Oh Yeah...We're Feelin' It!

I am one of 14 card-crazy-challenge-posting volunteer team members at Feline Playful. I fill-in when the regulars go on holiday or need a quick break. The team organized this blog party to thank all of those who have joined Feline Playful as followers - over 1800 of you and counting!! This is a thank you to all of you who have been so supportive of this wonderful blog that tracks more than 500 challenges! New challenges are added nearly daily!

Not only will you get to visit past and present 'Feliners' but you have multiple chances to win digital images, store credit/vouchers, and guest design team spots from our very generous sponsors!

There are three ways to win! For details on how to win click here.

Two random readers will win a prize directly from this site as well. Two winners will be randomly selected on Friday from all the commentors.

The sponsors of my blog for this event are: Create with TLC and the Digital Stamp Club.

TLC donated a $10.00 gift certificate.

The Digital Stamp Club donated the winner's choice of

either one digital set or 6 separate digis.

So what are you waiting for? Let's get this party started!!!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

P.S. If you are wondering...the secret letter is 'L'
The next location on your blog hop is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You will be visiting Feline Playful team member Natali - enjoy!

Feelin' Fall

Since the theme of the Feline Playful blog hop is 'thankful' I decided to put together an autumn card. While I frequently have thoughts of thankfulness while strolling through burgeoning blossoms in the spring, marveling at the wonder of snowflakes, and delight at the sound of children's laughter in the midst of summer, there is just something special about autumn. I love the colors, the winding down of summer, the smells, the harvests...the season just lends itself to thoughts of thanks.

Season of Thanks
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Rustic White cardstock
~Lower edge of base card embossed using Ranger Gold embossing powder
~Plaid layer of ATD Foil, Glitter, Shimmer cardstock (a gift from sister Gail)
~Kraft cardstock dry embossed using Sizzix Fall Fence embossing folder and Cuttlebug - raised areas spot colored using Copics - edges smudged using Distress Inks
~Three maple leaf metal brads
Challenges and Inspirations
House of Gilli - embossing
Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - autumn and kraft paper
My Kraft Spot - fall leaves
Pile it On - colors of autumn
Crazy 4 Challenges - card or project with pumpkins
Our Daily Bread Designs - fall colors or theme
Raise the Bar - fall leaves
Our Craft Lounge - fall colors photo inspiration

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

He, She, and Nerves of Steal

A while back friend Mary Lee asked that I make a card for a special friend of hers whose daughter was getting married. The usual cold fear coursed through my veins and my mental synapses fired a repetitive message - oh no - not a sappy occasion card - not an engagement card - not something that involves mushy stuff!

What is there about anniversary and lovey-dovey cards that make me go numb? I'm not really sure what type of card I feel like I do well with...but I know that this request for an engagement card made me cringe on the inside while replying, "sure! No Problem!". Not only was my brain on overload with "oh NO what in the world am I going to do!?" but I also had to force myself to cut paper from "that stash". You know that stash...the paper you take out and look at...and drool over...and then put it back because you just can't bear to cut it...I know you too have a stack of 'can't whack'! But sometimes you just have to put on your big girl panties and start slicing, dicing, and in this case tearing... Not to mention how unnerved I was trying to figure out how to print directly on the design paper without mucking it up!

Here is what I came up with...

He Said She Said

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock

~Layer of Webster's Pages Seaside, Garden Gala, Nature's Storybook Collection

~Second layer of Webster's Pages - torn and edge smudged with teal ink (I just love the little sea horse - which I know has NOTHING to do with an engagement - I just like it!)

~Sentiment (a freebie) by Bethany over at Elegant Word Art. Check out her blog - she is a font wizard!

~Embellishments: re-purposed button cover (remember those weird adornments?); pearl spray (from the bridal aisle of Hobby Lobby - which coincidentally DOES have something to do with an engagement); and a clump of tea dyed seam bindings (a gift from Sister Gail - purchased at Etsy)

Challenges

PaperWorks Co - lace (I used seam binding), pearls, distressing

Emerald Faeries - pearls

Card Cupids - anything goes

Dream Valley - buttons (the heart)

Gingerloft - vintage/distress

I Did it Creations - beach

Scrappy Frog - vintage

The Hybrid Chick - buttons

Squirrel and the Fox - anything goes

2 Sisters - sentiment as focal point

All Sorts - recycle something

Bloggers Challenge - buttons

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Transfer Threads

For those of you who don't know about my reference to 'transfer of crap' here is a little history lesson. Transfer of Crap (ToC) is a term daughter Amy came up with when referring to the flurry of transporting (giving) stuff you no longer want to someone you are sure IS going to want it... The most prolific of 'transfer of crap' is my sister Gail. She has also instructed friend Nila on the art of transfer of crap. I am the most targeted location for transfer of crap and have been known to participate in the Ultimate Transfer of Crap. I have on more than one occasion paid the US Postal system to transfer crap for me! Daughter Amy is the least accepting of transfer of crap. Sister Judy is geographically hindered by most transfer of crap - she will have to tell you if that is a good thing or an unfortunate thing. She is probably the only one of us who has ever received transfer of crap via the postal service. The genetic source of this affliction is our mother and NONE of us hold a candle to her ability to transfer crap.

There are rules to transfer of crap!

• The giver cannot be offended if the prospective receiver says, "I don't want that crap!"
• Once crap is accepted by the receiver the crap may NOT be returned to the original giver (unless it is in some re-purposed form such as used on a card).
• After giving the crap the giver may NOT inquire about the location or destination of the crap - AKA "it is acceptable to take the crap to the nearest landfill or charitable organization" without telling the giver.

I've even PURCHASED crap so I could transfer it at a later date! I could go on and on about the art of transfer of crap - but I have to get to the reason for bringing up ToC - this card. I even tag/label my posts with ToC!

  

Friendship Threads
~Base card -  Stampin' Up cardstock
~Layer of Basic Grey Cashmere
~Sentiment is a quote that one of the Feline Playful gals (Linda) has as part of her signature block - I knew the first time I read it that I would have to use it on a card sometime. (Printed using laser printer on white cardstock, smudged with ink, and mounted on three layers of purple.)
~The "spools" are embroidery floss holders that I cut to size - making them narrower than they were originally - re-purposed Transfer of Crap from friend Nila
~The floss is Transfer of Crap from sista' Gail
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration photos (lavenders/purples with a splash of yellow)
Pixie Dust Studio - recycle
Shelly's Images - anything goes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - recycle
Kaboodle Doodle - chipboard (spools)

Thank you for clicking by!
Nancy in Iowa

Simple Sharpie Messages

I can't even believe how busy I have been at work. I have a great boss but I think he forgets I'm just one person in a one person department with a very murky job description that evidently has 'Other Duties As Assigned' emblazoned on it with a BLACK SHARPIE in 32 point upper case font.

Let's see today I....I can't even remember all I did but I know I'm exhausted! I did have one bright spot in my day. A former student stopped by to spend time with me. She fondly reminisced about her college days and hours spent in my office. She is a wonderful young lady - newly married - happy as a clam - living in Florida - doing work she loves and I feel privileged that she stopped by to share her time with me.

Oops this one was supposed to go in the Omaha pile for fabric friend Mary Lee. I managed to incorporate fabric into all of her requested cards. Yea for scraps! This one is pretty simple but I like the simplicity. I think it is a subliminal message to me - SIMPLIFY!

Trio of Trees
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock edges smudge with hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Leaf
~Layer of purple Bazzill cardstock
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Trees cut from green quilt fabric scraps
~Three purple brads
Challenges
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Just for Fun - shades of green
Papercraft Star - anything goes
Crafty Boots - anything goes
Make it Monday - anything goes
The Kraft Journal - use a sketch plus kraft cardstock

Thank you for clicking by,
Don't forget about the MEGA-blog-hop that is happening over at Feline Playful beginning Sept. 21!

Nancy in Iowa

Hangin' On For Holidays

I've been very absent from the blogosphere lately. Life is hectic and work is just brutal right now.

I have to admit this is an odd card. I'm not sure where the original inspiration came from and I don't remember what I had in mind when I started it! It ended up being a note to myself regarding fond memories of sister holidays gone by and hope for a return to another sojourn. Ever make a card that you think you should just mail to yourself? I think this card may have been created by my subconscious - telling me to take a deep breath, hold on, and remain hopeful for another sister's vacation.

I think it will serve as a generic 'hang in there' message for just about anyone.

Hang in There
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of Cupcake design paper from BasicGrey
~Palm tree trunk - hand drawn and smudged with Distress Inks and randomly embossed using my Scor-Buddy
~Palm tree leaves - hand drawn, free-hand snipped, center lines embossed, dots of olive Flowersoft
~Three tan brads
~Grass - snipped and folded for dimensional look
~Sentiment by Studio B from the dollar bin at Michael's - colored with Copics and attached to be free swinging using DMC floss

Challenges
Di's Digi Designs - anything goes
Crazy for Challenges - olive, orange, yellow, brown
Mark's Finest Papers - use a punch (hole punch for sentiment)
Shelly's Images - vacation memories (hangin' in until next vacation)
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Stamp N Doodle - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - summer holiday memories

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa