12 Kits of Christmas - April Edition

Are you ready for another edition of the 12 Kits of Christmas?Just to refresh your memory, this is a group of 12 designers. Each has been assigned a month to provide the Christmas crafting supplies to the other 11 members. We all receive the same supplies and post our creations on the last day of every month. It's interesting to see how we all come up with something different with the same kit of supplies.

This month our hostess supplying all the goodies is Marybeth. She's provided all sorts of paper crafting goodness, lots of patterned paper, stamped images, and fancy die cuts - Memory box holly vine, jingle bells, snowflakes and a country landscape border. This month I came up with four cards - it seems I've been adding one a month since this started. If it keeps up I will be in big trouble come December :) !!  I've named each of the cards so you can match up the material list at the bottom of this post.

Angel Girls

Christmas Tree Silhouette

Lamp Post

Little Village

If you like these, why not see what the rest of the team came up with for this months challenge? Here's a list of the designers with links to their blogs!

Marybeth April (Our Hostess this month)

Joyce May

Amy June

Christina July

Kim August

Kara September

Jessica October

Jeanne (That's Me!) November

Sharron December

Renee January

Cathy February

Suzanne March

Thanks for having a look! Join us next month to see the latest in the 12 Kits of Christmas!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  All Cards Finished Size 6x6

Angel Girls

Stamps:  Stampendous Little Angels, Sentiment Papertrey Ink Ink the Meadow

Dies:  Spellbinders Classic Squares, Postage Stamps, Ribbon Banners

Paper:  Sheet Music Foiled Paper Studio, Papertrey Ink Poppy Red, True Black, Stampers Select White, Grafix Foil Board

Markers:  Copics

Fiber:  Martha Stewart Glitter Eyelash Yar

Christmas Tree Silhouette

Stamps:  Stampendous Precious Gift

Dies:  Papertrey Ink  In the Meadow, Memory Box Star of Wonder, Jingle Bell Border, Spellbinders Labels 20

Paper:  My Mind's Eye  The Merry Days of Christmas, Papertrey Ink Fine Linen,  Stampers Select White, True Black, Scarlet Jewel

Embossing Plate:  Sizzix Texturz Stars & Swirls,  Embossing Folder Sizzix Starry Night 2 from Starry Night Set - Basic Grey

Border Punch:  Ek Success Double Embossed Dotted Lace

Lamp Post

Stamps:  Inkadinkadoo Lamp Post, Stempendous Precious Gift

Dies:  Memory Box Holly Vine

Corner Chomper We R Memory Keepers Photo Corner

Paper:  My Mind's Eye The Merry Days of Christmas

Border Punch:  Ek Success Double Embossed Dotted Lace

Extras: Ribbon 1/8" Burgandy Satin, gems

Markers: Copic

Little Village

Stamps:  Paper Inspirations Wise Men

Dies:  Memory Box Locina Buckle, Latchette Border, Star of Wonder, Country Landscape, Frostyville Border

Paper:  My Mind's Eye The Merry Days of Christmas, Papertrey Ink:  Enchanted Evening, Scarlet Jewel, Stampers Select White, Grafix Foil Board

Extras:  Buttons, Gems, Twine

Embossing Plate:  Sizzix Texturz Stars & Swirls

Folded Flower Tutorial

Here is a tutorial for a quick and easy folded flower. 

Here's what you'll need:
Two Sided Paper
Circle Punch - Any Size - this will be the size of your finished flower.
Glue
Brad or Button

1.) Cut 5 circles from two sided paper.

2.)  Fold 4 circles in half.  I drew where the folds should be on the sample circle next to the folded sample.

3.)  Fold the same 4 circles in half the opposite way.

4.)  Fold the circles in half again.

5.)  Fold in the two opposite sides of the circle to form a triangle.

6.)  Glue the four triangles on to the last circle.

7.)  Bend the flower petals back on all four triangles.

8.)  Attach a fancy brad or button to the center to finish your flower.  You can use these for scrap booking, card making, or even simple magnets for your fridge.  The hardest part is deciding which side of your pretty paper you want to show!  Have fun!

Jeanne

Supplies Used: 
Hole Punch Fiskars
Paper in Example Echo Park For the Record Collection
Brad K& Company

Case Study #88 - Happily Ever Afer

 Hi and Welcome Back!  First I wanted to say I am sorry for "missing in action" lately.  I haven't been posting, commenting, and creating as much as I would like lately.   We have a new addition to the family - one very energetic Akita!  I have been spending lots of time with her - establishing the ground rules, protecting my furniture, and having fun!  Here is a photo of her - oh yeah, that is a rock in her mouth.  Nothing is off limits to her curiosity.

That said, I have been missing my crafty time.  When I saw this is Laurie Schmidlin's last week as muse/guest designer at CASE Study I knew I had to play along.  I love her designs and attention to detail.  I knew this would be the perfect vacation for my mind - if only a short one.  

This beautiful card she created is just a dream - that crisp embossed background, the pretty pastels, the flowers and doily - all such a feast for the eyes.  I tried to pick up on all my favorite details and still make it "mine".  Because of the romantic feel I thought I'd make mine a wedding congratulations card. 

I embossed the pink background and ran a white inkpad across it to bring out more of the embossing.  I made the flower in the bottom right corner by simply folding circle cut paper and piecing them together.  I double cut the butterfly to give it more dimension.  The pretty ribbon I used was given to me by my sweet friend JJ Bolton from the Ribbon Girls.  If we could only talk JJ into jumping back into the ribbon business I think we'd all be so much happier!!   Here's a few close up's...

Thanks for having a look!  I appreciate your kindness and understanding!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5 x 7"
Stamp:  Serendipity And they Lived 1009E
Paper:  My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two Blush Sweet Bouquet Paper, Basic Grey Kissing Booth Collection "Kissing 101", Papertrey Ink Paper Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Vintage Cream
Die Cuts:  Cheery Lynn Nautical Wheeler Doily, Spellbinders Butterflies Two
Corner Rounder:  Crop A Dile 3/8'
Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black, Studio G White Pigment Ink
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Damask Decor
Roses: Ribbon Reel, Pearl Spray:  Hobby Lobby, Flower Center Bazzill Buttons
Extras Gems, Ribbon  JJ Bolton Ribbon Girls

Serendipity Blog Challenge - Flourishes

Hi and welcome to the Serendipity Blog Challenge!  Mary, the talented creator and owner of Serendipity has challenged the design team to come up with projects featuring flourish images.   Serendipity has several flourish stamps from fancy to casual - you can see the flourish designs available by clicking here. 

Looking for some new designs?  Serendipity just released new Spring and Summer stamps that you can see here.  The special this week is 20% off word stamps.

To create the design pattern on my card  I stamped the bird flourish stamp (shown on pink in the photo) and cut it with an oval die.  To "frame" my bird flourish with the background stamps I lined up the oval die cut with the "wheat branches" on the flourish and mirror flourish stamps and stuck them to my stamping block.  I lined them up just on the edge of the block so I could line it up with the edge on my paper. 

I stamped them on the 4" side of a 4" x 4.25" piece of vintage cream paper.  I then stamped the opposite side of the paper to create this pattern.  The oval will fit nicely in the center of this shape.  Don't worry if some of the wheat branches are showing - or if the design is a little "off"  the scalloped oval die cut placed under the oval die cut with the bird image will cover this up.  Here's what the image looks like stamped twice.   

I made mine a Sympathy card - but the elegance of the design would make an excellent wedding congratulations or invitation.  The wheat  design would also be beautiful for Thanksgiving.

I finished off the card with an embossed strip across the bottom, some lace and a piece of velvet ribbon.  I topped that with my sentiment - a congratulations would look gorgeous on this card as well.  The two metal / gem embellishments are Swarovski Elements sliders that I found in the jewelry section of the craft store.  Here's a close up..

And this is the finished card...

I hope you will hop along to the other design team member blogs and see what they came up with for this Flourishes Challenge.  Just click on the names below (listed alphabetically).

Kathie Bailey

Amy Cokley

Sue Eldred

Jenny Gropp

Miriam Napier

Thanks for having a look - have a fantastic day!

Jeanne

Supplies used:  Finished Size 5 x 7 "

Stamps:  Serendipity Flourish 022D, Flourish Mirror 023D, Bird Flourish 094D, With Sympathy Small 782B
Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Damask Decor
Ink:  Versafine Deep Lagoon
Bling:  Swarovski Elements Sliders EK Success
Paper:  Papertrey Ink Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Vintage Cream
Extras Lace, Velvet Ribbon

WMSC92 - Christmas Reindeer

It's been an easy day for me so far.  I spent a few hours in the garden planting some flowers I picked up at the local garden center.  In the past I've planted hundreds of bulbs only to be out smarted by deer, squirrels and chipmunks - apparently these are tasty snacks for critters.  I found some  Irises and something called a Toad Lilly that start from roots so I thought I would give them a try.   

Today I'm playing along with the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  This week's sketch is by Mischief Maker, Karin Åkesdotter.   Karen's designs are always well thought out - she has a great eye for design and space on her layouts.   You can check out her blog by clicking on her name.

I turned this sketch into a Christmas card.  I stamped the background on PTI kraft paper using the snowflake from Join Us.  Next, lots and lots of layers for the focal point of the reindeer from2011 Holiday Ornaments.  I added a row of tiny bows and jingle bells as well as a few tiny red gems on the snowflakes because let's face it, I'm addicted to bling. 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a look!  Have a beautiful day!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5" x 7"
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse COmplements of the SEason, Vintage Labels 25, 2011 Holiday Ornaments, Join Us
Dies:  Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals, Petite Ovals, Floral Ovals, Ribbon Banner, Labels 25
Paper:  PTI Poppy Red, Kraft, Vintage Cream
Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia & Crimson Red, Stampin Up Real Red, Ranger Antique Linene Distress
Extras:  Twinery Maraschino, Jingle Bells, Red Satin 1/8" Ribbon, red gems

Just Us Girls - Happy Anniversary!

Good morning!  I hope you are having a great day!  After all the running around last week getting everything ready for Easter this week seems like a breeze to me.  There are lots of left overs from the big meal so I don't even have to cook today!   It's great to have some extra "me" time and get to play along in a few challenges!  Today I'm playing along with Just Us Girls Challenge #131.  Here's a photo of the sketch this week.

I started my design with a beautiful strip of ribbon given to me by my good friend JJ Bolton from the Ribbon Girls blog.  It is a beautiful satin brocade with gold in it.  I played with all the color in the ribbon in my design - especially that beautiful gold.  I used a Copic marker to color the pins and the pearl in the center of the flower to get just the shade I wanted.  The pins are stuck in a piece of pop up foam on the underside of the heart.   The fancy Serendipity scroll heart is stuck down on a foam dot placed strategically under the flower. 

Thanks for stopping by to have a look!  Enjoy the beautiful Spring weather!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5 x 7"
Ribbon:  Ribbon Girls
Stamp:  Serendipity
Dies:  Scroll Heart Serendipity, Spellbinders Foliage & Carnation Creations, Cheery Lynn Queen Anne's Lace Border
Embossing Plate:  Sizzix Flourish Blooms Texturz
Extras:  Pins, Cardstock PTI

Case Study #85 - Typewriter

I hope you had a fabulous Easter!   The weather was beautiful and I had my parents and sister over for a great meal.  I made ham with all the trimmings and finished it off with a home made carrot cake with cream cheese icing.  My daughter and I piped on little orange carrots complete with greenery.


Today I'm playing along with Case Study.   I  love the inspiration from their guest designers, and getting  to try some new techniques.  This week's  Case Study Challenge #85 is inspired by muse/guest designer Laurie Schmidlin. 

Here's the beauty of CASE -  focus on the elements you love about the design, improvise, and make a unique creation of your own.  It's not hard to see all the elements that I adored about Laurie's design - the color combination, the black stitching, and the flowers with the twine and tulle.  I took those elements and improvised with the supplies I had on hand and added a few extras of my own like the keyhole and key.  I always love seeing all the different directions the sketch goes.

Thanks so much for having a look, I hope you are inspired to play along!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5 x 7"

Stamps:  Pink Paislee Daily Junque

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Lables 9, Antiquities, Timeless Heritage, Cheery Lynn Dancing Doily Lace Border

Paper:  K&CO, Authentique, Echo Park, PTI

Extras:  Roses Recollections, Tulle, Twine, Corner Chomper

Ink:  Ranger Distress Black Soot, Versafine Onyx Black

Happy Easter!

No contest entry for this post, just a wish everyone has a Happy Easter.  I hope the Easter Bunny brings you loads of your favorite things - tough choice - dies or chocolates?  HMMM......

How do you like that gold embossed Serendipity scroll egg with that foil Cherry Lynn die? Just Yummy!

All the best,

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size is 5" x 7"

Stamps:  Serendipity  Flourish Egg 1254E, Happy Easter 325E

Paper:  Anna Griffin Designer Cardstock

Dies:  Spellbinders Labels 9, Cheery Lynn Polynesian Sails

Flower:  Prima Petticoat Collection

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Embossing Powder:  Zing! Gold

Cupcake Inspirations -

Hi! and Happy Thursday!  Are you getting ready for Easter?  I feel like I've been shopping all week trying to get the freshest ingredients - why can't they all be at one store?  I think I am just about done!  I picked up an Easter Lilly for my mom and some Easter basket goodies for the kids today -  the chocolate kind.  I purposely waited until later in the week so I wouldn't wind up eating them all!  I hope they are willing to share later!

OH and don't forget the Serendipity Stamps deal of the week is buy 3 get the fourth one free now tthrough April 9  http://www.serendipitystamps.com/DEAL.html  

Today I'm playing along with the Cupcake Inspirations challenge.  I saw these sweet little bunny cupcakes and made my own little paper confection.  I used lots of pink inspired by the flowers in the photo.  Isn't this little guy just the sweetest?  The card was quick and easy - and who couldn't use that around the holidays?  Another plus is that it is flat so I can mail it easy!  Yes, I know,  I made a flat card!! YEAHHHHHH!  Maybe all that "I think I can, I think I can" stuff really works!

I stamped my bunny twice - once on the original, once for a mask.  I then stamped the sentiment.  I covered my original bunny with the mask and then stamped the background.  I added lots of shading in distress spun sugar (how appropriate) and layered it on dark and then lighter pink paper.

I hop (I mean hope) you like him and that your having a great day!

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.5 x 6.25"
Stamps:  Serendipity Bunny 010J, Calico Background 832E, Easter Greetings 1246E
Paper:  Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst. Stampers Select
Ink:  VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Onyx Black,  Ranger Distress Spun Sugar