Fall Fun Blog Hop

A Labor Day Blog Hop -- How fun!!!

Welcome to the Fall Fun Blog Hop! A group of online friends, led by the fabby Ms Lydia, decided this would be a GREAT time to get inky together, and so we've put together a fall themed blog hop to inspire you as the autumn approaches. As you meet our stampy bloggers today, you may discover that some have goodies for you, so be sure and visit everyone on the list. We have hoppers from all over the globe today, and they are amazing artists. Thanks for visiting us - grab yourself a nice fall beverage and enjoy! Here is the full list of our blog hoppers today:

Lydia Fiedler

Libby Hickson

Kim Williams

Michelle Single

Lee Murphy

Sara Henton

Yapha Mason

Lisa Adametz

Jimmi Mayo

Jeanne Streiff

Bev Gerard  

Dana Keith

Joan Ervin

Maren Benedict

Teresa Kline:ME

Hannah Clark

Dina Kowal

Wanda Cullen

Korin Sutherland

Taylor Usry

Monika Davis

Harriet Skelly

Kim Schofield

Cathy McCauley

Mary Marsh

Julia Aston

Bridget Finlay

Alison Habetler

Leslie Hanna

Sue Farrant

Michelle Hanway

Misti Oblander

Judy Rozema

Jenna Barber

Tammy Hershberger

Eva Dobilas

Kerri Michaud

Cheryl Navarrete

Neva McMullen

Marianne Baugher

Samantha

Cindy Wallach

Now on to a little inspiration....  Today, I decided to go with, what I consider, a non-traditional Fall color scheme. I usually reserve blues for winter, but I saw this gorgeous DCWV paper and was inspired!! I combined this with a new to me fold that I found on Splitcoaststampers. It is called the Joy Fold. This was a lot of fun - so thanks for the tutorial Beate! 

The little bit of brown paper peeking out is actually some divine SEI Velvet paper... The stamping is actually direct to rubber using my Copics (B95, B99).  I colored directly onto the stamp and then spritzed a little rubbing alcohol on the stamp... I kind of like the result.  It looks distressed.   You can see in the close-ups that I stamped a leaf on the leaf die cut and sunflowers under the sentiment.

I also added some of the sunflowers on the inside of the second flap. They are in the lower right corner.. so there is still room for a handwritten message.   

Speaking of autumn/fall... I am soooo happy that Pumpkin Spice is back at Starbucks :-)  I always feel that life is just a bit better with a Venti 2 1/2 pumps Pumpkin Xtra Hot Chai Latte..  I know say that 3 times fast....  so what are your favorite fall treats?  Leave me a comment on this post, by 8pm Mountain Time on Wednesday Sept 7th, with your favorite fall treat and you will be entered to win a $10 gift certificate to one of my favorite stores... Paper and Such!  I will do a random drawing and announce the winner on Thursday morning!

Thanks so much for stopping by and make sure that you continue on to the great projects that await you on Leslie's blog! 

May Winter come soon!

I've been cranking out some cards.. it's meant some late nights, but it's fun!!! Granted, since I've actually been creating, I've forgotten to update the blog... I know... strange...

This is a card I made for some of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges on SCS. This card actually covers 4 different challenges. My little snowman is covered in Polar White Flower soft. The snow man himself is 11 separate pieces (I think). It's one of the Cut and emboss folders from provocraft... let me tell you.. I have never been so happy for the quickie glue pen.. It was perfect for those teeny tiny pieces. His eyes are pearls, nose is twinkles, mouth is rhinestones. His hat , arms and pipe are colored with Copic Spica pens.

I was really scared of trying to make a center-step card that I found on SCS, but it was easier than it looked and it's such a fun little fold. I'll have to re-use this one for sure!

Thanks for stopping by!!




Recipe:
Stamps: SU Sentiment, CHF Trees BG
Paper: Pure Luxury In the Navy, Silver linen, Moonlit Fog, Layering White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog
Accessories: Snowflakes EF, buttons, Spellbinders - Fancy Tag, Lacey Circles, Standard Circles; Provocraft Snowman Cut and Emboss, Flower soft, Smooch Spritz, Silver ribbon, Blue Silk ribbon, Black Pearls, Red Rhinestones, Orange twinkles, Copic Spica Black and Chocol
Techniques: center-step card

Butterflies

Hi there!! I am enojoying a rare couple of hours at home in silence! YAY! so I was able to break out the paper and make a card! This card today is a quadruple challenge card. Lucky for me, these 4 challenges all fed the inspiration :-)

There is no stamping on this card. I used the sketch from Card Patterns

This was a fun sketch. When I first saw it, I struggled to think what in the world I could do so I started glancing at some other challenges. The inspiration challenge on SCS today was to use the Posh Vintage site as inspiration. As I glanced through the site I happened upon this dress with a beaded waist panel. The beaded waist immediately made me think of the 4 lower panels on the sketch! VOILA!! The panels on the sketch are squares of card stock interspersed with pearls to recreate the beaded feel of the waistband of the dress.

As I continued my searches.. I came across the Just Us Girls technique challenge for this week.

The challenge is to make a card incorporating a cardstock button. How cute is that?? Buttons... dresses... bingo! another match. Last is the matter of color. I know that I want something monochromatic since the dress is mostly beige and gold. Our Creative Corner provided that inspiration... It's a White PARTY!! Perfect.

And that is how my card today came together. I was able to break out my newly ordered butterfly dies from Taylored Expressions and use some of this fun lattice ribbon that was a gift from a friend. All in all, it's been a lovely hour and half! :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

Stamps: None

Paper: Pure Luxury White (heavy and layer weight), Mother of Pearl; White Glittered Paper (Archivers)

Ink: None

Accessories: Ribbon, butterfly dies, white pearls, standard circle nestabilities

Snow Bear

Happy Wednesday everyone! This weekend I worked on some cards for the troops. Over on SCS, the WRAK group had a card roundup. They provide 12 challenges, we get to make the cards and then we forward them to OWH (Operation Write Home). This is a great organization. They send blank handmade cards overseas so that our troops have some fun cards to send home to their families.

The 9th Challenge was to use a new technique, Embossed Foil. This was a lot of fun. I will have to say, although I did add some ink to mine, I thought it looked really good with just the foil!



I also got the chance to use the stamp I won from the Copic Challenge forum party. It is adorable, isn't it? I just love bears! Because I wasn't really thinking when I made this card, I added flower soft to the hat and the snow. I'm not sure that this will be considered like glitter and not allowed or if it's ok. It does add a nice bit of texture. I will re-make the card without the flower soft before I send it off. Anyway, I hope this card will brighten someone's day.

Recipe:
Stamps: Bear and Robin (stampavie)
Paper: In the Navy, White (Gina K)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Night of Navy Craft (SU)
Accessories: Satin Ribbon, Bow Easy, Copics, dimensionals, Heavy Duty tin foil, Snowflakes EF, Clear Emboss powder, Polar White flower soft

Another Frame

This is another altered frame from Michaels. I covered it with Bayou Blue DSP from SU. The edge of the frame is covered with some yummy ribbon from Pinkhedgehog. I used Rhinstones from Limelight to add a little bling. The Irish blessing is one of my favorites. I stamped it in black on the glossy white paper which was treated with a polished stone or polished marble technique.

Thanks for visiting.

Recipe
Stamps: Irish Blessing (Impression Obsession)
Paper: Blue Bayou DSP, Glossy White
Ink: Bayou Blue, Soft Sky, Encore Metallic (reinkers), Versafine Onyx
Accessories: Sponge dauber, rubbing alcohol, Clear Rhinestones, Navy Ribbon, Fixative, dimensionals
Technique: Polished stone