CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I'm so happy to have you visit my blog to celebrate Christmas in July.  I hope you have been following along with all the activities.  If not, hop on over to the Unscripted Sketches blog and check out the fun, fun, FUN.  Of course, there are tons of prizes and tons of chances to win!  You are not going to want to miss a day of the celebrations!

I would like to share a bit of my world with you.  One of my  favorite summer activities is playing outside!  My DH and I love to spend time puttering in the yard.  It is a constant work in progress....but it is fun, relaxing and a bit of a workout!

The highlight (at least we think it is) of our yard is our pond.  It was my birthday present from our son a few years ago.  Yes, the hole was dug by hand and yes, I helped!  It does take quite a bit of time to maintain, but it is all worth it!  We have several fish (koi and goldfish) that have grown to monster size.

Our pond in summer

.... in spring

.... and in winter (actually early spring).

Some of the Koi and goldfish

Now while we are on the subject of pictures.....I am sure  many of you struggle with taking a good picture of your projects. In the past, I would snap at least 9 million photos of one card ....outside, inside, in the sun, in the shade....trying to get a good quality photo!

Well, fret no more!  Follow these simple instructions and create an inexpensive light box that will make your world  picture perfect!  If any of my directions are confusing, please e-mail me at ggreener@mymts.net and ask for clarification.

Also, please remember that this is a very rough version.  My real light box is much neater than this!!!

Step One:
Select a sturdy box and cut off the top flaps (Photo #1 and #2)

Photo #1

Photo #2

 Step Two:
Cut out inside panels from three sides of the box.  Make sure to leave at least a 1" border. (Photo #3)

Glue down the bottom flaps. Gluing down the flaps will give you a nice solid and even base to set your card on (Photo #4)

Photo #3

Photo #4

Step Three:  NO PHOTO AVAILABLE but please read!
Paint the inside of the box (the frames and the top & bottom with some white paint.  I used regular latex house paint.  Don't skip this step as you don't want dark colors to cast shadows inside the light box.

Step Four:
Adhere tissue paper or a light weight white cotton to the two sides and the top (this is where the 1" border comes into play).  I initially used tissue paper but found that it tore too easily so I switched to cheap white cotton pillow cases ($4 at Walmart).  I used my husband's hockey sock tape to secure the material to the sides. Seriously, hockey sock tape is the next best thing to Crazy glue! (Photo #5, Photo #6, Photo #7)

Photo #5

Photo #6

Photo #7

*** I left a bit of the top showing in this photo just to give you an idea of this process. Completely cover the top of the box.
















Step 5:
Cut a piece of poster board about 1/2 inch narrower than the inside width of the box (Photo #8).

Photo #8

Fit this piece into your box to establish the length you will need.  You want the piece to fit inside the box with a bit of a curve.  Do not crease the paper to fit the box.  Think ski slope.  You may have to play around with the length a bit so that the poster board sits snugly up against the inside front edge (Photo #9).

Tip: I used some scrap paper first to get the dimensions that I needed and then cut the poster board based on those measurements.

Photo #9

Step 6:
This last step will depend on whether or not you have a place to permanently keep the light box (Photo #10 and #11).

Photo #10

Photo #11

I used some old lamp bases (plus a garage sale find or two).  I placed the light box on top of a small filing cabinet, set the lamps on some cardboard boxes (told you this isn't high tech). Our basement is under renovation right now so I was able to secure the top light directly on to the wall..

It is important to have a light source from the front as well.  I use a small table lamp base that I move around manually, depending on which angle I will take the picture.

Tip:  If your card has some dimension to it, you might have to move the front light either from side to side or top to bottom to get rid of the shadow.  Contrary to this, the shadow might also be used to highlight the depth/dimension of your card.

You might also consider setting up your light box on something that is table height or higher to make it easier to photograph your items (much easier on the back!!!)

Step 7:
The key here is the type of light bulb to use!  I used the Sylvannia brand, but there are others.  What is important is that they are:

23 Watt, 120 Volt CFL Daylight bulbs. A daylight bulb provides a 'natural' light' and keeps the colors quite true.

So there you have it!  A few easy steps and you are on your way to stress free (and time saving) photography!

I hope you have enjoyed my spotlight session during our Christmas in July celebrations.

Please come back and visit again soon!

Unscripted Sketches #166

Hello visitors!  Glad you stopped by today.  

Have you visited our Christmas in July festivities at the Unscripted Sketches blog? If not, then scoot on over there now and find out how you can win some great prizes and get to know a little bit more about the design team members!

This sketch was a doozey!  I actually had one other card made but felt it was just too busy.  I may post it later.

The trickiest part about this card was lining up my hole punch on each panel so that everything lined up when the card was assembled!  Took a try or two on some of the pieces and I'm sure if someone took a ruler to this it probably would be out a schmick or two!

Just a reminder that my "Designer Spotlight Day" is July 10th.  I would love to have you stop by a take a peek at some pictures and also the super easy but very worthwhile project I have lined up to share with you. 

Just a wee hint:  It could make your world picture perfect!

Button, twine, sentiment & Rich Razzleberry - Stamping Up; Close to My Heart white paper.

Happy crafting!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Christmas fun in July.....fun projects, designer spotlights, a daily song bingo game (some of you know that I love Bingo) and prizes, LOTS OF PRIZES!!!  


Unscripted Sketches has some awesome plans for the month of July.  In addition to the other fun activities, each DT member will be featured on specific spotlight days.  Visit our personal blogs (the links will be available on the main US blog) where we will share pictures, projects, recipes, stories, ideas, and much, much more.

You are not going to want to miss a day of these celebrations (or the daily Bingo songs)!  This is a perfect time to get to know what the team members do in their "other" lives.

Stop by the Unscripted Sketches blog to find out all the details.

My personal spotlight day is July 10th.  Please stop by, say hello, take a peek at my pictures and my project.  I would love to have you visit for Christmas in July.  HO HO HO....at least there is no snow!

Unscripted Sketches #165

Wow - did you see last week's entries?  The submissions were amazing!   It is so exciting to see more and more entries into our weekly sketches. I marvel at the clever interpretations that I see each week.  We would love to have you pass on our challenge information to your crafting friends and invite them to play along as well.

Now, what is this card intended to be you ask?  It is a clipboard with one of those big bulldog type clips at the top!  In hindsight, I should probably have made the top piece a bit narrower and only used two "rivets" (eyelets) instead of three.  Let's just say that this is one of those heavy duty clips!

As soon as I saw this sketch, this was the first idea that popped into my head and try as I may, I just couldn't get past it.  I chose a nice bright background paper but almost to no avail as my "note/list" covers it up!

The "list" was done on my computer (because who has stamps with words like that?).  I feel like I am cheating though when I use computer generated font.  Actual stamping just seems more crafty.

I am sure that these next several weeks are going to be "summer time busy" for everyone (me included) but if you have a rainy day and nothing else to do, create a project and link it up at Unscripted Sketches.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Happy crafting!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #137

How is this for a snappy color combo?

This is actually my first time playing along with a Play Date Cafe Challenge.   I see so many beautiful entries to their challenges while I am touring my favorite blogs but have never found the time to play along. 

... until today when I visited Lisa's blog (I'm in Haven) and was so inspired by her amazing card.  I decided that the yard work can wait until tomorrow as I had more important things to do.

Alas, my hands were working faster than my brain!  It was one of those 'Aha moments' when I realized  that the color blue is intended as a splash of color.  Well my splash is pretty much the whole gallon!

Head on over to their blog and join in on all the fun!

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketch #164

Happy Saturday everyone! I'm so glad you stopped by.

.... ya think I just got some of my new SU supplies?  Yup!  This adorable stamp (from the new catty) was #1 on my list of "Need to Have" stamps.  I used Copics to color this sweet image.  I do want to try using some fun colors for the animals (like pink elephants, blue lions etc) next time round.  I love the 'congratulations' sentiment - wavy like the ocean with a really cool font!

The blue cloud sky paper has been in my stash for ages.  It works perfectly with the Tempting Turquoise card stock and the 'ocean' theme. The popped up clouds are MFT dies, sponged with a couple of different shades of blue. 

The sun is finally shining here so it is going to be HARD to play indoors in my craft room instead of outside in the yard.  I do hope you can find some time to play along with us this week. Just click here link.

Happy crafting!

OLW92: On the Edge

.... just a quick post to upload my card for the One Layer Wednesday challenge.  This week's challenge is hosted by Susan.

People, you just have to check out Susan's blog  here and read some of her posts!   I can honestly say that there has not been one single post that I have not laughed out loud .... I quite often scare the scrap out of my cats who are usually busy snoozing on my computer desk!

Susan has a gift.  Her ability/talent to put to paper what her brain conjures up, in an unbelievable entertaining way, is always my daily dose of laughter! Thanks Susan!

I have been on a grad card kick using the famous Dr. Seuss poem "Oh, the places you'll go..." and figured that this wee ladybug and her tracks work for this challenge.....close to the edge, not over!  Kind of reflects the graduate's path in life where it sometimes takes a bit of time to head down the straight & narrow.  Seriously though, how boring is that ?  Did I say that out loud?

Thanks for visiting today and happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #163

...well, this is it!  I have to say that I am not at all happy with the way my card turned out.  The sketch is awesome, but I just couldn't find something that appealed to me (I'm sure I wasted at least 1/2 dozen sheets of vellum trying different ideas). 

This is one of those cards that I know I could have done better.  I really do love the image though. If time (or lack thereof) wouldn't have been an issue, this card definitely would have been a redo!

I embossed the tree on vellum with bronze embossing powder (that is probably as old as I am).  The image looked a bit drab so I mounted the vellum on a piece of ivory card stock which really made the image stand out.  Used some no name card stock and my square nesties.

I am looking forward to seeing what everyone creates this week.  I really do enjoy visiting your blogs.  Just click to link up here.

Happy crafting!

CFC56: Create a Clean And Simple project using polka dots.

Polka dots rock!  Truly they do.

I am sure that I was born with some sort of  polka dot homing device! Whether it is fabric, clothing, paper, decorations....I'm drawn to them like a moth to a light bulb (actually I hate moths so let's change that to a fly to honey).  And, my dad actually played in a band called "The Polka Kings" when I was younger!

I was blog stalking some of my favorite designers when I came upon Lisa's sweet card  here.  Not a doubt in my mind at all.  I had to play along with this challenge.

I bought this SU stamp set quite a while ago (notice the polka dots on the mushrooms) but didn't really have an opportunity to use it prior to this.  I think that it is one of those stamps that borders the 'juvenile' age category...or maybe the 'hippie' era (we all know what they did with mushrooms !!!)

The mushrooms were stamped with black Stazon and then embossed with clear embossing powder (for a nice deep black color).  The sentiment is a rub-on (origin unknown).  Polka dot paper is also from origin unknown scrap pile.

Hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog here and check out the plethora of dotty creations posted by the amazing DT.  This is one of the busiest challenge sites around.  Tons of talent, tons of inspiration!

Happy crafting!

Colour! Challenge #140 - Finished Product

ColourQ DT - Thanks for choosing my card as one of the Courtiers  :)

... just an quick update to my ColourQ post from yesterday

I left the bottom panel on the card face empty so that I could add a sentiment as the need arose.  So just this morning, I remembered that I needed a thank you card for our paper carrier!

So this is the finished product!

ColourQ Challenge #140

....... Phew!  (insert brow wipe here)  Made it just in time!

Of course, it was 11:30pm last night when I decided that I loved this color combo and wanted to play along. At 2:30am I figured it was best to finish this card in the morning as things began to get really fuzzy!  Two cups of coffee wasn't quite cutting it!

I purposely left the bottom a bit bigger so that I can stamp a sentiment in the bottom right hand corner.  The center of the flowers are punched from some cute patterned paper that I had that actually matched all the colors.  Struggled a bit with where to put Island Indigo so opted for the wee peak of it above and below the white panel.  Used embroidery cotton for the stems of the flowers.  

Pretty much everything is popped up using those "oh-so-cute and tiny" micro POP DOTS (All Night Media).  Seriously folks, if you don't have these, you really have to hunt them down.

Hope you all have a happy crafting weekend.  The sun is finally shining so I am off to play outside. Thanks for stopping by :)

Unscripted Sketch #162

Love this sketch ... again!  I am sure you are all tired of hearing me say that but I am so thankful for people that can kick start my card making process.  Otherwise, I sit for hours at my desk, trapped in a creative slump stupor, trying to come up with ideas!


Hmmmm....... just realized that there is absolutely no stamping whatsoever on this card (the 'Just Because' is an old Stampin' Up rub-on).


You may have guessed that my Tasteful Trims die was just delivered (SU as well).  I put the ric-rac portion to use on this card.  I die cut two rectangles out of Craft-a-board, covered them with black paper, pieced the ric-rac strips on top and then popped them up with dimensionals.  


The cool little buckle is actually a button that I spray painted black, threaded the SU ribbon through, and added a bit of bling.  The colored paper is retired CTMH.   I really do love the vibrancy of their colors.


You know the drill.  Head on over to the  Unscripted Sketches blog, check out what the other design divas have created and then link 'em up!


Thanks for visiting me today!  Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #161

Welcome back! Hope you're all ready to tackle this awesome sketch!

I masked each portion of the stamped images (the stem and two flowers).  The 'predictable' placement of the image would be the left side of the card....obviously I chose the opposite side.  The image panel is popped up with some SU dimensionals.   Very clean, simple and quick!

The flower stamp is another wooden Studio G stamp from Michael's. Honestly, these $1.50 budget friendly treasures really do stamp remarkably well!  The stems are masked from another set of stamps (can't remember which one!!!).

We would love to have you play along this week.  Stop by the blog, (Unscripted Sketches) and check out the DT creations as well as the amazing cards submitted by all our loyal challengers!

Happy crafting :)

Tuesday Trigger: Man-Tastic at the Moxie Fab World

The inspiration:

.... just a few quick details for now (it is waaaaay past my bedtime)

Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World has an awesome Man-Tastic color combo happening! Check it out people:  Tuesday Trigger: Man-tastic!

Will finish my post tomorrow!

Sympathy Card

A bit of masking, a $1.50 Studio G stamp from Michael's (stamped 3 times), retired Mellow Moss SU ink and a SU sentiment.  Done!

Mellow Moss is such a soothing color - perfect for a sympathy card. 

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #160

.... tons of ideas running through my head with this sketch. 

My color selection was inspired by the colors that Michelle (Amusing Michelle)used on  her card...you have to check this one out!  Thanks Michelle!

I didn't have the exact colors that she used but I think I came close enough (again better in real life).  I tried several different items for the top left corner but everything just seemed to take away from the 'Friend' sentiment, so I settled for three wee blingy rhinestones.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up (old, really old and some new).

Hope you can find time to link up your creations....in between the lawn mowing, flower planting, watering, etc.  Here in Canada, we wait and wait for summer to arrive and although it usually means tons of extra work (yard work) it is all well worth it.  If I find myself feeling overwhelmed from the 'to do' list, all I do is think about the -40 degree weather and I am motivated to keep rolling :)

Click to link:  Unscripted Sketches #160

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #159

This card actually happened by accident!  My intention was to use the MFT flower die on some Sookwang paper that I had adhered to some plain white card stock. I was planning to use the flowers alone on my card.  Well, a funny happened.... 

The die did not cut right through so I was left with the cut outs on the top sticky side only. I removed the backing paper from one flower at a time and burnished in different shades of Martha Stewart sparkled dust.  Then I removed the remainder of the backing paper and did the Dazzling Diamonds glitter background.  The result in a flower inlay, although it is hard to tell in the photo.

The circles (on the sentiment banner) were punched with a hole punch. Try getting backing paper off a piece this small!!! 

The remaining layers have Sookwang on card stock with only the visible areas dusted.

The result - a blingy 'happy' something card and a craft room full of sparkle dust.  I discovered another thing too - the Swiffer duster works beautifully to get sparkles off the hardwood!

So now pop on over to see what the gals at Unscripted Sketches have prepared for you to feast on.  We would love to see your creations.  Just click to link:

Unscripted Sketches

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #158

Another awesome sketch!

To me, however, this card was a challenge within a challenge. 

You may (or may not) have noticed that I love bright colors!  So venturing out into uncomfortable territory (guy card = no pink) is just that - uncomfortable!

I decided that I would be way ahead of the game by making my father-in-law's Father's Day card. Once I chose the colors, the sketch actually came together rather easily. 

I scored the paper, pieced it to create the four quadrants, matted some funky rectangles (CTMH), added the sentiment windows, and popped on a few brads.  Hmmm....might just have to make another while I am in neutral color mode :)

Lots of inspiration posted by the DT so please stop by the US blog, have a peek and share your love of this great craft with us!

Visit us as Unscripted Sketches #158 !

Happy crafting!



CFC51 - CAS-UAL Fridays'

Who doesn't love a birthday party?  Cas-ual Fridays is celebrating their first birthday and they would like everyone to celebrate with them!

There are prizes and there are tons of amazing happy birthday greeting cards that have been posted. 

Click to link your birthday wishes or just stop by & say hello!

CAS-UAL Fridays' CFC51

Unscripted Sketches #157

I have been remiss in not thanking those of you who visit my blog, so thank you for taking the time to do so.  I hope that you are inspired to either play along with the sketch challenges or just craft for your own pleasure.

I must confess that the idea for this card was a result of visiting Cristina's amazing blog  My Paper Secret.  Check it out!

Of course, I did not have the exact stamps, so I improvised.  Had a bit of a tough time trying to find a quote that suited this image but luckily Google came through. I was surprised what appeared when I searched for 'quotes about bird houses'....

We would love to have you play along with our sketches at Unscripted Sketches but if time is tight (especially now that the weather is so nice) and you don't have time to craft, then at least check out what the DT has cooked up this week. 

Happy crafting!