Wednesday, December 30, 2015

*MY* December 12 Kits of Occasions + a Giveaway

Hi!  I am so excited to share this post I can hardly stand it.  I've been working on it for over a year...truly!  When I was officially invited to join The 12 Kits of Occasions n August of 2014 I was given my assignment for the following year: a "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" kit for December 2015.  Almost immediately I started working on my kit.  I rarely do things the easy way, so I picked a color scheme not based on papers I'd scene, but based on colors that made me happy.  Then I thought of my very favorite outdoor view--the view from my parents' front porch.  
I couldn't find a picture of the view in it's wintery goodness, but this is a picture my dad took last spring.  It's beautiful, isn't it?  I built my kit based off things I might see there in the winter: deer, hills, wreaths, cute little houses all in a row, etc.  I honestly love every single thing in this kit and as always, I was wishing for more time to create.  Make sure you head to The 12 Kits of Occasions blog to see all the other designer's amazing creations (they've truly wowed me!), including a very special guest designer (and friend!) who I was beyond thrilled she accepted my invitation.  If you're interested in the supply list, you can find that here on the 12 Kits blog.  Ooo, ooo...I almost forgot: I have a little giveaway over there as well.  I hope everyone enjoys this kit as much as I did! :)
This first card makes me so happy because of how wonderfully four stamp sets from four different companies combined.  Don't you just love when that happens?  I was also quite happy that I could use the leftover polka dot piece as a frame for the next card.
I adore the Home & Hearth dies from Ellen Hutson, and it makes me so happy to see them here on this card.  I've had them over a year, but haven't used them very much because I wanted them to still be special for the kit.
I created the next two cards for two of my sweet nieces.  They truly sparkle and shine, and I love that each of these cards reflects their personalities so well (at least in my opinion). :) I think they are my favorites of the bunch because of who I made them for.
I just love the sparkly fiber ribbon thing on this next card.  Why?  It's something I found in my mom's sewing stash.  It's super old from the looks of the price sticker, but it reminded me of icicles, so I had to include it in the kit.  Every winterland should have icicles.  
I'll end with a card I love that uses the very last thing I bought to use in this kit--Neat & Tangled's Winter Wishes.  It's similar to Ellen Hutson's Cozy Christmas, but I loved them both and I just had to have this set for the very scene below.
I can't believe that's it!  There are so many things I loved that I haven't shown.  I have three cards that just never got glued together, so stay tuned in the next few days.  Make sure to hop along to see all the other designer's creations by starting at the The 12 Kits of Occasions blog.  And I have a little giveaway going on there, too! :) And because it could not have been more perfect timing, I'm linking up my last card to the Simon Says Winter Wonderland Challenge. :) Thanks so much for sharing part of your day with me!  I hope that the holidays have brought much peace and happiness into your life and that it extends throughout the new year!  Sending hugs and warm winter wishes to you all!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Fun Announcement! :)

Hello, friends!  I've missed you.  Our lives have been so crazy lately, and I'm very much looking forward to having a regular routine from here on out.  Not only am I back, but I have super fun news to share today.  Have you heard of the new Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge?  If not, please check it out, and I hope you'll become very familiar with it because guess what?!  I've been selected to be one of the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Designers...
Eek!  Do you know how hard it has been to keep this secret?  I'm so excited about it and truly feel honored.  I love playing along with challenges, and what's more fun than a challenge that's also a game?  You're going to love it!  Every day until the end of the month a new designer will be announced, and the very first Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge will go live on January 1st.  Make sure you go to the Challenge Blog to check out all the details, so you can play along!  I can't wait to see you there!

Merry Christmas!


Hello!  Oh, it has been far too long!!!  And yes, this post is a bit late due to some technical issues (I was bound and determined to share this video), but I didn't want to completely miss the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas!  I hope your Christmas was full of love and happiness and peace through remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Beautiful music has always had a way of speaking to my heart and this is one of my very favorite Christmas songs ever.  I've listened to it countless times....even after Christmas. :) It fills my heart with joy.  I suppose it is extra special, too, because my husband worked with one of the amazing men who wrote and composed this particular arrangement.  I hope you'll take a second to listen.  Since I'm late, consider this my little way of helping you keep Christmas in your heart throughout the whole year. :)