UWYH #10 - How 'Bout Them Apples!

Hello, friends!  It's been an extra hot week around here, not only because we are in the middle of a heat wave but because the air conditioning in BOTH of our cars died this week! 

To top it off, I'm driving everyone all over town all day and night with the windows wide open and I hear a ticking sound...only to find a huge bolt in one of my brand new tires!  Eeek!  However, I am looking at the bright side...the only reason I found that bolt was because I had my window open since the AC was broken.  At least we didn't get stranded somewhere in the extreme heat with a flat tire, right?

Anyway, I digress.  I'm here today to share some cards I made for a new favorite challenge of mine.  The Use What You Have Challenge #10 at Sweet Stamp Shop is running until July 30th (two weeks instead of one).  I LOVE the idea of making a card each week using up my stash!  Brilliant, I say!  You should check it out! 

 
So, I bought THIS older set a few months ago (totally inspired to get it by Donna Mikasa's awesome card using this set) and couldn't wait to stamp that apple on patterned paper and fussy cut it.  That is a great way to use your stash of patterned papers, by the way...and that apple image with all that open space lends itself perfectly to such stamping.

Here's my stash of patterned papers, begging to be used!

I used these three paper pads in particular...

I love to stamp and fussy cut images all at once...I usually do it at the kitchen table while my kids watch TV or read in the evening and I find it very relaxing.  Plus, I have a great collection of images ready for future card-making!

So, how 'bout them apples? (It's a saying, not poor grammar on my part!)  I keep them in envelopes with the name of the paper used so I can list it when I blog them later.

And here are a few cards I put together using my stash...thank you cards for my kids' teachers.  (I like to give them cards at Thanksgiving, and I'll have three kids in middle school next year with multiple teachers...I'll need lots of cards!)  I used a variety of thank you sentiment stamps from Paper Smooches, PTI and Simon Says Stamp, all with the SSS apple.

Here they are individually...

(A total CASE of Donna's card!)

Here they are all together...

So, if you want to use up your stash (even if you don't have any SSS images) you should check out this challenge the Sweet Stamp Shop blog.  There is a prize, and two prizes if there are more than 15 entries.  Join in and use your stash!  (Note that their July release is coming up, too...looks scary cool!)

Thanks for stopping by and hanging in there for a long post!
Judy