Happy Bubble 2 Me

I have my Bubble back!

About a month ago a new BCU alum stopped by my office to excitedly tell me he got a teaching job here in town. He will be the new middle school math teacher and he will make a difference in the lives of many young minds. He mentioned in passing that his apartment wouldn't be ready until a few days after he started his new job. Since he is not from here I asked him what his plans were for temporary housing. He said a sofa at a friend's apartment had been offered. I told him if he would rather have a bed with a bathroom he was welcome to stay at my home. About two weeks ago he called and asked if I was serious about the offer of the basement bedroom. He was having second thoughts about the sofa at Beau's apartment - complete with Beau's girlfriend, and Beau's dog, not to mention Beau's two other roommates. I confirmed that the offer stood and he moved in for a few days.

He was busy every evening grading papers and creating lesson plans. So...I didn't spend any time in the Bubble while he was here because I knew he was busy downstairs. Plus...he is a talker! Another reason - not to go to the basement - I didn't want to distract him from his 'homework'. I went down one evening to get something and he ended up chatting for 45 minutes and NOT grading papers. He would pop upstairs every evening and entertain me and my husband with tails of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. It was great fun having him here - even if it did mean no Bubble time for me.

Anyway - he is now ensconced in his apartment - and I have my Bubble back! My space! Let the card making begin. Unfortunately it is also the first week of school so my time in the Bubble will be limited as "Welcome Week" is hectic, long, and tedious.

HB2U
~Rustic red cardstock
~My Minds Eye Funday
~Blue jute twine (gift from sissy Gailey)
~Two blue brads
~Pennants made from washi tape
~Stampin' Up die cuts
~Sentiment stamped and topped with SU Crystal Effects

Challenges/Inspirations

Just Us Girls - photo inspiration
Kitty Bee Designs - happy birthday

Messy Borders

I can hardly wait to leave for Omaha in the morning. I am only 14 hours away from a long needed haircut! I had to cancel my last two appointments so I have taken on the appearance of a woolly mammoth...

Not only do I get a hair cut - but I get pampered by my sissy! She drives me to my appointment and takes me to lunch! She makes me coffee and always has a sizable amount of 'transfer of crap'. A trip to Omaha must include the mandatory 'transfer of crap'. If you are a Fiber Bubble blog regular - you've read about the sissy 'transfer of crap'. We have a genetic predisposition of transfering articles back and forth..."one sister's junk is another sister's treasure!" As a reminder, or explanation if you are new to the Fiber Bubble, there are RULES to 'transfer of crap'. For some background on 'ToC'...click here.

The best bonus about a trip to Omaha is I get the see and hug daughter Amy.

Now...for today's card. I can't believe I DID it! I actually made a one-layer card! I usually never resist the 'need' to add layer upon layer, a little ribbon here, a brad or three there, some glitter, a strip of washi tape....

So...I was GOING to follow this tutorial for a "Bordered Sentiment" over at Splitcoast Stampers. But I had to 'adapt' with the small flower along the bottom right of the sentiment because of a hapless smudge! Using one layer  - a white one at that - well...next time I will be more careful with cleaning up my mat and my inky fingers!

Bordered Thoughts
~Base card - Cryogen White from the Paper Temptress
~Stampin' Up Bordering on Romance colored with Su Watercolor Wonder and leaves from Stampin' up Delight in Life
~Stampin' Up Curly Cute sentiment
~A few dots of SU Crystal Effects (okay - so I couldn't leave well enough alone - HAD to use an 'embellishment'!
Challenges/Inspirations
Addicted to CAS  - summer
Lawnscaping - one layer
Sentimental Sunday - one layer

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Lies and Padded Bras

In my previous post I mentioned that I wouldn't be back to blogging until next week. Well. I lied. I am supposed to be working on the photo albums x 3 for my sisters memorializing our most recent holiday... But I do HATE photo albums (just not as much as my dislike for scrap-booking).

Don't get me wrong - scrapbooking is lovely to look at. I just have a very hard time FINISHING. I keep moving things, adding things, subtracting things....and when you have to make THREE of them...well that is impossible for me. Not to mention I don't always have THREE of the PERFECT charm or enough ribbon or or or....

I can't make three identical ANYTHINGS as I have the attention span of a 2 year old. I get bored VERY easily. Last time I made THREE small memory books in commemoration of a sisters trip - Each one got progressively cuter and more detailed. So THEN the dilemma is  - which sister gets which book? Okay so we are past the screaming, hair pulling, and door slamming stage but you just never know.... Best not to tempt the fates.

So I am taking a mental health break from the photo albums tonight. I figured I needed some Bubble therapy making a quick card. Freshman orientation begins tomorrow and continues through the weekend. My Bubble time will be severely limited if not completely impossible.

This is what I SHOULD be working on...

Yes - that is my little friend "Bobbins" poised in a padded cup. He is my traveling imp. He goes with us on all the sisters' trips. Regarding the bras hanging on the fence. No they aren't mine or my sissies. They were just hanging on a fence next to the Iowa Rock and Roll Museum in Arnold's Park. We don't know the true story but we sure have had fun making up our OWN stories! Not sure what will be more shocking to you - the peculiar undies placement or the fact that Iowa has a Rock and Roll Museum! I think it all started "The Day the Music Died".... Once you get past the 'unmentionables - take a look at how blue the sky and lake are!


This is what I did instead of playing with photo placement and coming up with quipy journaling...

Thankful for You

~Base card - cream card stock

~Layer of Bazzill brown cardstock

~Two Stampin' Up Mixed Blossoms stamped with Versamark and punched with SU punch using Vellum

~One Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets hand cut, stamped with Versamark on Vellum

~Flower centers dotted with Sharpie Paint Pen

~Pearls

~Spellbinders label die using Cuddlebug

~One brass brad

~Sentiment: Thankful for you

Challenges/Inspirations

Southern Girls - things beginning with F (flowers)

Melonheadz - flowers

Thanks for clicking by. In parting...remember: A good friend is like a bra ~ close to your heart and all about support!

All good wishes,

Nancy in Iowa

Sanctioned Laziness

This might be my last post for this week. Things are 'heating' up at work..new boss, new office, new students... Freshman orientation this weekend. All time suckers!!! So - not sure I will have 'bubble' time anytime soon! That PLUS I have to, have to, have to complete the photo books of my sisters' vacation before Monday morning!

Let me tell you I am NOT fond of scrap-booking. This is a PROBLEM when I take so many photos! So I compromised with myself...I bought photo books. I had the photos in place - then realized a few of them were in the wrong order. This album is an overview of our annual sisters quilting get-away.

So? Who cares? It's just a stroll down memory lane...no one said the path was DIRECT!

However - my type A personality took over my wanna-be laissez faire personality and kicked Miss Laissez Fair to the curb. I took ALL the photos out (more than 200 pics) and started over. This might not seem like such a big deal on the surface...but get this!!! I'm making THREE of these hideous monsters. All the same. Photo books in triplicate! One for each of the sistas plus the interloper (faux adopted) sister (more than a friend - but not blood....not sure how to describe the Plus-One).

Well anyway...I'm making albums for sister Gail, sister Judy, and more-than-friend Nila. I won't even end up with one. However, by the time I finish this task I won't care if I never see any of these pictures again!

I am going to Omaha on Monday - and sister in Omaha and Nila are flying to see sister in Atlanta...thus I have a deadline! Why they think it is appropriate for the three of them to gather without me has me flummoxed! I just hope they know that their gathering will be an "unsanctioned" gathering of the 3/5's Club!

Yes...I know our sisters holiday was last fall...nearly a year ago. I know I've had ample time to complete the task....I'm blaming it on the fact that this is a triple project and the fact that I had to start over....Don't JUDGE!!

Here is a little sample of what will be in the nightmare photo album:

 The tree outside our deck.

 West Okoboji Lake.

 Our evening hang out - Pirate Jack's Bar. Arnold's Park, IA.

West Okoboji Lake.

Nila's completed quilt top and Bobbin's the traveling imp - he attends all

SANCTIONED 3/5's Club gatherings.

Now...on to the card! Since I have been remiss in finishing these albums I thought I would go with the subject of lazy....

Lazy Days

~Base card - white confetti
~Layers of three coordinating design papers plus brown and pink card stock 'frames'
~Die cut jar and stamps by Paper Trey Ink
~Pink/brown dot ribbon
Challenges/Inspirations
City Crafter - summertime
Dream Valley - summer days
One Stitch at a Time - summer
The Squirrel and Fox - sea/nautical

Thanks for clicking by.

All good wishes,
Nancy in Iowa

Jar of Joy

Tomorrow I 'get' to (have to) pack up my current office in preparation for the move to my new office. I look at it as a good time to cull the crap! I'm not much of a saver - I just have trouble tossing things that students have 'created'. There must be at least 100 post it notes - sweet notes from students, funny notes from students. I started a tradition of keeping them on a wall - they seem to take great pride in having their notes on display. It is a bit like 'refrigerator art'. I may have to take all my notes with me to my new office. They especially like to sneak into my office when I'm away from my desk and write and hide notes...I never know where I will find a post-it!

New office has windows overlooking the softball and baseball fields, the nearby residential area, and at night it will afford a lovely view of the city lights.

New office is larger than current office. I should be thrilled....I'll have to wait and see. I guess it will be alright - as long as I take my 'refrigerator art' with me...

Jar of Christmas Joy
~Base card - Stampin' Up card stock
~Layer of The Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holiday design paper
~Layer of red card stock topped with striped layer of The Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holiday design paper - stitched in place with decorative stitch
~Red ribbon - with gold words "Merry Christmas" (kind of hard to see in the photo)
~Rectangle of green card stock with faux stitches
~Flower button with gold metallic thread
~Jar of poinsettias: Paper Trey die cut and stamp, poinsettias by Verve, centers dotted with Sharpie Gold Paint
Challenges/Inspiration
Some Odd Girl - sketch
The Hobby House - Christmas
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Christmas flowers
Little Red Wagon - Christmas

Thank you for clicking by!

All good wishes,
Nancy in Iowa

Hearing Voices and Lions Roar

One of the 'kids' at school (yes I know they are adults - but they are still my 'kids') told me she was on her way to finish up her mother's birthday present. I asked her (Katie) what she was making she told me she was making her mother a CD. Katie will be starting her senior year in college in just a few short weeks. Every year since the summer before she left Montana to attend Briar Cliff University Katie has made her mother a CD. I asked if the recordings were mixes of her mom's favorite music. She shyly said "no". The CDs that she makes every year for her mother are CDs of herself singing.

Katie is completing a triple major of English, Writing, and Music. She has a rich soprano voice and every year she uses her talent to create a one-of-a-kind CD for her mother. Katie said, "my mama puts my CDs in the player in the kitchen because it is piped out to the rest of the house." "My mama says when she walks from room to room hearing me singing it's like I'm really there with her."  I asked her what she sang for the recording - she said it was "just a mix of things I like to sing - and some of my recital music too." What a fabulous 'kid'!

Knowing that vocal majors NEVER walk anywhere without singing I could imagine this student's mother working on some project with Katie's voice wafting throughout the house- and understood how that would make her feel like her daughter was just down the hall. I love listening to 'my kids' tell me stories from home!

On to the card...

Card front.

Inside.

Card details.

Roaring Birthday Wishes
~Base card - Bazzill card stock
~Layera of DCWV Nana's Kids design cardstock - animals and stipes
~Lion stamped using Versamark and bronze embossing powder then colored with Copics
~Rhinestone balloon byThe Paper Studio
~Three pearls colored with Sharpies
~Die cut chipboard sentiment
~Stampin' Up die cuts
Challenges/Inspiration
Southern Girls - animal antics
Just Us Girls - sketch (they are celebrating their 200th challenge!)
Seize the Birthday - anything goes
Lady Bug Craft Ink - birthday

As I close for the evening - I'm hearing Katie sing in my head...it's lovely.
Thanks for clicking by and all good wishes,
Nancy in Iowa