INKlings Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to The INKlings’ Team’s Christmas in July blog hop. You may have arrived here from Clare's 'Crafty Cow' blog, or just be visiting my blog, whichever way, once you’ve checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member.

How quick is this year going! Have you started to think about your Christmas cards and projects yet? The INKlings team has and we thought that this month was the perfect time to host a Christmas in July blog hop. You'll find lots of great ideas provided by 15 team members’ fantastic blogs.

Here are five of the cards from my July Stamp a Stack.  We are making five Christmas cards each month now until the end of the year.  These cards were so simple to make. I used three main colours Old Olive, Pacific Point and Melon Mambo.  I cut different sized triangles out of DSP in each of these colours and you can see the results. I think they are simple but effective.  Hope you like them.

I purchased a template to make this star box from "My time made easy".  This is the first time I have attempted to make it.  It's not perfect, but I think it's ok.  The colours are Real Red, Garden Green and Whisper White.  The star in the middle is the SU XL Star punch in Garden Green and I used a dauber to add Frost White shimmer paint.

The other little bag is a Bagalope. This is made from a regular (you can use any size you want) envelope. My envelope was a shimmery green one and I have decorated it by heat embossing the So Swirly wheel in gold.

To make the bagalope:

Seal up the envelope.

Trim off one end (side of the envelope) to make the opening at the top of the bag. You can use decorative scissors or a border punch if you like.

Score each side and the bottom at approx. 1.5cms from edge (adjust this measurement if using a larger envelope).  Make sure these folds are nice and crisp use your bone folder for that.

Open the folds while you decorate the bag.

Once decorated, pop out the sides and form a bag by pushing the centre folds on each side in and the scored fold out.  

Bring the bottom corner squares into a point and stick with Sticky Strip to the bottom of the bag.

I used the Word Window punch and small circle punch and threaded Real Red satin ribbon through to close the bag.  You could add a piece of card stock attached at the back and folded over as a flap. 

Finally, I have made this cute Christmas Cracker gift box.  I cased this idea from Delyn Cram a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I used a card stock that I have only recently discovered (& I've been a demonstrator for several years!). It's Naturals Ivory see page 122 in the IB&C. I also used Marina Mist card stock and satin ribbon and Soft Suede Patterned Paper from the DSP Neutrals Paper Stack. 

I stamped the DSP using VersaMark ink and gold embossing powder with the Jumbo wheel Sassy Sparkles. Then repeated that on each end of the cracker.

That's it for me.  I hope you liked what you saw and that you will pop back from time to time and see what else I have been up to.

Want to win some Blog Candy?   Simply leave a comment on each blog and then email clare@crafty-cow.com with 'INKlings blog hop' as the subject and let her know you’ve done so, then you’ll be in the running for a fantastic prize of 15 handmade items plus other goodies. Sorry Blog Candy prize not available to SU! demonstrators but you're more than welcome to leave us a comment! 

Next stop on the INKlings’ Team Blog Hop is the lovely Christie. Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy.

If for any reason you find a missing link on the blog hop head back here to find links to all the members taking part.

1. clare http://www.crafty-cow.com
2. Janice http://www.janicespencer.blogspot.com
3. christie http://www.christiescreativecorner.blogspot.com 
4. Kari - http://www.karigail.wordpress.com
5. Joanna - http://www.joannawassens.com
6. Michelle - http://stampinground.wordpress.com
7. Alana - http://www.alanagalagher.blogspot.com
8. Carol - http://www.inkantations-and-inkarnations.blogspot.com
9. Cath - http://cathdeanpapercraft.blogspot.com/
10. Amy - http://amyandersonsblog.blogspot.com/
11. Vanessa - http://stampness.blogspot.com
12. Michelle D - http://stampinkpaper.blogspot.com
13. Ryn - http://rynscraps.blogspot.com
14. Fiona B - http://fionajanestamping.blogspot.com
15. Liz Halbisch - http://lizhalbisch.blogspot.com

Bye for now,

Janice