Autumn Splendour

A quick post from me before Downton Abbey starts :)

Shades of autumn, going into the following challenges:

Simply Create Too - Autumn Splendour

City Crafter - Fall Has Arrived

Magenta - Autumn

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - No Designer Paper

Autumn Has Landed

As soon as I saw this stamp, and more particularly, the beautiful cards that Heather and Micheline have been creating with it for Penny Black, I had to have it.  This is my first attempt with it, and I'm quite happy with it.  I'm entering it into Inkspirational, which has this photo for inspiration:

I'm also entering it into Simply Create Too, Autumn Splendour:

And City Crafter - Fall Has Arrived:

Leafy Thanks

When I was a kid I used to love kicking through autumn leaves - wet or dry, didn't matter which.  I still do it when we're out walking the dog.  I also used to chase pigeons in Trafalgar Square.  I'm proud to report that I resisted the urge (just) on my most recent trip to London ;)

Playing along with a few challenges with this card.  I've used the new Trendy Leaves set from STAMPlorations.  I wet a piece of mixed media card, then stamped the leaves using Big & Juicy Spice inkpad and let the colours blend and run.  It must be at least 10 years old but there's still plenty of ink in it, even though there aren't as many different shades as there used to be!

The sentiment is from the latest Winnie & Walter release, Winter Woodland.  The panel is mounted onto chocolate coloured card which has a hint of pearlised sheen to it.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

The Card Concept, but what style?  They might think it's a bit too grungy for clean and layered, so maybe I'll be shabby chic.

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash - Leaf Me Alone!

Simply Create Too - Thanksgiving/Thank You

AAA Cards - Play With Watercolours

Anniversary Wishes

I made this card from stuff that was just hanging around my desk.  The stencilled panel has been lying around since I did the Stencilled online class, the leaves are spares from a card I made in January, and the birdcage has been in my stash for too long.

I coloured the kraft birdcage and heart with a gold brush pen, sponged Bundled Sage Distress Ink onto the stencilled panel, stamped a sentiment banner, then put it all together with the help of a pearl and some wire.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Just Add Ink colour challenge:

Simply Create Too Shopping Your Stash

Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes With Pearls

Stamps: Paper Smooches Reflections, Stamping Bella Happy Anniversary

ETA:  At Kimberly's suggestion, I'm also entering it into Unscripted Sketches

Stitched Stripes and Flower Thanks

Back with my second post of the day.  (Click here for my first post.)

This card is loosely based on the current sketch for STAMPlorations, which closes tonight, so if you were planning to play along, get your skates on!  And if you incorporate stitching (real or stamped) you've got a twofer because you can enter it into the monthly challenge.

I'm entering it into Keep It Simple where the challenge is tropical.  I went for tropical colours - Bahama Blue, Summer Sky, New Sprout, Canteloupe and er, Dandelion (are there dandelions in the tropics?).

Because I've got green in there, I'm also entering it into Simply Create Too where the theme is St Patrick's Day or Use Green.

And at One Layer Simplicity the theme this month is repeat stamping.

Stamps:
STAMPlorations Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Pentagons
STAMPlorations Vignette Eclectic Florals

Wall HeART

I picked up this slightly damaged heart-shaped wall hanging in the sale section a store.  It only cost me £1 and as I wanted to alter it anyway, it didn't matter to me that it was a bit scuffed.  I meant to take a photo of it before I altered it, but I was so eager to start on it that I forgot.  Basically it was just a plain cream-painted heart, probably made from MDF rather than wood, with another little heart stuck on at the centre.  The hanging ribbon was already attached.

There were a few steps involved:

1. Sand all edges.
2. Scuff surface with distress tool.
3. Remove dust.
4. Stamp images onto tissue paper and dry with heat gun.
5. Paste stamped tissue onto heart surface using diluted PVA glue.
6. Go to cinema while project is drying - we watched The Railway Man.
7. Sand surplus tissue off.
8. Apply Brushed Pewter Distress Paint and Picket Fence Distress Stain.
9. Sponge edges and centre heart with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.
10. Adhere silver chain around centre heart.
11. Add Prima flower.

Here's a pre-cinema photo:

It's going into a few challenges:

Curtain Call Love Letter

Simon Says Monday Challenge Anything Goes

Simply Create Too Valentine's Day or Use Hearts

Penny Black Saturday Challenge New (new heart, and new Penny Black stamps)

Penny Black Sending Hugs

Here's another view.  All stamps Penny Black.

A Blueprint for Winter and Day 5 Advent Village

Sliding in under the wire with this card for Simply Create Too Snow or White on White.

And also for a new one for me, Just Us Girls, where the challenge is  a one layer winter card.

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 Here are the Advent Village houses for Day 5:

Short and sweet!

Blue Lace

My friend Maria has recently joined the Design Team on Simply Create Too, and their current challenge is a bingo challenge where you include all of the items under one letter:

I went for G: blue, lace, stamp, tag, polka dots (do bubble wrap impressions count as polka dots?)  I cut the tag from a sheet created with my Gelli plate.  You get fabulous lace impressions by pressing fabulous lace into the paint, removing it then pressing your card onto the plate.  I'd also made the bubble wrap dot impressions before pressing the card onto the plate, so it was achieved all in one go. There was a natural border between the dots and the lace, so I hand stitched a couple of lines using twine, which means I can enter it into the Less is More challenge:

String or Twine

And Simon Says Monday and Wednesday challenges are both having an Anything Goes week.

Stamp: Whimsy Stamps Simply Everyday Greetings