2020 CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hi Crafters!  It’s time for Christmas in July 2020!  Due to COVID-19, we will be limiting each day to 4 crafters with masks required.

WHEN:  The door opens on Thursday July 16 10AM – 5 PM, Friday July 17 10AM – 5PM, Saturday July 18 9AM – 4PM, Monday July 20 10AM – 5PM.  Come anytime during the listed hours on your pre-scheduled day.  I simply ask you be ready to leave at the ending time. 

WHERE: 533 Emerson Circle, Bolingbrook

WHY:  It’s time to start revving up your holiday creativity

HOW:  We will use social distancing, wear masks, wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently.  Each crafter will be given a micro crate for his/her tools.  No one will touch his/her tools except the crafter.  For sanitation reasons, I will run the Big Shot for each person.  Stamps, inks, Washi Tape, and blender pens will be wiped down between uses if I don’t have multiples.  Please bring your own beverage and snack.  There will be Christmas cookies (store bought) which I will be happy to serve with tongs.   Please be respectful of everyone.  Even though we will be in Phase 4, I remain extremely concerned about the Coronavirus.  I want this to be a fun, creative and safe time for all.

HOW MUCH:  Cards will be $2.50 each.  All supplies will be provided except Wink of Stella.  You can bring your own or add the Wink of Stella at home.  If you wish, you may purchase a new Wink of Stella for $6.95.  This will be yours to take home.  Hubby Norb wanted to add a 25% COVID-19 charge but I ignored him!  As the date nears, I may ask you to bring a few of your personal tools such as snips, bone folder, etc.  I will let you know.

NOW FOR THE FUN PART:  2020 Christmas in July

WASHI CHRISTMAS TREE comes to us from daughter Debbie.  She developed this card last year and I was very impressed.  I did choose to add a bit ribbon for texture and dimension.  There is lots of Washi Tape to choose from – reds, greens, golds, silvers.  This is a very simple but elegant card.  The tree is die cut with Woods Dies.  Softly Fallen is embossed on the die-cut top layer.  A tree form is used to adhere the Wash Tape to; the taped form is adhered inside the top layer.  Merry Christmas is pre-cut with the Scan’n Cut and can be adhered with half mini dimensionals or rolled glue dots.

The message layer is embellished with Washi Tape of your choice and several stars that match the star of your Washi Christmas Tree. 

The most difficult part of this card is determining what Washi Tape you want to use and deciding what order to adhere it.

BEARING GIFTS is from my retired Christmas stamp library.  The stamped image was enlarged and is pre-cut with the Scan’n Cut.  A black shadow is also pre-cut to frame the image.  Stampin’ Blends are used to color the image.  The card and coordinating envelope are 4 1/4 X 6 1/4, larger than the standard A2 size.  There are stars printed on the card, but I feel a few extra stars are needed.  The stamped sentiment is die-cut and embellished with a small twine bow.

The message layer consists of Cherry Cobbler cs layered with Whisper White.  I chose to fussy cut and adhere a bear and present.  This option is available to you.

CHRISTMAS BOUQUET is from the Wishing You Well stamp set which I was sad to see retire.  Although hard to see, this elegant card is embellished with silver glimmer paper to the right of the Springtime Foils strip, and also frames the art work.  A small silver metallic-edged bow ties the bouquet together.  There are several horizontal sentiments and dies that work well with this card.

The message layer is embellished with a simple image from Peace this Christmas stamped in Night of Navy to coordinate with the card front.

HOLIDAY BIRDS is the last card choice for 2020 Christmas in July.  This happy card features plaid DSP layered on Shaded Spruce, Cherry Cobbler or Night of Navy cs.  There are many plaids to choose from. The Whisper White layer is embossed in Woodland.  The long retired Bird Builder Punch is used to punch out the birds, wings and branches in your color choice.  Wings and branches can be punched in the plaid and/or gold glimmer card stocks; some will be pre-punched or you can punch your own.  A simple sentiment from Itty Bitty Christmas is stamped in matching ink, die cut and shadowed in gold glimmer cs.    A twine bow in your color choice embellishes the top layer. 

The message layer is embellished with an additional bird.  An additional wing can be added to each bird adhered behind the bird.  I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that when daughter Debbie and I did the samples.  I will have an additional sample showing the double wings for 2020 Christmas in July. 

NOW I NEED YOUR HELP!  As this gathering is limited to 4 crafters per day for safety concerns, I need to know what day you would like to come.  If the day you choose is full, I will ask you to choose an alternate date.  Choosing your day is my #1 concern.  Then I need to know what cards you choose to create so I can plan a card rotation order.  And to have your kits ready to go on your scheduled day, I beg for as much time as possible.  

Healthy Blessings,

Rosemary – (h)630.759.3089 – (c)630.965-1965 – paperrose01@aol.com