Laila, but with some stamping!

My mom is visiting for the new few weeks and helping me do a few projects and LOTS of shopping!   Today we helped out my friend by putting together the favors for my shower.  I still can't believe it's next weekend.  I'm a bit nervous that nobody is going to show up, but if they don't, there's loads of chocolate in these guys.  I can drown my sorrows until I get sick of Hershey Miniatures!  They do feature some retiring products, the pillow box die and Fox & Friends.   I'm sure going to miss both of those, but I'm sure there will be something cute in the new catalog that I'll love too!

Before I sign off for the night, I wanted to get this off my chest. There's been quite a bit of uproar this week among demos that makes me sad.   After losing Eli, stamping kept me sane and truthfully, it probably kept me alive.   Signing up as a demonstrator allowed me to make some amazing friends from all over the world.   I enjoy chats with my friend Kathy from Australia, text Mindy and Marla, and email with all my design team buddies frequently.   I don't have a biological sister, but Stampin' Up! has given me lots of them that all share my love of creating.   While stamps and brads come and go, those relationships are enduring and make my life much happier.  

I'm not one to look on the positive normally, but I've learned what things are worth getting upset over and retiring supplies are pretty low on my list.  I know the economy is tough as I'm on a budget myself.   I also know that I buy way more than I need and the amount of retiring products that I have is a sign that I need to be more careful with my purchases and really use what I buy and only buy what I love.   Sometimes the lessons we need to learn in life come in a way that knocks the wind out of us, but we just have to rest for a minute and keep on trucking.   

Tomorrow's Fall Class

I am so excited about my class tomorrow!  We are going to make some fun projects for Halloween and Thanksgiving.  What a fun way to celebrate World Card Making Day!

This first project is an little pumpkin that would be gorgeous on the Thanksgiving table.  You could make them in many sizes and patterns and have quite the display!    I love the Spice Cake designer paper; I might need a whole pack just to make pumpkins!   

Halloween is just around the corner, so be sure to get those projects going soon!   Isn't this little pillow box adorable!   My friend Anne Marie did an adorable card where she put the witches hat on the owl and I HAD to make one!   These little boxes are perfect for your office mates or your child's Halloween party!     

Because it IS World Card Making day tomorrow, we have to make a few cards, right?   I wanted to do some fall cards, but not really in typical fall colors.   I used the Color Coach for the combinations and I like the way the colors look together.   High five, Color Coach; you rock as usual!  The card above is Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, and Cherry Cobbler.    The card below is More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Night of Navy.  I kept them pretty simple so that they could be mailed with a regular postage stamp.  

I ran out of sunlight before I could take pictures of the other treats, so stay tuned for more tomorrow! 

Owls!!!

While Jason and I were enjoying watching The Help and having dinner at Red Lobster yesterday, the UPS man dropped of a box of goodies for me!    I love the owl punch, but I also wanted to try my hand at the larger, funkier owls as well.   I figured I could use the pillow box die for some cute holiday treats as well, so I didn't feel too bad about ordering it for the owls.  :)    I also got the woodgrain background stamp to replace the Woodland Walk designer paper from the past catalog.    I made my big owl first, but then decided he needed a matching card.   Aren't they adorable?  I used retired paper to test it out because the first attempt usually doesn't turn out.   I think this one actually did though!  

Card:
Stamps:  Woodgrain background, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Concord Crush
Paper: Hostess In Color stack (retired), Concord Crush, More Mustard, Whisper White
Tools:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, 1 3/4 scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, Owl builder punch

Owl Box:
Paper:  Hostess In Color stack (retired), Concord Crush, More Mustard, Whisper White, Basic Black
Tools:  Big Shot, Pillow Box die, 3/4 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, retired heart punch
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones