It's Christmas in July

HO HO HOpe you're ready for a little Holiday Cheer because it's the July MFT Design Team Creative Challenge and I have a couple of Christmas cards to share.

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product or technique. This month we were challenged to kick start our holiday projects with Christmas in July. As you may already know, I like to create Christmas cards all year long, so these two cards are #19 and #20 for my Project Christmas 2012. Be sure to check out the MFT blog for a list of all participating designers.

I had a really tough time deciding which stamps to use for the Christmas in July challenge, and then one morning it came to me, when I wasn't even thinking about cards...let the Die-namics shine. I actually saw these cards in my mind and jotted them onto a scrap of paper. You can't even imagine how happy I was, because this just never happens to me.

Both of my cards use Die-namics that aren't Christmas specific, so maybe this will help you see your Die-namics collection in a new light. I love it when I can get more "mileage" from a product.

This first card is a simple layout and centers around the By the Letters Uppercase Die-namics, which spells out the word NOEL. I chose patterned papers for both cards from the Authentique Wonder collection for a Christmasy feel, and matched them up with Jellybean Green, Fossil, and Wild Cherry card stocks.

The flower was created using the Upsy Daisy Die-namics and I added a luscious Kraft button to the center. I added some Kraft grosgrain ribbon across the card and tucked an Icicle Border Die-namics cut from cream card stock underneath for an added layer.

Next up is my little birdhouse all decorated with "lights" for the holiday season!

I used Homespun Birdhouse Die-namics to cut the house from corrugated cardboard and cut the bird from Wild Cherry. I used the leaves from Upsy Daisy Die-namics to create the nest and topped it with a Jellybean Green button. Love how MFT's new buttons match the card stock!!! I used the Circle 1 STAX and Circle 2 STAX Die-namics to cut out the cream and Hot Fudge layers then stitched them together.

Here's the dimension on the birdhouse.

I needed a place for the sentiment from Merry & Bright and the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics were perfect for creating the layers I wanted. I added a row of red rhinestones to help draw your eye to the sentiment.

I hope you'll take the challenge and get started creating some holiday cards.

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen