Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve!

I can't believe Christmas is already past! But I am so happy both my kids made it home Christmas Eve night and woke up at home with me Christmas day. The festivities began around 7:00 a.m.with Dana waking me up and then her brother. Then on to my sister Vonnie's house for a great dinner and more holiday festivities.


 It seems one little lady was plum-tuckered out from good food and celebrations!
 Now plans are being made for the new year celebration! Not for me though. I'd rather stay at home - in my jammies - and celebrate with whatever TV station has the best coverage - heehee. Most likely it will be ABC - I love Dick Clark and his Rockin New Year's Eve celebration. Did you ever go to New York for the famous ball dropping? I have not but would love to some day.

I'm still slowly packing away my Christmas decorations - very slowly. I have way too much and don't unpack all of it. This year I'm weeding out stuff and will be donating it to the future 'garage sale' of 2012. More to come on that subject!

I wish you all the best for 2012.
Nancy

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merriest Christmas Eve

Hi all,
Merry Christmas Eve! Are you all ready for the big day? I am! Surprise! All I have to do is make my famous Texas Sheet Cake to bring to my sister's home for our big feast tomorrow. I did buy some last minute gift cards to put in my children's stockings...yep, still filling those stockings hanging on the mantel even though they are 23 and 25 years old! 
Of course those gift cards need a holder so I've been whipping up some gift card holders that I had learned to make a few years ago in a Stampin Up class.





All you do is cut out a 4x5 piece of card stock, adhere a piece of pattern paper on top. Take a smll envelope and fold it in half. Cut the right side of the top of the flap off and glue the left side down. There is your opening to slide in your gift card! Then take another piece of card stock, decorate it with your favorite embellishments, weave a strip of ribbon through the bottom and wrap it around the envelope before adhering the envelope on top of your pattern paper. Easy Peasy! This is a good way to use up those scraps of card stock and pattern papers left over from other projects.
Well, the post man just delivered a package for me from Two Peas in a Bucket!! Yippee - now my October Afternoon "Holiday Style" is complete. I'm off to start a holiday mini scrap album. Or two...
Merry Christmas to all
Nancy

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Oh Joy

Hi all,
Just poppin in real quick tonight to share some more christmas cards I've made. Too many bits and bobs for these cards to go through the postal service! I have been hand delivering them!


The ribbon in these pictures looks black but actually it is green! And the trim is a new die I just received from Papertrey Ink along with the sentament stamped onto a tag. That cute little snowman in the corner is an older Hero Arts stamp. The pattern papers are from the St.Nick Vintage Collection but not sure who the manufacturer is!
This card uses white card stock from Michaels (I think), pattern paper from S.E.I., stamped image and sentament from Papertrey Ink, ribbon from MemrieMare Etsy shop and pearl is from my stash.
I have a few more cards to show but I'm super tired and need to go to bed. But I will be back tomorrow to post some more cards for you.
~night~
Nancy

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

coming up for air...

Hi all
I have finally taken a break and am coming up for air long enough to write this post! I guess when you get your mojo back, it's good to keep going for as long as it lasts - kinda like the engergizer bunny! I have been making nothing but Christmas cards and tags. I have been visiting  lots of blogs, going through magazines and getting tons of ideas. I actually took some to work today for a co-worker who asked me to bring some in. I brought in a whole shoebox full. She ended up purchasing 12.

This card (pic taken from an IPhone) was made using kraft cardstock (Michaels Craft Store), pattern paper is from Graphic 45, holly berries and leaves from Petaloo and ribbon from MemrieMare Etsy shop.


This card uses Melissa Francis pattern papers and die cuts. Ribbon is from Stampin Up and the button and pearl is from my stash.

Now I need to switch gears and start making a couple of birthday cards for the December birthdays in my family and some friends. Then I'm going back to making more Christmas cards, tags, and some mini albums. I have so much paper pads and die cuts that I'm dying to use!

Enjoy your Tuesday!
Nancy

Sunday, November 27, 2011

4 Years ago...

Today is the anniversary of my late sister's fight with lung cancer. Her fight wasn't long compared to some, but it was painful, especially at the end. And it was because of this, that I am nicotine-free today.

But it's not about me, it's about Leslie and how much she is missed. Not too long ago, I mentioned how we finally went through all her paper crafting supplies. And every day since then, I have used something of hers on my cards. Whether it is a snip of lace, a vintage button, or a piece of pattern paper, it is used. It was she that got me started in this very addicting hobby, and she still is with us every time we sisters get together and make cards and/or scrapbook pages.  Miss you, Lux!



I have been very busy in my little craft room making all sorts of holiday crafts. I was on vacation the past week and never left the house! A couple days, I never even got out of my jammies - lol! But today, after I come home from the cemetary, I plan to put up the Christmas tree, drape garland over the mantel, and twine it through the banisters.




 I made this card this morning - as usual, I was up before the birds again! The button and snippet of lace is from Leslie's stash.

The red ribbons and snowflakes are from my stash. I sprinkled them with a pinch of glitter (which you can't see in the picture). Pattern paper is from Home for the Holidays by Melissa Frances. Vintage image is from TJ Designs.

That's it for me for today. Enjoy your Sunday!
Nancy

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to pop in tonight with a couple of Christmas cards to show and to also wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. It will be my first Thanksgiving without my dad - I miss him. But on the other hand, I have so much to be thankful for.

This is my 3rd straight day of doing absolutely nothing except stamping, stamping, and more stamping! But I finally have to call it a night as I need to get myself into the kitchen and start preparing for tomorrow's big feast!



Pattern papers and images are from the new Melissa Frances line - Deck the Halls.  Ribbon, lace,buttons, gem and twine are from my stash. Mica flakes are from Melissa Frances also. Here is my 2nd card:



Once again, pattern papers and image are from Melissa Frances. Ribbon and flower are from Michael's crafrt store. Twine and button are from Papertrey Ink.

Gobble Gobble!
Nancy

Monday, November 21, 2011

Card Patterns - Sketch 142

Hi all,
Wow - 2nd post of the day! Like I said earlier, no shopping for me today. It's crafting, making cards, and a few mini albums for gift giving. But first off, I managed a christmas card for the challenge over at Card Patterns. This week's sketch is this:

My card below uses all Melissa Frances papers and die cut. The ribbon and button are from my stash.



Off to post my card at the Card Patterns blog.
Happy Monday ~
Nancy

Friendship mini album

Good morning friends! And a happy thanksgiving week to you all. As I have lots of vacation time accumulated at my place of employment, I have taken this week off from work. No christmas shopping for me - no,no,no. I plan to stay home and craft, craft, craft! Two of my sisters also have the week off so we are hoping to find a few hours together and start making our Christmas cards.

Several months ago I had won a give-away from Pam Hooten's blog - The Iris Garden.  There was a mini album by Tattered Angels in it. I himmed and hawed about a theme to alter it with and finally have finished it - all about 5 women whom have stayed friends since who knows how long! A few years we all went out for dinner in honor of a birthday one of the girls was celebrating. Of course I brought along my camera! So I made a mini scrapbook as a keepsake from that night. Here are a few pictures of some of the pages...

I first painted the front cover - toffee brown by Delta Ceramcoat, adhered a piece of scrap pattern paper from my stash and the strip of gorgeous beaded trim (part of my give-away package!).


Lots of Melissa Frances and Crafty Secrets papers, stamps and embellishements were used throughout this album.






I also used my Big Shot and Cricut to die cut journeling cards as I'm sure she will have lots of memories to record from that evening! Lots of misc. ribbons, pearls, and glitter!
There are many more pages in this album of actual pictures of each one of us that I also included but perhaps that will be for another time. Until then, I think I will join the challenge over at Card Patterns this week as I have not entered in quite some time.
Happy Monday!
Nancy

Monday, November 7, 2011

Masculine Birthday

Hi all,
Hope your weekend was good! Mine was great - just me and my godson spent Thursday through Sunday just hanging out! I love the time I can spend with him - he is such a joy and makes me feel younger - lol!

Just a quick post to show a card I made for a guy I work for. I don't know about you, but I find making birthday cards for men a challenge! Here is my card - feel free to offer up suggestions!


I used Graphic 45 papers and image. Twine is from PTI and buttons were in my stash!
I hope you all have a wonderful week.
Nancy

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Happy Birthday Les!

Hi all,
Today is my late sisters' birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUX!. I just spent the last 5 hours with my other 3 sisters going through all her scrapbooking supplies. 5 HOURS! So many memories...so many pattern papers, buttons, ribbon, brads, stamps, inks, adhesive, you name it, she had it. 5 hours of reliving so many precious moments we all shared. I miss her so much. R.I.P. my sweet sister!

 I came across this picture - made out of tin, I believe, that another sister had bought her for her last birthday. She never got to hang it. But I took it and will hang it in my craft room so that she will always be with us!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Nancy

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Happy Birthday Michael

I never realized how busy the month of October is for me. Friends birthdays, a nephew's birthday, 2 sister birthdays, a SIL birthday, and 2 co-worker's birthdays, not to mention Halloween. And for some of us who send out Fall/Thanksgiving wishes, you have those too. I am not one of them so I don't have that on my list to do! Although I do love the fall colors.

Today is my nephew Michael's birthday party. He turns 5 years old tomorrow. Such a cute age! I started his card last night and just finished it this morning. Take a peek:


I propped the card up against a white picture frame so that is what you are seeing around the card. All supplies are from October Afternoon 5 and Dime and Seaside.

Enjoy your Sunday. It's going to be a beautiful day here in Chicago-land!
Nancy

Friday, October 21, 2011

Paperie Sweetness Give Away!

Hi all,

Look at what I won over at Tammie Roberts' blog - Paperie Sweetness :

These goodies include companies like October Afternoon (rub ons, paper & rubber charms), Webster's Pages (sparklers), Maya Road (chipboard album & flowers), Jillibean Soup (stick pins), Prima (stamps & paper) Kaisercraft (tags & doilies), K& Co (brads) and some vintage lace... all tucked in the red pocket from Ki Memories! 
I cannot wait to receive all these goodies! With the cool weather ahead of us now, I enjoy staying indoors and hunkering down in my craft room and make cards all day long!
Thank you again, Tammie!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

CR84FN40

Hi all,
I hope you all have enjoyed our beautiful weather so far here in Chicagoland. However it is about to end. Our temperature is cooling off and rain is in the forecast.

I have a card to share with you tonight. It is one I created for a chaofllenge which again, I was too late to enter.But I still have time to enter a new challenge over at CR84FN. I also made this card with my baby sister in mind. She is celebrating her 46th birthday tomorrow. Below is the picture and colors for this challenge:

And here is the card I am entering along with giving it to my sister for her birthday.



Kraft cardstock and ribbon from Stampin Up, pattern paper by Flair Designs, image by Crafty Secrets, button and twine from Papertrey Ink. That is it for now. I have been diligently working on altering that album I won from Pam Hooten's blog. I'm having so much fun with it. Can't wait to show you the finished product!
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Nancy

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Card Patterns - Sketch 135

Hi all,
Just popping in to post a card I made for this week's sketch at Card Patterns -

Since it is October, I'm using a Halloween theme. And here is my card:


That is it for now. I'm off to the paint store for paint and supplies. I'm finally getting around to painting my spare bedroom! I've been in my house for 10 years now and this is the only room that has never been painted. Oh my!
I'm going neutral on the walls so I can go with any color for bedding and window treatments.

I'm also working on a mini album to give to a good friend of mine. She is hosting a dinner for a few friends this month (not sure of the date yet) and I want to have this finished to give to her then. I will post some pictures once it is finished.
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Nancy