Christmas in the Sun!

Hi there,

I'm so hoping that everyone's summer is going along well. My July header is the result of one of the first Monarch eggs that were laid in my Waystation, as far as I know. I brought them in and reared them in cages and they are now on their way to create future generations! (There are some pics. below  - if you are interested).  Despite the very wet weather that we have recently been experiencing, the yard is coming along - as well as the weeds! It took me four weeks to install my 12 yards of mulch, as there were days on end of rain and then we were away and then .... you know the scoop!

So now that the hot and humid has finally hit us - this month's Christmas at Sweet Stampin' theme actually was easy as I was thinking instead on weeding and mulching a little beach time would be fun and deserved!

So out came an oldie but goodie from Sparkle N Sprinkle:

She was stamped twice in Versafine Clair Acorn and then heat embossed with clear detail embossing powder. One was colored using finger daubers and Memento inks: Dandelion, Cantaloupe and Toffee Crunch and was then fussy cut. 

The second one was the background panel which was sponged with the Dandelion and Summer Sky ink from Memento. The details of both were colored with Copics, including the shell and bushes.

To get the little sign I stamped out the other little guy from the set who was carrying it. 

Florida or Bust from the same set, positioned with the Stamp Platform was stamped in Versa Fine Claire Glamorous and then heat embossed with Clear Detail powder. This was then fussy cut.

The background was then layered on to a piece of light blue cardstock (also with the postage die cut). This was then added to a die cut piece of light blue before being layered to yellow (die cut with MB Cross Stitched Frame). This was all layered to a white card base.

Using the Quickie Glue pen Creamsicle glitter was added to the bikini, Celestial glitter to the snow parts and the beach. Pinkerbell was also added to the shell in the same way. 

Happy Christmas from the Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas Sayings set 223 was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn and then heat embossed with Teddy Brown (EP187).

That wrapped it up for today! Looking forward to seeing all your fun cards highlighting Christmas in the sun!

Below are the products I used in my creation:

Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas Flamingo 343

Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas Sayings 223

Versafine Claire Acorn

Versafine Clair Glamorous

Memento Dandelion, Cantaloupe, 

Toffee Crunch & Summer Sky

Clear Detail (EP280)

Teddy Brown (EP187)

Quickie Glue Pen

Pinkerbell (G1130)

Celestial (G1031)

Creamsicle (G1140)

Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame

22 Craft Postage

Copics

Yellow, Blue and Pink Baker’s Thread

I'd like to enter the following challenges with my card today:
Krafty Chicks Challenge #463: Christmas in July!
Crafty Calendar Challenge - July Challenge: Christmas in July
The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #52: ATG
Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #416: Christmas in July
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #6: ATG
Classic DT Open Challenge #7: ATG
Scrapy Land Challenge #7: Use a die make that SL carries
Take It Make It July Challenge: Anything Goes
Double Trouble Challenge #32: Christmas in July
Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #114: Use a stamp older than a year

Lastly, for my nature loving friends - you might enjoy my latest backyard photography:

Below you can see (1) the female Monarch laying an egg and then (2) the egg, then (3) it is about to hatch and then (4) is day one! I bring in the eggs that are laid outside to rear them in cages to help the Monarch population. The butterfly photographed in the header will hopefully be the grandmother of the generation that will make its way to Mexico for the winter. 

Hope you've enjoyed my share today? Till next time!

Shona