Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone, and to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving! It is my sincere hope that you are enjoying your day with family and friends, and that you have a moment to count your blessings and give thanks.  I know that I'm counting mine and saying my thankful prayers.  

We are celebrating the day just the three of us, although I will be cooking enough for an army!  It's kinda hard to scale down these recipes, and we love the leftovers anyway.  (I love preparing this meal and would not miss doing it for the world, but one of the things I am thankful for is that Christmas dinner is not such a production!  😂)

I wanted today's Stamp Simply project to be something for Thanksgiving that would be easily adaptable for Christmas or any other holiday, and when I saw this Youtube tutorial on Pinterest it was just right!  Although the project looks complicated it really isn't.  It comes together quite easily and fairly quickly.  I love that the original poster included various sizes...mine is the 8 x 8 size.

We have added quite a few Fall sets to our repertoire in the last year or two, but this one is still a favorite!

These alpha-beads have been in my stash for ages and they're fun to add to a little box like this.  It really dresses up a place setting. If you don't have any little alphabet beads, you could use small alpha stamps or even a typewriter or printer to make a name tag to include.

We're grateful for you, so we're sharing another way for you to celebrate the Season of Gratitude!  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Give Thanks Bundle
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• May Arts 5/8" Twill - 30 Yard Spool - Orange
• May Arts Burlap String - 400 Yard Spool - Natural
• Copic markers
• scor tool
• glue
• dimensional adhesives

Rise & Shine, Gather Together!

 

I know a lot of you are done with Autumn and are already into Winter, but here in Florida we just had our first few chilly days, so I just had to make a Fall card for this week's Stamp Simply project.  I sat in my studio and shuffled through my stamps and papers and the inspiration led me to combine several sets with this fun G45 designer paper.  It looks like they were all made to go together!

I used die-cut copy paper masks to stamp a seasonal decor box full of farm fresh produce!  I love the look of that cute chicken...this reminds me so much of the shabby chic crates, boxes and shelves I've seen at our local flea market.  

The inside has a die-cut pitcher filled with a bouquet of wheat.  I had a jar of cute Fall buttons (?! Michaels or Joann?!) so decided to use a few to add some extra interest.

Supplies:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - All Season Decor Bundle
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Seasonal Wreaths, Fall/Winter Bundle 
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Autumn Blessings
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Farmhouse Signage
Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals LG
Graphic 45 Farmhouse - 8x8
Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
May Arts Burlap String - 400 Yard Spool - Natural
Copic markers
Distress inks and oxides
buttons from stash

Banana Split Sunday...

...and more World Card Making Day projects to finish today! Hasn't it been fun?!

Here's another Penny card for you! She just makes me smile...my 15 yo ds and I spent a couple of hours manning the Pumpkin Patch (our church youth group's fund-raiser) yesterday, and although it was hot and humid, it was so much fun! One little guy about 2 years old was pumpkin shopping for the first time, and he just ran from one palette of pumpkins to the next touching everything, all wide-eyed with wonder! So cute! There is a lot to see...we have some of the coolest pumpkins! Gnarly warty green ones, pale white smooth ones, translucent veiny-skinned ones...and of course, the typical orange ones we all associate with the arrival of Fall.

I actually took my basket of Copics with me and colored to pass the time while we were there...and the place inspired me! I wanted to try to incorporate some of the textures and colors of the Pumpkin Patch into my card, so I started with My Mind's Eye designer paper, inked all the edges, then added a piece of *stuff* I've had for years (and I do mean years!) that reminds me of hay or corn silk...I embellished with hemp-tied buttons and a raffia bow. The sentiment is from another 2RB set, Fuzzy Bears, but it works so well with Penny!

You've gotta go see all the cute things that our design team has done this week! I hope you'll play along! You might win a Penny stamp! :)

A Quiet Night

I was a little disappointed that we had only 20 or 25 Trick or Treaters come to our door, but getting to stamp one last Halloween card took a bit of the blues away! I wanted to squeeze in one more of Leigh O'Brien's Freaky Friday cards, and was able to combine it with my friend Tammy's Color Throwdown.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper using Black Stazon, then colored in the background using Lovely Lilac. For the pumpkins I layered color on using an aquapainter, first with Marigold Morning, then Only Orange, Pumpkin Pie, and Ruby Red. I embossed the Trick or Treat sentiment in black EP, tied on some ribbon and added on a couple of little tags from my left overs pile. What I ended up with is not exactly what I had in mind, but I guess the journey is as important as the destination, right?! I had a good time!

Notes:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: Watercolor paper, K & Co DP, Basic Black (SU), scrap of dark purple
Inks: Lovely Lilac, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Marigold Morning, Only Orange, VersaMark
Accessories: black EP, ribbons, fibers, buttons

I hope you are having a wonderful All Saints' Day! Come back again!

More Happy Blessings!

Let me tell you! I am counting my happy blessings this week! I have so much to be grateful for, and with November and Thanksgiving looming on the horizon, my thoughts are directed toward deliberately taking notice and thanking God for all He provides!

Today's WT challenge was to use a crackled finish somewhere on our cards. I chose to use the cracked glass technique on a card that I had started and never finished for yesterday's sketch, which was based on a design by my fellow i {heart} paper DT member, Tracy! Of course, it was a bit harder to do since I had already attached the images to their mats using dimensionals, but I tried to make it work! The mats look a little more distressed than I had envisioned, but with all the distress inking, that seems okay! I just love this set and think that this little scarecrow is so cute. The shiny crackle finish really added alot to what seemed sorta plain before. I added a watercolored and embossed leaf just to dress it up a bit.

Notes:
Stamps: Happy Blessings, Autumn Harvest
Paper: Whisper White, Really Rust, retired DP
Inks: Stazon Black, Tangerine Tango, Versamark
Accessories: Markers, sheer ribbons, clear EP

My package from i {heart} papers has not yet arrived, but some of the other artists have gotten theirs and have already started uploading gorgeous cards! Check them out! They're fabulous! I can hardly wait to get my goodies...I know they should be here soon because they've made it as far as Orange Park! I am hoping for today, but trying to be patient in case it is tomorrow!

Thank you!

I want to take time to say thank you to all of you who left comments on yesterday's post. I really appreciate all your kind words and encouragement. I am very flattered that you even visit my blog, much less take the time to comment. That I have *followers* is absolutely amazing to me! I am so grateful for your kindness!

Halloween is fast approaching and I have several stamps that have only seen ink a time or two, so I'm still stuck on Halloween cards! I wanted to be sure to make a card for Leigh's Freaky Friday challenge before the Friday deadline, and just couldn't resist another card with these jailbirds.

Notes:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, K & Co DP, unknown purple
Inks: Stazon Black, Lovely Lilac, Marigold Morning, Only Orange
Accessories: brads, purple twill

Here's my card for today's color challenge: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, and Pixie Pink.

Notes:
Stamps: Stampendous
Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss
Inks: Stazon Black, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Blender pen, felt flowers, ribbon, bling

Jail Birds!

Our Michael's just recently did a great overhaul of their stamps section, and I just couldn't resist grabbing these great jail birds! I thought they'd be the perfect image for one of Leigh O'Brien's Freaky Friday challenges. This week the challenge is to create a card using dark orange, purple, and olive with accents of black, white, or grey. You know, cards sometimes can take on a life of their own! Sometimes they're difficult, and other times they just seem to almost jump together all by themselves! THIS was a really FUN card to make. I used SC196 again because it is a great sketch to show off designer papers with a long narrow horizontal image. I am very pleased with how this card turned out. Can you tell that I just LOVE to watercolor?!

Notes:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: SU! Old Olive, Whisper White, Really Rust, unknown purple, WalMart patterned paper slab, watercolor paper
Inks: Black Stazon, SU! Basic Gray
Accessories: Markers, aquapainter, sponges, ribbon, Queen and Company brads/photo turn

I need several cards for this week, and although I have a stash I could pull from, sometimes it is just nicer to make a card for a particular person on a special occasion, so it is back to the stamp room for me! Hope you're having a great weekend! Come back soon!

Happy Blessings!

I've already told you how much I love Fall! I just couldn't wait to get this little fella from SU's current holiday mini. He is so fun to color!

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge was hosted by my friend, Silvia, who wanted us to use only one patterned paper, with eyelets and ribbon for embellishment...no punches, specialty pretties or anything! This used to be my least favorite of all the challenges, but now that I am getting a bigger collection of stamping stuff, it is sometimes refreshing to get back to basics.

Notes:
Stamps: Happy Blessings
Paper: SU! Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, MME Bohemia DP
Inks: Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, Soft Sky, Marigold Morning
Accessories: Markers, sponges, eyelets, hemp

My wish for you is that you will have many Happy Blessings now and always!

Tutu Spooky?!

While blog-browsing yesterday, I came across a fun challenge on Leigh O'Brien's blog, to make a Halloween card using a stamp that is not Halloween themed. I had JUST gotten this cute bear who had not yet seen ink, so I decided to dress him up for the occasion. He didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, but he isn't totally disastrous either.

For his tutu, I used an old piece of pink tulle that I gathered with a loose machine stitch. I inked it with elegant eggplant and basic black ink. Then I made the Trick or Treat banner in MSWord, and stamped Michael's $1 spider webs all over it with stamped off black ink. I distress-inked everything with elegant eggplant, basic black, and a bit of Tim Holtz distress ink. The little square tiles I have had for ages. Craft white webs dressed them up too.

Notes:
Stamps: SU! Under the Stars
Paper: SU! Tangerine Tango, Lavender Lace, So Saffron, Michael's DP, Wal-Mart slab
Inks: Craft White, Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: square tiles, ribbon, fibers, toothpick

I'm headed back upstairs to try my hand at Featured Stamper! Congratulations Anne! I'm so excited for you!

Hello, and Happy World Card-Making Day!

I finally decided to join the blogging world! I hope to share a bit of stamping and the stuff of life on a regular basis!

This morning was spent at a Lay Speakers' certification seminar in Starke. I could hardly wait to get home to see the WCMD challenges on SCS and head up to my stamp room to make a few cards.

My first card was inspired by the cover of Coldwater Creek's current catalog. I bought this House Mouse stamp in Louisiana during a visit to my parents'. That was quite a while ago, but this is the first time it's seen ink. I colored it using prismas and baby oil....kinda got carried away with the stickles!

The Summer Sun cardstock was still on my desk when I started the next challenge, which was to use a tree stamp...this card was made with one of the first stamps I ever purchased. I love the homespun feel of this image!

The rest of WCMD challenges will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon!

Thanks for visiting!