Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

To fulfill a promise, DH and I took the daughter to the pumpkin patch today in Corrales. We quickly discovered that we had chosen a perfect day to go. Being the last day, there was no crowd, and we were able to take home as many pumpkins as we wanted for free. The pickins were slim, but we chose 16 adorably cute, small pumpkins. In the maze I was grateful that DH took the lead. I was a bit panicky at first, thinking of Children of the Corn, but it was actually lots of fun.

And the photo I have chosen for the photo-a-day challenge:



Now it's off to create a squash book in preparation for an upcoming workshop!

Photo-a-Day Challenge Kick-off

I have taken on a personal challenge to take a photo each day during the month of November. I want to get to know my new(ish) camera, and I want to work on my stick-to-it-ness.

My first photo depicts a little bit of each person in our family. I wanted to start with something from our everyday lives, and what better than something we scan over each day, consciously or not.



Also, as an Autumn gift, I decorated a candy jar for my boss. Not only is the jar functional, it is so stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself!



My favorite element on the jar is the "D", which is an alpha from CTMH's November Constant Campaign, Dazzling Die Cuts. I have been working with these textured cardstock goodies for a week or so and having so much fun. Look for more artwork using these die cuts this month.

November already?

I can't believe we are already in November. Amazing! Here is a card I created using the Close to my Heart November Stamp of the Month, All Decked Out. The stamp set is so cute because it you can create so many different snowmen. Here is the first one I made:



Materials (All CTMH, except as noted)
Cardstock: Bamboo and Crystal Blue(sanded with fine grit side of sanding block from Sanding Kit in a circular motion all over), Twilight Textured (edges sanded with medium grit side of sanding block), White Daisy
B&T Duos: Plaid (left side base) and Twilight Snowflakes (hat, nose and scarf) from the Aspen, My Reflections Paper Packet
My Acrylix Stamp Set: All Decked Out
Other: Prisma Glitter set with Bonding Memories Glue

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And while I was in the holiday mood (and had out my Aspen paper packet), I made a simple piece to go on the mantle.

Materials (All CTMH, except as noted)
Cardstock: Bamboo (distressed with Edge Distresser) and Creme Brulee (sanded with block from Sanding Kit)
B&T Duos: Plaid from the Aspen, My Reflections Paper Packet (distressed with Edge Distresser)
Letters: Dimensional Elements alphas (sponged with Exclusive Inks in Twilight and covered with Liquid Glass)
My Stickease: Aspen, My Reflections
Silver Hinges and brads
Other: Silver hinges and brads, Bonding Memories Glue, Coasters (from stash)

It's here! It's here!

The Close to my Heart Journey to Director Goal Setting and Planning Guide is in my hot little hands... Of course I took pics as I was opening it! Off I go to tell my J2D buds :-)

Cute Pocket-Sized Album

A fabulously artsy CTMH consultant shared this project with some of us, and I fell in love with it. So, here is my version.







Thanks, Tressa Black, for the inspiration and instructions.

I will be teaching this workshop Saturday at a fundraiser crop for the PTO of the preschool up the street, Shining Stars. For more information, leave a comment.

And storm it was...

Weeks have gone by since I have posted. My sincere apologies. I had a wonderful workshop in which 7 ladies created a Star Book. And from that workshop, a delightful woman sitting next to me booked an acrylic album workshop. Here is the example of the album we will create. Keep in mind it is a rough draft, but I think it will be GORGEOUS!







Next up is an all-day crop to benefit a local preschool PTA. I am WAY excited for this. I get to do a workshop and a make-and-take (shorter version of a workshop), and display my groovy products! I'm just about finished with that workshop example, and I will post it when it is ready.

The calm before the storm

This morning was the first mass ascension of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, an autumn event which has been around longer than I have. Usually this is a grand occasion for New Mexicans and visitors to don their coats, hats, gloves, and, sometimes thermal, underwear. When I left the house at 5:54 a.m., the outside temperature was 59 degrees. My dad said there was some sort of weather inversion yesterday (yes, my father -- with his degree in English and a background in print journalism -- is qualified to be my weather source). So, today's weather was all nice and pretty. The storm arrived a few minutes ago, but the temp is still hangin' in the upper 60s.

Below are a couple photos I took of the aforementioned hot air balloons. We were watching from our church parking lot which overlooks the city. Unfortunately for us today, the balloons floated away from us.

The first photo is my favorite picture of the morning. This one was taken before the balloons lifted off. I just love New Mexico sunrises!


The second was taken with my regular 18mm-55mm lens that came with the camera. If you look closely, you can see the place where they take off in the lower right corner.


The last photo was taken with my telephoto (75mm-300mm) lens. Absent a traditional tripod, I used the above wall with the cross on it to stabilize my camera.


In the next few days I am hoping to capture some photos from the other side of town with the sun at my back.

Not only is the calm before the storm weather-wise, the same is true for my life. Tomorrow I have a huge workshop, for which I am still preparing. Then the daughter turns 11 next weekend, so Friday we are taking seven 6th-grade girls glow bowling and then allowing them to, a-hem, sleep in our living room. Then I have another workshop and crop Saturday. The week after that I am finally taking the daughter to Iowa to visit my alma mater, Wartburg College. I can't believe I graduated 15 years ago! (Yes, that was an open opportunity to calculate my approximate age.)