12 Kits of Occasions - Happiness Is Homemade

It's the last day of the month! Wow May has gone fast! The kids are out of school and the sun is shining! Summer is here at last!! The last day of the month for means it's time for me to reveal what I made with my kit from The 12 Kits of Occasions.

We're a group of 12 friends who love to paper craft. Every month we take turns putting together a kit for the rest of the group. On the last day of the month we share what we made. It's fun to see how our projects are the same or very different!

Our hostess this month is Birgit Norton from Crafting While I Wait blog! Birgit's kit is themed "Happiness is Homemade". It's a loving tribute to her mom who passed away two years ago. Birgit filled the kit with things her mom loved.. cooking for her family, quilting, and spring flowers. She touched my heart with the heartfelt note about her mom, and I hope I did her proud!

She filled the kit with images from Clearly Besotted and Papertrey Ink; die cuts from Impression Obsession, My favorite Things and Poppystamps: beautiful Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook" papers, and loads of embellishments. I'm always telling you to keep your eye out for my "tricky" ingredient. Looking at what's left I see lots of brads - they're in a rainbow of colors with different shaped heads. I'm anxious to see where the other designers used them!

I had lots of fun with this kit.. it made me think of my Grandmother who must have had lots in common with Birgit's Mom!   I got SIX (6) cards made!  Here goes... 

I hope you'll hop on over to The 12 Kits of Occasions Blog where you'll find a sample from each of the designers playing along today.  We're trying to give away a kit every month now to a lucky winner because we'd love to have you join us!  You'll have to leave a comment on the blog to enter to win.  Click here to jump to The 12 Kits of Occasions Blog!

All cards finished size 4.25" x 5.5"

Everyday Blessings
Stamps | Papertrey Ink Still Life Summer | My Favorite Things Cheerful Blessings
Dies | Papertrey Ink Still Life Summer | My Favorite Things Cheerful Blessings | Elisabeth Craft Designs Apron, Gina Marie Designs Stitched Scalloped Nested Squares
Pattern Paper | Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook"

Stitched Hello
Stamps | Papertrey Ink Button Boutique, Hanging By A Thread, Regency Era 2014 SAF,
Dies | Neat & Tangled Hoop | Papertrey Ink Hanging By A Thread
Pattern Paper | Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook"

Hello
Stamps | Papertrey Ink Just Desserts, Tulip Time | My Creative Time Fun Notes
Dies | Papertrey Ink Just Desserts, Tulip Time |My Creative Time Fun Notes
Pattern Paper | Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook"

Just A Note
Stamps | Clearly Besotted Sunshine & Smiles | My Creative Time Fun Notes
Dies | Clearly Besotted Sunshine & Smiles | Penny Black Border Edger | My Creative Time Fun Notes | Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Border
Pattern Paper | Bo Bunny "Kiss The Cook"

The Sweetest
Stamps | Clearly Besotted Recipe for Love, Papertrey Ink Just Desserts |
Dies | Clearly Besotted Recipe for Love
Pattern Paper | Simple Stories SN@P! Color Vibe Lights

Tulip Thanks
Stamps | PTI Tulip Time
Dies | Impression Obsession Thanks

Fusion Purple & Poppies

Hi Sweet Friends!  I hope you are having a great day!   I did some running around with my daughter today - a trip to Costco to buy her some little things for her apartment.  She's been experimenting with baking lately - I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.  She needed a set of mixing bowls, measuring cups and baking pans.   It feels good to do simple things like this with her.  Of course I had to stop at Hobby Lobby while we were by the mall, and then a bit of lunch at Red Lobster.  I'm addicted to Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp! 

Fusion Card Challenge has another winner design to inspire you this time. This one is called Purple and Poppies.  It's Fusion so remember you can use the inspiration photo OR the sketch.. or if you're feeling trixie just FUSE them together! 

I love purple and red together - two very regal colors.  Of course I added a bit of gold - fit for a Queen right? .  Instead of having my flourish go up like on the sketch, I decided to have mine pointing downward.  It just seemed more pleasing to my eye.

To get that two tone color on the poppies I dipped them in orange ink and then rolled the edges in red.   I stamped the dark centers with Versafine so they'd be crisp and dark. 

The oval cut frame looked a little flat to me so I embossed it with a repeating pattern and then popped it up on adhesive foam to add a little texture and depth to the window.

I hope you will join us at Fusion Card Challenge!  You have two weeks to play.  Need a little more inspiration?  Just hop on over to the blog and see the rest of the amazing cards from the design team! 











Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Clearly Besotted Remember
Embossing Folder:  Paper Studio Herringbone
Dies:  Memory Box Garland Greenery, Spellbinder Petite Ovals, Paper Smooches Flag Tags
Ink:  Memento Love Letter, Tangelo, Pear Tart, Bamboo, Versafine Onyx Black
Misc. Gold Enamel Dots

Tag You're It - Apple of My Eye!

Happy Friday everybody!  Got anything going this weekend?  I've been trying to get the garden in a little at a time and just when I think I'm about done it all begins again.  I've been watering.. watering.. watching for my little seeds to sprout.  Yesterday DH says.. "Your seeds are not growing because you didn't plant them deep enough.  Look you can see them on the ground."  So I pick one up - I'm going to stick it back in the ground and I feel it.. and OMG!! It's empty!!! Just a little empty husk of a seed!  Those stinkin chipmunks dug up my pumpkin, zucchini, sunflower and corn and ATE them!!!   So back to the drawing board!!!  I think I'm going to have to have a chat with my guard dog - and tell her to keep those pesky varmints out of our garden! 

A new challenge begins at Tag You're It today!   The inspiration is from our fearless leader - the one and only Tracey McNeely!

I love making tags - yes STILL!  They are usually quick and easy, and have a big WOW factor when attached to some home baked goodies.   This one is ready to clip onto a little bakery bag.  Now if only someone would bake some cookies!! HAHA!  Baking is going to have to wait until I get the yard under control.  Maybe next week!! 

I hope you find some time to play.. come on!! It's just an itty bitty tag!  You can link up your designs here at Tag You're It Challenge!!!

Supplies:  
Stamps:  Clearly Besotted "An Apple A Day"
Dies:  MFT Fishtail Banners
Twinery Maraschino Twine
Clip Recollections (Michael's)
Mini Staples Tim Holtz

Happy Mother's Day!

A simple post today to wish all the women a Happy Mother's Day!  So many wonderful women who make a difference every day whether they are Mom's or not.  To the teachers who care for our children as if they were their own.. the nurses who make an uncomfortable medical procedure bearable, the sisters and aunties!  Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you are surrounded by all the love you bring to others. 

This one is so clean and simple and I love the blingy strip of silver snakeskin washi!  Perfect for those feminine stylish ladies.

I made this one for my sister - she loves all the kiddo's - even the fur babies!   Always bringing a surprise for everyone - and if you frisk her at the door there is always a snack for the dog in her pocket! 

 Happy Mother's Day!!

Mom  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Clearly Besotted Delightful Doilies
Impress Fresh Ink Grapefruit
Washi Recollections
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Auntie  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Waltzingmouse Compact Family, Two Step Sprig
Embossing Folder Swiss Dots
Ink:   Memento

12 Kits of Occasions - Tickled Pink

Hi and thanks for stopping by!  I was in such a rush today that I almost forgot to post this!  I'm into the wee hours of the night!  Work is a little slow for DH so he surprised me with a day off.  We decided that instead of worrying about lost wages that  we should make the most of these opportunities.  So we jumped in the car and drove into the City to the Art Institute of Chicago.  It's been so long since I've been there!   Its amazing how many galleries and objects of art are on display there.  Really.. another great day! 

It's the last day of the month (I know right?).  That means it's time for the 12 Kits of Occasions. The 12 kits is a group of friends (and card makers)  that take turns supplying the rest of the group with a "kit" of goodies... think stamped images, pattern papers, trims and die cuts.   On the last day of the month we all post our creations and see how we used the supplies differently or in some cases.. not too often.. the same.    There is usually a trixie item in the kit that I'm not sure what to do with or that i think you should look out for because it's unique or unusual.  This time I think it would be the paper straws.   Keep an eye out for them!  You will want to file these in your "try me" file.   I did use one of the straws after completely destroying the first one lol!  I pressed it in my die cut machine... and used it like a ribbon trim.  What did the other designers do??? Hmmm.....  We'll have to see!!

The hostess this month is Tracey McNeely from In My Creative Opinion blog, and the theme is "Tickled Pink" - feathers, mother's day, flowers etc.  What an amazing kit of fun new things for me to try.  Lots of Simon Says Stamp images and pretty bright papers from Doodlebug.  You know I love pink, and I love flowers so I'm all over this kit!  Tracey is on lots of design teams and is Queen of all things CAS.  She has a wonderful way of embracing the white space and her designs never look empty.   I originally intended to CASE her - with a few clean designs of my own... but  I wouldnt say I was successful! LOL!!  I made 5 cards so here goes!!! 

Loving this pre-stamped image from Tracey - look at all the colors she stamped on this one!!

Ready to see what the rest of the group did?  You can see a "sneak peek" from each designer as well as a link up to their blog here on the 12 Kits of Occasions Blog.    We have a special guest this month too!  Suzanne Dahlberg!  I hope you'll hop over to her blog and say Hi!  Suzanne was one one of the original members of the 12 kits!  It's so nice to have her playing along this month. 

I'm also entering at Simon Says Work It Wednesday Challenge!

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!)

CASE Study #208 - Apple of My Eye

Happy Thursday!  For me that means a new challenge at CASE Study.  This is such a fun month to play along.  Our muse is none other than Debbie Hughes!  She's a total rock star in the crafty world and I'm so happy to be casing her today!!    Check out the inspiration photo - a fall beauty - apples, burlap and some distressed wood grain in the background.   Of course I zoomed in on those beautiful colored apples and threw in a little burlap and natural button twine to boot!  I can't tell you how tempted I was to make a pretty little tag, but I finally inked up this new Clearly Besotted set and wanted to use more than one of the sweet little apples on my project.

Need a little more apple inspiration?  Or do you see a pop of red on a dark background?  Hmmm... I wonder what everyone else made!!   You too?  Just click on the names here to jump to their blogs to find out!!

Chupa - Iwona Palamountain

Amy Wanford

Tasnim Ahmed

Silke Ledlow

Jill Foster

Gayatri Murali

Anja Curvers

Anna Kossakovskaya

Julia Stainton

Michelle Williams

Annika Lerche

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you find some time to play along!!

Finished Size 4.5 x 6.25"
Stamps:  Clearly Besotted An Apple A Day
Dies:  Clearly Besotted An Apple A Day, MFT Peek A Boo Squares
Border Punch Stampin Up Scallop
Pattern Paper October Afternoon Sidewalks, Farm Girl 8x8"
DCWV Burlap Paper
Card Stock:  PTI Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy
Natural Button Twine May Arts
Fresh Ink Mojito, Doodlebug Ladybug, Versafine Onyx Black
Buttons:  Stampin Up!

The Challenge #13 Sincere Thanks

I have two posts today so I hope you will look around.  This afternoon I'm showing some new peeks for Waltzingmouse that you're not going to want to miss.   Today I'm playing with The Challenge.  A new two week challenge begins today.  Not familiar with The Challenge?  Time to check it out!!  It was started by Lesley Croghan and is hosted on her blog Always Playing with Paper.  Lesley is the creative genius behind so many wonderful challenges and this one is no exception. 

Here's the inspiration photo for this time!  You can work with the sketch or the color palette, or you can mix them both together like I did.  That splat in the center can represent any image.   I will admit as soon as I saw the colors - Navy, Aqua, White and Gray, my first thought was Nautical!!   I decided to ink up the Nouveau Flower set from Clearly Besotted.   I love that you can stamp in layers in any color combination you like.  Perfect for this challenge. 

 

Want to see what the rest of the design team did with this?  Just click on their name here.

Lesley Croghan  (Creator)

Lori Tecler

Kimberly Wiener 

Now it's your turn!!   I hope you will give this one a try!! 

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Clearly Besotted Nouveau Flowers
Ink:  Fresh Impress Ink Birch, Gypsy Blue
Embossing Folder Cuttlebug Tropic Bloom
Pattern Paper:  My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart - Be Amazing 6x6"
Card Stock:  PTI Aqua Mist, White, SU! Basic Grey
The Twinery Twine Midnight Blue
Button, Washi Tape