Crafty Chicks Christmas In July Blog Hop...

It's that time again! 

Time for the Crafty Chicks "Christmas in July" Blog Hop!

 

Haven't been to a Hop before?  Here's the deal:  Every month we have a different theme, and offer a prize to one lucky winner.  If you would like to qualify to win the prize, just leave a comment on each blogger's site.  Then, on the rafflecopter below, click "did it."  That's it!  After you do that, a bunch of other options to earn more entries will appear, if you feel so inclined.  The prize winner will be announced on Elizabeth's blog.  We will also contact the winner, so make sure your comment includes your contact info.  The winner will have one week to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

The prize being offered this month is a Christmas in July paperpack, with 20 sheets of Christmas/Winter cardstock and an extra 20 yards of Christmas twine!  Check it out:

 

 And now, on with the Crafty Chicks Christmas in July Hop! 

 

******{{You're probably coming from Heidi's Page, but if you stumbled across this page, and you want to start at the beginning of our Hop, go  here }}******

 

So, I know that Christmas in July is a thing...I'm not sure I really get it, though.  I think it's probably because I work in retail.  People with normal jobs...jobs where you have weekends off...jobs where you get holidays off...they think all the Christmas hub-bub starts in November, so Christmas in July is a fun novelty.  Anyone in retail can tell you...Christmas starts at the end of August, my friends.  Surprised?  Take another look next time you're out shopping...it's already creeping in...Christmas is hiding in the wings right this very minute.  Look past the stack of clearance flip flops and beach décor...you'll see a stray box of ornaments...red and green glitter ribbon hidden on a bottom shelf...snowflakes popping up where they don't belong.  I'm aware that this seems crazy, but people want Christmas available earlier and earlier every year.  I've already had multiple people this year upset that we don't have any new Christmas décor at the store yet.  I can't help it...the masses dictate retail calendars...as far as I'm concerned, from a retail perspective, summer is over...Halloween will be here any minute, and Christmas will start showing up by the end of next month.  It's weird living a retail life...your calendar is all messed up.  I've learned to just embrace retail seasons and forget about how the normal world gauges time.  So, when we go into full-on Christmas mode on the day after Halloween...I come home and put up my Christmas tree...and it'll probably be taken down BEFORE Christmas, because we're already gearing up for Valentine's Day. Yep.  I'm a total weirdo, huh?  Oh well :)  A well-adjusted weirdo, and that's the main thing!

All that said, I decided to go non-traditional for my Christmas in July projects.  I still get to have fun stamping and coloring without getting into full-on holiday headspace ;)  lol.  So here's what I came up with:

I'll Be "Gnome" For Christmas
This guy was fun...I found this stamp a few months ago and had to get it because it was so dang cute.  I had no idea what I was going to use it for, and haven't actually used it till now.  I like how he turned out...simple and cute!
 

Front

Inside

Supplies: Stampabilities Gnome Stamp, Cardstock (Kraft, Coconut Swirl, and Cherry Splash), Copic Markers, Memento Ink, Foam Dots

Santa Baby
I've used this gal on a card once before, but I bought her several years ago.  I have such trouble deciding what to do with fine line stamps that are difficult to cut out.  For whatever reason, I have a desperate aversion to just stamping directly on the card base and doing other stuff around it.  I decided to just stamp and cut, and give the edges a wide berth.  This BoBunny line is from a bunch of years ago, but I hoarded it away when I got a bunch originally, so it's still hanging on :)

Front

Inside

Supplies: Penny Black Stamp, BoBunny Patterned Paper, Copic Markers, Memento Ink, Foam Dots

All in all, I'm pretty happy with how they all turned out.  Christmas in July turned out to not be so bad afterall ;)  lol. 
 



If you're continuing on the hop, head on over to Jessica's Page.  Enjoy!



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