12 Kits of Occasions - Song of the South

It's the last day of the month!  You know what that means right?  Time for the 12 Kits of Occassions!  The 12 Kits is a group of  friends who are all card designers.  We each take turns providing the group with a "kit" of goodies.. pattern paper, stamped images, die cuts, etc.  On the last day of the month we all share what we made with the kit. It's fun to see how we did things the same or different.   This time the theme is "Song of the South".  Think all things home made from the kitchen.  Throw in a little gingham, and farm fresh inspiration and I know you're on board!  Our hostess this month is Marybeth Lopez from Marybeth's Time For Paper.    I love Marybeth's style - you say her name and I'm thinking, elegant... delicate die cuts, glossy accents, and YES!  a sprinkle of shiny sequins!  More than that, Marybeth is my friend - and has brought me smiles and comfort more times than I can count. 

OK.. a little business before we get started... you can check out the 12 Kits of Occasions blog here.  t has a complete list of all the designers as well as an ingredient list of all the items that were included in this kit.  Go ahead, click on it NOW and leave a comment.  One person who leaves a comment there will win the May kit and get to join us  when it's my turn to supply the goodies! 

Now for fun!  I made four cards with this kit and there is so much more left over!  Thank you Marybeth for this amazing kit!  I can't wait to case my favorites!    I always say there is some element that I'm not sure what to do with .   This time for me it was the sunburst and cloud cutouts - look for them when you're hopping around. 

We have a special guest too this month!  Renee Lynch from It's a Patchwork Life.  Renee is the originator of the 12 Kits group and it's so good to see her back in action this month!

Ready to see more?  Just click here to jump to the 12 kits blog and while you're there.. make sure you leave a comment!!  We'd love to have you join us in May!

Great Impressions : Dish Towel
Impression Obsession : Farm Fresh Apron, Chef, What’s Cooking
Papertrey Ink: Friendship Jar,  Layer Banner Banter, Tremendous Treats Valentine, Tremendous Treats Birthday
Serendipity Stamps: Magnolia
Stampabilities: Milk Bottles In A Crate, Rooster
Stamps By Judith: Small Mason Jars D-22 and E-50
Stampin Up : Farm Fresh
Waltzing Mouse Stamps: Vintage Garden , Join Us

The Challenge One Year Celebration!

Happy Anniversary to The Challenge! Not familiar with The Challenge? It's hosted by Lesley Croghan. on her blog Always Playing WIth Paper. Lesley is the creator of lots of wonderful challenges including Fusion, Dynamic Duos, Seize the Birthday, Seize the Sketch, Card Concept, and Merry Monday - just to name a few.

Here is what you need to know:
What: One Year Anniversary at The Challenge (yay!)  You can get all the details and link your projects here.

The theme is Anything Goes but you must link up a NEW project created especially for this challenge and you can only link to 5 other challenges (including The Challenge).

Prizes:  Wendy Ramlakhan, the owner of SugarPea Designs, has generously offered a SPD Gift Certificate for one lucky participant. It will be one random winner…the more times you play, the better your odds.

The challenge begins today and ends on Sunday, April 5th at Noon (PST).

I made a nautical themed card with lots of layers of paper from Authentique.  I'm addicted to pins for adding sentiments or just a little extra bling like this one from Tim Holtz.  

The stamps are from Waltzingmouse - they've been adding lots of dies to the store to match existing stamp set.  This one is "Oceanbound" 

The stitched scallop border is from Pretty Pink Posh, and those bitty wood looking sequins are both in stock at Serendipity Stamps.   Gotta have some pretty Twinery Twine in maraschino too to keep it all together!  

I hope you join us at The Challenge!  It's a fun place to play and you're sure to see a few folks you know there! 














Supplies:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps & Matching Dies:  Waltzingmouse Oceanbound
Pattern Paper Authentique "Anchored" Collection 12 x 12
Dies:  Spellbinder Classic Circles, Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles, MFT Fishtail Flags, Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders
Twinery Twine Maraschino
Wood Button Momenta
Gem
Wood Sequins Serendipity Stamps
Pin:  Tim Holtz
Ink:  Impress Navy Pigment Ink

Pretty Little Studio - Feature FLAIR

We're featuring flair buttons at Pretty Little Studio!  I surrounded mine with a wrap around rose!

Want to see more designs from the rest of the team?  Click here to jump to the blog post.

Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5”

Supplies Used:

Flair Neapolitan Lemon Sherbet

Sandcastle Beach Bingo Card

Trick or Treat Thriller Tab

Pattern Paper Silly Monkey

Confetti Baby Avery Yellow Mix

Extras:

Stamp:  WPlus9 Written on Ribbon

Wood Veneer Butterfly Jillibean Soup

Die:  Spellbinder “Foliage” “Blossom One”

The Twinery Charcoal Twine

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Heart Pin – The Ribbon Reel

Vellum

TYIC#18 Joy!

Happy Friday!  Friday's are becoming one of my favorite days of the week.  My daughter moved out a little over a month ago and I've had a hard time getting used to her being gone.  We're both adjusting and now Friday is "our" day.  We go out to lunch or do a little shopping, talk and "catch up".  It does my heart good to see her and know she is doing ok - it's too easy to fake it over a text message.  I want to look her in the eyes.  Who knew one day I'd be all maternal?  LOL!!

 A new challenge begins today at Tag You're It Challenge!  The inspiration this time is from DT member Nancy Penir!   I love Nancy's style.  She always adds lots of embellishments and little extras to catch my eye and make a project extra ordinary.  

Nancy put a tag on a card this time - you don't have to.  You can just make the tag if you like!  I always look at the inspiration photo and focus on the things I love, and then try to make it my own.   I loved the embossed background, colorful flowers and little dew drops on Nancy's design.  

Now for part 2- how to make it mine.   I decided to use lots of similar elements with a different color scheme.   Things I did the same..... Kraft tag.. "Joy" sentiment, die cut white background, and floral motif.   I even incorporated the little musical notes.  Things that are different.. I used sequins instead of dew drops (gosh I want them, but they never seem to be in stock when I'm ready to buy),  a rolled flower from pattern paper, and a  burlap cord tie.

This Blossom One die from Spellbinders is my favorite rolled flower die.  I cut it twice from double sided card stock and rolled one, then continued rolling with the second cut.   I love the ruffled edge on the petals that look more natural to me.    

Need a little more inspiration?   Just click here to jump to the Tag You're It Challenge and see what the rest of the team made.  You can also get all the details and link your projects there too!  We can't wait to see what you make!

Have a beautiful day!













Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Dies:  Serendipity Stamps Joy, Memory Box Party Music, Spellbinder Spiral Blossom One, Foliage, Simon Says Stamp Chevron Background
Pattern Paper:  Pink Paislee Jubilee Collection 12 x 12
Sequins Pretty Pink Posh, wood look sequins Serendipity Stamps
Pin:  Etsy
Twisted Burlap Twine May Arts

Fusion - Cupcake

 A new challenge begins today at Fusion Card Challenge!  Oh and I think you're going to like this one!  Check out that yummy looking cupcake with the white non pareil sprinkles!  YUM!  Of course you don't have to work from the photo.. this is Fusion after all... you can work with the sketch if you are so inclined.  And if you are really feeling clever?  You can FUSE the sketch and the photo together... SMOOSH!  LOL!  Me?  Put a cup cake in front of me and I'm not going to say no!  LOL!    If you lucky you have a DH to bring you your favoirite from the bakery as a surpirse now and then!  (Thanks sweetie!)

I was  happy I got to play with some new goodies for this one.  I loved the little cake pedestal from Papertrey Ink - but my practical side wouldn't let me buy the stamps.   I wasn't sure I really needed another little cup cake set when I really like the one I have from WPlus9.  I thought I'd see if they would look ok before investing in a new set.  So what do you think?  Not too shabby right? 

I love this stitched frame die too.  I wanted to add a little color though so I colored in the leaves and stem with Copic markers.  I used two shades of yellow on the leaves, and three shades on the stem. 

To make it a little more fun I cut the center from the frame with a razor knife to create a shaker.  Yep.. little white pearls are packed in there along with some Pretty Pink Posh sequins. 

Want to see what the rest of the team made?  Hop on over to Fusion Card Challenge to see all their projects and to link up your own creation!  I can't wait to see your scrumptious designs! 

Supplies:   Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  WPlus9 Sweets & Treats
Dies:  Papertrey Ink
Copic, Memento Tuxedo Black
SequinsPretty Pink Posh 
Beads
Pin Dritz

Pretty Little Studio -

I know my blog seems a little quiet here and there.  That's because I'm posting on different blogs - like this one at Pretty Little Studio.

If you'd like to see more just click here to jump to the post.

Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5”

Supplies Used:

Die:  Gilly Squirrel

Pattern Paper Trick or Treat “Abracadabra” (Yellow Damask ), Love Notes “Cherish” (pink polkadot), Baby Claire (yellow stripe)

Bookmark:  Neapolitan Sherbet Bookmark Tags

Stamp: Waltzingmouse “Tag Collection One”

Die:  Spellbinder “Charmed I’m Sure”

Ribbon:  5/8” Yellow Textured Lines May Arts

The Twinery Pink Sorbet Twine

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Paper Flower iamroses.com

Spring Blooms - Twinery

I'm posting at The Twinery today with this card featuring Flax Twine and new stamps from Serendipity.

To see more just click here.

Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"
The Twinery Twine Flax
Stamps:  Serendipity Spring Flower Pops
Dies:  Serendipity Stamps Spring Flower Pops, Bloom
Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey Carte Postale & Basics Collections 12 x 12"
Washi Chugoku
Metal Button
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Copic

Cute Easter Cottage

I really enjoyed seeing all the Cute Cottage projects from the Poppystamps design team, and friends who linked up in the gallery for the challenge.   I thought I'd give it a try myself.  I decided to make a "Cute Easter Cottage".  I used the Halloween Roof and Porch set to give my house a "cookie cutter" look.  I had to make only one minor adjustment... I trimmed the spider web design from the peak of the roof. 

I had lots of fun adding different embellishments to my design.  The bird is from the Serendipity Bird Frame, and the clouds from the High Flying Kites set.   The little heart window boxes are from the Love Cottage Roof set. 

Of course I had to have a couple of cute little bunnies delivering a basket of colorful eggs to the front door. A little metallic pearl made the perfect door knob.
I attached a few of the elements with adhesive foam tape to add more dimension. I took this angled photograph so you could see them better.

Did you notice the Pine Tree Border in the background? All the little details make this so much fun!

I hope you're playing along with our challenge this month. It's called "Through My Window". You can link up projects featuring windows, what you see thorough your window, or a die cut window card - like shaker or a frame. We'd love to see your designs and you might just win a prize too! Here's a link to the challenge on the Poppystamps blog!

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Products:  Cardstock & Poppystamps Dies

SSCB#41 Spring Fever - Goldfinch

Hi and thanks for stopping by!  I hope you're having a great day! The past few days have been absolutely gorgeous in the Chicago area.  I went for a walk with Miss Moriko and I could hear the Sandhill Cranes whirling over head.  They make the most unusual sound - like a bird would sound if it were purring.  I call it "whirling".  They're a migratory bird in our area - like Robins and so many other birds.   I'm happy to hear their song and see the seasons change.    The trees should have leaves again soon and all the world will be green again! LOL!  Today is colder (50's) and really windy - I can hear the house creaking, and the dog looks spooked.

We're at the halfway point of the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #41 challenge - Spring Fever.  The challenge begins on the first Wednesday of the month, and we kindly remind you to play along on the third Wednesday of the month, showing more samples.  

To keep us on our toes, Mary likes to give the DT a little extra "challenge".  This time she asked us to use some Glossy Accents on our projects.  I love the shine of Glossy Accents when I see them on projects by other people, but on mine?  Not so much.  No matter how careful I am to be sure there are no bubbles, there always seems to be some itty bitty irregularities that I'm not fond of.  I want them to dry clean and perfect like an enamel dot, and I just can't seem to achieve that look. 

I almost didn't get my project done in time.  I tried the accents on lots of things and wound up tossing them all.  I added some to this wood veneer butterfly and lightly sprinkled on some chunky glitter.  Yep... looks clean here right?  Only because it's still wet LOL! 

Do you love the little wood sequins?  They're one of the newest additions to the store.   I love mixing them with colored sequins and that they are so thin.

Do you love that little stitched scallop border?  It's from Pretty Pink Posh, and in stock at Serendipity!

YAY!!! There is a sale this week!  Mary must be feeling good!!  Free shipping on all US orders of $15 or more.  Good through 3/25.

Want to see more beautiful project from the team?  Just click on their names below.   We also have a super guestie this month.  It's Karen Dunbrook of Snippets blog.    I hope you'll stop by and tell her hi!

Miriam Napier

Vickie Zimmer

Jenny Gropp

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

Marybeth Lopez

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"

Stamp:  Serendipity Stamps Goldfinch, Spring

Dies:  Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Border

Pattern Paper:  Crate  Paper Maggie Holmes  6x6"

1/2" Corner Rounder We R Memory Keepers

Twinery Charcoal Twine

Wood Veneer Butterfly Studio Calico

Chunky Sugar Glittery Doodlebug

Sequins - Wood Look Serendipity - Pink Pretty Pink Posh 
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Luxe Rose Bud