12 Kits of Occasions

 It's the last day of the month!  You know what that means right?  Well it's time for the 12 Kits of Occasions reveal!  The 12 Kits is a group of 12 friends who like to paper craft!  We each take turns creating a kit for the rest of the group - everyone gets the same materials to work with.  On the last day of the month we all show what we made with our kit.   We all see the kit through different eyes and it's fun to see how our kits are similar or sometimes very different.  Our hostess this month is Kim Heggins from Cupcakes Cards and Kim blog.    And here is the amazing kit she put together for us.... 

Lots of die cut stamped images from MFT, and colorful polka dot paper from Echo Park.   She included a sprinkle of sequins, some washi, and pretty twine.   This kit was very clean - a good reflection of Kim's style.  Honestly I think its sort of fun to think of the kits and the senders at the same time - because let's be honest here.. the kits really are a reflection of us - the images we choose, the papers, etc.  They are all things we love and want to share with each other.

I confess.. I'm addicted to die cuts so - I added more than a few. I know my projects will look different from the rest of the group, I hope you can still see Kim in these.  

Ready to see more?  You can get a list of all the 12 kits designers as well as a sneak peek of ONE project every month from them here at the 12 Kits of Occasions Blog.  We hope you will stop by and stay hi!  Maybe make some new friends and see all the great projects that were made with this kit. 

Red Riding Hood

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend! I've got all the dishes washed and put away - and my thoughts moving on to the next big holiday - Christmas! It's wonderful having friends and family stopping by to spread holiday cheer, but lots of times they drop by unexpected. I've got the pantry stocked with nibbles - like cheese and crackers and since we got everything spic and span for Thanksgiving, we are ready for anything!

I love using Pretty Little Studio die cuts for the focal point on my projects. Meet Red Riding Hood! There are several different versions of Red Riding Hood in the store - you can see them all here. This one with the pretty red bow around her neck, candy stripe skirt, cross stitched apron, and basket in hand just seemed perfect for a Christmas visit!

I started with background papers from the Holiday Cheer Collection. The candy cane stripes, and peppermint swirls are yummy! To break up patterns I always add a bit of solid card stock like the red scallop one here. The 5" Gold Foil Lace in the shop is a great way to add lots of bling to a design. Since the 5" size is too big for my card layout I always cut them down to size and save the left overs for another project. A few iridescent sequins from the Gold Treasure Confetti Mix make this even more decadent.
For a quick sentiment I cut a banner from the Cheerful Word Tags that says "Holiday Cheer". The set includes 24 word flags great for layouts - with a few appropriate for card sentiments.

 

Isn't she adorable? Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!!

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5”
Pretty Little Studio Products
Die Cut: Red Riding Hood
Pattern Paper: Holiday Cheer Collection
Doily: 5" Gold Foil Lace
Cutouts: Cheerful Word Tags
Confetti: Gold Treasure

Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders

Button

Ivory Button Twine May Arts

Fusion Card Challenge - Blue Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you are having a great day!  I always have a Norman Rockwell picture in my head of what Thanksgiving should be.  Friends and family all getting together, helping out and making the meal (no matter what it is) a wonderful experience.  Somehow my "ideal" dinner and the one I usually wind up with are two very different things.  There is so much time spent in preparing this meal - getting the house ready and making sure everything is just right.  Just the thought of all the dishes and pans that will need to get washed at the end of the day just makes my hands ache!  If any of my family is reading this.. you've been put on notice - everybody better behave or the dishes are YOURS! LOL!  If only right?

If it gets too bad I'll go skulk off to my craft room and take a break from the excitement - deep breath!   LOL!!   A new challenge begins today at Fusion Card Challenge.   This one is called Blue Christmas.  You can use the photo for inspiration OR the sketch... and if you're feeling clever FUSE them together!

I saw that pampered pooch on the big pillow in front of the elegant Christmas tree and thought I would try to replicate the scene.  This one is going to go to Moriko's breeder - I promised to send her regular updates on how our girl is doing and have happy news to report.  Moriko has been a very good girl this year and we are so happy with her in our lives.

I added lots of silver details on my card including a silver die cut tree topped with a silver star, silver sequins, and some Platinum Shimmer Twinery Twine.

To recreate the doily in the sketch I  used a fancy border die cut and layered it over a solid scallop die cut. I mixed different patterns of paper for the background to jazz it up a little. 

Isn't that little dog sweet?  I almost painted his spotted eye red like the Target dog. LOL

Ok now it's your turn.  Need a little more inspiration?  Head on over to Fusion Card Challenge.  The design team has lots of gorgeous projects posted that are sure to inspire you!

Have a great Thanksgiving... and if it doesn't work out?  There's always next year. 

Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Memory Box  Santa Paws
Dies:  Stitched Country Borders, Stitched Rectangle Layers, Poppystamps Classic Ribbons, Woodland Border, Westbridge Christmas Tree 
Pattern Paper:  Teresa Collins "Memories"
Glitter Star: Paper Studio
The Twinery Platinum Twine
Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh
Ink:  Copic, Versafine, Memento

Leaves Are Falling

Counting down to the big day here... busy busy!  I bet you are too!  I'm posting this one at Poppystamps blog today featuring the "Falling For You" Stamp set with coordinating dies. 

SSCB#49 Happy Holidays - We're Half Way!

Do you have a little "down time" between getting things ready for Thanksgiving?  I know I've been working hard all week.  There is nothing I like more at the end of a busy day than to sit down and have a little break and relax my mind.  For me that's crafting.   If that's you too, then maybe you can join us at Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog for the latest Challenge. This month it's Happy Holidays - it doesn't have to be Christmas - it can be any holiday.  Our month's are a little different at Serendipity - this challenge actually ends on December 7.  We're at the half way point and there is still time to play.

I really love a CAS  "flat" card at Christmas time.  It makes it easy to stamp several and no worries on extra postage.   SO this one fits the bill.  The Ornament Pops stamps come in "Outline" - that you color yourself or as "Solid" like the ones I used today.

I stamped the ornaments with pigment ink so the color is bold and bright.  I adhered the stamped panel to a card base with some craft foam to add dimension.  I to adhere the foam to my stamped panel with sticky tape, and then to the card base with Ranger Multi Matt Medium - it gives me some wiggle room to position the panel - allowing it to slide it in place.  When I'm happy with it's location I just put an acrylic block over the top to keep it flat and in position while the adhesive dries. 

The finishing touch was a few gems in the ornament centers.

Want to go shopping? The 50% off Stamp of the month for November is Snowman Ice Skating.  Mary has a special this time too!   Free Shipping on all US orders of $20 or more!

Good Wednesday 11/25 through Sunday 11/29.

Need a little inspiration? We have a special guest this month! Hazel Hodgkins from Hazel's Paper Designs!  I hope you will stop by and say hi to her!

Here's links to the rest of the design team with samples for today!

Vickie Zimmer

Jenny Gropp

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Have a great day!



Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Serendipity Stamps Solid Ornament Pops, The Merriest of Merrys to You!
Impress Fresh Ink
Gems 

Addicted to CAS - Be Thankful

I know it's going to be a very busy week.  I've got lots of preparations going on for the big feast, so CAS is the way to go today!   It feels strange celebrating Thanksgiving when there is snow on the ground, but that's ok.  In my crafty room it can be anything I want...so falling leaves it is!   I'm playing along at Addicted to CAS.  They're right in the middle of their 3rd Birthday Celebration.. PLUS a Design Team call out!!   AND .. lots of fabulous prizes.  This time you are asked to make a project... keep pit clean and simple.. but ADD DIMENSION.  I did that a couple of ways on my thankful card today.  

This one was hard to photograph because of all the white, but if you look close you can see I scored some lines above and below the sentiment to add more dimension and texture. 

The second way I added some dimension was to add my die cuts to the cover panel using adhesive foam tape.   The images were colored using Copic markers.

Thanks for stopping by for a peek!  I hope you have a great day!

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Poppystamps Falling For You Stamps and Coordinating Dies

Christmas Morning

We just got our first snow of the season in the Chicago area. It seemed really unexpected because we've had such an unseasonably warm Fall. It picked the perfect day to land - Saturday! Something about waking up first thing in the morning - particularly on a day when you have no where you "have to be" to find a blanket of snow on the ground. I wish you could have seen the dog investigating like it was some strange substance from another world. Too funny!
I always associate snow with Christmas - spending time with my kids during Christmas break from school - keeping them busy making snowmen, helping me cook or having a pajama day. This die cut image of Amelia made me think of times when I'd let the kids "sneak" a present from under the tree a little early - something to keep them occupied while I was "taking care of business" doing laundry or other chore. My daughter always wanted a doll that looked "just like her" like the little lady in the image.
I love to mix pattern papers and while you might not think to put sheet music next to stripes of colored chevrons, just about anything will work if you add a little border of solid colored card stock. The paper I used today is from the Holiday Cheer Collection.
I always start with a flat base for my cards, and add embellishments with adhesive foam tape. By popping up the die cut image I can run twine under them (between the adhesive foam) or tuck a button, pin, or wood embellishments here and there without making them too hefty to fit in an envelope. 

I think this image would make a great birthday card for a "Little Miss" too. Pretty Little Studio has lots of die cut images that are perfect for capturing your favorite memories and documenting them in layouts. You can see them all here. 

Enjoy your snow days! 

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5”
Pretty Little Studio Products
Die Cut: Amelia
Pattern Paper: Holiday Cheer Collection

Stamp Set:  Waltzingmouse 2011 Holiday Ornaments

Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders, Paper Smooches Flag Tags

The Twinery Maraschino Twine

Wood Veneer Snowflake Stampin Up!

Gem

Star Pin Maya Road

Holly Jolly Christmas!

How are you doing?  I'm guessing lots of you are just as busy as me.   Lots of running around and planning the big meal next week.  If I get most of my shopping done this week, then I'll just have to pick up produce next week.  The cold weather here in the midwest makes us all want to stock up anyway.. no one wants to risk an extra trip to the store for the one thing that we forgot.  The first snow could be any time now and I think most of us would prefer to stay home in the bad weather ahead.

Thanksgiving also gets me thinking about Christmas cards.  A few years back I would have them all addressed and mailed the day after Thanksgiving.  That didn't last long.  I'm hoping I do better this year.   Maybe a New Year's resolution in my future?  I know I want to do better remembering birthdays!

I'm posting at Poppystamps with this CAS holiday card featuring the Stitched Holly Border and Free Hand Merry Christmas Sentiment. I cut the holly border in a dark and light green and just wasn't happy with how they looked on top of each other. So I broke them up with just a hint of gold. (An extra layer of die cut border with just the edges peeking out.)

This one is great because it's nice and flat! No extra postage!! Until I tuck a little something inside right? Another thing I can't help doing! What can I say? I like surprises!

Stitched Holly Border

Free Hand Merry Christmas

Stitched Holly Leaves and Berries

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