Author: Jean Manis

Welcome Autumn – Retrosketches #32

I just can’t get enough of the Paper Smooches “Autumn Groves” set and decided to use it for this week’s fabulous Retro Sketches challenge. I can see myself using this sketch over and over.

I began by choosing the patterned paper strips using papers from Simple Stories and My Mind’s Eye. The MME paper is some I’ve had for awhile from a collection that I really like. I’ll be sad when it gets all used up! I colored my scarecrow and pumpkin based on the colors in the papers with Copic markers. The sentiment, crow, and fence are stamped onto the background. Lining that crow up, and knowing I had just one “take” was no small feat (read previous post on battling perfectionism!). Although the sketch calls for a square card, once I’d built my scene, a rectangular format made more sense. I kept the background quiet with a neutral cardstock.

Paper Smooches Autumn

Supplies: Stampin’ Up cardstock; Simple Stories and My Mind’s Eye patterned papers; May Arts twine

So Thankful

This is a card I made “just because”! I returned yesterday from a three-day visit to see my youngest son, who attends the University of Colorado in Boulder. I wanted to get back into my daily routine that includes cardmaking and a certain number of household responsibilities! I colored the pumpkins and mouse, and then found that there was just no way I’d be able to fussy-cut the mouse’s tail. I glued the pumpkins and a tail-less mouse to the blue background and then inked up just the tail with a black Memento marker. I gingerly stamped the tail onto the colored pumpkin. As a “recovering perfectionist” it was a huge step forward to be able to even try this. 😉

Lawn Fawn Thankful

 

Supplies: Spellbinders circle dies

The CLASSroom at Ellen Hutson

I’m over in the CLASSroom at Ellen Hutson’s today for the Lawnscaping Fall Blog Hop.

Please head on over to see the card I created celebrating fall Pacific Northwest style. Not only that, but Ellen has put together a fabulous giveaway – you will have until midnight October 7, 2012 Pacific Daylight Time to share your thoughts in the CLASSroom and be included in a random drawing for some of the fun products I used to create the card! Happy Friday!

Paper Smooches Woodland Creatures

I haven’t entered the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge for awhile but this Trend Watch really caught my eye. Paper Smooches has so many cute sets from which to create a woodland scene.


My card imagines the bigger squirrel helping the smaller squirrel reach the acorn in a team effort.

Paper Smooches Squirrels

 

Supplies: Simple Stories patterned paper, MME Halloween papers (2011)

CFC 72 “Toot Your Own Horn”

This week’s CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is to create a project inspired by one’s own blog header.

I used a Memory Box die for the umbrella and a slab-serif font sentiment that gives a similar upbeat message as the phrase “Right as Rain” — “Definitely correct; just the way it should be. It could just as well be ‘right as clouds’ or any number of other things, but ‘rain’ it is, doubtless because of the allure of alliteration” from The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers.

The color combination in my blog header is one that I’ve liked for most of my life. I like its graphic punch and it just “feels” happy to me!

CFC 72 "Toot Your Own Horn"

Supplies: Spellbinder circle die; Stampin’ Up cardstock