FALL is here!

Warning: Lengthy post - scroll down if you just want the pics! :)

While I love the warm, sunny days of summer I have to admit that when the temperature starts dropping at night and the days take on that special golden glow of Fall I get so excited! September and October are probably my favorite months of the year! I love being able to get out my turtleneck sweaters and corduroys. I love going apple picking and the smell of fresh, hot applesauce cooking on the stove! I love finding the perfect pumpkin to bring home and on the front step, finding some beautiful shade of mums to plant next to the front door and taking a leisurely drive through back country New England roads to view the changing leaves and hunt for vintage treasures!! Ok, truth be told I don't get to do ALL those things now that I have small children but we do a lot of them, and soon they will all be eager to welcome these Fall pleasures with us!

Why am I feeling all nostalgic about Fall today?? I get to share my Guest DT project for Say It With Letters today - and it's allllll F A L L. I was so excited when my package arrived from Deb (and can I also say here that her packaging is always so nicely done! It's like receiving a little gift - that you paid for - lol!!). I think I have shared this before, but all of Deb's shapes and letters are cut from 1/2" thick MDF and have pre-drilled keyholes on the back so that you hang on the wall right away. There are tons and tons of shapes, words, fonts and sizes to choose from!! I plan on making many more for Christmas gifts this year!

Ok, on to the project (you can view a close-up of all the letters here.). I went on a hunt for paper, something Fall-ish but a bit unexpected . . . Pink Paislee's new line Vintage Moon struck me as the perfect line! Cindy, over at Emma's Paperie had just received their new shipment of Pink Paislee and it came in an 8" paper pack! I started by painting the edges black with a light coat of a yellow-gold paint which I sanded mostly off once it was dry (it made the black not so black). Then I covered each letter in a different paper trying to make sure that each color and pattern was not only used but tied together as a whole. When I laid them out, rust, off white, sunflower yellow, black . . . blue . . hmmm, how could I incorporate the blue paper without it looking a bit strange for Fall??! (the blue is really gorgeous IRL, with gray-ish/silver-ish pattern it's almost metallic, but not.)

I began wondering if creating a quilt with paper for one of the letters would work??! So I began cutting odd shapes, piecing together a crazy quilt of sorts. I must have spent at least an hour cutting, arranging, recutting and rearranging trying to get it right. Then I decided to just start stitching. That was the key - it ALL came together then and I love the result!!

On the final "L" I wanted to incorporate the cute little owl on the branch from one of the papers so I glued it (with my Zip Dry Glue - which I think is the best adhesive for projects like this) to some medium weight chipboard and cut it out with an Xacto knife. Then I could pop him anywhere on the letter once it was covered with paper. To finish up, I added some vintage buttons from my old button tin, some dried wheat and strawflowers, some neat burlap ribbon and twill tape (SEI), and a snippet of lace (Melissa Frances).

If you are still reading, THANK YOU so much!! How about some Jules Jewels (i.e. blog candy!) to say thanks?!! :) Add a comment to this post letting me know what shape you think would be most fun to alter from SIWL (click on the link to view all of them). I will draw one name on Monday, September 15 and order their choice of Fall shapes, either a spooky bat, a pumpkin, acorn or turkey from Deb's store. While you're there check out all the great other products, including fun journal kits, children's kits, papers, ribbons and yummy Vintage German glass glitter!! Thank you so much Deb for this fun opportunity to work with you and the team!!