Another Christmas In July

Christmas in July seems to really have taken off and not only in crafting circles. I see lots of references to the concept on TV and in stores. A couple of days ago Stampin’ Up! gave us a preview of the September to December 2023 Mini Catalogue. It’s chock full of amazing Christmas and other seasonal products that will be available for customers to order starting September 6^th. Meanwhile there’s some great Christmas products in the Annual Catalogue too, like the Christmas Pinecone Dies I used to create this card.

Create this "Season's Greetings" card using the Brightest Glow Stamp Set, with the Labels Aglow and Christmas Pinecones Dies all from Stampin' Up! #papercraftwithme

RUSTIC BACKGROUND

I began by using my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Pebbled Path Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my A2 card base.

Then from the Earthen Elegance 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack I found a light coloured sheet that was quite plain with tiny darker speckles. It was exactly the neutral background that I was looking for so I started by cutting a piece 2-1/4″ x 6″. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached the DSP to the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Finally I trimmed off the excess DSP with Paper Snips, using the edge of the flap as a guide.

Next I cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ piece and glued it down one of the long edges of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. Along the edge of the DSP strip I then added a 1/8″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Mossy Meadow Card. With that done I glued the assembled layer to the inside of the card base with the DSP towards the bottom.

With that done I cut a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of the DSP and used it to cover the front of the card base.

Now I was ready to channel my Christmas spirit. But before I got to the Christmas Pinecone Dies I needed to back some card with pieces of Adhesive Sheet. For the main foliage I cut and backed a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Mossy Meadow Card. Then for the pinecones I cut and added Adhesive Sheet to half of a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Copper Clay Card.

CHRISTMAS GREENERY

Next, I cut the Mossy Meadow piece using the more solid-looking of the two largest dies in the Christmas Pinecone set. The other large die can be used to add a second foliage layer on top of the first but I decided not to use that today. Once the large piece was cut, I peeled the backing off the Adhesive Sheet and pressed the die-cut card onto the front of my card base.

Going back to the set I now took out all six of the individual pinecone dies. From the area of Copper Clay Card without the Adhesive Sheet I cut three of the large solid shapes and five of the small ones. Then from the other part I cut three of the large detailed shapes and 5 of the small ones. To provide some contrast I used a Blending Brush to add Copper Clay ink to all the solid pinecone pieces. With that done I peeled the backing paper from the detailed pieces and lined them up on top of the solid ones.

Placing the pinecones on the card front was a simple job and I began with the small ones. Using liquid glue I fixed each one on top of the pinecone shape visible on the die-cut Mossy Measow layer. Then I added the three larger pincones to their assigned places with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

All I needed now was a sentiment and for that I turned to the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. First I cut a 1″ x 4″ piece of the same DSP and glued it onto a 1″ x 4″ piece of Basic White Card. Then I stamped “Season’s Greetings” onto the layered piece using Copper Clay ink.