Painter's Prayer

One layer cards. I admire them from afar...I try it...and I'm not a fan of my own. It's like shabby chic cards...I fail EVERY time I try one of those too! Clean and Simple just not in my wheel house I guess... I find myself perusing my stash of ribbons...playing with buttons and brads....

I DO however like trying new techniques. This one is the painters tape technique. It was fun, easy, and painless! Although I will admit to tossing my first attempt.

Painter's Prayer
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Aqua Mist
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Soft Stone
~Sentiment by My Sentiments Exactly
~Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets stamped using Memento London Fog ink
Challenges | Inspirations
Just Us Girls - color inspiration
Sweet Stamps - technique
Flat Friends - one layer
Bloggers - friends

Here's to trying new things, accepting failure, and movin' on!

Nancy in Iowa

Confetti Wedding

FINALLY! I actually followed through on something I 'pinned' on Pinterest! I saw a card with this general idea on Pinterest. If you are new to my blog you probably won't know that making wedding cards is not a favorite past time for me. In reality it strikes fear into me! Well fear or not I found myself needing a wedding card for two of 'my' former students. I was honored to receive the invitation and even though I rarely use cards I make I decided I would make an exception! Here's to Jordon and Becca!

When making a wedding card - I tend to go for the non-traditional cards. Previous posts with wedding topics: Wedding Weeds; Channeling My Muse; With This Ring; Frued and a Cup of Java; Magic and Marriage; Even I Can Use an Apron; and one of my favorites - He, She, and Nerves of Steal.

So is it fun or disturbing to click back through old posts? I think it is fun but WOW...I have moments of "oh I really liked that card"; "I wonder what ever happened to that card"; "what was I thinking when I made that atrocity and why did I ever post it".....

Confetti Celebration
~Base card Papertrey Ink Royal Velvet card stock
~Layer of white card stock
~Laser printed sentiment Janda Celebration font (free) from DaFont
~Lots of punches circles
~Vellum envelope made with envelope punch
Challenges | Inspirations
A Girl Who Crafts - anything goes
Lia Stampz - no pattern paper
Crafty Sentiments - no pattern paper
Cosmic Colours - color challenge

Here's to college sweethearts, weddings, and clicking 'older posts' over and over!

A Stash of Sunshine

Made a card to send to granddaughter Bailey (along with an iTunes card). She is still hobbling around after foot surgery. One of my favorite songs that I sang and hummed to her when she was a wee one was "You Are My Sunshine". Luckily she doesn't appear to be too traumatized by my horrible voice! My very limited repertoire also included "A Bushel and a Peck". I'll have to give that some thought as far as card making goes!

In the process of making this I reconnected with stash while reorganizing!
1. I forgot I had the 'watercolor' looking paper used below.
2. I used a stamp that I had never before used
3. Reconnected with a long unused stamp (the sun's swirly center).
4. Put a rarely used embossing folder to work.
6. AND embossed the 'sun' layers with embossing powder that I frequently glance at and think "why did I buy THAT!?"

Sunshine
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink - Lemon Tart card stock
~Layer of Colorbok Watercolor Painted Rainbow design paper (rediscovered this pack of paper while reorganizing)
~Sun created with two layers of stamps: My Acrylix Close to my Heart and Paper Studio Plenty of Paisley stamped with Versamark and embossed with Ranger Enchanted Gold embossing powder die cut using Spellbinders scallop circles
~Rays created using Tim Holtz Mini Rays embossing folder and colored with Distress Inks Rusty Hinge and Mustard Seed
~Sentiment printed using laser printed punched with Stampin' Up Word Window
Challenges | Inspirations
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - summer
Amusing Challenges - anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge - for a child
Addicted to CAS - sun
Crazy 4 Challenges - summer
Cute Card Thursday - circles
Shopping Our Stash - favorite color

Here's to reconnecting with your stash, sunshine, and rocking babies to sleep.

Nancy in Iowa

Dinosaur Storage

VHS tapes...the DINOSAUR of home movies! What do you do when you get rid of VHS tapes? You put the VHS rack to work as a ribbon holder! This is only HALF (okay - probably less than half) of my ribbon stash. The blacks, reds, browns, yellows, oranges are on another rack. The seasonal ribbons are tucked away with their appropriate seasonal embellishments... Moxie Fab World has some organize photos and a challenge.

I spent some time cleaning, sorting, rearranging, regrouping all the stash of the BUBBLE! Found some STUFF I forgot I had. For example...dinosaur design paper. REALLY? Seriously? What was I thinking? Can't even remember buying it. I do remember buying the dino-stamps (three of them) from an Archiver's dollar bins. When I bought them I remembered I had the paper. Then I promptly forgot about the paper... I guess I don't open the stamp drawer marked 'critters' very often. Good thing I was in an organizing mood! Even MORE surprising was that I have dinosaur buttons!

I wasn't sure what to put for a sentiment....but liked the irony of a 'big hug' from a stubby armed T-Rex! Daughter Amy sends me cartoons of t-rexes... An odd but endearing mother-daughter 'thing'.

T Hug
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Canyon Clay
~Layer of BasicGrey Archaic Dino
~Dinosaur button
~Sentiment laser printed and punched using Stampin' Up Word Window
~Image stamped and die cut Spellbinder scallop circle (Copics); outer circle is gray cardstock dotted with Sharpie paint - silver metallic
~Strip of Canyon Clay with strip of Washi green folliage
Inspiration and Challenges
Tuesday Throwdown - dinosaurs
Try Stampin' On Tuesday - sketch
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything goes
Stamping Sensation - animal antics

Here's to mother-daughter inside jokes, hugs of all kinds, and ribbon - lots and lots of ribbon!

Nancy in Iowa

Messy Missy Messy Me

One a personal note I'm not one to toss an hour or so of work because of a 'screw-up' ....I frequently 'make do'...coming up with a 'work-around'.

On a historical note...my daughter's life long friend (they "met" in nursery school, attended high school and college together) was in nursery school called "Messy Missy".

I don't do well with 'Clean and Simple' challenges. I usually end up with too many layers and a card far from simple. I was in the mood to try something 'free and easy' - just stamping here and there. The FAIL with this attempt to try to be 'free and easy' and 'clean and simple' had to do with the CLEAN part. What the heck? I evidently am a VERY messy stamper! I had dribs and drabs, dots and dashes of sludge and smudge EVERYWHERE! To give you an idea of how messy I was with this - I will admit to all my goofs! Each of the tiny punched posies are covering a dot of something that evidently adorned my mitts! Oh - also the sentiment is placed over a dot of who know what?!  I'm worse than a kid with finger paints on a white linen tablecloth!

This must be why most of my cards are done using LAYERS of design paper...

Free and Easy
~Base card white linen card stock
~Layer of black card stock
~Fiskars Petals from Scratch - stamped and colored with Copics
~Large corner flower stamped on design paper; small flowers (bottom right and upper left) printed on base card stamped twice and 'popped up'
~Punch dragonfly with Smooch dots
~Four punch flowers with tiny circle punch centers
Challenges | Inspiration
Just Us Girls - color inspiration
A Girl Who Crafts - anything goes
Color Me Scrappy - photo inspiration
Craft for the Craic - flower or summer
The Craft Garden - colors
The Craft Garden - CAS
LauralCraft - things with wings
Glitter and Sparkle - yellow

Here's to inky fingers, getting creative with cover-ups, and full disclosures!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Watered Down

Oh my gosh! Another challenging challenge from the ladies at Just Us Girls! This was a tough one! Not sure I'm in love with my results. I did look at all the other challenge participants - mine pales by comparison - and don't even get me started on the design team's work! YIKES! Their cards are awesomely awesome!

The directions were all over the place...lots of different ways to approach the watercolor technique. I put two techniques to the test. The first one - I doused the watercolor paper and then stamped on the wet watercolor paper. After the watercolor paper was dry I stamped over the flowers with the same flower stamp using the same color as the under-layer flower. I probably should have used my Stampin' Up Watercolor paper. Instead I used hard-core artist's 140 pound watercolor paper. The second try - I stamped heavy card stock the spritzed water on the stamped images. Then I stamped over the punched image with a different flower. I totally failed at the spritz the stamp after covering it in ink method.

I'm just lukewarm about these. I had fun trying the various methods for this technique. Always good to try something new! Right?

Watercolor Florals
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Hibiscus Burst
~Layer of black card stock
~Ribbon
~Water color paper stamped with SU Fabulous Florets and Hampton Art Watercolor Daisy, paper-pieced flowers, corners punched using Fiskars punch (one of the first punches I purchased)
~Centers of flowers dotted with Smooch - pink and gold
Challenges and Inspirations
Just Us Girls - technique
Shopping Our Stash - oldest punch

Trio of Flowers
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Autumn Rose
~Layer of Basic Grey Two Scoops (paper from my stash...forgot I had it)
~Two Spellbinders Shapeabilities Floral Flourishes die cut - topped with Stickles Diamond - not sure I've ever used these until today...
~Buttons
~Flowers stamped and punch using SU Mixed Bunch

Challenges and Inspirations
Just Us Girls - technique
Pink Elephant - photo inspiration
Clear it Out - anything + stash

Here's to trying new techniques, using up stash and long forgotten crafties!
Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

One Month

I needed a sympathy card for an exceptional young man who just graduated from Briar Cliff University. In one month's time - he graduated with honors with a secondary education degree - was hired as a high school history teacher and football coach - gave the commencement speech at the University's graduation ceremony - received department honors from the Education Department - and was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year - and lost his mother. I did not have the honor of meeting his mother. She must have been an amazing woman because she raised an amazing young man.

Card for Matt
~Base card - olive green card stock
~Layer of black card stock
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Kraft card stock - stamped with leaves by Taylored Expressions
~Spellbinders oval die cut - smudged leaving the die in place, stamped with leaves
~Butterfly stamp and die by Hero Arts
~Vellum strip with sentiment
Inspiration | Challenges
Scrap it Girl - things with wings
Dragonfly Dreams - things with wings
Crafts and Me - add wings
Open Minded - wings
Fussy and Fancy - things with wings

Here's to inspirational young graduates, their futures, and those who nurtured them.

Nancy in Iowa

Baby Fresh!

Saturday! Farmer's Market (of course) with buckets of rain! Lots of fresh freshness! Can't wait for the tomatoes and corn on the cob!

In a previous post I mentioned Archie's Diner and their awesome breakfast! We returned to the Diner today to try out their Deluxe Burger...which as awesome also! This is a plentiful meal for $3.15! No extra charge for the ambiance and added bonus of the 'regulars' filling your coffee cup and water glass.

This card is for a first time mom's little guy. Little guy will be growing up on a farm hence the corn stalk design paper. I got to pick out a digi from Just Some Lines for winning one of their challenges. It wasn't easy - so many wonderful designs! I picked this cutie from the 'Babies' category. And yes - that quilt is insanely small paper-pieced hounds tooth check design paper. The mobile parasol is paper-pieced also.

Farm Baby
~Base card blue card stock
~Layer of corn stalk design paper
~Spellbinders Circle Scallop - brown card stock
~Just Some Lines digital image colored with Copics; bunny nose, mobile stars and moon - highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects; mobile sheep and armature highlighted with Wink of Stella; die cut using Spellbinders Circle Scallop
~Chip board star with rhinestone sentiment "oh baby"
Inspiration | Challenges
Ladybug Crafts - for him (baby boy)
Kitty Bee Designs - baby
Pumpkin Spice - masculine
Creative Corner - just for boys
Stampin' for the Weekend - anything goes

Here's to anxiously awaiting babies, tomatoes, and corn-on-the-cob!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Teddy Bear Adventures

Needed a quick card for granddaughter Bailey. She is recovering from foot surgery. I found this image over at Elizabeth Dulemba - a children's book illustrator/author and she has free coloring book images. I've used a few of her images before. Her fairy reading a book is one of my favorites. I used it here, and here and here. Here are a few other Dulemba images I've used: Cornucopia | Easter Bunny | Beach Reader | Duck | Birthday Cake | Dragon. Well THAT was not exactly comfortable...flashing back through old posts! Not only has my format for posting changed....but WOW....some of my cards....NOT SO GOOD! YIKES! Evolution of a card maker...

And this isn't my finest work! I either printed the image too gigantically or should have used a larger card. Bailey won't be critical. She likes getting home-made cards. Or...does she just love the inside contents? This one will hold an iTunes card. I'm pretty sure she will like the card (even with it's proportional flaws) because it will remind her of her best buddy - ButterBear. ButterBear has slept in the crook of her arm since she was a toddler. A gift from her Aunt Amy. Aunt Amy purchased the yellow Teddy bear during her study abroad in Germany. Since then ButterBear has experienced many adventures and continues to sleep with his favorite high school freshman.

Here is the photo she sent me of her surgical foot.

Ahhh a kid with an iPhone and a photo app....

Here is ButterBear with his favorite human and his human's BFF.

Now on to the card...

Butter Bear Crutches 
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Raspberry Fizz
~Layers of design paper from Ki Celebrate
~Gold metallic tape
~Heart button
~Two strips of decorative tape (not exactly Washi)
~Image by Elizabeth O Dulemba colored with Copics, nose heart highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects die cut Spellbinders oval
~Tag
~Ribbon
Challenges | Inspirations
Try Stampin' on Tuesday - sketch
Crafty Ribbons - anything with ribbon
Crafty Little Fairies - spots and stripes

Here's to little girls and their teddy bears, improvements, and coloring books!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Stem Jam

I'm on a fresh-from-the-farmer's-market roll! I know! I know! Strawberry jam doesn't really include stems and leaves! It's just the idea...so once you get past the leaves and stems....this MIGHT be yummy! The Farmer's Market vendor who sells jams makes much more than just strawberry jam. Her arsenal of jams and jellies is vast and delicious!
Hawaiian Heat: pineapple, jalapeno and bell peppers
Dragon Breath: hot peppers, strawberries, lime, tequila, triple sec
Scarlet Scorch: cayenne and Serrano peppers and cranberries
Cherry Almond
Winter Berry : strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries
And my personal favorite: Sweet Warning: Sweet red bell, Serrano, cayenne, and habanero peppers (Really good on a peanut butter sandwich!)

AND - I found out I won a challenge over at Party Time Tuesdays! Whoot! I am 'berry' excited!

Stem Jam
~Base card - red card stock
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
~Polka dot red grosgrain ribbon
~PaperTrey Ink stamped images colored with Copics
~Two Spellbinders/Cuttlebug oval die cuts - green and vanilla card stock
~White dots of Sharpie Poster Paint
~Circle punches
~Three red rhinestones
Challenges | Inspirations
Stick it Down - sketch
A Random Fan - polka dots
Deep Ocean - inspired by a song (Strawberry Fields Forever)
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Here is to jams, jellies, and berries of all sizes, shapes, colors, and varieties!
Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Okey Dokey Artichokey

So here are the rest of the cards for my favorite Farmer's Market vendor. My previous post was the beginning of the set. I was never sure what I would do with the veggie design paper - but it has come in handy!

Onions and Cabbage
~Base card gold card stock
~Design paper by Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
~Six metal brads
~Stamped images - TPC Studio Victory Garden - colored with Copics
Inspiration | Challenge
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - sketch
Fantastic Tuesday - anything goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad - fruits, vegetables

Okey Dokey Artichokey
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Kraft card stock
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
~Spellbinders Scallop Beaded Circle die and punched gold dots
~Two Prima leaves
~Stamped images - TPC Studio Victory Garden - colored with Copics
~Additional layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety plus three layers of solid color card stock
Inspiration | Challenges
Sketch N' Stash - sketch
Whoopsi Daisy -  anything goes
Use Your Stuff - circles

Is it Squash or is it Zucchini?
~Base card green card stock
~Layer of Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
~Button
~Twill ribbon
~Three layers solid color card stock
~Stamped images - TPC Studio Victory Garden - colored with Copics
Inspiration | Challenges
Atlantic Hearts - sketch

Here's to Vidalia, GA onions, zucchini picked at just the right time, and using up all of the weird smiling-veggie paper!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Goin' to the Market

I think I will make a few cards for one of my favorite vendors at the local Farmer's Market. I have, until now, unused veggie stamps. Can't think of anyone who would appreciate them more! I'll start  off with this one inspired by the sketch challenge over at Just Us Girls. I liked the sketch so much I made two cards with it. I must be hungry - both of them involve food!

Daughter Amy, of course, will be the recipient of the cupcake card as that is the rule of the Bubble! All owl and cupcake cards go to Amy's card stockpile!

Grow
~Base card - Paper Temptress Cryogen White
~Layer of green card stock
~Layer of design paper from Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
~Ribbon
~The Paper Studio Spare Parts Friends epoxy brads
~TPC Studio Victory Garden rubber stamps - veggies and sentiment colored with Copics
~Stamped images cut using Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags (just the center)
~Layer of gold and hunter green card stocks with edges punched with curve punch
Challenge | Inspiration
JUGS - sketch
Little Red Wagon - food for thought
Creative Knockouts - die cut/punch
Crazy 4 Challenges - man made
Sentimental Sunday - anything + sentiment

Cupcake Quad
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Hawaiian Shores card stock
~Layer of orange stripe Paper Studio Basics
~Layer of balloon cardstock by Hampton Art Celebrate paper pad
~Happy birthday die cut by Elizabeth Craft Designs
~Twine
~Cupcakes from Inkadinkadoo and Hero Arts stamped and colored with Copics - highlighted with Liquid Applique, Smooch, pink glass beads, and Stickles, die cut using inside of Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags
~Four rhinestones
Inspiration | Challenges
Just Us Girls - sketch
Crazy Hazelnut - pattern paper
Crafting Musketeers - stamped

Here's to freshness, farmers, and friends!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Pearls and a Diner

We had a lovely weekend with daughter Amy. She helped me with some 'dejunking'! A pick-up truck full of cast-offs headed to Goodwill made my day! She and her papa watched a couple movies while I sat in the adjacent area making a card.

We had breakfast at a local REAL diner. Archie's (when I was growing up it was called Dick's Diner) is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm. The lady who runs/owns the diner, takes your order, brings you a beverage, and then heads to the kitchen - leaving the front-end to the guests. As regulars yearn for another cup of coffee one of them will round the counter, pick up the coffee pot, and fill everyone's coffee mug! They take turns with this duty. The total capacity of 'the joint' is about two dozen. The food is great but you can NOT be in a hurry!!!! After all - this is a ONE woman dive! The three of us each had a huge breakfast consisting of 2 eggs over-easy, 2 slices toast, 4 slices of bacon, coffee, and hash browns! No biggie you might think....here is the kicker....the price of this home-made bountiful meal is $3.50! The three of us ate a very filling and delicious breakfast for less than $14.00. The hard part is figuring out the tip....do we tip the regulars for filling our coffee cups? Nah...it's just all part of the ambiance and neighborly way of livin' in small town USA! It is great fun and great food. Word of advice: don't have an appointment to keep and bring your electronic device. While our little family waited we played several rounds of an iPad game. Here are a few pics of our favorite (and only) neighborhood diner.

View from the street.

View from one of the three tables.

The menu!

I'm thinking we need to go for lunch sometime. That hamburger DELUXE basket for $3.15 sounds like too good of a bargain to pass up!

Now on to the card...

Glass Thoughts
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Raspberry Fizz
~Layer of Colorbok Rosewood design paper
~Rectangle of vellum
~Rectangle of My Mind's Eye Lost & Found
~Pennant shape layer of BasicGrey's Manila paper pad
~Six pearls
~Elizabeth Craft Designs Thinking of You die cut sentiment - highlighted with Wink of Stella
~Oval Spellbinder die cut, stamped with Hero Arts Soft Sand using Stampabilities Le London Script
~Image by Lavinia colored with Copics and glass beads
Inspiration | Challenges
Lavinia - Lavinia image plus beads or gems
YNS - sketch
Glitter and Sparkle - use digi
Ditzie Digi Designs - anything
Pile It On - patterned paper
Southern Girls - sparkle, shine, bling

Here's to pearls, diners, and family time!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

The Same But Different

Won a challenge! Whoot! Whoot! Bopped over to Just Some Lines to see "whats up" and saw my name. FUN! I was in the top three for this card! I got to pick out a free digi from the Just Some Lines store!

So...about the card....kinda the same but not exactly the same as the previous card for daughter Amy. I printed the pieces and of course because I had to cut tiny pieces...I couldn't let the spare wee-tiny pieces go to waste! Have you ever put together a card and noticed a 'oops' until after you see the photo? I frequently have that lapse in 'real time' looking! Yikes - check out that green brad...could it have been anymore OFF center? What the....? I'm sending this one home with Amy too (I hope she doesn't notice the lopsided brad...).

Hello Friend
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Simply Chartreuse card stock
~Layer of Ki Berry Blast Paper Pad design paper
~Dotted paper pieces for owl by Sami Stamps
~Sentiment die cuts (Hello and Friends - with the 's' clipped off) by Elizabeth Craft Designs and highlighted using Wink of Stella
~Flowers punched using Stampin' Up Spring Bouquet Flower
Inspiration | Challenges
Craft for the Craic - flowers
Paper Shelter - flower power
Crafty Sentiments - anything
Papertake Weekly - anything

Here's to winning, not paying attention, and using spare part!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Hoot Tweet

I have used this Sami Stamp - over and over. It comes with holly sprigs hanging from the ropes. I have popped all kinds of do-dads over the holly: hearts, flowers, hearts, cupcakes.... After all an owl can hoot out all kinds of celebrations! I hope Sami doesn't mind my re-seasoning her little guy!

All owl cards (and cupcake cards) are given to daughter Amy to use. She will be home this weekend! So this little tooty-hoot will be going back with her.

Hello Owl
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Autumn Rose card stock
~White card stock frame
~Layer of striped design paper Ki Berry Blast Paper Pad by Hampton Art scallop circle cut-out for image
~Digital image by Sami Stamps paper pieced using dot design papers
~Flowers punched using Stampin' Up Spring Bouquet Flower using owl paper piecing left-over scraps
~Hello die cut by Elizabeth Craft
~Buttons
Challenges | Inspiration
Sami Stamp - use Sami image and stripes
Crafty Little Fairies - stripes and dots
Crafting by Designs - anything
Scrappers Delights - anything with layers

Here's to hoot owls, daughters, and time in the Bubble!

Thank you for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Making Do without Supplies and Electricity

No electricity all afternoon! Not sure if the cause was the major construction going on in the back lot or all the storms that keep plaguing the areas. While the electricity was out I played pioneer paper crafter today! Luckily there was sufficient daylight coming through the Fiber Bubble windows. When the electricity came back on I had to walk through all the rooms that I walked through AFTER the electricity went out. SERIOUSLY! I turned on light after light...KNOWING there was no electricity. Goodness how we take things for granted!

While making this card I did have a moment of TAKE THAT! I gleefully looked at my sad little juice-less Cricut saying, "look at me...using my Cuttlebug! Cuttlebug doesn't need any electricity!" If you are new to my blog - I will admit right here - right now that I am a Cricut failure! New mats, new blades...I fail! But the Cuttlebug is my pioneer pal!

I watched this instructional video over at Gina K Designs. I just loved her technique - so had to try it! Sadly I didn't have all the 'ingredients' that she used. I had to substitute thinned down paint for the Faber Castell Pitt White Artist Pen and used Wink of Stella on one version and Stickles on another in place of the Sakura pens. (I never have much luck with regular Sakura Jelly pens - they clog too easily - and I don' t have a remedy or patience for constipated jelly pens!)

Pioneer Posies
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Kraft card stock
~Layer of SEI White Elegance embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
~Hand cut flowers (Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets) stamped using Stampin' Up Spectrum Stamp Pad Fiesta - highlighted using the Gina K technique
~Leaves die cut using Taylored Dies Leafy Branch and Cuttlebug and a variety of green card stocks
~Floral print ribbon from the Dollar Tree
Inspiration | Challenges
Fusion Card - sketch and color
Time Out - summer flowers
As You Like It - embossing (because I can dry emboss even WITHOUT electricity)
Hobbybook Designs - use at least 3 flowers
Paper Shelter - flower power

Here's to making do, tying new techniques, and thumbing my nose at my Cricut!

Thanks for clicking by,

Nancy in Iowa

Butterfairyflies

Life is a struggle - thank goodness for faith, friends and family oh...and paper crafting therapy.

FairyFly
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Berry Sorbet
~Layer of butterfly design paper - the dollar bin at Walmart - Studio G
~Layer of coordinating green design paper from the same collection
~Butterfly cutouts highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects
~Digital image from A Day for Daisies printed on Cryogen White colored with Copics and paper pieces cut from design papers
~Corner ribbon
~Flower sticker button
Inspiration | Challenges
Color Me Scrappy - color inspiration plus 3 manufacturers: Studio G Hampton Arts | Copics | Stampin' Up
Creative Colors - color palette and layers
Retro Sketches - sketch

Here's to butterflies, fairies, and holding on!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Fairy Spillage

Just a quick post to go with this cutie patooty. I actually printed her paper-piecing awhile back. She was oh-so-cute on an oval - UNTIL the attack of ink spillage...OOPS. So she sat in exile. Until today...here she is in her cut-out state. I think she is happy on her new musical notes background. It's always FUN to repair a GOOBER in some fashion. (NOT!) It's like my own personal card challenge! I had spent so much time cutting her wee-tiny clothes, wings, and flower that I HAD to come up with some way to retrieve her from the "can this be salvaged pile".

Close-Up

Fairy Picks
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Ripe Avocado
~Wood grain card stock embossed using The Paper Studio
~Spellbinder beaded circle
~Berry Sorbet punched circles
~Hero Arts Soft Leaf stamped music
~Image by A Day for Daisies paper-pieced and wings highlighted with SU Crystal Effects
Challenges | Inspirations
Fusion Card - sketch and photo
Suzy Bee's - layers
East Wind - embossing
LauralCraft - anything with wings
CCC Digi - digi and die cut
Lacy Sunshine - digi and dies

Here's to goobers, fixing them, and salvaging goof-ups!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Glittered Birthday

Hello Sunday! How did you get here so quickly? Do I really have to go back to work in the morning!?

I popped over to Just Us Girls only to find out that a trip to the Dollar Tree was mandatory. Just a note...when the video states that you have to use CREAM not GEL shaving cream... they mean it. Don't tell my husband but I wasted a paper plate full of his gel shaving cream....I thought...well - it MIGHT WORK. I'm here to tell you it doesn't! I am happy to announce that the really cheap cream style shaving goo from Dollar Tree works just fine.

Birthday Flowers

~Base card PaperTrey Ink Raspberry Fizz

~Layer of photo paper using the Shaving Cream technique - which is the challenge over at Just Us Girls

~Stampin' Up Fabulous Florets flowers highlighted with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects and fine glitter
~Washi tape
~Layer of Recollections Glitter on a Roll (just bought this cool stuff on my last trip to Michael's - LOVE 50% off sales)
~Happy Birthday sentiment die
Inspirations | Challenges
Just Us Girls - shaving cream technique
Sketch Book Saturday - layout
Time Out - color
Cupcake Inspiration - flowers

Here is to saving cream, learning to trust directions, and glitter tape!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa

Tiny Glitter Schmutzes

I am SO ready for the weekend! So ready! Farmer's Market in the morning followed by time in my Bubble! YES!

To start my weekend? I found out as part of the Top Five over at Ladybug Crafts Ink. As a top 'fiver' I get to pick two from their lovely Eunice collection! Let me tell "EWE" she is so cute! Thank you Ladybug Crafts!

Sweet Pea
~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Melon Berry card stock
~Layer of DCWV The Mango Frost Stack card stock (love the tiniest of tiny dots)
~Spellbinder flourish using Cuttlebug, highlighted with Stickles Fruit Punch
~Sami Stamp image printed on Cryogen White colored with Copics and dotted with Stickles Fruit Punch dots (to cover up several 'schmutzes' from my inky fingers), die cut with Spellbinders oval and edges smudged with Distress Ink Fire Brick
~Button
~Sheer ribbon
Challenges | Inspirations
LadyBug Crafts Ink - monochrome
Sami Stamps - mother's love
Try Stampin' On Tuesday - sketch
Little Red Wagon - buttons and bows (baby has a hair bow)
Creative Romance - girly
Craft for the Criac - baby
Left of Center - girly
The Stamping Boutique - dots

Here's to weekends, snugly babies, and using GLITTER to cover schmutzes!

Thanks for clicking by,
Nancy in Iowa