Christmas in July - July 31, 2015

MADE it finally!  July 31st.  Another month of Christmas cards done.. 

I do so love this technique.  I call it Triple-Double stamping.  It's a double layered stamp, on a triple layered card.
Please enjoy... it's one of my very favorites.

Christmas in July - July 30, 2015

There is one NEW product on this card!  I used the Washi Tape Label Punch for the sentiment.  

It's true that in my Christmas in July stamping of 31 cards in 31 days I dig into my Christmas stamp stash - which by this time you must know is quite extensive... but I used one new punch on this card.

The embossed background is the poinsettia background, and I also used another favorite stamp set "Watercolor Winter".  Love that stamp set!

Christmas in July - July 26, 2014

 Here again I'm using the Watercolor Winter stamp set.

The only thing I can think of saying about this card is that I'm going to add a layer of black between the stamped image, and the red/green striped DSP.  I looks great in person, but having that layer of black, even on a Christmas card helps the image show better.

Christmas in July - July 25, 2014

There's a stamp technique 'out there' called Triple-Time Stamping.  I put a tutorial here with measurements of the layers.  I'll give you the link a bit later in this post.

I call this Triple-Double stamping.  It's the Triple-Time Stamping technique along with 2 step stamping which is a two layered stamp to make a single image.

I used the Watercolor Winter stamp set, and the Merry Christmas from my very favorite Bells and Boughs set.

The Triple-Time stamping takes a little courage, as it doesn't look like much when you're in the middle of it, but it always comes together beautifully!  Remember, you're stamping on layers, so some of the areas will not stamp along the edges.... BUT that area is covered with the mats.  

Click HERE for the post including all the measurements and instructions you'll need to make these amazing cards.

2013 Christmas Cards - October

Late September and early October were really hectic around here!  Lots of in-laws drama (which I don't partake of), and things going on at work.... it was enough to even get to work much less craft.

After our Stamp Camp weekend I was more energized and had some projects to get moving on.  It was the perfect time to get caught up on my Christmas Cards!

As always, I made 6 for the monthly goal - with one of my favorite stamp sets, Watercolor Winter.  I kept everything red with just the Old Olive green on the holly for an addition of color.

 Here you can see the inside sentiment and the envelope.  Remember, "No naked envelopes!"

This Triple-Double stamp technique is one of my go-to favorites....  Triple Time Stamping with a Two step stamping set.  Quick, easy, and really beautiful!

Three colors in the entire set of cards.  Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Old Olive.

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 29

Featured today is one of my very favorite card techniques!  The tricky part is that when you're in the midst of making it, it looks like it is going to be a total disaster!  Yes, really - then when  you get all the layers together, and the mats placed....  it looks GREAT!  Seems you just have to work through the scary moments when you think it isn't going to work.

Click HERE for the measurements (and a bit of a how-to) on making this Triple-Time Stamping card.

This card features the Watercolor Winter stamp set which is also a two-step stamping set (stamp the base color, then use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the top color).  I guess this card is a Triple-Double!  :)

I used lots of colors on this card - Gumball green as the card base and ivy leaves, Wild Wasabi for the evergreen needles.  Baked Brown Sugar is the acorn base layer color.  I used Cherry Cobbler ink for the poinsettia and holly berries - Bravo Burgundy (ret.) for the darker layer on the poinsettia.  Early Espresso for the evergreen twig, and top layers on the acorn, and the holly & ivy.

Whew!  That really sounds like a LOT more work than it was. 

I hope you enjoy today's card.  Only 2 more days of Christmas in July to go.

Christmas in July 26

 This card comes from one of my very favorite stamp set - Watercolor Winter.  It's a two-step stamping technique card.

When there's a two-step stamp set I usually purchase it in wood rather than clear stamps.  This allows me to make a permanent Stamp-a-ma-jig template with Staz-On ink and a transparent sheet.  It makes the stamping go so much faster, and it's wonderfully consistent.

With this holly/ivy stamp I dug out the markers, colored the base stamp with Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green.  Early Espresso then is stamped over the leaves and holly for definition.  There's just a touch of red stickles to add a bit of sparkle.

Here I added a crumb cake piece cut with an edgelit, and some velvet ribbon.

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 15

As I look at this card, it seems pretty simple and plain - except I know how much work I put into this card! :)

I used Crumb Cake cardstock along with the Christmas red and green as a neutral mat.  Since the main image is poinsettias, I also used the embossing folder with the poinsettias called "Pretty Petals" to give the red some depth.

I'm enjoying my 'old' corner punch.  It gives a nice edge so not everything is a square corner.

The flowers are Stampin' Up from the last holiday catalog, and the sentiment is from CTMH.  I like the fonts they use.

This was also a good opportunity for me to finish up the yellow rhinestones I'd colored for an earlier card!



We are just about half way through with the Christmas in July project!  31 days..... Hmmmmm going to make it or not?  We'll have to see!

Christmas in July 14 Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle!

How many, you ask?  85 rhinestones!  Yes, 85.  Before I placed the ornament, I turned it upside down, and made a pen mark on the back of each stone as I counted.  85 rhinestones, in 4 different sizes.

I saw a version of this card, and all I could say was, "Wow!!"

I made many changes from the original...  I used the Hello, Doily stamp and embossed it in white on the vellum, Basic Gray ink to stamp the holly and ivy on the backing cardstock.  Cherry Cobbler ribbon, and my Stampin' Up markers.  The ornament was cut in vellum, and covered with rhinestones of different sizes to fill in all the spaces starting from the center.

The markers stayed wet on the vellum for the holly and ivy so I sprinkled on some clear embossing powder, heat set them, and used a lighter green on the back of the ivy to help with color depth.

I included two pictures of this card so you could see the "bling"  (I really don't like that word.) from both sides.  It's really very sparkly in the light! 


We are almost to the middle of July!  I hope you're enjoying my Christmas in July celebration!

Christmas in July 3

This card took some work, and I'll admit it....   2 days?  2 1/2 days?  I'm pretty happy with the result, but then I can always find something to make it better the next time.

Why so long?  Well - masks don't take that long to make, and stamping the flowers with the mask wasn't that difficult either.  The water-coloring is what took time.  I used my Stampin' Up watercolors, and then got out my Twinkling H20's to add the shimmer effect on top.

I then stamped 6 images of the poinsettia, water-colored those and started using a technique called paper tole.  The bottom image is whole, but the rest are cut apart and layered to give dimension with spacers in between the layers.

I took a sheet of the rhinestones and my yellow Sharpie and added them to the flower centers.

I hope you've enjoyed my Christmas in July 3 card!

Christmas in July 2

 

 I saw a card similar to this and thought it looked so elegant!  White on white, with just some red ribbon, and a water-colored image.  Crystal effects really helped make the flower shine, and 3 colored rhinestones in the center.

I also used some framelits to make the edged border, and embossed both white panels.  Another pretty bow with the bow maker from Dad! :) 

 

 

I hope you enjoy this version of my July 2nd Christmas in July card!

2013 Christmas Card Challenge - June 2013!

Summer is almost upon us - Spring storms all around with rain, lightning, thunder, and tornadoes.  Yes, we're right smack-dab in the middle of Tornado Alley.  Shelter-in-Place plan, work plan, out and about plan....  trying to be prepared, but always with a tinge of worry.    Oh well.  Spring still is my favorite season.  With all the rain we've had, things are beautiful, green, flowers blooming...  so much better than the drought! :)

SO.   After all that, the Christmas Card Challenge for June!


Click HERE for the complete list of rules and regs. (They're easy, I promise!) in order to compete in the challenge.  The best part of competing in my challenges?  Your Christmas cards will be all completed, hand-made (not rushed) and ready to send out right after Thanksgiving.  What a great way to give hand-made cards and not feel that extra pressure at the holiday!


The theme for June's challenge is:    Try a New Technique


This has to be something you've never done before - paper tole, tri-fold cards, shaving cream technique, alcohol ink backgrounds,  Oh! there are hundreds!  "Your imagination is your limitation."   Here's your chance to try something you've never done before.

Mine?  I've never given the Black Magic Technique a try and really wanted to. You Tube is a wonderful resource as is Splitcoast Stampers.  I personally like the videos so I can actually see what they're doing.  Helps me remember better. :)

Here you can see 3 of the 7 cards I made this month... so you could get a good close-up of some of my favorites.

I used the Stampin' Up 2-step stamping set called Watercolor Winter for these cards.  It might be retired, but it's so awesome for so many different things.  This isn't the first time I've used it.

 1st step to the Black Magic Technique is to stamp the image on black cardstock in white craft ink.  Use the heat gun to dry the craft ink.

 2nd step to the Black Magic Technique:  (This one takes the longest.)  Use watercolor pencils and color in the images over the white craft ink.  I used different shading with the reds.  They show better in person, as always.

 Since this is a 2-step stamping set, I then took the top image on each card, stamped in white craft ink again, and left it white for some extra definition.  The Merry Christmas is stamped with Versamark ink, covered with white embossing powder, and heat embossed with the same 'gun'.

Here you can see all 7 of the black magic cards (I made the Holly and Berries as a bonus card to see what it would look like.)  with one showing the completed inside, and one of the envelopes.  "No naked envelopes!"

 Basic rules:  Create 6 cards in a new technique you've never tried before.  Finish the insides and stamp the envelopes.  Take a picture or a few - enter them here before midnight the 20th of June to be considered in the voting.

50 Christmas Card Order - COMPLETE!

My dear friend (and boss) of the 2nd job I work at ordered 50 Christmas cards late in July, beginning of September.

I had some samples laying around because I've been making so MANY Christmas cards this year!  I wasn't able to stop just at the Christmas Card Challenges because I'd seen so many really amazing cards, and wanted to play with some new techniques.

We decided on 4 different designs, and one sight-unseen (which I think turned out the best)...  With just a few little details and delivery to complete next week or the week after, my project is finished.  WHEW! :)

 Many of the cards use the Triple-Time Stamping technique, some old stamp sets, and some very new ones.
I think I'll call the next series of two pictures Triple-Doubles - Triple-Time Stamping, with a Two-Step Stamping set.  Whew!

 The picture directly above and below feature the new stamp set for the season: Watercolor Winter.  I REALLY love it!!!  It's a two-step stamping set, so I ordered them in wood mount, and made a permanent Stamp-a-ma-jig template for the outline pieces.  You wouldn't believe how much time this saves!!!

 These 3 cards feature one of my very favorite stamp sets: Bells and Boughs.  I get lots of use out of it!  There are quite a few of these, and they took an incredible amount of time coloring with markers.

These cards feature the Joy-Fold technique, and once all the pieces are cut, go together very quickly.  I used the new ornament stamps and coordinating dies as well as some Be Of Good Cheer Design Series Paper to make these colors work together so well.

 The above card showing the inside view is the last set of 10 cards to complete the order... and are stunning in person.  All the materials here are from last year's Christmas catalog - even the velvet ribbon.  I used embossed vellum to cover the star, and pearls to cover the glue dots.  LOVE the Stampin' Up glitter paper!  It is amazing in person!

Stamp sets used for this card order:  Christmas Collage, Bells and Boughs, Christmas Postcard, The Sounding Joy, Many Merry Messages, Watercolor Winter, and Watercolor Winter.

Your comments are treasured!

More Christmas in July

Just 6 months away from Christmas, and Hobby Lobby already has the Christmas decorations out... haven't seen the Christmas trees yet, but they're going to be up soon!!!  As you know I'm always in the mood for anything Christmas - and even though these two cards were quite time consuming due to the coloring involved, they were worth it!!

These two cards show a technique called Triple Time Stamping.  It's quite easy, and gives such a nice result, as well as a very pretty card!  I'll use this one often. 

Click this LINK to view the directions on how to make a Triple-Time card as well as another non-Holiday example!

Your comments are always appreciated!
 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ *~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.