The end of summer .....

.... I'm not sure that's strictly true!  But it is the last day of August and that signals the beginning of the end of summer.  Yes, we can often have hot days, but the mornings are definitely cooler and the nights are drawing in and it's back to school next Tuesday!  That all means Autumn to me - or Fall, as they call it here in the States!!

I've made a card for one of my friends back in the UK and I've used two challenges to make it:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC112 - designed by Mona Pendleton
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC147

I'm running close to deadline with the Waltzingmouse challenge, but I couldn't think what to do, then I saw some fabulous chrysanthemums in my garden and I remembered Claire's set and I knew what to make.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Big Blooms: Chrysanthemums, Chicken Wire, Blessed by You

Inks:  Memento - Grey Flannel, Teal Zeal; Stazon - Jet Black; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Accessories: Papermania - Creative Tones Olivine Essence; Card from stash

I stamped the background with the large chicken wire stamp in grey.  I used the largest of the chrysanthemum images to make my flower.  I used the outline image first using Cherry Cobbler (a rich, warm colour) and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the solid image inside the lines and stamped again.  My first attempt I used the freshly inked stamp, but it was much, much too dark, so on my second attempt I stamped off onto some scrap paper and then stamped in the outline - much prettier!  To make the leaves I stamped the outline image in teal and filled in with olive.  I made the backing panel from some white card onto which I stamped the second impression of the small chicken wire and backed it with some olive paper from my stash.  I finished off the card with a sweet sentiment stamped in Stazon on as it is has very sharp definition when stamped against a background pattern.  

Here's a picture of a beautiful chrysanthemum that I found on the net - just love the warm, rich colour!

Picture credit

That's all for now - I'm off to do some more ironing - it never goes away!!!!  See you again later for the our new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.