Grandpa's Birthday Apples

I'm BACK!  Didn't even know I was gone didja? 

We left on Boxing Day for a week in the mountains.  It was really a wonderful time.  Our kids had never been to the place we go (in Canmore, Alberta) in the winter;  we always go in summer.  So it was a whole different experience for them.  A week of sledding right outside the house on the hill, winter hikes in the snow (oh so beautiful!), lots of family games and movie nights.  The peace is so extrordinary there. 

But, now we're back and school starts on Monday can you believe it?  We missed my Dad's birthday while we were gone, so we're going to celebrate with them tomorrow after Church.  I colored some images while we were gone, and thought this one was especially fitting for my Dad.  He has an apple tree, actually it's a crab-apple, but he's grafted on some larger apples, and for the life of me right now I can't remember what kind.  But our kids LOVE the apple tree and "Grandpa's Apples".  We eat them, make pie, make applesauce...so this will be for him.

I was able to play in the Featured Stamper challenge at SCS tonight.  Woo Hoo, it's been so long since that happened.  Today it's Ann (ArDodd) (she has some beauts in her gallery!), and I cased this card.  Keeping the same stamp set, slightly different basket contents, basic layout etc. 

I did something wonky with my watermark and now it's showing that goofy box.  I'll have to ask my techy-guy to check it out (aka husband). 

I colored the basket and apples with Prismacolor pencils.  And I popped up the picnic blanket.  It's even yummier in real life, my night pictures weren't cooperating with me tonight.  I also mirrored the diagonal plaid in the scoring on the chocolate layer. 

Alrighty....I'm off to get an earlier bed-time.  Vacation takes a lot out of you doesn't it???

Recipe:  Stamps:  PTI - Vintage Picnic;  Ink:  Black Stazon;  Paper:  Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Flourishes Classic White, Riding Hood Red Striped paper, Animal Stories DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Two Nesties, Corner Rounder, Twine, Vintage Brads, Dimensionals, Prismacolor Pencils, Scorer