Look to the Western Sky!

I was so excited to see that Baby Bud Designs started a challenge! I love these wee ones! I hope the artist Mary Anne Wainright doesn't mind but I added a 'costume' to one of her images. Little Miss Millie here is going for the "Wicked" look (one of my most favorite soundtracks ever!).

Going Green
~Base card PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of purple cardstock
~Layer of crumpled and sanded Black/Orange Core'dinations Hocus Pocus; wrapped with random layers of purple metallic floss (Transfer of Crap from Sista Gail)
~Digital image by Baby Bud Designs - This is Little Miss Millie - for Halloween she has donned a witch's hat from Dragon Doodles Studios and she borrowed a pair of shoes from a freebie site that I can't name at the moment; her face and dress were colored using Copics; her hair was base colored with Copics then highlighted with Stickles Black Diamond
~Witch hat colored with Copics, band topped with Stickles Frosted Lace, Moon topped with Stickles Yellow
~The sentiment is also digital, punched using Stampin'Up Tag Punch, smudged with purple ink and dotted with Copic orange
~A wad of ribbon completes Little Miss Millie's ensemble (although for tonight you can just call her Elphaba)
Challenges
Baby Bud Designs- fall/Halloween
Really Reasonable Ribbon - fall theme with ribbon
Paper Sundaes - change in season
Aly's Sunday - Halloween
Cupcake Craft - Scary creatures (Please don't tell Little Miss Mille she's not all that scary)
The Treehouse - Spooky colors: orange, purple, black
Dutch Dare - tag

Here's to falling asleep listening to Christin Chenowith.
Nancy

When a Good Punch Goes Bad

When you don't EXACTLY follow challenge directions.....Just wondering if there is a patrol of card-cops waiting in their squad cars. Do the card-cops break into your craft room with ATG tape guns blazing shouting - "put the crafts down!" "Put your ink stained glitter tainted hands where we can see them!" "Step away from the embellishments!" "Don't even THINK about going for the punch!"

But officer.....I set out to follow the challenge instructions calling for cut-out center - which I did - then promptly had to switch gears because the second punch I was going to use became a wimpy, toothless, couldn't cut through soft butter, more like an embossing, worthless tool. It was Marvy's fault! He didn't come through with the anticipated one-two punch! Take him! I'm innocent.....

Okay so enough of the tape-gun-toting cops....
I read somewhere that you can 'sharpen' paper punches by punching repeatedly through aluminum foil. I think I will have to try that procedure. My plan was cut the center of the doily, have it raised using dimensionals and have the diecut (now deceased) be the base to the Graphics 45  image. Because 'malevolent Marvy' let me down, the second choice for a diecut was larger than the center cut of the doily....
Never mind - I'll just post the card...Besides the challenge I'm referring to is closed anyway.

Mirror Mirror
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink - embossed using Stampin' Up Weathered background stamp and Ranger Enamelware Embossing Powder
~Doily
~Circle punch of pink cardstock - topped with diecut from Graphic 45 Le' Romantique Collection~Three Prima flowers - edges dredged through Stampabilities Cotton Candy ink
~Flower centers are three diecut roses from Graphic 45 Le' Romantique Collection - heavily coated with Ranger Glossy Accents
~Little branches punch cut using Martha Stewart punch and paint samples from the hardware store
~Sentiment by Just Rite, stamped on pink cardstock, punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches - layout
Spoonful of Sugar - sparkle and shine (coated flower centers with Glossy Accents for lots of shine)
Polka Doodles - make your own embellishment (used Prima flowers - re-inked them, used die cuts for flower centers) To be honest - maybe this is a case of embellishing the embellishment....time to call the cops again?

Thanks for clicking by (and not calling the paper police).
Nancy

Simply Spooky

I have no idea why I enjoy making Halloween cards! I don't decorate for Halloween - except for the one lone uncarved pumpkin on the porch... I've never mailed a Halloween card (I give them all away for OTHER people to mail). I don't know...maybe my muse wears a pointy hat and keeps all her ideas in a cauldron.

Moon A Plenty
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - White
~Layer of purple cardstock - edges smudged with Stampabilities Black ink
~Layer of black/orange/purple ribbon from Archiver's
~Moon punch cut out of PaperTrey Ink - white cardstock
~Bat and haunted house stamped using Versamark and Ranger Black Embossing Powder
~Sentiment stamped using black ink on purple cardstock with more edge smudging in black ink
Challenge
Scrapbook Sisters - Full Moon

Gonna get on my broom and go to the grocery store - thanks for clicking by...
Nancy

Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Giggles

I had one of the best days at work yesterday. First off we had a crew of kids working at Habitat for Humanity. They worked all day building the frame of the house. Being someone who habitually volunteers, but NOT one to raise a hand to work in the sun and the outdoors, I got a group of co-workers together to make the manual laborers lunch. Dave and I took them lunch at noon and even though the temperature was heading toward the upper 80's, the yard was devoid of shade, and the work was - well...WORK, the students were in high spirits, laughing, swinging hammers, and hoisting supplies alongside the volunteer contractor and the future owner of the home. It was uplifting!

Back on campus I had two 'regulars', Jenna and Kayla, stop by my office. For more than an hour they played with some of my office toys and with a bottle of Bubbles. They were totally ignoring me - which was fine by me as I had a pile of paperwork to slog through. For the most part I ignored them too - except for listening to the giggling, guffawing, and laughing. These sophomore college kids, a music major and elementary education teacher, giggled and blew bubbles like they were 3 years old. I have such a cool job!

Here is the output from my OWN Bubble.

Tearing around the Bubble

~Base card PaperTrey Ink - white

~Lots of different color cardstock scraps torn into shapes

Challenges
Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger - "Funky Fall" Abstract Folk Art Painting by Catherine Horvath Buchanan from SoloWorkStudio on Etsy
Stampin' B's - Fall inspiration
Stampin' for the Weekend - Autum inspiration
Charisma Cardz - Autumn inspiration
Kaboodle Doodles - Autumn inspiration

Web Avenue

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - white

~Background - digital printed then smudged with orange and grey stamping inks

~House and pumpkins created using torn Core'dinations color Core Cardstock - Hocus Pocus
~Bats stamped using Versamark and embossed using Ranger Black embossing powder

Challenges:

Shabby Tea Room - vintage Halloween

City Crafter - Hurray for the Holidays

Thanks for clicking by...

Nancy

Plucky Repurposing

The university's celebration of the Feast of St. Francis was lovely. The Cliff Singers were of cheerful and powerful voice. Ahhh....the sound of a young and dedicated choir! They filled the chapel with joyful music appropriate to honoring the patron' saint of this Franciscan institution.

This project posting is a re-purposing of a packaging for the most incredible tweezers! I can't believe I just used those two words (incredible and tweezers) in the same sentence. (And I DON'T mean a craft tweezers!) Even MORE incredible - I can't believe I am BLOGGING about TWEEZERS!

This amazing grooming product is called La-Tweez Illuminating Tweezers. This honey of a tweezers has a light that is brighter than a pulsar burst aboard the Star Trek Enterprise. La-Tweez is an ingenious tool with a slightly blue tinted light will not only make plucking effortless it startlingly, highlights those annoying, unruly, solo, spikey, erroneously located keratin extensions! Okay, while I’m ‘baring’ my furry soul I must admit that occasionally these shockingly unfeminine, testosterone driven, errant hairs of the “chinny, chin, chin” have been known to congregate in decidedly male-pre-pubescent fashion.

My very favorite salon, Pemberley's in Omaha, NE, carries them. Not only is the 'tweeze' the 'bees knees' the packaging was just BEGGING to be re-purposed. It crisply snaps shut with a hidden magnet. Luckily my sister Gail, who avoids crafts like a college student avoids an 8 am class, tossed her tweezers packaging into the Sioux City 'Transfer of Crap' basket - so I have ANOTHER one to decorate!

I'm uploading several images so you can view it from all sides.

This is the front view.

This is a side view. (The sides of the package were originally black - I didn't do anything to the sides.)
A view from the back.

Here is a view with the treat box open.

And finally a view from the bottom.


Boo-T-Full~Base packaging - La-Tweez Illuminating Tweezer
~Front view - orange cardstock with google eyes to cover up the imprinted words La-Tweez; strip of shiny black cardstock - embossed with white embossing powder using Versamark and a small 'boo!' stamp; I left granules of white embossing powder randomly on the black background hoping for a 'spooky' look (The black strip covers packaging imprinted words.)
~The graphic on the top of the back flap was covered with more orange cardstock - edges smudged with black ink and the corner stamped with black ink using a small spider web stamp
~The rest of the back flap was covered with The Paper Studio - Halloween Words~The bottom of the packaging had text imprinted on it so I covered it with orange cardstock smudged with black ink and stamped with a Stampablities Spooky Boo! stamp
~Assorted ribbons
Challenges
Aud Sentiments - Use any Halloween sentiment on a treat holder
The Character Cafe - Recipe: orange, 2 embellishments (google eyes and embossing), and ribbon
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Fall theme plus ribbon
City Crafter - Hurray for Holidays
Now if I had just thought to tell daughter Amy to save the packaging from her La-Tweez...
Nancy

Flora, Fauna, and Francis

Fast and furious weekend. Trip to Sister Gail's to attend friend Nila's son's wedding. A red and white wedding. It was lovely. Ring bearer fell asleep during the ceremony. Flower girl was adorable. During the recessional she tried to hold hands with a pint size groomsman in wee little dress pants, white dress shirt, and tie...he was having NO part of it. Kids at a wedding always steal the show! Lots of kids at the reception - they always seem to have the most fun - and enjoy the dancing the most too!

Mother of the groom, Nila, looked lovely in a crinkly silky dress and jacket with embellishments that would make all card makers envious! And the best purse I've ever seen. One of those totally useless hard case babies - that will hold a tube of lipstick and MAYBE a compact if it were small enough. And it too had the BEST embellishments - LOTS of fabric flowers and plenty of BLING. It was SO VERY Nila!

Made yummy homemade soup this morning after mass at Briar Cliff University. I so miss Sr. Arnold and am reminded of her unique, dry sense of humor and keyboard musical talents whenever I'm in chapel. Tonight it is another trip to school and chapel - attending The Transitus - an annual event on this Franciscan campus. Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis. BIG day at BCU - BIG like Christmas BIG!

AND I got the PRESENTS! From sister Judy I got a 'fragrant wax vessel'. It smells SOOOOOOO amazingly good. My whole living room smells AWESOME! This quote is from the Habersham Candle Company website: "Handcrafted with natural essence, flora and fauna, our Wax Pottery is designed to release the fragrance of a candle without the need of an open flame." Here is a picture of it!


AND from sister Gail I got a package of American Crafts Foil Specialty Paper - 48 sheets of TEN metallic colors. Can't wait to use these glitzys. She also picked up an order at Archiver's for me. Tim Holtz Paper Stash Lost and Found. I just realized as I was noodling through the stack that I forgot to pay her for it. Gail: I'll add it to my tab!
So as you can see it was quite a weekend - add to that - wins for the University's Football, Men's Soccer, and Women's Volleyball teams!

This card is for one of 'my peeps' at school. I make birthday cards for some of the 'regulars' that frequent my office. This one is for Jenna - a sophomore student - with the voice of an angel - and no major declared as of today... Jenna! Pick something...ANYTHING...just make a decision! Registration for Term II starts next week! She asked me if she could major in 'general education'. Sorry young lady...ya gotta' go with somethin'.

Jenna~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding
~Layer of DCWV The Glitter Stack - edge scissor trimmed and edged with glue and glitter
~Inside stripe of DCWV Glitter Cardstock Stack (purple)
~Top layer of PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding - with random letters - 'glittered-up' - the 'e' was grey chipboard so I painted it with green acrylic paint, topped it with Stickles Icicles with a genuine plastic diamond flower bling embellishment
Challenge2S4Y - sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - diamonds are a girl's best friend

All good wishes,
Nancy

Quickest Post Ever

I love the color combo so much at Play Date Cafe I had to take another stab at it.


Here is the color inspiration:

Ridges
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - white
~Layer of purple cardstock
~Layer of white cardstock (substituted white for the challenge's grey or silver)
~Layer of Bazzill cardstock Frosted Kiwi, corners scalloped using Fiskars Emboss Plus Punch, Scor-Buddy used to dry emboss the vertical lines, Stampin' Up Lovely Lilac smudged over ridges and along sides
~Green ridged ribbon
~Prima flowers - Petal Poetry - layer of dark purple and layer of green
~Purple metal brad
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration
That's it and that's all!
Nancy

Seafaring Citrus

Just one quick post before I call it a night. Also a quick thank you to my proof reading editors - my sisters Judy and Gail. They are the eagle eyed wonders! They usually each find SOMETHING stupid I've posted and hopefully I get the mistakes corrected before they are seen by too many eyes. Being the good sister than I am I usually make enough typos for them each to find separate grammar blunders and typing bloopers.

I have been mulling over the challenge at the Play Date Cafe - to use lime, navy, and gray or silver. I'm going to have to keep this combo in mind next time I'm wandering the aisles of Archiver's. I LOVE this color combination! I've been pondering a re-do of my kitchen...ahhh the possibilities!



Future Kitchen
~Base card white linen pre-made card
~Layer of navy blue cardstock
~Three rectangles of navy cardstock with the edges 'dredged' through Versamark then dusted with Ranger Silver embossing powder
~Three rectangles of K & Company Amy Butler's Belle
~Sizzix die cut flourish in the corner - attached with a navy blue metal brad
ChallengePlay Date Cafe - color inspiration
Have a wonderful week and thanks for popping by.
Nancy

Homecoming

It's Homecoming weekend at The Cliff. Beautiful crisp fall air. Unfortunately we did not win the football game yesterday. However the start of today was a winner.

Sister Arnold, a veteran faculty member at BCU, was 'called back' (retired) in May, to the Mother House in Dubuque. But she was back in Sioux City this weekend for Homecoming. This morning she was back on campus where she looked so comfortable and content - playing the organ at morning Mass. Last May it was a stoically sad departure for her and a tearfully sad departure for the students. Yesterday she attended the football game in her usual team support garb - full nun habit with a Briar Cliff University t-shirt over her brown 'nun-clothes'.

She is a class of 1962 alum of BCU and was on campus for an Distinguished Alumni award. Prior to her 'retirement' she played the organ for mass in the chapel for more than 30 years and today she was back at the 'helm'. I think she blew out all the pipes on the recession song and there were lots of smiles and a few tears on the faces of the congregation. I'm sure the final piece was heard for miles around. As students and alumni gathered around the organ waiting for a slice of time with Sr. Arnold I saw her unflappable eyes moisten ever so slightly.

Here is the output of some time spent in the Bubble.

Bling Worthy Witch
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding
~Layer of free digital printed background (I've had the file for a long time and can't find the original source) - sorry - edges stitched with black thread
~Layer of dark purple cardstock topped with orange cardstock which I needle pierced a web design through
~Layer of purple cardstock - edges smudged with black ink to support the image
~Image is a Mo Manning digi - colored with Copics - dotted Stickles on her belt, hat, and sock
~Ribbon from Archiver's
Challenges
Digital Pencil 2 - Bling plus Mo Manning image
City Crafter - Sketch
Stampin' B's - Use paper piercing
Crafty Catz - stitching
Paper Garden Projects - Halloween
Stamp, Scrap & Doodles Saturday - faux or real stitching

Hats Off to You
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Plum Pudding edges smudged with Color Box Blue Lagoon~Layer of Daisyd's Halloween Collection design paper
~Ribbon from Archiver's
~Image from Doodle Dragon Studios colored with Copics and highlighted with Tsukineko Turquoise embossing powder - I pierced around the witch's hat in the style of 'shadow quilting'
~Sentiment from the dollar bin at Michael's stamped on scallop circle die cut punch and dotted with Stickles Diamonds
Card Patterns - sketch
Crazy for Challenges - bling
Stampin' B's - paper piercing

All good 'witches',
Nancy

Slick Apples and Football Fields

It's not very often that granddaughter Bailey comments on cards I make. She is usually more interested in digging through my embellishments and creating her own cards. And when it comes to Bailey cards - ALL cards require bling - LOTS of bling.

I was working on this trio of caramel apples for some future application to a card. I had finished coloring and the application of Ranger Glossy Accents had fully dried and the completed image was sitting - unattached and non committed to any card in particular. She was fascinated with the glossy effect on the apples. She asked how I did that, she'd pick it up, set it down, pick it back up.

Well it was her 12th birthday Thursday so I used the apples to make her birthday card. It was a hit and now she can run her fingers over the glossy fruit whenever she wants. It may be an atypical birthday card but for her it was perfect.



Glossy Greetings~Base card - edges distressed with Tim Holtz Fired Brick
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Deena's Penny Lane
~Layer of red paper
~Free digital image by Fire Cracker Designs by Pamela printed on white PaperTrey cardstock; colored with Copics and coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents edges torn and smudged with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo
~Twine and button embellishments
~Sentiment printed on ink jet - edges colored with Fired BrickChallenges
Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration
2S4Y - sketch
Paper Sundaes - Fall (nothing says fall to me like fresh caramel juicy crunchy apples)
Copic Creations - Shading (the apples are shaded and there is shading under the apples giving them a grounded appearance

I'm off to attend the Homecoming Game. It's a crisp fall day - intermingled with pouring rain! But how can I resist the Homecoming of not only my employer but my Alma mater? I have my outdoor voice primed and ready! Go Chargers!
All good wishes,
Nancy

Shared Bubble Time

More Bubble time today - it even included granddaughter Bailey. She wanted to make a card for her Mema and one for her friend Emily. Here is what she came up with on her own.

Get Well Mema, by granddaughter Bailey



For Emily, by granddaughter Bailey


And here is my contribution to card making.





Boo 2 U!~Base card cream colored ready made card
~Striped layer of Daisy D's Halloween Collection~Layer of wide sheer purple ribbon - with satin purple ribbon stitched on top
~Free hand sentiment with faux stitches on orange cardstock - run through Cuttlebug using oval Spellbinder die
~Black Sizzix die cut flourish
~Images by Stampin' Up from Booglie Eyes set - colored with colored pencils and coated with Modge Podge
~Free hand background boxes for stamped images - with brads
Challenges
Stampin' Royalty - use stitching
Paper Players - the sketch (layout)
Paper Sundaes - fall or Halloween theme


Maura
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of DCWV Pocketful of Posies~Digital image is from Digital Pencil Too (Mo Manning) - colored with Copics, edges of dress and panties lined with Stickles glitter, wings dotted with Stickles and Smooch Sassy Pink
~Half circles of green glitter cardstock
~Butterfly button with metallic thread
~Horizontal layer of same design paper layer on pink cardstock and topped with striped ribbon
Challenges
Stamping 411 - sketch
Cute Card Thursday - use a bird or butterfly
Scrapbook Sisters - use scallops
Aly's Sunday Challenge - sparkle and glitter

Angel Sing~Base card white linen
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink white dry embossed using Swiss Dots Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug
~Silver edged white satin ribbon
~Three layers of stacked white buttons
~Image by Mo Manning - colored with Copics and highlighted with Stickles, and silver glitter embossing powder, horn embellished with gold embossing powder - dots of Diamond Stickles around edge of image cardstock
Challenge
Digital Pencil Too - bright white and use Mo Manning image

Another Monday stares us in the face...good thing we have cards to keep us going!
Nancy

Channeling My Muse

Finally some time in the Bubble. Still not sure I have my mojo back but working hard at channeling her. I'm sure my muse is a 'she'. I wouldn't tolerate a 'he' muse. I can just hear a male muse..."do you really need all this paper?" "why do you have so much ribbon?" "isn't one cardstock just like all the other cardstock?" "what is up with all these buttons?" "how does that tool work - can I use it?"

Yes MY muse, while possibly on holiday or maybe just upset with me for my recent lack of time spent in my Bubble' is DEFINITELY a female!

This is the photo inspiration from The Shabby Tea Room.


Fresh Living
~Base card - white linen
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink white dry embossed using Cuttle Bug and Stylized Flowers embossing folder
~Outlining of raised areas colored with Copics
~Ribbons
Challenge
Shabby Tea Room

These are the color inspirations over at Play Date Cafe followed by my interpretation. I'm thinking that perhaps this could be used as a wedding/commitment card. (Some of you know how I LOATH making wedding cards.) I think the trick for me is to just make a card that UN-intentionally could be used for a wedding. I freeze up under the pressure of having to create a wedding card and my muse - well she just says, "you're on your own - I'll be over here taking a nap, or sipping wine - call me when you are finished."





Welcome Home
~Base card - white linen
~Layer of BasicGrey Oliver paper pad - The dots (squares actually) of color along the top were perfect for a night sky! (Thank you sista Gail for buying this pad 'o paper for me)
~House built from aqua Core'dinations - stamped with Stampabilities Le London Script; windows free hand drawn on white cardstock; red cardstock door - edges roughed up with metal ruler and smudged with black ink; black roof is made from black/aqua Core'dinations
~"Bushes" punched using Martha Stewart punch and green cardstock - dotted with white Poster Pen paints
~Sentiment by Just Rite - stamped then torn on aqua cardstock layered on red and black cardstocks
~Black brad for door knob
Challenges:Play Date Cafe - inspiration
Alphabet Challenge - U for unused stash (bought the Core'dinations' long ago and it sat unused until today)

I'm off to dream of muses...
Nancy

Prickly Deadlines

I'm on a roll! Two blog postings in a row!

I actually got asked to be a guest designer over at Digital Two for Tuesday! I was so honored and so darn excited! I got to pick the date and weeks ago when Cora emailed me I thought, 'surely by September 14 things will have calmed down at work...' Okay I was wrong but there's nothing like a deadline to 'get your motivation on'!!!

I had my choice of either of the images or - being the over-achiever that I can TEND to be - I could use both of the images. Actually I couldn't decide so I did BOTH. You can pluck the images from cyberspace over at Digital Two for Tuesday. It's fun, it's free, it's fabulous!

Cora
~Base card Paper Trey Ink - Vintage Cream
~Layer of My Mind's Eye
~Stripe of My Mind's Eye
~Fabric trim
~Image from Digital Two for Tuesday~Image is colored with Copics, edges curved using curve punch, edges smudged with Versamark Sand, clouds dotted with blue acrylic paint using a stiff stencil brush, additional 'sky' added using Versamark Powder Blue and a sponge
~Rose colored Prima flowers with flower metal brads
The layout was inspired by Card Patterns.

I loved this image the minute I saw it! My BSF's (Best Sisters Forever - Judy and Gail) and I went on a fabulous trip to Ireland, England and Scotland - a long time ago - but the memories are fresh and the feelings are warm. I immediately thought of our holiday to Scotland when I clicked open the image of the thistle! I smiled just thinking about the giggles, the laughter, the wonder, the sharing - it was an amazing journey.
Memories of Scotland~Base card - Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant
~Layer of REALLY YUMMY design paper - K & Co Jubilee Bright Flowers I knew the second I saw this design paper that it would be PERFECT for the thistles that awaited me at home. (I was with my dear husband - at Archiver's on Saturday - he said, "what are you going to do with THAT?" I said, "you see this lavender/purple/gray-green corner?" "I need it for a card". His facial expression was - "what makes those neurons fire in that head of yours", he vocalized, "so you are buying that 12" x 12" sheet of paper (REALLY????!!!! HOW DARE he call it a SHEET OF PAPER) because you need just that 4" x 5" corner?" I replied, "Step aside, you're in the light." And YES my husband went in to Archiver's with me - his maiden voyage! He was very well behaved. I left him in the equivalent of the 'tool aisle' (punches, scissors, die cuts and machines) and went merrily on my way.
~Horizontal layers of dark hunter green and very pale green solid cardstock topped with another layer of the same design paper - from the OTHER corner (And he thought I was only going to use 4" x 5" of this scrumptious pulp!)
~I wanted to mirror the prickly nature of the flowers so I tore a strip of very pale green fabric keeping the raveled edges...well....raveled, then I stitched a gathering stitch up the middle and...you guessed it...gathered it up! After it was gathered I smudged it up a bit with lavender and grey inks.
~Large purple metal rivet (Sista Gail bought me a present! A Crop-A-Dile Big Bite complete with a slew of rivets - there just happened to be this lovely purple one in the set.) I used it because I liked the contrast of the smooth and shiny with the dull and prickly of the rest of the card.
~The original digital image is really only two thistles. I wanted a clump of these Scottish beauties so I printed it once at a slightly larger size, once at a smaller size and then mirror image/reversed the smaller size and printed it yet again. (It would never do to have four - had to have the odd number - so it took printing the image three times - but I think it was worth it!)
~Image colored with Copics: V17, V04, YG11, C-3, C-1, G000, YG63, and RV24. I really tried to keep the green to its true gray-green color. Then I topped the prickly little tops with two purple shades of Flower Soft. (These too were an intentional - one card specific purchase - I knew when I saw the images I HAD to use purple Flower Soft! The edge of the cardstock is smudged with Memento London Fog and then adhered to a single layer of purple mulberry paper (again - think prickly...)
Since I use three embellishments I'm going to link this to Paper Sundaes.

Check out all four of Cora's sites:
Paper Flowers
Clearly Vintage
Clearly Vintage on Etsy
and of course Digital Two for Tuesday!

So how cool is this - my cards are on the Digital Two for Tuesday AND she called me a "talented artist"! I think I hear my muse settling in on my shoulder...
All good wishes,
Nancy

Lipstick on a Muse

Have you ever been away from a craft for so long that you are afraid you won't be able to get back in the grove? Well that's where I'm at. I finally carved out some time in 'my bubble' only to find myself staring at my collection of 'stuff', flipping through papers, re-organizing the 'stuff' and not being all that productive. Could it be that my muse got tired of me not being 'in the bubble'?

Life on the hill will begin return to its ebb and flow of activities once this upcoming week has past. I'm looking forward to not only getting home at a decent time but also not logging into my office PC from home!

I'm VERY popular at the moment as both the business and education professors told their classes that if they have me review their re'sume' they get an 'instant A' for the assignment. Ahh...it's so nice to be loved. Too bad they both have the same due dates for these 'instant A's. AND too bad not even half of the students have turned in their drafts to me yet. Who doesn't love a procrastinator?!

So 'muse-less' I eeked out a card or two. It's horrible working in a muse-free zone! It's like singing off key, like showing up dreadfully under-dressed at an event, having an itch you can't quite reach, it's like watching a DVD that doesn't have the audio synched! Knowing you are working sans muse is like workin' without a net. I'm struggling to get my creative spirit back cuz I don't like working alone! You'll see what I mean... These will be my 'get back in the saddle' versions of card making.

Grateful for Fall~Base card PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream
~Layer of BasicGrey design paper - Recess
~Sheer ribbon
~Stampin' Up Warm Words stamped using Memento Ink and Stampin' Up paper punch Word Window~Image stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copics and topped with Flower Soft. This is my first attempt using Flower Soft. Even with Flower Soft I don't quite have my muse back. All I know is I'm going to have to reach out and grab my muse..might have to bribe the little darlin.... cuz, I'm not in the zone...I need my muse!

Hunting for a challenge to get me motivated I found this image on the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger:
Here is what I came up with:


Lip-Smackin'
~Base card Paper Trey Ink Vintage Cream~Layer of K & Co Amy Butler Belle~Strips of Amy Butler Belle
~Pink ribbon grosgrain ribbon
~Solid burgundy scallop circle topped with 'fussy-cut' Amy Butler BelleChallenges
Tuesday Trigger
Lord Have Mercy Sketch
This post will be dated Sunday. I will be posting again in just a few minutes (okay maybe not just a few minutes - cuz I do tend to ramble on and on sometimes...)

All good wishes,
Nancy

Rainbow Days

One more quick post before I travel the five minutes it takes to drive from my home to work...

I need to thank Julie over at Rainbow Days for honoring me with the 'One Lovely Blog Award'. Now my charge is to pass this along to seven blogs that I frequent. I will do that as soon as I return from campus. Please click over and read Julie's funny posting about carpets, coffee, and pjs! Spend some time looking at her blog if you don't happen to already follow her. Her cards are lovely and very inspirational.

Rainbow thoughts,

Nancy

Traditions, Pepperoni, and Blessings

My undergraduate degree Alma Mater and current employer is an institution steeped in customs and traditions and not just in the form of the pomp and circumstances of an annual commencement ceremony.

Whether they realize it or not these newly arriving students are being folded into the Catholic Franciscan community that IS Briar Cliff University. Especially for the freshman, I hope this past week and the weeks to follow will embed many fond memories in the minds of these young adults.

The week, while it has not allowed for any Bubble time for me, has had it's moments of redemption. I love these early weeks of new and returning students.

This week has included traditional trips in school vans to ensure that every freshman dines in the home of the university president. I drove on Tuesday evening and again was entertained with random musings from my all male - all football playing - all freshmen - all hailing from St. Louis passengers.

Wednesday evening was the annual "Pizza with the President". This event was on campus and open to all fall athletes, all the Residence Assistants, and all the Peer Advising Leaders (essentially all the students who move in early). Seventy-eight pizzas were ordered for delivery to campus. The 'rule' is always, "take two pieces each and then return for seconds after everyone has been through the line'. You may think two pieces of pizza per football player, soccer player, and volleyball player doesn't sound like much - but serving begins at 8 pm. They finished with dinner at the campus all-you-can-eat cafeteria - one hour prior to the Pizza with the President!

I was in charge of the pepperoni end of the table. In less than 18 minutes all 32 large pepperoni pizzas were gone, two-pieces at a time - devoured - with nothing left but the empty boxes.

Yesterday was the official move-in day for freshman. These are the freshman who either don't play fall athletics, play spring athletics, or don't participate in any athletics. This is the day for some of the traditions I mentioned earlier in this post. We always have a family picnic on the green-space. It's interesting to see some families clumped together some with young siblings in tow, some with grandparents here to be a part of the send-off and some families expanding their personal community to embrace the parents and siblings of their own student's roommate. It is a lively dynamic!

Once the picnic has concluded everyone is 'herded' into the St. Francis Center for more words of welcome. There are conclusionary words of welcome with a very frank insertion that the parents will be given time to say their goodbyes and then they need to LEAVE. (Of course this is all said with kindness and diplomacy.)

Prior to the time families are given for farewells there is always a scripted blessing. The students turn to their parents and family members and read a blessing asking for safe travels, thanking them, asking for encouragement on their new path... The parents and families then read a blessing to their young adults asking to keep their child safe, praying that they make good decisions, asking for blessings as they begin this new journey...

It is a somewhat moving experience. Some families hold hands, some embrace, some seem embarrassed, many reach out to students who don't have family present, and ALL are tolerant of what is to be one of the first of MANY Briar Cliff traditions.

As I left the parking lot I caught a glimpse of some of the goodbyes. Hugs, slaps on the backs, handshakes, young siblings clinging to big brothers and big sisters, a few romantic kisses between student and girl friend or boy friend wondering if their long distance romance will last, laughter, tears, a mother with her "child's" face in her cupped hands looking directly into his eyes...

I just had to share some of the moments that I have the privilege of experiencing day to day. And now I will share the ONE card I had time to put together. I thought the image (Live Love Laugh Learn) was appropriate given what I'm around all day at work. I have to be back on campus today at noon until about 11 pm. MORE activities to assist with, and traditions to be maintained! The "RETURNING" students start their move in at Noon today! Gotta' DASH!!

Live, Laugh, Love, Learn
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink cardstock, edges distressed with Stampin' Up More Mustard
~Layer of navy blue cardstock
~Layer of lighter navy blue cardstock topped with polka dot blue background design paper that I distressed using Stampin' Up Not Quite Navy and Stampin' Up More Mustard
~Image (EK Success) Live Love Laugh Learn was stamped three times on Paper Temptress Cryogen White using Stampabilities Cotton Candy, Stampin' Up More Mustard and Not Quite Navy; image then smudged (distressed) using the same inks plus Versamark Sand~Image was layered onto three colors of Mulberry papers - navy, hot pink, and mustard
~Circle punch of a flower from The Paper Studio Country Random Flowers design paper and paper pieced 5 random flower petals attaching with tiny foam dimensionals
~Metal brad embellished with hot pink glitter for the flower center
Challenges:
Lord Have Mercy - sketch
Play Date Cafe - 'colour horribilis' inspiration: hot pink, navy, and mustard
Shabby Tea Room - use metal
Little Red Wagon - back to school (the sentiment is the piece that fits this challenge)

Here's to fond memories,
Nancy

Football Fabric

I feel like Dori in the Little Mermaid - 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming'. I know things will eventually settle down into the usual campus rhythm but MARTHA! I long for the days of getting home before 8 pm!

The parade of freshman dinners at the president's house has begun. For those of you new to my blog - the president of the university (at which I work) hosts a series of dinners at her home for ALL freshman - 25 or so of them at a time. I am one of the LUCKY van drivers. (Her home is across town.) Dinner at the president's house...six times in a week and a half...REALLY cuts into my Bubble time! (I should just be grateful I don't have to drive for everyone of the dinners.)

My Monday passengers were all male, all football players, all HUNGRY. The students in the school van I drove hailed from California, Texas, Arizona, and Nebraska. They were very chatty. Talking mostly about girlfriends they left back home and what food chains they missed the most. I got the feeling they were more disturbed about the lack of their favorite fast food than their female companions. They had a lively discussion about brands of football helmets - THAT was like listening to Farsi - I had NO idea what they were talking about. Me? I thought a helmet was a helmet was a helmet...

One of the guys was taking an informal survey of his fellow-freshman. "What would you rather have in Toller - air conditioning or an elevator?" (Toller has neither and is 'home' to freshman.) The unanimous vote as AIR CONDITIONING.

And just in case you are wondering...it takes a LARGE quantity of food to feed 23 college football players in training with 3-a-days (3-a-days means they practice three times during the day - morning session, afternoon session, and early evening session). This crew was 'permitted' to be late to practice in order to attend the dinner and they were doing everything in their power to prolong the evening at the president's house...they LOVED the idea of being VERY late to evening practice. The heat index was 98 Monday so I can't say that I really blame them.

Tonight I had to attend a dinner for a campus guest speaker but did manage some Bubble time. The sentiment on this card is my new mantra.


Fiber Squared
~Base card - white linen
~Layer of aqua cardstock
~Squares of fabric from my 'other stash'
~Sentiment (I saw it on a magnet) printed on white cardstock and layered on green and aqua cardstocks - faux stitching around the edges
~Buttons from the Big Blue Bowl (my button stash)
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color challenge

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy

A Rose is a Rose

Not much yada yada right now. My 'girls' (daughter Amy and granddaughter Bailey are back from their trip to Minneapolis. They took in the Mall of America and the Renaissance Festival.) Need to see pictures they took and hear about their adventures.

Picasso Pink
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Cream~Layer of K & Company Life's Journey designer paper
~Three wraps of olive green cording
~Sentiment by Inkadinkadoo stamped on tan parchment paper, die cut using Cuttlebug and Spellbinder Labels Two, edges smudged using Distress Ink Tattered Rose and Memento Angel Pink, outer edged darkened using Copic Olive
~Rose centered button from my stash
Challenges
Shabby Tea Room - delicate cottage rose inspiration
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
Stampin' B's- use a die cut (the label), a circle (the outer rim of the button), a flower (the metal insert of the button)
Our Creative Corner Sketch
Alphabet - Q is for Quotes

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy

Sassy Spunk

Taking a quick moment to post this card while supper is cooking. Gotta' love the portability of a laptop!

Overheard in the hall today on campus, "Sure he can still walk - he came to campus a day later than we did". The fall athletes have been on campus for a week now - their spunk is draining. I think they are actually looking forward to attending classes so the 3 practices per day will come to a halt!


Sassy
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Ocean Tides
~Layers of Miss Elizabeth Art Nouveau design paper
~Image is from Creative Mind of Silvie, colored with Copics (Thank you Silvie for this fun and well crafted image!)
~Button accents
Challenge
Dutch Dare - layout
City Crafter - "Isn't She Lovely" - theme

All good wishes,
Nancy

Bruschetta - It's for the Birds

Last night was spent at my 94 year old mother's (and the my childhood) home. It is never without an internal chuckle and several (discreet) eye rolling episodes on my part. For the life of me I can NOT figure out why the woman has to follow me everywhere. I vacuum her bedroom - turn around - there the little sprite is! I vacuum the dining room - she is three feet away watching my every sweep of the Riccar (which by the way I wouldn't own if you GAVE me). She is essentially blind so it's not as if she can say, "you missed a spot".

I go outside to fill the bird feeders - turn and there is the little stealthy ninja! She is so quiet and SNEAKY! Do I REALLY need constant supervision. It's seed, it's several feeders... how difficult can it be? I know the 'general accepted' method for feeder duty: take down the feeders, walk to the porch, take the brick off of the METAL garbage can (darn those squirrels - can't have them chewing through another plastic garbage can and they haven't figured out how to muscle the brick off the top of the can), put the feeder over the can of seed, use the skinny funnel (a mandatory function according to the ninja), fill the feeders, (oh...forgot to mention one of the feeders has DUCT tape on the top so you have to untape the lid, fill it, re-stick the tape) then hang them back up, replace the metal can lid and MOST importantly put the brick firmly on the top of the can. See? I know the drill...I could do this by myself.

Why you might ask don't I just buy the woman a new bird feeder so we don't have to have duct tape at the ready? I told her I was going to buy her a new feeder. Her response? "Don't be ridiculous, I'm 94 years old, I'm not going to be around much longer." I've been hearing "I won't be around much longer" from her for the past 15 years. This from a woman who just bought herself 5 (yes FIVE) new pairs of shoes, a new queen size bed, and a new 42" plasma high definition TV. (Did I mention the discreet eye rolling and internal chuckling?)

THEN there is my younger sister - also at the house last night. I'm not going to air my family dirty laundry just suffice it to say I'm tired of her treating me like one of her elementary school students! Passing me the bruschetta, during dinner, and saying to me in her MOST teacher-like voice, "it's toast". REALLY? I thought someone left the bread out of the wrapper for three days! Geeeeeezzzzz between her and my maternal unit I wonder how I am able to function at all! FAMILY!!! Sorry - just had to vent.

I REALLY needed my Bubble time tonight. Since FAMILY is what drove me to the Bubble I thought I'd make a card for a family member. This is for daughter Amy's requested continuation of the cupcake series. Not sure if she actually gives the cupcake cards to anyone. Don't really care - just glad to make them for her and glad she likes them. Here is what I came up with.

Sprinkled with Love~Base card white linen
~Three layers of design paper (oldie but goodie set from Oriental Trading) edges smudged with Stampablities Cotton Candy~Circle punch of purple cardstock
~Scallop circle punch of green cardstock
~Image stamped using Hero Arts Cupcakes, colored using Copics, glitter dot dimensional, dots of glitter on 'frosting', cupcake highlights using white Sharpie Poster Paint
~Hot pink satin ribbon
Challenge:7 Kids College Fund - pinks and dots (posting this too late for the challenge - had BIRDS to feed you know...)
Lord Have Mercy - sketch
I have to admit that the card below and the card above were both accidents. I made the card below thinking I would use the cupcake image (above) where the silk flowers are attached. The brightness of the design paper overtook the cute little cupcake intended for this card - thus the 'birth' of two cards. I couldn't let the cupcake go without a home so put together the card above. It's best to just 'go with the flow' while spending time in The Bubble!


Raspberries - Hold the Cupcake~Base card PaperTrey Ink Raspberry Fizz
~Layer of white cardstock dotted with black gel pen ink
~Three layers of PaperTrey Ink Raspberry Fizz Mix on white and black cardstocks
~Top layer of design paper punched using Martha Stewart edge punch
~Wrap of hot pink Wrights Beader's Choice (a gift from Sister Gail - who knows I know what bruschetta is)
Challenge:
2S4Y - layout

Another busy day tomorrow on campus - that's it for me tonight.
Sweet dreams and thanks for clicking by.
Nancy