UDI Inspiration Challenge - Rustic Retro Apples

I LOVE Thursdays!
Do you know why?!
Because I get to show you my UDI Blog Inspiration Challenge piece!
This is the BEST challenge for me because I get to look at a picture or photo that our challenge Mom, Maria has sent and then I can let my imagination run wild! It's really a great way to get out of my 'box' creatively and truly, some of these projects are my most favorite!

Here is this week's Inspiration Photo:

Don't they look delicious?!
Honestly, my first thought was to pull out my Tart and Tangy stamp set - kind of the obvious choice, eh? And then after I rejected that idea (too summery!) I thought I'd do a back to school theme, but really, Emma is 12 and back to school just doesn't have the same heart tugs as it used to around here. So, what to do, what to do?.....

I started thinking about the significance of apples to our family. No, that's not strange! You see, every Fall, Mark, Emma and I head up to the Shenandoah Valley and pick apples at one of the many wonderful Virginia orchards. We always make a day of it, getting there early enough to eat homemade apple pastries (the apple doughnuts are to DIE for!), drink homemade apple cider and of course, pick a 1/2 bushel of apples.
When we get home, we spend time that evening making homemade apple pies from the crust up. We LOVE this Fall tradition and wouldn't miss it, it's so fun! It always reminds me of my Grandma somehow. I used to love spending time in her kitchen while she baked. I don't really like to cook - even though I can - but I really like to bake. That's what I learned the most from my Mom and Grandma. And my Grandma used to let me play with pieces of dough from her pie crusts, she even let me eat some even though you're not supposed to, and she would always let me help her decorate the Christmas Cookies. In fact, I still have her cookie cutters and we use them each Christmas.
All these wonderful memories helped me create this card for the challenge:

This card just makes me so happy to look at it! All the little antiquing details from the sponged paper ruffle to the Crochet Lace trim and Antique Trinket safety pin reminds me of my Grandma. Even the Woodgrain background makes me think of her kitchen cabinets - they were clear lacquered pine, very country, but oh, so pretty to me as a child. You could see the beautiful woodgrain in them, just like on this card.

I used Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red and Naturals White cardstock along with some of the Love Letter Designer Series Paper. The edge is punched with the Scalloped Trim Border Punch and I ran it through my Crimper several times to make it pliable. It's simply gathered around the back of the Riding Hood Red circle that I punched using the NEW 2 1/2" Circle Punch from the Holiday Mini! It's awesome! I adhered it with Sticky Strip and it stuck beautifully!

The focal image is from the Studio Sketches stamp set. I stamped it with Soft Suede ink and colored it in using my Stampin' Pastels. Oh, so easy, and I love the soft look they give the image. I attached the piece of Crochet Trim with one of the Antique Trinkets, simply pinning it to the crimped paper circle. I did use Stampin' Dimensionals between several of the layers and everything was sponged with Soft Suede ink - every layer!

The greeting is from the Vintage Vogue stamp set and I just curled it a bit with my Bone Folder and layered it on top of a Riding Hood Red circle cut with my Big Shot and the Circles #2 Die. I texturized it with the woodgrain Texturz plate and then sponged it a bit as well.

Yep, Life happens. Love helps.
Especially love in the form of a homemade apple pie. Love baked into every bite.

I hope my post today has brought back some fond memories of Fall and family for you as well - be sure to check out the other Design Team's creations by visiting the UDI Blog.
Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

All Supplies can be ordered from my Stampin' Up! website Online store.
Remember, each Online Order this month will receive the special note card handstamped by me AND you'll be entered into my NEW drawing for the Perfect Product of the Month!