Gallery Idol 2012--Round 3

Hi everyone! 

 I am so excited to be here among the

Top 15 on the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol card contest! 

I could not have gotten here without everyone who has taken their time to come vote for me.

Thank you so much!

This round's challenge was to create a card using a product for both a masculine AND a feminine card!  I decided to break out my NEW Texture Plate from Lil' Inker Designs.  If you have visited my blog lately, then you know that it is an AWESOME product that I dearly LOVE!  The other product I used on both cards was some sweet new denim paper from Simple Stories Summer Fresh line.

Here are my cards together..........

I decided to ink up my texture plate for a faux letterpress look.  I then cut out the center of the frame so that I could use it like a traditional frame!  So let's take a look at my feminine card.......



My color scheme was totally inspired by THIS paper by Simple Stories.  I just fell in love with this paper.  I used Sky ink from Amuse Studio for the letterpress color on the woodgrain frame.  I then carefully used a craft knife and ruler to cut out the center of the frame.  I then sewed together the pattern papers with a zig zag stitch and layered them behind the frame.  What about those flowers?
They are the rose dies from Cheery Lynn Designs.....miniature, medium, and large.  You may be thinking......she cut all those out??  Well yes, but this die is like a border die and can cut 6 roses at a time!  Saves lots of time!  Simply thread with a brad and adhere!

12 Kits of Christmas {January Kit}

I have been so excited to share today's post with you!  I am joining 11 other very talented ladies in a monthly Christmas card challenge called The 12 Kits of Christmas.  I literally can not wait to see what everyone made with this kit!  Each month the hostess sends out card kits to the other 11 members.  Renee started us off with a kit that just literally blew me away when I opened it!  There were so many goodies in there and probably enough to make 10 cards.  Boy did she spoil us!  She thought of everything!

JANUARY KIT
{photo courtesy of Kara}



Card #1:  Renee has been enabling lately and so I had an inkling she would be sending a certain 'window' die that she had scored.  When it arrived, it was love at first sight I tell ya!  Of course, it was the first thing I wanted to use.  Everything you see on my card (except the Pure Poppy card base impressed with the Peace be Still Impression Plate) was included in my kit even down to the twine for the buttons!  Now for that window........don't you just want to swoon?  Look at all that detail!  Sadly, I have not found my own die yet but am on an email list for one!

Card #2:  My next card uses another fun die this time from Cheery Lynn Designs.  The detail in this O Tannenbaum Christmas Tree is just amazing.  I added in some red pearls (that were included in the kit) and some of my coveted silver ones to embellish the tree.  I topped my tree with some Silver Stickles and layered my tree over some pattern paper from the kit.  I then used the red seam binding to wrap and form a bow with a jingle bell accenting the center.

Now since we are starting out this month, there is some awesome Blog Candy to be won by one lucky person who comments on all of the blogs and leaves comments along the way by Friday night.  (Blog Candy courtesy of Renee.......check it out on her blog)  Thank you soo much for stopping by!  Here is a list of all the blogs to visit and leave comments for the blog candy:

Renee {It's a Patchwork Life}--January Hostess

Suzanne {The Card Yard}

Cathy {Empty Nest Crafter}

Joyce {Cards-by-the-Sea}

Kim {Cupcakes Cards and Kim}

Kara {KandRDesigns}

Sharron {On Papillon Wings}

Marybeth {Marybeth's Time for Paper}

Jeanne {A Kept Life}

Jessica {The Paper Parade}

Christina {Sea Glass & Sentiments}

{JANUARY KIT INGREDIENTS}

Stamps:  'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Compliments of the Season, 2011 Holiday Ornaments, Say it With Style (Waltzingmouse), In the Meadow (PTI)

Paper:  SS White, Pure Poppy, True Black, Simply Chartreuse (PTI)

Dies:  Star of Wonder, Essex Label (Memory Box), Grand Madison Window (PoppyStamps), O Tannenbaum Christmas Tree (Cheery Lynn Designs), In the Meadow (PTI)

Some new goodies!

So I get these regular emails from my local scrapbook store when they update with what's "new" in the store.  I always find a way to make it there to check it out.  This card uses several new goodies I picked up last week.


First up.....this awesome new Sunflower Die from Cheery Lynn Designs.  Being from Kansas, I know I went through my stage of "collecting" sunflower decor when the country style of decorating was in.  But what remains is that I love to see fields of sunflowers in Kansas!  They are so full of color!

Next, do you notice all that yummy pattern paper??  It is the newest line called Lost & Found Two: Sunshine by My Mind's Eye.  Love, love.  They are double sided goodness!!!  My sentiment is also from a new purchase:  Sunny Days by Verve.  You will be seeing more of this set soon!  Here is a close up of the sunflower showing the detail to the middle part of the die. 

I used one of the Viva la Verve sketches for this card........VLVAUG2011.

Have a great day everyone and thank you so much for stopping by!  My next MSS post will be up tonight at 7pm CST.  You can't miss it!

{A day to remember}

Stamps:  Sunny Days (Verve)

Paper:  Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate, Rustic White, and Summer Sunrise (all PTI), Lost and Found Two: Sunshine (MME)

Ink:  Dark Chocolate (PTI), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

Misc:  Sunflower Die (Cheery Lynn Designs), Small Scallop Border Die (PTI), Flourish Die (Sizzix), Half and Half Dies (PTI), Linen IP (PTI), Janome Sew Mini, Foam Tape