Friendships

I just love this Magnolia image with Edwin and Tilda hugging.  Sooooo cute!  This Basic Grey - Olivia paper has been sitting on my desk for a week or so and I was inspired to use it with these two characters.

I used the Spellbinders Labels One, Small Octagons, and Foliage dies.  I had to really work with the octagon shape to cut just the top part of the image so that I could cut out the legs.  My Cuttlebug rubber mat helped to keep the image from being cut in half.  I added a little color to the edge of the octagon with Momento Rose Bud.

The flowers are Prima and the pearls are from SU.  The ribbon came from Fabricland and was originally white.  I used my Copic BG15 to give just the right color.  I also used a craft doily,MS sprig punch and some lace from my scrapbook store.  the pin (which you can barely see in the photo is from Jilibean Soup - Sugar Picks.

This little beauty is entered in the following challenges:

• Just Magnolia - #109 Friends
• My Time to Craft - #142 Diecut
• Totally Papercrafts #68 - Pink and Girly
• Card Cupid - Ribbon
• Crafty Catz - #84 Pink and Green

Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

Focus on tulips

Here's a card with a new technique that I learned on the VSN weekend - Spyglass.  The idea is to not color the whole image but to focus on just one spot and color that spot.  I think it makes a nice statement.

The image is from Penny Black - Blooming Tulips from way back in 1998.  I stamped the image twice.  The big one I mounted on deep yellow card stock and the other I chose just the spot I wanted to highlight and colored it with Copics.  I cut out a circle using my Spellbinders small circles and mounted it on another circle of the purple card stock.  The focus spot is popped-up and placed exactly where it belongs on the larger image.

I got the lace from my local Scrapbook store and the pearls from Prima.  The base card is Very Vanilla from SU.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• PaperPlay Challenges Week 21 - Blossoms and Blooms
• Make It Monday - Anything Goes
• KB Cute Monday #14 - Girly - what's more girly than lace and flowers
• Delicious Doodles #27 - Lace
• Color Throw Down #143 - Yellow, green, pink

Until next time, thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

1001 Ways to Roast a Chicken

This card is a riot!  I used an older Art Impressions stamp for the good humor and fun of bringing out the colors in the My Mind Eye - Lime Twist paper.  Add a ribbon, some FlowerSoft and bling and viola you have a funny card.  The chicks are highlighted a bit with Copic color.

This card is entered in the following great challenges:

SCS - May VSN #F
Lexi's Creations #40 - Spots or Strips
Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C88 Humour

It's a short post today cause I have to get to work shortly.
Happy Stamping!

Garden Hugs From Edwin

When I made this card I was thinking of the Just Magnolia challenge #107 even though I made it during this weekends VSN challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  I love this Edwin image because it reminds me of my youngest son (age 23).  The hair and clothes are just what he would wear, even the purple tie.

This particular challenge, as a pirate (the VSN theme) we were to scope out a favorite designer and make something similar to their work.  I chose Norma of From My Craft Room.  I love her work for its variety and quality craftsmanship.  The thing I liked about her most recent card was the use of a Magnolia garden fence with her image on the outside and inside of the card.

So, with JM's #107 challenge in mind I made a card with Edwin and a garden fence.  My fence comes from MelJen's Designs at Whimsy Stamps.  In the Magnolia way I added lots of Prima and Recollections flowers with springs from a MS punch.  The dp is from a set of Stampin Up out of the Spring Mini.

I also entered this card in the following challenges:

• Sunday with Crissy #17 - Flowers
• Paper Sundays #70 - Pop-it-up, both the fence and Edwin are popped-up

I have more cards to show you from the VSN but that will have to wait until I recover from cleaning my workroom after making 16 different challenge cards in as many hours.

Happy Stamping!

Criss Cross Flowers

Hey, another card from the SCS virtual stamping night.  This is one of my favorites from the challenges tonight and I even learned a new technique. 

The challenge was to make a Criss-cross card - here's the tutorial from Beate of SCS.  What a great challenge.  I love this card!  I didn't take a picture of it, but the center is a separate piece that slips out.

All the paper just happens to be from Stampin Up - Very Vanilla, Old Olive and a special paper pack from the Spring Mini.  I was looking forward to using the designer paper and this was the perfect project for it.

The ribbon is from Offray and the flower is Prima.  The big brad is from SU Flower Brads.

I think this challenge will work for the Heart to Heart favorite things challenge.  This is definately a new favorite technique for me!

Well, after making 5 cards this evening for all the challenges - I am done - and very tired.  It is time for a well earned rest!  I'll be back at it mid-morning when the challenges continue.  You should check out the Virtual Stamping Night at SCS.  It has been a great challenge for me and a stretching experience.

Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

Love the Ocean

Tonight I am playing along with Split Coast Stampers Virtual Stamping Night.  I really enjoyed the mini back in April with the pirate theme and this is the main event.

My first card is for Beate's challenge to use aqua, light green, tan and a splash of yellow.  This very happy whale is loving the ocean having a great time swimming around and enjoying the sun.  He is from Great Impressions bought at my local scrapbook store.  The paper is Creative Impressions and I used a bit from bother sides of the paper.  The pearls are from Prima and I used Spellbinders Fancy Tags for the edges.  It is one die cut in half.  I added a little Stickles to add to the yellow concept. I have had the Happy Birthday stamp for a number of years and it does not have any markings so I don't know where it is from, sorry.

Well, on to the next challenge which starts in about 15 minutes.  There is going to be a new challenge posted every hour for FIVE hours!!

I think this card will work for Paper Play's challenge #20 - Sparkle.

Happy Stamping!

Wishing You A Wonderful Birthday

I am finally back to the land of the living after battling a very unpleasant head cold.  I thought I would start the week off by making a card for the Mojo #191 challenge.

I really like the poppy designer paper (which has no name on the label, but I think came from Australia) and wanted a format that would show it off.  The Mojo sketch did the trick! 

I also used my new SU punch from the Spring Mini.  I started with a 3" square and punched once along each edge to achieve the shape and the little corners on the green paper.

The Wonderful Birthday sentiment is actually a free digi image from Netty's Cards.  I found her site recently and became a follower.  Then as I was looking at her beautiful cards I found that she shares free digi images too.

I think I use Spellbinders on nearly every card and this one is no exception - small circle and scalloped circle.  The pearls are Prima, of course.  The ribbon is BoBunny (I think).  The yellow and coral card stock are from Bazzil.

Some other challenges I entered....

Critter - #64 Green and Yellow

Paperplay - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Nancy

Book of Cards

Over the Christmas holidays last year I saw a number of amazing cards and gift items.  One of the unique items that captured my attention was the book box.  I saw several good tutorials (my favorite one) for making the book so I don't think I need to do one here, but I will share the subtle changes that I made in the size in order to store cards in the book.

I used three Our Daily Bread Designs sentiment sets to make the box and cards - Scripture Collection #4, Get Well and Thinking of You. 

I also used several Spellbinders sets - Fleur De Lis Squares, Fancy Tags #1 and #2, Labels Eighteen, Labels Four, and Labels Six.

The pearls are from Stampin Up, Prima and ZVA creative.  The cream base and brown card stock are Bazzila.

For all the distressing I used Distress Tie Die.

The designer paper is Basic Grey Curio Camelia, Making Memories Brun Antique Dictionary and Bees Handwriting, and Bella Blvd Couch Potato.

 Flowers on the inside cover are from Prima.  I made the large flower on the front of the box from a fantastic lace that I bought from Frabricland, added a lace circle cut from Spellbinders, then another row of lace (sewn in a circle) and finally an old button that I colored with a brown Copic topped with a Prima Say it With Studs.

In order to fit standard A4 cards (5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches) I needed an inside space measuring 6 x 4 3/4 inches.  Here is the recipe for cutting and scoring:

• Cut 2 base pieces 7 3/4" x 7 1/4". The left side piece I punched a scalloped edge on the left and scored at 6 3/4".  The right side piece I scored at 1"and then scallop punched the right edge. These two pieces will be joined in the center using the 1 inch scored sections.  Use a firm glue or score tape.
• The accordion sections are 7" x 7" and 7" x 5 3/4".  Score every 1/2" across the paper then mountain and valley fold to form an accordion.

Since I already listed all the paper and tools I will just show the cards ....

The little strip of rust dp is from a very old Mat Stacks by Nancy (no relation).

The flowers are punched using EK Success Retro Flower with Basic Grey brads.

A special friend of mine is getting this book box of cards for her birthday and she doesn't know, shhhh!

Have a Great Day!!

Nancy

Joy and Sadness

A close co-worker is having a baby this summer and I made the little one a crocheted blanket.  This is the first time I am posting anything my other passions!  As my blog name suggests, I am passionate about wool as well as paper.

The "blankie" was crocheted from a book that I have had forever and used multiple times - Our Best Baby Afghans from Leisure Arts (Leaflet #2853), published in 1996. I very much enjoy working with fine fibers but when the finished item needs to be washed and dried with ease I depend on man-made fibers.  I used Sirdar Snuggly double knitting yarn.  The main color is cream #0303 and the coordinating yellow is #0252.


On a sad note, a friend and fellow crafter passed away a couple of days ago.  Her husband works with me at the office and when he returned home Wednesday after work he found his wife of nearly 30 years permanently asleep on the couch.  Pat and I shared a passion for making cards and crocheting.  She especially liked Tunisian knitting which is really crocheting with a very long crochet hook.  We also shared our experiences with diabetes and raising our children.  I am going to miss her intense, happy, loving and giving nature. 

I made a card for the office to sign and give to Pat's family.

I used coordinating papers from BoBunny's Timepiece Collection and SU Very Vanilla card stock. The Forever sentiment is from Rubberstamp Ave and the little sentiment is from JustRite Fancy Tags. The lace is from Fabricland, pearls and flower from Prima.

Nancy

And My Words Remain in You

I am participating in a challenge over at SCS - the Divine Design Bible Verse Challenge.  We are to make a card a month representing a verse that we are memorizing.  Last month I got off easy with a simple verse.  This month the verse is a little longer and has particular meaning for me these days.

Since the verse is talking about God's words I thought I would use some wordy paper from Making Memories - Brun Antique Bees.  This is actually the backside of the paper I used on the Puppy Love card posted last week.  I just found out that I won the challenge over at Little Claire's for the Puppy Love card.  Thank you Little Claire!! The darker paper is BoBunny from the Timepiece Home collection.

The verse itself is from one of my favorite company's - Our Daily Bread Designs - Scripture Collection #4.  I used Spellbinders Labels One small and Labels 18 to pop-up the verse. SU's Very Vanilla card stock provided the card base.  I distressed the edges and added a little Distress Tie Die to complete the effect.

The lace is from Fabricland and I used a couple of Distress inks to try to "muddy" it up a bit.  I didn't quite achieve the look I was going for because the crocheted lace has lots of holes!

Anyway, That's my card for today. 
Happy Stamping!
Nancy

Virtual Stamping Night a Fun Challenge

Last Friday night I participated in the Split Coast Stampers virtual stamping night.  It is a little bazaar to think that hundreds of card designers would receive instructions, design and make a card within 45 minutes, and then post it on their blog or the SCS website.  For Five HOURS straight!  Yes, that's right we made 5 different, wonderful cards in 5 hours, got them posted, and left lots of love for the other designers.  But then, I guess that is what we all do on a weekly basis out here in card/scrap blogland.  It's just that we are not constrained by making a card in 45 minutes.

Well, here are the cards I made.  They are not exactly what I would have done given more time, but they turned out alright and I already have use for some of them.  The theme this time was Arrgghh! Matie - all about me seafaring pirate friends.

Challenge #1 - Make a card with fabric.

I chose to make a patriotic card to send to my brother in California.  We were born and raised in California and I only recently moved to British Columbia (well actually, now that I think about it - it has been over 10 years).  I am actually more patriotic than my brother and I like to tease him around the 4th of July so I will be sending him this card to commemorate America's birthday.

I used Spellbinders Fancy Tags and Labels 6.  The bling came from the dollar store and I used EK Success Retro Flower punch for the flower.  Base card is made from SU very Vanilla.

Challenge #2 - Make a card using the provided sketch.

Knowing that the theme revolved around Pirates I hunted around for digi images that I might use.  This one was found at Squigglefly.  I used SU paper again, Spellbinders Ribbon Banner and some rafia.

Challenge #3 - Make a card inspired by a picture of the sea.

This is actually my favorite card from Friday night.  I used an old Art Impressions stamp that I love and framed it with a Spellbinders Label 18 die.  The bling in the lower left is from Prima - say it with pearls and I selected that one because it made me think of the north/south/east/west symbol that is on all maps.

Challenge #4 - Make a card with green, yellow, orange and a splash of blue.

I was hoping to use this Basic Grey - Life of the Party paper on something but hadn't decided on the right project.  It came in handy for this card. The sentiment and cakes are from SU Bring on the Cake and Birthday Bakery.  Ribbon is BoBunny and the pins are from Walmart.






Challenge #5 - Make a card with wood or wood grain and something pirate.

I am going to use this card for my grandson's 9th birthday later this year.  He definitely likes pirates and swords and the like.  The image is from Hambo.  The wood grain paper came from my local scrapbook store in an unmarked package so I don't know who makes it.  I used a white piece and then daubed it with Distress Tie Die.  The sentiment is SU and the 2 punches are from SU.

Well, it was a fun night!  I find starting the evening I am a little stressed but as the cards start rolling out I start to calm down.  I like to look at what others have created and I especially like leaving and receiving all the comments.

The next VSN is the weekend of May 20th - you should consider taking part. You will be challenged to work outside your comfort zone which is always a good thing!

Nancy