Butterfly Collection

I love butterflies.  What!  You hadn't noticed?  LOL. When I saw this Butterfly Collection Wheel in the big catalog, you know I had to order it.  And I had to take it off the wheel so I could us it as a regular stamp.

Edited to add:  Lil' Inker Designs is celebrating their 3rd birthday!  I'm new to the Lil' Inker's obsession bandwagon.  But I love these stitched rectangle mats and as soon as I save some more pennies, I'll be ordering more from these folks.

I think hope these butterfly colors kinda go with this picture and along with the stitched mat will count.

Did I say there were prizes?  You know they are and I could sure use a gift certificate to buy some more of their fantastic products! Pennies add up slow!

Did you notice it's a one layer card?  I haven't made a one layer card in quite a while.  I think it's about time I played with the One Layer Wednesday challenge again.  Ardyth of MASKerade is hosting the challenge this week and she posted an inspiration photo.

The Queen for the Day challenge this week is honoring past queens whose blog names begin with P-R.  When I saw this card by pegmac71, I knew just what I wanted to do.  And for a change it worked out just like I envisioned.

Paper Players Challenge #159 is 

Ann's Clean and Simple One-Layer Card Challenge

The Thanksgiving Crusade has been launched by Susan of Simplicity fame. 

In her words " we're crusading to save the message of Thanksgiving amidst the rush-rush-rush of the busy holiday season".   

She has a linky so you can add any Thanksgiving/Gratitude cards over there.  Then send them out and let those special people in your life know how much they mean to you.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Butterfly Collection Jumbo Wheel (gone wheel-less)

Ink:  Bermuda Bay, SU Markers (Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay)

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Stamp-a-majig, Stitched Mats: Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Rhinestones (?)

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the butterflies and inked with markers.  After giving the whole stamp a good huff, I stamped.  Some of the butterflies didn't stamp well so I swiped some ink on a plastic lid and picked up color with the blender pen to fill in the rough spots.  I like the way they aren't perfectly solid.

To go wheel-less,  use a kraft knife to open the seam then microwave the wheel for 10 seconds.  Gently remove the rubber from the wheel and peel off the glue from the back of the stamp.  I usually trim the end off so it will fit on my longest block measuring @5 1/2".

Thanks so much for the visit.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Mum

I had some time to play yesterday.  Hurray!  I didn't get chrysanthemums for my front porch this Fall.  So I put one on a card.

There's a  new CAS challenge out there.  I missed the deadline last week and I'm in danger of missing it this morning.  The challenge is CAS(E) this Sketch.  This is the sketch for week 2.  Isn't this a wonderful sketch?

The Dynamic Duos colors this week are

And at Less is More this week, Chrissie is asking for AUTUMN

So here's my Autumn card using this sketch and these colors.

And I'll take this over to the Simplicity site for Susan's Gratitude Campaign.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Creative Elements, Small Script (retired)

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Marker (Pumpkin Pie)

Paper:  Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Other:  Blender Pen, Basic Pearl (colored with Sharpie)

Thanks for stopping by.  I love  your comments and returning the visit.

Enjoy!

One Layer Give Thanks

I'm just under the wire for the One Layer Wednesday challenge.  Last week it was hosted by Karen of the blog Snippets.  She challenged us to use MASKING on a card.  This is what I came up with....

I cut a mask out of a sticky note (the lines really help to cut straight) and laid it on the card front, then inked up my Woodgrain Background stamp with Crumb Cake, stamped off once and stamped.  

I used a little thumping on the leaves and added some red "berries".  

We have 2 dogwood trees in our back yard that are decked out with lots of red berries as well as colorful leaves.  I've been enjoying all that color.  Our back windows are filled with that beauty!

When I was trying to think of what to do for this challenge, I saw this card by Polly P. aka know as peeps321 at SCS.  She's the Queen for the Day this week.  When I saw her card the idea just came together. Thanks Polly for the inspiration.  I hope you enjoy your week as Queen!

And The Friday Mashup challenge is

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Fall Leaves" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Twine".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Fall Leaves Themed project using Twine". 

I didn't add any twine,  but I think it would look really good.  Maybe I'll go add some.  Imagine it with Early Espresso Baker's Twine.  Yep, I think that would work.

I'll post this on Susan's sidebar for her Gratitude Campaign.  I think it's a wonderful idea to show our gratitude to people who make a difference in our lives.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Woodgrain, Take Care, Whacked Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel (retired)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, SU Markers (Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler)

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Simply Scored, Basic Pearls

I'm going to have to toot my horn a little.  I'm so excited!  When I went to check out the colors at colourQ this week, I saw that my Happy Autumn card was the winner.  I've been a Courtier several times, but never the Queen.  Those colors were fantastic!  The same card was a Favorite at SCS last week too.  It makes me happy to know that this card was enjoyed that much.

Thanks for stopping by.  And a special thanks for your vote of confidence.

Enjoy!

Happy Autumn

I love Autumn with the cooler temperatures, the changing colors and the smell of wood smoke in the air!

I used both the "Rock and Roll" and "Thumping" techniques on the leaves as well as "masking".  It sounds like a lot, but it came together very quickly.

It looks like this will fit 5 challenges.  I'm slightly dizzy from the thrill of that!

CAS at SCS to use this photo as inspiration.

ColourQ #155

CAS-ual Fridays #71

Friday Mashup #77

Gratutude Campaign

All supplies are Stampin Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  French Foliage, Small Script (retired)

Ink:  Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, SU Markers (same colors)

Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Other:  Glossy Accents, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Linen Thread

I'm really grateful that the wood smoke I've been smelling is from a fire pit in the neighbors yard and not a forest fire!  My prayers go out to those in the west who are having to deal with those horrible fires and those recovering from fires earlier in the year.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm grateful to you for taking the time.

Enjoy!

Gratitude Banners

Just a really quick post today.

I wanted to honor the Featured Stamper, Tricia, at SCS this week.  I saw lots in her gallery that I would love to CASE.  Time limits though so I chose this one.  I used Fall colors and changed the sentiment and ribbon.

And it fits the Paper Players challenge this week

It kinda looks like their sign doesn't it.  I didn't realize it until just now.

And since I used some of those little snippets that multiply like rabbits, I think I'll pay another visit to the ladies at the Pixie's Crafty Workshop playground.

And it will join the others in the Gratitude Campaign over at Simplicity!  Go see what she says.  She can say it so much better than I can. 

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: Bright Blessings whacked up Jumbo Wheel (retired)

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Whisper White, Snippets of DSP and cardstock

Other:  Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I really appreciate your visits and comments.

Enjoy!

Gratitude Inspired by Loll

Susan, at Simplicity, has kicked off her 2012 Gratitude Campaign.  In her words, "The Gratitude Campaign is my annual attempt to save Thanksgiving from the commercial limbo between Halloween and Christmas. I resent that Thanksgiving only gets an end-cap at Target...So every year for Thanksgiving, I send cards to random people in my life, telling them how grateful I am to know them."

I thought this was a fantastic idea last year but didn't get around to doing it.  I was really sorry that I didn't make the time.  This year I'm determined to do at least a few Gratitude cards.  Here's the first one.

One of the things I'm grateful for is inspiration from amazing card makers.  The Queen for the Day at SCS this week is one of these people.  You can see the card that inspired me here.  Loll does beautiful CAS cards and manages to add the WOW factor to each one.  Her blog is Stamping with Loll.  Have a peek.

And as if her inspiration isn't enough, Loll has given me the Liebster Award.  

Here's the details of the award:

ABOUT THE AWARD

This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to blogs that you like that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these new blogs.

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

Thank you Loll.  I am honored!  I have so many favorite bloggers that I don't feel like I can choose just 5.  If you look at my profile, you'll see the fantastic blogs that I follow and I try to link to them for you from time to time.  I hate taking time away from visiting all your wonderful blogs by naming just a few.

Another note on Gratitude.  Susan has also started another blog called transforming common days. It's a place to express "Radical Gratitude".  That caught my attention.  I don't get there every day but I'm always glad when I do.  I'm trying to at least add a special blessing to my journal each day and sometimes I get over to Susan's and share it.  It's helping me to be able to express the gratitude that I feel and just don't take the time to express.  There's so much negativity in the world.  This is a bright spot with lots of positive thoughts and sharing.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps: Bright Blessings (retired Jumbo Wheel)
Ink:  Cajun Craze
Paper:  Heavy White, Watercolor (non Stampin' Up!)
Other:  Re-inkers, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Aqua Painter, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Woodgrain EF

The panel behind the cut out leaves is a piece of the Watercolor Splotches technique.  You can see the tutorial here.

Thanks for coming by.  I'm grateful for each and every one of you.

Enjoy!