Want to play with this set? Reserve your spot in my Big Shot Holiday Class next week!

Lovely Leaves

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on
the feelings, as now in October."
-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Thanks to my friend Beth Martin for sending me this BEAUTIFUL card in the mail! How did she know that fall is my favorite season? What a joy to receive!! 

Celebrate WCMD!

Apparently it's not just National Card Making Day, it's WORLD Card Making Day (WCMD)! My bad...
But this is good! I combined the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary:

with my Facebook Color Challenge:

 (Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, So Saffron)

 to come up with this masculine birthday card:

Card Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up!): card stock and ink colors listed above, You're Amazing Stamp Set (catalog page 33), Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127703),  Big Shot (#113439), 1" circle punch (#119868), Subtles Glimmer Brads (retired). It's good to have a spring-board for creativity sometimes and I was happy with the way it turned out!

If you are making cards this weekend, try my sketch challenge or FB color challenge (or combine them!) for a chance to win a prize :) then go ahead and send a card to a friend...just because.

National Card Making Day Challenge

Tomorrow (October 6th) is National Card Making Day and to celebrate, I have TWO challenges for you and that means TWO chances to win a prize! I have posted a COLOR challenge on my Facebook page and here on my blog is the SKETCH challenge. Play along! Here is the basic sketch, a basic 3 panel card:

And here is my 3 panel card:

Card Recipe (all from Stampin' Up!): Whisper White and Midnight Muse card stock, Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse ink pads, Brayer, Flower Garden embossing folder (item #123113), Big Shot, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin ribbon. 

Feel free to add embellishments to the basic sketch and have fun with it! Share your cards with the link tool below through Monday,  October 8th at noon for a chance to win a spool of the Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon I used on my card AND a copy of my card! Happy National Card-Making Day/Weekend!


UPDATE 10/25/12: Congratulations Heather for winning the Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon!

Big Shot Class: Holiday Edition!

BIG SHOT CLASS: HOLIDAY EDITION!!
DATE: Thursday, October 18
TIME: 10 a.m. or 7 p.m.
PLACE: Loni's house, Spanish Fork, UT
COST: $15

You don't need to own a Big Shot to attend this class...in fact the only things you need are scissors, SNAIL adhesive and Sticky Strip (you can order refills when you register, if needed). This time, you'll be creating 3 fun projects for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas (shown above). Of course, it's even more fun when you come with a friend :) so register before Monday, October 15th to reserve your spot: Remember to indicate which class time you'll be attending!

MDS Printing Prices Slashed! New Downloads, too!

And since yesterday was Tuesday, there are also NEW downloads for My Digital Studio...and did you notice that MDS isn't just for scrapbooking? It can be used to create cards, calendars, home decor, tags, DVDs and even HALLOWEEN COSTUMES! How fun is that?

I think my favorite is the Year End Review Infographic...that's UBER trendy!

I haven't tried using MDS for fabric yet but there are a few great samples Here (Creepy Quilt by Heather Summers), Here (Pillows by Lindsey Horton) and Here (Baby Owl Set) . If you try it, come back and share in the comments, please!

An Early Christmas Gift

And THANKS to everyone who commented in September! I'm updating my September posts with the winners of the cards and blog candy :)

Musical Indulgence

Please indulge me for a few moments. I am a drama nerd. My favorite plays are musicals. And the creme de la creme of musicals is indisputably Les Miserables. So the fact that it comes out in DECEMBER as a movie that will be Absolutely. Incredible. is just a wonderful gift I can hardly wait to open! So I've been obsessing over it for a few days and when I found this Nick Pitera One-Man-Show, how could I not pause to pay homage? The kids introduced me to Nick a few years ago when he did both parts of Aladdin's "A Whole New World" and we've been fans since then. So if you have a few minutes, pull up a chair and some popcorn:

Now, if you have been buried in the Sahara for a few months and didn't know the movie is coming (with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Seyfried and some other EXCRUCIATINGLY talented people), then be prepared to be blown away:
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me and allowing me to share something I love!

2-for-1 Challenge and Cut a Perfect Flag Tutorial

I love it when you can combine TWO challenges and get one simply sensational card! Today I combined the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary with the Fall-To-Layout 210 sketch at the Clean & Simple blog and came up with this holiday card:

I debated whether to add something to it, but I *really* like it just the way it is...and with the silver glimmer paper, it's even prettier in person! Of course, I tend to gravitate toward simple and elegant cards with a touch of sparkle, but I hope you like it too. It used  a-little-bit-of-this and a-little-bit-of-that Designer Series Paper...why not pull out your stash and try your hand at this sketch too? The stamp is from the "Greetings of the Season" set on page 8 of the Holiday Catalog (which you can download from my sidebar).

Let me share the EASIEST way to make a perfect "flag"...taught to me by one of my Stampin' Family, Kelly H. WARNING: This may change your life! Start by cutting a slit straight into your paper from the side center where you want the flag to be:

Then cut from the corners into the point of your slit. I KNOW!!! It's so simple! I haven't used a square punch since she showed me this! Thanks again, Kelly :)

Don't forget to leave your comment because I am still giving away all the cards I share here in September to celebrate my 20th Anniversary with Stampin' Up!

Update: Connie will be getting this card in the mail...thanks for visiting, Connie! I admire your work and am happy to share this card with you :)

Satin Rosette & Ribbon Roll Control (Blog Candy!)

Today's card features a rosette created with the Stitched Satin Ribbon (Summer Starfruit #126846). To create this flower, I used a Jumbo Sticky Round (#127852) and started on the outside of the circle with the end of my ribbon, gathering (or "scrunching") the ribbon as I went around the circle, spiraling into the center and finishing it with a Midnight Muse Dahlia (#127556).  Since it's "Back to Spool" time, you can get your ribbon FREE....

My *favorite* way to store my ribbon is with the Ribbon Roll Control system, shown here wearing all the In-Color Stitched Satin Ribbon:

And THANKS to Trish of RRC who has kindly donated one of these cool acrylic stands to be given to one lucky visitor (no ribbon included)! Leave a comment below by September 30th and you could be the winner. If you don't win, head on over to Ribbon Roll Control and order a few of these to hang on your wall and keep your ribbons corralled!

Wait...that would be TWO chances to win, because someone will also receive the card I created, too!

UPDATED: The winners are Heather B~Ribbon Roll Control and Kathy Mc~Card! Thanks for visiting and commenting. We bloggers love to hear from our readers, it means so much!  Kathy Mc: I need your snail addy to send this card to...email me :)