Paper Trufflez

Give Thanks

The color purple.  It's not my favorite.  I usually avoid it because I just never know quite what to do with it.  Then, we released the Blackberry note cards.  Oh, LOLLY!!!  Talk about love at first sight!

And, with Autumn all around me, my designs seem to be begging for plums and berry hues, so I'm happy to oblige! *grin*

I've been offline for a week due to a family medical emergency.  I'm deeply grateful to the nurse and doctor that caught my Dad's dangerously low pulse rate at a routine office visit and rushed him to the ER; they probably saved his life.  He's mending just fine now, thanks to the cardiac team at Southwestern Hospital.

Lots to catch up on since I've been away--amazing what piles up in just a week's time! Crikey!

  And, hey.  Pick up the phone.  Call your parents.  Speak your love.  You know why . . .

 

Supplies & Materials:
Stamp Credits-Leaf Frond, Modern Wood Block (I drew those! *grin*) , Dill, "Thanks" by A Muse Artstamps
Latté 4 Bar Note card by A Muse
Chocolate Pearls by A Muse
Buttons by Foofala for Autumn Leaves
Inks-Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink inPink Pastel, Maroon, Dark Brown; Versamagic Sahara Sand

Serene Sympathy

Sympathy cards can be so hard to do . . .  I decided some subtle hues, and the Leaves Trio would combine well to create a serene and calm design.

I used Prussian Blue Fluid Chalk Ink, and 2nd generation Warm Green Fluid Chalk Ink.  Thought about black ink for the sentiment, but decided it might be just a little too high contrast/harsh, considering the occasion and gentle effect I wanted the card to have, and stuck with Prussian Blue.  There are clusters of Sky Blue Pearls among the leaves.

I reverse rounded the corners using a 1/2" circle punch, but, you could use a "ticket corner" punch if you have one of those.

Hope this inspires, the next time you need to create a sympathy design.

Supplies & Materials:
Stamp Credits:  Leaves Trio, With Deepest Sympathy by A Muse Artstamps
Sky Blue 4 Bar Note Card by A Muse (matt layer is Chiffon Green paper by A Muse)
Sky Blue Pearls by A Muse
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Prussian Blue, Warm Green
1/2" Circle punch

5MQ: Thank you for everything

Haven't done an OLC (One Layer Card) in a loooooooong time, and was really jazzed over how this one turned out!

The base is oatmeal (a slightly lighter kraft) card stock and I stamped the Modern Wood Block with white pigment ink--when I need a high contrast white, I usually use Colorbox Pigment "Frost White".  Yes, you have to heat set it, but, it's totally worth it, IMHO!

Inked up the Leaf Frond with Fluid Chalk Inks, first using Olive Pastel, then highlighted the edges with Dark Brown.  The sentiment was also stamped with Dark Brown.

The boldness of the images and high contrast of colors used worked so wonderfully together on this design--I'm madly in love with its simplicity--that it didn't really need anything else to feel "finished"!  And, the trial run, was the final run--gotta love that!  Long live the 5MQ! 

 

Supplies & Materials:
Stamp Credits:  Leaf Frond, Modern Wood Block (I drew those! *grin*), Thank you for everything by A Muse Artstamps
Oatmeal/kraft card stock
Inks:  Colorbox Pigment Frost White; Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Olive Pastel and Dark Brown

Chrysanthemum Thoughts

I know it's not very "autumn-like", but how can you resist this combo of warm orange tones and lime green?   The focal image is matted with a piece of paprika, and the gorgeous Petite Damask is from our new line of Shimmer Couture Papers--photos really don't do this paper, and the way it reflects light, enough justice.  Pop into your LSS to see (and pet, LOL!) it up close and personal.

The Open Chrysanthemum (I illustrated that one! *grin*) is fun to color and shade--I stamped it in brown, and used Copics in Golden Yellow, and Salmon Red, and then used Apricot to blend between the two colors--I like the effect.  I didn't do a completely "smooth" blend, so if you were to see it up close, you'd see the shading effects resemble watercolor quite nicely--love that!  Yellow Green and Pale Olive were used on the stem and leaf--kind of an unlikely combination that works, but, only if you do blend the two.  Highlighted some of the petals with Orange Stickles.

The circular sentiment piece was stamped using the Monogram Frames Set (I designed that one, too! *more grins*). I deliberately designed most of the circular frames in the set to fit within a 1.5" circle punch--we all love when things fit punches, eh?!  Our Clear Circle Epoxy Stickers fit perfectly right over the top, or you could do what I did here, and use a Chocolate Pearl to simulate a pearly brad--look Ma'!  No prongs!  *chortle*

I used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder to emboss the white card--I think it added the perfect texture to the whole design.

Now that the days are becoming more grey around here, I'm having to practice my photography with the new camera I got over the summer.  It's been . . . "challenging" . . . trying to get the white balance to a level I'm pleased with, keep the colors true, and maintain sharpness, while shooting indoor on dreary days!  If at first you don't succeed, have some chocolate.  Then try again.  Right?!  *chuckle*  Hmmm, wonder what's left in the Halloween candy stash . . .

Supplies & Materials:
Stamp Credits:  Open Chrysanthemum, Monogram Frames (Clear Set) by A Muse Artstamps
Petite Damask Paper in Lime by A Muse
Chocolate Pearls by A Muse
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa; Versamagic Tea Leaves & Jumbo Java
Copics:  Golden Yellow, Apricot, Salmon Red, Yellow Green, Pale Olive

Autumn Chrysanthemum

It was awful late in the day to photograph, not to mention dreary and grey.  But, there was a lovely Chinook blowing, in between the rainy downpours!  LOL!     Prolly shoulda' waited until tomorrow--for better light, but . . . you know how it goes; patience is definitely NOT one of my precious few virtues . . . *sigh* . . .

Those Fluid Chalk Inks sure make for some very rich and intense colors--I am loving the effect on the solid Chrysanthemum and Leaf Trio!  I splurged on the tiny Chocolate Pearls for this design, and embellished every blossom of the Dill. 

Happened to have some rich chocolate satin ribbon in my stash that suited, and the focal image is matted on our new Espresso Shimmer Couture Paper.  Didn't it turn out plush???!!!  I'm so giddy, I can hardly stands it!  (arms wrapped around self, chortling)

I need to play some more.  Definitely.  I was so happy when I finished this, I was bouncin' pretty darn hard! 

It's Friday night, and time for the big Homecoming Game!  I hope it doesn't pour the whole game while the boys are down there . . . not that it makes a big difference to me--cuz, I'm gettin' up close and personal with the rubbah tonight, baby!!!

Have a fab weekend!

 

Supplies & Materials:
Stamp credits:  Solid Chrysanthemum, Leaf Trio (Yes, I drew those! *grin), Dill, "Happy Birthday" by A Muse Artstamps
Blackberry 4 Bar Note Card, Espresso Shimmer Couture Paper by A Muse
Chocolate Pearls by A Muse
Satin Ribbon (craft store)
Fluid Chalk Inks: Olive Pastel, Dark Brown, Orchid Pastel, Maroon

A Muse News: amuse-bouche - Fall Floribunda

Design by Krystie Lee Hersch, via amusenews.typepad.com

I've been up to the gills finishing up my holiday card designs for class and haven't had a chance to really play with these new images debuting tomorrow just yet, but, I loved Krystie's design featuring the two new Chrysanthemums I illustrated for A Muse! *grin*

Skip on over to the blog to leave a comment, and you'll be entered into a drawing for 5 fab new clear sets, including the Monogram Frames, which is the very first stamp set I've ever designed, too! It's very classic and designed to work wonderfully alone, AND with the 2 new alphabets sets!

I had a lot of fun creating it, and well, I humbly hope it will be well received.

Amuse-bouche: Turning Leaves

We have a beautiful release coming up, and it celebrates my favorite season.  Funny how I'm not into earth tones all that much, but Autumn is still my favorite!

I used Fluid Chalk inks on the Oak Leaves--I love how blend-able these inks are on solid images; such a spectacular effect!

The shimmer on this paper is stunning, but hard to capture on film.  The cool thing about these papers is that they are white core, but the white side shimmers as much as the rich espresso color does--as if mica were embedded into the paper!

And the Pearls?  ................THUD!!!

All stamps, papers and pearl stickers by A Muse Artstamps

Live Classes: November 7-8, 2009 Precious Memories, Langley BC

Julie Ebersole: Live Classes: November 7-8, 2009 Precious Memories, Langley BC

I have a super fab series of classes scheduled for Precious Memories, including a gorgeous Monogrammed stationery project!

There will be glitter, of course.  *grin* And, I always include a bit of Copic marker work.  And, have you had your eye on the Slice?  Oh, yeah--LOTS of fun stuff in this series of classes!

Hope to see you there!

I SPY A MUSE! *grin*

Magazine Monday – September Gallery Challenge Winners! « Paper Crafts Connection.

I'm buried right now, but, check out Miss Tami Mayberry's fab design at the above link!

It's the epitomé of the clean and simple, one-layer look that always stops me in my tracks!  WOO HOOOOOO!!!  Darling!!!