12 Kits of Occasions: October (and a BIG Surprise)

Hi!  It's time to share this month's 12 Kits of Occasions cards...yay!  I'm still so excited to be part of this group.  These kits really are like Christmas to me.  I love them for many reasons, but one is that  I get to try out lots of brands and products that I don't own.  This kit was full of fabulous things, and I have sketches galore on how I was going to use the fun items in it, but alas, I didn't really get much beyond the sketching.  I promise I have a good reason...  

Surprise! :) We're feeling blessed and happy and tired and a little out of sorts as we adjust, but mostly blessed.  Luckily the four of us have really been the five of us as my mom has been here off and on the last little bit.  She's incredible.  

Okay, now that I've totally sidetracked you (and myself)...back to cards. :) You should definitely visit the 12 Kits of Occasions blog to see how all the other ladies used this wonderful kit from Jessica (thank you!) and to check out the supply list, especially since my brief post does not even begin to do it justice. 

This super simple card was made by trimming out some branches from one of the patterned papers in the kit.  The brads in the centers I have had for ages, but were a pretty close match to the beautiful rich purple that was part of the kit.  And I have to admit, I was quite proud of myself for actually using them, you know, since they've been sitting in my craft supplies for almost a decade.

The rest of my cards are pretty self-explanatory.  I didn't add much to the kit at all, so make sure you check the 12 Kits of Occasions blog for the supply list.

The only thing in the kit I added to the above card was the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Thanks set.  I'm linking it up to this week's Simon Says..Anything Goes challenge and The Card Concept's Thank "Fall" Challenge.  I was inspired by the cluster of fall goodies in the wheelbarrow.  I wanted to do a freestyle collage, but I don't think I really achieved it...I kept pulling stuff off.  So...

I'm also linking up this next one to the Thank "Fall" Card Concept Challenge in the Clean & Simple category.  The multi-colored leaves in the sentiment reminded me a ton of the leaves in the photo.  I even tried to mimic the layout of the photo a bit.

And I'll leave you with one last picture of another cutie patootie.  As I was finishing things up today, he discovered that punches and a bone folder make a great drum set and drum stick.  He cracked me up because every time he'd start to play he'd say "One, a two, a one two three four!"  It was a cute moment that I just had to document.  Okay, I'm off to hopefully catch a bit of sleep tonight.  Have a happy weekend!

PTI October Blog Hop

Hello!  Boy...it's been a while.  I hope you are all happy and well!  I'm happy to share a card I made today for Papertrey's October Blog Hop.  Nichole provided so many fun inspiration photos/color schemes.  I'll definitely be saving them for future reference.  I chose the scheme below and was inspired by the hanging ornaments in the photo. I love how just a little masking when you stamp can add depth. And I know the stamping of the buildings isn't pristine, but I kind of like it. It almost looks like there is a crack, and I thought it added character. I would have never put together this color scheme, but I think they are beautiful together, which is one of the reasons I love these hops.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by. :)

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted)

Stamps: Sparkle & Shine Holiday Addition (tiny snowflakes), Star of Wonder, Think Big Favorites #19

Ink: Fog (Simon Says Stamp), Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, Royal Velvet

Other: Tag Sale #4 die, twine (Pick Your Plum)

12 Kits Of Occasions: September "REWIND" & Happy News!

Hello!  I have a happy, card-filled post today.  I was lucky enough to guest design for the 12 Kits of Occasions group two months this year, and I am thrilled that I get to participate in their September "Rewind".  Even after making several cards, I still had oodles left in my kits...and so did everyone else, so today's cards are all made from the leftovers (May and June's kits in my case).  AND...this is the really exciting part...I've been invited to join the 12 Kits Designers on a regular basis.  Yippee!!!  I was a stunned and excited and nervous all at the same time when sweet Renee sent the invite.  Who wouldn't want the chance to get to know these wonderful ladies (whom I've long admired) better and have fun creating with kits while doing it?  Speaking of these talented ladies, I cannot wait to see what they've done with their leftovers!  Head over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog to check it out, and if you are interested in any of the supplies used on my cards today, click on the Monthly Kit Supplies tab at the top while you are there. :)

Okay, here we go!  I'll start with the cards I made from May's kit:

This is my first attempt experimenting with a clear card stock base.  I created a little scene, gluing some die cuts inside and some outside of the card.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but the only problem is that I'm not sure where I'll write....didn't really think that part through.  Maybe under the waves? 

Birthday Boat Clear Card

May Kit Supplies + PTI (clear cardstock, Cloud 1 & 2 Die), The Twinery (Maraschino Twine), Lil' Inkers (Stitched Rectangles die)

You are Knot Alone Card

May Kit Supplies + CTMH (hemp, outdoor denim ink), PTI (Star Prints Stamp Set)

I had lots of fun patterned papers left from my May Kit, so I pulled them all out and pieced them together on this card.  I was most excited to use one of the cool wood die cuts Joyce included in the kit.  I added the little stamped stars to the die cut.

While I had the clear cardstock out, I figured I might as well make a shaker card.  I love them, and this one was super easy to put together with this awesome self-adhesive text die cut Joyce included in the kit.  Love the little bit of texture added by embossing a cover up die from Lil' Inkers.

Birthday Shaker Card

May Kit Supplies + Lil' Inkers (Pieced Chevrons Cover Up Die), PTI (clear cardstock), Pretty Pink Posh (sequins)

Okay, time to switch to the cards I made using my June Kit leftovers.  By the way, have I mentioned yet that I had so much fun making these cards!  I can't believe how easily they came together, and I was all smiles the whole time I was creating.  

 Thank You Card

June Kit Supplies + Lil' Inkers (Stitched Rectangles Die)

Love the simplicity of this one.  I thought the little flower die cuts in the kit were so cute, and if I had more of them, you better believe I'd be mass producing this card.

This little birdie actually came stamped as a smooching little pair of birdies, but as I mentioned last week, I really need a bunch of thank you cards at the moment, so I trimmed him out by himself.  I added a little speech bubble and that was that.

Thanks Card

June Kit Supplies + PTI (Bubble Talk Dies) + SSS (Thanks) + colored pencils

The tissue paper Marybeth used to wrap the kit in was beautiful, and way back in June I wanted to use it on a card.  As soon as I found out we'd be revisiting the kits, I was determined not to let this opportunity pass to use that gorgeous tissue paper. My card's layout was inspired by this sketch.

Studio Calico Sketch

My in-laws just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.  I'm not the best at remembering to send cards for anniversaries, so I was grateful to have this kit to give me the little bit of extra motivation I needed to make and more importantly send this card.

Happy Anniversary Card

June Kit Supplies + tissue paper, white thread

Almost done...just one more card to share.

Happy Wishes Card

June Kit Supplies + PPP (marshmallow sequins) + SU! (embossing plate)

The little polka dot bag on this card was another piece of packaging that Marybeth used for her kit.  I loved it.  Honestly, I loved all the packaging in the kit and saved every piece of it.  I thought that this would be perfect to stuff a gift card into, and I love the generic nature of the sentiment because it allows me to use this card for nearly any occasion.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I sincerely appreciate the visits and sweet comments you all leave.  Just as a little heads up...I anticipate my blog and activity in blog land will be on the quieter side for the next little bit.  I'm not really sure how long, but we're going through some pretty big (but good) changes around here.  It may take a bit to adjust and life to return to "normal".

Christmas Blessings (PTI Bog Hop + SSS Anything Goes)

Oh, how I wish I could have photographed this better.  I just love this card.  It was inspired by PTI's Blog Hop and Simon Says...Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge.

I randomly stamped these fabulous sprigs from PTI's Embellished Elegance Stamp set (I am so so so excited to finally own this one).  Then, I created an overlay with some vellum.  I finished it off with a sentiment created with PTI's Wet Paint Holiday stamp set and dies.

This is my last of four cards that I made for these challenges.  (See the others here, here, and here.) I was thrilled to have a some unexpected time to stamp today, and I'm so happy that the cards all came together as quickly as they did.  I hope you all have had a wonderful week and that this weekend brings even more happiness.

Chevron Thanks for PTI & SSS

Hi, again!  While I had PTI's Phone Case Details Die Collection out after making this card, I used the chevron die to make this quickie for PTI's September Blog Hop and Simon Says...Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge.  I also used the same sentiment from PTI's Phrase Play #6 Mini Stamp Set, but this time I inked up the whole thing.  Oh, how I love the simplicity of this card.  Okay, I've got one last card to share today...be back in a jiffy.