Today is Lauren’s Sketch Challenge day! To the right you can see the sketch. I admit it was rough. Luckily I had a few Cuttlebug embossing folders laying on my desk and something clicked. I embossed this beautiful shimmery pomegranate paper by The Paper Company with  Floral embossing folders and added a few rhinestones to the flower centers. I found similar colored prima flowers and added rhinestones to their center also. Of Course I had to use ribbon on the card - its a silver organza.

I LOVE the fall and I love making fall cards.  For Lauren’s Saturday Sketch I choose a gold background, shimmery brown accent and beautiful maple branch sticker from Jolees Boutique. The picture does not do this card justice. Its stunning in person … TRUST ME.  Click the image to see a bigger prettier version. Here it looks kind of plain. The card stock is all shimmery and sparkly in person and I scalloped the edge as suggested in the sketch.

Oh by the way I decided to start posting the sketch so that you can see what I’m working with so as promised here it is:

I used my favorite binding technique - ribbon. Mostly because my gold card stock was already cut into these rectangles and inorder to make a true card I needed to stick 2 pieces together some how.

Tonight we picked laminant flooring for our living room and kitchen. We are going to install it our selves which should be fun. We have a week off October 6th to the 10th we plan on completing several big home projects during that. I figure if Ty Penntington can build a house in a week surely we can make a few improvements!

My second Sketch Challenge in 1 week! Wow I’m on a roll with these! Sketch challenges are excellent for churning your creative juices. The best advice anyone has ever given me when it comes to stamping was to try every sketch challenge you possibly can.  I have only posted 2 attempts but I have used many sketch challenges for inspiration.

I decided on a another Halloween card. Autumn is the most wonderful time of the year!

 Paper: Black , White, Orange and Purple card stock, Halloween black dots patterned paper from K& company
Embellishments:  Stickles
Stamps: Pumpkin and Trick or Treat from Papertrey Inks’ Spooky Sweets

So this is the beginning of what I hope to be many more posts. For the last year I have been reading the blogs of fellow stampers and crafters on a daily bases, learning techniques and experimenting with cards, invitations and other paper crafts. I’ve come to love stamping and card making and use it as a means to escape everyday life. Not that my everyday life is anything terrible thats needs escaping - everyone just needs a break sometimes. I work full time in the Computer and Data Center for a school district doing everything from repairing equipment and administering the network to maintaining data like student records. At quitting time I go home to a husband of 2 years, a Golden Retriever Puppy (Izzie) and three cats (Polly, Bailey and Sam.) My job and home life prevents me from doing as much crafting as I’d like but I’m working on a good balance. I more than likely wont get to post everyday but I’ll try as much as possible.

I want to share my work, ideas and thoughts with who ever will listen and hopefully get some feedback that will help me hone my craft of crafting.

It’s taken me a year to start this blog and just as the title suggests I’m in it for the long haul. Enjoy the ride with me