Birthday Sunflowers

One of my favourite things about this time of year is the proliferation of sunflowers. One doesn't have to go far to find bouquets of these bright, happy blooms. Lucky for me, sunflowers are a huge trend in home decor and crafting this season. Since Stampin' Up! is always right on-trend, it is no surprise that the beautiful Painted Autumn Suite features stunning sunflower images. I designed today's card purposely to showcase the gorgeous patterns in the Painted Autumn DSP pack...check it out:

Aren't those sunflowers pretty? I am so in love with this suite I am featuring it as my Suite of the Month in September. This is actually one of the projects we'll be making at this month's class. I used two different DSP patterns, layering them on a Garden Green background panel which I embossed using the Layered Leaves Dynamic TIEF. I let the DSP to all of the talking on this card, adding only a stamped sentiment.

The sentiment is from the Special Celebrations stamp set. I stamped it in Early Espresso ink and punched it out using the Pretty Label punch. I added a little stamped branch from the Painted Harvest stamp set in the background, stamped off once, in Garden Green ink. I layered the stamped label on an Everyday Label punched from Early Espresso card stock. The only embellishment is a wee scrap of burlap ribbon which I stapled to the sentiment label.

On the inside I couldn't resist stamping more sunflowers, so I stamped the flower images from the Painted Harvest stamp set using Daffodil Delight for the larger image and then layering Crushed Curry over top with the smaller image. The centre is stamped in Early Espresso. I added more branches, stamping the bottom layer in Lemon Lime Twist and the top in Garden Green. The sentiment, which is also from Special Celebrations set, is stamped in Early Espresso ink.

Want to know the best news? All of the products from the Painted Harvest Suite will be available to order this Friday when the Holiday Catalogue goes live! I know you're going to want to put this suite right at the top of your Wish List.

Product List

Painted Harvest Photopolymer Stamp Set [144783] $26.00	Special Celebrations Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143885] $44.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $11.25	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102584] $10.00
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $10.00	Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper [144613] $14.50	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [126973] $8.50	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [144086] $8.50
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [126944] $8.50	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173] $8.50	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] $8.50	Big Shot [143263] $136.00
Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143704] $11.75	Pretty Label Punch [143715] $23.50	Everyday Label Punch [144668] $23.50	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487] $9.25

Christmas Mittens for Sunday Stamps

Happy Sunday! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. We have glorious sunshine here and are spending the weekend at Great Wolf Lodge for an end-of-summer family getaway.

Today marks the start of a new sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps. This sketch was designed by yours truly, so I really hope you'll play along with us! Here is the sketch:

...and here is my take on it:

I used LOTS of new products from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue on this project! I used the new Winter Wonder TIEF to create the semi-circle element in the sketch. It doesn't show in this photo, but I brushed clear Wink of Stella over the raised image so it sparkles like freshly fallen snow.

The DSP I used is from the Be Merry pack, which is in the Annual Catalogue. I think it is my favourite red-and-green-all-round-Christmas paper this year. I used the Ticket Tear punch along one edge of the Cherry Cobbler card stock layer behind the DSP for a little added interest. The mittens are from the new Smitten Mittens stamp set and are stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink. I used the coordinating Many Mittens framelits to die-cut them out. I added a little pine bough behind the mittens which I die-cut from Garden Green card stock using the new Christmas Staircase Thinlits.

The sentiment is from the Snowflake Sentiments stamp set and is stamped in Garden Green ink. I used the Pretty Label punch to punch it out and then layered it on an Everyday Label punch-out in Cherry Cobbler. I love the way those two punches work together! The only embellishment on this card is some twine from last year's Holiday Catalogue. I used both Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green because I couldn't decide which colour I liked better ;)

On the inside I added a Whisper White card stock panel on which I stamped the sentiment from the Smitten Mittens stamp set in Garden Green and another pair of mittens in Cherry Cobbler. Super-cute!

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team's take on my sketch and then play along with me! I would love to see what you create and will be sure to comment on every submission for this challenge. Have a great week!


Product List

Smitten Mittens Photopolymer Stamp Set [144931] $26.00	Snowflake Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144820] $29.00	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [126966] $8.50	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [126973] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685] $10.00	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102584] $10.00	Be Merry Designer Series Paper [144111] $14.50
Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Winter Wonder Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [144686] $10.00	Many Mittens Framelits Dies [144672] $41.00	Christmas Staircase Thinlits Dies [144679] $51.00
Pretty Label Punch [143715] $23.50	Everyday Label Punch [144668] $23.50	Ticket Tear Border Punch [143718] $21.50	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $10.75
Baker's Twine Trio Pack [141999] $12.00

Thinking of Pumpkins

Well, this week certainly is flying by! It seems that the closer we get to the first day of school, the faster time goes. I need it to slow down...I still have SOOOOO much to do! One of the things on my To-Do List is prepping for my Stampin' Bingo Holiday Catalogue Launch. It's happening one week from tonight and will be so much fun! Today I have one of the make-n-takes we'll be doing that evening to show you...

This one showcases the fabulous Painted Autumn DSP and I absolutely love it! The card base on this one is a 4-1/4" square, but the focal image extends from the upper edge, making it 5-1/2" tall. I love this creative layout CASE'd from Janet Wakeland. I used three different patterns from the DSP pack. The pumpkins are actually fussy-cut from one of the sheets...love it!

The only stamping is the sentiment, which is from the Count My Blessings stamp set and is stamped in Early Espresso ink. I love stamping directly onto DSP, as it adds instant texture and colour to the stamped image. I die-cut the sentiment using the Stitched Shapes Framelits and layered it on a scalloped oval cut from Crumb Cake card stock using the Layering Ovals framelits. Behind the ovals I added a little hint of a metallic foil snowflake, but turned it over so the vanilla coloured back side was showing. I added a little swirly die-cut, which I think looks like pumpkin vines, as an accent. It was cut from copper foil using the Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits. The curly twine I used is actually some of the new Jute Twine which I separated into three thinner strands. I love the added texture it gives.

I didn't take a photo of the inside because I kept it very plain, just adding a Very Vanilla panel on which to write and another fussy-cut pumpkin. Sometimes simpler is good ;)

If you haven't yet registered for my bingo event it's not too late. Visit my Events page HERE and then click RSVP to reserve your seat. It's going to a be a great night because not only will you get your hands on brand new Holiday Catalogue products, but you'll also see loads of holiday project ideas and product samples on display. This is one event you don't want to miss!

Product List

Count My Blessings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144790] $26.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] $8.50	Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper [144613] $14.50	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $10.00
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $11.25	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $5.25	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $40.00
Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $46.00	Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies [144678] $40.00	Jute Twine [144625] $7.25	Foil Snowflakes [144642] $8.00