French Folds

How boring are we? It is the eve of a New Year and here husband John and I sit watching a DVD and I'm posting to my blog.

Sister-in-law Jayne was in town and stopped by today! Man she has lots of energy! Wants to go Iowa silo ice climbing. I told her she could go ahead - I would have the hot cocoa waiting for her when she climbs down.

Even with the wonderful company I managed to crank out a few cards today. I'll start with the final sketch challenge for the year at Our Creative Corner (SASSC46).



Cheerful Christmas
~Base Card - Paper Trey Ink
~Base layer of design paper - American Crafts
~Layer of red cardstock with red cardstock file folder punch
~File folder stamp is an oldie from the Michael's dollar bin (Katie & Co.). This is actually the lower part of the 'martini' glass - I just stamped it separately by masking the glass.
~Another layer of American Crafts
~Image area is several layers of red, green, and black cardstocks with a layer of striped Paper Studio design paper - Stickles dotted around edges - all edges curved
~Martini image colored with Copics and topped with Stampin Up Crystal Effects
~Green brads in corners of red cardstock
~Lower left sentiment also a Michael's dollar bin find (I masked away the Christmas tree which is a part of this stamp.) Sentiment stamped on white cardstock, punched using Stampin Up Word Window, edges smudged with Kelly Green

These two are from the 'Same but Different' category. The sketch is from i {heart} 2 stamp.
The base cards are both Paper Trey Ink and the design papers are from Basic Grey. Mug on 'Cozy Christmas' is from Stampin Up Express Yourself.

Cozy Christmas















Believe in Miracles (and I do)












And as if I really needed to go looking for another challenge - I was so excited to find a Thursday challenge at Dutch Dare Card Challenges! I have to admit when I saw how many cuts and fold this one required I almost passed on it... after all I AM on vacation! But I'm glad I stuck with it and completed the challenge.



Let's Hear it for Recess!

~Base card - Paper Trey Ink
~All design papers - Basic Grey Recess Collection
~Embellishments - buttons, eyelets, twine

I also have to admit I have a few "oops" on this one...But I'm not saying where they are - see if you can find them! I REALLY hate to admit there are THREE oopsies! The process really isn't difficult - the clue (my learning moment) was to PLAN ahead for embellishment placements.






This is the inside of the card:














In the words of many years of my French family greetings at this time of year Bonne Année (Happy New Year)! And as I always say:
All good wishes,
Nancy

P. S. You can get up close with the cards by clicking on the image.

Treasures and Twine

It is so cool working in higher education! I love having the week off between Christmas and New Year's Day. (Now if I could just arrange having SUMMERS off...)

It would be wise to use this time to clean, get caught up at work, pack away Christmas decorations...yet here I sit in the Bubble. Just me, my card making STUFF, alternating between cups of Douwe Egbert coffee and Twinings Earl Grey tea (thank you Gail) and yes, both are decaffeinated, occasionally checking Facebook, browsing card maker blogs, and just in general, enjoying Bubble. Go away guilt, go away visions of cleaning, fleeting thoughts of working on student re'sumes: I need to concentrate on CARDS! I say NO to drudgery - YES to card making.

Daughter Amy and Nearly Daughter Jennifer decided it was easier (and more fun?) to have me make them cards as they need them rather than create their own. Because of this decision I was the recipient of all their card making/scrapbooking goodies!

Arrrrggghhhh, now THAT is mighty fine Me Matey. I got all treasures-a-plenty including papers, stamps, markers, ribbons, brads, adhesives, containers, stamp pads, chip board, embossing powders...they must have been VERY serious about ALMOST making cards! YIPPPPPEEEE for me! It's better than dubloons!

Why does this stamp set have me writing like a pirate?

This layout is a challenge from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #54
Treasures from Me Girls!
~Base card - PTI white cardstock
~Layer of print paper DCWV - Color Block collection - corners curved to blend with the oval and polka dots
~Assorted ribbons - including polka dot horizontal ribbon
~Ovals cut using Spellbinder's Nestablities - edges smudged with Stampabilities Black Dye Ink - layer of red cardstock and layer of DCWV Color Block
~Image stamped with Stampin Up Ahoy, Matey - colored in with Copics, topped with Ranger Glossy Accents
~Sentiment from Stampin Up Ahoy, Matey - stamped on white, layered on red, green, orange, and navy blue cardstocks

Thank you Amy and Jennie!

Next up is a challenge posted over at Whimsical Wednesday. It too is a sketch challenge. This was just the layout I needed for a grape vine I colored while on vacation in Shellman Bluff.

Wine and Twine
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone cardstock
~Layer of design paper from a huge pad of papers that I almost got rid of... I realized making this card that I don't have much purple design paper. I may have to remedy this situation.
~All four corners curved with 4 metallic purple eyelets
~Horizontal layer of same purple design paper
~Layers of solid green and purple cardstock - edges curved
~Assorted ribbon and a couple of strands of twine (kinda' like grape growers use on real vines)
~Image from Clipart Etc, colored with Copics, and coated with Ranger Crackle Accents - surface smudged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Old Paper

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Ice Cream Comments

Had a jammie pants day today - how will I know when it's time to go to bed?

Only have time for a quick note this evening...I HAVE to do some general picking-up before bedtime (if I can decide when bedtime will be). I spent most (okay almost ALL) of my day in the Bubble yet only managed to complete two cards - what's up with THAT?

By the way, I LOVE reading the comments to my posts. Thank you all. Affirmation is such a wonderful thing! I made it a point to comment on other card-makers blogs today I figured if I take such delight in reading comments it is only fair for me to comment on other's blogs.


Make Mine a Double

This is in response to Our Creative Corner "Celebrate Food or Drink" challenge.
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Two layers of BasicGrey 'cupcake' collection
~Image - Stamp Happens Inc, colored in with Copics, coated with Glossy Accents and sprinkled with Stickles
~Assorted ribbons







Mixed Mojo
MoJo Monday inspiration. I like the Mojo layout but am not sure I like my rendition. My personal jury is still out on this one.
~Base card - Stampin Up cardstock
~Layers of design paper - all Stampin Up
~Circular scallop cut using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug
~Stamped image - Inkadinkadoo Personal Inspiration colored in with Stampin Up markers and Copics; center flower topped with Pearlescent acrylic
~Prima daisy layers attached with brad


I'm off to check out AND COMMENT on other card-maker's blogs! Now if I could just talk my sister Judy into becoming one of my blog followers...

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Merciful Mammogram!

The day is almost over and I am proud to announce I still have not done one shred of housework. I did rearrange a few items in the Bubble. Sometimes I like organizing as much as I like card making...weird huh? Maybe it's not so much enjoying the organizing as it is rediscovering goodies, finding stuff I couldn't find previously, or just making my Bubble a better place.

So my house isn't clean (but the Bubble is)! Thank goodness there are leftovers - so no cooking today either! I was, however, productive. (I actually started my day EARLY an 8 am mammogram. Nothing like a stone cold vice grip to get your day going. Regarding mammograms - I only have one question - what is up with the 'now hold your breath'. As if breathing is an option this extremely compromising position. To make things even odder - the room with the mammography machine - has a LARGE window - with no shade, no curtain. Now before you type OMG in the comment section - the window looks out over a South Dakota field - but REALLY!!! Between the vice and the world wide window...)

Yippeeeee I found a new challenge at Lord Have Mercy! Cool beans! Just what I needed! The layout challenge is MTSC #53. I've never made a square card but bought some square envelopes today - then I clicked into Mercy's site - it was serendipity! I had square envelopes the challenge is for a square card! MTSC53.

Mercy Squared
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Soft Stone cardstock edges smudged with black
~All the design paper is K & Co Amy Butler 'Lotus' (used 6 companion prints)
~Base layer - strip
~Rectangles and squares have gray cardstock bases
~The circular 'medallion' layers: smudged (Memento grey) and trimmed doily (does anyone REALLY use paper doilies - not anyone I hang with that's for sure!); circular layer of design paper - row of dots added; another circular layer of design paper; scallop circle is punched stamped and colored (Copics and Stampin Up Dual Tip Markers); brad center.







The Same but Different
Same layout different different looks.

A is for Apricot
~Base card - Stampin Up Apricot Appeal
~Background and upper images stamped using Stampin Up Petal Prints
~Sentiment - Stampin Up Warm Words
~Petals of flowers coated with Crackle Accents; centers accented with Stickles
~Entire card spritzed with Memories Mists: Mango Lemonade and Orange Juice











B is for Brads
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink
~Four companion prints from K & Co Wild Saffron collection
~Flowers (Autumn Leaves - Flowers - Rhonna Farrer) embossed with Distress Black Soot, colored with Copics and topped with Stampin Up Crystal Effects - brad centers

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Bubble Bed

Somewhere in this photo is my garden bench...

Snowed in family members are back in their own homes - all safe and snuggly. Two feet of snow and closed interstates resulted in extra family time!

Of course my first response to an empty house was to have husband John undo the temporary sleeping quarters in 'my bubble'. Daughter Amy and Sister Gail hadn't even made it to the interstate and the twin bed was out of the craft room, back in storage, and I was poised ready to dig in to some serious card making! Poor Gail - between the card crafting and bed - she practically had to dive into bed and close the door with her toe! Granddaughter Bailey wondered if Gail was going to get up in the night and secretly work on crafts. Between Gail's anti-craft mantra and not enough room to swing a cat - FAT CHANCE of THAT happening!

With family gone I haven't done any cleaning - I decided I deserve some bubble time!

Here is a double hitter for two challenges - Stampin B's (incorporate a candle image) and a layout challenge (C4C17) from Crazy 4 Challenges.


Sparkle Plenty

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink (edges smudged with SU Really Rust)
~K & Co Wild Saffron - five designs - background, angle, horizontal strip, sentiment, and scallop circle
~Sentiment - Stampin Up Warm Words - punch - SU Word Window
~Image - Stampin Up Send a Celebration - colored in with Copics, candles and star topped with Glossy Accents, flames topped with Stickles
~Brads
~Teal cardstock circle punch (Marvy)
~Scallop punch (Marvy)
~Small punch holes placed around scallop, and occasionally in horizontal strip and angle




Christmas is over and I for one am SICK of sweets. This is my remedy for calorie free sweets! I was browsing through previous sketches at MoJo Monday and found just what I needed! I knew I wanted to use the lollipops, found a suitable background - and POOF - a card is born!

Calorie Free Sweets~Base Card white PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of orange cardstock
~Layer of DCWV Color Block Matstack
~Navy cardstock circle - with three brads
~Orange cardstock scallop
~DCWV Color Block Matstack Circle
~Images - Stampin Up Very Punny colored in with copics, topped with Crystal Effects
~Horizontal design paper DCWV Color Block Matstack - three navy cardstock circles, lollipops, and brads


Now that I think of it...there is some pumpkin pie left over....

Another important note to self: when doubling a recipe, in addition to DOUBLE ingredients - make sure there is container large enough to HOLD it all!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Princess Java

Note to self...next time I decide to double a recipe - make SURE I have DOUBLE the ingredients. My cooking skills are legendary (and not in a Food Network, 4-Star, Culinary Creative kind of way)!

I really DO need to walk away from the Bubble and get some work done. I still have Christmas shopping to finish, baking (once I get the rest of the ingredients), some cleaning, and university work to still accomplish. Why am I sitting here making cards and blogging? I need to get domestically productive!

This is a very loose interpretation of a sketch challenge at i{heart}2stamp.

{Heart} of Bling

~Base card - Paper Trey Ink 'Plum Pudding'
~Background - DCWV Matstock 'Once Upon a Time'
~Horizonatal cardstock - same collection - 'decorative strip' cut and added with foam dimensional for raised 3-D look - gold metal medallion (glitter added) attached to square
~Chipboard flower is from 'Once Upon a Time' collection - pink rhinestones added to tips of petals
~Chipboard princess attached using foam dimensionals- clear rhinestones added to the hem of her dress and metal pansy added at neckline
~String of iridescent beads

Maybe I'm still in the Bubble making cards as a form of domestic procrastination...

This is Whimsical Wednesday sketch challenge (think I spend too much time on the web mining for challenges, muses, inspiration, and 'I-NEED-just-one-more-card-making-e-newsletter'?).

Is That Coffee I Smell?

~Base Card - Vanilla cardstock
~Layer of Chocolate Truffle cardstock
~Solid and polka dot design papers are from My Mind's Eye
~Image is digital (now if I could just remember where I got it...If you recognize this - leave a comment and I will include the artistic credit) colored in with Copics, topped with Pearlescent Glossy Tempera Paint
~Stickles added to the sugar cubes
~Brown brads
~Row of double sticky tape - with real coffee grounds
~Corner brads - (formerly yellow) painted with acrylic beige, topped with Pearlescent Glossy Tempera Paint - with sprinkles of more coffee grounds

You can get up close with the cards by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Martini Mittens

Most of the time volunteering has its perks. Husband John (AKA Poppy) and I volunteered last night to serve as ushers at the Orpheum Theatre for the annual Briar Cliff University Christmas Concert. (Okay - I volunteered us BOTH...but I knew he would LOVE to help...there was music involved and besides he used to be a Cliff Singer.) The Cliff Singers were amazing - and it was probably a thrill for them to sing with the Sioux City Orchestra.

I can't sing, can't carry a tune, can't harmonize, so I really appreciate vocal talent. Sure the acoustics at the Orpheum are phenomenal - but all those voices! A combination of the (large) university choir, a church choir, and a high school choir from Council Bluffs, IA - well it was very moving!

Because we were ushers we had to be there an hour ahead of time so we got to hear them practice. One of my 'peeps' saw us up on the the loge - and hollered - "Hi Nancy"...pretty soon almost the entire choir is waving and saying my name. Most of them know I've been 'under the weather' so they were surprised to see me there. I felt very loved and appreciated when they started waving. They are such great kids, oh I mean, young adults!


The challenge over at Stampin' B's was to feature a beverage. Okay - so most of the cards they have uploaded for inspiration are cocoa, coffee, tea... But I was thinking different kind of beverage...and a martini is just so ... vintage-movie-civilized.


Civilized Celebration~Base Card - PTI white
~My Mind's Eye 'Wild Asparagus' - I added the 'pimentos' to the 'olives' using an office paper punch and dotted each red with Crystal Effects
~Layer of black then white cardstock
~Layer of pale olive green - with left edge 'notebook' punched (Stampin' Up) and some smudging with Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
~Red cardstock folder tab and smudged with black ink and topped with pearlescent acrylic paint
~Sentiment is from Stampin' Up (Lexicon set) - Stamped on white - with red smudging - stamped with black - then Versapen and black embossing powder added to just the large font 'celebrate'
~Martini stamp - purchased long ago from the dollar bin at Michael's - olive and pimento filled in with gel glaze pen, glass filled in the Crystal effects - reflections added using Stickles

Challenge at Our Creative Corner was to feature snow... well we certainly have plenty of that outdoors for inspiration!

Wear Your Mittens!
~Base card - Pure Poppy PTI
~Layer of black cardstock
~Layer of design paper from Daisy D's Winter Fun Pad
~Glitter is sandwiched between the design paper and a layer of acetate
~Two rhinestone brads and two snowflake brads
~The mittens were stamped, topped with glue, glitter, and a snowflake (punch)



You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Holy MOOOOOJO

Inside text.

Sunday, I just couldn't get the image of a necklace, daughter-in-law Shannon had made, out of my mind. The necklace had an image of a cow with spots and the text said, "Holy Cow"! Thus is the inspiration for the theme of this card. I stamped, Copic'd, and top coated a row of Stampin' Up cows from the Very Punny collection. Since I had to let them dry overnight I was sure that once Monday arrived I could check out the layout over at MojoMonday and they would have the PERFECT sketch that I could incorporate my 'herd' into.

And they came through - thank you MojoMonday designers! Here is my MOOOOOJO Monday Card. The outside is a trio of dairy darlin's. The outside sentiment is U R (You are). The inside text is another from the herd with the sentiment "like no udder".

Holy MooJo~Base card - PTI
~Stamp from Stampin' Up Very Punny

~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack cardstock (thank you Gail!)

~I don't have a scallop edge punch so I 'made due' with the curvy lines of the background - horizontal strips of Apple Crush and Tangerine Blast cardstock - with ink stitching

Random letters - vinyl sticker "U" and chipboard "R" (dredged through the pink in pad to make it pop)

~Outer scallop circle - DCWV Metallic Stack - Lime Green - punched using Marvy Scallop Circle

~Inner circle - same as background - punched using Marvy Circle

~Circles for dairy divas - punched from DCWV Indian Summer Metallic Cardstack (another THANK YOU GAIL)

Not my regular type of creation but darn that Holy Cow - he MADE me do this!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Mickey Monday

Monday - First day back at work. Many well wishers, hugs from students, cute notes on the dry-erase board outside my office, and door to door service since I can't drive for another week or two - not a bad day all-in-all. (Except for the 300 + emails...and I actually checked my email from home last week!)

Floor parent activity update. The three 'moms' went up the 4th Alverno to 'judge' dorm room door decorations. The 'dads' will judge tomorrow. Once the judging is tabulated one room (dual occupancy) will be named the WINNER! How exciting. There were some really clever 'door decs' as they call them. One even had lights strung around the entire frame. We floor parents decorate a door or two ourselves! We decorated the 4th floor lounge door last night. We used a snowflake theme - and changed the door sign from lounge to lodge. Every year we also put up a small Christmas tree in the lounge and put candy around and in the tree - restocking it about every other day. Today we put small Christmas stockings in their campus mail boxes filled with candy - nothing like keeping 'kids' on a sugar high!

Daughter Amy requested a Mickey Christmas card...wow - pretty specific! I had no idea how to proceed until I ran across this ornament stamp at Hobby Lobby...Round ornament - with circles - it screamed MICKEY!

~Base card - Papertrey Ink

~Layer of K & Company - Meadow and Breeze

~Circles of cardstock for the Mickey heads - outlined with glitter

~Ornament stamp - stamped with Versamark, embossed with clear embossing powder, colored with Copics, gold glitter for the ornament topper

~Gold cord (thank you Gail!)

~Word Window punch- Stampin' Up

~Sentiment by Just Rite

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

Merry Mickey Days to All,

Nancy

Cool to Be at School

Heading back to work tomorrow. I am one of those extremely fortunate individuals who really likes their job. I was cleaning out my purse today and found a 'report card'. Okay, so I know college end of term grades are not 'report cards', but this is what it reminded me of. One of 'my' students came to my office at the end of the term and handed me her list of grades. I looked them over, congratulated her on a job well done, and started to hand the list back to her. She said, "No, that is your copy." She wanted me to have it because I'm 'her family'. She was an emancipated minor (now 21). She has 'adopted' me and I am happy to fill the bill. Her family life was rough and she is miles and miles away from 'home'. We got to know one another because of my volunteer role as 'floor parent'. I told her I would bring it home and put it on the refrigerator!

I've been home from work for a week (story to follow 0n THAT one). I've had so many e-mails, texts, and instant messages from students this past week... they make going to work something to look forward to.

I decided to check things out over at BasicGrey Challenges. The challenge was to use cream, pink, and blue, and of course BasicGrey. Pink and blue - wow - now THAT is a challenge for me - sounds way too pastel for me to work with but as I've said before - that is the point of a CHALLENGE. This is what I came up with.

Salvaged Time

~Base card - vanilla cardstock

~Layer of BasicGrey 'Blush'

~Ribbon assortment

~Layers of brown, cream, pink, blue cardstock

~The stamped image was made weeks ago. It was a 'failed' attempt to collage using stamps. I saved it thinking I would use the parts of the paper I had not stamped for other stampings. I pulled out a stamp set to use for this challenge and this was lying on top of it - I had forgotten all about it. I actually salvaged a previously deemed 'looser'! Here is a list of the stamps I used:

Stampin' Up's The Art of Life and Peaceful Wishes; Stampabilities' Le London, Composer's Dream, and Antique Key; and Image Tree's Cultural Review. The lower left area I smudged with acrylic metallic bronze paint. Images stamped using Stazon. Some of the edges I curved using a punch.

~Embellishments: swirl clip, ring, corner clip with brad, and clock face w/brad (Spare Parts - Clock Icons - I just bought these - they have been on my 'have to have' list for a long time)

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Bling IS the Thing

OBVIOUSLY, I got NO housework done today... I did manage to make muffins this morning. I now have ALL the ingredients for the Hot Chicken Salad so that is on the agenda for tomorrow. How very DOMESTIC of me!




Thinking of You
~Base card - PTI - purple edges
~Layer of stripes
~Layer of purple and hot pick cardstocks - purple is smudged with black ink and stamped with the flower bouquet stamp using purple ink
~Sentiment is from Hero Arts
~Vanilla cardstock stamped with an image from the Dollar Tree - colored with Copics and watercolor pencils, then topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, sheer olive green ribbon bow
~Three purple eyelets (thank you Gailey!)
~Diagonal ribbon from Archiver's



Autumn Sparkle
This is a challenge from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps ( I have GOT to buy a couple of the stamps over there - they are ADORABLE!!!) The challenge was to use sparkle and bling. (KKSC10)
~Base card - PTI white cardstock - teal edges
~Plaid layer of DCWV matstock 'Indian Summer'
~Polka dot vertical DCWV matstock 'Indian Summer'
~Blingy leaves purchased at Hobby Lobby long ago
~Layer of solid Indian Summer, print Indian Summer and vanilla cardstock
~Sentiment - Bountiful Blessing - Stampabilities - colored with Copics topped with Glossy Accents

Color of Friendship
~Base card - PTI white
~Layer of striped paper
~Varigated ribbon placed vertically - pierced top and bottom with flower brads
~Layer of purple cardstock then another layer of same stripe - placed perpendicular
~Layer of yellow cardstock then green
~Image is - Stampin' Up Send a Celebration - stamped on white cardstock - colored in with Copics - topped with Glossy Accents
~Sentiment from Just Rite stamped on blue cardstock

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Mission:Bling-Free

Back to work on Monday so had to squeeze in LOTS of bubble time today. Miss Jennifer had a request via Miss Amy for three Christmas cards and four non-Christmas cards - so here are a few of them.

Lady Jennie has a 'thing for bling' so she had already asked if I would make some cards for her to give as gifts to her 'pod-peeps' at work. I made a mistake by making most of the cards for her to give away - with lots of bling - know SHE likes bling. Well, she decided she liked the bling cards so much she couldn't give them away as gifts and is keeping them for herself to use later (as cards). Needless to say - she now doesn't have enough cards to give as gifts AND I will be making her a NEW set of cards as bling free as possible!

Looking for inspiration I checked out some of my favorite challenge blogs and wasn't disappointed when I clicked into the Paper Garden Projects blog. The current challenge calls for a card inspired by music. I remembered that long ago I had downloaded images of sheet music and the best part???? I even FOUND them!

Faithful Joy (Paper Garden Projects Challenge)

~Base card - PTI white cardstock - edges smudged with forest green

~Layer of hunter green cardstock - edges smudged with black

~Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

~Candle stamp colored in using Copics, topped with Crystal Effects - flame is yellow Stickles

~Wishing You Joy stamp - dollar bin at Michael's - stamped using forest green, vanilla paper grundged up with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink and layered on cranberry and hunter cardstocks

~Red star metallic brad from the Dollar Tree

~Sheet music is a free downloadable here (printed on glossy paper). I gave it a 'grundging over' with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink

Angel Dots

~Base card - PTI white cardstock - edges smudged with forest green

~Layer of green with green and red dots - Paper Studio

~Two layers of ribbon - sheer dotted green was in a "Transfer of Crap" from sister Gail; red/green dotted ribbon - from Hobby Lobby

~Layers of red/green cardstock topped with 3-D angel sticker, black ink pen 'stitches', and four red brads

Okay - so this is kind of a cheater card - very simple, very quick, but the angel is really a cutie, and I DID have to draw ALL those FAKE stitches...that should count for SOMETHING!

Confetti Tree

~Base card - PTI Vanilla Cream - edges smudged with forest green

Layer of hunter green cardstock

~Layer of Paper Studio Snowflakes on Red - I added the bling using Stickles Icicle (how appropriate!)

~Layer of hunter green cardstock

~Layer of vanilla confetti cardstock stamped with green using Stampin' Up's Solemn Stillness (I don't actually own this set - I just stamped up a couple of sheets of cardstock long ago using my daughter-in-law's set) Versapen and Ranger Evergreen Embossing Powder (hmmmm this EP was on my 'I bought this - WHY?' list....COOL!!! I used it!)

~The gold metallic stars are confetti - attached using glue dots (because the pop off with regular glue)

~The tree topper is a star brad with slits for ribbon

~Sentiment is Stampabilities (Holly Merry Christmas)- holly berries Stickled in red - stamped on re-purposed file folder and .... you guessed it - edges SMUDGED using cranberry ink

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Elfin Amy

There's No Business Like Snow Business.... was the challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges. Well actually they said to include snow.... I got a little carried away with the challenge title.

Daughter Amy bought this adorable elfin Cloud 9 Design paper for me. I liked it so much she bought me several sheets! Lucky me - Lucky me....Sweet Amy - Sweet Amy.

Well, I cut the strip and then trimmed a little elf so he could 'swing'.

I Could Be Swingin' On a Flake

~Base card - PTI Vintage Cream edges smudged with Distress Ink Fired Brick

~Layer of lime green Archiver cardstock

~Three metal snowflake brads - originally silver - I coated them with Versamark then Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder

~Layer of burgundy cardstock with horizontal layer of Sparkle Trim the Tree (Cloud 9 Design); topped with Window Word punch from Stampin'Up - sentiment Stampin' Up Small Script

~Layer of hunter green and layer of the elfin magic cardstock

~Snowflakes punched topped with Crystal Effects and attached with red and green brads

~Swingin' elf - well...because I love old tunes... "Would you like to swing on a ..."

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Mojo Pear

Finally a post - I'll post later on why I have been in abstentia lately. For now suffice it to say I'm making time to blog because the way I blog - I may have something to yada yada to share but have no recently created cards or I may have cards to share but may not necessarily have any yada yada. What a dueling challenge I've made for myself!

Since I wanted to post a few challenge cards to the challenger's blog-sites - I am forced to not bore you with details from my personal life - and just get these babies uploaded!

Birthday Mojo

Layout inspiration from Mojo Monday.

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Soft Stone Cardstock

~Layer of hot pink Miss Elizabeth paper scrap pack ($ Tree)

~Layer of green from the same Miss Elizabeth pack

~Three scallop circles of teal cardstock topped with gold color swirl paper (same Miss Elizabeth) pack - used Spellbinders and Cuttlebug

~Ribbon from American Crafts

~I held the bow together using a silver eyelet and my Crop-A-Dial (I thought the silver circular eyelet mirrored the look of the silver metal birthday tag)

~The metal birthday tag was a $Tree purchase long ago

~The pink clip at the bottom is from Spare Parts (purchased by sissy Gail at Hobby Lobby)

~The scalloped edges of the circles were dolloped with Stickles

Wrong Tree Right Fruit

This was a challenge from Our Creative Corner with the inspiration - The Twelve Days of Christmas

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream cardstock - edges smudged with Distress Ink Peeled Paint

~Layer of BasicGrey Fruitcake (used the front and back)

~Numbers/words tags - die cuts (BasicGrey)

~Stamps: Christmas and Bird (Martha Stewart); Pear (Stampin'Up All Natural); Musical Notes (Composer's Dream Stampabilities)

~Assorted stuff: drum button (clipped off shank); gold ring (it was silver - painted it with acrylic paint); gold floss; felt tree (Make it Christmas - Hobby Lobby)

~Bird and pear colored in with Copics and topped with Glossy Accents (bird) and Crackle Accents (pear)

~Ribbon (Hobby Lobby - Make it Christmas)

You can get up close with the card click on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Grateful Giggles

Today was the first day back at school following Thanksgiving/fall break. The parking just got a whole lot more difficult but having students noisely making their way down the hall and stopping by for a quick hello and/or a treat from the candy bowl makes walking from 'the pit' down the hill all worth while.

My day ended late with three giggling freshman girls sprawled out on my office furniture. They all agreed that break was good but too long, boring, and that they were glad to be back with friends and even back at school. It was fun to listen to them flit from one random discussion to another. They ate a fair amount of candy - so on a sugar high - and laughing hysterically - I politely told them I was tired, it was late, and I was going home.

Even though I didn't get home until after 8 pm I did manage to log some bubble time. It's Monday so I immediately checked in with Mojo Monday for today's challenge. Here is what I came up with...

Grateful for Mojo

~Base card Ocean Tides - PTI

~Layer of Cosmo Cricket

~Oval of Cosmo Cricket using Spellbinder's Oval Nestabilities

~Image from Clipart ETC colored in using Copics, topped with Glossy Accents and Crackle Accents

~Oval is Ocean Tides - PTI - stamped using Stampin' Up Small Scripts

~Hardware is from Stampin' Up

~Ribbon from the Dollar Tree

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Beaded Lists

I was looking around my bubble today, and being someone who likes lists, I thought I would make a list of items I used all the time, things I really am glad I have, things I am on the fence about, and of course the things that I look at and say – OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING? I bought this WHY?

For starters here is my list of Crazy Purchases….
~Lavish Lilac Fun Flock – Flocking – REALLY???? My house was FILLED with flocked wallpaper when we moved in many years ago and I couldn’t tear it down fast enough! AND I am SO not a pastel person!
~Pink Crystal Opaque Embossing Powder (pastel? AGAIN?)
~Wintergreen Pastel Embossing Powder (it is a mint green color - did I mention I am NOT a pastel person?!)
~4 metallic colors of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel – ICK – it is horrible to use – unless you like clumps and blurred outlines
~Evergreen Embossing Powder – seeing a pattern here??? Must have been an embossing powder phase
~Beadies – mini marbles - REALLY????? (well - at least they were only 49 cents)
~Quic Kutz Quick Stik – The Quiker-Poker-Picker-Upper - I haven’t poked, prodded, or picked ANYTHING with this ‘had to have it tool’!
~Brass Dry Emboss Templates – OMG – these take WAY too much time (and of course I have the embossing stylus!)
~There are plenty of ‘what was I thinking’ stamps in my bubble
~Large quantity of JPU patterned papers too (JPU - Just Plain UGLY)

Regarding cards - I decided not only would I work on several challenges I would FORCE myself to use at least ONE item from the "REALLY???? I Actually Thought I HAD to Have THIS??? List."

Beaded Script
This challenge comes by way of Paper Garden Projects Fourth Friday of the Month. The instructions are to create a stamped background and if possible use the color black in honor of Black Friday.
~Base card – Pure Poppy by PaperTrey Ink edges smudged with black
~Layer of white cardstock (PTI) stamped with Le London Script by Stampabilities using Versamark and coated with Ranger Black embossing powder – edges smudged with black ink
~Four red eyelets (gift from sister Gail)

~Strip of double sticky tape with Beadies Mini-Marbles (I USED them – I actually USED them!!!)
~Heart image is from the dollar bin at Michaels (Katie & Co by Studio G) – It is stamped with Versamark, embossed with Ranger Black embossing powder, colored in with Copics, and heart is top coated with Inkssential’s Glossy Accent
~Sentiment is from the Michael’s dollar bin, stamped with Versamark and embossed with Ranger Sea Foam powder and Ranger Rich Red embossing powder

Thinking of You Ornaments
Challenge over at Our Creative Corner was a sketch (layout)~Base card - white cardstock (PTI) edges smudged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Brick Red
~Layer of red cardstock – edges smudged with black
~Layer of patterned paper by American Crafts – I smudged the sides and top a bit with Distress Ink Peeled Paint
~Horizontal red cardstock topped with layer of red/green ribbon and a separate red satin bow
~Gold braid is Wright’s Beader’s Choice (another ‘giftal’ from sister Gail)
~Scallop punches of DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack topped with holiday stickers bought at an after-holiday sale (Wal-Mart)
~Sentiment by Just Rite stamped on olive green cardstock punched using Stampin’ Up Word Window

Peaceful PunchesPunch Happy was the challenge at Crazy for Challenges with the only direction to use paper punches
~Base card – PTI Spring Moss, edges smudged with Distress Ink Peeled Paint
~Layer of BasicGrey
~Variety of green cardstocks punched using Martha Stewar t branch glued down in the shape of a wreath
~Sets of threes red paper punch dots topped with Glossy Accents
~Dove punch (Martha Stewart) punched twice – once on gold/vanilla; once on blue – and layered then topped with Glossy Accents
~Metal corner brad (was red – I dabbed some bronze acrylic paint on it.
~Sentiments by Just Rite Stamps – stamped on olive cardstock, punched using Stampin’ Up Word Window

Maybe I'll tell you about the rest of my bubble lists in subsequent posts.

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Crimpin' My Style

I may have to take time for more Copic coloring. It is so nice to have a supply of completed images - colored, coated, cut and ready for action. OR - maybe I should just go back on vacation and do LOTS of Copic Coloring. Nila, Judy, Gail - are you ready for a repeat trip to Shellman?

Yesterday was Monday - so I had to check out the Monday Mojo Challenge. When I saw the layout from Mojo I knew I wanted to use my crimper in place of the scallop. (I was going for an awninig or window shade look...) Next I looked in my Shellman Stash of ready-to-use images. Next came the paper selections. And to top it off - Sister Gail sent me a fabulous pile of brads that she bought me at Hobby Lobby. She was so excited that they were 50% off....Do I dare tell her that they are half price about every 5-6 weeks????!!!!

This is an image from Clipart Etc. Some of the areas are left uncoated, some are coated with Inkssentials Glossy Accents, some with Inkssentials Crackle Accents. I muddied up the white background with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink.

Crimpin' My Style

~Base card - vanilla (just plain cardstock - I didn't use my usual/favorite cardstock PTI - but this was ready cut and ready scored - and I was feeling lazy)

~Layer of design paper from My Mind's Eye

~Three layers of crimping - My Mind's Eye, brown cardstock, and PTI Ocean Tides (my favorite color of PaperTrey Ink

~Really cool brads by Spare Parts

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Hightech Tetherball

How cool is this? I am posting this, from my laptop, while I'm in the car! Don't panic - I'm not driving. My new cell phone has a tethering capability - so I'm accessing the world wide web via my phone. Way cool beans! I don't have anything to report on I just want to give this (new to me) technology a go.

Card recipe:

Autumn Shadows

~Base card - olive by Stampin' Up

~Layer of BasicGrey

~Layer of Bazzill solid

~Image is combination of PaperTrey Ink (Life) and Stampin Up (The Art of Life)

~Images stamped with Ranger Old Paper, Olive and Versamark

~Ribbon/yarn

~Hodgepodge clip by Stampin Up

Well, we've arrived at our destination: Omaha, NE. I will untether for now and check in with you later. That reminds me - we had a tetherball in the back yard when I was growing up. Do kids even PLAY tetherball anymore? Probably not without lots of protective gear.

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Twilight Parking

I spent so much time in the bubble this weekend I'm actually looking forward to going to work in the morning. One reason to look forward to going to work - is - the parking will be GREAT! Nearly all the students are off campus - at home with family for break and the holiday - SO.... yippy skippy - parking aplenty!

The challenge at Stampin' B's Design was an homage to the book/movie Twight. The instructions are to use Red, White, Black, and a Moon. I've never seen the movie, haven't read the book, don't plan on doing either but I'm not one to pass up a challenge like this!

New Moon Spider

~Base card - white PTI - edges smudged with black Stampendous ink

~Layer of DCWV cardstock matstack - and guess what? I SMUDGED the edges!

~Layers of rectangles with edges curved, first layer is DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack (white). I really like this white glitter cardstock - very versatile! Layer of the same DCWV as the base layer; layer of black cardstock - edges smudged with white ink; layer of red.

~Image is stamped (Stampin Up Booglie Eyes) on PTI white using Versamark and Ranger black embossing powder, the body of the spider colored in with Versamarker then embossed with Tim Holtz Distress Powder, google eyes added just for fun (spider is part of the Booglie Eyes set from Stampin Up)

~Black 'web' is stretch net that formerly housed a bunch of rubber bats (cool - huh?)

~The sliver of moon is a glittered brad

~Assortment of ribbons

This may not be what the nice ladies at Stampin'B's had in mind but I sure had fun with it!

Bright Birthday
~Base card - white PTI edges smudged with Cotton Candy

~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack

~Horizontal layer of orange then layer of DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack then hot pink sheer ribbon tied across lengthwise
~Tilted layers of neon yellow and orange cardstocks topped with polka dot layer DCWV Nana's ~Kids cardstock stack

~Top squares of dark purple, light blue, and white glitter cardstock

~Cake image colored in with Copics and some of the frosting coated with Stampin Up Crystal Effects, candle flames touched up with a bit of yellow glitter. The image is by Elizabeth O Dulemba.

~Metal happy birthday tag from Oriental Trading

~Lime ribbon added to the pink sheer ribbon

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Dumplins' & Dragons

Where did the morning go? I really only got two cards made? I also looked through my favorite cook book.... Does that count as cooking? I was in the kitchen while I skimmed through the book....

No need for me to cook last night! Mother (AKA Memere Old) made one of my FAVORITES - Chicken n' Dumplin's! And a choice of dessert - homemade apple pie or cream puffs! No doubt about it I went for the cream puffs. (I hear Sister Judy makes THE BEST cream puffs ever - maybe I should instigate a mother/daughter/sister cream puff challenge.) I have to admit it scares the beejeezes out of me that this 90 pound 92 year old is using a pressure cooker - but arguing with her is even scarier. No need to cook tonight as I now have leftovers from last night.

These card colors diverge from my usual palette. I liked the layout sketch (C4C12) posted today at Crazy 4 Challenges so I decided to go for it. I think I mentioned that while on vacation I colored in several stamped and digital images using my Copics. So when I colored these I had no idea what the future would hold for them - no layout plans, no idea if I had design paper to coordinate...Not sure that was such a good idea but I do like having a stock of already colored and coated images.

Dragon Greetings (Crazy 4 Challenges C4C12)~Base card: PTI~Layer of DCWV Nana's Kids matstack~Rectangle - layer of orange cardstock and layer of Oh Baby Boy by BasicGrey~Square is layer of orange cardstock and repurposed blue and green file folder and note card, respectively.~Image is a digital freebie from Elizabeth O. Dulemba , colored with Copics and coated using watercolor varnish~Sentiment (Stampendous Flexible Friendship Wishes) is layered on blue, orange and green
Pastel BouquetThis layout was made up on the fly~Base card - PTI - white - edges smudged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy~Layer of Bazzill blue cardstock~Layer or design paper from Oriental Trading~Layer of white - DCWV The Glitter Cardstock Stack; edges punched with Martha Stewart trellis punch~Second layer of design paper from Oriental Trading; edges curved with punch~Image is from stock.xchng I overcolored it with Copics, added flower brad centers and hot pink ribbon bow
You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,Nancy

Dental Mnemonics

Daughter Amy just called - she completed her oral comps for her master's program in accounting. I don't know who is more relieved her or her support systems. Now the wait is on for the results...

The challenge at Our Creative Corner was to create a card with a postcard theme.

I didn't have a postcard stamp so I improvised. Last week I received a dentist appointment reminder postcard in the mail so I re-purposed it! I cut the edges katy-wompis-like (that is my 'I hate all things math" response to a heptagon). I didn't, just off the top of my head, remember this term from those horrific days spent in geometry class. I have to mentally say 5 - penta - like the building; 6 - hexagon (both have an x); octagon (easy - I played piano).

Luckily I don't have to generate all these synapses for a simple triangle (probably because I grew up in the Catholic school system - we like things in threes!); angle (ok - I know THAT one is 2 because it is similar to angels and THEY have two wings - DUH!!!(don't ask me about degrees). I automatically know squares have four sides (I'm SURE you don't want to know the mental permutations I have to conjure up to distinguish rhombus from a quadrilateral. And being a female - I just NATURALLY know that a diamond is ALSO a member of the 4 sided geometry family. Gee, I wonder if it would have been easier just to learn the actual content then making myself make up mnemonics, reminders, and rhymes?

On with the card recipe:

After chopping the postcard to fit the card front (why didn't I just say that?) I smudged up the edges with lime ink. I covered the actual postage stamp with a cupcake leaving the cancellation mark showing. I added glitter (Stickles) to the candle flames, re-purposed the birthday greeting from an old Hallmark birthday card. (OMG I can hear the wheels turning now....I'm going to have all my transfer peeps saving and sending me all the ready-made-cards they receive.) I covered the address block with a fresh one.

Now, I only hope I remember when my dentist appointment is....

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy