Christmas in July

I couldn't resist the challenges I found calling for Christmas cards. It's another hot day so I closeted myself in my craft room and made this card. Having the trees appear on the plain white background gives the illusion of snow - I think. I like the simplicity and the sparkles. I just love Christmas! Enjoy.

Recipe:
Martha Stewart Hairloom Paper
White Cardstock
Christmas Cheer Cricut Cartridge
Silver Snowflakes by Michaels
Silver Stickles
Dimensional Foam

This card was submitted to the following challenges:
1. PaperCutz Challenge #49 - Christmas theme without using red or green;
2. Cardz TV - Christmas In July, Challenge #3;
3. Ooh La La Challenge #58 - Christmas in July;
4. Paper Sundaes Challenge #26 - Layers;
5. My Creative Time, Throwback Thursday Challenge #7 - My Favourite Holiday

MOJO147, Sketch Challenge

I visited the Mojo Monday website to see what was going on and they had an interesting sketch challenge.

The card I made responds to that challenge. I printed the sentiment using the Lucinda font which is one of my favorites.

It's Barbeque Time!

I was looking at designer paper at my local craft store and came across one that I liked from K&Company called K-Ology Blue Lace Column Flat Paper. It reminded me of blue denim jeans. Wouldn't it be cute to make an invitation made out of the shape a back pocket from a pair of jeans? It did just that. I added the outline stitching and added red rick-rack. I found a lovely red paper and made a pocket liner. I used some co-ordinating paper and set out the details for the open house barbeque. The barbeque utensils, barbeque and the word barbeque on the outside of the pocket were cut using the From My Kitchen Cricut cartridge. I added a small ribbon "pull" to the top of the invitation and used a brad in antique brass to attach it. I love the way this project turned out. I submitted this project for publication in a craft magazine so we'll see if it's accepted. I sure hope so!

Recipe:
Paper: K&Company - K-Ology Blue Lace Column Flat Paper
Dies: From My Kitchen Cricut Cartridge
Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black used to edge
Embellishments: Wm. Wright Company Rick Rack - Red; Gelly Roll Gel Pen - White

I also entered this card in the following challenge:
1. The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE75 - Pocket Card

Christmas in July???

We are in the midst of a scorching heat wave but when I saw the challenge posted on the Cardz TV blog, I couldn't resist. Mary's challenge is for us to make a Christmas card in July! Why not - perhaps sitting in my air conditioned craft room (thankfully!) will be better for me than being outside. One catch though, the challenge was to use ONLY the following colors: pink, green, red, white and black. Because the base card is black, I will be using a white gel pen for the inside sentiment.

I just received a new die from QuicKutz and I was very anxious to use it and I thought that this challenge would be an excellent inaugural event.

Paper: Me & My Big Ideas
Die: QuicKutz - Tree
Cutting Machine: Cuttlebug
Adhesive: ZIG 2-Way Glue Pen; Pop Dots
Embellishment: Diamond Stickles
Gel Pen: Gelly Roll - White

I was very disappointed with my photo though. The red is a very cranberry red, the green is more olive, some of the pink polka dots didn't show up clearly and you can't see the glistening effect of the Stickles. What is a crafter to do! I guess I just need some better lighting. Sorry about this but I was under the gun to get this card in on time.

Canada Day/July 4th Celebrations

I can't believe that it's that time of year for us to celebrate with fireworks and trips to the cottage. This week, my nephew and his wife from Richmond, Virginia are staying at the cottage, along with two other couples. The cottage is about 2 hours north east of Toronto, Canada in the lakes district. We celebrated both Canada Day and the 4th of July with barbequed pork tenderloin that had been marinated in hoisin sauce and ginger, grilled vegetables, oven roasted rosemary potatoes and corn on the cob. What a feast! To top it all off, we made lemon cupcakes which served in cupcake wrappers that I cut on my Cricut embellished with July 4th that I "glamified" with silver Stickles. I imported an .svg file into my Make the Cut software and then cut the Fourth of July from the Cricut Designer's Calendar cartridge. To top it all off and to make our guests feel welcome, we added miniature U.S. flags specifically for our company. Little touches can really make a big impact. Everyone had a great time.

This projects was entered into the following challenges:
1. Paper Cutz Challenge #48 - Fourth of Jul;
2. Cricut Cardz Challenge #31 - Fourth of July;
3. For Fun Challenges - Fourth of July

Baby Toy Box

I was invited to a baby shower but I wanted to bring something different. I bought a pre-made wood box from Michael's and painted it. I cut some playful images of flowerpots and plants with faces from a wallpaper border and glued them to the ends of the box and sealed them with matte Modge Podge glue. I painted grass and other garden details to the ends and sides of the box. I added painted round wood knobs to the underside of the box for the feet.

I enjoy making this box as a baby gift and each time, the parents-to-be are always thrilled with it. After the baby gets a little older, the box can be painted to suit the age at that time. Later, the "feet" can be removed and once the box is turned on its end, it can be used as a small bedside table. I always make the boxes unisex and use bright colors. Bright apple green is my current favorite color for the boxes but it always take my inspiration for the color from the wallpaper "decals" that I use.

This type of box can be used for other things such as a house warming gift or a toy box to hold toys and equipment when traveling with a pet. It's quite a versatile item and reasonably inexpensive to make. I hope you'll give this project a try.

Happy Summer

Hasn't the weather has been lovely lately? I've seen my neighbors busy planting their flowers at the front of their houses and vegetables in their back gardens. Soon, they can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their efforts. I have been busy too planting my favorite Martha Washington geraniums in the planters at the front of the house. My perennials are up again and the grapes and currants are appearing on their branches. I have a rose garden that has several varieties (climbing, hybrid and tea) but my favorites are the David Austin roses. They are an old English hardy variety of rose that never disappoints and blooms late into the fall. The garden is surrounded by lavender which gives off a fabulous scent, particularly in the evening when I'm watering everything. I hope everyone enjoys their gardens as much as I do.

This card was submitted to the Cupcake Craft Challenge, Week 93 with a theme of 'summer delight'. To me, summer is gardening. Here is my recipe:
Designer Paper : S.E.I. - Granny;s Kitchen
DieCuts: Cricut, Walk in My Garden
Ribbon: Berwick Offrey LLC
Embellishments: Martha Stewart Dimensional Daisies
Sentiment: Digital