A Wall of Bugs

The tri-fecta of weekends! Got my hair done, spent time with daughter Amy, and had 'Bubble' time. Yippeeeeee!

Now it's back to work mode...attended a senior art student's art gallery reception and put together the weekly summary of activities list to blast email the campus. (The weekly summary - NOT a favorite task of mine...).

"Common Law" daughter Jennifer (after x amount of hours at a friend's house and years of friendship... the 'common law' kicks in). Let's see Amy and Jennie have been friends since - the third grade? Sounds like common law to me. Anyway Jennie requested an Easter card for her Grandma in Wall, SD. (People really LIVE in Wall???) I didn't have a ready made so created this one for her. She also 'needs' two baby cards. One boy, one girl.

First off - Grandma Lillian's Easter card.

Peeps on the Wall
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Spring Moss outer right edge of card smudge with Cotton Candy pink ink
~Layer of white cardstock run through the Cuttlebug using an embossing folder - then lightly 'smudged' using Stampablities Cotton Candy pink ink
~Assorted ribbons
~Stamp of bunny 'peeps' is a Michael's dollar bin find from long ago - stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black - colored with Copics and topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects - edges of white cardstock curved using punch and smudge with Cotton Candy ink
~Flower button attached using metallic blue and purple floss
~Little tufts of "Easter grass"
~Sentiment by Just Rite (it is actually a 'happy birthday' stamp - with the birthday chopped off)




I used the challenge at Our Creative Corner for inspiration for this next card layout. Cool sketch over there... it was just what I needed for an idea 'sparkler'.

Nana's Girl
~Base card Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of DCWV Nana's Kids
~Scalloped trim from Archiver's
~Pink dotted satin ribbon from the Dollar Tree
~Rectangular layer of lime green cardstock, another layer of Nana's Kids
~Horizontal layer of more pink ribbon, white button - topped with another (pink) button - shaft broken off and attached with a dimensional
~Square is a sticker from a set from the Dollar Tree it says "Girl meets world!"
















This baby boy card was created using the sketch challenge over at Crazy for Challenges.

Sleepy Boy
~Base card - PTI
~Layer of design paper`
~Assorted stickers (moon, cloud, star, teddy bear) from the Dollar Tree - teddy bear and cloud are fuzzy felt
~Sentiment from Just Rite - stamped on blue cardstock and punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
~Blue rhinestone star

















This is a sketch from The Pink Elephant. I just love this layout and have looked forward all week to using it as inspiration! This was such a FUN sketch!

Buga-Boo
~Base card Paper Trey Ink
~Layer of DCWV cardstock
~Circle punches of red and black and assorted buttons - bottom button is shaft lady bug button with shaft broken off
~Image is digital freebie from DigiStamp Boutique - colored in with Copics, wings of red lady bugs topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, sickly bug is pink with shades of green, jar is coated with water color varnish
~Sentiment 'Eeeeek - caught a bug?' is part of the image digi - as is inside text: 'hope you feel better soon...'
~Grosgrain and sheer dotted ribbons



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

That's all for tonight!
All good wishes,
Nancy

Bubble Cakes

Another grueling day on campus. I made time for a quick card - Bubble time - it's great therapy!
This one is a card for these challenges:
Whimsical Wednesday (sketch challenge)
Flutter By Wednesday open challenge with requirement of a butterfly, fairy or angel
Daisy Doodles' Creative Challenges open challenge with requirement of using a digital image

I had to make the most of my limited bubble time tonight - so one card - 3 challenges. Gotta love organized, compression of therapy.

Fairy Cakes
~Base Card Paper Trey Ink Stone - lots of purple ink smudging inside and outside edges
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack
~Image is a freebie digital from Little Musings she is holding a cupcake and I love her socks! Image colored using Copics and highlighted with Stickles. Image layered on orange and light blue cardstocks - edges curved. Imaged attached using foam dimensional. Stars on image topped with yellow Stickles.
~Clumps of flowers die cut using paper punch from the Dollar Tree - centers dotted with Stickles

~Ribbon I do believe was a gift from sissy Gailey.

I'm really hoping there are no glaring errors in this post as my primary proofreading editor is sans computer for awhile. My backup copy editor is not as regular on the computer and is swamped at work as it is tax season. Sisters - whadya gonna do with 'em?!

Oh well, I'm just going to hit the 'publish now' button and hope for the best.
You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

Cupcake S O S

Granddaughter Bailey was over for a few hours this evening. She called yesterday to see if I would help her with a report she is writing on 'the telegraph' as part of 'inventions' week. We actually have a key (sender) and receiver so she and her Poppy, attached the two pieces to a piece of board along with a nine volt battery. She did the drilling, stating, "I like using big power tools" (not sure a rechargeable drill fits in the big power tool category...but when you're 11....). She then did all the screwing of the pieces on to the board. Then they tested it. She practiced Morse Coding B A I L E Y.

When Poppy told her the sender/receiver were more than 100 years old she said, "Wow, that's even older than Memere Old." THAT put it into perspective for her.

Then we went about looking up telegraphy and Morse code. She made a poster explaining the who, what where, how. She drew telegraph poles then we used a little card making magic and used black brads to string actual wires from pole to pole across the width of the poster board. She drew a bird on one of the wires.

Go ahead - ask me a question about Samuel Morse.

This is another card for Miss Amy's request for a cupcake series of cards. That reminds me!!! We are planning another 'floor parent' naked cupcake night. I better mark my calendar and my grocery list. I will be taking unfrosted funfetti cupcakes. The kids LOVE those. Plus they will be on the 'allowed' list for those who may have given up chocolate for Lent.


Thankful for Cupcakes
~Base card PTI (THAT reminds me I have to place on order SOON!)
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack (gift from Gail)
~Cupcake and sentiment both from Hero Arts, cupcake colored with water color pencils, topped with water base varnish and sprinkles of Stickles
~Scallop circle and circle die cut punches, paper punch small wholes in each scallop
~All the edges smudged up with Stampabilites Cotton Candy pink ink
~Assorted ribbon

I should be in bed, asleep, but it appears that Mr. Insomnia has other plans for me. Maybe I should go make a card. Wonder what a 1:15 am card would turn out looking like... Before you answer that - remember I am NOT a night person!

All good wishes,
Nancy

Butterfly Birthstone Balloons

FINALLY! Bubble time. What a week!

Let's get right to the cards - sorry Judy and Gail - no university angst or drama stories, no Bailey stories, no mother stories...

Well okay one update. The subject is Transfer of Crap. This time I was actually the transfer-er not the recipient! That doesn't happen very often as I am usually on the receiving end of ToC. Niece Linda is getting into card making so I put together an assorted box of card making 'stuff'. I'm not sure but this may be the first MAILING of crap. I don't remember everything that is in the box - as I had the box in the Bubble for days and would toss 'goodies' in as I thought of it. I sent a variety of twines, tulle, metallic threads, prima flowers, an extra embossing gun, embossing powders, glitter and who knows what else... I mailed it to sissy Judy and told her the two RULES with ToC. 1.) No re-transferring. 2.) Once accepted, the crap can be used or disposed of any manner with NO repercussions from the transfer-er. Not sure what Linda will think of the hodge-podge... But if I thought it was only fair that she experience ToC!

NOW on to the cards... This card is for Mary Lee. Well, actually it is for her youngest grandson. I'll be posting this for several blog challenges: Cute Card Thursday (a card to celebrate); Mo's Challenge (use three punches); Crazy for Challenges (think Spring); Our Creative Corner (think Easter); Pile it On (use pastel); The Pink Elephant (anything Spring); and Whimsical Wednesday (sketch/layout).

Easter Balloons
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of K&Co. Meadow & Breeze - edges curved using curve punch
~Image from Mo Manning Cody's Balloon - printed on PTI white cardstock using ink jet printer - colored using Copics - 'reflection' on balloon topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects~Three balloon punches (punch from the dollar bin at Michael's) using colored cardstock and topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects~Yellow DMC threads tied to balloons and tied off to one yellow brad (ToC from Gailey)
~Circle adhesive ribbon (gift from Gailey)







This next card is for a challenge over at Flutter by Wednesday (use the color green and of course include a butterfly, fairy, or angel).

Butterfly Pearl
~Base card - PTI white
~Layer of K&Co Amy Butler's Belle
~Flower images from Stampin' Up Canine Capers - colored in with colored pencils, topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects. Center of flowers topped with crystal beads. Every other grouping of three flowers is placed with The Paper Studio Sticky Doos (1/4" thick) for a 3-D look.
~Assorted ribbons
~Die cut butterfly edges smudged with pink ink, dots of Crystal Effects, and tiny pearl added






This card I made because of the challenge at Saturday Spotlight which is to make a birthday card using your own birth month birthstone. FUN challenge! If I would have been paying better attention I SHOULD have added eyelets to it for the challenge at Kraftin' Kimmies. The challenge there is to use a Kraftin' Kimmie image plus eyelets. Maybe I'll take it apart and add the eyelets tomorrow so I can upload it over there too.


Blue Topaz Birthday
~Base card PTI Vanilla Cream
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Cardstock Stack
~Ribbons
~Layers of blue cardstock - edges curved using curve punch
~Image is from Kraftin Kimmie Piper, colored in with watercolor pencils, Copics, and watercoloring using Stampin' Up Cool Caribbean, boots topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, hat highlighted with Stickles
~Cupcake image from dollar bin at Michael's (Studio G) Birthday Cupcake







Okay - here she is again! All ready to be submitted to the Kraftin' Kimmie blog challenge. The requirement is to use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp plus an eyelet or two (or more) embellishment.

I added a navy blue star shaped eyelet to Piper's chapeau pom pom. I must have dreamed about the missing eyelet...where I could use an eyelet without it looking obvious or without completely remaking the card?! Because the first thing I thought of when I woke up was, "Yes! I'll an eyelet to the pom pom!"

By the way...this eyelet is from the Nancy I bought this WHY? collection! Yippeee - I got to use something from the UUL (Unused, Un-Loved) "you bought it now USE it" category. Same could be said for the half blue half green ribbon...This is the first time I've used it. I frequently pick it up, ponder using it, then put it back on the spice rack, unused, unloved. I never feel bad about NOT using it cuz' it was a 'find' at the Dollar Tree. For a buck - I figured I'd use it SOMEDAY.

All good wishes,
Nancy

Brunch and Boughs

Brunch today with my 90+ year old mother who probably doesn't weigh 90# soaking wet. Man can she tank it away! Two eggs, two large pancakes, two sausages, and half of my very large mushroom and spinach omelet. Geeeepers!

Only time for one card today - how sad! I finally had to choose cleaning over Bubble time. Since I was pressed for time I had to bunch up a couple of challenges. This is a combo upload for the sketch at Whimsical Wednesday and the color throw down (Blue, Brown, and a Neutral) at Mo's Digital Pencil (which requires use of a Mo Manning image).

Homespun
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Dark Chocolate
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Gretel: Autumn
~Ribbon
~Layer of brown cardstock, Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides, Mo Manning image Boughs for the Wreath printed on white cardstock, colored with Copics , distressed with brown and blue inks
~Ceramic buttons (transfer of crap from Nila)
~Sentiment printed and distressed

Now I'm off to do more campus work...
All good wishes,
Nancy

Circular Magical Tea

One more post for today.

Sketch challenges and my follow through. These were for weekly challenges the month of February at i{heart}2stamp for the chance to win a fabulous prize. Aside from the fact that my cards pale in comparison to MANY other card makers I uploaded the most recent card...Darn I hate it when WORK interferes with my Bubble time. So...I didn't make these ALL this weekend - I could only dream for that much Bubble time.

The third card, Comfort Tea, is also a submission for the friend theme over at Saturday Spotlight. When I think friend - I think comfort. It doesn't have an actual image of 'friends' but the card is designed for any friend - because a cup of tea with a friend - what could be more comforting?

Circular Print
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Vanilla Cream
~Layer of BasicGrey Recess Collection
~Top and bottom circular scallops re-purposed from an old book
~Center scallops: PTI Ocean Tides, two layers BasicGrey Recess, ivory colored button with stripe ribbon
~Two horizontal strips of BasicGrey Recess~Two turquoise colored metal brads from the Dollar tree
~Lots of distressing with Stampin' Up Really Rust
















Reading is Magical
~Base Card - Paper Trey Ink - White~All four layers of design papers are from DCWV Once Upon a Time (I love that imprinted fairy in the lower right corner on the base layer!)
~Image is from Elizabeth Dulemba - it is a digital stamp - I know someone sells it as a rubber stamp - can't remember where I saw it
~Image is colored in using Copics and is glazed using Ranger Glossy Accents
~Sentiments from Just Rite
~Angle brad from my "i bought this why??? stack

Comfort Tea (Challenge card for SFYTT and Saturday Spotlight)
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Berry Sorbet
~Layer of TPC Studio Love Stripe - used vertically and horizontally ~Teapot is a free digital image colored in with Copics
~String is from a tea bag - an unused one - so now I'll have to fish the tea bag out with a spoon! (A TEA-spoon.... get it???) Wow that is REALLY lame - I need to go to bed!
~Sentiment by Stampendous Such a Blessing from Archiver's Hot Spot $1.99 bin

Now I really AM finished for the evening.
You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy

All Hail Ye Merry Dancers and Fairies

You know life is too hectic when you have a bag of goodies from Archiver's sitting untouched and unpacked for a week! Miss Amy gave me a very generous gift certificate to Archiver's for Christmas! It has been burning a hole in my purse so Sunday sissy Gail chauffeured me out to the store and I finally got to use that puppy!

Yes, I was in Omaha. One of the students that I drove to the Omaha airport two weeks ago needed a ride back to campus. Luckily her flight was timed just perfect enough for me to squeeze in sister time and a trip to Archiver's.

My new boss started Monday. The early reviews are in and they are over-the-top positive. YEAH!!!!

I haven't had much time for cards this week - new boss to impress you know. I'm just kidding - this is my busy time of the school year. Seniors are gearing up for graduation - that means re'sume review after re'sume review after re'sume review...

Here are a few cards from the Bubble. Challenge card for Kraftin' Kimmie (use button and bows) and The Pink Elephant use green.


Ye Merry Lotus Dance~Base card Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone
~Layer of K&Co. Amy Butler Lotus
~Image by Kraftin' Kimmie Holly; stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black on PTI Soft Stone; colored with Copics, bodice lace-up darkened in with black gel ink, 'halo' topped with Stickles Fruit Punch
~Ribbon
~Sentiment from Just Right, stamped on cardstock punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
~Heart button threaded with blue metallic thread







This is another two-challenge card. The challenge at Cute Card Thursday was to feature the color green. The card above works for this too but the greens and blues are fairly evenly distributed. This one doesn't completely scream green - but the green does 'pop'! Flutter By Wednesday posted a picture for inspiration. Since their picture features Tinkerbell and a flurry of glitter I thought this image was perfect: fairy...books...glitter.


Tinkering with Books
~Base card Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
~Layer of Making Memories Cheeky Collection - edges smudged with pink ink
~Layers of cardstocks - edges curved using paper punch
~Digital image by Elizabeth O. Dulema colored with Copics, topped with Ranger Glossy Accents, wings and antenna embellished with Stickles
~Polka dot ribbon supported with two layers of cardstock with their edges inked with pink
~Ribbon threaded through Stampin' Up Hodgepodge Hardware








Well...the good news is...it's NOT snowing! The yucky news is...it's hailing. Hail is really LOUD as it lands on ice-crusted snow piles!

You can get up close with the card by clicking on the image.
That's all for now!
All good wishes,
Nancy

Sunshine, Miss Evelyn, and Texture

Since I only have time for one card wanted it to count for more than one card challenge. This one meets the requirements of Crazy for Challenges and Stampin' B's while using the sketch over at Our Creative Corner.





Here is the sketch from Our Creative Corner.




Stampin' B's challenge was to use Kraft paper, brown, and purple.



Crazy for Challenges throw-down is to use three textures on a card.





Transfer of.... Textures~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Dark Chocolate (doesn't show up very well against the black photo background)
~Layer of Paper Pizazz Purple Sponged (really looks blue - trust me it's purple)
~Rectangle layers of some kind of burlapish fabric (transfer of crap - Gail????)
~Layer of Kraft paper, purple cardstock then image, Flowers by Rhonna Farrer, colored with Copics, on white cardstock, coated with water base varnish
~Four brown photo corners
~Bottom corner flower coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents, all flowers have metal flower brads
~Purple eye lash yarn threaded
~Three purple (even though they look blue on my laptop screen) rhinestone embellishments


Textures: Burlap, eyelash yarn, metal (brads)

Unfortunately I have to run errands now. Even more unfortunately I MUST include some house cleaning in this day. Even though my friend Miss Evelyn encouraged me to stay in my Bubble and make cards...she said I could clean tomorrow....VERY tempting - I may have to rethink my agenda for the day. Miss Evelyn is a VERY wise and talented jewelry maker. You can check out her lovely items here. She is even having a one-day-sale today! I will be adding "shop at Beads by Evelyn" to my day's agenda! Fortunately the sun is shining and we are enjoying a run of seven days with no snowfall!

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

Buttons, Balloons, and Butterflies

Sorry sisters Judy and Gail - no story tonight. I only have time for a quick note and a couple of cards.

I will tell you that daughter Amy called to tell me she had a nightmare last night. She dreamed that I was impaled by a large wooden recorder by one of my students. She also said, in her dream, she had to go finish some work before she could come to pay her last respects... She did however have time to confront the student... Anyone out there good at interpreting dreams? Really??? Death by wooden recorder?

I did get a really sweet note posted to my Facebook wall from one of 'my' students...hmmm...all these references to students...could they be related? No - I don't think Rebecca plays the recorder. She wrote, "I would like to thank you for everything. I would like to thank you for being you." I love freshman!!!

This is for a new blog challenge site that I just stumbled upon - ahhh - the wonders of mouse clicking! The site is called Flutterby Wednesday and the only 'rule' is that your card must include a butterfly, fairy, or angel. That's fun! I actually ended up with two cards that fit the bill for this challenge - Angel on My Shoulder and Flutter Buttons. This card was laid out using the inspiration from Whimsical Wednesday sketch challenge.

Angel on My Shoulder
~Base card - PTI Dark Chocolate
~Layer of My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus
~Ovals cut using Spellbinders die cut and Cuttlebug - olive green layer - then image layer
~Image is digital freebie from Digital Two for Tuesday colored in with colored pencils and Copics, angel's wings topped with Stickles, and little girl's cuff, hem, and collar filled in and puffed up with Liquid Applique' - white oval distressed with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink
~Buttons from my out of control button collection ~Twine threaded through buttons
I'm not sure I like this card but I don't know why...and really not sure why that angel has a fan in her hand!

The next is for a sketch challenge at Lord Have Mercy. It just by total coincidence that it also has a butterfly. It has NO stamping - I just 'fussy cut' (quilting term from my other fiber compulsion) the design paper. All the papers are from the same collection. How is THAT for handy? This card also qualifies for the challenge over at Cute Card Thursday - as their requirement this week is to incorporate ribbon.
Flutter Buttons~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Vintage Cream~All design paper is from K & Company Wild Saffron~Buttons from the "button bowl" stash
~DMC floss threaded through buttons (floss was 'transfer of crap' from Sista Gail)
~Circles cut using scallop circle die cut (Spellbinders) using Cuttlebug
~Ribbon is from Archiver's










And last but not least is a sketch challenge from Digital Pencil Two. The rule is that the card must feature a Mo Manning image. I have to admit I actually planned ahead with this one. I picked out the design paper before I colored in the image! And yes, I know I just used this image. I just couldn't help myself - she is so darn cute! I think I can relate to her hair!


Cheeky Balloons
~Base Card - Paper Trey Ink Soft Stone
~All design papers - print and solid are from the Making Memories Cheeky Collection
~Image - digital stamp by Mo Manning Angelina's Balloons colored in using watercolor pencils and Copics, shoes inked in with black gel pen


That's all for tonight. Thanks for clickin' in.

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

Elephant Friends

With break underway it is extremely quiet in the campus halls. I not only snapped up rock star parking - I slept in this morning - until 8 am - just knowing I would be able to park - made my 'inner slug' shut off the 5:30 am alarm. Don't get me wrong I have PLENTY of work to get done...it's just that while the children are away...it's late arrivals, jeans, and t-shirts for me!

I did promise to go with Treyna (math major) to lunch tomorrow. She wants Mac & Cheese from Panera. Her pal-ies are gone over break - Nancy (nursing major) and Sherin (biology major) are on a mission trip to Mississippi. Because her core posse is gone for the week Treyna is hanging out in my office - but only for about an hour before she leaves to go to work at Wal-Mart.

The quiet is defining in the halls. No early morning slipper shuffling coffee slurping jammy clad zombies headed for class in the next building. No wide awake giggling, name calling, yelling, texting, piggy back riding, class room survivors coming back into the dorm to grab a quick nap. Cold and snow? What cold and snow? Use the tunnels? No way - there is no cellphone reception in the tunnels!

My usual day begins fairly quiet. A few mumbled good mornings as they pass in front of my office a firm resolve on their faces with thoughts of a mid morning or mid afternoon nap.

This is a typical day in my office... Last Thursday started out with a crowd of 5 students in my office this morning. Two freshman sharing their bucket loads of freshman angst. Two students dropping off their luggage as I would be driving them to Omaha Thursday at noon. People chattering about upcoming their trip to Hawaii, chattering about who said what to whom, why life isn't fair, how many finals they still have to take, and what they were planning to do on break. I frequently wonder if any of them are listening to each other. I mostly tune them out and keep on working. AND I forgot mention - ALL of them texting while carrying on these 'conversations'.

Sissy Gail got to experience a couple of 'my peeps'. She can tell you - it's exhausting, hysterical, and uplifting to be around them. Sista Judy got to briefly meet Andi (elementary education major).

On to the cards...

This one is for a sketch challenge at The Pink Elephant. I didn't exactly copy the proportions - yes I'm admitting to NOT following the directions - AGAIN.

Friends
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack
~Layer of navy blue cardstock with another layer of Glitter Stack
~Horizontal layer of light blue cardstock topped with ribbon from Archiver's
~Layer of navy blue cardstock, then purple cardstock, then image
~Image is freebie digital from Digital Two for Tuesday, colored in with colored pencils and Copics


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

Smashed Poppies Cake

Mega-Bubble time today. WhooooHoooo! Back to work tomorrow - it's break time - the parking will be EASY!

Here is my Bubble Produce for the day:

Whoever gets this card to send - I hope it is a 'hand-it-to-the-birthday-person-card'. Because it would cost a fortune to mail it. It is chipboard pieces covered in fabrics. It is VERY heavy not to mention square. I don't know why I used fabrics - I just felt the need to fondle some fabric - and the next thing I knew - boom - a card. A HEAVY card.

Sketch layout is from i{heart}2stamp specifically the SFYTT challenge.

Really Big Cake
~Base card - Paper Try Ink Soft Stone
~Layer of purple fabric adhered to lightweight cardboard
~Vertical strip with green marbled fabric attached to lightweight cardboard - rhinestone brads - top and bottom
~Four square chipboard pieces covered with cranberry red fabric - edges inked with black
~Image from Stampin Up - colored with Copics and topped with Ranger Glossy Accents, candle flames topped with Stickles





Below is a challenge to try a technique over at Our Creative Corner. I admit I panicked a little bit. I like to crank out cards and am not too much into techniques. I like to keep it simple whether making cards or quilts. However, I took the challenge and went on the hunt for a technique! I went for the Acrylic Smash Technique. Here is the result.

Simply Smashing
~Base card - ready made notecard - Inkadinkado Personal Impressions
~Layer of Cranberry red cardstock - edges curved
-Layer of PTI Ocean Tides cardstock
~Digital image from Mel Stampz laser printed on white cardstock - colored in with Copics - smudged/distressed with Ranger's Vintage Photo, Old Paper, and Tatered Rose
~Skirt part of the dress - stamped with EK Success Live, Love. Laugh, Learn using black Stazon, with Blue Mist acrylic paint
~Edges of image cardstock torn and roughed up using metal ruler
~Button assortment threaded with DMC embroidery thread (ToC from sissy Gail)







Over at Saturday Spotlight the challenge was to 'Mess Around' using some type of distressing.

Princess of the Poppies~Base card - Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of K & Company Meadow & Breeze
~Vertical strips of cranberry cardstock topped with text from a very old book destined for the landfill
~Freebie laser printed image from Digital Two for Tuesday colored in with Copics, tiara dotted with Stickles
~Edges and top of image area torn then smudged/distressed with Ranger Old Paper and Vintage Photo
~Three square brads



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

Cocoa, Balloons, and Lasagna

Sissy Gail was kind enough to agree to my volunteering her home for a night for two students. The plan was - I would drive Mollie and Andi to Omaha - we would spend the night at Gail's and then I would drive them to the airport EARLY this morning. They were to be at the Omaha airport Friday at 4 am....

Their destination? Hawaii! Fifty plus college students on a singing tour over break. Not to mention this was Andi's first time on a plane.

Thursday evening, a pan of lasagna, an entire loaf of French baguette, salad, and 3/4 of a pan of brownies later the girls were tucked into bed dreaming of tropical flowers and ocean breezes (and no snow). Before they went to bed they had to make a 'payment' of singing a song for Gail and I. Andi did her rendition of "Pants on the Ground" complete with choreography. Then they both sang in harmony - one of the songs they will be singing on tour. Even with the giggling and pausing to say, "this is where the boys sing", it was a lovely mini-concert.

I wish I had an audio I could embed in this blog of all the times Andi squealed, "I'm going to Hawaii!" or "I'm going to be on a plane!" Gail and I would shake our head and smile every time she would feel the need to share her excitement.

Andi sent a text message when they landed at their final destination. It read, "I'm in HAWAII!"

The girls are in Hawaii, and Gail and I woke up to MORE SNOW. Really! Is this ever going to stop????

This is a very simplified version of the actual events of the past couple of days. It actually included another student Kayla, a hair appointment, and a trip to the Crossroads for a rendezvous. If I could copy and paste in this goofy blog I would tell you the whole story - suffice it say - I spent Thursday and Friday night in Omaha at Sissy Gail's, was entertained by Mollie and Andi, got to have a sissy jammie day, and got to see Daughter Amy...what a great couple of days!
Back in Sioux City and I headed straight for The Bubble. The challenge "Make a Scene" over at Kraftin' Kimmies was to use at least two stamps in a scene. Here is what I came up with.

Toasty Greetings
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink White cardstock
~Layer of DCWV - Glitter Stack
~Layer of white photo cardstock - edges smudged with blue - as snowy horizon base
~Images - Bernadette and Oliver from Kraftin' Kimmies colored with colored pencils and Copics, coated with Pearlescent paint. Liquid Applique' used on Bernadette's tuft of hair under her earmuffs and on Oliver's marshmallows.
~Sentiment - Toasty warm thoughts of you!




Next is a challenge card sketch at Crazy for Challenges. The image is a new purchase from Mo Manning's Digital Pencil.

Thinking of You
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink White cardstock
~All the design paper is BasicGrey Cupcake
~Image - Mo Manning's Maya's Balloons - colored with colored pencils and Copics, balloons topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Sentiment - Just Right Stamps- Thinking of You
~Red corner metal brad






One more upload before bedtime...
Mo's Challenge Blog has a challenge to make it "Clean and Simple" with just an image and ribbon. Oops!!! I will have to create one following the rules - because I didn't on this one - I added layers and embossing. Who me? Not follow directions? You have NO idea. I'm going to upload this one even though it's 'wrong'. (I'll give this one to sista Gail - she won't care that it is an 'Oops Card'.) Check back later for the 'correct' version!

Angelina Oops
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink White cardstock
~Layers of white cardstock - image - Mo Manning Angelina's Balloons, colored using colored pencils and Copics, balloons and dress coated with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Layers of white cardstock embossed using embossing folder and Cuttlebug
~Polka dotted ribbon

Thanks for clicking into the Bubble!

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

Popsicle Winters

Daughter Amy home today from Pebble Beach. Nothing says 'welcome back to the Midwest' like blizzard conditions and a closed interstate. I'm glad she is home, safe and sound. Yes, you guessed it. It's snowing AGAIN.

The first card up tonight is a Mo Manning image and is now part of the cupcake series for Miss Amy. This card meets the requirements of two challenges. WHOOOOT!!!

The challenge at The Pink Elephant was to use ribbon and I LOVE using ribbon! The challenge from last week on Mo Manning's blog was to incorporate wood or would into the card. The parameters were generous - it could include real wood, an image of wood, an image of a bench, a wooden swing, a faux wood frame - anything wood. OR the word 'would'. I went with the word because I was running on empty regarding the wood issue. Well actually I DID make a card using wood - but it doesn't include a Mo Manning image which is part of the challenge rules. (More about that card later...)

Cupcake Wishes
~Base Card Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
~Layer of DCWV Nana's Kids
~Image is Mo Manning Sugar colored in with colored pencils, Copics, lots and lots of Stickles, layered on three colors of cardstock
~Sentiment "Would you like to make a wish?" typed printed on an ink jet printer and layered on lime green cardstock
~All the edges smudged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy
~Ribbons

This is my oops card...I got so excited about using wood on a card for the Mo Manning challenge that I had it made before I remembered the rules are to use a Mo image. Oh well! On the positive side I did use the sketch over at MoJo Monday. AND it has ribbon so it too is a Pink Elephant challenge card.

How Much Wood Would
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Vintage Cream - edges smudged with Distress Ink Old Paper
~Layer of My Mind's Eye
~Horizontal band of cranberry cardstock, layer of background design paper - with holes punched in the center of the 'x's' - and navy star eyelets on both ends
~Edges of solid cardstocks smudged with Stampabilities black ink
~The flag is a re-purposed lapel pin made out of wooden, mini-popsicle sticks- layered on navy and cranberry cardstocks
~Ribbon from Michael's dollar bin
~Diagonal narrow rectangle - Cosmo Cricket Gretel: Hansel layered on cranberry cardstock
~Zigzag metal brad from Oriental Trading (This brad is from the 'You bought it now USE it' stack)
~Two circular punched cardstock - navy and cranberry - topped with a twine threaded button

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

Zero Gravity

I can't believe it - just because I color in cute little images - my husband asked me to color in a map of county district lines for a work project of HIS. REALLY? How BORING - not to mention I am directionally challenged. He came up with some weakly flattering request to color because, "You're sooooo good at it". Oh PLEASE! So he read from a BORING list of counties/cities and I was to color using different colors. Most NORMAL people would say, "just to the right of Oto", NOT him! NO... his HELPFUL narrative was more like, "slightly east of the southwest corner of..."! OMG!!!

There is an Iowa town call Ricketts...geezzzz wonder how they came up with that name. Did you know there is a "What Cheer" Iowa? But then there is also Gravity, Diagonal, Zero, Tingley, Last Chance, Lost Nation, Crab Town, Crisp, Hard Scratch, and Somber, Iowa. Besides - who am I to guffaw? The FAA's designation for the airport in my home town is SUX.

Well because he helps me out with my work and is very good at running errands (as long as you send a VERY detailed list with him) I guess it's only fair that I help him out. I did make him drive up to my office to get highlighters - I would need right wrist physical therapy using colored pencils to color in all of Northwest Iowa. Doesn't he know? Iowa is a BIG state! Doesn't he know...I color in cute little penguins, angels, flowers?! SERIOUSLY! I'm coloring in MAPS?

I did have a nice afternoon in spite of the snow (and the maps)...I wish I had kept track of all the consecutive days that is has snowed. But maybe I'm better off not knowing. I drove up to campus to attend a choir concert. It was so wonderful - nothing like 60 some young voices belting out a few songs to put some warmth to a blustery cold winter day. I got to have Bubble time and attend a concert today so I guess I shouldn't complain about coloring in a map. (Did I mention map coloring is BORING?!)

I bought a few digital "stamps" from Mo Manning's site - Mo's Digital Pencil. Her images are so cute - well actually they are more than cute - they are very artistically rendered. She is simply very talented. And I should mention GREAT at customer service.

She also has card challenges - yea! Challenge #18 called for a Mo image, and the colors pink, red, and white and to include a heart. This image seemed perfect for the challenge since the remaining cupcake has heart sprinkles. The satiated fairy's name is Dee.

DEE-Licious
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink
~Layer of pink cardstock
~Layer of American Craft rick-rack design paper
~Mo Manning Birthday Fairy Dee ink jet printed on Paper Trey Ink cardstock, colored with colored pencils and Copics, wings, cupcake hearts, and tu-tu topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, Stickles glitter dotted on tu-tu and top of cupcake
~Sentiment printed using ink jet printed on PTI cardstock
~Assorted ribbons








This is another Mo Manning image - this one a FREEBIE. How cool is that? This card features Monique. I think I'm in snow overload, which reminds me of Christmas, so I decided to put Monique to work as a Birthday Angel.

Birthday Hoots
~Base card PTI Soft Stone
~Layer of PTI Ocean Tides
~Layer of DCWV Pocketful of Posies cardstock
~Image - Mo Manning Monique~Sentiment printed on ink jet printer
~Hoots - printed on ink jet printer and layer on paint chips
~Assorted ribbon




And for my final entry - a card for the challenge at Stampin' B's which was to create a card using Red, White and Blue but not a patriotic card. Here is what I came up with.

Red White and Tulips
~Base card PTI
~Layer of glittery blue re-purposed gift bag
Image - Stampabilities Tulips, colored with Copics, topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, layered on re-purposed gift bag's gift card and layer of red cardstock - polka dot red ribbon
~Vertical layer of gift bag and polka dot red ribbon and blue cording (part of the handle from the gift bag)
~Sentiment from Michael's dollar bin stamped on Spellbinder's/Cuttlebug oval - blue gel ink dots around edge



French Toast Frenzy and finals are this week. I'm driving Andi and Mollie (students) to Omaha Thursday evening ... long story...it includes a 4 am trip to the airport, a choir trip to Hawaii, and sista Gail. I'll let you know the details later in the week.

Winter break is next week...maybe I can sneak in a day off to spend in the Bubble.

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

Seeing RED!

Quick post with cards (sorry no yada yada right now). I want to get back to card making so will blah blah blah later this evening.

Hitting the challenge rounds...yeah for Bubble time! I worked this card so it would meet requirements for THREE challenge blogs. Wooooohooooooo!

Challenge at Saturday Spotlight called for using a non-card/craft household item. (See paperclip and red netting - from a bag of some type of produce.) This is my first check-in with Saturday Spotlight. Challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges called for the color RED as the card feature item. (This one is obvious by looking at the card in general.) Challenge at Our Creative Corner called for using something from the stash that has been un-touched, un-used, forgotten, un-loved...you get the drift. (This includes the metal frame flower, the weird little mirror, the feather, and crayon button, and vellum envelope - haven't used the envelope punch in quite a long time - plus the sticker on the envelope - which is in my sticker-stash - haven't used one of these SU! stickers in about a year.


Household Greetings
~Base card - PTI Vintage Cream
~Layer of My Minds Eye
~Chipboard polka dot frame - Making Memories Travel
~Left lower corner items: cherry stamp (Hero Arts Cleardesign Cupcakes) colored with Copics, red metal framed flower - dotted with black gel pen, plastic swirl embellishment
~Right upper corner items: velum envelope made with envelope punch, embroidered edge mirror, feather, crayon button, Stampin' Up sticker, paper clip, and mesh netting (Transfer of Crap from sista Gail)

And...by the way... it is snowing AGAIN!

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

Mail from the Past

It has snowed off and on here for at least a week. I've lost track. This is the kind of winter I remember from my childhood. I remember more than once abandoning the car at the foot of the hill and walking up to the house. Sometimes daddy would back the car up the hill across the cross street, we would all pray there was no cross traffic coming, and he would 'gun it' hoping for enough momentum to get the car all the way up to the house.

I was trying to describe the disappearance of entire mailboxes to Sissy Judy (whom, while a native Midwesterner, has lived in GA long enough to NEED to be reminded of REAL winter with snowy visuals). Well, as they say, a picture is worth...

Judy, see what I mean???? It's CRAZY I tell you!

Tire chains...I also remember tire chains...daddy lying in the snow, a few colorful, verbal outbursts as he wrangled THICK, hammock looking, chains on to the rear tires of the Oldsmobile...

Then there was the car winter survival kit...The kit was more my mother's doing. An empty Folger's coffee, (yes - coffee used to come in a can - a three pound can) a Snicker's bar, (hmmmm..... if it was survival time?..... why only ONE Snicker bar....) a candle, and matches "hermetically" sealed in a baby food jar.

A survival kit - REALLY????? We lived in a city - a SMALL city! Not outer Mongolia! You can drive from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes....where could you POSSIBLY get stuck that you would need a survival kit!!!???

You may wonder why these particular survival items. Well since I was instructed on the use of the kit I will share this knowledge with you! The Folger's coffee can had a dual purpose. It housed all the survival items AND served as the 'survival vessel'! The idea was to scoop up some snow (the WHITE snow .... NOT the yellow snow) and use the candle (lit by the baby food jar sealed matches). Presto! Change-o! You now have WATER to wash down your Snicker bar. Mind you only a Snicker candy bar will do as it contains sugar AND protein ...OOPS and FIBER (THAT could be a problem!) Im not really sure if my mother trashed the Snicker bar each year -or the SAME Snicker bar remained year after year as it froze, melted, refroze, remelted...

Up until a year ago we still had that SAME can, candle, jar, and matches....WHO GOT THE SNICKER BAR?????? MARY.........????????

Recently, the ORIGINAL three-fifths club oversaw a slightly irreverent passing of the survival can ceremony. It was - well suffice it to say - you had to be there....

Sorry to be stuck on a family story rant - but sometimes I'm just not in control of the direction of this blog. And as I explained earlier I would be happy to just post the darn card. BOOM - there it is - and here is the card making recipe. But to appease 2/5s of the club I have to bore you poor readers with blasts from my pasts and updates on 'a day in the life of a campus career director/volunteer floor mom'.

Okay that's enough foolishness...time for the card. This was inspired by this week's Lord Have Mercy challenge layout.

Form Fitted

~Base card - Paper Trey Ink Berry Sorbet

~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack

~Two rows of variegated scallop trim

~Layers of purples and green cardstock with free digital image from Mel Stampz - colored in with Copics and trimmed with gold glitter

~Buttons with gold metallic thread (a ToC item from Sissy Gail)

~Sentiment Get Your Party On

This next one is a rather non-traditionally colored Valentine card. I'm always shocked when I finish a card and it is pastel... it's like my Nancy from an alternate universe takes over. The background paper for this is the same as the card above. The layout is a challenge sketch over at The Diedrich Dare Whimsical Wednesday.

Honey Sorbet
~Base card PTI
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack
~Scallop circle punch - blue cardstock - small hole punches around edge with blue ink smudges and three narrow coral colored ribbons
~Circle punch of PTI Berry Sorbet with black 'stitches' drawn with black gel pen
~Image/Sentiment - Stampin' Up Vintage Valentine - colored with Copics, coated with water-base varnish
~Horizontal polka dots is actually a scrap of wrapping paper ~Small heart punches from PTI Berry Sorbet and dotted with black gel ink

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