Day 4: Winter Bookish

 

Pink and Main has some seriously cute rub-ons. This one is from a pack called Winter Bookish. I paired it with a snowy Concord and 9th backdrop and tag dies from Catherine Pooler.

Rub-ons are a great alternative to stamps when a.) you don't feel like coloring and b.) you just want a few "use once" images. And a sheet of rub-ons is easy to store and takes up no space in the craft room.

I think I'll be using more rub-ons in the future!

Day 3: Coffee and Shortbread

 

Coffee and shortbread...has there ever been a more perfect afternoon pairing?

I used Shortbread Shapes Autumn from the Greetery, and paired it with a little steaming coffee cup and some leaves and pumpkins from Concord and 9th.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Blog Hop Day Two: More Scenes in a Sip

 

Day Two of the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Here's another scene in a sip!

This one has an embossed sweater knit panel in the background. 

I was inspired by this week's Starbucks treat: Peppermint Mocha Latte and Cranberry Bliss Bar! Yum!

Stay caffeinated, friends!

Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2026

 

Today's the day! It's the beginning of the Fall Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

And I have some caffeinated inspiration to share with you today!

I've been playing with Altenew's Scenes in a Sip stamps and dies, pairing them with some different backgrounds and color combos. 

This one combines one of my favorite color combos: red and aqua!

There's a lot of sparkle on this card! I used Catherine Pooler's Sweater Weather background stamp, and embossed it with WOW's Sparkling Snow embossing powder. The latte scene also has a touch of Wink of Stella. 

More coffee cards to come!

What I've Been Reading Lately

 

Shorter days, cooler nights. It's the perfect time to get cozy with a good book.

I thought I'd share a few I've read recently.

First up: I read the second and third installments of Kristen Perrin's Castle Knoll mystery series, and they were both great. They had me guessing right until the very end. I like the way that she's woven different story lines and characters throughout the books. 

Two more Agatha Christie novels. Destination Unknown was very unique. It felt a bit like a Cold War spy novel, with lots of foreign travel and intrigue. And the murder? Well, it doesn't reveal itself until the very end.

This was a funny, sweet little book about a lonely woman who befriends a mouse. And that leads to befriending others. 

This was an interesting family saga that involves characters with a "gift" of mental telepathy.

And when I just need a mental break, it's always lovely to have a warm cuppa and a nice magazine on hand.

I have a few requests of new titles from the library that I am anxious to read:

The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

Dead Before Tea Time by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green

The Bishop of Durham Attempts to Surrender the City by Susanna Clarke

And here's the next one in the cue. By the way, check out that gorgeous bookmark on the left that the library was giving out for free at the check out desk! LOVE it!

Heading to the library later today...because you can never have too many books on the TBR pile.

And Just Like That...November!

 

It seems like we flipped the page on the calendar, and instantly it became Novemberish outside, too.

Shorter days, gray skies, fallen leaves. It's lovely, in its subtle beauty.

I finally got to play with some new Shortbread Shapes supplies from The Greetery.

I think I'll make a stack of these cards and pair them with homemade shortbread cookies for Thanksgiving gifts.

Happy November!

Ready for Trick or Treaters

 

I got the front porch ready for Trick or Treaters this week. We typically get around 50 to 60 kids that stop by. I think families tend to go to Halloween events like Trunk or Treats or Boo Bash or shopping mall promotions. That's fine by me. Have you seen the price of candy these days? Yikes!

I found this door mat insert at Mom's house and brought it home. Love it! (I'm sure I bought it for her years ago.)

This old crow got a black paint touch up. He was looking a little worse for the wear, but now he's sporting some prettier feathers.

This glowing Jack-o-Lantern was a gift from my step MIL many years ago, and I love it. It gives the fun glowing pumpkin vibes without the work of pumpkin carving.

Treat bags have been assembled and hidden from husband. Ready to greet all the Disney Princesses and Super Heroes.

Happy Halloween!