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Autumn Wishes

This is last week's post and video.  I'm not feeling too well right now, but I will get better. There are two versions of this card with different ribbon and sizes. I was changing the measurements until I got it how I wanted it, and of course when making something new, there were mistakes to correct. 

PDF Tutorial 

Breast Cancer Month

 My video posts have been off schedule lately and since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to let you know why.

I have been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I had surgery and will begin radiation treatments soon. have been good about getting yearly mammograms and that was never so important than this year. I got that call, suspicious spots were found. I thought they were probably calcification again, but called for an appointment to the Breast Heath Center at a large hospital nearby. I was given an appointment the next week. The oncologist wanted to do a biopsy that week. Then the diagnosis came. I had breast cancer. Surgery was scheduled for the following week. Praise God we caught it early and the surgeon was able to remove it all. I'm in the midst of having tests done to prepare for radiation treatments. I may be a few days off on posting, as this week, (instead of my usual Monday, it's Saturday) but I will keep trying to maintain a schedule:) It's good for me to stay busy and stamping is FUN!

Because breast cancer has touched far too many lives, including mine. I am now a breast cancer survivor, and I am carrying that gratitude into four actions:

1. Reminding everyone I know to get their yearly mammograms
2. Using The Stampin' Up! Love and Courage stamp set, which was designed to uplift and comfort those affected by breast cancer. Every purchase includes a $3 donation from Stampin’ Up! toward global breast cancer support efforts. 
3. Developing a program at my church to make Chemo Bags for those undergoing treatment. These pink canvas tote bags will include several items to comfort recipients such as a pink, soft cuddly throw, body lotion for sensitive skin, a soft head cap, a book of devotionals by Lysa TerKeurst, aluminum-free clean deodorant, organic anti-nausea lozenges, lip ointment, pink tumbler for drinks etc.
4. Letting people know of fundraising for cancer research. My experience has been so much better than that of people I know who went through it 20 years ago. I am so blessed and very thankful.

As I am going through treatment, friends and family have lifted me up. A sweet friend gave me a chemo bag,. Friends brought meals to us after my surgery. So soooo many people lifted me up in their prayers! That support has meant the world to me!

Because of this experience, I know how much every single dollar that has been given to cancer research matters! Besides the vital research that has helped countless women survive, donations also help provide:

• Treatment and support for patients when insurance or money falls short
• Resources and programs that bring comfort, dignity, and hope
• Community and outreach so no one feels alone in this fight

I've done some research to determine the best charitable organizations. I specifically looked at transparency and accountability, financial efficiency, community engagement, and the amount of money raised. Two of the top organizations who raise money for breast cancer research are The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and The American Cancer Society. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide they announced a record-breaking investment of $74.75 million for breast cancer research in 2025-2026.

Falling Into Autumn

 Spring has always been my favorite season by far. I'm a huge flower person, add to that all the rebirth in spring just makes my heart sing. However there is something kind of soothing about fall as well. Cooler weather after summer's brutal heat is so soothing. The birds are active this time of year too. My favorite song bird, the Mocking Bird, is busy singing up a storm. I've recently learned that they are very territorial, and sing to mark their feeding grounds in the fall. My dog and I love to sit on the deck and listen to all the birds singing.

This card captures the essence of fall perfectly. I've stamped the acorn image from Amber Autumn in Memento Black ink, then colored with Stampin' Blends.  I then used Stylish Shapes Dies to cut out the image. 

Next, I applied Real Red, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Mossy Meadow inks with Blending Brushes in "splotches" of color on a Basic Beige panel. Next, I diecut the colored panel with the large leafy die. 

I diecut the Early Espresso card base with a rectangle from Stylish Shapes to creat a frame. Then I embossed the framed card base with the Timber Embossing Folder. I adhered the diecut leafy panel to a plain Basic Beige panel, and adhered those to the inside of the card base frame.

I mounted the stamped acorn image to a circle cut from the Stylish Shapes dies and attached it to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals. To finish it all off, I added Streaked Dots and Wink of Stella.

 

New Packaging: Stamp & Die Organizers

 

The shift begins with November 2025 Online Exclusives. Sometimes change can be hard, but as we use something new we often find that we love it! Take the new colors Secret Sea and Cloud Cover for example. When we first saw them online, several of us in my Demonstrator group were skeptical of these colors thinking they were two more shades of gray. Then they came in the mail and wowee! We found how gorgeous and versatile they were!! Secret Sea especially, it's not just a darker shade of Night of Navy. It has a different tone altogether and it is supremely beautiful!!! When we first learned aobut the new stamp and die organizers, I decided to embrace the change and quickly converted alllll of my stamps to this new system, and I am totally loving it! The amount of space my stamps and dies now take up is so significant making my craft room flow so much better and feel happier.  Catch the vision—  First, take a look at the post about my Mini Craft Room Makeover here: https://scmagnolia.blogspot.com/2025/09/craft-room-mini-make-over.html Look at all this beautiful low profile space!! I want to highlight the benefits of moving in this storage direction! Here are a few of them: The profile is slim (5-5/8" x 9") and takes up less space. With printed artwork on the front (for dies, too!), you can flip through and quickly find what you’re looking for. It’s now easier to store coordinating stamps and dies together.

Happy Fall Y'all!!

 

Stamps	Amber Autumn Bundle
Paper	Autumn Toile Designer Paper, Gray Granite, Early Espresso, Basic White, Pecan Pie, Mossy Meadow, Textured Metallic Paper
Ink	Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie
Embellishments	Streaked Dots, Irregular Weave 3/8" Trim, Linen Thread
Tools	Stampin' Blends, Amber Autumn Dies

I have two fall/Thanksgiving Day cards for you today featuring the Autumn Amber Bundle, the beautiful Autumn Toile Designer Paper and two new embellishments. In the descriptions below, just click on the blue linked text and you will be directed to my online store for more information. 

Let me tell you about two new embellishments. The Streaked Dots, look like Tiger's Eye which I've always loved. Tiger's eye is a gemstone that is usually a rock. It is mainly used for jewelry-making and decorations.

Tiger's Eye Stones

Streaked Dots Stampin' Up!

 Irregular Weave 3/8" Trim  is such a unique ribbon. The texture really adds a great character to you creations!

Amber Autumn Bundle

Autumn Toile Designer Paper

Ribbon Wranglers

 

To keep your ribbon from unwinding and making a mess, make these Ribbon Wranglers! A simple fix with a strip of cardstock and you will have no more messy ribbon spools! I've done this to all of my ribbon and they are now wrangled into submission! PDF directions

All you need are:

• glue
• Thick Basic White cardstock
• scissors
• Hole Punch Assortment

Cutting Thick Basic White Cardstock

• Regular Size Ribbon Spools: cut cardstock 1/2” x 5-1/2”
• Wide Ribbon Spools: 1/2” x 8-1/2”
• Thread Spools: 1/2” x 2-1/4” mark it in the center

Hole Punch Assortment  https://www.stampinup.com/products/hole-punch-assortment?demoid=2109078

1. Insert cardstock into hole on ribbon spool, leave about one inch sticking out on the other side.

2. Fold cardstock around the spool, creating crease marks along the edges of the spool. Allow some overlap, then trim off excess.

3. With a pencil, mark the center of the cardstock the width of the spool.

4. Use punch out a slit where pencil line is.

5. Even up crease lines and crease well.

6. Reinsert cardstock strip into ribbon spool and glue where the ends overlap.

7. With the end of the ribbon on your right, insert ribbon into the slit shaped hole towards your left. Pull tight. Slide ribbon gizmo away from the ribbon end to shorten length of ribbon hanging out.

Thread Spool:

• For a spool you make it a little differently. You just create a little cap that you can place on the end and twist this to tighten it up.

• With a new spool, there is just the tiniest bit of spool to work with. It's easier to get a spool that is almost gone to make them for newer spools that already have so much thread on them.

1. Cut cardstock to 1/2” x 2-1/4” and mark it in the center. Using the 1/8" hole punch to create the hole.

2. Wrap the cap around tightly and glue. Hold for a few seconds to allow glue to dry.

3. Take the little cap off. Thread the Linen Thread or Baker's Twine through the center of the cap, around the end then down the through the hole you punched.

4. Place the cap back on the spool and twist it until .

5. If there is a lot of thread, you might want to hand twist it. As you twist, it kind of locks into place.