Beauty and Joy for Fall

Happy Monday! I hope you had a super weekend. Can you believe it is the last day of September?? Where has the month gone? Here in Southern Ontario we are definitely starting to look like Fall. The leaves are beginning their annual fireworks display and the nights are getting chillier. Soon it will be time for cozy sweaters and hot chocolate by the fire...I can't wait!

Today I have a decidedly Fall-themed card for you featuring and easily overlooked stamp set from the Holiday Catalogue called Beauty and Joy. Check it out:

This is another gorgeous set in Stampin' Up!s exclusive DistINKtive line and it is fast-becoming a favourite! So many pretty possibilities with this set! Check out this pretty thank you card...

Don't you just LOVE those pretty fall leaves? And the shading in those stamp images is all with just one layer of ink...how fabulous is that?? I used Crumb Cake ink to stamp the basket, Early Espresso for the trunk and Crushed Curry and Cherry Cobbler for the leaves and berries. To create the two-toned leaves, I first inked the stamp with Crushed Curry ink and then dabbed on Cherry Cobbler using a sponge dauber here and there. The result is stunning! Here's a closer look...

Know whats REALLY cool? The colour that results from mixed Crushed Curry and Cherry Cobbler is very close to Cajun Craze! So, I used gingham DSP in Cajun Craze for my background and a bit of Cajun Craze linen thread as an accent. I love happy accidents like this! The yellow leaf accent was die-cut from Crushed Curry card stock using the Gathered Leaves dies. The background panel is embossed using the Pinewood Planks embossing folder.

I loved the look of the colourful leaves so much I stamped more inside the card. Doesn't that just make you want to jump in a pile of fall leaves??

I will be demonstrating this card and two others using the Beauty and Joy stamp set in tomorrow's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook page at 5:00 pm ET. I hope you'll join me for the live broadcast, but if you aren't able to you can catch the replay on my YouTube channel or on the Video Tutorials tab at the top of this page later in the week. Just search for the video with today's date.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful first week of October!

Product List

Beauty & Joy Photopolymer Stamp Set [150518] $20.00	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085] $10.25	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [147083] $10.25	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $10.25
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $10.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953] $12.00	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686] $12.00
Regals 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [149616] $15.75	Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing Folder [152320] $14.00	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $48.00	Gathered Leaves Dies [150662] $35.00
Come To Gather Ribbon Combo Pack [150456] $12.25	Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels [150457] $8.25

Today is the Day!

I don't know about you, but I woke up mighty excited this morning! Not only is the exclusive new Thoughtful Branches bundle now available for order, but I also get to pre-order my Holiday Catalogue products today! WAHOOO!! So much crafty goodness coming my way just in time for the weekend!

Clicking on the image above will take you to the pdf of the flyer for this fabulous set of products. Believe me when I say this is one you definitely want in your stash. Also belive me when I say ORDER EARLY! This is a while-supplies-last offer that is sure to sell out quickly. Don't wait. And don't forget to redeem your Bonus Days coupons when ordering.

Now, if you aren't already convinced that this bundle is simply fantastic, check out today's project I designed for an upcoming class:

Yup...it's not just about trees! Isn't that hydrangea gorgeous?? It is soooo easy to do with the Beautiful Branches thinlits. Here I created an ombre wash on watercolour paper using Bermuda Bay ink. Then I die-cut the bloom. I created a second watercolour wash using Cucumber Crush ink and then die-cut the stem. So easy and so pretty!

The rest of the card is pretty straightforward. The base is Smoky Slate card stock. I embossed a 4" x 5-1/4" panel of Smoky Slate using the Elegant Dots TIEF. The sheet music paper is from the This Christmas Specialty DSP pack...it's not just for Christmas! The sentiment, from the coordinating Thoughtful Branches stamp set, is heat embossed in silver on vellum and then die-cut using the Lots of Labels framelits. The only embellishments are a couple of pearls and some 5/8" silver satin ribbon.

On the inside I added a Very Vanilla card stock panel on which I stamped the sentiment (also from the Thoughtful Branches set) in Smoky Slate ink and added a little sprig of leaves in Cucumber Crush ink, stamped off once.

Now, I'm off to do my Holiday pre-order. You should do the same and get your hands on this bundle before it's too late! Have a great day!!

Product List

Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Stamp Set [143539] $33.00	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131202] $10.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $11.25	This Christmas Designer Series Specialty Paper [141628] $17.00
Watercolor Paper [122959] $6.75	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $10.00	Bermuda Bay Ombre Stampin’ Pad [141608] $11.75	Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad [138324] $8.50
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179] $8.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131] $6.75
Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Elegant Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [138287] $10.00	Beautiful Branches Thinlits Dies [143538] $41.00	Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies [138281] $35.00
Silver 5/8" Satin Ribbon [134548] $9.25	Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments [119247] $6.75

Technique Overload

I was about to type happy Wednesday, when I realized that it is actually Thursday! This short week has me seriously confused! I spent some time last night playing with my new favourite set...

Now, could I have used any more techniques on this one?  I have been away from my studio pretty much all month, so I guess I subconsciously felt like I needed to make up for lost time. I began by creating an ombre effect, sponging a piece of Whisper White card stock with Peekaboo Peach, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder and Flirty Flamingo inks...I love the way these four shades are made for each other!

Then I used the Stampin' Mist ghosting technique (see my video tutorials for more on this one) to stamp the subtle, bleached out swirls. I then stamped using the same swirl image, with Peekaboo Peach to add the watermark look. Next I created a bit of a Bokeh look with some Whisper White Craft ink and various-sized circles. I love the way these different techniques combine to add depth and interest the to background. The final touch on the background panel was some embossed gold spatters.

I die-cut the scribbly swirl from gold foil sheets using the Swirly Scribbles Thinlits. I added the die-cut "you" in gold glimmer and a stamped sentiment from the new Thoughtful Banners set. The only embellishments are a few gold sequins.

On the inside I stamped a few more swirls that I inked with Peekaboo Peach ink and then daubered with a bit of Calypso Coral. The sentiment is again from the Thoughtful Banners set and is punched with the new Duet Banner punch.

Can you believe the new catty goes live in less than a week?? If you don't yet have your own copy and don't already have a Canadian demonstrator, be sure to drop me a line and I'll send one out to you free of charge. In the meantime, start saving...you are going to have a LONG wishlist!



Product List

Swirly Bird Photopolymer Stamp Set [141749] $31.00	Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set [141614] $26.00	Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad [141398] $8.00	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [126983] $8.00
Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad [138323] $8.00	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [141397] $8.00	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731] $10.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.25
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $10.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.75	Watermelon Wonder 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138334] $8.75	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $5.00
Gold Glimmer Paper [133719] $6.25	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $6.25	Heat Tool [129053] $37.00	Big Shot [113439] $136.00
Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies [141497] $35.00	Hello You Thinlits Dies [137363] $31.00	Duet Banner Punch [141483] $23.50	Metallics Sequin Assortment [138390] $6.25
Stampin' Mist [102394] $5.50	Sponge Daubers [133773] $6.50