Monday, September 30, 2013

Autumn Window

Fall (my very FAVORITE season!) is in the air!
Here's an autumn window card I made.
Supplies used:
  • Madison Window/Shutter/window box
  • Leaf punch
  • Twine
  • Flower Soft
  • Martha Stewart border punch

Friday, September 27, 2013

Chicken Birthday

The farmer I made yesterday's cookie bouquet for happens to be a retired chicken farmer.
Here's the birthday card I made to go along with his gift.
The chicken is made from an upside-down heart and has heart wings and a heart comb on it's head. 
Here's the inside:
Supplies used:
  • Free chicken wire clipart
  • Heart Template
  • Heart Punch
  • Fence border punch (Martha Stewart)
  • Gingham ribbon
  • Gingham paper
  • Raffia
  • Sentiments from Stampin Up and Blue Ridge Impressions 
This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Fall Cookie Bouquet

Here's a fall sugar cookie bouquet I made for an older farmer's surprise birthday party last night.
His daughter loved it and wanted it placed right next to his chair and the bowl of birthday cards!

 I used a wonderful recipe for sugar cookies that turn out puffy and soft -- the icing is great too!
(See below -- compliments of my sister-in-law Lois!)
 I made round cookies into yellow and orange flowers.
I also made two different leaf shapes and decorated them with the same icing colors and sprinkles.
 
I placed the cookie on skewers and  bagged each one separately - tying the bag shut with fall colored curly ribbon. A fall mug completed the ensemble and made for a festive looking gift.


Soft Sugar Cookies
1 cup margarine - softened
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in water
4 tsp. baking powder
Mix together well and add (alternating between the two)
5 cups flower
1 cup milk
Pat out on floured surface and cut out with your favorite cookie cutter.
Place on un-greased  baking sheet
Bake for 10 min. @ 325 degrees.

Icing
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together and add:
 milk 1 T. @ a time till desired consistency
ENJOY!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Puppy Dog and Money Gift

This cute little puppy wished a little (4 year old) man a very happy birthday.
You can view another version of this doggie (with a red balloon for a mouth) here.

  Here's a fun way to give a money gift -- tape your money end to end and attach pull here tab.
Wrap box and put money inside.
The receiver opens their gift like this:
I filled the bottom of the box with candy to make it "extra" fun!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Autumn

Fall has come to my house -- both in temperature and in decor.
My 10 year old helped me decorate (as always) and this year did some of it all by herself (i.e the above round table in my living room).
I put fall stuff inside of my mason jar lamp -- pine cones, leaves, etc.
I tried to "tone things down" a little this year -- using more browns/greens/earth-tones instead of all oranges, reds, yellows!  There's still plenty of fall color around -- but too much orange tends to "jangle" my nerves after a month or so!

 My mom gave me the pretty table runner on my coffee table and the pumpkin tart burner (below) is from my mother-in-law --- and early b-day present!
My mom's old sewing chair in the corner of my dining room.
I kept the table fairly simple -- a lantern w/candle inside. 
I love burning candles during meals!
 
The deck is "all decked out" in a fresh coat of stain and a few fall things like the above pumpkin basket.....a mum, and....
...a cute little pumpkin man!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Little Dress Card

It's good to be back on-line again -- and BEFORE the projected date!
Here's a little dress card I made for a sweet little girl from church who turned six last week! 
This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Computer Problems

FYI: I'm having computer problems of late and probably will not be back on-line till sometime in October! Missing all the interesting/inspiring blogs I usually read -- but hopefully I'll be back soon!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Simple Chalkboard Tag

I really like the look of all the chalkboard cards appearing everywhere.
Here's my take on a simple fall tag using that technique.
I stamped the leaves onto pattern paper, and  I love how the colors in the paper make the leaves look a lot more realistic.

  I added three thin lines to the bottom with yellow, white, and red colored pencils.
For more chalkboard inspiration visit my Paper Crafts - Chalkboard Pinterest board.

Stamp Sets used:
  • Leaves Galore (Inkadinkado)
  • Harvest Expressions (Inkadinkado)

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Scarecrows

I had so much fun making these cute scarecrow cards using the top note die from spellbinders. 
They were very easy and simple to make -- I think my favorite part is the shredded dictionary page hair!
You can find the inspiration for these and many more fall cards on my Pinterest board.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Knitting Birthday

One of my friends had a birthday last week. She's been an avid knitter for the past couple years so I decided to gear her card in that direction.
Here's a close up of my toothpick knitting project on the bottom of the card:
Supplies used:
  • Doily
  • Knitting image from Magic Moonlight 
  • Script Stamp (Stampin' Up)
  • Washi Tape
  • Homemade Crinkle Ribbon
  • Toothpics (for knitting needles)
  • Crochet Thread

Monday, September 2, 2013

Simple Notes

I recently needed some quick and simple thank you cards so I whipped these little notes up using versa mark and chalks.
You simple stamp your images with versa mark and then chalk over the entire area with your choice of colors. The versa mark makes the stamped image appear on the paper.