A First for Everything

Well, I'm finally going to bite the proverbial bullet and start a blog. The wonderful and talented Deborah Nolan over at Society of Stampaholics hosts a monthly international card exchange and I needed to have either a blog or a photostream to sign up. Since I love to write and adore crafting, blogging should suit both of those penchants perfectly! Plus, hopefully I'll meet some new friends who can inspire my crafting inclinations. It can get awfully lonely in North Dakota, as I'm living away from most of my family.

What would a first post be without a little cardmaking action? My aunt Jerrie has been bugging me to send her a card and Autumn is right around the corner. (Ok! Ok! It's here already and I'm just living in denial.) I just scored a bundle of new stamps for super cheap at an estate sale and was dying to try out this new fall stamp that was in the mix. 

The Finished Result:

Materials:
Red, white, and tan cardstock
Fall Adirondack chair stamp, Northwoods Rubber Stamps, Inc
Recollections brads, fall medium circles
Spectrum noir markers
Black archival inkpad
Perfect Pearls, Forever Red
Distress Inks, Weathered Wood
X-acto Knife
Mounting tape circles

Instructions:
1. Cut your red cardstock to standard card size (5 1/2 x 8 1/2), fold. 
2. Stamp your image twice onto a sheet of white cardstock (4 1/2 x 3 3/4). Cut out Adirondack chair from one of the images. 
3. Color image and chair using Spectrum Noir markers. This card took many different colors to blend, all of which are listed above.
4. Using raised mounting circles, attach colored chair to original image. 
5. Using Perfect Pearls in forever red, color some of the red leaves for a little bit of glitter (what card doesn't benefit from glitter?) 
6. Using Distress Inks Weathered Wood stamppad and a sponge (or Ranger's lovely blending pads) distress the corners of the image. 

Here's a closeup of the effects of step 5 and 6. It really shimmers in the light but, of course, the camera doesn't do it justice. 

7. Cut 3 tan strips of 1'' cardstock and attach brads to the ends. 
8. Assemble card with your choice of adhesive. 
9. Voila! You are finished. 

I chose an autumn saying for the insides, and brushed it with a little bit of Perfect Pearls to give in a shimmery finish. 

My very first card for my blog brings my love of Autumn's warm colors to life. I hope Aunt Jerrie enjoys it!