Christmas Flats

A quick trip to and from the Sioux Falls, SD airport and I'm back at the computer posting a card. While on my journey to retrieve a college student returning from Thanksgiving break back home (in Texas) I had time to survey the landscape. There was nothing but country western songs on the radio and well...nothing but...flatness to look at. I've made the trip north on Interstate 29 several times but didn't realize until today how flat this portion of South Dakota really is. Iowa isn't mountainous at all but it does have its share of rolling hills.

The flatness must have felt like home to my Texan friend because he told me that when he came for a campus visit during his senior year of high school he asked the track coach, "are those mountains?", referring to the adjacent Loess Hills  which rise 200 feet above the flat plains forming a narrow band running north-south 200 miles along the Missouri River. He said, 'yes this is as flat as home - except - you can't drive this far without seeing houses and cities and cars...and people!" Oh those big city kids!

Dillian's mother did not disappoint him and had plenty of greens and neck bones waiting for him when he got home last Tuesday. He said he only wished he could have packed his suitcase with greens, neck bones, barbecue, and an assortment of other home cooked goodies.

Here is another card for the Jennie stack. Her request is for 5 Christmas cards and 20 assorted any occasion cards.

Oh Christmas Tree
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of the Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holidays
~Eight buttons with metalic floss
~Felt Christmas tree with lights and a smattering of snow flakes and a glittered star
Challenges
Gingerloft - Christmas or winter
Fairy Tale - Christmas
Poodles Parlor - Christmas
Our Creative Corner - Christmas tree
Twisted Sketch - sketch plus glitter
Phindy's Place - a sprinkling of snow
Crazy 4 Challenges - snow

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Penguinies and Greens!

One of my students texted me last night. His ride, back to campus, from the Sioux Falls, SD airport fell through. He wanted to know if I would pick him up. Sure...why not? I asked him before he left for Thanksgiving break what he was most looking forward to when he got back to Texas. He said, 'my mama's cookin'. She's gonna have greens and neck bones waitin' for me! I can already smell it - greens and neck bones..." Then he got rather dreamy eyed and unfocused.

I love hearing stories from the students...what is the first thing they plan on doing...what food do they miss the most...what family activity are they most looking forward to...are they going to get all their homework done while on break...!

I have to leave soon for the drive to Sioux Falls but want to post this card that I put together early this morning. It is another one for the Jennie series. Every year I make cards for daughter Amy's BFF (since grade school). Amy and Jennie have weathered middle school, high school, undergraduate school, graduate school, Amy's Hodgkin's Lymphoma, trans-continental travels, California, and everything else that life tosses in the air. I look forward to Jennie's annual request because it reminds me that she is really part of our family not just Amy's friend.

Upon further reflection - this card could end up in the sister Gail pile...she is crazy for penguins. 'Penguinies' as we call them (an homage to friend Mary Lee's granddaughter moniker for penguins). I will just make another card for Jennie if Gail lays claim to this one.

Hooray for Penguinies!
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Ocean Tides
~Scrap of Kaleidoscope design paper - stripes laid vertically
~Smaller scrap of same design paper attached to PaperTrey Ink Ocean Tides scrap - using stripes horizontally
~MelJen's Design freebie image laser printed on Papertemptress Cryogen White (having a sale - best cardstock ever for Copics - but could possibly win an award for worst website ever...but who cares! I love the paper!) Image colored with Copics - bling and glitter enhancements. White cardstock attached to more Ocean Tides - edges of both curved using curve punch.
~Grosgrain ribbon
~Three buttons - attached with glitter glue
Challenges
Card Patterns - sketch
Dutch Dare - recipe: ribbon, embellishment, layers, image, design paper
Sarah Hurley - buttons
Craft Your Days Away - buttons or bows
Lilypad - button

I'm now on my way to South Dakota. Can't wait to hear all the details of Dillian's Thanksgiving break and time with family and friends.  (Don't tell him but I hope he doesn't bring me any greens and neck bones!).

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Snow Place Like Home

Just a quick post before I get ready to turn in for the evening. Jennie, daughter Amy's BFF, requested her annual groupings of cards to give to her co-workers. Here is one that will make it into the 'Jennie pack'. Amy told me not to make them too 'blingy' or Jennie will keep them for herself. Jennie is as 'blingy' as daughter Amy is not - complete opposites those two!

No Place Like Home
~Base card Stampin' Up cardstock
~Layer of Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holidays (vertical stripe)
~Layer of Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holidays  (same stripe placed horizontally)
~Die cut sentiment sticker from Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holidays
~Layer of pink cardstock topped with another selection (snowflakes) from Paper Studio Happy Hootin' Holidays
~Layer of pink cardstock - topped with house recycled from a last year's Christmas card
Challenges
i{heart} to stamp - sketch
4 Crafty Chicks - snowflakes
Creations by Gill - recycling
Scrapbooks Sisters - Christmas

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Braced for Christmas

The work on the Franciscan Team 'edible' Christmas tree continues. Here are the latest creations. (Note to self - "when taking photos of ornaments drying on the kitchen rack dust the rack prior to taking the photo.")

Orange 'butts', cranberries, and pretzels.

Tonight a few of the college kids are coming over for a night of laundry, "homework", and movies. Little do they know that they will be put to work during movie time - stringing cranberries! I'll snap a shot of the tree once it is all decorated and post it.

Here is a card I put together for one of my special 'peeps' at school. She gets her braces off on Monday. Every day for the past month she pops by my office heralding the days until her straightened teeth are unveiled for all to see. I've known Trayna since her first day on campus, as a wee freshman, prior to the braces. I've had the updates of tightening, rubber bands, what happens to caramel when you 'cheat' and eat them anyway...we traveled the road of braces together. I thought she deserved a card. This is what I came up with.

A Smile Fit for a Princess
~Base card white linen
~Layer of pink cardstock American Craft Weave: Taffy
~Layer of Colorbok Rhapsody design paper
~Cuttlebug oval die cut/embossed of American Craft Weave: Taffy cardstock
~Grosgrain ribbon loops with aqua brads
~Sentiment printed on white cardstock using laser printer
~Freebie digital image by Melon Headz, printed on Cryogen White cardstock, colored with Copics, crown highlighted with gold glitter glue and rhinestones, heart on dress coated with Smooch Sassy Pink, polka dots and shoes highlighted with Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Challenges
2 Sisters - let it sparkle
Cardmadfairy's - digi plus texture
Stampin' for the Weekend - sketch
Freshly Brewed - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Friends, Flora, and Fauna

I am making ornaments for a nature friendly, 'edible' Christmas tree. I am part of the Franciscan Team at work and I volunteered to decorate one of the twenty Christmas trees scattered throughout the student union. It is a competition between campus organizations. As un-Christian and un-Franciscan as it might sound...I WANT TO WIN!!!! But mostly - I REALLY need to learn how NOT to volunteer.

Since St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the college I work for is a Franciscan university, I wanted to incorporate our native wildlife without me having to prowl the 100 acres of native prairie grasslands adjoining campus for sprouts, sprigs, and other such makeshift 'ornaments'. So then I thought  -  why not have the animals come to us? What better way to do that than with smorgasboard tree? We share our campus with dozens of deer, turkey, squirrels, and many, many birds of flight on a daily basis. We might as well give them a Merry Christmas meal too!

Here is my plan: star shaped cookie cutters of sliced white bread, orange slices, cranberry strings, and some nuts. In keeping with the all natural theme - I'll be using 100% cotton thread and jute twine to string up the creations. The tree will be inside until the Christmas break - then I'll move the 'yummy' treats off of the artificial tree to an outdoor tree for 'all God's creatures great and small'. Here is a picture of the stars. I'll keep you posted on the rest of the produce ornaments. Let me know if you have any other suggestions for me to add to the edible list!

Here are three of the 120 stars.

While I had the stars in the oven for some dry-time I managed to put the finishing touches on this card.

Friends in the Garden
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Kraft cardstock
~Layer of Colorbok Cafe' au Lait
~Layer of light green cardstock with coordinating layer of Colorbok Cafe' au Lait
~Three purple brads
~Layer of purple cardstock
~Sentiment stamped on vanilla cardstock
~Taylored Expressions Friendship Blooms leaf stamp
~Taylored Expressions Leafy Branch die cut
~Taylored Expressions Friendship Blooms flower stamp embossed with purple embossing powder and die cut using Taylored Expressions Friendship Blooms
~Three green brads
Challenges
Scrappy Frogs - kraft
Challenge Up Your Life - friendship
Crafty Ann's - floral frenzy
Frosted Designs - embossing
Paper Crafting Journey - embossing

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy

Baskets of Food and Flowers

Today was the annual canned food drive on campus. Two hundred plus students descended from "The Cliff" to the surrounding residential areas to collect canned food for the Foodbank of Siouxland. It is another outreach opportunity for our students at Briar Cliff University. The freshman always look a little skeptical but come back with smiles on their faces, bags of food in their arms, and stories of the human condition called generosity.

A co-worker of mine is on medical leave with a knee replacement. With the physical therapy he is going through I thought a card with an image of a bicycle would be just perfect!

Bicycle Built for One
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of Colorbok Cafe' Lait
~Three strands raffia
~Blue and orange cardstock - edges smudged and corners curved
~Bicycle is stamp from Unity Stamp 'A Basketful of Wishes', colored with Copics, fenders and brace topped with Inkssentials' Glossy Accents, flowers in basket topped with Flowersoft
~Two silver metal brads

Challenges
Fashionable Stamping - In Times Gone By
2 Sisters - anything goes
Just Some Lines - orange and blue
Inspire Me Fridays - anything goes
Divas By Design - metal

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy

Thankful for Squash

Spent the day cleaning the basement...yuck! Also baked a chicken and squash. It is now my 'break-time' so thought I'd post a card. Friend Nila shared part of her squash harvest with my sister Gail. Gail in turn shared her squash gift with me hence the baking of the squash and creating a thank you card.

It is rather minimal but gets the message across.

Lots of Thanks
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft - edges smudged with brown ink
~Off white cardstock embossed using Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Thanks embossing folder - edges and raised lettering smudged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks
~Brown ribbon - re-purposed from a flower bouquet
Challenges
The Crafter's Cafe - thankful
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - thankful
Card Makin' Mamas - thankful
Fussy and Fancy - thankful
Phindy's Place - thankful
Aud Sentiments - thankful

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

With This Ring

Still working on the Mary Lee request for two 'second-time around' wedding cards... She sent me an email wondering if she should stop issuing 'difficult' requests. I wouldn't say the requests are hard - just challenging. I have to admit I enjoy a good card challenge. A challenge to start exercising - or go on a diet...not so much!

I'm still not sure I've nailed the challenge but here is this evening's effort. Here is card number one.

With This Ring
~Base card PaperTrey Ink - Kraft
~Layer of dark brown cardstock
~Layer of Tim Holtz Idea-ology
~Assorted vintage seam binding (a present from sister Gail)
~Two jewelry pieces (transfer of crap from sister-in-law Jayne)
Challenges
DYSU - inspired by a song (Mendelssohn's Wedding March)
Southern Girls - inspired by a song (Mendelssohn's Wedding March)
Heart Song Inspirations - anything goes
Catch the Bug - anything goes

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Magic and Marriage

Every year on campus we host a Christmas party for persons with special needs. Most of the guests live in group homes with a variety of mental and physical disabilities. It is my favorite day on campus. I believe it is the best thing we do all year. And I am proud to say we do many good things in the community. A room full of excited special needs adults, on a field trip, anticipating the arrival of Santa and his elves, live choir music and gifts from Santa - it is truly a magical day.

The list of names of those who will be attending along with their first and second choice of present is made available to staff and students. Students and staff take the name and wish list for an individual and select a name for purchasing a Christmas. The limit for expenditure is $10.00 per person. Here are some of the items that are being dreamed about for this Christmas: anything Iowa Hawkeye, University of Iowa Sweatshirt, warm socks, winter hat and matching scarf, beads, hand lotion, a soft blanket, an Iowa Cyclones t-shirt, a cooking pan, kitchen towels, a Faith Hill CD, a Tim McGraw poster...and the item that caught my eye? That would be Kelly C's, a male client at one of the residential homes. All he had on his list was 'fireman scrap booking items'. I've never met Kelly and I don't know what the relationship is for Kelly and firemen - but he evidently has a story to tell using scrap booking and I intend to get him just what he needs to tell that story. I'm looking forward to my trip to Hobby Lobby and possibly Michael's to scoop up all I can to make Kelly's Christmas a scrap booking delight!

These special guests are greeted by students and elves. Lunch is served by the students (the students volunteer a guest meal or two or three for the visitors). The full complement of 100+ college choir members will perform traditional Christmas carols, there will be a sing-along for the guests to join in, with the final song being 'Here Comes Santa Claus" - during which Santa magically appears! This year sophomore student Ethan will portray Santa - picking up each gift, reading the tag, and announcing the recipient. The student elves than scurry around the room delivering the greatly anticipated gift to each of the eager guests. They are frequently shocked that Santa knew what it was, exactly, that they wanted.

It is such a dear and heartwarming experience. I look forward to it every year and even more so this year as I will be purchasing paper craft items for someone's special adult child, Kelly.

Now...on to the card. Friend Mary Lee put in a request for two non-traditional wedding cards. She knows me well enough to know I don't do fru-fru, sentimental, mushy, or sappy cards. She also knows my palms get sweaty and I freeze up at the thought of making wedding or anniversary cards. Also this is a second marriage for both of her friends so a traditional card was not going to be the ticket. This request said something about her friends being up to the challenge of going down this road (marriage) for a second time.

I always have to really think about what to put together when Mary Lee makes a request. When my sisters ask for cards they simply state..."I need some birthday cards", or "I need a graduation card"...."do it"! They take what I crank out. My daughter's friend Jennie requests cards to give as Christmas gifts - all I need to do to make Jennie happy is to put lots and lots of bling on the cards. Daughter Amy's signature request for cards is anything with a cupcake on it. Mary Lee on the other hand...she makes me THINK!

For the first card I'm going with a 'journey' theme. Marriage is a journey...sometimes it is a 'wash-board' dirt road...sometimes it's a flower bordered cobblestone path. I'm confident Mary Lee will come up with an appropriate sentiment for the inside of the card.

Up to the Challenge
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Kraft
~Layer of Bazzill cardstock Herbal Garden Dark
~Three design papers from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology collection - all the edges smudged with ink
~Three Prima flowers with center metal brads
~Medallion metal brad
Challenges
I Brake for Challenges - no white or ivory
Ladybug Crafts Ink - love and marriage

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Pfaffs and Flowers

Granddaughter Olivia turned one. My daughter in law must have spent hours decorating and even more hours un-decorating. Here are a few pics from the big day.

The princess is granting audiences now.

Banners and fringed crepe paper.

Flowers on the over-head light.

Banners and goodies.

Yum!

Banners and clothespins.

I think I'll wear my tutu with my dress plus

I'll just casually toss my new leggin's

and sweater over my shoulder.

We found out that all this one year old wanted was clothes. I've never seen a kid more interested in clothes than toys (or empty boxes).

Here is a card I popped together. I found out doing all the fancy stitching that my Pfaff sewing machine was in dire need of a spa day so it is at the sewing machine repair shop in Omaha. I may even try a bit of quilting when I get it back. Sister Gail took one look at this card and snatched it up. I even put a little effort into the inside of the card...in honor of my blogging buddy Julie! Her cards are so beautiful - inside and out! Check them out over at Rainbow Days.

In Stitches
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Two design papers from Colorbok Faded Denim collection
~Taylored Expressions stamp stems/leaves stamped on vanilla cardstock - edges smudged with ink
~Taylored Expressions die cut flowers using Colorbok Faded Denim scraps - button centers
~Machine stitching
~Ribbon
Inside of card:
~Taylored Expressions die cut fence
~Flower punch
Challenges
Craft Your Passion - anything goes plus brown
Heart Song Inspirations - anything goes
Lollipop Crafts - Thanksgiving/Fall
Craft Your Days Away - Autumn
Creative Inspirations - anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs - stitching
Ohh La La Creations - stitching
Totally Paper Crafts - stitching

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Taylored Wreath

Friday a senior level student came into my office and proceeded to take off his shoes AND SOCKS to get my opinion on his ingrown toenails! This SO fell under the category of WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION! Well this same student just called me on my cell phone asking if I would take him to the podiatrist this week. He admitted to being terrified stating it was because, "I looked it up on the internet." He wants me to stay with him for the procedure...I think I WON'T be looking it up on the internet! I could hardly say no to him - his mother died of cancer in August of this year.

Last week it was another student with a pair of trousers needing a button sewn back in place.

I have a very difficult time telling these college age students 'NO'. I am a wimp!

Here is what I put together today - using a set of Taylored Expressions I ordered awhile back but hadn't cracked open yet.

Misted Wreath
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Select White
~Design papers - Basic Grey Dasher - edges outlined with Copics
~Green and red cardstock - red scalloped Spellbinders die cuts
~Taylored Expressions Seasonal Wreath - cream color cardstock - stamped with assorted greens - using Taylored Expressions Friendship Blooms
~All three layers sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Wheat Fields
~Three rhinestones
Challenges
Taylored Expressions - sketch
Christmas Inspirations - die cuts
Basic Grey - anything goes
Bah Humbug - die cuts and Christmas
Colour Create - photo inspiration

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Understatements from the Hubby

Every once in awhile I get a 'mom-like' request from one of the students at the college where I work. A couple of weeks ago Justin stopped by my office to ask if I would sew a button back on a pair of his slacks. I told him I would and then promptly forgot about the request. Yesterday with a smile on his face, a pair of Khakis in one hand and a stray button in the other he re-appeared in my office along with a few of his chums. Since this isn't the first request for 'mom skills' I had thread and needle in my desk drawer available for just such an occasion. Justin and his buddies carried on a lively conversation while I completed my domestic task. He left happy and ready for a college student evening out on the town.

This really isn't a story much out of the ordinary for me. What makes this story 'blog worthy' is that just before Justin walked into my office, pants in hand, my husband had arrived to give me a ride home. In usual John fashion - he sat quietly listening to the spirited exchanges normal for my office. As we left my office to go home, also in typical John fashion, he quietly stated, "If I had asked you to sew a button on for me you would have tossed the item in my face and told me where the needles and thread are located." Okay - score one for the hubby.

A co-worker's mother passed away Friday and I mentioned to my husband that I needed to go to the store to purchase a sympathy card. He gave me a look and said, "you're kidding me right?" "You have a basement full of 'card-stuff' and you are going to BUY a card?" I rarely use my own cards - I usually just supply others with cards to send - I didn't even think of sending a home made card. I decided to use this one to send to my friend. Oh that hubby - he is SO smart!

I attempted a resist technique by Lily Pad. I really like her videos. They are edited quite smartly! I am going to have to try it again as I don't think I have it mastered in this version. I think my friend, Renee, will appreciate it anyway.

With Sympathy
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft
~Layer of ivory cardstock
~Layer of Bazzill Pickle cardstock
~Background stamp Stampabilities Le London Script - using Versamark and clear Ranger embossing powder - ink smudges using Distress Ink Fired Brick, Memento Tangelo, and Stampin' Up Barely Banana,
~Image stamp Hampton Art Watercolor Daisy
~Technique used from Lily Pad

Challenges and Inspirations
Shabby Tea Room - fall flowers
Scrapbook Sisters - anything goes
Stamp, Scrap, and Doodle - anything with leaves
Just Add Ink - photo inspiration
Fairy Tale - sympathy
Stampin' for the Weekend - colors of autumn

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Oh Yeah...We're Feelin' It!

I am one of 14 card-crazy-challenge-posting volunteer team members at Feline Playful. I fill-in when the regulars go on holiday or need a quick break. The team organized this blog party to thank all of those who have joined Feline Playful as followers - over 1800 of you and counting!! This is a thank you to all of you who have been so supportive of this wonderful blog that tracks more than 500 challenges! New challenges are added nearly daily!

Not only will you get to visit past and present 'Feliners' but you have multiple chances to win digital images, store credit/vouchers, and guest design team spots from our very generous sponsors!

There are three ways to win! For details on how to win click here.

Two random readers will win a prize directly from this site as well. Two winners will be randomly selected on Friday from all the commentors.

The sponsors of my blog for this event are: Create with TLC and the Digital Stamp Club.

TLC donated a $10.00 gift certificate.

The Digital Stamp Club donated the winner's choice of

either one digital set or 6 separate digis.

So what are you waiting for? Let's get this party started!!!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

P.S. If you are wondering...the secret letter is 'L'
The next location on your blog hop is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You will be visiting Feline Playful team member Natali - enjoy!

Feelin' Fall

Since the theme of the Feline Playful blog hop is 'thankful' I decided to put together an autumn card. While I frequently have thoughts of thankfulness while strolling through burgeoning blossoms in the spring, marveling at the wonder of snowflakes, and delight at the sound of children's laughter in the midst of summer, there is just something special about autumn. I love the colors, the winding down of summer, the smells, the harvests...the season just lends itself to thoughts of thanks.

Season of Thanks
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Rustic White cardstock
~Lower edge of base card embossed using Ranger Gold embossing powder
~Plaid layer of ATD Foil, Glitter, Shimmer cardstock (a gift from sister Gail)
~Kraft cardstock dry embossed using Sizzix Fall Fence embossing folder and Cuttlebug - raised areas spot colored using Copics - edges smudged using Distress Inks
~Three maple leaf metal brads
Challenges and Inspirations
House of Gilli - embossing
Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - autumn and kraft paper
My Kraft Spot - fall leaves
Pile it On - colors of autumn
Crazy 4 Challenges - card or project with pumpkins
Our Daily Bread Designs - fall colors or theme
Raise the Bar - fall leaves
Our Craft Lounge - fall colors photo inspiration

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

He, She, and Nerves of Steal

A while back friend Mary Lee asked that I make a card for a special friend of hers whose daughter was getting married. The usual cold fear coursed through my veins and my mental synapses fired a repetitive message - oh no - not a sappy occasion card - not an engagement card - not something that involves mushy stuff!

What is there about anniversary and lovey-dovey cards that make me go numb? I'm not really sure what type of card I feel like I do well with...but I know that this request for an engagement card made me cringe on the inside while replying, "sure! No Problem!". Not only was my brain on overload with "oh NO what in the world am I going to do!?" but I also had to force myself to cut paper from "that stash". You know that stash...the paper you take out and look at...and drool over...and then put it back because you just can't bear to cut it...I know you too have a stack of 'can't whack'! But sometimes you just have to put on your big girl panties and start slicing, dicing, and in this case tearing... Not to mention how unnerved I was trying to figure out how to print directly on the design paper without mucking it up!

Here is what I came up with...

He Said She Said

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock

~Layer of Webster's Pages Seaside, Garden Gala, Nature's Storybook Collection

~Second layer of Webster's Pages - torn and edge smudged with teal ink (I just love the little sea horse - which I know has NOTHING to do with an engagement - I just like it!)

~Sentiment (a freebie) by Bethany over at Elegant Word Art. Check out her blog - she is a font wizard!

~Embellishments: re-purposed button cover (remember those weird adornments?); pearl spray (from the bridal aisle of Hobby Lobby - which coincidentally DOES have something to do with an engagement); and a clump of tea dyed seam bindings (a gift from Sister Gail - purchased at Etsy)

Challenges

PaperWorks Co - lace (I used seam binding), pearls, distressing

Emerald Faeries - pearls

Card Cupids - anything goes

Dream Valley - buttons (the heart)

Gingerloft - vintage/distress

I Did it Creations - beach

Scrappy Frog - vintage

The Hybrid Chick - buttons

Squirrel and the Fox - anything goes

2 Sisters - sentiment as focal point

All Sorts - recycle something

Bloggers Challenge - buttons

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Transfer Threads

For those of you who don't know about my reference to 'transfer of crap' here is a little history lesson. Transfer of Crap (ToC) is a term daughter Amy came up with when referring to the flurry of transporting (giving) stuff you no longer want to someone you are sure IS going to want it... The most prolific of 'transfer of crap' is my sister Gail. She has also instructed friend Nila on the art of transfer of crap. I am the most targeted location for transfer of crap and have been known to participate in the Ultimate Transfer of Crap. I have on more than one occasion paid the US Postal system to transfer crap for me! Daughter Amy is the least accepting of transfer of crap. Sister Judy is geographically hindered by most transfer of crap - she will have to tell you if that is a good thing or an unfortunate thing. She is probably the only one of us who has ever received transfer of crap via the postal service. The genetic source of this affliction is our mother and NONE of us hold a candle to her ability to transfer crap.

There are rules to transfer of crap!

• The giver cannot be offended if the prospective receiver says, "I don't want that crap!"
• Once crap is accepted by the receiver the crap may NOT be returned to the original giver (unless it is in some re-purposed form such as used on a card).
• After giving the crap the giver may NOT inquire about the location or destination of the crap - AKA "it is acceptable to take the crap to the nearest landfill or charitable organization" without telling the giver.

I've even PURCHASED crap so I could transfer it at a later date! I could go on and on about the art of transfer of crap - but I have to get to the reason for bringing up ToC - this card. I even tag/label my posts with ToC!

  

Friendship Threads
~Base card -  Stampin' Up cardstock
~Layer of Basic Grey Cashmere
~Sentiment is a quote that one of the Feline Playful gals (Linda) has as part of her signature block - I knew the first time I read it that I would have to use it on a card sometime. (Printed using laser printer on white cardstock, smudged with ink, and mounted on three layers of purple.)
~The "spools" are embroidery floss holders that I cut to size - making them narrower than they were originally - re-purposed Transfer of Crap from friend Nila
~The floss is Transfer of Crap from sista' Gail
Challenges
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration photos (lavenders/purples with a splash of yellow)
Pixie Dust Studio - recycle
Shelly's Images - anything goes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - recycle
Kaboodle Doodle - chipboard (spools)

Thank you for clicking by!
Nancy in Iowa

Simple Sharpie Messages

I can't even believe how busy I have been at work. I have a great boss but I think he forgets I'm just one person in a one person department with a very murky job description that evidently has 'Other Duties As Assigned' emblazoned on it with a BLACK SHARPIE in 32 point upper case font.

Let's see today I....I can't even remember all I did but I know I'm exhausted! I did have one bright spot in my day. A former student stopped by to spend time with me. She fondly reminisced about her college days and hours spent in my office. She is a wonderful young lady - newly married - happy as a clam - living in Florida - doing work she loves and I feel privileged that she stopped by to share her time with me.

Oops this one was supposed to go in the Omaha pile for fabric friend Mary Lee. I managed to incorporate fabric into all of her requested cards. Yea for scraps! This one is pretty simple but I like the simplicity. I think it is a subliminal message to me - SIMPLIFY!

Trio of Trees
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock edges smudge with hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Leaf
~Layer of purple Bazzill cardstock
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Trees cut from green quilt fabric scraps
~Three purple brads
Challenges
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Just for Fun - shades of green
Papercraft Star - anything goes
Crafty Boots - anything goes
Make it Monday - anything goes
The Kraft Journal - use a sketch plus kraft cardstock

Thank you for clicking by,
Don't forget about the MEGA-blog-hop that is happening over at Feline Playful beginning Sept. 21!

Nancy in Iowa

Hangin' On For Holidays

I've been very absent from the blogosphere lately. Life is hectic and work is just brutal right now.

I have to admit this is an odd card. I'm not sure where the original inspiration came from and I don't remember what I had in mind when I started it! It ended up being a note to myself regarding fond memories of sister holidays gone by and hope for a return to another sojourn. Ever make a card that you think you should just mail to yourself? I think this card may have been created by my subconscious - telling me to take a deep breath, hold on, and remain hopeful for another sister's vacation.

I think it will serve as a generic 'hang in there' message for just about anyone.

Hang in There
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of Cupcake design paper from BasicGrey
~Palm tree trunk - hand drawn and smudged with Distress Inks and randomly embossed using my Scor-Buddy
~Palm tree leaves - hand drawn, free-hand snipped, center lines embossed, dots of olive Flowersoft
~Three tan brads
~Grass - snipped and folded for dimensional look
~Sentiment by Studio B from the dollar bin at Michael's - colored with Copics and attached to be free swinging using DMC floss

Challenges
Di's Digi Designs - anything goes
Crazy for Challenges - olive, orange, yellow, brown
Mark's Finest Papers - use a punch (hole punch for sentiment)
Shelly's Images - vacation memories (hangin' in until next vacation)
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Stamp N Doodle - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - summer holiday memories

Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa

Homespun Holidays

I'm a fill-in over at Feline Playful - THE go-to blog for challenges! I don't know how my lovely team mates manage to create cards, work, live, and still find time to post the more than 500 challenges. My head spins just filling in from time to time! They are some of the most energetic and creative blog folks I know. We hail from all over planet Earth:

Southampton, UK
Stafforshire, UK
West Midlands, UK
Edinburgh, UK
Kent, UK
Vancouver, Canada
Karachi, Pakistan
Queensland, AUS
Monticello, MN, USA
Montclair, VA, USA
Dayton, OH, USA
Sioux City, IA, USA
Baltimore, MD, USA
Chicago, IL, USA
Columbia, TN, USA
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

If you'd like to click into these lovely ladies' blogs we are all listed on the side bar of Feline Playful.
 
Well - the Feline Playful team is Feline (Feelin') very thankful and is celebrating a milestone. The team covers (posts) more than 500 challenges! We are celebrating with a blog hop - click here for details. Mark your calendars!

 
Now on to my card - another Christmas card for friend Mary Lee. My challenge to myself was to make each of her cards using a bit of fabric.
 
 

 

 
Homespun Holiday
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock - edges smudged
~Layer of scrap Christmas fabric
~Ornament is a stamp from the Michael's dollar bin, colored with Copics, dotted with gold metallic pen, highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Wire loop attached at the top of the ornament
~Red silk embroidery ribbon
Challenges and Inspirations
Crafty Hazelnut's - Christmas - anything goes
Designed 2 Delight - anything goes
Class Act Insider - Christmas (stamp)
Stampin' for the Weekend - holidays
Totally Paper Crafts - Christmas in August
4 Crafty Chicks - metal
 
Thank you for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa