Fall Fest

This is it! My last fall project. I'm heading full force into Christmas after this! I have to if I plan to finish everything I have planned (like that is ever going to happen). But I did want to put together a couple of hostess gifts and it is, afterall, Autumn (though you'd hardly know it with the temperatures we're getting).

First up is a candle I made using a digital image. There are lots of tutorials out there for traditional stamping on candles. I referenced this one but modified the instructions for using a digital stamp.
To begin, you need to print out your digital stamp onto tissue paper. I used the Maple Leaf Digital Stamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I inserted the image twice into Microsoft Word and sized the images appropriately. I like to do a test print on regular paper to make sure everything is going to fit and look how I want it. Once I have the image adjusted the way I want, I take a piece of white tissue paper and tape it to matte photo paper, but you can use cardstock.

Smooth out your tissue paper and tape it down all the way around. I use a printer that feeds from the back so I have fewer issues with printing on non-standard papers, but if you make sure everything is smooth and well-secured, you shouldn't have any problems. I do suggest you use a paper that is a little thicker than plain copy paper, though. If you are using a printer with a front feeder, you should should do a test run to see what will run through your printer without ripping or getting jammed.
Once the image was printed, I waited a few minutes to make sure the ink was really dry. Then, I colored the image in with my copics. I've really darkened the image in the picture above so you could see the tape. You'll get a better look at the leaves in the finished product below.
Next, I cut out the image in a tight rectangle, but you can crop the image closer if you prefer.

Now, take a piece of wax paper and wrap it around the tissue paper and the candle. Use your heat embossing tool to heat up the wax on the candle until it "absorbs" the tissue paper. Be careful not to overheat. You don't want the candle to completely melt, but the tissue paper should look like it is disappearing. Take the wax paper off, let the candle cool a little, and you're done! I can't wait to do some more with Christmas images!

Isn't this pretty? I added a flower that I colored with copics to match and put the candle inside an acorn candle ring.
I also wanted to create a paper "acorn" that I could put a few little treats in. I used Kelleigh Ratzlaff's pumpkin template to create an acorn. (See this post for a look at how I used the template to create a pumpkin.)

I printed out the bottom portion of the acorn using some digital paper designed by the LSS design team's very own Shannon of Desert Designs. And guess what? The paper is part of a FREE set you can get at her blog today. The top portion is printed on brown cardstock with a ribbon added for a stem. I ran the top through my cuttlebug with an embossing folder. The little acorn tag is a digital stamp from LSS called Three Acorns. Yes, I cropped out two of the acorns so I could use just the one. Don't ya love the versatility of digi stamps!
Be sure to check out Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for all your Fall and Holiday crafting needs. Also, be sure to visit Lindsay's blog today. She always has lots of eye candy and a sweet free treat or two! Also, if you're just lovin digi stamps, send Lindsay some samples of your stuff. She has a design team call going on until Saturday! I know she'd love to see what you've been doing! Don't forget to check out what the rest of the LSS Design Team is up to today! There's lots of ideas for the holidays and gift giving! It's that time of year, afterall!
Project Recipe
Papers: Desert Designs Fall Gradient Digi Papers, PTI Dark Chocolate CS, SU More Mustard CS, scrap tissue paper
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Three Acorns and Maple Leaf
Accessories: candle, sheer green ribbon (Walmart), PTI Dark Chocolate satin ribbon, Prima white flower, copic markers and airbrush kit, cuttlebug, Tiny Bubbles embossing folder, Kelleigh Ratzlaff Pumpkin Template, sponge and brown ink

Happy Fall, Yall

It's finally here...our first cold front! So it's still 80 degrees, but that's better than upper 90's or the triple digits of the summer!!! Anyway, I'm feeling Fall-ish! Lindsay's Stamp Stuff has done a lot to get me in that mood with some great digi stamp SETS in the store. This flourished crow is part of a whole set of stamps called "Creepy Crow Stamp Set". You get seven really cool images from scary to amazing for only $5. This one was so easy to color. In fact, I'm loving how easy it is to work with this set. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my copics, but sometimes you just want something quick and simple to color but still has a "WOW!" factor to it. That's what this set has to offer. I used three copics for blending my color and I was done. The flourishes and swirls give this image the "WOW!"
The background paper has the look of crackled paint. I don't know if you can see that detail in the picture, but I decided to mimic that with the stamped image. I printed out the crow onto some PTI Rustic White CS, masked the bird, and then stamped over the paper with an SU Weathered background stamp in Close to Cocoa ink. After cutting out the image with a Spellbinders Labels die, I inked the edges and stamped the sentiment. I tied ribbon to the image and then frayed the ribbon a little. My next door neighbor will be getting this card today for his birthday. (I was sorely tempted to add a little sparkle to the bird, but wasn't sure if that would promote a masculine feel to this card, so I left it off. But my fingers were itching!)
Be sure to head over to Lindsay's blog today. I bet there's a freebie on there somewhere. Then, head to the shop to get some of these great digital stamp sets. Don't forget that at LSS if you spend $5, you get a free digital image of your choice emailed right to your computer's doorstep with little or no waiting! Go look at the Halloween sets....C*U*T*E! Now, I'm off to check out what the rest of the LSS design team cooked up. Those ladies are so inspiring!
Project Recipe
Paper: PTI Rustic White CS, PTI Dark Chocolate, PTI Autumn Abundance PP, SU Dusty Durango textured CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Creepy Crow, SU Weathered Background stamp (retired), Verve Birthday Surprise (sentiment), PTI Vintage Labels

Accessories: copic markers, cuttlebug, Spellbinders Labels Two die, Fiskars corner edgers scissors, SU Slot punch, PTI Orange Zest Saddlestitched Grosgrain ribbon

Punchy Pumpkins

I'd love to say I'm feeling "fall-ish" but it's waaay too hot here for that. However, everyone else seems to be getting ready for the fall holidays, so I guess I'll fake it till I make it!
I was just playing around some more in my craft room and decided to squeak in at the last minute Mel's sketch challenge number 9 over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.
I did very little stamping on this one. Everything was punched out or cut out. I did use a CTMH Playful Flourishes set for some "vines". I used SU's large oval punch to make the cute little pumpkin. The leaves I cut out with SCAL and my Cricut. And that's one of my newest Spellbinders dies--Peony nestabilities. I colored some adhesive pearls with my copics and set them on top of some retired SU Autumn Vines papers I punched out with the SU modern label punch.
Great sketch, Mel. I'll try to get the next one done in a timelier manner!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Really Rust CS, SU Old Olive CS, SU More Mustard CS, SU Autumn Vine DSP (retired), SU More Mustard DSP (retired), PTI Green Tea Leaves PP
Stamps: CTMH Playful Flourishes
Accessories: SU Large Oval Punch, SU Modern Label Punch, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label Die, Cuttlebug, Cricut, SCAL, Spellbinders Peony Nestabilities Dies, Paper Studio Pearls, Copic marker