Fall is in the Air! (maybe?!)

Although it is still in the 90s here it is cooler than it has been, so maybe Fall IS in the air and the leaves will be turning from green to colors before too long. Of course, currently all of Florida has their eyes on Dorian and where the storm will finally make landfall, so we shall see if there are even any leaves left on the trees to turn (and not that many turn to begin with!) Your prayers for protection would be most appreciated! 

 

That transition from late Summer to full-on Fall is hopefully captured in this Stamp Simply project as one turns from the green of the card front to the colors inside. The die cut leaves and enamel dots arrangement on the card front sort of echoes the leaves and flowers in the little printed rectangle from the paper pad, although maybe the dots look a bit more like berries.

The bright Fall leaves on the inside were colored with Inktense color pencils, smoothed with a tiny bit of olive oil and a blending stump, and given faint drop shadows with a warm grey Copic marker.  I love how the Inktense pencils keep their clear clean colors even on Kraft card stock.  (I think this simple design would make a pretty card front on its own, perfect for mailing).

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Harvest
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Welcome Fall
• Echo Park My Favorite Fall 6x6
• Spellbinders Die - Foliage
• Spellbinders Die - Classic Rectangles Small SM
• Spellbinders Die - Classic Rectangles Large LG
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• May Arts 5/8" Faux Canvas - Spring/Summer Sampler
• Simple Stories Enamel Dots - DIY Christmas
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
• Scrapbook Adhesives-3L 3D Self-adhesive Foam Squares - Mix

One Cup at a Time!

When life happens...coffee ALWAYS helps!  Gotta love these stamps and supplies from Stamp Simply!  Just perfect for times like these! 

Our son just moved to Tallahassee to finish his degree at Florida State University.  We were blessed to have had him here with us longer than most parents since he took a gap after high school and then lived at home while attending a local community college for his AA.  Still, it is a big change for all of us and while we are VERY proud and excited, we still miss him terribly and he's missing us and home a bit too.  I thought maybe a coffee card would help!

Here's what the easel card looks like when it's propped open.  I added some stamped coffee beans to the background paper, and just LOVE how the wood dots resemble coffee beans, too.  Mocha, Java, Latte?  With the enclosed gift card, you can take your pick!  

I added the pocket for a gift card on the back of the easel, but I've still gotta run to Starbuck's to purchase the gift card to put into it before I can get this into the mail.  The shaped medallion here is one of the punch outs from this fun Workshop paper pack.  

All of the stamped sentiments on this card were stamped once with copper ink, then again with black.  That seemed to soften the contrast just a tiny bit so that the black did not look quite so harsh.

Supplies:

• Kaisercraft Workshop - 6.5x6.5
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - A Cup of Java (Coffee)
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Coffee or Tea?
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa
• Spellbinders Die - Standard Circles Small SM
• Spellbinders Die - Standard Circles Large LG
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• My Mind's Eye Wood Dots - Necessities Wood
• May Arts Burlap String - 10 yard Bundle
• Scrapbook Adhesives-3L 3D Self-adhesive Foam Squares - Mix

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice!

Sometimes cards are inspired by unexpected things and today's Stamp Simply card was just that!  We were traveling last week to visit my husband's family in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and on Saturday, my sisters-in-law and I went to the Farmer's Market. Afterward we decided to stop for a cup of coffee in Organic Grounds Coffeehouse.  This turned out to be a BIG bonus for me, because everything they serve there is gluten-free.  I went gluten-free in January of 2013, and in the past it's been quite challenging to find gluten-free food in a primarily Italian, pasta-everywhere town, but over the years it has gotten easier and this year was the best ever.  I loaded up on GF cookies, muffins, and tarts while I was there.  Yup, I treated myself, because...vacation!

Besides the coffee and food, I loved the decor and atmosphere in Organic Grounds Coffeehouse and that's where the inspiration for today's project came from!  Look at how cute and clever this wall is!  After returning home and finding this bicycle paper in the package of beautiful papers that Sharon sent me, I was inspired!  (And yes, there was a delicious gluten-free pecan pumpkin muffin in the bag of goodies I had purchased).  

I used our coffee mug die cut to cut a mug from one of the printed rectangles and two other printed papers from the paper pack, embellishing it with a Copic-colored trio of acorns fussy-cut from the leaf/acorn image in our Give Thanks stamp set.  

The inside is the pumpkin from our Welcome Fall set.  I love this image!  Here it is stamped and colored directly on the inside panel of card stock, but there are dies to match so it could be diecut and popped up on dimensionals if preferred.

Supplies:

• Echo Park My Favorite Fall 6x6
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - A Cup of Java (Coffee)
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Welcome Fall
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Give Thanks
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• Zig Wink of Stella Brush - Clear Glitter Marker
• May Arts 5/8" Reversible Satin - Rust/Gold - 3 yd Bundle
• May Arts Burlap String - 10 yard Bundle
• Scrapbook Adhesives-3L 3D Self-adhesive Foam Squares - Mix
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
• Copic markers
• gold glitter gel marker
• button from stash

If you haven't visited the Stamp Simply online store lately, you should!  Sharon just added a lot of new designer paper, and I can personally attest that you NEED some!  It is all so scrumptious!

As You Recuperate!

Hi everybody!  Happy Thursday!  

Today's Stamp Simply project is a feminine get well card using the center step card tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  I love re-visiting their tutorials...there are so many fun folds and cool project ideas there.  

One glance at this Kaisercraft Greenhouse designer paper took me back to my mother's small greenhouse where I had a special collection of cacti and succulents among her bromeliads, orchids and ferns.  It always amazes me how one image can bring back a flood of memories!

This dainty floral really caught my eye.  I used a subtle contrasting design on the "steps" that frame the raised panel, popped the matted floral up on dimensional foam to make the larger panel even more the center of attention, and as always, tried to stage the various elements of the layout in a visual triangle.  

A relatively clean, simple, uncluttered, and very girlie card for a friend who's recovering from surgery.   

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Floral Cluster Summer Roses
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• Kaisercraft Greenhouse 6.5x6.5
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Farmhouse Pierced Nested Hearts
• 1.25" Variegated Silk Ribbon by May Arts - 3 yd Bundle
• Petaloo Botanica Minis - Pink
• Pearls - Ice Green
• Scrapbook Adhesives-3L 3D Self-adhesive Foam Squares - Mix
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Count Your Blessings!

Today's Stamp Simply card came from a serendipitous moment with a pad of Authentique designer paper...flipping through the pad, the floral against the woodgrain reminded me of a printed cloth atop a rustic table.  All it needed was a hot beverage and a prayer of thanks for it!  I don't know about you, but I'm not worth much before I've had my morning cup of tea or coffee!  Sometimes it takes several!  

This time of year is always a bit of a flurry with Summer coming to a close and everything gearing up for Fall.  It is easy to be swept away in the stress of it all, so it's nice to have a reminder to count your blessings.  

I love these sentiments because they are as perfect for every day as they are for Thanksgiving.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Combo/Stamp/Die Autumn Blessings
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - A Cup of Java (Coffee)
• Spellbinders Die - Classic Ovals Small SM
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa
• Distress Oxide Inks
• Authentique Pleasant 6x6
• May Arts Twisted Burlap String - Full Spool
• Simple Stories Enamel Dots - DIY Christmas
• My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots - Necessities Blues
• gold gel pen
• Scrapbook Adhesives-3L 3D Self-adhesive Foam Squares - Mix
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue