It's Almost Time!

It's Saturday night as I post this, and I am sitting here wondering how the heck I am going to choose a favorite card from all of the FANTASTIC entries in my First Annual Christmas in July Challenge tomorrow! I'll be posting the winners sometime between noon and 2 p.m. PDT, so I know what I'm going to be contemplating in church tomorrow morning! (Shh . . . ) I think I can use some help from the Big Guy on this--I hope the sermon is something like, "How to Choose Between Cards When Everyone is So Talented." It might happen!

So, just so I've got a card to show you tonight (my crafting time has been nonexistent this week) I pulled this picture of one I made a few months ago for a neighbor. Even though I would never wear it in a million years, I do love to papercraft with orange, so looking at this card makes me happy!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Everyday Button Bits
Paper: PTI--Orange Zest; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon: Michaels
Die: Spellbinders
Flowers: Prima
Misc: eyelet, rhinestone--stash

WMSC #7

Ladies and Gentleman (in case Ted reads this), I have an announcement to make. Look to your right. No, I mean to the right of this post. See the word at the top of the right hand column? (Scroll up.) "Awards." Can you believe it? Last week I won a Top Mouse Award from Waltzingmouse Stamps for WMSC #6! I know, I'm still shocked! Then, the same night, I also found out that I won a Shining Light Award from Our Daily Bread Design for their Challenge #22! I've never won a challenge award before, and I win two on the same day??? It was like Christmas around here, let me tell you! I'm still celebrating. Thank you to two great companies for the honors!

Today's card is one I made for WMSC #7. I turned the sketch on its side, and used one of my new stamp sets from WMS, Victorian Frippery. What a great set! I can see so many possibilities for it. I chose a pink and black color palette for the card because it seemed Victorian and Parisian to me. The patterned paper I have had in my stash for ages, and I'm trying hard not to hoard supplies anymore. ;-> I colored the pearls with a Copic marker to match the pink shade and used some really cool looking ribbon from Michaels that I am not hoarding anymore either, LOL!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Victorian Frippery
Paper: PTI--Sweet Blush & True Black; stash
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Pearls: Recollections
Copic: R20
Ribbon: Michaels
Flowers: Prima
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Labels 3
Impression Plate: PTI--Linen
Punch: Corner Chomper

Papertrey July Blog Hop!

It's Blog Hop time for fans of Papertrey Ink! This month's challenge was to use office supplies in making your project. I knew I wouldn't get my July release goodies in time to use them for this card, so I went with what I had: I used PTI's Woodgrain Impression Plate to impress the card front, and then used some ink to go over it and emphasize the impression. I wanted to go for a desk look. Next I made a little file folder and teeny pieces of paper to go in it. I used Library Ledger to make the little papers. Finally, I used some ruler ribbon from my stash and stapled it on with my tiny attacher, and anchored everything with a swirly paper clip. This is certainly outside my box and I loved making it! Happy Hopping everyone!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Library Ledger, Simply Alphabet & Background Basics: Botanicals
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry
Ink: PTI--Aqua Mist; Ranger--Antique Linen & Tea Dye Distress Inks; Watermark; Versafine: Onyx Black
Impression Plate: PTI--Woodgrain
Ribbon: Bobbin Ribbon
Paper Clip: 7 Gypsies
Staples: Tim Holtz --Tiny Attacher
Edge Distresser: Heidi Swapp
Punch: Corner Chomper

Card Patterns #73

The challenge over at Card Patterns this week is the sketch above (details here). I used some patterned paper and charms that I've had on hand for years (I'm trying to stop hoarding supplies!). That's a Verve sentiment stamp that came free with your order one month and some ribbon I picked up at Mike's. Nesties, stitching, shading . . . a card. :-)

Supplies
Stamp: Verve--VS009-PJ028
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; Coredinations; Making Memories
Ink: Versacolor--Baby Blue; Encore!--Copper
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Fine Detail
Charms: All My Memories
Ribbon: Michaels
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Scalloped Circles
Misc: Sewing Machine

C4C46--Buttons!

Crazy for Challenges' Challenge #46 was to use buttons! So, with my mojo not so present the last few days, I went literal again--button patterned paper, and PTI's Blooming Button Bits stamp set! I chose this picture because you can see the gold flecks in the red embossing powder on the flowers. It looks really pretty in person! The colors made me happy--they remind me of summer turning into fall, of the anticipation of school starting. Remember those back-to-school shopping trips? Sigh. I was a weird kid, I loved school. You can check out the details of the challenge right here. Who doesn't love buttons? :-)

And in the second picture, you can see my photography assistant. Mia was styling the photo right here, and I persuaded her to pause for the camera. She's a great help, but she's starting to mention words like, "unionization" so I'm not sure how much longer I'll use her! ;-> And if you can see anything I'm doing obviously wrong with my cheapie Amazon.com photo "studio," let me know, I can take it. Would you believe the thing came with absolutely no instructions?!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Blooming Button Bits
Paper: PTI--Lemon Tart; Cosmo Cricket--Material Girl
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Distressed Embossing Ink
Ribbon: PTI--New Leaf
Buttons: PTI--Vintage Cream
Embossing Powder: Moon Glow--Hollyberry Red/Gold
Die: Spellbinders--Labels 1
Misc: Sewing machine, Corner Chomper

ODBDSLC21 (Or, Birthday Blessings)

Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge this week was to create a card or project that has a colored image. I needed to make a birthday card for a very sweet senior lady. Voila! :-D

Supplies
Stamps: ODBD--Happy Birthday
Paper: PTI--SS White & Hibiscus Burst; Jenny Faw Designs
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Spun Sugar & Victorian Velvet Distress Inks
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Labels 3
Pens: Copics--C1, 3; N0; G000, 21, 85; RV02, 21, 34; V04, 12, 91; Y00, 21, 28; YR02; atyou Spica--Lilac & Blossom

WMSC #6 and JUGS #42

A two-challenge card today! I looked at this sketch from Waltzingmouse and had no ideas. So, I thought--when all else fails, go literal. It looks like a flower to me, so I made a flower! I cut several Large Scalloped Circles from nestie dies, stamped them with a background stamp from WMS, and then rolled like crazy to soften and loosen up the paper layers. Then I inked it some more and cut it to fit the shape of the card. My first try at one of these homemade flowers and it was a fun learning experience. I used one of my grandmother's old earrings as the flower center, and a sentiment from WMS, and stitched around the edges.

The color combo came from challenge #42 at Just Us Girls. I loved it, and so decided to play along with my first JUGS challenge (love the acronym!). I can see using these colors together again!

Thanks for looking, friends!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Faux Fun & Fancy Phrases
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; stash
Ink: PTI--Enchanted Evening; Versacolor--Marigold; Ranger--Dried Marigold, Antique Linen, & Tea Dye Distress Inks
Buttons: PTI--Orange Zest
Ribbon: Michaels
Dies: Spellbinders--Large Scalloped Circles
Misc: Button; sewing machine

Surprise Birthday

Hee! This weekend I got to see a friend who moved quite far away earlier this year. She celebrates the big 5-0 in September, but our bible study group can't all fly across country for it, so we thought we'd throw her a surprise get-together while she's out here visiting right now. Surprisingly (groan), my birthday card for her was inspired by this card here by the talented Michele at I am Derby. I know what you're thinking--similar colors, but it really doesn't look anything like it. I know, but honestly, the idea for this card popped in my head whole when I saw Michele's card! I already knew I wanted to use the sketch from MTSC82 (too bad I didn't post in time for the challenge, LOL!), and her black with color pops really inspired me.

The card was a hit at lunch, and one of my friends said, "I like this one, Jill. Keep that in mind for later." (Her b-day is in Nov.) Ha! So, quickly, I embossed the color panels with Crystal embossing powder and added lots of glitter to the cake, and a little bling too. My shading on the nesties looks truly weird here, but it looks more "normal" in person. Raspberry Fizz continues to be my favorite PTI color--doesn't it just look gorgeous? The stamps are all The Cat's Pajamas. I love the retro flair of Alma's line, although I don't have nearly enough. I've used the, "Does this mean you're a grownup now?" sentiment on a lot of cards!

Supplies
Stamps: TCP--Smells Like Cake, You Say It's Your Birthday & two flower ones that I think are discontinued because I can't find them on the store site!
Paper: PTI--True Black, Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, and SS White.
Ink: Versamark--Onyx Black; Watermark Dazzle--Frost; PTI--Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, and Simply Chartreuse
Ribbon: PTI--Raspberry Fizz; Offray
Embossing Powder: Stampendous--Crystal; Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear; Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White
Rhinestones: stash
Glitter: Ranger--Crystal Ice Ice Stickles
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Scalloped Circles
Copics: RV06, 29; YG03; G94
Punches: Corner Chomper; EK Success border punch

CPS #175

Yep, another post! Another challenge card this morning. I'm trying hard to post them on time! :-D This is my first time playing with Card Positioning Systems.

Supplies
Stamps: Verve--Hebrews 11:1
Paper: Watercolor; PTI--Rustic White, Orange Zest; PP--My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; PTI--Tea Dye Duo
Trim: Michaels
Felt: PTI--Vintage Cream
Dies: PTI--Beautiful Blooms #3
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Pearl: Recollections
Copic: YR68 (to color pearl)
Punches: Corner Chomper; EK Success Border & Flower
Other: Sewing machine

SFYTT & Papertrey Posse #2

After my earlier post, I thought I oughta check the "due dates" for a couple of cards I made, and sure enough, it looks like to be safe, I should post one of them tonight. (I'm getting smarter . . . I hope!) For this card, I combined two challenges: Papertrey Posse's 2nd challenge and this week's SFYTT on Jen del Muro's blog. The nice ladies in the Posse issued a color challenge: Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, and Dark Chocolate. I decided to make Dark Chocolate my main color just because I so rarely use it in large quantities. My mom wanted a card to give a friend she meets for coffee occasionally, so I pulled out an actual wood-mounted rubber stamp. They are becoming an endangered species, I think! :-D This is also an oversized card--no reason, I just felt like using a bigger canvas. Interesting sketch, don't you think?

Supplies
Stamps: Magenta--Coffee House; Flourishes--Coffee With Friends; PTI--Library Ledger & Polka Dot Basics
Paper: PTI--Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, SS White & Bitty Box Basics
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Watermark
Buttons: PTI--Dark Chocolate
Twine: PTI
Flowers: Prima
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug--5x7 Polka Dots
Copics: BG13, 15; B00; E00, 47; YR00, 02, 04
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Squares & Big Scalloped Squares
Punch: Corner Chomper

C4C45 . . . and WMS :-(

Welcome! Today I have a card that was supposed to be for two challenges: Crazy 4 Challenges #45, and Walzingmouse Sketch Challenge #5. When I went to do the linky thing today after work, I realized that WMS#5 closed last night! Aaagh! I make the cards in plenty of time but often put off photographing them since it tends to intimidate me. And then by the time the picture is ready to go, it's too late . . . I need to tie a string around my finger or something! Please tell me you do the same thing--even if you have to lie to make me feel better! :-D ( In some great WMS news, my order from the last release arrived today! Yippee! I can't wait to play.)

The C4C45 challenge is still going! Yeah! Their challenge is to use the colors red, black, and white. No problemo. And so I present to you possibly the simplest card I've ever made. CAS (or thereabouts) doesn't come easily to me, so I am proud of this card, LOL! Here are the details:

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Labels 4; PTI--Beautiful Blooms II & Fillable Frames 2
Paper: Provocraft; stash
Ink: Watermark
Embossing Powder: Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White; Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Felt: PTI--Vintage Cream
Brad: Making Memories
Dies: PTI--Beautiful Blooms II #3; Spellbinders--Labels 4
Punch: Corner Chomper--Scallop & Cloud

Happy Birthday Coffee Queen!

Today is the birthday of a very special person--my mom, the Coffee Queen! (I'm just the Coffee Princess.) She loves lavender, frilly, bling, and of course, coffee so this card came together pretty easily. I used a sketch, and I can't remember where from. Maybe Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge? Anyway, thank you anonymous sketch donor! ;->

I also used a very special product: see that lovely, scrunchy, hand-dyed seam binding? I won the most delicious package of it on fellow Papertrey Pixie Michelle Phillipi's blog giveaway. I will be taking a picture of the packaging soon because you won't believe how clever and gorgeous it is, but in the meantime, I would love to direct you to the Etsy shop of the creator, Michele: this good day. I am doing this on my own, she hasn't asked me for any favors, but I am doing YOU a favor if you love this very popular embellishment. Hopefully you can see in the picture that it's variegated, unique, luxurious, and so, so beautiful! It comes in lots of luscious colors too. I dare you to look at that Etsy shop and not drool!

I can't believe I actually used some and didn't hoard it. Well, for Mom . . . Otherwise, this card is pretty self-explanatory. Coffee cup stamp, patterned paper, stamped paper, dies, embossing folder, bling. If you look reeeeally closely, you can see that I even used something totally new for me: a stick pin! It's stuck in the knot of the bow, but you have to search it out because it's partially hidden. :-)

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Background Basics: Retro; Verve--Big Wish; Stamps 'N More--coffee cup
Paper: PTI--Plum Pudding & Lavender Moon; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Milled Lavender Distress Ink; PTI--Fresh Snow; Watermark Frost
Punches: Corner Chomper--Cloud & Round
Ribbon: this good day seam binding
Rhinestones: Kaiser
Pin: Maya Road
Flower: Prima
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles; PTI--Medium Scallop

***Just a reminder: I'd love to have you join my Christmas in July Challenge! There are two prizes up for grabs, $25 PTI gift certificates! The details are right here.

Color Throwdown #100!

***This is my second post for today. Scroll down if you'd like to see a get well card I posted earlier. Thanks!

Finally! I've photographed a card and uploaded it in time for a Color Throwdown challenge! Number 100, to be exact, which is a very big deal over on the challenge blog--take a look!

I inked up one of the goodies from PTI's June release, All About You Additions, for this card. I stamped the flowers on the nestie, and then again on Pure Poppy and Hibiscus Burst cardstocks, embossing with clear embossing powder and coloring with Copics. Then I cut out the flowers and popped them up to varying heights on foam. I colored clear rhinestones with the Copics to match and placed them as the flower centers. I sponged a little "ground" and "sky" on the nestie, and then layered it on some blocks of cardstock. I embossed the blue paper and then cut the edge with those old decorative scissors we all have lying around from the early days (or am I dating myself?--hee!). I stamped some Spring Moss dots down the side, and then attempted one of my first ribbon "treatments." It was meant to be . . . different . . . than it turned out, but I kind of like its funky vibe! I sewed down the middle first for some interest. I knew I'd need a small sentiment, so I went looking in that old standby, Paper Tray. It comes in handy!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--All About You Additions, Polka Dot Basics & Paper Tray
Paper: PTI--SS White, Spring Rain, Hibiscus Burst & Spring Moss
Ink: PTI--Spring Moss, Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst & Spring Rain; Versafine Onyx Black
Die: Spellbinders--Big Scalloped Rectangles
Copics: YG23, 91; RV23, 34; R27, 59
Ribbon: PTI--Pure Poppy satin; DMC--White floss
Decorative Scissors: Provo Craft
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Rhinestones: Recollections
Impression Plate: PTI--Linen

MTSC81: You're a Hoot!

Edited to say that Lee Anne suggested that I enter this card in the "Fun & Cute" challenge at Moxie Fab World. So I did! Thanks, Lee Anne!

Here's a card I made for a friend in my book group who had a stroke on the 4th of July. (Fortunately, it was mild and he will be fine.) He is funny, so when I saw this $1 stamp set at Michaels the other day, I couldn't resist it for a masculine get well card. The inside sentiment is, "Hang in There." I used some PP I got on the same Michaels trip--I wasn't intending on getting any paper, but have you seen DCWV's Songbird stack? Too cute. It had to come home with me! You can see a tidbit of it here (scroll down a bit).

I used the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #81. You can see I flipped it a bit. It's sort of upside-down mirror image. Sort of. :-D I paper pieced the owl, then cut it out and popped him up on foam squares and sponged the oval to give it the look of sky. Masculine cards can be challenging, but I think this fits the bill!

Supplies
Stamps: Studio G--You're a Hoot; PTI--Background Basics: Woodgrain; Stampendous--Changito the Monkey (inside sentiment)
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Dark Chocolate; DCWV--Songbird; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Watermark; PTI--Tea Dye duo & Spring Rain
Buttons: PTI--Dark Chocolate
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Extra Fine Detail
Die: Spellbinders--Classic Oval
Distressing Tool: Heidi Swapp
Corner Punches: Stampin' Up; Corner Chomper

HEC #8 / SSIC #46

WARNING: Do not make fun of my Copic "skillz" or your computer will self-destruct! :-D

Tonight I am posting a card I made for two challenges: Firstly, Ted's Happily Ever Challenged #8 (here) which challenges us to use red, white and blue. I hope my green leaves don't disqualify me! I could have made blue or red leaves, but that would have looked really strange. ;-> I also decided to enter the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge #46 (found here). It's my first time playing with them.

I was inspired to make this card by Peggysue at Roses By My Window. This card here just took my breath away. Isn't it amazing? My card doesn't look anything like it, but I did go make it right after seeing Peggysue's card!

So, I inked up YOF: Roses for the first time! I was intimidated, but I just went for it, Copics-wise. Practice makes perfect, right? I'll get there. I used some PP scraps I've had forever (one of them was printed with "1998" on the back, LOL!) for the backgrounds and the leaves. And that dotty Cuttlebug embossing folder--I think that particular one gets more use than all the others combined! I decided on a sentiment, punched out a tag, and then had to ink the sentiment one word at a time to split it so it would fit.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI--YOF: Roses, Paper Tray, and Round & Round
Paper: PTI--SS White, stash
Ink: Watermark; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Color Box--Sky Blue
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Detail
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Floss: DMC--White
Dies: Spellbinders
Eyelet: Doodlebug Design
Punch: McGill--Multi Tags Scallops
Copics: R27, 29, 59; YG63

C4C44 and Papertrey Paper Dolls #10

Today's card meets two challenges--well, three actually. I used the sketch from the Papertrey Paper Dolls' Challenge #10, and the guidelines from Crazy 4 Challenges 44 to use two or more ribbons and combined them on this card. And, I'm just realizing that since it's a Christmas card, it's in the spirit of my own Christmas in July challenge! (Details on that here.) Forgive the picture location--yes, that is a kitty condo! I was in a hurry and the only decent light was at the patio doors where the condo sits. You'll see a few more cards with that background in the next week or so! :-D

I used a sticker for my focal point, one a friend had given me last year that I saved to make a card this year. It makes a pretty cute Christmas card, I think! I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the gold and white papers, embossed the red--and swiped it with gold ink--and threw in a piece of PTI PP cut with a border punch. After stamping the sentiment, I mounted it on one ribbon, which I tied at the ends with another ribbon. Oh, and the little snowflake stickers came with the snow globe sticker. Now I have two Christmas cards done, LOL!

Supplies:
Stamp: PTI--Winter Swirls
Stickers: Sandylion
Paper: PTI--SS White, Pure Poppy & Green Boutique PP; stash
Ink: Watermark; Encore--Gold
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Ribbon: Offray, Michaels
Border Punch: EK Success

Petite Posse Challenge #3

Popping in to post a quick card. This one I made for the Petite Posse Challenge #3--thanks gals for letting me play along with you! It was also supposed to be for a Color Throwdown challenge, but I didn't get it posted in time for that one. I have intended to enter a Throwdown challenge many times now, but I'm always late--it must have to do with my schedule versus when the challenge posts or something like that.

Anyway, thanks to the Papertrey Posse I thought way back to my first PTI order--the challenge was to tell how you discovered PTI, what your first stamp set was, and then to use that set. Well, I discovered PTI reading Erin Lincoln's blog one night (back when it was on CK's website--she's one of my scrapbooking idols) and she blogged about how her husband had asked her to make him some thank you cards for people at work. She pulled out a stamp set (Out On a Limb) and made the most amazing cards. They weren't cutsey! They were gorgeous! I *had* to know more about this company. I clicked on her link, and the rest is history. ;-D I had a very hard time deciding on my first order, and there have been so many since then (ahem) that I'm not 100% sure if this is what I got that first time, but I think my first order consisted of Out On a Limb, Butterfly Kisses, Borders & Corners: Square, and Borders & Corners: Circles.

So I pulled those sets out and ultimately chose to use Butterfly Kisses and Borders & Corners: Squares on my card. I intended to use a butterfly image or two, but somehow I couldn't make them work, so I used a sentiment--I still love the fonts in this set! And the dots in a square, of course. I knew when I saw them that the Borders & Corners sets would get lots of use by me and I was sure right! At the time, no one else that I knew of had anything like them and they gave me an inkling that PTI was going to be my "go to" stamp company. It think it's a great "testimony" (I don't mean to be irreverent) for PTI that I am still using my very first sets from them two years later! Anyway, I'm getting a bit long-winded here, sorry about that! For this card, I also made my first homemade ribbon flower embellishment. I've been meaning to try to make one for months and I finally did it! This one is my second try, actually. [Anjillic Tip: Hold onto one end of the stitching on the ribbon so you gather the ribbon instead of simply pulling the thread out!] This card is for one of my very few "in person" crafting friends. She's a great scrapbooker and just starting to get into cards. I knew when I saw the color combo on the Color Throwdown blog that it would be just right for her birthday card because they remind me of her.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Butterfly Kisses & Borders & Corners: Square
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening, Berry Sorbet & Simply Chartreuse; stash
Ink: PTI--Enchanted Evening & Simply Chartreuse; Versacolor--Cinnamon
Ribbon: PTI--Berry Sorbet
Brad: Making Memories
Pearl: Recollections
Punches: EK Success, Fiskars
Die: Spellbinders
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Jill's First Annual Christmas in July Challenge!

Welcome papercrafting friends to my first blog challenge! Much as I'd like to, I don't have the time to do regular challenges, so I thought I'd do a doozy when I do get the chance! I've decided to hold a "Christmas in July" challenge because I really, really, really want to make all my holiday cards this year, and I don't want to leave it to the last minute. I thought that with this challenge, I could motivate myself to get an early start, perhaps benefit someone else out there in blogland by doing the same for them, and make two readers very, very happy by awarding them PTI gift certificates!

So, here are the rules:
1) Make a Christmas card (Hanukkah counts too). If you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, perhaps you have a friend who does and you can make a card for him/her.

2) Upload your card to your blog or an online gallery (with a link back to the challenge please) and add your info to Mr. Linky at the end of this post.

3) Leave a comment after you've added your link. If you choose to become a follower of my blog, or are already a follower, leave another comment and you will have two chances to win! Blog about the challenge and you can leave a 3rd comment for three chances!

The challenge runs from July 1-31, and the winners will be announced on this blog on August 1. There are no limitations as to design, stamp company(ies), colors, techniques, etc.. The card can be religious or secular and any size.

The winners will be chosen in two ways: One winner will be from a random draw of all comments left after linking/following/blogging. The other will be chosen by me from all the cards entered--my favorite card gets a prize! The prizes are both . . . drumroll please . . . $24 gift certificates to Papertrey Ink! Yes, you can get a wonderful quality, highly creative, gorgeous stamp set from PTI just for entering my 1st Annual Christmas in July Challenge!

To start us off, I made a cute little card for my 3-year-old nephew. [I can't believe I actually have a Christmas card checked off, and it's only July 1st!] I chose a snowman since they are special to me and he has picked up on this--he made Christmas cards last year for family (including my dog, lol!) and they all had a snowman on them. At least that's what I'm told. The three balls of snow aren't actually touching, but it's totally the thought that counts, right?! What a sweetie! I used Holiday Button Bits for the main image, and tried to keep the style & colors in the "boy" range. Adrian's favorite color is green, as he has reminded me a few hundred times, and I thought the background paper looked like a sweater and snowballs at the same time. I also thought there was a sweater-y pattern to the button. I love the gold twine I used to tie the die cut to the card--I just got it from Michelle at Stamper's Dream and it's great because it's twine/cording but it holds a knot really well, unlike the stuff sold in stores for Christmas wrap. (FYI--she has several colors, I recommend it if you're in the market.) I made sure to listen to a few Christmas songs on my iPod as I made the card, to get into the spirit! I hope this challenge brings you a little bit of Christmas cheer in the middle of summer!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Holiday Button Bits & Polka Dot Basics II (on the scarf--hard to see)
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Simply Chartreuse; Zoe Pearn Bloom & Grow; watercolor
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Spring Rain & Simply Chartreuse; Ranger--Tumbled Glass & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
Button: PTI--Spring Rain
Die: Spellbinders
Distress Tool: Heidi Swapp
Fun Flock: Stampendous--Cotton Ball White (on ball on top of hat)
Twine: Stamper's Dream--gold
Pens: Copics--R27, R59 & Colorless Blender; atyou Spica--clear, peach