Christmas in July!

Are you ready for some more fun samples? Okay then, let's get BIZZEEEE! These are actual samples that are heading to CHA as we speak (or type!). I can't wait to see the Spellbinder's booth as I think it will be beautiful!! These are some card Christmas card samples using Lockhart images. This first card uses my very favorite stamp from Karen's collection. It's the Bouquet stamp and I think I've used it for almost every season now. It's SO versatile. Karen, if you're reading this post.....we need an entire collection of bouquets!!! Image is finished off with some pierced swirls from Ellen's Ornare templates. I'm hooked on those little things!! Image is cut out with a scallop Spellbinder's die and then embossed by using the same die but ran through the Wizard with the rubber mat. Then that image is adhered to the green mat with dimensionals. The green mat uses a straight rectangle die that was also embossed. Then for the tag with the sentiment, I cut a smaller oval and embossed it. Isn't it gorgeous? The embossing just adds such elegance. Your cards will take on a professional stationery feel, I tell ya. Background paper is from the holiday Crate Paper collection. A little Decorative Pearl finishes off the bouquet bow.



This card below was created using one of Karen's beautiful Angel stamps. I've used my Sakura glitter pen all over the image and in real life, she just sparkles. Main image was created the exact same way as the first card, only I used scallop shaped dies. Again, a totally elegant look for this card without a lot of other embellishments. Three little mocha Decorative Pearls finish off the image.



My third card was made into a scallop square shape by folding a piece of card stock into a square. Then I cut both layers with a square scallop die and embossed it too. All you have to do to make shaped cards is to leave the folded edge of one side of the card off of the die. This leaves the fold in tact. The main image of this little thank you card is Karen Lockhart's Packages stamp. It's the Stamp of the Month at Ellen's online store, and you can also buy a kit using this image and prepackaged goodies that Ellen will send out. I added another little Ornare swirl to the package and finished it off with three mocha Decorative Pearls. The main image was cut and embossed with a square die. The Many Thanks sentiment was cut with a small oval die then embossed.

Did you notice that my cards have a lot of layers but still look clean and crisp. That's because the dies leave a nice embossed layer without being too bold. It's that tone on tone raised edge that is beautiful but not overbearing. I simply love them!!



Stay tuned all ths week for more samples, including more Crafty Secrets goodies! And be sure to check out Ellen's blog all this week for new posts and information about her Friday the 13th sale....13 hours and 13% off everything!! Be sure to check out her card challenge using Lockhart images and enter her drawing. I know the prizes...YOU WILL WANT THE PRIZES so get over there girls!! But be sure to leave me a comment about what you think about the new Copics, Spellbinder's dies and Karen's images. And I'm not sure when the images will be available for preview but hold onto hats when you see the new Crafty Secrets images coming out at CHA. Pure bliss and vintage stamp-o-rama!!!!!

Tip of the day: See the velvet ribbon on my first two cards? I love to use a strip of ribbon to seam two edges of paper together. For my cards, I placed the velvet ribbon over the top edge of the patterned paper. This seams together the solid paper and the patterned paper and finishes off a card beautifully.