Gently Falling in Fall - PPA170 Color Challenge

Hello there and Happy Fall to you! Officially anyway...in my neck of the woods it was over 100 today and fall weather is still months away! Still...when the kids go back to school my mind automatically turns to decorating for Fall and Halloween (when we finally have some leaves and cool weather) and preparing for Christmas, but shhhh...we won't go there right now :)

Today I used a wonderful color combination from the design team over at Pals Paper Arts.

I love, love, love this combination and immediately had a card in mind for it...

 

What do you think? Hmmm...that Crushed Curry looks awfully BRIGHT to me! Well, this is what I came up with:

What do you think now? I'm lovin' it! I took the colors of the challenge and put them on top of a Sahara Sand card base. I chose to highlight Early Expresso and just use small doses of Midnight Muse and Crushed Curry. I used the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to die cut my leaves and then stamped onto the die cuts using the Wonderfall Stamp Set (and my trusty Stamp-A-Ma-Jig).

Once I started layering my elements onto the card I HAD to add the Woodgrain Background Stamp Set. Then I HAD to use the Stampin' Distress Tool to rough up the edges of the cardstock. Then I thought...maybe I can distress the leaves too? So I picked up the distressing tool and just kept right on distressing! I was so happy with the result...but wait, I wonder what it would look like if I sponged the edges??? Loved that too! So I kept right on sponging everything that would stand still :) 

I added some twine, but still...something was missing! So I looked and looked and found the new 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon from the holiday catalog and knew that was the missing element! I snipped and tugged at the threads until it looked right...and then realized that it HAD to be sponged too...lol. Whew! I thought the Early Expresso button with a twine bow was the perfect final touch. 

I chose not to add a sentiment so that this card would be ready at hand for whatever the occasion calls for...

So what about you? Are YOU ready for fall? Have you decorated? I think, after this card, the juices are flowing and it's time to dig into those decorations!

I hope you have enjoyed my post...thank you so very much for stopping by!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Wonderfall (128087), Woodgrain Background Stamp (128763)

Paper: Sahara Sand (121043), Early Expresso (119686) Cardstock

Ink: Sahara Sand (126976), Early Expresso (126974), Crushed Curry (131173), Midnight Muse (126860) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Autumn Accents Bigz Die (127812), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Distress Tool (127562), Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Stamping Sponges (101610)

Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Neutrals Designer Buttons (130031), 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon (132140)

Merry Little Christmas - In a Jiffy!

Have you seen the Merry Little Christmas Simply Created Card Kit in the Holiday Catalog? Let me help, it's page 27 :) What a fantastic idea! All the pieces you need to whip those Christmas Cards out in a flash...no designing, measuring or cutting! Even pre-cut envelope liners, and don't those look snazzy! Whoo Hoo!

Here's a closer look:

Coastal Cabana, Real Red, and Gumball Green make for a delightful Christmas color combination, crisp and hip! And just look at what I was able to accomplish in just one lunch hour yesterday at work!

You could easily hand craft your entire season of Christmas cards in one afternoon! And I have an afternoon set aside for you to do just that!

Mark September 28th on your calendar and pop on over here for all the details and to sign up for my class! Or make your own at home and simply pop on over here to order your supplies! 

Stampin' Supplies:

Bundle: Merry Little Christmas Wood Stamp Set +Merry Little Christmas Simply Created Card Kit (133286)

Ink: Real Red (126949), Coastal Cabana (131175), Gumball Green (126861) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: SNAIL (104332), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments:  Included in Kit!

August Pals Blog Hop - Holiday Catalog Favorites

Thank you for joining us for the August Pals Blog Hop. Even though it's only August we want to provide some inspiration for your upcoming holiday projects. This month's blog hop will showcase new products from the 2013 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. We hope you enjoy seeing how we use the new stamps, new punches and other accessories! 

You should have just left stop number 12 on the Pals Hop - Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

Today I have a simple Christmas card to share with you:

The products in the Holiday Catalog really make creating handmade cards quick and easy! This card features a wonderful dove image from the Calm Christmas stamp set. I admit, when I first went through the catalog I passed right over this set. Several weeks later, no kidding, I work up in the middle of the night with an image in my head of this card stamped using the silver glitter also found in the Holiday Catalog. I got up and ordered the set...who am I to argue with inspiration, right?

In the end, because of the beautiful details in the dove, I chose to go with the new Silver Metallic Encore Pad, also found in the Holiday Catalog. It has SUCH a beautiful and elegant finish to it, I really, really love it! I also sponged the edges of the Island Indigo cardstock using the Silver Metallic ink, it just softens it up and adds a nice touch! A simple rhinestone adds a nice detail too!

A bit of linen thread showcases the absolutely beautiful Frosted Finishes Embellishment. These embellishments are a must have!

Here's one more angle to show off the sparkle of these embellishments! And please look at the pattern in the dove and then look at the pattern in the Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper that I used to line the envelope with...they coordinate! How awesome is THAT?!? I can't say it enough, the coordination of Stampin' Up! products continually amaze me!

I am loving getting my Christmas cards early...have YOU started yet?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Calm Christmas (132739)

Paper: Island Indigo (122923), Smoky Slate (131202) Cardstock; Winter Frost Specialty (132341) Designer Series Paper 

Ink: Silver (132142) Metallic Encore Ink Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments:  Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150); Linen Thread (104199)

The next stop is Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat, stop number 14 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!

1. Colleen Mollema at My Crafty Habit
2. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
3. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
4. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
5. Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
8. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
9. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
10. Laurie Chilton at Stampin' Ink
11. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
12. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
13. Shannon Jaramillo at Ezpeasycards
14. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
15. Nancy Gleason at MyStampinSpace
16. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons
18. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
19. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
20. Kerry Willard Bray at Stampgoodness
21. Brian King at Stamp With Brian
22. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
23. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
24. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
25. Michelle Gleeson at Stampin Mojo
26. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works
27. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
28. Lynn Kolcun at Stampin with Avery's Owlery
29. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
30. Martie Pollard at The Crafty Bandit

Flutterby Thanks - PPA167 Color Challenge

My first order of business is to thank the Design Team over at Pals Paper Arts for choosing my submission as a Pals Paper Arts Pick winner last week! I am thrilled and humbled that they liked my work! Please click here to view all the winners! Thanks so much!

The color challenge over at the Pals Paper Arts challenge seemed very soft and delicate to me:

so that's what I went with:

 

I wanted everything soft so I chose to sand the Pistachio Pudding Core'dinations cardstock, the lovely Designer Series Paper from the Venetian Romance series, as well as the Coastal Cabana Core'dinations cardstock butterfly. I also sponged the Crumb Cake card base with Crumb Cake ink to soften the edges.

The sentiment is one of four in the Four You stamp set and was stamped in Pistachio Pudding to keep the look soft. I used the Elegant Butterfly Punch to punch the large butterfly and the Bitty Butterfly punch to punch the small one. They coordinate beautifully! I punched the small butterfly from one of the patterned papers in the Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper and then used the new White Stampin' Chalk Marker to color it in and then wiped some of the ink away, revealing the natural pattern in the paper. I love this look! I also used the White Stampin' Chalk Marker to draw faint stitching lines around the edge of the Pistachio Pudding layer. The effect is very subtle, but I like it and I think this marker is a must have on everyone's list :)

I snipped a random length of Linen Thread and wrapped it loosely around my fingers and attached it to the card with a glue dot. I didn't even trim the ends! A small length of washi tape from the Seasons of Style Designer Washi Tape trio adheres everything to the card base and one lone rhinestone adds the perfect finishing detail.

I am enjoying the fact that this card reminds me of a Polaroid photo from my childhood, I am seeing that look everywhere! Soft, delicate and feminine...what do you think? Does it work?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Four You (130538)

Paper: Crumb Cake (120953) Cardstock; Pistachio Pudding (131294), Coastal Cabana (131297) Core'dinations Cardstock, Natural Composition Specialty (126917) and Venetian Romance (130144) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pistachio Pudding (131177), Crumb Cake (126975) Classic Stampin' Pad; White Stampin' Chalk Marker (132133)

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Glue Dots (103683), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Stamping Sponges (101610)

Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Season of Style Designer Washi Tape (132155)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Clean and Simple Saturday #2

Happy Saturday to you! I hope you have plans today! I am off to meet some fellow Pals for lunch and then back home to host a stamp class featuring embossing! This is one of the cards we will be creating today:

Don't you just love the combination of Bermuda Bay with the white embossing powder? So delightful! This card was created in four simple steps:

1.  Rub your Embossing Buddy over the surface to be embossed (very important)
2. Stamp your image(s) onto your card stock using Versamark Ink
3. Sprinkle embossing Powder over the card and tap off excess
4. Heat set the embossing powder using your Heat Tool

 

I LOVE watching embossing powder melt into the final image. It's like magic! And it's SOOOOOOO easy!! I confess, I bought all the tools to heat emboss and then let them sit for months...well, never again! It's one of my favorite techniques now!

My original idea for this card was completely clean and simple:

but I couldn't resist adding the ribbon. So what do you think...ribbon or no ribbon? Please let me know and enjoy your weekend! See you Monday!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Swallowtail (129216), Four You (130538)

Paper: Bermuda Bay (131197)

Ink: Versamark (102283), White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132)

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Heat Tool (129053), Embossing Buddy (103083)

Embellishments: Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon (114319)

Thanks for stopping by!