The Splendor of an Autumn Meadow


From the moment I unpacked it, I knew that the Autumn Splendor stamp set would be the first set I would ink up from my Holiday Mini pre-order. Since the Oak Leaf image was made to curl perfectly within a circle, it only seemed fitting to get my mojo on a second time this week and use the Mojo 98 sketch. Distressing was called for in order to mute some of the brighter colors, and a little jute completes the “natural” look. Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper is the perfect partner for this set. So settle back in your comfy chair and enjoy the Splendor of an Autumn Meadow!
  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Really Rust and score at the top. Layer with More Mustard.
  • Using the Circle Scissors Plus and Glass Mat, prepare a 2-3/4″ circle from Very Vanilla. Load a Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker into the Color Spritzer Tool and spritz away! (Tip: Practice on scratch paper first in order to perfect the technique.) Ink the Oak Leaf image with Basic Brown and stamp onto the spritzed circle. (Tip: You will need to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement.) Using Blender Pens and the following inks, color the leaf: Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, and Chocolate Chip. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Layer the image onto a scalloped circle which was created from Taken with Teal using the Big Shot and Scallop Circle Nestabilities. Mat this onto textured More Mustard followed by Really Rust.
  • Using Stampin’ Dimensionals, “pop” the above layers onto the “Brown Leaves” pattern from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper, which has had its corners punched with the Ticket Corner Punch. This is then layered onto Taken with Teal, which has had its edges distressed with Chocolate Chip.
  • Layer all of this onto “Very Vanilla/Taken with Teal Faux Wood” from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper. Add a snippet of Tempting Turquoise 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, knotted and tied off with jute. (Tip: To tone down the Taken with Teal, sponge it lightly with the Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.)
  • Add a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button, through which a sliver of Really Rust card stock had been threaded.
  • Ink the “Acorn” image from Autumn Splendor with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Spritz with Taken with Teal as outlined above. Color the acorns using Blender Pens and Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel inks. (Mmmm…Cocoa and Caramel!) Distress the edges by using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Punch the colored image out using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. Layer onto a Taken with Teal scalloped circle, which was cut using Big Shot and Nestabilities. Distress the edges of the Taken with Teal with Chocolate Chip. Position and adhere to the Oak Leaf with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Although this card may look relatively simple, trust me…it takes a lot of time! There is spritzing, distressing, tying, watercoloring, and punching. Of course, each technique is quick and easy in itself. It’s only when you combine several! For my background paper selection, I have my son, Brady, to thank. He was so mesmorized by the faux wood in the Autumn Meadows collection, that he wanted me to use it. Since I only have him at home for another two weeks, I gave in! I think that the Taken with Teal lends the entire card an almost Southwestern look.
Don’t forget to play the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. Mr. Linky will close Tuesday at Noon, CST. So you still have plenty of time to participate. Who knows…You could be one of the three new Pals Paper Arts Artists Pick for Challenge 2! Congratulations to this week’s winners Nancy Riley, Paula Goff, and Leigh Ann. Head on over to the PPA to see these talented designers’ creations!
The Stampin’ Schach Healthy Living Tip: I want all of you to enjoy your stamping and card making for years to come. That is why I am reminding you of the importance of routine screening tests, especially for those of you who are my age…which is a nice age, by the way! Routine tests allow our health care professionals to discover certain problems early on, when treatments are the most successful!
And as always, I love your comments and emails! I read them all, and respond if necessary. If you ever have questions about any of the techniques that I use, do not be afraid to email me and ask. I am the teacher of teenagers…I have been asked a myriad of questions on all topics over the past 33 years…so I can tell you that no question is ever a silly question! How else can you learn? Until next time…

Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor (116503—Available September 1)
Inks: Basic Brown (104315), Chocolate Chip (100908), Close to Cocoa (103139), Creamy Caramel (103220), Really Rust (102549), More Mustard (103162), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker (100068)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper (116769—Available September 1)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Taken with Teal textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted), More Mustard textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), More Mustard (100946), Really Rust textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Really Rust (100661)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Ticket Corner Punch (107214), 1-1/4” Circle Punch (104403), Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Big Shot (113439), Nestabilities (Non-Stampin’ Up!), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Tempting Turquoise ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (109038), Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button (114339), Jute (Non-Stampin’ Up!)

Snowmen Pals—PPA Two

Hooray! It’s Thursday, and that means that it’s time for another Pals Paper Arts Challenge! This week it is a “Sketch” challenge designed by the talented Margaret Moody, a fellow Pal. I love this sketch and will definitely add it to my ever-growing arsenal of “go-to” sketches. My inspiration card for today features “The More the Merrier” Hostess Level 3 stamp set and Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper. Take a quick peek at today’s recipe, leave a comment, and then hop on over and “Play at the PPA!”

  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Taken with Teal.

  • Select the Taken with Teal pattern from Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper, and punch the bottom with the Scallop Edge Punch. Layer this onto textured Sahara Sand, which has also had the bottom punched with the Scallop Edge Punch. Add a snippet of Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “Snowmen” stamp from “The More the Merrier” with Basic Gray and stamp onto Stampin’ Up!s Watercolor Paper. Color as illustrated with Blender Pens and the following inks: Taken with Teal, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Dusty Durango.

  • Mat onto Taken with Teal, followed by Sahara Sand. Position and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “Warm Winter Wishes” sentiment with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch with the Oval Window Punch, and adhere to a Sahara Sand Modern Label.

  • Once again using the Modern Label Punch, punch a second label, this time from Taken with Teal. Cut this label in half, and layer behind the Sahara Sand tag. Position and adhere atop the Melon Mambo Ribbon.

Remember, sketch challenges are open to interpretations! Feel free to add sentiments and embellishments. So head on over to the PPA, check out the other fabulous inspiration cards, and start creating. I can hardly wait to see what you create this week! Just like last week, I hope to be able to leave a comment for everyone!

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 (115322)
Inks: Basic Gray (109120), Basic Black (101179), Taken with Teal (103257), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Crushed Curry (115659), Dusty Durango (115654), Melon Mambo (115656)
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Lounge (115676)
Card Stock: Taken with Teal Textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted), Sahara Sand Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Whisper White (100730), Watercolor (105019)
Tools: Word Window Punch (105090), Modern Label Punch (116630)
Embellishments: Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611)

Purple Greenhouse Garden Mojo


I have always admired those stampers who could combine multiple challenges into one card. Today I almost succeeded! Using the Mojo Monday sketch as my basis, I attempted to couple it with the Our Creative Corner “Purple Challenge”. However, I had to add a “pop” of yellow to that sea of purple! The flowers cascading from the circle were stamped from the Greenhouse Garden set. Typically I am not a fan of Two-Step Stampin‘ , but this set has converted me. The pattern paper is from one of my new favorite collections, Cottage Wall!

  • Prepare a standard card base from Rich Razzleberry, and score at the top. Layer with “Striped” Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper, to which a snippet of Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon has been added.
  • Set the Circle Scissors Plus at 2-3/4″ and cut a circle from Whisper White. Stamp with an assortment of Greenhouse Garden flowers, as illustrated. Also stamp a variety of flowers onto Whisper White and snip out with Paper Snips. The color combinations which I used were: Lavender Lace and Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo, Pale Plum and Elegant Eggplant, Barely Banana and Crushed Curry, Barely Banana and Perfect Plum. (Tip: Use the lighter inks for the flowers and darker inks for the detail stamps. Of course, the Stamp-a-ma-jig is a necessity for perfect placement of the detail stamps.)
  • Set the Circle Scissors Plus at 3″ and cut a circle from the light “Lavender Floral” paper from Cottage Wall. I selected a section which did not have any pattern on it for my circle. I loved how this color coordinated with the rest of the card, so I just had to use it!
  • Mat the Whisper White circle onto the Lavender Floral circle. Attach the snipped flowers, popping the larger one on with a Stampin‘ Dimensional.
  • Mat a square of Rich Razzleberry textured card stock onto Barely Banana. Subsequently mat this onto a square of “Geometric Orchid” Cottage Wall paper, which has been layered onto Rich Razzleberry card stock. Attach these layers to the card base as illustrated.
  • Adhere the floral circle section as the final step, positioning it on top of the textured Rich Razzleberry. (Because I always like a little “bling”, I added Micro Beads to the centers of the flowers….Adding Micro Beads is so easy! Just use Tombow Adhesive, add the beads and remove the excess.)

I loved the end product, and how it appears that the flowers are cascading from the circle. I hope the Our Creative Corner crew forgives my touch of Barely Banana in the “Purple Challenge”! Speaking of challenges, there is still time to participate in the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. You have until Noon (CST) Tuesday to submit your entry.

Missy the Boxer Update: Missy went back to the veterinarian today for her check-up. She is feeling so much better. We seem to be able to control her symptoms with her meds, which is excellent news! And my rib is feeling much better, too! I do have to watch how I twist, but I am feeling much better than I would have thought in this short amount of time!

I hope that you enjoyed today’s card showcasing the Garden Greenhouse set. Hopefully I will have a creation for you tomorrow. However, over the next two days, I do have to take time out for some medical tests. After age 55, if it’s not one thing…it’s another! Remember, as I always remind you, your comments and emails are important to me! And, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Until next time…

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden (113824)
Inks: Lavender Lace (101305), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Pretty in Pink (101301), Melon Mambo (115656), Pale Plum (102732), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Barely Banana (101170), Crushed Curry (115659), Perfect Plum (101437)
Designer Paper: Cottage Wall (115671)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry Textured (115538—In-Colors Assorted), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Barely Banana (102701)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Paper Snips (103579), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Tombow Adhesive (110755), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)