Gently Falling for Fall {PP172}

Hiya friends!  Sunday's post for The Paper Players sure snuck up on me!  I apologize for the late post today.  It's playoff time for my daughter's volleyball team and we've been busy!  Anywhoo...this week I am the hostess at The Paper Players and I couldn't resist one more [what I envisioned as a] fall challenge:

I had something else entirely in mind when I sat down to design my DT card but along the way, I got an idea and here are the results:

Obviously, I went very clean-and-simple with this one but I made three cards so that counts for somethin' right?!  :-)  To stamp the focal point, I cut a piece of copy paper to the size of my card front (4.25" x 5.5") and using my Ovals Collection Framelits cut an oval from the center to make a mask.  Copy paper is best for this because it is thin and doesn't give you a hard edge when you're stamping over the edge.  I attached the mask directly to the card front with removable tape and stamped just the leaf outline stamps from Gently Falling through the oval.  I used matching ink for a tone-on-tone look and the colors are Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry and Cajun Craze.

Before removing the mask, I used the Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack to pierce an outline for the oval.  I took the mask off for the first card I made but discovered because there isn't a hard line to the stamped images, it was difficult to line up the piercing template.  So, I put the mask back on and I was able to line up the edge of the mask with the template and pierce the oval perfectly.  The Expressions Thinlits Dies really glam it up when cut from some Champagne Glimmer Paper.  Such a great color and perfect for the season.  

Be sure to check out the rest of The Paper Players Design Team inspiration for some clever CAS with Leaves ideas.  I hope you'll consider playing along with us before the challenge ends on Friday, November 22nd at Noon (PST).  Until then...have a great week, peeps!

   

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Supplies
Stamps: Gently Falling
Ink: Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry CS & Champagne Glimmer Paper
Xtras: Expressions Thinlits Dies; Ovals Collection Framelits; Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack; piercing mat; paper piercer; copy paper

Falling for Thanksgiving {PP161}

Hiya friends!  So glad you've checked in with me for another week with The Paper Players.  This week, Sandy is filling in for Jaydee with our Theme Challenge:

For today's card, I was inspired by the colors in this month's FREE digital download from My Digital studio...here's a peek:

Old School September Wallpaper is available for FREE as a digital download...check out my website for more details!  Inspired by these colors and our Fall theme, here's what I made:

I started with a Baked Brown Sugar base to which I added the Dictionary background stamp in matching ink.  The main panel is a 3.75" x 5" base of Whisper White cardstock adhered with 1.25" strips of Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, Island Indigo and Summer Starfruit cardstock.

I stamped leaves from an old favorite, Gently Falling, in Versamark ink and heat set with gold embossing powder.  The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso ink on Sahara Sand CS with the Tags 4 You stamp and matching Label Bracket Punch--available as a bundle.  The sentiment is backed with some gorgeous Gold Foil Sheets.

I've been liking something other than white or vanilla for the inside of my cards and thought Sahara Sand was a good substitute.  Repeating elements on the inside of the card continues the design and creates an extra bonus "card" for the recipient! 

I hope you've enjoyed my Falling for Thanksgiving card today.  Please be sure to stop by the rest of the Design Team for more fabulous inspiration.  We hope you'll join us at The Paper Players before our challenge ends on Friday, September 6th at Noon (PDT).

Before I let you go, some of you asked to see more pictures from our trip to Tanzania...so...here you go...enjoy!   

 

Thanks for stopping by today...to my friends in the US, enjoy the rest of Labor Day weekend!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Supplies
Stamps: Gently Falling, Dictionary, Tags 4 You, Seasonal Sentiments [retired]
Ink: Cajun Craze, Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Versamark
Paper: Cajun Craze, Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar, Sahara Sand & Whisper White CS; Gold Foil Sheets
Xtras: Gold embossing powder; Linen thread; Bracket Label punch; 2" circle punch (non SU); Neutral Candy Dots

Gently Falling for Fall {PP111}

Hi everyone! Happy Labor Day weekend to my friends in the U.S. North America and happy Sunday to everyone else. I can't believe it's September 2nd already, can you?  Fortunately, Jaydee has the perfect theme challenge to usher in a new month:

Trees or leaves--YAY!  Normally, I love working with both of them but I think my mojo must have fallen along with the leaves coz it just wasn't coming together for me.  Anywhoooo, here we go:

I started by stamping all the leaves from the Gently Falling set and fussy cutting them.  The colors were inspired by my pack of  Orchard Harvest DSP:  Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple and Island Indigo.  Yep, Island Indigo!  I love using colors in unexpected ways!  Who says I can't have a blue leaf?!  My card is pretty straightforward--nothing fancy--and you'll find a complete supply list at the end of this post.  I do love the way the Scalloped Tulle Ribbon looks bunched and tied onto a Naturals Button with Linen Thread.  And that woodgrain embossing folder....swoon!

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

Be sure to pop over to the rest of The Paper Players design team to see what these talented gals have conjured up this week...it's always something fantastic!  Jaydee's fabulous fall challenge will close on Friday, September 7th at Noon (PST) so be sure to join in the fun before then!

Also, a big thank you to everyone who left a comment on my daughter's blog this past week.  She was thrilled and delighted with each one and I thank you for making her day brighter with your visit!  Crafters are the nicest people! I hope you have a great day!


Supplies 
Stamps: Gently Falling, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso and Island Indigo
Paper: Crumb Cake CS; Early Espresso Cordinations CS; Orchard Harvest DSP
Xtras: Bitty Banners Framelits; Naturals Designer Buttons; Linen Thread; Crumb Cake Scalloped Tulle Ribbon; Woodgrain embossing folder

A Gentle Seat {CCMC171}

Happy Thursday friends and welcome to another week at Create with Connie & Mary!  This week the gals have cooked up a beautiful color challenge for us, take a look:

Aren't they pretty?  I might have mentioned...it was going to be difficult for me to put down my new Gently Falling stamp set, right?  Well, I used it again on today's card:

Only this time, I took a cue from my friend, Ann Schach, and covered the stamped background with some cardstock vellum to mute the colors.  This allows my main image, from the Have a Seat stamp set, to take center stage. 

I inked the bench in Bravo Burgandy and stamped onto a Very Vanilla oval cut with the Ovals Original die.  Behind the bench, I stamped the flourish from Creative Elements in River Rock and sponged the edges with more River Rock.  Did you notice the Baja Breeze peeking out from behind?

Recognize it?  It's from the Lots of Tags sizzlits cut in half and layered each half behind the oval.  I'm always looking for different ways to mat or frame images and I really like the look of the partial mat here.

And a closer look at the little flower and sentiment banner--one flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and the other from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack paired with a flagged sentiment from Trendy Trees.  

What do you think?  Inspired to play along?  I hope so!  Be sure to check out even more Design Team inspiration over at Create with Connie & Mary.  If you play along with us, please load up your project at the Create with Connie & Mary blog by Wednesday, October 19th at noon (EST).  Thanks for stopping by, friends!

supplies:

stamps: gently falling, have a seat, creative elements, trendy trees (sentiment)

paper: river rock, baja breeze, very vanilla CS; designer patterned paper stack (regals)

xtras: ovals originals die; linen thread, boho blossoms punch; itty bitty punch pack; lots of tags sizzlits basic pearls; 1.25" square punch (to flag the banner end)

Two Step Leaves...Bravo! {PP67}

Happy Paper Players Sunday, peeps!  Jaydee is our hostess-with-the-mostess this week and she has a fabulous autumn color challenge for us:

I am certain that I never would have put these colors together as I think my Bravo Burgandy ink pad has seen rubber only once before today's card!  But what a lovely combination this is...and perfect for fall holidays.  I finally broke down and ordered the Gently Falling stamp set...I had resisted and resisted and then....sigh...any attempts at further resistance were futile.  I caved to the inevitable and....

{happy sigh} it is everything I expected it to be!!  The two-step stamping adds such richness to the image and these leaves are fabulous!  Speaking of fabulous, I took my sketch cue from those fab girls at Freshly Made Sketches for this go-to sketch:

Let's take a closer look at those yummy leaves, shall we?

I stamped the oak leaf in all the challenge colors and added the second outline layer in Versamark ink just to the More Mustard leaves and heat embossed with gold stampin' emboss powder.  Isn't it pretty?!

The background panel is Bravo Burgandy cardstock that was run through the Big Shot with the "Distressed" texture plate [retired].  Before I ran it through, I rubbed my Bravo Burgandy ink pad all over the texture plate so the ink was pushed into the de-bossed areas for a faux letterpress look. I love how this technique accentuates the texture of the plate.  It almost looks like woodgrain doesn't it?! ;-)

I hope I've inspired you to play along with Jaydee's fabulously fall color challenge this week--you're gonna love these colors!  Be sure to check out the delicious eye-candy from the rest of the design team:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao
Cindy Hall (October GD)

I hope you'll play along with us this week!  If you do, please be sure to link up your crafty goodness over at The Paper Players by Friday October 14th at midnight (PST).  I can't wait to visit you!  Thanks for stoppng by today!

supplies:

stamps: gently falling; pursuit of happiness

ink: bravo burgandy, cajun craze, more mustard

paper: bravo burgandy, cajun craze, more mustard, very vanilla

xtras: 3" circle die; perfect pennants die (scalloped circle); distressed texture plate; gold stampin' emboss powder; 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon (cajun craze); linen thread; antique brads