Sunday, October 31, 2010

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

Monday, October 18, 2010

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Cupcakes and Christmas

I will fill you in on Naked Cupcake Night with my next posting. Because it was Naked Cupcake Night tonight - I'm home late  - so short post. We will have Miss Bailey this weekend so Bubble time will be replaced with lots of granddaughter time. THAT is a most acceptable replacement for card making time!


Three Cheers for Christmas
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Ripe Avocado
~Layer of Daisy D's Moda Classic Holiday Stripe
~Textured ribbon
~Circle punch of cream colored cardstock - edged with Tim Holtz Old Paper and Stampin' Up Old Olive
~Image - Verve Poinsettia Christmas - colored with Copics - centers colored with Copics and highlighted with Poster Paints white and yellow
Challenges
Alphabet - X for Xmas
Scrapbook Sisters - flowers
Colour Create - pink, green, cream
ABC - F is for Flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - three of something
2 Sketches 4 You - sketch

Check back later for tales of  a Naked Cupcake Night - complete with photos.
Merry Christmas!
Nancy

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Ninja Mummy

I'm not looking for sympathy - I just have to give you a little history before I share my most recent 'mother story'. I've had the flu (G.I. and respiratory) for the past 2 and a half days. If you haven't read this blog before allow me to bring you up to speed. My mother is a spry, slight, wee, tenacious, little woman of 94. She is essentially blind and has had more than one near-death episode. She is still living in my childhood home. She has too much 'stuff' to even briefly consider a move to assisted living - well - that and she is as strong willed as a titanium girder.

I was supposed to go to her house on Monday evening. Since I was a whiny, bed-ridden, lump of germs, I had husband John call my mother early on Monday to tell her I would not be coming over to the house that evening and to tell her the reason I would not be coming over.

Not sure why I bare my soul on this blog - recently I admitted my personal and necessary use of TWEEZERS, I admitted I'm not gracious enough to mail cards, I secretly think my mother had super ninja powers, and now I'm disclosing that I get whiny - VERY VERY whiny - when I'm nauseated (just ask my husband). Oh and for the record - I get VERY VERY nasty tempered when I get HOT (not to mention that my hair triples in volume and gets - how should I describe it - like a porcupine on steroids). As for verification on both of my heat related maladies feel free to check with my sisters.

The maternal unit then called on Tuesday to see if I was still sick. John told her yes I was staying home from work for one more day and would be back to work tomorrow. I had my cell phone turned off because I get so many text messages from students that I didn't want my phone buzzing all day long.

The doorbell rang mid afternoon today - and I knew before my husband unlocked the door that it was going to be THE NINJA MOTHER! Evidently she didn't believe my husband when he told her I was recuperating because she had someone drive her to my house this afternoon. As I was walking down the hallway, bedecked in my jammies, she announced that she had to come over to make sure "I wasn't dead." And that is a verbatim quote.

She asked if she could take me to the doctor. (She has no driver's license - she has no car...) (Silent, internal giggling as she is offering to be my medical chauffeur.) I said, I have the FLU I'm not going to the doctor and in fact I'm going back to work tomorrow. She asked, "when were you around sick people?"  (hmmmm....beginning to wonder if she thinks I played hooky from coming to her house and going to work...)I answered, "I work on a college campus with 1000 kids..." I also told her, "and now YOU have been around sick people - me! What are you doing here?!!! "

She then asked if I wanted to go out to dinner. My hair looks like a harshly used bottle brush, I'm wearing NOT my finest sleepwear, have only sipped on juice, Squirt, and nibbled on crackers since Sunday - and she wants to go out to dinner. I know...I know...she was only concerned, but now she has unnecessarily exposed herself to all my cruddy airborne agents of illness. Oh well - she's made of stout stuff and the windows were all open. I can't believe she actually came over here...

On to the cards which I was able to make because I DO feel better today!

I Felt Grateful
~Base card - pre-made package of 3 from the Target dollar aisle
~Inside pumpkin stamped and colored using Copics
~Sentiment by Stampin' Up Small Script and punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
~Outside pumpkin is a thick felt sticker  - I smudged the edges with brown ink - and inserted a coiled green wire
Challenges
Digi Doodles Shops' Best - use orange
Shabby Tea Room - pumpkin photo inspiration

This next card has some explaining that needs to be shared. I actually colored the little image while on holiday with my sissies - I stamped up assorted images took my colored pencils (only had 3 or 4 Copics at the time) and colored while they quilted having no idea what I would do with the images once I was back in Iowa. So he has been sitting around for a very long time. Then a couple of weeks ago I 'spun' the web around the cardstock using metallic threads and voile' a home for my little mummy! I ran a strip of adhesive across the back - intending the square for...something - I have no idea what. Why? Because I lost the little bugger! I looked EVERYWHERE (or so I thought) in the Bubble! Well, fast forward to today, I grabbed for my Scor-Buddy and felt something odd on the underside of it. I tend to be an organize freak in my Bubble I always put things back where they 'belong'. I use my Scor-Buddy with every card - but evidently - today I grabbed for it in a different manner... and there was the missing little spook. Thank you Saint Anthony! (He is the patron saint of lost items and he hears from me frequently.)


Spook in Hiding
~Base card - pre-made white linen card edges smudged with blue and purple inks
~Background card was a re-purposed marketing folder - stripes already on the cardstock
~Polka dot ribbon from Hobby Lobby
~Stamped image from Stampin' Up Booglie Eyes pencil colored and coated with Ranger Glossy Accents and his gauze topped with Liquid Applique
~Moon is white cardstock 'bat stamped' with Versamark and embossed with Ranger Black embossing powder
~Purple cardstock - edges 'scalloped' using a circle dot punch
~Blue and purple metallic embroidery floss randomly wound around the square (floss was a Transfer of Crap item from sissy Gail)
Challenges
Craft Your Passions - sketch
Lexi's Creations - spooky theme
Something Completely Different - colors - purple and green

Going to bed now...back to work tomorrow. I know my peeps miss me I just turned my cell phone back on...
Nancy

Another Birthday

No not mine. I just forgot to post the second birthday card for the Omaha stash for daughter Amy to use. This will just be a quick post.


The Birthday Bug
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Pure Poppy
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Penny Lane
~Layer of redish colored cardstock - scalloped using Fiskars Paper Edgers
~Layer of striped ribbon
~Digital image from Digital Delights printed on my favorite Copic coloring paper - Cryogen White from Paper Temptress - it is AWESOME! You can't see it from the photo - but in real life - the paper has a very slight sparkle. The image was colored using Copics, the centers of the flowers on her dress and cap were topped with Stickles Yellow. Edges smudged with Stampabilities Baby Blue and a thin layer of Stampabilities Black. Highlights on cheeks and shoes - Poster Paints white.
~Bling added to her antenae
~Sentiment stamped using Versamark and Ranger Rich Red and Ranger Moss embossing powders, cut out using an oval Spellbinders - the sentiment itself is from a Stampin' Up set
Challenges
Sweet Stampin' - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
Mark's Finest Papers - use stripes (the ribbon is striped)
Mami Doodles - girly birthday card
Get Sketchy - layout
The Pink Elephant - childhood theme

All good wishes,
Nancy

Birthday Bandit

Sista Gail had to make an 'emergency run' to daughter Amy's place of work this week. The emergency? Amy needed a few mama-made cards for her 'peeps'. Ahh...the responsibilities of being a supervisor. It makes me feel all cozy inside knowing people (even if they're "only family") appreciate my handy work. SOMEBODY has to use these darn cards - 'cuz I sure don't. I am the worse card giver ever to prowl the aisle of a Hallmark. I do like giving away the cards I make for OTHERS (evidently more kind and considerate than me) to use on special occasions. While I'm on the honesty pot I'll tell you that I like making cards for others to use because then I can make whatever theme I want...whatever my muse whispers in my ear - or hits me over the head with...it's up to the giver to decide what the heck to do with them. I like the no pressure stress reduction of my card making Bubble time.

Since Amy gobbled up a few of the birthday cards that her Aunt Gail had on hand I was charged with making more. So...here we go.


Grab Your Party Hat
~Base card - pre-made window card - package of three from the Target dollar bin - edges smudged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy
~Left corner party hat is a sticker from the Dollar Tree
~Sentiment stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black - stamped on purple cardstock layered on green and pink cardstock
~Clump of ribbons from my stash

And this is the inside of the card...


~Party hats punch used - topped with glue then glittered
~Inside sentiment - Stampabilities - It's Your Day, colored with Copics
Challenges
Gingerloft - Glitter or Bling
Crazy for Challenges - Birthday card

Sista Judy and Gail - keep your editing pens close at hand I'll be posting another card with a Memere Old story included. I love having my own personal proofreaders. I just hope I correct all the spelling spoofs and grammar gaffes before they land on too many eyes.

All good wishes,
Nancy

Monday, October 11, 2010

Look to the Western Sky!

I was so excited to see that Baby Bud Designs started a challenge! I love these wee ones! I hope the artist Mary Anne Wainright doesn't mind but I added a 'costume' to one of her images. Little Miss Millie here is going for the "Wicked" look (one of my most favorite soundtracks ever!).



Going Green
~Base card PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of purple cardstock
~Layer of crumpled and sanded Black/Orange Core'dinations Hocus Pocus; wrapped with random layers of purple metallic floss (Transfer of Crap from Sista Gail)
~Digital image by Baby Bud Designs - This is Little Miss Millie - for Halloween she has donned a witch's hat from Dragon Doodles Studios and she borrowed a pair of shoes from a freebie site that I can't name at the moment; her face and dress were colored using Copics; her hair was base colored with Copics then highlighted with Stickles Black Diamond
~Witch hat colored with Copics, band topped with Stickles Frosted Lace, Moon topped with Stickles Yellow
~The sentiment is also digital, punched using Stampin'Up Tag Punch, smudged with purple ink and dotted with Copic orange
~A wad of ribbon completes Little Miss Millie's ensemble (although for tonight you can just call her Elphaba)
Challenges
Baby Bud Designs- fall/Halloween
Really Reasonable Ribbon - fall theme with ribbon
Paper Sundaes - change in season
Aly's Sunday - Halloween
Cupcake Craft - Scary creatures (Please don't tell Little Miss Mille she's not all that scary)
The Treehouse - Spooky colors: orange, purple, black
Dutch Dare - tag

Here's to falling asleep listening to Christin Chenowith.
Nancy

When a Good Punch Goes Bad

When you don't EXACTLY follow challenge directions.....Just wondering if there is a patrol of card-cops waiting in their squad cars. Do the card-cops break into your craft room with ATG tape guns blazing shouting - "put the crafts down!" "Put your ink stained glitter tainted hands where we can see them!" "Step away from the embellishments!" "Don't even THINK about going for the punch!"

But officer.....I set out to follow the challenge instructions calling for cut-out center - which I did - then promptly had to switch gears because the second punch I was going to use became a wimpy, toothless, couldn't cut through soft butter, more like an embossing, worthless tool. It was Marvy's fault! He didn't come through with the anticipated one-two punch! Take him! I'm innocent.....

Okay so enough of the tape-gun-toting cops....
I read somewhere that you can 'sharpen' paper punches by punching repeatedly through aluminum foil. I think I will have to try that procedure. My plan was cut the center of the doily, have it raised using dimensionals and have the diecut (now deceased) be the base to the Graphics 45  image. Because 'malevolent Marvy' let me down, the second choice for a diecut was larger than the center cut of the doily....
Never mind - I'll just post the card...Besides the challenge I'm referring to is closed anyway.

Mirror Mirror
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink - embossed using Stampin' Up Weathered background stamp and Ranger Enamelware Embossing Powder
~Doily
~Circle punch of pink cardstock - topped with diecut from Graphic 45 Le' Romantique Collection~Three Prima flowers - edges dredged through Stampabilities Cotton Candy ink
~Flower centers are three diecut roses from Graphic 45 Le' Romantique Collection - heavily coated with Ranger Glossy Accents
~Little branches punch cut using Martha Stewart punch and paint samples from the hardware store
~Sentiment by Just Rite, stamped on pink cardstock, punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches - layout
Spoonful of Sugar - sparkle and shine (coated flower centers with Glossy Accents for lots of shine)
Polka Doodles - make your own embellishment (used Prima flowers - re-inked them, used die cuts for flower centers) To be honest - maybe this is a case of embellishing the embellishment....time to call the cops again?

Thanks for clicking by (and not calling the paper police).
Nancy

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Simply Spooky

I have no idea why I enjoy making Halloween cards! I don't decorate for Halloween - except for the one lone uncarved pumpkin on the porch... I've never mailed a Halloween card (I give them all away for OTHER people to mail). I don't know...maybe my muse wears a pointy hat and keeps all her ideas in a cauldron.



Moon A Plenty
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - White
~Layer of purple cardstock - edges smudged with Stampabilities Black ink
~Layer of black/orange/purple ribbon from Archiver's
~Moon punch cut out of PaperTrey Ink - white cardstock
~Bat and haunted house stamped using Versamark and Ranger Black Embossing Powder
~Sentiment stamped using black ink on purple cardstock with more edge smudging in black ink
Challenge
Scrapbook Sisters - Full Moon

Gonna get on my broom and go to the grocery store - thanks for clicking by...
Nancy

Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Giggles

I had one of the best days at work yesterday. First off we had a crew of kids working at Habitat for Humanity. They worked all day building the frame of the house. Being someone who habitually volunteers, but NOT one to raise a hand to work in the sun and the outdoors, I got a group of co-workers together to make the manual laborers lunch. Dave and I took them lunch at noon and even though the temperature was heading toward the upper 80's, the yard was devoid of shade, and the work was - well...WORK, the students were in high spirits, laughing, swinging hammers, and hoisting supplies alongside the volunteer contractor and the future owner of the home. It was uplifting!

Back on campus I had two 'regulars', Jenna and Kayla, stop by my office. For more than an hour they played with some of my office toys and with a bottle of Bubbles. They were totally ignoring me - which was fine by me as I had a pile of paperwork to slog through. For the most part I ignored them too - except for listening to the giggling, guffawing, and laughing. These sophomore college kids, a music major and elementary education teacher, giggled and blew bubbles like they were 3 years old. I have such a cool job!

Here is the output from my OWN Bubble.


Tearing around the Bubble
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - white
~Lots of different color cardstock scraps torn into shapes
Challenges
Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger - "Funky Fall" Abstract Folk Art Painting by Catherine Horvath Buchanan from SoloWorkStudio on Etsy
Stampin' B's - Fall inspiration
Stampin' for the Weekend - Autum inspiration
Charisma Cardz - Autumn inspiration
Kaboodle Doodles - Autumn inspiration


Web Avenue
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - white
~Background - digital printed then smudged with orange and grey stamping inks
~House and pumpkins created using torn Core'dinations color Core Cardstock - Hocus Pocus
~Bats stamped using Versamark and embossed using Ranger Black embossing powder
Challenges:
Shabby Tea Room - vintage Halloween
City Crafter - Hurray for the Holidays
Thanks for clicking by...
Nancy

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Plucky Repurposing

The university's celebration of the Feast of St. Francis was lovely. The Cliff Singers were of cheerful and powerful voice. Ahhh....the sound of a young and dedicated choir! They filled the chapel with joyful music appropriate to honoring the patron' saint of this Franciscan institution.

This project posting is a re-purposing of a packaging for the most incredible tweezers! I can't believe I just used those two words (incredible and tweezers) in the same sentence. (And I DON'T mean a craft tweezers!) Even MORE incredible - I can't believe I am BLOGGING about TWEEZERS!

This amazing grooming product is called La-Tweez Illuminating Tweezers. This honey of a tweezers has a light that is brighter than a pulsar burst aboard the Star Trek Enterprise. La-Tweez is an ingenious tool with a slightly blue tinted light will not only make plucking effortless it startlingly, highlights those annoying, unruly, solo, spikey, erroneously located keratin extensions! Okay, while I’m ‘baring’ my furry soul I must admit that occasionally these shockingly unfeminine, testosterone driven, errant hairs of the “chinny, chin, chin” have been known to congregate in decidedly male-pre-pubescent fashion.

My very favorite salon, Pemberley's in Omaha, NE, carries them. Not only is the 'tweeze' the 'bees knees' the packaging was just BEGGING to be re-purposed. It crisply snaps shut with a hidden magnet. Luckily my sister Gail, who avoids crafts like a college student avoids an 8 am class, tossed her tweezers packaging into the Sioux City 'Transfer of Crap' basket - so I have ANOTHER one to decorate!

I'm uploading several images so you can view it from all sides.

This is the front view.


This is a side view. (The sides of the package were originally black - I didn't do anything to the sides.)
A view from the back.

Here is a view with the treat box open.

And finally a view from the bottom.


Boo-T-Full~Base packaging - La-Tweez Illuminating Tweezer
~Front view - orange cardstock with google eyes to cover up the imprinted words La-Tweez; strip of shiny black cardstock - embossed with white embossing powder using Versamark and a small 'boo!' stamp; I left granules of white embossing powder randomly on the black background hoping for a 'spooky' look (The black strip covers packaging imprinted words.)
~The graphic on the top of the back flap was covered with more orange cardstock - edges smudged with black ink and the corner stamped with black ink using a small spider web stamp
~The rest of the back flap was covered with The Paper Studio - Halloween Words~The bottom of the packaging had text imprinted on it so I covered it with orange cardstock smudged with black ink and stamped with a Stampablities Spooky Boo! stamp
~Assorted ribbons
Challenges
Aud Sentiments - Use any Halloween sentiment on a treat holder
The Character Cafe - Recipe: orange, 2 embellishments (google eyes and embossing), and ribbon
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Fall theme plus ribbon
City Crafter - Hurray for Holidays
Now if I had just thought to tell daughter Amy to save the packaging from her La-Tweez...
Nancy

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Flora, Fauna, and Francis

Fast and furious weekend. Trip to Sister Gail's to attend friend Nila's son's wedding. A red and white wedding. It was lovely. Ring bearer fell asleep during the ceremony. Flower girl was adorable. During the recessional she tried to hold hands with a pint size groomsman in wee little dress pants, white dress shirt, and tie...he was having NO part of it. Kids at a wedding always steal the show! Lots of kids at the reception - they always seem to have the most fun - and enjoy the dancing the most too!

Mother of the groom, Nila, looked lovely in a crinkly silky dress and jacket with embellishments that would make all card makers envious! And the best purse I've ever seen. One of those totally useless hard case babies - that will hold a tube of lipstick and MAYBE a compact if it were small enough. And it too had the BEST embellishments - LOTS of fabric flowers and plenty of BLING. It was SO VERY Nila!

Made yummy homemade soup this morning after mass at Briar Cliff University. I so miss Sr. Arnold and am reminded of her unique, dry sense of humor and keyboard musical talents whenever I'm in chapel. Tonight it is another trip to school and chapel - attending The Transitus - an annual event on this Franciscan campus. Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis. BIG day at BCU - BIG like Christmas BIG!

AND I got the PRESENTS! From sister Judy I got a 'fragrant wax vessel'. It smells SOOOOOOO amazingly good. My whole living room smells AWESOME! This quote is from the Habersham Candle Company website: "Handcrafted with natural essence, flora and fauna, our Wax Pottery is designed to release the fragrance of a candle without the need of an open flame." Here is a picture of it!


AND from sister Gail I got a package of American Crafts Foil Specialty Paper - 48 sheets of TEN metallic colors. Can't wait to use these glitzys. She also picked up an order at Archiver's for me. Tim Holtz Paper Stash Lost and Found. I just realized as I was noodling through the stack that I forgot to pay her for it. Gail: I'll add it to my tab!
So as you can see it was quite a weekend - add to that - wins for the University's Football, Men's Soccer, and Women's Volleyball teams!

This card is for one of 'my peeps' at school. I make birthday cards for some of the 'regulars' that frequent my office. This one is for Jenna - a sophomore student - with the voice of an angel - and no major declared as of today... Jenna! Pick something...ANYTHING...just make a decision! Registration for Term II starts next week! She asked me if she could major in 'general education'. Sorry young lady...ya gotta' go with somethin'.

Jenna~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack - edge scissor trimmed and edged with glue and glitter
~Inside stripe of DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack (purple)
~Top layer of PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding - with random letters - 'glittered-up' - the 'e' was grey chipboard so I painted it with green acrylic paint, topped it with Stickles Icicles with a genuine plastic diamond flower bling embellishment
Challenge2S4Y - sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - diamonds are a girl's best friend

All good wishes,
Nancy