Slimline Sending Thanks Card

My birthday is today, and I've been celebrating all week! My favorite birthday gift was my daughter's arrival this past Tuesday. She's in the Navy but was able to get some leave days, and she surprised me while I was out for my morning walk. It's been wonderful to visit with friends and family and play euchre, Rook, Catan, etc. and take some day trips together while she's been home. We especially enjoyed our trip up to Petoskey earlier this week. Then tonight we're having 14 family members over to celebrate my birthday and Emily's visit! I feel so blessed! 

I've received some other lovely gifts, also, so I thought I would create a few thank you cards. This card was created with the My Favorite Things sketch, color, and slimline card challenges in mind. Blues aren't typical fall colors, but I like a challenge! I thought using my Craftwell Woodgrain Cottage EF (it's so versatile being an 8 1/2 by 11 inch folder!) would help set the background for the fall theme in this month's slimline challenge at MFT. The sketch incorporates two partial circles staggered the way I have them here, so I used a new die (one of my sons asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and then bought me the Fond of Autumn stamp and die bundle from Stampin' Up, and I allowed myself to play with it for the first time today even though it arrived a few days ago!) that cuts a pretty pattern that you can either cut into the paper without it coming out (like I did here) or use an outline die to cut the pattern out of the paper. I then used Gina Marie stitched circle dies to cut out the pretty pattern as a background for my stamped and die cut acorn/leaf clusters from the same SU set. The sentiment is also from the set and comes with a matching die. 

Since the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is to make a matching envelope for their challenge this week, I used the acorn, leaf, and "Thank you" stamps from the same Stampin' Up set to decorate the envelope. I need to make matching envelopes more often as I think they add a special touch. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Order Now — There’s Still Time to Save 35% Sitewide + Slimline Challen – MFT Stamps: Fall Theme (ends October 19)

50% Blitzday Deals PLUS 35% Sitewide Savings PLUS 50% off Retirement — – MFT Stamps: Sketch Challenge (ends on 9/28)

Save $25 on Your Order, 10% Sitewide PLUS Fall Inspiration from Ashley – MFT Stamps: Color Challenge (ends on 9/27)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Card with matching envelope (2/5 ends on 9/28)

handicraft dream (bastel-traum.blogspot.com): Fall (ends October 15)

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies: ATG with dies (ends 9/29; unlimited entries)

Twisted Thursday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-thursday.blogspot.com): ATG with option of the twist: ribbon, sentiment, and at least 3 layers)

fourseasons (thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com): Fall 

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: September Challenge | Hero Arts: ATG with dies (ends October 2)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 7/10 for the challenge period; ends 9/28)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Punch it out (use dies or punches); woodgrain, combine with Use Your Stuff; also, my beverage of choice as I was creating this card was Caramel Brittle Puerh tea from Plum Deluxe with Caramel Nut Pods non-dairy creamer. So yummy! (2/4; ends October 3)

Use Your Stuff: UYS #467 Woodgrain / Double Trouble Collaboration: Wood or woodgrain (I used a woodgrain embossing folder) (2nd entry; ends October 2)