Autumn Haze...

Two challenges this week have the theme of Autumn. At http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ the theme is anything you relate to autumn and Cynthia at http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ would like us to work on autumnal leaves.

She also added a tiny twist to the theme by insisting that everyone used at least one stamp. I used a huge stamp by Stamps Happen which almost fills a DL card! Beautiful stamp though and very easy to work with even though it is so large.

My card is for a friend (who I don't think checks my blog) who is going through a very sad time and I just wanted to send her my love.

Materials used:

• Cream based card covered with black pearlescent paper.
• brown slightly sparkly card
• watercolour card
• Inktense Pencil crayons
• Sakura Stardust clear pen - for leave veins - not viewable in photo but in real life gives a touch of frost.
• gold sentiment peel off
• Autumn leaves stamp by Stamps Happen Inc

The Stash Buster Raid...

Oh wow the challenge at http://thisthursday.wordpress.com/ has really kept me busy (when I should be ironing and doing one thousand and one other things), but oh what fun I've had!!!

The challenge was to use something from the back of the cupboard - something that needs dusting down! Well I have been sorting my craft stuff out (ongoing for the last 4 weeks and cannot see an end to it!) and have found so many little gems that have never been used.

Oh shame on me!!!

As I was putting away some brass stencils I noticed one of a door that caught my eye. I really liked an article in this month's Craft Stamper magazine about Fairy Doors and had intended to make Laura one for her room in Spain.

Finding the stencil seemed to be a sign. My door cards are nothing like the ones in the magazine as my stencil is small and I've converted mine into cards - one for Laura (a pink person) and one for her friend Elaine (more dark and mysterious).

Things went wrong along the way but I think Laura and Elaine will be pleased with them.

Materials used:

• fairy papers by Dovecraft
• brass door stencil
• brown card
• make a wish sentiment stamp
• silver mirri card
• gold mirri card
• self adhesive gems and fine art glitter
• sanding block (to distress brown door)

Embossing...

The Tuesday extra at http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ is to use embossing on your work. There is a great tutorial there too about different types of embossing - well worth having a look.

My cards were made using the Fiskars Shapeboss and are very simple cards, but very handy ones to have in the card box.

Materials used:

• pink pearlescent double sided card
• white base card
• Fiskars Shapeboss
• hydrangea decoupage
• pale pink organza ribbon
• Hero Arts sentiment stamp