This is it for Christmas in July although certainly not the end of my Christmas card making endeavor for the year. I had no idea when I started this month that I would get so many cards done. I am literally half way finished with my cards for this year! What a great start! At the same time, I also used some products I've had for a while. Although to be honest, so far it doesn't look I've made much of a dent in my Christmas stash!
Today's card follows a sketch from The Sugar Bowl blog. It was designer's choice on any of the previous sketches. I stamped the Sugar Nellie Hug in a Mug image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers and then cut it out. I primarily used My Mind's Eye Be Merry paper from two years ago but also used some pieces from some older Scenic Route (I miss that company).
(click to enlarge)
Products: Sugar Nellie stamp, My Mind's Eye and Scenic Route pp, PTI cs and buttons, Kaisercraft pearls, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Copic Markers
These cards almost did not get made for today. I am having major back problems right now and have been spending a lot of time with an ice pack and pain meds. But last night it felt better so I gathered up some supplies and created all three of these while sitting on the couch with the ice pack at my back.
I definitely could not do a Christmas in July without including some of my favorite holiday paper, Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly. I fell in love with it at first sight at last summer's CHA in Orlando. Since I had only used three pieces of the matching chipboard for some scrapbooking projects I really wanted to focus on them. I gleamed and glammed them up a bit with some bling and metallic fibers. Anyone still have fibers in their stash?
Products: Cosmo Cricket pp and chipboard, Heidi Swapp jewels, PTI buttons and twill, Kaisercraft pearls, Heidi Swapp jewels, Prima pearl centers, Webster's Page trim, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart snowflake punch
I can't believe it is already Thursday. Normally, I don't post everyday but since I'm on the final countdown of my Christmas in July theme, this week is an exception. I had to sneak this one during naptime as I had my grandbaby Clara here yesterday. She is closing in on her second birthday and truly is the joy of my life. No matter if I'm depressed or worried, she is like a ray of sunshine. My heart actually aches with how much I love her.
Today's Christmas in July card is for this week's 2 Sketches for You challenge. I stamped the Sugar Nellie Catch a Falling Star image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth Cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut her out so the star would freely dangle. The star image was actually plain so I added some circles to match the stars in the patterned paper. The patterned paper is Carolee's Adornit - not sure how old it is but I do know I've had it for a while.
Products: Sugar Nellie stamp, PTI cs and button, Basic Grey bling, Doodlebug trim and stickers, Ki Memories brads, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic markers
The first thing you will notice is that I have a newly designed blog. Since I have blogged sucessfuly for seven months I thought it was time to make a design commitment. The design was created by Designer Blogs and I couldn't be happier with my choice. They are reasonably priced (a must for me right now considering my budget) and couldn't be easier to work with. I worked with Erin and she totally got my design vision and in fact totally nailed it on the first try. Let me know what you think. Now if I could only figure out why my photos appear to be blurry only after I upload to blogger. Anyone else have this problem?
Today's Christmas in July card features the more traditional colors of Christmas. The paper is Little Yellow Bicycle which debuted a couple of years ago. I pretty much like all things LYB but their Christmas lines are always particularly beautiful. I used the same stamp as on this card which is Whiff of Joy Lizzie with Muff although this time I decided she should be a redhead. I followed the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers challenge blog.
(click to enlarge)
Products: Whiff of Joy stamp, Little Yellow Bicycle pp, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Bazzill Simply Smooth cs, Papertrey Ink cs (card base), Prima Flowers and leaves, Kaisercraft and Basic Grey pearls, Martha Stewart seam binding ribbon
I can only wish it was a snowy day. Sunday it topped out here at 112 degrees heat index. Normally I hate cold weather but I can't help but think of it rather fondly at times like these.
I used this week's Sketch for You to Try as the basis for this Christmas in July card. I stamped the My Favorite Things Pure innocence Flurry of Love image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock. I cut it and the mat out with my old trusty Creative Memories oval cutting system and colored with Copic Markers. To get the mottled effect on her coat, I first colored it as per usual. I then removed color by moving my blender marker around in small circles. I added some stickles to the falling snow and then added some snow via Flower Soft at her feet.
Products: My Favorite Things stamp, Heidi Grace acrylic stickers and pp, Stickles, Flower Soft, Papertrey Ink cs and twill, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Copic Markers
Good Morning! I sound awfully chipper for a Monday don't I? This is the last week for Christmas in July. This summer is going by so fast. Today's card features two Christmas products I bought last year but never used. This is beginning to sound familiar, doesn't it? No wonder I have such a huge stash of Christmas themed supplies!
I stamped the Papertrey Ink image onto PTI cardstock with Memento Bamboo Leaves and Rich Cocoa. I cut the image out then added buttons and pearls for decorations. It is mounted on the card with pop dots. This card fits the Sketch Saturday challenge. I rotated the sketch due to the perspective of the image I used. This is actually a bit busier than my normal style and I'm just not really sure that I like it. Perhaps 10 buttons and 14 pearls is a bit over the top for one card!
Products: Papertrey Ink stamp, cs, twill and buttons, Bella Blvd pp and sticker, Kaisercraft pearls, Fiskars border punch
Did I mention that it is hot here? Like over 100 degrees hot. Too hot to do anything but stay inside and wait til it cools off. And listen to the electric meter as the air conditioning continually runs.
Now on to today's cards. Banners are the latest design element du jour and I couldn't resist them anymore when My Favorite Things debuted a really cute three piece banner metal die to assist in making them. I stamped the Pure Innocence Snow Day with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Papertrey Ink cardstock. I added some stripes to the scarf with a Copic Multiliner pen and then colored the image with Copic markers. Touches of Flower Soft add a bit more "snow" to the scene. This card fits this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Challenge. By the way, be sure to join in when you can. I won a $15 gift certificate to the store last week with this card.
While I had the MME paper out again I also made another simple card featuring the matching chipboard. I created the banner by stringing together buttons and two chipboard gloves with silk ribbon. I only have a small amount of this paper left and I plan on using it all up before I'm through with my Christmas cards.
Products: My Favorite Things stamps and Die-namics dies, My Mind's Eye pp and chipboard, Papertrey Ink cs, buttons, ribbon and twill, Flower Soft, Fiskars border punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic markers
Today's Christmas in July features a Whiff of Joy stamp "Lizzie with Muff." I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers and then cut it out. I'm not really happy with her hair but the more I worked on it the worse it looked.If I have time later, I think I might just do another one and replace it. I placed the image onto the matted piece cut from a sheet from Webster's Pages Winter Wings. The other two patterned papers are Little Yellow Bicycle and SEI.
Products: Whiff of Joy stamp, Webster's Pages, SEI, Little Yellow Bicycle pp, Martha Stewart ribbon, Papertrey Ink buttons
Some of my Lifetime Moments friends might recognize the tags on these Christmas in July cards. I made them for the annual 30 days of Gifts newsletters in 2008. I loved creating this set but unfortunately they did not match my gift wrapping. I have a character flaw in that all my wrapped gifts must not only match each other but match my tree decor as well (see this post for proof). So they have lanquished in my overflowing Christmas stash until now when I decided they would make easy peasy cards.
I created them using some of my very favorite Christmas collections period, My Mind's Eye Be Merry. I used the accessory sheet to create the scenes, using very little of the actual paper. In order for the tags to shine I kept the card backgrounds simple.
Products: My Mind's Eye pp and accessory sheet, Bazzill cs, PTI cs (card base) and button, May Arts and Ki Memories ribbon, Kaisercraft pearls, Cuttlebug embossing folders
As always, thank you for stopping by. I realize there are a lot of crafty blogs out there and I appreciate that you take the time to visit mine.
Another day, another three more Christmas in July cards. It does seem strange to think of anything Christmas related considering how hot it is here. All cards were created using Colorful Christmas by My Mind's Eye from last year. No stamping on any of these - I used the chipboard pieces from the collection as my centerpiece. You will notice I even broke out some fibers to give my snowmen a little scarf.
Products: My Mind's Eye pp and chipboard; Papertrey Ink cs, twill, felt, border die and button; My Favorite Things Die-namics; Kaisercraft and Basic Grey pearls, Bazzill embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities
I hope you are having a great week! Thanks for stopping by.
Today's Christmas in July projects feature some Autumn Leaves holiday pattern. I love this paper as much now as I did when I bought it four l-o-n-g years ago. I combined it with Taylored Expressions Wings of Joy stamp set which I bought this past Christmas but had never used. I'm not sure why because it really is a dynamic set of stamps.All images were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Papertrey Ink cardstock and then colored with Copic Markers.
Card #2 is for this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge which is simply to create a Christmas card in July. Easy enough as that is what I've been doing all month!
Products: Taylored Expressions stamps, Papertrey Ink cs, buttons, twill and border die, My Favorite Things Die-namics, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Today's Christmas in July project is for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge. I loved the Making Memories Mistletoe collection from last year but didn't manage to use one piece of it. So today I combined it along with another My Favorite Things stamp that had not been inked up yet. I love a nice chunky snowman. I would hug one too if we would get snow more often!
I have to say that I really struggled with inking this stamp - I seemed to get ink where I didn't want it everytime even when tapping the ink pad very lightly onto the image. And then of course it wound up on my paper. It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, have I forgotten how to stamp? Note to self, ink up a new stamp right away so if there is something wrong with it you can return or exchange it!
Products: My Favorite Things stamp, Making Memories pp, spiral journaling sheet and chipboard, May Arts ribbon, Kaisercraft pearls, PTI cardstock (card base), Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Another Christmas in July project using this whimsical Sweet November Holly Starshine Stamp image. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut it out. I attached the fairy to the matted Spelllbinder piece placing adhesive only onto the center so it would appear she is flying. I am submitting this card for this week's Christmas Card Challenges which is to include stitching.
(Click to enlarge image)
Products: C.C. Designs Sweet November stamp, Heidi Grace pp and sticker, Prima pearl center, PTI cs and twill, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
Today's Christmas in July project features some Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Magic paper from 2008. I combined it with one of my favorite MFT Pure Innocence stamps "Presents for You". I like to think about what is in those package; things like homemade cookies, a knitted cap, a Christmas ornament. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth Cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers and then cut the image out. I added some dimension by using Kaisercraft tiny pearls for the buttons on the coat and Polar White Flower Soft to the hat and more at her feet to represent snow.
Products: My Favorite Things stamp, Little Yellow Bicycle pp, Prima flowers, Kaisercraft and Basic Grey pearls, PTI twill and button, Flower Soft, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Copic Markers
Today I am taking a break from my Christmas in July theme to feature a card for a fellow papercrafter who has suffered a serious injury. I don't know Michelle but wanted to participate in the card drive for her sponsored by A Spoon Full of Sugar blog. Michelle's story is here. Michelle loves and raises donkeys and two of the artists from Whimsy Stamps provided a cute digital donkey image.
I printed the image onto Papertrey Ink cardstock with my Epson Artisan printer and then colored with Copic markers. I followed this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge for my basic design of the card. Normally I don't combine challenges but made an exception this week. (Not combining challenges is my own idea by the way, not the rule of most of the challenge blogs).
Today's card is yet another vintage style Christmas (in July) card. It also fits this week's Sketch Saturday challenge. This is my first time to participate but I am sure it won't be my last. I had to flip the sketch around due to the design of the background paper. The patterned paper is from one of my favorite manufacturers, Webster's Pages. Sometimes it is so pretty that I have a difficult time cutting into it so it has been lanquishing in my stash for a while now. I also used the same Sugar Nellie stamp I used for this card on Tuesday.
Products: Sugar Nellie stamp, Webster's Pages pp and fabric label, American Crafts brad, Martha Stewart Snowflake punch, Kaisercraft pearls, MemrieMare scrunched ribbon, Copic Markers
Or are they snow women? Due to the pigtails, I'll say girls.If you are regular to my blog you know that I not only wanted to get started on my Christmas cards in July but I also wanted to work on the box of Christmas products I've been hoarding. This time I went w-a-y back as the copyright on the two Provo Craft shaker pieces read 2003! I have apparently been saving these for the perfect project that never actually materialized. Please tell me that I am not the only one who has stuff this old in their craft rooms?!
I created Snow Girl 1 following the sketch provided for this week's Christmas Card Challenge blog. This is my first time to participate. I also used some oldie but goodie paper, Scenic Route's Brighton which was released in 2005. I have always loved this paper and am happy to have liberated it from its paper prison.
Products: Provo Craft Shaker, Scenic Route pp, PTI cs and twill, May Arts ribbon, Kaisercraft pearls
Snow Girl 2 was created with some Heidi Grace paper from 2008 which works for both Christmas and winter. I loved this collection and actually bought a lot of it when it first came out and again when Jackie clearanced it out when she shut down Lifetime Moments. I had really considered using it for all my cards this year until I decided that I really wanted to pare down the whole stash instead.
Products: Provo Craft Shaker, Heidi Grace paper, PTI cs and buttons, May Arts ribbon, Kaisercraft pearl, Martha Stewart and Stampin' Up punches
I hope you are staying cool during this awful heat wave. Maybe the sight of my snow girls will make you feel cooler! As always, thanks for stopping by.
Today's card is for my Christmas in July theme and also fits this week's Sugar Bowl Challenge. I've had this cute Sugar Nellie stamp "Snowflake" for a while and had never managed to ink it up. I thought the old fashioned feel of the image went perfectly with the vintage colors of the Pink Paislee Mistletoe and Co collection from last year.
I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth Cardstock (cream) and then colored it with Copic Markers. I changed up the sketch provided for the challenge a bit to accommodate the circular paper I wanted to use but I think it's close enough to the original to recognize.
Products: Sugar Nellie stamp, Pink Paislee pp, May Arts pins, Basic Grey pearls, PTI ribbon and cs (card base), Copic Markers
