A Special Time of Year

   This time of year is special for many reasons around our house. It's a favorite season for its vibrant beauty and wondrous revelation. It's an end in harvest and the bee cycle in the hive out back. It's a beginning to a new school and 4H year for the kids. It's a remembrance of our nation's military Veterans and their service to our country--a time for grateful thanks of freedom, prosperity, and plenty. 

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: Enthralled with Fall

   Inspired by the theme over at Moxie Fab World for this week, I made several Fall cards to take to our county 4H night for the families to write messages for our state's veterans. Here's a few quick photos of the work which was gladly filled and signed by our neighbors:

   My embossing folders got a workout to make a good number of cards in a hurry and some gold embossing added just the right touch considering who will receive them. 

   Fall is all about leaves to me which is probably why I have so many different leaf stamps! Whether they're stamped in color or metallic embossed I just never tire of creating with them. How about you?

See What Matters

  

   I'm always inspired by Cath's ideas over at Moxie Fab World, and this week's Tuesday Trigger is no exception!

Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger: Apache Tears

   I had a lot of fun playing with this color combination--not one I would have put together myself! Here's a couple other iterations from my wonderful afternoon inking in the autumn sunshine:

   

   I think Thoreau had it right when he wrote this...it's our unique perspectives, and how we see things that make this world an interesting place. I hope you see wonder around you today.

Autumn Grace

   Autumn is my favorite season. Around every bend in my travels I think I can't see some color more intense or more splendid than the last...and then I can. The patterns change by the minute it seems, and when the sun shines through God's kaleidoscope I am part of unimaginable grace, beauty, and love. May you know these today wherever you are--in whatever season you live.

Happy World Card Making Day!

   It's fun to join in all the celebrations for World Card Making Day! Thinking of all our paper crafting and admiring friends out there. I'm also busy creating cards to sell for our VFW Ladies Auxiliary Antique Button Show. Our resident cancer survivor is also an award winning button collector and she brings a small portion of her wonderful exhibits to raise money for our Cancer Aid and Research. I didn't know before becoming a Ladies Auxiliary member that the VFW makes grants available to smaller research organizations that have innovative and ground breaking ideas in the field but perhaps don't have the extra resources and personnel to solicit funding.

      I had no idea buttons were so fascinating. The history...the science...the individual stories. It's always amazing to learn there's a whole new world out there and people passionate about what they do! This is for all the button folks--they know who they are! And finally--another fall card since it's all around us here in New England:

   Enjoy your day wherever you are!

Resistance is Futile--and Golden!

   Who can blame me for not being able to resist gold?! This is the other idea I had for Cath's All that Glitters Challenge over at Moxie Fab World. I took an old background stamp and inked it up in Tuxedo Black Momento and it was the perfect chalkboard for some golden words of thanks. It reminds me of a "Keep Calm..." sign. It was fun finding sentiments from Hero Arts' clear thank you set to make the subway layout. I embossed the background card with a Sizzix impressions plate, then took the embossing ink to the raised areas to heat emboss with gold. This is one of my favorite techniques for making backgrounds; the ones in silver look like old tin roof tiles! 
   I made two of the chalkboard panels because I liked the look of it so much. I'm starting to do that more often now--it doesn't take that much more time, and I have two [or more] when I'm through:

   You might notice this background didn't stamp all the way--no problem though--just got a piece of foam sponge and filled it in. I also makes for a great realistic chalkboard look!
   Remember to pop over and check out the gold challenge--there's still a few days left to show us how you put your own stamp on it!
   Cheers!

All that Glitters...

is golden.... Dusting off my flaxen glitter to add the perfect touch to twinkling Big Eyes' Venetian mask. In honor of Moxie Fab World's Midas-type golden challenge, I've dug out, panned through my accessories drawers, and assayed all the chunks, powders, dusts, and veins of rich gold so they can sparkle in the autumn sunshine! I thought it the perfect foil to embellish a chalkboard style card with some spahklies and the handmade paper has beautiful shiny bits to complete the effect. Sent this to a special friend of mine who celebrates Halloween all year round--and who follows the Yellow Brick Road--hugs to you Oz!
   

   Next up:  I had a little fun with this Hero Arts background stamp. Took a Brushstrokes stamp [from a Hero Arts Stamp Your Story set] and used it to emboss a lovely gilding of Egyptian Gold. It really catches the light and adds a bit of glam to a casual, fun card--kind of like the current fashion trends don't you think?!
   Thanks again for a fun challenge Cath--Moxie Fab World rocks--and there's still time to play King Midas and put your own stamp on the Golden Challenge!