Don't Tell Amy

Shhh...don't tell daughter Amy! This is her Valentine's day card. She is currently very fond of owls so this seems a perfect fit. Found this cutie at Sami Stamps!

Owl Always Love You
~Base card brown card stock
~Layer of Hampton Art Berry Blast
~Layer of drywall mesh tape
~Image from Sami Stamps - paper pieced and colored with Copics (the original stamps has holly hanging from the branch - a few hearts stamped and cut - and tada.....he is all ready for Valentine's day!
~Image printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen, die  cut using Spellbinder/Cuttlebug - edges smudged and dotted with pink fine point Sharpie
~Inside sentiment "Owl love you forever"
~Smaller hearts highlighted with Wink of Stella pen (thank you to my blog friend Lynn for the scoop on the pen!)
Inspirations/Challenges
Cuttin' and Stampin' - use something new (new digital image and Wink of Stella pen)
Creative Craft - anything goes
Sweet Stamps - use something new (new digital image and Wink of Stella pen)
The Squirrel and the Fox - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Sleddin' the Week Away

Just enough time left of this weekend to post the one and only card I managed to make this weekend. Where do weekends go? I can't believe I am starring at another Monday morning! I don't think I've mentioned recently...I have a new boss. I'll just leave it at that. Trust me you don't want to get me started on the subject of the "she who must be obeyed" boss.

On to the card...

Sledding on the Weekend
~Base card Stampin' Up card stock
~Layer of My Mind's Eye snowflake design paper
~Music stamp on snowflake tissue paper using the Faux Silk technique over at Splitcoast Stampers; corners punched
~Strip of dry wall mesh
~Strip of holographic metallic sticky paper
~Sled stamp (present from sissy Gail) colored with Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder; cardinal paper pieced and popped up with dimensionals; edges torn and smudged with ink
~Twine handle glued to sled handle
~Touches of Uchida Liquid Applique puffed up for highlights of snow
Challenges/Inspiration
Just Us Girls - Faux Silk Technique
Retro Sketches - sketch
Our Creative Corner - vintage with neutrals (no reds/greens) (I hope that cardinal is legal!)
Creative Knockouts - 'tis the season
Southern Girls - Christmas wishes
Challenges for Everybody - anything goes

Have a wonderful Monday! Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Buttons, Hems, Scraps, and Blessings

Another {PIN}spirational challenge! What a cute photo! I 'cheated' and put buttons instead of thread in the jar but I did add a spool. The spool is cobbled together using a punch and straight cuts. This was more of a literal craft card. I'm not much on 'crafts' only cards and quilts...The card has a little too much "some assembly required" for my liking but it is completed now so I can just hop down off my "I don't like doing CRAFTS" soapbox.

I do actually have two Mason jars filled with wooden spools with their original thread. Buttons...well I have thousands of buttons. They live in the Big Blue Button Bowl. (A favorite of grandkids and college kids!)

Have you ever sat and clicked through your blog going back...back....back.... to older and older posts? I just did that (because the "search this blog" did NOTHING for me) as I wanted to refer back to an old post that featured a photo of  the Big Blue Button Bowl. As I was clicking my way down memory lane I found myself saying, "Oh I really liked that card!" "Oh that was a fun card to make!" "I should try that technique again." "WOW - I CAN NOT believe I posted that dreadful card!" And then there was the occasional..."I do NOT remember even making that card!" So many cards - so little memory!

{PIN}spirational photo inspiration challenge

You R A Blessing
~Base card - pink cardstock
~Coordinated design papers by Paper Trey Ink Raspberry Fizz Mix
~Fabric scrap
~SU Floral Frames Framelit die cut
~Buttons
~Paper Trey Ink jar die cut
~Sentiment by Melon Headz on die cut oval "Hem Your Blessings with Thankfullness so They Don't Unravel"
~DMC floss (transfer of crap from sissy Gail)
~Hand-made "spool" made using SU Word Window punch and kraft cardstock
~Digital image of vintage scissors from Scribble & Scrap - highlighted with pink and gold Smooch and SU Crystal Effects
~Inside sentiment die cut Stampin' Up Floral Frames
Challenges and Inspirations
{PIN}spirational - photo
Craftitude - button
Crafty Catz - use 2 or more die cuts (jar, flower, and oval)
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Merry Mittens and a Glass of Wine!

I love the challenges over at Just Us Girls. And THIS is a true challenge for me! A one layer card! Loves me a challengin' challenge!!! One layer - it is always so tempting to add layer, after layer, after layer. Like a yummy ol' casserole!

I was inspired by all the lovely work by the design team over at Ladybug Crafts with their 'blue and white' challenge. so....here is the combination of both challenges.

To be extremely technical I guess my attempt isn't STRICTLY one layer. I added the die cut sentiment (is that REALLY a layer?). AND don't forget the ribbon (is THAT a layer too?).

To be TOTALLY honest I 'cased' the idea for the card from blog friend Lynn. Check out her 8 little snowmen! She is a pro at clean and simple (and awesome) cards! Go ahead! Do as I did - pour yourself a glass a wine - and cruise the net!

Merry Mittens
~Base card navy blue card-stock
~White card-stock stamped with Stampin' Up mitten stamp, colored with Copics, highlighted with Stickles
~Sentiment die cut
~Sheer ribbon
Additional Challenges/Inspirations
Addicted to Stamps - CaS
Creative Craft - non traditional Christmas colors

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Me, Mr. Kline, and Bubble Time

Time in the Bubble - always a good thing. I should have spent my afternoon cleaning up after weekend company - but I didn't! Not that sista Gailey and daughter Amy were messy! They made their beds and left rooms so nice and tidy. It's the kitchen that is still in disarray! Yet here I sit in my Bubble. I had every intention of going out and tackling some Christmas shopping on this lovely day I took off from work. That plan crumbled into ice, sleet, and snow...Oh well! My street is a sheet of ice! All the more reasons to stay toasty warm in my Fiber Bubble. I'm going to pop in a movie and make cards - the cleaning and shopping can wait. I'm in the mood for "In and Out" one of my all time favorite movies! Here is a trailer in case your haven't seen the movie or in case you need a reminder of how fun this movie is.

Below is the positive/negative results of using my Stampin' Up ornament die cuts. I used the cut outs from the bottom card to make the ornaments of on the top card. The color of the ornaments on the bottom card are not very true to 'real life'. IRL (in real life) the middle ornament is gold (not green-gold) and the far right ornament is actually green (not blue-mint-kinda-green).

In and Out

~Base cardstock with design paper card-stock overlay

~Stampin' Up Framelits Holiday Ornaments

~Martha Stewart branch punch - dotted with Stickles

~Stamped and red embossed sentiment with two pearls colored with red Sharpie (top card), die cut using Stampin' Up Framelits Apothecary Accents

~American Crafts Specialty Foil Paper used on the three ornaments (bottom card)

~Gold metallic floss (transfer of crap from sissy Gail) (top and bottom cards) 

~Self-stick 'holographic' silver (tops of three ornaments (bottom card)

~Top card ornaments popped up with dimensionals - edged with green ink, tops colored with gold metallic Sharpie

Challenges/Inspirations

LEJ Designs - Christmas

Shopping our Stash - holiday/winter

Crafty Hands - sparkle and bling

Pile it on Sunday - P (punch and pearls)

Bearly Mine - Christmas sentiment

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Freaks, Geeks, and Salsa!

Since daughter Amy and sissy Gail aren't coming until Friday night, hubby and I are joining a friend (Lisa) and her sibling family for Thanksgiving. As she says "come join the freaks and geeks"! Lots of food - lots of adopted family - lots of games and card playing - lots of food (oh I said that). Of course  I told Lisa I had to bring something to her brother (Rich) and sister-in-law's house. I sent a text to Rich to ask what I could bring. He didn't have answer for me. Even after I sent my list of 'specialties' including paper products, Well's Dairy Ice Cream, ground coffee, beer, wine, home made pumpkin pie with REAL whipped whip cream, or apple crisp. Well...he didn't answer. So I made .... ta daaaa....
Corn SALSA! Now there is a traditional Thanksgiving appetizer....

With all the choppin' and mixin' and cleanin' I put in, not to mention a morning at work - I managed to to squeeze in a little card-makin'-Bubble-time!

The ornaments on this card are the punch-outs from a few other cards. I clear embossed over two of them and green embossed with the corresponding shape stamp with green on the middle one.

Christmas Wishes

~Base card vanilla cardstock

~Layer of Kraft/red cardstock by The Paper Studio - edges smudged with SU Olive Green

~Three Stampin' Up ornament die cuts, embossed

~Metallic floss

~Sentiment by Taylored Expressions stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder, edge dotted with Sharpie white paint pen

Challenges

Retro Sketches - sketch

Songbird - die cuts

C is for Challenge - ornaments

Party Time Tuesday - anything goes

Thank you for clicking by ad GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Nancy

So So Boneless!

Just in time for Thanksgiving! Daughter Amy and sissy Gail coming up from Omaha this weekend! I bought a....now this is weird...but I bought a boneless turkey! I have had so much fun making bad jokes about my boneless turkey! Can't wait to try it. The local butcher just swears by it! Says he hasn't cooked a turkey with bones for 10 years. Sad we won't have a wish bone though... Maybe I just found my niche market! I should create and sell  faux turkey wish bones!

On my schedule is to  make and bake a pumpkin pie - how fortuitous that the inspiration for this card is perfect for my day in the kitchen! I must admit, this card is just 'so-so', but then so is my cooking!

This is the photo inspiration over at {PIN}spirational:

Bountiful!
~Base card - orange card stock
~Layer of teal polka dot card stock
~Digi by Eureka, colored with Copics, highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Sentiment stamp from Taylored Expressions die cut with Spellbinder and Cuttlebug
~Three buttons (gift from sissy Gail)
Challenge/Inspiration
{PIN}spirational -  photo inspiration
Digi Designs - Thanksgiving/Harvest
Hiding in My Craft Room - Thanksgiving
Suzy Bee's - add buttons
Crazy 4 Challenges - thankful
Craft Your Passion - give thanks
Marker Pop - Thanksgiving with markers

Thank you for clicking by and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American and Americanized blog-land friends!

Nancy in Iowa

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Gonna be a busy weekend! I can't believe I am saying this but I'm going to a craft fair tomorrow. I REALLY don't like crafts and especially don't like craft fairs. I went to two art gallery shows recently - LOVED them both! But crafts?...Not so much. Yes...you might call me an art snob. And I'm okay with that!

So why a craft show? Well...my favorite Farmer's Market vendor is going to be at the fair with her jams and jellies! Everyone on my Christmas list - stop reading NOW...Christmas Gift Spoiler Alert. All my gift peeps are going to get a jar of jam! Her jams are ROCKIN!! Like: Christmas Butter, Pumpkin Pecan Butter, Brandied Marmalade, Carrot Cake Preserves, Raspberry Jalapeno, Habanero Gold, and my personal favorite...Sweet Warning - with sweet red bell, serrano, and habanero peppers.

College Men's and Women's Basketball games in the afternoon! Go Chargers!

Tomorrow night we are off to enjoy Christmas at the Orpheum. The Briar Cliff University Choir, Chamber Choir, and Siouxland Choral Artists plus the symphony. It will be glorious! It is the signature event of the university's choral program.

Plus I need to do a bit of cleaning and preparing for Thanksgiving! (Okay maybe it's more than just a LITTLE necessary cleaning...) Oh! AND I have an order for some Christmas cards for daughter Amy and her friend Jennie. I told you...BUSY weekend!

Cozy Christmas

~Base card - white card stock

~Layer of striped card stock

~Glitter/sheer ribbon

~Layer of red card stock with white dots made using White Sharpie Paint pen and with punched curved corners

~Tree image from design card stock Michael's Twelve Days with punched curved corners

~Sentiment stamped with Versamark, embossed with Ranger Rich Red embossing powder, die cut using Stampin' Up Framelits Apothecary Accents and 2 pearls colored using red Sharpie

Inspiration/Challenges

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Christmas

Bearly-Mine - Christmas colors with die cut

Thanks for clicking by - have a fabulous weekend!

Nancy in Iowa

Slacker Sunday

So...is this really all I have to show for a day in the Bubble!? I wasn't very productive was I? Four loads of laundry and one card? What a slacker! Can I have a weekend mulligan? Please?

Holiday Wreath

~Base card - grey blue card stock

~Layer of design paper snowflakes

~Vellum

~Green stripe of card stock with lace punch edging

~Martha Stewart sentiment

~Ribbon

~Taylored Expressions Snowflake Wreath stamped with Versamak and embossed with clear embossing powder and die cut with TE Seasonal Wreath

~One metal snowflake and two silver brads

Inspiration/Challenges

Sketch Saturday - sketch

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

My Besties Norge - snowy

Thanks for clicking by. I hope you had a productive and fun filled weekend. Happy work week!

Nancy in Iowa

Weekends and Turkeys that FLY!

The weekend...here and half gone. Why does the weekend have to fly by so fast? These turkeys in the neighborhood need to fly too - Thanksgiving is almost here!

Neighborhood Gobblers

Chocolate Cherry Christmas
~Base card Kraft card stock
~Layer of striped kraft card stock - The Paper Studio Classic Christmas collection
~Two brown and one red card stock scallop circles (Spellbinders & Cuttlebug)
~One scallop circle music print kraft card stock - The Paper Studio Classic Christmas collection
~One red/white check scallop circle - The Paper Studio Cozy Little Christmas
~Jute scroll printed ribbon
~Twine bow
~Sentiment - stamped with VersaMark, embossed with bronze embossing powder, on brown cardstock, bleached and colored with white Sharpie, and red Copics, highlighted with SU Crystal Effects
~White Sharpie paint dots on scallops
Challenges/Inspirations
Just Us Girls - color challenge: red, draft, white, brown
Just Add Ink - sketch
Christmas Stamping All Year Long - stripes
Hiding in My Craft Room - die cuts
Crafty Calendar - all things Christmas
Ladybug Crafts - Kraft

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Wishing for the Weekend

I cannot wait for the weekend! How about you? Saw the cool color inspiration at Always Playing with Paper : Stripes, Red, Chocolate with Stars or Hearts and just knew I had to play along! I love brown and red together and I wonder why I don't use Kraft card stock more often!

Peppermint Mocha

~Base card - Kraft card stock

~Layers of dark brown card stock

~Layers of Paper Studio Classic Christmas collection (stripes, polka dots, music)

~Spellbinders scallop circles

~Joy stamp from the Walmart 97 cent bin, stamped with Versamark and embossed with bronze embossing powder, bleached the 'O' so I could color in the peppermint with red and white inks

~Brown and red card stock flourishes using Spellbinders Shapeabilities Floral Flourishes

Inspiration/Challenges

Always Playing with Paper - color inspiration

Mojo Monday - sketch

Addicted to Stamps - anything goes

Stampavie - die cut embellishments

Southern Girls - sweet things (peppermint 'O' in Joy)

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Confessions, Wine, and the Dreaded Sock Monkey

My Fiber Bubble (my card/quilt making zone) is a place of solace, creativity, and therapy. It is also a SAFE zone. So...What is posted from the Bubble stays in the Bubble!

Only because I know I can trust you....I share this secret with you.

Here it is - please don't judge me...Sock monkeys FREAK ME OUT! They always have. They always will. What is it about that smug, vacant eyed, floppy creature? I seriously get shivers when I see one. And did you know they are in vogue right now? You can buy nearly ANYTHING in a sock monkey theme. Fabric, coozies, hats, costumes, purses...before you know it I will be surrounded by these creatures! I think there is a subversive subculture of sock monkey activists out to take over the world.

As you will see by the {PIN}spirational photo inspiration challenge I was not only in for a challenge but was close to needing REAL couch-time, Rorschach, meditation, aroma therapy. What was I going to do? It is an adorable photo but all I could focus on was that damn monkey. I couldn't let the design team down! I made a commitment to make a card using that photo as my inspiration. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

I decided I would leave the Bubble and the horrifying photo of a sweet baby being accosted by a sock monkey plus a knitted sock monkey cap (I was sure the cap monkey had ill intentions...) and go upstairs and pour myself a glass of wine.

After a few sips I returned to the photo for another look-see. The wine must have been just what I needed because when I returned to my Bubble I noticed the photographers watermark. That was it! In my wine induced brilliance I decided right then and there my inspiration would be the airy watermark flower.

As a design team member we get to select a free digital image from the sponsors. (Sweet deal! Right?) So I scoured the Bugaboo Stamps site (closing my eyes when I encountered the sock monkey digitals) until I found this lovely digital tag.

So the moral of this story is...that if you ply your muse with enough wine...inspiration can be found anywhere!

WARNING!!! Sock Monkey Spoiler Alert!

Hello Tag Bye Bye Sock Monkey
~Base card - turquoise card stock
~Layer of design paper by American Crafts Yes Please
~Digital image, from Bugaboo, colored with Copics, Smooch, and Stickles, outer edge smudged with pink, yellow, orange inks, spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, framed with olive green cardstock
~Sentiment: alphabet tag sticker with gold cord through hole in 'H'
~Three pearls colored using Sharpies
~Prima butterfly with rhinestone
~Ribbons
~Epoxy brad by The Paper Studio
Challenges/Inspirations
{PIN}spirational - photo (beware - it involves a sock monkey)
Brown Sugar - anything goes
Savvy Handmade Cards - photo (color) inspiration
Card Mania - anything goes
Make It Monday - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by...and remember...mums the word about my sock monkey phobia.
Nancy in Iowa

Leaves for Lunch

Ever have one of those cards that you "finish" even to the point of taking a photo and making an envelope? And then it just glares at you from the "file this pile"... Well there was just something 'off' about this card. So...I plucked it apart for a 'mulligan'. I should post a 'before' photo but I deleted it. Yes! It was JUST THAT BAD! 

So...not sure this is mega-better. But trust me - it is BETTER.  As I'm typing this I'm wondering...what if you think THIS version is an ugly-to-the-bone card? What if you are thinking..THIS is a DO-OVER? How UGLY was the FIRST version?

Then I got to wondering - why in the heck did I choose leaves to put in the basket... Who does that? Why didn't I choose the wagon from the Taylored Expressions' A Bushel & A Peck. Who rakes up leaves and puts them in a picnic basket?! Maybe some crazed vegan squirrel???!! While I was plucking it apart I should have redone the image. I guess this poor card never had a chance.

You will just have to trust me...this is MUCH better than the first version. (Even with the leaves in a picnic basket.)

Thankful for Colorful Leaves

~Base card Stampin' Up card stock

~Strips of DCWV Indian Summer Fall Glitter Matstack

~Strip of coral card stock topped with more of the same Indian Summer collection

~Circle die cut and two smaller circle die cuts

~Leaves embellishmen (plucked from a silk bunch of stems)

~Image stamped and colored with Copics

Challenges/Inspirations

Ladybug - photo challenge/inspiratrion

My Sheri Crafts - fall, thanksgiving
Stampin' for the Weekend - autumn/fall colors
Pile it On - tools (Cuttlebug, Spellbinders scallop circles - 2 varieties, punch card)
Creative Knockouts - punches/die cuts

Thank you for clicking by and for tolerating my 'mulligan' and not laughing too hard at my "picnic".
Thanks,
Nancy in Iowa

A Challenging Christmas

Nothing like a new challenge to get me out of my comfort zone! Just Us Girls' challenge is to create a word-background. Let me tell you this was REALLY a challenge for me! The first part of the challenge was deciding on the sentiments. Then I unearthed a set of Hero Arts border stamps wwwaaaayyyy in the back of one of my two Christmas stamp drawers. I must admit I had a few do-overs. I told you it was a challenge!

Merry, Bright, Holidays
~Base card - Stampin' Up card stock
~Layer of diagonal stripe card stock from Michael's
~Layer of Cryogen White stamped using Hero Arts Border Stamps using an assortment of inks, spritzed with Tattered Angel's Glitter Mist, edges curved using punch
~Corner poinsettia die cut using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug and Christmas card stock The 12 Days from Michael's (deep clearance sale last year!!)
~Snowflake is a 3-D sticker from the 97 cent bin at Walmart
~Merry Christmas sentiment stamped with Versamark and Adirondack Moss embossing powder
Challenges/Inspirations
Just Us Girls - word background
Crafty Calendar - all things Christmas
Retro Sketches - sketch
CRAFT Challenge - Christmas

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Melancholy Memories

Am I feeling melancholy because I kind of get that way when making sympathy cards? Or am I feeling melancholy because I actually NEED a supply of sympathy cards? Then there are the 'thinking of you in hard times' cards...

I "fussy-cut" the center vertical design paper so that the word "memories" is centered. Once I'm finished with this post I think I need to work on a brightly colored card. Or maybe just make a sympathy card that is less somber?

Not sure why these two photos are so vastly different in tone... The inside and the outside do match... For some reason the inside-of-the-card pic looks very washed out. Too lazy to re-shoot the photos...It's Sunday...I can be lazy if I want. Right?

Inside

Thoughts of You

~Base card - confetti card stock

~Design paper by Prima Printery collection

~Stampin' Up Framelits Floral Frames dies cut

~Stamped sentiments

~Ribbon (one of those ribbons that I questioned why I bought it...but I think it works here?)

~Curved corner punch

Challenges/Inspirations

Deconstructed Sketch - sketch

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Therapeutic Besties

Found time to spend in my Bubble! Yea!! I've been noodling over the challenge over at Just Us Girls. Love love love the photo challenge! So thought I'd put something together.

Sadly my colors aren't as rich as the photo... but you get the general idea. Right? I had fun putting this together. That is the important part. Right? This is, after all, my therapy...

Besties
~Base card - gold card stock
~Layer of design paper
~Three strips of reversible ribbon
~Chip board sentiment
~Taylored Expressions Leafy Branch die cut and Cuttlebug
~Two oval die cut using Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, and DCWV Fall Matstock 
Challenges/Inspirations
Just Us Girls - photo
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - sketch
Perfect Sentiments - fall or Halloween
Die Cuttin' Divas - anything goes + die cut
Crafting for All Seasons - autumn colors
Cuttlebug Mania - autumn

Thanks for clicking by. Happy Halloween and All Saints Day!
Nancy in Iowa

Bon Voyage & Burlap

Another {PIN}spirational challenge! Nothing like a design team deadline to have an excuse for "mandatory" time in the Bubble! Here is the photo inspiration.

I really wanted to use this cool printed burlap ribbon and I wanted a vintage look so I attached a page from a weathered and discarded book to plain paper and ran it through the printer so I could have the balloon image directly on the paper. I left the torn edge on the right side, smudged the edges, then ran a row of stitches down the side. I should have used a darker shade of cream thread. (Shoulda/woulda/coulda!)

Flying Farewell
~Base card aqua card stock
~Free digital image from The Graphics Fairy printed directly on old book page (cropped off the steampunk part of the image)
~Button with aqua twine
~Metal sentiment
~Printed burlap ribbon (purchased at Hobby Lobby)
~Four assorted stamps using assorted inks
~Sewing machine stitching down right side of card
Challenges/Inspirational
{PIN}spirational - photo inspiration
Deep Ocean - button it up
Creative Knockouts - favorite twine/ribbon (Because EVERY ribbon is my favorite!)
Crafty Hands - anything goes
Pile it On - embellishment
Sentimental Sundays - monochromatic

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Card. Counter-Card.

Just a quick post. Thought I'd show the obsession session I had with the Inlay Technique.  I'm sure I will use this technique more (and more). I feel like I NEED a few more graduated sized dies! Just sayin'!. Love it when something slides from the WANT list to the NEED list...This DOES sound like a need - right? Right? Anybody? Right...?!!

This this counterpoint card to the first Inlay Technique I previously posted. So cool that you get two cards out of this process!

The Season
~Base card - red card stock
~Design paper from Recollections The 12 Days  from Michaels
~Chipboard sentiment
~Three prima flowers with three yellow brads
~Square scallop Spellbinders dies using Cuttlebug
Challenges/Inspirations
Christmas Card Challenges - flowers

These two were my first attempts. I learned the hard way that high contrast is the way to go...these are 'OOPS' cards... Is it okay that I used an 'oops card' for a thank you card and as a sympathy card? These is the "duet set" using design paper We R Memory Keepers Anthologie.

 Thank you card

Sympathy card

These two final cards feature chip board centers and design paper Berry Blast.

Anything Goes Challenges
613 Avenue
Challenges for Everything
My Creative Moments
Jo's Scrap Shack

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Corduroy Scallops

The weekend has arrived! Farmers Market in the morning...followed by...who knows? Maybe some time in my Bubble making card after card. Or maybe some house cleaning? Or maybe some yard work? I am so happy to NOT be going to work - doesn't matter much what I do!

I am going to Omaha on Monday. I will get to see sissy Gail and daughter Amy! And get a much overdue haircut! Since I am headed to Omaha I thought I would make a cupcake card for Miss Amy. All cupcake cards go to Miss Amy.

This card is kind of simple - but then when who needs fancy when there are CUPCAKES in the mix?!

Corduroy Cupcake
~Base card - pink card stock
~ Design paper card stock with sparkly cupcakes
~Ribbons
~Corduroy and felt puffed cupcake embellishment
~Round scallop die cut (Spellbinders) using Cuttlebug
Challenges/Inspiration
Creative Romance - pink
Stampin' with the Dragon - circles
Sister Act - anything goes
SweetPea Stampers - sparkle and shine
Crafty Ribbons - anything plus ribbon
Live & Love - pink

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Pouting Technique

I love it when there is a technique that I not only consider to attempt, I am able to master it, and it is great fun and versatile! AWESOME! Thank you JUG ladies!

Here is the link to the Die Inlay Technique. It is a BLAST! I actually made 7 different cards using this technique! I did learn the hard way that contrast is key...you will see what I mean when I post my "so so" card later.

Repetitive technique:  I have to keep my mind from wandering...my sissies are have an UNSANCTIONED gathering. I hope they know that any fun they may be having without me is only HALF the fun they would be having if I were with them in Atlanta... just sayin' (in my poutiest voice).

The inset below has a blue tint that the camera doesn't pick up...it does correspond to the blue of the snowman. I guess you'll have to trust me on this one.

COLD!
~Base card Stampin' Up card stock
~Design papers
~Spellbinders Scallop Squares and Cuttlebug
~Chipboard center 'medallion'
Challenges and Inspirations
Just Us Girls - technique
Holly Jolly Christmas - inspired by Christmas song (Baby It's Cold Outside - my favorite version features James Taylor and Natalie Cole)
Deep Ocean - Christmas around the corner
Challenges for Everybody - anything goes
Crafting Cafe - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by
Nancy in Iowa

Wonky Junky!

As of  today I am part of Design Team 2 over at {Pin}spirational Challenges. Whooot! I am a Pinterest JUNKY! I not only "Pin" on my own account I am the official "Pin" administrator for the Briar Cliff University. So....this is a perfect fit!

Here is the card I made for my debut.

The challenge this week at {Pin}spirational Challenges is "Anything Goes". I opted to use a digital image from {PIN} sponsor Fresh Brewed Designs.

Wonky Joy
~Digital images by Fresh Brewed Designs "Wonky Christmas Tree", colored with Copics, red dots colored with embossing powder, tree bases cut from design paper
~Sentiment stamped, cut using Spellbinders die cut, embossed, using Cuttlebug
~Three Dazzlers by Petaloo
~Layers of four design paper by Daisy D's
Challenges/Inspiration
{PIN}spirational - anything goes
Creative Creations - sketch
Inkspirational - anything goes
Digitally Sweet - favorite color (shades of greens)
2 Sisters - anything goes
Craft Hazelnuts - square
Brown Sugar - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Oh! Deer!

Lucky that I was able to have time in the Bubble - I could have spent time in the hoosegow! The slammer! A dungeon! We found this taped to the door when we got home from work today.

ME????  REALLY? Feed the deer? They might as well arrest me because I have hostas! The deer LOVE those! They nibbled them down to the NUBS! No purple flower spikes for me this year (or last year). Not to mention the potted begonias and my lovely baltonia which they devoured. "Pick up the corn." Sounds like I have a bushel of field corn lying about. In reality it was two ears of corn - tossed out into the mum patch thinking they would biodegrade. I didn't think of them as a 'meal'. Well you will be happy to know that we did in fact pick up the corn and bury it deeply in the trash can. Bad Citizen/Good Citizen!

Enough of my felonious actions... on to the card. I'm stuck on fall colors as you can see.

Thankful for Autumn
~Base card - Kraft card stock
~Layer of green design paper
~Grosgrain ribbon
~Twine
~Orange card stock - die cut with scallop circle Spellbinders/Cuttlebug
~Circular scallop cut - fall leaves design paper
~Sentiment using Spellbinders/Cuttlebug
Challenges/Inspiration
Mojo Monday - sketch
Crafty Sentiment - anything goes
Inky Chicks - use two die cuts
Papertake Weekly - use two (ribbon/twine; die cuts; design paper)
Sweet Stamps - fall

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iow

Trug'in Along

There are only two more Farmer's Market weekends! Sad! It is the best way to start the weekend. Got inspired by all the fall fruits and veggies at the market yesterday so decided to work on a market/autumn card as my weekend comes to a close.

October is also the month for the Feast of St. Francis. I work at a Franciscan university so to quote one of the students, "it's like a holiday except for not having the day off!" Check out the president of the college being a good sport on the bicycle powered smoothie maker! It was part of the St. Francis celebration on Friday that followed a beautiful mass with dancers and full choir. A couple of the 'sisters' (Franciscan nuns) played along too by putting in some pedal time! It is a lovely school - like us on Facebook! (In an effort of full disclosure - I am one of the two member team who maintain the Briar Cliff University Facebook page...it is SO much fun!)

Please ignore the little clothespins...never sure how to photograph the inside of cards that open vertically... And the rust color of the front side plaid - really did NOT photo as rust at all. Use your imagination...

Farmer's Market End
~Base card - confetti card stock
~Layers of Momenta design papers (gift from sissy Gail)
~Four die cuts using Stampin' Up Framelits Label Collection
~Taylored Expressions sentiment
~Taylored Expressions images (A Bushel & a Peck) colored using Copics, pumpkins topped with SU Crystal Effects
~American Craft glitter ribbon from Archiver's
~Twine bow
Challenges/Inspirations
{Pin}spirational - photo inspiration - garden trug
Allsorts - autumn colors
Sweet Stampin' - autumn
Challenges and Candies - autumn colors
Polkadoodles - autumn
Simply Create Too - autumn

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Pennies Well Spent

Kickin' it motivation style! It pays to get up really early on a Sunday morning! I bought a package of plain white cards with the tree die cut on the front last year after Christmas. I paid a whooping twelve cents for the set of cards which included envelopes! Whhhoooooopp!

So here is the set of cards I made with an initial outlay of 12 pennies!

 Believe

Inside Believe

Holly Greetings

Inside Holly Greetings

 Peppermint Greetings

Inside Peppermint Greetings

Chevron Greetings

Inside Chevron Greetings

Holiday Stripes 

Inside Holiday Stripes

Poinsettia Star

Inside Poinsettia Star

Star of Wonder 

Inside Star of Wonder

Trees-A-Plenty 

Inside Trees-A-Plenty

Set of Cards Ingredients

~Chipboard "believe"

~Star rhinestones

~Brads

~Christmas design papers

~Spellbinder die cuts/Cuttlebug

~3D stickers from the Dollar Tree

~Round punches

~Round rhinestones

~Sentiment by Stampabilities from Hobby Lobby

~White and red embossing powder

Challenges and Inspirations

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - set of cards

Divas by Design - CAS (Holiday Stripes)

CraftyHazelnuts - Christmas in October

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa