Fall is in the Air

With my school year starting Monday, I decided to spend my last Saturday of summer vacation celebrating my favorite season…Fall. Autumn Splendor, available September 1, is a beautiful stamp set, perfect for watercoloring. This time I paired the Maple Leaf image from this set with Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper. The very versatile sketch is Splitcoast’s Sketch Challenge #241. A quick card to create, it features doubled buttons, wood cuts, and ink distressing. Doesn’t it just exude autumn in all of it’s colorful glory?

  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Really Rust. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Round opposite corners of the More Mustard pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper with a Corner Rounder, and layer onto the card base.
  • For the wider vertical element, ink distress the “Small Maple Leaf” pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper and layer onto Always Artichoke. Do exactly the same for the narrower element, this time using the “Stripes” pattern from the same Designer Series Paper. Adhere these vertical mats onto the card base.
  • For the image, ink the Maple Leaf stamp from Autumn Splendor with Basic Brown and stamp onto Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper. Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun. Ink distress the edges and mat onto ink distressed Wood Cuts, followed by Really Rust. Wrap with Linen Thread and pop onto the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  • For the finishing touch, prepare three button accents using selections from the Playground and Button Latte collections. Adhere to the card base as illustrated with Mini Glue Dots. (Tip: My buttons were created by using flat Real Red buttons and sewing on the tiny flower buttons with Linen Thread.)
Autumn Splendor is one of my favorite sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I love it paired with either of the new “Autumn” Designer Series Papers. Whether it’s Autumn Meadows, which is especially lovely with the Oak Leaf stamp or Autumn Traditions with the Maple Leaf stamp, you have the combination for a winning card!
Have you “Played @ PPA” yet? Are YOU the next PPA “Artist Pick”? Check out the action at Pals Paper Arts. But before you say good-bye, please leave me a comment. And, if you have any questions about a card that I may create or a technique I might use, please drop me an email. Your comments and emails are important to me! Until next time…

Please Click to Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor (116503—Available September 1)
Ink: Basic Brown (104315), Ruby Red (102259), More Mustard (103162), Close to Cocoa (103139), Always Artichoke (105219), Really Rust (102549), Dusty Durango (115654), Chocolate Chip (100908)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Traditions (115668)
Card Stock: Really Rust textured (), Always Artichoke (105119), Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper (105019)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Blender Pens (102845), Sponge Dauber (102892)
Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Playground Button Collection (116313), Button Latte Collection (114333)
Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Ornament Trio


If you are in need of a quick and easy holiday card, then reach for Delightful Decorations! Non-traditional holiday colors of Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, and Old Olive team up to create a fun and festive card that will surely stand out in the crowd! Stampin’ Up!s Jumbo Snowflake Punch is used to accent the sentiment, while little snowflakes from Merry and Bright Rub-Ons accentuate the ornaments. And of course, what holiday card would be complete without a little bling, this time in the form of Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads! Sneak peeks abound in this “Trio of Ornaments”!
  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ square card base from textured Old Olive card stock. Using a Corner Rounder, round all four corners.
  • Ink the trio of ornaments from Delightful Decorations with the following inks: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive. Stamp onto Whisper White card stock and punch out using the Ornament Punch (available September 1st). Embellish each with a Clear Rhinestone Circle Brad.
  • Pop the ornaments onto textured Very Vanilla card stock which has been matted onto Old Olive card stock, followed by Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry. For added interest, the Rich Razzleberry has been punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. Adhere to the card base.
  • Using the tool provided, add a sprinkle of rub-on snowflakes from the Merry and Bright collection (available September 1st).
  • Add a snippet of Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon as illustrated in the photograph.
  • Punch a snowflake from Bermuda Bay using the Jumbo Snowflake Punch and adhere to the card base with a Mini-Glue Dot.
  • Ink the “Warm Winter Wishes” sentiment from The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 set in Rich Razzleberry, and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Modern Label Punch and adhere on top of the Bermuda Bay snowflake.
I love these colors together! With the new Ornament Punch, available September 1, cards like this will be a snap to make. Of course, being able to pre-order Delightful Decorations and the Ornament Punch, as well as creating your own sneak peeks, are just two of the many perks available to you as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I would love to have you join my group. There is still time to take advantage of the $85 demonstrator special. Click here to learn how you can join my downline! I provide support to my downline every step of the way, from placing your first order to setting up a blog! I also help you keep abreast of all the Stampin’ Up! news. As an added incentive, I am offering a set of the new In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers to the next three recruits who join me before August 31st! I will also provide you with a retired stamp set of your choice from this past year’s Sale-A-Bration, while quantities last! Please email me if you have any questions, or would like my recruiting password!
Update on Yesterday’s Card: If you were wondering if yesterday’s Non-Traditional Snowflake card was a success, yes it was! My friend was very happy with it, and will be placing an order for Serene Snowflakes and Night & Day Designer Paper just as soon as it becomes available on September 1st.
As always, your comments and emails are important to me! Trust me…I am plotting and planning on a way to reward you…and you know what that means! Details will be coming very soon! So get into the habit of leaving those comments when you stop by! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations (116517—Available September 1), The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 (115322)
Inks: Bermuda Bay (115655), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277)
Card Stock: Old Olive textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Very Vanilla textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), Bermuda Bay (115317), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Tools: Ornament Punch (116794—Available September 1), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628), Modern Label Punch (116630), Eyelet Border Punch (113692)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), Merry and Bright Rub-Ons (116801—Available September 1)

Really Non-Traditional Serene Snowflake


After a non-stamping friend of mine saw the “Serene Snowflakes” stamp set, she insisted that I design her Christmas cards for her using this set. In return, she would purchase her supplies from me. It sounded like a wonderful proposition to me. After all, I love to stamp and this stamp set is gorgeous! The wheels in my head were already turning…thinking in terms of Iridescent Ice and glitter. And then came the catch. My friend would be the first to tell you that she “thinks outside of the box” and “marches to her own drummer”. Her requirements were that the card be non-traditional, maybe using blacks and reds. It needed to be “edgy” like her! Oh, my! What had I gotten myself into? But, I armed myself with Real Red, Basic Black, and the phenomenal new Specialty Designer Series Paper, Night & Day, and gave it the old college try. I love non-traditional Christmas cards, but my idea of non-traditional is stamping Dasher in Old Olive…Ho! Ho! Ho! Er, I mean Ha! Ha! Ha! Well, what can I say? I think it is a wee bit on the “edgy” side…Let’s hope that she does, too!
  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Basic Black.
  • Ink the Large Snowflake image from Serene Snowflakes with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Color using Real Red and Blender Pens. Punch the corners using the Ticket Corner Punch. Mat onto Real Red, followed by Whisper White and Basic Black.
  • Add a Filigree Brad and a small Red Circle Fire Brad to the center of the snowflake. Silver Brads accent each punched corner.
  • Layer a selection from Night and Day Specialty Designer Series Paper onto Whisper White. (Tip: Click on the photo to enlarge the wonderful pattern I selected.) Add snippets of 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbons in Real Red and Old Olive. Adhere to the card base.
  • Position and adhere the image mat to the card base.
  • Ink the “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch with the Modern Label Punch. Adhere to a Designer Label which has been punched from Old Olive and paper pierced.
  • Punch a second Designer Label from Real Red and cut into horizontal halves. Adhere each half to shadow the Old Olive label as illustrated in the photograph. Position and adhere the sentiment, and pop onto the card using a Stampin‘ Dimensional.
The Stampin‘ Schach Tip of the Day: Designing for someone else can be both fun and stressful. It’s important to incorporate the design elements they want, while at the same time letting your own personality shine through, since that is why they were probably attracted to your work in the first place!
Today was spent unpacking and storing my lab supplies at school. As many of you know, I teach high school science. This year I will be teaching two sections of Biology, three sections of Chemistry, and a section each of Anatomy & Physiology and Physics. I am looking forward to settling back into my routine, although I am sure that for a few weeks it will encroach upon my card making time!
Have you participated in the Pals Paper Arts challenge yet? Mr. Linky will close at 12 Noon CST Tuesday. So you still have plenty of time to participate. I am always amazed at the talent there is in the stamping world. As one of the Design Team members, I really enjoy looking at all of our entries and leaving comments. And…of course, as usual…will you please leave a comment for me? I do read them all, and I do respond to questions that I receive. They are important to me. It is great to know that you are indeed looking at my work! Until next time…

Order Your Stampin‘ Up! Supplies 24/7!
Stamp Sets: Serene Snowflakes (115438—Available September 1st), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Inks: Basic Black (101179), Real Red (103133)
Designer Series Paper: Night and Day Specialty Designer Series Paper (116768—Available September 1st)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482), Basic Black (102851), Old Olive (100702)
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch (107214), Modern Label Punch (116630), Designer Label Punch (107590), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Blender Pens (102845)
Embellishments: Filigree Brads (112577), Circle Fire Brads (109110), Silver Brads (104336), Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109052), Old Olive 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109054)