The Great Pumpkin

I'm making Christmas cards for an upcoming class, and really like how this one turned out! My customer liked it too - she saw it and ordered the set "Cardinal Christmas!" I've used our lovely real red textured cardstock, and then layered that on sahara sand. I stamped the cardinal on vellum, and then colored it in with markers on the back. It gives a nice gentle look to the card, when you layer the vellum on white cardstock.

Now, on to the Great Pumpkin!! We went to a garden centre to buy some pumpkins and some straw bales. We found not one, but two huge pumpkins! Each one weighed in at over 650 pounds! The gentleman had such fun helping us pose on them with giant gourds!!

Enjoy your weekend!
Susan Bruyn

Inspired Cards

I am inspired when a card turns out well. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like framing a card when I feel it has turned out well. This card is one such card. I've used the set "Christ is Born," as well as Baroque Motifs, and the Sizzix Top Notz die. The ribbon is the Riding Hood Red Taffeta, and there is a bit of glitter. Cardstock is Mellow Moss, Brushed Gold, and Whisper white, with mellow moss, gold, and riding hood red ink.

I had some fun with the poinsettia. I inked it in Riding Hood Red, and then wiped off the centre area and added More Mustard with the marker. I then took Bravo Burgundy and inked one edge of each petal. I took my finger and gently swiped along the bravo burgundy, which blended the colors somewhat. I really like the smudged effect - it looks quite blended.

Here's another fun card. I originally made this as a small booklet. I am going to use this card in a swap at Stampin' Up!'s Edmonton Regionals this weekend. I enjoy the whimsey of the falling leaves! The kiwi kiss ink mixed with the tangerine and chocolate really blend together well.

I was in Camrose this weekend, visiting my mother for Thanksgiving. We took her dog for a walk around the little 'lake', and found these ducks swimming among the reeds. What a peaceful, colorful scene. Take care, and have a great day!

Susan Bruyn

Fantastic Fall!

I have been really enjoying the fall foliage this autumn! We didn't have a huge frost or heavy wind for quite some time, so the fall leaf display has been spectacular!
I regularly have a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators over, for "Care & Share" night (the first Thursday of each month). I gave a challenge this month. We used a die cut leaf from the Sizzix Big Shot machine, and made a tag. My sample had a tag where I masked the leaf, and sponged around it.

Most of the ladies copied my idea, and masked the leaf. Jenn did something totally different! She wanted to use the new "Season of Friendship" stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini catalogue! I just love what Jenn came up with!!

Here are some of the other samples of what people created. I love it when we use the same basic supplies and come up with different end results. Inks used were Old Olive, Really Rust, and More Mustard. We used the new Belle Toile background stamp. The letters were the Sizzix "Naturally Serif" decorative strip die. Papers were very vanilla and chocolate chip, and we added hemp, large eyelets, and brown ribbon if desired.

Here is a great fall photo that I took along a cemetery walkway near Confederation Park, here in Calgary. Enjoy those fall colors - they won't last long!! Take care, and have a great day!
Susan Bruyn