Too Many Mice

 There are mice everywhere.  They love it outside, but you do realize that they like to come inside during the cooler weather.....EEP!

This cute set of mice stamps from Sunny Studio was given to me last year and I love using it paired with the wagon, pumpkins, and cheese.  I added a die for the grass, fence, and even some extra clouds over the already distressed background clouds.

We're due up for some cooler weather so I think it's safe to say we won't have any exploding pumpkins from the heat this week.  Gotta love that!  Surely fall actually can't be here now - but we can always hope I guess. 

I realize Thanksgiving is coming up and so is Christmas - and I haven't even started on Christmas cards.... but I'm not sure I'll be sending out too many this year either.  Decisions, decisions.  However, I did make one decision - I've decided to take a short (or long) break from blogging.  I have a few other things I want to do and maybe even try and concentrate enough on finishing a quilt or two.  So, I have one more card coming up on the November 1st next week and then I'll be missing in action for a while.  If I don't get back over here before Christmas, I hope everyone has a nice holiday.

Thanks for stopping by.......and keep smiling - always!

Lynn

Sweater Weather Coming Up

 We actually got a little bit of sweater weather for a couple of days.  It didn't hang around for long but was nice while it lasted.  As a celebration of our weather dropping all the way back down to the 80's, I give you this............

The stamp is from Gerda Steiner Designs (Pumpkin Mouse) and is as cute as can be.  I framed it out in a Mama Elephant die - cut out in blue gingham.  The image is colored in Copics and I did a little bit of masking to get the mouse in front of the pumpkins.  I felt like it needed a little something so added a couple of tiny white clouds.

I'll enter this in the October challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs (use a Gerda Steiner stamp)  

And......since I was already on a roll with fall and blue gingham, I colored another one and did it a little different. It was also lacking in something so I die cut a frame and the just used the corners.

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Keep On Truckin'

 I've had this stamp (from Stampendous) in my "I need to do" bucket for a while and finally decided to tackle it - with watercolors!  I've been trying to practice more using the watercolors and this was a good "victim".  On the package it came in it showed the truck being rusty looking and that's exactly what I decided to do too since it reminded me of an old truck my dad had so long ago. 

It was in that truck that I guess you could say I had my first driving experience .  I was either 7 or 8  years old and my cousin was the same age.  We hopped in the truck and decided to take it for a spin (with me as the driver).   Somehow I got it in gear and he crawled down on the floorboard and popped the clutch - and away we went......  We never even turned the key to start it but it promptly rolled down the driveway at a pretty good clip ----- and ran right into the house next door!   Now you want to talk about getting into trouble for something!!!  Whoa!  Plus, all the damages to the house we hit. Ah....memories.......

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling.......

Lynn

Fall

Wouldn't you love to have your Radio Flyer wagon again - or maybe you still have it!  I remember mine.  We'd tie a strings around lizards necks and take them for rides in it...............Back in the dark ages for sure.  Now we'd be turned in for animal abuse.

This is an image from Impression Obsession that I've had for a long time.  It's called Wagon (SHU:H1884). I try to use it every fall because it's so neat looking.  I colored the rocks in the background a little too dark for my taste, but it's done and will still be ok for a card.  It's mounted on some very dark green polka dotted paper.  Looks almost black in the photo.  I added a strip of orange paper and then the frame piece and some twine.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Impression Obsession (Harvest Treats).

Thanks for stopping by...........
Lynn

Fall Colors

I'm loving those wonderful colors of fall ........ and I'd really love that wonderful weather of fall too!  We really are cooling down a bit around here though so that's good.  Anytime we can get a "cold front" that cools us down to the 80's around here we're excited!!!

Using a stamp set from Impression Obsession (Solid Tree)  I made a one layer card today.  The trunk of the tree was stamped with some distress ink and the leaves were stamped using some Taylored Expression ink.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Impression Obsession (colors of Halloween or fall)

Thanks for stopping by...........
Lynn

Foxy for Fall - PIP Challenge

Time again for another challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our sponsor is Lawn Fawn!  Be sure and enter your card or project for an Anything Goes challenge for a chance to win $25.00 from Lawn Fawn!  How exciting is that!!!!

Today is the first day of autumn - well, unless you're living in Texas.  Autumn probably won't show it's face around here for a while and we may be lucky if we even see it.  Sometimes we go straight from summer to winter.  Anyway, back to my card...........

An autumn card for the first day of autumn......   I used Into the Woods from Lawn Fawn and created the scene inside a piece of white wood looking card stock.  This was then added to a piece of wood looking patterned paper.  (Lots of wood looks around here!)  I added some die cut leaves, cloud, and twine.  The "smile" speech bubble was also in the same stamp set and I heat embossed it with a platinum embossing powder.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Cut it Up (use die cuts - and I used several different ones including the fox, cloud, leaves, etc) for  Into the Woods, Creative Knockouts for Anything goes) and Pixie's Crafty Workshop for snippets.  

Thanks for stopping by..........Be sure enter at Pammie's Inky Pinkies!  We'd love to see your creation.
Lynn

Raking it Up - Not In

I think if I post more cards for fall or autumn, the weather will change and we'll start having cooler temperatures.  Don't want snow like some places are actually having now, but a little chill in the air would feel good.  Raking the leaves like this little guy is getting ready to do wouldn't feel so great though.

I used an image and sentiment from Darcie's and it's colored with Copics.  A little layering of papers, some twine, and it was done.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Cute Card Thursday (Autumn) and Pixie's Crafty Workshop (Snippets).

Thanks for stopping by............and have a great weekend.
Lynn 

Hello Fall

A couple of cuties for the fall type weather we finally started having around here.  In the 80's now and feels so good.  I'm not looking forward to winter even though it doesn't get that cold here, but sure am glad all that hot weather is over with - hopefully!  Now, we just need a little rain!

When I was growing up, it was hammered into my head by my mother that I could not never, ever, not going to happen, buy something like a strip or plaid shirt if the stripes didn't match exactly perfect on the side seams.  You can't image my happiness when I saw those little gingham checks using the Hillside Borders dies (for the grass) lined up like that!  Made my heart happy even though I didn't do it on purpose!  It's the little things in life that make us smile.

Thanks for stopping by.......
Lynn

Pumpkins are Orange

Jumping into fall with an image that can be found at From the Heart.  This is for their progressive challenge.  I thought my pumpkins were a little bit too orange-y but it is what it is.  They still look pretty tasty if you're going to use it for a pumpkin pie.  I, for one, would probably just use a can of pumpkin.  Laziness kicks in once again.

Thanks for stopping by..........
Lynn
   

The Colors of Fall

I love all the colors of the seasons, but Fall has to be my very favorite.  We don't see very much Fall type temperatures around here - but maybe we will this year. 

This cute little image can be found at From the Heart Stamps for their monthly progressive challenge.  I added some patterned papers and a leaf die from Impression Obsession that was sponged in distress inks.  Also did a little sponging around the image after coloring it with Copics.

I'd also like to enter this as my second entry in the NBUS challenge that Darnell is having.

Thanks for stopping by........and have a great weekend!
Lynn

A Basket for Fall

All the stores around here already have their Halloween candy out and every time I walk by I groan and then snarl a bit.  If I buy it now I'll have it eaten long before Halloween ever even gets here!  The good thing though is that it means cooler weather is on the way - and I'm so ready for it I could scream!  When it got to 103 yesterday I decided to quit looking at the thermometer.  Of course the air conditioner just HAD to go out last night too.  Makes for a really, really, really long night!   Anyway, on to cooler weather and my card.....

The image is from Deedee's Digis and it comes in a set of four - one for each season.  Very pretty images and they come in pre-color or the line version that you can color yourself.  Like a dummy I decided that coloring the image would be a wonderful stress reducer so started coloring it with Copics.  There were so many details and tiny pieces on the image to color so not sure how much stress it reduced - as it was giving me fits.  Of course right in the middle of it all one of the Copics ran out of juice and guess who didn't have the refill ink!  I just sorta winged it from there.  It is what it is.

Anyway......back to the images!  They're so pretty and if you played along with Deedee's challenge last month you got them for free this month.  If not, you can always purchase it in the shop.  There's still a little time to play this month and we'd love to see you there.  Be sure and check this out because these images can be used all year long!

Thanks for stopping by........
Lynn

A Double Hello

We're back again with an Anything Goes challenge over at Scrapy Land!  Anything goes this week but just be sure you use one of the brands of dies that are sold in the Scrapy Land store.  Check out all the rules of the challenge and enter for your chance to win!  Be sure and see all the inspiration from the DT also.

I really wasn't happy with this card at all but it does look better in real life.  I used a stencil and distress paint and then sprayed it all with some gold metallic shimmer stuff.  This was mounted on a piece of burlap and the "hello" die from My Favorite Things added.  Here's a link to the die in the Scrapy Land store.  I added a snip of some lace and then the dew drops.

Now, moving right along.................

   This one is so much more my style!!!!  Clean and simple and yes, a "git 'er done" type card.  I used the same die on this one (notice I cut the tail off the "h" in "hello" in that first card - I keep seeing "chello" instead of "hello"!  LOL!)  I also used some die cut leaves from Impression Obsession (that can also be found in the store), smashing some distress inks over them, and then adding the piece of twine.  The banners were done with some scraps I had left over from another card.

That's it for today.........and thanks for stopping by.............
Lynn

Fall Wreath

A little fall wreath today using some stamps from The Alley Way Stamps.  I first stamped the wreath and added that cute bird at the bottom.  The leaves were stamped separately, colored, cut out, and added along with some amber colored sequins.  Lastly, the sentiment and wooden heart added.  The wreath, bird, and sentiment are from the Wreathed in Love set and the tiny leaves from Crazy Critters.

I'll enter this in the Be Inspired Challenge for The Alley Way Stamps.  I was inspired by the colors in the panel on the left - green for that tree in the background, orange for the pumpkins, blue for the color of the bird,  and the wooden heart due to the bed of the pickup truck.

Thanks for stopping by........
Lynn

Chubby Chipmunk

What's more fun than a chubby little chipmunk!  Um......can't thing of anything better to put a smile on my face.  This little guy is from Deedee's Digis.  If you played along last month in our progressive challenge you've already received this cute set - which comes with two images and some wonderful sentiments!  If you didn't play along you can purchase it in the store for a special price (here) - then when enter your creation for this months challenge, you'll receive another digi set next month for free!

I used the pre-colored image along with some fall looking card stock in Kraft, Chocolate Chip,  and patterned paper.  The sentiment was printed on Kraft and then the button and twine added.

I'm not sure if Fall will ever get down here in Texas but I'm ready for it if it ever does - chipmunks and all!  I'm not even sure if we have chipmunks in this area since I've never seen one.  We are pretty well overrun with squirrels though.  So, I'll say that this looks like Rambo after the pecans fall.  He loves those things and always has one in his mouth.  He even carries them in and tries to bury them in the carpet!  Maybe he's part chipmunk!!!

Thanks for stopping by.........
Lynn 

Scarecrows for Thanksgiving

It's time again for another challenge at Digi Haven.  With Thanksgiving about a week away we'd like to see your creations for either Thanksgiving or Giving Thanks.  Come on over and join in on the fun for a chance to win a wonderful prize package from Beccy's Place, our sponsor for this challenge.

I used this a scarecrow image from Beccy's Place with the look of Fall.  Layered a few pieces of card stock behind the image, did a little faux stitching, and added some of those big brads that I've had in my stash forever!  The burlap was recycled from curtains that were in a deer blind several years ago.  I figure you need to have a little style if you're going to sit in a deer blind all day!

I'm back in business on my computer again and will give you an update on that in the morning on my next post.  I'll try to catch up with everyone as soon as I can.

Thanks for stopping by......and I'll be back in the morning for a FUN Friday!
Lynn

Fall Pumpkin

It won't be too much longer and Thanksgiving will be here.....good food and friends!  If only I didn't have to cook it!  Every year I swear we're all going out to eat somewhere and then I end up cooking again.  I'm really thinking I've spent enough years doing that and things need to change - but don't see that happening.

Very simply one layer card using a stamp from Hero Arts that I've had forever.  The sentiment is from SU.  I colored this with some Intense Pencils and then ran some score lines around it to frame it out.

I'll enter this in the challenges at Addicted to Clean and Simple (one layer) and Perfect Sentiments (Fall or Halloween).

Thanks for stopping by.........
Lynn

Fall(ing) for All Dressed Up

I'm All Wrapped Up in the images from Wendy's Burns All Dressed Up shop......and it just so happens this one is called All Wrapped Up!  Take a look at Wendy's shop and you can find this cute image among many more.

It's time again for another challenge at All Dressed Up!!  Be sure and check out our challenge blog and enter for your chance to win.  See all the rules of the challenge on the blog - and note there are some free images there too.  Our theme this go-round is Give Thanks/Autumn Colors.

I used some Chocolate Chip card stock and My Minds Eye patterned paper for my card.  The image is colored in Copics.  I added some twine and did a little bit of stitching.  Normally I would have stamped the sentiment (from a Simon Says Stamp kit) directly on the card but thought by punching it out in the scalloped oval it gave it more dimension.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and head on over to our challenge blog for more inspiration from the DT.

Thanks for stopping by................
Lynn

Thinking of Fall

I'm STILL not sure where I thought I was going with this card!  No earthly idea! It doesn't even shimmer or shine or anything and so totally "not me"! 

When this stamp set from SU (French Foliage) first came out I saw so many pretty cards with it and figured I HAD to have it!  Um.....it's never been used until now!  I sponged a bit, stamped some orange-y and blue type colors, added the sentiment and Spice Frantage...... and then because it was looking so plain decided to add the dew drops and twine!  There again - it sure didn't look like what I thought it was going to look.  Does anyone else have flubs like this or is it just me???  PLEASE tell me it's not just me!  LOL!

Anyway, that's it for today - and it's back to the drawing board now.

Thanks for stopping by........
Lynn

Cocoa Pumpkin

We're not even anywhere close to the season of Fall around here - yesterday was 102 and no relief in site for the rest of the week!  If I can't have Fall though I can always make a card using a Fall type image. 

I used a little Cocoa image with the sentiment being from Close to My Heart.  I framed this little guy in a Polaroid type frame, added the ribbon and those little amber colored whatever-they're- called, and it's a done deal!  That "stuff" behind the image is Frantage (once again).  This was one of those cards that really didn't come out looking like it was suppose to.  In my mind it was border line sensational though!  LOL!  After making it I thought maybe I'd add more of the Frantage to the rest of the frame - but it was already tacked down on the card and wouldn't come off.  You just gotta heat set that stuff from underneath or it blows all over creation.  Anyway..........

I'll enter this in the challenge at Marks Finest Papers (Frame It).

Thanks for stopping by.................
Lynn

Autumn Leaves

A quick card to enter in three challenges today!  I'm usually doing good to get something entered in one challenge, so three was a challenge to ME!!

I used my only leaf set of stamps I own - from CTMH.  I really need to do something about that though like maybe go on a shopping spree!  Sounds good, right!  The background around the leaf was done with Flores Suaves from SU.  All was completed using Kraft, Cajun Craze, and white card stock.  Now, you see those three little "things" above the sentiment.....I call them "things" since I really don't know exactly what you call them.  They're not gems or pearls, but they stick on - so, "things"!  LOL!  Next you're probably asking why I put them above the sentiment and not below.  I mean everyone puts things like this below, not above.  But, I always say - dare to be different! 


I'll enter this in the challenges at CAS(e) This Sketch (sketch), CAS-ual Friday (Kraft), and Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Leaf).

Thanks for stopping by.........
Lynn