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It's time for Pumpkin Spice again.  I've seen it in the stores already.  I like pumpkin spice, but the past few years it seems like there has been an explosion of it.   Gotta make at least one batch of pumpkin bars though. And of course, with cream cheese frosting.  Yummy.

One thing I'm liking is the fall weather we have been having.  It's only in the 70s, no humidity and it is great.  I hate the hot and humid weather.  

 I do like this stamp set, Gourd Goodness.  It can be used as a two-step stamp set.  Here I just used them individually.  I like them peaking through the holes.  The pumpkins would look gorgeous stamped with Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry.  I may have to try that sometime.

Not sure why, but I haven't used an embossing folder for quite a while.  So I dug one out.  I'll confess a mistake I made.  My first intention was to emboss the Old Olive strip.  Completely forgot about it until the pumpkins were adhered to the back.  Too late.  So I decided to emboss the front of the card instead.  I like this way better than my original plan.  Sometimes mistakes work out for the best.  

Notice my sentiment is curved to the shape of the banner?   That's what so great about the photopolymer stamps.  You can bend them to follow the curve of the banner.  It looks much more natural than straight across the banner.  

Have you been studying the new Holiday Catalog?  It's pretty awesome.  My initial list was way beyond my budget.  I so wish I could have upped my budget instead of scaling back on my list.  Such is life.  

Click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

I know what you are thinking.  Christmas card.  Really? Isn't it too early?   I work retail so I know exactly what you are thinking.  It's way to early to think about Christmas.  We are starting to get Christmas inventory in the store and I just cringe when I see that.  I have a hard enough time looking at the Halloween decor lately.  But...when it comes to Christmas cards, you almost have to start early.  You don't always get the perfect Christmas card the first try out.  

This was my swap card I made for my demo meeting last week. It's hard to tell, but the colors are  Night of Navy and Whisper White.  Once I figured out the border, it was easy peasy.  The Whisper White is cut at 4x5.5.  The key is to place the thinlit piece right on the edge of the paper.  This way you will have enough room to cut the other side.  Here is a picture that shows the placement of the thinlit on the paper.  

Don't the Christmas trees look sparkling good?  I used the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  Use any of the glimmer papers and it automatically ups the elegance of any card.  You get the glimmer without any of the mess glitter makes.  It's a no brainer why I love it.

The Carols of Christmas stamp set and the Card Front Builder Thinlits dies is in the holiday catalog that starts Sept. 1.  But, anyone can order this today and start playing right away.  It's an early release for everyone, not just demonstrators.   I can't wait to play with the ornament stamps and thinlits.  

Click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Till next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

I'm so excited for the new holiday catalog to start!  As demonstrator perk, we get to view the catalog online before it goes out to the public, and we can place an order before the catalog actually goes live.  What a perk!  There are all kind of wonderful goodies I can't wait to show you. This is the new stamp set Gourd Goodness.  It's a simple design of  randomly stamped leaves.

 It's hard to tell, but the leaves are stamped in Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry.  The card base is Cajun Craze.  These colors just scream fall to me.  Soon we will be seeing leaves like this outside.  I already saw one tree starting to turn colors.  I love the beauty of the fall season, but that means winter is coming and soon the snow is too. 

It's been a long week, so this is all I have right now. 

Click on the picture for the directions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

The Clearance Rack is updated!  It's full of items that have been retired.  So now you have a second chance to order items you have missed the first time around.  And the prices have been discounted!  Wahoo!  Here's a sample of some new items.  Gotta love them.  

Some of the items are up to 60% off.  But it's only while supplies last.  Don't miss out.

Untill next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

Watercoloring.  I've seen so many people using this technique, I decided to try it myself.  Didn't turn out too bad for my first attempt.   The colors I used were Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point.  The colors were so bold they really stand out and makes me want to be at a beach again.  Or even better, the ocean. 

What I did for the watercolor was actually pretty easy.  Fill an aquapainter with water.  Squeeze to moisten the tip then brush on a piece of paper towel to get off the excess water.  On an unopened ink pad, squeeze the middle together so the ink will get on the lid.  Brush the tip of the brush on the ink and color on the watercolor paper.  If you need more water, squeeze gently.  The more water applied, the lighter the ink will be.  On this card, I didn't re-water my brush at all.  Always start with the lightest color first.  In between colors, just squeeze the brush so the water will clean the brush.  Wipe off and start with the next color.  

Tempting Turquoise is such a pretty color, but not one I use too often.  I like to challenge myself sometimes and try something new.   For me it was doing a new technique and using different color.   Sometimes a challenge will be how to use a scrap piece of paper.  I hate throwing away scraps.  Designing a card around a scrap piece definately takes me out of my comfort zone.  We all need that sometimes. I think that my club people would love to try this.  Hmm.  Another challenge.  Design another card for them to use this fun technique.  

Click on the picture for the dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

I know it's hard to think about Christmas in August.  But, it will be here before we are ready.  This stamp set and framelit is in the new occasions catalog.  The best news is that anyone can order this set now!  Not just demonstrators, but you can too.  I pre-ordered mine and UPS should be delivering it tomorrow!  Yay!  I can't wait to get my hands on this.  I especially want to try the card with the vellum overlay.  We did are family vacation in Key West this summer and I'm hoping one of our family pictures will look this good.  

Click on my "Shop Now" and look at all the goodies that come with this stamp set.  

 

Till next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

Doesn't the weekend always go way too fast?  Personally I think we should have 3 day weekends and 4 day work week.  Doesn't that sound good?  

Here's a card using the Colorful Seasons stamp set.   Did you notice my flowers look like they are two different inks?  No they are not!  They are both Berry Burst.  I used the technique called Stamping Off.  You stamp the first image and right away stamp another image.  Do not reink the stamp inbetween.  This way you just get a lighter shade.  I love this technique is because it's super easy.  You don't have to worry about color coordinating.  

Here's a tip.  Stamp a few extra flowers additionally to what you think you will need.  Sometimes the cut image isn't always lined up in the framelit the way you thought.    This way, you can just cut some of the extras you have ready.  No going back to re-stamp!  But don't throw away those extras!  I like to keep mine with the stamp set.  This way I always know where they are.

Click on the picture for dimensions and directions.

Till next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper 

 

Oh so glad it's Friday!  And I don't have to work this weekend!  Yay!  I haven't been in my craft room in a while so I'm hoping to make time to get in there.  Probably not until Sunday.

Here is another card using the Lable Me Pretty stamp set.  Again, it's such a versatile stamp set.  I love those sets that can be used for more than one occassion.  Makes me feel like I'm getting more for my money!  The Powder Pink and Lemon Lime Twist together make a great feminine touch.  The Chocolate Chip card base makes them really stand out.  

Do you have any crafting plans this weekend? 

Click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Till next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper