Catty Cruise Sets Sail!

Let's pull up anchor and set sail for a catty cruise that's sure to be exciting!  This is my maiden voyage, so please be kind!  Having been asked to blog in the company of these fine designers was such an honor, but my oh my, the pressure is on!  I hope you like what I've made for you!

I'm the beginning of this voyage, being the eastern most port, but you may have arrived here from Becky Roberts' Inking Idaho blog HERE .  Isn't she fabulous! 

This Catalog Cruise is highlighting Stampin' Up!'s amazing Holiday Mini Catalog which can be viewed by clicking on the catalog picture in the right-hand column.  Each member of the crew chose a product to highlight, and I knew in an instance which one I wanted for my very own!  Pages 12 and 13 of the catalog feature the stamp set Autumn Splendor and Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper.  Wow--these colors and patterns took my breath away!  I love the addition of Taken with Teal to brighten things up a bit in the Fall palette.

My first project is this Fall wreath.  Some of you may have seen the terrific Christmas wreath presented by Bonnie Thurber at the Stampin' Up! National Convention this past August.  I CASED her idea and then added my own elements.  I started out with a green styrofoam wreath I purchased at a local craft store, then cut strips from my designer paper that measured 7/8" x 6".  Using my bone folder, I curled each end of the paper and attached each strip to the wreath with a small straight pin.  (Yes, this did take awhile, but I was the passenger on a 10-hour car trip so it was the perfect opportunity!)  Here's a picture upclose of how this looks:

The header is made from a piece of thin wood I purchased at a craft store painted with acrylic paint.  After that dried, I went over it with a sponge and some Chocolate Chip Craft Ink.

I stamped several leaves from the Autumn Splendor stamp set with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink on Taken with Teal, More Mustard and Really Rust card stock, then applied Clear Embossing Powder, heated with the Heat Tool and cut them all out with my Paper Snips, which made the job easy as can be.

I also cut out the letters for "fall" from Stampin' Up!'s fabulous new Wood Sheets using the Alphabet Simple Letters Bigz Dies and the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine.  I used Really Rust and then Chocolate Chip Classic Ink with a sponge to stain the wood. The wreath hangs from a piece of gorgeous Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon--it's so incredibly soft--and the two pieces are connected with Natural Hemp Twine.  The Crop-A-Dile makes fast work of punching holes through the wood, and I added some Pewter Jumbo Eyelets to finish it off.

The following three cards were designed using different techniques for each one.  This card was created using both the Autumn Splendor stamp set and the Autumn Meadow Designer Series Paper along with the Cracked Glass technique.  I started with a piece of Watercolor Paper and with my Aqua Painter, color washed the entire paper with Taken with Teal Classic Ink.  I stamped the leaf in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, then spritzed the image with water to give it that "fuzzy" effect.  Three layers of Glassy Glaze Enamel later, I popped it in the freezer and forgot about it until later in the day!  It made the cracking process REALLY easy!  Then I used Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and sponged over the cracks.  This was mounted on a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock, then onto a piece of Really Rust card stock that had been punched down the side with the Scallop Edge Punch.  That went on top of my designer paper, then on top of a piece of More Mustard card stock, then onto a Taken with Teal base--lots of layers!  The gratitude saying came from Define Your Life stamp set and was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock, then "beaten up" a bit!  I added some Twill Tape stamped with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink using a thank you stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  My last addition was a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button threaded through the middle with a piece of Linen Thread.  A couple of Mini Glue Dots hold it in place nicely.

Here's a a card using Autumn Splendor again, along with a fun little Hostess Level 1 stamp set called Holiday Best for the sentiment.  The technique is creating a stamp pad out of a baby wipe and reinkers!  I simply chose all of the colors represented in the Autumn Meadow Designer Series Paper.  Stampin' Up! makes color coordination so easy!

I started out with a card base using Really Rust.  I layered in a couple of pieces of torn card stock in Chocolate Chip and More Mustard.  The main stamped image is on Very Vanilla card stock backed with a piece of Taken with Teal which has been paper pierced along both edges.  Two leaves were stamped on scrap Very Vanilla card stock, cut out and tied on to a knotted piece of Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon with Linen Thread.  The leaves are adhered with Dimensionals.  The finishing touch is the sentiment "Give Thank" stamped with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.

This is the simplest of all my projects, but for some reason, it seems to work.  I kept trying to add more embellishments to it, and in the end, it looked better simple.  Sometimes simple is better!

I started by stamping the acorn image from Autumn Splendor in More Mustard on the same color card stock.  I added a piece of the Autumn Meadow Designer Series Paper on top of some Chocolate Chip card stock for the side.  The main image is stamped in VersaMark ink on Very Vanilla card stock, then heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder.  I used Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set to add splashes of color on two corners.  I mounted that on Really Rust card stock and tore all four sides, bending them all forward a bit, then stamped "Happy Thanksgiving from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set on Very Vanilla card stock , punched it out with the Word Window Punch and tucked it underneath.  The final touch is a piece of pretty Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

If you'd like to order any of the products featured in my projects, you can Order Online at www.stampwithkriss.stampinup.net, or email me at krisshuels@gmail.com.  If you don't have your own copy of the Holiday Mini Catalog, just let me know, and I'll be happy to put one in the mail to you.

• Item No. 116768 Autumn Meadow Designer Series Paper  $9.95
• Item No. 116503 Autumn Splendor stamp set $20.95

Thanks so much for docking at my port for awhile.  If you've enjoyed what you saw here on the East Coast, won't you take a moment to leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear what you think!

As you make your way West, your next stop will be the very talented Wendy Jansen who will share her fabulous projects. The link below will take you to Wendy's home page, or you can click HERE to be directed to her Catty Cruise post.

Comments

[Becky Roberts]

Kriss, welcome aboard! Your projects are beautiful!
Becky

[Linda McClain]

Kriss - You started us off with a bang. I love, love everything you did. Way to Rock the Cruise, girl.

[Connie Collins]

Kriss, Fantastic projects...but my fave is the wreath. I'm a 3-D kind of gal I guess! So glad that you are crusin' with us this go around!

[Kay Kalthoff]

What a fabulous wreath! I also love that last card . . . 'course all of the projects are beautiful!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Kay

[Aly Schiling]

Awesome projects!!! I love what you ended up doing with the wooden top of the wreath -- nice!!!

[lisa808]

Greats projects.

[Nancy Knowles]

I love your autumn theme projects -I know the Autumn Meadows DSP was a must have for me.
Thanks for sharing!

[Lynn]

I love the gorgeous creations you've made with this set and you've really showcased the papers wonderfully...especially with your wreath!

[Wendy J.]

Kriss, you have no need to feel pressure! Your projects are fantastic. I love so many of your details...the Itty Bitty Backgrounds on your last card, the technique on the two previous cards, and the wreath is so clever and creative. Great job!

[Sue McNeill]

Gorgeous examples! That stamp set is a must have. Thanks for the ideas.

[Darlene L]

Awesome place to begin. Great projects--love the wreath! Fall is my favorite season.

[Carol Steinbrecher]

Kriss, What awesome projects. You gave me some fantastic inspiration. Loved everything especially the cracked glass card. Will be bookmarking your site for sure! Carol

[vicki]

Kriss, that wreath is fabulous!! Love your fall cards all your projects are awesome!

[Emily]

Love love your wreath and cards! Beautiful! But I had a little twinge when I saw your wreath, I thought I have that paper and haven't been able to let myself cut into it yet because it's so pretty. Maybe I need to cut it!

[Joani]

Fall is my favorite time of year, and your creations are perfect for it!
Thanks for your inspiration!
Hugs,
Joani