Fall in St Paul

Out of nowhere Fall arrived. A week, 2 weeks ago, we had highs in the mid- to high-70s, unusually warm for this time of year. I remember saying while running "I wish it would cool down!" And cool down it sure did! This week has posted highs barely in the 50s and gusty winds to boot. It definitely feels cold - I even turned my furnace on! Next thing you know, I'll get digging out the old flannel p.j.s.

To celebrate Fall in St Paul, I dug out an old favorite of mine, Season of Friendship. I love how versatile this set it. It easily makes fall, winter, spring, summer, (yeah, all the SEASONS, like the name of the set says....) but you can also use the branch as a background, add some other tidbits to the trees, use the leaves, snowflakes, bird in other ways, and so on. Totally worth the investment! And, in my quest to utilize others' great design ideas, this card uses Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 37.

The tree looks like the big old maple in my front yard. I'm anticipating the dropping of leaves coming soon. Last year I filled 15 lawn bags with leaves while raking. Guess that's what you get when you live in a 60-year old house.

Fall Friendship
Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Sleigh Bells ribbon

Thanks for looking! And happy fall!!!

World Card Making Day sample

World Card Making Day is coming up! Typically, WCMD is Oct. 3, but, due to my 10-Mile race that weekend, I'm postponing my celebration until the next weekend, Oct. 10. I'm inviting all crafters, customers, friends, and relatives to come over for a free stamping event. We'll make 4 cards total - 2 for guests to take home, and 2 for guests to give to the local Ronald McDonald House so families in the Twin Cities have a bit of cheer to send to their loved ones this holiday season. I hope this "give-and-get" idea really gets people interested and they come to the event!

This is the first sample I've come up with. I just LOVE the new Patterned Pines Hostess Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog! Customers can earn it FREE when they hostess a Stampin' Up! workshop of $150 or more (or place an individual order, like I did!) :)

WCMD Patterned Pines
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Read, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Merry Moments
Stamp Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Playground Button, Sleighbells Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals

This card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge 99 found on Beate's blog here. The Weekend Sketch Challenges are great! They are usually easy sketches that allow you to add to pizazz where you see fit. :)

If you're in the Twin Cities area, I'd love for you to come to my WCMD event and make this card! Please let me know if you are interested. :)

Thank You Challenge

One of the things I love best about stamping is the fact that you don't need to really be all that artisitic to be good at it. Lord knows I can't draw, paint, sculpt, or do anything else that's considered traditional "art." That's why I love stamping. It's like following a pattern - which is especially easy when there are so many great challenges out there for you to work with! Today I made a Thank You card using a sketch challenge from Pal Paper Arts, a relatively new challenge Web site. I love the challenges on this site because they vary every week: sometimes there will be a sketch, sometimes color challenge, sometimes "anything but a card" challenge!

Here's what I came up with. I used a Simply Scrappin' Kit for most of it.

PPA 7 - Thank You

Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Simply Scrappin' Kit: Petal Party
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, So Saffron, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: unnamed, included in SSK
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" So Saffron Ribbon (2009 SAB), Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch

I love how it turned out - a simple Thank You for a recent customer order. And I got to use up some old stuff that was laying around. Don'tcha just love that?!

Mojo 103 Jade's B-day

Tonight I'm heading to Iowa ---- wait! I mean Apple Valley (one of the most-Southern of the Twin Cities' suburbs.... so far south it seems like you're driving to Iowa!). It's my friend Jade's B-Day BBQ. I made this card for her, using Mojo Monday's sketch 103. I have been looking at Mojo 103 for days now, unable to think of how I could use that sketch for a card. Then today I dusted off my old Party Hearty set, and Voila! Perfect b-day card!

Mojo Birthday
Stamp Sets: Party Hearty, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry
Stampin' Write Markers: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Dimensionals

I love how this card uses all new In-Colors. At first, I was completely wary of these jewel-toned hues, but the more I use them, the more I love them. I especially like these 4 together! Now if only Dusty Durango and Soft Suede would grow on me..... I hardly ever use those!

Off to party -- but not too late! I have a LOOOONG run tomorrow morning! It's my first attempt at 10 miles. Eep!

Life's Big Moments

This week I found myself needing to make cards for people I work with (and school just started!) because they are experiencing major life moments. One gal is having a baby in a few weeks and a shower is being thrown at work, so I made a baby card. The other lady's father-in-law died on Labor Day, so I needed to make a Sympathy card (the first I have ever made). It was a weird juxtaposition to come home from the first day of school and make two very different cards. But I love how they turned out and I hope they give support and joy to the recipients.

Baby Shower Card
Stamp Set: Lovely Letters
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: none
Stamp Pads (Classic): Regal Rose
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plates, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Two-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Sympathy Card
Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, More Mustard, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): More Mustard
Stampin' Write Markers: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, More Mustard, Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Elementary Ribbon Originals

Now I best be hitting the road so I can get to school and deliver these cards!

Three Thank Yous

My 2-4-6-8 Christmas Cards class got off to a fun start last weekend! I had 3 ladies come over and make the Seasons of Friendship card (tree with snowflakes). I modified the design, though, so that it was a Basic Gray tree stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Not Quite Navy snowflakes and on Rich Razzleberry cardstock. It was so much prettier than the original! Two of the ladies who came for the class are coming to another one - so I think my "progressive" class idea worked! -- even if it was a little confusing to begin with. Anyway, I made some thank you cards for the ladies using the Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge #143 design. I like the sketch challenges at this blog because the head "Divas" are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators, so the samples they put out there are all Stampin' Up! cards. I really like when I see cards made with the products I love!!

Anyway, to the cards... (which are about a week late, as usual. Remember, I can never create or mail anything on time!) :)

Gray Razzleberry
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Sahara Rose
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Passion Pumpkin
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Kaleidoscope
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

My favorite is the last one, Passion Pumpkin. I love how the colors came together on it! Which one is your favorite?