Looking Forward To Fall!

Hello!  Despite - or maybe because of - another late summer heat wave this week I am definitely looking forward to fall - the season of beautiful colours, book fairs, and craft shows!  Today I am sharing a few fall inspired projects I worked on this week using a few favourite current Stampin' Up! dies and stamp sets, as well as a few favourite retired die sets.  

Just a quick summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring card fold lines - to ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for fussy cutting stamped images if there either are no co-ordinating dies, or you decide not to use the co-ordinating dies - i.e. you do not want to have a border around the image (such was the case with the two stamped birdhouses I used in my projects).  I also used the scissors to fussy cut the stamped deciduous tree in my first project, but cut to leave a small border around the stamped image, although I added colour over these borders.  These scissors are also great for doing any necessary trimming of die cuts - i.e. removing a leaf or two etc.;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  

I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) for the stamped images and sentiments.  All images were stamped on watercolour paper, and coloured with Craft Stampin' Inks and Craft Stampin' Ink Refills mixed with water and applied with fine-tipped paint brushes.  I shaded cardstock die cuts by applying Craft Stampin' Inks with either Blending Brushes (item 153611) or Small Blending Brushes (item 160518).  To add a little visual texture ("speckling") to the shaded cardstock die cuts I lightly spritzed them with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185).  

The following are the stamp and die sets I used in my projects:

• Country Birdhouse stamp set (item 163395) - birdhouse and bird images;

• Country Flowers stamp set (item 163405) - large floral bouquet and bucket images, and "best friend ever" sentiment;

• Beach Day stamp set (item 162797) - "enjoy today" sentiment;

• Frosted Forest dies (item 164136) - for my first project I die cut the two large "solid" coniferous trees, three detailed coniferous trees, and one "solid" deciduous tree from watercolour paper - applying Craft Stampin' Inks with Blending Brushes and Small Blending Brushes:  Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) for the coniferous trees; and Real Red ink (item 147084), Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) for the deciduous tree.  Each inked die cut was then spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185);

Frosted Forest dies - 164136

• Changing Leaves dies (item 164138) - "berry" sprigs used on the first project (cut from Old Olive cardstock - item 100702 - and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.  I used a 0.7mm white Posca paint marker to add the "berries"); and the three-leaved sprigs used on both birdhouse cards, which were die cut from watercolour paper that had been coloured with a wash of Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) and shaded with Early Espresso ink (item 147114);

Changing Leaves dies - 164138 (also includes Hybrid Embossing Folder)

• Grove dies (item 157844) - the two deer used on the first project (die cut from Crumb Cake cardstock - item 120953 - and shaded with Early Espresso ink);

Grove dies - 157844

• Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628) - two curving oak leave sprigs used on the first project - cut from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) and shaded with Early Espresso ink;

Encircled In Nature dies - 163628

• Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400) - to cut bird images, and small double-leaf sprig (used on "best friend ever" card);

Country Birdhouse dies - 163400

• Country Flowers dies (item 163410) - to die cut the large floral bouquet and bucket images, and the leafy clump.  The "leafy clumps" were cut from Old Olive cardstock and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; Real Red cardstock (item 102482) and shaded with Blackberry Bliss ink (item 147092); and Moody Mauve cardstock (item 161723) and shaded with Blackberry Bliss ink;

Country Flowers dies - 163410

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - for the "best friend ever" card I used the 2 1/8" diameter circle die to cut the background circle from wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393);

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

• Crafting With You dies (item 161225) - the apple basket used on the "best friend ever" card - cut from Pecan Pie cardstock and shaded with Early Espresso ink;

Crafting With You dies - 161225

• retired Giving Gifts dies (item 156563) - I used these dies, which were featured in the July-December 2021 Mini Catalogue, to die cut the small leaves from watercolour paper - four used on the first project and one on the "enjoy today" card.  I coloured the leaves with Mossy Meadow ink, Pecan Pie ink, Early Espresso ink, and Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086);

Giving Gifts dies (retired) - 156563

• retired Full Basket dies (item 158679) to cut from watercolour paper the three apples and stems and leaves used on the "best friend ever" card, and coloured with Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso inks; and

Full Basket dies - 158679

• recently retired Tree Rings dies (item 159888) to cut from watercolour paper the branch with leaves used on the "enjoy today" card - watercoloured with Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and Mossy Meadow inks.

Tree Rings dies (retired) - 159888 (also includes Hybrid Embossing Folder)

The Country Birdhouse stamp set (item 163395) and the co-ordinating Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400) are also available together in the Country Birdhouse Bundle (item 163401); and the Country Flowers stamp set (item 163405) and the co-ordinating Country Flowers dies (item 163410) are also available together in the Country Flowers Bundle (item 163411).  If you would like to purchase both the stamp set and co-ordinating dies be sure to use the appropriate Bundle item number when submitting your order to receive the 10% Bundled Savings!

I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for all card bases.

On with the projects!

I started with a thrift store frame, glass removed, which I painted black and slightly distressed using a fine grit sandpaper. I cut a piece of heavy weight cardboard to fit the 7 1/2" square back opening, and covered it with Pool Party distressed wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393) - I used the Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) to roll over the DSP immediately after gluing it to the cardboard backing panel to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and to prevent air bubbles and buckling of the paper.  I added a torn strip of a Pecan Pie/Early Espresso wood grain patterned paper - also from the Country Woods DSP - to serve as the ground for the scene - I sponged all edges with Early Espresso ink.  I trimmed this strip so it would be slightly less than the width of the background panel.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Daffodil Delight ink refill (item 119672), Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to colour the focal tree - after using a fine-tipped paint brush to apply these inks/ink refills mixed with a little water I sponged additional Pumpkin Pie ink and Early Espresso ink around the edges of the tree;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) - trimmed as necessary - to attach the focal tree;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow tied around the neck of the doe; and
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - trimmed as necessary - to attach the doe and fawn.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5" square top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 3/4" square matting panel;
• Crumb Cake checked patterned paper from the Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162593) for the 4 11/16" square panel - all edges sponged with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• scrap of Basic White Thick cardstock for the trimmed sentiment strip;
• Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) and Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166) to colour the birdhouse image.  Before I added splatters using my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid I lightly spritzed the coloured birdhouse with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), blotting dry with paper towel;
• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), and Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678) to colour the bird image; and
• one large and two small of the Adhesive-backed Textured Dots (item 163338) added to the DSP panel.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 1/4" x 4 1/4" top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 5" x 4" matting panel - I scraped all edges with the blade of my craft knife;
• white and gold patterned paper from the Nature's Sweetness 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 162616) for the 4 7/8" x 3 7/8" panel;
• 3 7/8" x 1/8" strip of Smoky Slate checked patterned paper from the Take To The Sky 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163436, added across the base of the birdhouse;
• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029) and Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166) to colour the birdhouse image - again I added splatters with my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid but before adding these splatters I lightly spritzed the coloured birdhouse with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185) - blotting dry with paper towel;
• Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094) and Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) to colour the bird image; and
• two large and two small of the Adhesive-Backed Textured Dots (item 163338) added to the DSP panel.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5" x 3 1/4" top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 3/4" x 3" matting panel;
• Smoky Slate/Basic Beige wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393) for the 4 11/16" x 2 15/16" panel;
• after adding the matted DSP panel to the card front I used my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 121045) to add splatters to the card front by again flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) and Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166) to colour the bucket image;
• Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), Blackberry Bliss ink (item 147092), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Pecan Pie ink refill to colour the floral bouquet image;
• Lost Lagoon ink and Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094) to colour the bird image;
• after gluing the floral bouquet and bird die cuts to the bucket and the two Moody Mauve cardstock foliage die cuts to the back of the floral bouquet and bucket I used Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) behind the floral bouquet and bucket to attach the complete assembly to the card front; and
• Black & Very Vanilla 3/8" Large Check Ribbon (item 161982) for the bow secured to the handle of the bucket with Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

And finally . . .

Fall is definitely apple season! I remember stopping by road side stands on Sunday family car rides to pick up a basket of fresh apples, and taking the first bite of an apple so crisp, juicy and tart - that is the taste of autumn!🍎

After gluing the three apples (with stems) to the basket I used Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - trimmed as necessary - to attach both the apple basket and the trimmed sentiment strip to the front of this 3 1/2" square top-fold card. 

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun getting into the autumnal spirit with these projects! 

I was getting some autumnal inspiration from my garden . . .

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the following tools and supplies I used for my project this week are not currently available but I have included the date Stampin' Up! expects each to again be available for ordering:

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - week of September 30, 2024; and
• Changing Leaves dies and Hybrid Embossing Folder (item 164138) - also the week of September 30, 2024.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/) - as is the digital version of the September-December 2024 Mini Catalogue, and the digital only September 2024 Scrapbooking Brochure - the companion brochure to the Mini Catalogue. When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives - including the Frosted Forest dies and the Encircled In Nature dies!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

The colours of autumn!