Halloween - Happy Haunting

I splurged and bought these Impression Obession Pumpkin dies. I didn't realize they would be quite as large as they were, but that's ok they work better being a bit larger. You can't tell from the photo but they also emboss lines down the pumpkin so they really are pretty detailed.

 

The sentiment stamp is from Kraftin Kimmie stamps. Epoxy stars are from Doodlebug and Enamel dots from MME. 

Halloween - Trick Or Treat

When I first started stamping I was intrigued by the Stampscapes stamps, although they were fairly pricey I slowly accumulated a few, but like most things I never really used them because quite frankly I wasn't too sure how to use them. This of course was a long time before Youtube.

I could never bring myself to purge them because they still hold a soft spot in my creative mind and one day I hope to master them. I have decided I might need to go buy a few more. Seems in order to have a nice scene you need at least three or four of the of same scenery. Mine are all over the place.

In the mean time I brought out a few and decided they would work well for this window scene.

I have also decided this window die doesn't get nearly as much love as it should. Seems the only time I use it is for Halloween, so now I have a goal to use it for at least one of my Christmas cards as well.

 

Window die is from Poppystamps, Cat die is Papertrey Ink, background stamps from Stampscapes and the little witch die is a punch from who knows where. I can remember a time I used to go to the Expo and buy these little pkgs of punched things and these were part of that collection.

Halloween - Happy Pumpkin Day

I decided I really like incorporating watercolors in my cards and decided to use both the watercolor technique along with creating a scene. On this card I actually painted the colors in an attempt to set the color scene I needed. Used both stamps and die cuts to complete it.

Have to tell you every time I use watercolors I can't help but hope I am channeling some of my father. He was a wonderful sketch artist and took up painting as an extension of his talents. His watercolors were some of his best paintings and am lucky to be able to enjoy having a few of his paintings in my home.

Halloween - Spider Webs

I decided to get back to my Halloween cards. Nothing really new here, just using a die from Memory Box and added a few background spider webs using a stamp from Studio G and the sentiment is from one of those bargain basement type stamps from Michaels.

I came to the realization that I don't own many image type Halloween stamps other than Kraftin Kimmie and some from Stampin Up and just a couple from Papertrey Ink. I guess that gives me the excuse to go and buy some, damn the bad luck!

MFT - Happy card

So this is my final submission to MFT. Again using PL cards, MTF die, some enamel dots, and a stamp from Simon Says.

This was a challenge no doubt with limited products from MTF on hand but I did enjoy that challenge. Sometimes it's good to be forced to create under different circumstances.

MFT - Love Card

And here is another card for the MFT contest using a PL card and the Love die along with a small doily die. I used a sticker for the You and hearts. There is also black epoxy heart that I have had for years, I think it was from Making Memories.

MFT - Enjoy

So My Favorite Things is having another contest using their products which sadly I don't have a lot of. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to use any other manufacturer stamps or dies which made it quite the challenge but using Project Life cards and some embellishments I was able to come up with three cards.

This is the first one. I used two dies on this card. The binder edge border on the card and the flourish die which is part of the flower cluster.

Watercolor Get Well Card

My bff's mom had to have surgery so you know I wanted to send her a cheery little note to let her know I was thinking of her during her recovery. Funny thing was I was searching all over for something to use as a Get Well sentiment and lo and behold sitting on my desk was an unopened package of Poppystamps full of these types of sentiments. I guess I must of known I needed them.

I am also using some Clearly Besotted stamps and dies along with distressed inks and enamel dots.

Round Pillows - Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday and hopefully you have something crafty planned or perhaps just some fun filled time with your loved ones. Whatever it is have a great time!

Every time I think I am crossing something of my list I find I have added three more. At times I wonder if I will ever finish everything and be completely done...I shudder at the thought of this.

In the meantime, crossing one more item off that list. These round pillows are for my dd. She recently moved and sort of redecorated her home so I ahem offered to make her some floor pillows for the boys, trouble is I had already eyed these before I realized they were on the small side so you know that means I have to make actual floor sized pillows now to make even after finishing these. But as I said these were cute and I knew that dang Fawn fabric would be so beautiful in this pattern, and spent part of last weekend sewing these bad boys together.

My projects for my dd are starting to stockpile in my craft room so I think it's time my dd came by to collect her goodies.

Autumn

Well frankly it's been quite a long time since I have done a layout, something I hope to remedy in my near future along with returning to my Project Life albums.

This is a picture of my little kitty Houdini. She loves the leaves and she loves to be buried in the them as you can see. She is a twitter with the approaching of autumn, watching the leaves scatter and dance across the patio and if you step on them and crunch them for her she gets all giddy..well maybe not giddy but definitely her playful side comes out.

I had this picture on my phone for over a year and decided it was high time to get it printed and make it's way onto something more permanent.

Am using project life cards instead of pp, anymore this seems to be my go to for layouts. I don't know if it's because I have way too many of them and feel the need to use them or they are easily layered for the collage look or I am just being frugal and using up what I have..probably a mix of all three.

Challenge is when you don't buy new product you are countlessly looking for ways to add embellishments so there is a lot of that going on. Some flair, some diecuts, wood trim, punches, stamps, enamel dots, stickers and twine.

I also used some spray inks and my silhouette to cut the title.