Sparkly pumpkin

This Lawn Fawn die was a gift for my birthday from my friend, Kara.  There are actually two dies but I only used one. I die cut it from a very old DCWV paper pad of sparkly paper and matted it on Halloween pattern paper. Don't know it's name. I let the paper talk but I just had to add those orange embellishments from The Robin's Nest. These are old too that I have in my stash.

A new adventure yesterday. My friend, Sharon, and I went to the racetrack. It's just like on TV and very exciting to be there in person.We stayed for six races and had lunch there. The horses are beautiful and the jockeys are so little. Two of my horses won and several came in second or third. What a fun experience but it only goes one more week then it's over for the year. My horse below had odds of 30-1 and he won his race. How cool is that!

Be kind to one another.

A gift from Maria

Boy did it rain yesterday. All day with no break. Molly feels like she's had a bath with her clean, soft fur. She doesn't like going out in the rain but she had no choice yesterday!

My friend Maria, https://mariasmerrymakings.blogspot.com/, sent me the most beautiful birthday card and I asked her if she would bring the die cut to the retreat. I pretty much case'd her card and here is the result. I don't know the name of the die but it makes a great card. I colored it with Distress Oxides and a sponge dauber. It is matted on black cardstock and  Cassie Kitty added Pretty Pink Posh sequins for centers. The gold frame is also PPP and I made a teeny twine bow. The sentiment is gold embossed with Queens Gold and is from Hero Arts.

Be kind to one another.

Another leaf since it's fall

Before I share my card today I want to talk about my previous card. I believe the reason the black ink didn't show up on the veins of the leaves is because the re-inker wasn't quite dry before I stamped. You need to spritz with 90% or higher alcohol right away when you drop the re-inker on the photo paper. I haven't done it again but I was so pleased with the results I will be doing it on another card. I'll share what happens.

Today's card is a technique Colleen of https://onesmileliftsaspirit.blogspot.com/ shared with us at the retreat. I scribbled Copic markers in three different colors just back and forth on cardstock. The third color doesn't show up but it is supposed to be ombre'.  Then covered the marker with Nuvo glimmer paste. I used a sheet of Echo Park paper and cut a leaf from it with a Poppy Stamp die and when the paste was dry, I adhered the paper over it, then adhered to  gold c/s.  The sentiment is cut from Echo Park paper pack and I added a few copper sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. What a beautiful technique and a great teacher. Thanks, Colleen.

Be kind to one another.

Maple leaves

I'm not sure this is clean enough for the the https://caswatercolour.blogspot.com/ challenge so if it's not, please delete it. I used photo paper and re-inkers with water to color the leaves then spritzed with alcohol to spread the color. I used black ink on the leaf stamp and stamped over the leaf to get the veins but it worked as lift ink and no black ink remained. A new Technique? The stamp and die is Gina K. and the sentiment is Penny Black.

Be kind to one another.

Quick card

I swore I'd stay home the rest of the week and get things done and I'm out the door to have lunch with my SIL. She has been working all week and called this morning wanting to have lunch. Now, really, who can resist eating lunch out? I have no will power. The housework and laundry will be here waiting when I get back. That's what's wonderful about retirement - you can put things off until you get around to them.

This is a quick and easy card but just says "Hello" to brighten someone's day. An embossing folder, stamped flower and some ribbon. Gotta go.

Be kind to one another.

October retreat

I am just back from a retreat in Nashville, IN. It is a quaint tourist town with lots of shops and restaurants to browse located just 40 minutes south of Indianapolis. I was so thrilled to have seven great friends and stampers join me for five days of stamping, shopping, sharing ideas, eating and visiting. So much fun getting to know one another and laughing along with making cards. I wish all my stamping friends could get together for something like this - wouldn't that be so much fun?

This is my dining room table loaded with things to take

Having lunch in Nashville with Linda, Kara and Greta

Linda and Kathy joining us for shopping and lunch

Darnell, Kara and Colleen 

Kara, Colleen and Maria

Happy Hour outside on the picnic table using bath towels

for tablecloths

Kara teaching  Copics for Colleen

Sharon preparing dinner

Kara and Sharon

Darnell and Linda

Maria and Greta

Colleen, Brenda, Sharon and Kara

Colleen, Greta and Maria

Greta and Sharon

Greta and Kara

Darnell holding Cassie Kitty and Hammy

Sorry it's so blurry

Linda and Colleen having fun

Colleen telling Darnell she has her

shirt on backwards

All of us

Loaded and ready to come home

Thanks to all of you who came and made this week so special. I hope to catch up with everyone's blog soon.

Be kind to one another.

Wild

A quick post sharing a card from one of my Stampin' Up classes quite a while ago. We did two cards with the giraffe and I don't think I ever posted this one. Embossed background and that sweet giraffe colored with Stampin' Blend markers.

We have broken a heat record this year for being the hottest September ever in Indy. Two more days of 90's then it is suppose to cool down by the weekend with more normal fall temps of cool mornings and daytime temps in the 70's.

Be kind to one another.