Autumn is Coming

The temperatures here are beginning to yo-yo. We still get the 90+degree days but a couple of days each week are much cooler and I actually saw a young maple with gold and red leaves yesterday. So I made a fun card in honor of beautiful autumn "when every leaf is a flower." Charlie is such an adorable horse character from Clear Dollar Stamps. I love this image ("Charlie Autumn") of frolicking in the leaves. It expresses what I'd do if I didn't have allergies and arthritis! Instead my hubby and I drive to scenic spots and take photos.

I used this sketch from Fetch a Sketch which worked great for adding decorative leaves.

I chose the colors for my card from Hiding in My Craft Room: More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Garden Green. The Cricut cartridge I used was Art Philosophy to cut the leaves and their decorative accent overlay in contrasting colors.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Fetch a Sketch Challenge #32 - sketch
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #61 - More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Garden Green
Lexi's Creations Challenge #73 - Autumn Colours
Mema's Crafts September Challenge - Choose a Theme (#1 Fall Colors)
The Paper Players Challenge #111 - Leaves/Trees

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe:
Paper - The Paper Studio "The Linen Door;" CTMH White Daisy, Honey, Goldrush cardstock
Image - Clear Dollar Stamps "Charlie Autumn" digi
Markers - Close To My Heart alcohol markers: Autumn Terracotta, Autumn Terracotta Light, Honey, Topiary Light; Copics N00, N02, N04 neutral grays
Accents - CTMH Autumn Terracotta grosgrain ribbon (retired);
Tools - Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge - leaves, pop dots, edge distresser

 

Sunshine and Smiles

While New Orleans is being flooded with too much rain, here in Missouri we're praying that there will be some rain left as it heads our way--and soon. The county where I live has missed most of the meager rainfalls that surrounding counties have had. I think that's why I've been looking for the usual wild sunflowers that bloom here in August and I don't see any.  So I decided to make my own sunflowers this week with cards. The image and sentiment for this one comes from Clear Dollar Stamps. It's called Sunshine and Smiles. I chose the words that say, "Sunflowers are God's way of saying "Chin up!" They really do turn their "heads' to face the sun as it moves across the sky. So do my daffodils in the spring. I thought that was a great analogy.

 

I used this great sketch from Fetch a Sketch, making it rectangular.

 

I scissor distressed the edges of my image, added one row of stitching with embroidery thread on the left side of the mat. (Wow, I actually could see the hole in the needle to thread it!!) I tied organdy around the punched border and topped the bow with a wooden button tied with embroidery thread.

 

Now I'm turning my head up like the sunflowers and praying for some of that rain!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting for All Seasons  Challenge #34 - Stitching Real or Faux (mine are real)

Crafty Creations Challenge #185 - Summer Scene
Fetch a Sketch Challenge #31
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #154 - Punches, dies, or shapes

5.5" x 4.25" Encouragement Card Recipe:
Paper - The Paper Studio "Simple Elegance," Close To My Heart White Daisy, Olive, Honey cardstock
Image - Clear Dollar Stamps Digital "Sunshine and Smiles"
Markers - CopicsY17 (Golden Yellow), E33 (Sand), E25 (Caribe Cocoa), BG10 (Cool Shadow), N02; CTMH Alcohol markers Creme Brulee, Olive, Light Olive, Black
Accents - CTMH Goldrush organdy ribbon (retired), Chocolate wooden button; white embroidery thread
Tools - Martha Stewart border punch, CTMH ruler (with holes - to punch for sewing) needle for hand stitching, scissors for edge distressing