*MY* 12 Kits of Occasions: January '16 & a GIVEAWAY-ish

Surprise!  It's my turn again to put together a kit for The 12 Kits of Occasions. :) I figured since I ended the last year I would switch things up and start the new year, but I only decided that a few months ago, so unlike my last kit, this one was put together in a hurry!  January is such a happy, optimistic, celebratory time of year, so I decided to focus on that in my "Celebrating YOU" kit and selected colors accordingly.  Truth be told, I initially didn't realize my kit would precede Valentine's Day, so about a month before I needed to mail my kits I altered my original theme a bit to focus more on celebrating the special people in our lives.  I chose items that reminded me of my loved ones, so this kit seems (at least to me) to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It is also sentiment heavy, with a lot of "you"s, in hopes that it will help reaffirm to those I love how completely wonderful and amazing and important they are.  You can find the full supply list on at The 12 Kits of Occasions as well as see projects from all the DT including our two newest members!  Yay!  
Okay, on to the cards...

This was my very favorite card to make because I made it just after my friend told me some very exciting news.  And what better way to celebrate than with flowers and a little sparkle?

 

On this next one, I pieced together words from two sentiments in Mama Elephant's Make a Wish stamp set.  I just love that hand-drawn "you".

The seed beads were one of my very favorite items in this kit.  It took me several trips to stores to find all the colors I needed, but it was totally worth it.  Not only do they look cute, but they sound so cute when you give this card a shake.

I really truly love the colors in this kit and it makes me so happy to see them all together in this balloon bouquet. 

And once wasn't enough, so I used all of the colors again on this next card.  

This brushed gold paper was another of my very favorite items in the kit.  It's so pretty in real life.  This card was made with a die and stamp from Simon Says Stamp, and I'm linking it up to their Simon Says: Anything Goes Challenge as well as SSS Flickr Challenge #37. 

I think these little bunnies from Woodland Kisses by Clearly Besotted are so cute!

My last card (for today anyway...lots more that didn't get finished with be shared soon) is my husband's favorite.  I think mine, too.  Don't you just love how much brighter his world is?

I discovered this little spot on the fireplace...It's the funnest way to display cards.  I can't wait to do this more often.   

PS Remember the GIVEAWAY-ish part of the title?  Well, I prepared an extra kit and completely forgot to invite a guest designer this month.  Oops!  So...if any of you would like it, head to The 12 Kits of Occasions blog and leave a comment by midnight EST on February 5.  I'll randomly select one person from the comments and send you the kit.  And while you are there, make sure you check out my amazing teammates' creations.  They really have worked wonders with this kit!  

January Papertrey Blog Hop

I feel like it has been ages since I was able to join a Papertrey Blog Hop, so I'm happy to be doing the fun....even though it is right near the end.  The Blog Hop inspiration piece felt quite a bit out of my comfort zone and many a card went in the trash on this one.  I'm not in love with this either, but I seem to be in a crafting rut at the moment.  Really hoping I get out of it soon.  The woodgrain candles are my interpretation of the orange ovals in the photo and instead of doing a whole background of wonky turquoise circles, I decided to just make one large one in the middle.  Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope today started off a wonderful week for you.
Supplies (all PTI)
Paper: white, black, Summer Sunrise
Stamps: BB: Woodgrain, KIS: Birthday II, Polka Dot Parade #12
Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, True Black
Dies: One Big Happy. Polka Dot Parade #12

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge...Take Two!

Hello!  I just wanted to stop in and share a little peek of a project I have posted today over at the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Blog.  I used the Challenge 2 board again, and I challenged myself to use the row that initially had me completely stumped.  I hope you'll pop over and take a look!

Let it Snow!

Hello!  I'm finally back to share a couple more cards that I made with December's 12 Kits of Occasions.  Oddly enough with all the oodles of colors I included in my kit, these two cards ended up being monochromatic.

I suppose the timing for these cards is perfect, though, as we are finally supposed to get snow here.  We've had a some flurries, but nothing you can really play in.  Word has it that we are supposed to get lots of snow this weekend...lots and LOTS of snow.  You never know how things will turn out, but we've got the snow clothes out and the sleds ready just in case. :)  And since my favorite things on these cards are the "critters", I'm also linking this up to the Simon Says: Create with Critters Challenge.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #2

Hello and welcome to another Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge!!!  I'm pretty excited to share this card, so I'll get right to it.  I chose the bottom row: masking, stars, and critters.  

After stamping this cute little fox from ME's Three Amigos, I masked him and let the fun begin.  Honestly, I made mistake after mistake creating this background, but actually I think each mistake made it better in the end.  If you look closely there are stamped stars, but a few of the water spots are also star shaped.  (I used a wet paper towel to dab water onto my inked background through a star stencil in a few spots...like on the second water spot above the fox's head.)  

The last thing I did was stamp the sentiment from PTI's Bubble Talk...and I held my breath the whole time...I was so nervous I was going to ruin the whole thing!  It was so fun to see all of your cards for the first challenge.  I can't wait to see what you make for Challenge #2! :) Now head on over to the Challenge Revealed Post at the Stamping Smiles Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge blog.  You'll receive oodles of inspiration from the other designers' fabulous creations as well as get all the details on how to play along...and I so hope that you do!  Happy crafty to all and to my American friends, I hope that you enjoy the long weekend!

Thanks!

Hello!  I am so happy to share a card today.  I've been working on a few things, but nothing I can share yet.  The sentiment on this card is just perfect because there are lots of things I have to be grateful for about it.  First, I had just a bit of time a few nights ago to make a card.  Yay! :) I knew it needed to be quick, so I sought inspiration from a few favorite challenges.  Sketch, color palette, stamps...check, check, and check.  Thank you:

CAS(E) This Sketch #154
ColourQ #323
Simon Says: Something New (a new stamp set "Fresh Floral Wrap-Ups" in this case)

 

Third, the reason for this card is a big thank you.  We had a neighbor stop by last week to welcome us to the neighborhood.  She brought us some yummy banana bread and our kids ran around the yard for a few minutes.  Her kind gesture brightened my whole week.  I can't wait for the house across the street to sell, so I can return the favor.  And my final thanks is that the sun came out today, so I could take a quick picture and share it here.  Amazing how one little card could fill my heart with so much gratitude.  I hope you have a wonderful week filled with lots of things to be grateful for! :)

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #1

Happy New Year!  I hope today finds you looking forward to all the new year has to hold, and what's better than starting that new year with a brand new crafty challenge?! :)  The first challenge at Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge is officially up!  I'm so happy that I can finally share my first card with you, and I'm especially looking forward to seeing what you create.  Playing along is easy and fun!  

For my card I chose the top row: gold, sparkles, and acetate.  The gold glitter cardstock is so fun as is, but it's twice as fun with gold confetti shaking on top of it.  :)

And guess what?  There's a little more to this card that at first meets the eye.  If you look closely you'll see that it actually includes middle column elements as well with sparkles, embossing, and new.  As I was creating my card and reminiscing about playing tic-tac-toe with my sisters as a child, I remembered how the only thing better than winning tic-tac-toe is to get the winning spot that allows you to win two ways, do I decided to do it just for fun. :) Sparkles was my "winning spot".

And since this card embodies just what I would expect to see at a New Year's Party, I'm also linking this up to the Simon Says "Party" Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Now quick..head over to the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge blog!  You'll find the Challenge Revealed Post, which shows the rest of the Design Team's cards and more importantly shows how to play along.  I cannot wait to see what you create!