Autumn Abounds!

Hello, my friends!

I was going to post this yesterday but we were without cable for most of the day and until sometime in the middle of the night. That meant no phones, no TV, and no computer for hours and hours!

In the spirit of the situation, I went up to the attic and got into the old cedar chest from wagon train days lovingly packed by generations of great and grand mothers. I never tire of that amazing smell as I knelt down and creaked open the lid. I gingerly removed the old shawl, the candles, and the boars hair slippers lined in flannel. Finally, I reached down for the infamous and steamy memoirs of my cousin Elsbeth Mattigrew.

Okay, I didn't do any of those things, but without the usual self-inflicted bombardment of all things cable, I did get creative. I made a FOURfer, for cryin' out loud!

One of my favorite autumn stamp sets is "Fall" by Technique Tuesday, most notably the very word AUTUMN, which germinated a lot of these cards.

 

I stamped the word in cajun craze and then colored and watered the individual letters with my watercolor pencils. Then I dry embossed 2/3rds of the white panel above the word with an unknown Lifestyle Crafts e/f. I matted the panel to a beautiful autumn leaf pp by K and Company (Tim Coffey) and attached a matching band N. Lou of a ribbon. 

The above horizontal design is how Hammy envisioned the layout, but when I went to take the photo graph, I realized that I have the option of using it vertically, too. This direction actually shows some of the sparkle from winking the letters:

Which way do you like it best?

Next, I wanted to use the very last two sheets of cousin Elsbeth's ancient sunflower printed vellum. 

For this card, I dry-embossed a white panel using my NBUS 3D quilted e/f (Next Level) from We R Memory Keepers. I fussy-cut the sunflower panel from the vellum sheet and attached it.

I stamped the SU Thanksgiving sediment and attached a shankless sunflower button for punctuation. Lastly, I chomped two corners and attached the panel to the colored card base. A lot of violence went into making this card, what with cutting and shanking and chomping, so please remove any young children from the room before you CASE it. Thank you.

With the second sheet of vellum, I made this autumn birthday card:

If I do say so myself, this is a beauty IRL, impossible to capture with the camera. There is nothing as cool as printed vellum and most of you know from old posts that I'm crazy for it. Actually, this card took a few days to create because first the "Autumn" had to dry and then once I decided on the layout, the "Birthday wishes" (SU) had to dry. The vellum was folded over at the top and attached to a white panel, which was attached to the colored card base.

Last, but not least, I made a simple one-layer card specifically intended for a few challenges.

The tree image by Rubbernecker was colored directly to the back of the stamp with my SAI markers, spritzed with water, and stamped onto the paper. I used the same simple Happy Thanksgiving sediment to keep the focus pocus on the tree. To add a little subtle interest, I ran the card front through my BS using the linen impression plate from PTI, but I'm not sure you can see that feature. Speaking of, right now I'm seeing that I want to add a little tiny leaf at the end of the sediment.

Challenges

• Less Is More (Colour Challenge): Fire.
• One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: A Multitude of Gratitude.
• Share Handmade Kindness: Create a project and give it to family or friends.
• Share Joy Challenge: Autumn Inspiration Photo. This is going to a couple we have been friends with for almost forty years.

All of these wonderful challenges encourage us to share our cards/creations with others. I think creating for the purpose of giving is what most of us do; in fact, I imagine it was the driving force behind this hobby for all of us. I got into it because I was spending a big chunk of money most months on inexpensive store-bought cards to send out. I thought if I made my own, I could continue to send out cards and save money.

Oh, my gosh, stop it! I can hear you laughing all the way over here! Okay, okay, it has ended up costing me lots more money, but you can't put a price on the satisfaction of sending out a card that you made with your own two hands. Well, and maybe a couple of paws.

Update

Another very happy reason I was able to make all these cards is because of this:

"Look, Ma, no crutches!"

The Mister's progress has been rapid since the brace came off! There are still some residual DVT issues to be worked out and it will be a long while yet before he can sit comfortably for more than a few minutes. (Sitting on screws is no fun at all!) I'm still on duty for a few things like chauffeuring, but he's back to doing most of what he could do before the injury. You'll all be happy to know that includes grocery shopping because our store is only a short drive from home. The video surveillance team will miss me!

He wants me to thank you again for all your prayers, cards, and well wishes!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

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*Life is too short!

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