Psst... If you are reading this post on July 19th, please note that we are getting the tour ready and testing the links to make sure everything is working. The official tour begins on the 20th, so if you cannot make the whole round tonight, hang in there with us!
Welcome to our July Tour de Freaks! This tour is brought to you by the Control Freaks Stampers members and if you have been following the tour, you should have gotten to my blog by clicking on the link provided by Barb Mullikin on her blog. If you are just starting out, make sure to visit all twelve blogs that are part of the tour today by following the links provided at the bottom of each post. Our theme this month is Christmas in July and Convention swaps! So without further ado, here are the fun projects I would like to share with you this month!
My first project: Santa Claus is coming to town
Project info: When I started thinking about ideas for the tour, I had this image of a sparkly red cone used as a Santa Hat that popped into my head. I thought with the Petal Cone die and glimmer paper, this would be a piece of cake. The idea then evolved as I was putting the project together and to make the box more substantial and play up the rounded flaps at the bottom (which look like the bottom of Santa's coat), I decided to use the cone as a topper for a box and add a simple, square box underneath. I used the Houndstooth embossing folder on the white cardstock to give it texture.
Here are some tips tp reproduce the project: To make the black belt, use the die a second time to die-cut two more cone sides. Then, draw a line in pencil an inch above the scoring line (the one above the petal flaps) and cut following the line you draw and along the scoring lines. You will then have black stripe that will follow the outline of your box perfectly. Use Sticky strip to secure the band in place on the glimmer paper.
To make the bottom box, use a 6-1/4 x 6-1/4 cardstock square, score at 1-3/4 in. all the way around, cut the corner flaps on two sides following the score lines and assemble.
I added a sentiment (from the Delightful Dozen set) at the bottom of the box. It was stamped in Black Craft ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice powder.
Supplies
Stamps: Douze doucaine (Delightful Dozen)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Brushed Silver, Red Glimmer paper
Inks: Basic Black
Big Shot: Petal Cone die, Houndstooth embossing folder
Punches: Scallop Square, Scallop Circle
Accessories: Buttons, Iridescent Ice powder
My second project: Delicate Flake
Project info: The Hello, Doily stamp went straight on my first order and I thought it would make a great snowflake. I love how lifelike it looks embossed in white powder on a dark background, so I embossed it on Concord Crush and spritzed the cardstock with Silver Foil Smooch Spray . I then added a die-cut snowflake in the center held in place with a matching polka dot brad and added rhinestones on each "petal." The grey panel was embossed with a polka dot Texturz plate and the sentiment was created with one of the new Designer Frames embossing folders. I embossed a piece of Brushed Silver cardstock, cut it out and added a sentiment stamped on a piece of patterned paper in the center, along with a row of rhinestones on the side.
Color Combo: Concord Crush + Wisteria Wonder + Basic Grey + White
Supplies
Stamps: Hello Doilie, Saison festive
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush
Designer papers: Berry Blossoms
Inks: Concord Crush, Versamark
Big Shot: Designer Frames embossing folder, Northern Frost die, Texturz plate
Accessories: White embossing powder, Rhiestones, Wisteria ribbon, Silver Foil Smooch Spray,
Stampin' Dimensionals, In Colors polka dot brad
My third project: Trimming the Tree
Project info: When reading the comments about the new catalogue, some demos shared that their customers thought the In Colors were very "summer-y" and would not work for Holidays projects. I thought surely there'd be a way to make those colours work for Christmas, so I set out to find a color combo that would incorporate some of those colors. You have already seen Wisteria Wonder on my previous project, and this one incorporate Lucky Limeade and Calipso Coral, paired with Always Artichoke.
I will admit that when I saw we'd be doing a Christmas-themed tour in July, I was a little bummed it came before the Holidays mini supplies were released, but in retrospect, it was a good thing because it was a good excuse to dust off a set from the regular catalogue which I hadn't used in a while.
The sentiment was inked with markers and handcut, then embellished with In Colors polka dot brads. The silhouette was stamped in Versamark and embossed with Iridescent Ice, then I trimmed the tree with small pearls, and added some at the top of the cardstock as well. The background was embossed with the Stripes embossing folder and I used my brayer to add ink to the stripes. The Artichoke stripe was also embossed with the Houndstooth folder and I layered two ribbons (Victoria lacet rim and Lucky Limeade ribbon) on it. The scallops were created by stamping the wreath in Artichoke Craft ink, embossing it in Iridescent Ice powder and punching it out with the 2-1/2 Circle punch.
Supplies
Stamps: Vive Noël (Welcome Christmas)
Cardstock: Calipso Coral, Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla
Inks: Calipso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Versamark
Big Shot die: Stripes embossing folder, Houndstooth embossing folder
Punches: 2-1/2 Circle
Accessories: In Colors polka dot brads, Pearl Basic Jewels, Victoria lace trim, Lucky Limeade ribbon,
Iridescent Ice embossing folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, markers, Brayer
And your link back to the next stop on the tour: Patty Bennett's blog!
Cindy, all your projects are GOJUS! I love that Santa box, how stinkin' cute is that. Your cards are so pretty as well, especially loving the different color combo you went with on that last one.
Posted by: Jan | July 19, 2011 at 22:13
Wow - love all of your projects Cindy! That Santa box is just the bomb - amazing and gorgeous! Great job as always.
Posted by: LeeAnn Greff | July 19, 2011 at 22:27
Gorgeous projects! I especially love the Hello Doilie card.
Posted by: Pammy | July 19, 2011 at 22:41
Awesome projects! Using the petal cone die for the Santa is too clever!! Love the doily! And the layout on the Trimming the Tree card is cute!
Posted by: Deb | July 19, 2011 at 23:06
Wow these are AMAZING!! Great job Cindy!!! I am getting so inspired for CHRISTMAS with your projects!
Posted by: Lorri | July 19, 2011 at 23:18
That Santa box just makes me happy on SO many levels!! SUPER clever!! And BOTH of your cards are just lovely!! Need to ink up my doily die!! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | July 20, 2011 at 05:04
Awesome work. The Santa box is a super neat idea and very creative. I love the doily, I gotta get this stamp.
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Krista
Posted by: Krista Rill | July 20, 2011 at 05:48
I love the santa box! That is so cute!
Posted by: Jennifer S. | July 20, 2011 at 07:31
Very cute projects, Cindy.
Posted by: Mitzi Luttrull | July 20, 2011 at 09:44
I love your hat! This will be on my inspiration post tomorrow. TFS
Posted by: Kim Score | July 20, 2011 at 13:13
Oh DANG...that Santa box is truly ADORABLE!!!! LOVE your purple card...that doily just looks REAL embossed like that! and your Christmas card is FABULOUS!
Posted by: Mary Brown | July 20, 2011 at 18:30
Fabulous projects! They're all my favorites!! lol Thanks for inspiring!
Posted by: Mary Davidson | July 20, 2011 at 18:50
What awesome projects!!! Love love love that santa box!! I will be featuring it on My Crafty Picks #26 with a link back to your blog on 7-24-11. If you wish to decline please email me at [email protected]
Take care
Tiffany
www.mycraftyworld.blogspot.com
Posted by: tiffany bauer | July 20, 2011 at 21:27
wow!!! Your projects are fabulous!!! Thank you for sharing, or should I say.... merci
Posted by: celeste reising | July 21, 2011 at 10:49
Oh my GOSH!!!! This is soooo cute! I can't wait to make this. You did a wonderful job. Can you use the box on the bottom to put things in or is it glued together??
Posted by: cynthia richards | July 21, 2011 at 12:25
that Santa box is ADORABLE! I am totally stealing that idea!!! And I am drooling over the doily card. Thank you for being so inspiring!
Posted by: Amanda harbison | July 21, 2011 at 19:54
That Santa box is just AWESOME!!! I love it! What a great idea! The cards are beautiful, too...you do such fabulous work!
Posted by: Connie Babbert | July 24, 2011 at 08:05
I love it all...but especially the Santa box! I am all about the bling! You are amazing!
Posted by: Connie Collins | July 24, 2011 at 13:27
Awesome Christmas card and box, Cindy!! TFS
Posted by: Sharon Field | August 01, 2011 at 07:54