The March 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit was called, Here’s To You! It’s a kit that celebrates the great outdoors! Just looking at it made me reflect on how my journey as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator played a part in me changing from an indoor person to someone who loves outdoor adventures!

From 2003 til 2015, I was blessed to visit Southern Utah 11 times as part of a Stampin’ Up! achievement award called Founder’s Circle. At this event there were some scheduled activities, but there were also many options to choose activities on your own. Indoor activities included hanging out by the pool, going shopping or visiting a spa. Outdoor activities were things like hiking, visiting Zion National Park and rock climbing.

During my first several experiences at Founder’s Circle, I choose indoor things to do. Then in 2011, everything changed when my friend Missy invited me to go rock climbing. I was hesitant to go. Me, Rock Climb?? Are you serious??? However, going meant I’d get to spend quality time getting to know Missy and Heather, who was also planning to go. Hanging out with other demonstrators was one of the highlights of the Founder’s Circle experience. I just never imagined that us hanging out together would literally mean that we would be hanging off the side of a mountain!!!

The three of us had a blast that day!! And I learned something new about myself. Although I’ve dealt with a lot of “fears” in my life. I realized I wasn’t afraid to climb.

Honestly, with rock climbing it was LOVE at FIRST SIGHT!!!

Earning the Founder’s Circle became even MORE motivating for me because I wanted to be able to climb again. When I earned a trip back there the next year, I connected with Meg and Lynsay. When it comes to the outdoors, these two were pros with extensive knowledge and experience.

Before I went hiking with them for the first time they took me shopping to make sure I had all the right equipment. “Do you think these will work?”, I asked Meg.

I have so many wonderful memories of the adventures I’ve shared in the great outdoors with Meg and Lynsay. Our friend Georgia often joined us too. My favorite climbing experience is captured in this photo below. Can you see Georgia and I climbing together? I’m dressed in black on the right side of her.

So, now maybe you can see why the March 2021 Here’s To You Paper Pumpkin kit brought back such fun memories for me. For my first two samples, I thought of what it felt like for me to look at the outdoors through a window, admiring its beauty but never taking steps out of my comfort zone. I love that the sentiment in this kit says, “May your journey in life take you to many new and exciting places”. Being a part of Stampin’ Up! has certainly contributed to me being able to do just that!!!

March 2021 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - WINDOW CARDS

Of all the alternative projects I created with the kit, the square gift card holder is my favorite. Converting this card into a gift card holder is so simple. You can watch my video tutorial by clicking the link below to learn how.

In the video, I also briefly show these samples. They also show beautiful scenes of the great outdoors and the beautiful moments that can be created there.

Speaking of beautiful moments. My most adventurous feat happened in 2016 when Lynsay invited me to the Tour Du Mont Blanc.

Day 2 of the Tour Du Mont Blanc - France

This incredible outdoor adventure, that we shared with our husbands, is something that I look back on as a highlight in my life.

When we went, we really didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. The hike is a 103 mile trip around Mont Blanc with 6.2 miles of ascent/descent and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France.

It was incredibly hard but also life changing and so rewarding. As I hiked, I did a lot of praying. After day one, there were some tears. However, I was all smiles (in the photo above) at the start of day 2 because I knew that this was a challenge I was supposed to do. I relied on God daily, asking for his help and strength. As I look back upon this amazing experience, I see how God used it to prepare me for the even more challenging mountains I’d have to climb when facing stage 4 Lymphoma just a few years later.

Sometimes we find joy in unexpected places. Like times where we get out of our comfort zones and try something new. When we accomplish it, we can evaluate if we’ll ever do it again but either way we can celebrate that we tried.

My final samples are projects you can give to celebrate someone’s accomplishment.

Of course my suns had to have smiles from the Cute Fruit stamp set, one of my favorites that will be retiring soon. If you want to see how I created these two projects, you can watch my video tutorial here.

In closing, I wonder… do you consider yourself to be an outdoor person or an indoor person? Comment below and share your favorite indoor or outdoor activity. Perhaps some of you consider yourself to be a little bit of both?

No matter which you prefer, I hope that you will never give up trying out new adventures in life. Even though a pathway you are on might seem hard, there are amazing blessings awaiting you on the other side! Just keep climbing and moving forward. If I can do it, so can you!

Here’s to you, just for trying!

Cindy

Here's To You!

Stamped With Aloha

Here's To You!

Hey Girlfriend Cozy Crafting Class

Hey Girlfriend

Stamped With Aloha