LEAVES AND MORE LEAVES

Well I think it is official -- Michigan probably will not be feeling any 80 degree weather for a while!  Actually, I prefer 75 degrees unless it is breezy and no humidity.  But who cares when you can look out your window and see all the cajun craze, summer starfruit, more mustard, rasberry ripple, garden green, so saffron, and so much more.  What a panorama of color!  (My stomach growls every time I name those colors -- LOL.)  Doesn't it just get your artistic side itching to create something?  It does for me, so you will be seeing some of creations today influenced by my outdoor view.

Before I get to that, just a short note to tell you I'm getting in the Christmas mood (I hate to jump into Christmas until I have had plenty of time to play with all my fall colors).  Today I am prepping for my Christmas card stamp-a-stack class.  Stampin' Up (SU) really knows how to celebrate for Christmas with so many awesome stamps and accessories.  Check them out in the 2012 Holiday Mini Catalog after looking in the Holiday section of the large Stampin' Up! Inspire, Create, and Share Catalog.  If you don't have these catalogs, give me a call to find out how you can get them FREE.  SU offers so many stamps, beautiful and unique accessories, and kits that all coordinate to match (you can't get this at a craft store); allowing even a novice to become an artist.  Take a few minutes today and give me a call so I can help you be the artist you have always dreamed about being.  Here are a few samples of what you can do:

This is what I get to see outdoors right now!!   I used my SU Sponge Daubers to apply the ink on the leaves, and lightly tapped a tiny bit of  Rasberry Ripple in the center using a piece of  Stampin Sponge.  I then crinkled the cardstock in my hand, unwrapped it, laid it face down on my Early Espresso Ink Pad, and pushed it down with Stampin' Up's Clear Mount Acrylic Block E to make the leaf veins.

This card features the awesome Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper with the Wonderfall Stamp Set, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, and Houndstooth Embossing Folder.

I got this idea from a swap card (sorry, no name) and changing it a bit.  Love the owl in the tree!!

You really can't tell by this picture, but I used the faux mother of pearl technique on the Apothecary Accents Framelits Die panel and on the leaves.  This card features the Blooming With Kindness Stamp Set.

Until next time,
Sandi

"You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead and guide me."

-- Psalm 31:4

MORE WONDERFALL

Well, here I sit listening to the debate on TV and trying to complete my 3 tasks for the day.  It took me all day to finish my first task (which should have taken an hour at max) and now I'm on my 2nd task -- updating my blog!  Why am I so slow?????  Okay, don't answer that question. 

It reminds me of last Monday when I got up and thought I could catch up on a lot of things around here.  Got my morning coffee, took the dogs outside to run and do their duties while I had my coffee.  Couldn't figure out why the dogs were going crazy by my vehicle, but figured they had chased a chipmunk that was trying to get away by sitting on my tire.  Finally, when they wouldn't come back into the house, I figured I would get my keys and start my car to scare it away -- did that, but they still were going crazy.  So drove my car back and forth in the driveway thinking that would do it -- NOPE!!  Then I decided I would do something that I have only done once in my whole life (my granddaughter showed me how to add window wash to my car when I was at a store).  Yep, you guessed it, I opened up the hood of my car -- don't even know why I did that as it is not a "normal" thing for me to do. 

Well, let me tell you, I just about dropped over.  My engine was covered entirely, and in a mound as tall as the hood with WALNUTS!!!!  I quickly slammed the hood down because it scared the crap out of me.  Just then my husband comes meandering out the front door asking me what I was doing.  I told him to come over because he was not going to believe this.  Of course he starts mumbling all the way over saying something about me having all these crazy ideas (I have no idea why he says this).  He was so amazed when I showed him that he couldn't even say a word.  Anyway, the moral of the story is that things always seem to happen to interrupt my plans for the day.  It took both of us 2 hours to clean all those walnuts out of the engine.  I wished I would have thought to take a picture.  Sorry this story was so long, but trust me it is a heck of a lot shorter than the chapter I will be writing in my book about the "whole" story of that morning.

Are you ready for some more Wonderfall project pictures?

I saw an ornament done by somebody using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die and loved it so much I decided to make a larger ornament/wreath for my front door.  I was really pleased with the results.

I CASEd this card from Ann Schach because I just loved her design layout.  I also got a chance to use Stampin' Up's new Stampin' Spritzer, filled with Early Espresso Ink Refill.  This was my favorite card.



This card was colored with my favorite medium, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, on the Life Shared Stamp Set.

I made this little fall harvest basket for part of my presentation I did last night at Ronda Wade's RubberQueens meeting.  Yes, there are some leaves hidden behind Stampin' Up's new Cherry Cobbler 3 1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon. 
UPDATE:  Instructions for making the basket can be found on Monika Davis's Web Site. 

Here is what it looked like finished in the gift package.  This would make a great booking gift because it uses lots of new Stampin' Up product.

I had a great time at Ronda's RubberQueen meeting last night, and I can't wait to finish up her awesome make'n takes so I can show you (3rd thing that was on my list for today).

Until next time,
Sandi
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel, but on a stand, that those who enter may see the light."  -- Luke 11:33

WONDERFALL FALL!!

No, technically I did not drop off the face of earth, but physically I did!!  I know it has been a month since I last posted, but I hope you all come back to visit me and leave a comment to let me know how you are doing.  It truly has been a whirlwind the last 30 days (I think I packed 6 months into it).  So many big parties and lots of family fun, but I'm so glad it is over.  Will I do it again, hmmmm -- probably so.

I left last Thursday to attend and present at Ronda Wade's Creative Convention that ended on Sunday.  All I can say is:  WOW, WOW, WOW!!!  This is the 2nd time she has had this event, and let me tell you, you would have thought she had been doing this for years.  My brain is bursting with creativity and business tips/ideas!!  And so much fun visiting and laughing with fellow demonstrators from Canada, Kentucky, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and probably many more states.  So guess what projects you will be seeing for at least the next month?????  Yep, pictures and some directions from my presentation.  Ronda asked that I prepare Fall-themed projects; concentrating on the Wonderfall Stamp Set, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, and Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric.  And of course, I threw in some other stamps and accessories from the new Stampin' Up Holiday Mini.  So here are a couple of pictures:

First, I have to thank Ronda's daughter Erica for giving me one of her Barbie dolls and a huge thank you to my sister Pam for doing the actual sewing (I only designed it, she did the hard work).  This was made using the fabulous Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric, Victoria Crochet Trim, and Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon.  I made the basket with Island Indigo Card Stock and Ruffled Ribbon and matching Designer Printed Brads.  (I will post directions on how I made the basket in a future post).

Here is a side picture of dress and basket.  I have to tell you, even though the product I was assigned did not allude to "vintage" projects -- I still had to squeeze in the Victorian Era doll because you know how much I love vintage!!  And of course, let me not forget all those leaves made with the fabulous new Autumn Accents Bigz Die (learned some tricks on making these).

Card features the Wonderfall Stamp Set.  I used the reverse masking technique, with Stampin' Up's Watercolor Wonder Crayons.

I left the Convention early so I could attend my granddaughter's baby shower, which I was co-hosting with my daughter (yep, I'm going to be a great-grandma!!).  So before I leave, I want to show you a couple pictures of projects I did for her shower:

Of course I used some Stampin' Up product for this cute table centerpiece:  retired ribbon and Dazzling Details on the edges of the flower petals (yes, it is hard to see in this picture but looked gorgeous in real life or if you enlarge the picture by right-clicking on the picture and select open in new tab/window).  These flowers were made out of plastic spoons!!!

A close-up showing the Dazzling Details better.

A simple thank you note card for the table favors (sorry, forgot to take picture of inside).

Thank you for stopping by, and come back soon as I have a lot of projects yet to show.

Until next time,

Sandi
"Ye are the light of the world. . . ."  --  Matthew 5:14
"Father, let my attitude light the way for happy times -- anywhere You choose to send me.  -- Pam Kidd"