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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Turkeys and Tales

Hello and Welcome!

It's a cloudy day here which has us all becited for the possibility of rain. We've just about worn out our rain-dancing shoes, so I hope it works this time.

I wasn't planning to make more Thanksgiving cards, but when I was putting some NBUS stamps away where they belong, I came across this set . . . 

"My Peeps"

and I saw a naked bird . . . and a feather . . . and a Pilgrim hat . . . and a sediment . . . and so I made a turkey . . . 

I stamped this one on glossy paper so you can see the cloudy sky reflected. That's not to say I stamped it on glossy paper in order for you to be able to see the cloudy sky reflected, rather that is the reason why you can see the cloudy sky reflected.

I liked it so much, I made two more!

I used red, turquoise, and gold for the feathers. Then I overstamped them again with the gold (Brilliance) for a wonderful sheen which only shows up in the close-up.

I used those colors because they are the colors of the current Just Us Girls (JUGS) challenge.

And, of course, I'm playing along with the "Anything Goes" challenge at Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge.

And since my post appeared on the same day so it's not backlinked, I am editing this to add the fun new challenge over at Shopping Our Stash where the theme is "Thankful." They'd love to see a thank you card or grateful project, or a card based on the Thanksgiving theme. (I'm tickled to see that Leslie and I were on the same wave length with our gobblers!!)

The links will give you the fine print regarding rules, sponsors, and prizes! Join in!

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Gosh that was fun!! It was like paper dolls only with stamps and turkey parts! 

I didn't actually think I would ever enjoy handling turkey parts again after the experience I had with them on my very first job. I may have told this story before. I grew up in a small town in central Iowa and the town's main employer was the turkey plant. I lived in town, but turkey farming was big business. I'll bet the majority of the town worked at the turkey plant.

When I got a summer job there it was washing turkey gizzards. (I'm not making this one up.) I had to put on a white lab coat like a scientist, a hard hat like a construction worker, rubber gloves like a bull inspector, huge black rubber wading boots like an allegator farmer, and goggles which made my glasses steam over. Who knew turkey gizzards were that hazardous?

I proceeded out to the assembly line where I was placed at a station and given an enormous and powerful nozzle from which water shot out at what seemed like 500 miles an hour. Was I washing turkey gizzards or elephant ears? That were still attached to elephants.

The water was ice cold. Not icey cold. ICE cold. A loud buzzer sounded that nearly took my head off. The conveyor belt shuddered to life and began rumbling. Everyone around me looked to their left. I looked to my right. I'm just kidding to see if you were paying attention. From the left came the sight of hundreds of turkey gizzards having a gay old time bouncing and skipping down the line. As gizzards zoomed past, I was to grab them off the line with my left hand and shoot ice water at them with my right hand.

Well, first of all, it's awfully hard to grab leaping gizzards when your little tiny hand is inside a huge industrial rubber glove. Second of all, when I did manage to grab a pair and shoot them with a burst of water, the water shot them right out of my hand, across the room, and onto the floor.

Oops.

That happened a few times until I got the hang of it. By then the lady across from me had taken two of  my gizzard shots down the front of her lab coat. And if looks could kill, I wouldn't be writing this.

Oops.

And can we just for a second talk about poultry parts and what happens when the waxy fatty consistency of poultry parts mixes with ice cold water? It congeals, people. It congeals.

The morning ticked on. I got a few gizzards down the front of my own coat. Followed by huge amounts of ice water. It went everywhere. Inside my rubber gloves. Down into my boots. Up the left sleeve of my coat, caroming off my underarm, down my side, and into my underpants.

Four hours later, the ear-splitting horn sounded for lunch, the water turned off, and the conveyer belt skidded to a halt. Gizzards flew backwards and dropped out of the air with a thud and a shudder.

I peeled out of my gear and walked the one block home, water spurting out of my shoes with each step.

I was proud of myself for enduring four hours, but I refused to go back. I was fortunate that I didn't have to go back. 

God bless the people who wash our turkey parts for us. It's a HARD job!!

~~~

New Friends Corner

I'd love to have you meet our new friend Lorraine "Lols" of Lorraine's Loft. Lols has been blogging since May of 2008 and crafting since forever! She is known to most of us through her design team at Simon Says Stamp and many other challenges and she has her own wonderful personal blog, too. Be prepared to be WOWED when you visit and wear your comfortable chair!

~~~

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!

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Mwah!

Giving Thanks (a)

[If you're looking for my NBUS Challenge, click here.]

Greetings Fellow Whooshers!

Another Friday. They come through here like cars trying to get the pole position at the big race. Whoosh.

I've been so busy. If you just give me a minute, I'm sure I'll be able to think doing what. 

It certainly wasn't working on cards. All I have to show you since you were here last is a QACAS Thanksgiving card. It came about because I saw a couple of challenges ... you know how it goes.

I had prezackly three of the skeleton leaves left in my stash that I must've purchased around ten years ago from SU. I took my inks in the requested colors and sponged them over the ecru colored leaves. It worked a treat. That red leaf above looks like it was inked with a distinct area of darker and lighter, but that is just a shadow through the leaf from taking the picture in the sunshine.

The sediment is from Hero Arts, heat embossed in Imprintz e/p. I have to say, I think I need to get some new white e/p. I tried three times (never more) to get a clean emboss against the black and this was the best I could do. I think the powder gets old? Or no? Operator error?

The paper is PTI true black with a PTI white liner and the leaf is from Dress It Up. Shazambam, Sam!

Luckily three leaves is all I needed for the color challenge at The Card Concept, which are red, yellow, and lime (plus white). The leaves are sorta layered, but I think we have to call my style for this EZPZ card "Clean and Simple."

The other challenges that worked:

• I used the sketch challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.
• I used the theme at Simply Create Too, which is "Fall/Autumn."
• I used the theme at Addicted to Stamps and More, which is "Holiday."

You can click on any of the links for information on rules, sponsors, and prizes!

~~~

New Friends Corner

Liz McQuire of Buttons for Brains. Love that fun banner name! Liz has been blogging since 2008! If you've been following my New Friends Corner for any time at all, you know that I'm uber impressed by anyone who has been blogging that long. Really, nothing more needs to be said because you all know that there will be kazillions of inspirational cards awaiting your visit to Liz! Personally, I want to CASE every one of her adorable cards!

Jenny H. of Jenfa Cards. Jenny is an an Australian who has been blogging since 2011. She is a prolific and excellent designer, challenge participant and challenge winner. You will love Jenny's beautiful cards and how she gets right to the point, listing her ingredients and her challenge links!

Julie C. of Cherry Wings. You've hit the jackpot with your visit today as Julie, too, has been blogging since 2008! She may not post as often as others, but when she does, her cards are a total inspiration in terms of design, color, and execution. Her paper-piecing is phenominal!

Zan of Zanste Scrappin'. Zan has been blogging since 2011. She begin her scrapbooking journey by scrapping four years' worth of photos taken while traveling throughout Australia.  She also makes lovely cards, but we need to visit and convince her to post more often and show us close-ups of those cards so we can gain inspiration from her! I'm sure she has loads to offer!

Mary of Very Inky Fingers. Mary has been blogging since 2007 - yes 2007!! Unfortunately, she doesn't blog often, but she's is one of the original blog stalkers and I give her lots of credit for even knowing blogs existed way back then, certainly way before I did! I think you will love her thoughtful cards and ATCs!

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

~~~

The NBUS Challenge ends on September 25th. Please make sure you are checking the rules under the tab at the top of my blog. A big thank you to all who have entered!! Since the entries are now over a hunnert, I have increased the prizes from five to TEN, so you have better odds of winning!

~~~


I have to scoot. I'm away to lunch and a Matt and Aye of that new Jane Fonda movie! Whatever you are doing, 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!

Happy Thanksgiving All! ~ ATSM#73; NBUS#75; WOYWW#234

Hello Everyone!

I'm joining in with this week's What's On Your Workdesk (WOYWW)where crafters from all over the world post photos of their desks and talk about what's goin' on in their little corner of the world.  If you would like more information, the link will take you to the headquarters, operated superbly by the lovely Julia.  Julia has tabs on her site with all the details for you.

 

Here is my happy desk, where I've just finished off the last of the Thanksgiving cards for this year:

Of special note is the display sill.   Today's remarkable creations were made and sent to me by desker Claire of Ham 'n' Mule Designs.  Claire recently turned 40 and in celebration she made 40 cards for 40 WOYWWers and I was fortunate enough to receive TWO of them!!  Plus another card with a note!  How glorious is that?!  Thank you again, Claire!

~~~

In preparing for Thanksgiving, I even made a card for all of you!  I'm so lucky to have made many wonderful friends via this crazy WOYWW and via my other wanderings around the webbing. 

 

As it happens, my Thanksgiving thank you card is perfect for the brand new "Holidays" challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More, although it might stand out like a sore thumb amidst all the stunning Christmas cards!

Here tis:

I love how the piece of burlap goes so well with the NBUS patterned paper.  I actually forgot I bought that pad of Fall paper from PTI during the summer and since I was lucky enough to stumble across it yesterday, I HAD to make a card with it before we rush headlong into Christmas! 

 

~~~

 

I hope I'll be forgiven for posting this on Tuesday night.  Julia reminded us recently that we are not supposed to link before Wednesday, which makes sense because, after all, it's called What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  Unfortunately, with the time differences, I'm asleep while most of you are desk hopping and vice versa, so by the time I can physically add my link when I get up on Wednesday morning, a lot of you are done hopping for the week.  It's just the way of the world, something to do with moons and revolutions, and possibly even someone named Greenwich.  Well, this week I'm going rogue so all my awesome WOYWW friends can join my non-WOYWW friends and see my card and read my message of gratitude:

 

Thanksgiving is overshadowed by Halloween on one side and Christmas on the other, but on this one day we pause to reflect and be grateful for the people and things that we often take for granite throughout the year.  It's an opportunity for me to thank you again for following my little blog and leaving your wonderful comments, both of which bring me great joy and encourage me to keep it up!  You are really fantastic, my friends, and I'm very grateful for each of you!

 

~~~

 

Enjoy the next few days!  We've got visiting family and friends and dogs all gathering together for a huge feast and festivities and then, yippie, we have the grandtwins staying over for the weekend!  So, unless there is an unexpected lull in the action, I won't see you until next month!!  I promise I'll be way fatter.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Mwah!!



  

 

*Life Is Too Short! 

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!