CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hi there, stampers!  Well I did it...I finally got Hoppy Holidays from Our Craft Lounge.  I've only been admiring it for about a year or so.  Ha!  This little frog set is absolutely the cutest!  I thought it would be perfect for a Christmas in July three-card class that I'll teach at Memories of Time.

If you're interested, you can find more info on the MOT blog.  Oh, and did you know that Michelle offers a 20% discount on the entire store for anyone signed up the day of the class?  She has the best stuff!!!  So...have you ever noticed how there's always one or two stamps in a set that never get used? I'm excited to say, I used every stamp in this one!

For this card the frog was stamped, masked and the lights were stamped so it looks like he's standing in front of them then I went out-of-the box with a Nestie. It's a really fun technique!  I also cut and popped up multiple layers for added dimension.  It's kind of a weird pic (one of those that if you stare at it long enough it comes into focus), but you can see the frog on the bottom (Nestie) layer, the present was cut, colored and popped up, then the hands were cut, colored and popped up a third time.  The stocking (shaped like a frog's foot...love it!) was cut, colored and Sparkly Fluffed.  That stuff is awesome!  The poinsettia was colored with Copic markers and spritzed with Glimmer Mist before it was shaped and adhered to the card front.

Copic coloring:

Frog: YG25, YG23, YG21, YG01, YG00, R30, R29   Hat: R29   Bow: BG78, BG75, BG72   Gift: C3, C2   Light strand: YG25, YG23, R24, C2   Stocking: R29   Stocking goodies: R29, BG75, BG72, C3, C2   Ground: C3, C2, C1   Sky: B000, B0000   Outline: 110   Poinsettia: YG25, YG23, YG21,M R29, R27, R24, R22  Sentiment:  B000, B0000

SUPPLIES
STAMPS: OCL's Hoppy Holidays
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Rain, Red Devil; Abbey Road "Best Buddies" My Mind's Eye DP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; Fired Brick Distress Ink
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Big Scalloped Circles Large, Classic Ovals Large, Big Scalloped Ovals Large, Shapeabilities Labels Trio; Big Shot; Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations brick embossing folder, Flourish #3 Sizzlet; clear Atyou Spica pen; clear glaze Sakura pen; Stamp-a-ma-jig; sticky note mask; paper snips; Quickie Glue Pen; OCL's Rockstar Red Sparkly Fluff, Sugar Sparkly Fluff; Foam Squares; Magnolia Doohickeys Poinsettia die; Candy Apple Red Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist; Punch Bunch punch, Magnum Power Punch, Punch Bunch tool kit; PC mouse pad; non-stick craft mat; sponge; Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper; 1/2 pearls; Maraschino twine from The Twinery
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

Doesn't that little guy look like he's having sooo much fun?  I stamped the frog then cut it out using the out-of-the box technique (this time without the Nestie).  It was colored with Copic markers and Sparkly Fluff was added to both the hat and the little mittens that were popped up by the sentiment.  Crafty Sparkles were added to the snow around the sled and on both snowflakes.

Copic coloring:

Frog: YG25, YG23, YG21, YG01, YG00, YG0000, R30, R29   Hat/scarf: R27, R24, R22, C2, C1  Mittens:  R27, R24, R22  Sled:  BG78, BG75, BG72  Snow:  C2, C1 Sky: B000, B0000   Outline: 110  Sentiment:  B000, B0000

SUPPLIES
STAMPS: OCL's Hoppy Holidays
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Rain; SU Basic Black; Abbey Road "Best Buddies", "Watch Out", "Round & Round" My Mind's Eye DP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Nestabilities Petite Ovals Large, Shapeabilities Fancy Tags and Create a Flake One; Stamp-a-ma-jig; paper snips; Quickie Glue Pen; OCL's Sugar Sparkly Fluff; OCL's Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; Foam Squares; 1/2 pearls;
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

And last but not least, the little caroler.  This one is by far the simplest layout but for some reason, the most difficult for me to design.  Oh boy did I struggle with it.  Maybe because we were camping and I had limited goodies with me?  Not really sure.
Anyway, two sizes of oval Nesties were cut (two each).  The frog was stamped on the smaller of the two then colored with Copic markers.  Foam Squares were used between the ovals and the remaining two ovals were torn to create the snow layers at the frog's feet.  The tear line was used as a guide for the glue pen and Crafty Sparkles.  Each of snowy layers were staggered and popped up.  A Nestie border was cut and Crafty Sparkles applied to the dots.  The background musical notes were stamped using VersaMark for a subtle effect.  No surprise...the snowflake also has Crafty Sparkles and a button with a twine bow.  Overall, it's maxed out on spah-kle!  Heehee!  Oh yeah, and more Sparkly Fluff on the ear muffs!  Can't forget about that, now can I?

 

Copic coloring:

Frog: YG25, YG23, YG21, YG01, YG00, YG0000, R30, R29   Scarf: R27, R24, R22, BG 78, BG75, BG72  Ear muffs:  R29, BG75, BG72  Book:  C3, C2, C1, BG72  Sky: B000, B0000

SUPPLIES
STAMPS: OCL's Hoppy Holidays
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Parakeet; Abbey Road "Round & Round" My Mind's Eye DP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaMark Dazzle Frost
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Nestabilities Classic Ovals Large (two sizes), Shapeabilities Fleur De Lis Accents and Create a Flake One; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Quickie Glue Pen; OCL's Rockstar Red Sparkly Fluff; OCL's Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; Foam Squares; Maraschino twine from The Twinery; button from my stash
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

This project includes the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy ~ Christmas in July and/or Distressed/Vintage
Divas by Design ~ Die Cuts and Punches
KB Cute Monday ~ Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon ~ Christmas in July
Moving Along With the Times ~ Christmas in July
Our Creative Corner ~ Seasonal Celebration
Sentimental Sundays ~ Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps ~ Christmas in July
The Spotlight Challenge ~ Masking
Tuesday Throwdown ~ Christmas in July

Thanks for stopping by!