Reverse Confetti Stock Your Stash {Baby it's Cold Outside}

Brrrrr....baby it's cold outside! It's definitely sweater and boot weather, that is for sure! I'm popping in today to share my card for this month's Reverse Confetti Stock Your Stash challenge! This month it is all about Holiday and Winter! If you're all ready done with your holiday cards, well, then play along using a fun and festive Winter design! Reverse Confetti is also having  a Black Friday sale you won't want to miss out on...it is going on NOW so head over to the SHOP so you can get all of the goodies on your wish list at a great price!

You can read all about the SYS challenge over on the Reverse Confetti Blog ! For my card, I went for that cool, icy feeling for my design. I really wanted to use this cute little hat from the Happy Winter set, so that was the jumping point for my card. I picked this particular hat because of the sentiment; it can work for either Christmas OR winter. If I need it for Christmas, I'll use it, but if not, it will be ready in my stash to send during the long, cold, winter months.

Of course I had to include a festive snowflake from the new Snowflake Magic stamp set! This is one of my favorites and it added just the frosty feeling I was going for. I was listening to the Frozen soundtrack while I created this card, which may have rubbed off on a few of the design choices! LOL!

I had a few black and white trees left over from a previous project, so I added them onto the card as well. They are from the Triangle Trees stamp set and they added just the right amount of contrast I was hoping for. I also tied the TAG with some black and white baker's twine for some additional black and white accents. The background was created using a piece of the AMAZING Winter Solstice 6 by 6 paper pad and then die cut using the Stitched Rays Coverpanel to give it a little extra detail. I got a little carried away with the tinsel glitter,but I just love the sparkle and detail it adds to my cards. I also added a few rhinestones here and there for extra sparkle and shine! Thanks for fluttering by!

Papertrey Ink November Release Day 5

Well friends, today is the 5th and final day of the Papertrey Ink November sneak peeks! Aren't the new products absolutely amazing? I'm in love with everything being released this month and I hope I can sneak some time over the holiday weekend to dive into some of the new sets that I didn't get a chance to use yet! I have some fun, non-holiday projects to share with you today using two new stamp sets! 'These particular sets don't have any coordinating dies, but that didn't stop me from incorporating some of the stunning new ones that I will be using again and again! I use both sets on this "Feel Better Soon" comfort ensemble as they work so well together! The two sets that I am using are called November Corner Adorner: Feel Better Soon and Expressions of Empathy. I can't say enough about both of these sets. The Expressions of Empathy set has SO many sentiments that I have been longing for. I don't think any stamp collection would be complete without having this one included in it.

With Cold and Flu season on its way, these stamps will come in handy to help our friends and family feel cheered and encouraged!  My mind was going a hundred miles a minute while putting this "Feel Better Soon" comfort basket together. I just wanted to keep making and making, and like I mentioned last month, thank heavens for deadlines! LOL! The design process all worked around the gorgeous floral fabric that I used from Penny Rose Fabrics. I couldn't wait to dive right and get started! I actually made the fabric basket (pictured further in the post) first so that I had a place to tuck each thing in as I finished it. I have made quite a few of these fabric baskets and if you are interested in a tutorial, you read about it on my other blog Thimbles and Thread. 

I am 100 percent smitten with Dawn's new "Mix-Ups Pocket Tags". These are absolutely a MUST HAVE!   I was able to incorporate all three of the different tags for today's projects. They are so perfect for my ensemble. I tucked a Lemon Ginger tea into the pocket of this tag and attached a chapstick to the outside using glue dots. The "sun ray" image is from the new "November Corner Adorner: Feel Better Soon and I just love how it looks embossed in gold against the red. The flowers from the Stitching Garden stamp set are the perfect fit to coordinate with the fabric. I also used a bit of Chicken Scratch pattern paper on the top of the tag for some added interest. There are a few ways to use these tags, but let me explain how I used mine. I actually folded a piece of cardstock in half and then die cut the entire tag so that the fold would remain intact. I then used the additional decorative piece that comes with each of the tags to just die cut the little top flap. I used 1/8 inch scor tape to adhere the two sides to create a pocket to add the tea. 

I created a quick card to tuck in with the basket using the new Bold Borders: Polka Dots. The lining of my fabric basket is polka dots so this was the perfect choice. I gold embossed the "we're in this together" sentiment that is from the Expressions of Empathy set and adhered it over the border.

Again,  I used the sun rays from the November Corner Adorner and added more of the blooms and leaves from Stitching Garden. A few sparkling clear sequins finish off this cheery design. 

 You can see the basket a bit in this photo as well as the card peeking out of the top. I sewed a tissue cozy using the same Penny Rose fabric. 

Tissues are a must have when you are under the weather or sad! It was a perfect choice for this "feel better soon" ensemble.

I have used yet another sentiment from "Expressions of Empathy" on this cough drop box. I used the Merry Mug stamp set that was released a few months ago. I was so happy to use it for this project to show how versatile it is. I thought the cough drops looked so cute as well. They are Ricola and the styling is perfect with the entire gift ensemble. I used the Favor It Box 1 die cut to make the little box. It is the perfect size to hold a few cough drops and I thought it worked especially well with the mug.

My second project is a simplified version as the first, using many of the same elements. Since I love making the tissue holders so much, I thought it would be fun to make up a few using some cheery fabric and attach the tea packets made using the Mix-Ups Pocket Tags. I created these in the same way as I did on the previous project. I was able to use the other two designs on these, which is fun! It will be nice to have a few of these on hand to give to those in need. With the different sentiments that I used from the "Expressions of Empathy" set, you could use them for someone feeling down, sick, or grieving.

You can find the tutorial for the tissue cozies HERE. I have been using this pattern for over 10 years now and I love it! As you can see I did a lot of gold embossing on these projects!

I found these cute little silver spoons in the entertaining section of Dollar Tree and I have used them quite a bit. I like to tie them onto preserves and jellies during the holidays. I thought it looked so cute tucked inside the pocket with the tea. You could also add some of those honey straws. I couldn't think of where I had last seen any so I wasn't able to add them into this project, but I will definitely pick some up when I see them next.

I wrapped the ribbon all the way around the cozy and then tied it through the tag holes. I used Hawaiian Shores stitched ribbon for some added contrast. I also used the new pierced rectangle dies that are coming out this month to give the tag some extra detail. I love how it helps bring in the design from the sun rays from the new November Corner Adorner.

I know that you may have some questions with the last two projects, so please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email with any questions that you would like answered. 

I wanted to switch things up a little bit for my last project. The "Expressions of Empathy" set is obviously designed to uplift and encourage anyone who may be sick or grieving, but I LOVE the "You are so loved" sentiment with its beautiful font, so I decided to make something a little girly for this project.

There were two little girls sitting in front of me at church last week wearing some super adorable fabric bows.  I noticed that they were made by scrunching up a circle of fabric. I knew that I could easily recreate them, but when I decided to try it with this months Shape Shifters: Circle 4, I was giddy with excitement! I die cut two pieces of Lavendar Moon Felt using the Shape Shifters: Circle 4. I made sure to use my metal shim so that I could get crisp cuts into the felt. 

I  pinched the middle to get the first tuck and then carefully gathered the rest of the felt in a pleasing, even way. I used a clothespin to hold it in place so that I could add some glue to each of the folds. I used my rotary cutter to create the pieces I need for the centers of each bow. I used hot glue to attach it in the back.

I attached the clip using hot glue. I chose this type of barrette because I like how it forms to the shape of the head, rather than the other type because they make the bow stick up funny on the wearer's head, if that makes sense.

One is a clip and the other one is a stretchy headband for a baby. The "You are so loved" sentiment is stamped and then adhered under the bow. Of course the base to hold the bows is also the Shape Shifters: circle 4. I also die cut two circles using the Bitty Baby Blessings pattern paper for some added color and pattern. I know that my projects are a little "unconventional" but I hope that I've given you a few creative ideas other than cards on how to use these beautiful new products! Thanks for fluttering by!

Pumpkin spice and EVERYTHING nice!

Hello friends! I have a fun and festive fall card that I am sharing over on the SugarPea Designs Blog today! I am beyond smitten with these adorable fox images and fabulous sentiments from the Fall Fox stamp set. This would definitely be put into the "perfect set" category for me. I love everything about it; the sentiments and adorable illustrations.

I wanted this fabulous "Pumpkin Spice" sentiment to take center stage so I created a chalkboard style look and then die cut it using the Zig Zag stitched circles. 

I normally don't use two sentiments on a card, but I felt like with layout, I could pull it off. I really like how it turned out.

The fox images are stamped and colored using an assortment of alcohol markers and then die cut using the Fall Fox SugarCuts.

It was so much fun creating this little scene. It is all built around the layers that have been die cut using the Card Front Element Builders. I love using these on my designs to really give them that polished professional look.

The pumpkins have a coating of Nuvo Crystal Glaze over the top for some realistic shine.

The blue background was created using Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink to give this design that perfect Autumn sky.

I added a few more images and sentiment inside for a finished look.

I had so much fun on this design! I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for fluttering by!

Tuesday Ideas {A wonderful holiday season}

 I'm over on the Precious Remembrance Blog today sharing this collage style Christmas card using the newly released Everyday Stamp Set paired with the fun and festive Joy stamp set.

I used black and white as my main color combination with pops of red and green for a modern feeling design. I like mixing things up to create something unexpected! Thanks for fluttering by!

Traveler's Journal: Life is what you bake it!

The Papertrey Ink Traveler's Journal team has some fun new ideas on how to use your Traveler's Journals. If you're a "foodie", this month is dedicated to you! This month we're focusing on documenting recipes: whether they be our culinary masterpieces, or food we love from restaurants, and more! I'm always trying to find ways to keep my life organized and running smoothly, so my journal is a companion to be used with my menu board. Hopefully I will be able to explain how it will be used! 

Make sure to head to the Papertrey Ink Blog to see the other designer's journals!

Before I dive into the "how" and "what", I want to talk a little bit about the cover and how my journal is constructed since I designed it to be used in a way that will be useful to me. To begin, I die cut all of the pages using the Traveler's Journal Passport cover die. I will be using this simply as a book, so I didn't need a cover AND the page blanks inside. I used Bitty Big: Pale Peony pattern paper, Bitty Big: Soft Stone pattern paper, and BittyBig: Ocean Tides pattern paper for the different pages. I really like using the Bitty Big papers because they are double sided and they give my journals variety without any extra work! I love mixing the patterns and sizes for an eclectic feel. I think it adds to the vintage vibe I was going for with today's project. 

I'm quite a matchy-matchy kind of gal, but in this case, this doesn't match my kitchen AT ALL, but since it will be put up in a cupboard, I decided to make it girly and fun! I used the Life is what you bake it stamp set for the main images for my cover. I bought this set when it was released and it has been in my "need to use" basket ever since! I did use it on some flyers for a church activity, but I don't think that really counts! LOL! So...I was thrilled to let it take center stage for today's project! 

I die cut all of the pieces before stamping them, which I don't usually do, but this particular set uses a lot of different images to make up the entire mixer, so I wanted to make sure everything was properly aligned on the die cut pieces. 

To enhance the vintage vibe, I used the Stitch in time Borders stamp set to frame the different kitchen elements. I also used the Limitless Layers 2 1/4 inch heart dies to show off the cute sentiment. I definitely think I  need to buy the Confetti Sentiments stamp set that is a companion to this set! They are just too cute! The pages are tied up with Ocean Tides 5/8 inch saddle stitched ribbon into a quick bow! I needed something that would allow me to add extra pages if need be!

Okay, now that I have talked about the cover, I can dive right into the "what"! I do the majority of my shopping online. I meal plan two weeks out and then get everything that I need for those two weeks, minus a few things that would need to be purchased fresh, but even then, I use my freezer for my extra bread and meats, etc. So...because I do it online, I don't actually make a physical list. I use my menu board which you can see in THIS post. It has little cards with the main dish that I will be making on which night. When I get ready to put together my online order, I just use those cards to add the things that I will need!

Well...that's all good in theory, except for sometimes I forget the ground mustard, or that a particular meal uses chicken broth, etc. etc. So...this journal has a list of EVERY SINGLE MEAL that I have a card for on my menu board. Each page has a different main dish and then the different ingredients that I need to make it. So...I will use this as I put together my online order, does that make sense? Depending on what we're having, I will just flip to those pages to make sure I get everything that I need! I also added pictures of the food. I don't have a picture for everything, yet, but as I make it, I will snap pictures so that I can add them to my journal. I was happy to have this picture, because these are the bread sticks my mom made growing up so it is fun to document a little piece of my mom.

Before I continue on with the rest of my project, I wanted to share a quick tag I made using some extra pieces I had when I was done. I love giving home baked treats to friends in the neighborhood when they are on my mind, but often times I don't actually DO it, because I don't have a tag, and KELLY LUNCEFORD CANNOT TAKE A TREAT WITHOUT A TAG. LOL! So...I decided to make a tag to keep on hand so the next time I have the thought, it is ready to go. I will continue making additional tags with any extra pieces from future projects to grow my tag stash. I am planning on just tucking them in the back of my journal so they are ready to go! I think I'll buy a few spools of neutral ribbon to keep in the cupboard as well since my craft space is in the basement, and heaven forbid I run down there and work off the calories of the sweets I just baked and consumed! LOL!

The next page uses the ever-adorable Comfort Food stamp set which I forgot is RETIRED! ack! I'm sorry! I also used some of the bowls which are die cut using the Life is what you bake it die set. I really like how the bowls have a slit so you can tuck the spoon in, or stack them, etc. 

I was able to snap a few pictures of my soup as well. It is a family favorite and the kids actually eat it without complaint so that is a win-win situation! I can't say that about ALL of the meals included in this book! LOL! 

I hope this project makes sense and that it wasn't a whole lot of jibberish! LOL! If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment and I will answer them! Thanks for fluttering by!

Reverse Confetti New Release Blog Hop

It's release day and the team, along with some EXTRA special guests, are celebrating today with a blog hop chock full of inspiration!! So, get cozy and settle in and hop along to all of the stops to see what everyone has come with!

Reverse Confetti Blog

Amy Kolling

Melissa Phillips

Amy Sheffer
Lydia Fiedler

Tricia Barber

Kelly Lunceford

Lisa Henke
Leanne West

Amy Rohl

Wanda Guess

Heather Hoffman
Therese Calvird

Amy Tsuruta

Kathy Schweinfurth
Michelle Short

Audrey Tokach

Melissa Bickford
Jeanne Jachna

Olga Moss
Ali Farmer
Deanne Kuntz

My cute Rowan came home from school on Friday and told me that his teacher's dog had died; the family dog that they'd had for 17 years type of situation! I knew right away that I had the PERFECT set and the PERFECT sentiment to put together a little something for him to take to her! Thank you Reverse Confetti!!! I used the new "Furever Friends"  stamp set to create today's project.

I had quite a few leftover squares from the centers of all of the different scalloped bags I made during the last few days so I put them to good use on today's card. I stamped the dog image three times and then colored them each a little differently using Copic markers.  I also added some white gel pen "whisker pores" {LOL!} if that is even a thing! I added some crystal glaze to the bone and a dollop to each nose!

The little Dove treat bag is very simple, just using another dog image, the bone, and ball. I thought that the "always and furever" sentiment was perfect to express our thoughts to her. I love how the square die cut for the center leaves the stitching lines along the outside! 

I also used the hat image from the "Snow Bunnies" stamp set to add to the brown dog for some added detail. The "P.S. I love you" tag is something I have had for YEARS that I got from my local quilt shop! I totally forgot I had them, so it was a happy surprise to find them. I'm using another one on an upcoming project as well, so stay tuned.

I hadn't planned on using this sweet set for today's hop, but I am so thrilled that these little pups got their chance to shine this week as they cheered up a grieving teacher! It's the small things in life that make such a difference. I ran into her in the hall the other day and she expressed her thanks to me. Thanks for fluttering by!