Sunday, July 31, 2011

Mixin' it Up in the Bubble

Number four in the series of requested Christmas cards for friend Mary Lee...

I decided to mix it up by combining both my fiber addictions - paper and fabric. How fortuitous for me that now all my fibers are located in one location! A tape gun, some thread, a sewing machine, scissors, cardstock, fabric, design paper, and a cup of coffee...now THAT is what I call a GOOD morning!





Christmas Star
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of Bazzill Pickle textured cardstock - edges distressed (roughed up using the edge of metal ruler)
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas by Jen Wilson (it is the delicious left-over from the previous card)
~Bottom left corner is the same design paper torn - the torn edge inked with Distress Ink Peeled Paint
~Star - free form cut - layer of Bazzill Pickle textured cardstock with three layers of fabrics from the scrap basket - all stitched together leaving the tails of gold thread
Challenges
Just for Fun - soft and gentle fabric or fiber
Just Us Girls - use fabric
Come and Get It - anything goes
Dream Valley - surprise (tendril threads)
I Did it Creations - let's dance (stars 'dance' in the sky)
Bling it On - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Whackin' and Whittlin'

Since there was drying time involved with the previous card I worked on card number three for Mary Lee. This is probably what, in the quilting world, we would call a 'cheater' card. This is what happens when you buy cardstock that is actually created for scrapbooking. Large images that won't fit on a card...what do you do? I'm not about to start scrapbooking just to use them up  - so I whacked it down to size! It was really 'difficult' to do because the cardstock was so yummy. But...with a deep breath, a slice with the paper cutter, and crossed fingers that my 'vision' wouldn't end up in the trash...I managed to accomplish the task.

12" x 12" Santa was whittled down to fit a 51/4 " square card - a few simple embellishments - and HO HO HO - a card! The sparkle areas (hair, beard, upper right curve) were already part of the cardstock.


Santa Slice
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Design paper - My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas by Jen Wilson
~Button (in real life it really does match the background of the Santa)
~Satin and sheer ribbons
~Three metal brads
Challenges
Frosted Designs - circles
Stampin' B's - use ribbon
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
Our Creative Corner - red and aqua
Allsorts - free and easy
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas in July
Southern Girls - photo inspiration

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Christmas Heat

You would think that working on Christmas cards would put a chill in the air, some frost on your toes and nose - but alas, it is still hot, muggy, humid, and generally miserable outdoors. Good thing I'm indoors! I'm hiding out in 'my fiber bubble' - working on Christmas card requests. This is the second card in a series of five ( or was it six?) that friend Mary Lee requested.



Detail of wreath

Detail to show 3-D

Holly Wreath
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Pure White
~Four different strips of a Daisy D's holiday collection - attached to Bazzill Classic Yellowgreen cardstock then embossed using Cuttlebug Divine Swirl embossing folder - raised swirls smudged with green inks using an Inkssentials blending tool
~Digital image (a freebie) from Bird's Cards, printed on Paper Temptress Cryogen White, colored with Copics, highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, and dotted with Stickles Candy Cane - attached using 3-D foamies
~Plaid Christmas ribbon
Challenges
Crafty Catz - Christmas in July
Fussy and Fancy - Christmas in July
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
PolkaDoodle - anything you would find in an English garden (holly)

Thank you for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Pining for a Muse

I admit I've been in a card-making slump. A dear friend, Mary Lee, has requested some Christmas cards. Nothing like a to-do list to provide some motivation!

I decided to put a few fabric scraps to work with her first card. I'm also trying out a 'clean and simple' tactic. I really like 'CAS' cards when I see them but am rarely able to pull off the concept. I always pull out the design paper and start layering. This time I let the homespun kraft cardstock serve as the stage for this fabric pine tree.




Pining for Christmas
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - kraft cardstock
~Tree - three pieces of hunter green fabric, one piece of gold and one piece of brown fabric
~Sentiment printed (using Alergian font) on kraft cardstock with the edges 'roughed up' and attached using 3-D foam dimensionals

Challenges and Inspirations
Christmas Inspirations - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations Paint - Christmas
Designed 2 Delight - Christmas
Polka Doodles - Christmas in July
Simply Create - Christmas time
Delightful Challenges - Christmas in July
Creative Belli - Christmas in July
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Christmas in July
Digi Doodles - clean and simple
Sassy Studio Designs - clean and simple

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Wired!

One day I came home in a rage. For some reason I had worn an underwire bra that day. I'd tell you I don't like underwire wire anything but that would fall under the category of TMI! Who's brilliant idea was it to include metal in undergarments...didn't they go out of 'fashion' sometime is in the middle ages? Additionally - this slice of 'titanium' hardly qualifies as WIRE - more like a BLADE!

Anyway, back to my undies fury...I removed the offensive and offending item and tossed it in the garbage. As I gave it a good fling - I thought - 'too bad that damn thing is so uncomfortable because it really is very pretty'. So I did what any crazed, rib-bruised, crafter with a pair of scissors would do (que the slasher genre movie music...). I chopped off the lace, the bow, the satiny straps, and even hooks. The wires went unceremoniously (okay...not so unceremoniously...I think I remember trying unsuccessfully to fold, spiral, and bend the industrial strength rods of discomfort...). The other pieces, for some odd reason, I thought of as having 'potential' ended up in the craft room.

I have two very supportive sisters and because they were on my mind I decided to make a card using this bra stamp from Stampin' Up. Then it hit me! Wonder of wonders - I had bra parts! I used the lace from the bra as a background for the stamp. Whhhhoooooot! Now THAT's what I call a WONDER BRA!



Berry Supportive
~Base card - Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
~Layer of Berry sorbet covered with lace
~Iridescent ribbon (transfer of crap from my mother's house) (it was too wide so I folded and taped it)
~Stamp by Stampin' Up - colored with Copics
Challenges
Sparkles Forum - elegance and lace
Digi's with Attitude - anything goes
Joyful Stamper - anything goes
Stamping with Brenda - clean and simple sketch
Cupcake Inspirations - photo
Emerald Faerie - girly
Annabella Stamps - say it with circles
Totally Paper Crafts - girly girl

Thank you for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa

Monday, July 4, 2011

Literal Interpretations!

I thought I should quickly post something so you don't think I fell off planet earth or drowned in the incessant flooding!

This card was a request from my sister Gail. While recuperating from surgery a dear friend, Mary Lee, was the designated driver for my sister's trips to physical therapy. Gail called me one day and said, "I'm going to need a card to thank Mary Lee for hauling my ass all over town!" I don't think she thought I would be quite so literal with her request - but I just make 'em like I hear 'em! I knew immediately what I was going to create and to do it I needed the artistic talents of two of my favorite designers! Don't you just love it when the details for a card come together like some mystical incantation has been placed on all the proper pieces to gather and just the right embellishments...not sure if I'm thinking "Night on Bald Mountain" or "Harry Potter"....oh well the card seems to work - magic or no magic!

This isn't my first experience using Mo Manning's Bethie series - this is the first time I've ever combined artists on one card.





Thanks for Hauling My Ass Around
~Design paper - from the stash
~Combination of artist images: Meljens (donkey) and Mo Manning (Bethany/wagon/sign template) colored using Copics
~Donkey and sign on the wagon are fussy cut and attached using dimensionals
~Thank you stamp from Michael's dollar bin
Challenges
Stamps R Us - there was a little girl theme
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - anything goes
Make it Monday - anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes
Southern Girls - childhood memories
Just Us Girls - sketch
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration
Do You Stack Up - square

Here are the two other cards I made using Mo Manning's Bossy Bethie.




Thanks for clicking by.
Nancy in Iowa