An Inspiration and a Day at the Beach

There were two challenges that caught my interest for today. The OCC Inspiration challenge which was "in rural communities, it's almost time for harvest" and the Cupcake Craft Challenges WK51 Beach Themed Project.

Summer and Fall, I didn't think that they would be easily combined so I set out to make two cards. I went through the list of other challenges I wanted to try and found a bunch that I thought I could combine with these two themes.

This first card is for the OCC Challenge, the challenge hostess posted two gorgeous paintings done in autumn colors from which I took my inspiration. Those colors just happen to be the colors for the Color Throwdown Challenge #54 which is to use Basic Gray, Blush Blossom, Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust. The image is from the Stampin' Up Garden Pleasures set and it is stamped in Basic Gray on Confetti white card stock, and the edges of the card stock are brushed with the gray ink as well. The papers are Basic Gray, there is a solid orange mat and the orange paper is also used for a punched border under the lace made from BG Ambrosia, Citrus. It's hard to see the punched border in the thumbnail picture but if you click on the photo it'll enlarge and you can see it there. The other two papers are from the BG Indian Summer collection. The paper at the top is Maple Sugar and the paper on the bottom is Woodrose. The thin pink ribbon is Blush Blossom. The layout for this card is from the Delicious Divas Sketch challenge #1 and as if that wasn't enough I added the lace for the 365 Cards, Day 160 Lovely Lace challenge. The flower is three Prima flowers held together with a mini brad and there are orange dew drops in lower right hand corner.

I went shopping earlier today, just to get out and do something. I picked up the EK border punch which I used on this card. That was quite a serendipitous purchase. It's totally adorable and perfect for the Cupcake Craft Challenge to make a beach themed card. The layout for this card is Sketch Saturday #63 challenge. I was going to punch out the bottom of the card stock or designer paper but I got the idea that I could use the design for where I was going to staple some ribbon. The Stamp Something challenge is to use a charm on your project. I've had this shell charm forever and it is perfect for this card so I hung it on a piece of floss through the door of one of the sand castles. For this card the image is Beach Chair from the Lockhart Stamp Company. It's stamped in Memento Black on white card stock and colored in with copics. The edges of the card stock are brushed with Close to My Heart Desert Sand. The seashells are from Hamptom Art, Seashells By the Seashore and are stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold powder. The cardstock if Stampin' Up Groovy Guava and the designer paper is Paper Adventure, Carolyn Holt Designs, Island Lagoon Flip Flops.