Last day of Die Cut Diva's September Challenge!

Hey crafty friends - if you plan to make a holiday card for the current Die Cut Diva Challenge be sure to link up by 9pm Pacific time today!! The Divas have an end-of-month post here which features some of the team, including me with this card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 card; Stamp on It vellum;

Graphic 45 Twas the Night Before Christmas 6x6 patterns;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Paper Studio green

Stamps - Paper Smooches All Year Cheer (NLIB)

Dies - Impression Obsession Patchwork Tree (sold at Cheapo Dies)

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle;

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Michael's gems; Pine Needles Distress Ink; Stickles

Thanks to this month's sponsor, Cheapo Dies!! When I created this card, the patchwork tree die was still available but dies sell out quickly there. Check them out for lovely discounts on many of your favorite brands!

For my tree I started with just the patterned layers, then I thought, why not add a little green shadow layer to each section? The shadow became a bit longer but I really love this look & isn't the tree the cutest? My Graphic 45 text paper was a bit busy so I put an oval of heavyweight white vellum atop it to showcase my tree. Stickles, gems and a sentiment strip - done!! Another card for the stash.

Thanks for stopping and be sure to check at Die Cut Divas for a new challenge tomorrow and for September's winners on October 3rd!!

Holiday cocoa

Hey all - I'm playing along today at the new Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Festive Sweet Treats. Jo & elf Chrissie inspired me with candy canes and cups. My take is a cocoa cup with some candy canes.

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb; Paper Studio brown

Stamps with coordinating dies - Lawn Fawn Love you a Latte

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired) 

Other - Copic Markers, foam tape

For some reason I didn't have the dies to the Love you a Latte set but I ordered them and got them today - yay! Really wanted to make a coffee card for National Coffee Day - guess I'll just settle for sipping my Venti Iced Latte!! 😍

Very simple card - I die cut and stamped the cup, saucer & candy canes, then colored with Copics. Die cut a stitched rectangle in the heart paper & stamped the sentiment to be steam coming out of the cup. Added a patterned strip as a table for my cup & a brown mat layer. Adhered all to green card - done!

Thanks to Jo & Chrissie for a fun challenge and thanks to you for visiting. Have a crafty week!!

Rainbow colors

Hey friends - another gloomy day here but rainbow colors brightened it up for me! The September challenge at Pink Fresh Studio is Rainbows and I decided to play along using the amazing PFS Floral Circles die set. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Momenta; Neenah; Paper Studio

Dies - Pink Fresh Studio Floral Circles

Other - sequins from Target; Michael's gems;

Reverse Happy Sentiment strips by CZ Designs

I spotted my friend Greta's beautiful entry to the Pink Fresh Studio challenge and she inspired me to give it a try. I own exactly one PFS set (first of many, I'm sure) and decided the delicate circles would be gorgeous in rainbow colored glitter paper on a slimline card. I used sequins to tie the circles together and some fun premade sentiment strips. The inside of the card will have a happy birthday message. Done! If you'd like to see a previous card with the Floral Circle dies, go here.

Thanks for stopping and if you have time for a quick white-on-white Christmas card, please enter at Christmas Kickstart before 6pm Central time!!

Anything But a Card

Hey crafty friends - hope you're enjoying your day, whatever you're doing!! Yesterday was a gloomy one here so I stayed inside and worked on a project for the latest Sisterhood of Crafters challenge. You need to make anything but a card. I waited until this morning to get a decent photograph but the daylight isn't that much better than yesterday, oh well. Here's my gift card holder that looks like a little gift bag:

Supplies: Paper - Graphic 45 Twas the Night Before Christmas;

Paper Studio red, green & glitter;

Hallmark gift bag tissue

Dies - Spellbinders April 2019 Large Die For You Gift Card Holder &

Sunday Drive with Santa (pines)

Sunny Studio Window Quad Circle (flower);

I'm fairly new to the Spellbinders Die of the Month Club but I've been able to pick up some of the past offerings when they didn't sell out at the Club. While I didn't get April 2019 Large Die at the clearance price that's current available at Spellbinders (only $5 - practically free!), I got a good deal. It sat around here all summer until now. I thought of it immediately when I spotted the Anything But a Card challenge via Debbie Mageed (Secrets to Stamping). She made the most beautiful lanterns as a design team member!!

I started out die cutting the pieces using various papers I thought would go together well. These die sets can have some confusing pieces so I'll usually check for a video. I found this one by Nichol Spohr sharing how to assemble the gift bag. I consulted it when I hit the piece that looks from the packaging to be like tissue paper. I wondered how it was assembled, given all the funny score lines. I had die cut it in vellum but mine was heavy weight and didn't want to fold. Nichol seemed to have the same issue with her cardstock. I finally decided to go for real gift bag tissue but did cut it out using the die and sorta folded along the score lines. Nichol cut 3 of this diecut so I did too. I didn't use the little gift tag included in the set, figuring I could do it later, even though it'll mean tying it on versus slipping onto the handle before gluing it down!!

After the gift bag was assembled, I decorated it using the For You dies included in the set plus a flower from Sunny Studio and pines from Spellbinders. Done - whew!! A bit fiddly but soooo worth it! I can see making a bunch of these for chorus friends at Christmas but it's unlikely we'll be able to have a large party by then, given the pandemic. Sigh.... Here's a photo of the bag with the gift card showing:

Since my gift bag die is newly used I'm also adding this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge. She's probably getting sick of me because I have oodles of NBUS needing love. Her challenge forces me to use it!! Thanks, Darnell, and thanks to the lovely women at The Sisterhood of Crafters for a fun challenge.

I'm glad you stopped to visit! Thanks & have a crafty day!!

Fall and Halloween at Stay Crafty with Hero

Hey friends - hope you're having a great weekend!! I took some time and made a Halloween card for the current Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge just announced by Hero Arts yesterday. This makes #15 since the pandemic began and I so appreciate Hero continuing this challenge!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Poppy (retired);

Poptone Black Licorice;

Stampin' Up green; Momenta watercolor;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CL239 Owl-oween & 

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (both retired)

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders &

Slimline Scalloped Frame

Other - Hero Arts clear lacquer; Copic Markers;

Black Soot Distress Ink & Ranger clear ep;

Darice googly eye (not sure of the size)

Most of my Hero Arts Halloween sets are retired but I love them soooo much!! I brought out an oldie but goodie with cute owls dressed as a witch, a ghost and a pirate. I've used them before (see an ancient Flickr post with them here, if interested - oh, how our styles change!!) but I still can't get enough of them. After I stamped, clear embossed and colored my owls and their accessories, I decided it was a big enough crowd for a slimline card. Thought it would be fun having them marching up to a house for treats. I used the same Simon Halloween set for the haunted house as I did on my Twofer card here but I snipped off the top floor. While the house extends past the card, I made sure it wouldn't be too tall for a #10 envelope. The sentiment is from a different Hero Halloween set, perfect for my trick or treating owls.

My slimline is 3.5x8.5 which made it a bit too narrow for the scalloped layer from my newest Sunny Studio slimline set. Instead I used the stitched rectangle die from it, plus the grassy hill from the SS Slimline Nature Borders. I used my paper trimmer for the black mat layer. I lacquered the windows and the witch owl's eyes. Mr. Pirate got a googly eye.

Will also link up to the current Watercooler Wednesday Challenge where All Occasions are being celebrated. That's my third and final link-up there (max of 3 allowed). Also adding to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my Sunny Studio slimline frame die is getting its first play. Finally, I'm linking to Virginia's Show and Share for my fourth and final entry there (max of 4 per month allowed).

Thanks to all for the fun challenges and thank to you for visiting! Happy crafting!!

Crazy for white-on-white

Help - I can't seem to stop - LOL! TGIF and I'm back with another white-on-white card as inspiration for the current Christmas Kickstart challenge where I'm Jo's elf. I'm hoping to encourage some participation over the weekend - you have until Monday UK time to play along. A new challenge will start on Tuesday. Here's my latest white-on-white with a touch of silver:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb;

Ephemera from Spellbinders October 2019 card kit

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Crafters Essentials Winter;

Hero Arts - DI064 Snowflake Fancy Die (retired)

Embossing folders - Sizzix 3D Winter Snowflakes;

Spellbinders Laurels and Bows (I used the label it cuts)

Other - Crystal Stickles

I started with an A2 card formed from Neenah, then die cut a white panel cut using a cover die new to me from Kat Scrappiness. This company sponsors challenges at Die Cut Divas (up again in December) and since I'm new on the team, off I went to become a customer. Absolutely couldn't resist their Crafters Essentials - Winter set with fabulous scene elements and a nice sale price. I also picked up a couple of Mini Tipsy Glue Holders by Crafters Solutions - perfect for holding my Gina K. Connect Glue so it drains down to the tip!

The cover die embosses some bitty snowflakes and cuts some stitched swirls. I wanted more embossing for my card so ran the die cut panel through with a 3D snowflake folder - fabulous! Glued this to my card, then added a die cut label and 3 snowflakes stacked for dimension. The top snowflake was painted with Stickles for subtle shimmer. What next??? During Spellbinders recent sale I picked up some old card kits - couldn't believe these beauties were still available! Oh, the ephemera - so fabulous! The bits add so much to a card and so quickly!! I was just opening the October 2019 package to see if there was a quick sentiment strip I could use - yes, but also the jumping stag and the stars popped out - yay! Layered all that onto my card - done!!

I'm linking up to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my cover die is new, to Virginia's Show and Share, and to Watercooler Wednesday All Occasions. Will also add to the gallery as inspiration at Christmas Kickstart.

 

More white on white!

Hey there - hope you're having a great week! It's week two of the current Christmas Kickstart challenge to use white-on-white for a Christmas card. Neutrals and a pop of color are also allowed for this one - hope you can join Jo and her elf (that would be me) for the fun!! I have a couple of cards to share using some new to me Spellbinders cut & emboss folders that just came in the mail Tuesday - yay!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb;

ephemera by Spellbinders

Cut & Emboss - Spellbinders Laurel and Bows

Dies - Taylored Expressions Birch Tree Accessories;

Penny Black - Red and Greens

Other - Stickles

Bad on me - didn't read the product description closely - this folder was designed for an A7 card. Oops, I mostly make A2s, oh well. Turns out the A7 size worked perfectly for the large Christmas sentiment that came from the November 2019 Spellbinders card kit. We'll call my doe a neutral since she's taupe (do you see the white stag behind her?) and my color is the bitty navy merry, both bits of ephemera from that same kit. I die cut the stag from a fab Taylored Expressions set. The kit contains two sets of everything so I'll be able to make another of these, maybe with the blue stag in the kit next time.

Next, a super quick & easy card with an A2 size folder (practically free on sale at Spellbinders!):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

ephemera by Spellbinders

Cut & Emboss - Spellbinders Classic Christmas

I embossed a 4x5.25 panel and added it to a white card. Popped on a sentiment banner - done!

I'm adding these to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my cut & emboss folders are new here. Also linking up to Christmas Kickstart as inspiration; you have until Monday to link up there. And finally to Watercooler Wednesday where Michelle hosts another favorite All Occasions. Thanks for all the fun challenges!!

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting!!

  

Taking a Birthday Drive!

Hey friends - glad you stopped by! Today I'm sharing a masculine birthday card made for a friend's hubby using a fun convertible set by Spellbinders.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio & Authentique;

Tim Holtz silver kraft metallic

Dies - Spellbinders Sunday Drive;

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Halloween Trimmings (happy)

Other - Hero Arts lacquer; white and silver gel pens;

embroidery thread; foam tape

I bought the Spellbinders set this summer and was eager to try it. It contains many little pieces and details - so fun!! You can use HAPPY letters to cut into the balloons but I felt like that wasn't the thing for a manly man. Decided a small cluster of balloons tied together would balance out the scripty happy on the other side. I sandwiched a piece of acetate between two cuts of the windshield frame. Also added lacquer to the mirrors and the tail lights.

I'm adding this to Darnell's NBUS challenge since the convertible got it's first play here. Fittingly, since Darnell's hubby received the card; word is he really liked it! I wrote him - hope the windshield didn't have too many bugs on it - LOL. I have a hard time keeping acetate free of specks, don't you??!

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

Scramble - using Multiple Stamp Sets

Hi friends - We have a private Facebook group for Hero Arts Scramble Lovers and I have a card I shared there yesterday, created in about 60 minutes. The final steps took me another 15 minutes so I was still within the allotted time. Char is the host and chose the theme of multiple stamp sets. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card & Woodgrain Neutral;

Paper Studio brown, kraft and ivory

Stamps - Hero Arts CL987 Color Layering Grateful Leaves &

CL882 Autumn (both retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Banner Letterset Fancy Dies

Concord & 9th Happy Holidays Label Dies

My Favorite Things various Blueprints (retired)

I started by stamping an array of leaves (just the solid parts; some have a separate vein stamp) on a piece of woodgrain patterned paper. Next I die cut the leafy panel with a stitched rectangle and added a brown mat, then glued to my card base. Next I cut three of the labels from Concord & 9th, stacked for dimension & glued to the leafty panel. Die cut the banner letters from brown and 5 solid banners from the orange & layered. Arranged on the label with foam tape then added the string. Stamped THANKSGIVING on a strip of ivory and hand cut flag ends. Popped onto the label - done!! I think the creation of the background paper with stamping took the longest, even with a MISTI.

I'm adding this to Virginia's September Show and Share (sorry - no rainbow colors but that was optional...). Thanks to Char for hosting a fun Scramble, to Virginia for her challenge and to you for stopping by! Hope you have a crafty day!!

I'm A Diva!!

Hey friends - you're probably thinking, "yeah right - she's a diva in her own mind"! But it's true - I'm now an official Diva, joining the Design Team over at Die Cut Divas. I've known most of the team for over 10 years and will quickly get to know the other members. Thanks to all the Divas for inviting me to join them! Here's my inspiration card for the September Challenge All Kinds of Holidays Time.

Supplies: Paper - Cinnamon cardstock from an old Hero Arts kit;

BoBunny Enchanted Harvest and Bold & Bright Double Dot (both retired);

Bazill brown; scrap of kraft

Studio Calico Here + There; Basic Grey True Love

Dies - Impression Obsession Patchwork Turkey

Concord & 9th Happy Holidays Label Dies

Stamps - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments;

Hero Arts CM110 Holiday Planner Icons (retired)

Other - Hero Arts orange metallic decor (retired;

Frayed Burlap Distress ink; Darice 4mm googly eyes

Cheapo Dies sponsors our challenge this month and offers a $15 gift certificate to the challenge winner (to be announced on 10/3 on the Die Cut Diva's blog). Have you heard of Cheapo Dies? I learned about them from the Divas and subscribed to their newsletter. Since I had to make my first post card quickly, I used at least one die from my stash that's sold at Cheapo Dies (available when I made my card, anyway...). They carry a TON of brands, including my fave Hero Arts, Altenew, Memory Box, Poppystamps, etc. and all at a great value. I could say more but let me talk about the card!

I started out diecutting the turkey from various papers and adding extra layers, such as two bodies with the legs sandwiched between for stability. I added googly eyes and some metallic dots for accents on one layer of tail feathers. Isn't he just the cutest??!! The brown dotted paper is from BoBunny's Enchanted Harvest pad and I used the text background paper and striped paper from the same one. The label was diecut from a piece of Basic Grey valentine paper (can you see the bitty hearts?); I didn't care - it was the color of woodgrain I wanted!! Behind the woodgrain paper I stacked several more of the die cut labels for some dimension.

Let me tell you  about my stamp set box I call "Celebrate Everyday", borrowing the name of a Hero Arts stamp set (CL498) I own which contains loads of different holidays in one set. In this box I put all the stamps from holidays, other than Christmas (which has multiple boxes of its own!!). I grouped each holiday together for ease of finding them. Then at the front I have sets that have multiple holiday sentiments, plus some Hero Arts planner sets that have loads of words & icons for various holidays. When I didn't find a single Thanksgiving sentiment to fit my project, I combined stamps from two sets of the multiple and planner variety. The trio of happys came from Divinity Designs (love this set!!) and  the Thanksgiving from Hero Arts.

That's it from me for today. I hope you can find time to make a card this month using at least one diecut or embossing folder for any holiday (maximum of four entries). You'll find all the details and more inspiration at the challenge post  from the first of this month.

Thanks for stopping and thanks again to the Divas!!

Twofer Flourish Tree

Happy weekend, friends! I'm back with another pair of cards for Darnell's Twofer Challenge 31 Trees. You make two cards using a common prompt element (stamp/die/stencil), two different designs and for two different occasions. It's a gloomy day here so please excuse the poor photos!

I used the Tree Flourish by Impression Obsession as my common tree, newly purchased yesterday at Anchor Paper (a Twin Cities paper warehouse with an extensive craft department). I found so many bargains, including this stamp, at 50% off - practically free or at least less than a cup of fancy coffee!! Here's a closer look at each with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Paper Studio ivory

Stamps - Impression Obsession Tree Flourish Large

Hero Arts Color Layering Christmas Tree (sentiment)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired)

Other - Honey Bee gems; 3M washi; Hero Arts Copper ep;

Mermaid Lagoon & Embossing Distress Inks

For this quick & easy card I stamped and copper embossed the tree onto a stitched rectangle. Added a strip of copper washi, the sentiment and some gems. Glued to card base - done!

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card & primary;

Doodlebug Sweet Summer pattern

Stamps - Impression Obsession Tree Flourish Large

Dies - My Favorite Things Flutter of Butterflies (retired)

Other - Honey Bee gems; Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink;

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Birthdays

I stamped a trio of partial flourish trees along the edge, then played around with a lot of butterflies, both open and backed with patterns. Finally settled on two butterflies backed in a striped pattern that included a bit of the Mermaid Lagoon color. In place of where a third butterfly had been tried, I added two little sentiment strips from SSS. Gems for the butterfly heads - done!

I'm also adding the tree to the current NBUS Challenge since it got first play with the Christmas card and to the current CAS Christmas Challenge where they want Trees. Thanks to Darnell and to the CAS Christmas team for the fun challenges and thanks to you for visiting!!

 

PS - please stop back on Monday when I'll have my first post up as a member of the Die Cut Divas Design Team. I'm very excited to have joined the Divas!!

Woo hoo - I'm an Elf at Christmas Kickstart!

 I'm rather tall for an elf but that's what I am for the next fortnight (that's two weeks to us Americans) over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge!! Jo invited me to be her elf for Challenge #38 White on White and I'm so honored!!! 

I don't often make white on white cards but I certainly love the look of them! As with other White on White challenges I've seen, Jo allows a bit of a neutral, plus decided a pop of color would be acceptable. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio glitter;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Dies - Poppystamps Adriana Pop Up Easel Set

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia

Other - Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink; Ranger clear EP; Honey Bee gems

As you can see, I took full advantage to add a pop of blue for my sentiment and neutral silver for my poinsettia leaves. After I bought the Adriana die set at a local store late in August, I checked it out at the Poppystamp online store and spotted one done in white on grey. I decided right away that it would be gorgeous in white on white with a white poinsettia. I planned to use my favorite Hero Arts poinsettia but it was with my sister; plan B was the fabulous Spellbinders set. I stamped and clear embossed the sentiment onto the leafy Adriana layer before gluing it to the mat panel. Added the die cut poinsettia and gems. Adhered to the popper panel with double-sided tape. Very easy to construct once you get the hang of it. Done!

Here's a view of the closed card (A2 size) and a side view of the popped up card:

Jo & I hope to see your white on white creations at Christmas Kickstart before Challenge #38 ends on September 28th. You can find all the challenge rules there. Thanks to Jo for having me as an elf and thank to you for visiting!!

Couple of cards

Hello - hope you're having a crafty day! My heart goes out to everyone on the West Coast, but especially all my friends, who have fires nearby - so scary!! Thinking of you often and hope this ends soon!!

I'm sharing a couple of cards - first up, a "thinking of you" made with some Spellbinders products:

Supplies: Paper - Strathmore Watercolor 140lb;

Paper Studio turquoise A2 card;

Foil plates - Spellbinders oval &

Everyday Sentiments II

Other - Spellbinders ephemera; Yasutomo watercolors

Tools - Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System

I used the letterpress panel I had made here. Since it was on watercolor paper, I put a bit of yellow wash in the center, then added ephemera from the July Spellbinders kit. A foiled sentiment I made in my maiden run with the Glimmer machine finished off the card. I sent this one to Darnell's friend Verna - hoping she's doing ok with all the smoke in the air out in California!

Next, a sympathy card with a Spellbinders flower set I just rec'd. Had to laugh, no more than opened the package from Spellbinders when I spotted the set on clearance at my Hobby Lobby! Oh well, I guess the shoppers in my town aren't into foiling! I did pick up a couple other sets practically for free - will use those in future. 😀😀

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; My Mind's Eye patterns, 

scraps of purple & green

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Spellbinders Floral Oval & Glimmering Layered Flowers

Stamps - Hero Arts Say it All (retired)

Other - Michael's gems; foam tape; silver foil

Tools - Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System

I think my foiling turned out better on these flowers than my first attempts but on the leaves I had some stray foil that I trimmed out. I had made the flowers but didn't have a card for them until I learned of a friend's passing. We'd lost touch over the past 10 years but Faye & I were close back in my 30's and sang in a quartet together when I lived in Wisconsin. Faye worked as a nurse and was always so kind and compassionate. I remember a story her hubby told (he predeceased her) about a car trip they were taking. They came upon an accident and Faye made him pull over so she could help - no mask, no gloves, she just went right in there until the EMTs arrived. That was Faye to a tee - RIP!

That's it from me for today. I'll add the sympathy card to Darnell's NBUS challenge since my foiled flowers are new. Thanks for hosting NBUS Darnell - I need it!!

Thanks to you for stopping by and I hope you'll check back tomorrow when I have a special Christmas card to share!! Hint - it's a "kick off" to a new challenge....

Fall trees

Hey crafty friends - there's a new challenge up at the Twofer Challenge to use trees. I really wanted to do something other than a Christmas tree since I'd recently made a Christmas tree card (see it here, if you missed it). I was inspired by Darnell's (djkardkreations) card and by Marcia's (Marcia's Stampin' Pad) card using branchy trees with dots. I pulled out an older Hero Arts fall set called Color Layering Fall Trees that has both of those. Here's my Twofer:

I thought the bare tree would be fun as a spooky tree for Halloween and then as a fall tree with all the dotted layers for Thanksgiving. Here's a closer look at each with supplies:

Supplies: Paper - Poptone Black; 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees,

DC197 Halloween Trimmings Stamp and Cut &

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (retired);

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Inks;

Hero Arts Intense Black Ink & Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen

I used a fun Haunted House from a 2017 SSS set, stamping it onto a white stitched diecut rectangle just for placement, then stamping the middle tree on the left and the far right tree to go off paper. Next I stamped the ghost & boo. Then I colored in the sky and ground with various Distress and pigment inks. My scene looked pretty bare so I added three more trees & some shadows. I had intended to stamp and color the house separately & pop onto the card but I really liked how the trees overlapped onto the house. So, I colored the house I'd already stamped. I thought the multiple Halloween colors would add a nice pop. Stamped the sentiment & put lacquer on the windows - done! Next, the Thanksgiving tree:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio ivory & glitter;

Authentique Thankful; BoBunny Enchanted Harvest

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees &

Taylored Expressions All Tucked in Harvest

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies;

Avery Elle Simple Sentiment Dies

Other - Copic & Distress Markers;

Memento Rich Cocoa & various Hero Arts inks

I stamped the bare tree onto ivory cardstock and then all the leafy layers in autumn colored inks from various My Monthly Hero kits. Note to self - label the colors when the kit arrives!! Next I die cut the panel into an oval and colored in a little ground with Copics, then popped it onto a glittery oval in the next size up. Die cut a stitched rectangle, added a strip of a different pattern and adhered all to an ivory card. Next I die cut a set of ivory sentiment strips and used the one best fitting my sentiment. Stamped the sentiment and adhered with foam tape - done!!

I'm also adding my Halloween card to the current Watercolor Wednesday Challenge All Occasions and my Thanksgiving card to the current Sweet Stampin Challenge Anything but a Birthday Card. Thanks to all for the fun challenges! Thanks to you for visiting and for any kind comments!! Hope you have a crafty day!