It's Five O'Clock in The Bubble

It has been days and days since my last card. It's not that I haven't had time for The Bubble. For some unknown reason I find myself doing yard work, cleaning (basement spaces and the garage), and organizing. That has GOT to stop! There must be an antidote to this malady!

Even though I am very proud of my work in the garage...much to my husband's dismay...I won't bore you with photos of my prowess with de-junking of it. I will share with you photos of my reorganizing of my ribbon "collection". I may be in need of a "ribbon intervention". Take a look and see what you think:

I posted this earlier - but  this is the UPGRADED version. With a few dowels I was able to combine the contents of two racks into one. Well...mostly. This does not include the black, white, brown, and cream colored rolls.

But what about ribbon NOT on rolls you may ponder...Here is the Ribbon Line. Note to self: ALWAYS check the Ribbon Line before cutting into a ribbon roll!

NOT pictured: color coded jars of ribbon snippets... Officially snippets are too short to be draped over the "clothesline" yet long enough to work on a card. Yes. I have a problem!

YIKES! That's yards and yards of ribbon! In my defense...some of my ribbon hanks are here as a result of "Transfer of Crap".

Now...on to the card! This is one of those cards that lost a little (or not so little) something in translation. with all the cleaning I've been doing I think a mason jar full of liqueur is in order.

Tequila Sunrise
~Base card Limeade Ice
~Ki design papers Berry Blast
~Doodlebug Design Cherries Braddies a present from daughter Amy
~Tag punch
~Drywall mesh tape
~Pink cardstock die cut with scallop square
~PaperTrey Ink jar stamp, stamped on watercolor paper, colored using Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water; die cut with jar die; top layer of acetate die cut, additional jar die cut in blue for 'shadow'
~Drink parasol stamped on design paper and hand cut
~Sentiment stamped on white tag
Challenges | Inspirations
Just Us Girls - photo inspiration
Try Stampin' on Tuesday - sketch
4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes
CCEE Stampers - song (It's Five O'Clock Somewhere)
Milk Coffee - at least two dies
The Sisterhood of Crafting - diecuts and punches
Pinspirational - graphic

Here's to jars of tequila, interventions, and never having enough ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by,
Nancy in Iowa

Bird Walking

I got a text from granddaughter Bailey with a foot update. (She had surgery early this summer right after school let out.) The cast comes off tomorrow to be replaced with a walking boot for a month. Previously I made her a You-Are-My-Sunshine card and a ButterBear look-alike on crutches.

What a way for a high schooler to spend the summer!

First version.

Last day for the hard cast!

I sent her a couple other cards during her convalescence - she does love Memere (that's me) cards - which makes making them all the more fun! In each of the cards I included an iTunes card. This time I decided to incorporate the gift card ON the card since it happens to be the perfect color for the color challenge over at Just Us Girls! You can see the white $10 lettering in the upper left hand corner behind the tag. I used my Croc-O-Dial to put a ribbon hole in the plastic gift card.

Not only did I use the color inspiration I 'cased' one of the design team's cards! The minute I saw Sharyn's card I knew it would be perfect for a Bailey card! Thank you Sharyn!

One of her 'pet names' is "Tweeters" so I decided to add a little tweet of my own. Well, that and when we were texting I told her with a walking boot she can "fly/be free"!

HiTunes Hello!

~Base card turquoise card stock

~Layer of My Mind's Eye Penny Lane

~Two strips of card stock punched with Martha Stewart punch

~Sheer lime green ribbon

~Tag stamped with small flower stamp and Versmark ink

~Elizabeth Craft Hello die cut, highlighted Wink of Stella

~3D sticker by Doodlebug Design Mini Doodle-Pops (a present from daughter Amy)

Inspirations | Challenges

Just Us Girls - color inspiration

Creative Corner - ribbon
Crafty Girls - anything
Melonheadz Friends - wings and tails

Here's to summer freedom, tweet things, and grandkids!

Nancy in Iowa

Fresh Lingering Bruises

We started our day EARLY at the Farmer's Market! When it is first-corn-of-the-season-weekend, you MUST arrive early or miss out completely!

Fried green tomatoes anyone?

BLTs for lunch!

First sweet corn of the season!

I usually have an entire container consumed before I even get home!

Now...about this card.... I keep trying my hand at watercolor. I'm here to tell you in this instance practice does NOT make perfect. I love the look when I watch tutorials (by the dozens). Then I give it a go...and I feel like I end up with a muddy mess or something resembling a crime scene in a murder mystery or a lingering bruise!

Maybe it's OCD or Type A...I love the look of watercolor - but when that ink starts to wick I nearly want to roll up in a fetal position with my favorite quilt! (Note to self - my black Stazon is dried out - must replenish!) Because of the Stazon issue I had to substitute with brown Stazon...maybe I'll blame THAT instead of my freakish lack of talent. (I know...you will be kind and say "don't be so hard on yourself"....I NEED to be hard on myself - my undergrad is ....wait for it....ART! Feel free to tell me to continue my self-flogging!)

I found this inspirational tutorial on a Poppy Power and just had to try it ONE MORE TIME! If you've never popped over to Poppy Power - I highly recommend it. It will knock the blooms right off your stems! Any stamp from there would make it to my wish list! Gorgeous! 

Watercolor Joy
~Base - PaperTrey Ink Blueberry Sky
~Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock
~Outer layer (frame) of K&Company Life's Journey design paper
~Stamped image - Stampin' Up Elements of Style colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers; centers dotted with Sharpie white paint
~Martha Stewart bird punch
~Sentiment stamped using SU Brilliant Blue
Challenges and Inspirations
Fusion - photo inspiration
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - for the birds
Creative Knockouts - friendship
Sister Act - anything goes

Here's to crime scene tape, persistence, and fresh veggies!

Nancy in Iowa

Who Needs Drills and Hammers Anyway?!

My husband rarely if ever (okay...never) asks for a card. He works in the office for a large/local construction firm. His boss just became a grandfather. Bad News? I had not ONE idea on what direction to take. I'm not know for MAN cards. Thought I could go with baby's name ...but husband didn't know the spelling...(go figure)! Good News? This request would NECESSITATE a trip to Hobby Lobby!

I was CERTAIN that I could find the perfect design paper with little construction icons... hammers, drills, hard hats, detour cones...Boy was I WRONG! I found NOTHING! Seriously?! There is design paper for every sport, medical, all branches of the US military, firemen, policemen, paramedics ... and what? Wait for it.... accountants. REALLY? Accountants - they need their own paper????? Where is the nod to construction workers!? I found ONE package of construction icons in the form of 3D stickers. Armed with a 40% off coupon I bought it knowing that I will only use one out of the package. They are more suited to scrap booking than card making. And if this is your first visit to my blog - well - let me disclose that I do NOT scrap book! As I stated previously - the closest I get to scrap booking is rearranging the photos and magnets on my refrigerator.

Undaunted I pressed forward "constructing" a card for the proud grandpa. While batting nearly zero at Hobby Lobby I remembered the twill measuring tape and 'screw-top' brads and finally  broke into some yummy-scrummy paper that I have been HORDING!

Inside of card

Boy Oh Boy!

~Base card paperTrey Ink Terracotta Tile

~Simple Stories Awesome Kit collection paper, journal tag, and stickers (inside and outside)

~Narrow strip of Basic Grey Basic Manila 
~Spare Parts Screw Brads
~Twill measuring tape
~Under Construction 3D sticker by Paper House
~Sentiment printed on yellow card stock onesie
Inspirations | Challenges
Mojo Monday - sketch
Moo Mania - anything goes
The Male Room - games (Scrabble pieces on the inside)
Simon Says - spots and dots
Crafty Hazelnuts - anything
Just for Fun - anything goes
Creata Challenge - color inspiration

Here's to tiny hard hats, remembering stash, and new babies!

Nancy in Iowa

On A Roll!

FINALLY! I found a challenge that got me to use an odd Transfer of Crap item that I just couldn't part with for some unknown reason! Transfer of Crap - to the uninitiated is an unceremonious, possibly genetic, ritual that occurs when a CLOSE friend or family member (most frequently siblings) "gifts" you items for which they no longer (or never did) have use of. It can be a legitimate crafting item...an odd, an end, a snippet, ribbon from a long spent bouquet, abandoned craft components... (I'm sure you have the general idea by now!) In case you are wondering there are RULES to Transfer of Crap - if you are in need of a copy of the regulations you can click on the link above.

The challenge that got me jazzed about this particular item from the ToC pile is over at Just Us Girls. With a woodwork challenge I immediately thought of a roll of actual wood strip that is used for...who knows what?! It was a goodie from my mother's treasure trove of mishmash/sundries/miscellany/STUFF! It is so old - that the instruction slip doesn't have a website and the container does not sport a UPC bar code - it DOES however tell us that this "flexible wood-trim is real wood veneer in a handy roll"! The company claims to be "Wizards with Wood". It must be pretty old...the fading price sticker requires a mere 59 cents for a generous 8 feet strip.

I've been itching to use A Day for Daisies' re-purposed boot image and thought these rugged 'planters' would be complimented with REAL wood!

These Boots Were Made for ....Flowers
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Canyon Clay
~Sentiment die cut PTI Canyon Clay
~Layer of We R Memory Keepers Anthologie
~Strip of drywall mesh tape
~Strip of Weldwood Walnut Flexwood Trim
~A Day for Daisies digital image colored with Copics
Challenges | Inspirations
Just Us Gals - woodgrain
Your Next Stamp - sketch
Crafty Girls - anything
Shopping Our Stash - wood or ship
Colour Q - color inspiration
The Crafter's Cafe - movie line (DreamWorks Puss in Boots: "All that I need, are the boots!")
Fairytale Stampers - summer
Stamping Sensations - summer blooms

Here's to transferring crap, abiding by rules, and re-purposing!

Nancy in Iowa

My Muse Uses Pinterest

I know I promised in my previous post - NO MORE WEDDING WHINING! If you have seen my previous posts you may remember that my one of my 'southern bell' nieces, Victoria, is engaged to be married this fall. Her aunt Gail (my OTHER sister) put in a request for a wedding card. Luckily for me she knew just what she wanted so her card got made - no problem! Then with more than a little angst I made the same bride to be a wedding card for me to send.

Then the grandmother of the bride-to-be (who also happens to be my sister) requested a card. Three cards - one bride - and one wedding-card-phobic card maker! Not to mention this ends up being part craft and part card making. I'm totally in with the card making - NOT CRAFTS!!!! I said NO to crafts long ago! (That is another story for another post - remind me I'll tell you all about it!)

So...a third WEDDING card...what to do...what to do.... Then my muse popped by with an idea! Brooch bouquets are a HOT item on Pinterest. They are lovely - they remind me of the Jewelry Christmas trees that were a HOT item PP (Pre-Pinterest). They also must be HEAVY - I have this image of some sweet bridesmaid getting cold-cocked in the bean as the bride 'tosses the bouquet'! Anyway ...I wondered if I could pull off something like that for a card!?

Here is the beginning - the stamped image as my "pattern" - tools and lots of snippets of STUFF!

This has a CRAFT aura to it! My muse and I are NOT happy but we will persevere -

all in the name of sisterly love!

Above is a close up of some awesomely awesome trim that I used on the card. I picked it up on a sister's get together at a fabulous scrapping store in Fremont, NE.  The shop is called Precious Treasures and is worth the trip - especially since it is conveniently located near Alotta Brownies (which is worth the trip all by itself!). Actually Fremont, NE has an incredible row of niche shopping experiences - quilting, vintage, metal...and great (non-chain) local cafes. I feel a road trip in my soul! 

So...after digging through a 'transfer of crap' box, using wire cutters/nippers/snippers...here is my card version of a broach bouquet. I mostly used Zots dimensional clear adhesive 3-D permanent dots to adhere the jewels and gems.

Yes it is HEAVY! And it won't be one that can be easily mailed.

It will have to be hand delivered. Luckily the giver and the receiver

are in the same geographic location!

Inside sentiment.

Pinterest Posy

~Base card - Gina K white card stock

~Layer of SEI White Elegance with thin pink edging; embossed using Sizzix Hero Arts Dots folder and Cuttlebug

~Layer of smaller rectangle of SEI White Elegance with pink edging; embossed with Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug folder

~Silver buckle with sheer pink ribbon threaded through (buckle was 'transfer of crap' from my sister in law) GEEZ even the in-laws are in ToC!

~Layer of DCWV white Glitter Card Stack

~Dollar Tree bouquet image stamped with green ink - a few of the leaves colored with Copics; piles of gems; outer layer of pink card stock; die cut with SU Framelets Label Collection

~Heart charm with silver metallic floss (the floss was 'transfer of crap' from sister Gail) 

~Assorted ribbons

Inspirations | Challenges

Mojo Monday - sketch

Brown Sugar - pink and pearls

Crafty Catz - flowers

Fussy and Fancy Friday - All About Girls

Left of Center - sparkle

4 Crafty Chicks - inspired by a song (Pachelbel's Canon in D)

CCEE Stampers - repurpose something (broken jewelry)

Scrapebooker PhD - texture

Crafting by Designs - dies

Pile it On - flowers

Here's to Pinterest, Transfer of Crap, and Fremont, Nebraska!

Nancy in Iowa

Framed by Wedding Super Villains

Bane: (noun)
1. Something that causes problems or misery
2. Something that causes ruin

Also: a DC Comics Super Villain

I just wanted to make sure that the following sentence is correct:

Aaaagggghhhhhh!!! Wedding cards!!! They are the bane of my card making existence!

#1 - Check! YES they cause problems AND misery
#2 - Check! Wedding cards always require a MULLIGAN - sometimes parts of the card - frequently all of the card

My new mantra will be: Wedding cards are the super villains of card making!

My sister Gail requested a card for our niece's upcoming nuptials. Luckily she knew what she wanted. I made the card and put it in the "Omaha Stack of Stuff" for my next trip to Nebraska. Then my blood ran cold as I realized I TOO would need a card for the happy couple! Unlike my sister I had no idea where to start! Then I remembered a card I made for another Omaha friend. It was one of my favorite wedding cards ever!

Wondering if I could recreate it I went in search of the text/graphic... After an hour of folder after folder I decided to go with this. As soon as I finished this...of course I found the ACTUAL text/graphic I wanted to use.

So...I picked this sentiment and thought I HAD to add gemstone flourishes. I checked the Hobby Lobby ad and YES!!! Paper Studio items - ALL 50% off!. I made the trip to H.L. bought the sale gems...return excitedly to The Bubble...they were ALL WRONG! No way I could make them work. So I opted for die cut flourishes and glitter card stock. But all was not lost - in addition to a pair of discounted pearl flourishes I picked up some clearance items - all while using a gift card from my sista' Gailey!

ALSO - I tried printing on the glitter card stock using my printer....it NEVER dried. So I 'made do' with white card stock and Stickles.

I know if you have to explain something - it probably didn't work the way you intended....so here I go explaining the design paper... They are empty frames...get it? "New Beginnings"? Empty frames to fill with the happy couple's new memories... Lame? A stretch?

The UP side - I really like the glitter flourishes. Up close and 'in real life' it reminds me of sugar eggs.

I may have to call MULLIGAN!  I certainly call WEDDING SUPER VILLAIN STRIKES AGAIN!

P.S. I promise no more wedding card ranting. (Until I have to make the next one...)

Framed Memories

~Base card PaperTrey Ink Pinefeather card stock

~Layer of Bazzil magenta card stock

~Layer of American Crafts Yes, Please by Amy Tangerine

~Digital image die cut using Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents Framlit and my trusty Cuttlebug, magenta card stock 'shadow' behind sentiment

~Spellbinders Floral Flourishes die cut DCWV Glitter Card Stack

Challenges | Inspirations

Little Red Wagon - wedding/anniversary

Craft-Room - wedding/anniversary

Die Cuttin' Diva's - wedding/anniversary

Here's to villains, mulligans, and sales at Hobby Lobby!

Nancy in Iowa

Fine (Feathered) Friends

When my sisters and I get together to make quilts (full disclosure: we make TOPS that will POSSIBLY someday become quilts) we have a tradition of putting the quilt/top on display and snapping shots. There is an unspoken challenge about quality and quantity....but I am an not at liberty to discuss that! We do have a rubric for quilt shops. Oh yes! We are VERY academic in our pursuit of quilt shops! Last get together the place of portraiture and honor was the rail of the deck. One morning a squirrel 'ran the rail' over a draped quilt. My secret fear was a bird would deposit an undesirable 'embellishment' during a fly-over!

I was cleaning out my digital files and ran across this oldie but goody. I'm usually pretty good about filing images with the artist/site information. With this one I failed. I have no idea where it hails from. Nonetheless the sentiment rings true. There is a similar quilt/friend quote: "Good friends are like quilts - they age with you yet never lose their warmth."

Warm Friends
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Hawaiian Shores
~Layer of American Crafts Amy Tangerine Yes, Please paper pad
~Horizontal strip from same paper pad
~Digital image smudged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, quilt colored with Copic, resist with Ranger Sea Foam embossing powder matted with white card stock, Spellbinder square scallop die
~Bird from Stampin' Up Carte Postel set "water-colored" using Tim Holtz Distress Stains, highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
Challenges | Inspirations
Just us Girls - bird is the word
Paper Nest Dolls - anything goes
Crafting When We Can - friendship
Die Cut Divas - die + buttons

Here's to warm friends, comfy quilts, and drinks on the deck!

Nancy in Iowa

Whine = Wine

Sissy Gail requested a wedding card like the one I made last week:  Confetti Wedding. She wants one to send to grand niece Tori in Atlanta. I quickly agreed, which is totally out of character for me when it comes to wedding card requests, I'd rather make a retirement card for a tampon factory worker, however since she knew what she wanted I was all in! So I put together Tori's card with a little more shine and sparkle!

The good news: it's done! The bad news: this made me realize I TOO need a card to send to Tori! GREAT! Another wedding card - that makes THREE for me in less than a week. What?! Don't people retire from tampon factories?! I'm gonna need more wine to get past all this whining.

Bartender! A glass of pinot noir for me and one for my muse!

Tony & Tori

~Base card - Papertemptress Cryogen White

~Layer of American Craft Foil - Magenta

~Vellum envelope punched with McGill Envelope punch 

~Confetti punched using assortment of foil and glitter card stocks

~Turquoise American Craft Foil die cut using Spellbinders Framed Tags 2

~Sentiment laser printed on Cryogen White

Challenges | Inspirations

C.R.A.F.T. - wedding/anniversary

Creative Moments - anything/celebrations

Southern Girls - spin me round (confetti)

Here's to Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich, and sharing a bottle of wine with my muse!

Nancy in Iowa

Red, White, and Shades of Blue

I will admit to having a stash of Red | White | Blue | USA | Patriotic card making goodies but a good ol' USA Independence Day is less about mailing cards and more about picnics, parades, ice cream, and fireworks! So I decided I would go non-traditional with my red, white, and blue(s).

Detail of embossing, foil, flower and backside of tag.

Hello Red White and Blues
~Base card - turquoise card stock
~Layer of navy card stock embossed using Sizzix Ornate Frame  #2 folder
~Triangle of turquoise American Craft Foil (a gift from sissy Gail)
~Red card stock layers of Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland (a Christmas gift from my Amazon wish list!); flower tips embossed using Ranger Seafoam White posder
~Tag laser printed; punched using McGill Multi Tags; silver floss (transfer of crap from sister Gail)
~Turquoise glitter brad
Inspirations | Challenges
Fusion Card - sketch and color
Shopping Our Stash - red, white, and blue
Sister Act - anything goes
Bloggers - red, white, blue
CCEE Stampers - red, white, blue

Here's to friends, fireworks, and festival foods!

Nancy in Iowa

Rick Who?

Rick Rack...how did it get it's name? Who was Rick? What is his association with a rack? What kind of rack is it? What is the best way to attach it to a card? These are my ponderables this evening. Just ask my husband...I got a million of them! Oh if he only had a nickle for every time I have turned to him and said, "Have you ever wondered...."

Sunny Day
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Orange Zest
~Layer of Fancy Pants Designs Down by the Shore
~Lavinia image colored with Copics and Stickles; stamped on Cryogen White; background stamped with Hero Arts Soft Sand and Stampabilities Le London Script; die cut with Cuttlebug and Stampin' Up Framelits Apothecary Accents (plus two layers of oranges behind)
~Elizabeth die cut Hello
~Orange rick rack
Challenges | Inspirations
Lavinia Stamps - summer colors
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
ABC Challenge - o is for orange
Bearly-Mine - digital
Daring Cardmakers - no scissors
Moxie Fab - die cut word

Here's to sunny days, rick rack, and imponderables.

Nancy in Iowa

Painter's Prayer

One layer cards. I admire them from afar...I try it...and I'm not a fan of my own. It's like shabby chic cards...I fail EVERY time I try one of those too! Clean and Simple just not in my wheel house I guess... I find myself perusing my stash of ribbons...playing with buttons and brads....

I DO however like trying new techniques. This one is the painters tape technique. It was fun, easy, and painless! Although I will admit to tossing my first attempt.

Painter's Prayer
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Aqua Mist
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Soft Stone
~Sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly
~Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets stamped using Memento London Fog ink
Challenges | Inspirations
Just Us Girls - color inspiration
Sweet Stamps - technique
Flat Friends - one layer
Bloggers - friends

Here's to trying new things, accepting failure, and movin' on!

Nancy in Iowa

Confetti Wedding

FINALLY! I actually followed through on something I 'pinned' on Pinterest! I saw a card with this general idea on Pinterest. If you are new to my blog you probably won't know that making wedding cards is not a favorite past time for me. In reality it strikes fear into me! Well fear or not I found myself needing a wedding card for two of 'my' former students. I was honored to receive the invitation and even though I rarely use cards I make I decided I would make an exception! Here's to Jordon and Becca!

When making a wedding card - I tend to go for the non-traditional cards. Previous posts with wedding topics: Wedding Weeds; Channeling My Muse; With This Ring; Frued and a Cup of Java; Magic and Marriage; Even I Can Use an Apron; and one of my favorites - He, She, and Nerves of Steal.

So is it fun or disturbing to click back through old posts? I think it is fun but WOW...I have moments of "oh I really liked that card"; "I wonder what ever happened to that card"; "what was I thinking when I made that atrocity and why did I ever post it".....

Confetti Celebration
~Base card Papertrey Ink Royal Velvet card stock
~Layer of white card stock
~Laser printed sentiment Janda Celebration font (free) from DaFont
~Lots of punches circles
~Vellum envelope made with envelope punch
Challenges | Inspirations
A Girl Who Crafts - anything goes
Lia Stampz - no pattern paper
Crafty Sentiments - no pattern paper
Cosmic Colours - color challenge

Here's to college sweethearts, weddings, and clicking 'older posts' over and over!