Happy Thanksgiving: Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today!! It is a day of gratitude and do you know what I am most grateful for at this moment - the fact that my husband does all of the Thanksgiving cooking!!

My card of Thanksgiving includes a wonderful sentiment - one that I most definitely could do a better job of living by.


A week or so ago, I mentioned my husband's leftover turkey soup and that I liked it better than the actual Thanksgiving.  It's also the reason that we rarely accept invitations to other's Thanksgiving meals - we wouldn't have the leftovers for the soup!  And I am going to share it here.  There's really nothing fancy about it - it's mostly just dumping in everything you have left over!

---

Leftover Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass2 bay leaves1 pinch marjoram1 pinch thyme1 pinch basil2 Tblsp butter3 Tblsp flour1/4 cup rice1/2 cup chopped celery1/2 cup chopped onion2 cups fresh mushrooms1 handful thin or medium egg noodles1/2 cup chopped parsley3 Tblsp sherryLeftover gravy, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberries, etc.Chicken stock
Take all meat off the bone and set meat aside. Cover with water, add spices, salt and pepper and simmer slowly for 3-4 hours. Remove bones and strain for stock.
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in stock. (It should be 1 1/2 to 2 quarts, if not, add chicken stock). Bring to a boil.
Add rice, celery, onion and a handful of noodles. Simmer 25-30 minutes.  Saute mushrooms. Add to soup with diced turkey meat, all leftovers, and parsley. At serving time, add sherry.
Enjoy!

---

My card uses the sketch from clean&simple stamping. I've used it twice this week - it must be a keeper!

I'm also playing along with Crazy 4 Challenges Thankful theme and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.

• Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Soft Stone
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone (the small shadows)
• Accessories: Hemptique white twine, Neat & Tangled Crystal Clear sequins, Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise button

Clean & Simple Lawnscaping: Sounds Corny

As I got all of my Thanksgiving cards ready to mail, I realized that I had missed one very special person - my sweet 5-year old niece.  In a family of big and tall people, she is a tiny little thing - and unlike the rest of us, has very little interest in food.  So I thought the Happy Feast set from Lawn Fawn would be a fun message for her!


The layout comes from clean&simple stamping.

My choice of paper comes from the current Lawnscaping Challenge to use polka dots.

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Happy Feast
• Paper: Simple Stories Snap Color Vibe
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics
• Accessories: Hemptique twine, Papertrey Ink Terracotta Tile button

Deconstructed Sketch: 1-800-LUV-TRKY

I am so completely in awe of this blogging world and the people in it.  Thank you to everybody who posted loving, supportive and prayerful comments on my blog yesterday.  I laughed and cried and prayed through them - and then re-read them for my husband as his emotional support. I cannot believe how many of you have survived the same things - paint spills, the need for codeine, shopping for boulders(!) and even the loss of a church.

I wish I had words of wisdom for those of you dealing with church issues but it is so deeply painful to lose a church community, there is little wisdom to give.  I know that faith is more fundamental than the church building, yet that community is what gives us a foundation.  Sometimes the Lord seems so close - but sometimes so far away - and I need my church community to remind me that it is me that keeps Him far away.  He never leaves. You are all in my prayers.

On a much, much lighter note...

I fell in love with this mini set from Sweet Stamp Shop called Turkey Hotline.  Each of the sentiments is separate so you can used them individually, but I anted to tell a complete Thanksgiving day "story" with them.  Heat up that oven, eat that turkey, ate 2 much, never again...at least until leftovers!!!  (My hubby makes a fabulous turkey soup with every type of leftover from the meal in one pot...it's better than the actual meal!)


I've had the set for awhile, but had to jump on it when I saw the Deconstructed Sketch and realized how well it would showcase my "story"!

• Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Turkey Hotline
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Simple Stories I {Heart} Summer (the stripe)
• Ink: Memento Espresso Truffle, Copics
• Accessories: Lil' Inkers Stitched Squares, May Arts twine

Curtain Call: Gorgeous Gourds

It's time for some more inspiration at Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and we have some Gorgeous Gourds!!

Aren't those blues fabulous?!!

Our sponsor for this week is Paper Sweeties.  The LEAD of Gorgeous Gourds challenge will receive a $20 Paper Sweeties gift certificate! 

They have a very cute line of stamped paper dolls but, with this inspiration graphic, I had to use some gourds and pumpkins. The gourds and the wheat are from from Stand Add-On sets that are actually meant to use to decorate a big farm stand stamp (you should see the cute scarecrow.)  Paper Sweeties also has gorgeous crinkled ribbon.

I hope to see you playing along this week.  There is lots of great design team inspiration over on the Curtain Call blog.  It's a gorgeous inspiration photo - it's definitely the time of year for some gourds and pumpkins and/or those beautiful colors (or anything else that inspires you!) The challenge stays open until October 25th with The Lead and Show Stoppers announced on October 31st.

• Stamps: Paper Sweeties Beautiful (the frame and sentiment), Stand Add-On 2 (the blue gourd), Stand Add-On 3 (the wheat and tan pumpkin)
• Paper: vintage cream
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Memento Black, Copics
• Accessories: Paper Sweeties Oatmeal Cream and Aqua Mist crinkled ribbon

Sketch for You to Try: Thankful for You

My favorite new fall set is Forever Fall from Reverse Confetti.  (Have I mentioned lately that I love fall??!)   I used the woodgrain hearts from the set last week on this card.  The fall cards that I have made this year have a slightly different look.  I have admired other cardmaker's use of stone grays on their cards - it really makes the colors pop.  I have also been adding glitter or sequins to give the cards a frosty look.  I love the colors of fall, but I particularly love the feel and the aroma of frosty mornings!


I used Reverse Confetti's Sketch for You to Try.

Did you see my loopy twine bow?  I'm channeling my inner Stacey Schafer although I still didn't manage to be as big and dramatic.  When she was in Denver last week, she demonstrated how she uses her fingers to wrap the bow - so I thought I'd give it a try!  My acorns were looking a little small and lost - I think the bow gives them some oomph!

• Stamps: Reverse Confetti Forever Fall
• Paper: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze and Early Espresso, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone dsp, Echo Park Reflections Fall 6x6 pad
• Ink: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
• Accessories: Hemptique 10-lb white twine, Stampin' Up Heat and Stick Powder and Diamond Dust

CAS(E) this Sketch: So Thankful For You

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

Remember - this is for inspiration only.  If you don't have word bubbles, check out the design team cards - there are clouds and leaves and snowflakes!

I did use word bubbles, mainly because I had finally gotten my hands on a set that seemed to have been sold out everywhere for awhile.   I love the charming creatures from Into the Woods by Lawn Fawn. I finally managed to get my hands on the stamps, dies, sequins and paper - although if I have to admit it - it took orders from three stores to get them all!  Here is the sweet fox!

Sadly, after all of that, I also have to admit that the sentiment is not even from Into the Woods.  The word bubbles do come from the coordinating die set but I cut up and used the sentiment from So Thankful, a small-sized pumpkin set.
I hope you have fun with this sketch - it's a fun one!

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Into the Woods, So Thankful (sentiment)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Papertrey Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, Lawn Fawn Into the Woods 6x6 dsp
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Versamark, Papertrey Dark Chocolate
• Accessories: Lawn Fawn Into the Woods dies and sequins, white embossing powder, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter (on the log - I like a little frost in my autumn scenes!)

CAS(E) this Sketch: Give Thanks

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

I have to admit to playing around for awhile trying to come up with something other than three of the same stamps down the middle.  But...the truth is...if you have a great stamp, it absolutely works to showcase it!!  I love this woodgrain heart!!

I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody does with this!!  I think it will give me insight into your favorite stamp!

• Stamps: Reverse Confetti Forever Fall
• Paper: Stampin' Up Ruby Red
• Ink: Stampin' Up Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Misc buttons, May Arts twine

Fab Friday: Truly Grateful

I had one of those wonderful Wednesday afternoons that I get to have once or twice a month - playing in a friend's craft room who has more "schtfuff" than I do!!  She hauls out stamps and supplies that are appropriate for the season and since she is a Fall/Halloween fanatic, we had plenty of fall colors surrounding us! (Check out the name of one of her blogs - A Nostalgic Halloween.)

She had gorgeous sample cards using paper adhered to coaster board for great dimensional diecuts and the negatives, so this card is definitely inspired by Kris.


I used the current sketch from Fab Friday.

Well, I finished up one of my class papers yesterday.  I'll finish the last few things in that class and submit that paper this morning - one down!  I have the research done for another paper but I am having a tough time getting started simply because I am completely uninterested in the topic.  I have until Sunday at midnight, but I was truly hoping to be done before that to have some break before the next classes start on Monday. So I'm posting this and then settling in in front of the computer - only coming up for air to get the kids up and off to school and then for the first high school football game (and more importantly marching band performance) tonight.  Fingers crossed it goes fast! I'd love a weekend of relaxed crafting before next week begins!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Wonderfall, Truly Grateful (sentiment)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Sweater Weather dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Wonderfall Sizzix die, Houndstooth embossing folder, coaster board, Pumpkin Pie Chevron ribbon, Avery Elle sequins

Abundant Blessings to You and Yours

At this time ofThanksgiving celebrationmy thoughts turn gratefullyto you withwarm appreciation.
Thank you for being part of my card-making journey.

• Stamps: Verve Harvest Blessings, Bountiful Harvest
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry, Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and New Leaf, K&Co Alleghany Plum dsp
• Ink: Memento brown and Copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Bird and Leaf punch and Itty Bitty Banners die, Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise button
• Challenges: Mojo Monday

Goodbye Little Turkey...See Ya Next Year!!

I am blessed with that rarest of things - a husband who cooks - and not does he cook, he insists on doing the entire Thanksgiving feast.  This means that I have time to play!  Thanksgiving is at my house this year but just a small gathering, my family and my brother's family.  That means besides the adults, we have my two teenage boys and two little girls.  So I wanted to throw together something quick and cute.  Not too much work because the children will have them pulled apart before we eat - but just a little decoration.

The little turkey found in Cover-Ups by The Alley Way Stamps HAS to be one of my all-time favorite turkeys.  (Plus, you can get him in a biggie-size in the set It's Fall About You.)  He is so much fun to color!  So I pulled him out one last time this year for this silverware holder...

The holder is from a pillow box die - mine is from Papertrey Ink - I know Sizzix and maybe Stampin' Up have them also.  After I cut it out - I cut the the top off straight.  A little embossing, paper and ribbon and it's perfect for the silverware!!And...between the turkey ("Gobble, Gobble") and silverware (gobble, gobble, yum!), I thought this was a perfect entry for this week's CASology challenge:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups, names are computer generated
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Stampin' Up Orchard Harvest dsp, Very Vanilla CS
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa and Copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Pillow Box die and Bookmark die (which I cut shorter for a tag), Stampin' Up Old Olive ribbon and Cherry twine

Thankful For You

It's my day to post over at The Alley Way Stamps.  There isn't much longer to revel in rich fall colors - so I used Framed to create this fall scene, along with a leaf and sentiment from It's Fall About You and a little background pattern from Background Check.

This is going out to my dear friend in hospice care.  I am truly thankful and will always be thankful for her friendship over the last 48 years!!I'm playing along with the current challenge at The Friday Mashup: a thank you project with leaves 

And I'm playing with Simon Says Stamp: Thanksgiving/Thank You.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Framed, Background Check, It's Fall About You
• Paper: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Basic Black,  K&Co Fall Harvest Mat Pad (I've had it for a number of years so probably long retired!)
• Ink: black
• Accessories: misc twine

Thanks for the Turkey!

Well, it happened...I missed last week's CASology challenge - it was the first one that I missed since it started.  I blame a dead furnace and cold Colorado weather. (It's still dead and will be dead for awhile because I have an old house and the furnace room isn't up to code so getting a new furnace also involves permits and construction!!!)  Wonderful mother that I am, I left all my boys (including the husband) down here to deal with the cold house (we do have a fireplace and they used winter weight sleeping bags - they were fine!) and I ran away to our little condo in the mountains!!  It had heat, but it didn't have any cardmaking supplies.

I got back last night and decided that the first thing that I would play along with is CASology with a little colourQ and technostamper mixed in.

Also, this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge is Thanksgiving/Thanks!

But now that I have this done, I don't think I will use it.  There is something a little bit wrong about using a cute turkey on a thank-you-for-Thanksgiving-dinner card!!??

• Stamps: Rosie's Roadshow Turkey, Stampin' Up Pretty Postage
• Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Soft Suede and Tempting Turquoise CS, Cajun Craze dsp
• Ink: Memento brown and Copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Turquoise button (from an old collection), WPlus9 Chevron Impression plate, Spellbinders die, EK Success pennant punch

A Row of Cute Turkeys

It's BE Inspired day over at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) and we have the cutest picture of a row of turkeys...

I didn't get very creative with this - because one of my top 10 favorite TAWS stamps is the turkey!!  So I took this chance to use him multiple times!!

This little guy comes from the set Cover-Ups.  He's also biggie-sized in It's Fall About You.
I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups and the speech bubble is from Talk To Me
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry CS, Old Olive dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Circle punch, ribbon from Hobby Lobby

A Few of My Favorite Things...

This is a weekend of farewells.  Yesterday was my last post for Dynamic Duos and today I say goodbye to the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team.

I have had the honor and joy of serving on the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team for the past year but, very sadly, this is my last official day.  As we all know, life often has surprising and exciting new plans for us and with the changes in my life, I simply do not have the time to give my Sweet 'n Sassy cards the focus that they deserve.

I love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and wanted to give you a few samples of what I so love.

First, Rhubarb and Cocoa...two of my favorite  characters!!  Here's Rhubarb all dressed up for Christmas!!  Cocoa is an absolutely charming mouse with his own line of stamps.

Second, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps do cute well, but they also have a variety of lovely and elegant stamps.   (Thanks to my friend Kris for this color/layout inspiration.)

Third...Christian stamps!!  Many of their stamps are beautiful enough to stand alone.  There are also a large array of gorgeous florals and birds and wedding and baby sets and more, each of which includes Christian sentiments.

I do love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and they will continue to be an important part of my own card making! 

Rhubarb Santa:

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Rhubarb's Christmas
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade and Raspberry Ripple, TPC Studio Sweet Christmas dsp
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade ribbon, Papertrey Ink Simply Chartreuse button, Martha Stewart bow punch
• Challenge: Sketch from Technostamper

Harvest of Blessings:

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Autumn Collage, Friendship Background, Vintage Postcard
• Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, River Rock
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, River Rock and little sprinkles in Cajun Craze, Summer Sun and Old Olive
• Accessories: Prima Wood Buttons

Trust in Him:

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Our Refuge
• Paper: Stampin ' Up Crushed Curry, Authentique Essentials dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake seam binding and scallop border punch, unknown embossing folder (sorry...there's no name on it!)

Dynamic Duos: Bold & Sassy

It's bold and sassy week at Dynamic Duos and we are using Tangerine Tango and Old Olive.

I decided that the orange and greens needed to be fall.  Typically in the fall, my cards get less "white" because I love the rich fall colors in the background.  But in an experiment, I kept this very CAS with lots of white space.  Then I realized that one of my favorite parts of fall was the frost on the ground, so I added glitter to the white banner and the pumpkin.  Kind of a strange combo - glittery white and fall colors - but I like how it "feels" - just like fall!!

Be sure to check out all of the other design team cards!
And definitely be sure to check out the details of the search for a new design team - see here.  You have another week to submit your entries.  It's been a wonderful experience - I do hope some of you try for the next team!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Button Buddies, Clear Dollar Stamps words (no longer available)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive CS and dsp, Tangerine Tango CS
• Ink: Stampin' Up Old Olive and Tangerine Tango
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Tangerine Tango ribbon, Designer Frame Embossing folder, Brights Button Assortment, Crystal Effects (on pumpkin), Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter

Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Blessings

I love the graphic leaves and the fun fonts in the Sweet 'n Sassy Leaf Silhouettes set.  I layered one of the leaves with one of the sentiments for this simple, yet interesting effect...

The layout comes from the current sketch challenge at the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge blog.  I love all of the flags heading different directions - it's such a festive look!

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Leaf Silhouettes
• Paper: Stampin' Up Orchard Harvest dsp, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Island Indigo CS
• Ink: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
• Accessories: Spellbinders dies, MFT Fishtail Stax, Stampin' Up Rasberry and Vanilla ribbon, Queen & Co. Twinkle Goosebumps

Sneak Peek: Tom Turkey has been BIGGED!

Last week, I said that one of my favorite stamps from The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) has been "bigged" and today I get to show you a sneak peek!!!


Isn't he totally charming??!!  He originally showed up in the set Cover Ups but in a mini version.  I was thrilled when I saw him in this big size in the upcoming set It's Fall About You so I can showcase him!!    There are sneak peeks on the TAWS blog this week for the three new sets being released for October, then a blog hop on Thursday.  After that - YOU too can buy Mr. Turkey in his new big size!
To make him interesting (as if he needed to be more interesting) - I cut out three of his tail feathers and gave them a little curve.  Here's a close-up:

Be sure to check out the TAWS blog - there is a prize at the end of sneak peek week!!

I got help for this card from unscripted sketches (turned on its side)

And, the idea for the knot embellishment came from the Catered Crop challenge to use a knot.  This knot came directly from a list of ideas that they had on their post.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps It's Fall About You
• Paper: Simple Stories Harvest Lane
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink button twine, MME Miss Caroline Decorative Brads

Leaf Silhouettes and Blessings

This is my second post today.  It's just a short scroll

down for a little escaped turkey by TAWS!

It is my day to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and I decided to play with one of the new release sets Leaf Silhouettes.  I found myself trying a number of techniques and embellishments when I finally sat back, took a look at the clean and graphic stamps and realized that they would stand alone (except perhaps for a sweet sentiment!)

I just love that my kids have gone back to school, partly for the daily time of peace of quiet, but mostly because that is a sure sign that fall is on the way.  I love that I have rich fall papers and embellishments spread out on my desk.  This is my favorite time of the year and I wish you all a "season of blessings"!
I used this week's sketch from splitcoaststampers.

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Leaf Silhouettes and Grunge Borders (on the orange panel)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry, Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft and Canyon Clay
• Ink: Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry and Lucky Limeade, Papertrey Ink Canyon Clay and Dark Chocolate
• Accessories: Stampin' Up twine, Spellbinders Twisted Metal, Creative Impressions brads

Celebrate with the Turkey!!

I absolutely love the Cover Ups set by The Alley Way stamps and this little turkey has to be at the top of my favorites!!  The little "cages" he is standing on are actually big enough to be candy wrappers for little candy bars.  I put this little turkey outside of the cages - thus the reason he is willing to celebrate!!


I LOVE square cards so I HAD to play along with this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  These little 4 1/4" are so sweet and it's so easy to fill up the card!

I actually started out my square card playing with the rainbow and the heart in the Cover-Ups set, but I kept thinking about the challenge at Less Is More which is a One Layer FUR or FEATHERS card and knew it was a perfect excuse to pull out my turkey.  (This card took a little more work than it should have.  To make it one layer, I had to stamp the oval for the sign, create a mask, sponge inside and outside, poke holes for the twine, etc. - all of which make ruined the "simple" part of "clean and simple"!)

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups, oval from Get The Point
• Paper: white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray (cages), Memento black and copics (turkey), Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs, Tumbled Glass and a hint of Old Paper and Barn Door on the sign
• Accessories: twine

It's New Release/Party Day at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!!

It's a big day - new releases at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and it's a party ALL day long!  Here's the press release from Sweet 'n Sassy:

8:00 AM -- New Release Blog Hop 

One random commenter on a random DT member's blog will win two sets of their choice from the release - complete list below - must comment by 8 pm EST today!

8:00 AM -- ALL sets will be revealed in full and available for purchase in the store!!!

In the Sweet 'n Sassy Splitcoast forum

10:00 AM -- CAS Challenge 
12:00 PM -- Color Challenge
2:00 PM -- Sketch Challenge
4:00 PM - Product Challenge
6:00 PM -- Inspiration Challenge
8:00 PM -- Theme Challenge

You'll have until Monday, August 6 at 3:00 PM EST to play along in any of our release day challenges. Three winners from the challenge players (all of the challenges lumped into one, so you get more chances for each challenge you enter) will win a $20 credit to the store!

If you started with my blog - you'll really want to go back to the beginning on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog to see the amazing variety of stamps with this release.  I have two fun sets to show you.

This guy makes me giggle.  He really makes you want to have ham this year, doesn't he??  This set is called Save the Turkeys.


Then I was assigned another adorable set to preview - Back to School Rhubarb.  For the boy's card, I also used a border from the new set Grunge Borders.


Then I just had to do a back to school card for a girl...

Isn't this just the cutest release??

Next on the hop is Bridget Finlay.  Enjoy the hop - leave comments to win prizes!!  And be sure to check out all of the party challenges listed at the top of this post!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog

Monika Davis

Jessica Fick

Cathy McCauley

Mary Faus

Kim Singdahlsen

Bridget Finlay

Taylor Usry

Dina Kowal
Lee Murphy

Kim Schofield

Ceal Pritchett

Giovana Smith

Jennie Harper

Korin Sutherland