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Happy Thanksgiving!

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Over the last few weeks, each of the members of my family secretly wrote, on little strips of paper, all the things for which they are thankful and tossed them into a basket.  We read through them at breakfast this am, and I thought today would be the perfect time to share those entries here on my blog.  Please keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list (We had well over 100 entries.), and see if you can guess who might have written what.  In no particular order, we are thankful for...

1. museums
2. friends
3. books
4. food
5. Dad
6. Harvest Christian Center
7. a cozy fireplace
8. Skype to keep in touch with Kansas City friends
9. art supplies
10. paintings
11. Red Robin
12. electronics
13. my clarinet
14. Pastor Eddie Lee
15. our home
16. parks
17. my camera
18. water
19. hiking trails
20. blankets
21. homemade bread
22. Mexico
23. Western States Fire Protection (my hubby's employer)
24. cleaning supplies
25. homeschool
26. cheesecake
27. salvation
28. Mom
29. candles
30. teachers
31. rainbows
32. Snowflake (our bunny)
33. music
34. the Kansas City Royals
35. board games
36. joy
37. El Paso
38. road trips
39. Culvers
40. IKEA
41. snow
42. movies
43. toys
44. spices
45. holidays
46. the Bible
47. cacti
48. coffee
49. naps
50. forgiveness
51. planetariums
52. Ezekiel
53. pie
54. God
55. trees
56. India
57. Junie (our puppy)
58. bicycles
59. closet organization systems
60. Kansas City Chiefs
61. mountains
62. plants
63. stories
64. Kaden
65. authors
66. Summer (our dog who passed away this past September)
67. PJ Masks
68. peace
69. dogs
70. missionaries
71. Christmas
72. love
73. animals
74. Spotify
75. tea
76. band
77. the night sky
78. Chex Mix
79. flowers
80. butterflies
81. popcorn
82. the ocean
83. a loving wife
84. my bed
85. Christian radio
86. sunshine
87. farmer's markets
88. bookshelves
89. electricity
90. family
91. our world
92. Adina
93. Paw Patrol
94. fruit
95. pajamas
96. slippers
97. libraries
98. rain
99. Saturday morning pancakes
100. blog friends (That's YOU!)

From my family to yours, have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!  And to all those who don't live in the United States, have an absolutely fantastic day!  Hugs! 

Pretty Little Studio: The Tribe

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!  I'm up on the Pretty Little Studio blog today, sharing a page that's full of thankful.  It was inspired by all three of the fall collections, Indian Summer, Feels Like Fall, and Oakley Avenue, and a sweet picture of Ezekiel and some of his cousins behind their thankful tree.  Enjoy!

I started this page by adding three shades of yellow, watercolor puddles to the 12" x 12" watercolor, paper, base page.  I then splattered it with those same shades, as well as orange, blue, and aqua watercolors, before gold-glitter-embossing a number of feathers, from the Indian Summer clear stamp set, throughout the design and splattering everything, once again, but this time with Pure Black and Titanium White, acrylic paints.  Once everything was dry, I adhered Happy Place, Beautiful Colors, Time Together, Vellum, Feeling' Fallish, Falling Leaves Sequin Mix, and September 2019 Freebie, die-cut leaves, as well as Fall Away Die-Cut Arrows, in the same, vertical position as the embossed feathers.  That set the stage for my photo, which was matted with white cardstock and backed with scraps of the Chestnut and Persimmon prints, as well as Magic Days Journaling and Crisp Air 3x4 pocket cards, all anchored with gold-threaded, straight, machine stitching.  A Gold Metallic Label, etched with Thanksgiving '11, was tucked under the photo's right edge.

That photo was then grounded with a Fun Day Offset Title Die-Cut "the TRIBE", topped with a "family" Fall Phrases Die Cut and popped up with foam tape.

It was crowned with an October 2019 Freebie "remember" circle, embellished with a Happy Place Die-Cut acorn, popped up with foam tape, and a length of Baker's Twine, tied in a bow.

To complete the look, I added a little, hand-written journaling, which reads, There are so many things for which this tribe is thankful...

as well as a number of stamped, in Jet Black ink, words and phrases, all of which derive from the Indian Summer clear stamps set.  Tip: Use a white, gel pen to "bury" your stamped bits below the splatters for depth and dimension.

Be sure to pick up your festive Merry Cut-Apart + Die-Cut Freebie with any $10 purchase...

and/or the 3x8 Holiday Clear Overlays Freebie (2) with any $35 purchase throughout the month of November.

Thanks ever so much for stopping by on this special day.  Be blessed, friends!  XOXO

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Indian Summer clear stamp set (PLS) Paper: white (Paper Studio); watercolor (Master's Touch); Indian Summer: Persimmon 8x8 & 6x6 Paper Pack (PLS) Ink: watermark (VersaMark); Jet Black (Ranger); Black PITT artist pen (Faber Castell) Other: gold thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Paper Studio); watercolors (Kuretake); Pure Black & Titanium White acrylic paints (FolkArt); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); embossing gun (SU!); Clear Gold sparkle embossing powder (Recollections); Indian Summer: Vellum Leaves Die Cuts, Magic Days Journaling Pocket Card, Time Together Die Cuts, Happy Place Die Cuts, Beautiful Colors Die Cuts, Fun Day Offset Title Die Cuts, & Goodbye Summer Die Cuts; Oakley Avenue: Fall Away Arrows & Feelin' Fallish Die Cut; Feels Like Fall: Fall Phrases Die Cut & Crisp Air 3x4 Pocket Card; Potpourri: Falling Leaves Sequin Mix; The Gold Mine: Gold Metallic Label; September 2019 Freebie; October 2019 Freebie (PLS)

Pretty Little Studio: It's the Weekend!

Morning, y'all!  Just popping in to share a page, which happens to be up on the Pretty Little Studio blog today, inspired by the Document Life Collection with a few kisses of the Fun in the Sun Collection thrown in for good measure.  I just haven't had enough time to give these collections the attention they deserve and had to play.  Check it out!

I started this page by adding puddles of red and yellow watercolors to the 12" x 12" watercolor, paper, base page.  I then splattered it with those same shades, as well as purple watercolor and Pure Black and Titanium White, acrylic paints.  Once it was dry, I added lots of hand-cut tidbits of the Be Happy Gray 12x12, some of which were popped up with foam tape; Queen Bee 6x6; and Dolly 6x6 prints, as well as Happy Hexagon Cut-Aparts and two large Highlights Pocket Cards, hand-cut into coordinating hexagons and anchored with black-threaded, straight, machine stitching.  That set the stage for my photos, which were all matted with white cardstock.  The far right one was also popped up with foam tape; topped with a "Sunday" Days of the Week Die Cut, popped up with more foam tape...

and anchored with a couple of Best Days Die-Cut phrases, as well as a Summer Labels Cut-Apart, etched with a few, Broadmoor Park, July 28, 2013, details.

The bottom photo was embellished with an "enjoy today" Insta-Worthy Flair Button...

and the third and final photo was wrapped, three times, with a length of Baker's Twine, tied in a bow to its left edge; grounded with an "adventures" Best Days Die Cut, popped up with foam tape...

and crowned with an "it's the WEEKEND!" Noted Color Word Die Cut, popped up with more foam tape.  A stamped in Jet Black ink, watercolored, and hand-cut, camera, from the Indian Summer Clear Stamp Set and kissed with a little Glossy Accents for shine, and duo of Summer White Word Stickers complete the look.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Indian Summer clear stamp set (PLS) Paper: white (Paper Studio); watercolor (Master's Touch); Document Life: Be Happy Gray 12x12 & 6x6 Paper Pack Ink: Jet Black (Ranger) Other: black thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Paper Studio); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); watercolors (Kuretake); Glossy Accents (Ranger); Pure Black & Titanium White acrylic paints (FolkArt); Document Life: Days of the Week Die Cut, Happy Hexagon Cut-Aparts, Seen & Noted Color Word Die Cut, Insta-Worthy Flair Button, & Highlights Pocket Cards; Fun in the Sun: Best Days Die Cuts, Summer Labels Cut-Apart, & Summer White Word Stickers (PLS)

For the Love of Books

Evening, y'all!  With Thanksgiving day here in the states being only a week away, I thought it fitting to share a Thanksgiving book for this month's For the Love of Books pick.  Over the last couple of years, Kaden has grown quite fond of all of the many Berenstain Bears books; and as I was searching for a good read to share, I didn't need to look any further than his nightstand.  I honestly cannot believe that I haven't shared a single Berenstain Bears book here over the years.  They have been charming readers since 1962; and while my older kiddos never really latched onto the collection, I'm thrilled Kaden is reading books, again and again, that were inscribed and gifted to me, years ago, by many of the relatives he never got to meet.

In The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks, written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Papa receives payment for his carpentry work in the form of a living turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.  Sister thinks the beautiful turkey, whom they name Squanto, would make a much better pet and grows more and more anxious about losing her new friend as the holiday nears.  To take her mind off her fears, Mama suggests she work on putting together a script of a play, depicting her own rendition of the first Thanksgiving.  She and Brother plan to perform it, with Honey and cousin Fred, for the rest of the family.  It worked like a charm.  It wasn't until "all the grown-ups [had] clapped and stamped and whistled" and Mama had announced that dinner was ready, that Sister remembered her new friend.  Will Papa have a change of heart and allow Sister to keep Squanto as a pet?

Thanks, as always, for reading, friends!  And may who is around your Thanksgiving tables, rather than what is on them, be where your treasure is this year and always.  Hugs!

Pretty Little Studio: Daddy's Hands

Morning, y'all!  I'm up on the Pretty Little Studio blog again today, sharing another page inspired by the Indian Summer Collection.  Y'all, I'm trying to put it down.  I really am; but it just keeps calling me back.  It's almost time to switch to Christmas, though; and Kim has cooked up another fabulous collection, Glitter & Ice, which is NOW SHIPPING, to keep us all, once again, coming back for more.  Until then...

I started this page by adding puddles of yellow and bright pink watercolors and splatters of the same shades, as well as navy and aqua watercolors, to the 12" x 12" watercolor, paper, base page.  I then rubbed Spiced Marmalade and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks through a circle template and stamped striped circles, in Melon Mambo ink, across the background before splattering it once again, but this time with Gold Color Shine and Pure Black and Titanium White, acrylic paints.  That set the stage for my photo, which was matted with white cardstock and set atop a happy mix of Indian Summer prints, including Persimmon, Foxy, Comfy Sweater, and Blue Moon, anchored with gold-threaded, straight, machine stitching, as well as a 4" Cambridge White Doily and snippet of cheesecloth for texture.  The photo itself was then sandwiched between a mix of Time Together and Pumpkin Spice Die-Cut florals...

some of which were popped up with foam tape and all of which were tucked in amidst white-embossed, on vellum, and hand-cut leaves from the Indian Summer Clear Stamp Set.

A trio of Happy Place Die-Cut starbursts, as well as a vintage, orange button, laced with white string; Goodbye Summer Die-Cut butterfly...

and "noted" Love This Flair Button, were also scattered amidst the clusters.

A "such A CUTE PAIR" Goodbye Summer Die-Cut tab, popped up with foam tape, as well as a stamped, in Jet Black ink, "FAMILY", from the Indian Summer Clear Stamp Set, crown the design...

and Clear Gold Inline Alpha Stickers, to create the "DADDY'S HANDS" title, along with another Pumpkin Spice Die-Cut blossom, flanked with white-embossed, on vellum, and hand-cut leaves, and a little journaling ground it.  My journaling reads, I just love the way you always sneak your little hand into ours & just start chatting about your day.  September 1, 2013

Another stamped "grateful FOR YOU" phrase from the Indian Summer Clear Stamp Set and a couple of Goodbye Summer Die-Cut phrases, popped up with foam tape, complete the look.

Thanks ever so much for humbling me with a visit!  Have a terrific week, friends!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Strictly Sentiments (Wplus9); Indian Summer clear stamp set (PLS) Paper: vellum & white (Paper Studio); watercolor (Master's Touch); Indian Summer: Persimmon 8x8 & 6x6 Paper Pack (PLS) Ink: VersaMark (watermark); Spiced Marmalade & Tumbled Glass Distress Inks & Jet Black (Ranger); Melon Mambo (SU!) Other: gold thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Paper Studio); watercolors (Kuretake); circle stencil (Fiskars); Gold Color Shine (Heidi Swapp); Pure Black & Titanium White acrylic paints (FolkArt); white embossing powder (ZING!); embossing gun (SU!); cheesecloth (Dritz); button (Jenni Bowlin); white string (Hobby Lobby); Indian Summer: Beautiful Colors Die Cut, Time Together Die Cuts, Happy Place Die Cuts, Goodbye Summer Die Cuts, Pumpkin Spice Die Cuts, Love This Flair Button, & Clear Gold Inline Alpha Stickers; 4" Cambridge White Doily (PLS)