Final – CHRISTMAS in JULY

Is it ever too early to start making Christmas cards?  We live in a computerized society and the lack of personal interaction is ever increasing!  A handmade Christmas card that comes from your heart is such a personal gift.  Won’t you join Debbie and me on July 14, 15, and 16 FROM 9am – 5pm as we celebrate CHRISTMAS in JULY!

We are offering 8 Christmas cards.  You can choose as many as you wish for $3.50 each.  Our only request is that you PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW which cards you wish to do.  Each card requires our prep and although we have prepared a certain number of each card, we have no idea which card will be the most and least popular.  So – I have a contest for you!  Each person who chooses the MOST and LEAST popular cards will receive a prize!  But you must tell us by July 13th and include the MOST popular and LEAST popular cards.

WISEMEN

Our Wise Men card comes from an older stamp entitled Every Blessing.  There is an embossed copper star in the upper left corner.  The stamping is done with StazOn to give the solid black coloring.  My favorite New Horizons DSP is layered on Fresh Freesia and Evening Evergreen.  You can feel the awe of the Wisemen as they gaze into the color-filled sky.

The message layer for WISEMEN is embellished with a strip of matching DSP and another copper embossed star.  We experimented with gold, silver and copper embossing powders and felt copper was the best choice.

CHRISTMAS GNOMES

Isn’t this a HAPPY card?  These cute little gnomes come to us from Divinity Designs.  They are adorned with rhinestones and pompoms.  The middle gnome rests on a wobble and loves to move around.  The retired So Much Happy die is one of my favorites and I just can’t bring myself to sell it.  Our gnomes are layered on embossed Shaded Spruce and Real red with a white die-cut Christmas.

The message layer for Christmas Gnomes features none other than Santa Gnome with his bag full of presents.  A pom pom festoons his Santa hat.  4 gnomes, a poinsettia blossom, a present, and a candy cane come with this card and you can arrange them however you wish. 

PEACE

This is my Christmas peace on earth card.  The lack of caring and kindness and the increased racism and selfishness in America is very upsetting to me.  I used the Begin with a Dream Stamp Set and have used many different colors and shades to show everyone is different but the same.  The art work is layered on Shaded Spruce and the new Starry Sky. A bit of metallic green holly and red berries adds a Christmas touch.

I added a “Peace, Joy and Love” message in Shaded Spruce to the message layer.  A bit of holly embellishes the layer.

JOLLY OLD ST. NICK

Jolly Old St. Nick is a die from the past.  As Stampin’ Up does not put out the Holiday Catalogue until mid summer, Debbi and I look to our Christmas archive for ideas.  Old St. Nick is die cut and adhered on white card stock with white pom poms trimming his Santa hat.  The sentiment MERRY CHRISTMAS is stamped in Real Red at the bottom of the card and a matching red bow and ribbon enhance the card.

The retired Sparkle of the Season Stamp Set features a cute Santa line stamp that is perfect for the message layer of the Jolly Old St. Nick card.  This is certain to delight both young and old!

CELEBRATE the SEASON

I think the Grassy Grove Bundle is an extremely artistic set and can lead to much creativity.  For Celebrate the Season, a patch of flowers are stamped onto New Horizons DSP which is layered with an embossed die-cut forest setting in Moonlight Mist.  Two copper deer are in the forest and a copper star is adhered in the upper left corner.  The sentiment is embossed in copper on matching DSP.  Many different sentiments are available that can be used for this card

The message layer is embellished with a strip of matching DSP and a copper baby deer. 

DELIVERING CHEER – GIFTS

Debbie and I affectionately refer to the Delivering Cheer cards as The Girls! 

Here, we see our Christmas gal delivering cheer with Christmas gifts.  Her skirt is stamped on DSP and cut with snips.  Her upper and lower body are stamped and cut with our friendly Scan’N’Cut.  The artwork is layered on snowflake DSP with several rhinestones sparkling amid the snowflakes.  A larger snowflake can be seen peeking from the left and right of the artwork panel.

The message layer for the Christmas Gifts card is embellished with a strip of matching DSP.  You can add additional elements as desired. 

DELIVERING CHEER – TREES

This card is our “other girl” Delivering Cheer with a small Christmas tree embellished with red rhinestones.  The girl, her skirt and legwarmers and the tree are pre-cut with our friendly Scan’N’Cut.  The sleigh comes to us from Divinity Designs and is a Hero Arts product.  Our sled is die cut in Early Espresso and Crumb Cake and sponged with Early Espresso.  It’s evident our gal is delivering cheer on her sleigh along with her pet rabbit. 

Like Delivering Cheer – the message layer is festooned with a strip of DSP matching the front panel.  The rest is up to you!

PENGUIN PLACE

Penguin Place was a card slated for Christmas 2021 but there was an issue with Stamping Up receiving the penguin punch.  Debbie designed this card so that the middle penguin moves head over heels.  The spinning mechanism that allows it to roll is 2 pennies and several dimensionals.  How fun is that?  The opening is die cut and the pieces are cut either with dies or with the Scan’N Cut.

The more you rock the card back and forth, the easier the penguin will roll.  Here is a video of the penguin moving, Penguin in action.

The message layer features a penguin wearing a jaunty bow tie.  You can add an additional tree or 2 if desired.  Did you see the tiny sequins on the trees. 

Well, what do you think?  We hope you like at least one of our creations.  Don’t forget to let us know which card you think will be the most favorite and the lease favorite.  Please please please let us know as soon as possible which cards you wish to do.  I’m hoping I won’t have to post a cut-off date.  To review:  Dates – July 14, 15, 16.  Times – 9am – 5pm.  Cost – $3.50 per card.  We will have drinks; please feel free to bring a snack/lunch.  I am aware several of you will be out of town.  Please make your choices now and we will set up a make-up session in August.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Blessings, Rosemary – (H)630.759.3089 – (C)630.965.1965 – paperrose01@aol.com