Cards, cards, cards …

Here are a few cards I’ve made over the course of the past couple of days.

This first one is my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge #100 on the Fresh & Fun blog. I don’t think I’ve ever used so many brads on a card before. It’s pretty masculine looking. Definitely heavy metal. I love the Autumn Flower Soft.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Barn Red, and Autumn Terracotta cardstock; Basic Grey Indian Summer 6x6-inch paper pad; Cocoa, Barn Red and Autumn Terracotta ink pads; Brown Bag marker; Flourishes Forest of Trees and Impression Obsession Sentiments I stamp sets; Retired CTMH Speckled Background stamp; Gold mini brads; Autumn Flower Soft; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles and Labels 6 sets; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

This next card was one I created the other evening with my favorite cone flowers stamps. I colored the image with a blending pen and ink from my ink pads.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Pansy Purple cardstock; DCWV Indian Summer Fall Matstack; Black, Olive, Pansy Purple, Chocolate, Bamboo, and Twilight ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Blossoms & Butterflies and CTMH Thank You stamp sets; CTMH Retired Speckled Background stamp; Kaiser Craft pearl accents; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

This last card was made using the apron stamp I love and Cosmo Cricket’s Early Bird paper. I was so happy to see Cosmo Cricket scale its 12x12-inch papers down into 6x6-inch Mini Decks for card makers.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Olive, and Twilight cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Mini Deck; Black, Olive, and Bamboo ink pads; Lockhart Vintage Apron stamp and Hero Arts Anytime Messages stamp set; Twilight, Cranberry, and Olive mini brads; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Piercing tool; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

I hope you’re having a great Saturday! Thanks for stopping by!

Soon ...

It won't be long before the earth is covered with a blanket of brightly colored leaves. On Tuesday, it was official. Autumn is here. One thing I've noticed this week, since I became aware of the world around me again, is that the days are getting much shorter. It isn't quite light outside when I get up in the morning, and it's getting dark much earlier in the evening. The weather we've had in September has been the nicest we've had all year, although it is supposed to start cooling off next week. That's OK ... so long as the fluffy white stuff doesn't show up for six weeks or so.

About my card, I've had a jar of Autumn Flower Soft sitting on my desk for a while and deemed it time finally use it. The colors are so pretty. Still in what I call a wedding "stupor," the mojo isn't exactly oozing out of me yet, but I gave it my best shot. LOL.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Goldrush, and Chocolate cardstock; Retired CTMH Nature's Treasures paper packet; Chocolate ink pad; Four Seasons and Thank You stamp sets; Gold mini brads; Leaf button from my stash; Autumn Flower Soft; Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Edger punch.

I didn't think I'd get a card made tonight. After work, Cameron and I took the boys to a book fair at their school. It was a good time, and we made some fun purchases. When I finally got into my corner, it was with the intention of clearing the clutter. I did make a little headway before being distracted by the Flower Soft. Dustin called again tonight and relayed how they tested their compatibility today on a tandem bicycle on Mackinac Island. They're having a blast. I'm so glad. I'm anxious, too, to see their photos. Maybe they'll let me make some prints and put together a little scrapbook for them.

For tonight, I'd better get to bed. Work has been very busy this week, which has made the workdays fly by. One more day. I'm looking forward to the weekend. As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing my life and attempts at creativity. Enjoy your Friday!