A Kept Life

December 3: Paper Sweeties - Happy Ho Ho Holidays

Hi Friends! Glad you stopped by for more peeks at the December release of Paper Sweeties. I'll be showing projects made with the December release through the 5th. No need to wait for these lovelies - the stamps are in the store early this time so you can get your crafting done quick! My card today features images from the Have A Holly Jolly Holiday set. Debbie sure packed a lot into this one. Every bit of the 4 x 4" set is loaded with images. There is a new outfit for any of the ladies, sentiments and lots of cute images.

I made this sweet card featuring Emma (she was die cut with the new Sweet Cuts dies). I colored and fussy cut her outfit and layered it on top of the stamped image of Emma. I love her polka dot leggins and the ruffled edges on her top. She's cute as a blond too!

Want to see more Paper Sweeties designs? Just click on the DT names listed here to jump to their blogs!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Paper Sweeties

Tammy Hobbs

I hope you come back tomorrow to see more projects featuring the new Paper Sweeties December Release!

Supplies Used: Finished Size 4.5 x 6.25"

Stamps: Paper Sweeties Have A Holly Jolly Holiday, Emma

Ink: Copic Markers, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black

Dies: Poppystamps Winterflake Frame, Spellbinder Labels 25

Border EK Success Zig Zag Stitch

Ivory Button Twine, Holiday Divine Twine, May Arts 5/8" Red Mesh May Arts, Printed Twill Martha Stewart

Pattern Paper: Echo Park Reflections Christmas 6x6"

Card Stock: SU! Lucky Limeade, PTI Scarlet Jewel, White

Snowflake Button & Pearls:Hobby Lobby, Pin: Ribbon Reel

Guest Designing for Crafty Secrets

Great news! I'm the guest designer this month at Crafty Secrets. Before I started blogging I bought most of my supplies at the local craft stores and found my first Crafty Secrets stamps. I was drawn in by their vintage images and unique designs. Recently I rediscovered them and found that most of their designs are digital. I am guessing that most of you are like me and have only dabbled a little with digital designs. You can purchase single images of Crafty Secrets designs or entire discs. The discs are really amazing - everything you need to create a card is at your fingertips - digital paper, sentiments, embellishments, frames - it's all there. There are even 3-D projects on the disc for gift boxes/bags and place cards for your holiday dinner table.

If you have an electronic cutter - I used the Silhouette Cameo - the designs are easy to import to your library and manipulate. You can also use other software that will allow you to manipulate photo files like Photoshop. I have to say it was really nice to have everything perfectly coordinated in one place. The pattern paper and all the images are made to work together - you just print what you need, die cut and assemble. The hardest part for me was deciding what size to print the images. I saved the extras I printed up that were too big or too small for other projects.

Every Monday this month I'll have some Crafty Secrets goodness to show you. Here's a list of the ladies that do it every week all year round - the Crafty Secrets design team. I hope you will see what they've been up to - some shabby chic goodness is awaiting you here!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Supplies Used: Finished Size: 4.5 x 6.25"
Designs by Crafty Secrets "Vintage Christmas" CD Collection
Dies: Memory Box Findlay Fame
Stickles Picket Fence
Border Punch EK Success Double Embossed Dotted Lace
Gem: Swarovski Jolees
Pearl Spray Hobby Lobby
Roses: Iamroses.com
Ivory Button Thread, 5/8" Organic Cotton Stripes 5/8" Red Mesh May Arts, 1" White Lace Decorative Trim (Hobby Lobby)

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #66 - Shabby Christmas

Have you heard the news? The Ribbon Reel has switched it's fortnite challenge to a monthly challenge! This gives you more time to play along. The Ribbon Reel Store is a fussy crafters dream! They have all sorts of beautiful ribbons and trims as well as paper flowers and embellishments to dress up all your designs. Here's the inspiration photo hand selected by my good friend Tammy Hobbs from Creating Somewhere Under the Sun (love that name)! She makes everything look dreamy - I can't wait to see what she did with this one. You are kindly asked to use the colors in the inspiration photo (pink, baby blue, cream/white) and to add some ribbon (no problem!). The prize this month is sponsored by Paper Sweeties.

I am smitten with the music notes ribbon! It goes well with so many themes. I like it here with my Christmas bells ringing and it's super easy to tie - it's not too thick and its not slippery!