"A" is for Apple Snarkiness

I've been honored with the title of "Queen of Snark" from the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for the "J" is for Junk challenge. Thank you so much ladies!  This title comes with the honor of being the Guest Artist for the new challenge.  Today I'm sharing some "A" is for Apple snarkiness. 

Club Scrap papers and stamps. Frame stamp by Rubberneckers. Chameleon color pencils. American Craft twine. 

Head on over to the Sisterhood to see more fun apple inspiration.

Giving Thanks Today

Today I'm giving thanks for all my readers, supporters and for all the positive feedback I get from all of you. Thank you!

 

Club Scrap papers and background stamp. Fiskars punch. Technique Tuesday sentiment.

 

The background is stamped with my latest favorite noise stamp from Orchard. I kept the color light by using the second stamping on the background mat. A simple sentiment on the front that finishes on the inside with what I am thankful for.

Fresh Pick

I love fall and had a blast going through all my fall-ish digital embellishments. I used a template for this layout so I could just drop in papers, textures, and photos.

Down the Road Design clusters. Club Scrap digital papers and ribbon. Katie Pertiet wood banner. Meredith Cardall banner. PrelestnayaP Design templates.  

Squeeze the Day Digi

It feels like FOREVER since I've been able to do some digi scrapping. Here's a digital layout using the Orchard collection. I love how the yellow background paper looks like it was created with distress oxide inks. The beauty of digital papers is you can change the colors to match your photos. I know this paper will get lots of use.

Club Scrap digital papers, border strips, tag, stamps and button. Katie Pertiet tags. Lara's Digi World flower cluster. Meredith Cardall wood embellishment. Fiddle Dee Dee digital template.

Apple of My Eye

This collage stamp from Orchard is one of my favorites. I used it multiple times with gelatos for the Club Scrap Artist Team watercolor challenge. This time I wanted to try it with my Pan Pastels. I really like how soft the colors are.

Stamp the collage image with watermark ink. Apply the different colors of Pan Pastels with sponges. Splatter black ink for interest. Stamp quote onto panel. Stamp apple, color with Copics and fussy cut. Emboss background panel with good grain embossing folder. Apply foam adhesive dots to back of apple, wind twine in circles and adhere to panel. Add small black dots of Nuvo Crystals to seeds for dimension. 

Squeeze the Day

When I was looking at the options for this month's Idea Deck Challenge I was really hesitant about all those squares and stripes from the Card Idea Deck Vol. I. When other members started posting their versions, I knew I had to give it a try.  Now to be honest, it did take me a few minutes to figure out the sketches for the smaller cards. I ended up with extra pieces so I might not have gotten it right ;-)

 

To add some variety and interest to the plain cardstock pieces I  stamped the script stamp and speckle stamps from Orchard's Art Nouveau collection. I used Greetings to Go cut-apart squares in place of stamping for others.

I stamped different fruits, colored with Copics and fussy cut. These make great embellishments. If you look close you'll see the wood grain stenciling on the white panel.

 

Orchard Blog Hop

Welcome to the Orchard Blog Hop brought to you by Club Scrap.  Each month the talented Club Scrap owner, employees and members present a project, card or layout using the monthly featured collection. The  purpose of the blog hop is to demonstrate the beauty of paper and digital crafts.

 

If you just happened on the blog hop today because you're a regular reader of my blog, and you'd like to view the entire hop, you can  start back at Club Scrap. If you're already hopping and linked to me from the talented Kelly, you're in the right spot. 

 

The Orchard collection uses my favorite color combinations. It has vivid, fall colors and incorporates gorgeous images designed by watercolor artist Swarup Murthy.  The beauty of this collection is that you don't need outdoorsy, garden type photos to use it.  I'm in the middle of scrapbooking my July trip to the East Coast and came across these photo from Amish Country that work perfectly with the browns and yellows of this collection.

 

These photos AND embellishments bring constant reminders of this day trip. The four of us were so fascinated by the Amish way of life that we have hundreds of photos of buggies and laundry.  Yep...laundry. The little clothes pins included in the Orchard collection couldn't have been a more perfect embellishment.

Club Scrap layout sketch, papers, tags, labels and stamps and ribbons. Cricut title. Souvenirs added.  

As you can see from the photos, we ate our way through Amish County.  We tried everything from Whoopie pies to Shoofly pie. We even sampled some scrapple and pork roll. FYI...do NOT read the ingredients of those last two. :)

Added these cute little clothing tags from Dungarees.



Use the splatter stamp to the tag and title to add distressing.

 

Thanks for hopping with us today. Please continue on to see what fabulous project Tina has created for you.

 

Orchard Watercolor

Welcome to September's Artist Team Blog Hop brought to you by Club Scrap. This month we've been challenged to incorporate watercolor techniques with our projects. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to dust off those Faber-Castell Gelatos. 

If you just happened on the blog hop today because you're a regular reader of my blog, and you'd like to view the entire hop, you can start back at Club Scrap. If you're already hopping and linked to me from Tina's Blog, you're in the right spot.

Gelatos are acid-free pigment ink sticks that can be used with or without water.  I love the bright colors and creamy texture of the Gelatos.  The fact they look like lipstick tubes is kinda cute too.

1. Directly color the stamp with your gelatos. I usually start with the lightest color first and work to the darkest.

2. Mist water directly on to the stamp.

3. Stamp image onto paper.  I used all sorts of papers: cardstock, watercolor and mixed media papers. I didn't find one worked better than another.

You don't need a Misti, I was making a ton of panels.

4. Repeat the process.  I usually got two good clear images without misting more water onto the stamp.  After two imprints, I would re-mist without recoloring.  It just changes the boldness of the image.  I like all the different varieties you can get.

I could have easily created other images with the gelatos but I wanted to challenge myself and use the same image in different ways. Let's start with the simple designs first. Simply mat the collage image and add a greeting.

Club Scrap papers and stamp. Gelatos. Darice embossing folder. Spellbinders die. Pretty Pink Posh sequins. 

Club Scrap papers, stamp, ribbon and tag. Nuvo drops. Gelatos.

Trim panels and triple mat images. Stack images.

 Club Scrap papers, stamp, ribbon, bottle cap and tag. Sizzix embossing folder. Gelatos.

Trim collage image into quadrants and mat. Stamp sentiment. Color images with Copic markers and fussy cut. Slice a opening into the basket to tuck in peaches. Stamp background multiple times and apply splatters.

Club Scrap papers, ribbon and stamps. Copic markers. Gelatos. Martha Stewart punch.

Here's my favorite of the group! Stamp words on dark background with oxide ink. Ink edges and spray with water. Let dry.  Take gelato panel and distress edges. Stamp images and color with copic markers. Fussy cut images. Die cut a sign out of wood paper and stamp sentiment. Attach sentiment to a wood stake. Slice a opening in the basket and tuck in sign and fruit.

 Club Scrap papers, stamps. Gelatos. Tim Holtz label die and oxide inks. Copic markers.

Thanks for hoping with us today.  Hope you gained inspiration to create watercolor images. Please continue on to see what fabulous creations Wendy has for you.

Other Gelato ideas:

Just Dandy Stencil

Acrylic Block Stamping

Gelatos on Dark Backgrounds

Faith Love Hope

Bowman Orchards

The wait is over! My Orchard kit has arrived and is as beautiful as everyone has raved. The watercolor images by Swarup Murthy are just stunning. I knew that the photos from my recent trip back east would be perfect.  My dear friend Melanie and I went blueberry picking one morning and ended up picking much more than blueberries.  Of course we ate quite a few also...you know...quality control ;-)

 

I chose the ALSB directions for Layout 5&6 to complete these pages. 

 

Why struggle over page design when Club Scrap does that for you? Every kit comes with it's own separate cutting and design instructions. I changed some small aspects of the design to better fit my photos.

 

 

How cute are those bottle cap embellishments?