FOUR FEATHERS GIFT BAG

ANYTHING BUT A CARD IS THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE AT THE PAPER PLUNGE!

I chose to make a gift bag using the Designer Series Paper- Back to Black.  It is one of those packs that you just can't go wrong with pairing it with a dynamic POP of color.  I thought Calypso Coral was the look I was going for. The Stamp Set Four Feathers can be bundled with the Feather Framelits for 15% off.  I love when I don't have to fussy cut out those feathers!

The Gift Bag is made with a 12" x 6" piece of paper.  You can make 2 with one sheet of 12" x 12". The DSP pack comes with 12 sheets, 6 designs, 2 sheets each,  double sided prints to choose from.

If you would like to see a video on how to make the Gift Bag, mention it to me in a comment.

Stamp Set:  Four Feathers, Good Greetings
Ink:  Momento Black
Card Stock:  Calypso Coral, DSP- Back to Black
And More:  Chevron Ribbon, Calypso Coral Seam Binding, Candy Dot Brads, Feather Framelits

Please click on over to The Paper Plunge to see what the other designers made & if you have something other than a card..... Post it for us to be inspired by YOU!

FESTIVE FALL THANKS

My leaves are continually falling off the trees in my yard-  but I am so happy that Fall and all it's beautiful colors has lasted almost to November this year!  I am NOT looking forward to the raking of the yard! The center oval is Seasonally Scattered - a stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  I used Stampin' Up!s markers to color the gorgeous leaves and swirls.  I also added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the individual letters and acorn from Autumn Accents. The background is a leaf from the set- Stippled Blossoms. 

Stamp Set:  Seasonally Scattered, Stippled Blossoms

Ink:  Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Cherry Cobbler, Blackberry Bliss

Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White

And More:  Dazzling Diamonds, Autumn Accents, Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Last week I posted my Creative Blog Hop and this week I am tagging HELEN from Blue Dahlia Designs to be the next designer on the Creative Blog Hop. She is busy creating consistently for a weekly blog hop- Coloring Down the Lines  (which posts on Wednesdays)  and part of the Challenge  Team- The Paper Plunge ( which posts on Friday).  Her hand to paper is elegant and she has become a regular place for me to get inspiration from.  I hope you stop by her blog and see her designs.

APPLE BOX - CURVY KEEPSAKE BOX

I Love the Curvy Keepsake Thinlits & used them to make these Apples. This was part of September's Card Class - we make 3 cards and 1 project.  We filled them with Caramel Apple Chewy Candies! MMMMMM!  The Wood cutouts are from the Holiday Mini Catalog. 

Stamp Set: A Round Array

Ink:  Real Red, Momento Black

Card Stock:  Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White

And More:  Scallop Circle Punch, Curvy Keepsake Thinlit, Wooden Accents, Linen Thread, Pear Pizzazz Chevron Ribbon, Circle Punch

SYMPATHY CARD WITH FLOWERING BUDS

This crisp card was made as a sympathy card, but can easily be used for so many occasions.  I made several last month, and unfortunately had to use them for some dear friends going through painful losses.  Layering on White is so elegant with the Stampin' Markers on the Hey There Buds Stamp Set. I also used the Dazzling Diamonds to add some shimmer to the flowers. 

Stamp Set:  Hey There Buds

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Garden Greeen

Card Stock:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Basic Black

And More:  White Satin Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder

FALL CONTINUES and the CREATIVE BLOG HOP

Creative Blog Hop

Thank you Amanda for TAGGING me in your Creative Blog Hop last week.  I have been following Amanda for several years and watched her business grow as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. She has awesome ideas for expanding her creativity and sharing it.  I am happy to be on her Design Team at The Paper Plunge.   She also cheered me on when I started my blog a few years ago.

1. What am I working on right now?

That's simple.... I have a class this Friday featuring a project that I posted a few weeks ago. It's the Winter Tag Collage.  Most of my classes are monthly.  I have 2 classes that make the same projects- 3 cards & 1 project- usually involving candy!  I add a specialty class when someone requests it. This time we will be putting together the tags during class.  I prep ahead and will have an assembly line waiting for them to stamp, punch and glue! 

I procrastinated on this blog post- (not just because I had 2 days out of town, several house showings & the grand kids a couple of times & LIFE!) I decided to make a Belly Band for a really cute Fall Tissue Package and a new 3D Pumpkin. 

2. How does my work differ from others in my genre?

I'm not sure if you can reinvent the wheel, but I decided to take that wheel and make it again. After all, we are creating with PAPER! Sometimes it's CASEd (copy and share) with a few changes. Sometimes it's original (or I think it is- meaning- I don't recall seeing it before!). I switch up styles from time to time. I go from clean & simple to vintage then to sparkly & frilly & LOTS of punch art. 

3. Why do I create what I do?

I like to smile and crafting takes me to that happy place! Picking out paper and designing a card or project brings me joy and then letting someone else know you are thinking of them is like sharing a piece of me and a piece of my heart. The best therapy I know!

How cute is that handmade owl pin cushion?  It was given to me from a very creative friend- Brenda S. Look how she inspired me to make the Owl Belly Band!  

4. How does my creative process work?

I have several ways.

1.  It POPS into my head at crazy times and I jot down the idea & execute it.

2.  It POPS into my head and I go to make it and it turns out SO DIFFERENT than I imagined!

3.  It is inspired from others.  I don't spend a lot of time on Pinterest, or other social media sites, but I have a list of my favorite blogs to visit and we have a great resource as a demonstrator for Stampin' UP! called Stampin' Connection.  SC has thousands upon tens of thousands of designs to look at that other demonstrators have graciously shared.  

Yep.... my creative process at work!  

Pumpkin is made with strips of paper measuring 1 1/2" x 4-6 1/2".  They have a hole punched on each end and then threaded on a dowel.  I made a base with chipboard & covered the bottom with felt. 

Stamp Set:  Good Greetings

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Old Olive, Variety of Designer Series Paper Stacks- Pumpkin Pie, Tangelo Twist, Cherry Cobbler

And More: Owl Builder Punch

SCARECROW WINE BOTTLE TAG

Need a cute idea to take to a house warming or dinner party?  Make a seasonal Wine Bottle Tag and add a few words or greeting on the back to the hostess.  I have some more ideas for Wine Bottle Tags that I will be sharing with you another time.  As you know, I love punch art.  I've also made several projects with this Scarecrow idea.  I believe in taking an idea, and re-using it for another project! 

WE HAVE A TAG CHALLENGE AT THE PAPER PLUNGE!  

We will love to have you join us with your TAG entry!  

I used a crimper for the straw hair, Stampin' Up! no longer carries the crimper, but you can cut the hair with the fringe scissors and then just crunch them or send it through your paper shredder!

Ink:  Soft Suede

Card Stock:  Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry, Tangelo Twist, Whisper White, Basic Black, DSP- Flowerpot

And More: Top Note Die,Wooden Accessories, Metal Button, Butterfly Punch, Triangle Punch, Pansy Punch, Linen Thread, Chalk Marker, Fringe Scissors

WILD FLOWER MEADOW

Wild Flower Meadow is a large stamp that we refer to as Background Stamps.  It fills the entire card and this stamp can stand alone on a card front.  I usually ink the larger stamps while the rubber is facing up, then I press the card stock down on top of the stamp.  This helps with the coverage- especially the solid image areas. The tiny dots add such a playfulness to the background. 

On this version, I add a sentiment from Thoughts & Prayers before using the Embossing Folder. 

This view shows a more detailed view of  the embossed area. 

Stamp Sets:  Wild Flower Meadow, Thoughts & Prayers

Ink:  So Saffron, Early Espresso

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, So Saffron

And More:  Butterfly Punches, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Vintage Button, Crushed Curry Twine, Wild Flower & Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders

THE OPEN SEA WATERCOLOR CHALLENGE

A WATERCOLOR  Challenge is this week's theme at THE PAPER PLUNGE. Looks like I took it literally when making this card using the stamp set THE OPEN SEA.  Watercoloring can be very detailed or in this case simple and effective.  Our theme for October's Monthly Card Class is Sympathy Cards or Thinking of You Cards.  This masculine card can be used for either. By leaving off a sentiment, you can customize your card to fit any occasion. 

Do you enjoy watercoloring? Join us with your card or project at The Paper Plunge Challenge #3. 

On this version I tore the bottom corner of the ship's manifest to change it up a bit. The compass arrow ( What's Up Punch) is also able to spin.

Stamp Set:  The Open Sea, World Map

Ink:  Stazon Black, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Reinkers- Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand

Card Stock:  Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Soft Sky, DSP- Typeset

And More:  Mini Silver Brads, Aqua Painter, What's Up Punch, Sponges

AUTUMN LEAVES CASCADING CARD

We made these cascading Fall Cards at September's Card Class.  I CASED this card from a fellow demonstrator! You may have seen my Autumn Frame previously that used the leftover leaves!

I have to give credit & THANKS to  Robin at Stamping Country. Check out her card, blog and video!

Stamp Set: Holiday Home

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Hello HOney, Blackberry Bliss, Tangelo Twist, Early Espresso

Card Stock: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss, Tangelo Twist

And More: Autumn Accents Die, Oval Framelits, Blackberry Bliss Ribbon, EF- Perfect Polka Dots, Fancy Fan, Woodgrain

YOU'RE A STAR!

Our challenge today at The Paper Plunge is CIRCLES !  This card was made using a Stamp Set that was exclusive to Demonstrators.  "You're a Star" is awesome paired with the In Color Confetti inside the Shaker Frames Circles! There is some static on the Clear Window Sheets that  keeps the confetti clinging on it's own.  

Dive on over to see what the other Lifeguards on the Design Team did to interpret the Circle Theme. We had some wonderful entries last week join us.  Did you get a chance to see their designs?

Stamp Set:  Workshop Words

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon

Card Stock:  Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist

And More:  In Color Confetti, Window Sheets, Shaker Frames, Circle Punches 1/4"-2"