Learnin' in the Bubble

Time in the Bubble! Time for a card or two! I tried a new-to-me technique, called Sponging a Layer, posted as the challenge over at Just Us Girls. I enjoyed it so much I tried it twice.

Thoughts of You

~Base card - Gina K Designs Pure Ivory cardstock

~Ribbon

~Sponging a layer technique using Distress Ink Peeled Paint, Hampton Art Stamps Watercolor Daisy, anc Copics

~Sentiment

Challenge

Just Us Girls - technique challenge

Happy Cupcake!

~Base card - Gina K Designs Pure Ivory cardstock

~Ribbons

~Button

~Sponging a layer technque using Distree Ink Faded Jeans, Taylored Expressions Whimiscal Wishes - colored with Copics - highlighted with Stickles and Stampin' Up Crystal Effects

Challenges

Shabby Tea Room - cupcake birthday

Crazy for Challenges - buttons

Do You Stack Up - glitter

Play Date Cafe - color inspiration

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Sweet Dragons

Just a really, really quick post as I have a few chores to finish up on my weekend To-Do list - then it's off to watch Game of Thrones! Yes! I 'got' GoT fever!

By the way - Happy Easter everyone! I gave up sweets for Lent - can't wait to have a dish of ice cream in the school cafeteria tomorrow! DRAT! I have to work tomorrow but the school cafeteria will be closed because there are no classes on Easter Monday. The Coconut/Almond/Fudge ice cream will have to be on my Tuesday list of things to look forward to...

Sweet You
~Base card Stampin' Up pink cardstock
~Layer of Bazzill purple cardstock
~Layer of Paper Pizzaz - Garden Scattered Flowers
~Ribbon
~Oval emboss/die cut using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug
~Digital image from Phindy's Place colored with Copics, shoes highlighted with Stampin Up Crystal Effects
Challenges and Inspirations
Just Us Girls - sketch
Phindy's Challenge - anything goes
Pile It On - all about S
Crafty Catz - CAS

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Productivity, Pears, and Parallel Tracks

Pretty productive day today! Worked from home this morning, then worked in the yard, (I swear I could actually hear dandelions pushing their way up through the ground), did some laundry, made my first visit to our local railroad museum (Siouxland Historical Railroad Museum) and made a card. Where did all this energy come from? I have NOT a clue!

Pear of Buttons
~Base card - Bazzill Thunder
~DCWV two aqua cardstocks
~Layer of green Stampin' Up stamped with Stampin' Up All Natural~Magic Mesh from Stampin' Up
~Scrap of gold cardstock
~Stampin' Up All Natural pear colored with watercolors
~Buttons with DMC floss

Challenges and Inspiration
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration
My Time Made Easy - sketch
A Gem of a Challenge - color inspiration

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Refrigerators, Laptops, and Lasses

Today sister Judy asked me why I haven't been blogging. Part of the reason is that this is my busiest time at work and I get home REALLY late. Even though card making is my therapy after 13-14 hour days my jammies, pillows, and comforter hold more healing power than any coloring, gluing, or cutting can offer. Mostly my lack of blogging is because my laptop is nearly flat-lining. It served me well during hours of writing papers for my graduate's degree - but it is slowly losing its memory and its speed is grinding to a snail's pace - very much like its owner! It seriously takes 10 times longer to post a card than it does to make it!

A new laptop would be on my 'priority purchase list' if my refrigerator wasn't randomly squealing like a pig caught in a mouse trap. I'm just waiting for it to cool its last yogurt and freeze its last Popsicle! Now if I could just find a computer that freezes (only what it is supposed to), cools, uploads photos and surfs the Internet....

Here is card number three of the wee Colleens for my cousin Maura. She has three daughters Sheila, Sonja, and Anne. She will have her next St. Patrick's Day cards ready especially early! (Or I can just admit to thinking about making these especially late!)

Orange You Special!

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Ocean Tides

~Layer of My Mind's Eye Spring in Bloom

~Orange card stock strips with My Mind's Eye Just Stripes

~Spellbinder's scallop circle die cut and embossed using Cuttlebug - layer of Ocean Tides and Paper Temptress Cryogen White - laser printed with Phindy image colored with Copics, Wellington's highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, scallops dotted with Copics

~Two layers of ribbon

~Prima flower and leaves

~Button

Challenges

Ladybug Crafts - spots and stripes

Crazy for Challenges - sketch

Phindy's Challenge - ribbon

Mark's Finest Papers - square

Here are they are - all three together:

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Another Wee Colleen

I posted this little Colleen just a wee bit ago and my sister Gail suggested that I save it for next year and send it to our cousin Maura for St. Patrick's Day. Not being one to usually send cards on time anyway - I wondered what the heck would be wrong with sending the card to her tomorrow.... But then I decided to make three of these to send to Maura for her to send to her three daughters next year. My aunt, Maura's mother, Kathleen, was born in Ireland so naturally St. Patrick's Day hold special meaning!

Maura's Girl
~Base card - PaperTemptress Cryogen White
~Layer of Bazzill blueberry cardstock
~Layer My Mind's Eye Penny Lane
~Rick rack
~Button
~Spellbinder die cut scallop square of PaperTemptress Cryogen White dotted with green
~Phindy image colored with Copics, boots highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
Challenge
Play Date Cafe - color inspiration

Off to make card number three...

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

And the Rest of the Day to Yourself

A perfect image for a perfect St. Patrick's weekend!

Handful of Clover

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream

~Layer of American Craft pink cardstock embossed using Cuttlebug and Divine Swirl embossing folder

~Layer of Bazzill green cardstock die cut using Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Label Two

~Four cream color photo corners

~Strip of My Mind's Eye striped design paper

~Digital image by Phindy "Lots of Luck to You" colored using Copics, rain boots highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects

Challenges

Just Us Girls - color inspiration - cream, green, pink

Just Inspirational Challenges - inspirational photo

PanPastel - add a flower

Alphabet Challenge - C for celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Phindy's Place - spring

Sweet 'n Sassy - green

Little Red Wagon - luck

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy

Go Chargers!

Finally a few moments to myself in the Bubble! Only have time to for a quick post. The women's varsity basketball team made it into the national quarterfinals so I'm off to the game to support the Chargers!
You'll have to excuse the Valentine card - I haven't made a card since the first of February so I guess it's still Valentine time in the Bubble.

Basket of Love
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Pure White
~Layer of pink cardstock 'faux embossed' using Sizzlets Hearts and Cuttlebug (tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers)
~Some of the hearts highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects and Stickles
~Die cut hearts on pink cording
~Two pink brads
~Digital image - Digi Sparkle colored with Copics, highlighted with Crystal Effects, pink cording on handle, three die cut flowers cotted with Stickles, attached to white cardstock Spellbinders die cut Label Two
Challenges
Just Us Girls - technique challenge (faux embossing)
Our Creative Corner - Tic Tac Toe (pink, brads, flowers)

Thanks for popping by!
Go Chargers!
Nancy

Let's Hear it For Downed Servers

My busy time at work usually begins early Spring. Well for some reason the busy season has arrived early. My 12 hour days at work has officially started. Luckily tonight the server went down at work so with no way to access student files or emails I packed up and headed straight for home and my sweet and comforting card room! Who needs technology? All I needed was a little paper, cardstock, ribbon, and colors and my little world was humming along.

Layers popped up using foam dimensionals.

Close-Up of the sheen of Cryogen White the cardstock I am hooked on for coloring images and the 'glass' look of the bubble gum machine globe.

Bubbles and Bows

~Base card Stampin' Up Real Red

~Layer of Paper Studio Alex's Random Dots

~Grosgrain polka dot ribbon and bow

~Red and navy blue scalloped circles die cut using Spellbinders and Cuttlebug - edges dotted with white using Sharpie Poster Paint

~Digital image was a freebie from Little Scraps of Heaven Designs (I think...), colored with Copics, "glass" globe highlighted using Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, printed on Cryogen White from Papertemptress

Challenges

Ladybug Craft - Valentine

Little Red Wagon - Valentine

Paper Sundaes - Valentine

Thank you for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Crack that Cricut Open!

Just got done with my Cricut frenzy! I invited two co-workers over to figure out how to use our Cricuts. Three women three different Cricut models. Nancy brought her Cricut Expression, her Jukebox, software, assorted Cricut gadgets, and 15 cartridges - all still UNOPENED. She has been accumulating all these treasures for over the last 18 months - just didn't have the nerve to crack it all open and get started.

Well two hours later and a mountain of cellophane and cardboard boxes later - and she is feeling confident enough to get started when she gets home. She is going to use her gadgets to cut out fabric to applique quilts, pillows, and tote bags. She saved the 'flower power' flower and number 2 and is ready to make a pillow for her granddaughter. She also left the Jukebox and 6 cartridges for me to play with!

Now for a Valentine's Day card.

So Sweet

~Base card navy cardstock

~Border and background layer both from Michael's The 12 Days design paper

~Magenta cording

~Digital image by Michelle Perkett colored with Copics printed on Cryogen White

~Three red rhinestone hearts

Challenges

Card Patterns - sketch

Card Cupids - Valentine

Paper Sundaes - Valentine

Thank you for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

P.S. I just found out I don't need the Jukebox because I have the Cricut Mini! Yea! I won't be jealous of Nancy's cartridge holder! I will continue to borrow her cartridges since I don't own any of my own yet.

Birthday Bling

One of my 'special peeps' at the college just turned 22. This is her fourth and final year at Briar Cliff University. I've made her a birthday card each year of her residence on campus. I will really miss her when she graduates in May. She will be attending medical school in the fall but I'm sure we will keep in touch if only through Facebook. It is such a privilege and so much fun being a part of students' lives!

Sherin has a love of Jasmine in Disney's Aladin, she LOVES bling, she tutored my granddaughter, she studies hard, is close to her family, and is just an all around good kid! She stopped by the other day to tell me she bought a dress at Charlotte Russe...well it is technically a dress...and it will be adorable on her...to me it resembles a lycra leg warmer! She decided the straplessness and skin tight gathers in a bright royal blue isn't quite eye popping enough so she bought tubes of E-6000 glue and thousands of shimmery blingy rhinestones. She is in the process of gluing the sparklies to the bodice of the dress. As I said it will be adorable on her.

Needless to say - she is a girl who likes her bling. So in honor of the dress and her birthday I made this card just for her!

Bling it Up
~Base card blue iridescent cardstock
~Layers of DCWV Nana's Kids design cardstock
~Ribbon
~Flower button with metallic floss
~Pink cardstock scallop circle - Spellbinder's die cut and Cuttlebug
~White cardstock scallop circle - popped up using dimensional
~Stamp from the dollar bin at Michael's by Sarah Beise, colored using Prismacolors and Copics - highlighted with Stickles and rhinestones
Challenges
City Crafter - sketch
DYSU - ribbon

Happy Birthday Sherina!
Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Crazy for Cupcakes

Crazy, high energy day today! The students are back on campus and ready (okay - some of them are ready) for the final semester of the year. I didn't get any work done because of the giggling, hugging, retelling of 'what I did on winter vacation' stories, and general chaos. They were so happy to see each other - it was very uplifting.

I got the Taylored Expressions Build a Treat stamp set and coordinating die cuts for Christmas from daugher Amy! I just love TE stamp sets with coordinating dies! Here they are put to use:

Hey Cupcake!

~Base card Stampin' Up Old Olive

~Layer of DCWV Indian Summer design paper

~Cupcake stamp by Taylored Expressions, cup colored with Prismacolors, top of cupcake paper pieced using DCWV Indian Summer design paper

~Cupcake layer on scalloped die cut circle dotted with coral color Copic and olive green cardstock

~Rectangle piece of PaperTrey Ink Berry Sorbet, Stampin' Up Old Olive and the same DCWV Indian Summer used on the cupcake top

~Green cardstock die cut using Cuttlebug and Spellbinder Ribbon Banners - shaded with Copic and attached to rectangle using two green brads

~Taylored Expressions Build a Treat sentiment stamped using Stampin' Up Old Olive on white cardstock scallop using Spellbinder's die cut circle

Challenges
One Stitch at a Time - round
Paper Sundaes - paper piecing
My Sheri Crafts - new things

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

A Little Pick-Up

I'm putting together a care package for the military husband of one of my previous students. I have chap stick, pistachios (his favorite type of nut), some cheese/crackers, gum, a few paperback books, and a few other items, ready to put in the mail tomorrow. I thought I would include a couple of cards for him to mail to his lovely wife Kayla.

Mailing My Heart to You
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Select White
~Red cardstock
~DCWV design paper
~Twine
~Vellum envelope created using paper punch
~Heart stamps - some are from Stampin' Up Love It, others from the dollar bin at Michael's - stamped using Versamark and embossed with Ranger red embossing powder
Challenges
Scrapbook Sisters - Valentine
Just Us Girls - red, pink, white
Stamp Scrap and Doodles - heart
Poodles Parlour - valentine
Lily Pad - photo inspiration

Sending My Love
~Base Card PaperTrey Ink Rustic White
~Layer of blue cardstock
~Layer of BasicGrey design paper from the Oliver collection
~Stamps from Stampin' Up - Loads of Love, stamped on Cryogen White, colored with Prismacolors blended using Goo Gone, window, windshields, headlight, and tail lights highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, hubcaps colored with Sharpie silver metallic poster paint
~Mulberry papers (blue and red)
Challenges
Corrosive Challenge - I heart you
Penny Black and More - love and hearts
Wags and Whiskers - love

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Especially Challenging

Just a card. Such a challenging inspiration over at The Play Date Cafe! I struggled with this one to use the colors moss, slate, burlap, and bark. I'm not sure I nailed it but I gave it a shot. Since this was 'especially' challenging I made an 'especially' for you card.

For You
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock
~Layer of slate colored cardstock - edge edged using Martha Stewart punch, stamped with Stampin' Up Old Olive ink and Stampin' Up Weathered background stamp
~Three leaves in the corner (tiny buttons with the shanks cut off)
~Tag with grosgrain ribbon layer on crumpled tan paper, and layer of dark slate die cut using square scallop from Spellbinders

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Foiled Fractions

How did this card get started? Well, I unwrapped a piece of Christmas chocolate and inside the outer wrapper was an inner wrapper of a really thin piece silver foil. Being the 'can I use this on a card freak that I am...I ate the candy and took the foil to my card making Bubble, gently pressing the newly found 'treasure'. Then I started looking for inspiration and ran across a few ideas that screamed, "this card could really use a candy wrapper"!

Now for confession time (in addition to the "I'm still eating Christmas candy even though I made a candy-less New Year's resolution"). I am really REALLY bad at math. And fractions? Forgetta' bout 'em! And dividing fractions? I'm not even sure that is possible...is it? I vaguely remember divisors, dividends, quotients, reciprocals...? I clearly remember tears....lots and lots of tears as my father would do his best to help me with my homework...lovingly shaking his head and I'm sure wondering how, he a man who's livelihood relied on math could have spawned such an empty headed, devoid of all things calculus, daughter! I am blessed to say - he loved me anyway!

I should NEVER pick a layout that has equal parts of design paper distributed on a surface. So...before you even look at this card I will point out the center column is SIGNIFICANTLY narrower than its companions. I had originally cut just four strips - then decided I didn't like all the silver foil showing through. So I moved all the one inch strips closer together starting at the outer edges of the card and working in. Then I sliced a skinny strip to fill the space. The outer strips are one inch skinny one is some goofy number of little tick marks on the ruler. Don't even THINK about asking me what size it is! So! Here goes...

Aqua Foil

~Base card PaperTrey Ink Select White

~Layer of American Craft silver foil specialty cardstock (gift from sister Gail - who by the way is good at math)

~Five different slices of SEI White Elegance design paper

~Horizontal layer of the same design paper with the edges smudged with Color Box Blue Lagoon Chalk

~Layer of sheer polka dot ribbon

~Scallop circle of aqua American Craft foil specialty cardstock, topped with scallop circle of white cardstock, and topped with the CANDY WRAPPER FOIL - die cut using a punch

~Prima flower with rhinestone center

~Happy Holidays stamped using Stazon Teal Blue on label cut using my new Cricut and a borrowed Winter Wonderland cartridge

Inspirations and Challenges

Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration

Card Patterns - sketch

Paper Pretties - white, silver, blue

Thank you for clicking by and by the way the chocolate was delicious!

Nancy in Iowa

Pterodactyl Soup

This morning my husband went to Mass with me. On Sunday's we usually go our separate ways - he at the Cathedral in the choir - me in the chapel on campus (NOT singing even one note). Today he had a reprieve from the choir (I guess they overdid themselves over the Christmas season...and needed a vocal rest). So...he 'made due' in 'my' teeny little chapel that would fit inside 'his' Cathedral.

Already seated in a pew, much to my pleasure three of  'my usual students' (my peeps) joined hubby and I. Two of the three girls sing in the university chamber choir. So I had the delight of being sandwiched between my bass singing husband and two lovely sopranos. I did try to pay attention to Mass but I must confess I was enthralled by the voices.

Following mass we all went to a local 'mom and pop' shop for breakfast. Only one of the girls had ever been to Harvey's. They had their heart set on a big ol' fashion breakfast complete with eggs, ham, hash browns, and pancakes. Until they saw the soup of the day was chicken dumpling soup. So...what to do? Lunch or breakfast? The solution? Order the breakfast Harvey Special PLUS a bowl of chicken dumpling soup! Hey! I guess when you are used to school cafeteria food - you tank up when you can!

The conversation was lively, included spontaneous singing, lots of teasing, references to movies, plans for weddings (none of them are engaged - two don't even have boyfriends), outbursts of laughter, and samples of their best pterodactyl imitations. I attempted at least three times to break the group up - with an "okay...we should probably get going..." but each endeavor led into another fork in the road of conversation. Three and a half hours later we were finally driving back home.

As we were leaving the restaurant my husband asked, "Is this a normal progression of conversation?" As I was nodding yes he said, "no wonder you get home late every day."

Now for the skinny on the card:  I really like the color yellow - especially when it is paired with white. I saw the challenge over at Little Red Wagon and just had to jump on board. I had so much fun with this stamp yesterday I decided to use it again.

Mellow Yellow
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Select White
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety dry embossed using Cuttlebug and Swiss dots embossing folder
~Stamped image (Hampton Art Stamps Watercolor Daisy) - stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black colored with Prismacolors (blended using Goo Gone) - stamped on Cryogen White cardstock with edges smudged a bit
~Image layered on yellow mulberry paper and white cardstock
~White metal brad
Inspiration and Challenges
Little Red Wagon - yellow polka dot bikini
So Artful Challenges - color schemes
2 Sisters - use metal
Card Makin' Mamas - use something new (Prismacolors are new to me)

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy

Prisma Premier

Loved the color challenge over at Play Date so had to put a card together. I decided this would be a good time to break out the new Prismacolors I got for Christmas from daughter Amy. I scoured the 'net' for a few online tutorials, broke open a bottle of Goo Gone, and the package of stumps and away I went! My first Prisma card!

Tall Order
~Base card Stampin' Up Perfect Plum
~Layer of burgundy cardstock
~Paper Studio design paper Bold Mix Stripe
~Layer of American Crafts Specialty Paper Foil
~Hampton Art Stamp Watercolor Daisy stamped on Cryogen White with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Prismacolors, smudged with cranberry, three corners curved using a punch, flower highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Burgundy grosgrain ribbon - bow tied using Bow-Easy - center of bow wrapped with gold metallic embroidery floss
Inspiration and Challenges
Play Date Cafe - burgundy, gold, plum inspiration
Pile it on Sunday - anything goes
Gingersnap Creations - ribbon
Moving Along with the Times - stripes
Simon Says Stamp - stripes

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy

Headed for the Trash

I've been silent for days! Had to be at work every evening this week. Finally got home at a decent time today. Just in time to put the finishing touches on a card and quick post.

I was at my sister Gail's over the weekend and picked up a clump of quilting fabrics that was lying on the table. I asked her what it was for and she said, "I sewed those swatches together to take to the quilt shop to buy backing to match. You can toss it in the garbage." I started to comply then hesitated saying, "No, you just never know...this may end up on a card someday." She laughed and walked away.

The colors are so yummy and rich I just couldn't toss this conveniently sewn together grouping! So with a little of this and a little of that...viola! A card!

Quilts and Friends
~Base card - PaperTray Ink - Kraft
~Layer of My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus
~Layers of 10 different fabric pieces sewn haphazardly together
~Twine at the top of the card
~Die punched daisy petals using Kraft cardstock smudged with cranberry ink and centers scored
~Button and twine
~Sentiment hand written on Kraft cardstock, edges torn, dotted with extra fine Sharpie, layered on cranberry and olive cardstock, and cream color and cranberry mulberry papers
~Inside sentiment: they age with you yet never lose their warmth.
Challenges and Inspiration
Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration with sewing theme
Stampin' Royalty - use fabric
Paper Play - stitches

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Grapefruit Mango

I love banners and pennants! I'm tempted to order the pennant stamp and die cut from Taylored Expressions. Cutting this out by hand is tedious - but worth the look. The TE stamps/die cut system is the bee's knees! No more guessing where the stamp will end up on the die cut. No more wondering if the die cut will cut exactly where you want in relation to the stamp. I may just have to do that...I could order and give it to me for Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day, or Easter, or just 'cuz! I know! February is national grapefruit month! Now THAT is something to celebrate.

Here is another card for friend Mary Lee's friend.

Mango Banner
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Select White
~Layer of Bazzill Island Breeze cardstock - faux stitches around edge using black Ultra Fine Sharpie
~Layers of coordinating DCWV Mango Frost collection - dotted with black Ultra Fine Sharpie
~Hero Arts Hello Flags stamp, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copics
~White cardstock along bottom - smudged with Chalk Blue Lagoon, dotted with Ultra Fine Sharpie Turquoise, hello letter stickers - also dotted with Sharpie
~Pink button embellishment
Challenges & Inspirations
Ladybug Crafts - use new stash (used new design paper)

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Iowa is Nice

Just back from the caucus! So happy to be a part of the 'first in the nation' hoopla! It will be interesting to read about the state totals later tonight.

If you are from Iowa, regardless of your side of the aisle you might enjoy this - I know I did. It is a YouTube response to the media that we are all a bunch of hicks.  Iowa Nice (uncensored version). Iowa Nice (bleeped version).

This card is destined for friend Mary Lee who requested a few 'thinking of you' cards.

Thinking
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Vintage Cream - edge smudged with Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
~Layer of BasicGrey - Equinox
~Layer of rust cardstock and layer of deckle edged olive green cardstock (using Cricut A Child's Year)
~Image stamped on Cryogen White using Memento Tuxedo Black colored with Copics (stamp is new purchase from the Michael's dollar bin)
~Wright's Beader's Choice cording - olive green (gift from sister Gail) I like how the cord freely dangles
Challenges
Scrap-Creations - something old, something new (old scrap of BasicGrey design paper; new stamp)

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

That Felt Nice

I should have made something patriotic! Tomorrow night is the "Hawkie Caukie" (Iowa Caucuses)! If I can talk my South Dakota resident boss into letting me NOT attend tomorrow evening's campus function I will definitely be among the crazies at the Caucus. I feel it is my civic duty to go (a lesson learned from my wise and sweet daddy). Plus it is kind of fun to go and observe the fever pitch of being 'first in the nation'. I keep hoping that if I attend enough "Hawkie Caukie" I'll begin to understand what the heck all the fuss is about - or better yet understand the process. To be honest .... I'm not sure anyone REALLY understands it. But I will be there with my unevenly cut, very unofficial looking, scrap of a piece of paper and cast my vote after listening to all the impassioned politicos. I just hope they are given a time limit! I think this will be my fourth caucus...I won't admit to any more than that or you'll be able to figure out my age!

This card is for friend Mary Lee to give to a friend of hers. Mary Lee requested some random (spirit lifting - cheery but not glib) cards that she can send every other week or so while her friend is undergoing chemotherapy for metastatic liver cancer. I am so lucky to have such a kind friend who will be sending a card to her dear friend on a regular basis during this dark, uncertain, and unpleasant time.

Making this card made me remember how blessed I am.

Hello Friend
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Select White - edged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy dye ink pad
~Layer of DCWV Nana's Kids - edged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy dye ink pad
~Sheer polka dot ribbon from the dollar bin at Michael's
~White punch cut circle - edged with Stampabilities Cotton Candy dye ink pad
~Re-purposed felt balloons (pried from some previous life on some long forgotton item) - highlighted with Stickles Diamond
~Balloon string is DMC floss (transfer of crap from sister Gail)
~Sentiment is from the dollar bin at Michael's - stamped on white cardstock - die cut using Spellbinders scallop circle and Cuttlebug - edges dotted with dark pink Sharpie - colored with Copics - highlighted with Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Challenge
Just Us Girls - use felt
House of Gilli - anything goes
Do You Stack Up - rainbow of colors

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa