Christmas in July

It's Christmas in July at My Craft Spot!  I have to admit that I am totally and completely in summer mode so really struggled to get into the Christmas spirit for this week's challenge.  Having spent the past three summers working on my Masters degree, it's an absolute delight to have this time off!!  Anyway, I always enjoy using Jolly Holidays so finally decided on a fun Santa card.  As I was designing it, my husband came into my craft room with a little Joseph.  I'll explain:

I collect nativity sets.  Last Christmas, I got a tiny little set with figurines no more than one inch high.  I was worried about the cats and the little pieces, so I put this particular set on the top of a bookshelf.  Apparently, that didn't seem to bother our mischievous black cat and she somehow managed to climb to the top and knock off the majority of the set.  We found all the pieces except for Joseph.  Quite disappointed, I substituted a shepherd in Joseph's place, praying I wouldn't be zapped by a lightening bolt for making Mary something that she's not!!  Anyway, as I was designing my Santa card, my husband found Joseph!!  I felt it was a sign from above that I needed the focus of my card to be on the real story of Christmas so changed direction altogether. 

I used Inspired Heart for the nativity silhouette, cutting the top layer from a beautiful musical score paper from Recollections "The Ballet".  I used this same paper for the mat.  The gorgeous silver doily was created with the 4" Lacy Doily metal die from My Craft Spot.  I used George and Basic Shapes for the frame and added some silver photo corners cut from an EK Success punch.  

After inking my layers, I assembled the card, popping the silhouette for some added dimension.

I finished things off with a double bow created using some luscious Cranberry crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.  I topped this with a tag cut with the My Craft Spot Tiny Tags metal dies and stamped with a sentiment from the My Craft Spot Mistletoe sentiment stamp set.  Finally, another double bow was added with some silver thread looped through a silver eyelet.  (I'm a bit disappointed with the photos.  The metallic silver cardstock that I used simply refused to cooperate during its photo shoot.  This card really does look quite pretty in real life!)

Please head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the fabulous projects created by my talented design team sisters!!  You have a week to link up your project for a chance to win this week's prize.

I am also going to link up my card at Exploring Cricut and Crafting When We Can as they are also having Christmas in July challenges.  I also discovered that Cut It Up is having a Christmas in July challenge as well - AND they are giving away a My Craft Spot Merry Christmas stamp set as a prize!!  What a great opportunity for everybody to take part in a few challenges this week - and get a head start on Christmas!! 

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Christmas Tags (and a Bag)

This week at My Craft Spot AND Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to create tags.  With lots of gifts to be given, this challenge is the perfect way to create a little something extra to adorn your packages.

Some of the design team members at FCCB were provided with cardstock packages from Core'dinations.  I received two packs: Black Magic and Vintage.  I've heard lots about Core'dinations but have never owned any myself.  I was so excited to use the cardstock that I made two projects to try things out. 

My first project is a gift bag with tag.  The bag itself is prefabricated.  I cut a panel from the Core'dinations Black Magic cardstock pack and distressed it by using sandpaper and scrunching it.  The colour behind the black is yellow.  The wisemen image, cut from Inspired Heart, has a background colour of light purple.  I used sandpaper on the image and then covered it with a thin coat of Crackle Accents (which I just discovered thanks to Kimberly at My Craft Spot).  Using the yellow-backed cardstock, I cut a border, punched it with a Stampin' Up punch, and then distressed it with sandpaper.  I also used some sand seam binding from My Craft Spot and then added some light purple gems (which were a gift from my fellow Canadian blogging friend, Heather from Princess' Paper Projects).

The tag was cut from Inspired Heart.  I wanted the star to stand out a bit more so cut a larger one from Winter Frolic and popped it on the original.  There are actually four layers to the tag - a yellow-based frame, a purple-based frame and then the top star-frame in yellow with another yellow-based star on top.  Each layer was distressed and the star also received a thin coat of Crackle Accents.  I attached the tag to the bag with the same sand seam binding from My Craft Spot that I had used as a border on the bag itself.  I stamped the back of the tag with sentiments from My Craft Spot's Merry Christmas set.

My second tag was created using the Core'dinations Vintage Collection cardstock pack (although the white and black are regular cardstock).

This fun tag is a big one, measuring almost 7 inches high!  (It's to go on a rather large gift for my son.)  The green base is cut from Wrap It Up and I then covered the bottom portion with blue Core'dinations cardstock which I had torn.  I love the look!  Santa was cut from Christmas Cheer.  I embossed his beard with a D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder and added Glossy Accents to his boots and the pompom on his hat.  The little snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart corner punch and I just used the negative pieces.  Each snowflake has a little gem on top.  I used a fun sentiment from My Craft Spot's 'Tis the Season set and then doodled all around the tag.  Santa has a bit of doodling too.  I finished everything off with a fabulous button from my sweet blogging friend, Audrey from Cute and Some, and some great Caribbean crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.

Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the rest of the design team inspiration - and to see what else can be done with Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock!  And don't forget to go to My Craft Spot to see all the wonderful projects there as well.  Kimberly just released some new twine - with colours perfect for Christmas and Valentine's Day!  It's not too late to add to your Christmas wish list!!  Plus, link up your projects at both blogs for your chance to win some fabulous prizes!

I wish you all a safe, happy and joyous Christmas!

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My Craft Spot Release Party Blog Hop

Today is the day we reveal the NEW My Craft Spot stamps!  Each day this week, My Craft Spot has been giving sneak peaks of the FOUR new stamp sets.  I gave sneak peeks from two of those sets - on Tuesday and Thursday.  Today, each design team member will share more projects made with the new stamp sets during this blog hop.  And each of the blogs will be giving away one of these new stamp sets - so be sure to hop along, starting with Kimberly at My Craft Spot.

I made two very different projects to share.  As many of you know, our house was flooded during a big storm earlier this month.  I made a set of thank you cards to show our appreciation to all those who helped us out (and continue to help us out!).  I used the new Friends and Neighbors - Inside and Out set for the sentiments.  The ark image is from the Inspired Hearts cartridge - and was just perfect considering our circumstances!  Paper is from My Mind's Eye and I added some Sky Blue crinkle ribbon (from My Craft Spot) for the water and to make a coordinating bow as well.

And here is the Friends and Neighbors - Inside and Out stamp set:

I used the new Happy Haunting stamp set for my second project - a fun Halloween gift bag! 

I used Wrap It Up for the bag, image and tag.  The other little sentiment tags were cut by hand.  I added some smokey black and deep purple crinkle ribbon from the Hocus Pocus ribbon collection at My Craft Spot.  I frayed the ribbon for a spookier look as well and ran the transparency used for the window through my Cuttlebug, using the Swiss Dots folder.  I also added a purple button (from a set given to me by my sweet friend Carri from DoubleClick Connections) and a bit of green embroidery floss as well.  Aren't the stamps so fun - and just perfect for Halloween crafting!

Do you see the fun MS Drippy Goo border?  I used Glossy Accents on the handle and border to add a bit more detail.

Here is the new Happy Haunting stamp set:

There are also two more stamp sets being released at My Craft Spot today - Candy Corn Kisses:

And Happy Fall:

These new stamps sets are all available today at My Craft Spot!  And don't forget that Kimberly offers free shipping to Canada and the US.  While you are at My Craft Spot, be sure to check out the delightful assortment of crinkle ribbon and baker's twine too!

***BLOG HOP PRIZE***

Kimberly has very generously donated her new Friends and Neighbors - Inside and Out stamp set for me to give away.  All you need to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered to win!  So easy - and so fun!  I will draw a winner at random on Tuesday.

Please check out the rest of the projects, starting with Kimberly at My Craft Spot.  Be sure to leave comments along the way to have a chance at winning on each blog!  Here's the list of My Craft Spot design team members to help you:

Kimberly

Amber

Kate (That's me!)

Amy

Joy

Aymee

Jenny

Marlene

Ally

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Snow Angel Card

This week's challenge at My Craft Spot is "Emboss It".  I have a wonderful relationship with my Cuttlebug and LOVE to add embossing to my projects, so this was a fun one for me!

I created my card using Inspired Heart as a base.  The snow angel girl is from Winter Frolic.  I embossed the background mat of the card and also the girl's snow jacket.  I punched a border using a Martha Stewart punch and then added the negative cuts around the card.  (I punched some in white as well.)  I stamped the face with a Peachy Keen stamp.  I also used a My Craft Spot stamp (from Inside and Out #2) for the card.  The outside reads: Each and every year you grow.  I heat embossed this as well.  Inside reads:  You just become more fun to know! 

I created this card for one of my best friends.  We've known each other since our younger school days.  Michelle LOVES snow.  Her house is decorated with snow-related items - and whenever it does snow, she is outside building snowmen and making snow angels!  She is one of the funniest people I know and I knew she'd get a kick out of this card, despite her birthday being in June!

When I lost my photos at the beginning of the month, the picture of this card was one of the few that I could not retrieve.  (I had worked ahead on my design projects, knowing how intense this month would be with my courses.)  I actually had to ask my friend for the card back to take another photo!!  

Please head over to My Craft Spot and link your embossed project.  I can't wait to see what you make!

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Wedding Wishes Card

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, the theme is Wedding Wishes and we are challenging you to create a wedding-related project which includes the colour white AND a bell.  I found this week's theme to be quite a challenge as my mind was just blank on what to do - but I then found some tiny bell earrings and decided that they would make a lovely charm for wedding project.

I created the card with Inspired Heart for the window mats and "love" sentiment and Joys of the Season for the doves and cage.  The papers are actually white and grey but the grey has a bit of a lilac look in the photo.  I embossed the window mat as well as the doves.  For the background paper, I simply scored every 1/4 inch.  I attached the bell and wondered why I had found this to be such a difficult challenge as it all came together quite easily - once I knew what to do!

Now it's your turn!  Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the amazing inspiration created by the rest of the design team.  And, while you are there, link up your own Wedding Wishes project.  Just remember to use white and a bell on your project!

Also, I'd like to give a quick shout out to Jenae, my wonderful and talented design team sister at Fantabulous Cricut.  She passed along a Versatile Blogger Award my way.  Thanks Jenae!   Please check out her fantastic blog - Just Jenae!

*Cricut Cardz Challenge is also having a wedding project challenge this week so I will link my card there as well.

PS  I'm so sorry that I've not been leaving many comments lately.  I've been working overtime as I had a rush on a review for work.  I also have a fair bit of homework as my course wraps up on Thursday.  And to top things off, I had a stomach bug last week that left me not wanting to do much of anything!

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