The Longest Journey ...

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Bareback, The Longest Journey by Quietfire Designs
Paper:  Black Linen, Rock Big Guitar Silver Foil Designer Paper, Basic Black, Going Gray
Ink:  Basic Black
Accessories:  Star Brad, Tearing Tool
Techniques:

Vintage Vogue Wedding

This is a wedding card I made for a friend.  Congratulations Melissa & Mike!

"There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love."  I Corinthians 13:13

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Full of Life by Penny Black, Vintage Vogue, Occasional Quotes, All a Flutter, Together Forever

Paper:  Cream Linen, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, VersaMark with Gold EP
Accessories:  Nesties Labels Four, Kaiser Pearls in Blush, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  5" x 7"

At the Water Mill

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Water Mill, Waterside Bluff Left & Right, Pine Row, Shagbark Hickory Sm.

Paper:  Desert Storm, Confetti Cream, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Distressed Pine Needles, Close to Cocoa, Distressed Mustard Seed, Distressed Spiced Marmalade, Adirondack Lettuce, Garden Green, Adirondack Cloudy Blue, Ballet Blue, Adirondack Sail Boat Blue, Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories:  SU Frost White Shimmer Paint
Techniques:  Sponging

Happy Fall, Y'all

Ahhh ... I just love this time of year!  I don't think I could ever get tired of making fall cards.  Happy Fall, Y'all!

Here is a peek at the inside

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Happy Fall, Y'all, Autumn Days 

Paper:  Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Tim Coffey Fall Gold Leaf Scroll Designer Paper, Tim Coffey Fall Stripe Designer Paper, Watercolor
Ink:  Basic Black, Adirondack Denim, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Summer Sun, Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, StazOn Timber Brown, Distressed Antique Linen & Distressed Tea Dye
Accessories:  1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate, Nesties Small & Large Rectangles, Nesties Small & Large Circles, Creative Memories Leaf Punch
Techniques:  Sponging, Blender Pen

Celebrate the Season!

There's something unique about every season.  And the changing from one to the next is like opening a present slowly ... revealing, little by little, the surprise inside.

Chrysanthemums are one sure sign of fall.  Even though mums certainly have been growing in the garden all summer, they generally are overlooked until their button-shaped buds of yellow, scarlet, purple, and bronze burst into bloom.  Overnight, these horticultural cinderella's become the center of attention.

Vibrant colors are illuminating the landscape, the Harvest Moon is upon us and cooler nights and shorter days are the norm.  It's an opportunity to transition from the dog days of summer to a peaceful and relaxing time with nature.

Enjoy your time and take in all that autumn has to offer!

Bear Mountain

Last week we had such a beautiful day I took a drive to Bear Mountain State Park.  It is a nice place to sit down and take in a view.  There are hiking trails which include a zoo in a natural setting containing animals indigenous to New York State.  I have a few pictures to share with you.

Autumn Lovely As a Tree

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree, French Script

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Really Rust, Bravo Burgundy, Watercolor
Ink:  StazOn Timber Brown, Old Olive, More Mustard, Really Rust Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso, Distressed Antique Linen, Distressed Vintage Photo
Accessories:  Nesties Large & Small Octagons, Tim Holtz On the Edge Brackets Die, Sakura Clear Glaze Pen, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls in Wine
Techniques:  Sponging, Blender Pen

RAK Thank You!

Over the past month, I have received several RAK (Random Act of Kindness) cards.  All of them were so beautiful and I want to thank each of you for your kind generosity.  A big thank you and hugs to you ...

Julie at Compassionate Cards
Lesa at Little Life Preservers
Barbara from the Stampscapes Group

Le Jardin Botanique in Currant

I really like the way I was able to combine Stampin' Up's Best Blossoms with the Memory Box Sonoma Print Stamp.  You would think they were from the same set.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Le Jardin Botanique, Weathered, Best Blossoms, Memory Box Sonoma Print Stamp

Paper:  Close to Cocoa, Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Distressed Antique Linen, Distressed Tea Dye, Distressed Vintage Photo, Distressed Walnut Stain, Adirondack Currant
Accessories:  1/4" Organdy Ribbon in Ivory, Nesties Large Petite Scalloped Ovals, Oval Punch
Techniques:  Sponging

Halloween Planter

Well, you know me and Halloween!  While at the nursery picking up some chrysanthemums and ornamental kale I saw this pumpkin planter.  Now you know I just had to have it!  Isn't it the cutest thing?

My neighbors must think I am crazy!  It's only September and she already has pumpkins outside ... lol.

Fall Feathered Hope

I pulled out my Feathered Hope set from 1998 to make another fall card.  I love this little gourd birdhouse!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Feathered Hope, Bird on a Branch, Stampscapes Leaf Sprig

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry Textured, Crushed Curry, Kraft, Dusty Durango, Watercolor
Ink:  StazOn Saddle Brown, StazOn Timber Brown, More Mustard, Summer Sun, Prismacolor Pencils
Accessories:  1/4" Satin Ribbon in Orange, Nesties Lacey Squares & Large Squares, Candle Light Shimmerz Paint, Blending Stump, Gamsol 
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Mon Amie Flourish Frame

As much as I love the Stampin' Up Notably Ornate set, I did not purchase it thinking I could incorporate the bird I already have from my Carte Postale set.

So ... with a flourish frame, a bird, and some French accents this is my European card for today.  I used my new Tsukineko sheer shimmer spritz in gold, which doesn't show very well in this photo.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Carte Postale, Flourish Frame by The Stamp Pad Co.

Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Distressed Antique Linen, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Gold
Accessories:  Antique Brad, Black Sheer Ribbon
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Tri-Fold Elements of Style

I have already made several cards using the Elements of Style set, but I just love it!  Pretty ... pretty ... pretty.  I started with a tri-fold card in shimmery white then sponged Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate all over it for a "vintage" look. 

The flowers were stamped in StazOn Timber Brown.  I had planned to color in the flowers, but decided I liked them plain on this card.

The butterfly was stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock in Close to Cocoa, sponged with Blush Blossom and cut out.  I then added Dazzling Diamonds glitter around the edges using VersaMark and Heat & Stick Powder.

To finish the card, I tied a piece of 5/8" sheer chocolate ribbon to keep it closed.

I think with the right sentiment this would make a nice wedding card.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Elements of Style, All a Flutter, Sincere Salutations

Paper:  Shimmery White, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom
Ink:  StazOn Timber Brown, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom, VersaMark with Gold EP
Accessories:  5/8" Sheer Chocolate Ribbon, Nesties Labels Fourteen, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat & Stick Powder
Techniques:  Sponging, Tri-Fold

Geraniums & Variegated Hakone Grass

I thought the combination of geraniums and variegated Hakone Grass looked nice together so I shot a picture for you.  As you can see, this grass actually has a cascading waterfall effect. 

Waterside Bluff Birthday

This card is for my brother's birthday.  He is partial to my Stampscape scenes so this was an easy one to make.  Happy Birthday Paul!

Here is the envelope

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Waterside Bluff (Right), Crane in Water, Cattails Lg., Reeds Lg.

Paper:  Crumb Cake, River Rock, Glossy White
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Apricot Appeal, Adirondack Raspberry, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Basic Gray, ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:
Techniques:  Sponging

Radtko Rose Bush

Here is a picture I took over the weekend of my "Radtko" Double Knock Out Rose Bush.  The color of the roses is a cherry-red.  It really stands out in the garden!

Paris for Lesa

This card is for my friend Lesa at Little Life Preservers.  I needed to wait to post it though to make sure she received the card.  I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.

Lesa, you deserve a "trip to Paris"!

Here is a peek at the inside

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Cavallini Paris Stamp

Paper:  Black Linen, Creative Imaginations Cream Scroll Designer Paper, Very Vanilla
Ink:  StazOn Black, Candle Light Shimmerz Paint
Accessories:  5/8" Satin Ribbon in Black, Flourishes Silver Ribbon Slide, Nesties Lacey Circles & Small Circles, Small & Large Long Rectangles
Techniques:  Sponging

Monarch Butterfly on Sedum

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day! 

After spending a beautiful day outside gardening I was on my way into the house when I spotted this gorgeous Monarch butterfly.  It just so happens I had my camera with me and was able to capture this wonderful winged creature on my fall sedum plant.

As I was getting closer, I hoped it wouldn't fly away before I could get a close up.

Autumn Cascading Falls

I have had this Stampscapes Cascading Falls stamp for a while and wanted to make an autumn scene with it.  I can see myself sitting next to these falls relaxing without a care in the world!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Cascading Falls Lg., Boulders with Lichen, Tree Cluster Sm., Shagbark Hickory Sm.

Paper:  Desert Storm, Really Rust, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Really Rust, Garden Green, Bashful Blue, Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue, Brocade Blue, Adirondack Sail Boat Blue
Accessories:
Techniques:  Sponging

Halloween Blog Candy Winner!

Hi everyone,

Happy Saturday!  Now the news you've been waiting for.  The winning # for our blog candy is 4 - Sylvia said "ooh...this candy looks very yummy."

Congratulations Sylvia, please email me your address using the link on my right sidebar and I will get these Halloween goodies in the mail to you.

Thank you to all who participated.  I love reading your comments!

Autumn Leaves

It's been a hot summer, but I am looking forward to autumn.  I hope the colors this year will be vibrant.  Soon the leaves will be dancing in the wind.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Branch Out, Dancing Leaves by Impression Obsession, The Stamp Pad Co. Leaves

Paper:  Desert Storm, More Mustard, Naturals Ivory
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versafine Vintage Sepia, StazOn Timber Brown, Distressed Antique Linen, Ruby Red, Really Rust, More Mustard, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Wild Wasabi
Accessories:  1/4" Organdy Ribbon in Ivory, Candle Light Shimmerz Paint
Techniques:  Sponging, Blender Pen