Ahhhh Siblings!

And she scores! YES! I scored some Bubble Time! Seems like forever since I've had a little card therapy. Late nights at work equal minimal time with cardstock, Copics, and creating.

My friend Mary Lee requested a couple of cards. Reflecting on the arrival of a new grandson (grandchild number 5) she wanted cards to "address the ambivalence associated with becoming a sibling". Now THAT is a challenge! I had to mull this one over for a bit and then remembered seeing these images over at Mo Manning's Digital Pencil Too. Mo and Pay Pal to the rescue - I love the instant gratification of digital images! Not to mention the gazillions of choices! I used the same layout for both.

Brothers
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layers of Basic Grey Oliver collection (a paper pad gift from sista' Gail)
~Digital image Brothers by Mo Manning - colored using Copics, highlights with Sharpie Poster Paint
Challenges (not counting the one from friend Mary Lee)
Friday Sketches
Paper Sundaes - for the boys
Mo's Challenge - pick a season - I picked "Season of Love"
Pile It On - beary good friend - include a bear and a friend
Crafty Sentiments Designs - male card

Brothers!
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink
~Layers of Basic Grey Cupcake collection
~Digital images - from Mo Manning (it is a set with lots of variables) colored using Copics, highlights with Sharpie Poster Paint, 'hubcaps' on wheels coated with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects,
Challenges
Raise the Bar - anything with wheels
Scrapbook Sisters - Tic Toc (time to do something about this little brother!)
Friday Sketches



That's all from me for tonight. I'm hoping to bag some more Bubble time this week...I'm forever hopeful anyway...
All good wishes,
Nancy

Can't Even Imagine

Feline Playful - I recently ran across and a blog site I really like because it has a summary of daily challenges is celebrating 500 hundred followers. I can't even imagine that - to think I got pumped when I hit double digit followers! I use her blog because I can easily get sucked into the vortex of blog searches and hours have passed by before I ever pick up a piece of cardstock, stamp, or tool. Accountant by day - Blogger by night: Check out Karen's Blog Candy!

Giggles and Ginko

As I posted in my previous note I promised a summary of 'Naked Cupcake Night'. As one of six dormitories (okay - so these days they are call 'residence halls...') floor 'parents' to 40-some young men and women it is our 'duty' to come up with an activity or two every term (unlike MOST colleges we don't use a semester based calendar - we use a trimester system). Once per term we host 'Naked Cupcake Night'. Each of us 'parents' bake 2 dozen cupcakes leaving them unfrosted (naked). The students then spend the evening frosting, decorating, and eating cupcakes. There is an assortment of food coloring, sprinkles, other toppings and chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla frosting.

We have been hosting this event for three years now and it doesn't need explaining even to the freshman. Word quickly spreads that if you live on 4th floor Alverno - you have the good fortune of looking forward to 'Naked Cupcake Night'. It never ceases to amaze me and never ceases to tickle me to see these 'kids' squeal with delight when they look in the lounge to see what's going on - only to realize it's cupcake night. Some of the students decorate cupcake after cupcake - handing them off to students who would rather have a cupcake designed just for them without having to lift a finger. Some of the students decorate one - pop it in their mouth - decorate another one.... Some stop by - slather on an inch of frosting, heap on sprinkles and M&M's and run to an evening class or to the library to study. They jibber-jabber the whole time, there is always lots of giggles and of course there is oooohhhhhing and aaahhhing over their confectionery creations.

I think I look forward to cupcake night as much as the students do. To check out more pics check out the Briar Cliff University Facebook page. Here are three of my favs.

Next on the floor parent to do list - candy in each of their mailboxes for Halloween. Students ALSO love finding goodies in their mailboxes.

And now for a couple of cards. It started with wondering what using Copics on Kraft paper would look like...the color isn't nearly as vibrant as it is on white cardstock but for an autumn look I think it worked out well.

Rustic Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream~Layer of Basic Grey Archaic
~Strip of Basic Gray solid from Archaic collection - edges smudged (distressed) with black ink
~Layer of rust color cardstock with edges curve punched and distressed using black ink
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Image is from Stampcraft Maple Leaf - colored with Copics and topped with Inkssentials Crackle Accents
~Image layer of cardstock run through Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots embossing folder...I ran it through upside down so instead of  'outies' I have 'inies'...I was really planning on bumps not dimples - but what they hay...
~Image layer also die cut using one of the label dies from Spellbinders and the Cuttlebug - I didn't want it to be as large as the die was so I chopped off about a third of the bottom and curve punched the two edges
~Rust colored sheer ribbon (which I must say if DIFFICULT to find) threaded through two small punched holes and tied into a simple bow
~Copper colored metal maple leaf brad in left upper corner
Challenges
Corrosive Challenge - Get Rid of the White
Paper Players - sketch
Basic Grey - use one BG item and autumn theme
C4C - fall/autumn theme

Pulling Leaves
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Aqua Mist
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink - Kraft - edges dredged through Versamark then embossed using Stampendous Wintergreen Pastel embossing powder (this is DEFINITELY from the "I actually BOUGHT this stuff?" pile
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream - stamped with real leaves using Stampabilities Baby Blue and Versamark Polar Blue inks (Believe me - fall is certainly here - it wasn't easy finding leaves green and pliable enough to use)
~Center image cut from a background stamp (Stamps Happen - Ginko II) stamped using Versamark and embossed with Ranger Enamelware embossing powder
~Ribbon is the coolest thing ever - I ordered some from Paper Temptress where I get my FAVORITE cardstock for Copic Coloring (CryogenWhite Iridescent) - the Pull-It ribbon was ON SALE! It has a ready made pull string - so you just cut, cinch - and there you have it a perfect ribbon flower!
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color theme - beige, pale blue, and pale 'mint-ish' green
Craftalicious - anything goes

I'm off to bed now...have to travel to Indianola, IA tomorrow for the day. Seven hours in the car for a five hour meeting..
All good wishes,
Nancy

Cupcakes and Christmas

I will fill you in on Naked Cupcake Night with my next posting. Because it was Naked Cupcake Night tonight - I'm home late  - so short post. We will have Miss Bailey this weekend so Bubble time will be replaced with lots of granddaughter time. THAT is a most acceptable replacement for card making time!

Three Cheers for Christmas
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Ripe Avocado
~Layer of Daisy D's Moda Classic Holiday Stripe
~Textured ribbon
~Circle punch of cream colored cardstock - edged with Tim Holtz Old Paper and Stampin' Up Old Olive
~Image - Verve Poinsettia Christmas - colored with Copics - centers colored with Copics and highlighted with Poster Paints white and yellow
Challenges
Alphabet - X for Xmas
Scrapbook Sisters - flowers
Colour Create - pink, green, cream
ABC - F is for Flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - three of something
2 Sketches 4 You - sketch

Check back later for tales of  a Naked Cupcake Night - complete with photos.
Merry Christmas!
Nancy

Ninja Mummy

I'm not looking for sympathy - I just have to give you a little history before I share my most recent 'mother story'. I've had the flu (G.I. and respiratory) for the past 2 and a half days. If you haven't read this blog before allow me to bring you up to speed. My mother is a spry, slight, wee, tenacious, little woman of 94. She is essentially blind and has had more than one near-death episode. She is still living in my childhood home. She has too much 'stuff' to even briefly consider a move to assisted living - well - that and she is as strong willed as a titanium girder.

I was supposed to go to her house on Monday evening. Since I was a whiny, bed-ridden, lump of germs, I had husband John call my mother early on Monday to tell her I would not be coming over to the house that evening and to tell her the reason I would not be coming over.

Not sure why I bare my soul on this blog - recently I admitted my personal and necessary use of TWEEZERS, I admitted I'm not gracious enough to mail cards, I secretly think my mother had super ninja powers, and now I'm disclosing that I get whiny - VERY VERY whiny - when I'm nauseated (just ask my husband). Oh and for the record - I get VERY VERY nasty tempered when I get HOT (not to mention that my hair triples in volume and gets - how should I describe it - like a porcupine on steroids). As for verification on both of my heat related maladies feel free to check with my sisters.

The maternal unit then called on Tuesday to see if I was still sick. John told her yes I was staying home from work for one more day and would be back to work tomorrow. I had my cell phone turned off because I get so many text messages from students that I didn't want my phone buzzing all day long.

The doorbell rang mid afternoon today - and I knew before my husband unlocked the door that it was going to be THE NINJA MOTHER! Evidently she didn't believe my husband when he told her I was recuperating because she had someone drive her to my house this afternoon. As I was walking down the hallway, bedecked in my jammies, she announced that she had to come over to make sure "I wasn't dead." And that is a verbatim quote.

She asked if she could take me to the doctor. (She has no driver's license - she has no car...) (Silent, internal giggling as she is offering to be my medical chauffeur.) I said, I have the FLU I'm not going to the doctor and in fact I'm going back to work tomorrow. She asked, "when were you around sick people?"  (hmmmm....beginning to wonder if she thinks I played hooky from coming to her house and going to work...)I answered, "I work on a college campus with 1000 kids..." I also told her, "and now YOU have been around sick people - me! What are you doing here?!!! "

She then asked if I wanted to go out to dinner. My hair looks like a harshly used bottle brush, I'm wearing NOT my finest sleepwear, have only sipped on juice, Squirt, and nibbled on crackers since Sunday - and she wants to go out to dinner. I know...I know...she was only concerned, but now she has unnecessarily exposed herself to all my cruddy airborne agents of illness. Oh well - she's made of stout stuff and the windows were all open. I can't believe she actually came over here...

On to the cards which I was able to make because I DO feel better today!

I Felt Grateful
~Base card - pre-made package of 3 from the Target dollar aisle
~Inside pumpkin stamped and colored using Copics
~Sentiment by Stampin' Up Small Script and punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
~Outside pumpkin is a thick felt sticker  - I smudged the edges with brown ink - and inserted a coiled green wire
Challenges
Digi Doodles Shops' Best - use orange
Shabby Tea Room - pumpkin photo inspiration

This next card has some explaining that needs to be shared. I actually colored the little image while on holiday with my sissies - I stamped up assorted images took my colored pencils (only had 3 or 4 Copics at the time) and colored while they quilted having no idea what I would do with the images once I was back in Iowa. So he has been sitting around for a very long time. Then a couple of weeks ago I 'spun' the web around the cardstock using metallic threads and voile' a home for my little mummy! I ran a strip of adhesive across the back - intending the square for...something - I have no idea what. Why? Because I lost the little bugger! I looked EVERYWHERE (or so I thought) in the Bubble! Well, fast forward to today, I grabbed for my Scor-Buddy and felt something odd on the underside of it. I tend to be an organize freak in my Bubble I always put things back where they 'belong'. I use my Scor-Buddy with every card - but evidently - today I grabbed for it in a different manner... and there was the missing little spook. Thank you Saint Anthony! (He is the patron saint of lost items and he hears from me frequently.)

Spook in Hiding
~Base card - pre-made white linen card edges smudged with blue and purple inks
~Background card was a re-purposed marketing folder - stripes already on the cardstock
~Polka dot ribbon from Hobby Lobby
~Stamped image from Stampin' Up Booglie Eyes pencil colored and coated with Ranger Glossy Accents and his gauze topped with Liquid Applique
~Moon is white cardstock 'bat stamped' with Versamark and embossed with Ranger Black embossing powder
~Purple cardstock - edges 'scalloped' using a circle dot punch
~Blue and purple metallic embroidery floss randomly wound around the square (floss was a Transfer of Crap item from sissy Gail)
Challenges
Craft Your Passions - sketch
Lexi's Creations - spooky theme
Something Completely Different - colors - purple and green

Going to bed now...back to work tomorrow. I know my peeps miss me I just turned my cell phone back on...
Nancy

Another Birthday

No not mine. I just forgot to post the second birthday card for the Omaha stash for daughter Amy to use. This will just be a quick post.

The Birthday Bug
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Pure Poppy
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Penny Lane
~Layer of redish colored cardstock - scalloped using Fiskars Paper Edgers
~Layer of striped ribbon
~Digital image from Digital Delights printed on my favorite Copic coloring paper - Cryogen White from Paper Temptress - it is AWESOME! You can't see it from the photo - but in real life - the paper has a very slight sparkle. The image was colored using Copics, the centers of the flowers on her dress and cap were topped with Stickles Yellow. Edges smudged with Stampabilities Baby Blue and a thin layer of Stampabilities Black. Highlights on cheeks and shoes - Poster Paints white.
~Bling added to her antenae
~Sentiment stamped using Versamark and Ranger Rich Red and Ranger Moss embossing powders, cut out using an oval Spellbinders - the sentiment itself is from a Stampin' Up set
Challenges
Sweet Stampin' - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
Mark's Finest Papers - use stripes (the ribbon is striped)
Mami Doodles - girly birthday card
Get Sketchy - layout
The Pink Elephant - childhood theme

All good wishes,
Nancy

Birthday Bandit

Sista Gail had to make an 'emergency run' to daughter Amy's place of work this week. The emergency? Amy needed a few mama-made cards for her 'peeps'. Ahh...the responsibilities of being a supervisor. It makes me feel all cozy inside knowing people (even if they're "only family") appreciate my handy work. SOMEBODY has to use these darn cards - 'cuz I sure don't. I am the worse card giver ever to prowl the aisle of a Hallmark. I do like giving away the cards I make for OTHERS (evidently more kind and considerate than me) to use on special occasions. While I'm on the honesty pot I'll tell you that I like making cards for others to use because then I can make whatever theme I want...whatever my muse whispers in my ear - or hits me over the head with...it's up to the giver to decide what the heck to do with them. I like the no pressure stress reduction of my card making Bubble time.

Since Amy gobbled up a few of the birthday cards that her Aunt Gail had on hand I was charged with making more. So...here we go.

Grab Your Party Hat
~Base card - pre-made window card - package of three from the Target dollar bin - edges smudged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy
~Left corner party hat is a sticker from the Dollar Tree
~Sentiment stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black - stamped on purple cardstock layered on green and pink cardstock
~Clump of ribbons from my stash

And this is the inside of the card...

~Party hats punch used - topped with glue then glittered
~Inside sentiment - Stampabilities - It's Your Day, colored with Copics
Challenges
Gingerloft - Glitter or Bling
Crazy for Challenges - Birthday card

Sista Judy and Gail - keep your editing pens close at hand I'll be posting another card with a Memere Old story included. I love having my own personal proofreaders. I just hope I correct all the spelling spoofs and grammar gaffes before they land on too many eyes.

All good wishes,
Nancy

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