Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The 12 Kits of Christmas: Presenting in May---The Kit of Hanukkah!!




It's that fun time again---time for the 12 Kits of Christmas Blog Hop! And this month our very talented hostess is Joyce Mehrberg, Cards-by-the-Sea. Joyce is of the Jewish faith and created the most incredible kit for us just full of of things to make for Hanukah. She also included a brief history of the holiday. She explained that Hanukah (or Chanukah or Hanukkah) is not a very important Jewish holiday but a fun one. It celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusaleum after it was attacked by the Greeks. It is also known as the festival of lights and is normally celebrated by lighting candles on a Menorah, playing dreidel, eating latkes and, of course, presents! Below is a photo of all our gorgeous supplies, taken by Kara, our very talented 12 Kits photographer! If you have visited on the other months, you know we have created our little group as a way to work throughout the year on those Christmas/Holiday cards that can become such a cumbersome project at the end of each year. Each month one member puts kits together for herself and each member of our group. Love it when the new kit comes---just imagine a fabulous envelope of surprise stamping goodies!!
PHOTO BY KARA

I had so much fun with Joyce's kit. My projects came together so easily and were really enjoyable to make. I love the colors and Joyce included so many wonderful patterned papers and great die cuts. As always, I have a bunch of supplies left over--one of the many benefits of being part of this amazing group! A highlight of every month is reveal night! It is so inspiring and such fun to see what everyone has made!


My first creation is a card. All the supplies came from the kit except the silver panel, the card base and the pearls, which I colored with Copic's Cool Gray #C3. I used a silver glitter pen to do the flames on the candles but you probably can't see this in the photo. 
And since Hanukah is a holiday where lots of gifts are given, my next two projects are things that can be used to accompany a gift. For this one I used a tag that is slipped inside the panel of patterned paper. I did glue the paper first to a piece of cardstock before using Scor-Tape to mount it on the cardstock base. This helped give it more body.

Here is a photo of the back of the tag!
I used the Favor-it #3 die cut to make a small gift box. Perhaps some gold-wrapped chocolate coins could be placed inside. I used the small triangle that Joyce included that was stamped with 'Just a little something" and cut out one of the dreidels. I stamped "For and From" on the back of the triangle. Both were tied to some ribbon and can be tucked inside the sentiment label. I attached it on three sides only.
Be sure to visit all the wonderful blogs where you are sure to find lots of inspiration.

Hugs,
Sharron


Note at 8:30pm: We are having terrible storms here tonight so hopefully this will get posted on schedule. A terrible hail storm just a little while ago wiped out our entire daylily garden. We will have to wait until morning to see the results on the house and cars! We were hoping for rain but not like this!!

Supplies I used:
Stamps: Mazel Tov, Triangle Trilogy, Fillable Frames #4 and #10 (all PTI); "For and From" from WMS Twas the Night Before Christmas
Dies: Favor-It #3, Tag Sale #5, Triangle Trilogy, Fillable Frames #4 and #10, Double-ended Banner, Limitless Layers Circles and Ovals (PTI); Whimsy Circle (Memory Box)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Harvest Gold (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Digital Kit from Etsy
Ribbon: PTI and Amuse

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Waltzingmouse Challenges: A Cozy Christmas

It's time for this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party!! And because I was very late getting my card done and then felt sick yesterday morning, I ended up creating my card using inspiration from this week's WM sketch and the photo for the February Christmas challenge. I am really that far beyond with my Christmas cards! But now there are only three to go before being caught up!!
MAY THEME: FELT AND COZY FABRICS
Here is the sketch created by the wonderful Lynn Mercurio. What a fun design and a real challenge--ended  up being a toughie for me!
Below is the inspiration photo. There are so many options to choose from so I used several!
So here is my card! 
I used three WM stamp sets and a bunch of dies! The letters, holly leaves and stockings were all cut from felt! The finished card is 5"x 5". The garlands at the top were stamped using the wreath die from Twas the Night Before Christmas and the window and candle are also from that set. The tree and reindeer are from Nordic Winter.

I won't keep you so you can go visit all the other blogs! I know you will find some fabulous inspiration. If you haven't yet ordered any WM stamps, you might want to add a few to your wish list. Claire has such a wonderful selection in her store!

Have fun hopping!
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Twas the Night Before Christmas, Nordic Winter, Compact Sentiments (WMS)
Cardstock: New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream, Rustic White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Mr. Claus (Cosmo Cricket)
Dies: Alphabet Dies, Framed Out #1, Framed Out #3, Holly Jolly Collection, Love Lives Here Holiday Collection, Take Three (all PTI)
Additional: Felt (PTI, local quilt store); Dew Drops; Pearls (Recollections); Copics; Memento Inks (Bamboo Leaves, Lady Bug); Amuse Ink-Slate

Friday, May 18, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #97

This week's sketch is by the talented Lynn Mercurio! And guess what came in the mail this week--some fabby new WM stamps! I couldn't wait to try out the little ellie in Half Pint Heroines. I was planning on posting yesterday but didn't get all the paper piecing done until this morning. This is the perfect image for that! I wanted a lot of dimension so I cut out the elephant first, the head with ears and then the head without ears! The toenails and the fringe were all cut out too. Not really hard to do but a little time consuming! The 'smile' is done with thickers to add even more dimension!

Thanks so much for checking out my entry! Sorry I'm so late getting it posted!

Enjoy your weekend,
SMILES
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Half Pint Heroines (WMS)
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Select White (all PTI)
Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves, Bitty Baby Blessings (PTI)
Additional: Thickers (American Crafts); Rhinestones (My Mind's Eye); Twine (The Twinery), Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Happy Birthday, London


I haven't posted for a while so thought I would share this card I made for our grandson's birthday. He will be five tomorrow! A couple of days before she closed her store down I stumbled upon the KnK Design blog. There was a big 'going out of business' sale so I bought some of her digitals. They included the dog, Kolar, and his kitty and bunny friends. I really liked this sentiment! The inside sentiments and balloon stamps are from PTI. 

I plan to have something new to post tomorrow. Hope you are having a great week! 
Thanks for coming by,
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Digitals from KnK Designs; Heart-2-Heart #2 (PTI)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Blueberry Sky, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Patterned Paper: It's a Boy (Pebbles)
Dies: Balloon, Mat Stack #3, Double-ended Banners, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" (all PTI)
Additional: Memento Ink, Copics, Stick-on Stars

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Happy Birthday, Joyce!!!

Today someone very special is having a birthday!! And to help her celebrate we are having a surprise birthday blog hop! Joyce, Cards-by-the-Sea, is a very sweet, creative and always supportive friend that I met through the 12 Kits of Christmas group. 
Joyce, here's hoping your day is fabulous! Be sure to do something fun and enjoy every minute! 

Below is the list of all participants! Be sure to visit each one so you don't miss any of the wonderful birthday cards! 

Have a great time at the party!
Hugs,
Sharron
Sharron--that's me!
Supplies
Stamps: Beautiful Butterflies (PTI)
Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Sky (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Country Garden Charm (Bo Bunny)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #95

For this week's challenge we were given another fabulous sketch by Karin Akesdotter! I wanted a "thinkin' about ya" card for a friend who recently finished chemo and is still have lots of side effects. She loves to cook so I used this bright paper from Cosmo Cricket as a base for her card. I started by stamping a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock with the smallest Chicken Wire pattern. I wasn't planning on all the layers but just kept adding more as I went along--there are seven in all! I used two PTI dies for the focal point--Seed Packet Frame 2 die and Button Card die. Then for a bit more green I cut a slightly larger rectangle and rounded the corners. A circle punch was used to cut the corners of the patterned paper. The rooster and sentiment are from my wonderful French Country set! It might be a little hard to see but to finish the top, I wove a piece of green twine through the lace. 
So happy that you took time to visit! Today has been pretty miserable with the horrid heat and I so feel fortunate that I even got my card done! By afternoon we finally broke down and turned on our air conditioner! I know--it seems silly to try to hold out regardless of how uncomfortable we are!! But it feels wonderful now---so no regrets!

Have a great weekend! 

Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: French Country, Chicken Wire (WMS)
Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream (all PTI)
Patterned Paper: Garden Variety (Cosmo Cricket)
Dies: Seed Packet Frame 2, Button Card (PTI); Corner Rounder
Additional: Lace (LSS); Buttons (Stash); Peapod Twine (The Twinery); Embroidery Floss; Inks (Cottage Ivy, Bamboo Leaves, Lady Bug, Rich Cocoa (Memento)

Sunday, April 29, 2012

The 12 Kits of Christmas: April

Welcome to another 12 Kits Blog Party! If you have been visiting on the last night of each month you are aware of the purpose of our little group. Each month one member puts together kits for everyone and sends them out at the beginning of the month. The theme is always Christmas or other winter holidays and our goal is to have a cache of cards ready when the holidays roll around. 

Our hostess this month is Marybeth and below is a photo of the kit she sent. Thank you, Marybeth! Everything was wonderful and I enjoyed all the wonderful goodies so much! The picture below was contributed by Kara. She always takes wonderful pictures and happily shares with anyone who wishes to post it. The day the kit arrives is always exciting! Everyone loves opening their envelope of goodies. And we have no idea what will be in it until it comes! This month, I was super excited to see the jingle bells cut with a very cool Memory Box die! She sent them in three colors! But as I was doing my cards, I didn't find just the right place for them so I have them safely tucked away--something special to play with later. Maybe I will use them when I CASE someone else's card that I see today! 
Photo by Kara
That's another fun thing about getting all these kits. There are always leftovers!!! I used this Grand Madison Window from the January kit that Renee put together! I have the smaller version but still don't have this large one. It is a favorite so must order one soon! Marybeth used the Country Landscape die and some plaid paper to make this sweet addition! I used just a piece of it. That particular house made me think of a stable that could be used for a Christmas scene. The big gold star also came in the kit. I love the patterned paper and used it for two of my cards.  
This was a perfect sentiment for the inside of the card. 
And here is that same paper again. It makes a great background for the tree. It is black and I ran it through it my Cuttlebug with a embossing folder to add a little texture. The pearls and rhinestones were included as was the die cut sentiment which fit perfectly at the bottom.
My last card shows the little angels all bundled up and ready to be out in the snow! I considered leaving them uncolored. I see so many wonderful examples of images just stamped but I usually end with the colors. It's like naked buttons! I just can't bare to leave them without some type of thread! The Frostyville Border worked great! Marybeth included a die cut Holly Vine but I hated to cut it up so used these PTI dies for the sentiment strip. They coordinate with the holly on the lantern.
Well, I won't keep you! You will want to be on your way to visit all the wonderful blogs. I am always amazed how each of us comes up with totally different designs---even though we all have the same supplies!

Enjoy the hop! So happy you were able to join us!!
Sharron

Below is the list of participants:


Supplies (those included in the kit are shown in red)

Card 1 
Stamps: Sentiment on front (PTI Christmas Sentiments); Inside Sentiment (Stampendous) 
Cardstock: PTI Soft Stone and Pure Poppy; Bazzill Blue Textured 
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Dies: Star of Wonder, Country Landscape (Memory Box), Grand Madison Window (Poppystamps); Half and Half (PTI); Labels Eleven (Spellbinders)

Card 2
Stamps: Sentiment (PTI)
Cardstock: Rustic White, True Black, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Dies: Star of Wonder (Memory Box; In the Meadow (PTI); Banner Ribbons (Spellbinders)
Additional: Pearls, Rhinestones (Hobby Lobby); Starry Night Embossing Folder (Sizzix)

Card 3
Stamps: Little Angels (Stampendous); Sentiment, Merry Little Christmas (PTI)
Cardstock: Rustic White, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Dies: Frostyville Border (Memory Box); Double-ended Banners, Holly Leaves and Berries (both PTI)
Additional: Copics