Fall is Coming!

Where did the summer go?  I am waiting anxiously for my favorite season - Autumn.  After a long
hot and sticky summer, I am looking forward to some cooler weather.   Turn off the ac and throw
open the windows.  Fall brings to mind pumpkins, leaves, and crisp cool weather.  I created a few
cards with the colors of fall - red, orange, and golds.

I stamped a pumpkin in brown and colored it in with markers.  I used browns and oranges

with this card.

On this card I stamped leaves and added clear emboss.  I cut them out and added some
lovely printed paper. 

School Days Scrapbook Layout

I really enjoyed doing this double scrapbook page.  I am teaching classes, starting in September, and I'm very excited.  The base and ideas for these two pages, came from one piece of specialty paper from Joann Fabrics and Crafts.  I cut off the pencils for a border and used the composition theme for both pages.  I did a lot of layering on the first layout and I love how everything just flowed.  The bus was from the Autumn Celebrations Cricut cartridge.  The size is 5 inches.  For the school lettering I used the Speaking of School cartridge, and the DAYS was from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  I got the vintage looking school paper at Michaels.

I stamped the small bus on the first page and colored it with markers.  I love using primary colors for a school layout.  Kids love bright colors and I thought this would be a fun scrapbook layout for them to place their school pictures.  Here are a few closes up pictures.  The chrome on the bus is colored with a silver paint pen I had.  I love to add those special little details.  The lights of the bus are buttons.
Hope you all enjoy this layout and just comment if you have any questions or thoughts.

Scrapbook Layout - Halloween

Halloween Layout

I am very excited to start teaching classes at Joann Fabrics and Crafts beginning in September.  Although I am a card maker, I also like to scrapbook.  I made the following 2 page layout using the Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge.  I cut the fence and graveyard gate at 5 inches.  I had fun distressing the fence and gate with silver pigment ink using a large distress stamp I have.  I also used Ranger distress inks on the pumpkins.  The paper is from DCWV Halloween & Fall pack along with the stickers.

    

Craft Show Displays - Old into New

One of my favorite haunts is the local Goodwill.  On a recent trip I was scouting for ideas for my craft display tables. I wanted some new props to catch my customers attention.  I found a bulletin board for .99, and a cookie sheet for the same price.  I've been wanting to either purchase a banner or come up with an attractive alternative.  I purchased some spray paint and a couple metal easels from my local JoAnn's store.  Of course, I used my coupons.  So for a grand total of under $20.00 I had some wonderful and unique new displays for my craft tables.

 I used my 12 x 12 paper and my Spellbinder's scallop die cuts.  The letters are made using the Jasmine Cricut cartridge.  Another alternative would be to use sheets of vinyl - also for sale at Joann's.
Now I have a great purple sign which perfectly reflects my company Lilac Cottage Cards.  The cookie sheet holds my glass magnets securely and my customers can see everything at eye level.

 
 
 I love this Rust-oleum spray paint.  I used two coats and had a nice satin finish on both the metal cookie sheet and the pressed wood bulletin board.
I also used it on a wire basket and the finish was even with no drips.

 We had a rainy day at the market, so I wasn't able to get pictures of my craft space, but I will be posting those pictures this weekend.  So stay tuned.  I have some other craft display ideas in the works.

Large Image Stamps

I decided to grab a few stamps that have large images and make them the focal point of the card.  Sometimes I'm a little intimidated by a large image stamp, because I'm not sure how to incorporate it into a card.  Do I add a background or not?  Balancing a large image with other elements on the card is not always easy for me.  Since summer has officially started, I decided to go with some beach themed stamps.  I stamped the large starfish after I pulled out some aqua color ink.  I love the combo of brown & aqua.  After I put the card together, I decided to stamp and emboss the greeting because there was too much empty space on the card.  I really like how the card balanced out so well.

On the next card I used a large fish stamp I've had for years, but had never used.  I first stamped the image with a light orange chalk ink on a orange card stock.  Then I decided to stamp the image with white pigment ink and emboss with white embossing powder.  I think it really pops more.  Because the image is so large, I decided to go with a small sentiment .  I used a large pearl for the eye.  I then added a strip of bright blue paper.

What to do with all Those Scraps

Like most papercrafters, I have a lot of scraps of paper.  After awhile, I seem to accumulate quite a lot of leftover embellishments, stamped items, etc.  So today I pulled out my pile of leftovers, and challenged myself to make some cards.  On the first card I found a piece of kraft paper, 2 yellow die cut flowers, a white piece of punched trim and a strip of brown paper.  All very blah - so I decided to pull out the ink and stamps.  First, I stamped the large kraft piece with an distress stamp with walnut distress ink.  Then I pulled out a stamp that has elegant lettering and I stamped the flowers.  I then used a decorate scroll to stamp the brown strip of card stock.  Finally, I took the white trim and inked it up with frayed burlap and old paper distress inks.  The center of the flowers were leftover from flowers I punched from coffee cup holders!  They fit just perfect.

On the next card I began with the embossed dragonfly.  I sometimes stamp something, and for whatever reason I decide not to use it.  But I hate throwing any stamped piece out!  I trimmed the dragonfly and then found the scrap piece of tiny flowered print paper.  The purples matched nicely.  Lastly, I had another piece of trim.  I sometimes punch a large piece of trim and don't use it all.  Nothing goes to waste.  I added a purple ribbon and tiny purple rhinestones to give the card a little pizazz.

The last card I did was created when I found a stamped Buddha already cut and the Happy Birthday O' Ancient One also stamped and cut.  I just added a piece of Asian themed paper for the background.
I even found a oriental coin embellishment in my scrap box. (Not shown in picture).  I think the key to using up your scraps to create a great card is to find like components and colors.  I can't wait to try this again. 

So check out your scraps and leftovers and see what you can come up with.  There really is great satisfaction in creating a new card from pieces of leftover scraps of paper and stamped images.  I think I'll try to do this one a month, and keep my scrap pile from growing too large!

Old Crafts in New Ways

I decided to pull out some old Plaid stencils I had in the basement.  My challenge to myself today, was to create some new cards using stencils, both plastic and brass.  I like using other craft tools in different ways.  So first I decided to use the sun stencil and create a background.  I mixed yellow and orange inks together using makeup sponges.  I lightly pounced the stencil and came up with a beautiful background.  Next, I thought I'd do a card for a child using the frog stencil.  I used a few different color green inks. On my third card I thought I'd use some southwest color inks.  I inked the lizard and then cut it out.  And finally, on my 4th card I dry embossed the seahorse and then used the brass stencil and inked the seahorse so it would stand out.