Boo! to You

It's Monday, Monday! How did your weekend treat you? It's been warm and muggy here ever since last Friday, but we had a lot going on to take our minds off the less than fall-like weather. On Friday, my kids had an early release day, so we went out to lunch and did a little shopping. We were finally able to celebrate their excellent end-of-{last}-year report cards! With a little help from some coupons and reward bucks, they were each able to pick out a new stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear Workshop, a little something fun from A.C. Moore, and a new long-sleeved T-shirt for fall. (Although that new T-shirt will have to wait a little while longer 'til the autumn weather returns.)

On Saturday and Sunday, our daughter went on a Girl Scout camping outing with her troop. Sounds like they had a super time, including a flying squirrel experience on a high ropes course! On Sunday our son had his first Cub Scout meeting of the year, his first as a newly minted Bear Cub. He is psyched for a good year! And as for me? Well, I enjoyed a phone date getting caught up with my sister on Saturday afternoon, and then met a few friends for dessert at the Cheesecake Factory that evening. It was my first time ever to eat at a Cheesecake Factory! (I know, where have I been?) It was a difficult choice, but I finally indulged in the Chocolate Tuxedo Cream Cheesecake. YumMMMEEE!! But it was so rich that I could only eat half. You can bet your bottom dollar, though, that I brought the rest home with me for a Sunday evening treat. ;)

I'm thinking that our extended summer vacation really kickstarted my mojo!! It was hard to get back in the groove at first after we returned home at the end of August, but once I got going, I just couldn't seem to stop!! Ideas are popping out at me from everywhere, and my mind won't rest until I've created whatever I've been imagining. Here's my latest:

I'm playing along with The Play Date Cafe's terrific color story this week:

That lovable monster is Mr. Smiles from Jane's Doodles. I won him in a giveaway in June and thought he would be perfect for a Halloween card! I colored him by blending colored pencil with odorless mineral spirits.

The patterned paper and "Boo!" sentiment are digital elements from the Haunted Collection by Carina Gardner. I picked up this awesome black/white on kraft collection for just $1 during the One Buck Wednesday sale at Jessica Sprague last week. I just LOVE One Buck Wednesdays! It's a great way to snap up trendy paper collections (think Carina Gardner, Echo Park, and Cosmo Cricket!!!) for a song, and then I just print what I need when I need it. No storing bulky paper pads, no dealing with too pretty/too expensive scraps, no worrying about whether to hoard my favorite prints in the collection. Through the magic of digital, I can print out my favorites again and again without running out. Whoopee!!

I hope you had a great weekend, too!! Thanks for stopping by to check out my little slice of bliss.
Emily

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Mr. Smiles by Jane's Doodles
Paper: The Haunted Collection digital papers and elements by Carina Gardner, snow storm CS, SU tangerine tango CS
Ink: Palette noir black
Accessories: sewing machine, Mandarin baker's twine from The Twinery, colored pencils, odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stumps, foam tape, scissors, 1" and 1.25" circle punches, brads from Making Memories
Techniques: digital papers, machine stitching, Gamsol Magic