Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Mini Cards

So today I want to start a Mini series with Mini cards.
If you follow my blog you know how much I love mini cards because you can use them as tags for presents, little pick-me-up cards for many occasions or even attach them to the front of a larger card.
The three cards below have a summer party theme or even invites for a cook-out.


The stamp set is from Unity Stamps:ARC 02
(This stamp set came in a kit from Archivers)
Thanks for stopping by today
Nancy

It's Hump Day.

Good morning all, I don't have a card to post yet today but I thought I'd share a picture of a flower in my garden.  I took this yesterday morning.
Our cooler weather has been kind to the hydrangea's this year and they stayed blue.
Enjoy and thanks for stopping today,
Nancy

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

BB the Bumble Bee

I just want to say how much fun I had working on this card today.
I have a fellow DT member on one of my challenge blogs that draws her images and offers them on Etsy.  She also has a blog where she sends out certain images for free, yes that's what I said!
She has all kinds of images at a great price.
Anne also has a blog where she offers the details of how to get her images for free.
Go check everything out!
BB - Bumble Bee

I took the image and colored with Copics and then I printed the image several more times on Vellum.
I colored the wings of the Vellum on the reverse side and then cut them out.  Layering them and attaching on the back side of image to add the dimension.
I also added Stickles on several areas and some black flock for her hair/head piece.
The circle Hexagon is a die from Simon Says.(Hexagon Pattern Circle) I used the punch outs as accents on the card.  I found a very small Bee in my stock and stamped it several times.
Added a computer sentiment and there you go.
Thanks for stopping today, and don't forget to visit Anne's site.
Nancy



Monday, July 29, 2013

Greeting from The Outlawz

Well it's Monday,'Greetings' day over at The Outlawz and we have some outstanding inspiration this week
Our challenge is 'Anything  Goes', so options are limitless.
I used an image from LaLa Land that I had not had the opportunity to color, so this was my chance.
Here's Outlaw Luka
Hope you enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by.
Nancy


Sunday, July 28, 2013

This week at 613 Avenue Create

This weeks challenge is 'Anything Goes' over  at 
I want to share my card for the Design Team Challenge.
  August 3rd is National Friendship Day so our OPTIONAL twist this week is to create a card or gift for a friend.  Our newest sponsor has plenty of images that are perfect for friendship cards!  


Kenny K - Copic Me Janette
Please join us for the challenge and Inspiration.  Don't forget that special friend August 3rd.

Entering the following challenges:

In everything give Thanks...

After  using a 12 X 12 paper pad for one of my challenge post, I found some really fun papers and decided to make this card.  I must admit that some scrap laying around was also used on the card.
I have a sentiment stamp with a bible verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18  that I love.
In everything give thanks
So here's the card.  
Looks like I'm becoming more and more obsessed with the fishtail pennant/banner.
Thanks for stopping by and have a Great Sunday.
Nancy

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Just Playing

Tonight I thought I would just play a little so I went to my rounder that holds all my 6 X 6 paper pads and I closed my eyes and picked one.
So what did I pick.....Country Boutique by Fancy Pants. 

Its somewhat neutral, but I choose several papers and made this card.  

With the heart paper, I decided to use the LOVE sentiment and added some simple twine.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Nancy


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Gelato Anyone?

Tonight I had a chance to play a little with some Gelatos by Faber Castell.  I was motivated by a video from a blog of a good friend.  If you ever want a short tutorial you need to go over to Kimberly Crawfords blog.
She's one of the Paper Crafts Go To Gals and she always has cool stuff featured.

So I used some Heide Swapp paper and created this card.
Very simple card, some layered papers, pearls and some ribbon.
Thanks for stopping by today and I appreciate you being patient that I haven't posted everyday this week.
This little man has been at my house and grandma doesn't get much done other than snuggle.
Can you blame me?
Nancy

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

This week at The Outlawz

I want to share the Greets Challenge for this week over at The Outlawz.
This week our challenge to you is to 'emboss' something.  you can wet or dry emboss or even combine them.
My card for the week shows dry emboss using two different patterns.
Go on over to The Outlawz and see all the inspiration.
Thanks for  stopping by.
Nancy

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Punk Randi Dandi

So I wanted to share a card I did with a rick st. dennis image that I am totally obsessed with.
This is Randi Dandi and I colored her with a little punk style.
I also have been testing out a video setup, so there is a video to go with this.  I have listed the Copic colors below because I believe I might have given you a wrong number on the reds.

Copic Markers: E000,E01,E11,R20,YG93,E87,Y21,Y23,RV13,RV14, Spica Sand
(if the video doesn't start at the beginning, just back it up, its all there)
Thanks for stopping today.
Nancy

Thursday, July 18, 2013

It's a Birthday

I Love Tim Holtz stuff and some of my favorite things are the kits that come from Archivers.
They 
have mini cards in them and come with a 4 stamp set, a pad of 6 X 6 paper, some embellishments and instructions.
You usually need to provide a couple colors of ink and maybe some optional stickles.
These kits are so easy and can be adapted for so many things.  The fact that you have the 4 stamps for future projects is actually well worth the  cost.
So, I had the Birthday set sitting around and decided to pull everything out and make the cards.
These four are complete and I have almost the entire paper pad left. 
Easy Peasy
Thanks for stopping today.
Nancy


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Another Cleaning Day

I needed to put all my stuff away today after hosting the craft camp over the weekend.  My wonderful Husband carried everything back downstairs to my room, but the task of putting it back in its proper spot....well it's all back and I did a little sorting and cleaning.
Found a few things lying around so I put this card together.
I love making these cards, just go through the scrap and somehow it all comes together.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Nancy

Monday, July 15, 2013

Ok.. Double or Nothing day...

As I said in my last post its Blog Challenge day so I want to let you know whats going on over at 
The Outlawz Challenges.

This week our challenge is Christmas in July.  If you don't celebrate Christmas then make a holiday card that shows your belief.   
Our sponsor this week is Eureka Stamps.

Here are my cards for the week.  I
16901 Too Fat
I thought this was a good image since last week we focused on Cookies.

26702 Holly Frame
Here is my second card.  A good basic holly card.

Come on over and look around. at all the DT Inspiration cards.
Thanks for stopping today.
Nancy



Monday Blog Hop Day

Today starts a couple of new Challenges for several of my blogs.  I will address 613 Avenue Create first.
As always its Anything Goes, but we'd love for you to add the twist of 'Birthdays'.
Here's my DT inspirations 
The Paper Shelter - Yummy

Our sponsor this week is (here)

I intend to enter my card in the following challenges:

Thanks for Stopping by today and stayed tuned, more to come.
Nancy

Friday, July 12, 2013

howdy........

Today's Alcohol Marker challenge over at The Outlawz is
Wild West / Rodeo
I am on the DT Greetings Team and always look at the other challenges, but usually don't have the time to participate.  I can't win any prizes, but its always fun to color something for fun.
I have an image from The Paper Shelter, "Adorable Cowgirl" that I picked up the other day and I decided it was perfect for this challenge.  
She is so cute and I took the time to put together a card today.
Go over and check out the site and join in the fun.
 Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend.
Nancy

Saturday Craft Camp Extended

Tomorrow I'm hosting another day of open crafting time at our office location.  This will be a day of crafting, sewing, laughter and eating.  If you've ever gone to a crafting/crop day you know what I mean, if you haven't then you need to find something in your area NOW!
If you happen to be in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area and think this is something you're interested in, please get in touch with me.  You can go to http://www.meetup.com/Craft-Camp-Extended/ and sign up.
If this doesn't work for you please e-mail directly.(nancy@designinventions.com)
I will have some special Amuse Studio projects to share.

Have a great day and weekend!
Nancy

Thursday, July 11, 2013

friends...

Today I got to spend the day with my DIL and that fabulous grandson of mine.  We did a little shopping and had a great lunch while at the mall.  He is such a good baby and I can't wait until later next week when I get to keep him everyday for a couple of weeks.
Not sure how much crafting will take place, but we'll see how grandma can juggle her time.
Stayed tune.....  
Spending a little time in my craft room tonight, I was able to put this quick card together.  
This is the Lawn Fawn set "Summertime Charm"  It has stamps and dies.  
I used some simple paper flowers, a couple of edge punches and twine to finish everything off.
Hope you had a great day and thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Birthday Bubbles

Sharing today an extra card that's not needed for one of my upcoming DT challenges.
This is a digital image from The Paper Shelter and was so much fun to create. Most of The Paper Shelter images come already colored or you can use the line art.  They are great if you don't like to color or are short on time.  This one was colored with Copics and I used a computer generated sentiment.

Check in Sunday for the card that I used for the Challenge over at 613 Avenue Create.
Thanks for stopping today
Nancy

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Calendar Cards

You know when you have those small calendars with pictures at the top??  Sometimes they are very nice images and hard to throw away.  Well today I have a couple of cards that I put together using basic leftover scraps .  I have 2 to share tonight and plan on making more to complete a set.  Great, simple gift idea.


I cut the focal image into thirds and mounted on a card base. Added ribbon and sentiment.  Used some $1.00 bling from the local craft store.
Easy Peasy
Thanks for stopping by
Nancy

Monday, July 8, 2013

me want cookies......

It's Greetings Team challenge day over at The Outlawz and who doesn't like cookies?
That's the theme for the week and not sure I'm going to make it through without cranking up the oven.  
Edie has posted the challenge with a little history about the cookie, so go on over and check it out.
Who knows, you may get inspired and send us your own cookie card or project.
Here's my card for the week.
Thanks for stopping by
Nancy

Lazy Sunday

Sorry I didn't get anything posted yesterday, but I needed a nap.  My husband was out of town and I got to spend the night with the cutest little man around.  His mom and dad had to attend a wedding and grandma got to babysit.  He is a great little boy, but I must admit that he was a little restless most of the night.  They left him with me and probably the first time he had been fed for over 12 hours with a bottle.  My guess from experience is that the little guys tummy had way too much air...
My night of lost sleep is easy to make up and I am so blessed to be his grandma.
(6 weeks)
Thanks for stopping today.
proud grandma, Nancy

Friday, July 5, 2013

Summer Strawberries

It's summer and time for strawberries and I want to share a Mo Manning image that I got last year and never had a chance to color.  Knowing that I wanted to make the strawberries red, I then needed to find a paper that would work with that color.  I had this paper from Pine Cone Press that has been laying on my desk just waiting for the correct image.  Today was the day.  Having 4 patterns on one side of the 12 X 12 paper was just what I needed and the perfect fit.  I love this color combo anyway so it was so easy to put together.  The sentiment is from Amuse Studio and then I added a little bling.

I hope you have a great weekend and as always, thanks for stopping by today.
Nancy



Would a Cookie Help?

Playing around today with a couple of images still laying on my desk from an upcoming challenge post, so I just picked one up and made this card.  I'm not using this image for next weeks challenge over at The Outlawzs, so I can share it with you today.
The image is digital cookiefairy from Whimsiedoodle.

I colored with Copics and used a little Stickles on her wings.  Layered a couple of papers added some ribbon and I think this cookie is baked and ready to go.
Thanks for stopping today.
Nancy

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

God Bless The USA

I want to wish everyone a Safe and Happy 4th of July.


Nancy

Just a quick Gratitude...

Today I want to share a very quick card that I made.
I recently purchased the Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch and of course the minute I got it home I had to play.  I started with the scallop punch that comes with the base then I punched a circle using the Diamond Lace  design.  The punch system is very easy, but I must admit that this pink one had a small area that was not perfect.  Well I couldn't throw it away, so I cut it up and applied to the front of a card base.  
I stamped a basic sentiment and then layered a few paper flowers with a brad for decoration.
So easy and I have another basic thank you card in my stash.
Have I told you lately how much I like to use my paper scraps!
Thanks for stopping today.
Nancy



Monday, July 1, 2013

Happy Monday

I want to start the week off with my sneak peak at Mellow Mango over at
Its a fun challenge with great colors.  
I used one of my favorite images from Mo Manning and the three challenge colors.  

Hope you decide to join us this week, or at least stop over for some inspiration.
Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy