From Summer to Winter...

Aha, it is summer.

But soon,

it will be winter.

Keep scrolling down to see Summer and Christmas~

Summer card...front

Summer card...with the front relaxed a bit...

And, summer card...back view...

What a fun card to make.

If I had to do again, I would look carefully and

make the back design run in the same direction as the front.

Inspirational Challenges are:

Love to Create - spots and dots

Saturday Challenge - Bright and Cheerful

The Play Date Cafe - Color Challenge (Cobalt...Goldenrod...Peony)

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - 3 pattern papers (2 on front, 1 on back)

Totally Gorjuss - Pearls

Stamping 411 - Sketch

First time I looked at this sketch, I immediately thought

of a diamond fold. So...that's what I did!

Crazy 4 Challenges - what you love to do on a Hot Summer Night

I like to walk around the flower beds and enjoy the flowers.

Lately it's a necessity and I added watering to gazing.

Kaboodle Doodles -'What's in' in the crafting world

I picked punched flowers and fancy folds

Do You Stack Up? - Friendship

One Stop Craft Challenge - Just good friends

Simply Create Too! - use it twice

(flower is stamped/punched twice and layerd)

The Pink Elephant - Summer

 

Now, let's move on to winter and a non-traditional Christmas card...

New embossing folder from the soon to be introduced

Stampin' Up Holiday Catalog (Aug 1).

*I used the debossed side

*2 step bird punch

*Stamp set Perfect Punches

*Pink color is the new in color Primrose Petals

Inspirational Challenges are:

Moving Along with the Times - Pink, Pearly and Pretty

 (2nd entry but way different from the first!)

Christmas Stamping All Year Long - Inspirational Photo

I used the wreath to inspire this card.

Craft Your Passion - black, white plus one

Creatalicious Challenge - Christmas in July

Creative Card Crew - Use black card stock

Creative Craft Challenge - pink and black

Lexi's Creations - Christmas in July

Lollipop Crafts - Christmas in July

The Order of the Opus-Gluei - Seasonal (I picked Christmas)

Party Time Tuesdays - Christmas in July

Pixie Dust Studio Challenge - Christmas theme

Sugar Creek Hollow - Christmas in July

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Christmas in July

Top Tip Tuesday - It's All About Circles

Totally Stampalicous - texture (dry embossing and wreath)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

SAM

HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!

I found some really cute images at Dearie Dolls

 and

 to make it even a better day - they are free!

Want an even better day?

You can get them already colored!

For free!

But I decided to use my investment in the Copics company -

I colored mine!

I was inspired by the following challenges...

Moving Along with the Times - Pink, Pearly and Pretty Celebration

Touch Twin Challenges - color Inspiration photo

p.s. - chance to win free markers!

Color Creative Challenge - Anything Goes w/ a Girly Twist

(Image MUST be colored with Copics, ProMarkers, other alcohol markers or Colored Pencils!)

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Easel card

Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger Inspiration photo

Simon Says Stamps Challenge Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs - Let's Party!

Anything Goes Challenge - Let's Not Be Square!

Card Positioning System - sketch

Thanks for stopping by.

And thanks for the brief break of rain and cooler temps.

SAM

CHRISTMAS IN JULY?

Doesn't feel like Christmas here in the Midwest

with 90-100+ temps for weeks now.

Although my DH did accused me of having Cabin Fever.

Honestly, I don't.

I love the peace and quiet.

But with all the Christmas challenges

I just HAD to make a Christmas card!

Y'all left me no choice!

Inspirational challenges at this holiday season are:

Totally Gorjuss - It's Christmas!

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Blog hop and Anything Goes

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

Christmas Card Challenge - emboss resist

Lollipop Crafts - Christmas in July

Corrosive Challenge - Sentimentally Yours

Totally Stampalicious - favorite embellishment (pearls)

The Crazy Challenge - Christmas in July

The Pink Elephant - Christmas in July

Creatalicious Challenge - Christmas in July

Winter Wonderland - sentiment as focal point

Christmas Stamping All Year Long - No Inky Yet

(ornament and sentiments stamps new, never been used!)

Little Red Wagon - Christmas in July

Crafty Creations - Free for All

Deconstructed Sketch Challenge - Sketch

Stampin' for the Weekend - tags

Alphabet Challenge - Lace

ABC Challenge - T for two

Totally Paper Crafts - Lots of Layers (at least 3)

Party Time Tuesdays - Punches, Die Cuts (used both)

CCEE Stampers - Reverse Masking (ornament on tag)

Southern Girls Challenge - Pearls

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday - stamping

Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in July

2 Sisters Challenge blog - Christmas in July

Thanks for stopping by -

Gotta go water some more flower beds!

SAM

FUN IN THE SUN!

Decided it was time to get out the Copics and practice coloring again.

Luckily I won a free digi from Desert Island Crafts Challenge

the sponser was Dilly Beans and I chose

MERMAID!

FYI- Look at the sun.

I made it with 1 circle punch and 2 punch of the SU! 5 petal punch.

Layered it - and - Viola! a 'cool' sun!

Actually, my fun is in the house, not outside in the sun.

The sun in the Midwest has not been much fun -

even though the temps are on the down slide -

the humidity takes over so it is still uncomfortable to have -

Fun in the Sun!

To learn more about the creative side of this card,

check out the following inspiring challenges...

Little Red Wagon - Life's a Beach

Pile It On - It's a Shore Thing

Love to Create Challenge - colors inspired by picture

Make My Monday - color wheel challenge

Tuesday Throwdown - Hot colors

Creative Card Crew - swirls (embossing) and Pearls (necklace)

Deep Ocean Challenge - A Sea of Love

Sketch Frenzy Friday - Sketch (I turned it)

Simply Create Too - Summer Vacation

Totally Paper Crafts - Here Comes Summer

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Fun in the Sun, optional sparkle and Shine

(You'll have to click to enlarge and look real close to see the 'shine')

Everybody Art Challenge - Summer

By the Cute and Girly - A day at...the beach

Craft Challenge - Splash Water

SAM

To the Land of the Free!

Decided to make a Independence Day card.

Don't have many Independence stamps.

That means I have to reach for some creativity.

3 things about this card

1. I used the SU! stripe embossing folder, used VersaMark

and embossed with red glitter embossing powder.

2. I stamped on the satin ribbon and used

red and blue Gelly Roll pens to color the letters

3. I used a Hawaiian quilt punch that I just had to have.

That was several years ago.

First time I used it!

The picture doesn't do it justice.

The star is silver glitter CS.

The red stripes are glittery and very shiney.

The rhinestones on the quilt squares are red.

BTW, embossing/glitter powder is everywhere!

Few good inspiring challenges today.

The Critter Challenge - And some sparkle

The Cupcake Craft Challenge - bright (colors) as a (blue star) button

Cute Card Thursday - Patriotic

Incy Wincy Designs - Patriotism (use color or items)

Just Us Girls - Use stars and sparkles

Love to Create - Stars n' Stripes

The Order of the Opus-Gluei - America

Paper Craft Star - No designer paper

Scrappy Frogs Challenge - red, white and blue

Sentimental Challenge - be patriotic with sketch

Simon Says Stamps - sporty and/or Patriotic

Simply Create Too - Theme, country where you live

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - red, white and blue with a little sparkle too!

Top Tip Tuesday - Independence Day or Stars

Desert Island Crafts - Pick at least 3 of 10,

   1. Sketch Challenge

   2. Glitter

   3. Use Rubber stamp

   4. Silver

2 Sisters Challenge - red, white, blue optional glitter/bling

365 Cards Sparkle and Shine - use 2 sparkle/shine techniques

   1. embossing powder/glitter

   2. Glitter CS

Aud Sentiments - Bingo (Bling, Embossing,die cut)

Bearly Mine Challenge - Anything goes

Card Makin' Mamas - red, white and blue

Paper Pretties - red, white and blue

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Seeing stars

Love trying new techniques, keeps my mojo goin'!

A Happy 4th to you.

I'll never forget the 4th that a firecracker exploded in my hand.

Made some real good blood blisters.

Watch your kids - closely.

Stay Safe!

SAM

Wishing You a ~ Happy Birthday!

I know a special little one

 (and I mean little!)

with a birthday approaching.

Can't tell you who.

She never really comes out and says "Thank you!"

But her actions are louder than words -

and know she appreciates all of her gifts!

There is a clue in this card as to who it is -

Can you guess?

...and of course I made another envelope,

this time lined flourished stamped with the flap embossed.

...and a shout out -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ........!

The following challenges have been very inspiring for the creativity on this card.

Also, I used a new SU! Hostess Stamp Set, Summer Afternoon

Anything Goes Challenge - Polka dot with birthday wishes

Moving Along with the Times - Birthday

Kaboodle Doodles - colors of your flag (red, white and blue with gold fringe!)

The Play Date Cafe - colors, cotton candy, ruby, citrus, dusk

Totally Stampalicious - red, white and ??? (blue!)

Crafty Creations - embellish

ABC Challenge - surprise! show us your creativity

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards! - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - Easy as 1 (image), 2 (designer paper), 3 (pearls, ribbon, twine)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - scallops

Stamping 411 - sketch

Do You Stack Up? - Blue Skies and Clouds

Deep Ocean Challenge - Summer

Thanks for stopping by.

And - whoever it was,

thanks for sending the rain!

And our trees thank you too!

Have you figured out who the card is for?

Check the comments, I bet someone knows!   ;)

SAM