The 12 Kits of Occasions....Leftovers with Alumni

I am super excited today to be posting as an alumni along with my friends from "The 12 Kits of Occasions"   The theme this month is 'leftovers'. 

I was a member of this group from its inception in January, 2012 until my departure in December 2016.  I have boxes and boxes of leftovers from 5 years of monthly kits.  It was a great treat to dig through those boxes and put some of those extra supplies to use.

The following 3 cards were in a kit from Sharron in 2013 (pretty sure, anyway).

This next card uses supplies from a 2013 kit from Tracey.

The next 2 cards use supplies from a 2013 kit from Jeanne.

I am not really sure where the supplies come from in my next 2 cards.  I'm thinking possibly Marybeth?

What a fun trip down memory lane this post has been.  As you can guess, I still have loads and loads of supplies from all those years of kits.  I will definitely revisit those kits again.

Now, I hope you will see what all the other alumni and current designers post at The 12 Kits of Occasions.

Thanks for Visiting

Seize the Birthday...Guest Designer...Birthday Bus

Hello there.  I am back with another card for the latest Seize the Birthday challenge.  In case you were wondering, I will be the Surprise Guest Designer through the end of February.

This week, our challenge is Creatures Great and Small.  Lately, I have been on a huge creatures kick.  I have been almost exclusively buying stamps with cute critters.  No idea why, but I think it's because I find them so endearing, fall in love, and must bring them home.

I used a really fun Avery Elle Birthday Bus stamp that had several creatures going to a birthday party.  I like how the big bear gets to drive the bus, whilst the little critters get to ride in the back.

I hope you will pull out some creatures and play along with us at Seize the Birthday this week.  Remember, 'Creatures Big and Small' is an optional topping, and you are always welcome to play along with any birthday card you make.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks for Visiting

My Door is Always Open

I am sneaking in just under the wire with a card for the January Paper Smooches Anything Goes challenge.  I pulled out Bitty Bungalos to create my little scene, inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch #356.

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2 Cards for Fun

With my kids back at school (finally), I had a bit of time to craft just for fun.  I made 2 cards inspired by a variety of challenges.

First up is this valentine.  I finally broke into the My Monthly Hero kit from May, 2019 to create this fun, knitting themed valentines day card.  I am entering it at A Blog Named Hero January Challenge:  Anything Goes, Freshly Made Sketches #419, Addicted to Stamps and More #373: Holiday (Valentines Day), and Simon Says Monday: Home Decor (knitted blanket).

My next card celebrates friendship with some cute Lawn Fawn birds from Feathered Friends.

I am playing along at Lawn Fawnatics #69:  For the Birds, Use Your Stuff #390: Friendship, Paper Players #475--(a pretty liberal interpretation of the sketch), and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Besotted by our Pets (My friend had a pet bird).

.

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Time Out #153...Reminder...Happy Birthday

There is still time to play along with our current challenge at Time Out.  Our challenge this time is to be inspired by something in your wardrobe, past or present.

I took my inspiration from these leggings I wear to the gym.  I have been thinking about making a card inspired by this pattern for a long time, so when I saw this week's challenge, I knew just what I wanted to do.

I was inspired by the all over pattern of black flowers, and the color gradations on the flowers and in the space between the flowers.  I used MFT Etched Flowers stamp and sponged various shades of purple ink in a pattern inspired by the print on my leggings.

Please head over to Time Out to see more inspiration from our Design Team and our Guest Designer, Lise Mariann.  Poppystamps is our sponsor for this challenge.  Details for the prize are on the Time Out Challenge Blog.


This challenge will run another week.  I hope you will take some Time Out of your busy schedule to play along with us.

Thanks for Visiting

CASology Week #360...Crystal

Hello and happy Tuesday. It's time for another challenge at CASology.   This week, our cue word is CRYSTAL.

I fussy cut and colored the cat from Lawn Fawn Fortune Teller Tabby, and had her look into her crystal ball to predict a happy birthday.

Now it's your turn.  How does CRYSTAL inspire you?


As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note: It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

I hope you play along this week.

Please head on over to the CASology blog and gather some inspiration from our Guest Designer, Jan C. and the CASology design team.

Thanks for Visiting

Seize the Birthday...Guest Designer...Knitted Stencil

Hello there.  I am back with another card for the latest Seize the Birthday challenge.  In case you were wondering, I will be the Surprise Guest Designer through the end of February.

This week, our challenge is to use STENCILS.  Stencils are so quick and easy and can really add impact to a card.  I don't know why I don't use them more often.

I used the Knit Wits stencil from The Greetery to create a stenciled background on my card front.  I added this adorable mushroom and knitting mouse from Gettin' Cozy from The Greetery, and my card was done.  I stamped the sentiment in red to tie in to the mushroom, and also to make sure it was easy to see.

I hope you will pull out your stencils and play along with us at Seize the Birthday this week.  Remember, Stencils is an optional topping, and you are always welcome to play along with any birthday card you make.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks for Visiting

Time Out #152...Reminder...Sending Kisses and Cuddles

There is still time to play along with our current challenge at Time Out.  Our challenge this time is to be inspired by this photo:

Here is a larger picture of the inspiration photo:

I took inspiration from the hearts and the theme of love.  What do I love most these days (or should I say who)?  My dog, Sherlock, of course.  Here is his Valentine (LOL).

Our sponsor for this challenge is Funky Fossil, and I used this Pawsome Heart Stencil on my card.

Please head over to Time Out to see more inspiration from our Design Team.  Funky Fossil is our sponsor for this challenge.  Details for the prize are on the Time Out Challenge Blog.


This challenge will run another week.  I hope you will take some Time Out of your busy schedule to play along with us.

Thanks for Visiting

CASology Week #359...Repeat

Hello and happy Tuesday. It's time for another challenge at CASology.   This week, our cue word is REPEAT.  According to the dictionary, repeat as a verb means "say again something one has already said"  I used these cute critters from Mama Elephant Dos Amigos, and had them repeat the birthday greeting.

Now it's your turn.  How does REPEAT inspire you?


As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note: It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

I hope you play along this week.

Please head on over to the CASology blog and gather some inspiration from our Guest Designer Claire. and the CASology design team.

Thanks for Visiting

Seize the Birthday....Guest Designer...Layer Cake

Hello and Happy New Year!! 

SURPRISE!!!

I am pleased to say that I have been invited to join the team at Seize the Birthday as their Surprise Party Guest for the months of January and February.  What a fun way to start the new year.

Today's toppings challenge is "Layer It!"  I decided to use lots of different layers on my card, and also to add a layer cake as my focal point.

I used paint chips as my cake layers, and went with a mixed masculine color scheme--all of these colors were together on the paint chip.  My cake is cut with Concord & 9th Cake Layers dies, and my other layers use Mix & Match dies from PTI on a kraft card base.

I hope you will play along with us at Seize the Birthday.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks for Visiting