Christmas in July, part 1

Merry Christmas in July!!! Yippee Skippee!!! Are you celebrating too?  LOL I'm a part of a sweet little group of ladies who I share my life with each & every day on our own private board. These ladies have become my extended family & I love them dearly.

Christmas in December is always such a hectic time for all of us so we decided to make July a very special time to share gifts with each other.........henceforth we have.......CHRISTMAS IN JULY (who even says "henceforth"? LOL). We've been exchanging these gifts for several years. It's so much fun and we all look forward to seeing what each person receives. There is an abundance of talent in our little group.

I know I haven't shared many crafts in the last few weeks & this is why.........I've been working on these little gifties & couldn't share them until my swap partner "Mary" opened them today.  Sooooooo today is the day that I get to start sharing them with you over the next week.  **warning......this post is long & filled with lots & lots of pics.

First I'd like to share this "Keepsake Box" (cigar box) that I embellished.

The 'cigar box' is from JoAnn's unfinished wood section. Before I painted the box with Plaid Apple Barrel "Antique White" paint......I removed the hardware. I went over the brass closure & hinges with my Black Soot Distress Ink marker to try & tone down the brassy-ness.  (It doesn't show in the pics but it's not as shiny.)

I then covered the larger surfaces of the box with beautiful Graphic 45 papers called "A Ladies' Diary" and a coordinating soft red decorative paper from BoBunny using Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive that I brushed on. I then wrapped all around the box with Tim Holtz tissue tape and a tassel trim from my stash.

The postcards on the top are also from "A Ladies' Diary" collection. I love these papers so much that it's hard for me to cut into them.  LOL I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz paper distresser & Distress Ink 'frayed burlap'.

Here are more views of my box.

The beautiful metal corners are from Tim Holtz' idea-ology line.

This beautiful flower is from EK Success Jolee's Boutique called 'grey burnt edge gem center flowers'.   The "leaves" are from sprays that I found in Michael's wedding section. You might also notice a Kaiser Craft skeleton leaf peeking out from under the flower.

I made the stick pin with glass beads & baubles from my stash (attached each piece with Glossy Accents). I plan on making more of these so be looking for them in an upcoming blog candy or two. They are very addictive.

I found the word "Paris" on the Graphic45 paper & decided to frame it with a Tim Holtz 'ornate plate'. I cut some transparent plastic & the "Paris" graphic & attached them to the inside of the 'plate' with some Glossy Accents. It was then attached to a thick tag from the same "A Ladies' Diary" line.

This sweet little metal doo-dad hanging from the Tim Holt 'hanger clip' is from a new jewelry line that Michael's is now carrying called "art-i-cake" by Amy Labbe. She even has a sweet little bio on the inside of her charm packets. These pieces are truly little works of art.

This is the inside of my box.  More of the beautiful Graphic 45 & Bo Bunny papers.

I had to restrain myself from adding any more to the beautiful papers.  "Less is More" right?  LOL  So not me.  LOL  But I'm glad I didn't do more..........I wanted to leave room for her to hide away her little treasures.  She told me that she's going to use her "Keepsake Box" for her "trip momentoes".

Thanks so much for joining me today & I look forward to sharing more over the next few days.

(The cute little vintage girl image at the top of this post is courtesy of Peggy Loves Vintage)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A Steampunk Birthday Card

My oldest granddaughter Alexis "Lex" is turning 22 years old tomorrow.  OMGosh........where do the years go?  I remember when she was born..........what a beautiful baby she was.  And she's still beautiful!  She loves the Steampunk style and purple and black is her FAVorite color combo so it came together nicely on this card.  This is my first time using a Saturated Canary image.  She's called "Gothica" and is a creation of the talented Krista Smith. 

I was so happy to complete this card in time for her birthday.  It's been a crazy "whack-a-doodle" week around here.  Remember my daughter Kim had spinal fusion in March?  Well she had a NECK FUSION on Tuesday.  Poor baby girl!  She is in so much pain.  She said it's much more painful than spinal fusion.  I sure wish I could take the pain from her but all I can do is pray that the Lord helps her with it.  Your prayers would be so appreciated.  Thank you so much.

Well back to the card.  I wasn't sure it was going to happen in time for Lex' birthday but PTL I did finish it in time.  YAY!  I hope she likes it.  **UPDATE:  She loved it & said it was her favorite card I've ever made.  aaww sure made my heart sing.

I used these Copics to color my Saturated Canary image:
Face:  E000, E00, R20, R11
Eyes:  E31, E35
Hair:  C1, C3, C5, C7, E50, Y000
Clothing:  BV00, BV11, V17, C1, C3, C5, C7

Embellies:
Tim Holtz Embossing folder "Steampunk"
Tim Holtz Alterations Die "Elegant Flourishes" (swirls)
Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon, Tiny Attacher, Adornments (wings & star), Sprocket Gear, Trinket Pin.
Ranger Distress Stain "Picket Fence"
Nestie "Labels Two" & Circle
Bead Landing "Found Objects" (clocks), Chain & jump rings
Recollections 'Paper Tickets' ("be original")
Black cardstock & glitter paper from my stash

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days:   Pick a number (numbers on the clock embellies)
Prairie Fairy Fridays:  #78 Inspirational photo
Creative Craft Challenge2:  Anything Goes
Joyful Stamper:  #57 Anything Goes
Polka Doodles:  Week 18 De-stressing
The Poodles Parlour:  Anything Goes
Simply Create Too:  #12 It's about Time (clocks)
The Stamp Man:  FAVorite technique (embossing)
Stampin' for the Weekend:  at least 4 layers
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps:  Distressing
Catch the Bug:  Anything Goes (won #2 ~ YAY)
CMC Copic Challenge Group:  Celebrations (Birthday)
Catered Crop:  "B" (birthday, black, be original)
Delightful Challenges:  Distressing
Digi Doodle Shop:  #107 Bingo (Film Strip RIBBON ~ Something New (SC image) ~ Distress INK)
Dutch Dare Card Challenges:  #164 Birthday Fun
Paper Crafting Journey: #9 Black plus one color (purple) (won top spot ~ YAY)
Shelly's Images:  "Happy" challenge (this image made me smile so much that she made me happy)
The Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters:  Card Challenge # 83 'Off Center'
Truly Scrumptious:  #80 Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  Add Dimension
Craft-room challenge:  Emboss It
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT:  #60 Anything but a Square
Oldie but a Goodie:  Die Cuts & Punches (my 'oldie' is the purple & black diamond Cardstock from last Halloween)
Craft Your Passion:  #109 Torn or Distressed Edges (I distressed the silver card base with a 'black soot' Distress Ink pad)
Always Crafting:  #7 Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog:  #148 The Man, The Myth, The Legend......anything by Tim Holtz (I used a steampunk embossing folder, trinket pin, film strip ribbon, tiny attacher, Elegant Flourishes diecut, wings, star, sprocket gears, Distress Ink & Distress Stain)
A and T Challenge Blog:  #23 Anything Goes

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

*New* Distress Ink Markers

 I just saw a Tim Holtz video from CHA showing the brand new Ranger Distress Ink MARKERS.  Wowsers!  I just HAD to share it with you!  Check it out!!! (Click on it twice to see it larger)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Distress Ink Video TUT by Tim Holtz

I just came across this Tim Holtz video where he shares various Distress Ink techniques for we cardmakers (or is it "us" cardmakers...LOL). He is soooo uber talented.

In this video he shares how to achieve various looks by using his Distress Inks in several ways........"Wrinkled Distress", "Wrinkle Free Distress", simple backgrounds with his Ink Blending Tool & a rubber stamping technique using various Distress Ink colors to achieve an awesome look.



Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

(Just a side note: I wanted to post it here so I always know where to find it.....LOL)

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing an Embossing TUT by Tim Holtz

What a FABulous idea "THE" Tim Holtz just shared on his blog. (If you're not a follower.....you are really missing out on some great stuff.)

Anywho.............I just HAD to share his TUT with you. I'm aaaaallll about sharing (hence the name "Sharr-a-hug".....LOL.....I like to share more than just hugs.....LOL). Okay.....nuff about me.....onto the 'share'.

Tim shared HERE how to emboss those long strips of paper or in this case.....a long tag.....that just doesn't seem to fit in your embossing folder. He even gave permission to cut (gasp) his beautiful "Texture Fades" embossing folder.

So get your handy dandy craft knife ready and give it a try.

Thanks for checking in with me.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~