End of August already?!?

For my card share today I am featuring a card based on this fabulous fall photo from Better Homes and Gardens.  And yes, it is for the DOstamper STARS Thursday Challenge.  Of course today isn't Thursday - not really sure what happened to the past few days (weeks - yikes)!

Last Sunday, I don't think the high in Green Bay, WI even hit 70 degrees.  The normal high for this time of the year should be at least 10 degrees warmer.  My husband I and took the kids for a bike ride and with the breeze, I was wishing I had something to cover my ears.  And, yes, it felt like fall to me.  I love autumn.  I love the way the leaves change color and there is a crispness in the air - however, not in August.

 

 

Anyway, here is my card.  I used a lot of the elements in the photo.  I stamped the Lost Lagoon background layer with the World Map stamp.  Then I dusted off my Truly Grateful stamp set (haven't used it since last fall and was so happy it was carried over to the 2014-15 annual catalog).  The images are stamped with Sahara Sand, Hello Honey and Cajun Craze. 

 

 

I added some Early Espresso Baker's Twine and some of the Neutrals Candy Dots.  That completes my card for today.

Thanks for stopping by.  Visit my fellow STARS for my more inspiration.

 

Sharon Bennett
Robyn Rassett
Miriam Bollinger
Dawn Olchefske

Connie Plaumann

All items Stampin' Up unless noted.

Stamps:  World Map, Truly Grateful

Paper:  Lost Lagoon, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Sahara Sand

Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Sahara Sand

Other:  Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Neutrals Candy Dots 

Thursday STARS Challenge

Happy Halloween!!  Today's challenge is a photo challenge.  The photo has such an autumn feel.  I was inspired by the colors and the acorns for my card today.

I created the acorns by using the Chalk Talk Framelits.  I just cut them down to the size that looked right for the card.  This was my first time using Soft Sky.  It is a fun blue color. 

 

Check out my fellow STARS' projects as well:

Jan Carlson

Linda Kaufman

Robyn Rasset

Dawn Olchefske

Miriam Bollinger

All items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp: Truly Grateful, Four You

Paper:  Soft Sky, Sweater Weather, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Soft Sky, Early Espresso

Other:  Labels Collection Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits

Truly Grateful Turkeys

It is the last weekend of October already.  Where has the month gone?  I am sharing the final project in my October Truly Grateful Project Series. For today's project I found a little inspiration on Pinterest.  This project was designed by fellow Stampin' Up demonstrator Kirsteen Gill.  I am again using the Gift Bow Bigz L die from Stampin' Up.  I love this little turkey.  I think he would be great at the "kid's table" of your holiday dinner - marking a special spot for each child.

 

 

For the colorful feathers, I used the largest stamp in the Truly Grateful stamp set.  I stamped both the bow tail and the small bow loop using matching ink.  These are then adhered to the largest circle in the Circle Collection Framelits Die cut in half.  The next layer of Early Espresso "feathers" is adhered to the 2nd largest Circle Framelit from the same collection.  For the turkey body, I left one plain and then thought it looked too flat.  So, I had to step it up a bit with the second turkey.  I used the Chevron Embossing folder on his body and wings.  I think it adds so much dimesion and interest.  I used the 1" X 8" Cellophane Bag from Stampin' Up for the legs.  They are filled with a special treat for your little guests.

 

I hope you have enjoyed these projects and will use some of these ideas for the upcoming holidays.  Thanks again for stopping by.

All items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp: Truly Grateful

Paper:  Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze

Other:  1" x 8" Cellophane Bag, Google Eyes (non-SU), Gift Bow Bigz L Die, Modern Label Punch, Circle Collection Framelits Die, Sticky Strip, Chevron TIEF

Autumn Sampler

Today I am featuring a home décor project.  This Autumn Sampler features many different images and punches from Stampin' Up.  I chose the colors based on Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper. 

Here is the unframed sampler: 

Each of the 9 squares has a finished size of 2 1/4".  Many of the squares have elements that are 3-dimensional, such as the rosette, the pumpkin and the butterfly.  To really showcase these, the layout is framed in a shadow box.

Hope you give this type of project a try.

All items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp: Truly Grateful, Gorgeous Grunge, Lovely as a Tree, Papillon Potpourri, Label Love, Pennant Builder

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Sweater Weather DSP

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango,

Punches:  Owl Builder, 1" Circle, Elegant Butterfly, Artisan Label, Bird, Decorative Label

Other:  Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Naturals Designer Buttons

Miscellaneous:  8 x10 Shadow Box, Michaels

Truly Grateful Pumpkins

This is the third project in my October Truly Grateful Project Series.

For today’s project I have created some fun pumpkins. They are created using the Gift Bow Bigz L Die from Stampin' Up. They are sitting on a small table in my family room with a candle and some other fall decorations and they look great. These would also mix well in a Thanksgiving tablescape.

Check out this tutorial for my pumpkins. 

Stamp: Truly Grateful
Paper: Pumpkin Pie (Large), Cajun Craze (Medium), Tangerine Tango (Small), Always Artichoke (Leaves), Chocolate Chip (Stem)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke
Embellishments: Linen Thread, 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon, Naturals Designer Buttons, Gift Bow Bigz L Die
Circle Punches/Framelits: Various
Other: Hot Glue gun and Hot Glue

Truly Grateful Gift Tag

Welcome back to my October Truly Grateful Project Series.  For my next project, I am featuring a Gift Tag.  This could be used on a wine bottle that you are bringing to a holiday party or just to add more interest to your Thanksgiving tablescape.

 

 

 

 

This project can be created easily and adds a lot of impact.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Next week we will be stepping things up a bit with the addition of the Gift Bow Bigz L Die - but there won't be any bows.

 

All items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp: Truly Grateful

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip

Other:  Chalk Talk Framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Chevron Embossing Folder, Naturals Designer Buttons

Truly Grateful Fall Project Series

As a special series in October, I will be focusing on one stamp set and showing a variety of ways to combine the stamps with limited supplies to create cards and home décor items.

The stamp set used in these projects is Truly Grateful which is featured in the current Stampin' Up Holiday Catalog.

Since yesterday was World Card Making Day, my first project is a card.  This really showcases my stamping style.  I like to use all the stamps in a set to get the most of my sets.  I stamped the round tree layer on Crumb Cake to create my background paper.  The acorns were stamped on a strip of Crushed Curry.  The sentiment was stamped on the second largest Chalk Talk Framelit that was actually cut twice to create this "custom" shape.  Linen Thread was wrapped around the Burlap Ribbon and tied with a button.  The Chocolate Chip tag was embossed using the Chevron Embossing Folder.

 

 

  

Hope you enjoy this project.  Check back next Sunday for my next project.

 

All items Stampin' Up unless noted

Stamp: Truly Grateful

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso

Other:  Chalk Talk Framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Chevron Embossing Folder, Naturals Designer Buttons