Posts By: Julie Elak

Teacher Appreciation Series – Day Two

Posted by: Julie Elak on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 12:00 am

Hi Everyone! I am back with Day Two of our Teacher Appreciation Series.

Teacher Appreciation Day is on May 3rd this year. Your children’s school may even celebrate the entire week, May 2nd through 6th. Plus, the end of the school year is fast approaching.

Whether you like to give a small gift on Teacher Appreciation Day or something each day of the week, our Design Team has some great projects to help get you started. Over the next several days the Design Team members will share fun projects that are the perfect way to say “thank you” to your children’s teachers. From cards to 3-D items we’ve got you covered and there are some great new stamp and die sets from the April release perfect for all your projects.

Tracy and Deborah are sharing their creations with you today.

Tracy with an Easel Style Post-it Note Holder

Front

YNS Supplies: Birthday Phoebe stamp set | Apple die set | Stitched Square die set | Learning is Fun stamp set (apple on the notepad) | Spectacular Teacher die set (glasses)

Back

YNS Supplies: Spectacular Teacher stamp set | Letter board Die set

Deborah with a Dry Erase Board

YNS Supplies: Learning is fun stamp set and coordinating die set | Banner die set

Thanks for stopping by today. We will see you tomorrow for day three of the series.

-Holly and the YNS Team

Teacher Appreciation Series – Day One

Posted by: Julie Elak on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 12:00 am

Hi everyone! Holly here and I have taken over the blog to coordinate a special blog feature for you.

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 2nd through May 6th with Teacher Appreciation Day falling on May 3rd.

Whether you like to give a small gift on Teacher Appreciation Day or something each day of the week, our Design Team has some great projects to help get you started. Over the next several days the Design Team members will show you fun projects perfect for all those little treats. From cards to 3-D items we’ve got you covered and there are some great new sets in the April release perfect for all your projects.

Anita and I are kicking off the series today and we both used the new Spectacular Teacher stamp and die sets.

Holly with Gift Packaging

Anita with a Gift Card Set

YNS Supplies: Spectacular Teacher stamp set and Coordinating Die set | Stitched Rectangle Die set

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for more inspiration!

– Holly and the YNS Team

April 2016 DT Dare – Winner!

Posted by: Julie Elak on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 12:00 pm

This month’s Design Team Dare post was filled with smiles! We are continuing the smiles with the announcement of the winner!

The lucky commenter who wins a stamp set of their choice is #52:

Congratulations Mona Spark!

Thanks to everyone who left a comment and made us smile in return!!!

The next chance to win is on our April 24th Feature Day post – mark your calendars! Of course you could get crafty and join in our challenge going on right now!

-Julie and the YNS Team

I Spy YNS Saturday – A Party!

Posted by: Julie Elak on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 12:00 am

This week while were out and about we came across a party on Instagram.

Amy Lim created this card with an animal and present filled scene.

The cuties from the Party Animals stamp set are colored up wonderfully with watercolor pencils. Check out all the layering of stamps, there is just a bit of masking here to add depth to the scene. Gotta love all those smiles everywhere too, from the presents to the cake!

Be sure to visit Amy’s gallery on Instagram found here a.lim.a.m, there is more cuteness to be found!

We are always on the lookout of for fabulous creations from YNS customers.

Keep on sharing the cuteness!

-Julie and the YNS Team

Sketch and color challenge #36 – More Inspiration

Posted by: Julie Elak on Friday, April 8, 2016 at 12:00 am

Challenge #36 is going on right now. You have until Thursday, April 14 at midnight EST to play along.

With a sketch and color combo to choose our goal is to give you variety. Pick the one that inspires you, unless you really want to challenge yourself and combine the two! Plus, the best part is you might win a gift certificate to the YNS store by playing along.

One random participant will win a $15.00 gift certificate to the YNS Store, plus if the winner uses YNS products on their creation they will receive an additional $5.00 on their gift certificate. We also select our favorite creation featuring YNS products from all participants and announce a “Top Pick”. The random winner and “Top Pick” will be announced on the YNS blog the Sunday following the challenge close. Link up a picture of your creation from your blog, gallery, etc. at the bottom of this post and you will be entered to win.

PLUS…if you are using YNS products on your creation why don’t you take the YNS Social Media challenge too?! Check out all the details in the rules at the bottom.

The sketch

If you use the sketch feel free to swap out shapes or rotate; so long as we can see the basic sketch was your inspiration.

The colors

If you choose the color combo, be sure to use at least 3 colors and feel free to add in neutrals.

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So which one inspired the team?

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Holly

YNS Supplies: Waddles Sweetie Pie stamp set | Mermaid Fun Gumdrops | Peek A Boo Window Die set

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Deborah

YNS Supplies: Scribble Fun Set One stamp set |Gumdrops

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Peggy

YNS Supplies: Learning is Fun stamp set | Gumdrops

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Laura

YNS Supplies: Honey Bear stamp set | Circles Die Set | Black Gumdrops

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Tracy

YNS Supplies: Magical Unicorn Stamp set | Magical Unicorn Die set | Stitched Ovals die set | Give Thanks Gumdrops

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Be sure to join in the fun and share your own creation inspired by either the sketch or the colors OR both! Link up your project through Inlinkz below. Note only 3 entries per person.

YNS’ challenge #36 ends on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at midnight EST
If you use the sketch feel free to swap out shapes or rotate; so long as we can see the basic sketch was your inspiration.
If you choose the color combo, be sure to use at least 3 colors and feel free to add in neutrals.
Only new creations please.
Limit of 3 entries per challenge # per person, each entry must be different.
Be sure to link back to our challenge in your blog post or gallery entry.
Entries not meeting the challenge guidelines will be removed.
All stamps are welcome, although we love to see YNS stamps and dies on your projects.
One random participant will win a $15 gift certificate to the Your Next Stamp store. If YNS stamps or dies are the focal point then the winner receives an additional $5 gift certificate for a total of $20. The winner will be announced on the YNS Blog the Sunday after the challenge closes.
The YNS Top Pick will receive the “YNS Top Pick” badge and their project will be featured on the YNS Blog the Sunday after the challenge closes. To be considered for the Top Pick, YNS stamps/dies must be the focal point of your project.
Social Media mini challenge – Does your challenge creation feature YNS products? Then take our social media mini challenge to be entered in an extra prize drawing! In addition to the inlinkz link up below to your blog or gallery, add your challenge creation to Instagram with “#yournextstamp” and “#ynschallenge36”, the YNS Facebook page referencing “challenge36” in your comment, and/or the SplitcoastStampers gallery with keyword “yournextstamp” and“ynschallenge36” and be sure to mention the YNS Challenge. There will be a separate drawing for all challenge projects added to those 3 social media sites during the challenge time period. If you add to one site then you receive 1 entry in the drawing. If you add to two you receive 2 entries and 3 entries if you add to all three. Remember, this is only for challenge creations featuring YNS products. The random winner will receive a YNS Store gift certificate for $20.
Have fun!!!

-Julie and the YNS Team

An InLinkz Link-up

April 2016 DT Dare – Comment to Win!

Posted by: Julie Elak on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 12:01 am

Smiles!

That’s what this month’s Design Team Dare is all about.

The team was dared to create something around the theme “sending smiles” using products from the April new release!

The team accepted the dare and that means you have the chance to win a stamp set of your choice!

DTDare2candy

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this blog post.

You have until April 8th at midnight EST to leave a comment and be entered in the draw. The winner will be announced on April 9th.

Let’s check out the team’s creations which are sure to make you smile!

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Kendra

YNS Supplies: Gardening Phoebe stamp set | Gardening Phoebe Die set | Gumdrops | Small Peek-a-Boo Trio Die Set

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Yuki, April Guest Designer

YNS Supplies: Waddles to the Rescue stamp set | Small Peek-a-Boo Trio Die Set

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Laura

YNS Supplies: Gardening Phoebe stamp set | Stitching and Piercing Circle die set | Stitched Rectangle die set

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Peggy

YNS Supplies:Stitching and Piercing Circle die set | Learning is Fun stamp set | Stripe-tastic Edge stamp set

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Tracy
YNS Supplies: Spectacular Teacher stamp set | Spectacular Teacher die set | Stitched Rectangle Dies

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Holly

YNS Supplies:Just Plane Amazing stamp set | Just Plane Amazing Die set | Puffy Cloud Border die set | Stitched Rectangle die set

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Sue

YNS Supplies: Gardening Phoebe stamp set | Gardening Phoebe Die set | Stripe-tastic Doors die

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Deborah

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Anita

YNS Supplies:

Just Plane Amazing stamp set | Just Plane Amazing Die set | Puffy Cloud Border die set | Stitched Rectangle die set |

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Julie

YNS Supplies: Gardening Phoebe stamp set | Gardening Phoebe Die set | Stitching and Piercing Circle die set | Scallop Flower Border Die

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Amy Kolling, Special April Release Guest

inside window

YNS Supplies: Waddles to the Rescue stamp set | Stripe-tastic Doors die

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Don’t forget to head on over to the Your Next Stamp store to take advantage of the online discount code below and save an extra 20% on everything in the store!!!

Please leave a comment before you go for your chance to WIN a YNS stamp set of your choice!

You have until April 8th at midnight EST to leave a comment and be entered in the draw. The winner will be announced on April 9th.

Mark your calendars and join us for another chance to WIN on April 24th with our Feature Day blog post!

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Thank you so much for stopping by! Wishing you a fun and creative day!

–Karen

Throwback Thursday – Kymona

Posted by: Julie Elak on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 12:00 am

***Check out our April DT Dare post {here} for a chance to comment and win a stamp set of your choice!***

This week Kymona and her clean and simple creations are in the spotlight!

Blog: Kreative Kymona

Kymona joined the Your Next Stamp design team in July 2015. Here is one of her first creations as a team member…

YNS Supplies: Perfect Chemistry stamp set | Circle Stitching Marks die set | Gumdrops

When asked which creation is her favorite Kymona wrote: I have so many favorites!! But the one I truly love is the card with Santa going down the chimney.

(Definitely makes the top 10 on my list too!)

YNS Supplies: Santa’s Helpers stamp set | Santa’s Helpers die set

Karen selected this one as her fave because it makes her smile!

YNS Supplies: Coffee…Right Meow! stamp set | Circle Stitching Marks die set | Circle die set | Stitched Rectangle die set

Throwback Thursday is taking next week off so that the team can bring you a special series of posts. Stay tuned!

-Julie and the YNS Team

April 2016 New Release Hop Winner!

Posted by: Julie Elak on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 12:00 am

Thank you to everyone who hopped along and left comments on the April 2016 New Release blog hop!

We are so happy that you are as excited as we are over the new release.

The winner of a $25.00 gift certificate to the YNS Store is Char K who left this comment on Thanh’s blog:

Congrats Char, please contact Karen via the link at the bottom of the site to claim your prize. Happy shopping!

If you are looking for another way to win a YNS prize check out our April DT Dare post. Leave a comment on the Dare post and be entered to win a stamp set of your choice.

Plus, we have a challenge going on right now. Join in for multiple chances to win a YNS Store gift certificate.

-Julie and the YNS Team

Color and Sketch Challenge #35 – Winners!

Posted by: Julie Elak on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 9:59 pm

A huge thanks to everyone who played along with challenge #35. The entries were AMAZING! There is so much creativity out there and we are happy to see you crafting with Your Next Stamp.

The random winner of challenge #35 is participant #16, Mom and Wife! Her card, Coffee is Life, was made with YNS Supplies, so she wins a $20 gift certificate to the YNS store. Mom and Wife has been super lucky with the YNS challenges, or she has an in with random.org! This is the second challenge in a row she has won.

Our media challenge winner is raoult1907 who shared her challenge creation on Instagram. Raoult1907 wins a $20 gift certificate to the YNS Store.

Congrats to both our winners. Please contact Karen via the link at the bottom of the blog to claim your prize.

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Now on to our Top Pick for the challenge. Did I mention the entries were AMAZING???!!! It was so hard to choose the Top Pick!

The honor goes to Danielle Vincent who made the world a sunnier place with her creative take on the sketch.

What a cheerful card with the bright colors and the huge sun shining. The clouds and plaid create a great scene for the Spring Birds stamp set. Swoon.

We have a new challenge going on right now. Join in challenge #36 for another chance to win. You could also take part in our April New Release Blog Hop for a chance to win a store gift certificate. Check out all the details on the blog here.

-Julie and the YNS Team

Welcome April Guest Yuki

Posted by: Julie Elak on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 12:01 am

April is getting off to a great start! We have a new guest joining us for the entire month and her clean, cute style will make you smile.

A huge warm welcome to Yuki Yoshioka!

Yukari Yoshioka

Blog: Handmade by Yuki Instagram: handmadebyyuki

Hello! My name is Yukari; however, I go by my nickname, Yuki. While originally from Los Angeles, CA, last summer we moved to beautiful Seattle, WA. When I’m not busy paper crafting, I enjoy cycling, snowboarding and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I enjoy trying new techniques and styles, my favorite by far would be making cutesy cards using critters!

Yuki created this card which definitely showcases her style as it features a cute critter…

YNS Supplies: Hammie – Coffee and Tea stamp set

We are looking forward to more cute creations from Yuki this month!

Just one more sleep until the April new release previews start. I know Yuki has some fun creations she will be sharing.

-Julie and the YNS Team