Stampin! with Jaydee

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.

The fabulous Anne Marie has a great challenge for us this week.  Although, when I sat down to tackle this challenge I was a little flummoxed.   So, I told Lou that I wasn't sure what to do at all.   Lou's response:  "Well, yes.  I can see that this challenge would be easy for real crafters but not those that just make cards!"   "Harrumph!"  I said!   The gauntlet was down.  Real crafters.... Mmmm... I'll show him, I thought!

So, I sat down and thought about what I could make with my papers and my stamps and realized that I love to entertain and I love to set a beautiful table.   I always make name cards and use napkin rings.   OK.... We now have a starting point.  Then, I realized I had something from the new catty that I could throw into the mix.  OK.  now... we are cooking with gas.  Or, in my case - induction :-)

I started first with the napkin ring.   This was the easiest thing.  All I needed was my Two Tagz Big Die, some glue and some decoration.

Then, I had to make a place card..... Easy peasy.   All that needed was a piece of card stock, stamp ink and a pen!

However, that really wasn't enough and I knew that I needed to make a favor box out of goodies from the new catalog combined with my Autumn Accents Bigz Die and a tag from talk chalk.   It took a little while to make this, but I do think it was worth it!

I couldn't wait to set a simple table, add my newly crafted goodies and call Lou to have a look.  His reaction... "Wow, that's beautiful.  Now you need to make something like this when P & J and R & R come for 4th July next year!"   SCORE!   I think I proved him wrong.

Now...he's actually right.  I don't consider myself a "real crafter".  I've dabbled with some crafty things for the house, but it isn't my comfort zone.   However, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this challenge and am SO pleased that Anne Marie pushed me out of my comfort zone.   I proved something Lou (always a satisfying feeling!) and proved something to myself. (Always a rewarding feeling!) 

Here's my table setting:

Now... let's look at the individual components.

Easy one first - here's the tented place name marker.   A piece of Cajun Craze card stock stamped with the wooden background stamp from Truly Grateful and the "truly grateful for" stamp from the same set.   I wrote the name in Chalk pen marker to make it stand out.

Then, my napkin ring!   All I did was run two pieces of Cajun Craze card stock through my Big Shot with the fancy tag from the Two Tags Bigz die and break up the fibres a little with my bone folder.  I needed them to bend and using the bone folder is the perfect way to get just enough bend.  I then scored just under the scalloped edge and folded it back.  I glued the two pieces at the top and at the bottom with sticky strip, just to make sure they really held.   I wrapped some raffia around my fingers and made a fake bow.  I adhered that to the scallops and placed an acorn on top - also with sticky strip.    Napkin ring?  Check!

Finally, I pulled out my Autumn Accents Bigz Die, some Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede and More Mustard card stock and ran them through my big die.    Aside:   I have NO idea why Stampin' Up! retired More Mustard.   It's my favorite Autumn Color and we just don't have anything that I can use in place of it.....    Back to our usual programming. :-)

Once I had the leaves cut, I took out my Sanded background stamp, inked it up with Crumb Cake and placed the leaves over the background stamp to give them a little texture.   I then scored the leaves, distressed them with a sponge and some Crumb Cake ink and broke down the fibres with my bone folder.

I cut the tag from the new Chalk Talk and stamped the Truly Grateful sentiment in Early Espresso ink and added just a light stamping with the wheat sheaf stamp in So Saffron.  All that was left to do was to stamp the woodgrain stamp over the Cajun Craze topper and I was ready to assemble.  Then I noticed that there was hatching on the scallops of the napkin ring, so decided that I should emulate that on the Truly Grateful tag.  I took my Crumb Cake marker and created a dash line all around the inside edge of the tag.    Favor box?   Check!

Here's a close up of my favor box.

here's a close up of the leaves and the tag:

So, I really need to thank Anne Marie for forcing me out of my comfort zone and Lou for throwing down the gauntlet and making me go that extra mile.   I had tremendous fun with this challenge;  felt a great deal of accomplishment, and got to use goodies that have been sitting in my crafting cupboard for yonks!

The design team rocked this challenge, too.   Including the newest member of our design team Sandy!   It's great to have Sandy on board and I know that you will enjoy seeing her creations every week on a permanent basis!

• Ann
• Anne Marie
• LeAnne
• Nance
• Sandy

On a personal note:

Just a couple of quick photos of what has been visiting our garden this week.   I couldn't resist taking this shot of the poult

We had a visit last night from several does and their babies!

As always, thank you for stopping by my little neck of the stamping blogosphere.  I really do appreciate your visit and your comments.   Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Project recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:    Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Soft Suede
• Inks:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
• Stamps:   Truly Grateful.  Sanded - background stamp
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Autumn Accents Bigz Die.   Two Tags Bigz Die.   Chalk Talk framelits.  Tag a Bag Gift box.  (LOVE THEM!!!!)
• Accessories:  raffia and acorn - JoAnns