Bling Cheats

In the world of quilter's there is a term know as "cheater quilts". Cheater quilts are for people like me who love applique' but don't have the talent or patience to create an applique' quilt. I'm not afraid to admit it - I've made a cheater or two.

And now I have entered the realm of cheater card.... this card doesn't have any stamped image - it features a 3D sticker - complete with glittery highlights! Talk about easy!!!

To make up for being a 'card cheat' I also put together a card for a new (to me) challenge site. The current BasicGrey Challenge is to use BasicGrey design paper anywhere in the card along with some bling. Well...since I just came back from a vacation that included deep philosophical discussions about being or becoming 'Bling-Worthy', I decided I had to jump into this challenge!

Card Recipes

Cheated Birthday

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink

~Design paper Cosmopolitin Collection by Making ~Memories (this is one of those - 'why did I buy this' purchases. I used both sides - solid and floral.

~Sticker - from the $Tree

~Ribbon from Archiver's

~The sentiment is from Stampin Up

Dress Form Bling

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink

~Layer of BasicGrey Cupcake paper pad

~ Adhesive ribbon from JoAnne's (a gift from Sissy Gail) threaded through a Stampin Up Hodgepodge buckle

~Two more layers of BasicGrey Cupcake paper pad - with the edges curved

~Layer of olive cardstock edges smudged (I can't seem to NOT smudge edges - I just love the addition of depth it seems to create.)

~The digital image is a freebie from Mel Stampz. I colored it in using Copics and then coated it with Ranger Crackle Accents. The bling, at the waist of both outer dresses, I added last. (Okay - so it's not a Blast of Bling - it's an understated Bitty Bling.)

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Ring of Fruit

Oh, I am so excited! Mel from Mel Stampz is one of my blog 'followers'! I've never met Mel but I love her blog! Her site is filled with tips and instructions. She isn't just a card maker she is into many crafty things. It is a great place for inspiration. Wow. I feel like a real card making blogger now!!

It is getting late so no stories tonight just a card. The image is clipart I 'discovered' this fabulous site reading Mel's blog! Clipart

Quite by accident this card turned out to be 'the perfect storm' of elements. I bought the ribbon more than a year ago from the dollar bin at Michaels. All this time it has sat loved but unused - cellophane wrap still intact. The upper right corner 'thingie' is half of the remains of a ring Sister Gail 'transferred' to me. I pounded it flat and put it in my "I might use this for something" box. The image I colored in while on my 'sisters vacation' not knowing when or how I would use it. The design paper...well I had it on hand but it also was unused but loved. I cut out the image, smudged up the white background, curved the edges - and BOOM - all the other elements popped into my noodle!

Fruitopia

~Base card is PTI

~Layer of BasicGrey Ambrosia

~Print ribbon from the dollar bin at Michaels

~Image colored in with Copics - coated with Ranger Crackle 'distressed with Old Paper and Teddy Bear Brown inks and layered on brown cardstock

~The embellishment in the upper right is half of the ring that held the china painted ring that Sister Gail 'transferred' (See China Ring card - November 17) (Watch for the other half to be used on a future card - just don't ask me what it will be or when it will happen.) (I'll have to wait for another 'perfect storm'.)

You can get up close with card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Weddings, Snowdrifts, and Slinkies

I got a text in the middle of the night last night. One of 'my' college students got engaged. I feel so blessed, I was the second person she told - right after her mama. Miss K is a senior with a 4.o GPA and has made it a daily practice during her time at BCU to come into my office and give me a hug. Sometimes she needs the hug, sometimes I need the hug, and sometimes it's just because it is our tradition.

Now I need to be conjuring up ideas for a wedding card! Miss K is one of a kind - so the card will have to be ...well...unique and VERY nontraditional wedding-esk. (Think heavy metal, natural blonde {however, she has gone with fuchsia, magenta, teal, red, and greens}, natural curls, tattoos (in moderation), amazing drawing talents, semi-goth, pirate loving, renaissance participant, woman-child who sits in my office and plays with my giggle stick, slinky, and bubble blower.) If anyone has any spot-on ideas for this wedding card....I'm open to suggestions.

By the way...I have a large basket of small toys (stress balls, tiny action figures, a yo yo, finger cuffs, kaleidoscope, and other small trinkets) in my office. Not for me...for 'my kids'. I initially had them there so students coming in to discuss terrifying subjects like re'sumes, graduate school applications, and internships would have something to help them relax....Now they just come in and play with the toys. They all have their favorites - and I usually know which one they will grab for...and YES, I wipe them down with Clorox wipes daily.

Snow Drifts Remembered

This is a response to a challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges. At first I was going to pass on this week's suggest to use acetate. But reminding myself of the definition of the word challenge - I decided to go for it.

There are many interesting methods for using acetate in card making. Most of them - rather intricate and time consuming. Me? I opted for a lazy use of this clear material. I agreed to accept the smack down I never agreed to bust a hump about it!

Being lazy actually created just the look I was going for- how cool is THAT??? A shakeable card that would remind you of a snow fall with mounds of drifts. As you move the card from side to side the iridescent loose glitter slides around behind the acetate creating mounds of sparkly 'snow'.

Card Recipe~Base card - PTI

~Layer of daisyd's design paper (Showoffs) - it features a vintage chic look of snowpeeps

~Layer of acetate sewn with my Pfaff sewing machine - three sides then insertion of loose glitter - then the fourth side sew closed

~Snowflake brad secures the silver metallic thread and metal snowflake - which in it's former life was a Hallmark earring

~Oval card stock smudged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and stamped with Just Rite's "Believe"

TaDa!! I survived an uncomfortable challenge!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Right Back Atcha Judy!

My sister Judy, because she lives far, far away doesn't get the opportunity to participate in my 'local family' tradition of "transferring o' the crap'. You know, that stuff that you have sitting around that you no longer use, maybe never even wanted, so you knowingly foist it on someone else? This is NOT to be confused with re-gifting. No! No! No! Transfer of Crap is just flat out - "here I don't want this crap anymore - you take it"! Well, since I was just in GA visiting my southern sista, she had the chance to play ToC. I have to be honest, however, what she transfered really wasn't the typical 'crap'. It was a really cute gift enclosure card that someone had given her (no - she didn't give me the gift - only the card...).

So, now she gets the transfer item back in the form of a card!

Flowers by Judy

~Base card - PTI - edges smudged with pink

~Layer of pink cardstock - edges torn and pink ink smudged - embossed using a stamp from the $Tree and gold embossing powder

~Rectangular layer of DCWV matstock

~RE-PURPOSED gift enclosure card - trimmed down in size, edges pink ink smudged, and attached using foam dimensionals

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Gettin' My Mojo Back

It’s hard to decide what to yada yada on about. I am happy to report that little has changed in the village of Shellman Bluff, GA. It still has no two way streets, no Starbucks, no Wal-Mart, not even a mayor. And yes, I still have to walk outside the cabin to get cell phone service. It does have a volunteer fire squad although come to think of it I’ve not seen any emergency response vehicles. Imagine living in a siren free zone…
I will be sharing my delightful experiences about my recent 3/5’s vacation. But it will have to wait. Today I’m just posting some cards. I’ve had a few extra days at home so it’s been bubble time for me! Whooot!!!

Gettin' my Mojo Back!

I needed something to get me back in the grove of card creation following my return from the south. So I looked to my usual challenge blogs. This sketch challenge is from Mojo Monday and I used it several times. All three cards were made using the same sketch (layout). I actually took ALL my cards down south to friends and family - so I REALLY need to build up my stash! This is the sketch I used for these three cards.

Card Recipes:

Share the Joy
~Basic card PaperTrey - edges smudged with Ranger Distress Ink - Old Paper

~Layer of BasicGrey Wassil

~Sheer olive ribbon

~Another layer from the Wassil collection pack

~Sheer burgundy ribbon

~Layer of brown cardstock

~Layer of vanilla cardstock stamped with Stampin Up tree, glittered the stars, green mica glitter, Marvy liquid applique, star button tree topper with gold metallic tread

~Share the Joy was a tag that had blue on it - which I didn't want for this card. I cut the tag off center, turned it over, smudged it with Ranger Distress Ink and used both "halves"

China Transfer

~Base card PaperTrey Ink (PTI) - edges smudged with Stazon Teal Blue

~Layer of DCWV matstock

~Grossgrain ribbon

~Another layer of DCWV

~Layer of vellum - smudged up with Stazon Teal Blue

~Polka dot lime green satin ribbon

~Three layers of DCWV cardstock design cardstock

~Ovals of more cardstock - penned stitches

~The floral oval was 'transfered' from sister Gail - it was on a ring - I removed the china from the ring - and there it is! My mother handpainted the daisies on the china.
Niece Linda - Aunt Gail says YOU get this card. Since she 'transferred' the ring to me - I guess she gets to determine who gets the card.

Just for You

~Base card - PTI

~Layer of DCWV design cardstock

~Wide sheer olive ribbon

~Layer of vellum - plain

~Layer of vellum stamped using Stazon Teal Blue on Swirls by Rhonna Farrer

~Narrow strip of cardstock with aqua brad

~Vertical rectangle of DCWV cardstock

~Flower colored in using Copics, dotted with Marvy Liquid Applique and coated with Stampin Up Crystal Effects - the flower is digital from Mel Stampz

~Scallop die cut circle - olive, then topped with metal tag - sheer curly ribbon through both

You can get up close with the cards by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Fractions and Acronyms

Family week...
We had a great time last night visiting with Gary and Tamarah (nephew and niece) from Atlanta. Lots of laughs and reacquainting. Even a trip to the bar where Sister Judy (Gary’s mama) went on dates with future (and current husband). Off course had to take a few photos of the outside of the place. I don’t think the sign has been painted since it was originally installed years ago. Gary wanted to write something on the wall about for a good time call….his mama…. Thankfully none of us had a writing instrument! Tamarah DID put the picture up on Facebook. Seriously Judy – I had NOTHING to do with that!

Friday Sista Gail and I and ‘adopted’ Nila leave for our annual trek to the south….to see… MORE family. I’m not sure how to explain the 3/5’s club now that Nila is included. The original 3/5’s club is three of five siblings getting together every year to quilt and chill. (One from Omaha, one from Atlanta, and me – from Sioux City). Maybe an acronym would have been better than math…because what to do with Nila????

If we include her as a sibling – that would equal 6. (This is VERY dangerous territory – me working with math – please feel free to check my figures.) If she makes 6 than the number of participants equal 4. If I’m not mistaken 4/6’s has to be reduced (is that what you call it?). That would mean the club would be the 2/3’s club. That makes NO sense to me at all!

But she’s not really a sibling. So… 3/5’s + 1?

Hey! Why does she get to be a whole number and we are mere fractions. I HATE fractions! What if we mix fractions and decimals? 3/5.5? (Don’t think that is mathematically kosher)

How about some algebra thrown in just for fun? 3/5 + n = y {where y = fun}

Let’s try some acronyms using the first two letters of our names! Juga Nina. Sounds like a harsh tropical wind, wizened old crone from a fairy tale, or a cool name for a new alcoholic beverage! I LIKE it! Or we could go with Nigajuna. Sounds like a new solar system. Hmmmmm….. More thought required for this conundrum. Perhaps while I’m sittin’, chillin’, and annoyin’ I can come up with something BRILLIANT! I’m open to suggestions!

I will keep you informed on the trek to southern Georgia. (Think laughin' 'til you hurt, fabulous food, jammy-days, dock-sittin', and sister-bonding.) Sadly, I won’t be making any cards while I am on vacation. I will be Copic coloring in some images I stamped. I have not quite figured out how to be portable with card making materials. The sisters will be making quilts, I will be coloring, blogging, making sure there are plenty of fans going (I’m from the tundra – I don’t like HOT), generally trying to be a pain in their sides, and trying to keep up on work (via DIAL UP – OMG… I forgot about THAT little inconvenience…talk about ROUGHIN’ it!)

I’ll explain the whole annual adventure later this week…stay tuned!

The card is for Jennifer – she requested a baby girl card. Amy suggested the card have pigs…I passed on the suggestion.

Baby Jen
~Base card – PTI (Paper Trey Ink) Soft Blush edges smudged
~Layer of DCWV Nana’s Kids
~Baby bundle 3-D sticker – Special Moments from the $Tree attached to bright pink cardstock with edges smudged; Light pink ribbon from the $Tree, small light green safety pin and sheer hot pink ribbon
~Oh Baby 3-D sticker attached to a flower punch of green – DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,
Nancy

Bubble Infusion

Another week – poof- GONE! And only ONE card to show for it!

One late night was dedicated to tutoring. OMG – being a floor parent gets me into so much extracurricular activity! I started last year tutoring a (now) junior transfer student from Texas. “We” are “studying” the endocrine system… ISH!!! YUCK!!!! ICK!!! If anyone had told me I would someday be crackin’ open a Med-Surg textbook again I would have certainly told them where they could just tie their large intestine!

My fondest memory of my Medical-Surgical year during ‘nurse school’ – was the day MVBFWW (My Very Best Friend in the Whole World) Sharon-Loo and I literally kicked our Med-Surg books down two blocks from the hospital to my house. We laughed hysterically the entire way! This was way before it was hip to recycle…

One night was eaten up by the Graduate School Fair that my office (me) hosted. Just ask the students – I don’t play fair. I blocked off the path to the cafeteria re-routing everyone intent on eating dinner to pass in front of the grad school recruiters. Reluctant though they were, they knew better than to try to bypass my blockade. If I said it once – I said it a hundred times, “Just walk by and say ‘hi’ to the nice grad school people.” Some students actually did that. I would hear “Hi, nice grad school people!” Some felt the need to say Nancy is making us walk by you – can she really do that? (Well – I DID – does that answer your question?) To several I would say, “I ask you to do ONE thing for me all year long – You can do this for me!” (Wow, I sound more like a mother than a professional career director!) They all, surprisingly, played along with the detour. I know for certain that a few of the students stopped by for information that had the mandatory alternative route NOT been created would NOT have stopped at all.

Miss C came over two or three evenings to study. (At least I’m not requested to assist!) She just sits quietly in the basement – curled up with a quilt – and a ….physics textbook.

The floor parents all bought Little Debbie’s. (Did I ever tell you the Hostess Cupcake story?) Each of our ‘little darlins’ on Alverno Four – had a little Halloween surprise in their mailbox on Friday.

Other evenings I just worked late trying to ‘catch up’. Suffice it to say – not nearly enough Bubble time this week!

Now here I sit in Omaha at Sister Gail’s waiting for nephew Gary and neice-in-law Tamarah to arrive from Atlanta. Can someone explain why I drove to Omaha to see them when they will be in Sioux City tomorrow???? Just so I can party with them at a local pub. Burgers and Bloody Marys – whooooo hoooo! I’ve been giving Tamarah (good ol’ southern gal) a hard time about our impending snow – I actually hope it DUMPS on us while she is here.

Here is the card-data:
~Base card – Paper Trey Ink – Sweet Blush – edges smudged with olive
Layer of BasicGrey ‘Infuse’
~Vertical rectangle: layer of Bazzill Pickle green, layer of PTI Dark Chocolate, topped with BasicGrey Infuse – which was too bright white – so I over-stamped it with Distress Ink Old Paper using Stampin Up! Canvas background
~The Jacobean floral rectangle includes a layer of pickle, dark chocolate, striped BasicGrey Infuse, and topped with another final layer of BasicGrey Infuse – I outlined some of the stems with Versapen and used Adirondack Moss embossing powder
~Three neutral buttons with twine – attached with dimensionals

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

Boring or Peaceful

Student coming over this afternoon to escape the din of the dorms - so I'm just wondering - how boring ARE we? She needs a mausoleum-type quiet and I can provide it. WOW! Guess that tells you about MY social life. Miss C is the RA on 'my adopted dorm floor' and is pre-med. LOTS of tests coming up - so she will be reading and highlighting textbooks and I'm forcing myself to read and comment on student re'sumes. (I think I'd rather study for her histology exam.)

Here is what I took time to make this morning - procrastinating the re'sume reviews as long as I can - so told myself to make two cards instead of one...

Autumnal Geometry

This is a combo of two card challenges Crazy 4 Challenges and Kraftin' Kimmie. I admit I was reluctant to participate in anything with the word or derivative of the word CRAFT. I keep telling myself, I don't do crafts, I don't do crafts, ..... But I have to admit the challenge was fun and I marked it on my card challenge calendar. (Yes, I have a card making calendar...go ahead...shake your head, laugh out loud, snort even!)

The C4C challenge was to use at least three geometric shapes. The Kraftin' Kimmie challenge was to use autumn colors. Mix them together - whatada' get? Autumnal Geometry!

~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Ripe Avocado cardstock

~Layer of DCWV Indian Summer matstock - over-stamped with Stampin' Up Geometric (clever use of this stamp - eh???)

~Horizontal rectangle: layer of dark brown cardstock, layer of Indian Summer (smudged with brown Distress Ink)

~Vertical rectangle: layer of green, layer of Indian Summer - edges darkened with brown ink

~Squares: deckle punched (rescued manila folder) (Transfer of CRAP from sister Gail) - stamped with oak and maple leaves and colored in using Copic markers. The deckle edges were smudged with Versacolor Sand Beige and the leaves were topped with Crackle Accents. The deckle punches were layered onto dark brown cardstock and attached using foam dimensionals.

~Circle punch - rust, brown, olive and topped with pumpkin stamp - colored with Copics and coated using Stampin' Up Crystal Effects

Now THIS is geometry I can get into! (No memorizing, no measuring, no math!)

Archived Mojo

The sketch for this one is from Mojo Monday. (MOJO 109)

~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides cardstock (not only my FAVORITE brand of cardstock - ALSO my FAVORITE color!)

~Edges of the base card smudge with Versmark

~Layer of BasicGrey Archive collection (used 2 designs)

~Strip of stitched ribbon

~Rectangle layer of Ocean Tides - edges smudged with SU! Really Rust, layer of BasicGrey Archive mottled solid - stamped with Peaceful Wishes from SU! using Versamark then embossed using Tim Holtz Distress Powder black soot.

~Circle (punched) of Ocean Tides and topped with ToC button cover (from ...you guessed it....Sister Gail!) I popped the button hardware from the gold medallion...there you have it!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Who knew my basement would become so popular?

Is that the dryer I hear? Why yes it is. The RA on ‘my’ floor on campus asked if she could come over to the house tonight. She needed a quiet place to study. I told her sure she could! And she might as well bring a load of laundry with her. She put in her laundry sat and contentedly read for two hours. It is very quiet at our house compared to a floor with 57 young, energetic, music loving, giggling, talkative girls (young women).
She dashed out the door with fresh laundry in hand just in time to get back to campus before the histology lab closed. She is a pre-med major. I wouldn’t want her schedule or course load! While she was silently pouring over who knows what science book I got to sit in my bubble and make a card.

Quiet Moments

~Base card Paper Trey Ink
~Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection (edges smudged with Tim Holtz Vintage Distress Ink) Okay - honesty time - this is a pack of paper that I can't even believe I bought. I must have been in some kind of a Hobby Lobby trance. Maybe it was the religious music they play... What was I thinking???? Was I thinking??? I was probably having a Hershey with Almonds sugar - low. I don't even have card making friends (or enemies) that I could say, "here - would you like to have this"? I can't even use this in the dreaded ToC (Transfer of Crap). Well, that being said, I am labeling this under the "You bought it - now USE it category. (Did you know I label these cards in this blog? I did that because I was CERTAIN that SOMEONE would want to check for entire lists of card categories!) Sure they will Nancy...and Mount Rushmore is in Sioux City. (I'll explain later.)~Both sets of rectangles are from the same Making Memories collection – using fronts and backs of the design paper
~Three pink brads on left side of horizontal rectangles
~Vertical top layer rectangle stamped using Stampin’ Up! Canvas background, edges roughed up and smudged
~Three progressively smaller Nestibilities scallop circles and one circle punch stamped with SU! Delight in Life colored in with Copics and brad for flower center
You can get up closed with the card by clicking on the image.That's all for Bubble Talk tonight...
All good wishes,
Nancy

P.S. I was at a one-day conference this week in Des Moines (which IS in Iowa). (Okay that is a lie – I was actually in Ankeny, Iowa – but NOBODY knows where THAT is.) The conference attendees were all from private colleges/universities in Iowa. One of the ACADEMIC DEANS (yes I meant to use caps to infer SHOUTING) said to me, “Oh, Sioux City! That’s were those four famous guys are carved in stone!”
REALLY??? Are you KIDDING ME??? The DEAN of an IOWA University????
Living my entire life in Sioux City (SUX for any of you flying into our one runway -no jetway airport), I know for a certainty that Mount Rushmore is NOT located here. I guess I thought that the 4 stony faced dudes were famous enough that MOST intellectual people would know, at a minimum, that they reside somewhere in the state of South Dakota. (Not sure how far reaching the jingle advertisement airs but it IS catchy - 'great places, great faces – South Dakota!’ Evidently it isn’t aired in his ‘neck of the woods’. Maybe they don’t have TV or radio in Fairfield, Iowa.)
After I, politely, enlightened him with accurate information regarding the location and statehood of George, Teddy, Abe, and Tom I was tempted to say, “no, we don’t have those peeps but we got us a body part or two of some fool who traveled with Lewis and Clark (the Floyd Monument) and we got us ‘big God’ as my granddaughter refers to the 3 ton, 33 feet tall sculpture of Jesus, by sculptor Dale Lamphere.” You family members who read this – don’t worry – I didn’t really say that to him. (I can feel their collective sigh of relief through my cable modem….)
He then asked if Rapid City was close to Sioux City…. God I hope he doesn’t teach geography and I hope he does have a GPS in his car. I won’t share with you all the snarky virtual comments I was feverishly holding back…

P.P.S. I stand corrected. Ankeny does have a claim to fame: "KaBOOM! named Ankeny a 2009 Playful City USA community for a third consecutive year." I found this major bit of trivia on the City of Ankeny website. SWEET Martha!I love the internet!

It'll Quilt Out

Sometimes when making a quilt - there comes a point when you are not sure whether or not to proceed. Is the project 'finish worthy' is it 'quilt worthy'? Then - when quilting - is it Bonnie worthy (the extreme machine quilter) or is it just Trudy worthy (utilitarian quilter). If your inner fiscally responsible - I spent hours cutting - I bought it so damn it I'm going to finish it wins this turmoil - You continue working on the project with a mantra to keep you going. Over and over as you remain bent over the sewing machine - you hear, in your head, 'it will quilt out...it will quilt out...IT WILL QUILT OUT.'

This card was one of those - should I proceed or deep-six it? I told myself - "it'll quilt out" and finished the little bugger.

Maple Leaves Wreath

~Base card SU!

~Layer of hunter green cardstock and topped with a layer of design paper by Bo Bunny

~The wreath was made by making a scallop circle using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug and lots of maple leaves were punched - the square base of hunter green edges were rounded using a punch

~A coordinating Bo-Bunny strip was added vertically along the side

~A brad from the Dollar Tree was used to attach the orange ribbon to the wreath

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

Time to get to bed - have to get on the road to Ankeny by 6:30 am.

All good wishes,

Nancy

It's Not All Black and White

Wow! I can make quite a few cards when I get up early, don't cook and don't clean! Here is another one.

Combination of two challenges: Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C7) and Splitcoast Stampers Saturday Inspiration. It was a good combo because one was a sketch (layout) challenge the other was to find inspiration from a tile making online catalog.

I know... I know ...the tiles I picked to inspire me are ONLY black and white... but if you've read enough of my blogs - you also know I don't follow directions very well! Besides - the challenge was to INSPIRE not dictate...right?

It's Not All Black and White

~Base card Paper Trey Ink white cardstock (amazing weight and texture)

~Three layers of solid color cardstock: red, purple, black (Sister Gail goes to Archiver's for the buy 5 get five cardstock coupon - so lucky me - I get the cardstock - all she gets is her name in my blog...) I love that she is a sucker for a coupon! (Don't tell her I told you that.)

~The black and white swirly thingie...hmmm... don't know where I salvaged that from. I think it came with a box of Crayons. The black is slightly raised. I think it was for laying a sheet of paper over and rubbing the crayon over for a cool effect?

~Next is a layer of white Paper Trey Ink cardstock scallop cut using Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Circle Scallop (It is really, really great that these are compatible!)

~A second layer of scallop circle - using black cardstock

~Image is from the Stampin' Up! Peaceful Wishes set using Versamark and Ranger Seafoam White embossing powder on a black circle punch (Marvey brand)

~Ribbon (yes, I know the sketch calls for three dots, brads, or buttons, etc - so sue me!) I'm directionally impaired - as in 'do this, then that, then this' AND navigationaly speaking as in north, south, east, west. It's a curse! Luckily I don't really NEED either for card making.

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

P.S. In case you were wondering ALL the laundry got washed, dried, folded, and toted back to campus!

All good wishes,

Nancy

Sleep-over Quilt

The girls had a laundry sleep-over. They fell asleep on the sofa. The good news is they did get ALL their laundry done. To be fair they were doing laundry for four not just two. Evidently the other two, dirty clothes wearing students, escaped a boring night at my house shouldering laundry detail. The football team won yesterday's game so R & N were at the celebratory party. How is that for true friendship?

When I realized T & S were still here, asleep, because of laundry - I remembered I had this wee, little, 9-patch quilt card. The quilt was on a thank you note that Nila sent me. I hope she doesn't mind that I picked it apart! With the sound of the washer and dryer as background white noise I couldn't help myself. These little clothes pins were screaming to be used in honor of the lower-level-laundry-ladies.

Razzleberry Quilt

~Base card is PaperTrey Ink (PTI) white cardstock

~Layer of PTI Razzleberry Fizz

~Top and bottom rectangles of PTI Razzleberry Fizz Mix, center rectangle is a coordinating design paper from the Razzleberry Fizz Mix

~I attached the quilt to ANOTHER coordinate of the Fizz Mix - layered that on solid Razzleberry Fizz then a layer of black cardstock

~Square brad - Fun Expressions from Oriental Trading

Thanks for the thank you card Nila!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

LOADS of Laundry

Oh to be young again… We have two college students, downstairs, right now doing laundry. They JUST arrived… 9 PM. They will be still doing laundry when I get up in the morning. They have mountains of dirty laundry!

Every once in awhile I ask a couple of my office ‘regulars’ if they would like to do laundry at my house. (Did I mention I'm a floor 'mom'?) Ask them? They'll tell you - Laundry on campus…YUCK. Sharing washers with BOYS!! Going in to put your washed clothes in the dryer only to find out that someone has taken your wash out of the washer and placed it on the floor… Well, needless to say, they LOVE coming the house, hangin’ out, watching movies, doing laundry.

Well, T & S are now starting hours and hours of laundry. They have movies in hand, textbooks to read and study. I just told them to lock the door when they leave.

On to the cards…I’m trying to get bunches made so I can take them with me on the annual sister’s trip. We leave SOON… Why did I waste part of the day CLEANING – I have serious quantities of cards to make!

Medallion
~Base card vanilla cardstock – edges smudged with cranberry and rose
~Design paper K&Co – Amy Butler (stripe)
~Next is another layer of Amy Butler using a quilt maker technique – fussy cutting – around the medallion. I attached the ‘medallion’ to a layer of navy cardstock.
~The image was stamped, on the back of the striped Amy Butler design paper, using one of the stamps from the Verve ‘Life’ set. I used Versamark then Ranger Cobalt Blue embossing powder. I attached this to a layer of navy, salmon, green, and another layer of navy cardstocks and added lime green brads.

London Butler
~Base card is Paper Trey Ink cardstock – edges smudged with SU Really Rust ink
~Design paper is K&Company Amy Butler
~The next layer is vellum stamped with Stazon Teal Blue using Stampabilities Le London Script. I tore all four sides of the vellum after I stamped it.
~The narrow strip at the top is one of the coordinating DP in the Amy Butler collection
~The larger flower is die-cut and smudged with assorted inks
~The top flower and rhinestone is from Petaloo

Pink Hydrangea
This is a loose interpretation of challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges (challenge C4C7)
~Base card is Paper Trey Ink cardstock – edges smudged
~Next is a layer of design paper – Moda for DaisyD ‘frost green’ (MODA – can you believe it – one of my favorite quilting fabrics – available in paper – THAT is so AWESOME).
~I smudged up the top of the die-cut and dry embossed oval layer with several colors of ink and added brads to three corners
~The image is a digital freebie colored in with Copics. I dotted Stampin’ Up Crystal Effects on the centers of each of the petals and attached the stem – slightly behind the oval.

Well, I’m going to bed…the girls are on their own doing laundry and watching movies!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,
Nancy

Gouhlishly CLEAN

Just a quick note with today's cards. Had to have something quick to work on because I told myself I HAD to do SOME housekeeping duties. My day went like this... card room, clean a little in the bedroom, card room, clean up Bailey's room, card room, clean the bathroom, back to the card room to vacuum the floor - NO SITTING AT THE CARD TABLE ALLOWED, put a few things away in the kitchen, back to the card room for more card assembly.
I scanned the usual 'haunts' for the perfect challenge and found it at Stampin' B. The challenge was to make a Halloween card.
I don't know why I like making Halloween cards. I've never sent Halloween cards and don't even think of Halloween as a card sending holiday but I can't NOT make them. I really, really like to make them.
I was going to build layers on the design paper but realized when I randomly cut the first chunk it was almost 'fussy cut'. I couldn't make myself cover the crazy haired zombie or the cutie wee ghosties. I had to come up with a way to incorporate these ghouls into the card.

Zombie Walk~Base card Stampin' Up Pumpkin Spice
~Design paper is K&Co Halloween Whimsy- Monster Mash Shimmer Paper attached to a layer of black cardstock
~Eyes of all the ghoulish peeps were dotted with Stickles
~Layer of vellum with a die-cut Cuttlebug spider attached to the corner- the ends of his legs dotted with Stickles Black Diamond
~Vellum attached to design paper using brads - orange sheer ribbon threaded through brad loops - assorted ribbons tied onto sheer ribbon

Just Hangin' Round
~Base card Stampin' Up Pumpkin Spice
~Design paper is K&Co Halloween Whimsy- Monster Mash Shimmer Paper - with all four corners rounded using a punch and attached to a layer of black cardstock
~Gold metallic thread
~The wee ghouls hangin' round are die-cut Cuttlebug and spotted with dots of Stickles. Each one is tied with a piece of lime colored thread (man- did THAT take alot of time - my fingers are too fat to be trying to tie THREAD around objects barely large enough to hold onto).
That's it for now - still have cleaning to do. Gee, maybe if I cleaned more frequently instead of sitting in the BUBBLE making cards - I wouldn't have to spend SO much time cleaning on a Saturday!

All good wishes,
Nancy

Lavender - Seriously??? Flocking - REALLY????

Those who don’t make cards frequently ask, “’how do you come up with these’ or ‘where do you get your ideas’?” Well I’ve thought about this and will try to explain the process in my very next post. I want to get this card uploaded before I leave for work but I will return later to get into the inspiration details. I’m warning you it may be like watching a movie on fast forward, watching children chase soap bubbles on a summer day, or enduring the ‘watch for the stars’ peripheral eye exam at the DOT. So, I’ll be back later with ‘thoughts from the bubble’.

Here is the card I completed last evening. I categorize cards as I upload them. This one goes in my “You bought it now USE it category’. It will also be part of a new category 'Giftals from Gailey'. This newly named category will house cards that have 'parts' that contain goodies from sister Gail in Omaha. Let's be honest - I can't really lump her actual purchases into the 'Transfer-of-Crap' category. Cards utilizing certified ToC will be categorized as such.

~Base card is Bazzill dark purple
~Design cardstock layer is DCWV Indian Summer collection
~The horizontal strip of purple is stamped with Stampin’Up! mesh (can’t remember the actual name) background stamp. It was stamped using Versamark then covered with copper embossing powder then heat set. Purple brads added to either end.
~The image area was stamped using a leaf stamp from the Michael’s dollar bin. I embossed two of the leaves with copper, then embossed one using purple embossing powder. Lastly I used my glue pad and stamped three leaf images and used Fun Flock Lavish Lavender by Stampendous. (Fun Flock??? What was I thinking when I bought this gem???) Fun Flock would be the reason this card made it into the ‘now USE it’ category. It’s bad enough I actually paid for Fun Flock, but LAVENDER???? What?! Do I have an inner bunny trying to make its way into my consciousness? LAVENDER – a certified member of the PASTEL family! I BOUGHT THIS???? Really???? Not to mention FLOCKING... Seriously? What - was I channeling some REALLY wacky wallpaper designer? There was flocked wallpaper in almost every room of our house when it was purchased years ago - I couldn't tear it down FAST enough when we moved in! I do have to acknowledge that I do like the hint of color the flocking makes. Okay - I don't HATE it but..did I NEED it? Get REAL - it's FLOCKING for the love of Martha!!!
~The image is stamped onto a rescued manila file folder then layered on two colors of cardstock.

That’s all I have time for right now. I’m off to attack résumés and mentor young minds!

All good wishes,

Nancy

Intimidating Discount Diapers

The pressure is on!! Sister Gail sends niece Linda an email informing her that I mentioned her in my blog. Linda tells Gail ‘can’t wait to see you, bring cards!’ Well, I guess that is better than ‘bring cards, can’t wait to see you.’ I’ve already expressed my reluctance at sharing cards with an artist…VERY intimidating (even if I DID change her diapers when she was a baby). I have my work cut out for me before the annual sissy’s trip to Georgia.

Even though yesterday started out with mass on campus and a family weekend brunch – I completed two cards.Here is the skinny on the cards.

Shades of Flowers

I had to use a larger card base for this as I didn’t plan ahead when I stamped the image – so the image determined the size of the card.
~The card stock for the image is Crestwood Neutral Tan – I tore the edges. Image area is stamped using Stampin’ Up! The Art of Life. The stalk of leaves were stamped multiple times using Versamark for a watermark look. The three flowers, from the same set, were stamped using Distress Ink Peeled Paint. I colored in the flower petals using a light touch of Copics for a muted look. Over the top of the leaves and flowers I stamped (using Stampin’ Up!’s Weathered background) and smudged the torn edges using Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Old Paper.
Both pieces of hardware are from the SU! Hodgepodge collection. Brown ribbon is threaded through the buckle

~The stamped image is attached to the reverse side of Cosmic Cricket – Gretel Woodland collection. The corners – rounded using a punch. This layer was then attached to the base design paper layer using dimensionals.

~The design paper layer is Cosmic Cricket –from the Gretel: Woodland collection
~Base Card is PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream cardstock – edges smudged with SU! Chocolate Chip and Distress Ink Old Paper

Circular Motion~Base card is PaperTrey cardstock
~Blue layer is DCWV Indian Summer Collection – edges rounded using paper punch
Polka dot layer is from the same collection – rounding the edges as well
A vertical layer of the same blue was attached to form a base for the circle ribbon (ANOTHER present from Sista Gail – I’m so lucky she can’t pass up a bargain – even if it’s something she won’t use!!!) It is adhesive back ribbon she purchase from the dollar bin at JoAnns.
~The tree is a stamp picked up at Michaels’ in the dollar bin. It was stamped using SU! Chocolate Chip. The ‘horizon’ was stamped using a ‘stem’ from SU! Best Blossoms.The 'leaves' were punched using a utilitarian office supply paper punch, glued to the tree, then dotted with Stickles. The image is stamped on PaperTrey cardstock scrap, a layer of brown, then a layer of DCWV Indian Summer Collection – the ‘sparkly’ cardstock.
~All the edges were rounded to compliment the circular motion of the ribbon, cardstock, and leaves.

P.S. Gailey also purchased the Indian Summer cardstock – lucky me, lucky me!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Snowy Hydrangia

What to blather on about tonight? Family weekend going on now at the college. It is fun to chat with parents who are making their 3rd or 4th annual trek and just as fun to meet with the ‘new’ parents who have returned to campus to hug and check up on their young freshmen students. Football game, volleyball game, cross country invitational, dinner, mystery theatre, mass, brunch…we pack a lot into family weekend!
Our first snow fell over night. Lovely, white, downy soft, snow…. Not enough to have to break out the shovels thank goodness. Most of it is gone now but the forecast is for more of the same.

Sister Gailey hit a sale at JoAnn's and bought me some brads!!! Yipeeeee...I'm officially looking forward to the next ToC! Ain't sista's great?

I did squeeze in a little ‘bubble’ time this morning. I colored in the image this week and did the assembly this morning. Here are the details.

~Base card is PaperTrey – top and sides smudged up with two shades of Stampin- Up! blues
~Next is a layer of DaisyD’s snowflake blue – I used a corner curve on one corner and stamped two background stamps using Weathered by Stampin’ Up! and Stampablities Le London Script
~Square layer of metallic green smudge with Stampin’Up! Old Olive and edges rounded with punch
~Rectangle layer of Stempin’Up! Eggplant cardstock stamped with Stampabilities Le London Script
~The image is digital and colored in using Copics and topped off with spots of Stampin’Up! Crystal Effects, the leaves are varnished with a matte watercolor coating. I trimmed around the hydrangea then used a made ‘shadow layers’ of cardstock in three colors. I don’t know if this ‘technique’ really has an official name – but it reminds me of the type of quilting called shadow quilting when a design is repeated concentrically. The image was attached using dimensionals.
~The final touch – an assortment of sheer ribbons

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Mel, Cathy, Linda, Judy, and Gail

Whooooot! I have a new mission. I get to make cards to take on my annual sister’s trip. Sister G informed me that niece Linda, uses sister Judy’s cards that I make. Okay, making cards for my sisters is one thing. They HAVE to like my ‘stuff’ they are my SISTERS! Not only that but they make beautiful quilts and I know for certain that Gail would rather shingle a roof than make a card. Now, however, the pressure is REALLY on because niece Linda not only has an art degree from the Savannah School of Art and Design but she used to design for “Chunky Stamps”. Will I be up to the task? I hope so – but I have a fall back plan…if Linda doesn’t approve…I know sister Judy will accept them. My fall back to my fall back plan is…if Judy says, “I’ve seen better cards on the clearance rack at the Dollar Tree”, I can convince Gail to take any unloved cards. Ain’t family great?!?
One more thing. I got a reply to my design team application. I was so excited! It was so nice of Cathy at Paper Garden Projects to respond so that I know everything arrived via cyberspace. Here is part of her email: “Thank you so much for applying to the Paper Garden Projects Design team. Your projects are lovely and you use color beautifully. We will be evaluating all the applications the last week of October and will notify everyone before Halloween.”
Did you read that? My projects are lovely! I am so pumped!
Here are the details on the card.
The image is digital from Mel Stampz. It is the same image as yesterday’s card but is colored in blues rather than oranges/reds.
~Image is colored in with Copics then coated with Stampin’ Up! Crystal Effects and 'smudged' with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Old Paper by Ranger
~Flower was then attached to two layers of cardstock
~The base card is PaperTrey cardstock topped with Amy Butler design paper by K&Company.
~The blue plaid ribbon was a surprise giftie from Gail that she purchased at Archiver's

Applications & Challenges

Well, I finally did it. I applied to be on a design team. I know, I know, I need to explain to my peeps what this means. Stamp companies occasionally put out a ‘call for entry’ to be designer to showcase their products. I’ve toyed with the idea and have read several ‘calls’. Today I found one that interested me. I like their line of stamps and even though I doubt I have a chance to be selected I decided to go for it. So I made the three samples they require, took a deep breath and clicked ‘send’. The worst case scenario is they say ‘thanks, but no thanks. I still have the projects because I only had to send photos of them not the actual cards. If they say no I will just keep applying with other companies. The commitment is for three months. The name of the company I’ve applied to is Paper Garden Projects. The requirements are listed on their blog.

Oddly enough, on one of the cards I submitted, the image was designed by one of the designers of the group I am applying to. I didn’t even realize that when I selected it to submit.
So without lots of detail about why I would like to be a design team member…I’ll just give you the low-down on the cards I created to use with my application. The process required three projects.

One non-card project: Mini-Boo-Bag
~Mini gift bags at the Dollar Tree. The bags were originally to be used as wedding shower favor bags. Each had a wedding image.

~Design paper covers the original image on the bag

~Copics to color in the little spook from Stampin Up!’s Booglie Eyes

~I coated the colored image using a satin water base varnish & sealer

~‘Loosely’ cut around the image

~The little spookie guy was attached to the dp using a foam dimensional

~DP cut horizontally in a small strip

~Two bat brads perch on either side of the wee little spooklette

~Assorted coordinating ribbons were tied to the bag handle

This non-card project was created specifically for this application process.

One card (or non-card) project featuring a technique.

This card features use of a top coat of Crackle Accents by Inkssentials, Copics, eyelash yarn and wire

~Base card is PaperTrey cardstock

~Next layer is design paper from DaisyD (Atelier Toile)

~The upper layer of design paper a coordinating DaisyD ((Samura) is attached to Crestwood Chocolate Truffle cardstock. I ‘roughed up’ the edge of the chocolate cardstock using the edge of a metal ruler

~The fence image is a stamp from the Dollar Tree. I colored in the fence with white watercolor pencil and colored in the leaves and vines using Copics. I ‘roughed up’ the edge and smeared a bit of Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink. The leaves were coated with Inkssentials Crackle accents. Along the bottom of the fence is eye-lash yarn to simulate grasses

~The pumpkin was a stamp I found in my granddaughter’s box of crafts. The image was colored in using Copics and coated with Inkssentials Crackle accents, cut out, and attached to an olive color circle with the edges smudged with Stampin’ Up! Really Rust ink. The pumpkin was attached using Zots 3 D clear adhesive dot. Because the 3 D dot is ‘squishy’ I was able to insert a coil of green wire for a vine look. The olive circle was then attached to a circle scallop with the scallops pin-hole-punched. I like combining effects and embellishments. This card will also be uploaded as a response to the Stampin B’s Challenge #26. The challenge was to incorporate a pumpkin into the design of the card. This week's challenge at Stampin B was from designer Nancyruth Levine.

One project of my choice. Poppy’s_ala_Mel. I chose another card created specifically for this application. Base card is PaperTrey cardstock, a layer of DaisyD (Samura), another layer of PaperTrey cardstock, topped with a coordinating DaisyD layer (Pois). The image is a digi image from Mel Stampz. I colored it using Copics, the stamens are dotted with Stickles Black Diamond, the petals and leaves were coated with Stampin’ Up! Crystal Effects. When attaching the image I used two layers of dimensionals so that the topmost flower projects outward. I made a slit in the polka dot dp and inserted the bottom of the digi-image through to the back – again for an outward projection effect. I used a ‘buckle’ from the Stampin’ Up! Hodge-podge collection and threaded orange ribbon to complete the card. This card was designed specifically for this application process.

I will keep you posted on what I hear from the Paper Garden Project. Either way - I'm really jazzed about trying to get on a temporary design team.

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.

All good wishes,

Nancy

Thankful for Wide Streets

Okay, so I really didn’t make this card today. It was one of the Mary Lee Thankful Series. No new card today but I did work on card parts! AND I drove to Onawa today for a quilt drop…


This is how this insanity works…Gail makes the quilt top, Gail sends the quilt top and quilt backing with me to Sioux City (when she has a quilt top finished), hubby John (AKA Poppy) drives quilt top to Dakota Dunes to Bonnie the ‘machine quilting lady’, Bonnie calls hubby John on his cell phone, he drives to Bonnie’s house for the quilt top/batting/backing – now sandwiched into a quilt. John picks up quilt and I take quilt (still in need of binding) to Gail – the next time I make a trip to Omaha. However…this time quilts were ready the day after I left for Omaha. So… I emailed Gail this morning inquiring if she wanted the quilts today. Oddly enough she did. So… we met in Onawa, IA for a quilt drop. We had late lunch/early dinner at a Chinese restaurant (yes…CHINESE restaurant in Onawa, IA).

In case you like to collect worthless trivia Onawa’s claim to fame is having the ‘widest main street in the United States’. Whooooopeeeee! I say their claim should be ‘the best crab rangoon’ in the Midwest’, but what do I know…

On to the card:
~Base card vanilla
~Image of tree is ‘Tree for All Seasons’ from Stampin’ Up; Thank you is from Hero Arts.
~A few sprinkles of Stickles for leaves
~Fall colored ribbon and design paper for a background
Pretty simple – huh?

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.All good wishes,
Nancy

P.S. Transfer of Quilts also includes Mary Lee & Nila quilts.