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]

Global Stamping Friends Blog Hop - Pick a Bundle

Hi Crafters,

The Global Stamping Friends are embarking on another great blog hop.  We are a group of international Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all over the world.  It is so much fun to participate and be inspired along the way.  

Our theme for September is a fun one - Pick a Bundle.  Stampin' Up! bundle products together and offer a 10% discount.  This usually consists of a stamp set and co-ordinating dies or a punch.  I love bundles because not only are they superb value for money but the products have endless possibilities together.  

I chose to use Itty Bitty Christmas from the newly released Autumn/Winter catalogue.  This is a versatile stamp set featuring 18 sentiment stamps for any seasonal greeting.  The seven dies are gorgeous and perfectly sized for cardmaking.  If you like to create bigger projects, simply cut multiples and join together for an all over pattern. 

I started with a Whisper White cardbase and attached a layer of silver Glimmer Paper, making sure to cut out some extra snowflakes from the centre first.  This is a great way to get more from your layered cardstock and nobody will be any the wiser!  I cut a Night of Navy rectangle using the Stitched Rectangle dies.  I used my Stamparatus to line up my sentiment and then heat embossed in silver embossing powder.  I added the embossed lines using my Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  I marking pencil lines on the back of the die cut so I would end up with embossed lines on the front rather than debossed.  I covered the sentiment strip with a scrap of cardstock and then flicked some Shimmer Paint in Frost White onto my die cut.  I cut two of the snowflake clusters in Whisper White and added them with Liquid Multipurpose Glue.  To finish I added some silver pearls to the centre of the snowflakes.  

I hope you enjoy our bundle inspiration and I'm sure there will be plenty of variety with this theme.  To keep hopping, simply click the next image below to head to Tricia's amazing creation.  

What bundle will you pick next?  Thanks so much for hopping along with us and be sure to check back next month for our latest blog hop inspiration.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Blog Hop List

Amanda Farlinger

Lisa Ann Bernard

Libby Dyson

Jenn Curtis Charles

Anastasia Radloff

Rachel Macleod  ***You are here***

Tricia Butts

Lisa Henderson

Jan Musselman

Angélique Stempelkeuken

Kimberley Anne Morris

Barbara Welch

Product List

Itty Bitty Christmas Bundle (En) [153019]	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551]	Stamparatus [148187]	Simply Scored [122334]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Silver Glimmer Paper [146960]	Embossing Buddy [103083]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131]
Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Frost White Shimmer Paint [147046]	Metallic Pearls [146282]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Global Stamping Friends Blog Hop - Autumn/Winter & Holiday Catalogue

Hi Crafters,

The Global Stamping Friends are back with another great blog hop.  I hope you'll join us for this fun crafty trip around the globe.  Don't forget to comment so we know you've visited.  We are showcasing products from the new Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter Catalogue and I can't wait to be inspired by the all the great projects.  

I've created a card that uses a traditional Christmas image but in non-traditional colours.  I chose to use the Peaceful Poinsettia bundle.  I was blown away by the amazing samples in the catalogue and couldn't wait to start playing - there will definitely be more to come!

I made a card blank from Rich Razzleberry cardstock and then adhered a piece of the Tea Room Specialty Designer Series Paper on top.  This paper is a tone on tone stripe in Calypso Coral.  I took a piece of Galvanized Metallic Paper and ran it through the Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impression Embossing Folder which is an absolute favourite of mine.  I added a hint of Bright Copper Shimmer Paint, using more in some areas than others to give a vintage look.  You could use a sponge dauber for this but I prefer getting a little messy and just using my finger!  I stamped the Christmas Wishes sentiment in Calypso Coral and then layered this up using the Layering Oval Framelits Dies.  My focal image was heat embossed in Copper and then I applied ink using Aqua Painters straight from the Calypso Coral, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry ink pads.  This is definitely my favourite way to colour and the heat embossed lines make it super quick and simple.  I used the co-ordinating die to cut out my poinsettia image and then adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.  

I hope you've been inspired by my traditional/non-traditional make and have fun hopping.  Head over to Narelle's blog for more inspiration using the next arrow below.  If you get lost on the way, there is a full list of the blogs in the hop at the end of this post.  

Happy hopping!
Rachel x

1.  Tricia Butts
2.  Libby Dyson
3.. Anastasia Radloff
4.. Anja Reuss
5.. Jan Musselman
6.  Amanda Farlinger
7. Angélique Stempelkeuken
8.  Lisa Henderson
9.  Kimberley Anne Morris
10. Rachel Macleod
11.Narelle Fasulo
12. Sarah McDermott

Product List

Peaceful Poinsettia Clear-Mount Bundle [149962]	Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [147906]	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706]	Big Shot [143263]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder [141636]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101]	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090]	Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad [147091]
Galvanized Metallic Paper [147805]	Tea Room Specialty Designer Series Paper [146894]	Rich Razzleberry A4 Card Stock [119981]	Bright Copper Shimmer Paint [147045]	Aqua Painters [103954]
Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins [146933]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]