CHRISTMAS IN JULY - SIDE STEP CARD

Well it seems like Christmas In July is the theme everywhere and who am I to not join the Holiday fun when there's a heat wave going on...lol

This fun side step card was decorated with images from the Cricut Imagine "Santa's Village" cartridge.  EVEN THE PAPERS!  Anyone still have a Cricut Imagine?  If not, those images are all available in the Cricut Design Space. 

What I really love about the side step card is that things become dimensional....the tree in the background and then layers of presents....it's just fun. 

If you don't know how to make a side step card, here is a link to a tutorial I made a while back 

JUST CLICK HERE 

And I guess I better enter some of those challenges...

Hiding In My Craft Room - #260 Christmas In July

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - July Technique / 2 or More Folds

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #291 Use A Sentiment

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #373 July 21st - Christmas

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #81 Christmas In July

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - #76 Inspired "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - July Challenge

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - July

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - July Challenge

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - #281 Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

CORNER BOOKMARKS

Hi everyone!!!  I recently discovered Corner Bookmarks through a swap group I belong to on Facebook called Seasonal Swaps and Cards and couldn't wait to make some.  I did a little experimenting and came up with these....

And this is how they work....

I have since discovered other varieties and I'm sure you will too.  But to see how these are made please CLICK HERE to watch my YouTube tutorial.

The patterned papers I used are retired from CTMH, sorry, but the stamp I used is still available through CTMH...it is called "Look To The Light" .  The Black & Gold Ribbon is also from CTMH (Close To My Heart).  The punch I used is Martha Stewart's Punch Around The Page Eyelet Lace punch combo.

If you are interested in joining a swap group, there is not only the one I mentioned above, but the same person has another swap group for more advanced crafters....it's called Creative Swappers and we would love to have you join :)

Thank you for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Spotlight Technique Inspired By Katie Skiff

My friend and teammate Katie Skiff just posted a video on the Spotlight technique that you can use on cards or even in scrapbooking.  CLICK HERE to watch her video on YouTube.  She shows a few different variations of this technique.  And below is a card I made using my own variation of that technique.  I love it!

I colored the flowers with Twinkling H2o watercolors, colored the butterflies with Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll Pen, and the frame was cut using Sizzix square dies and my Cuttlebug.

Now for some challenges....
Tuesday Morning Sketches - #360
4 Crafty Chicks - Challenge #307 Flowers
Scrapbook Stamp Society - #95 Anything Goes / Butterflies
artbymiran challenge - #62 Anything Goes
Cut It Up Challenge Blog - #100 Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - #320 Sketch
Die Cut Diva's Challenge Blog - Make It Glitter


Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY - LOCKING MECHANISM CARD TECHNIQUE

I came up with this locking mechanism card years ago...still can't come up with a better name for it.  A couple years ago someone asked me to make a video on how to make the locking mechanism and that is when I made my very first YouTube video.  I reposted it back in October as an anniversary edition.  You can watch it on my YouTube channel by  clicking HERE 

This is a Christmas card made using the same technique.

I belong to a craft swap group on Facebook called

CREATIVE SWAPPERS 

It's group for advanced crafters, and I sent this card to the lady I was swapping with.  There is another swap group,

Seasonal Swaps and Cards 

for crafters of any level.

Be sure to visit my YouTube channel

 jjgz4ever "Janie's Crafter's Castle

to see my other tutorials, and click HERE to go directly to the tutorial for the locking mechanism

Now for the challenges....
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - #206 Monochrome
Hiding In My Craft Room - HIMCR #258 Super Scraps W/ a Twist
52 Chrstmas Card Throwdown - July Colour Challenge
ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for No Rules
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July 2016
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - July Challenge
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #19

Thanks for stopping by and....

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

CTMH STAMP & DIE REVIEW PROJECT WITH DISTRESS INKS

Close To My Heart recently started selling stamps with matching die sets...and I just happen to LOVE stamp & die sets....so naturually I had to order some and see how good they are.  I decided that since I needed to make a  block step card for a swap I was in that this was a good time try the stamps and dies.  
So here is my review that you watch on YouTube.

Here are some pictures of the card I made for the swap.  Other than the frames and squares, all images and sentiment are from the CTMH "Stuck On You" stamps & dies and are colored with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

And if you want to learn how to make this style card click HERE to see my YouTube tutorial.

The bad news is....I just bought these in January and CTMH no longer sells the "Stuck On You" stamp set and dies.  I guess they are putting out new ones every few months and retiring the others.  That would have to be the negative in my review...I don't like that.  If you don't buy it right away then you might not get the chance.

Here is a link to CTMH where you will be able to see the sets they have right now.

Close To My Heart 

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!