Star Struck

Happy Friday!  And a nice long weekend if you are in the U.S. as we just celebrated the 4th of July yesterday.  Today begins another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: Stars.  It can be star stamps, paper, die cuts, rhinestones, etc.  What can you come up with?  Our sponsor is:

The Paper Shelter

and there is going to be a fabulous prize, but you'll have to go check out the details on the CSAYL blog.

So, here is my card for your inspiration.  And yes, it is a Christmas card!  I was inspired by the Independence Day holiday colors of red, white, and blue.  And since the flag is talked about as the stars and stripes, it was meant to be.  Plus, I just had to see if I could make those colors work on a Christmas card.  I think they worked pretty well.  I think I got it all: stars and stripes; red, white, and blue; sparkle and shine; Christmas in July, oh yeah!

Today is your lucky day, because I have two tips for you:
Tip #1--you can color rhinestones with sharpie markers.  See my red ones?  Yep, colored!  It's awesome and easy.
Tip #2--Maybe no one else has this problem, but after using them a few times, my clear stamps stop sticking to their packaging, which is bad 'cause sometimes they just fall off and almost get lost.  Well, I just started cleaning my stamps with Baby wipes (mostly because I ran out of my SU! stamp cleaner) and I decided to wipe off some of the backs of the non-stickers.  All this black junk came off (must by old ink mixed with cleaner) and now they stick great!  No more flopping around everywhere.

Challenges:
The Squirrel & The Fox #47--Christmas in July
Mojo Monday #300--sketch

Card Mania Challenges #24--Christmas in July
Eureka Stamps #46--stars and stripes
Merry Monday--anything Christmas goes
Creative Inspirations #221--red, white & blue
Word Art Wednesdays #87--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting by Designs--anything goes with the colors of your flag (red, white, and blue)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
Beat the Christmas Rush (June 25-July 24)--anything Christmas Goes

Supplies:
Papers: SU! cardstock "Nearly Navy" and "Real Red"; DCWV Christmas paper pack
Stamps: Verve "Star of Wonder" large sentiment and star, "Richly Blessed" small sentiment.  I did some fancy taping off to get just the part I wanted, and then retaped and reinked to add the Scripture reference
Dies: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" star die, "Classy Label Die"; Sizzix star die
Clear Rhinestones colored red with sharpie marker except the one in the center of the red star