fall cards

i find it very ironic that i began scrapbooking {as i know it today} by making cards. it was a great place to try new techniques and always possible to finish. given the size and amount of time they took.

for awhile i made cards when i was stumped on a layout. it was like a jump start to my creativity. whether i liked the finished product or not, it seemed to work well for me.

now, most of the time, i find myself making cards in a rush. i have been thinking that i need to take more time to make sets of cards. just to keep on hand. by making them so quickly and always last minute, i think i am creating a frustrating cycle for myself. i don't like the rushed and last minute feeling...and associate that with cards!

a few weekends ago, i took a morning to play with paper and make some new cards. i had some very vintage {laugh!} Pink Paislee papers that i had been hoarding....thought it was time to use them. also some papers i had from Making Memories from several years ago. one of those sale kits at Micheals that was too cheap to resist. throw in some brand new paper dies that i was dying to try out...snicker!snort!!



this one used the Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily. Martha Stewart Lace edge punch. a large heart from Marvy Uchida.

i tend to be extremely simple in my design when i make cards.



Cheery Lynn Italian Flourish. cut from Spellbinders metallic foil sheets, then cut in half. saw a project Jan used with this foil paper. fell in love at first sight, and bought a package for myself. i added another very vintage Prima jewel.



another Jan inspired card! cut from white cardstock using the Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings die. i used Ripe Persimmon and Gathered Twigs ink....as well as a few others from my stash. i wanted to keep a lot of the white base of the paper. the little wooden flower is a new product from Prima. wooden spool/buttons. LOVE these. i am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that Prima keeps making lots of these.



this is about as complicated as i get! the Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily again. an old die cut from My Minds' Eye. Memory Box Whimsy Circle cut from more Spellbinders metallic foil. some felt. twigs. leaf button from BoBunny and a pin from Maya Road. then some pearls.

this was my favourite from the bunch.

there was one that just didn't make the cut. even now. i'm not sure if it was the colours or the elements i used on it. i will probably throw it out. one day, for fun...it would be hilarious to have a blooper post. pictures of all my projects that i didn't like when i was finished.

i am trying a new technique with a Ranger melting pot, UTEE, ink and molding clay. in the process of learning, lets just say that the road to success is often filled with a few failures. or learning opportunities, as i like to think of them! good times.

then i am excited to finish my next class layout. having a hard time deciding which papers to use! i know. tough life, eh?!