African Breezes

Just a quick note tonight. I need to go to bed early. Granddaughter Bailey spent the night last night. Sleeping with her is like sleeping with a cross between an octopus and a giraffe. At one point I remember something draped over me and vaguely thought, ohhhh, she has her arm around me...no wait...that's a leg! I usually wake up a few times in the night to make sure she is still has a quilt keeping her toasty warm because usually she has it wadded up in a ball or tossed to the floor in which case SHE is wadded up in a ball. Last night I performed my due diligence sitting up to see that she was snuggled in - not only was her quilt on the floor but her head was at the foot of the bed. I'm exhausted.

Here is the output from the Bubble this weekend. I wasn't as productive as I should have been. I have GOT to stop blog hunting and spend more time actually making cards than looking at them!

I'm not sure what part of my brain put this card together. I was cleaning the Bubble and ran across this cool embossed image on a sample paper catalog. I decided to cut him out and use him. I put him with some of my "you bought it - now use it' stash.


Sun Hemp Dance
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Rustic Cream Cardstock~Pre-made embossed image (Paul Jermann, illustrator), surface distressed using Tim Holtz Distress Inks Antique Linen and Vintage Photo
~Swirl brad from Oriental Trading
~Three types of twine braided together and held in place with two metal brads along the bottom of the card
~The background handmade paper and the string of paper and wood beads are from Eco-Africa Hand Made Plant Paper by Provo Craft (I've had this sitting around for years - bought it when daughter Amy was attending the University of Iowa - this definitely qualifies for the 'you bought it....' category. I wasn't even making cards at the time of the purchase. I just LOVE hand-made paper. I had no idea why I thought I NEEDED it...
~Along the right side of the card, partially hidden by the embossed character is a blade of grass that had gone to seed and was dried - this was also in the Africa collection
Challenge:
The Shabby Tea Room - "Let's Make an Impression" (use embossing)

Kind of a funky card - but I had fun putting it together.

The label on the Eco-Africa Paper Craft Kit says, "Hand made plant paper is crafted by women in communities and villages in the African republic of Zimbabwe. Using donated, simple paper making equipment, the women are taught by master papermakers to craft paper using indigenous and replenishable plants that grow wild and plentifully near their homes in the rural and urban areas. They include such plants as river reed, elephant grass, wild fig, cotton, and sun hemp. Traditional household tools like the 'duri' and the 'guyo' are encouraged as production methods which are ecologically stable. These earth-friendly techniques support the use of various new fiber sources. The use of these new fiber resources results in Tree Free Paper which reduces dependence on forest, indigenous woodlands, and wildlife habitats and wast to land fills. The paper making projects create work opportunities and develop skills which help women to achieve financial independence for themselves and their families.

Whheeeezzzyyyyy Breazy~Base card Paper Trey Ink White
~Layer of design paper which has purple green and blue
~Free digital image from Little Musings (one freebie a week - posted via Facebook) - colored with Copics, actual twine cut and pieced for swing rope
~Vertical layer of purple cardstock with edges smudged and topped with coordinating design paper - top and bottom flower brads
~Horizontal layer of green cardstock and a piece of plastic trim (I think it's from a Happy Meal) this would fall under the category of re-purposing
~Sentiment by Just Rite - stamped on purple cardstock, punched using Stampin' Up word window, attached using foam dimensionals and embellished with small green flower brads
Challenges:
Just for Fun - use colors purple, green, and blue
Paper Garden Projects - Summer Cool (I wasn't paying attention and missed the deadline...see? too much time surfing for inspiration - not enough time paying attention to details and deadlines!
Stampin' B - Vacation Fun
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - The Great Outdoors


Not Sure What He's Thinking~Base card Paper Trey Ink white
~Layer of My Minds Eye Penny Lane Collection~Ribbon from Hobby Lobby
~Image from Baby Bud Designs - a recent promotional - buy one get one free - this was my freebie, colored using Copics and Sharpies
~Label die cuts - Spellbinders using Cuttlebug - inked stitches on long vertical sides (Thank you Gail I bought a new die cut stencil using part of the Hobby Lobby gift card you gave me.)
Challenges:
The Pink Elephant - use 3 layers, 2 die cuts, and ribbon
2S4Y - sketch
Now I'm off to upload this to the appropriate challenges then it's off to the land of winkin' and nod.

Thank you for clicking by.
All good wishes,
Nancy