It's Fall Y'all

Don't you love Fall?! Today is the most beautiful Fall day here in Indiana. In keeping with the Fall theme, I'm knocking out my next 10 mini notebooks for the ladies upcoming trip to Brown County. 25 done to date, 25 more to go!Gina K'w Whimsical Autumn stamp set is simply adorable. This little squirrel almost looks like he's prancing around in the snow ... but I LIKE dots so I'm USING dots! Isn't being queen of your own scrap room the bomb?

Unity Stamp Company's September Kit SO rocks! I stamped the pumpkin on DP and cut it out with fine tip scissors, adding very little copic coloring. A real time saver when working in mass! All of the papers on these two notebooks are from the Autumn Collection by Recollections available at Michaels. SO many cute papers that coordinate, just close your eyes and grab!

"Hey Pumpkin" was computer generated before cutting into strips. "Have a Nutty Day" was also computer generated, before punching with SU nested circle punches. Let's take a look at the inside of these cute little notebooks ...

And the back is just as cute as the front! Yes, more dots. But to my credit, the leaves on the Kraft back piece is a stamp from Michaels $1 bin - So Stinkin' Fall Cute! I stamped it in Chocolate Chip ink onto the Kraft cardstock, and colored a few leaves with copics to add some color. Sometimes those $1 finds are the best!

Complete with my signature stamp ... a gift from my sister who loves me like crazy! She's mine, you can't have her.

I hope you enjoy your Fall Y'all!

Apple of My Eye

Today I am preparing for Fall! A friend, God love her sweetness, is hosting a women's bus trip to Brown County, Indiana for the Lady Shriners. Debbie herself is Indiana's First Shriner Lady, a divine appointment by virtue of being married to the Grand Poopaa (Potentate, for real). If you've never seen Brown County in the Fall ... well, you are missing some of God's best leaves, shopping, and food! Think "Shipshewana" times 10! Today's notebook project, and many more to come, will be included in their gift bags.
If you know Mish's fabulous blog, you know she's queen of notebook covers! They are SO fun to make. The apple basket is from Gina K's Whimsical Autumn stamp set, colored with copics and cut with a regular square Spellbinders Die. The sentiment was curved on a glass block before stamping onto old olive cardstock, the background is stamped with PTI polka dot basics (an absolute stash staple - just get it)!

A neat trick: BEFORE I removed the stamped apple basket out of my die, I used a Martha Stewart fine tip brown marker to outline my image. A nice and easy touch, that really sets its off. (see below) In keeping with the polka dot theme, I used a white Inkessentials pen to dot my punched embellishment before topping off with a shiny red button. Mass producing is my most-best-favoritest way to create! Gives "satisfaction for my soul" and makes me feel extra productive! My notebooks came from Walmart, and any office supply store will cut them in half for you. Ready, set, create!

I cover my notebooks using a 1/4" score line for the fold, but there is some variation between notebook brands so best to measure! The back cover is all one piece, which is attached separately after the scored, folded, cover has been adhered with the red sticky never come off adhesive tape. But I used regular adhesive for everything else. Stretch your cardstock and your adhesive = stretch your dollars = go online and shop!

Now we have a cute little shopping list notebook, with a matching inside! Paper is from K&Company, delicious paper I might add! (from Michaels) 5 down. 45 more to go!

I hope you have a chance to create this weekend! For me, the last month has been filled with Kevin's knee surgery, Kevin's brother's massive stroke (still not responding), Fall conference season at the law firm, state certification process in our family-owned business, and ... yes, I'm still smiling! Learning to turn chaos into calm! Praise Dee Lord!

Apples for Alzheimers

Camie King recently released her newest stamp set through Gina K. Designs called Whimsical Autumn, which benefits the Alzheimer's Association (you probably already knew that unless you've been living under a rock :) I knew that I wanted to get involved because, as many of you know, we recently moved Kevin's sister to a nearby assisted living facility because of her Alzheimer's. I wish we had time for me to tell you story after heart-breaking story about caring for Jane, but many of you already know the pain. So all I would say is, if you are reading this and you are a stamper, please please please visit these links and support this worthy cause. And all the people said Amen!

Okey dokey then - it gets even better. Camie has coordinated a ginormous blog candy give-away for anyone who will make a card and send it to a caregiver (details on Cammie's Blog). Prepare for a jaw-drop when you see all the beautiful donations. My fav's are:

COMPANIES:
1. Papertrey Ink (your choice of 3 stamp sets)
2. Flourishes (Mixed Greeting stamp set)
3. Polka Dot Plaza (Nestabilities and $20 gift certificate)

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:
1. Susan Roberts (Rainy)
2. Denise Marzee (Peanutbee)
3. Beate Johns (Beate)

But there is so much more! Christmas is coming early this year, folks! Click here for a visit to Santa!

I am sending card #1 to Jane's nurses aids who help with her daily meds. I used CB swiss dots, and two scallop edge punches (Martha Stewart Scallop and Fiskars threading water). I'm "crazy for copics" and the apple basket in Whimsical Autumn is perfect for coloring! Love the double ribbon treatment too!

I am sending card #2 to the dear sweet adorable lovely lady who lives across the street from Jane -- my mother. She tirelessly calls Jane for breakfast, exercise class, runs errands to the grocery, gathers up the neighborhood girls to help look after Jane, and rescues her each time Jane loses her house key --- pretty darn good for an 85 year old! God bless her. Love her guts!

I am giving card #3 to ....... JANE! Yes, she has Alzheimer's. Yes, she cannot remember details. Yes, she loses everything. But one thing she does - and does very well - is write notes to people. She believes letter-writing is a lost art, and she does her part to fix that by sending many cards and letters to family & friends. What better way for me to "share the love" in this Alzheimer's Outreach than to include JANE herself?!

Peoples of the craft world -- go hug an Alzheimer's patient today. Or hug a friend or family member of an Alzheimer's patient. Or hug your boss and tell him/her about this effort. But no matter what -- just smile when you do it! :)

Quote For Today: You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.