Postal Playful

Whoop-D-Do!!! Crack open the Java and start the brewin'! I was selected by the lovely ladies at Play Date Cafe as one of the the 'Fab Four'! Play Date Cafe is celebrating their third year as a premier blog for challenges and inspirations. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself - right here - there it is my card. Was I ever surprised and very honored. I've made it to the "Cream in  Our Coffee Level", now the "Fab Four"....dare to dream...someday perhaps the coveted "Cup of the Week" category? It's always some stiff competition over there - I better get my 'card-game' on!

Thank you Play Date Team for the continued inspiration and challenging challenges! Congratulations on the three year milestone! I got so excited about winning and moving up a category that I decided to get going straight away on my next PDC entry!

In the back of my mind was the letter "P" because of the challenge over at Ladybug Crafts where my friend, across-the-pond, Julie is a design team member. So I decided to combine the challenges with this card.

Post-It

~Mint green cardstock

~Layer of design paper

~Layer of wasabi tape

~Punched circle of metallic gold cardstock (gift from sissy Gail - thank you!)

~Envelope punch - tried making it look 'leather' by crumpling it up and smudging it with inks

~Fussy cut 'document' from the design paper used as background

Challenges

Play Date Cafe - color inspiration (mint, leather, gold)

Ladybug Crafts - letter P (postal/postcard)

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Counting Blessings

Found myself needing two sympathy cards this weekend. My husband, who never requests a card, asked for a card for a retired colleague/mentor of his. I, sadly, need a card for the sudden and very unexpected death of a colleague's four-year-old granddaughter.

The first card is for my husband to send. The second card is for the family of the four-year old.

Sympathy
~Base Card - Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
~Layer argyle pre-embossed Core Impressions: Graphic 45 Timeless Collection and sanded using Stampin' Up Designer Sanding Block
~The stamped image was run though my Fiskar's crimper
~Layer of Washi tape
~Natural twine
~Inside stamped sentiment on SU Very Vanilla - edges smudged with SU Chocolate Chip ink
~Strip of Washi tape

I will spend the rest of my evening counting my blessings...
Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Mixed Chotchkies

Today - not at all as productive as I had hoped for. Made soup...cleaned the kitchen...(what is up with all the YUCKY grease-dust that accumulates in the kitchen...(it needs a name....greast? gree-ust? dus-ease (that one sounds like disease...) I ran the dishwasher three times just cleaning chotchkies! Maybe I should pack away my pitcher collection - but hey they're clean now - so might as well let them stay on display!

I love the Stampin' Up Mixed Bunch stamps but I have GOT to order the punch. I spend way too much time cuttin' and snippin'! I also love using this bleaching technique I 'pinned' from Splitcoast Stampers.

The inspiration for the colors comes from Play Date Cafe who is celebrating their third anniversary. PDC is one of my all time favorite challenge blogs. Go check it out!

Bleached Mix
~Purple cardstock base
~Layer of white cardstock with corners punched and embossed with Swiss Dots
~Die cut leaves
~Three flowers stamped using Versamark and embossing powders - slices in petals bleached and left natural bleached cardstock color - centers dotted with Stickles Diamonds
Challenge and Inspiration
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration (mulberry, grape, flame)

 Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Pinterest 6 Pack

Another Pinterest Attack!

I learned that you can color pearls with any color Sharpie!
I found a couple techniques for DIY Washi tape!
I searched "one sheet wonders" and hit the mother-load!

My plan was to make a 'one-sheet' - but I didn't pick the correct type of design paper for that type of project. So I made do with what I chopped. It was like making a crazy quilt...just making the pieces work! It was fun but I will try an actual 'one-sheet-wonder' pattern using a more suited design paper.

I made a set of six small cards which will fit into the container I purchased at the Dollar Tree (actually I purchased SEVERAL of these containers - perfect for sets of 3.5" x 5" cards.

Card One
~Base card blue cardstock
~Layer of white cardstock embossed using Cuttlebug
~Frames of blue and red cardstock for design paper
~Design paper square
~Blue grosgrain ribbon
~Stamped cup image (Stampin' Up - Express Yourself) colored with Copics
~Sentiment stamped on blue punch (Stampin' Up Word Window)



Card Two

~Base card - green cardstock

~Layer of design paper

~Square design paper framed with cranberry cardstock

~Strip of dry wall mesh

~Blue round scallop punched and stamped with Stampin' Up Weathered and dotted with Sharpie white Poster Paint

~Green cardstock stamped with Stampin Up Circle Friendship stamped with Black ink punched using Stampin' Up 1" circle punch

 

Card Three
~Base card cranberry cardstock
~Design papers
~Pearls in the corners
~Design paper punched and embossed using Spellbinder's Fancy Label and Cuttlebug
~Sentiment stamped on white cardstock using Stampin' Up Delight in Life

Card Four
~Base card Kraft cardstock
~Layer of red checked tissue paper glued directly to the Kraft cardstock
~Strip of design paper framed with black cardstock
~Green cardstock die cut using Spellbinder's Fancy Label and Cuttlebug
~Prima flower with Sharpie colored blue pearl and punched fronds
~Three corner pearls colored using blue Sharpie

Card Five
~Base card - cranberry cardstock
~Layer of design paper
~Mitered corner cut of design paper
~Pearl swirl
~Squares and rectangle design paper framed with black cardstock

Card Six
~Base card Kraft cardstock
~Layer of blue cardstock stamped with Stampin' Up Weathered background stamp
~Strip of design paper
~Strip of DIY washi tape - double sticky tape and red checked tissue paper
~Three pearls
~Sentiment stamped on oval die cut Kraft cardstock - edges dotted with black Sharpie

Tada! Here they are all ready to be someone's little gift. I'm not sure why I took these photos with everything perched on the GIANT roll of dry wall mesh tape. I saw it used on a card - thought it was so cool - had husband dearest purchase a roll at the local hardware shop. Little did I know there is not such thing as a small roll of dry wall tape. Well, I guess if you were a dry waller - this IS a small roll!

All the design paper used in this set of six is by Graphic 45 - Playtimes Past collection. Found it on a deep clearance rack at Hobby Lobby in Omaha! The collection reminds me of Mary Engelbreit designs.

Challenges
House of Gilli - anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Stampalot - punches

Alarming Pins

Just a card cuz it is WAY past my bedtime! Too much Pinning going on on Pinterest instead of sleeping! I will be really sorry in the morning when the alarm goes off to get up for church!

Resist It
~Base card - tangerine cardstock
~Background stamp
~Technique: triple layer using bubblegum, tangerine, pear color inks with green embossing powder ~Layer of bubblegum grosgrain ribbon - and drywall mesh tape
~Pear colored flower button
~Dollop of SU Crystal Effects on a few of the flower centers
~Tangerine ribbon
~Collage folder embossing on top two layers

Fun combination of techniques - I learned from it - will try it again - with different stamp....
I would love to say this is prettier in real life...I'll have to settle with...it is more INTERESTING in real life.

Challenges and Inspiration
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration (tangerine, bubblegum, pear)
Southern Girls - ribbon
Lady Bug Crafts - flowers and embossing

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Wishy-Washi

Just a quick post tonight. I'm still recovering from 'chaperoning' at the university's Homecoming dance!

Washi Wishin'
~Base card Stampin' Up Very Vanilla
~Layer of black/vanilla design paper
~Layer of purple cardstock
~Layer of confetti vanilla
~Strip of washi butterfly tape (I finally broke down and bought a set of two rolls {Tim Holtz} on sale at Hobby Lobby!)
~Sentiment - Stampin' Up Warm Words
~Corner image - Stampin' Up Mixed Bunch - stamped using Versamark and purple embossing powder and dotted with white pearls and white pearls colored purple using a Sharpie marker (a Sharpie and a pearl....you can have any color of pearls)
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - black/white splash of color (plum)
Just Us Girls - sketch

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

A Deer, a Squirrel, and a Turkey Walk Into a Bar....

A friend of mine captured this photo walking to her car....ahhh...the view from the parking lot at work. Deer, wild turkeys, and a squirrel to complete the vignette! The university is perched on a hill, smack-dab in the middle of a residential area. It is 'crawlin' with animal (and student) wildlife!

It may look all serene and lovely but the deer who visit my yard on a nightly basis have eaten every leafy green of my hostas (no swaying lavender flowers for me this year) and they LOVE geraniums. I have to remember to move my potted flowers every night so they don't feast on my floral salad bar!

You may wonder if I live in the country - no I live in a citified neighborhood!

On to the card...

Line of Thanks
~Base card white cardstock
~Layer of 'frosty' design paper
~Twine
~Tag punches
~Vinyl letters
~Two white eyelets
Challenges
Southern Girls - spots and stripes
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes
Crafty Mess - anything goes
Annabelle Stamps - thanks

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa