Year of Plenty: Tea Things and Embossing Folders

 

Concord and 9th has really been testing my strength when it comes to curbing the crafty spending. Each month, their releases have been amazing, and this month was no exception.

First, it was the birds. And then it was the tea pot and cups. So cute! The set is called Afternoon Tea, and they've paired it with dies and stamps and even embossing folders.

I'm so glad to see that embossing folders are making a comeback. I have a lot, and I really like the look of them. They can add just the right texture to backgrounds and die cuts, too.

I really really thought I needed it all...and then I asked myself if I could achieve the same look with what I have. And you know the answer to that question!

I pulled out this Cup of Tea stamp and die set from My Favorite Things...a classic! Some crafty things never go out of style. I grabbed the stamps and dies from Stampin' Up called Needlepoint Nook.

That's one of the things that Year of Plenty is teaching me. I can get creative by combining different stamps and companies that at first glance might not seem to go together. And the Greetery's Cozy Coaster die goes with everything!

I also used a variety of embossing folders from Taylored Expressions and Stampin' Up. I found some word dies from Concord and 9th, and here's what I came up with:

I used Concord and 9th's card stock...I love their colors! I think that helps to give these cards the same vibe as the ones I saw in the new release.

I'm brewing up more tea ideas, so stop back to the café!

A Saturday Walk in the Trees

 

Luke came to town this weekend, so we packed it with fun. Saturday's weather was perfect for an autumnal hike, so we went to Hidden Lake Gardens for their Sky Walk.

The trees were beautiful!

On the country drive home, we stopped at Dundee, Michigan for a fun wine tasting.

Our family has had a bit of a roller coaster autumn, with wonderful days and celebrations right alongside trials and poignant loss. In the midst of it all, I am trying to hold on to the beauty of this season, praising God for the days that He has given us.

A Close Up Look at Those Noel Dies

 

So here's a stack of cards I made using the Noel dies from Concord and 9th.

You can swap things up in a few ways. For starters, you can die cut the letters in colored card stock, and then back them in the white frame.

Or swap, and use white for the letters and colored card stock for the back frame. 

You can add the "flower" enamel shapes, or you can leave them empty and add the leaves and dots enamel shapes instead.

You can use one color, or multiple colors.

And if you run out of enamel shapes, no worries! It comes with dies to cut out your own, which is what I did here with this card:

The top red flower is an enamel shape, but the bottom is a die cut flower that I glue in place and covered with some crystal glaze.

I think I will try cutting the letters apart and making them on a slimline card next.

And if someone in your family is named Leon, you can mix up those letters and personalize a card just for them! (LOL! Just kidding. )

{Today's Brew: Concord and 9th NOEL dies and enamel shapes, Simple Stories papers, MFT Blueprints die background stitched frame die}

Happy Saturday, friends!

Simple Stories Prize Package Creations

 

I won! I won! I really won!😀

I was blessed with this prize package from Simple Stories recently thanks to an Instagram contest. It's the newest Simple Vintage Holly Jolly collection, and it is so sweet!

The Collectors Essential kit comes with so many goodies, too. It will be a lot of fun to play with these images in my holiday craft time.

I couldn't wait to bust out those papers, so I used them to make some pretty Christmas cards!

You know when the cool kids says "all the heart eyes", I'm pretty sure they are referring to these gorgeous plaids!

These cards were made with the Noel dies and enamel shapes from Concord and 9th that I snagged during their inventory sale. Such a fun card to make!

I will show more samples soon.

Year of Plenty: Birds

 

I've been tempted by so many products in Concord and 9th's new release this month. Cute, cute things.

Day one, and they gave a sneak peek of a turnabout set featuring folk art style birds.

I love birds. They are my weakness! Well, birds, and coffee cups, and flowers, and...

...you get the idea. Weak.

I initially thought I HAD to have it.

And then I remembered this folk art style bird in PTI's Wee Folk stamp set.

Turnabouts are great, but it's really not that hard to stamp an image multiple times in multiple colors, which is exactly what I did.

I added a die cut sentiment and some leaves from Catherine Pooler, and copied a card from the C and 9th sneak peek.

And just like that, I saved myself from buying stamps and dies that I didn't need. Whew!

Year of plenty success story!

Next up: Tea pots, tea cups and embossing folders!

Thinking Ahead

 

Hello, café friends!

Did you remember to celebrate World Cardmaking Day this weekend?

I've been slowly working on some Christmas cards. The holiday seems to sneak up on me, and I'm trying to do a little to plan ahead. Two and a half months will go by in the blink of an eye.

Today's cards feature another version of the CP Winter Florals/Pinecone Greetings combo.

{Today's Brew: Catherine Pooler Winter Florals stamps and dies, CP Pinecone Greetings stamps and dies, CP Let Us Adore Him stamp set sentiment, CP Patterns and Pines papers, CP Frame die, The Greetery circle die, sequins}

And in the "Thinking Ahead" department, I was checking out my local Goodwill and found some great Christmas items from a Target liquidation buyout.  Brand new and deep discounts!

I knew my son, John, could use a few of these items!

Such a cute tree skirt!

And I thought this mini tree and mini tree skirt would be perfect for Sam's college apartment.

My local resale shop has their holiday shop at the front of the store, ready for the season.

Are you thinking ahead yet?

Brown Betty

 

My sisters and I had a much needed lunch date last Saturday. We popped in to the monthly vintage sale at Butter Barn Antiques...something we haven't done for a long time.

I spotted this beauty and had to look.

"Is that a Brown Betty?"

A Brown Betty is a classic British teapot, made in England, in this signature brown color. You see them in just about every kitchen in the U.K. 

And this one was a great price, too. Half the cost of new.

I also found this cute little version that was too sweet.

Perfect additions to the hutch for autumn. I think they will look great when the Spode turkey plates come out, too.

I'll be using these with my new tea blends.

Chapters Tea released some nice summer flavors, and just recently added fall flavors, too. I'm telling you, this company has ruined me for grocery store tea. I love their varieties, especially the Chai Vanilla.

And speaking of tea, Concord and 9th showed a sneak peek of a new release next week called Afternoon Tea. It's so sweet! 

Hope you find the time for a nice brew this weekend!