Final Fall Fotos

Hello! I hope this fresh clean Monday morning finds you well!

I finished up my fall birthday and thanks/Thanksgiving cards so I am posting those today before I move hysterically happily on to making only Christmas cards.

Rather than post them individedly, I am featuring one and skooching the rest of them into a collage instead of a twofer cuz I know you are getting jiggy with holiday cards, too. In the spotlight today is:

In a nutshell: A cajun craze card base with creamy mats, shockingly unstitched. A birthday sediment from "Birthday Style" by Papertrey Ink. Some score lines. And some accent leaves which I die cut using an Impression Obsession die. They were cut from left-over snippets of glossy card stock which had been colored by alcohol ink droplets. Simples. And I loves it.

Challenges

• CAS(E) This Sketch.
• CASology: Give. 

Here are a few more ideas and renditions:

I also want to share with you a patch of beautiful fall mums that are gracing one corner of the back yard, happily visible from the Playhouse window. I thought they had died over the summer months, so you can imagine how delighted I am to have this brilliant display of color!

And, lastly, (look away, Annie) I want to share this beautiful praying mantis that came to visit yesterday. 

I spent a half hour mesmerized and talking to her. I even video-taped her for the twins as she walked across the deck and up under the bench. She soon swept away the strands of a spider web and helped herself to a morsel that some poor spider had been saving for dessert. Heck, that's nothing, both sexes of praying mantisi are known to kill and devour the other after mating.

That's the way things work in the critter kingdom. But, we, as evolved human creatures with large brains able to stand on our own two feet, we aren't supposed to be savages with each other. I don't understand when we are and it breaks my heart. 

~~~

Please enjoy your day! Life is too short.

Autumn Abounds!

Hello, my friends!

I was going to post this yesterday but we were without cable for most of the day and until sometime in the middle of the night. That meant no phones, no TV, and no computer for hours and hours!

In the spirit of the situation, I went up to the attic and got into the old cedar chest from wagon train days lovingly packed by generations of great and grand mothers. I never tire of that amazing smell as I knelt down and creaked open the lid. I gingerly removed the old shawl, the candles, and the boars hair slippers lined in flannel. Finally, I reached down for the infamous and steamy memoirs of my cousin Elsbeth Mattigrew.

Okay, I didn't do any of those things, but without the usual self-inflicted bombardment of all things cable, I did get creative. I made a FOURfer, for cryin' out loud!

One of my favorite autumn stamp sets is "Fall" by Technique Tuesday, most notably the very word AUTUMN, which germinated a lot of these cards.

 

I stamped the word in cajun craze and then colored and watered the individual letters with my watercolor pencils. Then I dry embossed 2/3rds of the white panel above the word with an unknown Lifestyle Crafts e/f. I matted the panel to a beautiful autumn leaf pp by K and Company (Tim Coffey) and attached a matching band N. Lou of a ribbon. 

The above horizontal design is how Hammy envisioned the layout, but when I went to take the photo graph, I realized that I have the option of using it vertically, too. This direction actually shows some of the sparkle from winking the letters:

Which way do you like it best?

Next, I wanted to use the very last two sheets of cousin Elsbeth's ancient sunflower printed vellum. 

For this card, I dry-embossed a white panel using my NBUS 3D quilted e/f (Next Level) from We R Memory Keepers. I fussy-cut the sunflower panel from the vellum sheet and attached it.

I stamped the SU Thanksgiving sediment and attached a shankless sunflower button for punctuation. Lastly, I chomped two corners and attached the panel to the colored card base. A lot of violence went into making this card, what with cutting and shanking and chomping, so please remove any young children from the room before you CASE it. Thank you.

With the second sheet of vellum, I made this autumn birthday card:

If I do say so myself, this is a beauty IRL, impossible to capture with the camera. There is nothing as cool as printed vellum and most of you know from old posts that I'm crazy for it. Actually, this card took a few days to create because first the "Autumn" had to dry and then once I decided on the layout, the "Birthday wishes" (SU) had to dry. The vellum was folded over at the top and attached to a white panel, which was attached to the colored card base.

Last, but not least, I made a simple one-layer card specifically intended for a few challenges.

The tree image by Rubbernecker was colored directly to the back of the stamp with my SAI markers, spritzed with water, and stamped onto the paper. I used the same simple Happy Thanksgiving sediment to keep the focus pocus on the tree. To add a little subtle interest, I ran the card front through my BS using the linen impression plate from PTI, but I'm not sure you can see that feature. Speaking of, right now I'm seeing that I want to add a little tiny leaf at the end of the sediment.

Challenges

• Less Is More (Colour Challenge): Fire.
• One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: A Multitude of Gratitude.
• Share Handmade Kindness: Create a project and give it to family or friends.
• Share Joy Challenge: Autumn Inspiration Photo. This is going to a couple we have been friends with for almost forty years.

All of these wonderful challenges encourage us to share our cards/creations with others. I think creating for the purpose of giving is what most of us do; in fact, I imagine it was the driving force behind this hobby for all of us. I got into it because I was spending a big chunk of money most months on inexpensive store-bought cards to send out. I thought if I made my own, I could continue to send out cards and save money.

Oh, my gosh, stop it! I can hear you laughing all the way over here! Okay, okay, it has ended up costing me lots more money, but you can't put a price on the satisfaction of sending out a card that you made with your own two hands. Well, and maybe a couple of paws.

Update

Another very happy reason I was able to make all these cards is because of this:

"Look, Ma, no crutches!"

The Mister's progress has been rapid since the brace came off! There are still some residual DVT issues to be worked out and it will be a long while yet before he can sit comfortably for more than a few minutes. (Sitting on screws is no fun at all!) I'm still on duty for a few things like chauffeuring, but he's back to doing most of what he could do before the injury. You'll all be happy to know that includes grocery shopping because our store is only a short drive from home. The video surveillance team will miss me!

He wants me to thank you again for all your prayers, cards, and well wishes!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

Source

*Life is too short!

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Autumn Cards

Hey there! How's it going?

I'm sure I'm having fun with my friends at the mo and I hope you are, too! Having fun, I mean. With whomsoever you like to have fun with! Today I'm sharing some autumn cards I made before I left. I scheduled this post for now because I'm pretty sure when I return it will be Christmas, all Christmas, all the time! I mean, not that it will be Christmas before I come home, I just mean that I'll be getting heavily into Christmas cardmaking when I get back the end of this month.

Enjoy this autumnal array!

  

 

 

That last card (a birthday card for my beautiful DIL) was made using a topper that I received as a gift from my bloggie friend Nonni. They are from LOTV and the photos do not do them justice! Since there are so many of the other cards, please email me if you would like the details on the products or techniques.

Short and schweet today! I'm missing visiting with you all!

~~~

New Friends Corner

Here are five more talented and inspiring card artists who have been waiting patiently to meet you! It is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to:

Monika Skinner of Imagine the Impossible. Monika has been blogging since 2010. If you've been in our stamping community in Blogland for any length of time, you have come across Monika's gorgeous works of art through her design team inspirations and challenge entries. She is published card artist and she also makes creative boxes, mini-books, and home decor projects. In addition, Monika recently started a separate blog solely for providing tutorials for us at Tinker Cards. There is a lot of inspiration awaiting you via Monika!

Vicki of From My Craft Room. Vicki started blogging in 2012. She is like so many of you who impress me so much as she manages to be a full-time mom of very active children and yet she still finds the time to make beautiful cards and maintain a blog! Vicki is a winning challenge player and I know you will enjoy all the fantastic card inspiration she has for you!

Carol of CM Designs. Carol has been a prolific blogger since 2011 so you will want to allow some time for your visit with her. Over the years she has served on many design teams and she has won multiple awards and honors in both hard and digi card art. In addition to engaging blog posts, projects, and photographs, Carol generously provides tutorials for you!

Milka Gubo of Crafty Milka. Milka is a delightful and passionate young card artist from Croatia who has only been blogging since September. Like two weeks ago! You would never know it, however, when you see how professionally her blog is designed and the recognition she has already received. Her enthusiasm for all things crafty is contagious and I would so appreciate if you made a special effort to visit and welcome Milka to our caring and supportive stamping community in Blogland!

Tajanna of The Other Side of Me. Tajanna is from Poland and she is also a newcomer to our community, having started her blog in May of this year. Discovering this side of herself has been a surprise and a pleasure to Tajanna, completely different from her professional side. Tajanna enjoys making her card art in order to bring a smile to the recipients. Her cards are quite stunning and exquisitely crafted! Like with Milka, I would so appreciate it if you made a special effort to visit and welcome Tajanna to our amazing Blogland community!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:

Click CTL + Home. 
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.
Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!

Thanksgiving Inspiration Blog Hop; NBUS #70

Happy Weekend Everyone!  It's a busy day in Blogland!!

If you are looking for my post in tribute to Cath Edvalson of Moxie Fab World, please click here.

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Inspiration blog event, brought to you by "The Inspiration Crew!"

I was very excited and honored to be asked by my friend, Barb, to be a guest for The Inspiration Crew's "Thanksgiving Inspiration Blog Hop" being held today.  In the words of Donna Bowman:  "We’re just a group of online crafty friends who love being creative. This time we're doing a 1-day event to provide you with tons of autumn and Thanksgiving-themed inspiration."

I've made two cards for you, each one QACAS to show you how quick and easy it is to make a card showcasing your patterned paper!  And patterned ribbon to, if you have it!  In the case of this card, both are NBUS ~ never-before-used schtuff.  I made the card long and lean to show as much of the paper as possible.

And my second card:

Again, I wanted to showcase the stunning autumn patterned paper, so I chose to use a minimal sediment of thanks. 

I'm also entering both of my cards in Susan's 2013 Thanksgiving Crusade.

~~~

 

Below is a link to all the talented ladies participating in today's hop!  Some of them have prizes for you!  It's not Christmas yet, so if you are still spinning that hamster wheel for inspiration for those autumn or Thanksgiving cards, check out these wonderful card artists!

Donna Bowman 

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Misty Buck

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Libby Hickson

Laurel Beard

Geri Greening

~~~

Enjoy the hop and enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS*  

 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower!  Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
  

 

*Life Is Too Short!  

Pumpkin's Birthday ~ NBUS #66; WOYWW #230; SSS (Monday) and STB

Hello Humpers and Deskers!

 

Well, that sounded a little naughtier than I meant for it to sound.  It's time for What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday (WOYWW), hosted by everyone's sweetheart scrapper, card artist, and carpenter's apprentice, Ms. Julia Dunnit!  {Blink the Applause Light Furiously.} 

Basically that means I show you my desk and you show me yours.  Please click over to get the details if you dunno what I'm talking about and join the fun!  Here we go:

I tried keeping my summertime haul of NBUS (never-before-used schtuff) in a giant plastic container at my feet until I used it once, but I had almost toppled over it one too many times, so I cut all the sets apart and placed them with their requisite theme family.  Aaaahhh.  (If you've seen me do this before, this may be a boring update for you.  Please skip to the end and let me know you popped in.)

The new or updated "theme" cases are now ready to go (or return) here:

 

~~~

 

Some of you have wondered how I was dealing with the addition of clear stamps to my theme drawers of wooden stamps.  Let's look at, say, the drawer with the BIRTHDAY theme:

 

Oh, sorry.  I'm so sorry you had to see that long shot.  It's blurry because it was taken late last night after I finished off my tumbler of wodka.  Can you blame me? 

 

Let's just focus on one drawer so we aren't responsible for any attacks of heart.

Tossing in the odd clear birthday sediments as I have gotten them worked just fine, at first.  I could fondle them quickly when deciding which one I wanted to use on a card, or I could flick them easily to the side to peer at the wooden stamps.  But then, well, you've all heard about Shopper Girl's visit.

So now it looks like this:

I corralled all the clear sediments in CD cases and SU! cases, with the images stamped on a piece of scratch paper stuck in the outside sleeve for easy refusal.  I meant to say perusal, but refusal works just the same in this instance.

What do the insides of those cases look like?  Like this:

The wee baggies keep them from commingling as sticky Polly Acrylic and Polly Mer are wont to do and it allows me to type or write the name of the manufacturer/stamp set on a snippet and keep it with the sediment.

It makes me very happy.

~~~

 

You might have noticed a couple of cards on my desk, stamped for autumn around a masked banner.  I made one for my last post (below) for Halloween and I was so happy with it, I made another one for my friend Laura who has almost a Halloween birthday and her nickname is "Pumpkin."

 

I'm going to send it in the mail, but I wish I could see her face when she opens it.  I was so tickled when I got this Papertrey Ink "Scent-imentals" stamp set (NBUS) and saw the "Hello Pumpkin" sediment!  She really is a sweet pumpkin and she'll be grinning from ear-to-ear when she sees this!

Here is the inside:

The Seize the Birthday (STB) challenge is always "Anything Goes" so I am going to link my card with the gallery there.  Also, Simon Says Stamp (SSS) Monday is having an "Anything Goes" challenge, so I will link up there, as well.  Both of these sites are wonderful places to go for hundreds of card inspirations!  

 

~~~

I want all my friends from the UK and surrounding area to know I'm hoping they weathered that monster storm without devastation.  Even though Halloween is not a huge holiday everywhere in the world, I wish you all a Happy Hallow's Eve.  Please take a piece of chocolate before you go. 

I'm not prezackally sure why the tub of candy is the Playhouse in the back yard and not by the front door where the trick or treaters will be knocking.  Nor am I sure why it is only half full when it was fully full a few days ago.  I'm also not admitting that I used to steal candy from my son's haul every year.  The statute of limitations has passed on that criminal activity anyway, even if the allegations were true, which I'm sure they are not because what kind of a mother would do that anyway?

~~~


Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS*  

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower!  Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 

 

 

*Life Is Too Short!