12 Kits of Occasion ~ January

This is my first post for 12 Kits of Occasion and I couldn't be more thrilled to be joining this amazing  team of talented ladies!  

A funny story:  When I first found the 12 Kits of Occasion blog (about 2 years ago), I didn't realize that it was a group of friends that shared making kits for each other each month throughout the year.  Not knowing that, I e-mailed someone and asked them where I could sign up to receive their kits and I was surprised to discover that they weren't for sale!  Now here I am, blessed to be part of their team...  God is so good and just full of surprises!

The first kit of the year is from Lindsey of Occasional Crafting  and she put together such a wonderful  kit filled with super fun goodies!  It's called "A Fresh Start to the New Year".  The colors are fresh and inspiring!!

We're also happy to have two guest designers this month. Kathy McCluskey from Bdlakebum Stamps and Leigh Penner from To the Full so be sure to visit their blogs and leave them some love.

Almost everything in the kit was new to me so it was fun playing with products I didn't have.  
Let's get right on to my cards:

I loved this sentiment embossed in gold that Lindsey had already cut into this sweet scalloped panel!  All I did to this card was stamp a striped pattern on the left side of the card stock and add a tiny strip of black paper shimmered up with black Wink of Stella.  The floral spray is so fun colored with Copics!!

Lindsey included this cool resist patterned paper in the kit.  I sprayed some Heidi Swapp shimmer spray on to the panel and cut it using a pierced rectangle.  She stamped this fun cake onto water color card stock so I got to have a little practice time using the Zigs.  The sentiment is from the kit and I cut it using a stitched banner from ECD and tied it off with a bit of the twine that she also included in the kit.

This card was the quickest card I think I've ever made.  Everything was included in the kit.  I especially like the fun pinked edge on the sentiment banner!

I love treat boxes and Lindsey included this fun little polka dotted beauty along with the pineapples.

A cute punch out bow and pre-stamped tag.  The box is tied off with more twine from the kit.  So cute!!

This was actually the first card I made.  The inverted scalloped circle on the card stock panel was just meant to be a shaker card!  Lindsey must have planned that's what we'd use it for as she included all the shaker elements in the kit as well.  So fun!  I discovered that I missed a sequin so I glued it to the top of this sweet little heart from the kit.  More fun twine!!

Unfortunately during the process of making my cards, I was in need of a sympathy card so this image that Lindsey embossed in white made a heartfelt card for a friend of mine from Bible study, who just lost her husband.  I water colored the image using my Zigs again and the sentiment is from my own collection, embossed in copper on a vellum banner.  I added a stitched frame from Frantic Stamper over the top as well.

This was another quick and simple card since everything was right there in the kit.  I loved the color and shimmer of the die cut sentiment.  I need to remember to ask Lindsey where that is from...

Is this fox ever cute!  I simply colored him up using Copics and cut him out using a stitched octagon, layered with another stitched octagon in soft blue.  The sentiment was included in the kit and I think it's just perfect for this little guy!

I had this Z-Fold card base sitting on my desk just waiting to be used.  Perfect!!

Lindsey, thanks so much for an amazing kit!  Even after making all these cards, I still have  supplies left over to make more cards.

I can't thank all the amazing gals from 12 kits for this super amazing opportunity to join them!  I really enjoyed this kit from Lindsey!!  Now pop on over to  The 12 Kits of Occasions blog to see all the other designers wonderful cards.  I just know they'll knock your socks off as they always have mine.  ;0)  Be sure to leave a comment while you're there too because Jeanne Jachna is giving away two of her amazing kits!

ETA:  I'll be adding one of these cards to the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge 
Simon Says Monday Challenge 
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10 
Use Your Stuff 
Word Art Wednesday
Crop Stop! January Linky Party ~ Using Zigs

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Love Is In The Air

Hello friends~  I'm back with another card for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.

Love is in the air!  Just in time for that special someone for Valentine's day.  

I started by cutting out the Impression Obsession LOVE die out of a piece of white card stock that had double sided adhesive over the top so I could add some Elizabeth Craft Silk Microfine Glitter in Basic Black.

I used the same glitter treatment on two of the Memory Box Small Flock of Doves, except I used Antique Silver.

This fabulous heart is Cheery Lynn's Lattice Heart & Vines.  Just look at the amazing detail!  This cut perfectly with one pass through my machine.

Here's all the parts to my card.

I added dimension to the card by using a piece of chipboard under the embossed panel and foam squares under the doves.

Here's a list of die I used that can be found at Dies R Us:

    

 Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  Be sure to Follow Us on Facebook too. 

Follow Dies R Us!

click below for:
STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #392

Hello friends~  It's Sunday so that means it's time for a tasty new challenge going on over at Cupcake Inspirations.  

This week is a THEME challenge and the theme is "PLAID".  You can use any colors you wish on your card as long as it has PLAID on it.  

Our sponsor this week is

They are generously giving a $15 gift certificate to the winner of this week's challenge.  You really must check out their adorable stamp images!!

Even though we could use any colors we wanted, as long as there was plaid on the card, I was inspired by the whole package this week.  Plaid, colors and deer antlers made for a perfect masculine birthday card!

I have my dear friend Marcia to thank for that elegant looking deer cut out of kraft card stock.  She sent me several of them in a die cut swap we did a while back.  Thanks Marcia!!

Be sure to check out all the designers cards to see how they were inspired by this week's inspiration photo.  I know they'll wow your socks off!

I'll be adding this card to the following challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Time Out Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Valentine Shaker Card

Hello friends~  Valentine's Day is drawing near so I've got a quick and easy CAS Valentine Shaker card to share with you today using dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

I started by cutting an A2 size card panel out of Rich Black Soft Finish Cardstock.  From that, I cut the Leafy Lace Heart out from the center.  I cut another Leafy Lace Heart out of Ladybug Red Soft Finish Cardstock.  I adhered a piece of clear acetate using Clear Double Sided Adhesive onto the back of the Rich Black panel.  I then adhered the Ladybug Red Leafy Lace Heart over the top of the heart opening on the front of the card panel.  I added some foam tape to the back side of the card panel being careful that there were no gaps in the tape for the sequins to fall out.  I filled the center space with sequins, peeled the backing paper off the foam tape and adhered it to the front of a white, top folding A2 card base.  I added three flowers cut from White Soft Finish Cardstock using Bunch of Flowers 4 and added a red gem to the center of each flower.  To finish the card off, I adhered a piece of Clear Double Sided Adhesive to the front of a piece of White Soft Finish Cardstock  and cut the "XOXO" from Love Sentiments. After peeling the release paper from the from the front of the "XOXO", I added Cool Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter and polished it to make it shine and adhered it to the front of the card.  

I hope you're inspired by today's card.  You can find all the details on the products I used at Elizabeth Craft Designs.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Dies R Us ~ Thank You Medallion

Hello friends~  I'm back again with a post for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog. 

A heartfelt thank you card is in order today and you can find all the dies needed to make this card at Dies R Us

I die cut a white card stock panel using Impression Obsession Small Flourish Background  and applied it to a double sided adhesive panel.  Once it was pressed into place I rubbed Elizabeth Craft Silk Microfine Glitter in Warm Diamond into the negative spaces.   

I then adhered the die cut panel onto a white base cut the same size as the panel and added it to the card front.  Just look at this pretty background!  This technique could be used for any type of card.

This Sue Wilson Thank You Circle is so fun to work with.  This die set has all the pieces needed to make a fun layered sentiment.  There's also a Birthday Circle!!  I cut each of the elements out in light blues and greens and the circles in white.  It made a pretty soft colored medallion.

Every medallion needs fishtail tags to I paired the circle die up with Sue Wilson Stitched Flags.  Just look at all the sizes you get in this set!  I cut two out of light green card stock and added them to the medallion.

Here's a list of dies I used:
     

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  Be sure to Follow Us on Facebook too. 

click below for:
STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

PINTEREST BOARD  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Sending Love

Hello ~  I've got a quick and easy card to share with you featuring some amazingly cute dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

These Mushrooms from Joset Designs are so fun and whimsical!  I cut them out of White Soft Finish Cardstock and added color using Distress Inks and a blending tool.  I did the same using Joset's Birds.  The layers were cut using Stitched Rectangles.

I tucked a tiny heart into the birds beak and added a white flower from Bunch of Flowers 4 that I covered with Clear Wink of Stella and a gem for the center.

I hope you'll check out these products and more at Elizabeth Craft Designs.

I'll be adding this card to the following challenges:

Time Out Challenges

Word Art Wednesday 

Happy Little Stampers ~ Anything goes with dies

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Playing Along with PTI MIM & Darnell

Hello~  I'm popping in with a quick post to share the card I made using Melissa's Masked Heart Wreaths technique for PTI's Make-It Monday.  It's been quite a while since I've played along but I couldn't pass up this opportunity to give this technique a try.  I love Melissa's style and this technique!!

I used a heart from Limitless Layers 2 ~ Hearts Die Collection and stamped around the heart using images from Embellished Elegance.  I used an "Eyelet Stitches" edger from from Poppy Stamps for the bottom edge of the stamped card stock and put a piece of scrap design paper behind it.  The sentiment is from Big Hugs.  I added some ECD Silk Microfine Glitter in Vintage Pink to the die cut word.  Notice the tiny hearts from corner to corner?  I saw that little stamp in the Big Hugs set and just had to add some bitty hearts flowing from corner to corner to add more movement.

Following Darnell's lead, here's "Today's Two-fer".

I'll be adding this card to her NBUS challenge since the colored pencils I used are NBUS and I've colored on Kraft, just as she challenged us.  The colored pencils were my mom's and they are from Stampin' Up! and this was my first time using them.  I've always used my Crayola's. ;0) 

The image is Altenew's Freesia.  I just love coloring this image on Neenah Desert Storm Card Stock.

I'll be adding one of these cards to the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday 
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8
Happy Little Stampers 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Elizabeth Craft Designs ~ Birthday Birds On A Ladder

Good morning friends I'm happy to be sharing my very first post over at the Elizabeth Craft Designs Blog.  Now that Christmas and New Year's is over, I'm ready to use some spring colors in my craft palette.  These Love Birds from Joset Designs are just perfect for a mid winter pick-me-up!


I started by cutting a Soft Blue Soft Finish Cardstock  panel and mounted it to a white A2 sized card base.  I cut the Joset Designs Background out of Soft Blue Soft Finish Cardstock and adhered it over the card front.

I cut the Lovebirds out of White Soft Finish Cardstock and added color using Ranger Distress Inks.

Next I cut the Rustic Ladder out of Cafe au Lait Soft Finish Cardstock and added some distress ink around the edges.

 
Cut the words "Happy Birthday" out of Spring Green Soft Finish Cardstock.  Apply a generous coat of Zig 2 way glue pen to the top of the words and cover the words with Spring Peridot Silk Microfine Glitter.  When the glue has dried, polish the glitter on the words with your fingertip to bring out the maximum sparkle.  

Once the card was assembled I added some yellow Stickles to the birds wings and tail feathers.

I hope today's project has inspired you to break out your spring colors and create some sunshine for someone special.

Supplies Used:

Background

Lovebirds

Rustic Ladder

Happy Birthday

Soft Finish Cardstock in Soft Sky, Cafe au Lait, Spring Green and White

Spring Peridot Silk Microfine Glitter

Clear Double Sided Adhesive

Other Supplies Used:

Distress Inks by Ranger

Yellow Stickles glitter glue

Glossy Accents

Zig 2 Way Glue Pen

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit