Ornament Keepsakes Reverse Applique Tags

I have great news!  (for me, anyway) It's snowing!!!  I love, love, love the snow.  It puts me in the mood for my favorite holiday, which of course is Christmas.  This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we get to play a little with Christmasy things, making something that we all need and use...gift tags!

 These were made using the Reverse Applique technique.  I learned to make them from Ilina Crouse's project at Ustamp With Dawn's Technique Boutique event that's going on right now.  I plan to try out lots of new-to-me techniques, and this was a good one to dip my toe in, so to speak!

 They're made using Brushed Gold Specialty paper, and the Ornament Keepsakes Framelits.  I used 2 new sets of DSP from the current Holiday Catty, they are Candlelight Christmas (the green pattern) and Snow Festival (the Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso).

 I trimmed them out with Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle ribbon and a few others I had on hand.

 I really like them, I think they look good enough to give to my mother-in-law, who is pretty fancy :D

So I know you will need a gift tag or two this holiday season, why not hop over to HSS and share a tag project with us?

And if you'd like to check out Ustamp With Dawn's technique-y projects, click the pretty pink blinkie on my sidebar!  

By the way, I hope you and your loved ones are not involved in this treacherous storm, Sandy.  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is suffering through this difficult situation.  

Have a blessed and creative day!  Erika

Gently Falling Autumn Splendor - HSSTC141

The days here in the Appalachians are getting shorter, but each day is brimming with all the glory that crisp autumn weather and bright sunshine combined have to offer.  The leaves are different every day; yellow last week, changing to deep reds this week.  I love these days the most. They're few but stunning!

Here's a card that was created with that vision in mind...

Layers of regals and subtles!  The card base is Soft Suede stamped with En Francais and sponged around the edges.  Then a layer of Cherry Cobbler embossed with Square Lattice, and Always Artichoke stamped with tone on tone Gently Falling stamps.  A little Cherry Cobbler tulle and Victoria lace, then a layer of Naturals DSP in the notebook paper print, sponged and stamped with "Friend" from Affection Collection.  A little Champagne glimmer paper is peeking out from the left side, and a wrap of Crumb Cake tulle knotted.  Finally, a trio of colorful leaves and an acorn with pearl trim.  To get the changing colors, I first stamped the leaves in Chocolate Chip onto Very Vanilla CS, then sponged in several colors...Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke, and Soft Suede.  I cut them out and adhered with Dimensionals, then finished with a touch of Dazzling Details.

If you're feeling like making up a little autumn splendor of your own, stop on by Hand Stamped Sentiments and join in the challenge!  I'd love to swing by and check out your project!

Click here to join the Inspiration Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll leave you with a little shot of my baby Ry (3rd grader, actually ;) clutching a fistful of leaves and seed pods that we hunted for homeschool science class this week.  We are really enjoying studying in our own backyard. 

Vintage Chic Ornament Card {brayered embossing}

Hello crafty friend, thanks for stopping by!  I’m please to say that today’s card is the first card I've made in my new craft space, in my new (to me, very old) house.  I love my new room, but I’m still tweaking the space.  My old craft room (which I loved dearly) had everything important at arm’s length, so this one will take some adjustment.  So after hours (days, really) of unpacking and organizing, I got to sit down and see how my Carolina mojo compares to my Maryland mojo!  

Today’s card is a gentle reminder that Christmas is only approximately 70 days away!

The challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week is Inked Embossing Folder! I’ve done this technique before, but was amazed at the job that fellow HSS DT girl Diane Vander Galien did on her card a couple of weeks ago - it was done so subtly.  She was kind enough to share with me that she brayered her folder instead of rubbing the ink pad right on the folder.  I love the warm, vintage feel it gave to the card.

The ornament was die cut from the embossed piece with a Holiday Ornaments die.  Then I traced the ornament onto the card base and used the Stampamajig to place the image in the center.  I colored the filigree with Pink Pirouette, added basic rhinestones and added a little Champagne Glimmer Paper. The rhinestones are tinted with a light brown Sharpie. Merry Christmas is stamped in Soft Suede, and a knot of Crumb Cake tulle and Vintage Faceted Button is added at the top.  

Here's the inside and envelope.  All ready to give for Christmas!

Why don't you come on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and give inked embossing folders a try. It's an easy technique that will add interest to any project.

I used the color combo from CR84FN - pink, tan, cream.  Pretty!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: Ornament Keepsakes, Greetings of the Season
INK: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals
PAPER:  Very Vanilla
ACCESSORIES: Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Scallop Border Punch, brayer, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Crumb Cake scalloped tulle,

Polka Dots & Pumpkins

Hi friends!  I am loving this chill in the air.  As I write, I'm enjoying the smell of a fresh apple pie baking, and am looking forward to curling up with the fam to watch TV and enjoying a slice with vanilla ice cream...yumm, comfort food!

Speaking of fall and cool air, this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, the challenge is all about pumpkins!  Any way that pumpkins inspire you.  I used an old favorite, Greeting Card Kids...

I just love her! I'll never get tired of these cuties.
I created my own background paper by punching 1" circles of Whisper White and adhering them on Basic Black, and stitched around them to pull the look together.

The pumpkin is paper pieced from the reverse side of the small polka dotted DSP (Polka Dot Parade).

I made a big loopy bow and added a strand of burlap, a Vintage Faceted Button and glimmer brad, as well as a knot of Sweater Trim at the fold. The texture of this trim is so cozy!

So come and check out HSS this week, I just know you have a little pumpkin project up your sleeve!

 I'm also playing along at SUO Challenges, they are looking for projects with texture.  Lots of great cards and 3D over there too!  Click here to visit them. 

And finally, here are my two red-headed pumpkins, painting jack o'lanterns at a campground!

Mini Tea Bag Holders - Fall, Friendship Themes

Hey Crafty Friends!  Today I'm sharing some sweet tea bag holders.  They're a cute little square bifold that holds a note and a tea bag.

The first one is done with Hand Stamped Sentiments' color challenge for this week - Use the colors Island Indigo, Early Espresso, and Tangerine Tango.  Talk about a WOW combo!  

The Four Seasons Hostess set was perfect for the autumny theme I had in mind, inspired by Friday Mashup.  Layered with Champagne Glimmer Paper, and set against a piece of Early Espresso DSP from Candlelight Christmas (not just for Christmas, apparently!).

Inside are two little pockets, one holds a mini card, and the other holds a yummy Vanilla Chai tea bag.  This brilliant little pocket card was taught by Dawn Griffith on her website last week.  Click here to see the video - easy and cute!

A close up of the mini card. The backside is also done in Very Vanilla for writing on.  

You can also see my little glittered acorns I picked up on my bike ride this morning with the boys :) 

I thought they were so neat, I didn't stop there!  My crafty buddy JoAnn came over and we made this one, too - 

 These are even more tea-appropriate, using From My Heart stamp set.

 The paper and borders are from the Merry Moments Simply Scrappin' kit.  I looooove this kit, it uses Basic Grey as the neutral, and two classic favorites, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  I practiced my watercoloring - it's improving, but I still have a way to go!

 Here are the two inserts. Again, all of the embellishments are already made into die cut stickers in the scrappin' kit.  Too easy.

Won't you play along this week at HSS?  See where it takes you!

And how about some Friday Mashup?  Autumn leaves and/or twine.  Perfect for getting you in a Fall state of mind!