Soul!

The past week has been kind of hectic. After the hurricane, I thought that a lot of time would pass before I sat down and made another card. Well, thanks to a wonderful group of people I have been able to create some cards, and it has been fun.

Today’s card is an inspiration card.
Love the sentiment, a stamp from the set Fall for You by Unity.
The image is from Anne’s Digital Art (Anne Fenton) and I feel in love with it as soon as I saw it.
Used three different die cuts to add some interest to the background, jewels for sparkle and a bow to finish everything.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Anything in August Progressive Challenge ( bows, sparkle and sentiment) at The Crafter's Cafe

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Get Well Soon!

Made this card for a friend that is not feeling well lately. She has a sweet personality and I know that she will be OK, and making jokes soon.

The image is called Shy Girl and is from Freshly Brewed Designs. The sketch is from The Crafter’s Café.

The sketch:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• August Month Long FBD Challenge at The Crafter’s Cafe

Thanks!

Love
Julia

A color challenge!

Some people find it easy to work color challenges, for me it is really challenging.
This is the card I made:

The colors:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Color Challenge August 23rd at the Outlawz

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Fall!

I love fall, the colors are so warm.
The image used for this card is a freebie designed by Anne Fenton. The wording is from the stamp set: Fall for You, by Unity Stamp.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Twisted Thursday ....Aug. 25 - Anything Goes with a twist at The Outlawz

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Happy Birthday!

This card was made using the smallest stamps I had.  Not so easy...
The stamp set used was: Bentley Bear designed by Adam Pescott.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges;

• CAS Challenge, August 28 at The Outlawz

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Smile!

The Stamping Boutique is looking for a new member for the Design Team (follow this link)
The image for this card is from The Stamping Boutique, of course.  When I looked at the image it made me smile, it is a happy image, fun to work with.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• The Stamping Boutique Design Team Call
• Sketch Challenge, August 24 at the Outlawz

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Bath Time!

This is my sixth entry for the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge. The image is from Anne's Digital Art:

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

• Copic/Promarker  Anything Goes at The Outlawz
• August Card Challenge, Anything Goes at Simply Scrapping Crafts

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Thank You!

This is my fifth entry for the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge. The image is from Sandi Sample:

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Get Well Soon

This is my fourth entry for the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge. The image is from Sandi Sample:

Thanks!

Love
Julia

CDAC Progressive Challenge!

Crafter's Digital Art Center is having a Progressive Challenge, explanation follows:

The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two week to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free, but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenges images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.CDAC Progressive Challenge Series One (6 challenges) cdacpc1 = Aug 1st Kick off Challenge and will last for one month (6 images being offered to everyone) Request images by Aug 29th and Deadline to Enter cdacpc1 is Aug 31st by Midnight.
cdacpc2 = Sept 1st
cdacpc3 = Sept 15th
cdacpc4 = Oct 1st
cdacpc5 = Oct 15th
cdacpc6 = Nov 1st

The prize: Follow this link and read all about it.
This is the third card I make for this challenge, used the image by Digistamps4joy:

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Hurricane!!!

Some days have passed since my last post. Things got a little complicated for me and my family.

The story:
On Saturday (August 20) we were informed that Tropical Storm Irene was going to pass really close to the south side of Puerto Rico (100 miles over sea). At 2:00 AM Sunday, after watching the last weather forecast we went to sleep, still no change in the projected path of Irene.
Woke up at 10:00 AM, had breakfast with my family, my son left for College, my youngest daughter returned to College also; beautiful sunny day, everything looked fine.
Suddenly a phone call from my Mom (11:00 AM) asking if I was getting ready, I did not have a clue what she was talking about. She told me to look at the news and call back.
Surely enough, we were going to receive the direct impact of Irene who was still a tropical storm, but was almost a hurricane 1, the system was going to cross the island from east to west. PANIC MODE!!!!
Oh my! My kids had left already. My youngest daughter was still close to home, so she returned, but my son was closest to my parent’s house, so he was headed in that direction. This part was solved: my daughters were going to be home with me; my son would be with my parents.
Went to the Supermarket to buy some water, trying not to panic, only to see families buying a lot of meat and dairy products, then I realized that it wasn’t just me, people didn’t know what was about to happen. Talked to some explaining everything, grabbed the water and ran home.
My husband left to help his mother get prepared; it was 12:30 PM.
My daughter arrived, and my son called to inform that he had arrived safely to his grandparent’s house; it was like 1:30 PM.
We were picking everything from the backyard, moving the dogs to the garage, and it began to rain, no time was left to secure the sliding door that connects to the backyard (16’ feet long). Winds began also; it was 3:25 PM.
My husband arrived home, weather had really taken a turn for the worst, by 6:00 PM we didn’t have power supply, and wind was blowing so hard. Midnight hit was terrible, I knew that the storm had gained hurricane force, and we received the direct impact. All that could be heard were the trees falling glass windows breaking and people screaming. We were in prayer mode, kind of not believing that something like this could happen on such short notice.
At about 6:30 AM, the wind was slowing down, it was still raining so hard, complete darkness, couldn’t see a thing in or outside the house. Everyone got out in the rain helping those that needed it, still could not see what had happened inside the house.
It was Tuesday when I finally could see what had happened in the house, we knew that the windows in the family / craft room didn’t resist the impact of the winds and that they had opened, but I was not prepared for what I saw.
Wall paint was damaged; water came through the windows and the roof and damaged most of my furniture. My Cricut was full of water, I did dry it, but since there is still no electrical power, I do not know if it is working. My printer was damaged.
Lost most of my crafting supplies: cardstock, papers, copics and adhesives. Had some cards in a box for Operation Write Home that were damaged. There were two projects waiting to be posted on my desk, they received some water damage.
Have to admit that I cried a little, not because I am feeling sorry for what was lost, but because I felt helpless.
Everything happened so fast that we did not have the time to prepare ourselves and protect our belongings, and I felt vulnerable.
Not a minute has passed that I have not given thanks to God for protecting my family, we are all fine, and that’s the most important thing.
Today I am writing from my work, not sure when I will post again, since there is still no electrical power in my community.
Wanted to share this experience with you, so you all could see how thing change in a few hours.
Here are some pictures:

 Here are the pictures of the cards that survived the hurricane, with some water damage:

The Outlawz Color Challenge: August 16, 2011 

Crafter's Digital Art Center  Progressive Challenge
image by Whoopsiedaisy Digi Stamp

Take care!

Love

Julia

Thinking of you!

Crafter's Digital Art Center is having a Progressive Challenge, explanation follows:

The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two week to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free, but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenges images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.CDAC Progressive Challenge Series One (6 challenges) cdacpc1 = Aug 1st Kick off Challenge and will last for one month (6 images being offered to everyone) Request images by Aug 29th and Deadline to Enter cdacpc1 is Aug 31st by Midnight.
cdacpc2 = Sept 1st
cdacpc3 = Sept 15th
cdacpc4 = Oct 1st
cdacpc5 = Oct 15th
cdacpc6 = Nov 1st

The prize: Follow this link and read all about it.
This is the first card I make for this challenge, used the image by priscillastyle

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Hello!

This ia a really simple card, but the image is so pretty that I fell that it doesn't need a lot of embellishment.
The image is from Pollycraft. Added ribbon and buttons to finish it.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Paper Sundaes Challenge #82 - Just Saying Hi
• Greetings Challenge August 15: Must include a bird of some sort at The Outlawz 
  
  Thanks!

Love
Julia

A Sweet Happy Birthday!

Who doesn’t like a sweet cupcake?
I sure do; and if it has no calories, better yet. This birthday card is a perfect example of that.
Cricut has this wonderful cartridge called Sweet Treats, which is one of my favorites. The frosting was done using Stampendous Jewel Glitter (very shiny). The sweet toppings are a candy red heart, also covered in glitter and some sweet sprinkles (glitter brads from We R Memory Keepers).
The shaped base for the card was made with Cricut Sentimental Cartridge.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Challenge 22: It’s all about the Brads: use at least three brads at Birthday Sundaes
• Challenge Me Monday #73: Create project with a cupcake or another baked good) at Fantabulous Cricut
• Glitter It at Clear it Out Challenge Blog
• Challenge 68: Shaped cards (plus a sentiment) at Sentimental Sundays

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Less is More!

Less Is More is having a great challenge this week, details follow:

Once more we are back to the second week of the month and so our challenge is for a

ONE LAYER CARD

The special feature we would like to see this week is for you to

USE INK 

** This does include ink pads **

...hopefully in a way you haven't tried before.... or using a favourite technique.

If you can avoid using the computer this week, that would be great, but we wouldn't want to to miss a week if the computer is your only method of card making.

At first I was intimidated by the challenge, but I love the CAS concept.  The stamps are from Tim Holtz and Unity (Just Wanted to Say...). The ink used:Colorbox and Palette Hybrid,

 I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Week 28 - One Layer: use ink at Less is More

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Vintage Christmas

Christmas is so wonderful. We usually think of bright crisp colors for this holiday. But some of the most beautiful cards I have seen are vintage style.
Phindy’s Place has beautiful images and when I saw Popcorn and Cranberries I knew it was the one for this card.
The image was distressed using Tim Holtz ink, adding the feeling of aged. This was also done to the background and base card.
For embellishment I added some holly leafs, a string of vintage beads and a bow.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• CHRISTMAS IS COMING at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
• Vintage Christmas at Sugar Creek Hollow
• Vintage Look at Phindy's Place Challenge Blog
• The Outlawz, Copic Challenge, August 12: Colour an Animal 
• Simply Scrapping Crafts August Challenge: Digital image or sentiment
  
  
  Thanks!

Love
Julia

You Are Amazing!

Created this card using a sketch from CAS-ual Fridays. The image is a stamp from Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collection and the sentiment is a stamp from the set: Just Wanted to Say by Unity. Added some bling, just for fun.

The sketch:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• CAS-ual Fridays Challenge CFC15
• A Special Casual Friday/FTL 153

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Pail of Flowers!

This image from Designed2Delight was the inspiration for this card. Used fabric for additional color and texture.  The background was embossed using Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder for Cuttlebug. Added a simple white ribbon, a bow and button to finish my card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Belli Challenge #123 - Non-paper Materials
• Challenge 95: Emboss it at Crazy Catz Weekly Challenge
• Twisted Thursday Challenge - August 11 - Use Fabric at The Outlawz
• Anything in August Progressive Challenge at The Crafter's Cafe

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Three simple cards!

Just wanted to share this really simple cards.
The first one has a detail with a slide mount.

The second one is a very CAS card.

For the third one I created the patterned paper with Unity Stamps (Now and Always Set):

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Another Thank You Card!

Time for some fun with my Cricut. Sometimes I forget that I can make a complete project using this machine.
One of the cartridges that I nearly don't use is Preserves, so that was the one I used.
Did some embossing on the white panels and the center panel.
Inked all the edges for dimension. For this card I used the sketch provided by Paper Sundaes.

Here is the sketch:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Challenge 27 at Die Cuttin' Divas
Paper Sundaes Sketch Challenge # 81
Paper Prettie Blog Challenge: Die Cuts
Through the Craftroom Door: Embossing

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Thank You!

This is a very simple card. The sketch is from Operation Write Home. Used the Cricut for all my die cut pieces.  Inked the edges for some dimension and made a 3-D heart (3 heart shapes folded at the center, then glued together and added some stitching in the center). The butterfly was made with Sentimentas cartridge, one of my favorites.

Cartridges:
Plantin SchoolBook
Sentimentals
Mothers Day 2010

The sketch:

I am entering this card in  the following challenges:

• Cricut Cardz Challenge #87: Straight from the Heart
• Sketch Challenge # 81 at Operation Write Home
• Challenge #72 - Let's Get Buggy at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Happy Anniversary!

Made this CAS card using circles and Unity Stamps set, Now and Always.
Used the paper tearing technique to creat the orange border.  Used the stamps on two of the circles to add some contrast with the designer paper.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Circles, Circles, Circles at  Unity Stamp Co.-Challenge Blog
• CAS Challenge Time at Unity Opportunity Challenge Blog
• CHALLENGE 14 ... ANYTHING GOES IN AUGUST at Craft Us Crazy

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Summer Fun!

This summer has been so hot!
I need a pool, like the one that my little friend has.
The image is from Bugaboo Digi Stamps, and it is one of my favorites.
Added an embissed panel, used a folder from the Asian Bundle for Cuttlebug. Added some white ribbon and yellow ric-rac for embelishment. Used stickers for the sentiment and three buttons finish this cute card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Summer is Here at Clear it Out Tuesday
• Challenge #29: Sizzlin' Summer at Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings
• CH# 52 - PROJECTS WITH WATER at Paper Playtime
• Cooking It Up #70 - Emboss a Summer Punch at Cooking It Up With Katie
• TTCRD Challenge #7 - Embossing, Dry or Heat at Through the Craftroom Door 
• August Anything Goes at Catch The Bug Challenge Blog
• CHALLENGE 14 ... ANYTHING GOES IN AUGUST at Craft Us Crazy

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Birthday Wishes!

Oh My! I am in love with this card.
The image is from Phindy's Place, isn't she sweet.
The sentiment is from the Unity Stamp set called Just Wanted to Say... and it is mounted over a tag die cut.
The butterflies were stamped with a Martha Stewart Stamp set and hand cut.
Added some green lace, flowers and some swirl bling to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Phindy's Place Challenge #67 - Anything Goes, use a Phindy image
Challenge 67: Flowers at Sentimental Sundays 
Challenge 63 - Lace it Up at Truly Scrumptious
Challenge #21 - Birthday Cards at Birthday Sundaes
Challenge # 17 One For The Girls... at Sparkles Forum Challenges
Challenge #166: open use a butterfly, fairy, angel at Flutterby Wednesday
CHALLENGE 14 ... ANYTHING GOES IN AUGUST at Craft Us Crazy
Challenge 26: Birthday Cards at Card Makin' Mamas
Tuesday Throwdown #61: Birthday
Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 129 at The Sweetest Thing
Challenge 60 - Sparkly at Wags'n Whiskers
The Pink Elephant, TPE 111: Butterfly
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations Challenge Bingo (Flowers, Die Cut and Digi)
Anything in August Progressive ChallengeThe Crafter's Cafe add bow and sparkle

Thanks!

Love
Julia

A, B, C...

Made this Back to School card with a digi from The Stamping Boutique. Added some ribbon and two buttons.  Love the colors. Used my Cricut and Plantin SchoolBook for the letters.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Back to School-1,2,3 at Paper Cutz Challenge
• Buttons and/or Ribbon at Card Cupids Blog
• Challenge 39: School Time at Daisy Doodles
• Challenge 22: Back to School at Amber's Crafts and Stuff
• The Stamping Boutique Current Monthly Contest

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Colors of your flag!

Less is More is hosting a challenge: Colors of your flag.  They like Clean and Simple cards and lots of white space.

Here is my card:

The flag of my Puerto Rico:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Week 27: Colours of your flag at Less is More

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Black and White!

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge is hosting a wonderful challenge: Black and White.
Here is my entry:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

• Challenge #146 at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Christmas in July - August!

Stll making some Christmas cards.  This one is really simple and the image is so beautiful, it is from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Christmas in July #42 
• August Anything Goes Challenge at Catch The Bug Challenge Blog
• Challenge 78 Holidays at Totally Paper Crafts
• JUST USE A DIGI at Stamp Something
• Challenge #85 - It's Christmas! at Fab'n Funky

Thanks!

Love
Julia

Back to School!

Made this card with an image from Meljens Designs. Patterned Paper is from My Mind"s Eye and has a lovely number pattern. Since it is a back to school card  I used Primary Colors.



I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Challenge 70: Back to School al MelJens Designs
• Make it Count at Crafts and Me Challenges
• Challenge 79: Primary Colors at Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog
• Challenge 5: School Days at Little Darlings Challenges
• Challenge 79: Back to School at Hand Stamped Sentiments

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Glitter!

Didn't you love to play with glitter when you were a kid? I did, and well, I still do!
Made this Clean and Simple card, with some scraps of paper, organza ribbon, scalloped paper punch, glue dots and  glitter.

The flowers were made with the scalloped paper punch, then carefully used the scissors to cut each petal, inked the borders, added a glue dot to the center and then some glitter.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• CAS-ual Fridays Challenge CFC14: Glitzy Glue Dots
• Simply Scrapping Crafts August Challenge: Glitter
•  Going Grey with Scrap-Ceations Challenge: Bingo(Glitter, Flower, Ribbon)

Thanks!

Love

Julia

Hello!

Finally, some me time!
I've been really busy lately, but at last a moment of peace and relaxation.
Made this card, using a sketch from BugabooWacky Wednesday Challenge Group at Crafter's Digital Art Center and Paper Craft Planet.
The image is from Bugaboo Digi Store. Added some bling for sparkle and shine.

The sketch:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

• Bugaboo Wacky Wednesday #13 at Crafter's Digital Art Center
• Bugaboo Wacky Wednesday #13 at Paper Craft Planet
• August Anything Goes Challenge! at Catch The Bug Challenge Blog
• Challenge - 21 - Sparkle & Shine at Amber's Crafts and Stuff

Thanks!

Love
Julia

I won at The Outlawz!

Just a short post to let everyone know that I just won 20 sheets of Cryogen Paper from Paper Temptress from The Outlaw, Paper Ala Mode challenge group.  I am so happy about winning this prize!

Thank You!

Love
Julia

Happy Birthday!

Made this card for a sweet birthday girl.  The image is from  Pollycraft.               .

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Anything in August Progressive Challenge at The Latte Lounge
• Challenge 46 - Anything Goes at Crafts and Me
• Challenge 122: Doillies at Digital Tuesday 
• Challenge 26: Birthday Cards at Card Makin' Mamas
  
  

Thanks!

Love
Julia