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Hello and Happy Fall to all! As the days grow shorter, sunsets come earlier, and the air is a little cooler, we know fall is coming. Everyone loves fall and for papercrafters it is a season rich with possibilities for card-making with pumpkins, leaves and fall foliage. Let me share with you samples of new dies and stamps.
Poppystamps' new stitched leaves dies make a beautiful wreath and the sentiment is so true to the season.Leaves Wreath – Poppystamps dies Stitched Maple Leaves, Stitched Oak Leaves and Brushed Give Thanks; design inspired by Robin Tharaldson
Taylored Expressions new Pumpkin layered stamp set is so beautiful. These pumpkins are all lined up in front of the arbor fence and gate. Arbor with Pumpkins – Taylored Expressions stamp set with coordinating dies Simply Stamped Pumpkins; TE dies Garden Arbor & Gate, Arbor Accessories, Arbor Fence, Sitting Pretty Accessories Halloween and Build A Scene Rolling Hills; Memory Box die Stitched Clouds; design inspired by Jean Manis
More pumpkins positioned on an embossed background over wood design paper.Pumpkins on Notable Blooms – Taylored Expressions stamp set with coordinating dies Simply Stamped Pumpkins; TE stamp Notable Blooms Background; TE dies Stitched Banner Stacklets; TE embossing folder Burlap; Memory Box dies Stitched Rectangles and Stitched Circles; design inspired by Jean Manis
Birch trees embossed in white make an appropriate background for these pumpkins and leaves.Happy Thanksgiving Pumpkins on Birch Trees – Taylored Expressions stamp set with coordinating dies Simply Stamped Pumpkins; TE stamp Birch Tree Background; TE die Build A Scene Rolling Hills; Impression Obsession dies Mini Leaves; design inspired by Melody Rupple
Remember the fireplace I used on the Halloween card last week? Here I used the same die set and dressed it up for Harvest. TE's Sitting Pretty Fall Accessories is chock full of harvest-themed accessories.Harvest Fireside 1 – Taylored Expressions dies By the Fireside and Sitting Pretty Accessories Fall; TE embossing folder Brick; design inspired by Gayatri Murali
Another Harvest fireplace. I love the ghourds in the picture frame -- lools like a mama and a baby!Harvest Fireside 2 – Taylored Expressions dies By the Fireside and Sitting Pretty and Sitting Pretty Accessories Fall; TE embossing folders Brick and Bead Board; design inspired by Kim Singdahlsen
Other favorite new dies for fall are the Turkey Dinner and Pumpkin Pie from Taylored Expressions. I used them on the next three cards.Shelf Pie Pitcher – Taylored Expressions dies Sitting Pretty, Sitting Pretty Accessories Fall and Pumpkin Pie; TE stamp set Thanksgiving Blessings; design inspired by Kim SingdahlsenThanksgiving Table – Taylored Expressions dies Sitting Pretty Accessories Fall, Turkey Dinner and Pumpkin Pie; TE stamp set Thanksgiving Blessings; design inspired by Jean Manis
Thankful – Taylored Expressions dies Stitched Frames, Turkey Dinner and Pumpkin Pie; TE stamp set Thanksgiving Blessings; design inspired by Michele Boyer
The Impression Obsession Patchwork Turkey looks so home-spun when constructed with papers from the new Carta Bella Hello Fall paper pad.Patchwork Turkey – Impression Obsession die Patchwork Turkey; Taylored Expressions stamp set Thanksgiving Blessings; Memory Box die Pinpoint Squares; design inspired by Leigh W.
I used the same paper pad on this card featuring a truck loaded to the brim with pumpkins. Truck with Pumpkins – Impression Obsession dies Classic Truck and Pumpkin Patch; IO stamp Pumpkin Spice; design inspired by Karen Amidon
Whether you are making Halloween, Fall or Thanksgiving cards, stop by the The Stamp Act for lots of supplies and inspiration! We would love to see you.
Cooler temps and colorful leaves means fall has arrived, in fact Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. I love creating fall cards with colorful motifs like pumpkins and falling leaves. Let me share a few with you today.
Impression Obsession Fall Cards
This is my favorite card of the season. I stamped the hymn in Rich Cocoa Memento ink, tore the edges (tip: tear the paper toward you for the pretty edge) then distressed it with Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress inks. I stamped the background in Taylored Expressions Dijon ink, distressed the edges with the Tonic Paper Distresser and inked the edges with Vintage Photo. Lastly I stamped the pumpkins in black Memento ink and colored them and the table with Copic markers. I cut one of the pumpkins off and mounted the rest below the hymn which was mounted using foam tape.Come Ye Thankful – Impression Obsession stamps Come Ye Thankful People, Pumpkin Row and Distress Background; Distress inks Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain; design inspired by Impression Obsession design team
Adding cork and twine give a rustic look to this card. I also added stitching with a white pen to the dark brown cardstock mat.
Sunsets – Impression Obsession stamp Falling Leaves; design inspired by IO design team
I just love the little ghosties haunting the pumpkin patch but you could certainly leave them off for more of a classic fall card! I stamped the pumpkin line three times and colored them with Copic markers. Then I distressed the background with Tea Dye ink and added a cute sentiment.
Pumpkin Ghosts – Impression Obsession stamp Pumpkin Line; IO die Mini Ghosts; sentiment from Pink Ink Rubber Stamps; design inspired by Anna Wright
This card is copied from the incomparable Kitty Caracciolo who is a master colorist as well as designer. The pumpkins were distressed with Distress ink Spiced Marmalade; leaves colored with Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick and Peeled Paint using small sponge applicators; and the squirrels colored with Tea Dye and Antique Linen. She has tutorials on her website -- check them out here.
Thankful Pumpkins – Impression Obsession dies Pumpkin Set, Thankful, Grass Border, Squirrels and Rake & Oak Leaves; design inspired by Kittie Caracciolo
I love this die. The Tree Frame lends itself to cards for all seasons. The leaves were colored as stated above. I added apples in a bushel basket and pumpkins and gourds.
Tree Frame – Impression Obsession dies Tree Frame, Grass Border, Bushel of Apples, Rectangle 6 in 1 Frame and Rake & Oak Leaves; Poppystamps die Pumpkins and Gourds; design inspired by Kittie Caracciolo
Here's another version of the card using colored cardstock in lieu of painting the leaves.
This version of the Tree Frame card is stunning with its white on white motif and just the leaves colored brightly.
Taylored Expressions Door to Door Cards
One of Taylored Expressions most popular die series is Door-to-Door along with its companion dies sets such as Door-to-Door decor, Door-to-Door fall decor, Door-to-Door spring decor and now the roof and molding. For this card I added the molding and the roof to the door along with fall decor. I glued vellum behind the molding's windows to soften the background.Happy Fall Roof – Taylored Expressions dies Door to Door, Door to Door Fall Décor, Door to Door Décor, Door to Door Roof and Door to Door Molding; design inspired by Michele Boyer
Here's a similar design minus the roof and plus more fall decor.
Red Door – Taylored Expressions dies Door to Door, Door to Door Fall Décor, Door to Door Molding, Little Bit Leaves and Little Bit Fall Harvest; Memory Box die Pinpoint Pumpkins; sentiment stamp by Pink Ink Stamp Co; design inspired by Michele Boyer
I added acetate behind the windows on the door molding.
Blue Door – Taylored Expressions dies Door to Door, Door to Door Fall Décor, Door to Door Molding and Little Bits Fall Harvest; TE embossing folder Brick; design inspired by Pam Sparks
A turkey greets you at this door!
Turkey Door – Taylored Expressions dies Door to Door, Door to Door Décor, Little Bits Leaves and Little Bits Turkey; TE embossing folder Brick; design inspired by TE stamp set If Turkeys Could Talk; design inspired by Charmaine Ikach
Memory Box Fall Cards
Memory Box and Poppystamps have some very fun and creative dies that are perfect for fall cards. I cut the Oak Leaf Swirl die in copper and light gold then inlaid those pieces into the opening I die cut from darker gold cardstock.
Oak Leaf Swirl – Poppy die Oak Leaf Swirl; Taylored Expressions stamp set Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins (sentiment); design inspired by Lezlye Lauterbach
The background for this sample was created with the falling leaves stencil from Memory Box. I sponged it with two inks: Taylored Expressions Dijon and Memento Morocco.
Maple Leaves Stencil – Memory Box die Berry Sprig; Memory Box stencil Falling Maples Leaves; Lawn Fawn die Stitched Leaves; Taylored Expressions stamp and die combo Pumpkin Bouquet (sentiment); design inspired by Sherry Hester
For my cat loving brother and sister I thought this little kitty watching the leaves fall was perfect!
Cat on Ladder – Poppystamps dies Garden Ladder and Pots and Buckets; Memory Box die Stitched Squares; Taylored Expressions dies Spooky Clouds (dirt falling out of pot) and Little Bit Leaves; Impression Obsessions die Cat set; sentiment by Amuse Art Stamps; design inspired by Michele Henderson
I recently got a set of Zig Clean Color Brush Markers so I decided to experiment with them using the Drifting Oak Leaves background stamp from Memory Box . I inked the script on the stamp in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and wiped off any brown ink that got on the leaves with a baby wipe. Then I inked the leaves using markers in a variety of fall colors. The Zig markers are water-based and have a tip that is just like a watercolor brush.
Once I inked the leaves I spritzed the entire stamp with water using the Ranger Mini Mister and stamped it on white cardstock. The first picture shows the stamped background.
I decided to soften the card by adding vellum over it and then adhering the die cut sentiment.
Drifting Oak Leaves – Memory Box stamp Drifting Leaves; Penny Black die Words of Gratitude; design inspired by Shelby Thomas
My second Drifting Oak Leaves card features the same background inked in shades of green. I inked the background in Peeled Paint Distress ink then added a little Twisted Citron (a lighter green). Next I stamped the background off lightly before stamping it on the white cardstock. It took me a few attempts before I was satisfied with the results.
The pumpkins are cut with the Pumpkin Harvest Oval Frame die with the frame cut away. I distressed them with Spiced Marmalade and Morocco then mounted them along with the leaves. The leaves (from Juicy Grapes die) were cut from white cardstock and colored with Peeled paint and Dusty Concord Distress inks.
Drifting Leaves Pumpkins – Memory Box stamp Drifting Leaves; Memory Box dies Harvest Pumpkin Oval Frame, Juicy Grapes; Poppystamps die Give Thanks; design inspired by Sherry Hester
Texas Calendar -- Limited Edition
Deadbeat Designs, the creator of all the wonderful Texas stamps and dies, has created a totally Texas Calendar for 2017. The Calendar has12 individual pages and comes housed in its own stand (it's a clear CD case) that measures 5" x 5.75". Each page was stamped by Mark at Deadbeat and then printed on high quality glossy cardstock. To learn more about this calendar, here's a link to Deadbeat Designs. These calendars are a great gift for the men in your life or for any Texan! Check it out and come get yours soon as these are very limited. The calendars are only $17.95 each. Here is a look at each of the pages. Be sure to double click the image for a close up, larger view.
Deadbeat Designs Texas Calendar for 2017 $17.95 each
Stamp Perfect -- Pre-Order NOW
The Hampton Arts Stamp Perfect stamp positioner is very, very popular. I have already increased my order twice and if this tool is like other popular tools, it will most likely sell out immediately then be on back order forever! So please, if you are interested in the tool for yourself or a gift for the holidays, pre-order today by sending me an email or calling me at 915-833-9500.
Making small mistakes in paper crafting and stamping isn't always a problem — in fact, sometimes little mistakes can create really inspiring projects! But other times, you can't afford a mistake. Everything needs to be in the right place.
That's where stamp positioners like the Stamp Perfect save the day. Stamp positioners are used to align, center, layer, create patterns and more. Any time you need an element stamped into an exact location, the Stamp Perfect is the tool to grab.
Any stamp, clear or cling mounted, can be used multiple times in the exact location over and over again. Whether mass producing a project or perfecting a not-so-solid impression, it is an incredibly handy tool. Use it for stamping any image but it’s especially useful for stamping solid images (hard to get them inked uniformly); oversize images like big background stamps (sometimes difficult to stamp the entire stamp); multiple colors within one stamp for an ombre or rainbow effect; and multiple colors with one sentiment stamp so one word really stands out.
Even die cuts can benefit from the Stamp Perfect. Let’s say you have a set of stamps with matching dies, but the dies are solid meaning you cannot see through them to line them up over the stamped image. Consequently you have to die cut the image then try to line up the coordinating stamped image on top of the die cut. I have found it to be very difficult to get a perfectly stamped image. However, the Stamp Perfect will line them up perfectly.
Finally, the increasingly popularity of stamp layering sets has made a stamp alignment tool a must have. Stamp layering sets usually have at least 3 stamps that layer on top of each other to form an image with depth and detail. With the Stamp Perfect there’s no problem layering the images perfectly on top of each other.
Here are some facts about the Stamp Perfect:
7” x 9” with lid closed; 7⅜” x 5½” stamping area; includes 2 magnets and 1 foam pad
The best news is that the pre-order price is just $24.99. Compare this price to comparable tools at $60.00. The Stamp Perfect should arrive atThe Stamp Act the first week of December. Pre-order yours today by sending me an email or calling me at 915-833-9500.
Enjoy the cooler days of fall and stop in soon at The Stamp Act! Thanks!