anticipating autumn adventure

Actually, I'm not anticipating autumn.  It's not that I don't appreciate autumn, but I love summer, and I'm not ready to even think about it ending.  So I wasn't going to play along with the color challenge at Fab Friday when I pulled out the Crooked Stamper Sketch, but the Sprinkles of Life stamp set was just sitting there, and it has those little leaves and the fun Tree Builder punch, and, well, I guess sometimes fall happens:

stamp set - Sprinkles of Life; ink - Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Delightful Dijon, Tangelo Twist, Tip Top Taupe; Stampin' Write markers - Old Olive, Delightful Dijon, Tangelo Twist; card stock - Old Olive, Tip Top Taupe, Very Vanilla; punch - Tree Builder; other - Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponge

a washi inspiration adventure

I almost forgot to play along with Crooked Stamper Sketch Challenge - CSSC #4 - how could I?  I rotated the sketch, I think, or maybe I reshaped it, but I think I got the gist of it:

card stock - So Saffron, Whisper White, Crumb Cake; washi tape - Retro Fresh, Watercolor Wonder (retired), Season of Style (retired), Retro Fresh Big Shot with Hello You thinlits®

I was inspired by Kimberly J.'s card to make the washi tape background.  I resisted washi tape for a while, but then I got some free.  Then there was some on clearance.  Now I can't seem to stop buying it, even though I hardly ever use it. It's all stacked up on my craft table to remind me that I need to use it. The leftover Whisper White thanks sentiment was also sitting on my craft table waiting to be glued under one that needed a bit more dimension.  That's a trick I'm pretty sure I learned from Leslie, but I think she must be much more coordinated than I am, since mine has some white showing...

a remotivated adventure

What are you trying to tell me, spell check - remotivated isn't a real word?

I was feeling unmotivated last week, and used my favorite technique for a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of a card from the Occasions catalog.  It worked, I've been feeling much more motivated this week!  Of course, it's always motivating to plan for a Card Buffet, and I'll be hosting them this week.  Even more motivating, my CASEd card was chosen as a Top 3 for Challenge #61 at Cardz 4 Guyz - a challenge I just discovered this year.  Thank you so much, Caz!

While my motivation is holding steady, I tried my hand at Leslie's Crooked Stamper CSSC#2 sketch (turned on its side):

stamp sets - Moon Lake, Simply Wonderful; ink - Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo; Stampin' Write markers - Mossy Meadow, Chocolate Chip, blender pen; punches - 1-1/4" circle, extra-large oval; Stampin' sponges

I was thinking I needed one more card for the buffet, but this one is a little too fussy.  I started with just a mask for the moon, but ended up cutting two masks for the goose (one with a straight edge for the lake and another for the sky.  Hmm, maybe I could have just cut the goose once and laid a straight-edge mask on top of it...

Wondrous Wreath Christmas adventure

When I started a new adventure as a Stampin' Up!® demonstrator nearly six years ago, I started reading blogs of other stampers.  The Crooked Stamper, Leslie, was (and still is!) one of my favorites.  She makes me laugh out loud regularly, and I've learned a lot from her.  One of the things I learned was about challenges, including the first one I ever played along with, Jingle Belles.  Leslie has started her own challenge now - this is her sketch:

Those narrow side panels made me think of washi tape (I'm pretty sure that's another thing I've learned from Leslie), and so I *had* to combine it with the Here We Come a-Washi-ing prompt at Jingle Belles!

stamp sets - Hardwood, Wondrous Wreath; ink - Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon, Versamark; stampin' emboss powder - Pewter; card stock - Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, Whisper White; washi tape - All is Calm (retired); Big Shot with Wonderful Wreath framelits

The non-traditional colors qualify this card at Holly Jolly Christmas, and have given me an idea for a spring card that might make onto the Card Buffet next month...