Let's Talk Turkey with Top Dog Dies!

Hi Everyone!

Can you believe tomorrow is Halloween??  Time to start thinking Thanksgiving!  I LOVE Thanksgiving.  And just in time for the season,  Top Dog Dies has a brand new die set perfect for Thanksgiving cards-  Turkey Time.

This die set cracks me up!  No matter how I looked at it, all I could think was comical.  So I went with it!  I used the new Scalloped Frame and Mat Die Set from Top Dog Dies to frame my goofy gobblers. 
I stamped my Bermuda Bay cs with SU's Hardwood background stamp and then die cut the Top Dog Die Scalloped Frame from it.  I die cut the frame from Pumpkin Pie cs as well, trimmed the scalloped edges from it and adhered the scallops to the Bermuda Bay frame. 
Three turkey heads were cut, along with their 'parts', and googlie eyes were added.  How can you not put googlie eyes on these guys??!
A banner with my sentiment, a button and some white baker's twine finish it off!

Interested in purchasing your own Turkey Time Die Set fromTop Dog Dies?  You can get yours HERE.  

 Thank YOU!

Challenges that I am posting this card to-

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - 'Anything Goes'
Inspirational Challenges- Inspiration challenge~ I was inspired by multiple birds inside a 'box'.  I have no owls (never took to the owl trend!) so used my silly turkey!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed weekend!  

Lee Ann  :)

A Die Technique with Add a Little Dazzle

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to another Wednesday and a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle!  This week we have a beautiful fall inspiration photo for you~



 I used the Die-Namites Die, Winter Sunflower and instead of die cutting with it, I embossed with it. 

Here is your inspiration photo~

I wanted to bring in the warm colors, flowers, and the rustic feel of this picture. When I think rustic, I think chicken wire;  I used my IO chicken wire image and stamped the background in yellow.  Torn paper is another thing that says 'rustic' to me- and I love torn paper!  I really wish it would become trendy again.
My sunflower image was made with my Die-Namites Die- I used my tan embossing mat underneath my cardstock so that the image would emboss instead of cut.
The image was then colored with Copics.  I used the 'outside the box' technique in trimming down my image/banner panel, allowing leaves and petals to hang over the edge. I added some shadowing with a gray Copic to give the image dimension; I love how it looks like a separate piece adhered to the banner.  To make the sunflower pop, I die cut the center of the flower in Brushed Bronze Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and then again in Chocolate Brown Craft Metal, and adhered the pieces to the center of the flower.
My foliage was die cut with Heartfelt Creation Dies.  I added some linen thread to add to the rustic look.
I will be linking this card up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- 'Anything Goes', Just Us Girls photo inspiration challenge~

~And finally getting a chance to play along with my former team mates at The Card Concept.  My card is the classy and elegant style (with a bit of rustic)  :)  I had to go with sunflowers as I do not have pumpkin images. 

We hope that you can play along with us this week

for our Inspiration Challenge.  You do not have to use craft metal sheets,

but if you have it, we would love to see it!

Are you thinking you have to have your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets?  You can purchase them HERE.   I thank you in advance as I get credit for your purchase.  

Thank YOU!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-

Stamps- Impression Obsession Chicken Wire Background Stamp

Paper- SU retired dsp, SU Always Artichoke, SU Mellow Moss, SU Early Epresso, Neenah Solar white cs

Ink- SU Crushed Curry

Other- Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets,  Die-Namites WinterSunflower Die, SU linen thread, Copics

A Christmas Blog Hop with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Hello!
Welcome to a special Christmas Blog Hop with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!  The Design Team will be sharing cards made with their favorite stamps.

Born This Day is one of my favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas sets.  I colored the image in neutrals with Copics and used its matching die to cut it out.
I have layered it on the oval frame from the Decorative Frames Stamp Set that was cut out with its matching die from the Decorative Plaque Dies.  I added another layer using a Spellbinders Oval Die.  My dp is retired SU paper and a SU doily is beneath it all.
These next two cards are quite different and FAR from my usual style.  I wanted to try to create a card that looked like stationary or an elegant boxed card.  I used sentiments from several different snss sets to come up with this design~

I kept the red card super CAS with nothing more than all of the sentiments embossed in gold.  For the blue card, it was too dark with just the silver embossing, so I trimmed down the sentiment panel and added a white and silver layer.  My sentiments are from the following sets- Mod Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments, Christmas Joy, Christmas Morn, and Jesus is Born.  Which one do you like better? 

 We hope you will join the fun and leave some love behind as you visit each blog.  

I'm sure you have your own favorite Christmas stamp set, so we're inviting you to create a Christmas greeting and add it to the gallery by clicking the Linky Tool below!  Of course there will be a PRIZE for those who decide to join us.  You have until Thursday, October 30th, 2014 at midnight EST to upload your creation.  We will randomly select one lucky participant to receive a $10 gift code to be used at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!  The winner will be posted on the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog on Friday, October 31st.


Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

More Inspiration with the Top Dog Dies Fall Foliage Dies

Hello All and Happy Thursday!

I have been noticing some really amazing wreaths on Pinterest lately and was inspired to make a wreath using the Top Dog Dies Fall Foliage Dies.  Yes, I know, I have been using these dies for a lot of projects.  I cannot seem to help myself; I LOVE fall and these dies are the perfect size- even for my wreath!

This was actually a very simple project.  I picked up a variety of felt squares and this sweet little wreath from Joanne Fabrics.  I simply die cut my leaves and hot glued them in place once I was happy with their placement.
While you cannot see it in this photo, the embossed leaf veins even show up on the felt- very cool!  I love burlap and that seemed like the go-to bow to finish the wreath.
Top Dog Dies has a special going on right now, through October 26th- get the 3 piece Fall Foliage Die Set FREE with any $50 purchase!   Thanks in advance if you make a purchase through the link here as I get credit for your purchase.  

Thank YOU!

That's it for me today; I hope I have inspired you to create!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Add a Little Dazzle and Cas-ual Fridays Challenge Wednesday

Hi Everyone!

It is Wednesday already and time for a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle.  We are also continuing with our blog hop with Cas-ual Fridays and  are all having so much fun sharing our projects made with Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and Casual Friday Stamps and Fri- Dies.
 We have a color challenge this week, and what a beauty it is!  Your challenge is to use one, two, or three colors from this photo~

I loved the rustic, yet elegant look to this setting~

I colored my flowers from the Wonderful Words Stamp Set with Copics and fussy cut them out.  Using a Versamarker, I dabbed ink on the tiny circles of the flower center and gold embossed them.  I cut large circles of Golden Glimmer Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal for the flower centers.  The Casual Vine Fri-Die is cut from the Golden Glimmer Craft Metal as well. 
The Casual Vine Fri-Die in Glimmering Gold embellishes the cheerful sentiment and adds elegance while the woodgrain dp  and the Hemptique twine under the flower gives a rustic look.
I am entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- 'Anything Goes' .

Ready to check out the rest of the inspiration from the two Design Teams? 
CFS blog
AALD
Kelly Griglione
Deepti Malik
Martha Lucia Gomez
Vicki Dutcher
Keren Baker
Cathy Parlitsis
Kate Capper
Lee-Anne Crosse
Lee Ann Barrett-You are here!
Lydia Evans

 And we can't forget the PRIZES!   Visit each of the blogs along the way and leave a little love on each.  Be sure to hop every day and leave your comments to be in the running for 1 of 2 prize packs from both companies.  You have until October 26th, midnight MDT to enter.

For a limited time, Add a Little Dazzle is offering a SPECIAL BUNDLE PACK.  If you 

are ready to try Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal, you can purchase your Special Bundle Pack along with all of the other AALD products HERE.  
I thank you in advance as I get credit for your purchase made from my link.  
Thank YOU!

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you enjoy the hop!

Lee Ann  :)

Add a Little Dazzle and Casual Fridays Blog Hop Day 2

Hello Everyone!

We are hopping again with another fabulous company, Cas-ual Fridays, and we are ready to share  amazing projects and inspiration using Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and Cas-ual Fridays awesome stamps and Fri-Dies.  Honesty, some of these girls are incredibly creative!

I used two trendy techniques, gold embossing and raised die cut over the negative of the die cut (so, is there a name for this trendy technique?? ) to make my card~

My sentiment is from the Wonderful Words Stamp Set and is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with gold ep.  Isn't this sentiment dreamy?  I thought it would make a perfect wedding card.  I just love the two different fonts and the offset words. 
I cut two of the Casual Vine Fri-Dies from Wondrous White Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal.  I also cut them from the sentiment panel in the top right hand corner.  I added dimensional adhesive to the craft metal vines and adhered them over the negative spaces created when I die cut in the top right corner.
So simple, and yet I think this card packs a pretty good punch!   

Now check out the other amazing inspiration from the rest of the team~
Casual Fridays Stamps
Add a Little Dazzle
Virginia Lu
Cathy Parlitsis
Marcie Sharp
Lee Ann Barrett-You are here!
Kate Capper

And we can't forget the PRIZES!   Visit each of the blogs along the way and leave a little love on each.  Be sure to hop every day and leave your comments to be in the running for 1 of 2 prize packs from both companies.  You have until October 26th, midnight MDT to enter.

For a limited time, Add a Little Dazzle is offering a SPECIAL BUNDLE PACK.  If you 

are ready to try Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal, you can purchase your Special Bundle Pack along with all of the other AALD products HERE.  
I thank you in advance as I get credit for your purchase made from my link.  
Thank YOU!

Thanks so much for visiting; I hope you enjoy the hop!  

Lee Ann  :)  

Fall Flowers

Good Morning!

I hope you are all having a beautiful weekend.  We are enjoying glorious weather here in St Louis; much needed after days and days of rain.
Today's card uses a beautiful color palette from Color Throwdown and a nifty sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I used my Flowers in Bloom image with its new matching die~

This has always been one of my most favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, but I have never done it as a fall card before.  Being able to cut it out is now a snap with the new die.

Here is the fab sketch~

And the gorgeous color palette~

I colored the floral image with Prismacolor Pencils and then die cut it out.  I used some of my coveted Blush Blossom cs (yes, I still have quite a bit left!) for the image mat, along with some white cs.  I added a Scallop Border edge in Cherry Cobbler to dress it up a bit.  A white bow, faux wood button and some linen thread finish off the image panel.
The background dp was perfect for this color palette and is from Pink Paislee. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous and blessed weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Flowers in Bloom, So Grateful (sentiment)
Paper- SU Cherry Cobbler, Blush Blossom; white cs, Pink Paislee dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso
Other- Flowers in Bloom Die, Scallop Border Die, dimensionals, ribbon, SU faux wood button and linen thread

Top Dog Dies 'Leaves' You Loving Fall!

Hello Everyone!

Have I mentioned how much I love fall? :)  It is the prettiest weekend and we are starting to see glorious fall color.  I have used some brand new Top Dog Dies for this week's TDD inspiration.  My inspiration comes from the beautiful trees outside!  :)

These brand new Fall Foliage Dies from Top Dog Dies are just the best!  Not too big and not too small, perfect for embellishing your cards or making them the main focus of your cards.  The leaves were simply die cut from cs and sponged around the edges.  Easy Peasy! 
I have also used the brand new Top Dog Die,  Signature Beatrix Die.  Used for my top mat, I cut a circle from it and then using a Versamark marker and a slightly smaller circle template, I ran a line of Versamark ink just inside the cut line and heat embossed it with gold ep.  Behind at is a stenciled forest made with a Crafter's Workshop stencil.
The bottom mat is embellished by running the edges of the cardstock over a Versamark pad and then heat embossing with gold ep.  My sentiment, which is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, is also embossed in gold ep and yes, I do LOVE the current gold' trend!
I borrowed the sketch from Lesley Croghan's, 'The Challenge'~

I love, love, love this sketch and can see myself using it over and over. 

I just got a box of new SU goodies and could not wait to use the new gold baker's twine.  Yep!  GOLD!
Seeing as this is all about gorgeous fall colors, I am linking it up to the AAA challenge, 'Fall Colors'.

Tracy has a gorgeous fall Mood Board this month with some great gold inspiration!

I am also linking up to 613 Avenue Create for their 'Anything Goes or CAS' challenge this week and also with my newest challenge find, ScrapbookerPhD, Challenge 16- Fall with a Die Cut and a Stamp.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

Masculine- Maybe

Hi Everyone-

Yesterday was Boss's Day and I became aware of how few masculine cards I have.  I was hard pressed to find a masculine thank you for my principal.  I decided it was time to replenish the masculine card stash. Easier said than done.
I used the sketch at Stamplorations~

Here is the sketch~

 While I love the combination of dark brown and gold, I am not sure I achieved my goal of making a masculine card with using the gold ep.  It does not help to be short on MOJO either.  :( 
I am also trying to make cards that are mailable, so I kept the card flat and relatively simple.
I did get to try out my brand new MISTI on this card; was thrilled to get perfect sentiment alignment! 
As this is a CAS card, I have linked it up to CAS on Sundays, 'embossing'.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-
Stamps- Inkadinkadoo, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (sentiment)
Paper- Early Espresso, Brushed Gold; PTI Rustic Cream
Ink- Early Espresso, Versamark
Other- gold ep, SU Early Espresso marker and color mister. 

Happy Birthday, Top Dog Dies!

Hi Everyone!

Top Dog Dies turned 1 year old this month; it seemed appropriate that my blog post and tutorial this month be for a birthday card.
The tutorial I am sharing on the Top Dog Dies Blog this week will actually allow you to make two cards.  Here is my first card, made with the new Top Dog Dies Vintage Numbers Die Set and a piece of Add a Little Dazzle black craft metal sheet.

I die cut multiple numbers out in white card stock and adhered them to watercolor paper.  I used this to emboss my craft metal sheet.  The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.
 I am linking this card up to the CAS on Sunday challenge, 'Emboss It', as well as Seize the Birthday, 'Anything Goes.
 
Once this card was completed, I used the numbered cardstock as a base for my second card~

Using reinkers, I watercolored the background.  Once dry, I brayered color onto the numbers.

I framed the numbered background with the new Top Dog Dies Scalloped Frame and Mat Die Set,  cut from vellum.  The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and is embossed with black ep.
I cut banners and embellished with cheese cloth, a bow and Prima flowers. 
I am linking this card up to The Mixed Media Card Challenge, 'Vintage'.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)  

Add A Little Dazzle Challenge with Fancy Pants

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

This week's challenge at Add a Little Dazzle is all about 'Wrapping it Up'.  Whether you create your own package or alter an existing package, we want to see your creativity all wrapped up! The Design Team continues to use our great Fancy Pants Designs Products for our challenge projects this week.

 Have you been hopping along with us?  If not, start here for lots of inspiration and at chance a prizes! 

First off, forgive my photo quality; I had a terrible time getting pictures of this project.  I wanted to try and redo the photo, but we have had nonstop rain in St Louis for days now.  It is a good time to be a duck here!  :)  Therefore, I had to settle for an indoor photo.
I had this wonderful box from some cosmetics that I had saved for altering.  It was perfect to use for this challenge and with the awesome papers in the Fancy Pants Designs Burlap and Bouquets Collection.  I covered the top of the box with the blue dp and added a banner-I am just loving polka dots these days.  The tag and the flower die were added; I finished it off with some fabulous, shiny die cut leaves, cut from Glimmering Gold Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal; I used Die-Namites Small Ivy die.  So easy, and yet so personal and unique!

Be sure to check out all of the inspiration from the Design Team and don't forget to stop at Add a Little Dazzle and Fancy Pants Designs Blogs. 

We hope you can play along with us!  You do not need to use Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal on your project, but if you have it we would love to see it!  

If you just have to have your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets, you can purchase them HERE.  The team has enjoyed working with the Fancy Pants Designs products so much, Monica has added their Christmas collection to the Add a Little Dazzle Boutique!  I thank you in advance as I will get credit for your purchase!  

THANK YOU!

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

A Sketch and a NBUS

Hi Everyone!

I finally had an idea for a card tonight and decided to have a little fun.  I just had to give the sketch at CAS(e) This Sketch a try.
So, it took me a while to figure out what NBUS meant; now that I know, I have LOTS of it I can use!   My idea was to combine the sketch and this Prima NBUS~

I am also linking this up to Addicted to Stamps and More; this week's challenge is 'Make Your Mark'.  I marked on this card with Copics.
At 613 Avenue Create the challenge this week is 'CAS' design, and at Crazy for CAS the challenge is 'Single Layer Cards'.  It is not often I make a single layer card; I can probably count on 1 hand the number of single layer cards I have made!
I used houndstooth dp to paper piece the skirt of the dress; somewhere in blogland, there is a challenge this week that is 'Houndstooth'.  Of course, I cannot find it now, so if you happen to know what challenge that is, could you please let me know?  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies-
Stamps -Prima, sentiment is Art Impressions
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper-Neenah, retired SU dsp
Other- Copics

Add a LIttle Dazzle and Fancy Pants Designs Blog Hop Day 2

Hello Everyone and Welcome to our collaborative blog hop with Fancy Pants Designs!  We are having a fabulous week sharing creative projects using Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and Fancy Pants Designs paper products.  After you check out all of the projects at Add a Little Dazzle, make sure you hop over to Fancy Pants Designs to see what they have to share with you!

I decided to get a little messy and alter a frame that I had purchased a couple of years ago.  I love the envelopes in the Burlap and Bouquets Patterned Envelopes and Folders Pack and thought they would make a great foundation for a collage.  

I gave my frame a base coat of gesso, let it dry and then painted over it with Distress paint.  I stamped a burlap background stamp in black on the frame in a couple of places and then added another thin coat of paint.  The paint was a little too bright for me, so I spritzed it with some Mister Huey's Warm Calico mist and rubbed it over the frame, giving it a great aged look.
The roses are made with some of the gorgeous prints from the Burlap and Bouquet Designer Paper using Heartfelt Creations floral dies.  The leaves are die cut from Precious Pearl Craft Metal using MFT dies,  colored with a green Gelato, and molded for a lifelike look.

 
Next, I started assembling all of the pieces of the frame.  The insert uses the burlap image designer paper from the Burlap and Bouquet paper pack.  I framed one of the sentiment die cuts from the Ephemera Pack and used it as my main image within the frame opening.
The largest envelope in the Envelope and Folders Pack was used a a base for the flowers and foliage.  I embellished the corner collage with die cuts cut from Add a Little Dazzle Brushed Bronze Craft Metal using a Die-Namites Die, Summer Branch.   I have used this month's sketch at Die-Namites for my frame. 

The frame is finished off with arrows from the Ephemera pack and that awesome burlap bow.

The Design Team enjoyed using the Fancy Pants Designs products so much that Monica is now carrying their Christmas paper products in the Add a Little Dazzle Boutique.  Check out the 'Oh Deer' Collection along with other new products  HERE!

You can order this exclusive package HERE.  And don't forget, Add a Little Dazzle now offers FREE shipping on qualifying orders as well as bulk orders. 

And we can't have a Blog Hop without a PRIZE! 

Enter for a chance to win 1 of 2 prize packs from both companies!  You have until Sunday, October 19th midnight to enter.  The winners will be announced on both company blogs.  

You must leave a comment on both the Add a Little Dazzle and Fancy Pants Designs blogs each day of the week to be entered for a chance to win. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Lee Ann  :)

My Favorite Things Goes Fall

Hi Everyone!

I was terribly lazy today and spent much of it crafting... and had a good ol' time doing so!  I wanted to play in some challenges and not worry about DT work.  I started with this adorable MFT image, just in time for cool, fall days~

This is a Pure Innocence image, Lil Pumpkin.  I colored her with Copics and added banners and a Wonky Scallop border. The dots background is also a MFT stamp, Darling Dots.  A button and my favorite, Hemptique twine, finishes it off!  
I have used MFT's sketch for this card ~

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- MFT  Lil Pumpkin, Darling Dots
Paper- Cryogen White cs; SU Cajun Craze, Barely Banana, Baked Brown Sugar; Neenah Solar White, Farmhouse dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron, Early Espresso
Other- MFT Fish Tail Flag Stax and Wonky Scallops Die-Namics, SU button, Hemptique Twine, dimensionals

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and Trendy Techniques

Hello Everyone and Happy Saturday!

I have been wanting to try the Inlaid Die Technique in which the dies cuts are inlaid within die cuts.  I guess it could be called the Double Inlaid Die Technique.  I used my Leaf Silhouettes stamps and dies from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps to give this a try.

I love the way this turned out.  The feeling of movement is achieved by using the trendy cascade design; I added some background texture using an image from the snss Grunge Elements set.
I am linking this up to Great Impressions Autumnal Elegance October Challenge, as well as Addicted to Stamps and More, Anything Goes. 
The cue word over at CAS-ology is ' Splatter'.  Not quite sure my card is cas enough for CAS-ology, but thought I would give it a try. 

Thanks so much for visiting today!
Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Products Used-
Stamps-Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Leaf Silhouettes, Grunge Elements, Beary Bountiful Autumn
Paper- SU Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Naturals Ivory, Tangerine Tango
Ink- Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie
Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Leaf Silhouettes Dies, SU linen thread and faux wood button

A Dazzling Autumn with New Top Dog Dies!

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

We are having some gorgeous fall weather here in St Louis- this is my favorite time of year, what with its cool nights, gorgeous colors and texture everywhere.  I think that is why I love fall challenges so much.

Monica at Add a Little Dazzle has some Ah-mazing inspiration for us for this week's Add a Little Dazzle Challenge, and it is all about fall.

 Gorgeous!  Just gorgeous!  The obvious choice here is to go with pumpkins, but believe it or not, I have no pumpkin stamps.  I went with the next best thing and broke out my brand new, just released Top Dog Dies Fall Foliage Die Set.

I love the embossing on these leaves and took advantage of that when I grunged up my Add a Little Dazzle Outragousely Orange leaves.  While this is a CAS card, it still involved techniques to achieve this look.
The acorn is die cut from a piece of Brushed Bronze craft metal sheet.  I wanted a two toned acorn, so using a tiny swab and some alcohol, I removed the bronze coloring from the bottom half of the acorn.  Next, to give it a hint of color instead of being silver, I colored it with a Copic marker.
The leaves are from an Outrageously Orange craft metal sheet, but I wanted an earthly, weathered look to them;  I had discovered that if the metal was a little rough, liquid would settle into the depressions, so I ran the leaves through my Big Shot, orange side down on my very well used and scratched up cutting plate.  Then I brushed on a thin coat of gesso that had a small bit of Crumb Cake reinker mixed in to it.  Once the gesso was dry, I used a fine piece of steel wool and sanded each leaf, sanding down to the orange or silver color in some spots, and leaving the color and the gesso on the leaf in other spots.
To highlight the embossed veins of the leaves, I mixed in a bit of Early Espresso reinker and painted it along the veins.  Once dry, I again sanded some with the steel wool.  I molded the leaves to give them dimension; love being able to do that with the metal!
Seeing as the inspiration is not just that of a pumpkin, but of a beautiful table setting, I added a bit of white trim to the top and bottom of my image panel; I used one of the banners from the Top Dog Dies Banner #1 Die Set, die cut it from white cs and cut it in half lengthwise to get two decorative edges.  These bits of white represent the table linens.
I used the negative space of another brand new Top Dog Dies product, the Give Thanks word dies.  I LOVE these dies and they even come with a outline form for matting the words~

A little scoring and some Hemptique cord finish off this card. 

Now, I would love it if the creative mojo was flowing at all times, but sadly, that is not the case.  I got inspiration for my layout from Moxie Fab World this week; I used my fall foliage to represent the banners.  I love all of the white space on this sketch~

I am also linking up to Virginia's View, which is 'CAS' this month, Shopping Our Stash- 'It's the Most Colorful Time of the Year', and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog-'Falling in Love with...'
 We hope that you can play along with us this week, for our inspiration challenge.  You do not have to use craft metal sheets, but if you have them we would love to seen them! 

Decided you just have to have your own Add a Little Dazzle craft metal sheets?  You can purchase them HERE.  I thank you in advance, as I get credit for your purchase! 

And to sweeten the deal, AALD is now offering FREE shipping on qualifying orders both in the US and internationally!  You can read more about shipping HERE.  No coupon is needed and all qualifying orders will automatically receive FREE shipping at checkout.  

Need to buy in bulk?  For all of the details, check out our BULK BUY PROGRAM HERE.  

Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Designing with Crafty Secrets

Hello Everyone!

I have the pleasure of being guest designer at Crafty Secrets this month. I love their sweet vintage images and am honored to be working with such great products and such a talented team!

Welcome to the October Linky Party! 

I am working with the brand new Thanksgiving Release.  These two cuties just had to be colored!  I love the detailed images and they are just so doggoned adorable!  I colored them with Copics and then fussy cut them out (yes, I really did!).  I printed the sentiment and die cut it out with MFT's Award Seal Die.  I framed the sentiment with the wishbone.

I 'fall for' texture and burlap is one of my current 'go to' items.  However, on this card I did not want to add too much bulk, so I embossed my kraft card stock to look like burlap.   How do you emboss a burlap look without going out to buy yet another embossing folder?  (I know- you already have too many folders, just like me!)  I used a piece of burlap, my tan embossing mat and a thin shim and was able to get nice, deep impressions. I also added a little bit of texture to the sentiment panel.  If you are like me, your embossing machine is well loved!  I am still using the original plates with my Big Shot and they are very rough from the amount of die cutting I have done on them.  I sandwiched my sentiment panel between the cutting plates face down on the rough, scratched up plate.  I added a couple of thin chip board shims and ran it through the Big Shot.  This gave my panel a hint of texture, but nothing overpowering.  I tried to get a good picture of it for you, but it is still hard to see in the photo.
My gold background paper is also from the new Thanksgiving Release.  Isn't it scrumptious? I love the deep, rich, earthy colors.  I added more texture with embossing, linen thread and an elegant seam binding bow.  This will go to my parents, who live in Florida.
 

Now it’s your turn! Visit each of the design team blogs listed below. Then create a NEW project of your choice featuring Crafty Secrets product and link it up to the blog (http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com/) no later than 11:59PT, Sunday, October 19th. You do not need to follow this month’s theme to play along. If you do not have any Crafty Secrets goodies, check the FREE DOWNLOADS located in the sidebar of the Crafty Secrets blog. Be sure to link to the Crafty Secrets Blog in your post, and let us know what Crafty Secrets product you are using in your project. One lucky player will be randomly selected to win a $50 shopping spree in our online store. Each player who participates will receive a $6 credit to the online store. We’ll be popping by to leave you some lovely comments on your blog post, too. Thanks for playing along, and good luck!

Crafty Secrets Design Team

Lee Ann Barrett-guest designer- You are Here!

Kathy Clement, DT Leader

Darlene Pavlick, Dar’s Crafty Creations

Diane Hover, Nellie’s Nest 

Elizabeth Lincoln, Paper Passtimes 

Gloria Stengel, Scraps of Life http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

Melody Clement, Paper Melody’s 

Michele Kovack, Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker 

Shantaie Fowler, Inking Pink http://www.inkingpink.com/

Sheila Rumney, Sheila Rumney Design and Photography

I am linking my card up to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, 'Falling For...' and Craft Hoarders Anonymous, Happy Fall Y'All. 
Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Crafty Secrets Digital Stamps
Paper- Crafty Secrets Digital Paper, SU Early Espresso and Crumb Cake, Neenah Solar White cs
Other- Copics, SU linen thread and faux wood button, dimensionals, burlap, seam binding, SU Vintage Wallpaper ef, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax and Award Seal Die-Namics, Kaisercraft journaling tag