Merry Christmas (#christmasinjuly2017)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

I cut a stitched oval from white card stock, then used a snow themed embossing folder on it. I then stamped the holly flourishes and leaves in new leaf and the banner and berries in vermillon ink, all images from the Avery Elle Fa La La stamp set. All stamped images were cut out using the matching Fa La La dies and then arranged around and over the embossed oval.

Products: Avery Elle stamps and dies, PTI cs, Darice embossing folder, Ranger and PTI ink

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

An InLinkz Link-up

Noel (#christmasinjuly2017 and Faith Friday)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

It's "Faith Friday" on my blog so today's card is faith based. Even though all my Christmas cards are not faith based on the front, they all hold a message of faith on the inside.

I stamped the nativity silhouette mage from the Verve Beyond Measure set onto an oval cut with a die from My Favorite Things Double Stitched Oval set using Versamark and then heat embossed it with silver embossing powder. I also stamped the sentiment directly to the dark indigo card base using Versamark ink and heat embossed with the same silver powder. I used the Verve Starry Die to emboss stars at the top of the card front, then attached the image piece with foam tape. The border at the bottom was cut with a die from the Verve Scalloped Trim Trio set layered a strip of silver metallic card stoci. I cut a star from the same card stock using a die from the Simon Says Holy Couple and Barn set.

Products: Verve stamps and dies, PTI and Recollections cs, Stampendous embossing powder, Versamark ink

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and  promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

An InLinkz Link-up

Ellen Hutson July Pin-Sights Challenge - Guest Designer

I was super excited to receive an invitation to guest design for the Ellen Hutson July Pinsights Challenge! The Pin-Sights challenge is a monthly inspirational challenge based on a Pinterest Inspired photo that is located on the CLASSroom blog.

And this is the fun and festive inspiration! So many ideas went through my head on this but in the end I went with my normal clean and graphic style.

As you can see I was inspired by the festive colors and the dots. I started out by cutting a rectangular panel using a die from the My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Rectangle Die-namics. Then using the Misti Stamping Tool, I stamped one row of dots at a time using a stamp from the Essentials by Ellen Wonky Backdrops, masking rows with washi tape as I went along. I stamped the rows using Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink, Hero Arts Soft Pool ink, Hero Arts Fresh Peach ink and Memento Dandelon ink. I shifted the stamp down ever so slightly and then stamped again with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Ranger Clear Embossing Powder. I cut the greeting out three times using the Essentials by Ellen Brushstroke Hello Die then layered them together for added dimension. I almost stopped there but then I added a flower cut with a die from the Essentials by Ellen Wild Garden Dies and anchored with a Doodlebug Lily White Glitter Dot.

Products: Essentials by Ellen stamps and dies, Bazzill and PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dot, My Favorite Things die, Hero Arts and Memento ink

Now it's your turn! To participate you must use Essentials by Ellen products and be inspired by the challenge graphic above.  A random challenge participant will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store. Link your projects here. Have fun and good luck!

The Cat's Pajamas July Sneak Peeks

Welcome to the The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek Week! We have some fabulous new stamps and dies which will be released on July 25 in the TCP store. Each member of the design team will be taking turns sharing creations and today is my day. Be sure to stop by The Cat's Pajamas blog everyday to see who is on the schedule.

On a top folded card base I created a striped background by stamping an image from the Watercolor Basics set across the front five times using daffodil delight ink. Using the Misti, I stamped the two floral images from the new Big Blooms set in black ink and then again in Versamark. After clear embossing the flowers, I stamped the two stems using images from the Sketchy Flowers set and a sentiment from the Simply Stacked Sentiments set.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps, PTI cs, Versamark, Stampin Up and Simon Says ink

This card features the new What's Up Gnomies set and as you can see, I kept it very simple. I first stamped the gnome and then masked him in order to stamp the mushroom and fence images. After coloring with Copics, I cut the panel with a stitched die and attached to a kraft card base.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps, Neenah and Bazzill cs, Memento ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Mushrooms-W00, E81, R20, R22, R24, R27; Gnome-E000, E00, E11, C00, C1, C3; BG0000, BG000, BG01, YR30, YR31, E21, E23, E25; Fence-E31, E33, E35; Sky-B0000, B000, Grass-G40, G43

For my third card I used another image from the new Big Blooms set. After inking up the flower with berry burst ink,  I lightly misted with water and then stamped onto a water color card stock background and did the same with the stem and leaves images using lemon lime twist ink. I then added more water to the stamped image. After the panel was completely dry, I stamped the flower centers randomly using Versamark ink, smooshing the stamp down hard to enlarge, then white heat embossed them. The background was water colored with pool party ink. I then cut out the banner from white card stock using one of the dies from the new Ribbon Banners CutUps and stamped the sentiment from the also new Banner Day set using berry burst ink. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI, Stampin' Up and Master's Touch Water Color cs, Stampin' Up and Versamark ink

For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store, comment on each of the designer's blogs on a daily basis including mine today. Winners will be announced on The Cat's Pajamas Blog and Facebook page each day. The so very creative Deborah will be your stop tomorrow but you can always check out the TCP blog to see who is scheduled each day.

Here are all the new products:

Merry Christmas (#christmasinjuly2017)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

I'm back with another Christmas card that I am submitting for both the Paper Smooches July Anything Goes challenge and August Guest Designer search.

After stamping five of the Christmas icons from the Paper Smooches Merry Motifs set, I cut out withe the matching Motif Icon dies and colored all with Copic Markers. I used a Sakura Clear Gelly Roll pen on the tree and ornament pieces. I cut the background panel from watercolor card stock using a die from the Simon Says Stitched Rectangles set. To prepare the background I messily water colored with tumbled glass distress ink and stamped the sentiment with pure poppy ink. I grouped the icons together attaching with a foam tape.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and dies, PTI and Master's Touch watercolor cs, PTI and Ranger Distress ink, Copic markers
Copics: G40, G43, G46, YR30, YR31, YR20, RV10, RV11, RV13, R20, R22, R24, R27

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

An InLinkz Link-up

Holiday Hugs (#christmasinjuly2017)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

I stamped the snowman from the My Favorite Things Holiday Hugs set onto a piece of Neenah card stock which was cut with a die from the My Favorite Things Double Stitched Oval die. I then stamped the ornaments on each branch arm from the My Favorite Things Ornament Banner Builder retired set using pure poppy and green parakeet ink. The background panel was cut from white card stock with the Reverse Confetti Big Stripes Cover Panel die and attached to a sno cone card base. The sentiment was stamped in pure poppy and I added a couple of enamel hearts.

Products: My Favorite Things stamps and die, PTI and MFT cs, Doodlebug enamel hearts, Reverse Confetti die, PTI and MFT ink, Copic markers
Copics: Snowman-W00, E81, YR01, YR16; Clothing-C00, C1, C3, C5, YG21,YG23, YG25; Snow-W00, E81; Sky-BG70, BG0000, BG000

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

Express Mail from the North Pole (#christmasinjuly2017)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

Today's card primarily features images from the Reverse Confetti North Pole Wishes retired set. I stamped the sentiment using both pure poppy and blueberry sky ink directly onto the card front. I used the The Cat's Pajamas Square Stamp to cut the postage style square from green parkakeet card stock. And whew!, it fit over the sentiment and was attached using foam tape. After stamping the envelop and holly from the North Pole Wishes I cut out with the matching dies.  I colored with Copic makers and also attached with foam tape. I embossed the edges with a Lil Inker Designs Side-Stitched Rectangle die and then stamped a couple of more small images from The Cat's Pajamas J*lly H*liday set. A few enamel dots finished it up.

Products: Reverse Confetti stamps and dies, The Cat's Pajamas stamps and die, PTI cs, Lil Inker Designs die, MFT and PTI ink, Copic Markers
Copics: C00, C1, YG21, YG13, YG23

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

An InLinkz Link-up