GD for The 12 Kits of Occasions

So around the time my full-time job was cancelled, I got an email from my loyal blogging friend, Kim Heggins, asking me if I'd like to join The 12 Kits of Occasions team as one of their guest-designers for November.  Before the change in job status, I would have regretfully declined, as crafting has had to slip in the list of priorities in the past year. However, with only part-time work starting this month, the idea of creating with a kit of delivered goodies sounded delightful! 

In case you don't know about this fun blog, it has 12 permanent members, who take turns being hostess. Each month, the Hostess picks a theme and makes up identical kits of supplies to send to her team-mates, who, in turn, create 4-5 cards to post at the end of the month. It is amazing to see the variety and creativity the arises from the same materials.

Kim's kit arrived in early November and I had such fun with the supplies! Lots of polka-dot paper, Thanksgiving and Christmas themed sentiments and adorable critter images to colour.
I made five cards, and just kept going.
Here's a pic of all that was left of the original kit!

First, fun with Copics:

 

Inside the Beary Happy card...

Then a stab at watercolouring:

 Inside the ice floe card... (see the cool shades?)

Then, simple graphic paper-piecing (a favorite pattern from my quilting days).

 Then some Christmas cards with those big bold polka dots and shimmery washi tape:

And my favorite, a gate-fold card with those scampering mice:

Many thanks to Kim and the 12 Kits of Occasions team for including me this month. I had a blast playing along!

Check out the rest of the team's creations HERE:

Hugs,

Caroline

Caring Hearts Post #5

Hello patient friends!

I have been MIA again, regarding the blog-o-sphere.  Lots going on on the home front, winding down at work and making cards, as well as receiving, sorting, and registering all the wonderful cards that have been coming in for the Caring Hearts Card Drive. Over 800 before I left for a wonderful Thanksgiving with our friends in Milwaukee.

Next week my helpers and I will begin boxing up the cards for delivery.

My friend Julianne, one of the founders of Ottawa Therapy Dogs, here in Ottawa Ontario, had the brilliant idea of having therapy dog teams deliver the cards to the nursing home residents they already visit regularly. Project Reindog was very successful and enjoyed by both the "deliverers and receivers."  This year, Julianne contacted other pet therapy associations across Canada, to see if they would be on-board with hand/paw-delivering the cards in other provinces. The idea was welcomed enthusiastically, and we will ship boxes of cards to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Maritimes. Ottawa Therapy Dogs will deliver cards in the National Capital area, and we will also send boxes directly to nursing homes in Ontario and Manitoba that have contacted us. Spreading joy and smiles!

Thank you to all the wonderful craftspeople who have donated cards, dollars and stamps for shipping costs, and personal messages this year. The Caring Hearts Card Drive is such a win-win endeavour! We all love creating, and knowing that our efforts are appreciated is frosting on the cake... I'd like to thank Vera Wirianta Yates for continuing to spear-head the drive for the past six years.

Happy last-day-of-Thanksgiving, and have a great week!

Big hugs,

Caroline

Now for the Pineapples...

So where were the pineapples in my last post?

I decided to do a whole 'nother one, to give this card it's own space.

I used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

And the new November challenge from One-Layer Simplicity: A Multitude of Gratitude

which is to make thank-you or gratitude cards.

The Pineapple Panache stamps are a Lil'Inker Designs product. There is a matching die, but I couldn't use that for the One-layer Challenge. I used a mixture of Close to My Heart (Creme Brulee and Pear) inks and Distress inks for the layers of the pineapple. Then I added some splatters and softened the edges with a water-brush.

Thanks for visiting!

Caroline

Caring Hearts (and Pineapples) Post #4

G'day crafty friends, and Happy November!

It's a new month and a new challenge on the Paper Smooches blog.

The requirement for this challenge is to use gold. This weekend I was working on more card-kit preparation, for the Caring Hearts Card Drive. 

 My work-shoppers will be making this lovely card:

How delicious is that red poinsettia? It is a Paper Smooches die, cut from red suede paper, from Paper Wishes. The Christmas words embossing folder is another Paper Wishes product. I used pearlescent vellum for the embossed layer, and set it over gold-coloured card stock. The centre of the poinsettia is embellished with gold Liquid Pearls, which were also scattered over the card-front. Lastly, I added a loose bow of gold embroidery thread.

I hope you are making cards for the Drive, too! Check out all the details, using the link above, or look through my earlier Caring Hearts posts.

Have a creative week,

Caroline