On this Sunday... What this card means to me....

Today, DRS Designs is sponsoring the Card Positioning Systems challenge found here. It took me a long time to plan this card. I don't usually do well with images tilted. But in the end, I think I did OK.

What this card means to me...

I LOVE the images on this card. The greeting is so perfect for our country today, especially here in Michigan where our unemployment rate is over 15%. The strong need in my immediate community is almost 25%. It really hurts to talk to other parents. I want to give as much as I can to help, but with me just getting back to work after a medical leave and my husband now on medical leave with his recent diagnosis of a crippling genetic disorder, we're just getting back on our feet and not stressing about an empty and overdrawn bank account. It's weird that 2 years ago I didn't worry about money. We had, and still have, credit card debt, but we were "different" back then. We fit the mold of Americans that were too confident with our financial status. Lessons hurt. But with God's help, we are becoming more responsible. I don't know how people get through the hard times without Him. As we approach the holidays, people are depressed. The suicide rate will go up. It the news, I hear it's already starting.

Sorry if this sounds like drama. We've delayed the orthodonic treatment my son needs for non-cosmetic reasons. We're delaying invasive surgery for my son on his legs because I don't know how we can care for him right now. I feel I'm neglecting his educational needs while his school is not meeting his special needs because I'm just trying to survive my new job during school hours. I have a very, very stressful 2 days of work coming before I can enjoy the holiday weekend. Yet, it is nothing compared to what others are going through around me. Dear Lord, please take care for them.

The Recipe

Stamps: Bunch of Wheat (K137), Arc Thanksgiving (E050), Changing World Thanksgiving Greeting (G079), Medium Silhouette Leaf (D701) - DRS Designs
Paper: Crushed Curry (I think this is the first time I used it!), ruby red, more mustard, chocolate chip, white
Ink: crushed curry, creamy caramel, Palette burnt umber, ruby red, more mustard, chocolate chip
Accessories: brads, ribbon, Marvy Giga & Mega scallop circle punches, sponge, dimensionals


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Pilgrim Boy

SCS Sketch Challenge #254

Stamps: DRS Designs: Happy Harvest Cutie Pie Boy (G108), Small Silhouette Leaf (C691), Double Deal Halloween Bats & Stars- P653 (just the dots & stars for the pebbles on the ground), Arc Thanksgiving (E050), Vicki's Versatile BG (H369)
Paper: white, creamy caramel, pumpkin pie
Ink: black, SU: creamy caramel, more mustard, crushed curry, really rust, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, bashful blue, Copic markers: dull ivory (E43), black (100), W-3 Warm Gray, sand (E33), cocoa brown (E74), willow (G24), apricot (YR16), loquat (YR12)buttercup yellow (Y21), milky white (E51)
Accessories: brads, hemp, hand made cloud template
Techniques: sponging, one sheet wonder

I can't believe I just used crushed curry! I haven't liked the color since I received it, but it just fit in this card. Maybe there's a use after all. I love this new Pilgrim Boy from the Cutie Pie Kids' collection. You kind find all of them here.

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New DRS stamps Part 7

I love this new scarecrow stamp from DRS Designs. And I'm thrilled that my new Copic markers, E43, is a perfect match to SU Kraft! It's fab with Mr. scarecrow!

Stamps: Split Scarecrow - K054, Thanksgiving Arc - E050 (DRS Designs)
Paper: ruby red, kraft, kraft dsp, white
Ink: Palette burnt umber, Copic markers: E08 brown, E43 dull ivory, E30 bisque, YR31 light reddish yellow, YR16 apricot, G24 willow
Accessories: Taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, CB swiss dots (Wish RAK)

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The Great Escape

I have had so much fun using this adorable DRS stamp: High Tailin' Turkey! It reminds me of a small class of special education students I taught a few years ago. We were writing a story together. They came up with the ideas and I modeled the writing. It was called, The Great Escape. I wish I had been more careful with saving it. It was such an adorable story. This turkey image is like a walk down memory lane. :)

This first card was made for the SCS Clean & Simple challenge to use dimensionals / pop-up dots. On this card, the hats are popped up. The designer paper was cut free-hand to make the hill. I also used a Scor-Pal, SU punches, and Copic markers. The sentiment is the first two lines of the sentiment seen in the third card of this post.

This second card was designed using the Mojo Monday sketch challenge this week. I used Copic markers for the turkey and SU creamy caramel ink for the ground. First I sponged the ink, starting from the edge and sponging towards the center. Then I used my markers to add some "pebbles". Cardstock: white, sahara sand, sage shadow, and To the Nines dsp. Accessories: brads, scalloped Nestie, Martha Stewart zig-zag edge punch.


On this last card, I wanted to emphasize the full greeting. So I used the turkey to make a unique background by repeatedly stamping him in mulitiple directions.

DRS Stamps: High Tailin' Turkey (F297), Turkey on the Run greeting (G318)
Paper: white, creamy caramel, baroque burgundy, CM retired patterened paper
Ink: black, creamy caramel
Accessories: brads, CM custom cutting system, scallop circle die cut, Martha Stewart edge punch

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Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving a little early to all my American friends!

Riley Gives Thanks

Stamps: Turkey Riley - Hanna Stamps, Fancy Flexible Phrases & Itty Bitty Backgrounds - SU
Paper: chocolate chip, white, SU Round Up DP, Basic Grey DP
Ink: black, creamy caramel, chocolate chip
Accessories: ribbon, brads, CM custom cutting system, circle punch, Copic markers, dimensionals






Little Lovins Pilgrim Girl Gives Thanks

Color Challenge: going gray, really rust, very vanilla
(I changed the very vanilla to white because of the DP and the Pilgrim just needs a white bonnet ;)

Stamps: Little Lovins - Stamp Oasis/Rubbernecker, Tiny Talk - SU
Paper: really rust, going gray, white, Fall Flowers DP
Accessories: basic gray taffeta ribbon, Copic markers, SU markers (dots), dimensionals, CM square maker, SU scallop punch