Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Golden Apples

Happy Halloween!  Not only does Ryan get to wear his costume to school today, tonight I'm taking him to my brother and SIL's house so he can go trick-or-treating with his cousins.  Should be a fun time!

Confession:  I did *not* make another Halloween and/or pumpkin card to share today.  Today it's all about the apples.  Golden apples!


Ryan and I are reading the Percy Jackson books at bedtime (just finished the fourth one last night, actually) and every time I hear the phrase "golden apples" it reminds me of the ancient Greek myth about the how goddesses Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena got into a fight over a golden apple addressed "to the fairest" and after one thing and another started the Trojan War.  (Personally I think that Athena, as goddess of wisdom, should have been smarter than that.)  There's also the myth of Hercules stealing a golden apple from the Hesperides, so anyway, lots of mythic stuff happening in my brain over this card.  This is the first time I've done golden apples with this stamp set, I always do red or pink.  So something different here!

Let's get to the challenges.  Alphabetically, Global Design Project is up first:



I chose the striped DSP for the background layer.  Next up is the Paper Players tic tac toe challenge:


I went across the middle, with patterned paper - die cut - enamel dots.  And finally is the Retro Rubber Challenge:


This inspo pic is why I chose apples for today's card, and I used all five colors (I used Lemon Lolly, Shaded Spruce, Pecan Pie, Azure Afternoon, and white).  I just checked my past blog posts and Apple Harvest is only one year old?! I thought it was at least two.  Regardless, it still counts as retro!  And I had fun doing a different apple color combo today.

I was very productive yesterday and cleaned the two downstairs bathrooms, so today I should probably tackle Ryan's bathroom upstairs.  I just finished baking some Halloween cookies to take with us tonight to my brother's house, ya know just in case trick or treating in a neighborhood where it's not unusual to get full-size candy bars doesn't result in enough of a sugar coma.  For reals though, I'm trying to familiarize myself with the ovens in this house before Thanksgiving.  I think next time I bake, I'm going to set the temperature to 25 degrees above what the recipe calls for, because today it definitely didn't get hot enough (I used an oven thermometer to check).  Gotta get all the experimentation done before the biggest eatin' holiday of the year, right?  Cheers, y'all!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Apple Harvest
Ink:  Lemon Lolly, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Lemon Lolly, Old Olive, Shaded Spruce, Pecan Pie, Azure Afternoon
Paper:  Azure Afternoon, Lemon Lolly, Thick Basic White, Shaded Spruce DSP
Accessories:  Apple Blooms dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Brushed Metallic Dots, Dimensionals

Monday, October 30, 2023

Gourd Dogs

Scrappy Monday, y'all!  I'm taking a brief pause from the Maine layouts to share a Halloweenie layout today with the punniest title ever.

 
Think about it--gourd = pumpkin, but also gourd dogs ~ guard dogs ~ good dogs.  This was the last scrapbook layout I finished in Germany and I had to let it stew for probably a week before I came up with that title.  After all, I'd already used Pupkins, but as in that case, when I finally came up with the punny title I cackled gleefully.  Out loud.  A lot.  Anyway, today's pics are all from Halloween in 2014, I miss my sweet babies.  We are looking forward to adopting a dog or two (or three, if you ask Ryan, though I don't think he'll win that argument with my hubs) next year after we get settled in Colorado.


Today's color palette is taken straight from the Cast-a-Spell DSP:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Perfect Plum, and Basic Black.  Um, I just accidentally typed Perfect BUM instead of plum, ha!

Anyway, Ryan and I are going trick-or-treating with his cousins tomorrow night and I just bought my costume this morning.  Ryan says I need to have a costume because he thinks people would make fun of me if I don't, so here comes the No Drama Llama Mama.  Aww man, I need to get some heart-shaped sunglasses!  Cheers, y'all.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Carved & Candlelit, Headline Alphabet
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Black marker
Paper:  Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, Thick Basic White, Cast-A-Spell DSP
Accessories:  None

Friday, October 27, 2023

Stacking Squash

Mornin' y'all and happy Friday!  I'm happy that today is yoga day at the Y (I do yoga there on Mondays and Fridays) and I'm hoping to get some quality craft room time today while the kiddo is at school.  I did get to make a second card yesterday with some brand-new goodies, take a peek:


Yes, I caved, I bought the Pick of the Patch bundle when I kept telling myself I didn't need it because I have the Pick a Pumpkin bundle from a few years ago and how many pumpkin stamps do I really need (see also:  Jack of All Trades and my OG favorite Carved & Candlelit) but I just kept seeing so many stinkin' CUUUUTE cards that other stampers were making and before I knew it I had submitted an order for it (and maybe one or two other things).  But I had great fun yesterday making my stack of pumpkins with a side of squash, and I got all of those color variations by stamping multiple times.  The largest pumpkin on the left I stamped just once, the darkest one I stamped 4 or 5 times, and the other two were in between.

Anywha, here's this week's Freshly Made Sketch:


And the current Color Throwdown:


I used Peekaboo Peach, Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla for my colors.  So I mixed brand-new stamps with a couple of old retired colors, but I can do that because it's my party and I'll cry if I want to it's my blog and no one I send cards to knows or cares if my supplies are retired.  Might as well use whatever I want!

Hope you have a great weekend, y'all.  Ryan has a trunk or treat event at his taekwondo studio tomorrow, and I'm planning to take him to see my high school's marching band perform on Sunday.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Pick of the Patch
Ink:  Peekaboo Peach, Soft Sky, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Thick Very Vanilla, Soft Sky DSP
Accessories:  Pick of the Patch punch, Stitched Rectangles dies, Dimensionals

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Googly Boo Friends

Good evening, y'all.  Usually I post in the mornings, but since Ryan was home sick yesterday (he's totally fine now) I didn't get to stamp at all and then I was busy a lot of today and here it is dinnertime but I have a card today!


I decided to go with a more pastel version of Halloween colors, with Fresh Freesia for the card base, plus Peekaboo Peach, Sahara Sand, and Lemon Lime Twist for the ghoul friends.  I was inspired by the Inspired By... challenge:


Googly Ghouls popped into my head as soon as I saw the inspo pic, so I went with it and made my card in about 10 minutes.  But I think it's pretty cute and I need to start mailing out some of these Halloween cards : )

Cheers, y'all!  I'll be back tomorrow with another card.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Googly Ghouls
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Fresh Freesia, Peekaboo Peach, Sahara Sand, Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies, Stitched Rectangles dies, Dimensionals, star accents

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Rainy Day Rabbit

Mornin' y'all!  I got up early this morning and did my workout and got in the shower and everything before it was even time to get Ryan up for school.  I was feeling pretty proud of getting up and getting to it so early and then...Ryan threw up.  So he's staying home from school today and there went all my plans to be productive.  Ah well, we can catch up on couch time and watching Lilo & Stitch.

So we've had a couple of rainy days this week and that definitely influenced my stamp choice for today's card:


In fact, as I was driving Ryan to and from taekwondo class yesterday, we hit a few extra-large puddles in the car and Ryan positively screeched with delight when the water splashed up.  So this card is for him!  The rainy day sentiment from Playing in the Rain wouldn't quite fit in my card design, but I found this itty-bitty sentiment that seemed just right in the Hello Ladybug set.  It's a good day!

Check out the Paper Players sketch:


And I paired that with the Global Design Project colors:

I added a bit of Crumb Cake to color in the bunny's fur, but other than that I stuck strictly to the challenge colors.  And I finally used the umbrella stamp for the background layer : )

Well, I've got a kiddo to cuddle.  Cheers, y'all!  And stay healthy.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Playing in the Rain, Hello Ladybug
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pretty Peacock, Stampin' Blends in Crumb Cake, Petal Pink, Lost Lagoon, Pretty Peacock
Paper:  Petal Pink, Pretty Peacock, Thick Basic White, Inked Botanicals DSP Stack
Accessories:  Nested Essentials dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Dimensionals, Tinsel Gems 3-Pack

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

SUO Challenges: Going In Circles

Hey hey hey, get ready for another challenge from SUO Challenges!  We have a brand new theme starting now....



We're going in circles this time around!  So you can use circle dies, circle punches, polka dot patterned paper, anything you've got that features circles as long as it's Stampin' Up! only.  I had so much fun with this, I made two cards!


I saw a card on page 57 of the annual catalog that inspired both of my cards for today.  For the first card, I wanted to feature some of the super cute forest friends on the Beary Christmas DSP.  I adhered a stripey paper to my card base, and then used the Stylish Shapes dies to cut three circles out of a panel of Balmy Blue cardstock (note to self:  find a way to use those three circles on another project!).  Then I fussy-cut three animals and a Christmas tree from another sheet of the Beary Christmas paper.  One simple stamped greeting and I have a cute Christmas card to send out!

I liked that one so much I had to make a Halloween version too:


For this one, I used the Deckled Circles dies and cut the Basic Black panel with a Deckled Rectangle die, and then stamped and die cut my three skelly pals, some spooky bats, and the sentiment.  Same basic idea for both cards, but they look pretty different, don't they?

And now it's your turn!  Find some circles and have fun making something, then share it on the SUO Challenges blog.  Cheers!

Supplies, Christmas card:
Stamps:  Beary Cute
Ink:  Misty Moonlight
Paper:  Balmy Blue, Beary Christmas DSP
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies

Supplies, Halloween card:
Stamps:  Bag of Bones
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Orchid Oasis, Versamark
Paper:  Thick Basic White, Basic Black, Orchid Oasis, Them Bones DSP
Accessories:  Deckled Rectangles dies, Deckled Circles dies, Bag of Bones dies, white EP, Dimensionals

Monday, October 23, 2023

Maine: Making S'mores

Scrappy Monday, y'all!  Ryan and I had a busy day yesterday--we went to the last day of the Texas State Fair with my brother, SIL, and their two kids.  I hadn't been to the fair probably since before the hubs and I got married, so it was like a whole new experience!  Ryan played games and went on a ride or two and we ate all the super unhealthy fried fair foods.  I will admit though, I had a red velvet funnel cake and then my body noped out on trying the fried brownies.  Or fried Oreos.  Or fried Twinkies.

And to continue the sweet treats theme, today's Maine layout is all about the s'mores!


And in my vast scrapbook supply hoard, I have some old stickers of chocolate bars and Hershey's Kisses, so I used some of those on here.  This is maybe my least favorite of the Maine pages, but it gets the job done.


Today's somewhat unusual color palette:  Pale Papaya, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce, Chocolate Chip, and white.

Okay y'all, I've got to do my workout and start trying to counteract all of yesterday's poor diet decisions.  But that funnel cake was tasty.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Make a Difference, Rough Edges Alphabet
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Pale Papaya, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce, Thick Basic White, Expressions in Ink DSP
Accessories:  stickers from Creative Imaginations

Saturday, October 21, 2023

A Little Brewhaha

Surprise Saturday post!  Y'all know I love making fall and Halloween cards, and that's what I have today.  Ryan and I went to the movies this morning and watched the original Hocus Pocus on the big screen : ) I'm continuing the witchy theme with this card:


I have to say, that plaid in the background was a pretty good match for the flannel shirt I was wearing when I made the card : )  Agnes rides again!  I try to get Best Fiends out at least once every Halloween season.  Agnes is my favorite, though Frankie and Vlad are pretty awesome too.  Anywha, check out the frightful Festive Friday challenge:


I used black, a spooky sentiment, a spider (hanging out among the letters in the greeting), and of course Agnes for my witchy component.  I'm also entering this at Cupcake Inspiration:


Those cupcakes are super cute!  Anyway, I love this stamp set so much (and making Halloween cards in general) that I had to see if I could create a card with Agnes and her friends Frankie and Vlad too, so here's a bonus card:


I almost always color in the images, at first with watercolor and lately with Blends, but I thought I would go for a different look on this one.  Now I need to send out Halloween cards to pretty much everyone I know : )  Sometimes I feel like I am single-handedly keeping the US Postal Service in business.  While I was unpacking our stuff from storage, I found an old purse with a wallet in it, and I had two old books of stamps in there.  Gotta love the Forever stamp idea because I can still use those!

Tomorrow, Ryan and I are going to the last day of the Texas State Fair with my brother and his family.  Trying to get Ryan all of the Texas experiences while we're here.  I haven't been to the fair in years either, so I'm looking forward to it.  Cheers!

Supplies, first card:
Stamps:  Best Fiends, Just Between Fiends
Ink:  Starry Sky, Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Smoky Slate, Starry Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sea Foam, Pecan Pie, Ivory
Paper:  Basic Black, Thick Basic White, Plaid Tidings DSP Stack
Accessories:  Deckled Rectangles dies, Tangerine Tango EP, Dimensionals

Supplies, second card:
Stamps:  Best Fiends
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Basic Black, Parakeet Party, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Mango Melody, Cutest Halloween DSP Stack
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies, Nested Essentials dies, Dimensionals, star accents

Friday, October 20, 2023

Haunted Pumpkin Witch

WOW Ryan woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.  I don't even know what's up with him, but he is super angry this morning!  I hope that he gets it out of his system by the time I pick him up from school this afternoon.

For now, a card.


I'm still pulling out stamps from Halloweens past to make cards this year, and I sent out a half a dozen cards yesterday.  I used the colors from the Color Throwdown:


I translated that to Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight/Crushed Curry, and Shaded Spruce.  I stamped the star with Daffodil Delight, but it turned out so dark (my pad is still pretty juicy) that I matched it to Crushed Curry DSP.  I was able to use several scraps of DSP and cardstock thanks to the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday:


Another fun sketch!  I was going to try to make a stack of pumpkins but I couldn't seem to get it to work, so I went with one big jack-o-lantern instead.  And looking at the Color Throwdown inspo pic, now I want to try a Mickey pumpkin!  Maybe next week.

Cheers, y'all.  If you have kiddos, I hope yours are in a better mood than mine is!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Jack of All Trades, Haunt Ya Later
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Shaded Spruce, Thick Basic White, Crushed Curry & Shaded Spruce DSP
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies, Deckled Rectangles dies, Dimensionals, Wink of Stella

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Bright Lights

Mornin' y'all!  I did get to talk to the hubs on the phone yesterday for our anniversary, and then Ryan and I went out to dinner at a hibachi place, which was Ryan's choice because he thinks he's in charge of everything ; )  That's okay, I like hibachi, and as it turned out we were the only ones at our table, so we got our own personal show with extra fire per Ryan's request.  And now I have enough food to last me through the weekend with all the leftovers I have.

Anywha, I did get to spend some enjoyable time up in my craft room yesterday ANNNND I got a nice big SU! order yesterday too so you just know I busted out some brand new stamps and dies for today's card.


I thought Christmas lights as soon as I saw this week's Freshly Made Sketch:


Usually I pair the sketch with the Color Throwdown, but I have other plans for the colors this week.  What's funny is, I just went over to the FMS blog to grab the link and Jennie beat me to posting a Christmas lights card with this sketch!  Our cards still look different but we were definitely on the same crafty wavelength : )

Okay, once I finish my morning cuppa (English Breakfast today, yesterday was Ceylon orange pekoe), I'm going to do a bit of stitching and then go up to my craft room.  I have more new goodies to play with : )  Have a great day, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Merry & Bright
Ink:  Garden Green, Lemon Lolly, Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Azure Afternoon, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo
Paper:  Thick Basic White, Smoky Slate
Accessories:  Merry & Bright dies, Dimensionals

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

A Cozy Cuppa

Mornin' y'all, and guess what?  Today is my TWENTIETH wedding anniversary!  Unfortunately the hubs can't be here to celebrate together, so I'm going to take Ryan out to dinner tonight and we're looking forward to having the hubs here for a hot minute at Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, it's time for tea.  And a card.


I made three cards yesterday, and I'm only really happy with one of them.  The other two (this being one of those) are oookay, but just not quite...I don't know.  Maybe it's just me?  Anyway, I do like the color challenge from As You See It:




And the sketch from Sunday Stamps:


I might just have to have another go at those two challenges and see if I can make something I'm a bit more excited about.  I am planning to spend a chunk of time in my craft room today : )  Cheers, y'all!  I'm going to go make that cup of tea before I head upstairs.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Cup of Tea
Ink:  Copper Clay
Paper:  Misty Moonlight, Copper Clay, Flowers for All Seasons DSP Stack, vellum
Accessories:  Teacup dies, Stitched Rectangles dies, Dimensionals, white baker's twine

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Autumn Duo

Hey y'all, how's it going?  I have been enjoying fall-like weather for the last day or two, but it's supposed to get back up into the 80s starting tomorrow so this is like a faux fall.  Well, at least 84 is better than 108!  And I am currently enjoying a cuppa Twinings No. 22 Dark Caramel tea.

I see signs of fall in my craft room too : )


A while back, I saw a thing in a needlework catalog that had an embroidered table runner with purple leaves on black fabric.  I loved the purple leaf idea so I had to go with that today.  For the leaf and the pumpkin, I used the blending brushes to apply color to Thick Basic Vanilla cardstock, then flicked some water drops on it at the bathroom sink.  I dried it with my heat tool because I am impatient, and then stamped the outlines on top.  Seriously loving that look.  I had some extra pieces so I made an extra card:


I must admit that I forgot to do the water drops on the leaf before I stamped the outline, but it still looks pretty so I used it anyway.  And it gave me an excuse to just play around with the placement of the elements, just for funsies rather than following a sketch.  I made both of these for the current Paper Players challenge:


Changing colors were a sign of autumn in Germany (though I must admit I never saw purple leaves in nature); here in Texas we don't really get a fall and everything is still green, but we do have pumpkin patches popping up.  So I used both leaves and pumpkins on my cards : )

This afternoon I'm hoping to go see my old high school's marching band perform, I'd better set a timer so I remember to get out of the house in time for that.  That will definitely be nostalgic for me, I was in marching band for all of high school and I have so many memories of being in the band and the people in it.  So there's my afternoon plans.  Cheers!

Supplies, first card:
Stamps:  Come to Gather
Ink:  Gorgeous Grape, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Thick Basic Vanilla
Accessories:  Gathered Leaves dies, Dimensionals, Rustic Metallic Dots

Supplies, second card:
Stamps:  Come to Gather
Ink:  Gorgeous Grape, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Thick Basic Vanilla
Accessories:  Gathered Leaves dies, Dimensionals, Opaque Gems

Monday, October 16, 2023

Maine: Witch Hole Pond

Scrappy Monday, y'all!  Ugh, waking up this morning was tough--Ryan was off school all of last week so we were both enjoying the opportunity to sleep in a bit in the mornings.  But we're going to have to get back to the regular routine now...at least until he gets *another* week off for Thanksgiving!

Anyway, I'm still chugging through the Maine pages and I really should put the album together.  Um, I've started one single scrapbook layout since we moved to Texas and it's been halfway done for WEEKS.  Need to get on that.  But here are some completed pages!


Witch Hole Pond is a part of Acadia National Park, we explored several areas of the park and I would go back to Maine in a heartbeat, it's gorgeous.  I made two layouts for Witch Hole Pond and still had a lot of pictures left over that I really liked.  Maine is definitely picturesque.


We used that family picture for our Christmas cards that year.  I wish I had bought more than one pack of the Into the Woods DSP too, I love it and I've been hoarding it to use on scrapbook pages.  And of course I adore the Thankful Forest Friends stamp, the bear and the fox have been featured on quite a few scrapbook pages and cards.  (The bunny doesn't get used as much, sorry bun-bun.)


Today's fall palette is from the DSP:  Tangelo Twist (I only have one piece of 12x12 cardstock left in this color, waily waily!), Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, and white.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Make a Difference, Thankful Forest Friends, Love of Leaves
Ink:  Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso
Paper:  Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Rich Razzleberry, Thick Basic White, Into the Woods DSP
Accessories:  Stitched Leaves dies, Stitched Shapes dies

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Sugar Skulls and a Tricky Bird

Hey y'all, how's your weekend going?  Ryan and I are going to see the Paw Patrol movie for the second time here in about an hour, but first I want to share a card.  Here it is:


I've talked before about how I send at least one card a week to my friend Beth, who has been fighting stage 4 metastatic breast cancer for TWO YEARS.  She is a fierce warrior, to say the least.  Last year she asked if I could make her a card with a Dia de los Muertos card, so I had to go find some stamps and/or dies to do that and sent her a sugar skull card last year.  Her birthday is coming up soon so I had to do more sugar skulls for her, and I even found a Baylor University mug with sugar skulls on it (we were roommates at Baylor for a semester).  Take a look at this week's Freshly Made Sketch:


I rotated the sketch to accommodate the skulls (I tried it vertically but my card would have had to be at least an inch taller).  As per usual, I paired the sketch with the Color Throwdown:


I used Call Me Clover, Pumpkin Pie, and Azure Afternoon for my colors.  A while back when Blueberry Bushel was an In Color, SU! had embossing powders in that crop of In Colors and I bought them.  I haven't used them much but occasionally something comes up and I remember that I have them, the Blueberry Bushel EP on black cardstock looks pretty good with Azure Afternoon.

I had started this card on Thursday but didn't get it done that day, so I finished it up yesterday morning and then Ryan wanted to get in on the action.  So he made a card too:


He wanted to make a Halloween card for his dad from him and Peking, his #1 pal who is a duck stuffie.  The closest I could get was this chick from Trick or Tweet, and that was good enough for Ryan.  And the Pineapple Punch embossing powder looks pretty good here!  (It was still out on my table from when I used the Blueberry Bushel one.). Ryan did all the stamping and die cutting, and I even helped him learn how to use the embossing tool.


Here he is writing the message on the inside.


I usually help him with spelling, though he's getting better with that, and he does the writing with a minimum of arguing about it.  I hope the hubs is saving these for when we're all reunited next year, because when Ryan is 30 I think he'll enjoy seeing things like this.  D'awwww.

Supplies, sugar skulls card:
Stamps:  Afterthoughts, all others from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versamark, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Azure Afternoon, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Call Me Clover, Thick Basic White, Painted Seasons DSP
Accessories:  Blueberry Bushel EP, white EP, Stitched Rectangles dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Dimensionals

Supplies, bird card:
Stamps:  Trick or Tweet
Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Pineapple Punch, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Thick Basic White
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies, Pineapple Punch EP, Dimensionals

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Pumpkin Harvest

Mornin' y'all!  Ryan and I had a fun adventure yesterday with lots of dinosaurs and ended the day with DQ Blizzards because it's just what you do in Texas and who doesn't love a Blizzard?  My professional opinion:  the snickerdoodle cookie dough Blizzard is the best of the seasonal flavors they have out right now.  I tried the pumpkin pie one yesterday and it was just okay, as was the hot cocoa one.

I've got pumpkins here on the blog, too.


Quick CAS card today for the Cupcake Inspirations color challenge:


I used Tangerine Tango, Call Me Clover, and Balmy Blue for my colors.  Super simple card today, I just stamped three pumpkins and the sentiment, die cut, and put them over a plain card base with just a bit of ink blended in the center.  Up until this week, I was doing a really good job of resisting the Pick of the Patch bundle in the holiday catalog since I have the retired Pick a Pumpkin that I used for today's card.  Well, I saw so many super-cute cards with Pick of the Patch that I ordered it during the free shipping promo.  Plus a few other things : )

Okay kids, I've got to do my workout and try to entertain Ryan today until we go to the batting cages with some friends in a little bit.  If it's not raining, looks pretty cloudy out there...have a great day!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Pick a Pumpkin, Country Home
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Call Me Clover, Balmy Blue
Paper:  Balmy Blue, Thick Basic White
Accessories:  Patterned Pumpkins dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Mini Dimensionals

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Tiffany Aching

Mornin', y'all!  Yesterday was the only day this week that we don't have much going on, just Ryan's taekwondo practice.  Monday we drove down to Baylor University with my parents and showed Ryan where both me and the hubs went to college and where we met (Ryan was unimpressed), and today we're going to Dinosaur World in Glen Rose.  As soon as I write up this post and go pack a lunch, anyway.

Meet Tiffany Aching.


Actually I think Tiffany would be more likely to have a sheep with her ; ) This year I've been reading through Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels (highly recommend, they are like the most British thing ever and one caused me to burst into laughter in an airport), and one of the characters is the young witch Tiffany Aching.  Tiffany wears the black pointy hat, but she prefers to wear a green dress instead of witchy black and says that "I shall wear midnight when I am old!"  Hmm, I'm looking at the picture of my card and I think I should have used a different color for her skin, she looks a bit ghostly here.

Anyway, Tiffany may be a young witch, but she is up to the challenges.  Five challenges, even.  Let's start with Retro Rubber:


Tiffany and her friends are from the stamp set Cauldron Bubble, which I got in 2018 so it's five years retro.  Next up is the Paper Players color challenge:


Those colors are all in the Cutest Halloween DSP Stack from a few years ago, so I busted it out and then...chose two patterns that are black and white only.  I'll talk more about that in a minute, for now let's check out the Inspire. Create. challenge:


I think Halloween and fall cards are my favorite to make out of everything.  Next up is the Global Design Project:


Pretty sure I've got some patterns happening on my card.  Plaid, polka dots, candies, words, even stripes on her tights.  I just kept piling on more patterns to follow the latest Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:


I may have another go at that sketch, I like it but I think my card ended up being on the busy side.

Speaking of being on the busy side, I'd better go pack us a picnic lunch so we can get on the road.  Cheers, y'all!

Supplies, all SU! (some retired)
Stamps:  Cauldron Bubble
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Petal Pink, Pecan Pie, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Thick Basic White, Cutest Halloween DSP Stack, Old Olive & Highland Heather DSP
Accessories:  Stylish Shapes dies, Cauldron dies, Mini Dimensionals