It's Autumn!

Hello fellow stampers! We are well into Autumn now and aren't you just loving this weather? The mornings are fresh and invigorating. A little bit of rain and a taste of what is to come during winter. I can see you cringe with the mention of winter.
Well before Autumn is over I thought I would make a card that represents it. This was my design for the last Sketch Stamparoo Swap Challenge. The challenge was in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue on page 14, top left. The technique that is used in this card was from DarleneDesign.com. First of all you need to use your Embossing Buddy and rub over your cardstock (Confetti White) and using Versamark to stamp your image then Black Embossing Powder. Heat with heat gun but dont over do it as you will lose your shiny embossing if you heat too much.  The next step for this technique is to use four colour co-ordinating markers and colour in the area you wish to then spray some water into your hands and flick it onto the card that you have just coloured in. Leave it to dry.  It will depend on how much water you flick on as to how much your colouring will change. You will see further down another card I have made using this technique. The colours I have used for this card are Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Pumpkin Pie.
I have used Confetti White as it allows the water to soak in. Other cardstock used are Cajun Craze and More Mustard.  For the circles I have used Circles #2 Dies and distressed the edges. For the leaf on the circles I have used the Confettie White the same way as the original card. Its as easy as that. What a lovely effect. Thanks Darlene.  My first try with this technique was by using the same colours as Darlene but I wanted to do something different for the swaps so chose the autumn colours. I love the colours Darlene chose for her card. They are Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist. I have also used the circle from Perfect Pennants.
My in home workshop was yesterday and we had a lovely bunch of ladies, 12 in fact.  It was like a beehive full of action and laughter as usual.  We even had a little rain at the end which didnt last long.  The first card I am about to show you I cased from Kathy from Stamping Still. Kathy I love this card. You are so talented and thanks so much for sharing. I decided to make this card smaller for my workshop as I found the dimensions only allowed me to get one card from an A4 piece of cardstock. My measurements for the base of the card are 21 x 10.5cm. Of course the images are a lot closer together but the idea is there. I love Not Quite Navy so I have used the same as Kathy. Hope you dont mind Kathy. For this card you need your Embossing Buddy and then using French Foliage (one of my very favourite stamp sets) with Versamark, White Embossing Powder and your heat gun. You can then use En Francais stamp and before stamping it onto your cardstock just using a tissue wipe away a bit here and there to give it the light and dark effect. You will then need a dauber and Not Quite Navy Stamp Pad and starting on your embossing areas gently rub in circles toward the edges and then to the rest of the card. You need the veins to show. You will also need a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock for the extra leaf and embossing the same. I have used the 4 You from Tiny Tags along with the Tag punch. I am sure if you pop onto Kathy's site you will agree that she is a very talented lady. Thanks again Kathy for a gorgeous card.
Our next card I decided to do a simple one just in time for Mother's Day. I have once again used Confetti White cardstock as it is a lot thicker than Whisper White and will stand up a lot better. Firstly I have used the Adorned Accents Edgelits Dies to cut the shape into the bottom of the front of the card.
A WORD OF WARNING!!! When using the Edgelits Dies be sure that both ends of the Dies are in line with the plates.  If not, when you run the plates through the Big Shot they will catch on the side and flick and bend the Dies out of shape.
I then used my Adorning Accents Embossing Folder for the embossed area above the cut. Both the Edgelits and Embossing Folders are in the new Autumn - Winter mini catalogue.
I have used Field Flowers Stamp Set.  For the outline of the image I have used Pumpkin Pie. For the fill in I have used Peach Parfait but stamped it off once and then onto my card. With the Confetti White you may need to do this three times to get the shade you want. I have finished off with Pumpkin Pie Satin Ribbon. Very simple but effective.
The last card was also cased from Catherine Pooler. Catherine used Mocha Morning Specialty DSP.  Catherines blog is so interesting so just pop on over and have a look.
I had three lots of kits done up for this card using Bashful Blue, Regal Rose and So Saffron. It all depended on who wanted which colour and who was quick enough to get the colour they chose.
For the card here I have used the following:-
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
DSP - Love Sparkels (discontinued)
Stamp Set - Punches Three (discontinued)
Accessories - Crumb Cake ribbon, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Two Tags Dies.
If you pop over to Catherines Blog she has a video presentation of this card as it gives a great new idea of how to use the Two Tags Dies. Once again thank you Catherine for sharing your lovely card.
The sentiment I used in this card was found over 21 years ago when a dear friend of mine had her first child. I have used this sentiment ever since in my homemade cards.
Here it is:-

CHILDBIRTH
Nobody tells you about childbirth
Sure they tell you about the pain
The Piles, the veins, the heartburn, the always full bladder,
the tender breasts, the stretch marks, the fatigue, the cravings, the backache, the tearing, the stitches,
the pain, the pain, the pain,
.......But not about the heart,
How it is captured forever,
by one small glimpse of a fuzzy head emerging.
How it is tied with silken, iron-strong bonds to a wrinkled pruny face, a tightly curled fist,
a nuzzling rosebud mouth, a periwinkle eye tear drenched.
Nobody tells you you're hooked for the next twenty years at least on the most powerful drug of all.
Love.
Nobody tells you at all.

The next card is a masculine slider card. I did a demo at one of our stamp camps and it is such a hit and so easy to do. If you wish to see my original card then go to August 29th 2011 on this blog.
For this card you will need the following items:-
Stamp Set - Lovely As A Tree, Perfect Punches
Cardstock - Basic Black, Confetti White (for leaf image)
Stamp Pad - Versamark, Basic Black
DSP - Well Worn
Markers - Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Cajun Craze
Accessories - Corner Rounder, 3/4" circle punch, Wide Oval Punch, Daubers, Black Embossing Powder, Water for flicking.
Use the same technique as mentioned earlier in this post for the leaf. 
Rather than giving you the instructions it might be better if you went to Beate Johns instructions on Splitcoast Stampers.  She gives a very good tutorial and easy to follow. If you wish to watch her video tutorial then scroll down to the bottom of her instructions.

Well thats about it for this time. I cant seem to get on here each week and have to cram it all in when I get the time. I have locked myself in my craft room while my grandchildren are in the lounge room watching Beaconsfield. 

I hope you like my selection of cards and would like to thank you for stopping by:)
See you next time!

September Workshop

Gosh its a wintry day today. I have the heater on and sitting in my craft room getting ready for Perth Regionals. I decided I needed a break so here I am updating my blog. We had a lovely little gathering at our Workshop yesterday. Lots of laughter as usual. Always a laughter when a certain lady attends and we all love her to bits. I am sure you know who you are. I have decided now that it is getting close to Christmas that I will add at least 1 christmas card to our set. I love this one. I found the idea of the Pointsettia from Connie Babberts blog. Thanks Connie!
The Pointsettia is made using one of the leaves from the French Foliage Stamp Set.
For this card I have used the following:-
Stamp Sets: French Foliage, Snow Swirled
Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Real Red (flowers), Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Folder, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pearls & Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
With the Basic Black cardstock I punched out a circle 1 3/4" to place the petals onto. I have used 14 petals for my flower but some of the ladies in the workshop used only 12 and it looked just as good.
Its all pretty easy.  I cut out my petals while watching tv when I was getting my stamp camp swaps ready. It took me two nights to cut them out.
The next card was one I have designed myself. I orignally made the card using the brown tones but decided to use a bit of colour for my ladies. Funny though, they liked the Soft Suede one best.
Here they are.  The top layer was made using the Scallop Circle Punch on both ends of my cardstock. The piece was 4.3 x 10.5cm.  You place one end of the card in through the cutting section of the punch not where you would normally place it. Slide the card in just past the scallop cutting edge and be sure to line up the card and punch. Do this for the other end as well. You may have trouble sliding the card through so I used one of those things that you use to score with the little ball on the end. I cant think what it is called right now. You can use anything that is pointy. Just lift up the end as you slide and it works wonders.
Here is my recipe for the card.
Stamp Set: Creative Elements ( I love this set)
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Circle Punch, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (I ran it across the Pear Pizzaz and Tempting Turquoise stamp pads to get a different effect). Pearls, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing Alcohol (used on butterfly), Daubers, Tempting Turquoise Marker. With the brown toned card I used Soft Suede and Crumb Cake colours.
The last one is a very quick and simple card also cased from the net but again I cannot remember who it was I cased it from. I promise to check next time when copying over to my files that their names come out readable. I have used the following products for this card.
Stamp Set: Lovely As A Tree,  Three Little Words.
Ink: Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White.
All you need to do is using your stamp pad to swipe it along your cardstock. Do this for all three colours and then stamp your image onto the coloured area and put a sentiment and hey presto! you are done. You can either use the Basic Black Ink or you can emboss it with Black Embossing Powder. I kind of like it just with Basic Black and it makes for a very quick card if you are in a hurry.  Try using Christmas colours and a bit of glitter and you can have your Christmas cards made in no time.



Everyone seemed to love the cake I made this time. Its actually called Apricot Loaf but I dont know why as there is no Apricots in it. (Unless All Bran once had apricots added to it)
Here is the recipe in case you would like to try it. Its so easy! You do need to prepare the day before.

1 cup All Bran
1 cup milk
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup SR flour
Mix All Bran, milk, brown sugar & honey into a bowl, stir, cover and place in fridge overnight.
Add flour and mix well.
Place in a loaf tin (greased & lined with greaseproof paper) and bake in moderate oven for 1 hour. Mine was ready in 45 minutes so keep a check on it. Once it is cooked place on cooling rack and spread butter on your slices and yummy! there you have it.