Ooo - CAS Christmas July has a snowflake theme this month - so pretty!  I'm going to try and squeeze in AAA #144's maxi white space challenge, too!
One of my favorite (and cleanest, lol) snowflakes is this big beauty from Holly Jolly Greetings, retired now from 2015.  I loved the combo of sentiments options you could do with this set, with or without the beautiful Christmas Greetings Dies.  I went uber-simple today, Pool Party on White, with just a few sequins and one rhinestone.  I don't think I could go any more CAS than this!  Simple and sweet - just what we need in a Christmas card!
Holly Jolly Greetings (retired 2015) Stamp Set; Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Pool Party Ink; Christmas Greetings (retired) & Stitched Shapes Dies; 2 1/2" Circle Punch; Pool Party Sequins; Basic Jewel Rhinestone; #CASChristmasSnowflake;#AAA144.

It's the most wonderful time of the year - Christmas in July!  Yay for As You See It #204!
So even though I have lots of fun new Christmas sets already, I JUST finished my Christmas in July classes using them, lol, so I went back to the shelves and pulled the still completely awesome Making Christmas Bright set.  I love this one so much - who knew how much fun could be had with all these strings of lights (which are my least favorite task during the actual tree decorating, lol.)  I think I managed to get all the recipe elements on here:  stars, diecut, ribbon, red AND Christmas - I got ALL the basket ingredients, lol...
Making Christmas Bright Stamp Set; Real Red, Old Olive & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Old Olive & Crushed Curry Inks; Real Red, Crushed Curry & Old Olive Markers; Stitched Shapes Dies; real Red Cotton Ribbon; Clear Epoxy Droplets; #AYSI204.

Oh baby!  Retro Rubber #114 is speaking my love language this week with their Christmas in July challenge!  And a Double Trouble team-up bonus?  Woo hoo!
After browsing the retired shelves I came up with my old 2014 Visions of Santa set - see how he has his trousers rolled up for going wading at the shore??  Lol, that was my thought anyway - not EXACTLY a beach scene but I was thinking it! I at least got in some other double troubles - squares for sure at least!  I loved this set - so many funny Santas dancing around - he's letting his beard down!
Visions of Santa Stamp Set (retired 2014); Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red; Memento Tuxedo Black & Real Red Inks; Real Red, Basic Black, Petal Pink & Mango Melody Blends; Sparkle EF; Stitched Shapes Dies; #RRCB114; #doubletroublechallengeblog.

Christmas in July 2019, July 13!
You know my philosophy:  it's never too early to start thinking Christmas!  Christmas in July is always our "Part 1" class, and features our holiday stamp sets and goodies from the Big Book - look for Part 2 in October!  Class includes all supplies needed (bring your own snips & fave adhesive!) for 6 cards and envelopes, plus drinks, snacks & a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot, for Saturday July 13 at 3 pm!  See you soon!

Well, I am SO excited to announce that I have joined the Sparkles Christmas Challenge design team, and my very first challenge is to include a tree on my card!  Woo hoo!
For this first go, it was too hard to not run straight to my beloved Peaceful Pines set from 2015 - I love all the styles of trees and details in this set, and of course, a good die set to go with never goes amiss, either, lol.  I featured this lovely scripture tree for the top layer, and gave it a couple background trees to hang out with - in all different greens, of course!  A few (well, maybe more than a few) silver pearls add a few extra touches - sweet!
So, what will YOU come up with!  I can't wait to see your Sparkles cards, over at the challenge!
Peaceful Pines Stamp Set (retired 2015); Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow & Whisper White CS; Mossy Meadow, Old Olive & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Woodland Embossing Folder; Perfect Pines Dies; Silver Pearls; #SCC102.

So excited that it's time for the next challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge #101 - include a reindeer!  Yay!  I think I'll combine with this week's AAA #142 one layer and black & white challenge, too!
So, I think this is NOT a natural marriage - clean and simple one-layer (in black and white, no less!) and sparkle reindeer, lol.  I always struggle with feeling like I'm not doing enough already - and I'm trying to pull that off on a Christmas card??  Oh well, here's where I've landed, and I do like it - I just have a sneaking feeling that I didn't really do anything, lol.  In the end, I caved enough to add some black rhinestones at least - it's for Sparkles, after all!
Dashing Deer Stamp Set; Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Black Rhinestones; #SCC101; #AAA142.

Ahh, another fun holiday challenge at this month's CAS Christmas for June - this time the theme is "gifts!"  Gotta love it!
So I have to confess, yes, I've been feeling a bit guilty for bringing in the new truck in Ride With Me the other day - I can't have Loads of Love thinking I don't still love it!  So today's presents are coming freight delivery, courtesy of Loads of Love (from way back in 2004!) and Loads of Love accessories.  And yes, I DID think of just putting the presents in the new truck (shh!) but to my surprise, the new truck is actually bigger than the love truck!  In my mind, when I saw Ride With Me in the new catty, I immediately thought of it as smaller - oops!  Anyway, it's still a blast to pull out all my love truck pieces - it still toots my heart!
Loads of Love & Loads of Love Accessories (retired 2004); Whisper White & Shaded Spruce CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Shaded Spruce Inks; Shaded Spruce, Gray Granite, Basic Black, Pool Party Real Red & Call Me Clover Blends Markers; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #CASChristmasJune.

Eek!  So excited, I just got a hot tip about ANOTHER monthly Christmas challenge (thanks, Fiona!) - Sparkles Christmas Challenge #100!  This month is all about holly!
I went hunting for something likely in the holly department, and I had a few choices, but then I spotted my beloved So Santa - especially the baking Santa here - brilliant!  Something fun (and holly!) for Christmas!  I had a great time coloring in all his details with my Blends, and then I even found my old Holly Textured EF - so much holly madness, lol...  Sigh, so fun, I love a good Christmas challenge!
So Santa (retired 2018); Whisper White, Real Red & Old Olive CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Basic Black & Nude Blends Markers; Holly Textured EF; Stitched Shapes Dies; Real Red Cotton Ribbon; #SCC100.

I'm loving our manly colors this week at Sunday Stamps #205!  What to stamp now?
It finally occurred to me that these could work pretty well as holiday colors, too - and I really need to bid a fond farewell to my beloved Christmas Pines!  This bundle has had such a nice long run - it really has become my go-to for all pine-y backgrounds, lol, plus I can just never get enough of these pine cones and awesome sentiments!  A little Christmas in May never hurt anyone, lol.
So, what will YOU come up with?  I can't wait to check it out, over at the challenge!
Christmas Pines Stamp Set; Whisper White, Tranquil Tide & Crumb Cake CS; Tranquil Tide, Merry Merlot & Crumb Cake Inks; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Pretty Pine Thinlits; Red Sequins; #SSC205.

So excited - I've found another Christmas card challenge, that posts monthly!  We're back in the jingle here!  CAS Christmas's May challenge is all about clean and simple stockings - game on!
I decided to browse my retired shelves for this one - I would have loved to do another fancy staircase all festooned, but I want to be god for this clean and simple challenge!  I came across 2015's Festive Fireplace, and realized I could be SUPER selective about what elements I used, lol.  So we have this floating mantle only, with three cute little stockings!  Because I was SO clean (for me, anyway, lol) I took a chance and added three little green sequins, too.  I'm so happy with the final result, surprisingly festive!  Yay!
Festive Fireplace (retired 2015); Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red, Old Olive & Mango Melody Blends Markers; Festive Fireside Framelits; Green Sequins; #CASCCCStockings.

So excited to get back to Christmas with this week's 52 Christmas Card Throwdown January sketch!  It looks just like a present!
I decided this sketch left a nice open field for showing off some pretty paper - and I still have a few scraps of my beloved Under the Mistletoe DSP - LOVED the plaids in this pack!  To keep it a little calmer, I added strips of solid Real Red CS for my "ribbon," and finished with some details from Alpine Adventure - love the curvy sentiment from this set, too!
Alpine Adventure Stamp Set; Under the Mistletoe DSP; Whisper White, Real Red & Crumb Cake CS; Early Espresso, Old Olive & Real Red Inks; Alpine Sports Thinlits; Jumbo Rhinestones (retired); #52CCT1-19.

Birthdays Galore 2019!
I'm so excited to kick off our new Spring Occasions catalog with our annual Birthday Cards class!  We have so many fun new sets to play with!  This class will feature SIX cards and envelopes, all using stamps from our new Spring Mini and Sale-A-Bration catties!  There were just too many to choose from!  Come get a good start on having your birthday cards ready for the year!  All supplies provided, just bring your own snips and fave adhesive!  Class will be $25, and includes, drinks, snacks and a special gift from me!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is still on for Saturday January 12 at 3 PM.  RSVP today to make sure I have your supplies ready and waiting for you!