A little out of the box

This little scalloped card was my first attempt at a circular card. I guess you could say that I stepped out of the box into a circle! All-in-all, I'm pretty satisfied with it, but in retrospect, had I to do it all over again, I'm not sure that I would've used the printed designer paper as the background. Sometimes when I gaze at it, it looks way too busy...other times, I kind of like it! I guess that it depends whether I'm in the box or not. Okay...the cute stamp set used to make this card is called "Pumpkin Blessings" and will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 4"x4.25", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pumpkin Blessings Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Paper Piercing, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Daisy D's "Brighten My Day" Designer Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal, Adirondack Earthtones Caramel
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Round and Scallop Round Dies, Stampin Up!'s Large Oval Punch, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: American Crafts Denim Brad, Jolee's By You Leaves, Brass Acorn Charm, Amber Colored Adhesive Rhinestone, Offray Satin Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper using Spellbinders Nestabilities Round Scallop Die and a Cuttlebug. I cut a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal inks. I added a pumpkin stem using Prismacolor pencils in shades of green. The pumpkin vine was stamped with Caramel ink overtop the pumpkin image. I colored a shadow at the base of the pumpkin with Prismacolor pencils in shades of brown, blending with mineral spirits. The stamped image was cut with a Nestabilities round die using the Cuttlebug. The edges of the stamped image was sponged with Taken with Teal and then dash doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. Two mats were created to frame the stamped image using Nestabilities regular round and scallop round dies, respectively. Paper piercing was added in 2 circular rows around the teal colored mat, and dot doodles were added to the red colored mat using a brown felt-tip marker. The rust colored ribbon was anchored to the back of the card base.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Caramel ink. The sentiment was punched out using an oval punch and the edges were sponged heavily with Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal. Then dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. The stamped image and the sentiment was then glued to the card base. The sentiment was anchored by the Denim Blue brad and then glued to the card base. A brown branch was punched and added to the stamped image. Two die cut Jolee's leaves were added to embellish, along with an adhesive rhinestone and brass acorn charm. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

Falling for monkeys!

Yes, I must confess, that I am! Since I have discovered the various monkey stamp sets from Clear Dollar Stamps, I have fallen hard! This new set call "Autumn Monkey" is another whimsical fun set that is a joy to use! It will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 5.5"x4.25", Opens at the bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Autumn Fun Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: K&Co. "Fall Harvest" Designer Collection, Me & My Big Ideas "Cornucopia" Designer Paper, Dark Berry Red Colormates Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Old Olive Ink, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular & Scallop Round Dies, Cuttlebug, Creative Memories Square Punches, Fiskars Hole Hand Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Zig Gold Metallic Writer Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: American Crafts Carrot Medium Eyelets, Red Moonglow Brad, Offray 1/4" Brown Satin Ribbon, Milk Chocolate "Sweet Petites" Morex 5/8" Satin Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the 2 patterned designer papers to 4.25"x2.75" size, making each half the size of the card base. I cut the white cardstock card lining to size. A strip of berry red cardstock was cut to 1/4" and then punched across the middle using a Fiskars hand hole punch and then centered over the 2 patterned pieces of paper. to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black Ink. The image was colored and blended with Primsacolor pencils and mineral spirits using a blending stump. The stamped image was cut with a Nestabilities circle die, along with the red and green coordinating mats. The edge of the stamped image circle, was sponged with Old Olive heavily and then dash doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. A third mat was created with coordinating pumpkin colored paper using a Nestabilities scalloped round die and the Cuttlebug. Gold metallic doodle dots were added to the scallop points. The stamped image was then glued to all 3 mats.

The sentiment, small pumpkin and mouse was stamped with Pitch Black ink. The pumpkin and mouse were colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits. The sentiment/pumpkin/mouse was punched with a square punch, and heavily sponged around the edges with Pumpkin Pie ink, and dash doodles were added using a brown felt-tip marker. The berry red mat was punched with a larger square punch and dot doodles were added with a gold metallic marker. The stamped image mat and the sentiment mat was glued to the card base. Three holes were punches for 2 eyelet placements and ribbon hole: one, at the stamped image bottom, one at the stamped sentiment top and one at the stamped sentiment bottom. The smaller 1/4" inch ribbon was run through the top 2 eyelets and tied off in a bow knot. The larger ribbon width was run through the ribbon hole at the base of the sentiment mat and tied in a bow. To embellish, I added Diamond Glaze for special dimension to the large and small pumpkins. A large red moonglow brad was added for interest. To finish, the card base was glued to the card lining.

Some red, green and white

I just love all the beautiful sights of Christmas, and poinsettias, snow and evergreen boughs are no exception. The variety of Poinsettia solids and outlines in this soon-to-be-released stamp set by Clear Dollar stamps will surely satisfy your most creative plans! "Poinsettia Petals" will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 4.25"x5.5", Card opens from side
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Cuttlebug Embossing, Sponging
Paper: Colormates Medium Berry Red Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Real Red Ink, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Round and Scallop Round Dies, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Cuttlebug, Embossing Border Folder, Paper Piercing Tool, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Signo White Gel Pen
Embellishments: Making Memories Jeweled Rhinestone Circular Brads, Brass Brad Hanger, Die Cut Glittered Snowflakes, Michael's Holiday Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the red cardstock to card size and then background stamped randomly the Poinsettia Petals in different sizes using Real Red ink. A narrow strip of white cardstock was cut to form a side border and was embossed with the Cuttlebug using the new dotted swiss border folder. The center "Christmas ornament" was created by stamping a Poinsettia Petal off-center using the stamping off method (it gives it a more subtle stamped look), and then I overstamped the sentiment in Pitch Black Ink. The image and the two mats were cut using the Nestabilities regular and scalloped round dies and the Cuttlebug. The edge of the center white mat was heavily sponged with Real Red ink. The red mat was dot-doodled using a white gel pen and the outer mat was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder before being die cut. The three layers were glued together, and a red jeweled circular brad was punched through the center of the Poinsettia Petal blossom for interest. To add more interest to the focal point, I added die cut, glittered snoflakes, embellished with white pearl beads, and branches to resemble evergreens with a punch and glued them along with the snowflakes along the edge of the "ornament". I punched a hole at the top of the 3 layers of the "ornament" and attached a brass hanger, anchored with another red jeweled circular brad and looped a striped Christmas ribbon through the hanger top and secured the other end of the ribbon to the card base back. To embellish, I added white gel dots to the Poinsettia Petal background and punches a green swag border to line the white side border, using the branch punch. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A pumpkin and a little mouse!

Doesn't the colors of Autumn inspire your creativity? It sure does mine! Pumpkins, leaves, scarecrows, covered bridges...can't get enough of them! This cute stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps, to be released October 1st offers many design possibilities...it even comes with one adorable little mouse! The stamp set is called "Pumpkin Blessings".

Dimensions: 5.5"x4.25", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pumpkin Blessings Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Cuttlebug Embossing, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Daisy D's "Brighten My Day" Designer Collection, Colormates Dark Coffee Brown, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie & Apricot Appeal Inks, Adirondack Earthtones Caramel & Pitch Black Inks, Stazon Timber Brown Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Square Dies, Stampin Up!'s Small & Large Oval Punch, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Micron 01 Black Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: Brass Pumpkin Charm, Amber Colored Adhesive Rhinestone, Basic Grey "Mellow" Collection Twill Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal inks. I added a pumpkin stem using Prismacolor pencils in shades of green. The stamped image was cut with a Nestabilities square die, using the Cuttlebug. The pumpkin vine was stamped with Timber Brown ink overtop the pumpkin image and on the designer paper. I colored a shadow at the base of the pumpkin with Prismacolor pencils in shades of brown. The mouse is stamped with Pitch Black ink, colored with shades of Prismacolor brown pencils, and outlined with a very fine-tip Micron marker. The edges of the white cardstock was sponged with Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie and Caramel heavily and then dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. The coordinating red mat was created to frame the stamped image using a Nestabilities square die. Dot-dash doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. The red mat was then glued to the stamped image. I cut 2 rectangles out of coordinating orange paper and brown cardstock. I ran the brown cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the embossing folder. The brown mat was glued to the orange mat. Dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker around the orange mat.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. The edges were sponged heavily with Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal. The sentiment was punched out using an oval punch and dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. A coordinating piece of green paper was used to punch the sentiment mat. I overstamped the pumpkin vine of the main stamped image onto the card base with brown ink. The stamped image was popped up on Dimensionals and the sentiment was then glued to the card base, along with the 2 rectangular mats. Two branches were punched in coordinating green paper and added to the stamped image. A brass pumpkin charm with an adhesive amber-colored rhinestone was added for embellishment. Twill ribbon was added with 2 knot bows and secured to the back. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A bridge of blessings

With Thanksgiving near, I wanted to create a card that echoes Thanksgiving flavor along with Autumn. This covered bridge stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps is perfect for making Thanksgiving cards and/or Autumn cards. The beauty of these illustrated bridges will set your imagination on overdrive! "Country Bridges" will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 5.5"x4.25", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Country Bridges Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Basic Grey "Mellow" & "Boxer" Designer Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black,Stampin Up! Old Olive & So Saffron Inks
Tools: Nestabilities Regular & Scallop Oval Dies, Cuttlebug, Stampin Up! Slit Punch, Martha Stewart Branch & Maple Leaf Punches, Stampin Up! Large Oval Punch, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: Adhesive Gold Beads, Offray Gold Flair Metallic Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. All detail on the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits. After coloring and blending, the image was die cut using Nestabilities oval die and the Cuttlebug. So Saffron ink was heavily sponged around the edge of the stamped oval and dot doodles were added around the edge using a gold leafing pen. A coordinating green scalloped mat was cut using a Nestabilities die. Gold dot doodles and dot/dash doodles were added to the scalloped mat with the gold leafing pen.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink and then punched out using a large oval punch. The edges were sponged heavily with Old Olive and dot doodled around the edge with the gold leafing pen. A coordinating green strip was cut using an Xacto knife and straight edge for a bottom border. Another coordinating tuscan red patterned paper was used to cut a bottom scalloped border with the slit punch. Gold dot doodles were added to each scallop point on the border. The two borders were glued to the card base. The gold metallic ribbon was anchored to the back of the card base and then the stamped, matted image was glued on top of that to the card base. Adhesive gold beads were added to the large green scalloped mat, as well as the bottom green border. Branch leaves were punched and colored with the gold leafing pen, as well as the tuscan red maple leaf to adorn the sentiment. A perky gold bow was tied onto the ribbon. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A poinsettia swag

Christmastime is not far away and if you haven't found a stamp set yet that you like enough to make your cards with...check out this new stamp set by Clear Dollar Stamps called "Poinsettia Petals". This set is so versatile and will supply endless design ideas. It will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 5.5"x4.25", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging
Paper: Paper Pizazz Green Plad, Colormates Dark Autumn Red, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Real Red & Glorious Green Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Bic Mark-It Forest Green Marker, Zig Millenium Red Fine-Tip Marker, Signo Gold Gel Pen, Karen Foster Click-It, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: American Crafts Cherry Medium Eyelet, Adhesive Gold Beads, Red & White Polka-Dotted "Bobbin" Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the plaid paper and the red cardstock to measure 2.75"x4.25" each. On a separate piece of white cardstock I randomly stamped the Poinsettia Petals in solid and outline Real Red ink. I outlined the 2 medium Poinsettias with a gold gel pen, adding gold stamen highlights to the large poinsettia. I added small clusters of seeds in Glorious Green stamped around the Poinsettias. I cut out the stamped image to a rectangular shape using an Xacto knife and straight edge. I heavily sponged the edges with Real Red ink and then added gold dot highlights over the red sponging on the image. I also added dot/dash doodles in Forest Green ink around the edges. I cut a white mat for the stamped image in the same manner as mentioned above and decorated the edges with snowflake (asterisk) doodles in red with a fine-tip marker. I popped up the stamped image on the white mat and set aside. The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock with Pitch Black ink, cut out with an Xacto knife and straight edge and heavily sponged around the edges with Glorious Green Ink. I added gold doodle dots with a gel pen around the edge. The matted, stamped image was also popped up with Dimensionals and adhered to the card base. Leaves were punched out of Forest Green paper and glued to the stamped image, creating a "swag" look. A hole was punched in the sentiment tag and a medium size eyelet secured it to the card base, also providing a hole to thread the red and white polka-dotted ribbon through and tied off in a bow. Two small adhesive gold beads were added as an embellishment. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A heritage of covered bridges

We are so fortunate to live in a country where we share the heritage of covered bridges. The history and beauty of these structures are each uniquely interesting. Clear Dollar Stamps has designed a set called "Country Bridges" that will open up endless design ideas for the cardmaker. This beautiful stamp set will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Country Bridges Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Daisy D's "Halloween" Designer Collection, Colormates Medium Autumn Red Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! So Saffron & Cranberry CrispInks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Micron 01 Black Marker, Signo White Gel Pen, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: Daisy D's Hinges, Adhesive Gold Beads, Offray Flair Gold Metallic Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black Ink. All detail on the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits. The colored, stamped image was cut out using an Xacto knife and straight edge. Using the same metho I cut out 2 coordinating mats: one in matching designer gold and one in Autumn Red cardstock. I glued the stamped image onto the 2 mats, added dot doodles to the 2 mats with a black fine-tip marker, and a white gel pen, respectively.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. The edges were sponged heavily with So Saffron and Cranberry Crisp. I cut out the sentiment using an Xacto knife and straight edge. I added dot doodles with a fine-tip black marker. I anchored the sentiment with a decorative cranberry-colored hinge and matching brads. The ribbon was anchored to the top back corner and bottom back corner, tying a bow around the top ribbon. I embellished the ribbon with adhesive gold beads. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

Blue Christmas

Elvis isn't the only one that can have a "Blue Christmas"! I decided to ink up this new stamp set called "Poinsettia Petals" by Clear Dollar Stamps in blues and whites for a sparkly Christmas card. This beautiful stamp set has endless possibilities for Christmas cardmaking. It will be released October 1st.

Dimensions: 5"x5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Paper Piercing
Paper: ATD "Story of Us" Designer Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Bashful Blue & Brocade Blue Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Stampin Up! Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, Clear Glitter Glue, Signo White and Silver Gel Pens, American Crafts Dimensionals, Zots
Embellishments: Brass Snowflake Charm, Adhesive Blue Rhinestones, Michael's Ice Blue & Silver Rimmed Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. All 6 Poinsettia Petals blooms were stamped individually on white cardstock, using Pitch Black ink, Bashful Blue ink and Brocade Blue inks. Each one was cut out and either glazed with Diamond Glaze or Glitter Glue. The sentiment was stamped on the center patterned paper, then ,cut with an Xacto knife and straight edge and the edges were sponged heavily with Bashful Blue ink. Two mats were made to frame the stamped Poinsettia Petals: the blue one was cut from coordinating paper as well as the black mat using the same method as above. The center mat was glued to the two outside mats. The 2 center mats were paper pierced around the edges and corners using a paper piercing tool and Stampin Up!'s Mat Pack guide. Branches were punched out using a punch. After gluing down the center 3 mats, the Poinsettia Petals were popped up on Dimensionals to form a "swag". The white punches branches were sprinkled around the swag and glued down. I colored the brass snowflake charm with a Signo silver gel pen, and let that dry overnight. I anchored the ice blue ribbon to the card base, tying a bow around it and anchored the brass snowflake charm with a Zot dot (glue dot). To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

Monkey madness strikes again!

Indeed! This new stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps "Autumn Monkey" to be released on October 1st, has me just mad over monkeys! If you haven't checked out Clear Dollar Stamps' website and seen all the supercute primate sets that they have, then you aren't living! Seriously! Talk about possibilities with these fun sets! Okay, this is bringing out the monkey in me...on to the card deets:

Dimensions: 5.5"x4.25", Card opens from side
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Autumn Fun Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits, Paper Piecing
Paper: K&Co. "Fall Harvest" Designer Collection, Me & My Big Ideas "Cornucopia" Designer Paper, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie Ink, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Marvy Giga Square Punch, Marvy Mega Square Punch, Stampin Up! Oval Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: Felt Flowers, Making Memories Flower Brad, Silk Leaves, Yellow & White Striped "Bobbin" Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black Ink. The image was colored and blended with Primsacolor pencils and mineral spirits using a blending stump. The stamped image was cut with a square punch, and the edges were sponged with Pumpkin Pie heavily and then dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. Two coordinating mats were created to frame the stamped image: the rust colored scalloped mat was made with a larger scallop square punch, and the larger gold mat was cut with an Xacto knife and straight edge. Dot-dash doodles were added around the rust colored scalloped mat points. Two rectangular coordinating patterned strips of paper were added to the right side of the card and glued down. A second monkey was stamped on the argyle patterned paper and colored, and then again on white cardstock and colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with a stump. The monkey on the white cardstock was cut out and paper pieced and popped up with Dimensionals on top of the monkey, stamped on the argyle paper. The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock with Pitch Black ink, then punched with an oval punch. The edges of the sentiment were heavily sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink and dot doodles added with a brown felt-tip marker. The matted stamped image was popped up on Dimensionals to the card base, and the sentiment was glued and tucked under the image.

A yellow and white striped ribbon was anchored to the card base overtop the rust colored paper strip, and two felt flowers were added along with a silk oak leaf, anchored with a flower brad to accent the monkey peeking over the flower. Dot doodles were added for interest on either side of the ribbon with a brown felt-tip marker. To finish, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

No monkey business here...

It's time for a little sneak peek, and I'm not talking any monkey business here! This card is made with the Clear Dollar Stamps Set called "Autumn Monkey" to be released October 1st.

Dimensions: 5"x5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Autumn Fun Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Basic Grey "Mellow" Designer Collection, K&Co. "Fall Harvest" Designer Collection, Me & My Big Ideas "Cornucopia" Designer Paper, Colormates Dark Orange Dream Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie& Garden Green Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Square Dies, Marvy Circle Punches, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Signo White Gel Pen, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: Copper-colored maple leaf brad, Amber-colored adhesive rhinestones, Moss Green & White "Sweet Petites" Morex Gingham Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black Ink. The image was colored and blended with Primsacolor pencils and mineral spirits using a blending stump. The stamped image was cut with a Nestabilities square die, using the Cuttlebug. The edges of the white cardstock were sponged with Pumpkin Pie heavily and then dot doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. The coordinating green mat was created to frame the stamped image using a Nestabilities square die. More dot doodles were added, this time on the green mat with a white gel pen. The green mat was then glued to the stamped image. I created an orange patterned mat using the small pumpkin stamp in the Autumn Fun stamp set using Pumpkin Pie ink on the orange cardstock. I dot doodled around the orange mat edges with a brown felt-tip marker. I glued the orange mat down to the green patterned card base. A rectangular coordinating striped mat was cut with an Xacto knife and straight edge and glued over the orange mat. I anchored the moss green and white gingham ribbon to the card base back. Then the matted image was popped up on Dimensionals for interest.

The sentiment and mouse was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. The mouse was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits. The mouse/sentiment was punched with a Marvy round punch and heavily sponged with Garden Green Ink around the edges. A coordinating orange round mat was punched with a larger round punch and dot doodles were added around both mat edges using a brown felt-tip marker. The sentiment was popped up over the stamped image on Dimensionals. To finish the card, a bow was tied around the ribbon and the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

Snow pretty!

If you've been looking for a stamp set that depicts the beauty of covered bridges, then have I a suggestion for you! Clear Dollar Stamps will be releasing this beautiful stamp set, called "Country Bridges" on October 1st.

Dimensions: 4.25"x5.5", Card opens from side
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Country Bridges Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits, Stacked Ribbon
Paper: K&Co. "Mira" Designer Collection, Navy Blue Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Brilliant Moonlight White, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink, Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue Ink
Tools: Martha Stewart Alpine Snowflake Punch, Karen Foster Click-It, Zig Millennium Navy Fine-Tip Marker, Signo White Gel Pen, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: Making Memories Jeweled Blue Square Brad, Large Black Grommet, Royal Blue Sparkle Fiber, Offray Baby Blue Satin Ribbon, Michael's Royal Blue & White Polka-Dotted Organza Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. On the patterned designer paper, I added white dots around the flourishes with a gel pen. The paper was then glued to the card base. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Brilliant Moonlight White ink. All detail on the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits. After coloring and blending, I added snow flakes, and snow cover all over the image with the white gel pen. The stamped image was cut using the Making Memories cutting system and the white cardstock mat was cut with a Nestabilities oval die with the Cuttlebug. The white mat was adorned with navy blue doodle dots with a felt-tip marker.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. The edges were sponged heavily with Bashful Blue and dot doodled around the edge with the navy blue felt-tip marker. The sentiment was cut out using an Xacto knife and straight edge. Punching a hole for a black grommet, I anchored the sentiment along with the stamped, matted image to the card base. The snowflake embellishment was made using white cardstock and the snowflake punch. I anchored the snowflake with a square jeweled brad, that I turned sideways to resemble a diamond. To embellish, I added a sparkly royal blue fiber along with a stacked ribbon, which was thread through the black grommet. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A vine that grows...

Autumn's glow has cast it's mood on all things warm and wonderful and that includes friendships! This new stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps, called "Pumpkin Blessings' is a wonderful set to express your appreciation for your friends. It will be released on October 1st.

Dimensions: 5"x5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pumpkin Blessings Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Cuttlebug Embossing, Sponging, Paper Piercing, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits, Stacked Ribbon
Paper: Daisy D's "Halloween" Designer Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal & Elegant Eggplant Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink, Stazon Timber Brown Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug & Spots & Dots Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Regular Oval & Scallop Oval Dies, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, EK Success Round Corner Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Punch, Marvy Artist Felt-Tip Brown Marker, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: Wrights Simply Creative Tassels, American Crafts Carrot Medium Brad, Michael's Dark Mauve Satin Ribbon, Offray Orange Organza Ribbon

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut the patterned designer paper to size as well as a matching sized piece of white cardstock for the card lining. The image was stamped on white cardstock using Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal inks. I added a pumpkin stem using Prismacolor pencils in shades of green. I highlighted the pumpkin with strokes using brown Prismacolor pencils. The stamped image was cut with a Nestabilities oval die, using the Cuttlebug. I colored a shadow at the base of the pumpkin with Prismacolor pencils in shades of brown and blended with mineral spirits. The edges of the white cardstock was sponged with Apricot Appeal, and Pumpkin Pie heavily and then dot-dash doodles were added with a brown felt-tip marker. The coordinating orange mat was created to frame the stamped image using a Nestabilities oval scallop die. I paper pierced each scallop point with a piercing tool. The purple polka-dotted mat was was created with an oval scallop die and then glued to the orange mat. Both mats were then glued to the stamped image. Two larger mats were made: the white cardstock mat was cut to a square with an Xacto knife and straight edge and the orange mat was cut in the same way, and then embossed through the Cuttlebug with the embossing folder. Before I glued the stamped image mounted on the 2 mats, I overstamped the pumpkin vine with brown ink. Then the matted image was popped up on Dimensionals for interest.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Pitch Black ink. The sentiment was cut with an Xacto knife and straight edge. The edges were sponged heavily with Pumpkin Pie and Elegant Eggplant. I cut the polka-dotted sentiment mat in the same way, and then rounded the right upper and lower corners using a corner round punch. I glued the sentiment and mat to the card base and anchored it with a Pumpkin brad and orange tassel. I embellished with punched branches around the sentiment and around the pumpkin image. The ribbon was created using the stacked ribbon technique. I glued the 3/8" orange ribbon to the 5/8" mauve ribbon, securing it to the back of the card base. Then a bow was tied around the ribbon. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.

A little tag...

Remember the childhood game "Tag"? Well, there is a circulating tag game among cardmaking bloggers that has introduced blogs that one might never find or see. So, I've been tagged by Cindy Motherway, also known as Mothermark on SCS. Thank you Cindy, for honoring me as a "pick". I'm sure it may generate some traffic to my otherwise unknown blog and who knows, they might just enjoy looking around enough to return.

"Tag" Rules:
1. Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4. Let them know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Okay first I'd like to direct you to Cindy's blog, "This is My Story". Cindy is a gifted stamper and quite a storyteller...in a good sense, mind you. ; )

Seven Facts...well, to me, they're facts ; )
1. I spend 2-4 hours making a card. One of the hours is spent in deciding what color scheme to use, what embellishments, what stamp set. Indecision is my gift.
2. My very favorite place in the whole world is Ocracoke Island, the southernmost barrier island in the Outer Banks, NC islands. It is a world away, removed from the hustle and bustle of the nonsensical hubbub of life. In a word: Paradise.
3. I hate pantyhose. Why can't they make pantyhose without any seams whatsoever, anywhere? And, why can't they make them to be controlling yet freeing?
4. I lost my best friend of 14 years on August 7th and I don't know the cause of her death. All I know is that it was swift and sudden and my heart is still grieving. Her name was Chelsea and she was a Cairn Terrier.
5. When I was 4 years old, I used to stand on the landing of our stairway in our home and sing my little heart out. I had plans of going to Hollywood and being a great singer. Now, this was before Barbra Streisand was even a blip on the radar.
6. I love Impressionistic art. Monet is my favorite artist of all time. I love the subtle shapes and color hues.
7. I love music. I play the piano...of sorts. My musical taste has evolved over the years, but one artist that I have always loved and will always love is the composer Claude Debussy. His "Arabesque No. 2" puts me in a trance where I don't care to return.

All that was probably TMI (too much information for those who aren't familiar with the abbreviation.) But, I satisifed the rules, right, Cindy?

Okay, now "Tag, you're it, gals!"
Linda Anderson
Suzanne Dean
Joan Ervin
Jan Hunnicutt
Jennifer Ofiana
Katie Renz
Linsey Rickett

Card-a-rama!

I forgot to mention in my last post that starting on Saturday, September 27th, I will be posting over a period of 4 days, 12 cards that are sneak peek samples of 4 brand new Clear Dollar Stamp sets! I assure you, Clear Dollar Stamps has some amazing sets forthcoming and you won't want to miss the sneak peeks! All stamps sets will be released for sale on October 1st. I hope you visit again and enjoy the cards!

Fun in the pumpkin patch

Well, today was one of those days, when I decided to embrace the season! Fall is such a sunny, colorful season and lots of fun, too. I just had to break out this darlin' little scarecrow set called "Pumpkin Patch" from Clear Dollar Stamps. I just love his little face!!

A 5"x5" card base was cut using Colormates Medium Awesome Aqua Cardstock. Decreasing size mats were made with black cardstock, Deep Awesome Aqua cardstock, black cardstock again and Medium Orange Dream cardstock. I ran the orange cardstock through the new Argyle Embossing Folder using my Cuttlebug. I stamped the focal image on white cardstock using Stazon Black ink. I colored the entire image using Prismacolor Pencils and blended with mineral spirits. I oversponged the sky using Stampin' Up's Taken with Teal lightly around the scarecrow's head, and then again using Stampin' Up's Night of Navy to create the illusion of a night sky. I punched a circle for a harvest moon using a Marvy 5/8" circle punch. I added circular squiggles around the moon to give it an eerie look using a Signo Black Gel pen. I dot doodled around the edge of the circle using the same black gel pen. I popped up the orange moon on American Crafts Dimensionals for depth. A mat was made for the stamped image using Deep Awesome Aqua cardstock, cut with a Nestabilities regular circle die and the Cuttlebug. I dot doodled around the aqua mat using a Gold Signo gel pen. I glued the stamped image circle to the aqua mat and set aside.I stamped the owl on a separate piece of white cardstock, coloring him with Prismacolor pencils and blending with mineral spirits. I cut him out and popped him up on Dimensionals on top the stamped fence in the image.I doodled X's with a Signo Black Gel pen around the 4 edges of the card base, and doodled dots around the 4 sides of the black cardstock mat with a Signo Gold Gel pen.

The sentiment is from a Hero Arts mini stamp set, I believe, called "Yoo Hoo!" and was stamped on white cardstock and stamped with Stazon Black ink. I punched the sentiment out using the small Stampin' Up oval punch. I lightly sponged around the edge of the sentiment using Stampin' Up's Apricot Appeal and then again more heavily using Stampin' Up's Only Orange. I punched a black cardstock mat for the sentiment using the Stampin' Up's Large Oval Punch. I added dot doodles to the black oval mat using a Signo Gold Gel Pen.

The black & white gingham check ribbon was anchored to the card base back using glue runner. I adhered the main circular stamped image to the card base over the ribbon using Dimensionals. I glued the two sentiment ovals together and popped them up overlapping the circular image using Dimensionals. I stamped the pumpkin on a separate piece of white cardstock, coloring it with Prismacolor Pencils and mineral spirits and then cut it out and popped it up on Dimensionals on the circular stamped image.

To embellish, I added a black & white gingham bow along with a piece of natural raffia to give it that "homespun" look. To finish, I cut a card lining out of white cardstock to 5"x5" size, and glued the card base to the lining.Voila! Done!

Wedding wishes for Jade

It is not often that Tom and I get to attend a wedding. We average 1 every 5 years or so! Last year, we did attend my niece, Jessica's wedding and in a few weeks, we'll be attending another wedding for a niece. Jade will be getting married on October 11th at a country farm setting. Her cousin has graciously agreed to host Jade's wedding at their historical stone farmhouse. I sure hope that it doesn't rain! I typically make wedding cards in whites and neutrals, but knowing that Jade's favorite color is pink, I decided to go with pink and white.

I created this card using the Inkadinkado wedding clear stamp set. I'm not sure of it's name, or if it even has a name. The cardstock that was used was Paper Trey's beautiful white cardstock and Colormates Deep Pretty in Pink.The card base was cut from the Pretty in Pink cardstock to 5"x5" size. I then cut 2 different size pieces of white cardstock to fit a 4.5" square. The larger piece was run through the Cuttlebug using the Birds & Swirls embossing folder, and the smaller piece was run through the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The main image was stamped onto white cardstock using Stazon black ink. I colored the flowers in the bouquet as well as the flowers in the brides hair using a Prismacolor pink pencil. I cut the image out with a Nestabilities regular oval die and the Cuttlebug. The exact edge of the oval was sponged lightly with a dauber using Stampin' Up's Pretty in Pink ink. I made an oval scalloped border out of the Pretty in Pink cardstock using a Nestabilities oval scallop die and the Cuttlebug. I glued the white oval to the scalloped oval. Using a Signo white gel pen I dot doodled each pink scallop point, and using a Signow silver gel pen, I dot doodled around the edge of the white oval.

The sentiment was stamped onto white cardstock using Stazon black ink. I lightly colored around the inside printed edge of the sentiment using a Prismacolor pink pencil and blended with mineral spirits to add a little color. I cut a pink mat to frame the sentiment. The mat was dot doodled in white with a Signo gel pen and the sentiment frame was dot doodled with a silver Signo gel pen. I added 3 small pink rhinestones to the floral bouquet on the sentiment. Pink looped 3/8" ribbon was anchored to the card base back with glue runner. The two ends of the ribbon was run through the silver buckle slide and the pretty bow was adorned with mini adhesive pearl dots. The two ovals were popped up on American Crafts Dimensionals over the ribbon. On top of the oval, the square matted sentiment was popped up on Dimensionals.

Finishing touches: Dot doodles around the pink car base edge with a Signo Silver Gel Pen and two large self-adhesive Pearls for interest. To finish, I glued the card base to a matching 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

Crazy about copper!

Wow! That's all I can say about the new Krylon Copper Leafing Pen! I had so much fun creating this card for a dear friend in church. Her birthday is Tuesday, so I'm not late with this one.

This card measures 5"x5" square. I used Colormates cardstock for all the layers on this card because I love their rich, intense hues. The base layer is 5" square and is Colormates Dark Terra Cotta. The next layer is 4.5" square and is made using Colormates Dark Chocolate Malt, the next layer is 4" square made using Colormates Deep Orange Dream. On these 3 square layers, I took my Krylon Copper Leafing Pen and "edged" all 4 sides of each of the square layers. I then background stamped maple leaves from Clear Dollar Stamps "Leaves" set using Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Adirondack Caramel inks. The two large maple stamped leaves were stamped onto White Paper Trey Cardstock and then cut out using the Spellbinders Nestabilities regular round die and my Cuttlebug. I made a larger round mat for the stamped image using Colormates Dark Coffee Brown cardstock and the next size up round Nestabilities die. I copper-colored the Dark Coffee Brown mat edge with the Krylon pen. I then sponged the edge of the circular stamped image using Stampin' Up's Pumpkin Pie ink. The edge was then copper-colored with the Krylon Copper pen in the same manner. I restamped the same two maple leaves on another piece of white cardstock and then cut them out. I dot doodled around the Dark Coffee Brown mat using a Signo Gold Gel Pen. The edge of the circular stamped image was dot doodled using a Brown Fine-Tip Felt Marker. The cut-out leaves were adhered to the stamped other leaves using popped up American Crafts Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps' "Pretty Little Scriptures" stamp set. This was stamped on white cardstock using Black Stazon ink. The edge of the sentiment was sponged heavily using Stampin' Up's Pumpkin Pie ink. I copper-colored the edge with the Copper Leafing Pen. I dot doodled around the edge of the sentiment using a Brown Fine-Tip Felt Marker. I made a mat for the sentiment out of the Colormates Dark Brown cardstock. Again, I copper-colored the mat using the Copper leafing pen. The sentiment was glued to the brown mat.
I anchored the pretty Michael's brown & gold metallic ribbon to the card base back using glue runner. The matted stamped leaf image was glued down to the card base along with the matted sentiment over the ribbon. To embellish, I added 2 gold small brads to the lower left corner, using my Karen Foster Click-It punch. I tied a pretty bow to the ribbon that runs vertically down the card and added a glittered gold leaf button above the sentiment. The button shank was removed before using. To finish, I dot doodled aroud the edges of the bottom and third layers using the same Brown Fine-Tip Felt Marker. The edges of the second layer was dot doodled as well, but with a Signo Gold Gel Pen. A card lining was made to size using Paper Trey White Cardstock.

This card packs a lot of glittery punch with the Copper Leafing Pen. If you haven't tried any of the Krylon Leafing Pens, treat yourself to one...you'll be delighted with the results!

A little late...

Hello! I bet you thought I disappeared! Other than having an incredibly busy week, I've been stamping away! And tonight, I had a birthday card that I had to do in a hurry because a fellow stamper friend of mind had a birthday today, and guess who is late?

Here's the deets: The card base is constructed of K&Co.'s Designer Collections "Mira" and "Bailey" papers. The card size is 5.5"x4.25". The base was cut to size, and two bottom horizontal strips of paper were cut using coordinating paper. I created the scalloped bottom border using the Stampin' Up's Slit Punch. The decorative medallion and sentiment is from a new Inkadinkado set called "Just Saying". I stamped the medallion in Stampin' Up's Taken with Teal ink onto Paper Trey White Cardstock. I then cut the medallion out using a Spellbinders Nestabilities regular round die and my Cuttlebug. I heavily sponged the edge of the circle using Stampin' Up Green Galore ink and then I lightly sponged the center of the medallion using the same ink. The sentiment was stamped over the sponged green center using Stazon black ink. I added dot doodles around the center of the medallion using a Bic Mark-It Fine-Point Pink Marker. I dot doodled around the outer edge of the medallion using a Bic Mark-It Fine-Point Teal Marker. After gluing down the two bottom horizontal borders, I dash doodled around each scallop point using a Signo White Gel Pen. Next, I anchored the Michael's Lime & White Polka Dotted Grosgrain Ribbon to the card base back using glue runner. The medallion/sentiment was then popped up on adhesive American Arts Dimensionals for depth. I added a decorative buttery from K&Co. Brenda Walton's "Grand Adhesions" to the medallion edge.

To embellish, I added self-adhesive Pink Rhinestone Dots from Kaiser Scrapbook at the center of each scallop border point and then I added self-adhesive gold beads above each pink rhinestone for added interest. To tie the color scheme together, I glued down a strip of matching lime green & white polka-dotted grosgrain ribbon along the bottom of the card. Two bow knots to tied to the ribbon running horizontally across the card. To finish the card, a lining was made using Paper Trey White Cardstock to size.

A little buzz...

Today, I was a stamping busy bee! I am preparing some cards for some sneak peeks for Clear Dollar Stamps' October release stamps set for October 1st, but I cannot share those just yet. I did get a chance to make a card for a friend late this afternoon and thought that I'd share this one with my readers.

I have been making so many Fall and Winter type cards lately, that I decided that I wasn't ready to let go of Summer just yet. So, out came this cute dollar stamp set from Studio G. I decided to use the Bee and the "What's Up?" sentiment. I used designer paper from K&Co.'s "Mira" collection. I love this paper collection! The colors are so vibrant really pop! I used a gold colored paper for the background of the card, and cut a strip for along the top of the card with a coordinating gold and orange patterned paper. I cut a square out of another coordinating patterned lime colored paper and stamped the bee in black ink with Adirondack Pitch Black. I stamped the bee image again this time on Paper Trey white cardstock. I colored the bee with Prismacolor Pencils, blending the colors with Odorless Mineral Spirits and a Blending Stump. I then cut out just the body of the bee and then popped him up using American Crafts Dimensionals over top the stamped bee image. I matted the bee image with Paper Trey white cardstock sponging the edges generously with Stampin Up!'s Almost Apricot ink. I dot and line doodled around the white mat edges using a Sakura Black Gel Pen. Additionally, I dot doodled around the same mat closer to the bee image using a Bic Orange Fine Tip Marker. I line doodled around the bee image with the Sakura Black Gel Pen. I popped up the bee image on the white mat using the Dimensionals again.

The sentiment was stamped with Stazon Black Ink onto a solid gold colored piece of cardstock. I then punched the sentiment out using the large Stampin' Up! Oval Punch. I used the same punch to make another oval, this time in a coordinating orange solid piece of cardstock. I dot doodled around just the edges of the gold oval with the Sakura gel pen, as well as line doodled around the orange oval. I glued the gold oval over the orange oval, and popped that up with Dimensionals, as well. I embellished the sentiment using a yellow paper flower from Jolee's Boutique, punching the center and anchoring it with a black mini brad.

Additional embellishment on this is a felt stitched flower that I glued a black round metal dot from Colorbok in the center, and the grosgrain orange dotted ribbon is from an Offray Microspool.

I wonder what friend will receive this? Hmmm....

Peek-a-boo!

Frustration raises it's familiar head again as attempts to update this blog on a daily basis, are thwarted. Blogging is, a continual learning process. The logistics of creating one, learning the ins and outs of formatting one, making decisions about the contents of one...all these things are difficult enough. So, it's easy to see how the discipline of daily blog entry is just that: discipline. I, in all my initial intentions, desired to create a blog that would inform, share and delight. It is difficult to inform, let alone delight when one is detoured from blog entry.

As transparent as my excuses may be for not having posted since last Sunday, I must apologize to any would-be faithful readers. I promise, however, that tomorrow will bring a post worth waiting for....

My rainy day

The dark clouds cast a shadow in my bedroom yesterday morning. Rhythmic droplets dancing on the window unit air conditioner awakened me from my deep slumber. The outer rain bands of Hurricane Hanna had come to visit us. I quickly got out of bed to start my rainy day in my little yellow house. After lingering over a hot cup of coffee and checking email, I decided to devote my day to creating a few cards.

This one that I'm sharing today was inspired by the beautiful green printed designer paper from K&Co's collection called Margo, a lovely rich, green, muted with teal tones and accented with berry. I just love this paper! The stamps that I used to create this card is from a set called "Clear Leaves" sold by Clear Dollar Stamps. This set is amazingly versatile. There are many types of leaves in this set, and they are all realistic and natural looking.

First I cut a 5" wide x 10" high piece of Paper Trey white cardstock, scoring it in half, making the card size 5"x5". I cut a green patterned print mat to 4.75"x4.75", and then a berry solid colored piece of cardstock to 4.25"x4.25". I created a background pattern by scatter stamping 2 different leaves stamps in Versamark Watermark Ink and Stampin Up!'s Forest Foliage ink. Next, I created 3 nesting rectangular mats by hand, using a metal straight edge and Xacto knife. The outer mat in berry, was paper pierced around the border using the Stampin Up! Mat Pack and a paper piercing tool. Next, I added the green mat, and then the white mat. On the white mat, I stamped leaves in Stampin Up!'s Forest Foliage, and then colored in the white areas of the leaves with Prismacolor Pencils, and blended it in using a blending stump and odorless mineral spirits. I sponged around the white mat edges using Ancient Page Bordeaux ink. I then glued all 3 mats down, and then popped up the bottom mat using 4 square Dimensionals from American Crafts to add dimension. I doodled white dots and evergreen dots with gel pens and felt-tip pens around the mat borders. The sentiment was stamped on a separate piece of white cardstock that I had trimmed to size, then sponged around the edge using Ancient Page Bordeaux ink for added interest. I stamped the leaf on the white cardstock, using Stampin Up! Forest Foliage ink, using the stamping off method. This gives it a second generation ink intensity which softens the image. I overstamped the sentiment using Adirondack Pitch Black ink. I doodled dots around the edges of the sentiment with an evergreen felt-tip marker. I embellished the card with a teal green ribbon, a pink photo anchor held in place with a pink rhinestone jeweled circular brad. I finished it off with a fabric covered circular big brad with pink jeweled bling. White doodle dots were added around the outside green/teal mat. Voila! Done.

A dry spell...

Indeed! Here in Maryland we've had a long spurt of dry days paving the way for many dry, brown leaves to drop to the ground long before it's usual time. When my husband and I took a day to visit Cape May and the Stone Harbor, New Jersey area, we came across a lovely flower and produce road stand on the way home. There I found a few "finds" that I just had to purchase. One was a blue hydrangea that was one fantastically healthy looking plant! I have another in my backyard, but between the large sugar maple tree that casts it's shade for most of the day and the numerous dry days we have had, it has met it's demise, I'm afraid. So, I was delighted to find a young, healthy replacement. When we returned home, I found the perfect spot around the side of my little yellow house, but I have had to hand water my new hydrangea every other day until it develops a good root system in the ground. I do hope the Lord brings some rain with the remnants of Hurricane Hanna as predicted, this weekend.

Parallel with the weather dry spell (that rhymes, doesn't it?), is my dry spell in uploading creations to share. It is not that I haven't created. I most certainly have. I have been as busy as a squirrel scurrying for nuts in late fall, as a September guest designer for Clear Dollar Stamps. The beautiful stamps that I have been using are a few of the new stamp sets that Clear Dollar Stamps will be offering for sale beginning October 1st. I will have plenty of photos to share and maybe even a few new ideas at that time. In the meantime, I hope that you will come back to visit sometime soon, as I hope to upload a few creations that I've made with some already released stamps.

By the way, if you're not familiar with Clear Dollar Stamps, click on the link on the right sidebar and treat yourself to a new shopping and/or browsing experience. Their stamps are quality polymer clear stamps and very reasonably priced...and who doesn't love that?

For Grandma Rose

Well, I was able to stamp last night...not just one card, but two cards! I wanted to post one of the cards in particular. One that I've entitled "For Grandma Rose". Grandma Rose is the grandmother of a dear friend and fellow sister of Splitcoaststampers.com, Laurie Ratajczyk, and Grandma Rose loves receiving handmade cards! I wanted to post this card as it's a fairly simple card to make yet looks like some time was put into it. Earlier, in my post, I forgot to mention that I "cased" this card from a good friend, also from Splitcoaststampers, Linda Anderson. "Casing" is when we cardmakers case copy another cardmaker's layout but change it up a little. So, I owe the layout of this design to Linda. This card measures 5-1/2" wide by 4-1/4" high. The designer paper that I used to create this card is from K&Co. I used a rose colored background drop against 3 coordinating papers: one is a rose, olive and ecru paisley print, an olive solid, and a quilted type print of ecru, olive, and rose. I glued all 3 panels to the rose background. Next, I made 3 nesting square mats using my Spellbinders Nestabilities in my Cuttlebug: Large was rose, medium in olive and small in white cardstock from Paper Trey. I sponged the edge of the white small center with Stampin' Up!'s Old Olive, after stamping the focal image in Stampin Up! Rose Red and Old Olive. I doodled around all 3 image mats with a black felt-tip pen, then popped them up on American Crafts Dimensionals square tabs for dimension. I embellished with 2 black square brads that I turned sideways to look like triangles, and then created a stacked ribbon for the finishing touch. To create a stacked ribbon, take 2 different width ribbons, glue the narrower one over the wider one then use as you wish. After I stacked the black and white polka dotted organza ribbon on a wider piece of white organza ribbon, I ran it under the matted, stamped focal image and secured it behind the sold rose background. Then, I made 2 more small pieces of the same stacked ribbon, tying them off a in 2 knotted ties. I then took the rose colored card base with all elements glued down and glued that to the foundation of white cardstock, 5-1/2 x 4-1/4". Voila! There you have it!