Kale and Kernels

July 4th. A BIG day here in America. A British friend of my husband's said, "I don't think I'll join in the celebration - it really wasn't a good day for us." Tee-hee-tee-hee.

My day started out with a trip to the Farmer's Market with my friend Lisa. I bought fresh kale, cilantro, onions, and my FAVORITE: Koated Kernals...so NOT a vegetable! But OH SO DELICIOUS! It is a start-up company of it's parent company Jolly Time Popcorn, a fourth generation family run business that started in Sioux City in 1914. Koated Kernals are sinfully good!

Since it is a historical day here in the U.S. I'm sharing some FUN facts about the history of Jolly Time - which coincidentally has an address of One Fun Place.

• 1914 - Cloid Smith – the founding father of JOLLY TIME^® Pop Corn – and his son, Howard Smith, set up shop in their Sioux City, Iowa, home. From their basement they shell, clean and package the first branded popcorn in the U.S.
• 2003 - JOLLY TIME^® hits a milestone, producing its one billionth bag of microwave popcorn in Sioux City, Iowa.

I personally like the 'already popped popcorn' that I can buy directly at the factory. It is HUGE bag (think large kitchen trash can liner size) and only costs $5.00. I occasionally purchase a bag and take it to work. It is a big hit with co-workers and the students (not such a big hit with the custodial staff.. I have been known to mail a giant bag or two to my sister in Atlanta, GA. It's just THAT GOOD!

Last Saturday's trip to the Farmer's Market I bought a 'bouquet' of sunflowers that I have enjoyed all week in my office. This sunny bunch inspired this card. Well that and I am easily distracted...I was looking for something (can't remember now what I was looking for nor can I remember if I found it!) and I ran across a stamp that my niece Linda gave me LONG ago when she designed stamps for Chunky Stamps...remember those?

Speaking of the Farmer's Market - hard to believe the entire area was under water last summer from the flood of 2011... As the t-shirt says, "Flood SUX". True that!  (MORE history - the FAA's airport designation for my dear hometown of Sioux City is SUX" -- it has to be one of the all time worse 'handles' EVER. However we have made the best of it branding everything from "flood SUX" to "snow SUX" to work SUX"...

Back to the card...did I mention that easily distracted trait... Ever start out making a card and as you are making it thinking...this is NOT working...this is going to end up in the trash heap? Well this one was perilously close to making to 'the heap'. But I think it deserves to be a survivor.

Chunky Flowers

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Select White (front of card cut slightly narrower to allow for the inside strip of lattice to peek out)

~Layer of long ago forgotten My Mind's Eye Front Porch Orange/Blue Stripes

~Layer of  equally forgotten My Mind's Eye Front Porch Blue Polka Dots

~Dark teal pieces are actually up-cycled office folder cardstock - edges punched with Martha Stewart Lattice

~Daisy Vine image stamped using Versamark and embossing powder - colored with inks and sponge - centers of flowers dabbed with Flower Soft

~Corner flower created using cardstock and Sizzix and Taylored Expressions die cuts/Cuttlebug

~Metal flower brad

Challenges

Clear it Out - anything goes plus yellow plus clear it out (found this 'old' stamp)

Mojo Monday - sketch

Flourishes - summer

Tuesday Throwdown - summer

Thank you for clicking by and putting up with my history lesson.

Nancy in Iowa