this set.

Check out this little collection...

 I made these in the workroom of Archivers when I spent

the day there last Sunday.  They're made from the

'Tattered Blooms' die cut from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

The sentiment is from one of my faves...Unity!

It's not as easy to tell from the photo, but the flower

is 3-D and each petal is pulled 'up' for a layered effect.
Add a little Prima 'bling, and beautiful brads also
from BasicGrey and you are set!

Short and sweet...hope you enjoyed it!

If you did, won't you please leave a little comment

before you go?  I LoVe to hear from you.

I will actually be back a little later with another

post.  I have a batch of birthday shopping photos

to share from my trip to Archivers

and

I am late with a giveway from last week's

Growing in Unity.

Enjoy World Card Making Day

and I will see you a little bit later!

Cows in The Play Date Cafe?

That's quite a headline, huh??!!

I love the 'Pitter Patter' Collection from Making Memories.

It seemed the perfect fit for this week's color challenge

at The Play Date Cafe.

I adore this color inspiration photo.

It's unique and really causes me to look at things

with new eyes.

The card itself is pretty self-explanatory.

But there is a little 'technique' involved that I

am happy to share with you.

The challenge this week is being sponsored by
Technique Junkies Newsletter.

The 'technique' used for this project is called

'Clipped Corners'

For my little card, I chose to highlight the corner of

the crescent moon, so I 'clipped' from the edges

of the corner of the moon.

How would you like to win a 3-year online

subscription which would give you nearly

300 tutorials??!!!!

Head on over to
The Play Date Cafe
for your chance to win!

Birthday Hopping with Ippity!

It's H{ippity} Hop Monday

and I am coming to you from the Hilton Garden Inn

in beautiful Middleton, Wisconsin.

I LoVe the internet!

I spent seven whole hours....

creating...shopping...chatting...shopping...playing

and shopping at Archiver's today.

I will share more on my little excursion on Tuesday,

but here is a little photo that Paul snapped after I finished

the project for this post...

Now...back to The H{ippity} Hop!

For a complete list of the other talented

folks who are 'hopping' with me, click here

for a direct line to the Ippity Blog.

I really enjoyed making the 'elements' for this card.

I pulled out the 'Tattered Flowers' die from Sizzix/Tim Holtz and

started making a whole bunch of blooms.

These particular ones were created by using VersaMagic inks

in a variety of colors...just layered one on top of the other

to 'build' the color.  I then stamped each one with 

Ippity's 'A Bit of Burlap' stamp.

I then shaded the edges using Distress Inks and VersaMagic.

I then stamped this fun journaling image from

Ippity's 'Fall for You' set.

Placed the blooms randomly, added a few pearls,

shading around the borders and done.

If you have not tried Ippity stamps yet or have and do

not own the above images yet,

this week is a great time to add them.

It's time for the Ippity Double Deal!

Purchase 'Fall for You' for only $24 and get

'A Bit of Burlap' for only $3 and

free shipping for both!

I have them in stock and ready to send.

I accept PayPal and money orders

from USPS & Walmart.

Just email me at julieranae@hotmail.com

with your request.

Of course, you can order all your Ippity from me

and let me be your 'Ippity Chick'!

Click here to see the newest images I have available

and click here to see the others I have in stock.

Thanks to Maria at Ippity for choosing not only my

turquoise snowman card from last week's GIU,

but also the creations of fellow PDCC teammates,

Savannah & Suzanne as her Sunday faves!

Click here and check them all out!

Thanks for popping by!

Celebrating the First 50 Years...

What a day!!!

It is indeed a milestone birthday for me.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes that I have

been receiving over the past few days.

It has definitely been a time to contemplate the question

'how did this number come so quickly'?

I was thinking about it earlier today that 10 years

ago, there were a few celebrations for my

40th because at that time, I still had my store open

and between a variety of stamp clubs, regular customers

and other surprises, it was an easy time to celebrate.

Here I am 10 years later...10 years older...

with a whole new batch of friends from virtually

all over the world...thanks to your visits to

Julie's Open Window.

How will I be celebrating?

I enjoyed a lovely dinner with parents last night

and will be having a fun dinner out with my children

and 3 grandchildren tonight.

On Saturday, Paul and I will be heading up to Madison, WI

for a couple of days and staying at the Hilton Garden Inn

which is 'literally' attached to ... wait for it ...
an Archiver's Store!
So over the weekend, I am going to spend an afternoon
using their workroom to have a little creative time.
Paul is going to bring the laptop and some movies
and have a little relax time.

I have the best husband!

As a little tribute to him, I created a card that
shares my heart towards my dear Paul...

Today is my last day hosting

It has been such a terrific week!
For my last 'official' post for Unity,
I thought I would share 3 different projects
using their newest stamps called

'Itty Bitty'

 Most of you know that I am not one to do a lot
of coloring, but these stamps make it so easy!
This set is called 'Rain or Shine'.
I used my Paisley EF from Cuttlebug for the base card.
I have been waiting for just the right project to use these
sweet blue rhinestones.  When I bought them, I had always
envisioned using them as raindrops.

Another fun set is 'Sit.Eat.Enjoy'
What a great little set for all sorts of invites.
I called on my Swiss Dot EF this time.
Labels One from Spellbinders create a nice frame
and I pulled out some really old designer paper for
the faux tablecloth.  That's my BOO for this week!

 My final project is a little something for the holidays.

 This is 'Merry & Bright'
Lots of possibilities...lots of fun!

Have you seen Unity's 'Itty Bitty' stamps yet?

Now you have!

So how would you like an opportunity to
win a set of Unity stamps?
All you have to do is leave a comment on each of my
GIU posts for this week (M-F).  That's it.
You will have through Sunday to do so.
On Monday, when I return home from the weekend,
I will randomly draw one winner from the comments left
and announce it here on my blog.

Thank you for joining me this week for 'Growing in Unity'.
I've had an absolute blast!