Falling Leaves

It's the countdown to Thanksgiving here in Canada, so as you may have noticed already, I've been showcasing fall and Thanksgiving cards this week. :) It's my favourite time of year!

I used the masking tape technique for this card. I think it's a perfect fit! It created a rustic-looking base layer to my card. I used my oh-so-favourite, but sadly retired, French Foliage stamp set and then added some burlap for added texture. Truth be told, it was added to cover up a sentiment I didn't like. :) I'm glad to have made that mistake because the burlap really works for me. It give the card a lot of texture and dimension, plus, the smaller sentiment works better than what I previously used.

If you're interested in purchasing this card (and seeing more pictures of it), you can do so here.

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Naturals White, Chocolate Chip
Stamps: French Foliage (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Decorative Label Punch, Distressing Tool
Accessories: Brads, 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon
Techniques: Masking Tape, Distressing

It's a Sketch Week!

Well, a sketch week for two weeks that is! If you didn't know already, Sunday Stamps is a bi-weekly challenge now... leaves you plenty of time to join us!! This time around, Marie has a great sketch for us. It's her first time hosting a sketch, so show her some love and play along, won't you?

I kept my card fairly simple. Only one layer and no "bling". Gasp! I love it though. I added a couple more pieces than what appear in the sketch, but the basic elements are all there and that's what sketch challenges are all about.

Since next weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and Fall is my favourite time of year, I created a Thanksgiving card. The wavy element in the sketch reminded me of leaves blowing in the wind. I simply created a template from scratch paper to mask my area and stamped away. I then stamped the three leaves in Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit and Cherry Cobbler tone-on-tone on top of cardstock. I ruffly cut out each leaf, distressed the edges with my scissors and scrunched them up to give them more dimension. To add to the harvest feel, I took out some strings from the new burlap ribbon from the Holiday Catalogue (LOVE it!) and tied together with a piece of twine.

Hope you'll play along with us - you have until October 18th! Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT Designs too because they will inspire you!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: French Foliage (retired)
Tools: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Accessories: Twine, 1/4" Burlap Ribbon
Techniques: Distressing

Rolling with Gold at Sunday Stamps

Good morning & happy Sunday! It's another gorgeous day here and it's gonna be a great day! Starting off with another Sunday Stamps Challenge, followed by some tidying up (OK, maybe that's not so much fun) and then my card class later this afternoon.

This week's challenge is hosted by Tara and the colours are Pretty in Pink, Midnight Muse & Gold. Since I'm making some custom thank you cards for a bride-to-be, I thought this might be the perfect challenge for that.

Paper: WW Note Cards & Envelopes
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Midnight Muse, Gold (non SU!)
Stamps: Sincere Salutations (retired), Artistic Etchings, French Foliage

The bride's theme (for her shower) is Paris. How perfect is the Artistic Etchings stamps set for that?! Sadly, it's retiring this year, so if you want it, you better get your hands on it before June 3rd! Another favourite of mine is French Foliage (also retiring!) and really, the two are PERFECT to pair together.

I know there's not much happening with my card today in terms of bling & such. But I also wanted to showcase to you that you don't always need much. Sometimes all you need is some paper & stamps. Keeping it clean & simple and just using the basics!

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the design team has created & hope you'll play along with us this week too!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Swapping

As promised, here are the swaps I created for the Hamilton Regionals on the weekend:

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Stamps: Love & Laughter
Tools: Big Shot, Polka Dots TIEF, Heat Tool, Clear Blocks, 1" Square Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch
Accessories: Basic Gray Stitched Ribbon, Jewels, Pewter EP
Techniques: Clear Block Stamping, Heat Embossing

Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Comfort Cafe DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede
Stamps: French Foliage, Occasions Alphabet
Tools: Big Shot, Large Scallop Edgelit, Clear Blocks, Scalllop Circle Punch, Decorative Label Punch
Accessories: Very Vanilla Ribbon, Pearls
Techniques: Clear Block Stamping

For each of my Swaps, I used the Clear Block Stamping Technique. This is where you take your Clear Blocks (I used SU! Blocks C & D), ink 'em up as you would a stamp and then stamp them on your paper. It adds so much interest to a project and you get a "wow" factor without having to use extra tools or anything. The best part is that you get a different look every time you stamp again with them so no two projects will be exactly the same. The only trick is to make sure you don't move the block once it touches the paper or else you smear - same as stamps, but the blocks are more slippery. Hope I've inspired you to give it a try too!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph