Ice skates

My first day to relax! All week I've been running errands, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, making tags to adorn the pretty packages. Christmas baking, and baking and baking! I love to bake and to try new recipes. I also attended my godson's 3rd grade school Christmas program. He played the recorder (flute) for all 3 songs they performed.

Tonight I am popping in to share a Christmas card I made - actually one of many. This one is one of my favorites. I plan to reproduce a few more and send them out next year.

The ice skates die is by Sizzix - a Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers magnetic die. I sponged the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink. I made little 'X's' with a light gray Stampin Up marker to resemble the laces. I used Stampin Up Basic Gray marker for the blades and black for the heels of the skate. I used a brad to hold the skates together and wrapped PTI's red and white twine around the skates several times and tied it all into a bow.

 My sentiment is from Stampin Up's Many Merry Messages set. The green striped pattern paper is from Little Yellow Bicycle. And the red cardstock is from Michael's. I also sponged the edges of the green striped paper before adhering to the red cardstock.

I have also started prepping for more 8x8 mini scrapbook albums. I made 3 Christmas - themed albums and gave them as gifts to friends I work with before leaving for my 2 weeks vacation. I was in such a hurry putting the final touches on them that I forgot to take pictures! I have so many paper packs I thought by making albums it would be a good way to use them up. I love making Christmas cards and mini scrapbook albums that I hate to have to put it all away! But before you know it, it will be time to bring out all the valentine goodies!

That is all from me tonight. I think I will put off going to the grocery store and settle in for the night with my warm flannel jammies, a fire going, and a good James Patterson book!
Good night all~
Nancy

December birthday

Good Sunday morning to you! I am at the tail end of a full blown migraine from yesterday - ugh! That's what I get for attempting to start my Christmas shopping, on a Saturday, at the mall, on an empty stomache!  I cancelled my plans to go see Catching Fire - the 2nd part to Hunger Games. Oh well, there's always next weekend. I'll just stay in and finish making Christmas cards and get them addressed and mailed!

But today I am sharing a card I made for a December birthday - she's a good friend and coworker. No reds and greens for this card - I am using turquoise, peach and green. Weird combination but it ended up looking good together!

The pattern papers and journal card is from Graphic 45's Secret Garden line. I used PTI's ric rac die, green cardstock, flower and ribbon from my stash; Prima crystals in white pearl.

I bought a new die from Sizzix - Christmas wreath, ornament and vine. I can't wait to start playing with it!

Until next time~
Nancy

out patient?

Hi friends,
I had a friend who thought she was going in for a quick out-patient procedure and ended up having major surgery and stayed over for 2 nights! With her in mind, I made her this card just to let her know I was thinking of her.

Pattern papers and die cut shapes are from the Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings line. Ribbon and green sequin is from my stash.
The US Thanksgiving holiday is just 2 days away. I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Nancy~

Baby's First birthday

It's a beautiful sunny and cold fall morning here in Chicago land. And we have snow in our near future! I find as I get older, I am disliking winter more and more!

Today I am sharing a card I made for my daughter's girlfriend's daughter's first birthday. Did you get all that?!! Long story short, the girlfriend is a truly good friend to my daughter. She is always upbeat and can take you from a dark, depressing mood to laughing your butt off in 10 seconds flat! And her daughter is just as adorable as her mommy!

 

Everything I used on this card are scraps of this and that. Paper, cardstock, ribbon, twine and button ...I'm starting to clean out the old and bring in the new! The glitter I used on the #1 is chunky glitter from Stampin Up. I hand-drew the #1 on a piece of chipboard, cut it out, glued it up and sprinkled the glitter on it. Dressed it up with heart stick pins, bow, button and twine. Did I say this baby loves pink like her mommy?!

I have been going through old samples of sketches and cards and giving them a face lift! This is a good way to use up old papers and embellishments. It also jump-starts the creative juices!
Have a good weekend!
N~

October Birthdays

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted. To tell the truth, I'm not much of a writer so that probably accounts for not blogging very often. I was so busy with my son's wedding that I hardly had time to breath. Now that things have calmed down, my schedule is back to normal,  my house decorated for fall, I can get back to what I was working on in my craft room!

I have a birthday card to share with you. I made it for a very good friend of mine who I also work with. She works out of our Massachusetts office. Although I don't get to see her but maybe twice a year, we talk and email each other on a daily basis. She is like a sister to me.

Her birthday is the same day as my baby sister's birthday which is this Sunday, Oct 13. I liked how the card turned out so I duplicated it and made a 2nd one which I will give to my sister!

My sister loves her flowers and plants in her gardens, so she'll be sure to love the pattern paper I used. It's from the Graphic 45 line "Secret Garden"

The white and purple cardstock is from Michael's craft store, the lace, ribbon, flower and purple gems are from my stash, stick pin from Prima, the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

 One of my favorite holidays, Halloween, is right around the corner so I plan to be holed up all weekend making cards and treat bags for all the little ghosts and goblins that will be coming up the walkway, ringing my doorbell, and doing tricks for treats!
Good night!
N~

Wedding pics

Happy Sunday!
The big day has come and gone already. But what a beautiful day it was. Sun was shining, rained while we were in church and by the time we left the church, the sun was back out! Is it true when they say rain brings good luck on your wedding day?!
I have a ton of pictures but will only bore you with just a few. These are from my smart phone. Can't wait to see the professional pictures taken by the photographer!

They are not married yet! The polish have a custom where the parents bless the couple before leaving for the church. In this picture, they are leaving for the church after the blessing. The bridesmaid to the far right in background is my daughter Dana.

 

 

My godson Aiden was their ring bearer. The flower girls dresses were handmade in Poland and shipped over to the states.

The whole wedding party - all 29 of them!

And here I am, the happy mother of the groom. My sister took this picture before the guests started arriving.

And that is it from me today. I am spending the afternoon cleaning and organizing my craft room. I am hoping to get motivated to start making cards again! My workspace is a disaster! Have a great week and hopefully I'll be back next weekend with some new cards to share.
Until then -
Nancy

Bridal shower pics

My word - planning a wedding- or should I revise that and say planning a wedding for over 350 people is a lot of work! And I am only the mother of the groom - I can't imagine what the bride and bride's mother are going through...well, yes I can! The big day is coming up - 6 days and counting..

The bridal shower was a huge success. And I would say 97% of all whom were invited came. I am sharing just a couple pictures that someone took with my inexpensive camera. Most of the pictures were taken with my cell phone. And I have to be honest with you - these high tech smart phones can be very confusing. So as soon as I find time to go on their website and figure out how to download the pictures off my phone and onto my computer, I should have more pictures to share.

This picture is of the groom-to-be and his little sister! Quite a few people chose to wear the color coral to the shower - even the bride-to-be!

I'm not sure who took this picture, sorry for the blurriness! This picture is of the moms and the soon to be Mr. & Mrs.

Monica, our Maid of Honor has been a huge help - she helped with the planning of the bridal shower. She also acted as a translator since polish is the dominant language on the bride-to-be's side of the family! In addition, she planned all the festivities for the bachelorette party, and is now planning a few little events for the morning of the big day as the girls are getting ready!  One of the 'events' is asking the moms, close girlfriends and the groom to write a letter to the bride. She will collect these letters at the rehearsal dinner. The morning of the wedding, as the bride is getting ready, she will read the letters. Such a sweet and loving gesture! So I made a card and will plan to write my thoughts and sentiments inside. I took this layout off the back of a Melissa Frances sticker sheet!

All papers and stickers are from Melissa Frances, metal heart is from Blue Moon, heart stick pin is from Maya Road. Ribbon, flower and pearls are from my stash.

I'm off to write my letter to the bride. Enjoy the rest of your week!
N~