Time to get small....

with inchies and mini cards!
I taught a class at Stamp Fever on Saturday with an inchie focus. I brought bags of scrap patterned paper to class so the ladies could make some bonus inchie cards. Here they are hard at work and having fun too!

Left to right is Kim, Evelyn, Karen, Jacquie and Sondra. In this class we finished THIS card that we didn't have time to do last month along with THIS card. Then we made some inchie mini cards.

Here's my inchie minis:

This card is 3.5 x 3.5 and uses scraps from October Afternoon, Basic Grey and The Girls' Paperie.
The stamps are from Hero Arts Sweet One set.

This 3x3 inch card uses Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey and Hero Hues papers with Lawn Fawn sentiment from Sophie's Sentiments.

For this 3x3 inch card I did a reverse mask using a 1 inch square punch to create the grid pattern and stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition. Then I stamped the adorable specs and sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Clear to See set. I love the gems.  I only wish I had the chutzpah to wear glasses like these!

I'm entering these minis in the CAS-ual Fridays challenge:

~ Psalm 51:10 ~

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

blessings,

nancy

InLinkz.com

Lily Pad, Hero Arts and a sketch

What could be better than new Hero Arts Christmas stamps? How about a Lily Pad Cards sketch challenge?
It's time for another Lucy's Lovely Lines challenge over at the pond so here's the sketch.....

and here's my cards using the clear set Reindeer Christmas and Snowflake Shapes Clings.....

I used a lot of Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Baby Blue Stickles and Glossy Accents to give this card some sparkle and shine!

details close up...I love how the Glossy Accents gives the reindeer googly eyes and make his nose shiny

Paper piecing was done with Crate Paper's Snow Day from last year, I love the whimsical colors and design of these papers.

This card uses both stamp sets again with Graphic45 paper, Tim Holtz tissue tape, Pink Paislee decorative tape. The leaves are an EK Success punch. 

To make the snowflake heart really glossy, I stamped it with red ink then cut it out leaving a 1/2 by 1 inch tab on one side. Then I applied Versamark ink to the heart and clear embossed it holding it by the tab with tweezers to keep from burning my fingers. I repeated this several times until it had a thick glossy sheen. You could use Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and only repeat the embossing once or twice for the same effect. I added Crushed Olive Distress ink to the punched leaves.

Now check out the fabulous work from the rest of the Lily Pad Cards Design Team. I know you'll be impressed and inspired. I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch!

~ 1 Peter 4:7-8 ~

The end of all things is near.

Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Above all, love each other deeply,

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

blessings,

nancy

InLinkz.com

Read a Book

So one of the challenge themes at Hero Arts this month is window cards. For some reason I decided I needed to make a literal window so I could use the Winter Town stamp as the outside scene.

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet serenity of books.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The cozy indoor scene (I guess this could have been made for last month's challenge, too bad I didn't think of it then) was constructed using Basic Grey's Oxford papers and stamps from the Wish You Were Here clear set. I made wallpaper with Powder Layering paper and Dots and Flowers background stamp. The wainscoting is simply layered cardstock squares. I computer generated and printed the throw pillow/sentiment. The picture on the wall is from the PTI set On My Couch.

 ~ 2 Timothy 2:15 ~

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval.

Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed

and who correctly explains the Word of Truth."

blessings,

nancy

First time using the Inlinkz Link Manager! Thanks Vicky and Aris!

InLinkz.com

Digital Scrapbooking

I used some older Digital Scrapbook Kits to play with the photos of the new baby. I thought I would create a simple scrapbook for Kellie starting with some photos of Uriah's first day. The kits I used are: Jen Martakis-"April 2010" and Michelle Underwood- "That Was Yesterday". Unfortunately I got these digi kits so long ago I could no longer find them at Two Peas. They have over 5000 digi kits so I'm sure you can find one to fit your theme. Don't worry if you don't have Photoshop or some other expensive photo editing software...I did these in Microsoft Publisher 2003...Word or PowerPoint will also work.

The collection of scrap-booked photos. 

 When I set a transparent background for the photo, it allowed the pattern from the digi paper to show through to the white blanket. Ties it all together.

 

Andy was so excited and so calm at the time...I was very proud of him.

 

I made a photo pocket using the same digi elements to give the photos to Kellie and Andy.

Closeup of the digital elements....papers and scalloped border from the Jen Martakis kit and the colorful banner from the Michelle Underwood kit. I liked that the elements weren't baby themed but they are still cheerful and work together well. I added the captions in WordArt using the font "Pristina".

This photo was taken on Uriah's second day...I'm totally smitten!

 

 

Funny story~ Uriah looks so much like his daddy when he was a baby....I scanned a photo of Andy taken about an hour after he was born and emailed it to Andy for comparison.

When Andy showed this photo to his mother in law she was wondering why the photo of Uriah was so grainy and such a bad photo. She was shocked to learn that it was Andy and not Uriah (and Uriah was in the room with her at time). He does appear to be a clone of his daddy.

Hopefully I'll get back to making some cards again soon. I finally have a good reason to try my hand at scrapbooking though, so I'll be splitting my crafting time.

 ~ Mark 10:13-16 ~

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them.

But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples.

He said to them, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them!

For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God 

like a child will never enter it."

Then He took the children in His arms and placed

His hands on their heads and blessed them.

blessings,

nancy

 

You heard it right...I'm a Grandma!

I have fallen head over heels in love....with a tiny little baby boy. My new grandson, Uriah West Krueger.
Vital statistics: Born at 11:27 am on September 2, 2011 (his actual due date).
8 lbs, 4 oz. 21 inches.
He is so sweet and adorable, he even took time out of his busy napping schedule to pose for some photos.

Uriah West Krueger

Meeting my precious little grandson for the first time.

 Three of my favorite men.

The happy new grandparents.

~ Psalm 127:3 ~

"Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from Him."

blessings,

nancy

Dancing my way to another Lily Pad Cards Color Challenge

 It's time for another Kathy's Lily Pad Palette Challenge:

So here's some randomness about me: I was once a dancer. Started taking ballet lessons at the age of 4 and continued studying various dance styles all the way through to college. I always thought it was so humorous though, that God gave me the ability to dance but He also gave me short stubby legs. I do not have the classic willowy dancer's body and I realized early on that my chances of making it as a professional were slim to none. So I got married and had kids and turned to choreographing school musicals, coaching volleyball and soccer and teaching PE. I still enjoy dance and I love to watch "So You Think You Can Dance".

When the Lily Pad Cards Design Team was given the opportunity to select from the gorgeous illustrations at A Day for Daisies I fell in love with the image of ballet slippers.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it too.

I love the traditional pale pink of ballet slippers. Although I never learned to dance "en pointe" I do still have my battered ballet slippers and I still slip into them to practice barre exercises occasionally.

Since I had a digital image to work with I planned to design my set of cards entirely on the computer, just adding some black mat layers to create my set of cards. I found some dance quotes online and used my favorite fonts. I even added color to my image using Microsoft Paint, it couldn't have been easier.

This quote is especially meaningful to me as I had the chance to see the amazing Judith Jamison dance way back in 1976 with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Quotes: Ballet Quotes ; Fonts: Kevin and Amanda

Please check out the beautiful and inspiring images at "A Day for Daisies" then go to Lily Pad Cards and be further inspired by the gorgeous work by the Design Team. I hope you join us for this color challenge.

Thought for the Day

~ Galatians 5:14-15 ~

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.

But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.

Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command:

"Love your neighbor as yourself".

always keep dancing,

nancy