Fall Fun and a Farwell

I know that life is full of surprises, but when you have a extra happy week that suddenly takes a sad turn it's hard to deal with the change in mood.  I learned last night that  my parents had to put down their dog, Odin.  He was part of our family for 14 years, and we used to joke that he was my mom's favorite child (and it might not have been far from the truth!).  He was a fantastic dog, so full of personality, and it was hard to watch his health start to deteriorate as he got older.  My mom took excellent care of him, and he ate better than most human do!  But he was a large breed mutt (part German Shepherd, we think) and he suffered from hip dysplasia among other things.  We all loved him and will miss him, but my poor mom is going to notice his absence the most.  She only works part-time, evenings, and he was her constant companion.  I cried for him; I cried for her; I cried for me, because I didn't really say good-bye properly the last time we were there.  I knew it was coming, but didn't think it would be so soon.  Or maybe I didn't want it to be so soon...  My small man was upset because I was but he is too young yet to really grasp what it all means.  All he knows is his buddy won't be there to hug anymore when he visits his Babci and Papa.  Sorry to start a post with such sadness, but he deserves and needs a final tribute.  He gave our family many smiles and all of his loyalty and love.  We love you, Odin!

        
Now onto my card!  It is another Fabulous Freebie Friday over at Sassy Studio Designs Paper Craft Planet group (found here)!  We have another terrific 24 hour free image for you!  She's called Fall Fun, and it's easy to see why!  Even at my age jumping into a pile of leaves sounds like a good time!  

The current challenge at PCP is "Orange You Glad It's Fall" and all you need to do to play along is use orange as your focal color.  There is no shortage of orange here!  I have colored the image with Copics.  I actually colored two images of the girl and fussy cut one to pop up on top of the other. I like the dimension this gives.  My layout is loosely based on the current Sketch N Stash challenge (#96).  I had to adjust it slightly to work for me.  Papers are My Mind's Eye - Halloween Scary Sparkles.  A bit of bling, a few flowers, some baker's twine and a Deconstructed doodle around the image panel (cut with my Labels Seventeen Nestabilities from Spellbinders) finish off the card.

  
If you'd like to make this cutie yours simply head over right over to our Paper Craft Planet group!  While you're there take a peek at what the Fabettes have made to showcase the image and leave a little love for the lovely design team ladies!  We hope you'll be so inspired you'll want to play along!

Thanks for stopping by and have yourselves a fantastic weekend!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E04, R20, E13, E19, E23, E31, E33, E34, E39, YG93, YG97, YR04, YR07, YR18, W4, W6, W8, Y32, Y38) and Prismacolor Art Markers (150, 169).

Challenges:
- 4 Crafty Chicks: #108-Leaves
- Creative Belli Challenge: #152-Autumn/Fall 
- Digistamps4Joy: #51-Leaves 
- The Paper Shelter: #82-Fall Colors/Image 
- Bearly Mine: #53-Fall Colors
- Paper Take Weekly: A Hazy Shade of Autumn
- Ribbon Carousel: #71-Fall into Fall
- Sweet Stamps: #83-Shades of Autumn 

{hugs}
Regan