Citrus Throwdown

This week, Susie’s Color Throwdown  will make you want to pucker up…Yellow, green, and white!

I chose a citrus theme using The Greetery’s “Lemon Blossom” set…

I created my background with The Greetery’s stunning “Leaves All Around” stencil set. It’s perfect no matter what color scheme you choose, or what you place in the center!

Come play along with this summery set of colors. Thanks for stopping by! 💛

12 Kits of Occasions...with ME!

It's my turn to share a kit at the 12 Kits of Occasions Blog and I had so much fun planning it and then sending it out!   Kara made this amazing photo collage of it ( I put it on the "extra large" setting because it's such an awesome collage) and she even gave it a title! :)  All of the supplies you see are listed HERE.

As soon as I saw Echo Park's " 'Tis the Season" patterned paper collection with a chalkboard theme, I knew it was the 6x6 pad for me!  As I mentioned on the 12 Kits blog already, I used this sheet of paper from the pad to give me ideas for all of the elements to include in the kit such as stamped images, sentiments, and die cuts.

Oh that Scottie dog caught my eye!  So up first is this cute one from Pink Persimmon!

I thought he would look perfect jingling along in the snow in his rhinestone collar and houndstooth coat.  That is one of my favorite sentiments that I own!  It's a wood mount stamp from the former A Muse Artstamps :)

Then it was time to get chalky!  This is the new Chalk Background from Hero Arts with the charming 2011 Heirloom Ornaments from Waltzingmouse Stamps.

And now for the amazing sentiments!  These are new from A Muse Studio, a cling set called "It's a Wonderful Life," and they stamp so beautifully!  I added some "chalk" detail around the words with a white pencil.  This background stamp is so authentic...just a little white ink on dark cardstock and you get the perfect vintage chalkboard look.

Time for some tags!  This one uses another fave image of mine...the "Xmas Stocking" by Anna Wight for Whipper Snapper Designs.  It's hanging from a sweet, tiny new Memory Box die called "Festive Lights" and is paired with another sentiment from "It's a Wonderful Life."

Speaking of Memory Box, I fell in love with this gorgeous Deer Collage stamp from them while shopping at my fave little stamp store "One Little Spark" in Tuckerton, New Jersey this summer :)  It looks regal with the L'il Inkers Snowflake dies and a silver-embossed sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps' Festive Foliage set.

 I colored with the C1 and C3 Copic markers...and turned him into Rudolph!

Now for another great Memory Box find...this little tag cut with the Pocket Tag die!  Perfect to slip a little something in...we tried a gift card which didn't quite fit, but some dollar bills did :)!  I "Stickled" up my favorite candy cane from Waltzingmouse Stamps' Sewing Box-Christmas, and placed it on the outside pocket.  I actually cut 2 tags with the die and used patterned paper for the pocket flap (it's glued over the original black cardstock flap). The cute reinforcer piece is cut with a die included with the tag.

More mini tags, this one cut with Papertrey Ink's newest Tag Sale #8 die...

More pencil detailing on this sentiment from A Muse Studio's "It's a Wonderful Life."  The PTI Holly Jolly dies are sugar coated with Martha Stewart's clear coarse glitter.

Another fabulous Hero Arts Stamp, the Pen & Ink Christmas Tree paired with a sentiment from their new clear set "Banners and Messages."

I detailed this with white pencil but then coated over the top of that with a Sakura Stardust pen...very shimmery in the sunlight!

This next tag got away from me a little bit, hee!  It's very dotty!  

The tree is embossed with a Sizzix dot folder and then I colored each one with a chalk marker.

The little tag and heart are both made from wood veneer and then painted.  The heart is from Studio Calico and the tag is made by Ball Jars.  I used a beautiful new sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps new "Seasonal Flourish" sentiment set. 

Last but not least, another beloved retired wood mount stamp from A Muse Artstamps (also purchased at One Little Spark a few years ago)...Snow Gent (and his Starbucks cup, hee)! with a sentiment from "It's a Wonderful Life."  The tree and snowflakes in the background are from Papertrey Ink's "In the Meadow" stamp set.

So there you have it!  I think I am having kit letdown now!  Luckily, I have tons of inspiration from these ladies coming up and the stamp sets to try their ideas out!  All of the supplies for this month's kit are listed on the 12 Kits of Occasions blog HERE.  You can also find us on Facebook HERE and our Pinterest page HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Karen Stein

Our Special Guest this month!

Amy Kolling

Cathy Weber

Christina Maclaren

Jessica Davis

Joyce Mehrberg

Kara Vrabel

Kim Heggins

Marybeth Lopez

Sharron Gregory

Renee Lynch

Tracey McNeeley

12 Kits with Kara!

It's time for another edition of The 12 Kits of Occasions and this month the amazing Kara is our hostess!  As you can see in the photo above, she sent us a gorgeous and elegant kit for autumn & Thanksgiving!

She sent us 3 sizes of glassine bags and these adorable place cards made with Papertrey Ink's "Places Please" stamp and die set.  I decided to make a favor for a Thanksgiving table.  Inside are some smoked almonds.  These would look so pretty at each place setting!  I used a sentiment from one of my own PTI sets "First Fruits" stamped in Delicata gold ink to match the lovely leaves Kara sent.  These would look so great printed with guests' names, though!

Next is an image from PTI's "Autumn Abundance" colored with Copics and glittered up a bit...

Used one of my Sizzix embossing folders with some Dark Chocolate cardstock.  Liked how the leafy pattern coordinated with the vase image.

More Copic coloring on PTI's "Autumn Hills" scene!

Colored it to match a panel that Kara sent that was stamped with PTI's "Leaf Prints."  SUCH beautiful colors she chose!

And last a CAS card that made me think of Kara herself!  A die cut "Thankful" mixed with some beautiful vellum leaves.  I absolutely LOVE this woodgrain paper she sent and will be ordering some!

It was very hard to photograph, but the leaves were scored down the center and folded a bit for dimension. I wanted them to look like they were floating.

There you have it!  I have so many things left, so I must come back with more cards to showcase Kara's kit. She is hosting a prize giveaway this month!  Leave a comment on the 12 Kits of Occasions blog HERE for your chance to win Papertrey Ink's "Places Please" stamp and die set!  You will also see the blog links for all of the kit team members, as well as a supply list for Kara's kit.

Thanks so much to Kara for this lovely kit!  Don't forget to check out our Pinterest Board HERE and our Facebook page HERE for more 12 Kits inspiration!

12 Kits of Occasions...Halloween!

It's the last day of the month which means it's time for another 12 Kits of Occasions reveal!  This month our hostess was the lovely Kim Heggins, and she created a kit for her favorite holiday...Halloween!  It was just filled with TREATS, all lovingly packaged in little kraft bags sealed with washi tape...and even a mini slider box filled with ribbon and twine!

What caught my eye first was the adorable Haunted Hill die cut scene from Impression Obsession.  And OH the papers from Pebbles "Trick or Treat" Collection, they are so awesome!!

Thought it went perfectly with this sentiment from Cicely at Halloween by Waltzingmouse Stamps.  Kim sent us that sentiment, but I decided to make a "moon" and so cut patterned paper with a circle nestie and then stamped the sentiment myself.  Had to make my teeny cat's eyes green, TOO!

Another really fun die cut, a "Trick or Treat" filled with some images from an adorable set called "Halloween Hello" by Stampin Up.  

Then it was time for tags!  Love this sweet little spider (although I think he can be a bat, too ;) from "Halloween Treats and Sweets" by Papertrey Ink and a border spider web die cut by Cottage Cutz.  I cut it in two and then layered the 2 pieces next to each other.  The sentiment is from Midnight Feast by Waltzingmouse Stamps.

 I think the last  is my fave project of the month, this scaredy cat made by Lucy, cut with Kim's Silhouette (need one of those)!!  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's "Spooky Sweets II."

I covered my black cat with flock!  A well-placed orange sequin on the back of the die cut made for a perfect evil eye :)!!

Thanks SO much to Kim for such an amazing kit!  I will definitely try to revisit it this month since there is so much more to use and still some time left until Halloween!  To see the full supply list for any of the kits (starting from July 2013 and on), you can go to the "Monthly Kit Supplies" button on the 12 Kits Blog HERE.

For more inspiration, you can also visit our Pinterest board HERE and our Facebook page HERE.

Now off you go to see what the other ladies have made this month, including our special guest designer!!

Amy

Cathy

Christina

Darnell, our guest this month!

Jessica

Joyce

Kara

Kim

Marybeth

Renee

Sharron

Tracey

August 12 Kits with Amy!

Time for another edition of The 12 Kits of Occasions!  This month we are celebrating Christmas with a lovely kit from Amy Kolling!

There are lovely stamps and die cuts from Verve and patterned paper by Glitz!

I went with a warm and rustic card for my first, using the lovely Verve wreath and some dark brown paper that I embossed with PTI's Woodgrain impression plate.

My favorite part is all of the berries...tiny Recollections red gems!

My next card took a more elegant turn...

The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps "Ornate Ornaments" set.  Added a bit of Scor Tape and Doodlebug  "Lily White Sugar" glitter along the bottom.

I layered 2 poinsettias onto a stamped label (both from Verve) and added more Recollections gems.  The beautiful red bracket is left over from Jeanne's kit!!

And for my final project, I went a little whimsical and fun!

That is my favorite Christmas sentiment of all time!  So beautiful and TRUE.

Amy sent us this little banner die cut in red.  I originally was going to use it on a red card base so I decided to paint it with Tim Holtz Picket Fence crackle paint and added some Stampendous Crystal Snow glitter. Didn't end up using it against red but still love the snowy result :)!

Thanks SO much, Amy!  I had such a great time with your kit and as usual, more things have been added to my wishlist!

Amy is even hosting a giveaway this month!  One lucky participant who comments on the 12 Kits August post at the blog HERE will receive a $15 Verve stamp set of choice, yippee!  You have until 10pm CDT, September 6th to comment to win!

Off you go to see more fabulous projects...

Amy

Christina

Jeanne

Jessica

Joyce

Kara

Kim

Marybeth

Renee

Sharron

Tracey

Don't forget to keep watch on our blog and our Facebook page HERE for more inspiration with Amy's kit throughout the month!  Thanks for stopping by today!

12 Kits for July!

Welcome to the 12 Kits of Holidays post for July...except now we are The 12 Kits of Occasions, and we have SO many fun things to talk about this month!  First, we must start with the fabulous kit supplied by the lovely Christina!  She created such a colorful and chic one with so many trendy images and embellishments to celebrate BIRTHDAYS!

The paper this month is from Echo Park's "A Perfect Summer" collection and I just love it!  

Up first is a card with a sweet cupcake die cut from WPlus9 Design Studio's "Sweets and Treats" set topped with a "cherry" (in the form of Basic Grey Candy Dots)!  Loved the matching paper in the background and that fun sentiment (also from the set).

I was obsessed with those teeny wood veneer stars from Studio Calico!  I decided to add color to mine with some folk art paint.

Christina supplied us with the most beautiful sentiments from Hero Arts "Many Birthday Messages" set with elements that were heat embossed in gold.  So awesome!

They worked perfectly with the little "Satin gold" sequins from Ellen Hutson.  

Loved the idea of the L'il Inker balloons floating against a sunny sky! And another painted star...this time a teeny tiny red one!

This paper reminded me of birthday candles.  Paired candle die cuts from my own Birthday Style set from Papertrey Ink with another one of Christina's awesome Hero Arts sentiments.

Stamped the flames with Delicata Ink in Golden Glitz and added some golden pearls.

Lastly, some sparkling cupcakes from WPlus9 Design Studio "Sweets and Treats" set with a sentiment from Mama Elephant's "Soiree" set...

The glitter pieces underneath are this awesome glitter tape.

There you have it!  And now for some fun news...12 Kits has its own blog AND Facebook page now!  (And can't forget about our Pinterest Board HERE).  Our blog will feature fun things all month such as sneak peeks, favorite cards from our monthly post, pictures of the kit with a supply list where all of the papers, stamped images, die cuts, and embellishments can be found, and some bonus projects through the month made with our kit "leftovers" (always a TON of those)!

And to celebrate these fun additions, Christina is offering up a little blog candy this month!  SO leave a comment on our new blog HERE and she will draw the winner from the comments left on today's post!

Off to continue the party this month...

Amy

Christina

Jeanne

Jessica

Joyce

Kara

Kim

MaryBeth

Renee
Sharron

Tracey