Autumn Blessings Journal/Scrapbook

I can't believe I am posting more than once this week! I just wanted to share with you something that I've been working on. It is a gift for Children's Church Leaders that are stepping down from their position at our church. It is a husband and wife team and they have been with my boys for the last 3 years and have done a wonderful job!!! The husband has to travel alot with his new job and isn't able to keep up all that he has been doing with our Kids Church. While I am very happy that he is doing well with his new job, I am sad that he and his wife won't be running the Kids Church anymore. It is bittersweet!

Anyhow, this is a journal/scrapbook that I have been working on for them. I am going to have my kids help fill out some of the journaling spots in it (so that their leaders can see what they thought of it all from a kids' perspective). It has plenty of pockets and tags and such for them to fill out as well as they reflect on the ministry that they lead for the last several years. I will also put in some fun pictures and wrap it and give it to them soon.

As it turns out, it fits in nicely with CAS-ual Fridays Challenge this week. CFC22 is to make your project using loops; big ones, little ones, any kind except that on a bow. I used twill loops to make a banner and then stamped the text "thanks" on it. I also used loops to make tabs and tag pulls with them.
If you are like me then you probably have the same kind of ribbon fetish that I do. I just love the extra texture that it provides!

Well, thanks for looking. :) Have a great weekend.

Pinecone Card for ColourQ

We have had another wave of heat here (don't laugh but that means it's in the low 80's here). Just when I was delighted by the cool weather it seemed to evaporate. Usually we're getting out the light sweaters to full on thick coats in the Denver Metro area (it can even snow on us this early but it isn't typical). Instead, we get to keep our flip flops out a little longer and continue to water those plants that are so desperately needing moisture. But even with the heat I was glad to go up to my loft and make up for lost time.

It seems like  ColourQ is celebrating their 2nd birthday. That's a good enough reason for me to celebrate and craft! ;)

In case you haven't already looked, go check out their challenge. Not only is it a color challenge but we also have to pick a previous colourQueen to CASE as well. So I  wanted to mimic the layout of CQC#66 but with a little twist. Here is my take on the challenge:

This isn't my normal style of card nor is it my usual choice of colors. I like trying to move myself out of my comfort zone though.

Thanks for looking!

Vintage Autumn Pumpkin Card

I just thought you'd like to see what is going on at my Etsy shop. I've been loving the cooler temperatures this week here in Colorado. I don't know about your neck of the woods but over here fall comes early and doesn't last very long. Already it is down to 40 degrees at night so it won't be much longer before our trees and plants start to winter over.

So because of that I've been making some fun fall cards. Here is one that I made using a die cut label and distressing it until it looked like an old weathered barn door. To do that I painted it with dark brown acrylic paint, added some crackle paint glaze, painted it again with a cream acrylic paint, and then distressed it with some ink.

I used a stamp from BoBunny to make my own background on the paprika colored cardstock. I distressed it with some ink from Tim Holtz. I used an embossing folder to give some texture to the Harvest Gold (PTI) cardstock that I matted behind my pumpkin cutout. I distressed it with some vintage photo ink (TH) and added some copper Stickles to make the swirly pattern pop out.

I sewed a button onto some fabric leaves and adhered those to the label. I also wrapped some stain Harvest Gold (PTI)  ribbon to the label and tucked a mini tag onto it with some twine and a tiny attacher. The sentiment is from PTI's Gratitude Journal.

Thanks for looking. I hope you are enjoying some great fall weather wherever you call home!

Make It Monday at PTI #32

I just love checking in on PTI's blog to see what's going on with their Make it Mondays. I don't think that I will ever feel like I can't learn a new trick or two. Sometimes it's good to even remind myself of the old ones that could use some dusting off! ;)

Make it Monday #32 is all about using acrylic paints with your stamps. They certainly have a different feel and add a new creamy look to your stamps; less rigid in their patterns. I used this technique with just some ordinary acrylic paints.

Here is my take for Make it Mondays. I used PTI's Houndstooth background stamp with some dark chocolate acyrlic paint. I die cut the bottom and adhered it to the base of the card. The pumpkin I made with my new die from Tim Holtz. I painted that as well and then added some crackle paint to it to give it that weathered and worn look.  The burlap tag is just to give it some fun texture.

Let me know what you think! And as always, thanks for looking.

Paper: Bazzill
Stamps:  Houndstooth, Think Big Favorites (PTI)
Dies: Edgers Die (PTI), Pumpkin (TH)
Inks:  Distressed Ink in Tea Stain (TH), Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accents:  Buttons, ribbon, twine, leaves, burlap, corner rounder

Turning a New Leaf

I love the way that the seasons change here in Colorado. It is almost autumn and I find myself writing another chapter in my life. So with that comes a complete change to my blog as well as the opening of a new etsy shop.

I hope you join me here at WinterBerry Glen!