The Great Stash Bash December Kit

 Hello, everyone! Happy Tuesday and Happy December 1st! I can't believe that it is already December and that 2021 is just around the corner. The new month means it is time for a new stash bash kit!

The Great Stash Bash 2020 is a challenge that my friend Lisa and I have been doing this year. We have made it our mission to try to use up as much stash as we can this year.

Here's how it works: 

 On the 1st of each month, we will post a challenge prompt and the stash kit we have created following that prompt. During the month we will try to use as much of our stash kit as possible on different projects. Then, on the last day of the month, we will do a recap post showing what stash we were able to bash! This will be a just-for-fun challenge so no monthly prize - but isn't the real prize using up our stash? You never know - if we still have a few unused stash items after a few months, then those items may just go into a giveaway. We hope you will join us in our quest to bash some stash in 2020. If you accept the challenge to play along - link up on either my blog or Lisa's blog (or both if you choose) so that we can see who is joining us each month! 

Since we are in December, let's have a little recap. I have not done nearly as much stash busting with my kits as I had thought - or had hoped - that I would! I seemed to do better with the "new" pieces in my kits than I did with the "old" - with the exception of my August kit. I actually managed to use the new papers and quite a few of my old papers - so much so that I was ready to stop working with it by the end of the month. 

January - May...well, I managed to make at least a couple of projects with each of these kits and at the end of the month I put everything back into my stash. From June until November - with the exception of August - I totally dropped the ball on using my kits, and the funny thing is those kits have some of my favorite papers in them! 

 Lisa and I decided to use December as a month to revisit those kits and see if we couldn't put them to use. We tend to pick out a total of 10 papers - 7 old and 3 new, 3 old embellishments, 1 new embellishment, and 5-7 scraps to work with, as well as one focus item. I have to say that I threw all of that out the window this month as I want to make a point to use as much of my past kits as possible. My December kit is a mega stash bash kit! 

Here's the graphic - not that it mattered for me!

Our focus stash item for December is chipboard! I don't have a ton of chipboard and what I have, well, I am not sure I will be able to incorporate into my layouts. I have some winter-themed chipboard, fall-themed chipboard, some summer-themed chipboard, and some old naked - or raw - chipboard. I may have luck with the summer-themed and naked chipboard, but anything else might be a challenge!

I did not snap a photo of my complete kit - it was so big - so I broke it all down into papers, then embellishments, then scraps, and finally some chipboard. Here are my papers:

I was a little surprised at how much the different kits coordinated together. I guess one take away from this challenge is I can tell the colors/patterns that I tend to gravitate to and use - mostly primary colors with basic prints!

Here is a break down of the papers:

These papers are what is left from my June kit. This is the kit that Lisa sent to me and I still love it! I did get a couple of projects made with the original kit, I have 5 full sheets left and then the black diagonal stripe and multi-color stripe are just partial pieces. I have ideas for projects - I just need to get them done!

Here is what is left of my July kit:

I used most of the new papers and all that is left is my "old" paper portion. This is one of my most favorite collections from Close To My Heart - Some Kinda Wonderful. I think that is my problem with not using this kit - I know once these papers are gone that they are gone for good - but it would be so much nicer to have them on a layout than collecting dust in a drawer, so I will use them up! The backside of a couple of the papers have pink on them and I am sure I will be using both sides of some of these papers.

Next are the papers from my September kit:

Once again, I used the new papers that I included in my September kit but the old papers were left. Another set of papers that I will be able to use both sides if I so choose.

Here is what is left of my October kit:

I don't even think that I used more than one paper from this kit, and the bad thing is, I have plans for layouts for most of it! I just ran out of time. Trying to finish a commissioned album these last couple of months has cut into me getting to scrap as much of my stuff as I would like. So, it's not that I don't like this kit, I just haven't had time to use it.

I am also keeping my November kit together since it is all Christmas 6x6 paper pads and I still have a need for a few cards and I hope to use some in my December Daily:

I pulled all of my embellishments together from these kits and here is a look at what I will be working with:

I have a few cut apart sheets:

The alphas:

The sticker sheets:

My scraps - which is quite a lot! There is an 8.5x11 page protector with scraps in it that I did not take out and scatter about:

The chipboard that I have pulled for this month (I had more than I thought!):

After pulling this chipboard, I have told myself that whatever naked - or raw - chipboard that doesn't get used this month, I think it is time for it to go. The pre-printed chipboard is just so much easier to use and I really can't remember the last time I even used raw chipboard in any way or form, so it is time for it to go! I will use what I can and get rid of the rest.

That is a pretty big stash kit to be working from! I do hope that by having all of these items mixed together that I will be able to mix and match and get the majority of this kit used up! As I said before, I have ideas for layouts or projects for a lot of these papers, I just need to make the time to get them done.

Now for the rules - Since this is a just for fun challenge the rules are not set in stone BUT we have them to help you focus on what really matters using your stash & to help spread the word of our fun challenge so others may join in!! You know you have at least one friend who needs to use her stash!! 

 Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

 2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit. 

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

 4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2020 

Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see the kit that she has put together for this month. I don't think she is planning on going as big as I did, but we will see!

 I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your stash and play along with us. If you do play along with us - be sure to link up below. We would love to see your kits and your projects.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Great Stash Bash - September

Hello, again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Counterfeit Kit Challenge reveal, please scroll on down.

I am back to share my September kit for The Great Stash Bash challenge that my friend Lisa and I have been doing this year. We have made it our mission to try to use up as much stash as we can this year. I am happy to say that I did fairly well last month. I made 4 different projects - 2 Traveler's Notebook spreads, a card, and a 12x12 layout with the older portion of my stash bash kit, and I made a 12x12 layout with my new portion of the kit. I still have plans for my kit so I will keep it handy for when I get a chance to play with it again.

Here is how The Great Stash Bash Challenge works:

On the 1st of each month, we will post a challenge prompt and the stash kit we have created following that prompt. During the month we will try to use as much of our stash kits as possible on different projects. Then, on the last day of the month, we will do a recap post showing what stash we were able to bash!

This will be a just-for-fun challenge so no monthly prize - but isn't the real prize using up our stash? You never know - if we still have a few unused stash items after a few months, then those items may just go into a giveaway. We hope you will join us in our quest to bash some stash in 2020. If you accept the challenge to play along - link up on either my blog or Lisa's blog (or both if you choose) so that we can see who is joining us each month!

Here is the September challenge graphic:

We will be creating a kit of 10 papers (7 papers that are 3 years or older and 3 newer papers), 5-7 scrap papers, four embellishments (3 that are 3 years or older, and 1 newer embellishment), and this month we will be concentrating on using up our round embellishments - think buttons, brads, flair, enamel dots, etc. 

Here's a look at my kit:

If these papers look familiar - it is because I used the same collections in my Counterfeit Kit for this month. I am really hopeful that between the two kits I will get these items used up!

Here is a look at the older portion of my kit:

I came across the Family & Co collection from Fancy Pants in my stash last month when I was putting my stash bash kit together and set it aside for this month. I knew the colors would be perfect for a variety of layouts - masculine, family, and fall. For my embellishments, I have included the chipboard alphas, the die-cut pack, and some wood veneer. I also came across another die-cut pack that was a little more generic and added it to my kit, as well. Just something to add a little more variety.

Here's a better look at the papers:

I plan on using both sides of the papers as much as possible as I love both sides of all of the papers!

Here are the scraps and what's left of the 6x6 paper pad:

For the "new" portion of this month's kit, I have used Simple Stories' - Summer Farmhouse collection:

I've added the die-cut pack and since we are working on using our round embellishments, I also went ahead and included the brad pack from this collection.

Here's a better look at the papers:

You can't go wrong with a floral, plaid, and dot paper!

Here are my scraps:

I also added the sticker book since it has a page of round stickers in it.

When I was putting together my kit I had forgotten about including round items and then when I went in search of them I didn't find too much that matched - at least not like I thought I would - so, I reserve the right to add any round embellishments to my kit as I come across them! Here's what I have so far, most will work with my kits, some will not, but I am ready to use up what I can!

I am excited to work with my kit this month and I hope to get lots for pretty projects made!

Now for the rules - Since this is a just for fun challenge the rules are not set in stone BUT we have them to help you focus on what really matters using your stash & to help spread the word of our fun challenge so others may join in!!  You know you have at least one friend who needs to use her stash!! 

Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit.

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2020

Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see the kit that I put together for her. I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your stash and play along with us this month. If you do play along with us - be sure to link up below. We would love to see your kits and your projects.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Great Stash Bash - June 2020 Kit

Hello and Happy June 1st! I cannot believe that it is already June, but I am looking forward to those long lazy days of summer!

It is time for the June edition of The Great Stash Bash 2020 and I am so excited to share that Lisa and I did things a little differently this month! We each created a kit from our stash following the challenge graphic below and then I sent my kit to Lisa and she sent her kit to me and that is the kit we will be working with this month! 

For those who are new to the challenge here is how it works:

On the 1st of each month we will post a challenge prompt and the stash kit we have created following that prompt. During the month we will try to use as much of our stash kits as possible on different projects. Then, on the last day of the month, we will do a recap post showing what stash we were able to bash!

This will be a just-for-fun challenge so no monthly prize - but isn't the real prize using up our stash? You never know - if we still have a few unused stash items after a few months, then those items may just go into a giveaway. We hope you will join us in our quest to bash some stash in 2020. If you accept the challenge to play along - link up on either my blog or Lisa's blog (or both if you choose) so that we can see who is joining us each month!

Here is June's challenge:

Along with creating a kit of 10 papers (7 papers that are 3 years or older and 3 newer papers), 5-7 scrap papers, four embellishments (3 that are 3 years or older, and 1 newer embellishment), we will be concentrating on using up Alpha stickers/Thickers.

Lisa did a fantastic job putting my kit together! It was so hard to not start working on a layout right away, but I had to get photos of my kit to share with you guys!

Here's a look at the complete kit:

Lisa filled my kit with everything summer! I have so many ideas for projects...I may actually kill my kit this month!

Here is a look a the older papers - filled with all of my favorite manufacturers - Simple Stories, Echo Park, Doodlebug Designs, and Close To My Heart. More than likely this is the side that I will use, but the "back" side of each paper is so pretty, I might change my mind!

Here is the "back" side of the papers above:

Here is a look at the "older" part of my kit - embellishments included:

Lisa sent me the Simple Stories - Hello Summer - 12x12 sticker sheet, enamel shapes, wood veneer, and flair pieces. I cannot wait to use those wood pieces and flair pieces!

Here are the papers she included in the "new" portion of the kit - papers from Jillibean Soup, Close To My Heart, and Carta Bella:

I know I will be fussy cutting some of those framed pieces for embellishments!

Here's a look at the "back" side of the above papers. It's hard to tell in the photo, but the middle paper is white with baby pink x's all over it:

Here is the "new" kit - complete with "new" embellishment - summer die cut pieces from Photo Play:

I was bad and totally forgot to include any scraps in the kit that I sent to Lisa, but she assured me she had plenty to put in there for me...

Here are the scraps that Lisa included in my kit:

Since we are concentrating on using up alpha stickers/Thickers - here is what Lisa sent to me:

I don't have an overabundance of alpha stickers - or maybe I should say of Thickers - I tend to use my dies or stamps more for my titles. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of alpha stickers - 2 containers that are full, in fact - it's just the majority are not Thickers, so I was happy to get these fun colors of Thickers - and the Bella Blvd alphas are some of my favorites!

I am so excited to start using up my kit!

Now for the rules - Since this is a just for fun challenge the rules are not set in stone BUT we have them to help you focus on what really matters using your stash & to help spread the word of our fun challenge so others may join in!!  You know you have at least one friend who needs to use her stash!! 

Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit.

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2020

Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see the kit that I put together for her. I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your stash and play along with us this month. If you do play along with us - be sure to link up below. We would love to see your kits and your projects.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Great Stash Bash May Kit

Hello again! I am back with my third post of the day. If you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap reveal or the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog hop, please scroll on down. 

It's time for the May edition of The Great Stash Bash 2020!

For those who are new to the challenge here is how it works:

On the 1st of each month we will post a challenge prompt and the stash kit we have created following that prompt. During the month we will try to use as much of our stash kits as possible on different projects. Then, on the last day of the month, we will do a recap post showing what stash we were able to bash!

This will be a just-for-fun challenge so no monthly prize - but isn't the real prize using up our stash? You never know - if we still have a few unused stash items after a few months, then those items may just go into a giveaway. We hope you will join us in our quest to bash some stash in 2020. If you accept the challenge to play along - link up on either my blog or Lisa's blog (or both if you choose) so that we can see who is joining us each month!

Here is the May challenge:

This month we will be creating a kit with 10 papers (7 papers that are 3 years or older and 3 newer papers), 5-7 scrap papers, four embellishments (3 that are 3 years or older and 1 newer embellishment), and this month we will concentrate on using flowers on our projects.

Here is my May stash bash kit:

I have picked papers from an older Carta Bella line - Hello Again - for my older papers and embellishments. Here are the papers and embellishments that I have chosen:

I have always loved this collection and I'm not sure why I haven't pulled it out to use it before now! For my older embellishments, I have picked the 12x12 coordinating sticker sheet, my box of wood veneer pieces, and a die cut pack from KaiserCraft. I'm not sure if it is older than 3 years but the colors in it match perfectly.

Here is a look at my new papers:

These papers are from the I Am Mom collection from Echo Park. I had a hard time narrowing down which papers I wanted to use from this collection, but I finally settled on a small floral, a tone on tone graphic print, and a stripe. The "B" sides on the floral and the tone on tone paper may show up in a layout, too! For my new embellishment, I chose the coordinating 12x12 sticker sheet. 

Here is a look at the scraps I picked. They will mostly go with my "new" papers, but the navy and turquoise/mint will go with both.

And since we are concentrating on using up our flowers this month, I pulled a few packages to see if I can use some of them:

When it comes to using flowers for a challenge I always think - I don't have many flowers to choose from...well, once I started pulling all of these packages I think I can put that thought right out of my mind! And these aren't even all that I have! There's still more sitting in a drawer just waiting to be used! Not all of these will go with the papers I have chosen, but quite a few of them will so let's see if I can get some of these used up this month!

Since this is a just for fun challenge the rules are not set in stone BUT we have them to help you focus on what really matters using your stash & to help spread the word of our fun challenge so others may join in!!  You know you have at least one friend who needs to use her stash!! 

Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit.

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2020

Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see the beautiful kit that she put together, too. I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your stash and play along with us this month. If you do play along with us - be sure to link up below. We would love to see your kits and your projects.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Great Stash Bash Kit - March

Hello, hello! I am back with my third post of the day.

It's time for the March edition of The Great Stash Bash 2020! For February I got three layouts made with my kit before the end of the month. I will remember to share those (and January's layouts that I forgot to share last month) with you on Friday, and what I had left of my February kit and if I have any plans to do anything more with it. 

For those who are new to the challenge here is how it works:

On the 1st of each month we will post a challenge prompt and the stash kit we have created following that prompt. During the month we will try to use as much of our stash kits as possible on different projects. Then, on the last day of the month, we will do a recap post showing what stash we were able to bash!

This will be a just-for-fun challenge so no monthly prize - but isn't the real prize using up our stash? You never know - if we still have a few unused stash items after a few months, then those items may just go into a giveaway. We hope you will join us in our quest to bash some stash in 2020. If you accept the challenge to play along - link up on either my blog or Lisa's blog (or both if you choose) so that we can see who is joining us each month!

Here is the March challenge:

This month we will be creating a kit with 10 papers (7 papers that are 3 years or older and 3 newer papers, 5-7 scrap papers, four embellishments (3 that are 3 years or older and 1 newer embellishment), and this month we will concentrate on using some stamps on your projects.

Since this is a just for fun challenge the rules are not set in stone BUT we have them to help you focus on what really matters using your stash & to help spread the word of our fun challenge so others may join in!!  You know you have at least one friend who needs to use her stash!! 

Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit.

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2020

Here is the kit that I have put together for March:

So, I am changing up things again this month and my older items do not coordinate with my newer items, but I've got layouts already planned out for both and hope to see more of my kit gone by the end of the month.

Here's a look at the older items in my kit:

I came across some old Basic Grey Olivia papers in my stash a couple of weeks ago and I pulled them for my stash bash kit. I loved this collection when it came out and these few papers are all I have left of it, so I had to get creative when it came time to look for embellishments. I have nine papers instead of seven, but I really wanted to add in some of the green and navy that were in some of the patterned papers. I even pulled an extra embellishment, too. I went with some wood veneer from Elle's Studio, chipboard and buttons from My Mind's Eye, a sticker sheet from Jillibean Soup, and a few brads that I have no idea where they are from! Not everything in my embellishments matches my papers, but I am going to try really hard to use what does!

Here are my newer papers and embellishments:

These papers are from PhotoPlay's Tulla & Norbert collection and I think they are just stinkin' cute! I have one extra patterned paper and an extra embellishment in this part of my kit, too. This is all I have of this collection and I want to get it used up!

Here are the scraps that I have pulled:

The scraps on the left side go with the newer portion of my kit and the scraps on the right go with the older portion of my kit.

Since I'm not exactly sure what I will be creating with these papers just yet, I just pulled some stamps from Elle's Studio and a couple of sets from Close To My Heart to put in my kit. They will be perfect for titles and embellishments - especially since I am hoping to work a lot in my Traveler's Notebooks this month. They will serve as a good reminder to pull another set if I need it.

I am so excited to get to work with this kit and I have high hopes of getting more than three layouts done - although for February that was three more layouts that I got done and more older product used, so it was still a win in my book! Maybe, just maybe, by the time the end of the year rolls around, I will actually be using all of my kits each month!

I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your stash and play along with us this month. If you do play along with us - be sure to link up below. We would love to see your kits and your projects.

A big thank you to Willa for linking up her layout here on my blog and for sharing her kit and projects over on Instagram! We love seeing your creations!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter