Craft Retreat!

Hi, Friends!

*Note*....long post...full of crafting fun!

I apologize for my lack of blogging lately, but I had a very good reason...craft retreat!!   The above photo shows my crafting friends...Crafty Stampers!!  Brenda,Inkspired to Stamp and her sister-in-law, Sharon, who organized the retreat!  It was a lovely charming house out in the country in Nashville, Indiana.  The weather was perfect with temps in the 70's this past week.  And, such wonderful scenery with the leaves beginning to change.    A perfect spot to get away from it all to enjoy crafting with wonderful craft friends!

From left to right in the above photo is...Colleen, One Smile Lifts a Spirit, Linda, Lin's Craft Corner, Brenda, Inkspired to Stamp, Sharon(Brenda's sister-in-law), Darnell Darnell djkardkreations.com, Kara Bright Hope Creations, and Greta GG Creations.  We were enjoying cocktail hour.  Yummy snacks and drinks!

We went into town on Monday and Thursday for shopping and a delicious lunch.  On Monday, two more craft friends who know Greta joined us.  Kathy is at the end of the table and Linda is seated next to Greta.  They enjoyed shopping with us in the craft stores, too!  Ummm...where is Darnell?  I think she is hiding, lol!  She is seated to the left of me.  What a great joy it was shopping in the craft stores and other beautiful quaint shops!  I had three favorite craft stores near my home and...poof  they are gone...miss them!

Brenda showing us a technique.  Darnell and Linda are

 observing before they try their card.

  Watch out...I see Darnell with the gun(heat gun)...lol!

A card I made using the Faux Patina technique demonstrated by Brenda. 

 The leaves(MFT) were die cut and embossed in gold.

Another technique by Brenda called Tarnished Foil.  I just have the panel done, but here it is...

Darnell demonstrated the color burst powders.  I can't remember the name of

the powders, but it made a lovely shiny background.  The images and sentiments 

are from Lawn Fawn.  The images were colored with copics.

Zig marker demonstration with Darnell for this card.

A water color technique with Darnell using a napkin 

and a stitched leaf die(large yellow leaf).  I don't remember 

the large leaf die.  The other leaf dies are from IO.  The plaid paper is from

Echo Park.  And, the lovely copper background paper is from Greta.

A technique demonstrated by Colleen with copics and glitter paste.  I can't remember

the snowflake die.  And, the sentiment is from AlteNew.  I have more cards to show,

but I'm not finished with them yet.  Kara demonstrated a Lawn Fawn flip card that

I've been wanting to learn...so cute and fun!!  And, Kara showed many of us her fabulous

copic coloring skills!  So many tips shared with each other!

Greta and me

Colleen and Linda

Darnell and Linda

Colleen, Brenda, Sharon, Kara

Look at those fabulous craft aprons!  Sharon made them for

each one of us.  She embroidered Crafty Stamper with each

of our names underneath...love it!!

Kara, Darnell, Linda

More fun with Darnell asking us what we would like for dessert!  I knew

she was a character, but I got to see it in person!  We had tons of fun!

We spent the last evening sharing and thanking Sharon and Brenda

for their wonderful generosity and hospitality!  Darnell had a beautiful card and

each of us wrote a note inside.  Wonderful crafty memories!

Thank you Crafty Stampers, my sweet friends!!!

Hugs!