Hopping Around The World Blog Hop - Christmas in July

Hi crafters,

The last weekend of every month is the Hopping Around the World Blog Hop and this month is no exception.  We are celebrating Christmas in July for our theme.  I love Christmas so this is a great theme to get into the festive spirit!  If you've hopped from Claudia's post you are on the right track.  There is also a full list of participants at the end of this post if you get lost along the way.  Be sure to let us know you've visited by leaving a comment.

There are so many wonderful new and returning Christmas products in the Stampin' Up! August to December Mini Catalogue.  The catalogue launches on 4 August so not long to wait now.  But don't forget the Annual Catalogue products too and I chose to work with the Birds and Branches stamp set paired with the Woodland Embossing Folder.    

I created a card blank with Thick Whisper White cardstock and then added a panel of Whisper White cardstock on top.  I inked up the Woodland Embossing Folder with Balmy Blue ink and then ran another panel of Whisper White cardstock through my machine.  This meant that the ink transferred to the areas between the embossed trees.  I swiped my Soft Suede ink pad over the trees to make them pop.  I cut the panel down with my Layering Circle Dies to create spotlights for my card.  

To create the robin I stamped the layers of one of the birds from the Birds and Branches stamp set.  I used inks in Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Poppy Parade.  I used the co-ordinating dies to cut out the bird and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Although before adding the bird I splattered some of the Shimmer Paint in Frost White all over the card, including the spotlights.  To finish, I added a sentiment from the Best Year stamp set in Poppy Parade.  

I hope you are enjoying the festive inspiration featured in this Christmas in July blog hop.  To keep hopping, head to Sandra's post next.  We would love to know you've visited so don't forget to leave a comment.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Blog Hop Roll Call

1.      Claudia Christensen (D)

2.     Rachel Macleod (UK) ***You are here***

3.     Sandra Herzog (AT)

4.     Melanie Igelbrink (D)

5.     Susan Simpson (UK)

6.     Maureen Rauchfuss (USA)

7.    Sheila Turner (Canada)

Product List 

Birds & Branches Bundle [154107]	Best Year Cling Stamp Set (English) [152568]	Woodland Embossing Folder [152881]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105]	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115]	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116]	Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [147050]
Frost White Shimmer Paint [147046]	Sponge Daubers [133773]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Hopping Around the World Blog Hop - Flowers

Hi Crafters,

I'm back for another Hopping Around the World Blog Hop.  We are an international group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who share inspiration on the last weekend of every month.  This month our theme is Flowers.  Be prepared to feel the flower power as you hop along with us and if you've come from Rebecca-Jo's blog, you are on the right track!

Just before my niece was born I had an overwhelming feeling that she would be a girl (nobody knew the gender) and her name would be a flower but I didn't know that both of those would come true!  Poppy was born in 2015 and she is the light of my life!  Anyway, the reason for my story is to introduce the Painted Poppies Suite.  I was absolutely delighted when I first saw this suite in the Stampin' Up! January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue.

I started by created the poppies using the Poppy Moments dies and some scraps of watercolour paper that had been used to dab up excess Melon Mambo Pigment Sprinkles.  I then cut the layers in Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy for a contrasting look.  I added the leaves in Mossy Meadow to complete the bouquet.  The background was created using the Handwritten Background stamp which is stamped in Night of Navy ink.  I used the Stamparatus as this is a large stamp and I wanted a really good impression and stamping the image several times in the same place is really easy with the Stamparatus.  I haven't added a sentiment yet as I'm still undecided on the occasion but I think this would fit for multiple celebrations. 

Okay, how about a bonus card?!  I had some leftover die cuts and I didn't want to add to my ever growing pile so I put this super simple card together using only die cuts - no stamping!

The card blank is made from Basic Black cardstock and then I adhered a Whisper White border die cut from the Delicate Lace dies.  I created the poppy using the Poppy Moments dies in Poppy Parade cardstock.  I added a layer of Wink of Stella glitter to the outline layer of the poppy.  The sentiment was cut three times from Whisper White cardstock and then once from Silver Foil and comes from the Well Written dies.  

I hope you are enjoying your hopping journey featuring our flower makes.  To keep hopping, head to Jennifer's brilliant creation next.  If you get lost there is a full list of the blog hop participants below.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x


Blog Hop List

1.      Claudia Christensen (D)

2.     Rebecca-Jo Unwin (Australia)

3.     Rachel Macleod (UK) ***You are here***

4.     Jennifer Downey (USA)

5.     Mo Rootes (UK)

6.     Sandra Herzog (AT)

7.     Margriet Siekman (NL)

8.     Melanie Igelbrink (D)

9.     Maï Chapelain (France)

10. Susan Simpson (UK)

11.   Maureen Rauchfuss (USA)

12. Sheila Turner (Canada)


Product List for Card 1

Poppy Moments Dies [151594]	Handwritten Cling-Mount Stamp Set [152063]	Pigment Sprinkles [149663]	Stamparatus [148187]
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612]	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock [133683]
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock [108601]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Product List for Card 2

Poppy Moments Dies [151594]	Delicate Lace Dies [147053]	Well Written Dies [148534]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock [121694]
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]