Christmas in July Blog Hop - Day 2 - HO to the 3rd Power

Welcome to Day 2 of the . . .

Get ready for some great ideas that you can start creating now for Christmas.  Along the way today, you'll find card and gift ideas, a scrapbook layout page or two and even a couple great decorating ideas.

We hope this hop gets you in the holiday spirit a little early this year.

We'd like to say a HUGE THANKS to . . .

Debra is giving away a great prize package that includes: Whisper White and Calypso Coral card stock, Washi Tape trio, Versa Mark Ink Pad, the Mosaic and Large Flowers Punches.

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All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.  That's it! It really is easy.

Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too.

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).

Please email Debra with your order to receive the proper discount.

Now on with the hop!

You should have arrived here from Charmangne's blog.  If you just happened upon my post and want to start at the beginning of the hop, I posted the line-up further below.

For my project, I decided to make some new holiday tags for my "Creative Blocks" that I've blogged about before.  Here is the set of blocks and the tags that I created to freshen up my blocks for this coming Christmas. 

So let's talk about the blocks first.  These blocks were cut from a standard 2 x 4, with little care about how straight they were or whether there were jagged edges.  There are two each of three sizes.  They were covered in pages of a book using Mod Podge, and once dry I added a double-head bear claw screw.  There is about one-half inch between the two heads, and they're perfect for the tags to hang.  


The tags are swapped out based on season, month, holiday, and each one will usually have a letter spelling out a six (or less) letter word.  My original version was "Family".  My original Christmas version was "Merry". 


But this time, I decided to take a different route using Santa's greeting . . . a little HO to the 3rd power!  Three Santa's . . . Three Ho's w/two letters on one tag!

I normally will hand cut my tags, but I wanted to attempt tags made using my Pretty Pink Posh tag dies, and just altering the sizes.  Since they were stitched dies, it was a little tricky.  But they turned out AWESOME!  It's all about hanging the ends over the cutting plate to extend or shorten your dies.

 

The tags were cut from Neenah Desert Storm cardstock and I used a background stamp with white pigment ink.  The tags were adhered to a black background piece, so they would "pop" off that newsprint background on the blocks. 

A Simon Says Stamp die runs up the left side as a border on each of the tags, and either a snowflake or "HO3" was stamped in the circle/square openings.

A large red snowflake was stamped onto the tags, and then I cut my letters with my ABC die from The Stamps of Life.  Four different ribbons were altered . . . two used on the Santa's and two used on the sentiments.

And the Santa's . . . the big focal point of the tags . . . were created using a stamp from My Favorite Things. They were popped on Action Wobbles and I put some Flower Soft on the rim of the hats.  

A few sequins . . . and done!

Here are a few other blog posts over the last few years on my Creative Blocks.  I seriously have more versions, but I guess I've not photographed and blogged all of them.  I'll have to remedy that in the future. 


Your next stop is Nana's Scrap Spot.  I'm sure she has a fabulously creative project. 

Keep the holiday spirit as you hop along!  Thanks for stopping by . . . I would love it if you would become a follower!

And just in case . . . here is today's hop line-up in case you get lost along the way.

Theresa ~ http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com

Card A Day Challenge Blog ~ http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com

Ashley ~ http://marinewifesscrappinlife.blogspot.com

Barbara ~ http://barbarab3.blogspot.com

Kim ~ www.katydidcards.com

Robin ~ http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com

La-Vie ~ http://cestla-viedesigns.blogspot.com

Aisha ~ www.londonskyedesigns.net

Charmangne ~ www.sanurascraps.blogspot.com

Debbie ~ www.pawstoscrap.blogspot.com

Nana's Scrap Spot ~ www.nanasscrapspot.com

Sandy ~ http://simplycraftycreationsbysandys.blogspot.com

Holli ~ http://sunflowerHolli.blogspot.com

Audrey ~ www.kricutkreations.blogspot.com

To see all the great projects in yesterday's hop , please start at Theresa's blog.

 

Supplies Used - Tags for Creative Blocks

Cardstock:  Neenah and Bazzill

Stamps:  Jingle All the Way from My Favorite Things; Cover-a-card Distressed Corduroy from Impression Obsession, Cozy Winter Wishes from Lil' Inkers

Dies:  Stitched Duo 1, Stitched Duo 3, and Stitched Banner Due Dies from Pretty Pink Posh; ABC Die from The Stamps of Life, Highlight Frames Craft Die from Simon Says Stamp

Ink:  Stampin' Up and Gansai Tambo Watercolor Paints

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Action Wobbles, Flower Soft

Colorful Birthday Card for Stamp Ink Paper

I love a tic-tac-toe challenge, as it gives me the opportunity to combine elements to create a card.  Today's card was inspired by the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge. 

Diagonal bottom left up to the top right . . . enamel dots, patterned paper and ribbon.  I used supplies from a card kit from The Stamps of Life. 

Loving those felt balloons.   I put my sentiment over the strings of the balloon. 

Go carve out some time to create this weekend. If you come back on Sunday, I'm participating in a Christmas in July blog hop.  Hope you stop by. 

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday

Supplies for this card came from The Stamps of Life January Card Kit

Christmas Wishes for Merry Monday and StampNation

Created this card as a combination of the challenge at Merry Monday (to have a penguin on your card) and the challenge last week at StampNation which was a color challenge with a palette of three very fresh, non-traditional Christmas colors. 

The pink, green and blue were those non-traditional colors in the palette.  I included kraft and white and stamped in black. 

 Hope you find some time to create today! 
 

Supplies Used

Supplies for this card came from The Stamps of Life June Card Kit (cardstock, pattern paper, twine, cork sticker,

Additional Supplies:  postage2Stamp and lights4Christmas stamp sets from The Stamps of Life

Postage Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink from Color Box and Hero Arts

Birthday Wishes

Red, white and blue were the challenge colors at my crafty place, StampNation and at Seize the Birthday. I combined that with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, and here is my card . . .

I always enjoy paper piecing, so I decided to stamp the sailboat image on a square of white and then on three different coordinating pattern papers and cut them out.  I love the end result.

I hope you find some time to create. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp* and Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Authentique's Seaside*

Stamps:  Sailing*

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

*from Simon Says Stamp July 2015 Card Kit

Winter Card for Colour Me

I still have leftovers from some of my winter card kits, so it seemed appropriate to have a little wintry mix for this week's Colour Me challenge. 

Here is their color combo . . .

 Now the photo inspiration screams summer . . . ocean . . . shore!  In an effort to work on some holiday cards, I saw wintery mix.  Here is my card . . . 

For my neutral colors, I brought in some gray.  I stamped twice to get some bold color.  

With the winter we had, I can't believe I can tolerate any snow, even on a card.  But I've been lax on any holiday cards, so the time was right. 

Hope you find some time to create! 

Supplies Used - Thanks Snow Much

Cardstock:  Bazzill* and Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny Altitude Collection*

Stamps:  Hand Lettered Winter Wishes*

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

*from January Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Make a Wish for Color Throwdown

Sharing a card for Color Throwdown challenge.  I Loved their color combination this week, especially the kraft cardstock. 

I decided to create a shaker card . . .

Interesting find this week was some nail art embellishments that I included in my shaker.  They had some teeny tiny starts in just the right colors in little tiny vials.  If you find nail art embellishments, consider it!  They are tiny, but adorable. 

The weekend is over, and I hope you found some time to be creative this weekend.  Enjoy the week!

 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp* and Decorative Cardstock Sheets by Bazzill*

Stamps:  Big Birthday Wishes from Simon Says Stamp*

Dies:  Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and Nail Art Embellishments from Amazon

*from Simon Says Stamp April Card Kit

Specs for a Sketch at Paper Smooches

This week's Paper Smooches challenge was a sketch challenge.  The sketch is further below with my supply list, and here is my card . . .

This particular sketch was a great way to use washi tape.  I used four different tapes for this card. 

The glasses were cut from the a dry embossed cardstock that was used for my background, and then I embossed them with Ranger black sparkle embossing powder (and embossed them, and embossed them . . . a few times).

I hope the long weekend provides some time for you to create. 

Supplies Used - You're Adorkable

Cardstock:  Bazzill and DCWV

Pattern Paper:  Authentique

Stamps:  Incognito from Paper Smooches

Dies:  Glasses Dies from Paper Smooches

Ink:  Hero Arts, Versamark and Ranger Black Sparkle Embossing Powder

Other:  Washi Tape from Little B and Queen & Company and google eyes from stash of supplies

You Are a Lifesaver for Freshly Made and CASology

It was a creative day, as I have one more card to share with you today.  This one couples the nautical theme from CASology with the sketch from Freshly Made. 

 I used supplies from the July Simon Says Stamp card kit.  I stamped the lifesaver, colored with Copic markers and then popped and "hung" it from my circle die.  I let the pattern paper in the kit do the rest of the talking . . . well, except  that I added my sentiment. 

Hoping to find some time throughout the week to create . . . and hoping you find some time too! 

Supplies Used - You Are A Lifesaver

Supplies for this card came from Simon Says Stamp July Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Simon Says Stamp Circle Stitch Dies
• Simon Says Stamp and Hero Arts Ink
• Copic Markers

Filled With Love for Reverse Confetti Challenge

I created a shaker card for this month's Reverse Confetti Challenge. 

 Since the sentiment was "filled with love" I thought it appropriate to include some silver and red foil hearts in the shaker.  It seemed appropriate.  The Confetti Cuts worked great for my shaker.  And I truly love that circle sentiment stamp. 

If you've not ever made a shaker card, I highly recommend it.  They are truly great fun! 

Supplies Used - Filled With Love

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Pattern Paper:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Roundabout Additions and Sweet Thing from Reverse Confetti

Dies: Circles and Scallops Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti

Ink:  Hero Arts

Other:  Sequins and Beads from Pretty Pink Posh and Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart

A Couple of Colour Challenges using Studio Calico

I have two projects to share in this post, and both were created for color challenges using kit supplies from Studio Calico. 

First up a card for Colour Me, a gorgeous combination of colors . . .

And here is my card . . .

Now this is not my typical style of card.  For someone reason, Studio Calico's kits always have me stepping outside of my comfort zone.  I created my own background paper with the X's and O's in the colors of the challenge.  I actually used two of my Studio Calico kits . . . Far Far Away and the newest kit, Galileo. Love that little bunny!  

My second card was created for the Colour Q challenge.  Here is there awesome color palette . . .

For this card I went more with the darker blue. 

I used supplies from the Far Far Away kit from Studio Calico.  The yellow is a bit buried in that pineapple, which was stamped on a yellow pattern paper.  

Love that light blue, satin, scallop border. 

Hope you found some time to create this weekend. 

Supplies Used - XOXO Sweet

Supplies for this card came from:

• Studio Calico Galileo Card Kit
• Far Far Away Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Bazzill Cardstock
• Simon Says Stamp Circle Stitch Dies
• Versamark and Ranger Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Ink and Stampin' Up Ink

Supplies Used - You're So Sweet

Supplies for this card came from Studio Calico Far Far Away Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Versamark and Ranger Embossing Powder
• Stampin' Up Ink
• Inktense Pencils

"Wheely" Great Birthday for Color Throwdown

I created a card for the Color Throwdown challenge using supplies from one of my kits from The Stamps of Life.  Here is the color combination . . .

And here is my card . . . 

 I did pull one additional color into this card, and that was the black.  I really needed my panel to "pop". 

I also "distressed" the panel to make it look like those bikes were moving, by dragging the edge of the ink pad on the panel. 

I hope you found some time to create over the weekend.  And the workweek begins . . .

Supplies Used - "Wheely" Great Birthday

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life*

Pattern Paper:  The Stamps of Life*

Stamps:  bicycle2stamp from The Stamps of Life and Card Kit Set from

Dies:  Bicycle Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Hero Arts Black

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life*

Other:  Bicycle Clips from The Stamps of Life*

*from November and February Card Kits

Color Burst, Perfect Pearls and Whales!

They're here!  My Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors have arrived, and I had a chance to play with them this afternoon, and I created cards for two challenges.

So let me first talk about the Color Burst Watercolors, which were really fun.  I have used a lot of different products to create water color backgrounds, and my favorite thus far has been Ranger Distress Ink.  Let me tell you that these were super fun to play with.  I only tried two colors today . . . the pthalo green and ultramarine blue.  I was going for the sea, as I had a new whale stamp and die.

First up, for Freshly Made Sketches, here is the sketch . . .

And here is my card . . .

Now this was my first try with the Color Burst watercolor.  Once I had them down and they were still a little wet, I also spritzed with some Perfect Pearls to give a shimmer that is not visible in the photo.  Once the watercolor piece was dry, I stamped the whale over the background using Versamark and then embossed in white, stamping the outline and face with black ink.

For this second card, I set out to create a card for CASology.  

I set out to create a fun scene for a kids card.  Now I will admit that the second panel using the Color Bursts turned out better than the first.  Chalk it up to experience!  On the card itself, I only used the wave pieces.  I have another larger panel that I will use on a future card . . . wait for it!

In the meantime, here is my card . . .

That bottom wave has some fun, bold watermarks from the "bursts" of color.  I think this is what sets this new product out from others.  I again used the Perfect Pears to get that amazing shimmer.  The combination of the Color Burst and Perfect Pearls is just amazing.

See that shimmer?!

My whales were created using a Bazzill cardstock that looked like stone.  I used a stamp and die set from The Stamps of Life.  I love how they came out.  The only items stamped were the spouts of water and the sentiment.  The splashes were part of the same die cut set.  Cute! 

If you're on the fence about the Ken Oliver Color Burst, let me give you that push.  They were so fun to play with.

Happy crafting!

Supplies Used = Get Whale Soon

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life and Bee Watercolor Paper

Stamps:  Whale2Stamp from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors, Versamark, Ranger White Embossing Powder, Hero Arts Black Ink

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life

Other:  Perfect Pearls, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life, Bee Watercolor Paper, Bazzill Cardstock and American Crafts White Embossed Paper

Stamps:  Whale2Stamp from The Stamps of Life

Dies:  Whale Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors, Stampin' Up, Hero Arts Black Ink

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life

Other:  Perfect Pearls, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart, Silly Eye from Pretty Pink Posh