Card Patterns Sketch Challenge 83

You know what?  It's been a busy weekend, and I had planned on just relaxing for a while this afternoon.   Well...I just couldn't stay away from my craft table.  I really tried  :)
I saw the sketch over at Card Patterns this morning, while browsing the blogs.  It just drew me in...I knew it would work so well for a Christmas card (yes, another one!).  Click HERE to read all about the Card Patterns Sketch 83 challenge.

I hosted a Stampin Up show recently and just got my pack of Deck The Halls dsp.  It's SO pretty!  Anyway, I didn't need much of an excuse to sit down and start creating, did I???
Here's my take on the sketch ~

If you click on the photo, you'll see a larger version of the pic.
After embossing the sentiment in gold, I sponged it with a little Crumb Cake ink before removing it from the Spellbinders die.  It's subtle, but that's the look I was going for.  I thought the vanilla cs needed a little softening to tone it down.  I really enjoyed putting this card together and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Thanks for stopping in to take a look and please leave a comment.  I love reading them!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My recipe:

Card stock: cherry cobbler, always artichoke, early espresso, very vanilla (all SU)

DSP: deck the halls (SU)

Ink: crumb cake (SU), versamark

Stamp: glory to God (Stampabilities)

Other: punch (SU), dies (Spellbinders labels eleven), ribbon from my friend Kris, flat back pearls (Recollections), Bow Easy

Paper Players Challenge #16

It's been a long time since I've played along with the Paper Players Challenge.  So when I saw their sketch this morning, I jumped at the chance to participate.  This is their PP16 challenge, and you can check out all of the details HERE.  I enjoy sketch challenges; they give my stamping mojo a jump-start!
I'm still working on Christmas cards so, of course, I went with a holiday theme.  I knew I wanted to use these cute brads and patterned paper from s.e.i.  They are SO pretty!  I picked these up at a scrapbooking expo in August, and now I wish that I had bought more.  They're so much fun to play with!

The photo below gives you a closer look at those cute brads.

Since the brads were round and many of the ornaments in the patterned paper were round.....that was the direction I took.  But, I couldn't resist throwing in a few stars ~ just for a little fun  :)

The recipe ~

CS: real red, pretty in pink, garden green, whisper white, chocolate chip (SU)

Patterned paper: christmas mint (s.e.i.)

Ribbon: pretty in pink (SU)

Stamp: peace (Hampton Art)

Tools & stuff: round die (Spellbinders), round punch, star punch (SU), corner rounder

Stampin' Buddies!

I had SUCH a good time yesterday!!!
Three of my stampin' buddies came to my home yesterday for a day of stamping, talking, chocolate, talking, stamping....and more talking  :)  It was a lot of fun.  It took me all day to make just 4 cards, but that's just fine with me.  I could just feel the stampin' mojo in the room yesterday.  We HAVE to do this more often; there is just nothing else like spending a day with friends that share the same passion.  If you're a paper crafter, you know that it's not just a HOBBY - it's a passion!

Here are 3 pics from our stamping day...I managed to stay behind the camera for these shots...yay!

No cards included in this post ~ hopefully I'll have time later today.

Bright blue skies, bees and rustling corn...

Ahhhh...this is my favorite time of year.  The weather was beautiful today!  AND, it's part of my weekend...so I was able to be out and about.  It was quite chilly when I left the house this morning; and I love taking a deep breath of that crisp, cool air.
When I was finally done with all of my errands this afternoon, I grabbed my camera and headed out to see what I could find.

First I headed to the cornfield.  The field corn is almost ready for harvest now.  You can almost see the changes each day.  The contrast in color between the corn leaves and the bright blue sky was gorgeous.  As I was taking my photos, I could hear the corn leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.  That particular sound is something you only hear this time of year.  I love that sound.  Those kinds of sounds replace the chirps of so many of the birds that migrate south this time of year.  I really miss those bird songs, now, and will look forward to their return in the spring.

Then I headed back to the house and realized that the sedum blooms are VERY popular with the bees, wasps and butterflies right now.  It was fascinating to watch them.  In one photo, if you look closely, you can see a wasp and a small butterfly (or maybe it's a moth?) on a clump of sedum blooms.

I hope you're enjoying the beautiful "almost autumn" weather, too.  :)

Stamp Simply #155 - falling leaves challenge & Flourishes BBB02

The Stamp Simply "falling leaves" challenge fit in with a birthday card I needed to make for one of my brothers-in-law.  Guy cards can be tough for me to create, so a leaf theme seemed just right.  To get the details of the Stamp Simply #155 challenge, click HERE.

ALSO...Flourishes BBB02 challenge wants us to capture the feel of fall.  The details are HERE.

With the themes being leaves and  fall, I decided to use earth tones for my card.  I used clear EP to emboss the leaf images, then using a Tim Holtz foam applicator, swirled several colors over the leaves and finished off with a darker ink around the edges of the very vanilla CS.  Some layering, a little linen thread and the card was finished.  Oh, and to add a little more texture.. my Close to Cocoa layer is the textured card stock.  I think it adds a little more interest to the card.
Well...the holiday weekend is drawing to a close, so it's time to pack up and put away all of my stamping supplies  :(     I'm not complaining though - I made 10 cards this weekend!  YAY!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The recipe ~

CS: very vanilla, close to cocoa (textured), chocolate chip, really rust (SU)

Ink: creamy caramel, chocolate chip (SU), versamark

Stamps: on your birthday (SU), small maple (Rubber Stamped)

Other: linen thread (SU)

Just Add Ink #33

Well, I'm 3 days into my 4 day weekend...and I FINALLY had time to stamp.  I accomplished quite a bit yesterday, so I'm rewarding myself with some stamping time today!
This card is being entered into the Just Add Ink #33 challenge.  I really liked this sketch as soon as I saw it, and could see how it would work for a Christmas card.  I used some patterned paper that I just picked up at Hobby Lobby on Friday.  I love the holly print.  I pulled out my paper crimper (which hasn't been used in quite a while!) I layered a strip of crimped CS under the red ribbon.  I decided to keep this card fairly simple, since the paper pattern is quite busy.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

*****************************

Card recipe ~

CS: garden green, real red, basic black (all are SU)

Patterned paper: holly on black (the Paper Studio)

Stamp: christmas punch (SU)

Other: ribbon from my stash, crimper, punch (SU), bow easy