It's officially Autumn .......

Happy Wednesday ........

How is your week so far?

Summer is officially over (sigh!), although looking at todays weather you wouldn't think so ..... it's gorgeous out there.  A little windy perhaps but hey, it's always windy on the Isle of Man!! 

It's the first day of Autumn today and CAS Mix Up have the perfect challenge ...... 

There's still a couple of days left before the deadline if you fancy playing along.

I've been going through a few boxes in the craft room ....... unfinished projects, cut off pieces of paper and card, mop ups, and my overflowing bits box, when I came across a piece that I thought was perfect for this challenge.

Coloured with Brushos in beautiful Autumn shades, it made the perfect background for one of my favourite floral stamps from Unity Stamp Co.

I stamped the image onto the coloured card and heat embossed with a clear powder, before adding more colour to the flowers.  I used the same shades of Brushos, mixed with a little water and used as a watercolour paint, building up the depth of colour gradually

A simple sentiment on the bottom, and a few splatters of gold paint here and there ......

And to finish everything off,  I added a frame around the edge using a gold marker pen, before attaching some co-ordinating cardstock to the bottom.

The challenge is open until the 24th of the month so you'll have to be quick if you do want to enter.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

We're off out for tea today,  birthday tea actually with this young man, who was eleven yesterday!!!!

We would have gone yesterday but the restaurant where he wants to go only opens Wednesday - Sunday so he decided to wait.  He's already decided what he wants to eat ...... pork ribs followed by homemade churros and ice cream ...... yum!!  

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Stamps: You are Forever Beautiful (Umnity stamps); happy snippets (Penny Black)

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne, 

Others: Clear Embossing Powder (WOW!); Brusho Pigment Powders; Gold Fresco Finish Paint (PaperArtsy); Coloured cardstock, Gold Leafing Pen

Autumn colours for CAS Mix Up .......

Happy Wednesday .......

Welcome to September!

  

We're back on the island, home from our UK trip ...... and we had a great time.  

It was our first off island adventure in the motorhome, and we had a ball!  We stayed on a large campsite, a pub stop-over, and a cute little what they call a 'certified location' ...... a small campsite for just a handful of vans, and the good thing is, hubby and I are still speaking ........ which is a bonus!

Anyhow ...... more about all that some other time.

Autumn is definitely on it's way.  The temperature is starting to drop, there's a chill in the air in the evenings and the leaves on the trees are all starting to change and fall.  I must admit it is my favourite time of the year.

 

This month's challenge for CAS Mix Up has the perfect theme.  

Leslie is our Host for September and it's a Watercolour challenge this month, with the theme ...... Autumn Colours  

I do love the Autumnal shades ........ perfect for watercolouring

I stamped the pretty floral spray across a piece of white cardstock, and heat then embossed in gold ..... this looks so pretty when the light catches it

Next, I blended Autumn shades of Distress Inks across the top half of my base card, and then splattered the inks with water,  to lift some of the colour and add a bit more interest to the background ...... a really simple technique with different results everytime

I used Altenew Watercolour Paints to colour in the floral spray, using similar shades to the Distress inks I used for the background.

I then fussy cut around the top edge of the flowers, leaving a tiny white border so that they would stand out against the inky background.

A simple sentiment was all it needed to finish along with a few sparkly gems

I can't wait to see all the gorgeous Autumn shades in the gallery this month ..... it's going to look amazing!

Check out the CAS Mix Up Blog for some beautiful Autumn Colour designs from the rest of the DT and, pop and say Hello to our lovely Guest Designer too.   Ros (Mikey's Mom) is joining us for the Autumn Colour challenge.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Time for me to start unpacking the van I think.  I need to get it ready for our next adventure!

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Stamps: Floral Happiness (Julie Hickey Designs)

Inks: Versamark ink; Distress Inks - Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany; Versafine Clair - Nocturne (for the sentiment)

Other: Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); Altenew Watercolour Paints; Self adhesive gem stones