The 12 Kits of Holidays: January

Hi all! You might want to get a cup of coffee or tea and sit back and enjoy our monthly post! There is a lot to see and we have some changes to tell you about. Did you notice we have a new name? That's just one of changes! First of all, you may already know we lost two dear members of our group, Suzanne, The Card Yard, and Cathy, The Empty Nest Crafter. They each have had some life changes and had to step down but both still have active blogs so be sure to follow them there. We'll miss you!! We also have two new very creative people joining us--Tracey, In My Creative Opinion, and Kelly, Gingham Girl. Please join us and give a big welcome to both of them!!!

We have also reevaluated our original plan to make only Christmas projects. While it is wonderful to have 11 months (we did one month dedicated to Hanukkah--thank you, Joyce) of Christmas cards ready to mail out well before the holidays, we also all ended up with quite a supply of leftovers. Enough to make many more cards than we posted. So, this year we are doing a mixture of Christmas with other holidays/occasions. Hope you enjoy the variety!!

To start us out, our hostess this month is Joyce, Cards-by-the-Sea, and she sent us the most amazing kit full of Valentine goodies. I LOVED this kit! Thank you so much, Joyce. This has been such a fun month! The photo below was taken by Kara who graciously continues to provide us with wonderful pictures each month.

PHOTO BY KARA

I'm posting my cards in the order they were made. I instantly knew I would use the panel cut with the Memory Box Piestra Tile die. And I adore the stamped image that looks like heart wildflowers.  

This next card uses a piece of the wonderful patterned paper punched with an EK Success Open Scallop Edger. Space was left for the bold sentiment and I added one of the great hearts Joyce sent.

All these elements were provided in the kit--just a matter of arranging and gluing them in place. I used the tiny hearts that came from the envelopes I used for the next card.

This next card was fun--love the wonderful little envelopes die cuts. I did use a couple of die cuts from my First Class Friend Die-namics by My Favorite Things.

For this card, I embossed the main panel with PTI's Woodgrain Impression Plate. I used a PTI cloud die to cut the sentiment and had to add a couple of birds from my new Rested Birds dies by Memory Box. These are the cutest little dies and I'm sure they will be used a lot!

My last card I made yesterday morning. I have been following Joyce and some of the other people in the Clean and Simple Cardmaking class. They were featuring debossing and I wanted to try it out. I wasn't sure about a sandwich so I checked Nichole Heady's blog and she had mentioned using the same one as for impression plates so that is what I did. Along with Joyce's supplies, I used WPlus9 stacked hearts, a few pearls, and a couple more of my new birds! I love the look and can see doing this more often.

Well, I've talked way more than I should have. You will want to see all the other fabulous projects so start on your journey by clicking on the sites below. We'll be back again next month with a Country Christmas hosted by Renee.

   Joyce, Cards-by-the-Sea

   Renee, It's a Patchwork Life

   Tracey, In My Creative Opinion

  Sharron, On Papillon Wings  You're here!

Marybeth, Marybeth's Time for Paper

Jeanne, A Kept Life

Christina, SeaGlass Papercrafts

Amy, Stamp-N-Paradise

Kim, Cupcakes, Cards and Kim

Kara, KandRdesigns

  Kelly, Gingham Girl

Jessica, The Paper Parade

Have a wonderful time and thanks so much for visiting! 

Sharron

Supplies in Joyce's Kit

Stamps: Good Gab (Paper Smooches): XOXO, Valentine Defined (Stampin' Up); Love You More, A Pocketful-Valentine (WPlus9); Love and Marriage, Think Big Favorites, Just the Ticket, Heart Prints (PTI); Love Makes the World Go Round (Technique Tuesday); Wild Thin:g (Verve)

Dies: Perfect Patches, Mat Stack #3, Just the Ticket, Heart Border, Heart Prints, XOXO Border (PTI);

Piestra Tile (Memory Box); Stitched Squares and Rectangles, Instant Camera, Stitched Sentiment Flag (Lil' Inker)

Paper: White, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy (PTI); Lucky in Love (MME); Red Glitter (SU)

Additional: Embossing Folder (Sizzix); Queen and Co. Twisted Twine (Oozak; May Arts Chevron Striped Twill (Really Reasonable Ribbon); Rhinestones/Pearls (Kaiserscrapbook)

Play Date Cafe Challenge #166

I switched gears this morning when some happy mail included this Memory Box Trellis die. It's hard not to want every new die that comes out! And since I now have the Memory Box Metal Adaptor Plate, everything cuts like a dream.  

The PDCC this week is a Color Splash--black and white and this time a splash of emerald green. These were as close I could get. The butterfly's body and tips of the wings have green and I used New Leaf cardstock for the trellis insets. Kara at KandRdesigns has such an amazing talents for creating patterns. So when I first cut the trellis out, and after seeing her blog yesterday, I started thinking about designs I could create. Hopefully the green gives the abstract look of a vine. I thought the added flower gemstone might help. I like to do dimensional butterflies so I stamped one on the cardstock and stamped and cut out the body and wings of another one to layer on top.

Just a note about supplies. Two of my mainstays are Tombow Mono Permanent Adhesive and Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive. I prefer Tombow to glue most everything on my cards. The V2 adhesive is a spray and perfect for adding vellum or clear cardstock plus things like the trellis. It's so easy to spray something that isn't solid. Then I added very small dots of Tombow in the openings where I added the green--really fast and easy!

Perhaps this will make you think of Spring!

Have a wonderfully creative week,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Antique Engravings (Hero Arts); Half and Half (PTI)

Cardstock: Soft Stone, Stamper's Select White, New Leaf (PTI)

Dies: Trellis (Memory Box)

Additional: Gemstone (Hobby Lobby); Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento); Copics

Monday Morning Chalkboard Challenge With Claire

I've seen quite a few examples of this chalkboard technique but it wasn't until Claire at Waltzingmouse posted this challenge that I thought I would give it a try. It's been popular in many informal cafe settings. The little restaurant where we often eat on Friday nights always posts their specials this way. So, of course, it made me think of food! I decided this card could accompany a gift of goodies for a neighbor or friend. 

I used several WM sets: Little Box Labels, French Country, Say It Loud, Say It Loud-Winter Holidays.

The hearts are from a set that I have had for ages but have no idea the name or the company. The base was embossed with woodgrain and touches of color were added using Prismacolor pencils.

There's still time to play along. The challenge is open until next Monday so just click HERE to get all the details. Claire is even doing a random drawing for a store gift certificate!

It is freezing here today and we are supposed to take our dogs to an OUTDOOR agility class at 7:00--when it will be even colder! Gosh, I would much rather stay home and stamp--but haven't yet convinced hubby to take both the dogs!

Thanks for coming by,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Little Box Labels, French Country, Say It Loud, Say It Loud-Winter Holidays (WMS); Hearts (unknown)

Cardstock: Sweet Blush, Scarlet Jewel, True Black (PTI)

Additional: Versamark; White Embossing Powder (Ranger); Fresh Snow Ink (PTI); Prismacolor Pencils, Black Cord (Stash); Button (Autumn Leaves)

A Study in Beauty--Play Date Cafe Challenge #165

COLORS: Plum, Mustard, Rose

I was afraid I wasn't going to get this posted on time. I knew immediately I wanted to use this butterfly for this week's PDCC but had a bit of trouble with how to use mustard. Then after going through my 6x6 pads (I have a few!!), I found this paper from Bo Bunny! I've also had a package of these embellishments for ages so I was glad to finally be able to use one of them too.

The 'love' is a die cut from a WPlus9 Christmas set. Actually it was a pretty quick card to make once I decided to use the paper!

I've also gotten a little behind on visiting blogs. Hope to spend some time today!!

Happy Monday!

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Antique Engravings (Hero Arts)

Cardstock: Oatmeal (WPlus9); Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Country Garden Collection (Bo Bunny)

Dies: Seasonal Sentiments (WPlus9)

Additional: Cameos (WeR Memory Keepers); Corner Punch (EK Success): Copics

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #3--HAVE A HEART

THEME: HEARTS

There is a fairly new challenge out in blogland! Several of my sweet stamping friends are on the Design Team at Serendipity Stamps so you can always find their gorgeous work at the Challenge Blog. Take a minute to check out the rules. Marybeth (Marybeth's Time For Paper) just send me some of the wonderful images. I've been anxious to try them out and it also meant I could join this week's challenge--yeah!!! 

Isn't the heart gorgeous! I wanted to use it with this patterned paper from Bo Bunny so I cut it out and shaded the background using a Copic marker. The only pink felt I had was in bright colors so I used some Vintage Cream and then shaded the roses with the same Copic color. I think I LOVE this card!! And thank you so much, Marybeth! The heart was my inspiration!!

Thanks so much for letting me share,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Heart Scroll (Serendipity--Mary Beth); Tiny Tags (PTI)

Cardstock: Oatmeal (WPlus9); Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Little Miss Collection (Bo Bunny)

Dies: Folk Art Florals (WPlus9); Tiny Tags (PTI); Rolled Roses (MFT)

Additinal: Ecru Embossing Thread; Vintage Cream Felt (PTI); Copic R11

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED! Waltzingmouse Blog Party-January

THEME: Love/Hearts

I couldn't decide between the hearts in Sewing Box-Hugs and this one from Seasons of Love-Tags. I don't yet have the new hearts or it would have even been harder!! I decided to go with this CAS design and emboss the heart in silver. It looks like something I could give to hubby for either Valentine's or our anniversary--which happen to be on the same day. We always give each other two cards!!

I used one of my favorite stamps from French Country to add a bit of red and added some score lines. Had to laugh about the ink colors--Love Letter and Tuxedo Black!! The bow is the new Mini Bow from Lil' Inker. 

There is always lots of inspiration over at the WM blog so just click HERE to be on your way.

Have fun at the hop and thanks for stopping by,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Seasons of Love-Tags, French Country (WMS)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, True Black (PTI)

Inks: Love Letter, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark

Additional: Mini Bow Die (Lil' Inker Designs) Silver Embossing Powder (Ranger)

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #85: Round of Applause

My 'Round of Applause' today is for a friend who passed her National Pharmacy Tech certification test last Saturday. She was SO worried but I knew she could do it! And it is also for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. I love when I have a need for a card that works for a challenge too!! There is still a little bit of time to enter. Just click HERE for more info.

I stamped Congratulations on the inside, using a Lil' Inker stamp that matches the font. And those gems are from my sweet friend, Jeanne, A Kept Life. It is a sheet of multi-sized rhinestones in an array of colors. Thanks so much, Jeanne!!

Hope you have an AWESOME day!

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Background Basics: Super Stripes, Boxes, Bags and Tags (PTI); Sun Sentiments, Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments (Lil' Inker Designs)

Cardstock: Oatmeal (WPlus9)

Patterned Paper: Market Square (Farm House Paper)

Inks: Lady Bug, Teal Zest, Rich Cocoa (Memento); Toffee (Amuse), Versamark

Additional: Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Play Date Cafe Challenge #164

New Year's Resolution: Do more of the challenges that I love so much! It has been ages--far too long--since I last did a Play Date Cafe Challenge. Color challenges have always been a favorite of mine and I used to do PDCC all the time! Here is the link to this week's challenge.

A friend in our daylily club passed away so I am sending this to his wife. I always use something with a nature theme for sympathy cards and liked how these colors work. Some score lines were added on the side to coordinate with the plaid. 

Thanks for taking a peek at my weekend project. The rest of my crafty time was spent on creating with my January 12 Kits goodies. Wait until you see the new surprises we have in store for 2013! Love this first kit!!!

Have a great week,

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: Country Charm (WPlus9); Frame It (WMS)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening (PTI)

Dies: Folk Art Florals (WPlus9)

Ink: Rich Cocoa, Nautical Blue (Memento)

Cloud 9 Blog Hop: January

Time for another Cloud 9 Blog Hop and look at all the things in this fabulous inspiration photo! It should be easy to pick one, two or more to use as a jumping off place for your creation this month. And there is still time to participate. HERE is the link where you can find all the details.

I used a variety of WPlus9 stamp sets and embossing powders. I loved how the pocket from A Pocketful with the textured finish came out--it embosses beautifully. It was a little hard to photograph and looks even better in real life! The sentiment is a combination of stamps from A Pocketful and part of a stamp in Ionic Christmas.

Be sure to check out the awesome samples done by the Design Team and see what everyone else has made. Don't forgot--there is still time to play!!

Thanks for dropping by and taking a peek!

Sharron

Supplies

Stamps: A Pocketful, Banner Love, Heartfelt Mix, Iconic Christmas (all WPlus9)

Cardstock: Oatmeal (WPlus9); Fine Linen (PTI)

Additional: Tag (LSS-stash); Gold and Silver Embossing Powders (Ranger) Corner Rounder (EK Success); Eyelash Trim (Martha Stewart-from Marybeth's 12 Kits 2012 Kit)