With the Help of a Challenge or Two...

I can't thank you enough for all the lovely messages

that were sent, both here as comments and privately.

If you read my last post, you'll know that my creativity

came to a screeching halt this past week.

So I thought the best way to get it up and running again

was to take on a challenge or two.  Even that didn't come

as easily as I had hoped, but I do have two to share.

First up is Limelight Papercrafts Sketch #58

I love making these flowers!

It's a combination of papers from BasicGrey's new 'Jovial' line

and Tim Holtz's 'Tattered Florals' die cut.

The center bling is from Prima.

The sentiment is also die cut from Sizzix/BasicGrey's combo

dies for the holidays.

The next challenge is something completely different.

My dear friend Savannah O'Gwynn is on

the 'All Things Unity' DT and I love to support

my friends when I can.

This week they in turn, our supporting

Jennifer McGuire's 'Card's for Kids' drive

by using that as their challenge.

Of course, the main requirement is to use anything

Unity or Ippity, and on this card....I went all Ippity.

The stamps are from the following sets:

'Just Wanted to Say' (sentiment)

'A Little Buggy' (ladybug)

'Because of You' (flower)

I paper-pieced the flower and ladybug using a variety

of scraps in coordinating colors.

The twine is from my new favorite place...

'The Twinery'

Just a little reminder....all the Ippity stamps shown here

or on any of my posts are always available in my little

'Ippity Shop' here...if they are not pictured, please don't

hesitate to ask...I get behind in my updates sometimes.

Well...that's it for now.

I have a fun Halloween card to share with you tomorrow

and hopefully one or two other projects that I am working on.

I hope you will let me know you were here by leaving 

a quick note in the comment section...thank you kindly.

Real Life Halts my Creativity...

I have to tell you that the start to my week has been

'unusual', to say the least, so I am behind on a variety

of deadlines...including my own challenge  : (

These are the terrific colors for this week based on,

what I think, is a very unique photo.

Sarah is your color host this week

and

Creative Cuts & More 

is sponsoring with a wonderful 50-piece kit

which would be a perfect prize in time for 

the coming holidays.

I will do my best to get my project completed

and posted sometime later today.

I will share that I have been extremely distracted

by a number of 'real life' things, which has

caused my creative flow to come to a near standstill.

My daughter and her two boys were in a horrible

car accident on Sunday, just two days after

purchasing her new Toyota Camry.

She was at a stop light when she was rear-ended by

a 17 year-old in a large SUV, going 37 mph.

The description of her car is, well...

indescribable.

Nearly eight thousand dollars worth of damage

may give you some idea.

The fact that my grandsons, who were in the

back seat and within inches of the impact,

were not hurt is truly a miracle from God.

I just shared that photo of her oldest after he lost

his tooth here on Saturday night....he was going

back home with his mom and brother.

So I appreciate your understanding that I don't have my

PDCC project ready...but I will.

Needless to say there are many other daily things that

just pile up and I know it happens to you as well.

So get on over to The Play Date Cafe to see this

week's challenge and

don't forget....

there is a current design team call happening right now!

Could you be the next designer for The Play Date Cafe?

H{ippity} Halloween!

It's H{ippity} Hop Monday!

Have you hopped with us before?

It's so fun and very easy and a

great source of project inspiration,

especially if you love to play with Ippity stamps.

Just 'hop' over to the Ippity blog here to see a

list of all the talented designers who have

something to share.

My first little offering is this little Halloween gift tag.

I used Ippity's 'That's Creepy' set.

I love my EK Success bat punch.

The DP is from Basic Grey's 'Eerie' and

'Pyrus' collections.

Next up is another little tag using the same set

as above plus the 'Book It' stamp from Ippity.

Just a little EeRiE shading and some fabby

purple rhinestones make it so simple.

Paige over at CREATE is asking for
Halloween Tags this week, as well as the
Halloween challenge over at Card of the Week
and Wee Memories,
so I will share these there as well.

So here are the stamps I used...

If you know me, whenever I share in

the H{ippity} Hop, I love to offer a good

deal from my very own Ippity shop here.

So what's the deal?

Order both 'That's Creepy' & 'Book It'

for only $22 (includes postage) and get

'Bit of Burlap' for only $3!

If you would like to see 'Bit of Burlap' in action,

here's a taste...

...and if you want to see more, just click here.

As always, if you would like to order these stamps

or any others in my Ippity shop, please email me

directly at julieranae@hotmail.com

and I will invoice you through PayPal.

I also accept Money Orders from

Walmart and the USPS.

One more personal note....

I had my 7 year old grandson CJ over for

the weekend and had to make an 

'emergency call'

to the Tooth Fairy!

This is the second time he has lost a tooth at our

house (and he's only lost three total).

I'm beginning to think he's wise to it because he

scores pretty well when he lifts up his pillow.

This little tooth made him

five dollars richer!

Have a great Monday and I would

love if you would leave a quick comment to let

me know you stopped by...

The Play Date Cafe...Open Design Team Call

I am so excited to extend an invitation to YOU!

The Play Date Cafe Challenge is 1 year old and we are
on the search for new creative talent

to add to our Design Team.

Do you enjoy playing with color?

Do you enjoy a challenge?

Do you enjoy being an inspiration to others?

We are looking for a variety of styles.....

Cards, layouts, mixed media, shabby chic or vintage

retro, grunge, clean and simple...you name it!

The Term is for Six Months
(Introductions in Dec with term Jan-June)

Along with creating a weekly project inspired by colors

from your fellow design team,

each week you would assist in selecting 'The Cup of the Week' & Honorable Mentions

We are looking for fun, creative people with a blog

and the capability of taking crisp, clear photos

If you would like to apply, 
please provide the following:

**THREE creations (only 3, please) 
that show who you are as a designer 

**A list of your current/past design team experience

(No DT experience necessary)

**Creative credits such as publications and/or features

**Your name, address, phone #, email & blog address

Send photo files and above information to

julieranae@hotmail.com

place DT submission on the subject line

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS

Sunday November 7th, 2010

Looking forward to hearing from YOU!

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!