12 Kits of Occasions - Hello Again!

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by!  It's the last day of the month!  That means it's time for the 12 Kits of Occasions post.  The 12 Kits is a group of friends who take turns providing a kit of paper craft supplies to the group.  We all receive the same supplies and on the last day of the month we post what we made with all the goodies.  It's fun to see how we used the products in different (or sometimes similar) ways.      Our hostess this month is Kelly  S.  AKA Gingham Girl!!  And take a look at that photo on your left.  Thats a peek at all the crafty goodness she sent us.  Stamped and die cut images, lots of pattern paper, enamel dots, wood veneer accents and pretty ribbon.   I made 5 cards this time - but it really would have been so easy to keep going.   Thanks Kelly for the beautiful kit and all the yummy supplies.  Just about the only thing I added this time was die cuts.    

I usually call out one "Tricky Item" that I didn't use.  I cant wait to see how the other ladies put these to work -  polaroid frame cut outs and hello word dies. 

Want to see more projects made with this same kit - and maybe win a chance to be our guest next month?  Check out our home blog here.  And here's a list of all the ladies with projects today.  We have two special guesites too!!! Karen Stein  & Michelle Leone!!!

Kellly Schirmer - Gingham Girl  (our host this month!)

Cathy Weber - Empty Nest Crafter

Marybeth - It's Time For Paper

Joyce - Cards By The Sea

Kim - Cupcakes Cards & Kim

Jessica - The Paper Parade

Sharron - On Papillon Wings

Tracey McNeely - In My Creative Opinion

Lindsey Larsen - Occasional Crafting

Have a great day!

A Dragon True Love Story

Do you have a Hobbit fan on your Valentine list? I thought this dragon would make a great Valentine with at fun fantasy theme.

Want to see more?  Just click here to jump to the Top Dog Dies blog!

Mwahhh!

I'm posting at Top Dog Dies today with a Valentine for my sweetie!!

Want to see the whole project?  Just click here to jump to the Top Dog Dies Blog!

Tag You're It! Love Tag

Do you love tags?  I have just the challenge for you!  It's called Tag You're It!    A new challenge begins today with an inspiration tag from the wonderful Debby Hughes!  You have two weeks to play along, and I hope you will join us!

Gotta love everything about Debby's design.  The cool background for starters!  I love those rays across the top, and the letters across the bottom.  The monochromatic design is a winter delight.  Pretty die cuts and a sprinkle of bling - wow!  A feast for the eyes right?

I knew I wanted to make a Valentines tag so I replaced the deer with a cute little cupid, and the snowflake with a fancy scroll heart.  I kept the same layout as Debby, adding some chevron stripes on the top half and a heavier pattern for the bottom.  

To sneak in a few letters I added alphabet stickers to the bottom  to spell out "Love".  Gold accents and a sprinkle of heart gems are sure to satisfy!

I switched up the shape of the tag - instead of a flat bottom- I wanted something a little fancier to go with my theme. 
 I can't wait to see what you make!!! And maybe you can't wait to see what the rest of the DT came up with for this challenge.  Either way, you'll want to pop on over to Tag You're It!  Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Dies:  PTI Tag, Impression Obsession Cupid, Serendipity Mini Scroll Heart

Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey "True Love" 12 x 12"

Gold Shimmer Twine - The Twinery

Alphabet Stickers Teresa Collins

Gold 1/4" Ric Rac May Arts

Heart Gems Recollections

Fusion Challenge - Heartful

Hi and thanks for stopping by!  I hope everyone is doing good.  Work is slow for DH so he's been spending more time with me throughout the week.  The kids seem to be going their own way too, so we've been doing more things together - mostly little chores around the house - like cooking and laundry.  I'm teaching him the "right way" to fold those towels, and its sort of nice to have an assistant in the kitchen.  At first he seemed under foot, but we're starting to get comfortable with each other again.   

A new two week challenge begins today at Fusion Card Challenge.  You can work with the photo or the sketch.. OR.. if you want to be clever you can FUSE them together!!!   

So how was I inspired by the photo?  I loved all those pretty hearts lined up on that wood background, shiny metallics, and swoon.. that striped heart in the center.

I made my heart by taping together different width strips of colored card stock.   Next I die cut this patchwork panel.  It was easy to line up the stripes with the center of the heart.

I had to have a little sparkle and shine so I added a silver snakeskin strip of washi, a swirl of gems, and a glittery heart gem.   I like to buy gems on large sheets and just snip of a swirl when I need one.  It's very inexpensive and the sheets last for months.

I thought these sweet birds from Top Dog Dies would make a nice silhouette in the center of  the heart.  Isn't it clever how their wings are cut out so you can flap them up or leave them down?

 I adhered the heart with some adhesive foam tape to add dimension to my design.

 Want to see what the rest of the team made?  Just click here to jump to the Fusion Card Challenge  to see all the projects and to link your own design!  I'm looking forward to seeing your "Heartful" creations! 

Supplies:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5”

Dies:  Top Dog Dies Heart Doily, Heart Album Finishers, Birds & Nest

Silver Snake Skin Washi Tape Sandylion

Gems:  Recollections

Gem Heart:  Paper Studio Hobby Lobby

Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey “True Love” 12 x 12”

Game Day!

Getting Ready for Game Day?  You just have to meet Aiden from Pretty Little Studio!

Click here to see the whole project at the Pretty Little Studio Blog!

Get Well Wishes!

Posting at Pretty Little Studio today with this sweet little nurse to make you feel better!

Click here to jump to the Pretty Little Studio Blog!

Love is in the Air!

I'm posting on the Twinery Blog today!  Want a little peek?

To see the rest just click here!

Heart Window

I'm posting on The Twinery Blog today with a Heart Window card!  It's got lots of texture from colorful solid Twinery Twine!

Want to see more?  Just click here to jump to The Twinery Blog!

SSCB Hidden Gems - Hollyhock

Hi and thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone is doing good!   I've been keeping so busy lately.  DH has had more than a few days off lately - that's good and bad.  We are enjoying our time together - it feels like dating again now that the kids are older and doing their own things.   The bad part is that there's not usually much notice so it's been hard for me to plan, and see all your projects lately.  I'm trying to enjoy it, but feeling guilty.  I hope you will forgive me.  

We're at the half way point of our challenge at Serendipity Stamps.  We post a new challenge the first Wednesday of the month, and post a second project at the half way point (the third Wednesday of the month).  You still have two more weeks to play!  The challenge this time is "Hidden Gems".  We're asking you to make a project using something you've been ignoring for a while.   I confess I've had this hollyhock stamp for a bit, and have never gotten around to using it.  

Winter inspires me to make things with hot colors to keep me warm. I'm missing my flowers too.   I'm still bird watching.  I need to be brave to go outside and fill the feeder.  Wow!  It's cold outside!  

Curious to see what the rest of the team put to work this week?  Just click on their names below.   We have a special guest too!  Kimberly Wiener!  I hope you'll hop over and say hi! 

Karen Amidon
Marybeth Lopez
Miriam Napier
Vickie Zimmer
Jeanne Jachna
Jenny Gropp

Oh yes!!! The SALE!!! Free shipping on all orders over $15 continental US only through Jan.27!  Big hugs for stopping by! Talk to you soon!












Supplies:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Serendipity Stamps Hollyhock, Happy Birthday
Dies MFT Blueprints1
Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey Vivienne Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, Versafine Onyx Black
Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh
Twinery Twine Pink Sorbet
Card Stock: PTI Hibiscus Burst, White
Wood Veneer Butterfly Studio Calico

Sweetheart

I'm posting on the Top Dog Dies blog today with this Sweetheart Card. 

Want a closer look?   Just click here to jump to the Top Dog Dies blog!

New Delicate Mum from Poppystamps!

I'm posting on the Poppystamps blog today with the new Delicate Mum die.

Its a great day to stop by because were in the middle of a blog blitz.  That means that there is a prize on every post from January 12-27.  Just leave a comment on the posts you'd like to enter by leaving a comment on each.   Today's prize is a yummy chocolate bar from Birch Press Design!   Click here to jump to the Poppy Blog!

Tag You're It! Fuchsia Tag

 I'm so excited today!  It's my first time playing along with Tag You're It Challenge as a design team member.  I love tags, and this is one of my favorite places to play so I was delighted when I was asked to join the team.  As you can imagine, I have loads of cards made for just about every occasion,  Tags? Not so much.  This gives me a good excuse to make some up - to play along!!  It's going to really pay off in the long run because when I go to dress up some treats or a gift I won't have to stop what I'm doing and get one made in a panic. 

The inspiration this time comes from Heather Campbell!  Take a look at this beauty!  Lots to love her - pretty double stamped flowers, gold embossing, and those pretty stripes along the bottom.  She's even added a little sparkle and shine if you look close, and oohhhh... did you see that little charm at the top?   Super cute!  So ready to case this one right???

I thought the butterfly charm would be a wonderful accent to the flowery theme.

Here's what I came up with... and maybe a few tips to save you a little time?  I started with a white piece of card stock,   I applied the strip of washi and stamped the sentiment and background leaves BEFORE I die cut the tag.  The strip of washi made the sentiment easy to line up.  I also lined up the die with the washi strip before I cut it out.  The die trims the washi so it looks clean and crisp.

I added the stamped and die cut flowers with adhesive foam tape to add a little dimension so they pop off the tag.   And the finishing touch?  A little bling to add some shine and color!

Ready to see more? Here's links to the rest of the design team so you can see their interpretation of this design.

Tracey McNeely

Donna Mikasa

Lynn Put

Gayatri Murali

Marybeth Lopez

Erin Thiem
Jen Mitchell

Anja Curvers

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I see you at Tag You're It Challenge!









Supplies:
Stamps:  Clearly Besotted Fuchsias
Die Cuts:  Clearly Besotted Fuchsias
Ink:  Memento Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Rose Bud, Grape Jelly
Washi Queen 
The Twinery Twine Pink Sorbet 
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh
Butterfly Charm (not sure - from my stash!  Sorry!)

Fusion - Wooden Hearts

How is everybody doing?  Mr. J has been off work a few extra days this week so we've been having extra "family time" lol!  He works in construction and work is a little slow right now.  We're making the best of it - running errands together and having lunch at restaurants - it's like we're dating again!!  He's getting educated on the cost of groceries - (that's usually my job), and it's nice having him help me carry everything into the house.  I know he'll be missing in action again before I know it! 

A new challenge begins today at Fusion Card Challenge  - this one is called Wooden Hearts.   You know the drill - you can take inspiration from the photo or the sketch, or both!!  I love the purple flowers in the photo, but wasn't in the mood for the wood and grey.  Winter has been bitter here the past few weeks, and I need some bright colors to keep me happy and warm!  If I can't play out side I will make my own little paradise!  

The big heart is from Memory Box, and the smaller gold heart is from Cheery Lynn - Don't they look beautiful together?

A little bling always makes me happy.  I added a swirl of gems to fill the empty space under the heart.  The swirl draws your eye back to the hearts.  

TIP:  Save money buy purchasing larger sheets of gem flourishes - just snip off one swirl at a time to embellish your designs.  

Want to see more designs created by the Fusion Design Team?  Just click on their name below to hop to their blog!

Betty J

Deepti

Julia Aston

Katie Brooks

Kelly Griglione

Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu

Stephanie Severin

I hope you'll join us at the challenge - you have two weeks to play!

Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse "Sweethearts"
Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey "True Love" 12 x 12"
Card Stock:  W+9 Cupids Bow, PTI Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, SU! Soft SKy, Lost Lagoon, Recollections Gold Foil Linen Finish
Dies:  Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders, Cheery Lynn Two of Hearts, Memory Box Cupid Heart, Serafina Heart
Gems:  Recollections
Sequins Pretty Pink Posh