May 2020 12 Kits of Occasions

This month at the 12 Kits of Occasions Blog, Marcia Hill was our hostess and she sent the most adorable kit entitled “April Showers Bring May Flowers!” She challenged us to make our blogs bloom with life and flowers and COLOR!

First, my eyes went right to this adorable Stampingbella “Bundle Girl with a Snowdrop” and the amazing gingham paper!

I colored her with Zig Clean Color and Tombow markers and added a sentiment from Lawn Fawn’s “Hello Friend” set.

I added lots of Stickles and Wink of Stella Stardust pen details, because she reminded me of a sweet little garden fairy! Oh, and some Glossy Accents to her blue galoshes!

Next up is this gorgeous patterned paper with the beautiful tulip bouquet in a Mason jar! It is from a set called “Mandy’s Flowers” by Simon Says Stamp. Again I colored with Zig and Tombow markers. I added a mini paper bow from Mama Elephant, one of the “Simple Little Tags” from Memory Box and a sentiment from WPlus9 Studio.

Last up is this gorgeous silver embossed floral image that Marcia sent. It is called “First Blush” by Penny Black...

I colored the image with Copic markers then cut it out with this “HBD” birthday die from The Stamp Market. I added a Memory Box Branch die cut and a little birdie from a past kit that I colored with Copics, too.

I added lots of Nuvo Glitter Paste in “Moonstone” on the flowers and the bird, and embossed PTI’s Hawaiian Shores” cardstock with Stampin Up’s “Subtle” 3D embossing folder.

Thank you SO much to Marcia for sharing these gorgeous papers, die cuts, and florals with us this month! Made my heart so happy sitting in my crafting room in the sunshine! Thanks to all for stopping by today! ❤️

Wreath Throwdown

This week at the Color Throwdown, Lori chose some lovely, warm, fall colors...teal, olive, rust, and navy.

I used Memory Box's beautiful "Tidings Wreath" stamp set...

I stamped  the wreath in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. I colored it with Zig Clean Color and Karin Brushmarker Pro markers and a waterbrush.

Added a sentiment from the set, Wink of Stella pen on the blueberries, splatters of acrylic paint, and lovely rhinestones from Little Things from Lucy's Cards.

 I am also adding this to Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge at The Daily Marker! Today is Day 1, and it's my first time participating. I am excited to try and practice a little each day!

Miniature Things

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge to use miniature things on your card or project. I chose some of the adorable Whittle dies and the "miniest" tag that I have ever seen from  Memory Box!

I used Whittle Rabbit, Whittle Birds, Whittle Eggs, and Whittle Basket. The sentiment is from a Waltzingmouse Stamps set called "Spring Baskets."

I made a watercolor wash for the background then stamped some coordinating mini dots with Papertrey Ink's  Polka Dot Basics. The tiny heart tag is cut with Memory Box's "Simple Little Tags."  Some Stardust Stickles and Wink of Stella pen for dewy spring sparkle! Even the card itself is a bit small, measuring about 3.5 x 5 inches.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pastel Houndstooth Sketch

I loved Jen Mitchell's simple sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week...so many possibilities!

I was inspired by Laura Bassen's lovely pastel blended Easter egg background that she posted HERE for SSS today, so I created an Easter card, too!

I stamped the Houndstooth Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms in Versamark on white paper, then clear embossed it.  I ink blended using the emboss resist technique with Tim Holtz Distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Spun Sugar, and Tumbled Glass.  For the bottom sketch panel, I used a bit of vellum because I didn't want to cover up those pretty colors!

I stamped the eggs from a Waltzingmouse Stamps set called "Nestie Eggs" and cut them with the "Nested Eggs" Nestabilities.  The banner is from a different WMS set called "A Good Egg," and the little bunny is cut using a Memory Box die :)!

Some little pearls, Glossy Accents, iridescent sequins and teeny Memory Box flowers for the bunny's collar :).

This picture is a little more "true" color-wise, it's really light and airy in real life!  Always inspired by Laura Bassen's techiques, cards, and her fun videos :)!

Thanks for stopping by!

Trio of Tree Trio projects

I love these little "Tree Trio" and mini string of lights dies.  I think they're from Memory Box. Some of those "found" items...the ones in your stash that you suddenly think, "Oh I could do cool things with THESE!"

Started out with the sketch from "Happy Little Stampers" as inspiration, but didn't get my project done in time!  The little snowflakes are made with texture paste and a stencil from Heidi Swapp and sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps.



I liked the papers I was using, so I kept the tree scraps from the first card and made these cool "recessed" tags after seeing the cool "Splatter" tags by Danielle Flanders for last week's PTI Make it Monday.





Used PTI"s tag sale die and sentiments from Hero Arts and WPlus9.  This is not the last you will see of these dies this season, love them!

Wreath Sketch

Amy O'Neill created this week's lovely sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!

I chose to use my new Woodland Wreaths set from WPlus9 Studio and a sentiment from PTI's Love Lives Here: Holiday.

I used twigs cut with a Memory Box die and heat embossed the sentiment in white.  This is my first card made with my new MISTI!  An early birthday gift from my husband who had lots of HINTS from my friend Karen Stein :)!  It's an awesome tool, had fun watching YouTube videos featuring it, and can't wait to try some of the techniques!  Right now, I am loving it for lining up tiny die cuts likes those fruits and bird.

Sugared up the fruits and added some pearl berries.  Love this new paper for the holidays from DCWV!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Curtain Call Challenge Guest!

I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge this week!  Then I got even MORE excited when this adorable photo arrived...

I found this sweet fox mother and baby stamp by Hampton Arts and decided to make a cozy winter scene...

I stamped the foxes and colored them with Copic markers.  The scene was built with a sheet of white paper embossed with PTI's Woodgrain Impression plate, a piece of vellum embossed with a Sizzix snowflake folder placed over a die cut tree cut from chocolate brown cardstock. The little greenery is a combination of die cut pine boughs from PTI's Tinsel and Tags Kit, and a branch die from Memory Box.

I paper-pieced the baby fox for dimension and added a "Warm Wishes" sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps, which I chose after seeing that "Foxy" was a coffee cup!

Now it's your turn to play along!  Visit the Curtain Call Challenge Blog to see the Design Team's wonderful samples and to upload your own creation!  

Thanks so much for visiting!

Tree Lights

I'm going to make it to the Merry Monday Challenge this week!  Here is my card with Christmas lights and glitter!

 I used a tree and tiny lights die from Memory Box and a sentiment from PTI's Tinsel and Tags stamp set.

The tree lights die comes with a dainty circle piece that you can cut different colored lights with...that's where my glitter came in, as well as on the sparkling star.  The vellum panel is embossed with a Sizzix folder.  Christmas tree papers are from American Crafts and the awesome gingham background from Pebbles.

What a fun and festive gallery so far...Christmas lights make me SO happy!

Curtain Call "Pop Pop Pop" Challenge

This week at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge blog, this photo was featured...

I didn't have any popcorn images, so I made a banner just "poppin" with fall inspired flowers, berries, and branches...

The flowers are made with WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals and More Fresh Cuts sets and dies, and the Layered Banner Banter set from PTI.  The branch die is from Memory Box.

I took a large striped embossing folder and inked it with Vintage Cream ink, then sent it through my cuttlebug with kraft paper to make  the background.  The "Enjoy" banner is stamped with an old "Rice Paper" backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms.  The background plaid paper is an older one from the Simple Stories "Generations" pad.

Such a gorgeous photo...perfect inspiration for the "in between" of summer to fall.  After making the card, I promptly had some popcorn in our "Whirlypop" that my husband found at a garage sale...we have loved using that thing all summer!  Beats microwave pop any day :)!

Fruity sketch

A little time to play along with Freshly Made Sketches this week.  This awesome one is by Jen Mitchell...

Here is my card...

Used the new "Still Life: Summer" set from Papertrey Ink.

Stamped the fruits in A Muse Studio and Fresh Inks then added some mini flowers made with a Memory Box die. A little Limeade Ice peeking out of the side of the A Muse Studio Gingham paper. What a fun sketch this week!

PTI March Blog Hop

This month's theme for PTI's Blog Hop was to be inspired by this amazing photo from Country Living!  If I had a kitchen like that, I would NEVER leave it (and I don't even like cooking very much).  Yellow is my favorite color, and with aqua...it just sings! 

I decided to make a spring card, and to use the confetti stamping technique since I didn't get to play along with Lizzie's MIM challenge last week...

I used the Scene It: Everyday die for the trees, and confetti stamped on them with the two smallest dots from Polka Dots Basics.  It is layered on top of the Scene It:  Basic Backer die. The sentiment is from Take Three: Spring.  The trees reminded me of the overlapping lanterns in the photo.

Added a bunny and some mini flowers that reminded me of the wallpaper, cut with Memory Box dies.  The sketch is "kinda" like that big ole beautiful cabinet in the background.

I love PTI inspiration photo blog hops!  Can't wait to see the gallery!

12 Kits of Occasions...My Spring Kit!

It's the last day of March and time for another kit with the 12 Kits of Occasions!  This month I am your hostess, and my kit is to celebrate spring and Easter!  Kara made this lovely collage of all of the kit goodies which included flowers, bunnies, Easter eggs, and lots of lovely papers from the Pebbles "Front Porch" collection.

Up first is a CAS card featuring the Horizontal Cover Plate from Papertrey Ink over a sheet of Soft Stone cardstock embossed with the Woodgrain Impression Plate from A Muse Studio.

Love these Nestie Eggs from Waltzingmouse Stamps and a sweet bird paper clip from Prima.  The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps "Spring Baskets."

Next up is a little watering can die and some mini flowers called "Perfect Petioles" from Memory Box.  You can use them alone or stack them up to make layered blooms!  The sentiment is from A Muse Studio's "Kindred Spirits" set and the tag is cut with PTI's newest Tag Sale die.

This card was inspired by a sketch by Jen Mitchell at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I used my picket fence as my "horizontal" strip toward the bottom :)!

The tulips are from PTI's Flower Fusion #11 and the sentiment from Take Three:  Spring.  The mini leaves are from Memory Box, as well as the little bunny with his bitty cottontail!

The bunny from Waltzingmouse Stamps "L'il Buddies" is one of my favorite images and I paired him up with some more WMS "Nestie Eggs" and little printed epoxy dots from Heidi Grace.  Added glossy accents to the heart on the mini egg to match.  The sentiment is also from "L'il Buddies."

This last card is a case from Melissa Phillips way back in February 2010 when "Take Three: Spring" debuted at PTI.  I have always wanted the set because of her cards that release, and finally ordered it this past February.  Here is Melissa's original card...

And here is my version...

So there you have it!  A little bit of spring...we need it here since we got 8 inches of heavy wet snow on Saturday! A big welcome to my friend Karen Stein who is our special guest this month!  You can see the links to Karen's blog and all of the "12 Kitters" HERE.  Our blog  has a lovely new look thanks to the sweet stylings of Tracey McNeely!!  You will find my supply list there, as well as links to our Facebook and Pinterest pages.  Thanks for stopping by today!