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 6th. Meanwhile there’s some great Christmas products in the Annual Catalogue too, like the Christmas Pinecone Dies I used to create this card.

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.

Next I found the perfect sized die in the Labels Aglow Dies. Having cut out the sentiment I added it to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Finally I scattered some gold Festive Pearls around the sentiment and pinecones, and another Christmas card was complete.
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