Christmas In July - Heart of Christmas

Pin It Now! The challenge at Merry Mondays this week is to make a green and white card, and this one turned out so different from the way I had it pictured.  Does this happen to you?  I was going to go the CAS route with a white base and maybe some washi tape.  Haha!

I decided to go more green and less white, with a combo of Old Olive & Confetti White, which is a much creamier white. 

I used a similar layout for my anniversary card last week, and I like the way it looks. The point in the front allows the patterned paper to show whether opened or shut. 

I embossed the cardfront with Lacy Brocade, and created a Hardwood panel with Old Olive ink and some sponging. Atop that, the sentiment Heart of Christmas is heat embossed white on Olive with a little more sponging.  A little banner of burlap and three tiny bells strung on linen thread fancy it up some.  Finally, rhinestones anchor the sentiment panel - I colored them with my Blendabilities. 

Inside...

Go check out all the beautiful cards at Merry Monday!  BTW, I LOVE this inspiration photo.  Just gorgeous!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Heart of Christmas, Merry Messages

INK:  Old Olive, White embossing

PAPER:  Old Olive CS, Candlelight Christmas patterned paper, Confetti White

EMBELLISHMENTS:  1-1/4" Burlap ribbon, Linen Thread, mini bells

OTHER / TOOLS:  Labels Framelits, Dotted Scallop Punch, 

Deck the Halls With Boxes & Punches! HSS173

Pin It Now! I've been keeping my new Envelope Punch Board very close at hand lately.  This week, I made a bunch of these "candy wrapper boxes" or they're also called cracker boxes.  I learned to make them from this video by Dee Slater.

I followed the basic idea of her tutorial, but I used a 4.5" x 6.5" piece of patterned paper from the Festival of Prints Stack.  Just tear one off the pad and here are my measurements on scoring and punching:

- Using a 4.5" x 6.5" piece of DSP from paper stack

- Score on 6.5" side at 1", 2", 3", and 4".

- Fold on each score line.

- Using the same technique in her video, punch on Envelope Punch Board at the 1-1/2" mark at each score line and the wider outside edge, not the skinny one.  Repeat on both ends.

- Apply Sticky Strip to the 3 flat sides of the inside of the smallest strip and fold into a box.

- For this size box, I find that scoring the punches is not necessary.  A bit of ribbon cinches the ends nicely.

So here's the fun part!  See those little punches made when creating the cracker box?  They look like ornaments, don't they?  Can you see how I used them on my cards below?

Cute! They fit just right on a 1" circle punch of Silver Glimmer Paper, and dangle from 1/8" Silver Ribbon.  I made one to match Hand Stamped Sentiments' Sketch Challenge #173, and another just playing around.  I plan to save all these little punches!  

Inside of the card:

Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and check out the challenge.  Very interesting sketch!  I'd love to see your take on it!

SUPPLIES:  Card:

Stamps:  Christmas Messages, Pop N Place Photopolymer Stamp Set

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Festival of Prints Paper Stack

Embellishments:  Cherry Cobbler Chevron Ribbon, 1/8" Silver Ribbon

Big Shot:  Chalk Talk Framelits, polka dot embossing folder

Punches:  1" circle punch 

Tools:  Simply Scored, Envelope Punch Board