Better Late Than Never...

This past week, I was unable to complete a project for

the current challenge over at The Play Date Cafe.

You may have read that my computer crashed and learning

my way around my very first laptop was pretty time consuming.

Anyway...I managed to get a little something done and wanted

to share it with you just in case you were on the fence

about these wild and crazy colors...

I was totally inspired by a project I spotted in the

current 'CardMaker' magazine and thought it might be

a good way to incorporate the colors.

Most of the DP that was used on this was from

GCD Studios.  The stem is paper from Heidi Grace.

  The leaf images are from Inkadinkado were stamped using 

Ranger's Adirondack ink in 'Caramel'.

Here is a reminder of the 'color story' for this week.....

There is still plenty of time to play along with us.

Stop by The Play Date Cafe and check out the

amazing inspiration from the

world's best design team!

Down the Spooky Rabbit Hole with EIC

It has been such an honor and pleasure to have been
a Guest Designer with the talented team from the
EtsyInspired Challenge.

I have found that the older I get, the time
absolutely zooms by and the month of August
has been consistent with that statement.
I thank the girls at EIC for their kind comments
along the way and hope that I was able to bring
'just a little something extra' to their challenge.

For this week's challenge, we were inspired by the
beautiful shop known as 'The Caged Fairy', which
features some beautiful handcrafted jewelry.
I chose this pendant for my inspiration.....

.....and I have been dying to pull out my newest
Graphic45 collection that picked up at CHA last month.

Halloween can't come fast enough for me...well, I don't want it to be
here quite yet because I want some solid 'play time' to create some
spooky creations.
This is hardly spooky, but it is from Graphic45's
'Halloween in Wonderland'
I inked up the borders of this fabby paper with black ink to
create some spooky shadows (ok, so a little spooky)
I cut some concentric circles using my Spellbinders Nesties
and topped it with a wonderful die-cut which is part of the collection.
The embellishments are from Making Memories 'Spellbound'.

Make sure you stop by this lovely shop to see all
the wonderful pendants that are available there and
of course, please visit the girls from EIC.

Here are the links to the talented girls of the

EtsyInspired Design Team....

Ashley

De

Emily B.

Emily N.

Joy

Julie Ranae 

{many thanks}

Kerry

Savannah

Stephanie

Virginia

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Really? Seriously? Yep!

Before you 'ooh and aah' and congratulate me on such

a stunning piece of work....

it doesn't belong to me!

Nope...this one isn't mine either...

But they are both fabulous, aren't they!?

I thought I would show you the beauty that can

come from even the strangest of combinations...

That's right...it's the Play Date Cafe's first...

'Colour Horribilis' Challenge.

You will be absolutely amazed at the stunning

work that the world's best design team have done to 

bring you the most beautiful projects using this color story.

So make sure you get on over and see what's behind this

unique idea, who created these lovely pieces 
and check out this week's prize sponsor.

We are also saying goodbye to one of our first term designers.

Stephanie Kraft will be greatly missed as an inspiration to

our players and a friend and encouragement to our team.

We wish her so much love and best wishes for whatever

is next in her creative endeavors.

Before I go, I just wanted to thank you for your patience

as I have been MIA for over a week.  The hard drive on my

computer decided it was time for a permanent rest, so I had

to do some computer shopping, which I wasn't prepared to do.

It took a few days to make a decision and I am now the

happy owner of a fabby laptop.  My first laptop and I

love the freedom!

I spent some time today out on the patio

working on the PDCC post and then took it on it's

first road trip to Barnes & Noble.  The great thing

is I can take it there under the guise of 'working'

but my true motive is to stare at my husband

while he is working  : )

Happy to be back online, getting caught up on things

and hoping to bring you lots of new projects soon!

A Pocketful of Posies...

I am in love.....with this color combo!

Now having said that, I am also pleased to tell you

that I am this week's design team host for the new challenge at

Sometimes I think Martha and I were sisters,

separated at birth.  I love the colors she puts

together (or at least her 'people' put together)

and this was one photo inspiration I knew we had to use.

I was thinking about all the different types of flowers there

are to make (because Paige over at CARDS was calling for them)

and I thought it would be fun to make these 

funky posies using this color scheme.

You may recognize that DP from Cosmo Cricket's

'Early Bird' collection.  The stems were stamps

from Heidi Grace and the senitment is Impression Obsession.

Creative Inspirations Paints

Hey!  We've got a brand new sponsor this week!

Creative Inspirations Paints...and you could win

12 jars of paints in your choice of colors!

And....a big announcement awaits!

Who is the next....

Head on over to The Play Date Cafe

and find out who is joining 

The World's Best Design Team!

Layers, Scallops & Thanks

It's a busy day for me, so I only have time to share

one card today.....

This one is lots of fun scalloped layers and

one mighty big handmade paper flower.

I love using kraft cardstock with these types of colors.

It's such a versatile neutral.

The paper flower is made from 2 types of handmade papers,

the off-white with specks is 'tobacco paper' which I have

had for years, along with the peachy-pink paper.

I guess that's using some BOO, isn't it?!

The periwinkle blue in the flower is good-old-fashioned tissue paper.

I made the flower using the Dahlia die from Spellbinders.

There are about 21 layers altogether.

I also used the Labels 4 for the sentiment.

The other scalloped punch is from Fiskars.

The sentiment is from Unity.

Thought I would enter this over at the

CARDS challenge.

Paige is calling for unique, handmade flowers.

In the meantime, you still have until

midnight EST tonight to enter this week's

challenge over at The Play Date Cafe.

Oh...one more thing...

I have just one more complete set in stock

of the 'Ippity Triple' deal

from yesterday's post.

You can read about it here.

Have a terrific day!

Summertime is Meant for Color

You know it's H{ippity} Hop Monday

here at The Open Window and it's gotten

a whole lot more fun this week with

the brand spankin' new images that

were just released!

If you are new to the H{ippity} Hop,

after you get done checking out my little

offering for the day, pop back over to

The Ippity Blog here and check out the

other talented people who are creating

new things to share with you today.

I had a great time creating this card because

I used the challenge of the 'Dog Days of Summer'

that was issued this past Monday on the Ippity blog.

When I think of the 'deep days' of the summer

here in the Midwest, I think of all the flowers

that are in full bloom.....

patio pots full of flowers.....

and bright blue skies.

It's hard to make them out, but if you click
up close, you just might see all the tiny
white pearls that were used as the flower
centers and on the sprigs in the potted plant.

I'm very happy to tell you that all of the stamps

that I used on this card are

in-stock and available 

to purchase from me.

Here's what I used.....

 'So This is Love'

'You Deserve'

'Book It'

I love sharing these cheerful stamps

sets with you and I would love to be

your 'Ippity Chick'!

Order the first two sets from me
anytime this week

for only $22.50 (+ $3.50 postage)

and you can get 'Book It'

for just $3 !!!

{International orders inquire for postage rates}

That's over $11 off the msrp

Just email me at julieranae@hotmail.com

and let me know you want this week's

'Ippity Triple'

(I accept Paypal & postal or Walmart money orders)

While I update my Ippity store, please

feel free to email me directly

with any questions.

Hope you have a terrific Monday!

'Baby Love, my Baby Love'

I am guest designing for the entire month of August

over at EtsyInspired.  It's such an honor to design

with such a talented group of girls!

They celebrated their 100th challenge last week

and it was so fun for me to be included in the celebration!

Speaking of which....

Before I get to this week's challenge, 

I need to announce the winner of the amazing

'ribbon stash' from May Arts.

Congratulations goes out to.....

#13

Terri E. said... "Those funky owls are perfect for the inspiration.
It's a good life."

Terri....send an email over to stampindeva@bellsouth.net

 and let her know you won on my blog.

This week's Etsy store featured is

Lover Dovers Homemade Goodness

What a fun little place to browse and buy!!!

You have an opportunity to win one the

fabby handcrafted aprons from this 

sweet little shop.

Here is the apron I chose as my inspiration...

My teenage days were spent smack

in the 70's.  I spent every single year

from 10-19 in that decade and to this

day, I still love me some good disco!

Another big part of the 70's were the

fun and funky 'mushroom' motifs.

So this apron was a perfect fit for me.

Cosmo Cricket's 'Earth Love' was the first thing I

grabbed out of my stash.  I think it's fun to

create 'unusual' cards for baby showers.

There's no stamping on this card...just a little sewing 

and embellishment...easy peasy!

You definitely need to make a visit to the

EtsyInspired Blog to get all the details on

the prize from the featured shop, but also 

check out the sponsor prize from

Sassy Studio Designs.

Here are the links to the talented girls of the

EtsyInspired Design Team....

Ashley

De

Emily B.

Emily N.

Joy

Julie Ranae 

{love my guest spot!}

Kerry

Savannah

Stephanie

Virginia

Enjoy the Day!

YAY! Ippity's Summer 2010 Release is Now!

You'll find the

The Play Date Cafe

Challenge here!

Today is the day!

It's Ippity Release Party for the

new Summer 2010 Collection

and I am SO excited to share it

with you.

I hope you have a cup 'o something

in your hand because I am going to share

every new set with you right here!

Your cost only $15 (msrp $18)

 Your cost only $15 (msrp $18)

Your cost only $20 (msrp $24)

Now...just those new

goodies would be enough

for me!  But wait....

 Your cost only $7.50 (msrp $10)

Your cost only $15 (msrp $18)

Your cost only $20 (msrp $24)

So...what do ya think?

Oh Wait......

Your cost only $15 (msrp $18)

Your cost only $7.50 (msrp $10)

Your cost only $7.50 (msrp $10)

And there you have it!

Yeah right..... 

Your cost only $4 (msrp $6)

Your cost only $4 (msrp $6)

Your cost only $4 (msrp $6)

And....how about some

fabby paper from Echo Park!

 Your cost only $5 (msrp $6.50)

          FREE w/any $45 purchase!

Total order of $50 & up = FREE shipping
Total order $20.01-$49.99 = $5 shipping

Orders up to $20 = $3.50 shipping

I am so happy to be

an 'Ippity chick' 

and I would be glad to take your order!

Many of these sets are on the UPS truck

right now on the way to my house!

While I update my Ippity store, please

feel free to email me directly at

julieranae@hotmail.com
to place your order : )

You are welcome to combine your order 

for new stamps with other stamps

from past collections featured in 

my Ippity store here.

I am standing by 

to take your order!