All Good Things Must Come to an End

I got home yesterday afternoon from our Creative Escape Papercrafting Retreat.  Rockridge Canyon proved to be just as beautiful as the pictures and the food....Oooh, la la!  It was a location very nurturing to one's creativity and I got a lot done.  Here's a photo of the gang:

I got quite a few cards made, but can't show you too many now because some are top secret!  I will show them to you when they are declassified!

I will show you a couple though, because they are for some challenges.                                                                                                      

The Paper Players Challenge #169 is a sketch by Anne Marie Hile.  And Dynamic Duos has a colour challenge this week for Challenge #76

I had some glittery fun with this one:

• I think that the Silver Glimmer paper adds just the right touch with these two shakes of purple.
• I went back to an old favourite stamp set, Lacy and Lovely for the doily in the 2 1/2" circle.  The silver matte is the next biggest Circles Collection framelit.
• The sentiment is from Loving Thoughts.  With the concentric circles above it, it's almost like your being hypnotized.  Look at the middle of the circle.  You are getting sleepy!  You will go immediately to my on-line store and purchase the 25 stamp sets that are on sale now for 25% off.  When I snap my fingers, you will awaken.  You will remember nothing!

• I really like the border of Scallop Border Punched silver glimmer paper with the Delicate Details Lace Tape underneath.

One of the challenges we competed in over the weekend at the retreat was a colour challenge, that I found out later was from a Challenge Blog I'd never heard of before, ColorQ Challenges.  Here's their challenge logo:

Obviously, I've been hiding my head in the sand, because they've been around for a long time.  This is their 212th Challenge!

Here's my card:

• Since we no longer have Kiwi Kiss, I used Pear Pizzazz instead.  
• The starburst that is supposed to represent fireworks on Halloween night, is made with a stamp I don't own, but was able to use at the retreat - Betsy's Blossoms.  I will say that when it first came out last year, I grew to dislike it intensely because everyone and his dog was using it and I got pretty tired of seeing it on every blog.  Since then, I've grown to like it, especially this particular image.
• I was happy to be able to use more of my Witches' Brew DSP on this project, because it's almost Halloween and I have a heck of a lot of it left!
• The sentiment is from Seasonal Sayings, and LOOK!  I used WASHI tape, which I don't do very often, if at all!

Anyway, I'm happy to be home and back to work, brimming with lots of new ideas for you and a couple of new techniques to show you!  Have a great Monday!

Stamps:  Lacy and Lovely (w132025; c122887); Loving Thoughts (w128436; c125845)

Paper:  Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (130135); Silver Glimmer Paper (124005); Perfect Plum (101889), Wisteria Wonder (122922) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Perfect Plum (126963)

Accessories:  Silver Mini Brads (122941); Delicate Details Lace Tape (130966)

Tools:  2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Circles Collection Framelits (130911); Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882); Paper Piercing Tool (126189)

Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms (w131955; c126006); Seasonal Sayings (w131937; c128009)

Paper:  Witches' Brew DSP (132185); Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730), Pear Pizzazz (131201), Wisteria Wonder (122922) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Basic Black (126980) and Wisteria Wonder (126985)

Accessories:  Neutrals Designer Buttons (130031); Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape (132156)

Tools: 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Circles Collection Framelits (130911)

2 1/2" Circle Punch

Circles Collection Framelits

Delicate Details Lace Tape

Lacy and Lovely Stamp Set

Witches' Brew Designer Series Paper

Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape

Betsey's Blossoms Stamp Set

Seasonal Sayings Stamp Set

Before the Snow Flies

Travelling can be fun, but there is so much preparation sometimes, that it can get tiring as well.  We want to head out soon on one more expedition to the north before the snow flies, to see our youngest grandbaby and our daughter and son-in-law.  They live about 11 hours north of us, and it won't be long until the temperature drops and the snow packs in for the winter, so it's now or never - or at least until late spring.

You'll get a taste of life in a small northern town by reading her blog:  Honey Nutbrown's.

I've been working hard to prepare for workshops and classes when I get back and I came up with one design to use for our November Technique Nights.  This month the theme is Fancy Fold cards, and I am planning to do an Easel Card, a Gate-Fold Card and this one:  A Swing Card.

I know, I know, it doesn't look much different, but see it in action:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, it was lots of fun to make using the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and the Holiday Ornaments framelits.  I also used some of the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper!  It's sooo pretty.  And, of course you know that, during October, if you purchase this stamp set along with the Candlelight Christmas paper, that you will receive a FREE Festive Paper Piercing Pack, with templates for all these framelits and much more.  You need to use a special order code for this bundle, so let me know if you are interested. 

 

And NOW would be a great time to book a party during November.  My November time is quickly filling up, but there are going to be some special reasons why you'll want to book in November.  Just sayin'!  Wink, wink!

 

And finally, you should seriously consider joining my Stampin' Up team for the Christmas season.  Imagine getting all the Stampin' Up products you love at a 20% discount!  How about getting a sneak peek at all the new catalogue products before everyone else and a chance to pre-order the same products?  How about being independent and owning your own business in the fast-growing hobby and craft sector and representing a savvy but caring company with a heart for its demonstrators?  You can have all this and more for just $125!  And what's great is that you can pick any products from the current catalogues to a value of $155 to make up your Starter Kit and Stampin' Up with throw in $70 of business supplies for free!  Whether you are looking to start a profitable and fun home business, or just hobby craft for a discount, look into this wonderful opportunity here.

 

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes (w128048; c128051); Seasonal Sayings (w128006; c128009); Christmas Deer (w128144; c128146)

Paper:  Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP (126901); Early Espresso (119686), Real Red (102482) and Very Vanilla (101650) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Real Red (126949) and Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories: 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Real Red (119251); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439); Scallop Circle Bigz die (113468); Holiday Ornaments Framelits (127816) or bundled with the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set (w129949; c129950)

 

Special October Christmas Gift order codes are found here.