Autumn is such a busy time of year...

Hi everyone. I want to start today's post by sending out a huge "Thank You" to everyone who comes and leaves such lovely comments and to all those who have taken the time to vote for me in the Unruly Paper Arts challenge (mentioned in the last post). Some of you may have noticed a distinct drop off in the number of visits/comments from me recently and for that I'd like to apologise. By way of explanation - in 'real life' I'm currently heavily involved in setting up a new website (not for myself I hasten to add). As a result it feels like I'm attached to this PC, in fact so much so that I've had to pretty much stop commenting over and above DT commitments to stop my head from exploding! Normal service will be resumed fairly shortly, but I thought it only fair to keep you in the picture.

With that said it's time to post the first of three between now and Monday night (yep, just like buses!)

I created another of those paste/gesso/paint/stencil/spray backgrounds that are so enjoyable and versatile. The colours were relatively easy to choose for an autumnal feel.

The paste through leaf/acorn stencils absorbed some of the base colour, and for this card I added some of the new clear Distress Glitter - and oh boy is it worth the hype! Big glittery chunks and my favourite part, you aren't covered in the stuff for days after using it!

I also used it on the Distress Stained flowers, and yes, they are supposed to look a little past their best as they are the last remnants of summer finally fading.

The frame was created using a die and a mix of Distress Paints over tissue paper.

The stencilling was used to imitate spiders' webs over the leaf clusters covered in the first touch of frost and mist. As well as spraying though it I flipped the stencil and printed off the reverse pattern.

Now for a second card with a completely different look, using a smaller piece from the same masterboard. This card got a more muted look (minus the glitter this time). 

Like the splatters of paint under the stencilling on both cards? Trust me, I didn't start flicking it around with my paintbrush this time - actually there was no need to as I have the perfect stamp for the job. The Artistic Stamper sells one of their own background stamps called 'smudge background' which works a treat for adding a random splatter pattern. It is also incredibly useful if you spritz it with water and use it on Distress Ink to give that 'spritz and flick' look.

The heart was cut from a piece of self-coloured/embossed card.

The flower is a tattered floral and the leaves stamped in Archival Ink from the Tim Holtz Mini Blueprint set, and inked to match the autumnal background.

These are being entered for the following challenges;

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team challenge - Autumn (and of course I've used that fab Artistic Stamper smudge background stamp)

Drunken Stampers - Die Cuts (frame, sprigs, heart, flower and lacy border)

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Autumn Colours (stamping on the background, the fussy cut leaves and the sentiment)

I'll be back tomorrow with another couple of cards (including my completely different take on Tim's September tag!) Hope you'll be back soon. In the meantime take care of yourselves.

Hugs, Jenny xxx