Autumn Splendor

I've been busy working on scrapbook pages recently. Thanks to my good friend Rachel who has been coming over each Wednesday to scrap...she has been helping to inspire me and also helps keep me to stay on track and finish some pages. The addition of Project Life into the SU! product line has helped to inspire and simplify as well. Here's a traditional  two page layout showing some gorgeous Northern Michigan Fall photos from last year.

I used the Autumn Accents Bigz die to cut out the leaves and then used the Faux Fossil Technique to add color and texture to them. It's hard to believe those leaves started out as Very Vanilla card stock, isn't it? I explain more on the Faux Fossil Technique in this post.

The Cajun Craze layer was stamped using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. The DSP I used here is retired, but you can probably find it, or at least similar, on My Digital Studio. Here's a look at both pages together...

I took so many photos over this weekend so I also made a couple Project Life pages with more of the photos and did lots of journaling. I'll share those with you next time.

It actually feels more like Fall here the past few days...cool temps. Not very good pool weather, but perfect for scrapping with a friend...which is what I plan to do today. You have a GREAT day too!

Autumn Accents Photo Easel Card

Yesterday I shared a project using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die and the Faux Fossil Technique. Todays project uses more of the beautiful leaves created with this fun technique.

First off...isn't this little guy adorable!? My Mom adopted this sweet kitten last month and she's just in love. So I made her this easel card to display one of the photos I took of Benny.

I started with a sheet of 12x12 Early Espresso Card Stock and cut it to 6 -1/2" x 12". Score it at 4" and again at 8". This will form your easel base, better shown in this photo.

The Cajun Craze mat was cut at 6 -1/2" x 4-1/2" and then wheeled with the Timber wheel inked in Cajun Craze. Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon was attached behind photo with the intention of adhering a bow. However, once complete I didn't like how the bow looked so I left it off. The photo was matted onto a piece of Early Espresso card stock with a thin border and then adhered to base with Stampin' Dimensionals. Here's a closer look of the base.

I still had some Brushed Bronze Buttons (retired) in my stash and found that one of the beautiful Antique Brads fit perfectly inside. I just fed the prongs through the button holes and used some Glue Dots to hold it in place. If you want to learn more about how to create these leaves, scroll down to my last post where I tell how these were colored and you will find a link for step by step instructions.

Since kitty cats are part of todays topic, I thought I'd share a funny photo of my "little" guy Stevie.

He looked so comfy curled up on my rocker yesterday when I walked past with my camera I had to stop for a few shots. I caught him here in mid yawn but it looks like he's having a good laugh.

Hope your day is filled with laughter!
Supply List:

• Autumn Accents Bigz Die
• Timber Stampin' Around Standard Wheel
• Neutrals 12" X 12" Cardstock
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cajun Craze 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
• Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz
• Stamping Sponges
• Crumb Cake 1/2 Inch Seam Binding Ribbon
• Antique Brads
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Glue Dots

Fossilized Autumn Wine Tag

Here is an idea for a nice way to present a bottle of wine to your hosts on Thanksgiving.

I die cut leaves from Very Vanilla card stock using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die. Then I used the Faux Fossil technique to add an interesting texture and color to the leaves. Read more about how to do the Faux Fossil Technique in this post.

After I "fossilized" my leaves, I could still see a lot of the vanilla card stock showing through, so I sponged on some color to make the leaves more vibrant. The Classic Inks I used are: Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry & Always Artichoke. After that I sponged Early Espresso onto the edges of all the leaves. Here's a closer look...

The little caps on the acorns were embossed using the Square Lattice EF. I think that adds a cute touch. After I had all leaves sponged as I wanted, I added a little shimmer to them with some Smooch Spritz.

The wide Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon is retired, but luckily I had some in my stash. The Burlap Ribbon from the Holiday Catalog would have been the perfect choice...but I didn't have any. "Happy Thanksgiving" is from the retired set Holidays & Wishes and is stamped on Cotton Ribbon.

I think this pretty autumn wine tag makes this nice bottle of wine even nicer. Thanks for visiting today...check back tomorrow for another project using the fossilized leaves.
Supply List:

• Autumn Accents Bigz Die
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Crumb Cake 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cajun Craze 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
• Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz
• Stamping Sponges
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Crumb Cake 1/2 Inch Seam Binding Ribbon
• Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon

Autumn Accents Candle & Frame Set

I'm really excited to share the project that I created as a guest designer for Craft Project Central this month! I used some of my favorite new fall products from the Holiday Catalog, along with some other old favorites, to make this set. Hope you like it!

Rich colorful leaves with a touch of shimmer make this candle wrap with matching mat and chipboard frame the perfect addition to your autumn home décor. This would also make a lovely hostess gift during the fall season.

Wouldn't the candle wrap look lovely wrapped around a bottle of wine to give as a gift?

The chipboard frame would be easy to make for any holiday or occasion just by changing the colors. Check back to see a Halloween version of this frame tomorrow.

I actually made this set planning to give it as a gift...but I think I'm going to have to make another one, because I just cannot part with it now!

To get the complete instructions for my project just subscribe to October.

Leave me a comment here on this post before Friday afternoon and you could be the lucky recipient of a FREE month subscription to Craft Project Central!

Fossilized Autumn Accent

I'm baaaack! I hadn't realized I took such a long break from blogging until I signed in here this morning to make this post. I have been really enjoying the summer and getting some things done around here and I guess just not being particularly creative. The past week or so I've been back to stamping more, so I have some new stuff to share. Today I have a masculine birthday card I created using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die and the Faux Fossil Technique.

I just love the new Woodgrain Embossing Folder...I've been wanting an EF like this for quite some time! The Timber Wheel is also great...and works perfectly with this die and EF.

The Faux Fossil technique is a lot of fun...and so easy! I taught this at my Faux Much Fun Class yesterday and the ladies loved it! Besides your card stock & ink, all you need is a plastic page protector...

• Cut off the bottom & one side seam (keep the side with the 3 holes attached)
• pick out 2 colors of ink and ink up plastic...one color per side. (ink an area large enough to fit your card stock piece)
• close the page protector and run hand along outside to blend colors. Air bubbles will form, and that's what will give you the fossil look.
• Open page protector and insert two pieces of card stock (back to back) White or Vanilla works best.
• Close the page protector and rub with fingers or a brayer to ink up your card stock.
• Remove your two pieces of fossilized card stock and use as a background, stamp onto it or cut into shape as I did above.

I also added some sponging to my leaf to give it more of a vibrant fall color. Thanks to Carol at Crafty Cat for showing this great technique! I've been having lots of fun with it...and I hope you will as well!