Hi friends, thanks so much for coming by.  I’m working with the January Hip Kits today.  My Design Team challenge was to include border punches. So rather than just paper backing the cut file, I filled it with scalloped borders.

I started with this cut file by Kim Watson, available soon to HKC subscribers in the February Cut File menu.  I cut it out twice, gluing each together to make a thicker cut file. I like the extra depth this adds.

I also cut out  each backing letter from spare cardstock. I taped and layered the half inch border strips onto another piece of cardstock until it measured 5′ x 12″.  I traced the L, V and E onto it and hand cut them out . For the letter O, I laid the strips directly on the O and trimmed out the center as I went along.

My title, made with the Mini Puffy Alphas, fit neatly around the finished O. Flowers from the Floral Ephemera pack along with a white one I made with the Fancy Die Set makes it extra pretty.

Each letter was popped up with 3d foam tape over a white offset that was hand stitched with white DMC floss. Then, that too was popped up with 3d foam tape over my stenciled background.

I used one of the stencils from the January Color Kit and three Catherine Pooler inks from previous kits. A soft touch insured the faded look I was going for.

I also embellished the letter V so that my design starts at the bottom left, taking your eyes to the top right. The photos are from our travels, including Venice, Paris and Muir Forest in California, hence my title, ‘love is all around’.

Finally, white splatter, sequins and dabs of paint! Done and Done.

I usually end my post by saying, “see you again soon”.  But this is my last project for the Hip Kit Club. Instead, I want to thank you for cheering me on and wish you many happy scrappy days ahead. I hope some of my projects gave you ideas for your own gorgeous designs.

Cheers dears !