Thanksgiving {October Card Night}.

true to my designing process, what i imagined for this card did not actually happen.  the sentiment stamp (happy thanksgiving) is from that super-cute unity stamp set i bought last year, but the image i originally put on that center white label die cut just didn't work.  the end result was that i taught myself a new technique!

the new technique is masking.  i used this technique with the leaves on that white square die cut.  i think it's my new favorite stamping technique.  it's a little time-consuming, though.  here's how to do it:
1) stamp the image you'll be using a few times on scrap paper
2) fussy cut the image -- i learned through trial and error that it's better to leave a tiny border as you cut instead of cutting right along the edge of the image
3) put removable adhesive on the back -- i like tombow
4) arrange your cut images where you'll be stamping

on my card, i arranged my three leaves on the white label.  then, i stamped the dotted border in dark chocolate ink.  i removed the top leaf, inked the stamp in a pine green, and stamped right on top of the other cut out leaves.  next, i removed the leaf on your left, inked in a nice buttery yellow, and stamped that image.  then i removed the final leaf, and stamped it in that pale orange.

don't you love how it turned out??  

two flourish stamps and a ribbon really brought the whole card together.  one product i use and love, is stickles.  stickles is basically just good old glitter glue.  but it comes in sooo many colors and is so easy to use!

on the inside, i die cut the same rectangle label from white paper.  then, i cut it in half, and adhered it to the bottom.  i used the same leaf flourish stamp from the front, and {of course!} added more stickles!  love the stickles!!

designing.

i am in the middle of designing for the october card night.  i decided to move it up a week - ahhh! - and am now in hyperspeed to get it all done.  i'm crossing my fingers that the online order i just placed through papertrey ink comes in in time.  {i can't even think how crazy i'll feel if it doesn't}  i have all the ideas in my head from looking through countless magazines.  the next step in my design process is to play with the paper and embellishments and see if i can make it look like what i imagine.  or better.  or start over.  {hopefully not}

i really like one of the cards on the cover of this magazine - you'll have to wait to see which one i'm improvising on.

the second card i'm working on has been a favorite that i made at one of the rare card nights i attended not done by me :).  it has stayed lovingly in my little stash of goodies - couldn't bear to mail it to anyone since i made it without my own supplies, which makes it truly a one of kind to me!  i decided to use it as my template; different colors, different embellishments, different stamp, but same great sketch.  i think it will work.

the third card is all about thanksgiving. i bought the cutest themed set last year {by unity} for card night.

we used it on two cards {gave them both away and didn't take pics - crime!}, and i love it so much i'm using it again this year.  i rarely do that.  i always try to use new things for card night.

the idea comes out of this magazine, on page 124:

and it caught my eye because it uses the stampin' up top note die cut, which i have and love to use.

so, i'm off to bed - maybe i'll dream up the perfect combination of paper and bling and wow even myself with one of these cards!  {or maybe they'll just get done in time for card night, which would be equally exciting!}