Thankful....

 It seems like it was yesterday I was confessing about my obsession over House Mouse stamps and now we are on to thinking about Leaves which is the new challenge at Shopping Our Stash. Fall colours and pumpkin spice are not any of my favourite things but it had to be done which is why it's called a challenge. I'm Leaf-ing it up to you for the next two weeks to join in the fun.

Pictures do not do the colours of the leaves justice they are far more red/orange than the picture shows. First I made the inky paper, you can check my tutorial Here, I die cut many leaves from a Impression Obsesssion set of 5 leaves. i popped the maple leaves up on the die cut wreath which was flat attached on the Darice autumn embossing folder. I added the small Thankful die cut. (all dies are at least 3 years old and the EF much older, it was time to dust it off and give it some love.

Close up to show the colours and how beautiful my old cuttlebug embosses.

Finished the inside with some oak leaves and a very elderly sentiment. 

Thanks for stopping by today and head over to the Main Blog and check out what the rest of the design team have created. I  hope to see your Leafy creations in our gallery.

 

A is for Autumn

 A new month and a new challenge at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. check out what Edna has been up to for September.

The obvious for the challenge would be fall leaves in an array of reds oranges and yellow but I took a different approach to Autumn so check it out.

It's an Anti-Pumpkin Spice card!! The look on the snarky cat's face says it all. I coloured and fussy cut the cat and pumpkin, blended a fall sky. The pumpkin is popped up as is the head of the cat. I then added the die cut sentiment. 

Had to add a close up of his face.

Close up of the computer generated sentiment.

Thanks for checking my blog today and don't forget to check out the MAIN BLOG to see what my teamies have made, then dig out your Autumn supplies, make a project and add it to our Gallery, You have until the last Friday of September to enter, you just might get voted the Queen of Snark.

Challenge #118 at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers is ~~~ L is for Leaves

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers new challenge is L is for Leaves it's an easy peasy one, we want to see a Leaf or leaves on your project.  I can't believe it's September already, school is back in and thanks mother nature for giving us a reprieve from the humidity here in SWO.

I used my favourite stamps House Mouse Designs, I don't make a lot of autumn cards but I really wanted to use a embossing folder that is all leaves. I started with some colourburst is greens, gold, and yellows with the odd splash of magenta, then I embossed it with the leaves folder. I coloured with alcohol markers and fussy cut it out, then I realized how close in colour it almost disappears into the pile of leaves.

Close up of the happy mouse.

Finished inside.

Thanks for stopping by today, don't forget to head over to the Main Blog and see what leaf projects the rest of the design team have made.

It's a Colour Palette at Shopping Our Stash!!!

I can't believe it's November already, here in Canada we went back to Standard time and it sure plays havoc with my sleep and eating patterns but I'll survive. At Shopping Our Stash for Challenge #328 it's an Autumn colour palette and here it is.....

Gorgeous colours

I went completely out of my comfort zone for this one which is why it took me forever. First some coaching from the Colorburst Queen aka Lauren and some casing of one of her cards when placing and gluing the leaves then what to do with that brown ribbon? I made a rosette, it doesn't look too bad.

As you see I used an old dictionary and colorburst, my first attempt (I need more practice) The leaves are a set of 4 leaves. Thanks is an unbranded die I've had for a long while and never used. 

Since I am not sure of the recipient I just finished the inside with the leftover leaves. they look pretty good for the colour palette if I say so myself.

Everything on my card was from the scrap box except the dictionary pages, the leaves were cut with Cuttlebug leaves dies that came 4 in a package and are metal an foam I have had them as long as my cuttlebug over 15 years.

I'm entering this in:

Hiding in my Craftroom ~~ #325  Fall colours

Just Us Girls ~~ Word week Thankful

Thanks for spending time here today and the colour palette is beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing your projects. Head over to the Main Blog and check out what the rest of the design team has made for the challenge

The Theme is Autumn and the Stash is Leaves/foliage at Clear it Out Tuesday.

Clear it Out Tuesday's challenge is Autumn and this past weekend it sure has fall in the air, we went from hot to cold in a few hours, we put the heaters on at the cottage and the cat slept IN the bed with us. It's looking like it will get warmer the rest of the week. The sponsor for our Autumn challenge is Dr. Digi's House of Stamps.  Since the theme is Autumn the stash is leaves/foliage.  I sure wasn't thinking on Friday when I left the house, I had a sentiment picked out but couldn't find it when I got to the cottage. I also didn't think about the leaves part either, although I do have some leaf stamps and dies I didn't have them with me, I couldn't find much in small foliage so I bought some Autumn paper napkins and glued the leaves and acorns to some white cardstock scraps and fussy cut them. I really have to be good at improvising these days. On with my card.

 Sorry for the terrible picture, it was rather difficult to photograph this while it is closed, It is a Stair Step fold. I saw a Halloween one on High Hopes Blog and just had to try it. Next one I make I will either cut the base 10.5 or the full 11 inches as it doesn't stand up as straight as I would like it as you will see in the next picture.

The patterned paper is from a fall bo bunny pad, The butterfly dome is from a package I have had for 2 years and never opened it. The three brown dots on the left I made with perler beads, they are smaller than the pony beads. 

check out that super cute butterfly "button"

I would like to enter this in 

Melonbeadz Friends  Try something new challenge (stair step card)

Thanks for stopping by to visit today and have an awesome week.

Meljen’s Facebook Group Weekend challenge……

There was a freebie on Meljen’s facebook group to use for a challenge this weekend, it was adorable so I coloured the cute scarecrow up, looks more like a scarecrow turkey so that is how I coloured him. I used so many scraps up. The scalloped mat was cut and the outside piece used on the inside for the sentiment. the acorn paper was leftover from another challenge, the butterfly was a miss-cut from a project, all I had to do was fussy cut it close. Even the mat behind the acorns is just two narrow strips off the green I used inside.

Stuff I used  for the card was  Kraft from recollections, Wild wasabi green, pumpkin pie for the pumpkin embossed layer and Bo bunny scrap of patterned paper, The butterfly was a left over from making 75 teabag holders for our TOPS Rally November 1st. The sketch was  Jessi’s sketch from Tuesday Sketches but it had closed by the time I finished the card.

Close up of the super cute scarecrow turkey

The beautiful Hero Arts butterfly, wish you could see the simmer spritzed on it, it just sparkles.

Finished inside of the card, the sentiment is from a Quatros set from Hero Arts, one of the first sets I bought. There is 4 stamps in the set one for Spring, Summer Autumn and Winter. (you will see it soon)
I would like to enter this in a few challenges.
Meljen’s Designs Bright Autumn colours
Hiding in my Craft Room Super Scraps Saturday  #173
Thanks for stopping by to have a peek today and hope your weekend was fabulous.

Shopping Our Stash #176~~Leaf Me Alone

Looking for my Clear it Out Tuesday post scroll down or click HERE

Okay I did it again!!! I shut the computer down early last night and went to bed early too. Shock to wake up and find my card didn’t post and imagine my surprise when I found out I never did the post.

Shopping Our Stash has an new challenge Leaf Me Alone (alternate un-be-LEAF-able) Use leaves on your project. this one is easy peasy, you can use some leftovers from your Thanksgiving and Halloween project. I used some vellum leaves I bought at a yard sale. The card I made was very easy and is “SHOCK” very CAS for me. Have a look….

I made my own background, I saw a technique and thought I want to try that unfortunately I could not find it again so I have no idea who’s blog this was on. I cut two pieces of shiny cardstock and put one under a extra large zip lock bag just to use as a template for where I would scribble with my alcohol markers, when you have covered the bag covered template you spritz it with rubbing alcohol then put the second shiny cardstock piece down on it, you can go back and dot it on the plastic bag if there is a spot you think needs more, even spritz again. The bag wipes off with a paper towel and you can save it to use again. Burlap, leaves and a rub-on sentiment from SU that is at least 5 years old.

close up of the leaves

close up of the sentiment and the background

Couldn’t decide what sentiment to use on the inside but  it’s ready when I figure out one. I quite often use computer generated verses for these type of cards.

I would like to enter this in:
Hiding in My Craft Room Fall colours

Thanks for stopping by and have an “un-be-LEAF-able day!!!

Anything Goes with Fall Colours Challenge…week 2

Challenge #98 at The Cheerful Stamp Pad continues, the weather is getting cooler here and our leaves on on their last days of being beautiful so we would like to see some beautiful fall colours in your projects. My Heart Pieces at Stitchy Bear outlet is the sponsor for the challenge.  The outlet has been fabulous giving the design team images to play with, so don’t forget to have a look at what they have to offer. For the second week I have made another tag with cute sunflowers in a pot, they have sweet faces as done the cute bee.

Again I coloured with alcohol markers, A friend gave me a few cut tags (mine makes smaller tags) so I used one as a base for my image, added some fibres and a  “For You”  tag.
Thanks for joining me here today and have a marvellous  week.

Challenge #98 Anything Goes….With Fall Colours!!!

The first week of challenge #98 at The Cheerful Stamp Pad is a favourite type challenge but this one is with a twist, it’s anything goes but with Fall colours, those nice rich reds, yellows, oranges and a bit of brown and green thrown in. The sponsor for this challenge is My Heart Pieces at Stitchy Bear digital outlet. I decided to make a gift tag which would be perfect for a holiday visit gift of a bottle of wine. Have a look to see what I’ve done for the challenge.

I had a purchased tag on my table and used it for a base for the image, I shortened it and rounded the bottom corners. Added a reinforcement I found in the stationary drawer. The image was coloured with a combination of alcohol markers and I added some rhinestones.  My brown marker was running out, but I like the look of the barrel.
Thanks for stopping by today and stop over at the blog and check out what the rest of the design team has made with their images.

Thanksgiving and a bit of Twine…..

This past weekend we had our Canadian Thanksgiving and Clear it Out Tuesday would like to see some Thanksgiving projects and the stash item you must use is TWINE. The sponsor for the challenge is Stamp Art by Kathryne.  I don’t usually send Thanksgiving cards but I do have a lot of Fall birthdays to give cards for. I chose a cute scarecrow scene for my card.

I found a 5 1/2 inch square card base in my pile of bases and decided to use it for this card, I thought the image just needed to be on a square base. The patterned paper is from Bo Bunny, I used a Spellbinders die to cut and emboss the image. I think it is Labels 2. The cardstock I used for the pumpkin strip is Old Olive. the images was coloured with spectrum noir and copics.

Close up of the twine I used and the pumpkin embossing folder.

As I said earlier this will probably be a Birthday card for one of the Fall birthdays so the inside is only semi-finished.
I’m glad you stopped by today  and have a fabulous day!!

It’ s Monday and Time for a New Challenge at The Cheerful Stamp Pad.

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends and followers and Happy Columbus Day to my American friends and followers and to all others Just have a fabulous Monday!!!
The Cheerful Stamp Pad is offering a Guest Design Team position for the winner of the Fall Leaves Challenge, it’s a great chance to “test the waters” of being on a design team, so get your fall colours together and paint us a fabulous project. I wanted to do a new type fold, I think I have made one before but it is super easy and looks really neat. Here is what I came up with.

This is the card when it is folded for mailing. I used a sweet house mouse gliding to the ground on a leaf. The patterned paper is from Bo Bunny and the rust dots are metal dots I bought at Joann’s about 5 years ago. How I love to hoard cute things I might not be able to buy again.

This is how the card stand up, although I don’t have a sentiment on it yet it will be the same size as the front image. I have a few Fall birthdays coming and this will come in handy.

I hope you can see how the Z fold works. It is a 4 1/4 X 11 piece of cardstock scored at 2 3/4 and 5 1/2 the rest is up to you.

Closer look at the  metal dots and the super cute patterned paper.

I would like to enter this in the Gruffies and Guests Halloween colour challnge


Now it’s your turn to show is your Fall Leaves, head over to the  Cheerful Stamp Pad challenge Blog and see what the rest of the design team has for your inspiration.
Thanks for looking today and have a great Fall Day!!!

Fall is here….Challenge #172 at Shopping Our Stash is The Most Colourful Time of the Year.

Looking for my Clear it Out post scroll down or click HERE.
Whether we want it or not Fall is here and here in SWO the trees are changing colours although we have not had a frost yet. We have had a lot of rain in the past 4 days, the old Indian says When the ponds are full Winter will come.
At Shopping our Stash we want to see your fall colours so head on over there, check out the rules and see what the design team has made for your inspiration.

I haven’t used my House Mouse stamps in a little while and this one just wanted out of the box. I made an easel card, they are very easy to make and go together quite fast.

Here is the card closed for mailing. I stamped the image twice so I could pop the little rodent up and three of the leaves.

Close up of the image

Here is a close look at the paper and the button.

Stamp Turning over a new Leaf from House Mouse Designs

Patterned paper from Bo Bunny Autumn pack

Cardstock: More Mustard, Really Rust and GP white.

Spellbinders Labels two dies

Button and baker’s twine from my stash.

coloured with copics

Challenges I would like to enter this in:

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned paper challenge for October

Simon says Stamp Monday challenge Falling in love with Autumn and falling leaves and House Mouse Stamps.

House Mouse & Friends Monday challenge Buttons and bows (I used a large button and baker’s twine bow.

Thanks for stopping by today and we would like to see your fall colours, you have until next Monday evening to enter.

Fall is here!!!

Almost the end of September where has our summer gone? I like the Fall, daytime temperature in SWO is 20 C and the night temperature is usually 6 to 9 degrees Celsius nice and cool for sleeping.. I haven’t put the furnace on at home yet but the cottage is a lot colder due to it being a “summer” cottage. It would be winterized but it’s nice to have a change for the Winter.
I follow House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog and love to make cards with my favourite rodents so try to do as many as I can, some weeks it just doesn’t work out for me, that being said it’s been  three in a row….Wow.

The challenge at House Mouse & Friends is Monochrome…..I love doing monochromatic cards, they are so easy just find shades of the same colour. I was working on this image for a fall birthday and when the challenge was posted  I thought “perfect” I addend the small flowers for fun. There was a Sunflower challenge and I didn’t bookmark it but I am sure it is over. 

Supplies

Image Sleeping in the sunflower House Mouse Designs 

Dies….SU Apothecary set and Sizzix Flower die.

Cardstock…GP white Crushed Curry, SU dsp and Early expresso for the flower centers.

Accessories…a touch of stickles and ribbon.

I am entering this in the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge there is still time for you to enter it doesn’t end until October 5, midnight EST.

Thanks for visiting today and come back again soon.

Happy Crafting

Barbara

Autumn Leaves…….with my House Mouse friends

I saw this challenge on House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge, I knew which one of my many, many House Mouse stamps I wanted to use. I brought it to the cottage but when I was going to “create” my card I did not bring my Twinkling H20s with me so when I was home last week I packed them immediately. My idea was to paint the leaves. I hope you like my card for the challenge. You have until Saturday September 21 at midnight EST.

Wow look at the shadows I caught in the sunlight, it really looks like the leaves are floating, now wasn’t that a happy accident. I did this sketch technique at Stamp Art last year when i took a Christmas card class. the oval was cut in the “frame” with a Nellie Snellen scalloped oval die. the gold embellishment is Thin line border stickers bye Dazzles. Now you say what did you do with the “cut out” piece, I will show you.

 

Waste not want not.

Supplies I used

Image turning over a new leaf with Monica (house mouse designs)

Cardstock…Really Rust, GP white

patterned paper from a DCWV Asian stack pad.

Sentiment from The Stamp Barn although the business has been sold you can still get images from The Frogs Whiskers which is still in Ontario, Canada.

Accessories…thin line border stickers, Nellie Snellen scalloped oval die and Twinkling H20s.

Thanks for looking today, you are welcome to stop by anytime.

Happy Crafting!!

Barbara

Drunken Stampers Challenge #137`~~~ Twine

The second challenge for team Yellow Canary…woohoo, the theme for this challenge is Thing……Twine, string or hemp.  Head over to the Drunken Stampers Challenge Blog to check out what the other Yellow Canaries have done to inspire you to join us for the challenge.
I used one of my favourite stamp company stamps….House Mouse Designs. I just purchased this stamp at the Butterfly Moon, my favourite stamp store. Check them out on their Facebook Page.

I coloured the image with prisma pencil crayons and oms. It is a fairly large image so not a lot of room to design on an A2 card. I had made the sailor’s knot for another project but decided it wasn’t quite what i wanted, Upon finding it in my odds and ends box I knew it was perfect for the challenge. I punched holes beside the pot and threaded the twine through, I added another scrap of twine to the button.
supplies
Stamp…..The Thinker featuring Amanda
Cardstock…..Crumb Cake, Old Olive, GP white
Patterned paper….DCWV Green Stack Pad
Accessories….button from the button jar, twine from the Dollar store
Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you take time to join us at the Drunken Stampers  for the challenge.