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

Re-purposed Drawl

A student stopped by late this afternoon. He is such a talker! Not one that I can continue with my work while he is yacking away...this one requires my full attention. He was telling me about a friend of his back home (in Georgia) and while he was speaking something that he said came out full-on-down-home-southern-drawl. The look on his face was priceless. He looked stunned and said, "Oh my God, how did that slip out? I try so hard not to let that piece of me pop out. I can't believe I just said that in my most hidden southern twang...I HATE twang! Where did that come from....oh my God!" (all said with a deeply distressed and etched southern accent).

It was historical. I started laughing until tears were streaming down my face. He just had a complete look of horror. He told me that his 'mama' taught him - "just cuz you come from the south - don't mean you gotta sound like some hick!" (said in a stereotypical high pitch mama voice) The more he talked about his mama the more drawl attached itself to his vocabulary. He said, "Oh my God, listen to me! I sound like one-those-po'-saps-ya-see-bein'-interviewed on 'da news. LAWDY!!! We had a great laugh. He finally pulled himself together and in his best deep midwest accent said, "I think you should go home now and I need to go to my dorm room and practice speaking like a northerner."

I love my Peeps!!! What a great end to a pretty horrible day.

Tag front.

Tag back

In the spirit of full disclosure I have to admit that this tag was a card in a former life. It is now re-purposed as a tag. Ever have a card that just nags at you...mocking the cards that you are especially happy with? Cards that never make it into the indexed card holder box? Cards that are tossed aside like yesterday's newspaper? This was formerly one such card....I added more bling, more ribbon, some lace, a place on the back for a note - GOOD TO GO!

Tag-A-Card
~2 ply cardboard tag (made from sandwiched layers of a Cheerios box) with the edges painted pink
~Design paper
~Punch circular scallop from an old book
~3D stickers
~Charm
~Twine
~Ribbon
~3 bling flowers
~Punch cut flowers with Stickles centers (on back)
Challenges/Inspiration
Little Red Wagon - tag
Use Your Stuff - twine
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - tag

Thank you for clicking by 'yall!
Nancy in Iowa

A Note to God

Dear God,
Thank you for creating Sweet Corn on-the-cob.
That is all.
Your humble servant,
Nancy in Iowa
P.S. Have a good day.

Time for Tulips

~Base card - Stampin' Up card stock

~Layer of Pebbles design paper "Family Ties" collection

~Metal clip (upper left hand corner) by The Paper Studio

~Layer of washi tape topped with 2 layers of sheer ribbon (hard to believe I know...but...I didn't have just the right shade of green...the washi was too weak...the sheer overlay made the washi POP

~Stamp: Stampin' Up Simple Florals colored with Copics - flower pot paper piece, attached with dimensional dot

~Oval cut and embossed using Cuttlebug and Spellbinders

Challenges/Inspiration

Pile It On - anything goes

Crafting When We Can - floral

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Berries and Bosses

My new boss starts this Thursday...not sure what I'm feeling right now. She is moving here from Wisconsin so at least she won't have to acclimate to harsh Iowa winters. She will be stunned by the 'hard' water with it's 'chlorine-y' smell... She will probably be amazed that we have so many excellent 'mom & pop' restaurants. Yes, it is true little ol' Sioux City is home to several delectable culinary offerings.

So we don't have the world's sixth largest lake...we DO have the Missouri River - the "Muddy Mo" and lucky for her we recently cleaned up from a '100 year' flood in 2011. So...she should be good!

I need to stop fretting about transitioning to a new boss. I think the answer to my anticipated anxiety is MAKE MORE CARDS! Or make a quilt... I actually cut out a quilt today! Some assembly now required.

Berry Good
~Base card - Stampin' Up card stock
~Design paper
~Washi tape
~Stamps - Papertrey Ink
~Star brads
Challenges/Inspiration
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - sketch
Crazy 4 Challenges - picnic
Catered Crop - summer
Dream Valley - summer days
Hobby Cutz - summer

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Zinnias, Corn, and Card

My weekly trip to the Farmer's Market! What a delicious way to start a weekend. Gotta go EARLY to get the 'good stuff'! Here is a peek at some of the goods...I didn't photograph the cucumbers, zucchini, or lettuce - trust me it is a beautiful thing!

Corn from Farmer Brown (no...really...that is his name!)

Him: What's for dinner?

Me: Corn

Him: But what's for dinner?

Me: Corn

Him: Corn and....?

Me: ....more corn!

One bottle of Geisenheim from local vineyard Calico Skies, Inwood, IA. I'm working on filling my punch card over the course of the Farmer Market days! (A gal's gotta have a goal!) And one weekly bouquet - ready to go to my office - from Grandma's Garden in Salix, IA. I love my weekly office bouquet! Zinnias are my favorite flowers.

Now on to the card. Note to self - look for GOOD black and white design paper. The stuff I have is so weak! It is NOT a saturated black - I don't like it - but it is all I had. I will have to check it out at Hobby Lobby or Archivers. Suggestions anyone?

A Splash of Neon
~Base card - Stampin' Up black cardstock
~Two different design papers - trust me they are black/white...but they PALE in comparison to the black cardstock!
~Prima flowers with neon yellow paper punch center
~Black/White check brad
~White cardstock for sentiment
Challenges/Inspiration
Play Date Cafe - blk/wht with splash of neon
Clean and Simple - sketch
Five Simple Things - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Bicycle Blessings

So this is why I love my job. A recent graduate and now alum of BCU sent me this photo. It is a picture of the door into her elementary grade school vocal music room with her name plate above the door. She is the new vocal music teacher at a rural grade school. What a proud and exciting milestone for her. She was a music major and one of my 'regular' peeps who used my office as a hang-out. I never missed a voice recital. I got to see her crowned as a rodeo queen. It was a great four years! And I am so happy that she is keeping me posted with her new 'big girl job'. I guided her through her re'sume writing and job application processes - it is always such a joy to see the end result of all their 'heavy lifting', hard work, and follow-through! I am blessed that they share their life stories with me.

Now it's card time!

Bicycle Built for One
~Base card - coral cardstock
~Three layers design paper (DCWV Mango)
~Unity bicycle stamp stamped on design paper (DCWV Mango)
~Cuttlebug/Spellbinder die cut and embossed
~Button, floss
~Brads
~Flower Soft
~Ribbon
Challenges/Inspiration
Just Us Girls - color inspiration
Deconstructed Jen- sketch
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Thoughts

Summer on the Cliff! The parking is fabulous! I have to admit though that I do miss the chaos of college student life! But like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator "'they'll' be back!" The start of school is just around the corner - where did the summer go?

Thinking

~Base card - Stampin' Up card stock

~Layer of design paper...edges roughed up and smudged up

~Very light stamping of random stamps

~Washi tape...stamped with Stampin' Up Curly Cute

~Brad

~Twine

Challenges/Inspiration

Aud Sentiments - sympathy/thinking of you

Crafts and Me - anything goes
Divas by Design - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

All in a Day's Drive

Yes - sisters day was a rousing success! But then, in my opinion, any day that starts with coffee, includes a FABULOUS quilt shop, and ends with dinner from Bob's Drive-Inn in LeMars, IA is one worthy of a page in a scrap book! (Now...if only I scrapped books...) And let it be known...from far and wide...that the Wilber  Sisters did their part to boost the economy of Algona, IA!

We had a BLAST at the best quilt shop EVER! Heartland Quilts in Algona! The lovely proprietress Pat Lucas is such a kick in the pants. I love her energy, her enthusiasm, her spunk, and her quilts! Pat is a cancer survivor with a hilarious sense of humor and a kind heart. She told us today about the 4-H quilt classes she hosts for the local kids. She doesn't charge for kid classes. She takes delight in seeing each child light up when their quilt returns from the long-arm quilter. She teaches each child one-on-one how to apply and hand-sew the binding. And she travels four counties to see each quilt at the local county fairs. Hearing her talk about all the blue ribbons the kids receive makes me not only believe there is hope for the future of children but know that this is one special lady and I am blessed to have crossed paths with her. I honestly try to be more productive with 'down time' because of something this lady said about living with purpose.

Now..on to the card A travel card! Seems appropriate! Finally found an opportunity to use one of my airplane paperclips!

Bon Voyage
~Base card - Stampin' Up cardstock
~Design paper
~Airplane paperclip
~Washi tape
~Key stamp, with touch of bling
~Bicycle stamp (inside)
Challenges
Anything Goes - anything goes
City Crafter - travel
Clear it Out - International (Eiffel Tower) and Washi Tape stash

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Algona Bound

Tomorrow is Sisters Day (well SOME of us sisters anyway...the local ones)! Sissy Gail drove up from Omaha this afternoon. Tomorrow we will get in the car and head to Algona, a lovely 3 hour drive through rural Iowa, to go to one of the best quilt shops EVER! Heartland Quilts. The proprietress is the kindest, funniest, most down to earth lady to ever grace a shop! Seriously! Interestingly Algona is home to the one of the BEST quilt shops and the absolute WORST quilt shop in the state of Iowa. (The opinion expressed here is the consensus of the four-members-strong "3/5s Sisters Club"...just sayin'.) (And we KNOW quilt shops!)

School starts soon (too soon) so getting a day off now was imperative as there is a moratorium on day-off requests during the month of August. Too many things to do on a college campus for anyone to even THINK about asking for a day off in August...

My dear blog friend Julie, at Rainbow Days, noted that there is still time to enter the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge for birthday cards so I decided to pop in for a quick upload. Then it's off to bed - have to hit the trail early in the morning - quilts await!!! (Check out Julie's blog - her cards are extraordinary!) I can always spot her cards out on the sites she designs for! To use her UK vernacular - her cards are 'scrummy'! Her birthday cards are usually personalized and frequently feature the birthday 'number'. She is a whiz at Cricut! I'm a whiz a Cricut envy! I look over at that unused, misunderstood, piece of green electronics and could swear that it is mocking me! Snickering at my fear of attempting to learn its tricks....

On to the card. Sorry the image is a bit blurry...this is the TIME SUCKER of blogging...PHOTOS!!!! You will just have to trust me that the card is sharply focused in real life! Like my previous post I let the design paper do all the work - sorry Copics - you continue to be abandoned at this time! This is the best pad of design paper I've ever had. I seriously used every piece, every snippet, every inch of it. If I ever see it again I will buy two or three of them! I will buy one just to hoard and never cut into!

Inside of card.

Birthday Balloons

~Base card - Stampin' Up cardstock
~Lots of layers of Happy Day by Simple Stories
~Stampin' Up Spiral Punch
~Rhinestone balloon (how fun is THAT?!) I remember when I hesitatingly bought them thinking "where will I ever use these?" But they were on sale....
Challenges/Inspiration
Ladybug Crafts Ink - birthday card
My Creative Moments - birthday
Sister Act - anything goes

I must 'hit they hay' as I have a busy day of sissy time and shopping ahead of me! (If only sister Judy lived closer than 900 miles away...)

Thanks for clicking by!
Nancy in Iowa

Corn Inspired

I've be been absent from my blog for quite some time. Nearly 6 months actually! I thought I needed to choose between blogging and making cards. I was struggling with managing both 'carding' and blogging (plus incorporating a bit of work, life, work, house stuff, gardening ... did I mention WORK?). I'm still not sure I can juggle work, life, cards, and blogging but I will give it my best shot. It's the whole photo, upload, crop, upload again, decide what fun little story to chat about, begin the creative writing process....and that doesn't even include making the darn card! I shouldn't complain too much about time, time, time...I do have my eagle eye sisters who email and text my grammar gaffes and typos. I love having proofreading editors "on staff"!

So I'm going to give it a go! What was the inspiration for charging back into the
 blogosphere? Corn on the cob! Very Iowa-ish - Right?  Went to the Farmer's Market yesterday and among other fresh delectables  purchased sweet corn! Fast forward to dinner on Sunday...the corn was so incredibly tasty. From the 'yum' thought I surged to 'blog'! I seriously thought, "this corn is so good it deserves to be blogged about!"

Corn Inspired Blogging! But, what do you expect for a corn-fed-Iowa-bred gal?

Hence this post. Best corn ever from Farmer Brown (no..really...that is his name!) "Candy Corn" to be precise. And I fixed it using the 'magical' microwave technique. Seriously - I love cooking corn on the cob without all that darn shucking, cleaning, and dreadful heating up of the kitchen from the boiling water. FABULOUS!

Well, yes I do have a card - not just corn to blather on about. I'm letting the design paper 'do all the work'. I'm giving my Copics a rest with this one.

My Charmed Friend
~Base Card - Stampin' Up
~Design Paper - Webster's Pages
~Die Cut - Stampin' Up
~Pearls - colored with Sharpies
~Flowers - stamped with Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets, hand cute
~Sheer aqua ribbon and anchor charm
Challenge/Inspiration
Craft a Scene - underwater scene

Thanks for clicking by... Here's to returning to blogging!

All good wishes,
Nancy in Iowa

Emerald Pearls

Trying to post this while I am catching up on Downton Abbey...I apologize ahead of time for any typos and trains of thought that may get uncoupled..

I just HAD to make a card for the challenge at Play Date Cafe - black, white with a splash of emerald green. Love this challenge! I even figured out how to make the die cuts smaller...such a smartie I feel like!

Gratefully Green
~Base card black cardstock embossed with swiss dot embossing folder
~Layers of white then black cardstocks cut (and cut down in size) using Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents Framlit
~Image is Stampin' Up's Apothecary using black ink - punctuated with pearls colored with Sharpie green
~Green Prima flower with rhinestone center
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - black, white, splash of green

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Bloomin' in the Bubble

I finally eeked a little time for myself in the Bubble. My job is so crazy busy. I'm not sure when the down time is supposed to be on campus - but I haven't really discovered it yet. I will admit the week off between Christmas and New Years was lovely. For that I am grateful. The trouble with this extreme schedule is that it is only going to get busier and busier as we head toward graduation! Another crop of 'kids' ready to take on the world!

So...enough whining...here is the card.

It's Your Day
~Base card - white cardstock - embossed with argyle pattern
~Orange square of pattern paper
~Horizontal strip of orange and white polka dot pattern paper - with layer of orange rick-rack
~Stampin' Up sentiment cut with punch
~Brown cardstock square embossed with swiss dot embossing folder
~Stampin' Up Bloomin Kindness flower - embossed with bronze embossing powder and colored with orange dye using resist method -  plus some highlights and lowlights with Copics - hand cut and placed onto layer of white cardstock which whas also hand cut
Challenges
Just Us Girls - photo inspiration
Willow Sketchie - sketch
Use it Tuesday - warm it up - orange, red, or yellow (dipped into my stash of rick-rack...I hate the thought of using it all up!)

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Square in a Rectangle

Had to work on campus today but did manage a wee bit of time in The Bubble. I saw the sketch over at Mojo Monday and knew immediately what I wanted to do! A card on a card.

Card on Card

~Base card - Stampin' Up Basic Black cardstock

~Layer of Melon Mambo dotted swiss embossed

~Layer of rectangle black cardstock with black printed paper

~Layer of grey cardstock and grey printed paper

~Black and white floral ribbon

~Melon Mambo mini card

~Sentiment stamped on white cardstock die cut using Stampin' Up Floral Frames Framelet

~Tiny punched flowers with pink pearl embellishments

Challenges

Mojo Monday - sketch

Pals Paper Arts - color inspiration

Allsorts - dies and punches

Thanks for popping by!

Nancy in Iowa

Winter's Bouquet

Had so much fun, yesterday, making the floral pop up thought I'd combine my need to fulfill sister Gail's request for twenty Christmas cards with a wintry mix. After all - snowflakes are just winter's blossoms - right?

Blizzard
~Base card - white cardstock
Card front:
~Recycled Christmas card - oval cut using die for sentiment placement
~Sentiment stamped using Stampin' Up Warm Words
Card inside:
~Layer of glitter cardstock
~Lots of punched and Cricut snowflakes, plus some pre-cut foam stamps with Stickles added
~Inside sentiment die cut with SU Apothecary Accents
Challenges
Amusing Challenges - glitter
Glitter n' Sparkle - anything goes
Broken Box Stock - winter/snowflakes
Card Crafter's Circle - no business like snow business
Simply Create Too - snow
Mark's Finest Papers - recycle a Christmas card

Thank you for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa

Bunches & Bunches

Whoot! Won a challenge over at Waltzing Mouse with my jar of sparkle! I ran across the lovely notice while posting the Saturday challenges over at Feline Playful. I'm a fill-in volunteer at that awesome and helpful challenge site.

Still working on Christmas cards for sissy Gail but decided to take a break and give a technique I saw over at good ol' Pinterest! Can't believe I made a pop up card. This is REALLY out of my zone! So...hours later - Ta Da! How long did this take? Well let's just say two favorite movies Willow and Protocol were used as my distraction from cutting and punching... LOVE both of these movies!

Thank You ...Bunches & Bunches

~Base card Stampin' Up Primrose Petals

Card Front:

~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Material Girl with rhinestone highlights
~Strip of aqua cardstock - stamped using Stampin' Up Curly Cute
Inside of Card:
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Material Girl
~BUNCHES of flowers - hand cut and die punched - highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Sentiment printed on Primrose Petals die cut using Stampin' Up Floral Frame - dotted with green metallic Sharpie
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration
Gem of a Challenge - new beginnings (pop up card is NEW to me!)
Crafty Calendar - what's new (new technique)
Our Creative Corner - color plus flower
Crafty Catz - anything goes
Totally Paper Crafts - new (new technique)
For fun Challenges  - new (new technique - for me anyway!)

I'm going to go put some ice on my wrist (lots of cutting and punching on this one) and maybe watch another movie! Back to making Christmas cards tomorrow. Or maybe I will try to incorporate this pop up style into a Christmas card. Not like there is a big RUSH to get her 20 cards done!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Stash of Shame

Sister Gail, AKA Santa, went a little crazy with the number of goodies she bought me for the Fiber Bubble! I would have to spend months making cards (and not going to work) to use everything! Lucky me! She already put in a request for 20 Christmas cards for next year. I am so impressed and envious that she needs 20 cards...I don't have that many friends and not even sure I know 20 people well enough to send cards. What a social butterfly she is!

She originally put in a request for 20 cards using the same stamp (over and over...). That discussion ended before it began. More than one of anything sounds too much like an assembly line. In her defense she thought that would be "easier" for me. Plus - the stamp she wanted 20 cards created from is one that I've used three or four times so I know it takes about 2-3 hours to color.  I "gently" told her, "NO Stinkin' WAY"!

The 20 cards are actually of a barter nature...I'm making her cards and she is sewing up some of the quilt kits that were previously languishing in my "quilt stash of shame". We had a good old laugh (well...SHE had a good laugh...I was mortified) pawing through my the stash of shame. In my defense...my stash is VERY organized! I can somehow rationalize owning yards and yards of fabric as long as everything is organized, neat, and tidy. How is that for warped justification?!

Here is one of twenty cards for sister Gail. By the way...notice this one does NOT use the jar stamp... but that doesn't mean I'm not going to use it again and again. In case you missed it my 4 previous card posts all featured jars. I guess I CAN use the same stamp over and over and over!

Warm Winter Wishes
~Base card - Stampin' Up Pool Party
~Layer of pattern paper
~Two strands of red metallic thread
~Layer of white cardstock and red cardstock dotted with silver Sharpie - red layer die cut using Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents
~Green cardstock die cut using Stampin' Up Floral Frames - dotted with Sharpie White Paint Pen
~Digital snowman, a freebie from Spyder's Corner, colored with Copics higlighted with Stickles
~Sentiment is digital freebie from Bird's Cards, colored with Copics highlighted with Stickles
~Two 'blingys'
Challenges
Sketchbook Saturday #86 - sketch
Scrapper's Delights - snow
That Craft Place - Christmas/Snow

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa