Autumn Leaves still falling!

Ok, ok, I get it! I have lots of friends with leaves and I have been given lots of invitations to come help rake leaves. LOL I don't think I meant to say I missed raking, I meant to say I miss jumping into them and I miss the season! And don't think I'm getting out of work, I get to mow grass all year long, sort of makes up for that lack of raking thing. So thanks for the invites, but I'll pass this year.

Actually, we're headed to Kentucky the end of October and I look forward to seeing some beautiful trees between here and there (we're driving). Now on to the cards!

I told you I made lots of these cards and so here are a few more of them! Tomorrow when I post my "last" of this club series, you will see one made a little differently, but these are just like yesterday. Again, these are the ones where I embossed the leaves completely before sponging the background.

The last two cards are photographed in two different stages. The first card I thought was finished, but then I was looking at Gretchen Barron's blog click here, she does a weekly post that shows a card in three or four levels - she call it taking it to the top. The first card is pretty, but then she adds some more to it and it's even better, then she adds even more to it and it's gorgeous. Well, I thought about this card and when I saw it on the screen I knew I had to do more - it was plain, plain plain. So, I added some buttons and it made a huge difference. This is not in anyway the magic Gretchen does with her cards, but her inspiration is really making me look at my card before I call it finished. We should all step back and try to look at our work with fresh eyes - sometimes, leaving the work space and coming back will give you just the added inspiration. Sometimes, it could be like mine - taking the photo and seeing the card big on my screen made me stop and add something! I hope you will check out Gretchen's blog - it is very inspiring. Now for my two cards! Here's card # 1-

And now here it is with three buttons - makes a big difference. It could still use some more, so don't be surprised if you see it again - as Gretchen would say - "taken to the top."

See you tomorrow. Happy Stampin'!

Autumn Leaves

Living where I do autumn leaves actually arrive in November around Thanksgiving and last through early December. They are pretty, but more yellows than the reds I group up with in Missouri. I still love the fall (we actually don't have one here) and I miss the smell of the leaves, the raking of the big piles and the jumping into the middle of them. Now actually, I don't think I would jump into the middle of them today, but I can tell you that just seeing brightly colored leaves brings back wonderful memories.

I saw a card similar to this one and new I had to make it. Check out my inspiration, Laura Lipe (click here)We actually made this card at our monthly club gatherings this month and by the time I had demoed for two different groups and made my samples I have a nice grouping to send out to my friends and famly. This is just one of many different looks, because the best part is just like real leaves each card has it's own look. I embossed the leaves on whisper white paper using soft suede and versa mark, with clear embossing powder. Colored in the leaves using a variety of stamp pads and blender pens. Covered the leaves completely using the versamark pen and embossed with clear embossing powder. We then sponged the background with three or four different inks and sponge daubers, wiping the leaves off when we were finished. The card base is Rich Razzleberry, second layer is Crushed Curry. I used Rich Razzleberry Ribbon - ribbon is polka dot, but you can flip it over and have a solid color. I stamped the cute little acorns with versamark and soft suede and colored in with blender pens, finishing by sponging the back ground. I punched them out with the 1 3/8 punch and two punches the same size with the Rich Razzlebery to add still another layer.

Like I said I have a number of these cards and will be posting them over the next few days. It sounds much more complicated than it is - so if you have this set - get out your inks and have fun! If you don't have this set and don't have a current demo, I will be happy to help you place an order - directly with me or using my online store.

Happy Stampin' - See you tomorrow.

Tasty Sweet (Trick or Treat)

Halloween will be here before we know it and I love candy corn! I know you thought I loved dressing up, carving a pumpkin, but no my attraction to Halloween is candy corn! I love it and so when I saw this set I had to have it. The bad thing is that it has increased my consumption of candy corn and it's only the middle of September - let's not think of what I may look like by the end of October. LOL

Now on to the card(s) - I am casing a card that I got while attending regionals last year in San Antonio, made by Tameria Lindley. I've held on to the card because I thought it was so well done. I've done two versions - one with candy corn and and one with the stamp that looks like hard candy, wrapped in cellophane. I love both cards - hope you do to. I used Basic Black, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Only Orange and Whisper White. I colored the candies with markers and the Trick or Treat with Basic Black.

It's not to early to start your cards, pull out your paper and stamps and have fun. It will help if you surround yourself with your favorite candy! I promise, it really will.

See you tomorrow with the some autumn leaves.

September Project

I love this simple little project featured on the Stampin' Up Customer Website this month. We made these at our September club - using the Halloween Hoot and Autumn Harvest stamp sets and Happy Thanksgiving from Teeny Tiny Wishes! All of them hold a minature candy bar - a cute little treat for your coworkers desk! Don't know about you but I love the little toad offering "free kisses". Oh, yes, like there's anything free. LOL If you need the pattern for this little box let me know and I will send it to you. These are cute, fast and fun!

More from our September club soon! I promise, soon! I know it's been over a week, but I promise it won't be that long before my next post. In fact, I'll see you tomorrow.

Happy Stampin'

My Digital Studio is here!

I know I haven't posted in several days, but I have a good excuse, no a great excuse. September 1 was the first day we could order our copy of My Digital Studio (demos only - customers October 1) and, of course, I got mine ordered immediately. It's here and I love it!!!!!

I have thousands of pictures and I have always wanted to make scrapbooks, but just couldn't seem to get it together except on very small ones - well those days are over. With no training, I loaded the program and started to work. This was my first page - I can't tell you how quick this was to do. The color of the mats is none other than Baja Breeze! Yes, they have last year's In Colors available for scrapping. My next pages were two I did of old pictures of my mom and her parents, brother and six sisters. I scanned old pictures in over a year ago, but just hadn't found time to do a scrapbook. Now I have two pages done! I'm telling you, this programs is awesome. All of our color families are available in paper and many fabulous stamps. Yes, you will find buttons, brads, ribbons and oh so much more! Now my last page features a hibiscus in my garden. I love it because it's the beginning, the middle and the end of a flower's life span. Don't you just love the buttons (we can make them any size) and the swirly is a stamp Baroque Motifs - flourish!

Now, that's it for tonight and maybe for a couple of days. Stamp Club is this week and I must come up with projects and have them ready to go - sounds easy, except tomorrow is a holiday and I have my hubby at home (cuts down on stamping time), so I'll probably be back on Wednesday with samples from Tuesday night. It won't be easy to leave my MDS alone, but I'll try.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow - don't forget to labor!

Holiday Mini Catalog - Shop it now!

There are so many fun stamp sets, specialty papers, new dies and embosslits for your Big Shot, rubons and the "Build-a-Bear" dies and stamps in this Holiday mini catalog!

I made this card for the weekend workshop using the new Delightful Decorations - the possibilities are unlimited - check it out today, by clicking on the image in the left sidebar! If you are one of my customers, your catalog has been mailed, but there was a delay at the mailhouse so it may just be arriving. I promise it will be worth the wait!

Be sure and check out the hostess special regarding the mini - also in the left sidebar!

Humor in High Heels

I love this stamp set - we made this card at a workshop last Saturday. I got the idea from a card swap at the San Antonio Regional last fall. It was made by Samantha Robertson and I thank her for her inspiration. If you would like to have a workshop and make some fun cards with your friends and earn some a free hostess set and some "SU Bucks" give me a call and let's get one on the fall schedule.

If you don't have this set, check it out on page 55 of the IBC - I think you just might want to add it to your wish list!

Happy Stamping.