The 12 Kits of Holidays - February 2013 Edition

Another month has come and gone so it is time for our monthly installment of The 12 Kits of Holidays.  This month are fabulous hostess is Renee and if you don't already know this about Renee, when she sends you a kit or anything else for that matter, she sends enough to last you for just about forever! I am not complaining in any way, I love it because I will have so much leftovers that I can CASE any of the other cards that are made for this month's challenge.  Renee's theme for this month is Christmas and she used these amazing stamps from Waltzingmouse. For some odd reason I could not open the supply list but I know it is my lack of computer skills, the ingredients to her kit are just incredible as you can see in the kit photo.

Kit Photo Courtesy of Kara

Be sure to check out all of the blogs from the links below to see all of the fabulous creations, you will be amazed!

Joyce

Renee (this month's hostess)

Tracey

Sharron

Marybeth

Jeanne

Christina

Amy

Kim (that's me)

Kara

Kelly

Jessica

CASology #33 - Guest Designer - Circle

CASology Guest Designer - Circle

I am just so excited!!! I am this weeks Guest Designer for CASology, you can see my winning card here. I am so honored to have my card selected as week #31's winner and to be asked to a guest designer, a dream! But then I stated to panic and was so stumped as to what to make, I emailed my sister to ask for suggestions, my brain was not working with me on this. The next day my Spellbinder circles arrived and problem solved.  This week's cue card is Circle, so the new die's arrived just in time. 

I started work on my card with 1 circle and then added a second but it still needed something, so I added the bright color behind the white circle but it was still not right. Then it hit me, the rule of three's, and one more circle cut out, stamped "hello" on it and my card was ready to go.  Thank you so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card....have a wonderful day!

Be sure to head of the CASology and check out what their amazing design team created!

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock: PTI - White, Pure Poppy and Hawaiian Shores, Yellow is from my stash

Dies: Spellbinders - Circles

Stamps: Paper Smooches - Flap Happy

Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup - Neopolitan Bean Bisque

Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop - Marvelous Monograms and Dynamic Duo's #41

It's the 25th again and that means it is time for Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop. This month's theme is Marvelous Monograms, at first I had a difficult time coming up with an idea then Joyce from Cards-by-the-Sea gave me an amazing idea, use my card to double as Ashleigh's birthday card, she turned 21 yesterday.  We spent the day in San Francisco and she wanted to have a shot sitting at the bar with her dad in Lefty O'Doul's. Ashleigh loved her card, so thank you Joyce for the help!
I decided to use Lucy to make my monogram, there are so many beautiful ones and since Ashleigh's favorite color is blue my card will work for this week's Dynamic Duo's challenge.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by to peek at my card...have a wonderful day!

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock: PTI - White and Spring Rain, darker blue from my stash

Stamps: PTI - Birthday Bash Sentiments

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug - Wicker Weave

Dies: PTI - Mat Stack #6 and Double Ended Banner

Monogram - Lucy

Muse Challenge #5

Yeah, tomorrow is Friday and more time to be crafty. This week I have been busy with school stuff that I have not had much time to play.  I thought I was making one card for two different challenges and then I realized that I did not but that is ok, I still have time to make more cards. 

This is my first card for this challenge Muse, Joyce inspired me to make a card for it, her card is amazing and you can see it here. This weeks inspiration comes from Marion Vagg and she used some amazing Washi Tape and a bold sentiment. My Muse comes from Marion's use of Washi Tape, which Joyce is responsible for too. What are friends for???

Inspiration photo

I love just about anything Disney and had some fabulous Disney Washi Tape too.  This was a quick and easy card and I love the way it turned out. Thank you so much for taking time to take a peek at my card....have a wonderful day!

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock: PTI - White and Red and Black - my stash

Stamps: PTI - Heart-2-Heart #2

Washi Tape: Queen and Co.

Ink: VersaFine - Black

Papertrey Ink's MIM #104 Handmade Pinwheels and RetroSketches #51

Today I have two cards to share, one for PTI's Make It Monday and one for this week's RetroSketch's challenge. On both cards I decided to pull out stamps that had not been used before.

For this week's MIM Ashley taught us how to make pinwheels out of a piece of square paper, it was so quick and easy to make. I adhered two pieces of patterned paper together to have 2 colors but next time I would use a piece of double sided paper, it would not be as thick and easier to fold over. Head of to Nichole's blog and take a peek at all the wonderful creations that have these adorable little pinwheels on them. 

My second card is for RetroSketches I used a stamp from Market Street with a camping theme and pulled out patterned paper from last years Stamp-A-Faire to match.

Ingredients

Make It Monday

Solid Card Stock: PTI - White

Patterned Paper: PTI - Limeade Ice and Orange Zest

Ink: PTI - Limeade Ice and Orange Zest

Button: PTI - Orange Zest

Stamps: PTI - Sentiments Signs

RetroSketches

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Blueberry Sky and Fine Linen

Patterned Paper: PTI - Fine Linen and Camping

Ink: VersaFine - Vintage Sepia

Buttons: PTI - Ripe Avocado

Stamps: Market Street - Gone Campin

A Silhouette Cameo named Lucy

A few weeks back I sold off all of my Cricut cartridges and machine and bought a Silhouette. It has been sitting on my craft desk for a couple weeks looking so pretty. I signed up for a beginner class too that I still need to take, there is so much to learn. So finally I decided to bit the bullet and start playing with her. Wow, what a fun new toy, so many things you can make and I love the fact that it is hooked up to my computer and I don't need to buy cartridges. 

It came with a gift card that I loaded on my computer and my oh my, there are so many different images you can buy and every Tuesday they have a free image you can save to your library.  While browsing through all the designs I saw this one and had to buy it. I is perfect for my friend Joyce, my guess is she would only eat things covered in chocolate if she could. So this card is for you Joyce, hope you like it.

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card....have a wonderful day!

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock:  PTI - White, Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz and Sweet Blush

Ribbon: PTI - Sweet Blush

Rose: Prima

Waltzingmouse Blog Party and ColourQ Challenge #176

It's the 17 of the month again and that means it is time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party. This month's theme is "Doilies", as soon as I saw the theme I knew exactly what I wanted to make but then a sweet friend of mine, Sherrie sent me an envelope of fun new goodies from Stampin Up and I had to put them to good use. She included a package of the most adorable Tea Time Trinkets and some beautiful white Tea Lace Doilies. I pulled out my Afternoon Tea and it was a match made in heaven! This is my all time favorite WM stamp set, so many wonderful images you can use. Another sweet friend of mine, Renee from It's a Patchwork Life sent me an envelope stuffed with all kind so patterned paper so I pulled out two of my favorites of the bunch and then my card pretty much made itself. 

One card down and one to go...my second card is for this week's ColourQ Challenge #176. This was another very quick card because I CAS'd Renee's card that she posted yesterday for Cathy's birthday blog hop, you can see it here.  I always love it when I see an amazing card and I have all the goodies to make one too and this was the case with Renee's card. Thank you Renee for your amazing inspiration! Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my cards....have a wonderful day!

Ingredients

Tea Time

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Sweet Blush

Patterned Paper: Renee

Stamps: WMS - Afternoon Tea

Ribbon: PTI - Sweet Blush

Charm: SU - Tea Time Trinkets

Doilies: SU - Tea Lace Doilies

Ink: PTI - Smokey Shadow

Thank You

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Autumn Rose and White

Ink: PTI - Simply Chartreuse and Scarlet Jewel

Ribbon: PTI - Melon Berry

Stamps: WMS - Teeny Trees

Bling: SU

Happy Birthday Cathy - Blog Hop

Surprise!!!! 

Happy Birthday Cathy

I am not sure if you are a chocolate lover or not but this cake was so beautiful I had to use it. If we lived closer I would love to make one for you.

Joyce from Cards-by-the-Sea was so sweet to organize this birthday blog hop for Cathy from Empty Nest Crafter. If you do not know who Cathy is you have to check out her blog, she is one crafty lady! Her work is simply amazing. I had the pleasure of actually meeting Cathy last July while visiting Joyce for Stamp-A-Faire, it is a real treat to get to meet some of your cyber and blog friends.  At the end of this post is a list of birthday blog hoppers, so be sure to check out all of the wonderful cards that have been created in celebration of Cathy's special day. 

I used one of my new stamps for Cathy's birthday card, it is from Clearly Besotted Stamps and I even CAS'd one of Stephanie's cards. Her card is why I wanted this set and it goes so well with patterned paper. 

Join in Cathy's party and be sure stop by her blog to wish her Happy Birthday!

Joyce http://cards-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/

Jeanne  http://akeptlife.blogspot.com/

Kara http://kandrdesigns.blogspot.com/

Kelly  http://ginghamgirlsadventures.blogspot.com/

Kim http://cupcakescardsandkim.blogspot.com/

Marybeth http://marybethstimeforpaper.blogspot.com/

Renee  http://itsapatchworklife.blogspot.com/

Tracey http://inmycreativeopinion.blogspot.com/

Sharron   http://onpapillonwings.blogspot.com/

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse

Patterned Paper: PTI - Beautiful Blooms

Ink: VersaFine: Black

Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Framed Sentiments

Pearls: SU

Edger: SU - Scallop Border

CASology #31 - Red

It has been a crazy week...I am sooooo far behind in leaving blog comments (I am so sorry, I get caught up and then the craziness starts). I will get started back with comments this weekend.  My week started with having the carpets in our entire house cleaned on Monday, then on Tuesday and Wednesday nights Ashleigh and I went to see Soundgarden at the Fox Theater in Oakland (it you have never seen these guys, you need to add it to your list of bands to see live). The house is still not put back together so there was no time to spend in my craft room. I spent Thursday trying to get caught up and everything back to it's place and I get called in to sub all day Friday...I am so happy to have a 3 day weekend. While I was working all day, my sweetie went out crabbing, he caught 14 of these yummy guys too. Once the mess was cleaned up and found my way back into my craft room and made a few cards. The first one is for this week's CASology challenge. This week's cue card is Red and with Valentine's Day just yesterday I thought this would be a fun card to make.

Thanks for taking time to stop and take a peek at my card...have a fabulous day!

Kiss Me

 Chris Cornell and Soundgarden

Fresh caught crab for dinner

Ingredients

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Pure Poppy and White

Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles

Stamps: The Alley Way - ooh-la-la

Pearls: Doodlebug

Ink: SU - Real Red and VersaFine: Black

Papertrey Ink's 6th Anniversary and Liebster Award

Today Papertrey Ink's contest was to make cards using the sketches above. My goal today was to get all 5 made but I only managed to complete 2 of them. We are having the carpets cleaned tomorrow and I just started cleaning in my craft room and then one thing lead to another and like I said, I only finished two cards. There is still time to play along on some of PTI's Anniversary contests, so head over to Nichole's blog and enter, I love getting free stamps!

I also have some important business to take care of tonight...I was so honored when I received a blog post from this amazingly talent lady, Kristie from Kreative Kristie. She awarded Cupcakes, Cards and Kim with the Liebster Award. I was blown away when I read her blog post and that I was included in the bunch, this is truly an honor Kristie, thank you so much. Kristie is so creative and talented, you have to check out her blog.

     ABOUT THE AWARD  

This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to blogs that you like that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these new blogs. 

       RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog.  Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

     PAY IT FORWARD   

 With my blog being very new I have entered in quite a few challenges and have found some wonderful blogs in the process.   Here are five blogs that I think you should check out:

Joyce

Tracey

Jeanne

Cathy

Renee

I am truly blessed to know each one of these amazing and talented ladies, thanks to each and everyone of them for all their support and encouragement since I have been blogging. You are all simply amazing!

Paper Smooches, Cloud 9 Challenge and Papertrey Ink's MIM Cards

Happy Saturday! We had a fabulous day today, got up headed for the beauty salon for a much needed hair cut and color and then hopped on BART and took of for San Francisco. Today was the San Francisco Giants FanFest and first day you could buy single game tickets.  We purchased our tickets and then wandered around the ball park, then we headed back to BART and had lunch at La Boulange, so yummy. It was a fabulous start to our day. So much inspiration after spending time in the ball park that I was able to get 2 cards made so far, one for Paper Smooches and PTI's MIM #103 Double Up Die Cut and the other for Cloud 9. This week's them for Paper Smooches is Polka Dots and I needed a birthday card too, it was a match made in heaven.

My second card is for this months WP9 challenge blog, Could 9. This one was a quick and easy card I never knew that kraft and raspberry fizz would look so pretty together.  You still have time to play along, you have the chance to win WP9 stamps! 

Inspiration Photo

Ingredients

Happy Birthday Card

Solid Card Stock: PTI - White

Patterned Paper: PTI - Limeade Ice, Orange Zest and Pure Poppy

Stamps: Paper Smooches - Sentiment Sampler and Flap Happy

Dies: PTI - Mat Stack #6

Bling: Stash

Ink: VersaFine - Black

Be Mine

Solid Card Stock: PTI - Kraft

Patterned Paper: PTI - Raspberry Fizz

Stamps: WP9 - Love You More and Banner Love

Rose: Stash

Ink: VersaFine - Vintage Sepia