Seasonal Card Sampler

 Fall may be in the air for most of the country, but for those of us who live in the Sunshine State, all is lush, green, and still pretty warm. However, this past week we've enjoyed night-time temps in the 40s! (7-7.5C). 

At 6AM this morning, my dear husband exclaimed, "Donna! It's only 45 outside!" To which I replied, "Let me dig out your snowsuit!"

 LOL! If it is below 70F, Jack dons a heavy hoodie. Still, there is nothing so beautiful as one's home, right? There really is no place like home, and we love our Florida home!

Today's post is a little sampler of cards recently completed from my "Unfinished Projects Box":

These mummies with googly eyes are something I saw on Pinterest a while back! So cute! The torn strips were distressed for dimension and a sense of "ancientness" LOL

I believe the scarecrow and pumpkins are from Stampin' Up! products maybe 6-7 years ago? The dies are Spellbinders and Sue Wilson

The die cuts are Spellbinders. The horizontal brown strip holds some burlap, with a glitter strip atop. That heart is really glittery, from old crafty stash.

Wishing you all lovely times together with your friends and family this Autumn Holiday Season! Thank you so much for stopping by.

Playing in the following challenges, please:

1. The Four Seasons Challenge (November 1) Fall theme 11/25
2. Neglected Stuff Challenge (Nov 2) Use neglected items 11/28 Use brown glitter from 9 years ago, burlap trim (at least 15 years), brads from 15-20 years ago?, brown cardstock I purchased at a warehouse sale 20-25 years ago? LOL Thanks for the fun challenge down memory lane.
3. FarmQuest Challenge Blog #77 Pumpkins with a Country Theme 11/28
4. Hearts Quest Challenge #79 AG with heart with option of brown or gold/yellow 11/27

hugs,

Autumn Leaves - Jan's Digi Stamps

 Autumn Leaves are Falling - something we don't see here in central Florida! 

Hello, my friends! Hoping you are doing well, and that Mother Nature is treating you nicely with her weather and delights. Today I'm GUEST DESIGNING for Jan's Digi Stamps ! It is the kick-off for the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps! If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it in your upload. There is a 2nd draw for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Today's card features two of Jan's beautifully pre-colored images (with some gray/brown Copic Marker highlights  on my end).

The Autumn Leaves #4010 digi set is brand new, and works hand-in-hand with Jan's other sets, like the Pumpkin Blessings #3455J below. IT IS ALSO ON SALE RIGHT NOW 25% OFF. The digital image was increased in size and only two-thirds of the image was used, with an "off the card" style technique - both the digi stamp and die cuts were used in this manner. 

I arranged the flowers from Pumpkin Blessings #3455J at the base of the basket, next to the popped up sentiment, distressed with Aged Mahogany DI. The background is a pretty basket weave embossing folder, highlighted with Aged Mahogany. The wrap-around grosgrain ribbon is a nice addition for the lucky recipient. It's like unwrapping a present, especially with the interior decorated with items from both sets:

 This month's sale has 17 Fall themed specials UP TO 50% OFF including new sets Autumn Leaves 4010 ($3), Mrs. Teddy Bear 3595 ($3) and From the Farm 3555 ($3.75)

Pumpkin Blessings #3455J

Products: Images from Jan's Digi Stamps: Autumn Leaves #4010J, Pumpkin Blessings #3455J, Craft Essential Basket Weave Embossing Folder EFOB0010, Tonic Twisting Veranda Diet Set, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Circles CED5517die set, Mahogany Distress Ink, Grey Tones Copics, Grosgrain Ribbon

I'd like to play in the following Challenges please:

1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #8 AG DT 9/15
2. Pammie's Inkie Pinkies #2236 AG 9/5
3. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #9 AG 10/1
4. Classic Design Challenge #9 AG 10/1
5. Dies R Us Challenges #200 AG DRU dies 9/15 (congratulations on 200th challenge. I will miss you!) {Tonic Twisting Veranda Diet Set, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Circles CED5517die set}
6. Moving Along With the Times #146 Trees and/or Leaves 10/1
7. Get Creative Challenges #115 Fall/Autumn 10/3 (top 3)
8. The Four Seasons Challenge (Sept 1) inspiration board shown below 9/25

Wishing you good health and joy in the small things!

stamping hugs,

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Amazing Owls!

Greetings, Wonderful Blogging Friends!
It's time for a brand new challenge 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

and guess what?

I am the sponsor with my pretty Great Horned Owl Set! The set contains 17 JPG and PNG images in black and white, and also with sentiments.

I'll be giving this set to one three of my blogging friends as well, so if you are interested, just say so in comment and I'll randomly select a name on March 31.

For the month of March, join us at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as critter is the focal point of your project. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look!

My inky rendition depicts that period of time just after dusk. I can hear softly hooting owls in the trees talking to one another, the chirping of happy insects announcing the full moon, croaking toads and frogs in search of goodies, and perhaps even some "night owls" doing their crafting!

I printed out The Great Horned Owl digital set TWICE. 

One owl was fussy cut to make a mask. The other was colored with Copic Markers. This is one of the colored images included in the digital set.
After die cutting a circle and placing it on top of the owl mask, I used distress inks in Black Soot, Blueprint, and Stormy Sky to create a night sky.

The frame process:
(if you are reading this on my personal blog, click on the photos to enlarge)

1. Applied a double sided Adhesive Sheet to black cardstock, leaving "rough" protective layer in place.
2. After die cutting shape, I removed the protective layer and burnished in Black Microfine Glitter (if you prefer, use black glittery EP instead).
3. I distressed with VersaMark Ink here and there and applied a gold-and-black Chunky Opaque embossing powder.  Then I added a bit of chunky Black embossing powder on top of the gold color, to tone down the gold. Glittery green embossing powder was also used in the distressing process. Heat a little at a time so it does not melt the double sided adhesive sheet.
4. I die cut some white fun foam in the same shape, and edged it with a black Sharpie marker. The black frame was then adhered to the fun foam for dimension, using Double Sided Tape.

I thoroughly enjoy "distressing" with glitters and embossing powders!

frame close up:

The set comes with a leafy twig - great for framing or using around the branch. Because this set was once available in rubber, I embossing the twig with more Green embossing powder to give the leaves a night time appearance. Any twig stamp will work.

The sentiment was stamped with Nocturne VersaFine Clair and heat set with Black Detail embossing powder. It was distressed with the same colors as the sky background.

The Handmade paper was dry embossed and distressed with 3 colors of mousse.

Finished Card:

Stamping Hugs,

Moving Along With the Times - Autumn Colors

Hello to all my friends - so grateful you are here. Wishing you all good health and happiness. Even though Florida does not experience Autumn as other areas do, we still enjoy the colors on our cards. We are still unusually humid (even for Florida standards) and have just begun enjoying temperatures in the 80s instead of the 90s!

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #109's theme is ANYTHING GOES USING AUTUMN COLORS - for the next 2 weeks! 

For these cards, I raided all my "old stuff" - and was it fun!

For the monochrome card, I heat set gold EP. A few colors of distress inks were applied in a resist technique for shading. To maintain "STRAIGHT" lines with the inks, I used a 1" mask. The decorative frame is gold glossy cardstock:

For some of the angles, a mask was used to keep the distressed coloring in straight lines:



Using multiple masks, I next colored using distress inks and finger daubers achieving a Fall colored, patch-work quilt look with the same stamp:



Coloring with Masks can be fun, creative and most of all, mistake-proof!



The masking was made easy by using 1-inch "post-it note" tape.
If you have never heard of it before - check it out. It's great for using in the frig, too, to date your left over (giggle).

Thanks for stopping by today!

On A Personal Note:

Jack has been building a butler's pantry for us, and this is how far along it is:

Products:

• Dies: SB Labels One, SB Decorative Labels One, Quickutz Nesting Rounded Squares, SU Leaf Punch 
• Stamp: Rubber Cottage - Covered Bridge Collage (at least 13 years old), Hero Arts Quill Sentiments set (2006), SU Small Script Sentiments (old set).
• Colored with Distress Inks and PrismaColor Pencils

Challenges I would like to support please:

1. Stamping Sensations (Oct 6) Trees and/or Leaves and/or Autumn 11/1
2. Crafty Calendar (Oct 5) Autumn Colors or Halloween 11/2
3. Crafter's Castle #22 AG Fall-Autumn 11/2
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1942 AG 10-28 (sep post)
5. PaperCraft Challenges #48 Fall (sep post) 10-29
6. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Oct 23) Fall/Autumn Colors 10/30 (sep post)
7. IncyWincy (Oct21-Nov2) Use Something Metallic (gold metallic cardstock and gold metallic embossing powder, mirror cardstock in gold)

stamping hugs,

Lavinia World - Moon Gazing

I have two posts this morning - the MAWTT post is here.

Hello, dear blogging friends! I hope you are doing well - A little insight into my life...

I enjoy stepping outdoors, especially in the wee hours of night, to gaze upon the sky, regardless of the weather, and allow the Beauty of the sky and the quietness of the pastures to fill my soul with the Wonders of Life and the Splendor of Love. These nighttime "excursions" fill me with a type of inexpressible Awe-filled Gratitude.

Lavinia's Moon Gazing Hare depicts my experiences.

YOU KNOW that brings us to a new Lavinia World Challenge!

We are an ANYTHING GOES theme challenge using ANY brand clear or rubber stamp - no digitals. Winner receives

a $15 gift certificate to the Lavinia World store.

While "our" Lavinia World store is located in the US, it ships worldwide. In the US, buy $25 and get free shipping! Lavinia World carries other crafting supplies for your convenience.

Store -- Facebook -- Challenge -- Instagram

I cheated with this beautiful pre-made background, and changed it up with inks and good old finger daubers to reflect an Autumn theme. I also tore a piece of copy paper as a mask, and created a larger spot for the Hare to stand on:

After inking the bottom portion with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, I dredged the area with a brown EP containing brown glitter for texture and dimension.



This angle shows off the autumnal color glitter atop the VersaFine Clair Nocturne inked dragonfly. With each movement of the card, the sparkle shows up in different places:



Here it is around the moon and edges:


I wish the heat embossed sentiment had been stamped lower, covering the moon - there is always next time! To better show the letters of the sentiment, a little white pen was added:



Dimensional Glue was added to the brown embossing powder, and coated with the autumn colors of glitter to provide more dimension and shimmer. A Quickie Glue Pen was used around the moon for more glitter. Specks of glitter surround the hare and a few are even in front of the hare for more depth:



Don't forget to play in our challenge! I honestly think these Lavinia stamps are the best quality clear stamps I've ever played with, and a heartily recommend them.

Products Used:

• Lavinia World Moon Gazing Hare LAV369
• Lavinia World Vine LAV165
• Lavinia World Believe in Magic LAV344
• Lavinia World Spanish Moss LAV505
• Lavinia World Stars Miniature LAV152
• Lavinia World Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel White
• Lavinia World VersaFine Clair Inks: Nocturne, Acorn, Pinecone, Morning Mist
• Lavinia World Distress Oxide Barn Door
• Distress Ink Black Soot, Brown EP containing Brown Glitter (bottom of scene), Autumn Medley Glitter, Clear Detail embossing powder (sentiment and hare),

Challenges I'd like to Support:

1. Creative Knockouts #317 Anything Goes C10 10/3 (2nd entry)
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1938 Anything Goes C10 09/30
3. Crafty Cardmakers #241 Autumn Colors 09/30
4. Creativ Fusion Arts and Crafts #14 Autumn Theme 10/1
5. World Wide Open DT Challenge #9 AG DT 10/15
6. Lil Red Wagon Challenges #516 Fall It 10/2 (sep post)
7. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Sept 25) Anything Goes 10/2 (sep post)
8. Penny Black and More Challenges (Sept) Animals - Critters on Parade 10/1

Fairy Hugs,

Anything Goes at Lavinia World - Early Autumn Morning

Hi! Welcome to my blog.
My story begins in the early pre-dawn hours of a lovely Autumn morning, when most critters are still enjoying a snooze, and the first light is a blend of moonshine and sun's twilight in that cozy pinky-salmon color.

Lavinia World happens!

These are the Lavinia World products used on this project:

To make this fun card, I started by using one of the beautiful backgrounds available from the Lavinia World artist. It is a 5 x 7.5" card, and I trimmed it to 5x5 by cutting 2.5" off the top, after altering the color of the background by using a finger dauber and Aged Mahogany Distress ink:

Choosing a pinky salmon scrap of cardstock and VersaFine Clair Acorn Brown ink, I stamped the house and heat set it with clear detail detail EP.  After the ink dried, it was fussy cut. Highlights were added with Zig Cartoonist Brush Pen - White.

Before adhering the house, Stars Miniature was stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. Also with black ink, Leaf 2 Miniature and Creeping Vine (upside-down) were added and heat set with a copper EP containing glitter.

Finally the fairies were stamped and heat set with black detail EP:

Details of our Lavinia World Challenge (not to be confused with Lavinia Stamp LLC in the UK)
Every second Thursday a new Anything-Goes challenge will be posted with chances to win a $15 gift certificate to the store, and badges for your blog. Use ANY BRAND clear or rubber stamps - no digitals. If your project features Lavinia World stamps, your chances to win double.

While "our" Lavinia World store is located in the US, it ships worldwide. Buy $25 and get free shipping! Lavinia World carries other coordinating products for your convenience (like Brushos, inks, dies, highlight pens and more).

Store -- Facebook -- Challenge -- Instagram

Products Used:

• Lavinia World Freya's House
• Lavinia World Stars Miniature
• Lavinia World Leaf 2 Miniature
• Lavinia World Creeping Vine
• Lavinia World Fairy Foragers
• Lavinia World VersaFine Clair Acorn Brown
• Lavinia World VersaFine Clair Nocturne
• Lavinia World Zig Cartoonist Brush Pen - White
• Lavinia World Paper "Unforgotten" scene
• Aged Mahogany and Fossilized Amber Distress Inks
• Embossing Powders: Clear Detail, Black Detail, Copper with Glitter in it
• Spellbinders Grand Labels One, Grand Decorative Labels One

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. A Bit More Time to Craft #95 Anything Goes 7/15
2. ScrapyLand Challenges #117 AG with SL dies 7/17
3. Classic DT Challenge #7 AG for DT 8/1
4. Love to Craft Challenges #36 Anything Goes 8/1 (sep post)

Fairy hugs,

Hooting it Up With Inky Backgrounds

Greetings, Wonderful Blogging Friends!
It's time for a brand new Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!

For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as an inky background is used. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

My inky rendition depicts that period of time just after dusk. I can hear softly hooting owls in the trees talking to one another, the chirping of happy insects announcing the full moon, croaking toads and frogs in search of goodies, and perhaps even some "night owls" doing their crafting!

I printed out The Great Horned Owl digital set TWICE. (Psst! This is my very own set, and I hope you enjoy the sentiments that accompany it!)

One owl was fussy cut to make a mask. The other was colored with Copic Markers. This is one of the colored images you will receive in the digital set.
After die cutting a circle and placing it on top of the owl mask, I used distress inks in Black Soot, Blueprint, and Stormy Sky to create a night sky.

The frame process:
(if you are reading this on my personal blog, click on the photos to enlarge)

1. Applied Super Adhesive Sheet to black cardstock, leaving "rough" protective layer in place.
2. After die cutting shape, I removed the protective layer and burnished in Black Diamond Microfine Glitter. (if you prefer, use black glittery EP instead)
3. I distressed with VersaMark Ink here and there and applied Fleur de Lis Chunky Opaque embossing powder.  After the fact and Because I'd forgotten how golden it is, I added a bit of Super Thick Black embossing powder on top of the Fleur de Lis color, to tone down the gold. Glittery Radiant Moss Green embossing powder was also used in the distressing process. Heat a little at a time so it does not melt the super adhesive sheet.
4. I die cut some white fun foam in the same shape, and edged it with a black Sharpie marker. The black frame was then adhered to the fun foam for dimension, using 1/4" Double Sided Tear-ific Tape.

I thoroughly enjoy "distressing" with glitters and embossing powders!

frame close up:

The set comes with a leafy twig - great for framing or using around the branch. Here I used it in rubber, embossing with more Radiant Moss Green embossing powder to give the leaves a night time appearance. 

The sentiment was stamped with Nocturne VersaFine Clair and heat set with Black Detail embossing powder. It was distressed with the same colors as the sky background.

The Tonic Handmade paper was distressed with 3 colors of mousse.

Finished Card:

Products Used:

• Sparkle N Sprinkle "The Great Horned Owl #912" digital and rubber sets)
• Black Diamond Microfine Glitter GM2046 (frame)
• Fleur de Lis Chunky Opaque embossing powder EP465 (great for distressing)
• Super Thick Black embossing powder EP461 (ultra glossy)
• Radiant Moss Green embossing powder EP 271 (used on leaves and for distressing around the frame)
• Black Detail embossing powder EP171 (sentiment)
• Super Adhesive Sheets (for frame holding glitter)
• Inks: VersaMark Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Black Soot Oxide, Stormy Cloud And Blueprint Distress inks 
• Tonic Layering Dies Circles
• 1/4" Double Sided Tear-ific Tape (adhering frame to fun foam, and foam to card base)
• Copic Markers
• Fun Foam (to make dimension for frame)
• Spellbinders Labels Four (for shaped frame)
• Copper Feathers Handmade paper 

Challenges I'd like to participate in please:

1. Tuesday Throwdown #410 Add Some Texture (background paper, layers of glitter and embossing powders) 9/25
2. Always Fun Challenges #76 Fall Colors 9/24
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1837 Anything Goes 9/24
4. Crafty Cardmakers #218 Autumn Colors (C15) 10/2
5. International Art and Soul #42 Nature 10/1
6. Crafty Animals #18 Anything Goes with an Animal 10/1
7. Crafty Gals Corner #174 "3 or more layers" (6 layers of paper plus the frame which also has a die cut piece of fun foam under it) 9/26
8. Crafty Girls Creations #50 AG 10/1
9. Morgans Artworld Open Challenge #9 AG 10/1
10. World Wide Open DT Challenge #9 AG DT 10/15 (used special effects in frame and paper)

Stamping Hugs,