Giving Thanks This Season

I had previously mentioned that I created a card for the City Crafter challenge that was a fail.  I'm finally getting around to posting the fail.  Here's the details where I include the parts I didn't like so much:

challenge submission card

• 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.  I taped the paper to my work surface with painters tape and used a heat tool to dry.  However, I used a lot more water and you can see how this background is more watercolor that the one I chose for the challenge.  For this card (not always - because I'm loving my Brushos for watercolor backgrounds), it really like the small burst of color in the challenge submission.
• 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 back of the card behind the window.  Nothing that is a specific "fail" in my mind here.

• I used Jennifer McQuire's shaker card method to assemble my card, filling the openings with October Tango prills.  I didn't add enough prills and also used foam squares to adhere my shaker card, rather than Jennifer's trick of die cutting a piece of white foam to raise my frame for the shaker card.  The result is an opening that allows the prills to hide and thus, not have enough "shake" (compared to the submission card above.
• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the flag, edging in Distress Inks.  Again, something I couldn't screw up!

Having criticized the heck out of the card, I will say that I used this card like all the others.  To a person who didn't see the submission card, my "fail" is perfectly adorable.  I think this a good example of how our vision doesn't play out.  This can often lead to decisions about a project's worth that is inaccurate.  Proof that crafting is not always comparable and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I say our inner critics should take a nap and we should get onto more crafting!

I linked this up at SSS Monday Challenge: Autumn is in the Air.  Come join the fun!

Brilliant Fall Colors

I am the guest designer this week at the City Crafter Challenge blog for their challenge Fall Has Arrived.  You might be getting tired of hearing this same theme from me, but it is a measure of my gratitude to the ladies for asking me to join them.  Time is very short to join this challenge.  Get your post together and link up quickly as the challenge closes tonight.  For this challenge you can create a project or pick an element from the photo inspiration.

This card was made using the following techniques which are similar to the one in the challenge entry.  Here's the details:

• The background 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.  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 wonderful bursts of color that are perfect for this card.
• I die cut the leaves with my Momenta Cut 'N Emboss Leaf die from some glitter paper.  I inked the emboss plate from the leaf die using brown Archival Ink.  The ink added the leaf veins and created beautiful focal points on the card.  

• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the banner, edging in Distress Inks.  

It was so fun to prepare to be the guest designer.  Hurry on up and join the fun over at City Crafter Challenge Blog!  The challenge ends tonight.

A Bunch of Leafy Gratitude

If you're here to see my guest appearance at the City Crafter Challenge Blog this week, scroll down or click here.

I am the guest designer this week at the City Crafter Challenge blog for their challenge Fall Has Arrived.  For this challenge you can create a project or pick an element from the photo inspiration.

I made several cards in anticipation of hosting the challenge and have been posting them this week to encourage you to participate in this fun challenge.  This card was made using some of the leftover pieces of my challenge entry.  Here's the details:

• The card background was made using Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The technique is all over the internet - simply apply the inks on the front of the card base with a sponge tool.  I then dropped water droplets onto the card front to create the splotches which look like rain.
• The leaves are die cut from one of the test backgrounds created using my Brusho watercolor crystals.  They are die cut with my Momenta Cut 'N Emboss Leaf die.  They create beautiful focal points on the card.  I edged each with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and used some yellow twine to tie bows to each leaf.
• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the flag, edging  and coloring in Vintage Photo and Walnut Ink Distress Inks.  

Oh my goodness I am having a ton of fun this week.  I am so thankful that the ladies over at City Crafter Challenge Blog invited me to be the guest designer.  Won't you join us in the challenge?  Create a card or project using the photo as inspiration.  Then head on over to the blog to link up to the challenge.

I decided to link this card up to a few other challenges:

Little Red Wagon Happy Fall Y'all

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge # 202 Anything Goes

Come join the fun!

A Fall Spirit

If you're here to see my guest appearance at the City Crafter Challenge Blog this week, scroll down or click here.

I am the guest designer this week at the City Crafter Challenge blog for their challenge Fall Has Arrived.  For this challenge you can create a project or pick an element from the photo inspiration.

I made several cards in anticipation of hosting the challenge and will post them this week and encourage you to participate in this fun challenge.  This card was made using the following techniques which are similar to the one in the challenge entry.  Here's the details:

• The background 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.  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 wonderful bursts of color that are perfect for this card.
• I die cut the leaves with my Momenta Cut 'N Emboss Leaf die from some glitter paper.  They create beautiful focal points on the card.  

• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the flag, edging in Distress Inks.  

It was so fun to prepare to be the guest designer.  I can't say thank you often or loud enough to the ladies over at City Crafter Challenge blog.  I decided to link this card up to a few other challenges:

Little Red Wagon Happy Fall Y'all

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge # 202 Anything Goes

Come join the fun!

Falling for the Happiest Birthday

The man card birthday.  It can be tough, but fall is the best time of year to celebrate and make a card appropriate for those men in your lives.  This card is a take on a card I made last year.  I like it so much and I found these Momenta Cut Emboss Leaf dies.  I used Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint Distress Inks to color the leaves after embossing.  Crinkled glassine paper accents the left side and a little twine for effect.  The sentiments were all stamped in brown Archival Ink.

On the inside was one lonely leaf and a final sentiment.  I think my friend enjoyed his card and certainly felt the warmth of caring on his birthday.