I'm not one to combine challenges but this week everything just fell in place, and I was able to combine three challenges. Yes!

This week the Less is More challenge is to use felt or fabric on your card.

The cue card  for CAS ology is Autumn.

And because I loved the CAS(E) This Sketch this week, I used it again.  You can also see it HERE in an earlier post this week.

Finally, let me share a burlap tip with you.  If you've ever tried to use burlap with your die cuts, you've probably discovered the burlap doesn't hold up very well.  It has no body.  What I've done to solve this is to coat my burlap with Mod Podge, and let it dry.  This will make the burlap semi stiff, and will hold up well with die cuts.  I prefer the hard coat Mod Podge for this technique. I hope this was helpful.

A Reminder: Karen is this week's One-Layer Wednesday host.


Supplies: Stamps: Both sentiments are Papertrey  Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa  Paper: Gina K - Ivory Accessories:  Felt, Burlap, Buttons, Pearl Cotton, My Favorite Thing Layered Rose Die, and We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

One-Layer Wednesday 147, Use-Your-Stamps Challenge, Never Before Used Stamps (NBUS), And a Christmas Card...

*An interruption in my regularly scheduled blog post... In an effort to post my Wednesday or One-Layer Wednesday post, I ran out of time.  Time being after midnight, tomorrow, the next day.  It's now Thursday, the 4th of July.  I would be horribly remiss if I didn't wish all of you a very happy 4th of July! 

God bless our military and their families. Along with all of our veterans and retires.  Thank you for all you've done in the name of peace.
 
                                                   *************

On to today's post.  Yes, I really did say Christmas and I know, it's only the beginning of July...! I'm sure you've all heard the old "Christmas in July" saying, right?

Before I go any further, I should mention this is a rather lengthy. I'll be glad to wait if you need to grab a cup of coffee, iced tea, or sweet tea (for those of you who live in the south). 

So, this week's One-Layer Wednesday host is Susan.  Her challenge is to use glitter or something shimmery on a one-layer Christmas/holiday card.  You can see Susan's post here. 

So here's my sparkle.

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I thought I would play around with some non-traditional colors.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm all about tradition.  I love the traditional reds and greens of Christmas, but I have to admit when the Christmas displays go up, I can't wait to see what's new and trending. What do you think the trends will be this Christmas season?    

Here's a peek at the inside of my card. I like the way the gray Washi Tape coordinates so well with the silver embossing. 

Earlier I mentioned the Use-Your-Stamps Challenge.  Susan, (the creator of the OLW Challenge) recently started her Use-Your-Stamps Challenge. You can see the rules here.  Really, the rules are very simple!  Please don't let the word rules scare you off.  Just think of the gratification you'll receive in knowing that you really did use all your stamps.  Then you can purged the ones that are outdated, overused, or you just don't care for anymore.  This of course, makes room for more stamps.  Did I hear a YES?  I thought I did. After reading Susan's challenge, I knew I needed to participate!  So this is my first post using my never before used stamps. 

Now, the Never Before Used Stamps (NBUS) is another stamp challenge that the very funny, and oh so adorable, Darnell also started recently.  This is another challenge involving your neglected stamps.  I think I'm seeing a trend here.  I hope you'll visit both sites and join in.

The Stamps used in today's card all fall under the Use-Your-Stamps Challenge and the Never Before Used Stamps Challenge (NBUS). I'm still searching for an accounting system that will help me track these challenges!

And finally, Susan's Christmas card challenge falls perfectly in line with my blog plan for July.  This month, my focus is on Christmas.  I'll be featuring a different category (cards, tags, packaging, etc.) each week this month.  My hope is to motivate you to start early this year.  My personal goal is to start earlier this year.  This all falls under the category of better planning.


OLW147 Rules

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of card stock folded in half. No other layers of paper allowed.

2. Make a sparkly card using glitter, glitter embossing powder, or some other shimmery substance (Brilliance, Smooch, Glimmer Mist, Twinkling H2Os, etc.). You can even use a card base of shimmer cardstock! The key is to get sparkly. Remember to keep the embellishments to a minimum.

3. Post your card somewhere online and link back to Susan's blog using the InLinkz button on the sidebar. If linking to a blog post, please be sure to link to the specific post and not your blog's home page.

4. The most important thing is to...HAVE FUN!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Vintage Ornaments & Gina K Designs - Sentiment
Paper: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Papertrey Ink - Hibiscus Burst & VersaMark
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Stamp Positioner, Silver Cording, & Washi Tape

One-Layer Wednesday ~ Scoring (OLW103)

Please join me in welcoming  Karen Dunbrook to the OLW Team!  Karen is hosting our challenge this week.  Her challenge; to add scoring to your card.  I hope you'll stop by Karen's blog for a visit. 

Here's my card:

This card is 4 1/4 square.  My plan was to use my sentiment to ground the image. I think I missed the mark!  Do I hear "re-do"?

Supplies:

Stamps: Gina K-One In A Million, Ink: Memento-Angel Pink & Gray Flannel, Papertrey Ink-Hibiscus Burst, Paper: Stampin Up, Accessories: Bling, Post It Notes, Scoring Board

Thanks for stopping by,

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One Layer Wednesday (OLW102) Favorite Subject!

This weeks one-layer theme comes to us from the very talented Ardyth.  It's her first time hosting the One-Layer Wednesday Challenge.  Thanks, Ardyth!

Our challenge this week is to make a one-layer card inspired by your favorite subject in school. Favorite subject; I didn't have one! I've struggled all week to come up with something for this challenge.  Not playing really wasn’t an option. 

So here’s what I came up with.  Not a favorite subject, but a special memory!

Okay, don't laugh, but by my senior year in high school I became really good at writing and passing notes to my best friend (Debbie), without getting caught! Oh, the things we remember!

Thank goodness my two girls (both in high school this year) don't read my blog, because if they did, I know this would come back to haunt me.

I created this card from Vintage Notes (Gina K. Designs), and added some distressing to the edges. I wanted to expand on the "vintage" feel, as it's been years since I was in high school! To add the paperclip, I made a small slit in the card.

Other Supplies:

Paper: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Papertrey Ink - Pure Poppy & Chai   ImPrintz - White Pigment   Memento - Gray Flannel (my new favorite color)
Accessories: Ribbon, paperclip, clear embossing powder & heating tool