Counting Down the Days Until Autumn

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the colors, scents, and flavors of Autumn. Gecko Galz asked me to be their Guest Designer for September and I couldn't wait to make some crafty projects with their collections. What a nice honor and such fun! I had the opportunity to create with the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus paper line, the Autumn Days Collage Set and the Midnight Hour Digital Stamps. Let's get started - I am excited to show you what I cooked up in my scrap room!

Nevermore Book Club Tea Invitation 

                                  

Using the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus papers and Edgar Allen Poe and raven digital stamps, I created this "Book Club Tea" invitation with pockets for small party favors.

The pockets hold a book mark and tea bag for my invited guests to enjoy before attending the party. I've used this pocket card design before and have a tutorial here. The Gecko Galz collection works well together and the ability to print out as many sheets as you need is so convenient!

September has come,

It is hers whose vitality leaps in the autumn,

Whose nature prefers
Trees without leaves and a fire in the fire-place;
So I give her this month and the next
Though the whole of my year should be hers who has rendered already
So many of its days intolerable or perplexed
But so many more so happy;
Who has left a scent on my life and left my walls
Dancing over and over with her shadow,
Whose hair is twined in all my waterfalls
And all of London littered with remembered kisses.

- Louis MacNeice

Autumn Tags

I got 'inky' with these tags! I used Ranger Distress Inks and water to create the colorful backgrounds on these 2.5"x 5" white tags. Next, I ran them through my Cuttlebug for texture and dimension, before spritzing them with Tsukineko Walnut Ink. The green-eyed girl and mums postcard are part of the Gecko Galz Autumn Days Collage Set. I simply added a silk leaf to each, a bit of ribbon to the tops, and added glittery K & Co word stickers.

Floral Arrangement

Like to upcycle? Want to make an easy craft with the kids or grandkids?

Simply take an empty can and cover the label with one of the Hocus Pocus papers, then decorate as desired. Push a piece of wet floral foam into the can if you are using fresh flowers, otherwise use styrofoam. I purchased a Fall flower cluster at Michael's for around three dollars. Regular visitors to my blog know I am a bird watcher so I was happy to find this charming bird image in the Gecko Galz Autumn Days Collage set. I made a punched matting for the bird duo, pushed the silk flowers into the styrofoam, then tied dangling charms around the top of the can.

This project was quick, easy and inexpensive! It would make a wonderful decoration for the 'kids' table at Thanksgiving.

BACK SIDE

You could also use it on a covered porch or patio or place it in the guest powder room.

Alice Ornament

This vibrant hanging ornament was made with the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus papers, a Stampendous Wonderland Alice stamp, a bottle cap, Glossy Accents, and silk and felt leaves. I can't wait to display this in our kitchen!

I fussy-cut the background shape - but you could use your Cricut or Cuttlebug to cut out your favorite shape - then ran it through the Cuttlebug for texture. I started layering paper, leaves, and the stamped image of Alice onto the textured piece.

I used two different stamps for the sentiment, then punched out the crow design from the Gecko Galz collection and placed it inside a bottlecap. To seal the crow image inside the bottlecap, just squeeze a small amount of Glossy Accents over it and let dry. I adhered a couple of the leaves to the back of the ornament for more dimension and completed the piece by covering the reverse side with another cute Hocus Pocus print.  

Octopus Bottle

The Hocus Pocus Collection comes through with flying colors for versatility. If you are not a scrapbooker or card maker you can use the images for home decor!

I took an olive oil bottle I had in the kitchen and decorated it with the octopus label, nautical netting, a starfish and a painted grungeboard skull. I finished the look by tying some raffia around the bottom, attaching an orange gem to the skull, and using black tulle for a bow at the top.

There are many fun and spooky labels in this collection - what will you make with them?

Party Favor Bags

Just print, cut out, and glue the side and bottom of these party favor bags for a chillingly cute treat for your guests! I used my Crop A Dile to insert eyelets in the sides of the bags through which I tied a handle. Since these bags have designs on the front and back you don't need much to complete them. A little glitter, a bow, some faux spiderweb and they are ready to fill with goodies.

                            Trick or Treat card
I love the gorgeous Midnight Hour Digital stamps, especially this Trick or Treat design! I printed the image out on photo paper, then used orange card stock for matting.

I used a corner punch in the black card stock so I could insert the orange matting and Trick or Treat image. To finish the card I simply added a bit of Ranger Crystal Stickles on the spiderweb. I like the crisp black and white print, don't you?

Witch's Cafe Hanging Sign

A little bit of Photoshop (I added 'brewing up tea'), a piece of plywood, black Adirondack Paint, Mod Podge, and some chain combined to create a home decor sign for Halloween. I printed out the Gecko Galz Witch's Cafe image, inked the edges, before using Mod Podge to adhere it to a painted piece of plywood. I used my Crop A Dile to punch holes in the top, then used sheer dotted ribbon and pretty floral chain to suspend it. I bought the chain at Tuesday Morning in the craft section for under three dollars.

I really enjoyed using the Gecko Galz Collections and even have a few more ideas up my sleeve on ways to use the papers and images. Keep your eyes open in the following weeks for another project or two! Head over to their website to look at all of the vintage, seasonal, and versatile paper prints and images - you might want to get a head start on making some Fall creations too.

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You're Going To Love It - Kathe with an E 
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Let the Skies be Filled with Birds of Every Kind

A sparrow is a tiny creature, yet its value to our Heavenly Father cannot be measured. When He created it, He said: It is good! One of these small birds doesn't fall to the ground without God knowing about it, and you are of more value than many sparrows.

I have had the best time using my zoom lens to take photos of birds in our backyard. I have nice pictures of an Oriole pair, Hummingbirds, Crows, a Lesser Goldfinch, a Robin, and more. I think I will make a mini album to remember all the wildlife I enjoyed this summer. 
Look at this sweet mama bird feeding crumbs and seed to her baby. My husband remarked that the baby is as big as mama! 

We were surprised to find that the Desert Cottontails that frequent our yard also like the cracker crumbs we leave out on the patio.

Temperatures are warming up now that we are in August, so we fill the bird baths with fresh water every day. 

We have two bird baths and one small fountain in the backyard. At dusk there are birds lined up along our back fence to take a dip or get a drink!

Some birds are quite shy - like the Oriole pair - and fly away the minute they notice movement from inside the house. Others, like this mama bird and her husky baby, don't mind a bit if we watch them.

I think I need a bird watching book. Speaking of books, do you enjoy reading during the summer months? I read year-round but do a little extra reading during the longer days. I am about to start a book called The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack. 

                 What's on your nightstand?




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Sundays Best

Down Home

Today Mr. Handyman and I stopped at Zito's Pizza  for lunch before exploring another antique shop in Old Town Orange. See this post for the last shop we explored.

We shared a fresh spinach and black olive calzone. Luckily I remembered to take a photo before we gobbled it up - it was so delicious! There was fabulous marinara sauce for dipping, too.

Hand in hand we headed next to Peggy and Don Arbenz's Down Home American Country Antiques. 

                      Let's go inside!

Right off the bat you see this handsome canoe standing on end. A quick glance around and you notice that there are not as many knick-knacks as other antique stores; this shop stands apart by offering unique pieces and larger items. There is something for everyone. Any dolly would love this cute yellow house!

I was drawn to what I initially thought was a desk but, when I lifted the hinged lid, I was surprised to see a tin wash bowl fitted into a circular cut out. The piece was actually a vanity. It would look so charming in a bathroom or bedroom! I forgot to snap a photo.

   Tools and blankets, snow shoes and fishing rods -

     Cabinets, crockery, old boots and mirrors -

Oh, this was one of my favorite items! This coal scuttle was so wonderful. I loved the elegant twisted handle on the scoop and scuttle. If College Girl was through with school this would have gone home with us. I remembered our budget, admired the scuttle and kept walking.

I turned around and spied this scene - temptation all around! Love the old stove and Windsor chair.

There's more to see. What's next? Quilts and baskets

  Do you have a favorite antique 'weakness?'

     I love old furniture, quilts, toys and dishes -

I also like old teacups, typewriters, and hand stitched samplers. Doesn't this cup have sweet delicate colors?

It has a yellow rim and a pink handle. It would be perfect for sipping a cup of Upton's Keemun while reading a chapter or two on this lounge chair -

   The Red Work and braided rug are charming -

Shaker boxes, large jars and pottery make great storage containers -

I'd love a corner cupboard! A teacup collection would look wonderful inside. For that matter, so would dishes, books, old cameras, linens, or dolls.

Happy to have you along. Did you see something you liked? We also visited another store called Heavenly Hostess that I will share another time.




sharing this post with~
Mosaic Monday 
Make It Pretty 
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You're Going To Love It 

What Will They Think of Next?

This fun product goes under the heading of 'what will they think of next?'

It's a cookie! It's a cup! It's a cookie cup. According to Sardi Innovation  :
 

Cookie Cup, “Sip the *coffee* then eat the cup”. The cookie cup is made of pastry that is covered with a special icing sugar that works as an insulator making the cup waterproof and sweetening at the same time.

Cookie Cup has collected Awards in Ecology, Marketing, Business Strategy and Design sectors

I added the asterisk around the word coffee - I think it would work for tea too! 

Now that I have you in the mood for something sweet, I should switch gears in an effort to help all our waistlines! But I do think these would make adorable cups for a children's party...and maybe mom and grandma could convince our little cherubs to share a nibble? 
Speaking of parties, Graphic 45 was having a 10 Minute Card Challenge earlier this week and I decided to participate. You were to make a card in 10 minutes using Graphic 45 products, so there was no time for anything too fancy or involved. I cut a few pieces of paper, stamped a typewriter and fussy cut it, then hand wrote a quick sentiment. I also stapled - remember, only 10 minutes! - a tulle bow to the front. Voila!

I still have a sweet tooth. Hmm, wonder if there are a few Pecan cookies left from my Alice and Rabbit Sunset tea? 


All Cookie Cup photos are by Sardi-Innovation