The Craft's Meow October Blog Hop - AUTUMN

Welcome to the The Craft's Meow October Blog Hop!  This month, the design team was inspired by an autumn theme!  I love this time of year...and the beautiful stamp set, Speaking of Fall, includes images and sentiments that describe all of the things I love about fall!

The Speaking of Fall stamp set is FREE with your $60 purchase!  What a great deal!

Instead of a card contest, The Craft's Meow is offering a $15 gift certificate to one lucky TCM reader who comments on the store blog post by 8:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, October 9th.  Head on over to The Craft's Meow Store Blog and comment for your chance to win!

Here is the official blog hop order:

Amy Crockett

Clare Buswell

Deborah Nolan

Jennie Harper

Jessica Fick

Jinny Newlin

Karen Baker

Larissa Heskett

Lin Brandyberry

Nina Brackett

Sharri Seffens

Stacey Schafer - That's me!

The Craft's Meow is having an extended World Card Making Day 15% SALE through today, October 7th.  Simply use the code, WCMD15 after you've filled your cart and are ready to check out!  

The Craft's Meow is also a proud sponsor of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges this month at Splitcoaststampers!  Stop by for a chance to win prizes and participate for a great cause.

Here are a couple of challenges that inspired this card, too!
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #231 ,  Ribbon Carousel: Halloween, Really Reasonable Ribbon #81: Fall or Halloween, and  Word Art Wednesday #100

Did any of you notice the textured background on the bottom panel?  I experimented a little with Gesso.  First of all, I was TOTALLY inspired by the fabulous Debby Hughes at Lime Doodle...check out her wonderful video using embossing paste!  

Dimensional Gesso Tips

1.  Place a stencil at an angle over the patterned paper

2.  Apply gesso, liberally, over the stencil to fill in the spaces.

3.  Lift the stencil away from the paper

4. Dry with a heat tool...but, here's the cool thing...it will start bubbling up and crackling which creates even more texture and dimension!  Kinda cool, I think!

Thanks so much for stopping by the stage!

Stamps:  Speaking of Fall (The Craft's Meow)
Ink:  Black Tuxedo Luxe, Crushed Toffe (Momento)
Paper:  Kraft (PTI), Happy Haunting (Authentique)
Other:  Stitched Leaves Lawn Cuts (Lawn Fawn), Fishtail Flag Stax Dienamics, Black Licorice button,  Kraft Blend Sequins, Oh Yeah Dies (Avery Elle), Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder (SU), White Hemp Cord (Hemptique), Bubbles Stencil (Mr. Huey's), White Gesso, Doily, Sewing Machine, Thread

The Pink Elephant - Color Challenge

Good morning!  It's time for a new challenge over at The Pink Elephant!  This week, the challenge is to use the colors...Orange, Black, and Purple!  Perfect for a little HALLOWEEN fun!

I whipped up this little treat bag while I was hanging out with some crafting friends in Denver this weekend!  Michele Gross of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps hosted a fabulous World Card Making Event!

 My pal, Kim, at Joyful Creations with Kim, has an eloquently written post that sums up our day/weekend much better than I can...go check it out!

Look at this great group of gals!  (Front) Annette, Danielle, Alyssa, (Middle) me, Noelle, Wida, Ceal, Carissa, (Back) Tenia, Michele, Lee, Kim, and Vivian!

I must give credit where credit is due...this project would never have come together if I hadn't used all of my friends' supplies and tools!  So, a big shout-out THANK YOU to...

Kim, for using her dies, bat punch, paper, stickles and twine!

Annette, for the sequins!

Ceal, for the washi tape!

Someone fabulous, for the use of the paper cutter and Big Shot machine...Michele, was that you?

Tenia, Wida, and Danielle for the great company at our crafting table!  Everyone else for the food, fun, hugs (real ones), and laughter!

Thanks again, Kim, for chauffeuring me around all weekend...I had a great time and loved getting to spend some REAL time with you!  Now, YOU have to come to Illinois!

I hope to finish up these treat bags and get some better photos of them later this month!  You would think I could've finished them at the 7-hour crafting event, but....there was more chatting than crafting!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  none!
Ink:  none!
Paper:  White (Neenah), Bo Bunny, Black Velvet
Other: Dies, twine, sequins, paper straws, punch, stickles, gesso, gems, paper bags

Verve Diva Inspirations Hop - WCMD

Welcome to the World Card Making Day edition of Verve's Diva Inspirations Hop! It's the 5th of the month and that means it's hopping time. Along today's hop you'll see some fresh new ideas for some beloved older sets, as well as some fantastic pairings of our latest release with existing sets. It's sure to be a treat, and we've got treats to give away, too!

Want to win Verve's ENTIRE September Release? Jut leave comments on all of the blogs on today's hop to be entered in the drawing! 

	1. Julee	10. Marisa
	2. Amy	11. Teresa
	3. Betty	12. Maureen
	4. Jessica	13. Charmaine
	5. Karen	14. Christyne
	6. Sankari	15. Andrea
	7. Sarah	16. Amber
	9. Susan	17. Stacey {Guest}
	9. Tiffany

And since World Card Making Day is the official start to the holiday card making season, Verve has a 25% off sale on Christmas stamps this weekend only!

 Check out all of these FABULOUS new Verve products that I used on my card today!  Here's the list...Poppy Birthday and Each Day stamp sets, Build a Poppy Die Set, Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection, and Pastel Sequins Mix.

Fall is such a wonderful time of year to get crafty...so much beautiful color and texture to draw inspiration from!  The Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #313 was a great one to show off those beautiful poppies and dies...(yes, I know poppies aren't gold, but these are gorgeous!) and The Ribbon Reel: Shabby Autumn inspiration photo is so lovely, I had to use some of that new rust colored seam binding!

The Echo Park Reflections Fall papers and Espresso Truffle Luxe ink with heat embossing were PERFECT to give my fall inspired card a little extra pop!

I hope you all are making time to get crafty today for World Card Making Day!  This year, I'm fortunate enough to be able to get together with some of blogging buddies in Colorado for a fabulous event!  Stay tuned for updates...hopefully, I'll have some pics to share with you early next week!

Thanks so much for stopping by the stage!

Stamps:  Poppy Birthday, Each Day (Verve)
Ink:  Espresso Truffle Luxe (Momento)
Paper:  Rustic Cream (PTI), Reflections Fall (Echo Park)
Other:  Build a Poppy Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Heat Tool, Gold and Clear Embossing Powder (SU), Fishtail Flag Stax, Button (MFT), Twine (Hemptique), Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection (Verve), Pastel Sequins Mix (Verve), Sewing Machine, Thread