The 12 Kits of Occasions: December 2018

Welcome to 12 Kits of Occasions, where 12 designers play with a new kit each

month, and wow the pants off each other (and hopefully you), with their takes

on all the kit's fun elements!

Speaking of welcome, help us welcome Marcia Hill from Marcia's Stamping Pad

to our group. I first met Marcia through blogging, and we met up in person at 

the Kraft House in Newton, Kansas. 6 of us became best buds from then on, and

I'm tickled to embrace her talent onto this team!

Ok, what's in store this month? Michelle Leone sent us stamps and dies I don't 

have, and folks let me tell you, they, along with joyous card stock colors made 

card making a delight. 

My stash ran very low, especially birthday cards, and I used almost ALL

the fabulous die cuts and designer paper she sent us! 

Are you comfy? Let's take a look.

Oh those colors! And this card assembled itself! (well practically)

Note those gems (included in the kit). Think I used

them on almost all my cards.

I didn't have one llama in my stash, and Michelle sent 3! Can you believe it?

 Grandma to 11kiddies had not ONE llama. 

Well, now I'm on a mission... a llama mission!

Michelle sent this little guy with an option to use a flower, a nut or an apple. 

The flower and scarf seemed perfect to give to someone on the road to healing.

Llama no. 2 needed some sparkling in front of a night sky filled with gems.

Michelle is well known for her daring combos of both color and pattern, 

and she sent us somany gorgeous patterns in corals and blues,

 I just had to case her style!

Love the PTI Mandala, and it's on my wish list! What fun in these bright colors!

My last card wishes you all a Happy New Year. Let's start with today, and a shaker full of 

blessings! 

Thanks, Michelle! What a kit. Can you tell I loved it?

Before I send you off to the other ladies, help me sadly wish Michele Ferguson

and Jessica Davisthe best as they leave our group. 

Honestly wish they could stay forever, but you 

know how life can get in the way of crafting... 

Love to you my friends!

And some huge XOXO to Michelle Leone for a wonder filled kit!

PTI Blog Hop December '18

It's time for PTI's December Blog Hop, and we were inspired by this lovely photo.

Sweet!

Here's my card.

To Have and To Hold stamps together with Banner Style provided similar inspiration 

to the photo for my romantic wedding or anniversary card.

Play along all day on PTI's blog!

  

  December 2018 Blog Hop 

Direct links to stamps and dies in the PTI store are below.

 To Have & To Hold Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - To Have & To Hold Die

Banner Style Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Banner Style Die

Fawned of You

Hi there! I'm coming to you today with a birthday card made for  MIM's challenge.

Lizzie has a great video on PTI's blog, showing us how to Create Ombre 

Senitments. I love the look of ombre and ombred the card base as well.

Did you order Fawn & Flora during the last release? Simply in love with the image!

I made some tags with the fawn with a Christmas theme, casing Betsy's

tutorial and leaving the top of the ears out of the die cutting to form a tag.

The sweet little deer is just as cute on every day cards.

This goes out TODAY for a December birthday, so it has a matching envelope and 

inside sentiment.

I'm just in love with how the deer stamps, and that sweet face! And if that's not 

enough all those florals to dress her up.

Well, back to wrapping gifts. Did I mention there are 11 grandchildren? 

Believe me, I love every gift. I'd say I start the day after Christmas, but

this year did shopping mostly online. The sales are amazing, and I'm hoping

everyone gets what they're wishing for. 

Hope your holidays are filled with family, fun and mostly joy!

Maybe a little crafting too?

The products links below will take you directly to the PTI shop.

Fawn & Flora Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Fawn & Flora Die

Papertrey Ink: Scallop Stackers: Medium Die

Cutaway Tags: Summer Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Folded Pocket Tag Die

Penned Elegance Stamp SetPapertrey Ink - Penned Elegance Die

12 Kits of Occasions: November It's Christmas!

Welcome to 12 Kits' November post, coming to you in December! 

November is Tracey McNeeley's month and there was a problem 

with our kits getting to us, but all's well, and the kit was just what was

needed by this grandma with 11 grandchildren. Honestly full of festive

fun and jolly animals and the cutest holiday paper... well, take a look.

Leading off with a closeup of my first card. Wanted you to see fussy cuts from designer paper  

Tracey sent that helped create my 'Happy Pawlidays' card for Shepherd, 7 years old.

Each card that follows was made for the youngest ones in my family, ages 4 - 15.

Hopefully, you're in the mood for some Christmas critters, and even a Santa too.

Cutting into some of the images on the designer paper was a theme I used on almost

every card!

Joy Snowglobe goes to Ana. She's 14, and we share a love for collecting all things Christmas.

This guy is for Nate, 13. I love that Tracey included so many masculine papers, like this

green plaid.

Eli is 4. He'll love the play on words, 'Santa Paws'!

A tangled puppy goes to Noelle, 8. She has a dog that looks just like this cutie.

Garrett is 15, and a total animal lover. I think he'll love this duo.

This MFT Santa and his pup goes to Reagan, 13. She'll love his jolly ol' self!

And one more tag, cuz you can never have too tags at Christmas time,

I used every adorable critter Tracey sent, most all the festive papers, and twine and

bling. This was kit I loved, every single bit! Thank you Tracey. You made this

grandma's Christmas cards easy doings!

All items sent out with November's kit is available on the 12 Kits' blog.

Have to mention a special guest with us this month, an

ex member of our group, Joyce Mehrberg.

Be sure to drop by her blog and give her some love.

https://the12kitsofoccasions.blogspot.com/2018/12/its-christmas.html

The Card Concept: Elegant Holiday

Happy Holidays to you! Hope you're managing well, and are enjoying all the

beauty of season. 

The Card Concept has a new challenge,

this elegant silvery photo called: Elegant Holiday.

So many possibilities went through my mind, but I settled on  PTI's

gorgeous Paper Clippings die set, and silver glitter paper.

I really glammed up the die cuts, and added layers of subtle color on a piece of Yupo paper

with Ranger's Alcohol Inks in Moss and silver. 

Classy & Elegant, with layers is what I'd call it. 

Hope you can find some time to play along. It's a 2 week challenge and we

love to see how you are inspired.

Happy Crafting and Happy, Happy Holidays!

Transformation Tuesday with Melissa Phillips

Transformation Tuesday is one of my favorite challenges lately.

For one thing we get to fine tune our own cards. For another, there's 

a prize for playing along. Win win!

I made the card on the left for a MIM, and loved the idea of creating a nearly one layer card.

Lots of bold bright Christmas color.

I basically used the same layout and Scallop Medium die, but softened the colors

to a pastel version, so popular this year.

When I cut the die I left all pieced in tact, for a textured look to the front.

And as with the first card, a matching envelope. Couldn't resist the added twine bow and

a few sequins. Hopefully no added postage!

See how Melissa transformed her card on the PTI blog, and play along through 

Monday night!

My links will take you to the PTI store. I do get a small reward for your

purchase through my blog, and I thank you for buying through me!

Pleasing Envelopes Stamp Set

Painted Poinsettias Stamp Set

Beautiful Berries: Winter Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink: Scallop Stackers: Medium Die

Penned Elegance: Christmas Stamp Set

Peace & Joy

I had some time to play with Papertrey's MIM, and Melissa's 'Deck Your Dies', 

and did a couple of cards for my stash with the new Floral Fantasy set.

I really love the reindeer in red, so festive and bright. I had a few

stamped die cuts left over from the last MIM, and combining them with 

my 'decked out' die cuts showcased that darling deer.

First I cut a window with an oval die, and decked it with 2 more die cut ovals from

silver glitter paper, angling the 2 die cuts a bit.

Scalloped frame provided an addtional dotted die over my stamped BG Basics: Gingham

stamped in black on red card stock.

What to do with the oval cut out? Another card!

Same layout, with my reindeer embossed in white on red, a reverse of the first card.

A little hard to see on this card, but the die cut sentiment is backed with black glitter

card stock.

A close look at the greenery and berries, you can see some double inking and Copic coloring.

Love seeing what everyone does to their die cuts to enhance them, don't you? 

Play along on PTI's blog through the week.

Hope your crafting isn't too stressed this time of year. I know mine is... just hoping

yours isn't! <3 

Floral Fantasy: Christmas Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Floral Fantasy: Christmas Die Collection (set of 2)

Forest Floor: Winter Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Forest Floor: Winter Die

Papertrey Ink - Noted: Scalloped A2 Die Collection (set of 9)

Papertrey Ink - Scallop Stackers: Small Die

Sweet Holiday Greetings

There's a new challenge at the Card Concept!

Holiday Treats!

I was drawn to the lineup of holiday cupcakes. Who wouldn't be?

And kept my layered card simple and colorful.

Cupcakes: Clearly Besotted Tasty Treats

Poppystamps: frames Art Deco Frames and Phrases set

Sentiment: PTI Sweet Holiday Wishes

Play along for 2 weeks, and don't forget to tell us your the style you used.

For a list of styles, see our definitions and styes here:

The Styles Defined

Happy Crafting!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Make It Monday this week is revisiting one of my favorites, Laurie Schmidlin's

'Love of Layers'. 

Laurie shares several ways to add to a cards rich layering.

I played with Betsy's new 'Fairy Tale Christmas', and the stencils that match

the set.

Betsy thought of so many details. From the stencils to popping up the die cuts, layering

is easy. The layer of snowy stencil was done with Nuvo Glimmer Paste. 

Just may mass produce this one, it's so much fun to play with all the layers!

Hope you're doing well with your Christmas card stash. Enjoy your week!

25 Days of Christmas Tags: Day 21

It's the last day of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas tags, and I have one more set of tags

to post.

I used Carol Mayne's set of four colorful tags for my muse.

PapertreyInk's Holiday Tag Along with Tremendous Treats: Christmas provided all the 

goodies for my tags.

Last day for posts by Tracey and her team, and all the marvelous holiday

inspiration by the companies, but you still have time to add your tags!

Check out all the details here:

25DaysTagsRedChristmas.png

PTI's November '18 Blog Hop

PTI November Blog Hop, and what a happy holiday photo!

Lots of extras for more cards!

Play along all day!