Sunday, December 6, 2015

Treasures and Mulligans

Today I put up the Christmas decorations. A couple of years ago I culled the herd to a manageable two totes (plus tree). It was time to put out the time honored treasures!

The tree skirt sissy Judy made in 1984. She made one for herself and one for me!
ALL THAT applique! YIKES!
No I haven't wrapped the gifts yet. That will come later.
It is usually delegated to my husband's to-do-list.
 
Here is HER skirt. I don't even like making
two identical cards because I get bored - can't
imagine making an entire quilted tree skirt twice! But I sure am glad she did!

My "seasonal table" made the switch from autumn to Christmas. I bought this table a couple years ago. It is my place for holiday/seasonal decorations. This way - all the decorations are located in one area - and I don't end up putting away stray holiday trinkets MONTHS later. Oh those orphaned ornaments and tchotchkes! No more finding a heart shaped ceramic in April. No more random snowmen sitting still grinning at me on a seldom dusted shelf in June! So the Seasonal Table is my answer to admitting I don't dust very often!

Autumnal look.
 
Ta-Da - TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

Regarding the card...it was mulligan time! Ever notice how different cards look In-Real-Life vs. a photo? Sometimes IRL is SO much better than what the photo represents. Sometimes...as with this card...it wasn't until I looked at the card in the photo that I realized the IRL version was sadly lacking.

So last week's post (Ginny's card for her Wall, SD granny) gets a mulligan! I added some faux stitches. I'm not sure it is what it needed but now it doesn't look quite so "flat".

Original

Mulligan Dove
 
Now on to today's card...Christmas continues to be the theme. Serendipity played into this one. I was reaching for the embossing folder when a tin of colored paperclips fell onto the craft table. I noticed the teal one and decided the card NEEDED something clipped to it!


Merry Little Paperclip
~Base card Cryogenic White
~Layer of American Craft Foil embossed using Hero Arts Dots Embossing Folder
~Merry die cut using Foil teal
~Circle punch and snow flake punch
~Paperclip
Challenges | Inspirations
Southern Girls - use something you love (I love my Cuttlebug! It may not be high tech, the handle is broken, the plates are warped...but it is true love - warts and all!)
Fusion - color inspiration
Just Us Girls - word week - Merry
The Card Concept - let it snow
Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas
Inkspirational - flake
Christmas Cards All Year Round - CAS

Thank you for clicking by.

Here's to serendipity, mulligans, and admitting to the finding better things to do than dust!

Nancy in Iowa

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Dove-A-Lopes

Just want to start off with this:


 
 
Yes! The University of Iowa Hawkeye football team not only managed to defeat their border state nemesis the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers they completed the season undefeated.
 
But best not to tread into sports teams or political waters here...but who can blame me I LIVE in Iowa, It is understandable to show a little state pride...right? PLUS...They BEAT the NEBRASKSA Cornhuskers!!!
 
I promise not to bring up the subject of the Iowa caucus. Or maybe I shouldn't promise. Who knows what blog worthy fodder there could be with Iowa's first in the nation claim with our local-yocal-ness of the caucus...
 
On to the neutrality of a card....what better icon of peace than a dove? This one is for a request by daughter Amy's friend Jennie. Jennie loves all things BLING. Naturally I went with metallic and glitter! When I bought these glitter ornaments at a post Christmas deep discount sale I was thinking of cards to make for the annual Jennie request. Last year the cards I made her were themed cards...Not my finest hours but she loved this Yoda, Captain Janeway, and Hobbit cards! This year - no theme request so going with her signature BLING IS THE THING!
 
She requested a Christmas card for her grandma who lives in Wall, South Dakota. Yes. People actually LIVE in Wall, SD. I bet you thought it was ONLY home to Wall Drug! Granted the "drug store" IS the principal industry and employs more than 1/3 of the population of Wall. More than a million people stop at Wall Drug annually! A MILLION plus every year!!!
 
Wall Drug - home of the Jack-A-Lope and international billboards!
 
 
 
 
  
Merry Christmas Grandma
~Base card PaperTrey Ink black
~Glitter dove Christmas ornament
~Stampin' Up die cut ornament using American Craft metallic cardstock - two layers - hot pink and silver
~Metallic and rhinestone brad
~Metallic cording
 Challenges | Inspirations
Just Us Girls - photo inspiration
Crazy 4 Challenges - square card
Always Playing with Paper - nontraditional Christmas
Shopping Our Stash - no stamping
 
Thanks for clicking by, 
 
Here's to Iowa pride, grandmas who live in Wall, SD, and always being on the lookout for bling!
 
Nancy in Iowa