Beautifully Neutral

We have had such beautiful weather so far in the midwest. High seventies the entire weekend - hard to believe it's fall! I had a fairly productive three day weekend - my time balanced between cleaning, relaxing, and designing new products to share with you.

Here is a simple yet elegant layout I creating using just simple neutral tones - creams, ecrus, and light beiges. I centered the design around the gorgeous vintage doily. I have been secretly hoarding it for some time now - waiting for the right moment to use it. I don't even remember where I got it, but I couldn't wait to centralize a scrapbook page behind it. The flowers (except for the cream cabbage rose) have been handmade using laces, crepe paper, fabrics, designer papers, and pearls. I spent my Friday night in front of the TV spritzing, cutting, sewing, and crunching these little beauties. I used an image from Crafty Secrets Sew Nice Creative Scraps as the main image. This layout is for sale on Ebay - you can see many more pictures there.

Oh and don't forget to become a follower and leave a comment on my BLOG CANDY POST. One lucky winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday!!

Hugs...

Welcome to My Porch

“The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation that you ever had.”

Welcome to my front porch! I finally bought my mums to place among my gourds and pumpkins. I think I still need to buy a few to add here and there, but my large pots have been planted and my geraniums and petunias have begun their new phase in our compost pile ;o)

It is so hard to decide on colors when choosing mums! There are just way too many gorgeous hues available! And with an indecisive gal like me - well it's darn near impossible to decide. This year I went the purple and yellow route. I always seem to be drawn to yellow - it is such a bright and cheery color!

My wonderful mother-in-law surprised me one day with all of these beautiful pumpkins! They were waiting for me in my driveway when I came home from work one day. She knows my love of lumpy, bumpy, oddball pumpkins and did a wonderful job picking the perfect ones!

What color mums did you pick this year? I would love to hear your own special varieties! And don't forget to leave a comment on my blog candy post - if you haven't already!! All you have to do is become a follower (click here if you haven't!)

Happy Decorating!









Just a few more pictures to inspire you! (Courtesy of Country Living)

Time to Win Some Blog Candy!

It is almost the one year anniversary of my first blog post. To celebrate, I thought I would give away a few of my studio staples - seam binding and vintage carnival tickets! Say "Oooo"! ;o)

I just love using this scrunchy vintage ribbon in all of my work! It adds a soft subtle texture to layouts, cards, hand tags - you name it! This seam binding has been scrunched, stained, and slightly glitzed - then wrapped around a vintage wooden clothespin and is waiting for a new home! I put together a vintage Christmas palette of burgandy, sage, and cream - a gorgeous combination for your upcoming holiday projects!

So what do you have to do to win 12 yards of yummy goodness you ask! Easy peasy!

1. Become a follower (if you are not already)
2. Leave a comment on this post.
   

That's it! I will choose a random winner (based on the order of comments) next week! Thank you so much for your support and playing along! Let me know if you have any questions!!

Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkins

Give me your lumpy and bumpy, warties and shorties. I just can't resist all the gorgeously different pumpkins at the pumpkin patch! There is just something about those cute little oddballs that melt my heart!

This year, I will have another pumpkin contest in the library for our kiddos. I just love the creativity that flows through their veins and the proud little smiles on their faces when they carry their creations to me. Each year we have three different categories. I learned the hard way my first year and quickly took "carved" off of the list! Lumpy and bumpy I can take - but stinky and moldy I cannot! One of my favorites last year was a flat white pumpkin that was made into a smore. It was so darling I just wanted to eat it to bits!

Here are some gorgeous inspirations that I found today. Simple yet elegant. Sure to stop those trick-or-treaters in their tracks - well the mommies at least!

Martha Stewart

Better Homes and Gardens

Country Living

And who can look at all those gorgeous displays and ideas without craving a nibble on these delectable pumpkin bars! One of my favorite fall desserts! Enjoy!

(photo and recipe courtesy of Taste of Home)

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1-2/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 
  ICING:
• 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

• In a bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
• For icing, beat cream cheese, sugar, butter and vanilla in a small bowl. Add enough of the milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Spread over bars. Yield: 2 dozen.

Bon Appetito!

Classically Vintage

There is just something about the classic colors of red, black, and cream. So classic and romantic. For this layout, I loaded the page with tons of vintage goodies. There are laces, buttons, snaps, doilies, and ribbons. The main focal point, however, is the black mat frame. This frame has been glitzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer mist and stamped with Crafty Secrets stamps in white Stazon ink. The subtle text of this stamp was just enough to make the frame stand out among the beautiful papers and embellishments. The best part?! You can change out the picture whenever you want!

Recipe for this layout:
Crafty Secrets Artsy Banner Clear Art Stamps
Crafty Secrets French Mail Clear Art Stamp
Crafty Secrets Girlfriends Image & Journal Notes
Tattered Angels Glimmer mist Pearl
Maya Road Stick Pins
Prima Say it in Crystals

Thanks for looking!

Spooky Halloween Purse Album

Can you believe October is upon us?! Pretty soon the leaves will be changing pretty hues and spiced cider will be warming cool hands. To celebrate this change of season, I have started making more fall related layouts and albums. This particular album was designed to be a purse. Twelve pages of yummy vintage goodies fill this album to it's brim. One of my favorite additions is the old letter I found at a local flea market. I was so surprised to see an old dried up bouquet tucked carefully inside. How perfectly it ties in to the eerie feel of the album!

This album is for sale on Ebay where you can see many more pictures!

Recipe for this album:
Crafty Secrets Halloween Scraps
Crafty Secrets Halloween Image Journal Notes
Haunted paper line by My Minds Eye
Black cardstock: American Crafts
Vintage goodies: letter; lace, doilies, buttons, ribbon, music sheets
Bling: Prima
Pins: Maya Road
Embossing Folders: Tim Holtz & Cuttlebug
Punches: Martha & EK Success

Help TWAG Reach 300 Facebook Fans!

Do you have a Facebook account? Want to win five handmade paper piecings by some amazing paper artists! Then visit our TWAG fan page today! Become a fan and leave a comment no later than the 30th!

Here is the contest giveaway information:

Just click on either picture or follow this link to go to our Facebook page. Leave a comment and become a fan!

I will be giving away this adorable card that you may have seen earlier - he was a blue ribbon winner at my local county fair!




See you on FB!