Dreaming of Cool Breezes for the FALLing in Love with FALL Decor Bloghop

Welcome to the Falling in Love with Fall Decor Bloghop hosted by Rita Barakat! If you love fall decorating... you are in for a treat! Hop along to be inspired by this amazing group of designers who have come together to share their love of fall decor!! If you have arrived here and would like to get to the top of the hop CLICK HERE.

"Fall is in the Air" somewhere  just not here in South Florida. We don't experience a FALL season... though we certainly LONG for it as it's seemingly SUMMER all the time. Nonetheless, I do enjoy creating for the fall season which is the beginning of three months of holiday creating... my favorite time of year. I have created a little tabletop display utilizing a stamped mosaic created from autumn color paper scraps, ribbon and three of my favorite "Scribble Girl" stamps**; layered upon alcohol ink painted vellum, burlap and corrogated cardboard painted with yummy Faber-Castell Gelatos.

This is fun with a touch of whimsy; full of texture and the fabulous colors of fall... gold, orange, reds and pops of green - this takes me back to my childhood when we lived up north and we would love to collect and play in the piles of leaves. I have it set up on a shelf in the foyer ready to welcome all who come to visit :)

There is a also blog candy to be won! Please follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to enter for your chance to win. You can earn an entry at each stop on the blog hop so be sure you leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win big prizes! The winner will be announced on Rita's Blog {ritabarakat.com} on October 3rd!

Follow the links below to visit all the stops on the

 Falling in Love with Fall Decor Bloghop!

Rita Barakat http://www.ritabarakat.com/

Stacey Hansen http://sassynsweetscrappin.blogspot.com

Susan M. Brown {YOU ARE HERE}
http://www.sbartist.blogspot.com

Britt Bass http://pinkpapercrowns.blogspot.com

Lisa Fulmer http://lisalizalou.com

Mary Trautner http://marysstampinghappenings.blogspot.com

Anita Scroggins http://theflamingochronicals.blogspot.com

Carmen Whitehead http://serendipitystudiobycw.blogspot.com

Liza Sivek http://www.benchantedcrafts.com

Thanks for visiting! I would love to hear what you are creating for the Fall Season. Please follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to be entered to win blog candy. Enjoy! :) Sb

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**The stamps I refer to as SCRIBBLE GIRLS are from the American Art Stamp - Karen Stolper "Stick Chic" line. This line seems to have been discontinued as I am unable to find a source to link up.

When #Cre8time and Greencrafting meet Deflecto Storage Solutions

Greetings Friends! It's the last Monday of September and time for another Deflecto USA Ambassador Design Team Challenge. I'm having such a fabulous time on this team and having the opportunity to get creatively organized and find a home for my crafty stash! 

For more information on the Deflecto line of products,

please visit: http://www.deflecto.com/craft/

Today the entire Deflecto USA Ambassador Design Team is sharing a variety of creative and imaginative uses for a variety of Deflecto Storage Solutions - and today I'm focusing on this what we call "LAZY SUSAN" LOL! CLICK HERE to jump over to the Deflecto Craft Facebook Page to see more of the teams creations.

Carousel Rotating Organizer Item Number: 39010104. This carosel has three 6" tall and six 3" tall wedge shaped canisters with snap tight lids that nestle in a rotating base {aka LAZY SUSAN}. This also comes in a six 6" canister configuration. This is great for storing small craft supplies and with a few of my own crafty modifications... I've got it just right!

I have been keeping my eyes on a variety of desktop stackable tray spinners and have never really jumped for one because they don't really fit my workspace or work/organizational style. I don't want everything out and withing sight or reach... but I DO want everything to have a proper home. 

I'm using this Carousel Rotating Organizer to store my hoards of baggies and envelopes of ribbons and trims that are loose offcuts.

This will put a nice dent in this mess that has grown into a large box of ribbons and fibers and who know's what... it's making my head spin. I have a drawer dedicated to ribbon on spools all organized, but this box is the stuff I access all the time. It is taking up way too much precious table space!

I've modified my Carousel Rotating Organizer to have a top catch tray through some crafty recycling of a heavy duty cardboard tube, some bottle caps and a recycled serving tray leftover from a vegetable platter at the deli. All I need is a little black ink, some Amazing Casting Resin and E6000® adhesive.

I rummaged around my stash to locate a cardboard tube from some decorative paper and cut a section to size. This is a really sturdy cardboard similar to a packing tape spool. I just needed to rummage through my recycling bin for some caps to close off and strengthen the ends so that I can raise and mount the tray to the spinner.

I quickly stained the tube black to match the spinner using a makeup sponge and Jacquard Mantilla Black Pinata Ink.

I have some storebought plastic ribbon/thread cards and I'm forever running out of these. So I looked through my drawer of punches and found a nice tab shape that will work perfectly for DIY thread cards... and it's FREE!

While waiting a few for my inked tube to dry - I punched a whole stack of cardstock ribbon cards. If I need more... the punch is within arms reach. No more hunting at the store for them. YAY!

I have wound up a lot of ribbons on these - making a nice dent in my ribbon box mess. It might take me a few more evenings to get the entire box sorted and wrapped on cards. I have a huge pile ready to go which I separated by color into the 9 bins on the carousel.

I need to give my tube some endcaps so I can mount the recycled vegetable tray to the carousel. I did this by mixing up two small batches of Amazing Casting Resin {one at a time for each end} and partially filling the cap, then submerging the end of the tube into the liquid resin. I held it in place for a few minutes keeping it level until the resin cured {Amazing Casting Resin sets up in about 5 minutes and cures to an opaque white}. I might go back and drill a hole to in the carousel to properly screw it in place to make it more secure - but this seems to be working nicely for now.

With the tube in place, I'll have about a 2" gap from the top of the canisters to the floating recycled vegetable tray - giving me easy access to my ribbon.

Now with my tube capped, I am ready to glue it in place with some E6000®. I put the black end up because it's prettier that way and glued it to the center of the dish.

I kept an eye on this for a bit until the glue tacked up to make sure it stayed level and in the center. This is going to be so great!

After drying for a couple hours the suspense was killing me - so I flipped it over and gently dropped it into place in the center of the canisters... a perfect fit!

TADA!!!

With the addition of the tray to the top... I am doubling my use and maximizing the vertical space! All those little bits of this and that on my table have a home and my hubs will finally stop asking me to get rid of that vegetable tray in the cabinet. CLICK HERE to jump over to the Deflecto Craft Facebook Page to see more of the teams creations.

How would you organize your crafty stash

with Deflecto Storage Solutions?

Thanks for visiting! Stay tuned for more of my studio re-organization. Please join me the LAST MONDAY of each month when the Deflecto USA Ambassador Design Team will have a new Deflecto product challenge to debut.

 :) Sb

For more information on the Deflecto line of products,

please visit: http://www.deflecto.com/craft/

Sneaking a Little #Cre8time on Holiday...

Hello everyone! As summer comes to a close my hubs and I were able to squeeze in a last minute vacation to the tropics and we had a little ARTchaeological adventure! I couldn't resist packing a little Amazing Mold Putty along with my watershoes, binoculars and camera.

On our last day in paradise we ventured out on a covert "molding" mission. The mission was to capture something wonderful in Amazing Mold Putty that I could bring home and be used for my art creations. There were so many wonderful finds, designs and textures to choose from - making it hard to decide!

We are home now and not only do I have this fabulous mold for use in my art, but I also have a special memory shared with my hubs from our travels. I'm excited to experiment and see what I create with my fabulous new mold.

CLICK HERE to jump over to see

how I captured a piece

of the SEA in time...

Thanks for dropping by. Have a creative day! :) Sb

My #Cre8time Soars to New Heights with STEAMPUNKtember at Anything But a Card Challenges

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to week three of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 39... STEAMPUNKtember! Yes it's time for to get your Steampunk fix for today. CLICK HERE to jump over to ABAC and see what the rest of our design team has created.

The current Challenge... is one that is near and dear to most of our creative heARTs so we have brought this one back again. For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 39 - welcome to "STEAMPUNKtember"!!! YES... Steampunk!!! Anything Goes within this ever popular genre!

Popular Collage Stamp from Darkroom Door

Victorian, Airships, Industrial and Mechanical – need we say more!!! The theme is full of so many possibilities. Just remember create anything except a card... get GEARED up for all things Steampunk!!!

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. Please do us the favor to mention Anything But a Card Challenges, Challenge Name and Number, and LINK BACK to this challenge using this PERMALINK: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2014/09/welcome-to-steampunktember-anything-but.html :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight September 27th giving you 1 more week to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

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For this challenge I have created an new art journal page with the newest addition to my rubber stash - the Steampunk set of Darkroom Door Stamps which has a variety of words and images which go together nicely with the collection of steampunk stamps that never seem to leave my work table.

I love combining stamps together into interesting scenes... for any kind on all kinds of projects - from tags and A.T.C.'s to cards and altered projects. Many times the image itself strikes the idea and sends me off and running... for all the tools in the craft room ESPECIALLY a fistful of stamps and some ink! This set has my gears spinning instantly.

I always have scrap paper handy to doodle on when I get an idea, and for this project I had the visual before the end result. I've created a scene stamped upon a background of gessoed scrapbook patterned paper and go from there - featuring the words, gears, lightbulb, top hat and the hot air balloon that I've combined with a whimsical scene accented with pops of color using Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens and a waterbrush.

My background paper is a 12 x 12 patterned scrapbook paper. It has the feel of book paper, with some whimsical doodle flowers and a bit of color. I painted a drybrushed layer of watered down gesso to mute the detail, while still being a bit translucent.

Using some 3M Spray Adhesive, I adhered some torn sections of rectangluar paper doilies and the torn section of my gesso'd paper. Using double-sided adhesive tape, I began taping torn scraps of faux leathered brown paper to the base of my journal page.

I layered several torn strips to create a faux wall effect. This paper has a muted metallic finish which will go wonderful with the vintage "Steampunk" scene I will be stamping.

On a slightly larger acrylic block, I assembled all the word stamps from the Steampunk set in a staggered brickwork fashion. I inked up with StazOn Timber Brown Ink and stamped repeatedly over the brown paper border.

I let the stamping overlap onto the black base page which gives a nice contrast. I also went back and added some gears and the compass images for some added interest.

I began stamping my scene using the gears, airship, steam car, hat and lightbulb image. I toned down the intensity of the ink by swiping over with Ranger Picket Fence Distress Stain and make it seem like there are light whispy clouds.

Using a stencil I misted some subtle yellow rays to add color – and a base for my words to be bursting from the top hat. For this journal page I've stamped in layers. Some items are stamped fully inked and then repeated using the second and third image before re-inking to create depth.

My art journal page before I add the final stamped images, words and a bit of hand coloring. I smudged a little more Picket Fence Distress Stain in areas to create some fluffy clouds. I really love the little doodle flowers that peek through the background that add a little whimsy to these vintage steampunk images that tend to be a bit masculine.

On some scrap painted and patterned paper I inked the words that will be bursting from my idea hat. Instead of trimming letters from words – I only inked the part of the words I wanted. "Invent" from inventor; "Explore" from explorer... etc. For the word "DREAM" I will handwrite using a letter stencil.

For the final stamped elements I stamped onto deli paper, {this is a trick I learned from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer}, tore around images and adhered to my collage using a matte gel medium. The deli paper justs melts away into the background – while keeping the clarity in the stamped image. It's total stamping MAGIC... and looks like I stamped them in place. After the gel medium dried, I adhered my words and then some pops of color by scribbling with Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens on my craft mat and applying with a waterbrush to get a watercolor effect. I added a little doodling for finishing touches.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you are inspired to get your Steampunk on and will play along with the challenge. Have a fantastic Sunday! :) Sb

#Cre8time in a DASH... Quick Makes and My Take on CAS

Happy Friday everyone! It's that time again... time for another one of my "Thoughtful Abstractions" columns at Unruly PaperArts. This month's GOTTA DASH ISSUE at Unruly PaperArts... dedicated to quick and easy makes and Clean and Simple Designs to inspire your Cre8time. This was a particularly interesting challenge for me as my creations usually take on a life of their own {and not usually quick or simple} but I found the CAS style refreshing and inspiring! In looking back at some of my creations, a style I'm quite fond of and visit often.

Please CLICK HERE to view my Thoughtful Abstractions column in the Unruly PaperArts GOTTA DASH ISSUE. I'm just buzzing with tips and ideas for making your Cre8time quick, easy and fun! Below I have rounded up some other CAS makes that I'm quite fond of that have some interesting twists - Enjoy! 

This card features a mosaic pattern of inchie stamps layered with a dimensional butterfly embellishment. These were 6 separate stamps {Inkadinkado} that I grouped on my acrylic block before stamping. You could get the same effect by cutting up a patterned paper, photo or stamped image into squares and spacing in a mosaic fashion.

Recognize these cute little gifts??? They are from a large sheet of patterned paper with these all over the page. Use those busy papers by cutting out the images and making fun and FLAT card embellishments. The center gift is topped with a ribbon bow for that perfect finishing touch!

How about stamp a border to set off that perfect stamped sentiment? I've transformed solid cardstock into my own patterned paper by just lining up and repeating one stamp with my feature image set off with a co-ordinating matte {all stamps from VLVS!}.

The feature of this card is the lovely clutch of hand-colored bunnies {stamp from VLVS!}. I made this card special by adding some pops of color with the flower embellishments and a hand cut fringed/coiled grass matte for a little whimsy.

These quick and easy makes don't keep me limited to just cards... I can apply the same techniques in customizing a plain wicker box into something a little more "PERSONAL" {all stamps from VLVS!}. Even when you are short on time, your imagination can still be front and center!

I hope you are inspired and are ready to go run and make something!

Are you a NITE OWL who loves "The DARK of NIGHT"??? That's the theme for this month's Reader's Art Quest at Unruly PaperArts. This is a perfect prompt for Halloween and blustery fall creations. One lucky creation linked up via inLinkz will be randomly chosen to win a fabulous prize package from our sponsor this month Eyelet Outlet and Brads!. CLICK HERE for the details!

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Thanks for visiting. Have a fabulously creative day :) Sb

#Cre8time goes on Safari for the Designer Crafts Connection Home Décor Challenge

Welcome to another special Designer Crafts Connection Bloghop - this time it's a Home Décor Challenge. Upon receipt of my challenge materials provided by Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons Galore and More, it was a bit of a challenge to decide what I wanted to create. I had a "lightbulb" moment and decided upon a greencrafting project - one that goes along with the decor in my bedroom and take my muse to the serengeti.

Join us today September 7th through 14th for this special Home Décor Challenge by the Designers Craft Connection where we are challenged to create an amazing home decor project utilizing Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons from Buttons Galore and More! For this event there is a fabulous giveaway too {please scroll down for Rafflecopter entry info}.

I was sent an assortment of gorgeous felt, buttons and Beacon Felt Glue and Fabri-Tac Adhesives. I've planned on altering a recycled tequila box into a fashionable lamp, so these adhesives and the pre-cut felt squares will make my work "NO SEW". I will alter some of the buttons to make them a uniform color that will coordinate with the felt and painted wooden shapes to be used for feet.

An extra added bonus to this "GREEN" project... all of the Kunin Felt I received is ECO-FI Polyester made from post-consumer plastic bottles. I totally dig that! I'm all for utilizing GREEN products.

My husband likes a certain brand of tequila which to my delight comes with a gorgeous sturdy linen paper box that I get to use for my Cre8time purposes. I removed the lid and gently disassembled to gain access to the interior where I will mount one of two puck lights. There is a handy hole already cut here that just happens to be the same size as the LED portion of the light. I will mount the other in the bottom where there is a larger circle from securing the bottle.

The paper of the box is black, but my felt are in a variety of browns so I took the extra step to paint the edges of the box that will be exposed with an Expresso Adirondack acrylic paint dauber by Ranger. These dauber tops make painting quick and easy!

A little discovery that also made my project easier is that I was able to cut the felt on my 12" X-ACTO guillotine cutter. I'm still doing a happy dance about this! Since I was cutting rectangles and squares to cover parts of my recycled box, precision cutting was going to be important. I couldn't have cut them better by hand, unless I measured and marked each piece first.

 

I started out with the Cheetah print and made this the lining of the light, so I could utilize the contrasting beautiful brocade textured felt on the outside.

The Beacon Felt Glue tacks up quickly, and dries clear. I did find out that it's not so great for felt-to-felt adhesion - so for that I used the Fabri-Tac. I continued around adding felt panels around the entire box, and on the lid. For the edging at top and bottom, I doubled up the layer of brown felt to give more dimension and a nice curved finished edge {this is where I needed to adhere felt to felt}. I added a decorative ribbon trim around the edging using tiny dabs of Fabric-Tac in a few places on each side.

The bottom of the box I brushed with a combination of gold, bronze and the espresso acrylic paint to match some wooden pieces I had painted already leftover from another project. I finished off the feet with altered buttons painted first overall with black, then a combination of metallic Ranger Alcohol inks.

I repeated the alcohol ink process to create a layered button accent for the top of my lamp. I recolor my buttons often when I don't have one or enough in the color that I need {this certainly helps in using all the buttons in my stash}.

The feature of the lamp is the two battery powered LED tap lights installed. The light is not too bright, gives a nice glow, and makes for a great accent nightlight. I picked these up at my grocery store - they come in a 2 pack for about $6 {the dollar store version aren't quite powerful enough}.

So from what began as this assortment of supplies... 

Has been transformed into a stunning LED touch lamp that matches perfectly with the Asian/Safari decor in my bedroom {the one room that we have really actually decorated}. The cheetah print felt lining glows nicely in the light and fits in with my wooden carved safari accent pieces and the embossed felt blends in beautifully with the light and dark wood furniture, wicker pieces and the handmade banana paper wall in the backdrop. This is simply beautiful!

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Don't forget to enter to win the fabulous prize package of $100 in product from Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons Galore and More!

Kunin
http://kuningroup.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kunin-Felt-Products/259966984033282
https://twitter.com/KuninFeltFC
http://www.pinterest.com/kuningroupgeorg/

Beacon
http://www.beaconadhesives.com/chaven.html
https://www.facebook.com/beaconadhesives
https://twitter.com/BeaconAdhesives
http://www.pinterest.com/beaconadhesives/

Buttons Galore and More
http://buttonsgaloreandmore.net
https://www.facebook.com/buttonsgalore
https://twitter.com/ButtonsGalore
http://www.pinterest.com/buttonsgalore

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting! Continue on the Designer Crafts Connection "Home Décor Challenge" Bloghop by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below to enjoy all of the wonderful Home Décor inspiration. Sb :)

Designer Craft Connection

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