VERY nice, Retro Rubber # 119 has a lovely Autumn color challenge for us this week!  I can also JUST sneak in this week's sketch from TGIF Challenges #229 - yay!
I still have just the set for this combo, 2016's gorgeous Thoughtful Branches.  I love all the tree-building options it has, along with some truly wonderful sentiments - images AND words is totally the way to my stampin' heart, lol.  I sponged both Pumpkin Pie and Real Red onto my leaves, and stamped and stamped off a few times to add some fullness over this cool trunk.  I added one leaf for a full-size accent, my lovely big sentiment, and even some words inside: "and always in my heart."
Thoughtful Branches Stamp Set (retired 2016); Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Pumpkin Pie CS; Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie & Real Red Inks; Stitched Shapes & Beautiful Branches (retired) Dies; Corner Rounder Punch; Orange Sequins; #RRC119; #TGIFC229.

We're all about the tall and skinny today at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #426!  Today also marks my debut with the SU Only #232 design team - woo hoo!  Fittingly, they're running a designer's choice theme this week!
So, what a perfect chance to make a dent in all my new goodies waiting for ink on my desk, lol.  Today's winner is the cute-as-a-lump-of-coal Snowman Season, with the gorgeous Let It Snow DSP from the same suite.  I say every year that I'm just saying "no" to more snowman, and EVERY year they make another one I can't resist, lol.  Though I didn't use it today (yay for fussy-cutting!) this set also has a Snowman Builder Punch to go with - so clever!
So what will YOU create with us this week??  I can't wait to see your projects, at BOTH challenges!
Snowman Season Stamp Set; Let It Snow DSP; Whisper White & Real Red CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Coastal Cabana Inks; Real Red & Pumpkin Pie Markers; Scallop Trim Border Punch (retired); Real Red Solid Baker's Twine; #TSOT426; #SUOC232.

This week's Fusion combo combines a lovely blocky sketch with a gorgeous Autumn theme - I can feel the cooler weather already!
Such a fun sketch just cried out for showing off some pretty paper, so that's what I focused on for this one.  These lovely patterns are from our new Come to Gather DSP pack, and these are two of my favorites from that set!  I decided on this lovely harvest sentiment from last year's Country Home - still available in the big catty, too!  I made the happy discovery that it just fits in the Ornate Frames dies - yay!
Country Home Stamp Set; Come to Gather DSP; Whisper White & Mint Macaron CS; Early Espresso Ink; Ornate Frames Dies; Linen Thread; Fancy Frost Sequins in Mint Macaron; #FusionAutumn.

Oo, good one!  The Male Room #119 has an Autumn theme going this week!
I couldn't resist going back to the lovely Rooted in Nature for this Autumn theme, and the bonus is it has this blocky stacked sentiment that is so easy to show off on a masculine card, not that I haven't used it on a woman's card, too, lol.  Anyway, I am so intrigued by this leaf shape included in this set, so I did a little fall of them down the edge in some rich fall colors, and finished with a nice button, too, which I thought would be better than sequins today.  Very guy-ish, I hope, lol.
Rooted in Nature Stamp Set; Garden Green, Cajun Craze & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, Crushed Curry & Cajun Craze Inks; Crushed Curry Button (retired); Linen Thread; #TMR119.

It's good that Inspire Create Challenge #051 has such a great theme for us this week - sympathy - I so rarely have these on hand when I need them...
Today I started thinking about how much being in nature helps me when I'm troubled, something that's actually a little tough for me in the Arizona heat sometimes.  Our gorgeous new Nature's Beauty set is the perfect reminder of more temperate climates, and I can see this little deer looking at me saying "I'm here" plain as day.  A quick sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings and I think I'm set - hope I don't have to use this one anytime soon, but I'm glad to have a spare on hand for a change.
Nature's Beauty & Itty Bitty Greetings Stamp Sets; Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Natural White & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Gold Sequins; #ICC051.

Check out our lovely colors this week and Fab Friday #172 - so fun!  I'm also combining our challenge with CAS on Friday #163's "die-cut word" challenge - cool!
So, "minimal" is the word fo the day for this CAS card - I couldn't resist making my "grateful" in Blackberry Bliss - my fave purple ever, though we DO have some good ones just now, lol.  Such fun Fall-ish colors, too, I naturally leaned over to the Gather Together suite for the rest of my details.  Simple and sweet, with "so glad to have you in my life" on the inside - just right!
So, what Fab creations will YOU have for us?  I can't wait to see them over at the challenge!
Gather Together Stamp Set; Come to Gather DSP; Mint Macaron, Whisper White & Black Berry Bliss CS; Mint Macaron & Pretty Peacock (inside) Inks; Seasonal Frame Dies; Pretty Peacock Faceted Dots; #FabFri172; #CASOF163.

Fall & Thankgiving Class Sep 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot today!  Class is still on for  Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!

Too fun - SU Only #231 is a cute color challenge this week, and One I've stumbled across before!  Granny Apple Green, Lovely Lipstick, Mango Melody and Pool Party are a match made in Heaven!
So, once I saw that Granny Apple Green, I just couldn't resist breaking out my new Harvest Hellos set, complete with the Apple Builder Punch!  So perfect!  I made a quick and simple teacher card, that I know will find a good home, I always have folks asking me for these!  Now I can finally start making some cuties just for them!  Red and green apples seemed a natural fit for this color challenge, and I used the remaining colors for my base and accent - such a happy combo - can't wait to use this again!
Harvest Hellos Stamp Set; Mango Melody, Pool Party, Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick, Granny Apple Green & Early Espresso CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Apple Builder Punch; Pinewood Planks EF; Stitched Shapes Dies; Gold Sequins; #SUO231.

Fall & Thanksgiving Class Sep 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot today!  Class is still on for  Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!

OK, not sure my heart can take it - The Library Challenge #41 is running a READER'S CHOICE this week!!  How to choose??
Well, it just so happens that I am sorting out all our family's kiddie books - our college sophomore has moved into her first apartment this year, so we've been cleaning up and cleaning out in her old room.  We've kept our shelf of bed-time stories, though, and my copy of The Runaway Bunny, from my own now-absent mother to me, then from me to my daughter, sits there.  Such mixed feelings I have as I read through it now, lol, many things have changed for our family since this book first came into our lives - but our love for each other remains, as it always will.  Such a sweet reminder, of an on-going journey.  "Shucks, I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny!"
Wildly Happy Stamp Set; See A Silhouette DSP; Whisper White, Granny Apple Green & Petal Pink CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Petal Pink Blend Markers; Stitched Shapes & Friendly Silhouettes Dies; #TLC041.

Fall & Thanksgiving Class Sep 12 & 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot today!  Class is on for Thursday, September 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!

Time for another fun mix-it-up challenge at this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #425 - let's give it a go!
So, wow, pocket cards, lol.  Yikees!  I remember doing double-pocket cards an age ago, with some kind of folding technique and 12 x 12 paper, but I decided to kind of wing it today - a simple single pocket, floated over a regular card base - that holds a loose card for pulling out on the front, while still keeping the whole inside available for my written note - what fun!  And what better suite to suit our creating than It Starts With Art?  I slipped in a little bit of everything here, smiling all the way!  A perfect little secret love note!
So, what will YOU create??  Can't wait to see you "mix it up" with us over at the challenge!
It Starts With Art Stamp Set; Follow Your Art DSP; Whisper White, Calypso Coral & Coastal Cabana CS; Calypso Coral & Pacific Point Inks; Arts & Crafts Dies; Crushed Curry Seam Binding Ribbon; Follow Your Art Felt Shapes; #TSOT425.

Fall & Thankgiving Class Sep 12 & 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot today!  Class is on for Thursday, September 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!

Woo HOO!  MAJOR milestone for the awesome In{k}spire Me #400 - check out that number!  Congrats to that whole team on a major achievement!
After a bit of searching, I finally settled on the awesome Cup of Christmas stamp set again for this one.  It ended up a little more overlap-y than I had originally intended, but I decided to run with it anyway - my first time actually trying out the reversible stamps themselves - so cool!  I also pulled out some of the little detailed dies in that set as well - we can really dress things up with them!  Congrats again to In{k}spire Me's team - very well done!  Here's to another 400!
Cup of Christmas Stamp Set; Let It Snow DSP; Whisper White, Real Red & Shaded Spruce CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red & Shaded Spruce Inks; Cup of Cheer & Stitched Shapes Dies; Real Red & Shaded Spruce Markers; #IM400.

Fall & Thankgiving Class Sep 12 & 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot today!  Class is on for Thursday, September 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!