Hello, dear friends! Happy FRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDAY! :) Can't wait for my handsome husband to get home from work today. It's almost the weeeeeeeeekend! Yay!
I've got a few fun photos to share with you today. First up, let's talk about a card, shall we? I used some more of that fun plaid patterned paper from the Autumn Abundance collection and laid out the little squares sort of quilt style and stitched them up. I just love all of the layers and textures on this card and obviously, I was on a bit of a kick with this color combo. :) Don't be afraid to just GO WITH IT if you're crafting and you make a card with a certain color combo and you're loving it. If you've already got supplies out in that color family, it's so quick and easy to whip up a few more cards in that same color scheme. You'll add cards to your collection, knock out some birthday cards for your birthday list or whatever, and you'll be keeping it simple since you've already got those supplies out and ready.
I also have some Polka Dot Basics II stamped on this card. That was a scrap that was laying on my desk just waiting to be used and the sentiment is another from Star Prints.
And now, I'd like to tell you the story of what we've affectionately begun referring to as 'The Little Burning Bush That Could'! This little burning bush is planted just to the left of our Autumn Blaze Maple (which sadly only has 7 leaves left on it this morning -- fall just doesn't last long enough, does it?!). Another plant that I've always wanted since I was little, was a burning bush. (Obviously I have a thing for brightly colored plants and trees. I know.....you never would have guessed that about me, right??? Haha!) Anyway, we planted this sweet little guy about 5 years ago and I was so thrilled. I just couldn't wait for fall to roll around so we could watch this little gem blaze. However, the dear, sweet, lovable, totally cute (dirty rotten) rabbits that inhabit our yard had other plans for our burning bush. The dear, sweet, lovable, totally cute (dirty rotten) rabbits munched away on our bush while we slept, and when we discovered their handiwork, they'd stripped our little bush nearly bare. The only leaves that remained were those that were too high for them to reach, even when they sat up on their precious (no good) haunches. Sooo........it was a rough year for our little bush. Bart promptly put a chicken wire fence around it to protect it from our darling little friends (enemies), the rabbits, and it fought for it's life. There was no change in color that first year, in the leaves it barely hung on to. In fact, there was no real change in color the second or the third year, even though it had managed to re-grow it's leaves those years. By the 4th year, Bart finally took down the chicken wire fence and now that it was a little more mature, the rabbits didn't seem so interested in munching on it. There was just the tiniest hint last year, that it was thinking about changing colors in the fall, but then it changed it's mind and didn't do much 'burning' at all.
However, this year.....THIS YEAR, our sweet little bush is burning like crazy! Just look at that color! It's soooo beautiful and makes me SO happy, especially now that our beautiful Autumn Blaze is almost bare.
And that, my friends, is the story of The Little Burning Bush That Could. :)
And just because I feel kinda bad for those of you that live in places that don't get to experience the beautiful fall colors that we get here in the midwest, I thought I'd show you a few of our neighbors' trees too. Just check out that orange!! Isn't it gorgeous?!! Also, notice that big pile of leaves already fallen underneath the tree! I snapped these few photos in between rain showers yesterday. It rained off and on (more on, than off!) allllll day yesterday and that soft, gentle rain is making the leaves fall off the trees. If the leaves will hang on a little longer, I'm hoping to snap a few photos around our neighborhood today, to show you some more awesome color. I just LOVE it!
I'll leave you with this one last shot......a few of the trees in our neighbors' yard. Just look at all of the different colors represented in those trees! I'm so thankful that God saw fit to bless us with so many colors in nature. They sure do make me happy and they get me itching to get a little crafty with color too!
Hope you all have a FAB weekend! Looking forward to a little jaunt with my hottie hubs and our boy tomorrow. I'll take pictures!
{Wish Big supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, aqua mist, autumn abundance
Stamps: Star Prints, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: dark chocolate, vintage cream, vintage touch tea dye
Other: aqua mist luxe satin ribbon, orange zest vintage button, rustic cream button twine, SU! scalloped edge punch, EK Success diamond lace punch