So much to be thankful for…

This year's Thanksgiving was very different than normal. We were so used to having dinner with family every year, I think we took it for granted. Funny, I heard this weekend how when things get too familiar to you….you can easily stop being thankful for it. This can be anything from your relationship, job, family, kids, etc. This concept really hit home for me. I started to think about all the blessings I have and am so thankful for all I've been given in life. I really have everything I need in life…I have to work on not "wanting" so much!

For Thanksgiving, we were invited to have dinner with some of our neighbours. We really have moved onto such a wonderful street with fabulous neighbours. We live on a cul-de-sac in a new development and most of our neighbours have younger family's. There's over 20 kids on our street and such a sense of community. So, our neighbour Amanda invited us to enjoy dinner with her family. We really had a wonderful time and were so thankful to have been asked. Thanks Amanda!

There's so many great stamp sets in this year's Holiday Mini catalogue, but one of the absolutely most versatile sets is Day of Gratitude (W120835/C121148). While it has a fall-like theme, it can easily be used for other projects, particularly the medallion image. Here it's been put to work on a simple thanksgiving card which features rock and roll technique and some embossing.

Step by Step Directions

1. Cut paper as follows:
   1. Early Espresso card base to 5.5 x 8.5
   2. Very Vanilla mat for stamped images to 4 x 5.25
   3. Extra piece of Very Vanilla for punched greeting and acorn
2. Fold card base in half and make crisp line with bone folder.
3. Stamp images using Rock and Roll Technique. The key with this technique is to use two close colors and ink up the stamp with the lighter color and then roll the edges in the darker color. Stamp the medallion in So Saffron and More Mustard, single leaf in Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze and branch of leaves in Cherry Cobbler and Riding Hood Red.
4. Run stamped panel through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder. Ink edges with Early Espresso and Cajun Craze.
5. Attach Cherry Cobbler seam binding to stamped piece using SNAIL and attach to card base using SNAIL.
6. Stamp greeting in Early Espresso and punch out with 2 1/2 Circle Punch. Affix to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
7. Using markers color the acorn with Early Espresso and Cajun Craze and cut out with paper snips. Attach with half of a Stampin' Dimensional.

  Stampin' Up Supply List

• Stamps: Day of Gratitude (W120835/C121148), Seasonal Sentiments (W120821/C121130)
• Ink: Riding Hood Red (111836), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Cajun Craze (119671), Early Espresso (119670), So Saffron (105213), More Mustard (103162)Classic , Cajun Craze Stampin Write Marker (119768), Early Espresso Stampin Write Marker (119680)
• Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Early Espresso (119868)
• Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting System(113439), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), 2 1/2 Circle Punch (120906)