Stop Hoarding - Just CUT It

I challenged myself to a five prong challenge:

1. No stamping (I didn't feel like coloring tonight)
2. Use an 'old' tool (actually used two favorites - the 'fern' punch and the dotted embossing folder)
3. Use a new tool (the wreath die cut and my almost new - only used once before - blender tool)
4. Use ribbon (just 'cuz I have LOTS of ribbon)
5. Use a piece of hoarded-this-is-too-yummy-to-cut design paper (you'll notice I didn't cut very much of it...) (but in my defense...I cut from TWO (2) coveted pieces of design paper AND had to 'fussy-cut' for placement BOTH times!!)

Tada!!!! I did it!

In the Garden
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Kraft
~Top layer of design paper My Minds Eye
~Bottom layer of design paper Webster's Pages Garden Gala/Nature's Story Books
~Center of the wreath image punched from another Webster's Pages Garden Gala/Nature's Story Books
~Dotted sheer ribbon
~Taylored Expressions die cut Season Wreath smudged with Distress Ink Peeled Paint and Hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Leaf using my new Inkssentials Blender Tool (which might make it to my list of favorite tools), and run through my Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots embossing
~Wreath embellished with 'fern' punched using Martha Stewart punch, silk flower, and metal brad
Challenges/Inspirations
Creations by Gill - birds in the garden
Frosted Designs - bird or butterfly
Cute Card Thursday - no text (sentiment)
Crafty Purple Frog - texture and ribbon
Fun with Shapes and More - animal and die cut
Shabby Tea Room - pastels and stripes (the top design paper and the 'lines' on the bottom design paper)
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - ribbon (Thanks for the heads-up Linda W.!)

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

It's the Little Things

Too tired to chit chat - just going to post a card. Can't seem to get my groove thing going as far as card making goes....Ever have one of those days? My muse must have taken the Easter holiday off and forgotten to let me know.

It's the Little Things in Life
~Base Card - Paper Temptress Ninah White
~My Minds Eye - design paper
~Die cut circle - edged with red ink - stickers: little things
~Taylored Expressions - Picket Fence Border
~Spellbinders oval die cut - edges smudged using Stampin' Up Bashful Blue and Inkssentials Blender Tool
~Digital image by Phindy, colored with Copics, shoes and petty coat topped with Stickles, tulips dotted with Stampin' up Crystal Effects
Challenges
Paper Play - Easter or Spring
CRAFT - Flowers
Play Date Cafe - photo inspiration
My Partner in Crafting Crime - photo inspiration
Quirky Crafts - Easter - Glitter - Punch
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - sketch

Thank you for clicking by.
Happy Easter,
Nancy

It'll Quilt Out

I spent yesterday putting a final border on a quilt for my 94 year old mother. She started a Christmas lap quilt and evidently couldn't make herself stop sewing blocks and ended up with queen size quilt. When I was there Monday evening she had the brute on the guest room bed and thought it "needed" a pieced border. So I cut many, many, many 2.5 by 3.5 rectangles (since she is nearly blind - I really don't like it when she grabs a rotary cutter to start chopping fabric so I'm her designated fabric slicer.) In just three days she managed to get the pieced border on. Friday at 8 pm she called me asking if I would come over to piece the back of the quilt. Since I didn't get home until 7 PM and I went into work at 6 AM I asked if morning would be soon enough. Luckily she said yes... and I said I would be there in the morning. I think this is what you could call a quilt emergency! I was tempted to go in my jammie pants but KNEW the day would also include an outing of some sort.

Again we surveyed the quilt top - she announced it needed a solid border too! So...3 hours later the beast had another border and a back pieced and ready to go to the machine quilters tomorrow. She needs to stick to making lap size quilts as she just can't man-handle a queen size quilt. Her sewing skills aren't what they used to be but the Christmas quilt will be a nice addition to her bedspread collection. MY sewing skills aren't what they used to be either. I actually had to call sister Gail to get a reminder on diagonal piecing of borders!

She mentioned that she won't be around to use the quilt. As always I say, "Why?" "Where are you going?" She has been saying "I won't be around to do...." for about 20 years. I just keep asking her the same questions. She usually responds with the same look at me that suggests I am just a bit too puckish for my own good.

By the way the day did include an outing. A trip to the grocery store, lunch, and a visit to Trinity Heights to see if the two trees planted in my father's memory were in bloom yet. While it was a lovely day to go for a short walk among the gardens - nothing is yet in bloom. We will make a return visit in a couple of weeks.

I Made it Myself
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety (reminds me of vintage fabric)
~Layer of shimmery ribbon
~Rusty red cardstock cut using Spellbinder scallop circle and Cuttlebug
~Image from Phindy's Place colored with Copics, printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen Iridescent
~Assorted die cut flowers with metal brads
Challenges
Flourishes - photo inspiration of a quilt
Etsy Inspired - Think Fast Designs
Fairy Tale - Happy Birthday
Mami Doodles - die cut or punches
Paper Sundaes - childhood memories
Totally Gorjuss - anything fluffy (at least PART of her cake is fluffy)
Frosted Designs - use brads

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa

Bobbins and Bubbles

All settled in! Here are a few pictures of my new 'Bubble'. I think I'm going to be happy with my new digs. I think husband dear is happy with new room...(I'm not really worried if he doesn't cuz I'm not giving up my space!) YAY me coming up with the 'Trading Spaces' idea. For the full story click here.

Taaa dah......

Buttons, Buttons, and More Buttons (and my traveling 'gnome' Bobbins).

Bobbins likes to hide out among ordinary objects.

More about Bobbins below...

The shadow box shelves is (are?) actually a swing-out door hiding the electical junction box.

Copics, design papers, scraps of cardstocks, and other 'necessary' stuff.

My actual work spot. Yes I have a laptop AND an iPad whirring away.

Such a contradiction - papers/glue/scissors and technology!

And now for the card of the day. Here is the sketch I used and the photo inspiration I used.

Seeds of Thanks

~Base card - white linen 4.75" x 3.5" (just a wee card today)

~Design papers - Cosmo Cricket Material Girl

~'Vintage' seam binding

~Horizontal layer of PaperTrey Ink Ocean Tides

~Digital image colored with Copics - center flower cut out and 3-D'd with foam adhesives

Challenges

The Pink Elephant - sketch

All Sorts - Blooming Blossoms

Daring Card Makers - Flower of the Month

Tuesday Trigger - Photo Inspiration

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

By the way...Bobbins is my 'traveling companion'. He accompanies me and my sisters on our annual sisters' holiday. I will, occasionally, be sharing pictures of him as he partakes in the Three/Fifths Quilting and Shopping Extravaganzas! He is quite the stowaway - getting crammed into a pocket, purse, or camera bag! Sometimes he likes to be a bit of a "Where's Waldo" and hide but he is pretty obvious in this one taken at Little Stitches in Marietta, GA.

Hard to believe the day is nearly done and I only have one card to show for it! That's what happens when you stop to cook, vacuum, do some laundry, and a bit of cleaning! Maybe tomorrow I'll be more card productive.

All good wishes,

Nancy in Iowa