Monday's Sunday Cider

I guess you could call it Re-Pinning. Last night's card just didn't seem 'finished' to me so I popped into the Bubble and this is what I came up with. I added the sentiment and some natural twine. I think I like it better this way.

That is all....
Nancy in Iowa

Sunday Cider

Had to get this post before the end of the challenge. My blog friend Lynn is a designer for {Pin}spirational Challenge and she inspired me to get on the Pinterest Inspired Card Challenges! Well truth be told she has inspired me more than once or twice! She was even kind enough to give me some Stampin' Up advice when I was waffling on demo or no demo...

She and I pin and re-pin each other pins...on Pinterest all the time. Who's pinning whom depends on who was on Pinterest first during the day!

If I spent HALF the time creating cards that I do PINNING cards....

Anyway - I love the photo this week for the Pinspirational Challenge thought I would give it a go and challenged myself to use a Stampin' Up image!

I may have to add something to this....just don't know what. It needs the aroma of cinnamon!

Cup - O - Cider
~Base Card - Stampin' Up Kraft card stock
~Layer of design paper
~Two layers of design paper using Stampin' Up Framelets (dark green and red) (the layer of green needs a little something to make it POP....)
~Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped on Kraft cardstock highlighted with SU Stampin' Write markers
~Border of metallic card stock apples using Cricut on SU Very Vanilla with the edges roughed up a bit
Inspiration and Challenges
Pinspiraltional - photo

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Mixing it up in the Bubble!

An entire day in the Bubble! Whooott! I wish I had a stack of cards to show for 12 hours but, alas, I do not. I spent time straightening parts of the Bubble and playing 'fantasy Stampin' Up catalog ordering"...if guys can play pretend fantasy football...I can play pretend catalog ordering - Right?!

I did manage to complete a tag and a card.

I really like making tags - I use them as 'cards' - placing an area on the back for a note, sentiment, and signature.

Front of tag.

Back of tag.

G-Thanks
Front of tag:
~Chipboard tag
~Design paper and strip of coordinating paper along the bottom
~Scallop circle chipboard
~Scallop cardstock stamped withe 'G-thanks' using Stampin' Up Old Olive, edge dotted with SU Stampin Write More Mustard
~Polka dot grosgrain ribbon
Back of tag:
~Design paper
~Sentiment "You overwhelm me with awesomeness."
Challenges
Polka Doodles - tag
Southern Girls - chipboard

I'm thinking I'm going to continue mixing my old Stampin' Up treasures with my new Stampin' Up treasures. I need to dust off my oldies and put them to work...after all I liked them well enough at ONE point to purchase them...they just need a little love. I mixed SU generations on my previous post Poppin' Poppies; here is today's mix... it took LOTS and LOTS of cutting for these flowers - but worth the effect. My next Stampin' Up order will DEFINITELY include the Blossom Punch!

MixedTrio
~Base card Stampin Up Kraft card stock
~Strips of SU More Mustard and Really Rust card stock framed with black card stock, embossed with an 'dotted swiss look' embossing folder
~Glitter ribbon
~Stamped flowers - Stampin' Up Mixed Bunch using SU Taken with Teal - two stamped on SU Whisper White one stamped on vellum
~Flower centers from the Stampin' Up Little Pieces collection using SU Really Rust and SU More Mustard - highlighted with SU Crystal Effects
Challenges and Inspirations
My Mum's Craft - use Kraft
Pals Paper Arts - sketch
Paper Pretties - square cards
Just Us Girls - color inspiration

Thanks for clicking by!
Nancy in Iowa

Poppin' Poppies

I'm really NEW to being a Stampin' Up demonstrator/hobbyist. I was 'surfing' for some Stampin' Up challenges and ran across SUO and realized I have some scraps of SU design paper but don't know the names of them.

I got up extra early this morning with thoughts of Pleasant Poppies by Stampin' Up. I wasn't thrilled with yesterday's attempt with the Poppies. So....at 5 am I got this started - ran home at lunch for a few more moments in the Bubble - then home again tonight at 7:15 pm for the finishing touches.

The challenge at Stampin' Up Only was to use Stampin' Up design paper. Well that is what I did...they didn't say how OLD or new the design paper was to be...so here we go... I don't know the name of these so please bear with me.

Paper Poppies

~Base card Stampin' Up So Saffron (MAYBE...what is it?! It matches the design paper perfectly)

~Layer of striped Stampin' Up design paper (what the heck is the name of it?!)

~Floral strip and sentiment 'buckle' from the Stampin' Up Simply Scrappin' coordinating self-adhesive die cut

~Three rhinestones

~Ribbon

~Red cardstock die cut with Stampin' Up Framelits Label

~More of the Stampin' Up design paper (floral) that is quite old and again - I don't know the name of it - cut using the next smaller Framelits Label die cut

~Image stamped and colored with Stampin' Up Write Journalers: Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard; all the flower heads and buds were paper pieced and popped up with dimensionals and allowed to them to flow outside the Framelit

Challenge

Stampin' Up Only - use SU design paper

Thank you for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Popping Poppies

Couldn't wait to use my new Stampin' Up Pleasant Poppies stamp...then was stunned to see the actual size...I shouldn't have been...I can READ can't I? It is very clear in the catalog!

Even so... I still really love the image. It holds loads of potential!

Ever have one of those cards that just didn't work out in reality the way it 'appeared' conceptually in your mind? This is THAT card. Loved the color combinations over at Play Date so wanted to 'play' along! I don't know what it needs...it is just too 'flat'. Maybe it needs more design paper layers...maybe I need to take it apart and start over...

Popped Up Poppies
~Base card white cardstock
~Stampin' Up Pleasant Poppies - colored, paper pieced, and popped-up using foam 3D dots
~Scrap of pink polka dot ribbon with an extra poppy colored and highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Rhinestones
~Pink stripe design paper
Challenges and Inspiration
Pinspirational - photo inspiration
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration
Just Us Girls - ribbon scraps

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Movin' In', Workin' Out, and Stampin' Up

The third and final summer freshman orientation at the university was held yesterday and today. Now my work REALLY begins...trying to learn 250 NEW student names! Tomorrow all the fall student athletes move in. Gone will be the hushed halls and ample parking. Let the organized chaos begin! I love the energy that 550+ residential students bring!

All the fall athletes begin two weeks of two-a-days plus squad and team meetings. I hope the break in the weather persists. Freshman: welcome to two weeks of 'athletic boot camp'! (P.S. you freshman need to remember that your dorm of four floors doesn't have an elevator...retain just enough energy to get back to your room!) Returners: I hope you kept up with practices, drills, and healthy eating over the summer!

Well it arrived! My bundle of 'joy' from Stampin' Up! I am now a semi-official-Stampin' Up! (SU!) 'demonstrator' and I use that term lightly. Why I thought this was a good time to do this....I will barely be home over the course of the next two months....oh well I will make the best of my 'duties'. First I have to listen to DVDs and read and read....all the details. Poor timing on my part but still very excited to have the information on hand. Not to mention the SU! Starter Kit. Above are two items that I selected as part of my fabulous SU! Starter Kit: Apothecary Stamp Set and Label Framelits. My muse is going to LOVE this stamp/die combination. My muse will be VERY pouty about the limited time she is given in the 'Bubble' to do her thing this month and next.

ApotheBirthday
~Base card - SU! Early Expresso
~ Apothecary stamp from Stampin' Up; stamped with SU! Old Olive ink, flowers color and dotted with pearls held in place with Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up.
~Image cut using my new SU! Framelit Label from Stampin' Up, framed with SU! Early Expresso larger Framelit Label
~Sentiment Stamped with SU Chocolate Chip and popped up using dimensionals
~Dyed vintage seam binding clump - a gift from sissy Gail - THANK YOU!!!
~Pears added to self-border along with dots of SU! Crystal Effects
Challenges
The Poodles Parlour - use die cuts
Sentimental Sundays- clean/simple
Emergency Crafters - photo inspiration
Inspired by Stamping - photo inspiration
Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes
Deconstructed Sketch - sketch

I'm off to work - have to greet the returning student athletes and shoot a few photos. I'm much rather stay home and let my muse have her way with the goodies in the Stampin' Up Starter Kit. Oh...and that pesky laundry...wonder if laundry gremlins will show up today while I'm at work...

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

In the Mail

The countdown to the start of school has begun along with my boss's moratorium on August day off requests. Luckily I sneaked one past him and can go to Omaha for my Monday hair cut appointment. I don't know why he is letting me go...it IS August after all....Perhaps he recalls what my mop of hair looks like when I miss a haircut appointment....

Athletes arrive in less than two weeks. I'm actually looking forward to the hustle and bustle of 'kids' back on campus! I am so fortunate - I LOVE my job. I don't love the 18 plus hour days in August and in April/May but I love what I do. Lucky me!

Because I am heading into a month of LONG days and only one or two weekend days off I'm not sure this was the smartest time for me to decide to become a Stampin' Up  Hobbyist/Demonstrator...but I did it. My SU Starter Kit has been shipped! I have SO much to learn! What was I thinking?! YIKES! 

Mary Fish of Stampin' Pretty is my 'upline'. She has been a no-pressure, quick to respond, and knowledgeable resource. I'm looking forward to learning from her and accessing all the fabulous support of her 'downlines' and the Stampin' Up team.

I watched Mary Fish's, Stampin' Pretty, One Minute to Wow video (Adding Color with Stampin' Up Daubers) and wanted to give it a try! It was very fun! I used the technique along the border and in the image.

Did you know that by using Stampin' Up Crystal Effects on vellum and applying it with your finger (NOT directly from the bottle) it will be totally invisible and not cause the vellum to wrinkle from the liquid? How COOL IS THAT!!! Look at the envelope corners....you can't see any adhesive! SWEET!

Chain Letters

~Base card edged with Stampin' Up: Old Olive, More Mustard, Really Rust, Cool Caribbean, and Lovely Lilac using SU Daubers

~Image by Stampin' Up from the Send a Celebration

~Image stamped using Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder, heart colored with Stampin' Up Cameo Coral marker, flowers daubed with same colors as listed above

~Three vellum envelopes (edges daubed with SU Cool Caribbean) with punched and die cut flowers

~Cardstock flowers coated with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects

~Three cardstock punched hearts

Challenges and Inspiration

Stampin' Pretty (dauber tutorial)

ATC's and Cards with Attitude - anything goes

Avadares - anything goes

Fat Pages and Cards - anything goes

Joyful Stamper - anything goes

Poodles Parlor - anything goes

Simply Create - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa