Pumpkin Spice & Elk – Yep, It’s FALL!

Hello Friends!

As you may recall, I mentioned in my last post an excess of canned pumpkin in my pantry.  As such, I’ve been looking for recipes, other than pumpkin pie, in an effort to use some of it up.  Nothing against pumpkin pie, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s that far into Fall to warrant pumpkin pie yet! So, as an alternative, I found a recipe on AllRecipes.com for “Great Pumpkin Dessert” and made that instead.  I must say, it’s very good!  It also made the house smell like pumpkin spice!  A win-win!

It is, however, far enough into fall for hunting season!  It’s a time of year that Dean and I look forward to every year.  I know hunting isn’t for everyone, but it’s a big part of our lifestyle and we both enjoy getting out on a crisp fall morning, hiking through the woods in search of a big bull elk.  Dean archery hunts, which means his season is before mine with a rifle.  While hunting with a rifle is enjoyable, I must say, there’s nothing like going with Dean archery hunting.  To hunt with a bow, one must get very close to his target.  That means getting fully camouflaged up, face paint, the whole nine yards.  I love the thrill of going with Dean and getting right in the middle of a herd of elk, trying not to move, even breathe, so as not to be discovered.  One slight move, or the breeze blowing the wrong way, and the elk will be gone in an instant!  The adrenaline rush of having a gigantic bull elk a mere arms length away with only some brush between you and him, I can’t even describe!  Of course, when they’re that close, it’s impossible to draw a bow without being discovered, so just standing there ,still as can be, afraid he’s going to hear your heart beating as it feels like it’s going to beat right out of your chest, trying to breathe slow and easy so as not to make a sound or move a muscle.  There’s nothing quite like it!

I’m proud to say, Dean was successful in his hunt again this year, tagging this beauty of a bull a couple days ago! (Just for perspective, Dean’s 6’0″ tall)

ELK….it’s what’s for dinner in our home!

And soon, we’ll be back outside in search of another bull for me to harvest.  I’m going to concede right now, Dean’s going to win the big bull contest in our home this year!  I’m okay with that, you can’t eat the antlers, and the rest is all meat in the freezer!

But back to pumpkins and fall.  If you have any pumpkin recipes that you recommend, I’d be happy to give them a try!  I think I have 7 or 8 more cans of pumpkin in the pantry to use up.  After all, it’s going to be on sale again soon and I’ll have to buy more!!! LOL!!!

While I don’t generally get too into Halloween, I do like to put together a little something special for the grandkids.  Today’s card will add to the festive flair of their goodies!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

  • Hallow’s Night Magic
  • Drybrush

Metal dies used:

  • Halloween Magic Dies (tag & bats)
  • Layering Ovals Dies (pumpkin – cut 3 of the smallest oval)
  • Ornate Borders Dies (Crushed Curry border on DSP)

Paper:

  • Plaid Tidings DSP- 2″ x 5 1/2″
  • Basic Black CS – card base 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″; scraps for die-cut bats
  • Pumpkin Pie CS – scraps for three ovals cut with smallest oval die in Layering Ovals
  • Mossy Meadow CS – scrap for pumpkin stem
  • Crushed Curry CS – 5 1/2″ x 1/2″ – cut 2 borders with Ornate Borders
  • Whisper White CS – scrap for front tag cut with Halloween Magic Dies.

Ink:

  • Tuxedo Black Memento
  • VersaMark
  • Pumpkin Pie

Accessories:

  • Silver Embossing Powder
  • Black Baker’s Twine from Country Club Twine Combo – retired
  • Stampin’ Blends:  Mango Melody Combo; Old Olive Combo

Putting It Together:

  1.  Use a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Basic Black CS for card base, folding in half at 4 1/4″.
  2.  Use the Drybrush Stamp and Versamark ink, stamping image on card front.
  3. Sprinkle Silver Embossing Powder over entire card front, tapping excess off.
  4. Heat emboss with heat tool.
  5. Apply Crushed Curry border pieces to Plaid Tidings DSP, and then apply that to card front centered.
  6. Apply Pumpkin Pie ink with sponge to edges of three ovals.
  7.   You can see in the picture, the first oval on the left has ink applied to the edges, the other two don’t.  Adding ink creates depth.
  8. Hand cut the pumpkin stem with scissors from Mossy Meadow CS.
  9. Apply two of the ovals side-by-side centered on the bottom card front.
  10. Place the hand cut stem between the ovals.
  11. Adhere the third oval centered over the other two ovals to make the pumpkin.
  12. Stamp the tag border from Hallow’s Night Magic onto Whisper White and then crop it out using the smaller tag die from Halloween Magic Dies.
  13. Color the flowers with Stampin’ Blends.
  14. Stamp the Happy Halloween sentiment from Hallow’s Night Magic.
  15. Adhere tag above the pumpkin.
  16. Use Halloween Magic Dies to crop out bats.
  17. Adhere bats above tag.
  18. Wrap a piece of Black Baker’s Twine around card front vertically and tie in bow.

DONE!

Thank you for visiting my blog today; I hope you’ve found some inspiration here.  Your comments and orders are always much appreciated!

I hope you have a fantastic day, and I hope you get a little INKY today!

Janet

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