Paper craft project no. 460: Grateful beyond words

We have a brand new challenge at Time Out. For the next couple of weeks, it's the Home Sweet Home challenge. Here's the inspiration photo, and it's really perfect for fall! This challenge is sponsored by STAMPlorations. The winner (voted by the design team) will get a $10 gift certificate. Two winners will be randomly drawn to win stamps: one will win Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn and the other will receive Trendy Leaves 2.

I took my cue from the colors and the leaves and created this almost one layer card. I sponged Distress inks (spiced marmalade, mustard seed, barn door) through a stencil (Bloom Boldly). Then I die-cut the curvy panel by combining two CUTplorations dies (Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles and Stitched Snow Hills) and stamped one of the newsprint leaves (Trendy Leaves 2). I adhered the panel on the left side of the card base and added contrast between the stenciled blooms and stamped leaves by doodling the border with a black marker. I finished the card by stamping the sentiment (Grateful Beyond Words).

Check out the cards the team + guest designer Claire made and then link up your own project inspired by the photo. We can't wait to see your creations!

Linking up my card to these fun challenges:

• Crafty Gals Corner #89 - Freestyle
• Creative Moments #102 - ATG (Fall Colors - optional twist)
• Stampin' Royalty #346 - Fall Theme
• Word Art Wednesday #248/248 - ATG
• Sunny Day Crafting #14 - ATG
• Make My Monday #30 - Autumn Colors

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The Kat Report

[Snapshots of life with my daughter.]

Last Sunday, the Kat and I had our first girls day out. I've only taken her out by myself twice before but that was to attend cradle roll at church, which was a mere 12-minute drive from our house. This time I took her to Target, a 20-minute drive, to shop for some new clothes for her. We left her daddy at home to sleep and rest. 

She was the perfect little passenger in the backseat. Once at a stop sign, I glanced over at her baby mirror and saw that she was quietly sipping water from her cup. I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I watched her place the cup back in the cup holder and then pull the blankie over her legs before looking out the window to admire the view outside.

At Target, she was happy to look around. She pointed at everything and frequently let out a "Ahh! Ahh! Ehh! Ehh!" -- in Kat speak, that translates to, "Look, mommy! I like that one!"

We spent the first hour walking down all the aisles. After we had quickly surveyed everything in the shop, we headed to the toddler section and started looking for clothes. Fifteen minutes into it, the Kat started getting cranky, which meant she was sleepy. So I pushed her down the diaper and baby food aisles and she was out 5 minutes later. She ended up napping for an hour while I went through baby clothes. I dislike shopping, but ever since I got pregnant, I've taken to shopping for her. 

Before we left home, her daddy had sleepily said, "Be judicious," when I said that I was going to shop for Kat's clothes. And yet there I was at the toddler section with at least $100 worth of baby clothes. I realized that spending that much money on clothes for a growing baby is a bit foolish so I started going through my selection and putting back the ones that I wanted for no reason other than I thought they were the cutest. In the end I ended up getting her 4 long-sleeved 2T tops that were $5 each and 2 baby tights that were on clearance ($5 for both). When I mentioned the clothes I didn't buy to my MIL, she said, "You need to take me with you next time. I want to buy those for her." This is one more reason I adore my mother-in-law ;o)

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Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)