Christmas in July - July 23, 2015

 I added some fun embellishments to this card.  I didn't add too much (as per usual) because I wanted to keep the card clean, but the make-your-own brad and Washi tape added to the card nicely.

 On both the card front and inside, I used some 'over' stamping to give the trees some more interest.
I really like the verse that fits so perfectly over the tree.

Christmas in July - July 17, 2014

 I've been working hard on the Christmas cards for this challenge even though I haven't written that much about each card.  Some have been simple and straight forward, but not this one!

This really wasn't that difficult to make, it just uses a lot of different techniques and materials.

This is an Easel card, embossed with silver embossing powder over a Heartfelt Creations stamp I like to use... it's pretty and frilly.
I then die cut the center piece, and stamped and embossed a tree in green ink, and then the silver embossing powder on the top piece.
I used another die to cut the stopper piece from the bottom front edge to give it dimension as well.
I had a stamped Merry Christmas piece to place on the front, but placed it in the back instead.  I will add another embossed Merry Christmas stamp at the base in the front.

I have a battery powered candle behind the vellum.  This card will either be hand delivered, or sent in a box because of it.

Christmas Cards 2014 - June

As always, I made 6 cards, completed the inside as you'll see below, stamped the envelopes - have them signed and sealed - just waiting for right after Thanksgiving!

We've even set up our printer (again) that allows me to print address labels in color - so they won't be so boring any longer! :)

This card took just a little bit of time, even though there are lots of steps.

I stamped the background with a music stamp I had, added a tree in Garden Green,  the Joy stamp, and a seam binding bow accented with a brass brad.

The inside is the verse that belongs with the Joy stamp on the outside of the card stamped in Crumb Cake, and accented with a Merry Christmas over the top.

Christmas in July 12

I hope you're enjoying my celebration of Christmas in July.  I have a little confession to make - I usually make more than one card at a time.  For this project, I am making just one of each card, and it's so much more time consuming!  I can't go and cut between 6 and 10 of a piece and get my assembly line going!  This cutting out one card takes quite a bit of time! :)
Is that a complaint?  No, actually it's more of an observation - and I thought I'd share.  :)

Here's my card for July 12th.
This is one of the stamp sets that was NOT retired last year!  It's still in the current Christmas catalog... well, it's still available for ordering, and you can either find it online or through a demonstrator. :)

This card is actually a 4 layer card - white base with the tree and outline stamped,  a layer of vellum with the red stamped image, and then the red DSP from Festival of Prints with a die cut window.  The 4th layer?  Thought I'd forgotten?  It's the card base! :)

I also added a glitter star and some red ribbon as an accent.

Please enjoy!

2013 Christmas Card Challenge January, 2013

 Happy New Year!  Happy 2013!  I hope this year turns out so much better than 2012 - even if it was a good year, we always hope for better.

We begin with a few rule changes (not too many) for the 2013 Christmas Card Challenge, only to make it a better experience when you're ready to send out your cards.

Click HERE to view the complete list of rules with the changes highlighted in red.

In short, you are making 6 (or more) Christmas cards based on the monthly theme, can use ANY company's products, and submit them here by the 20th at midnight, CST in the Linky at the bottom of the page.

The first challenge for January 2013 is:  Christmas Trees! 

 I just love them - collect them, would have mine up every day of the year if I could, but that's just not practical.  Plus, I'll wager that lots of people still have their Christmas trees up.


I CASE'd these from another Stampin' Up Demonstrator, and though the pictures look alright, they are stunning in person!

 Here are my 6 cards.

Close up - The trees are stamped and embossed with white embossing powder, I used a Versamark pen to add the snowflakes falling.  A 2-way Zig pen helped the Dazzling Diamonds to make the trees look like they are covered in snow.  Christmas trees AND snow.  Sounds like a win-win to me!

Here is one of the new rule additions.  Finish the inside of the card, stamped, and lined if necessary.

Another of the new rule additions; stamp the envelopes with the theme as well!

I put the cards and envelopes all together, and they are ready to go in November right after Thanksgiving!  First 6 cards done.  YAY!

I hope you will join me!

Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

The Stampin' Up Annual Ultimate Stamp Camp!

Every year, our Stampin' Up Club Demo Kathy has an Ultimate Stamp Camp.  Due to the fires in Mannford, OK this past summer, the camp was unavailable and she had to scramble a bit to find a different location.

We landed in a GREAT location that worked out very well (or at least I thought it did)...  and though I'm only showing the 2 projects I made, she had almost 8 projects for the ladies to work on over the two-day event.

I had a big Christmas Card order (as you saw from a previous post) that needed to be completed, so I made the following 2 projects, and then used the time and generous work space to really get some work done.... AND I could go home and sleep in my own bed.  Win Win!!

These are stone coasters!  Aren't they FANTASTIC!  We used Staz-On ink to make them, baked 'em in the oven to set the ink, and added felt feet to the bottoms.  

This purple set with the G is for my sister.  I had Mom and Dad take it with them when they left to go back home after their short visit.  I am making more for Christmas gifts, but wanted her to have these right away. 

 This is my set... they are already in use!  Since we have so much wood furniture, I am considering making another set in browns.  We'll see. :)

 Here you can see the packaging and storage for the stone coasters. 

I've already got 4 more sets already made for Christmas gifts... just need to complete the boxes, and wrap them in the tulle.  

 This framed piece was in our most recent Stampin' Up Holiday Mini catalog.  It's actually much easier to make than you can imagine.  One trick I learned (the hard way) is to make sure ALL the paint is dry before you start putting the piece together.

This piece will also go to my sister for Christmas.  I hope she likes it!!

 Here's a close-up of the center - that champagne paper is "sparklier" in person than it looks in the photos...  SO SO pretty!  I also used a thicker piece of tulle for the bow at the top of the tree.

Your comments are treasured!