Fall on the Brain

I can't help it, I LOVE fall!  I love everything about it - pumpkin patches, changing leaves, cooler weather, cinnamon in the air, apple pie.  It's all so wonderful!  That said, I couldn't help making a fall color inspired birthday card.  I loved the ombre look of Maile Belle's card from this months Papercrafts magazine, so I decided to do my own version.  I used Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile, and Dark Chocolate. 

I stamped and used clear embossing powder on the leaf background.  Then, I cut a mat stack 2 die in Dark Chocolate and added a Harvest Gold center.  At first I was stumped - I don't own the Fall Tags set - which would have gone perfectly inside the mat stack.  Then I decided to glance over what I had and see what would work - bingo!  I used a stamp from the Spring Tag set and heat embossed it in clear.  The sentiment I stamped in Really Rust ink.

Back to School Goodies

I have been busy this week.  School starts on Monday and things in my house have been a little crazy (but when aren't they, with three little boys running around?).  I have finally completed the back to school gifts for the teachers and I'm so excited to share. 

I used the Let's Do Lunch template from My Timeless Templates from PTI.  This year, I used a strip of ribbon, which I folded near the end for extra strength, and secured with a bronze large brad.  I also added a bow and school themed button to the front.  These were both secured with hot glue after the box was put together. 

I actually punched two of the file tab punches in red, one for the bottom, and one for the lid.  Then I used velcro dots to keep the top closed.  I think this method works the best. 

Inside each box are 4- 4x4 note cards, a pillow box with beaded lanyard inside, and a matchbox with 4 Hershey's nuggets inside. 

I used the Holiday Treats set by PTI to stamp the labels of the nuggets.  I hand wrote "Welcome Back" with an Old Olive SU! marker.

One set of notes was a simple Thank You from Simply Stationary - I added a dry embossed line around the edge, 1/2 in from all sides.

For the other teacher I included monogrammed thank you notes from Simply Stationary.  This time I used my black pen to add a line around the edge (1/2in from all sides).

Finally, I added beaded lanyards.  I thought I was done last night, but I had no idea for packaging the lanyards to look cute.  This morning I thought about a small pillow box.  I dug through my patterns and found one the perfect size.  I added a tag and some ribbon to the front.

Get Well Wishes

I set out to make a get well card for a friend yesterday.  I liked what I came up with so much, I decided to make two.  The second one came together much faster, as you can imagine.  I actually inked around the mat die with some vintage dye ink.

Take Two

I liked the FTL sketch so much, I decided to try another variation.  This time I stamped the small dahlias on white in Pale Plum and Rich Razzleberry.  Then I cut the spellbinders smallest label out of my patterned paper, three in a row.  This took some measuring and careful planning, but so worth it.

I added some Vintage Labels in Rich Razzleberry around the cut windows.  I embossed the sentiment in white, although I think for this tiny font I really need detail white powder.  Add that to my shopping list.  I mounted the entire patterned paper using 3M Foam tape.  Gives it a little depth but not too much.

FTL #102 and OTWC #19

I absolutely love the colors this week from the OTWC challenge: yellow, pink and green.  As always, the inspiration photo is fabulous.  I also thought I'd combine this challenge with the FTL for this week.

At first I was going to use some teacups from the Tea for Two Additions set.  But then, I saw my Delightful Dahlia and was inspired.  I haven't used this set in a little while, so I pulled it out for the challenge.  I thought it would be perfect with the leaves in place of the small circles for the sketch.

Usually I either stamp the dahlias in color on white, or color them in using copics or a blender pen.  This time I thought I'd try something I've seen elsewhere and stamp and emboss them on colored paper.  This made for a  very simple, elegant card.  I added some frames around the dahlias with the Vintage Labels set.  The sentiment is from Damask Designs.

cQc #44

I don't have any of the newest In Color colors.  I substituted Ruby Red for Poppy Parade.  Although I think the Poppy is a little more orange than this.

I used some PTI Polka Dot Basics for the background.  I hope I didn't go a little too overboard on the Polka Dots on this one.

I also used the Cuttlebug embossing Swiss Dots folder for the black.

FTL #101

I love the sketches from Clean and Simple.  Maybe I keep mine a little 'too' clean and simple, but I love it that way. 

I just got the Tea for Two and Tea for Two Additions stamp sets and dies from PTI.  When I was getting ready to order them I knew exactly what paper I would use the most with them - some retired Stampin' Up! DSP Ginger Blossoms.  I even went on ebay and bought 2 more packages of the paper because I was afraid I'd run out! lol.  Since I didn't have the River Rock stamp pad, I stamped this tea pot in Chai from the PTI tea dye duo.  Turned out perfect.   I added a tiny Prima flower and copper brad. 

OTWC #18

At first I wasn't so sure about this color combo.  Then I remembered that I had a Whiff of Joy image I had watercolored some time ago that would go perfectly.  I used Pacific Point DSP and cardstock, along with Lemon Tart (PTI) cardstock.

I know it was the mojo sketch from a couple of weeks ago, but I saw those squares together and thought B-A-B-Y.  I finished it off with some liquid pearls (I didn't know it until recently but to make these 'pearls' instead of peaks, you tap the paper from behind after placing the pearls where you want them).