Challenge #6 - Christmas in July!

Good morning crafty friends, hope you're all well.

I can't believe we're about to start the 6th challenge.....doesn't time

 fly when you're having fun.....and I sure am having fun! I thank you all

 so much for taking the time to join in with my challenges.

So, this time the theme is going to be......

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

We all love Christmas and it's never too early to get started!

Here's my make......

I used kraft card, cream hammered card & dies from the Paper Boutique

for the base & the sentiment. The robin is a Sizzix die & I added

some die cut foliage & paper flowers then finished with faux pearls.

This month I have lovely Liz from Crafty Sunflower joining me as

guest designer.......

I was delighted to be invited by Jo to be her Guest Designer for July.  I live in the West of England with my hubby, Alan.   I was an Infant school teacher in a former life, a job I loved, but I’m now happily retired.  When I was teaching, I ran an after school scrapbooking club for over ten years with my Teaching Assistant, hoping to inspire the next generation.  All the children were 6 or 7 years old and they created some amazing scrapbooks.  I have always enjoyed crafting, something I inherited from my Mum.  In the past I’ve enjoyed knitting, sewing, cross stitching, patchwork, cake decorating, making corn dollies and scrapbooking.  For the last 20 years or so, card making is what I enjoy most.  My style is generally CAS, although I sometimes go out of my comfort zone and get really inky and messy!  I belong to a local craft group which meets once a month and it’s always fun to craft with friends.

 and here's Liz's make......

Fabulous card Liz, don't you just love that cheeky face? Thanks so much

for joining me this month......hope you can join me too!

Rules

1 - You must follow the theme set

2 - One entry, new makes only

3 - You must be a follower of this blog

4 - Please link your entry post back to this blog

So whether your style is frilly & fancy, CAS,or even grungy & gritty you

can enter your make.....and as usual, there'll be a surprise prize for the

lucky winner. And if you fancy joining me as a guest designer then just add

GD after your name!

Good luck!

xx

(Check back later today for last month's winner)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Christmas in July Day 31!

Hi crafty friends, happy wet, dull & much cooler Wednesday!

Oh, how nice it is to hear the rain....still warm but a welcome relief from the

blazing sun we've been having.....a cool breeze & it would be perfect.

So....here I am on Day 31 of my Christmas in July challenge to make only

Christmas themed makes for the whole of July.....and I made it!

To be honest there were days I thought I must have been crazy but I stuck

with it & now I have a very decent size pile of Christmas cards & toppers.

For my final make I chose a scallop circle base with a cream hammered

card layer......the simply added the bench & cat couple die cuts, a

stamped sentiment, a few faux gems & a little ribbon bundle at the top.

Not sure what to do with this make......maybe a card topper, maybe an easel

card....or maybe a decoration for the tree? Can't decide so I'll leave it

for now & come back to it later on in the year.

Thanks so much to all who have visited & left comments.......it's so very

much appreciated, I love reading them.

xx

challenges
Rudolf Days at Scraps of Life

Christmas in July Day 30!

Hi friends, hope you're all well.

Can you believe it's Day 30 of my Christmas in July challenge? Only one

more day to go....saying that I think I could carry on for another month!

A decoupaged card today........3 layers matted onto silver mirri then onto a

base of cream hammered card. Lots of sparkle on this one but so hard to

get a photo that shows it!

Rightio, lots to do today so better dash.....thanks for calling!

See you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 29!

Hi crafty friends, hope you're all well.

Nice & cool here today so hopefully it'll be a productive day in the craft room.

Day 29 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have a card topper to share using

my favourites - lots of layers & die cuts!

Sometimes the simplest of ideas work just as well as the fancier ones. I think

it's so easy to get caught up in wanting the latest papers/dies/stamps etc that we

forget that we need very little to make a nice card. Every piece on this topper

was from the scrap box....I just trimmed them to size, added a few die cuts, a

stamped sentiment then finished with a couple of faux gems. Another card

that could be made in lots of different colours for lots of different occasions.

Thanks for calling, see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 28!

Hi friends, happy Sunday.....hope you're all well.

Day 28 of my Christmas in July challenge & today I have some cross stitch to share

......although I do have to be honest, it's a piece I made a few years ago so you may have

 seen it before. I usually like to stitch something new every Christmas and I have

started something but this rotten rheumatoid arthritis in my hands has put a stop to it this 

year so I've had to admit defeat.......for now! Anyway, as I planned Day 28 to be cross

stitch day I thought this Gingerbread recipe piece would be perfect.

Quite a lot cooler here today so I'm enjoying a crafty afternoon....and there's

no tea to cook! We had a cooked breakfast late on this morning so we'll have

something light for tea.....and maybe a little piece of Bakewell tart for pudding.......

with custard or cream........decisions, decisions!!

Thanks for calling, enjoy the rest of the day & I'll see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 27!

Hi crafty friends, happy Saturday!

Hope you're all well & enjoying the weekend so far.

'Tis a bit cooler here today....and a bit windier too.....but much nicer to

craft in. Today is Day 27 of my Christmas in July challenge to myself

and I'm sharing some of my Paper Frosting, my favourite way

to use up some odds & ends from my scrap box....and so useful too.

Kraft, cream hammered card, LOTV paper, Tim Holtz chit chat stickers..

.....die cuts & some faux gems to finish.

Thanks for calling & for any comments....see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY  challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 26!

Well, here I am on Day 26 of my Christmas in July challenge and while it

is a little cooler it's still very hot.......and we're in the midst of a power cut so

the fans aren't fanning & I got stuck in my chair lol! I have an electric recliner

as I struggle to get in & out of chairs and guess where I was sitting when

the power went off? You've got to laugh & I suppose it was quite funny.

Today's make is a little decoupaged card topper, shame the gold foil doesn't

show up as it's really quite pretty.....finished with some faux gems & layered

onto some cream card.....and good to go!

Rightio, better go as laptop nearly out of power.....thanks for calling and

for any comments......see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my  CHRISTMAS IN JULY  challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 25!

Hey friends, hope you're well.

Have you melted yet? There's no escaping this awful heat here....still, 

nothing lasts forever so there's bound to be cooler days soon enough. Moaning

aside, I slept like a baby last night & struggled to wake this morning.

So today is Day 25 of Christmas in July.....where have the days gone?

I have a card to share today, another CAS make using only die cuts & scraps

on a lovely cream hammered card base.

Thanks for calling, have a lovely day......and stay cool!

See you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 24!

Hi friends, hope you're all well.

Day 24 of Christmas in July & I have a fairly CAS card to share.

 A simple tent fold, I layered a die cut frame onto an inky background then

added a die cut snowflake that I covered in glitter, a stamped sentiment

then a faux gem in the centre of the snowflake to finish.

Another make that would suit many colours & use up a few scraps from

the bit box too!

Thanks for calling......see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 23!

Hi crafty friends, hope you're all well.

Oh my, the heat! It's so, so hot.....I hope you're all managing to keep cool.

Trust me to choose the hottest month to make only Christmas makes!

Anyway, it's Day 23 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have another 

card topper to share. Beautiful, rustic reds & browns (with a little hint of

 gold) on a cream hammer card base, a stamped sentiment layered onto 2

die cut ovals.....a scattering of faux gems & that's it!

Another card that would look lovely in other colour combo's .....and a great

way to use up more scraps!

Thanks for calling......see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 22!

Hey friends, hope you're all well....did you have a lovely weekend?

Day 22 of my Christmas in July challenge & today I have a card topper

to share....lots of lovely layers & die cuts finished with some pretty

flowers & some gold accents. 

paper - docrafts/Papermania

image - Kit & Clowder colouring class

sentiment - Paper Boutique

snowflake - Hobbycraft

everything else - stash

Thanks for calling, see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

challenges
Christmas in July at Cute N Crafty
Christmas in July at Shopping Our Stash
Christmas in July at Crafty Gals Corner
Christmas at C.R.A.F.T
anything Christmas at Crimbo Crackers
Christmas in July at Crafty Calendar
Christmas at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Christmas in July Day 21

Hi friends, happy Sunday....hope you're having fun whatever you're up to!

Today is Day 21 of Christmas in July & I thought I'd revisit some tags I made

a couple years ago.....such a great way to use up scraps and so very useful too!

Short & sweet today so I'll thank you for calling and I'll see you tomorrow!

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

xx

Christmas in July Day 20!

Hi friends, happy Saturday....hope your weekend is going well.

Some super quick makes to share today.....6 Santa hats & 6 stockings in

traditional red & white.....finished with a sprig of holly & faux gems.

Cards, tags, scrapbooks......what would you do with them?

Thanks for calling......see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 19!

Hi crafty friends, hope you're well & looking forward to the weekend.

Day 19 of my Christmas in July challenge & today's make is one of them

that didn't turn out as planned lol.......but I do like it so all is good.

I used the jigsaw die set that came with the latest issue of Die Cutting

Essentials, paper from docraft/Papermania, gold mirri & sentiment

dies from Hunkydory, snowflake die from Hobbycraft....anything else

came from my stash!

Rightio, better get a move on......Son & Grandson on way for tea & you 

what that means? Lots of snuggles with Asher!

Thanks for calling......see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 18!

Hey friends, hope you're all well.

Day 18 of my Christmas in July challenge & I'm sharing a topper made

with one of the pieces of Paper Frosting I made earlier in the month.

A white base, a layer of duck egg then a layer of the snowflake paper with

 distressed edges....both with an aperture cut out. The Paper Frosting

was mounted onto foam pads, I added a stamped sentiment, some die cut

snowflakes then I finished with some faux pearls.

Rightio, if I get a move on I'll have time for a wander around your blogs

 before tea......thanks for calling .....see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 17!

Hi friends, welcome to my little blog.....hope you're all well.

Day 17 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have a topper to share.....

or maybe it'll be a page in my Christmas countdown.....not sure yet.

Anyway, all die cuts for this make I started with a scallop circle cut from

 Hunkydory's adorable scorable, added a plain circle using a sheet from

Dovecraft's 'Magic of Christmas' paper pad. A Paper Boutique snowflake 

layered onto a die cut banner with a stamped sentiment came next then

a die cut bow, some pretty foliage, die cut hearts & a couple faux pearls to

 finish. So pretty......I'll definitely make this again in different colour ways.

Thanks for calling & for any comments you might leave,

see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

challenges

Christmas at Winter Wonderland

Christmas in July at Crafty Calendar

Christmas make at Crazy 4 Challenges

Christmas in July at Shopping Our Stash

anything Christmas at Holly & Ivy

anything goes at Merry Little Christmas

Christmas in July Day 16!

Hey crafty friends, hope you're all well.

Day 16 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have another card to share.

Now I've not coloured anything in such a long time because of the

RA in my hands.......then I suddenly got the urge to have a go! Didn't

realise quite how much I missed it ......but I started off slow, thinking little 

& often would be best. Just skin, hair & a little mistletoe coloured with

 Copics on this beautiful image from Delicious Doodles, matted onto

black then  a layer of green then the whole thing onto white hammer card.

A sprinkle of glitter, a stamped sentiment & a pearl snowflake to finish.

Better go see to the tea before the workers return, thanks for calling....

.......see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 15!

Hi friends, hope your weeks gotten off to a good start.

Day 15 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have a 5 x 7 card to share today.

A cream hammered card base, a layer of brown card then a lovely topper

with some touches of gold.....all on a layer of foam pads to give a little extra

dimension. I had to sit on my hands for this one....I was so tempted to add

some extras!

Off to get some tea now so I'll see you tomorrow, thanks for calling.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 14!

Hi friends, are you having a good weekend?

I hope so......we had a lovely day out shopping yesterday, a nice wander around the

shops then a stop for sushi....although I did end the trip in the wheelchair which

wasn't so good but at least I managed the day a little easier and even though

I'm paying for it today it was worth it.

So for today's Christmas in July post I thought I'd share some of the new Christmas

stash I bought.....and I'll save some for later. I don't often have the chance to

shop like this so it was a lovely change.

Rightio, That's my lot for today, thanks for calling .....see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY  challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 13!

Morning friends, hope you're all well & have something nice planned for the weekend.

We're off shopping......a trip to the Range & Hobbycraft to have a little crafty 

shop.....and maybe stop somewhere for something nice to eat.

So today is Day 13 of Christmas in July and I have a page from my Christmas

countdown to share.....page 18! I started with a base layer of kraft card....oh my,

the photo doesn't do it justice......its full of gold flecks....so delicious!

Next, I die cut the snowflake panel in cream hammered card, added a die cut 

banner, the die cut words & numbers then finished with some faux gems

in the centre of the snowflakes. I love this page & think you'll soon be

 seeing it made into Christmas cards!

Rightio, better get a move on....thanks for calling, have a lovely day & I'll

see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 12!

Hello crafters, hope you're well.

Day 12 & I have another Christmas card to share......and it's pink!! 

I know, I know.....I promised to lay off the pink for a while but I couldn't 

resist this gorgeous pink Polar bear from Hunkydory!

 Beautiful, shiny layers of pink & silver with a little hint of white, I

 added only a little sparkly silver bow.

Thanks for calling, have a lovely day and I'll see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 11!

Hey friends, hope you're all well.

Day 11 of my Christmas in July challenge & today's make is from a Hunkydory

kit....and who doesn't love a good Christmas pud? Well, to be honest there's

only me & 1 son that likes it in our house!

Not sure whether this is going to be made into a card or should I keep it 

as a page for my Christmas countdown calendar? Decisions, decisions.....but

whatever I do with it I'll add a base layer & either a sentiment for a card or 

a number for my countdown.

Rightio, that's me for today.....thanks for calling, have a lovely day & I'll

see you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 10!

Morning crafty friends, hope you're well.

Oh my, Day 10 of my challenge to myself to make only Christmas themed

makes for the month of July.......one third of the way through already!

Today's share is a snowglobe topper, i made a few of these last Christmas

and they were ever so popular so I just had to include one in my challenge.

Almost identical to last year's I started with a snowglobe base cut from

my Hunkydory dies, added a LOTV topper, some die cut snowflakes, a die

cut sentiment & finished with some faux gems & a scattering of glitter.

That's my lot for today, thanks for calling & have a lovely day.

See you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 9

Hi friends, hope you're all well.

Are you having a good week? The weather's a bit cooler here today so that's

good for me although it's still warm enough that it feels wrong to be

making Christmas things! Still, it's never too early, I have a nice little pile.

So it's Day 9 of my Christmas in July challenge & I have another topper to

share.....I know, it's pink again! I can't seem to help myself! I love that snowy

image....I layered all the die cut elements on foam pads for a little extra

dimension, layered onto white card then pink adorable scorable then finished

 with a sprinkling of glitter.....it looks so much prettier IRL.

Short & sweet today as I have lots to do so thanks for calling & whatever 

you're up to I hope you manage a little crafty time.

See you tomorrow.

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

challenges
anything goes at Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
anything goes at Crimbo Crackers
Christmas in July at Crafty Calendar
anything goes at Merry Little Christmas

Christmas in July Day 8

Hi crafty friends, hope you're all well.

Day 8 of my Christmas in July challenge & today I have a topper

made with elements from the Christmas Cuties paper pad from the Paper

Boutique. Beautiful papers, super quality & a great price too!

Thanks for looking......see you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 7!

Day 7 of my Christmas in July challenge & today's make is another

topper.....and it's pink again! Don't know what's going on but I'm so drawn

 to making things in pink & duck egg colours right now. I wouldn't mind but 

these are not colours I use in my home decor for Christmas!!

Anyway, just one sheet of paper, I think it's Craftwork Cards, I added a 

stamped sentiment, tied some paper string around the top, added a cluster

of jingle bells & finished with some faux gems.

Thanks for calling.....enjoy your Sunday!

xx

Don' forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Christmas in July Day 6

Hi friends, happy Saturday.....hope you're all well & enjoying the weekend.

Day 6 of my Christmas in July challenge & today's make is a topper

using a Hunkydory image & die cut frame, a poinsettia die & finished with

a few faux gems.

How are you doing with your Christmas makes?

See you tomorrow for day 7!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Paper Frosting Friday & Christmas in July day 5!

Morning crafty friends, hope you're all well.

Here we are at Friday again, this year is whizzing past so, so fast I think

I might get left behind if I'm not careful!

So, in my little corner of Blogland Friday means Paper Frosting day, (my

name for the little paper embellishments I like to make) and as I'm challenging

 myself to make only Christmas themed makes in July I'm going to combine the two.

Paper Frosting doesn't need to be difficult, it can be as fussy & fancy, as CAS or

as basic as you like......there's no rules. I chose to go the simplest route today, just

basic shapes in lovely colours.......they can be used for allsorts - card making,

scrapbooking, use them in your journal, your planner, for home decor.....

really, there's no limits.......and it's a great way to use up your scraps!

Simple mating & layering, on foam pads for a bit of extra dimension, then

I added the die cut snowflakes.....a Tim Holtz chit chat word sticker & a

faux pearl to finish.....so simple but I love them.

Later on in the month I'll show you how I like to use them.

Rightio, that's my lot for today.....thanks for calling & for any comments

you might leave.....have a lovely day.

See you tomorrow!

xx

Don't forget, my CHRISTMAS IN JULY challenge is here.

Let's Hear It For The Boys - Winner!

Hi friends, it's time to announce the winner of #5 Let's Hear it For The Boys.

 Thank you so much for all your gorgeous entries..... I'm so chuffed to have such

 support for my little challenges.............and blown away by the number of entries!

So, without further ado..........the winner of  #5 Let's Hear It For The Boys is.............

**** It's you, Michelle at Laughing Ducks ****

and here's Michelle's make.......

I love that scene, everything matches so well & a great fold displays

it all so nice!

Here's a pic of your prize......

and I'd love to invite you to join me as Guest Designer for September's challenge.

And if you send me your snail mail details I'll pop your prize in the post

asap.............and could you leave me a comment on this post please, so I know

 to look out for your email.

And here's a badge for your blog.....

Well done, Michelle.....and thanks again to everyone who entered, hope you'll

join me on for #6 - Christmas in July.............see you then!

xx

Washi Wednesday 2019 - Christmas in July #3

Morning crafty friends....hope you're all well.

It's the first Wednesday of the month....and day 3 of my Christmas in July

challenge so I thought to combine the two I'd make a couple of 4x4 card toppers.

You know how much I love my Washi tape & these makes are very similar 

last months.....I just wanted to show that you could change the colour, 

pattern & embellishment and get a completely different look.

I used a random mix of tapes, stamped a sentiment, added a die cut & mounted

onto gold mirri for a super quick, super effective card topper.....and they're

so cute!

How do you use Washi tape?

If you have anything Washi you'd like to share let me know, I'd love to come see!
xx

Happy Christmas, Deer! (Christmas in July #2)

Morning lovelies, hope you're all well.

Welcome to Christmas in July, Day 2......this month my aim is to post

something Christmas every day of the month.....eeekk!

A card today, approx 6 inch square using a topper from the Paper Boutique

and card from my stash. The silver & blue foiled paper is very old, no idea 

where it's from & the reindeer were die cut from silver mirri card. A stamped

sentiment to finish and that's it.......job done!

Rightio, better get a move on.....thanks for calling.....see you tomorrow.

xx

Dies/punches at Crafty Cardmakers! (Christmas in July #1)

Hi friends, happy Monday & happy July.....hope you're all well.

It's Christmas in July on my blog this month....I can't promise but the aim

is to post only Christmas makes for the whole of the month.....wish me luck

and if any of you want to join in do let me know!

Bur first......

we have a new challenge for you over at Crafty Cardmakers today,

I'm hosting and the theme this time is......

DIES/PUNCHES

A nice, easy theme that I'm sure will appeal to lots of you....and there's so much you

 can do with them. Usually I use them as decoration but sometimes I like to use

 only dies/punches for the whole card as I've done here. I chose teal & white

 just to mix it up a bit, I layered the snowflake, added a die cut poinsettia, a sentiment

 then finished with a ribbon & a scattering of faux gems. If I remember rightly the

 poinsettia was a magazine freebie and all the other dies are the Paper Boutique.

Lots of inspiration for you over on the main blog and as usual, anything you like

to make we like to see.....just so long as you stick to the theme!

Thanks for calling & for any comment you might leave.

See you tomorrow.

xx

challenges

anything Christmas at Holly & Ivy

Christmas at Crafting by Design

anything Christmas at Crimbo Crackers

anything Christmas at Crafty Hazelnut's

anything goes at Merry Little Christmas