Flash Back Time

Hey there!  I've been working on the cards that will be sent out to the home-bound people from our congregation next week.  It usually takes me at least several days or more to think about what the theme for the month will be like fall, Christmas, summer, etc and what I want to use to create the cards.  With it being September already, that brings to mind going to the apple orchards to pick apples and getting cider and doughnuts of course.  So far, I haven't found much in the line of apple orchards around here.  That means I'm just working from memories right now.  Then to add to my thought process, I had a devotion that was talking about the apple of God's eye.  Figured I definitely had to work with an apple theme this month.  Since I have nothing current from SU! that features apples, it was time to dig around in the retired stash to see what I could find.  That's what I'm sharing today.  If you're only interested in current items, you might want to bail now.  I think the stamp I chose is from more than 5 years ago.  Do you have any of those "oldie but goodies"?  Come and join me for a little retro stamping!

Doesn't this look like it's a fresh-picked MacIntosh apple?  (And no worms!!)  It was so much fun creating this design.  It's not quite done yet.  I still have to finish the inside of the card to incorporate my Bible verse.  Then it will be ready to go in the mail.  Let's get started.

The stamp set used here is the Harvest Hellos with the coordinating apple/pumpkin punch.  Do you remember this?  Instead of stamping the apples before punching, I punched 25 of them from Basic White cardstock.  Then I got out both Lemon Lime Twist and Real Red ink pads and the Blending Brushes I'd be using.  Each one of the apples were individually inked with Lemon Lime Twist on the right side.  Then each of them has Real Red blended onto the left side with the color over-lapping onto the green just like a real apple.  I loved how these apples turned out!

After coloring all the apples, I used the same punch for the stems punched from Pecan Pie cardstock.  The leaves were punched from Granny Apple Green to make them a little darker than the apple.  After punching out the leaves, each one was stamped with the coordinating leaf stamp in the set using Garden Green ink.  All these pieces were set aside until I was ready for them.

Next was the layering that I wanted to use here.  I had just received the new Branching Out Dies.  Let me just say I love the shape of them!  I chose the smallest die to cut a piece of Basic White cardstock.  Then I took the 4th smallest size and die-cut some Real Red plaid DSP from another retired pack.  I was just going through all my papers to find a Real Red print of some kind that went with the apple.  So, this is it.

The card base I chose is Real Red.  It's 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half.  The layer is a quarter sheet of Lemon Lime Twist to match the apple.  It needed something on this layer to give it some interest.  I remembered the new Gathering Leaves Embossing Folder that just came out.  It has a nice overall pattern that fit nicely with the design of the card so far.  This layer was attached to the folded card base using "green glue".

The sentiment was next.  It is also part of the Harvest Hellos stamp set.  The smallest die in the Perennial Postage die set was used to die-cut Basic White cardstock.  After cutting, the sentiment was stamped using Pecan Pie ink.  It needed a little definition, so a small bit of Pecan Pie ink was sponged on the outside edges very lightly.

The two die-cut layers were attached to the center of the card using "green glue".  I wanted all the layers to be fairly flat with only the sentiment and the apple raised up on Dimensionals.

After getting all the layers arranged, three of the Holographic Dots were added to the design.  It's amazing how these gems picked up both of the main colors so nicely.

Ok, there you have your retro stamping class for today.  When I make the cards each month for these lovely people, I try to incorporate some of my retired stash of goodies.  If I don't get some of these supplies used, there won't be room for me in the house anymore!  At least that's what my hubby keeps telling me!  Hope you had fun playing with some of my old standbys.  Maybe this wasn't what you had in mind for today, or maybe this inspired you to dig through your treasures to see what you might have forgotten you had.  Thank you for taking the time to see what's going on in my stamp room.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

It's Pumpkin Time Again

 Here we go, soon another month is starting, and time is marching on so quickly.  September is almost here, and summer is over for those of us with family members back in the classroom.  But it still feels like summer!  It's 82 degrees, the sun is shining, and the grandsons are at a pool party.  Doesn't that sound like summer to you?  Alright, I'll get off my soapbox about the march of time and get back to the fun of creating no matter the season.  I had lots of fun playing with the new Beautiful Pumpkins bundle that will be available in a few days.  I do love all things pumpkin and add just a little spice and I'm in heaven.  Well, close to it anyway.  Today there's no spices involved, but there are pumpkins.  So, let's get creating!

Today's project evolved into two because I couldn't decide on which sentiment I really wanted to use.  And then there was this little problem about the choice of bling too.  What to do?  Just make two!

So, let's start by breaking down the basics on the two cards that are the same and then we'll go on from there.  First choice was to decide what color to stamp these two sizes of pumpkins.  Since I was planning on making a few cards with pumpkins anyway, I stamped several of each size.  The detailed stamps were used first to stamp Timid Tiger ink onto Peach Pie cardstock.  Then the more solid stamps were used to add Pumpkin Pie ink.  There wasn't a major difference in the colors, but I think it was plenty to show up.  The stems were stamped with Pecan Pie ink.  Then these pieces were die-cut with the coordinating dies.  The leaves were all die-cut from Old Olive cardstock.  (Shoot, I'm getting hungry for a piece of pie!  Did you catch all those colors?  Peach Pie, Pecan Pie, and Pumpkin Pie - yum!!  OK, enough about eating pie and back to stamping.  

Using the pumpkins as a guide, Pumpkin Pie was chosen for the card base color.  The cardstock was cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" and folded in half.

One of the new stamp bundles in the Sept. - Dec. Mini Catalog is called Branching Out.  There is a set of six nesting dies with this stitched shape in the bundle.  I used the 2nd largest size to cut two layers from the Peach Pie cardstock.  Then the 3rd largest size was used to cut two of the brown-checked print from the Sweet Days of Autumn DSP.  I thought this would be a good backdrop for the pumpkins.

These two layers were adhered together with adhesive.  Then they were attached to the card fronts using Dimensionals to pop them up a little.

The large pumpkin was attached flat with adhesive to the right side of the layers.  The stem and some of the leaves are attached with adhesive to it.  The smaller pumpkin is attached with Dimensionals partially over the other pumpkin.  The stem and one leaf are attached with adhesive.  Another leaf set was tucked under the pumpkin and attached with adhesive.

The sentiment for this card is from the Beautiful Pumpkins bundle.  I thought it worked well here.  It's stamped with Pecan Pie ink onto a 7/8" x 2 3/8" piece of Peach Pie cardstock.  It's popped up at an angle across the corner using Dimensionals.  

The embellishments for this design are Low Profile Sparkle Dots in the green tone for a subtle bit of bling.

For the 2nd card, the pumpkins were added in mostly the same way.  I think I added an extra leaf or two to this design.

The sentiment for the card is from the new Gathering Moments bundle that will be an Online Exclusive available to you.  It says, "Thankful for you" and is stamped with Pecan Pie ink onto a 5/8" x 1 7/8" strip of Peach Pie cardstock.

The embellishments this time are retired Glitter Enamel Dots in a light peachy color.  I thought they blended quite nicely with the Peach Pie cardstock color.

Both of the cards also have similar treatments on the inside.  I used a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock that measures 5 1/4" x 4".  The sentiment is another from the Gathering Moments stamp set.  It's stamped with Pecan Pie ink.  

The leafy vine is from the Beautiful Pumpkins set and is stamped with Old Olive ink.  A skinny 1/4" strip of Peach Pie cardstock was added along the side edge to tie in the colors inside and out.

So, what do you think?  Are you ready for lots of pumpkins and all kinds of yummy autumn goodness?  Or what about jumping ahead to Christmas?  Or maybe I should go back for another round or two of Sunflowers?  I really am torn about what to do.  So much fun either way!!  Hope you'll come back for another visit soon.  Thanks for stopping by and let me know in the comment section what you think.  And also, what you'd like to see in the future.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

email - sharoncarr50@gmail.com