Christmas Dahlias

So...I started walking to work. Wait! Before you congratulate me on my road to fitness....I have to be totally honest. I walk PART way to work. I DRIVE to a nearby park (Leif Erickson Park). I leave my car there and walk the rest of the way to work. I am TOO lazy to walk ALL the way to work! But the fall weather has been so incredible and the threat of sub-zero temps looms large so I decided to enjoy the weather and add a few (about 2000 one way) steps to my daily FitBit log. I also don't walk all the way from home to work because - when I am done at work - I want to be home SOONER rather than later. The park is about half the distance from my home to my place of work.

And to be even MORE honest...by parking at the park....I am walking the bulk of my journey on flat land....another declaration from lazy ol' me!

Walking has given me an up close and appreciative look at fall foliage. AND one of the last blooms of summer. Thought I'd share with you the splendor of autumn in Iowa.

 

The final days for this lovely dahlia.

Love the mix of colors on this prickly bush!

 

 

Cardinal bush....I have a thing for these beauties.
Can't drive/walk past one without snapping a picture!

I need to get me some of these!

 AND another one!

 

 I realized most of my tree photos were the orange, red, rusts.

Lets hear it for the yellow hues!

 

I love when you can see the line of demarcation between the leaves that are protected from the cold and are the last to give up their green!

 

Early morning sun on the tree and the corner of the Catholic church rectory.

Now on to the card. Even though I am soaking up the final days of autumn (yes we did have snow one day last week) I know that winter and Christmas is just around the corner.

Another admission: I checked in on the challenge over at Just Us Girls.  The challenge struck fear into my soul! Watercolor!?  Oh dear! I can NOT get the hang of watercolor! I end up with MUD. I should call it MUDCOLORING. GEEEEEZZZ!

 

 Card detail.

 

 

Mudslinging Poinsettias

~Base card Cryogen White

~Layer of Paper Studio Cozy Little Christmas

~Two strips Washi tape

~Brad painted gold

~Watercolor paper for poinsettias die cut using Cuttlebug and Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettias 

~Sentiment punched using SU Word Window

~Star bling

~Martha Stewart dove punch gold foil cardstock

Challenges | Inspirations

Just Us Girls - Trend Week - Watercolor

Just Add Ink - sketch

Crazy Hazelnuts - red and green must be seen

Crafty Addicts - anything + die cuts

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

 

Thanks for clicking by!

 

Here's to the last remnants of autumn, walking (half-way) to work, my obsession with Cardinal/Burning bushes, and my addiction to my Fitbit!

 

Nancy in Iowa