Fall Weather is Finally Here (for the next three days)

Our Fall weather really doesn’t start until October 31st but we have had some chilly evenings the last couple days and we’ll have a couple more this week. Yay! There is nothing better than opening the windows on a nice cool Fall evening. It makes me want to snuggle up under the blankets with my heater. 🙂

By Thursday, it’ll be 95′ again here. Ugh. It’s so hard to make Fall cards and projects when you’re wearing shorts and flip flops and have every fan in the room turned on. I’m taking full advantage of the few cool days we have to whip out a few projects.

Today’s project is actually my second Make & Take from the Scrapbook Retreat this past weekend. The Paisley stamp set in the Holiday catalog didn’t exactly scream Fall to me, so I pulled out my Vintage Leaves stamp set from the Annual Catalog. I love these leaves. So simple, and so detailed.

This Make & Take goes together pretty quickly. The stamping and inking is very simple. The two different ribbons are tied together around the card stock and Petals & Paisleys pattern paper and knotted.

Did you see that adorable copper pinecone? Using a needle and our linen thread, I sewed it to the knot of ribbon. I think I might have to order another package of those copper pinecones, they are seriously cute and I’ve used almost my entire package.

When I come home from the Scrapbook Retreat, I typically have extra pieces from Make & Takes that didn’t get made. It’s so hard to guess exactly how many people will want to make them. I usually pre-cut for about 1/3rd of the total number of attendees. But, I do bring extra card stock and supplies to make the projects just in case more want to make them. And I’ve learned that you don’t pre-cut any ribbon or twine until you have someone ready to make the project.

I typically do not make up the extra cards that I had prepared if I don’t sell out the Make & Takes. Most of my extra pieces end up in my scrap bin and I just put the card bases back in my supply. I know some of you are thinking I probably should make them up since everything is all ready to go. I used to make them up, but I found I don’t usually don’t need five or six of whatever my Make & Take was that time. And I always go to my scrap bin when I need small pieces before I cut up a new sheet of cardstock.

But this time, I made up the last couple of my gift card holders and the last couple of my Fall cards from the retreat so I have more products for the Holiday Boutique this weekend. I did leave off the pinecones though because they will require extra postage when mailed. And I used gold sequins from the gold sequin trim instead of the Metallic Enamel Shapes because I used up most of my enamel shapes.

About my scrap bin… I am loving how I have re-organized it. It works so well for me now. And I am using up all those scraps, which is the most important part. I promise I will share my scrap bin organization in the near future. It has been a game changer for me. Seriously.

Don’t miss out on this month’s special. This is the perfect time to stock up on your favorite pattern papers.