Two thanks and a tree or two.

Hi there!
I have a few cards today, so let's get down to business!

First:

A pal of mine at work who knows I'm a crafty girl was super-thoughtful. While walking the streets of Paris(!), she found herself outside a scrapbook store(!), dashed in, and picked up a little souvenir for me -- a sweet patterned-paper pad. So thoughtful! Of course, I had to use the paper on the thank you card -- two of the patterns are here, along with a little (French) word of thanks, some chartreuse ribbon, and Peach Parfait cs. There's score lines along the edges -- they're easier to see if you click on the photo, I think.

Next:

All right, this might not be my favorite card ever, but I think it's ok...I got the tree stamp from Memory Box awhile ago (at Mega Meet in May, I think) and hadn't used it successfully yet. I think if I tried this again, I'd measure and cut way more carefully. Anyway. Oh, the German? This is a thank you for my aunt and uncle, who sent us a German phrasebook -- Andrew's got a choir event there next spring, so it's time to brush up! I used a Studio G dollar alphabet for the Deutsch.  By the way, Aqua Mist and Spring Moss make a lovely duo, but it's super-tough to photograph! I think I need a different color in the background -- the green looks khaki to me.

Finally:

While the German card almost works, this card here definitely fits the bill for Susan's One-Layer Wednesday challenge this week -- trees!  I broke out a fairly new tree here -- I picked it up at Gwen Frostic in Beulah. Wait, you've never heard of Beulah? Shocker. It's a tiny town up near the pinkie of Michigan...and it's home to Gwen Frostic. Feel free to check it out next time you're in town :) Gwen was a lovely lady and is a Michigan treasure. Just a way-out-of-the-way one.

Anyway, the tree is stamped on Rustic White in Soft Suede, then watercolored with more Suede and Old Olive. I also painted over the tree with this stuff called Ritzy Ditzy Glitz. Man, that's a goofy name. It's like Glimmer Mist, but with just the glimmer, not the color. It's very subtle. So subtle, the camera couldn't see it!  The bottom is sponged with some River Rock, and the sentiment is from PTI's Birthday Basics. This card will go to an old pal of ours who digs camping -- his birthday is later this week.

Today is back-to-school day in MI (for K-12, anyway -- I'm on week 3!). Andrew went back to work, my mom went back to work, all my friends' kids are back in school...I guess it's officially fall!!  Hooray! Any fall stuff you're looking forward to? For me, it's our local cider mill -- yum!