City Crafter Challenge #280: Fall Has Arrived

I am so pleased to be able to write this post to you.  I am the guest designer at the City Crafter Challenge blog for their challenge which starts today.  Their challenge for week 280 (this week!) is Fall Has Arrived.  For this challenge you can create a project or pick an element from the photo inspiration.

I don't know if you can tell, but I was inspired by the word Fall (since it isn't fall in Arizona until late October, I use any excuse to think of fall early!) and the pop of bright red in those apples.  For most parts of the Northern hemisphere, fall has just started and, yes!, leaves are falling.  But, it's also harvest time so that also a great idea to start with.  This photo could also inspire hills or other borders.  Just have fun.

I am so enjoying two things right now - shaker cards and my Brushos.  I immediately turned to both for inspiration.  Here's the details:

• The background (which is actually in the foreground) was made by sprinkling Brilliant Red, Orange and Yellow Brushos watercolor crystals onto Strathmore watercolor paper.  I then used a spray bottle to mist water over the paper.  It created these splashes of color all on it's own.  I did leave the paper flat and used a heat tool to dry so I didn't (purposefully) get too much watercolor effect.  This technique leaves startling bursts of color.
• I die cut the background with my Momenta Cut 'N Emboss Leaf die to cut out the openings for my shaker card.  I also cut leaves from glitter paper to put on the card front behind the window/foreground.
• I used Jennifer McQuire's shaker card method to assemble my card, filling the openings with variegated seed beads.  I made a starter card for this with prills for the shaking that was a bit of a "fail".  Maybe I'll share that card with you to talk about what not to do.  I also used Jennifer's trick of die cutting a piece of white foam to raise my frame for the shaker card.  I cut the opening back only a small bit so that the beads can't hide too much in the edges.  It works beautifully and makes a very sturdy shaker card that can totally go through the mail.
• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set I won a couple of months ago during a challenge.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the flag, edging in Distress Inks.  A little more ink around the edges of my card and it is a fabulous finish.

Since I'm guesting at City Crafter Challenge, I will personally challenge you to join the fun.  The challenge ends September 28th, so hurry and join the fun!