Stirring Up Some Bubbles

Where have the days gone? Geesh...it's been weeks since I've had any ME time... I know the holidays are all about family - but this is ridiculous!!!! I NEED my Bubble time!

Wednesday is the Big Day over at Do You Stack Up. Challenge #1! Be sure to check it out on Thursday - as there are EIGHT Sponsors for the top EIGHT winners! How coolio is THAT????

Stirrin' Up a Good Time
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of Daisy D's Sugar Plum Paisley Peppermint
~Oval Spellbinder die cut and Cuttlebug - edges smudged with Stampabilities Red and Color Box Chalk Blue Lagoon
~Free digital image and sentiment by Wendymade colored with Copics coated with Inkssentials Glossy Accents
~Circular doily folded to create oval
~Velvet lace edged ribbon
~Three white metal brads
~Green stitched sheer ribbon

Challenges
OLLCB - A Toast to 2011
Woodware USA - Anything goes
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Pad - Anything goes

Bonne année!

Nancy

Toasty Stacks

I can't believe it! I was actually selected to be a design team member for Do You Stack Up! I'm both nervous and excited. The best part is I now have a perfect excuse to state, "I NEED bubble time!"

Alison who manages the fabulous Free Digital Stamps blog, and sells digital images at Stretch 'n' Bubbles, created a new card challenge, has the design team in place, and has a calendar chock full of fun prizes!

Hop on over and sign up to follow - you don't want to miss the inaugural challenge on the January 6!

I've added the links to my DYSU Design Teammates to my sidebar so you can check them out too.

I've been preparing for the first few weeks of the challenges but in the meantime - here is a card I finished in time for Christmas.

Toasty Warm Wishes
~Base card Papertrey Ink white
~Daisy D's design papers
~Scallop punch circles using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug
~Toaster - Stampin' Up Furnished with Love - colored with Copics
~Warm Winter Wishes - freebie digial by Bird's Cards - colored with Copics and topped with Stickles Frosted Lace
~Word toasty - freehand
~Ribbon

Merry Christmas everyone!
Nancy

Trio of Grommets

Like most folks I can't believe it is almost Christmas. Who has time to shop when there are cards to be made and card making joy to be had? I hear a bit of Ol' Scrooge in my keyboarding (before his Tiny Tim transformation)...Bahh Humbug!

Detail:

What's in Your Stocking?

~Base card Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone

~Layer of Daisy d's design paper by Moda Snowflakes Stripe

~Striped ribbon

~Large metal grommets attached using Crop A Dial II Big Bit Punch (gift from sister Gail)

~Free digital image from Sugar Creek Hollow printed on laserjet, stocking colored using Copics, distressing using Tim Holtz Old Paper, floral printed corner embellished with Sharpie Poster Paint Gold Metallic

Challenges

The Pink Elephant - blue, green red

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Karber - Christmas

I Did It Creations - vintage feel

Dutch Dare - Christmas card

All good wishes,

Nancy

Merry and Bright

Only taking time to post a card...

Bright Greetings
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink white
~Snowflake design paper - Stampin' Up
~Image stamped using Memenoto Tuxedo Black, highlighted with turquoise Sharpie, edges punched with Martha Stewart edger and smudged with Color Box Fluid Chalk Blue Lagoon; star topped with Stickles Yellow
~Ribbon
~Faux rhinestones

Challenges
Card Patterns - Sketch
Prairie Fairy Fridays - Use a star
Cute Card Thursdays - Blues

All good wishes,
Nancy

It's Cool to be Square

I've been thinking about making some square cards but didn't really want to purchase square envelopes and far be it from me to MAKE my own envelopes (that just sounds like too much work and has the potential to involve MATH or WORSE - geometry). Well, that AND I can just hear my sisters in full course harmony "square envelopes need extra postage!"

Saturday I was clicking through Splitcoaststampers and read a tutorial on using A2 envelopes (of which I have an ample supply).

Daughter Amy's closest friend Jennie sent me a text message asking if I would make her 5 Christmas cards. I texted her (just what is the past tense of text??? why am I using a noun as a verb????) back in the affirmative. I decided to try out the square card in a rectangle envelope on Jennie. I used pretty much the same layout on all of the cards. Here is the result.

Side by Side
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone
~Layer of red cardstock
~Layer of Paper Studio design paper
~Ribbon
~Another fabulous and free digital image from rural dwelling designer Wendymade & All Things Crafty (I had to look up the word culchie which she uses to describe herself - I read that word every time I clicked into her blog and finally gave up my obtusity  and decided to educated myself). Image printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White (the coolest cardstock EVER for printing and stamping). Copics used to color, edge of cardstock smudged with Stampabilities Kelly Green ink, red ornament topped with Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents, green ornament coated with Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Challenges
~Crafty Catz - Christmas
~Sew Many Cards - red and green
~Clean and Simple - sketch

Tinsel on the Tree
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy
~Layer of design paper - I added a few dots of red Stickles
~Freebie digital image from Limited Runs, colored with Copics, gold metallic floss threaded through for garland, dots of red Stickles
Challenge
Clean and Simple - sketch
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Freshly Brewed Designs - Winter/Christmas theme

Merry Christmas
~Base card Paper Trey Ink white
~Layer of Stampin' Up design paper run thru the Cuttlebug with Swiss Dot embossing folder
~Ribbon
~Freebie digital image from Addii, scallop die cut using Nesties and Cuttlebug - outer edges dotted with black ink, image colored with Copics and topped flower soft
~Sentiment die cut using Stampin' Up Word Window punch
Challenges
Clean and Simple - sketch

Santa Scallops
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Confetti cardstock
~Layer of BasicGrey Boxer/Fedora
~Layer of red felt ribbon with white stitches
~Layers of red and green cardstock circle scallop die cut using Cuttlebug and embossing folder Swiss Dots
~Digital image from Digis with Attitude printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White colored using Copics, pom pom on hat coated with Sharpie Poster Paint Gold Metallic. Hat fur embellished with Liquid Appliqué , berries dotted with Copics and Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
Challenges
Clean and Simple Stamping - sketch
Craft Your Days Away - use texture (embossing dots/felt ribbon)
Little Red Wagon - use BasicGrey
Crazy 4 Challenges - use embossing folder
Alphabet - e is for embossing
The Taggers - Santa Claus

Warm Winter Wishes
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy
~Layer of navy blue cardstock embossed using Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and dots highlighted with white ink pad
~Snowflake ribbon
~Free digital sentiment from Bird's Cards, colored with Copics and topped with Stickles Icicles
~Snowflake embellishment is a repurposed earring
Challenge
Lexi's Creations - blue and silver
Karber Weekly - use digi and sparkle
Corrosive - things that move (the dangling snowflake)
The Pink Elephant - blue, green, red
Simon Says - let it snow
Crafty Pad - snowflakes

Ho's to the 3rd Power
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone
~Layer of black paper
~Layer of Daisy D's Winter Fun Pad
~Die cut scallop circles printed using free digital sentiment from Bird's Cards
~Three cuts of black satin ribbon threaded through a vintage slider (transfer of crap from sister-in-law Jayne)
Challenges
Just Us Girls - 3 D to a Christmas card
Creative Belli - R embellishment (Ribbon)
Clean and Simple - sketch

Now I wonder if daughter Amy is going to want some cards....
Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy

Sugar, Grating, and Bobby Flay

I promised an update on my usual lack of prowess in the kitchen. Since I made the goof in front of the whole family why not share the story with my blog-land-friends too? I've posted before that cooking is not my thing. Here's the recent 'proof in the pudding' so to speak.

Daughter Amy drove up from Omaha, with sister Gail, Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. And it's a good thing she asked to sample the freshly baked pumpkin pie. She took a bite, gave me a quizzical look and 'sweetly' asked me, "did you put any sugar in this?" I hesitantly said, "well, of course I did." She promptly turned on her heels and headed out of the kitchen - slice and fork in hand. "I'll have dad taste it." She returned to the kitchen tossed the pumpkin slice minus two bites into the trash can stating, "If dad won't eat it - we KNOW it's bad."

This isn't the first time I've made pumpkin pie...how could I FORGET to include the sugar? I couldn't believe it. Even though I had literally spent 12+ hours in the kitchen I made two MORE pies - this time adding the required sugar.

And an update on the painful Bobbie Flay Mac and Cheese Carbonara recipe...what a BUST! (If you're interested in my whining wretched details click here.) Sixteen ingredients, more different cheese types than ANY Midwest grocery store carries, thirty-two mixing bowls and pans later the taste was marginal at best  (okay I may be SLIGHTLY exaggerating on the number of dishes - but not by much).

When I work that long and hard on a recipe (which included chopping, grating, more chopping, more grating, melting, boiling, sauteing, and MORE grating) I expect the taste to be "OMgoodness - THAT was SO worth ALL that TIME AND EFFORT, hand me the grater I want to make another batch, curl your toes, implode your palate DELICIOUS!"

How disappointing! What was I thinking? A Bobby Flay Food Network recipe? I need to stick to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or a good ol' Aunt Ethel recipe. Now if I only HAD an Aunt Ethel....

I told you I was kitchen-jinxed!

Wheeeee It's Snowing!
~Base card - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White
~Layer of  blue cardstock
~Layer of pink cardstock
~Layer of snowflake design paper (don't know what the name of it is)
~Layer of pink ribbon topped with metallic silver edged white ribbon
~Three small punched snowflakes topped with Stickles Diamond
~Digital image - I can't locate the file - so I can't let you know where I got it from...How distressing! If anyone knows who's handwork this adorable trio of snow people is please give me a 'shout-out'. Image colored with Copics, noses topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, areas highlighted with Stickles.
~Larger snowflake punch with pink rhinestone center and Stickle's Diamond highlighted tips
~Digital image update - whoooooot!!!! I misfiled the little darlings!!!! The image is by Sassy Cheryl's. Merry merry me - so happy I found and correctly refiled these cutie-pa-tooties!

Challenges
Digis with Attitude - Colors Pink, Black, Silver (the black is the black ink outline of the image)
I {heart} to Stamp - Sketch
2 Sisters - Non-traditional Christmas colors (inside sentiment is "Have a Merry and Bright Christmas")

I was going to make this a one-card-post but just found this adorable free digital image a Wendymade and couldn't resist a go at it.

Here's to Cheers
~Base card white linen pre-made card
~Layer of American Craft The Goods/Tinsel - edged smudged with Stampabilities True Red
~Narrow layer of green glitter cardstock by DCWV
~Layer of ribbon
~Center square of red cardstock - outlined with black faux stitches
~Cocktail digital image by Wendymade and All Things Crafty - printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White cardstock, distressed with Stampabilities True Red; scallop circle die cut using Cuttlebug and dotted edges using American Crafts Black Galaxy Marker
~Digital sentiment also by Wendymade
Challenges
The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Daring Cardmakers - Spots and Stripes (ribbon is striped/dots around scallop)
Digi Doodles - Red and Green
Stamp Insanity - Try something new (brand new digital image!)

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy

P.S. In case you are wondering, as evidenced by the still whole pie lying in the yard, even squirrels and birds don't like pumpkin pie sans sugar! As for the do-overs of the pie - they were a hit with all the humans.

Holly Snow

Just a quick posting of a card. I will confess to my kitchen snafus later.

Holly Baby
~Base card - Gina K. Designs Luxury Pure White
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas by Jen Wilson
~Digital image 'Holly' by Baby Bud Designs, printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen, colored with Copics, her red buttons and boots topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects and hat pompom accented with Stickles; oval cut using Spellbinder die cut and my Cuttlebug
~Design paper and white cardstocks punched using snowflake punch, centered with red brads, topped with iridescent glitter
~White gloss cardstock used for small snowflake punch
~Pearl bridal spray sprigs
~Two layers of ribbon
~Digital sentiment by Bird's Cards laser printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White White - highlighted with a few dots of Stickle's Diamond
Challenges
Baby Bud Designs - Winter/Christmas
Scrap Book Sisters - Let it Snow
Stampin' B's  - Holiday Card
Stampin for the Weekend - Winter
Digital Tuesday - Let it Snow plus Digi
Just Us Girls - 3-D

Here is a hint about my upcoming confession - it has to do with baking and wildlife.

All good wishes,
Nancy

Cheese I'm Tired!

Spent most of the day in the kitchen - which for me  - as some of you know - is a peculiar site. And yes, I was actually COOKING. I decided that the reason Food Network cooks make it look so easy is because they have peeps doing all the grunt work for them. Chopping, measuring, more chopping, mixing, MORE chopping, and then there is my personal favorite grating!!!!!

I'm trying a Bobby Flay mac and cheese recipe. I have no idea why! My idea of cooking is being sure to poke holes in the microwave dinner wrap! The list of ingredients is WAY past my acceptable number (3.4 is about average for me....) The cheese list ALONE was beyond my acceptable quantity of ingredients! I had to substitute one of the FIVE cheeses as I live in podunkville and I was lucky to find even one of the required dairy products. The red flag should have been when I had to use the dictionary to look up what the heck one of the ingredients was! I assumed I would have to substitute items but in order to substitute I needed to know what food group pancetta belonged to! Until I looked it up I didn't know if I should wander the meat department, the dairy department, the ice cream freezer, the wine department, or the photoshop!

Daughter Amy and sister Gail will be here tomorrow afternoon...they are my culinary victims... I can't include husband on the victim list as he will eat ANYTHING. Also shouldn't include Amy as she is a pretty picky eater. That just leaves Gail and me to be the true judges of this 16 ingredient masterpiece. I also made chicken noodle soup. Another new-to-me recipe. This one is from friend Nila. It includes ZERO grating!

Hello!
~Base card Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack
~Banner - Hero Arts stamp - Hello Flags, colored with Copics, highlighted with Stickles Diamond
~Two purple metal brads
~Sentiment - Studio G - Hello (from a Michael's dollar bin), colored with Copics and outlined with glitter
~Blue flower faux rhinestone (is faux rhinestone redundant? hmmm.... it sounds better than "a faceted piece of plastic formed to appear as a rhinestone and sold in a package of 50 from the Dollar Tree")
Challenge
Little Red Wagon - use banner

Now for some MUCH deserved Bubble time! I feel the need to start a new card.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Harry Mondays!

Another Monday. This one started with icy streets and a 40 minute crawl to work (the trip normally takes me 6 minutes). In the middle of the day I made a trip to the eye doctor. My eyes are still HUGELY dilated so I'm typing this with the keyboard at arm's length...if I could only type with my toes I might be able to actually SEE what I'm typing! And because it is Monday - it ended with my weekly dinner at my mother's. She is a 94 year old spit-fire. She wears me out! Even with the less than perfect day I nabbed some card time in my 'Bubble'.

Helping Hands
~Base card - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White
~Layer of American Craft cardstock
~Gold glitter trim (last year's Hobby Lobby Christmas 75% off sale)
~Layer of red cardstock - edges curved
~Digital image (Harry Needs a Helping Hand) by Mo Manning - colored using Copics
~Sentiment by Simple Christmas by Stampendous
Challenges
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas Tree
Paper Sundaes - Sketch
Stamps R Us - Sparkle and Scallop
The Crafty Pad - Red and Green

All good wishes,
Nancy

Marshmallow Husbands

Okay - so I'm busted. I didn't really get all that much work done around the house. But I did make a trip to the grocery store the Sunday before Thanksgiving! That alone should be worthy of some card making time! Too many hapless husbands wandering around Hy-Vee with grocery lists in their hands! I wanted to scream - "pick a bag of taters - any bag - just get out of my way!!!" The unfortunate part of this story is I usually send MY very own hapless honey to the store with a list. I had no idea this is what happens when other wives are trying to get to the canned pumpkin - only to be slowed down by some loving dunce with a list. One gent was stumped by the variety of marshmallows - he was on his cell phone asking his wife which size to purchase and if she wanted the pastel colored or white marshmallows. Maybe I will think twice about sending hubby to the grocery store only days before the holidays. Maybe...

Ornamental Greetings
~Base card - confetti cardstock
~Layer of Bazzill Apple Crush cardstock - edge dredged through Stampabilities Kelly Green
~Layer of American Crafts diagonal stripe cardstock
~Velvet/lace trim
~Strands of gold metallic floss (more Transfer of Crap from sister Gail)
~Free digital image from Wendy Made, colored with Copics , sentiment written over with Sharpie Poster Paint Silver Metallic
~Ribbons threaded through ornament 'loop'
~Die cut scallop circle using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug - edge of inner scallop highlighted with iridescent glitter
Challenges
2S4You - Sketch
Cardvaarks - Holiday die cut

Holiday Tradition
~Base card - Gina K Designs  Pure Luxury White
~Layer of Stampin' Up design paper
~Free digital image of Christmas wreath by Bird's Cards, colored with Copics, berries dotted with Ranger Rich Red embossing powder
~Ribbon
~Metal brad by Spare Parts Christmas Brads (a gift from sister Gail)
~Die cut circle scallop (Spellbinders and Cuttlebug)
Challenges
Card Patterns - Sketch #91
C4C - add circles
Mark's Finest Papers - use circle

Gotta' go now...I promised myself I would vacuum the Bubble before I turn in for the evening. Thanks for clicking by.
All good wishes,
Nancy

I Need to Get to Work so I Can Have a Bubble Break

I know I should be getting ready for the holidays. Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and here I sit making cards. But I NEED to make cards...sister Judy will be here from Atlanta soon and will want to take cards back with her. And of course there is me...who NEEDS to have time in my Fiber Bubble...just to keep what little sanity still remains.

My employer, Briar Cliff University, has two additional Rwandan students arriving tomorrow. Two students arrived in August for the start of the academic year. They are delightful and have been mentioning how cold it is since the temperatures 'dipped' into the 40's! Romalise has been wearing a parka since mid September! Several of the staff and faculty of BCU pooled money together for Project Stay Warm. The monies collected purchased a hooded sweatshirt, mittens, stocking cap, and BCU scarf from the campus bookstore - a set for each of the four Rwandans.

Romalise stopped by my office last week - all decked out in his new hat, mittens, scarf, plus the hood of his new sweatshirt pulled up over his stocking cap AND his parka. With a beaming bright smile he said...."I'm staying warm!". I wanted to say - "yes, you are warm because it is only 52 degrees Fahrenheit outdoors" but I didn't. Instead I said, "You look great in that hat!" He picked one with ear flaps, braids and tassels. I didn't have the heart to say..."has anyone talked to you about wind-chill, snowfall, and subzero temperatures that go on for days?" He just looked so adorable all bundled up...I was sweating just looking at him!

Since the campus is essentially closed for break - I have 'Rowanda....it must be Tuesday' detail. Two young women arrive tomorrow late evening. I've been assigned Tuesday with these equator residing young adults. One place I will certainly be taking them is to the university bookstore to pick up their Stay Warm bundled gifts. I will be giving them the grand tour of our hilltop campus and making sure they get served a couple of meals as the campus cafeteria is closed until Nov. 28. Why you might ask would I be charged with anything to do regarding food preparation? GOOD QUESTION!!! Cooking is NOT my forte'. I'm a nervous wreck in the kitchen...it is definitely NOT my comfort zone. Give me a vacuum cleaner, dust cloth, rubber gloves, and bleach ANY day.
But feed them I will...lunch somewhere very Iowa-ish (a mom/pop shop cafe') and supper at my house. I will actually be having all four of the Rwandans for dinner at my home. That should be interesting....poor kids - they don't know what they're in for...The rest of the term break they will spend with fellow Rwandans in another small city in Iowa - Storm Lake.

And this is what I've been up to instead of getting ready for holiday family and out of country guests....

Star of Wonder
~Base card - Gina K Designs Pure White
~Layer of Bazzill Wildberry Pie cardstock
~Strip of navy cardstock down the right side of the card
~Layer of vellum stamped with Ranger Adirondak Snow Cap Pigment Ink with foam snowflake stamp, also stamped with Versamark and embossed with Tsukineko Turquoise Embossing Powder
~Three metal snowflake brads
~Chipboard aqua glittered star
~Six white large white metal brads
~Freebie digital image from Stretch n' Bubbles printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White cardstock, tiny stars dotted with Stickles Diamonds, scarf and nose colored with Copics, buttons and eye topped with Stickles Black Diamond, snowman body filled in with Prisma Ultra Fine Multi Glitter using Sakura Quickie Glue
~Sentiment hand written using calligraphy quill and black ink, edges smudged with Color Box Chalk Blue Lagoon - silver metal eyelet punch in corner
Challenges
Stampin' B - Snowflakes
Totally Papercrafts - Snow/Snowflakes
Christmas Stampin' - Sketch
Delightful Challenges - Winter
One Stop Craft - Snow People
Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle
Wild Orchard - Blue Christmas

Merry & Bright
~Base card Gina K Designs Pure White, edges smudged with color Stampin' Up Cool Caribbean
~Layer of BasicGrey Figgy Pudding
~Free digital image from Wendy Made printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White - bulbs colored with Faber-Castell turqoise watercolor pencils, coated with Inkssentials Glossy Accents, spotlighted with Sharpie Poster Paint White, bulb bases colored with Sharpie Poster Paint Metallic Gold, edges of cardstock distressed with Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - #56 color inspiration: Red, Olive, Turquoise
Stampin' for the Weekend - Winter

I really MUST do a bit of domestic labor now...Maybe for a break I'll sneak back into The BUBBLE. Of course I have to go DO something productive to get a break from doing it....

All good wishes,
Nancy

Short on Words

Seriously. Just a card tonight.

Christmas Wreath
~Base card Gina K Designs Pure Ivory
~Layer of dark red cardstock topped with layer of Basic Grey Fruitcake
~Horizontal strip of dark red cardstock topped with coordinating layer of Basic Grey Fruitcake
~Ribbon
~Sentiment Holly Merry Christmas by Stampabilities using Stazon Jet Black stamped on a paint chip attached to same dark red cardstock
~Digital image of wreath by Creative Mind of Sylvie stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black on Paper Temptress Cryogen White and topped with Flowersoft, edges of cardstock faux stitched with black ink
~Star brad; raffia; three red circular brads
Challenges
The Pink Elephant - sketch
Creative Cottage - Christmas card for someone special
Flourishes - Christmas
2 Sisters - Christmas
Bee Crafty - Christmas
C4C - Christmas
Totally Gorjuss - Traditional Christmas colors

Thanks for clicking by. All good wishes,
Nancy

Georgia on My Mind

I have to get movin' on card making. I just donated some to the Briar Cliff University annual athletic department fundraising online auction. And Sister Judy is coming to town to help Sister Gail during her knee surgery recovery and she (Judy) mentioned she really NEEDS to take cards back to Atlanta with her. I need to get my stash of cards' beefed up.

Swirls of Joy
~Base card - confetti off white
~Layer of Basic Gray Fruitcake
~Layer of stripe coordinating Basic Gray Fruitcake
~Red satin gold imprinted ribbon
~Image Star Scribble Tree - stamped using Copic green for the tree and Versamark on the star and tree basket. Tree over-inked with a gel pen. Red berries on tree were made using Versapen and Red Embossing Powder. Star was Versamarked and topped with Gold Embossing Powder, Tree basket was colored with Versamark and coated with Bronze Embossing Powder
~Image was then oval cut using oval die cut from Spellbinders plus my Cuttlebug - background ovals of olive green were added. Image oval was distressed using Fired Brick, Old Paper, and Peeled Paint
~Greenery added using Martha Stewart punch - and embellished with red button after snippin' off the metal shaft
Challenges
The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas Colours
ABC - H is for Holiday
Fresh Brewed Blog - Two or More design papers
Anything Goes - Emboss it
A Crafty Little Place - Red, Green, White
Wild Orchid - Classic Christmas

Thanks for clicking by.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Tomato Flakes

Sweet Julie, at Rainbow Days, who is the happy new owner of a Cricut, makes really lovely cards, and leaves dear comments on my blog, asked for an update on my 'stealthy-ninja' 94 year old mother's upside-down hanging tomato plants. Well, I'm sorry to report that both hanging vegetative bags died untimely deaths.

Even with the ridiculous nurturing (albeit begrudging) care they received (by me) they met their demise at the whim of the blustery winds of the Midwest. Lovely green vines grappling and yearning for something to attach themselves to...yellow blossoms hinting at the promise of late summer's quintessential red, flavorful, juicy fruit...shirred off in the prime of their lives by the winds that would put El Nino and Santa Ana all to shame. And I blame the Mad-Wacky-As-Seen-on-TV-Marketing-Gurus who appeal to the oddity - 'do these really work' - smoke and mirror - I gotta' get me some of those - gene in many of us.

These stupid poly-something-or-other vessels which are supposed to encourage the upward growth of the tomato plants - instead - encouraged these poor unwitting plants to grow straight down...down...down..towards the earth (where they BELONGED anyway!)

Seriously!!! Are these inverted bags-o-produce from some freakish vegetarian topsy-turvy mind-bender from Alice in Wonderland? AND why did the ninja mother feel the need to purchase two of them let alone one of them? Actually I know why she felt compelled to buy them - a smack down challenge from my brother-in-law who lives down south in Georgia!  He just HAD to brag about HIS (dorky) tomato bags...well that's all it took for my mother to 'need' her own agricultural sacks!

I AM happy to report however that the multiple tomato plants that I planted for her in the ground...as the good Lord intended...produced a bountiful harvest.

I actually got home from work at a decent time tonight so I 'bagged' some Bubble time. Here is the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You followed by my interpretation of the sketch.

Snow-Sweet
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - white
~Layer of snowflake paper - some of the centers dotted with Stickles Diamonds
~Layer of red cardstock, blue cardstock topped with white/silver ribbon
~Strands of silver metal embroidery thread (transfer of crap from sister Gail) and a snowflake charm
~Image is by Little Musings - printed on Cryogen White colored with Copics - snowflakes on her coat topped with Stickles Diamonds - image trimmed around, smudged with Polar Blue ink and attached to white glitter cardstock
Challenges
2S4Y - sketch
A Spoon Full of Sugar - snow/snowflakes
Paper Sundaes - Let it snow
Really Reasonable Ribbon - winter blue white silver theme

So Julie...are you sorry you asked about the 'maters? Can't wait to see what else you come up with a using your new Cricut!
Thanks for clicking by...
Nancy

The Curse of the Persian Pickle

This will be a quick post. Cards only no yada-yada-yada. WARNING - the "no yada yada" usually ends up being a big fat lie - cuz' I can't seem to NOT blather on about some inane subject - give me a key board and the prattling begins....

A Quilter's Nine-Patch
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of Autumn Leaves Adhesive Mats Carefree Autumn
~Deckle squared punches used for the nine-patch. layered on dark brown cardstock on layer of green cardstock
~Strip of tri-color ribbon from Hobby Lobby
~Button - tied with olive green raffia (which was a transfer of crap item from Sister Gail)
Challenges
Scrapbook Sisters - autumn colors
Gingerloft  - include buttons
Digi Doodles - autumn theme
C4C - create a square card (not one to frequently follow rules - I created squares to create a square - (would that be like square to the second power?)
Stamp Insanity - use your punches

And now a confession about a design that kicks my creative 'be-hind' every chance it gets: PAISLEY!

I love paisley designs (AKA Persian Pickles or Welsh Pears). You might know I would like them - the name originates from a town in center Scotland. I love Scotland too! Paisleys, however, don't love me. And I'm pretty sure Scots don't like me either - or at least I was told my accent was too strange to understand my simplest of requests.

I love curvilinear designs so why not embrace paisley designs - should be right up my art major background...then just when I think I can work with these swirly single cell organisms...I give it a try...They fight me and I lose every time. I'm never happy with the results. What is it with these amoebic shaped flourish-y doodles? I can find a paisley paper that I just love - try to create a card with it and all I see are giant commas on steroids or a mitochondrial experiment gone awry. I just don't have what it takes to wrestle a paisley to the craft table and create it into a crafty submission. I have paisley design papers, stamps, and embellishments. Perhaps these protozoan squiggles are just better suited under a microscope. Or on a castle tapestry...or best just left in my craft drawer...

I used the sketch over at Just Us Girls Saturday Challenge. I thought "I had it all together"! I had the sketch...I had the color theme (from Play Date Cafe) I had the paper...I had a punch that mirrors the flowers in the paper paisley...I had TRANSFER of CRAP (which RARELY if EVER lets me down...a single earring from my sister-in-law Jayne). I blame THIS failure on my paisley curse - not on Jayne's tub-o-crap. I just realized the list of people I accept ToC from is getting lengthier...hmmmmm....may have to reassess that situation. I did, however, before accepting the GIANT Rubbermaid TUB of 'crap' from 'Jayner' tell her the rules and conditions of ToC.... Yes - there are Rules and Conditions of Passing on and Accepting of Other People's Crap (aka treasures). Indeed - there should be a legal document regarding same...maybe I'll draft it later this week....

Paisleys: Not for the Weak of Heart
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - White
~Layer of solid color My Minds Eye - layer of paisley print from My Minds Eye
~Layer of striped ribbon
~Celery green Stampin' Up word window celery green cardstock with three metal stucco orange colored brads
~Curve of tiny daisy stamps in various shades of stucco orange and green - centers of the punched flowers are dotted with Sharpie Pen Poster Paints White 
~Embellishment is paisley earring a transfer of crap from sister in law Jayne -  I sanded the single black earring, painted it green, dotted it with white Sharpie poster paint. Makes me wonder what people think of me - that I would actually accept a single giant black plastic earring shaped like an apostrophe....
~Sentiment - Hero Arts Thank you
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - Color Inspiration: Stucco Orange, Celery, White
Let's Ink it Up - no digital image and recycle (the earring)
Our Creative Challenge - Attitude with Gratitude
Shirley's Two Girls - Thank You
Stamp Insanity - use your punches
JUGS - sketch

It's All About the Shoes
~Base Card - PaperTrey Ink black
~Layer of the Paper Studio Vintage Black Checkerboard
~Three large black metal brads
~Corner  - a wedge of paper doily topped with back partial circle
~Image is a digital freebie from Yours Truly, colored with Copics and highlighted with Stickles Diamonds
Challenges
Little Red Wagon - use color Red
Cinema Saturday Pride and Prejudice Theme - use a bit of lace (paper doily)
City Crafter - get your digi on

I warned you about the no yada yada yada. I do get carried away sometimes....
Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy

Ahhhh Siblings!

And she scores! YES! I scored some Bubble Time! Seems like forever since I've had a little card therapy. Late nights at work equal minimal time with cardstock, Copics, and creating.

My friend Mary Lee requested a couple of cards. Reflecting on the arrival of a new grandson (grandchild number 5) she wanted cards to "address the ambivalence associated with becoming a sibling". Now THAT is a challenge! I had to mull this one over for a bit and then remembered seeing these images over at Mo Manning's Digital Pencil Too. Mo and Pay Pal to the rescue - I love the instant gratification of digital images! Not to mention the gazillions of choices! I used the same layout for both.

Brothers
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layers of Basic Grey Oliver collection (a paper pad gift from sista' Gail)
~Digital image Brothers by Mo Manning - colored using Copics, highlights with Sharpie Poster Paint
Challenges (not counting the one from friend Mary Lee)
Friday Sketches
Paper Sundaes - for the boys
Mo's Challenge - pick a season - I picked "Season of Love"
Pile It On - beary good friend - include a bear and a friend
Crafty Sentiments Designs - male card

Brothers!
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layers of Basic Grey Cupcake collection
~Digital images - from Mo Manning (it is a set with lots of variables) colored using Copics, highlights with Sharpie Poster Paint, 'hubcaps' on wheels coated with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects,
Challenges
Raise the Bar - anything with wheels
Scrapbook Sisters - Tic Toc (time to do something about this little brother!)
Friday Sketches



That's all from me for tonight. I'm hoping to bag some more Bubble time this week...I'm forever hopeful anyway...
All good wishes,
Nancy

Can't Even Imagine

Feline Playful - I recently ran across and a blog site I really like because it has a summary of daily challenges is celebrating 500 hundred followers. I can't even imagine that - to think I got pumped when I hit double digit followers! I use her blog because I can easily get sucked into the vortex of blog searches and hours have passed by before I ever pick up a piece of cardstock, stamp, or tool. Accountant by day - Blogger by night: Check out Karen's Blog Candy!

Giggles and Ginko

As I posted in my previous note I promised a summary of 'Naked Cupcake Night'. As one of six dormitories (okay - so these days they are call 'residence halls...') floor 'parents' to 40-some young men and women it is our 'duty' to come up with an activity or two every term (unlike MOST colleges we don't use a semester based calendar - we use a trimester system). Once per term we host 'Naked Cupcake Night'. Each of us 'parents' bake 2 dozen cupcakes leaving them unfrosted (naked). The students then spend the evening frosting, decorating, and eating cupcakes. There is an assortment of food coloring, sprinkles, other toppings and chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla frosting.

We have been hosting this event for three years now and it doesn't need explaining even to the freshman. Word quickly spreads that if you live on 4th floor Alverno - you have the good fortune of looking forward to 'Naked Cupcake Night'. It never ceases to amaze me and never ceases to tickle me to see these 'kids' squeal with delight when they look in the lounge to see what's going on - only to realize it's cupcake night. Some of the students decorate cupcake after cupcake - handing them off to students who would rather have a cupcake designed just for them without having to lift a finger. Some of the students decorate one - pop it in their mouth - decorate another one.... Some stop by - slather on an inch of frosting, heap on sprinkles and M&M's and run to an evening class or to the library to study. They jibber-jabber the whole time, there is always lots of giggles and of course there is oooohhhhhing and aaahhhing over their confectionery creations.

I think I look forward to cupcake night as much as the students do. To check out more pics check out the Briar Cliff University Facebook page. Here are three of my favs.

Next on the floor parent to do list - candy in each of their mailboxes for Halloween. Students ALSO love finding goodies in their mailboxes.

And now for a couple of cards. It started with wondering what using Copics on Kraft paper would look like...the color isn't nearly as vibrant as it is on white cardstock but for an autumn look I think it worked out well.

Rustic Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream~Layer of Basic Grey Archaic
~Strip of Basic Gray solid from Archaic collection - edges smudged (distressed) with black ink
~Layer of rust color cardstock with edges curve punched and distressed using black ink
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Image is from Stampcraft Maple Leaf - colored with Copics and topped with Inkssentials Crackle Accents
~Image layer of cardstock run through Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots embossing folder...I ran it through upside down so instead of  'outies' I have 'inies'...I was really planning on bumps not dimples - but what they hay...
~Image layer also die cut using one of the label dies from Spellbinders and the Cuttlebug - I didn't want it to be as large as the die was so I chopped off about a third of the bottom and curve punched the two edges
~Rust colored sheer ribbon (which I must say if DIFFICULT to find) threaded through two small punched holes and tied into a simple bow
~Copper colored metal maple leaf brad in left upper corner
Challenges
Corrosive Challenge - Get Rid of the White
Paper Players - sketch
Basic Grey - use one BG item and autumn theme
C4C - fall/autumn theme

Pulling Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Aqua Mist
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink - Kraft - edges dredged through Versamark then embossed using Stampendous Wintergreen Pastel embossing powder (this is DEFINITELY from the "I actually BOUGHT this stuff?" pile
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream - stamped with real leaves using Stampabilities Baby Blue and Versamark Polar Blue inks (Believe me - fall is certainly here - it wasn't easy finding leaves green and pliable enough to use)
~Center image cut from a background stamp (Stamps Happen - Ginko II) stamped using Versamark and embossed with Ranger Enamelware embossing powder
~Ribbon is the coolest thing ever - I ordered some from Paper Temptress where I get my FAVORITE cardstock for Copic Coloring (CryogenWhite Iridescent) - the Pull-It ribbon was ON SALE! It has a ready made pull string - so you just cut, cinch - and there you have it a perfect ribbon flower!
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color theme - beige, pale blue, and pale 'mint-ish' green
Craftalicious - anything goes

I'm off to bed now...have to travel to Indianola, IA tomorrow for the day. Seven hours in the car for a five hour meeting..
All good wishes,
Nancy