Clearly Besotted Challenge #5 Autumn

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is doing something fun today. It's cold and overcast today here in the Chicago area. DH is checking some things off the "honey do" list. I'm still without a clothes washer - we picked a new one out last night. As soon as it appears I will be missing in action. I can't tell you how high the mountain of dirty clothes is getting. It's been a week now. So what's for me to do? Sneak off and make a card for the Clearly Besotted challenge of course. This time the theme is fall. I have several of their sets but not the new Autumn  Flowers set.   I decided on a gorgeous bouquet of flowers in pretty fall colors.

These solid stamps gave me some trouble with the dye ink I was using.  I am trying to wait patiently for the new pigment inks I ordered earlier in the month - but didn't want to wait to play along.  I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, but once I ran an eraser over the clear stamps to rough up the smooth surface things improved dramatically.  Do that first!!!

I hope you find some time to get your crafty on and have a beautiful day!

Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  4.5 x 6.25"

Stamps:  Clearly Besotted Love Quotes

Pattern Paper My Minds Eye "In Bloom" 6x6" Pad

Card Stock:  PTI Vintage Cream, White, Antique Linen

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Tangerine Tango, Memento Pistachio, Tangelo, Cantaloupe

Ribbon:  1/4" Natural Crochet Lace, Natural Button Twine 5/8" Iridescent Ivory Taffeta May Arts

Button: Prima

Dies:  Spellbinder Framed Tags 1, Memory Box Palace Oval Frame

Waltzingmouse Pajama Party!

Are you playing along with the Waltzingmouse Pajama Party?  If not there is still time!  Gotta tell you that  I love a challenge - it's a great excuse to pull out my favorite set of stamps an get inky.  What I like even better is seeing the other projects linked up by the people playing along.  It is a way to see the stamps I own through the eyes of someone else!   And if that wasn't enough motivation - yes there are prizes!!!  Claire has four ghoulishly wonderful challenges you can choose from this time!   If you want to get all the details and see the different challenges Claire has posted click here.  

I'm playing along with Challenge 2 - Vintage Ghost Stories.     When I was a kid I loved watching Creature Features and classic black and white science fiction like The Blob, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Dracula...... oh and who can forget Vincent Price in all the Poe Stories like the Masque of the Red Death and The Pit and The Pendulum?    The first poetry I was introduced to .. Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson - but the one that captivated me the most?  Edgar Allan Poe with The Raven of course!    So when I saw the new Witching Hour and All Hallow's Eve sets I was again - enchanted!  

I love the contrast of elegant (to attract you of course) - with eerie.  I water marked the music paper with "Splat That!" inked up in Antique Linen to give it a more aged and weathered look.

Thanks for stopping by!  I am looking forward to seeing your creations!


Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  4.5 x 6.25
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse All Hallows Eve, Splat That
Pattern Paper:  My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Union Square 6x6
Card Stock:  PTI Black, Antique Linen
Ink:  Memento Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Dies:Marianne LR0240, Spellbinder Classic Ovals, Nested Lacy Pennants
Ribbon:  1 1/2" Black Net, Black Button Twine May Arts
Pin:  Ribbon Reel
Misc:  Metal Corner and Button

Serendipity Stamps - Introducing Mr. Who!

I'm so happy to be sharing a new die with you today from Serendipity Stamps.  The design team is having a little blog hop to celebrate the release of this owl that Mary (the owner of Serendipity) has informally dubbed "Mr. Who".  He is absolutely adorable and lots of fun to work with.  I know you have lots you want to see so I will keep this short.   I made one "fussy card" with layers  of different patterned papers.  Of course I had to add some gems for big glowing eyes!  I double cut the owl and inlaid the dark chocolate pieces inside the kraft cut out.  

OK now for a little CAS - these cards were so easy I made a whole set in different colors.

For my second project I made a card from white card stock.  Next I trimmed slightly smaller colored card stock panel and attached it to the card.  Then I trimmed a slightly smaller piece of white card stock for the front of my card, stamped the sentiment, cut out the owl die shape and then ran it through my die cut machine with a wood embossing plate and attached it to the card base.  To finish it off I attached the die cut owl and added some gems for eyes.  I just recently discovered the Sakura Quickie Glue Pen - - it works exactly like their Jelly Roll pens but instead of ink it leaves a line of glue that sticks wet or dry.  It is great for tiny intricate areas and worked really well with this die.

Here's a list of all the DT members who are playing along today - please make sure you leave comments on all the blogs you visit.  One random commenter  will receive a $10 discount off their next Serendipity Stamps order!  You have until Oct. 20 to leave a comment - winner will be posted on Oct. 21 on Mary's blog.

Jenny Gropp

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Pauline Pollington

Vickie Zimmer

And if you are a fan of Serendipity Stamps I hope you will check out our challenge blog.  We'd love to see you post your creations there!


Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.5 x 6.25
Stamps:  Serendipity Who Loves Ya?
Dies:  Serendipity Owl Die, Spellbinder Standard Circles, Fall Foliage, Memory Box Grove Branch
Card Stock:  PTI Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy SU! Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, More Mustard
Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey Hey Boy, Hey You, Hey Girl 6x6" Pad
Ribbon:  1/4" Twill Chevron Stripe Champagne May Arts
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Gems:  Paper Studio
Border Punch:  EK Success Zig Zag Stitch

CAS 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Serendipity Who Loves Ya?
Die:  Serendipity Owl Die
Card Stock PTI  Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Terra Cotta Tile, Orange Zest, SU! Melon Mambo, Pretty Ink Pink, Gumball Green, Certainly Celery
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Emboss Folder:   Sizzix Wood grain