Autumn Blessings

The leaves are red and orange and yellow on the maples that line my street.  The wind is blowing and the air is crisp.  Autumn has most certainly arrived in Western Washington.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I send almost as many Thanksgiving cards as Christmas cards.   Here's a Thanksgiving card we will make tomorrow at my home workshop.  I stamped in Creme Brulee, then used ink daubers of Autumn Terracotta and Cranberry. The sentiment was inked with CTMH's new  Saddle. I added a few sparkles.  The card stocks are Colonial White and Saddle.

Pumpkin

Well, I may be back...at least this week. It has been a harrowing school start due to a variety of issues- new eSchool program for attendance and grades, last minutes schedule changes involving me teaching a new-to-me course in addition to my two expected courses, new students entering every day (even this week in the 8th week of instruction!), an advisor position for a second club that is fundraising for a big trip to national conference in January, and many new union issues.  It means I haven't been able to craft or read for months :-(
But next weekend I am having a card/project workshop and am so happy for the excuse to create.  This little project isn't all that new - I've seen things like this around the blogs. But it is so easy and cute. 

•  cut 10 strips of Autumn Terracotta at 1", stamp them in the same color ink, brush the edges with that ink also
• stack the strips, and a 6" x 1/4" strip of green,  punch a small hole at each end, and secure with a brad
• stamp leaves and cut out
• dry emboss a small strip of Chocolate CS, sand and roll it, cut about a 1/2" slit in three spots and spread out the cut 'tabs'
• glue dot the stem tabs to the pumpkin, glue dot the leaves to cover those stem tabs
• tie a 16" length of raffia in a bow and split the bows and ends
• cut the 1/4" green strip down the middle until you get close to the top (don't cut all the way) and roll up to create the vine
• insert small battery candle

Just seeing falls colors and the beautiful trees has been a sweet part of this week.  Time for pumpkin pie, baked apples...Make some time to enjoy it.