Fall Projects #5 & #6

 I have been a baaaa-ad blogger!  I actually have TWO projects to share with you...so hang on to your hats!

The first is a fun "folk art" style card. And the technique I wanted to share with you involves using your "colorless blender" Copic market to add texture to images that you color. The stamped image is from Papertrey Ink's "Autumn Hills" set.  I love all the little bits and pieces that you get in the stamp set...I used two of the companion stamps to "spiff up" the inside.

Don't you just love that "peek-a-boo" die cut strip down the right side of the card?  That is a fun Memory Box die called Piestra Tile.  The detail it adds really means that you don't have to do much embellishing  to your card...it does all the work for you! I did add just a touch of Chestnut Liquid Pearls in the centers of some of the lacey cuts.

You will want to watch the video either here or on YouTube because it explains how to use your colorless blender to add texture...no shading required.  Expert colorists use this technique all the time - but it is easy to do even for us "beginners!"




Project #6 was so much fun to make. I used the Papertrey Ink Shape Series: Pumpkin die to make a couple of shaped cards.  I have loved seeing other card makers do them...and I found out they are super easy to make - especially with the die set.  Both of these cards were made with the same set. For the first one I used several different pattern papers to cut the sections for the pumpkin...this is a great project to use up paper scraps.

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These dies can cut paper and ....FELT! I used some rust colored felt to make the second card. If you are going to cut out felt with these dies, I really do recommend that you use 100% wool felt...this is one of those times that it is worth getting the higher quality product.  100% wool is denser than craft felt - and that makes it easier to cut.

I added some stitching to the sections to give them a bit of definition and some brown floral wire twisted around a paintbrush to imitate a pumpkin vine. I can't wait to send this to one of my friends that loves fall and is always on the hunt for "the perfect pumpkin."  Maybe I can talk her into thinking THIS one is the "perfect pumpkin" to adorn her mantle!

I have created a video for this project as well...and most of it centers around making a decorated glassine bag....to add all the parts and pieces of the jack 0'lantern card...not yet put together.  I am going to send it to my youngest niece. She is already a little crafter...and I think she will enjoy making her own card to give to a teacher or a friend.

You all know I can't resist a good pun...so with a little "selective stamping" (a technique explained in the video) I was able to change Happy Halloween....to Happy OWL-oween. *insert horrible attempt at a British accent.* In the video, I also show you how I created that cute little owl...I especially LOVE the eyelashes on her googley eyes!

I numbered the sections and made light pencil marks on the base so it will be easy for my niece to put her Pumpkin Puzzle together. If you have any young crafters in your life - this would be a great project to do with them.

Hope you are having a great FALL...and that the weather in your part of the world is allowing you to have a little extra time outside!  I hope to be back soon with another project...so stay tuned.