Four Christmas in July Cards + Destash Alert

Hey crafty friends! Grab a giant refreshing beverage and get cozy, because we are escaping the summer heat today with some serious winter inspiration!

If you’ve been following along with the weather out here in Idaho, you know I’ve been practically melting at my boys' summer tennis tournaments. While spring is usually my prime time to hit the courts myself, and autumn remains my absolute favorite season, this week I am fully embracing Christmas in July.

We have a massive milestone to celebrate in the craft room! It is officially the one-year anniversary of the EZ Wonder Die #3, created by the Linh over at LV Handcrafted Design for the Not 2 Shabby Shop. To mark the occasion, Linh has been releasing weekly commemorative sheet printables. This week it's a gorgeous Winter Commemorative Postage Sheet, and I just couldn't wait to dive in and create four distinct cards to show you just how versatile these printables can be.

A Peek at the Cards

In my latest YouTube video, I walk you through making four cards with this one sheet printable.

• The "Cookies & Cocoa" Team Grid: A clean, postage grid layout featuring the adorable avatars of our EZ Postage Printables design team.

• The "Home for the Holidays" card: A warm, vintage-inspired card with an icy blue snowy village and a sweet coffee drinking grannny.

• Blue Christmas Wishes: A fun layout using scraps from the gorgeous Blue Christmas collection (on sale right now for Christmas in July!), and a sweet girl holding a warm mug that is absolutely filled with coffee in my imagination.

• The Grumpy Old Man: I know he doesn't look that grumpy, but he reminds me of the classic move, Grumpy Old Men. LOL

🚨 48-Hour Anniversary Flash Sale!

Linh is throwing a major celebration for this anniversary, but you have to act fast!

The Details: Winter Commemorative Sheet is completely FREE with any purchase,

Use my EXCLUSIVE affiliate code Julee5off to get $5 off any EZ Printable.

This is a strict 48-hour flash sale that expires on July 24th, so make sure you head over to grab your digital goodies before the clock runs out.

Head over to my YouTube channel to watch the full process video, see these cards come together step-by-step, and grab all the shopping links below.

DESTASH Alert

My friend Linh and I have gone in together to create some mystery de-stash bundles from our own supplies! You can grab them at the link below. There are three bundle sizes to choose from and all stamps and supplies are in good condition. The perfect excuse to get yourself a little Christmas in July prezzie!

Shop here: https://www.lvhandcrafted.com/products/mystery-de-stash-bundles?variant=53790274257169

Thanks again! Stay crafty, stay cool, and happy stamping!

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Hedgehog Hugs EZ Cardmaking Kit

Hi friends! My friend Linh (LV Handcrafted) has put together an adorable digital cardmaking kit that works with her EZ Wonder Die #1 and Ultimate Sentiments Die. Best of all all the files are printable PDF's so you don't need any special digi knowledge to use them! 

Plus, Linh gave me a special coupon code to share with you! Use code VERVEGIRL for 10% off EZ Postage Printables, EZ Cardmaking Kits and The Ultimate Sentiments. I had a super fun crafty little session playing around with this sweet Hedgehog Hugs EZ Cardmaking Kit. You can watch the process video on the blog below or on my YouTube channel.

  

The EZ Guide in the kit is designed to cut with the EZ Wonder #1 Die, but you don't need the dies to work with the kit. For my first little project I decided to make an shaker ornament with the help of the Ultimate Snowglobe Shaker Die set. I love the snow and think it turned out so cute!  I did color the red of the santa hat with Copic markers to match the red I used for the ornament frame. I adorned it with some holiday greens die cuts from Tim Holtz and a few teeny jingle bells, then backed with one of the printed pattern papers.

Next I created three cards using a bunch of the kit contents and the EZ Wonder Die #1, as well as the EZ Wonder 1 Add-on. I just loved this frosty pink and cocoa color palette. So fun and cozy!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Be sure to check out the shop for this fun new kit!

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Mixed Media Christmas

Hi crafty friends! Today I'm popping in with a just for fun mixed media holiday card. The other day I was itching to do some mixed media, but didn't really have a plan, so I sat down with some paints, gesso, and distress inks to have some fun.

I created the background with green paint and gesso, then stenciled over some punchinella (sequin waste) with distress ink. I then pulled out some Tim Holtz stamps from years past and stamped randomly on the background. A splattering of black and white inks, and then I set the background aside to dry.  

Once dry, I pulled out some distress reinkers in lumberjack plaid and rustic wilderness to paint in parts of the stamping on the background.

For my focal point, I chose a piece of A Woodland Christmas Ephemera, which I enhanced with a bit of the watered down reinkers and some white gel pen accents. I pulled out some old ephemera from my christmas tin, a bit of cheesecloth, and a teeny tea dyed tag for embellishment. The joy sentiment is from an old Verve stamp set, Holiday Phrases. Some shabby edges finishes things off.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastic day!

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Easy Gatefold Christmas Cards

Hello, friends! Is anyone else shocked at how fast October is zooming by? Seriously, where did the time go? To get into the holiday spirit, I’m sharing two cheerful Christmas cards I just finished, built around the adorable It’s Gingie Time collection from Not 2 Shabby. This collection sold out quickly, but Jamie has more on order and you can pre-order yours today.

Gate Fold Assembly 

1. You just need a standard half sheet of card stock ($5.5"\times 8.5"$) for the base.
2. Score the long edge at 3" and 7.25".
3. Fold inward on both lines to meet in the middle, creating your gate!

Next, start papering those sections. I cut the main left panel to 2.25"×5.25". For the skinny front and back flaps, I used two pieces cut at 1"×5.25".

To make the card secure and give it some dimension, I made a cute tag that acts as a closure.

I cut a $2.25"\times 4"$ piece of cardstock, shaped the top edge with an angle punch, and then decorated it with a complementary piece of patterned paper ($21/8"\times 37/8"$). After adding some gold cording, sentiment, and a little bit of ephemera, I popped the whole thing up on dimensional foam. Positioning it so it crosses the center seam keeps the flaps nicely tucked in! Here's a peek at the inside of the card. I used some white card stock panels to create a place to jot a note, then embellished with a scrap of paper and a piece of ephemera.

I was having so much fun, I couldn't just stop at one! Here's my second take...

I used the It’s Gingie Time stamp set for the greeting on the first card, and pulled a sentiment from a favorite older stamp set for the second. For the inside, I dressed it up with scraps of paper and more ephemera. So cute!

There you have it, two quick Christmas cards! I'd love to know if you make one of these! If you do, tag me on instagram @vervegirl so I can take a peek!

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Brewing Up Cheer

Hi there friends! I'm back today sharing a bit of inspiration with the It's Gingie Time Card Kit. I just love the Gingerbread Coffee House stamp set in the bundle, so sat down of an afternoon to color my little heart out.

This little cutie was first. He's so cute holding up his sweet beverage. Since I colored the mug green, I picked the gorgeous green gingham print from the It's Gingie Time Paper Pad and these fun holly wrapped gifts for the background.  The dotty paper was placed horizontally to break up the layout and have a place for my gingie to rest.  I added the sentiment, tucked a few colored holly sprigs under him and finished with an ephemera cookie.

My second card uses the same stamp set and papers. These two little cuties at the coffee shop look like they are on the cutest little coffee date. Hubby and I tried a new coffee shop the other day and they were selling little onesies that said, "cutest little coffee date". Soooooo cute! Anyhow, I decided to color them up in teals to go with my favorite paper in the pad... the heart cookie background.  I kept the layout simple with just some thin mats and a ribbon slider through the sentiment label.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastic day!

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Dear Santa

Hello my sweet friends! Today I'm popping in with some more inspiration with the Not 2 Shabby October Paper Pad Club. Have I mentioned how much fun this release is? How adorable is that little reindeer? He's one of the cut aparts in the paper pad and my Brother Scan 'n Cut cut him out perfectly!

I started with the EZ Wonder 3 postage grid. I'm a little obsessed with this die right now! I just have so much fun creating all the little elements. It ticks off all my happy boxes! I stayed with a green and brown palette to match the lovely greens in the Special Delivery papers that I selected.

I embossed three of the images from the Merry Mail stamp of the month in green and then cut out to add to the collage.  The dear santa (another cut apart) was the perfect finishing touch.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastically creative day!

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Santa Approved

Snowy days, hot cocoa, and brown paper packages tied up with string! ❄️☕🎀  These are a few of my favorite things.... to craft (I'm not particularly in love with the fluffy white stuff in real life!) 😆

But, boy do I ever love adding the white splatters to approximate snow! I had so much fun layering up these papers and collage elements from the Special Delivery paper pad into a fun holiday scene.  The Santa approved seal from the Merry Mail stamp of the month was the perfect accent.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastic day!

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Vintage Merry Mail

Hi crafty friends! Thanks for stopping by today! I've been having so much fun in my craft room with the Not 2 Shabby Paper Pad Club! I was wanting a vintage feel, so die cut the EZ3 postage grid from mixed media card stock and then smooshed with gathered twigs, pumice stone, and old paper distress oxide inks. It's kind of giving tea dye vibes, don't you think?

I chose one of the patterns from the Special Delivery paper pad for the two opposing corners, then used the Merry Mail stamp of the month to stamp directly on the other grid spaces.

I then went down a rabbit hole stamping all the images from Merry Mail in various colors onto cardstock, then antiquing with distress inks and cutting with a variety of circle dies. It was such a welcome distraction from all the other stuff going on in the world these days.

I wanted some poinsettias for my stamp cluster, so perused my paper and found some in the Sparkling Christmas Wishes paper pad. I highlighted with Copic markers for a deeper red and then fussy cut  to tuck into my focal cluster.   To finish off, I glued down the grid on an A2 card base, just a bit askew for a little interest.

So glad you could stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic start to your week!

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Winter Bridge

Hi friends! Today I'm popping in with more from the Ultimate Snow Globe Shaker Bundle! I love these pretty papers and ephemera so much that I had to make another card. I went for a peaceful winter wishes scene this time!

I gave the ephemera piece a little distressing with Brushed Corduroy ink, then cut it out with the large circle die. I added a gold foil mat behind it for some extra shine! For the backdrop, I paired the golden paper and that gorgeous poinsettia print, then covered the seam with a gold peel-off sticker and added some sparkly gold glitter snowflakes.

The best part? The sentiment from the Winter Wishes stamp set! Even though it's curved, you can easily straighten it out to fit on a banner die from the EZ Wonder #1 Add-Ons. I embossed it in gold, popped up the circle element, and added it all to a white card base. So much fun! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastic day!

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Angelic Snowglobe

Hi friends! I'm switching things up today to share this fun snow globe creation! It's all thanks to the Ultimate Snowglobe Shaker Bundle. Isn't that angel ephemera just the prettiest? I just had to make her the star of the show! 😊

I'm loving how the Ultimate Shaker Die Set is so versatile. I paired it with some stitched arch dies from my stash for a unique shape! I put a vellum arch behind the base, glued on some gold glitter snowflakes, and then added the angel. After tucking a smaller acetate arch over her, I added foam tape for a bit of lift. The sentiment from the Winter Wishes stamp set is embossed in gold onto a vellum die-cut. I finished it all off with a paper backdrop from the Cozy Christmas paper pad and some sparkly enamel dots! ✨

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you have a fabulous day!

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