Knitted Bag

Hello everyone. I promised to post a picture of the project I made at the knitting retreat I attended in November. Here it is. It is a small bag. We learned how to make the diagonal. It was intriguing and fun to do. I do have yarn to make another one, but I haven't started it.

Tonight's traffic getting home from work was very, very heavy. That's the nicest thing I can say about it. I am home now and don't have to worry about it tomorrow as I am taking the whole day off. I'll be going to Christmas Eve dinner at my friends, Debbie and Roger, home.

After Christmas I can post a couple of things I made for gifts. You know I don't want to spoil their surprise.

Merry Christmas to all!

N

Back to Cards

Enough of the snow already! Back to crafting. I made these ornaments using Stampin' Up's Big Shot with the scalloped circle die. Aren't the kids cute? Some of the pictures are old, but I love looking at the pictures. I think the ornaments are cute, too, don't you? They are very easy to make. I used the chip board that comes in our designer series paper and glued pattern paper to a piece before sending it through the Big Shot. I thought they turned out nice.

Enjoy!
N

Really, I Cleaned it off

I really did start my car and clean it off. It didn't last long, however. I also took a picture of the tree at the end of my balcony.

Then I came in the house, made myself a cup of tea and started downloading pictures. That's the scene outside my craft room window. The tea is actually on the inside. Really.

Enough snow pictures. I'm done. Time for a book and a nap. Not necessarily in that order. I just heard on the TV that there is over 14 inches at Washington-Reagan National Airport. It's going to be a while before we dig out of this one.

N

Snow; Snow; Snow

I ventured out, but didn't stay long. I did get my car cleaned off. Mostly. Here are some pics from the great outdoors.

Here's a picture out the front door of my building. I realized as I stood on the front stoop that although I wasn't the first person out of my building, there was no path from the other person. It was covered. Great. Did I mention that I don't own a pair of boots?
There are two before pictures of my car. Lovely.

See the next post for the cleared off car!

N

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it STOP!

Enough already! I think we've had at least 12 inches. I've had lunch and put a beef stew in the slow cooker, so I've decided to venture outside. Just thought I would let you know. I'll take some pictures and post them here shortly. I'm definitely not driving anywhere. On TV they have reported that snow plow trucks are getting stuck.
I'm going out!
N

Let it Snow!

Hello! It hasn't started to snow yet where I am, but they say it's coming. The weatherpersons say anywhere from 10 to 25 inches! Goodness! I'll let you know what we get. That should give me some time to make cards, photograph them AND post them! Do you think?

I guess I need to change the theme sides. I think Fall is over. Now I've got to figure out how I did that.

Stay tuned.

I'm still here!

Here I am! I don't have a picture to post right now, but wanted to let you know I'm here. School is over. (I took English 112 at the community college.) I don't have my grade yet. I'll share when I do get it.

I have been making cards. I even made my own Christmas stationary with Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio and used it for my Christmas letter. That was fun. If you want information about My Digital Studio and how you can make cards, scrapbook pages or stationary with it, let me know. I'll be glad to tell you about it. I'm hoping to learn more about it over the next couple of weeks.

I got the camera out on Sunday and realized that the battery was dead. I have recharged it, but I haven't had time now to take pictures. In the next day or two, I WILL get some pictures taken, both cards and knitting. I might have to change the title of my post to something that will encompass my many habits, I mean hobbies.

Thanks for checking back.
N

Fold-Up Photo Album

I did not realize that I have not posted since last week.

This is something I made over a year ago, well, actually now that I look at it, it was over two years ago. It is a fold up photo album. I got the idea from the key card holder that I got in Denver at the hotel where we stayed the first year I went to the Stampin' Up convention. The hotel was The Curtis. When you unfolded the key card holder there was a map of downtown Denver in the center. I was intrigued and decided there must be a photo album in there somewhere.

When I got home I started folding and refolding, and folding and refolding; it was quite tricky. Once I finally got the fold, I started looking for pictures to put in it. The pictures here are of one of my beautiful nieces and her family. The reason I know that this is over two years old is because there is a space there that says "Baby boy, due October 1, 2007." Well, Jack is two now.

I think I meant to send it to Jill, but decided to keep it. I guess she'll just have to see it here on the blog.

Enjoy!
Nancy

Fall Foliage

I wanted to show you how beautiful fall is here in Virginia. Today is a gray day so it is not good for taking pictures, but I'm afraid the leaves are going to fall before I could get pictures. Hopefully you will get the general idea. If we do get a sunnier day, and I get home before the sun goes down, I'll try to get better pictures.

This is what I see as I come and go from my house. Enjoy!

Elegant Card

It's a cold, dreary day here in Virginia. I think the creative mojo is on hiatus; however, I needed a sympathy card so I sat down last night and worked on a few ideas. I'm into Old Olive and Bravo Burgundy colors so that is what you will be seeing the next couple of days.

This card I used the Big Shot Texturz plates on both Natural Ivory pieces. On the smaller piece I actually ran it through the Big Shot after I stamped the image. I think the card turned out nicely.

Stay tuned this week for another version of this card.

Enjoy!

Busy Weekend

Hello. Sadly, I have had no time to create cards! However, I spent Saturday with a friend; then came home and cleaned house. Today I have had to read the stories assigned for my English class. I must say, I am not a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. I had to read two of his short stories. I won't be writing a paper on either of those stories. I really need to get off the computer now and finish folding clothes.

In the meantime, here is the last card that we made at Christmas card stamp camp this month. I love this card, but for some reason I found it annoying to make. I don't know that I'll be making any more of these, but then maybe I need to figure out what annoyed me about it and change it up a little. Hmmmmm.

I'll try to get back to making cards soon I hope.

Enjoy!

Profile Photo

I took that photo myself. It is hard to hold a 16 lb cat and take a picture of yourself. I don't know how such a big cat can become so slippery when you're trying to get him to stay still.

Sassy loves closets. In fact, Tuesday evening he got shut in my master closet for about three hours. You see, he evidently was in there when I shut the closet and left for class. It's a good thing class let out about 45 minutes early that evening. K-Bird was at the door to meet me when I got home, but no Sass. First I looked in the coat closet. A cat could get lost in there. I really need to straighten out the floor of that closet. Lots of stuff there. Sass loves to get in there and snuggle into everything. I found him in one of my backpacks one time when I accidently closed him in there. The next place I looked was my closet. Sure enough, there he was.

So now for a while, I'll remember to make sure I see both cats before I leave home.

N

Yet Another Christmas Card

This card is a CASE of one from Lou Ann Cruttenden. I love the elegant look of it. And, yes, I did emboss the stamped image. I love embossing. It looks so cool. On the Old Olive piece I did use one of the Texture plates with the Big Shot. This card was very simple to do and I think it turned out nicely.

Enjoy!

And more Ornaments

I love being able to schedule the post. If I want to add something I can, but just in case I get busy with school work or something else, at least the post will be made.

This is another Christmas card we did at stamp camp. Again, I embossed one ornament so that it would stand out. The piece of white background was embossed using the embossing envelope that is in the holiday mini catalog. I love the way it looks. I also used the shimmer paint on that background. It is also in the holiday mini. Isn't that holiday mini just chock full of goodies?

Enjoy!

Ornaments

I just love the ornament punch that Stampin' Up! came out with in the holiday mini catalog, and the stamp set that goes with the punch. I CASEd this card from one we made at my upline's stamp camp; however, I embossed the ornament. I just love the embossing folder that I used on this card also. It's a very simple card and it was quick and easy to make.

Enjoy!

Christmas Card Stamp Camp

It certainly feels like Christmastime here in Virginia. The windchill is 36 degrees and there is a cold rain coming down. I put a nice stew in the slow cooker and have been eating it today.

I had a Christmas Card stamp camp today at my house. We made 5 Christmas cards and adorned a candy treat. This is one of the cards. This card is a CASE of one by Terry Bolender. It is made with the Medallion stamp set which is the most popular stamp set in the 2009-2010 Idea Book.

I'll be posting more of the cards as the week goes on.

Enjoy!

Rainy Day

It has been a cold rainy day here in the mid-Atlantic (Virginia). It would have been a nice day to stay home and make cards, but alas, I must work to support my card habit.

This is a hoot, don't you think? Pun intended. This little guy makes a cute way to give loose candy.

Enjoy!

Lazy Day

Hi everyone. Today is a federal holiday. It used to be called Columbus Day. I don't know what they call it any more. So today I took myself to Panera for breakfast. I sat and read a book (for pleasure, not my school books). Then went to the grocery store; came home, put groceries away and studied for an hour, cleaned the kitchen and then decided to cook. So cleaning the kitchen became an ongoing effort. Oh, by the way, the smoke alarm works. It lets me know that sometimes when I cook. :) So I have stuff made for lunches this week.

I'm off to my friend Debbie's shortly. She invited me over for an afternoon of knitting and then dinner. We're going to watch a movie and knit. For dinner she is making her vegetable lasagne. It's very good.

So today you get a picture of my cat K-Bird. I think he is 19 years old, which means he will be 20 on January 1st (or he'll be 19 on January 1st). In spite of the fact that he is thin, he looks pretty good for an old cat, and he is active, running through the condo, picking a fight with the 14 year old cat. That's the 14 year old cat in my photo there.

Thanks for stopping by.

Halloween Approaches

Hi Everyone! I was in Denver for a few days and the weather was beautiful there! It was cool and I could see one snow covered mountain peak. It was behind the first range of mountains that I could see from my hotel room. The only day it rained I was in the convention center for most of the day.

I made this Halloween card last year as a card I sent to my family members. I used a circle that I punched out of a post-it note to made the moon surrounding the cat. I thought it made a nice feature. Using a post-it is nice because it sticks to the card stock without leaving any residue.

Enjoy!

Autumn Post

Happy October! Don't you just love the fall colors and cooler weather?

This is another card I did for a stamp camp and for my convention swaps. I ran the base card through the Big Shot using one of the texture plates.

I should be back to my post in the next day or two.

Enjoy!

Post for Friday

I wanted to put up some posts while I'm away from my computer for several days.

I made this card for an organized swap that I participated in at SU! convention this year. The dress is made using the scallop circle die for the Big Shot and then cutting parts out of it for the shape. This dress is actually made using some fabric I had. I did use an iron-on stabilizer which I adhered to the back of the fabric before running it through the Big Shot. I used dimensionals to put the dress onto the card. It is very easy to run fabric through the Big Shot.

Enjoy!

Partially Finished

Hi. I didn't have time to log on Tuesday because I had school in the evening. It was a long evening, but we had interesting discussions about poems that we had read.

Tonight I'm looking forward to surfing the 'net and just vegging.

This photo is of Build-A-Bears decorated for Halloween. I say they are partially finished because I didn't get the pumpkin face done correctly, but they are so cute that I wanted to post them anyway. The Build-A-Bear dies are in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini. If you're interested in them, let me know. They are fun to use!

Enjoy!

Bright Birthday

This is another one of last month's stamp camp cards. I wanted to do something bright and this one fit the bill.

I did some stamping over the weekend. I had to make 27 cards for a swap that I'm involved in. Next week I'll post a picture of it. I did get that done, but I didn't get my schoolwork done. Does that tell you where my priorities are? It was a rainy weekend - good for stamping, reading, napping, eating.

Rich Razzleberry

I am so ready for fall. It was in the high 80's today, but is supposed to cool down tomorrow.

I love this card! The colors are so much better in reality, but I thought you might like to see it anyway. There is also a piece of designer series paper underneath there.

Enjoy!
Nancy

Little Changes

Hello everyone. Well, the presentation I had to give at class is over. Whew! I'm glad that is done. (BTW, I got an A.) I think I might be able to play with cardstock tonight. That will be fun!

This is a thank you card that I got from my friend Debbie. She went to the beach with me last month. We had a great time, but then I think I mentioned that, I didn't I? I hope she doesn't mind, but I did make a little change to the card. I changed the ribbon that she had on it. She didn't have any of this polka dotted Stampin' Up! In Color ribbon. I thought it just added a nice touch. I don't have this stamp set, but I might have to get it. It is called For All You Do. It's on page 118 of Stampin' Up's 209-2010 idea book & catalog.

I'm working on cards for my Christmas Stamp Camp. It's on Saturday, October 17th. If you're in the area and want to come, please let me know. Get a head start on your cards!

Enjoy!

Nancy

Studying

I think I spent most of the weekend studying. You see, I'm taking English 112 at the local junior college. It is harder than English 111 that I took this past Jan-May semester.

Class is Tuesday night and I'm hoping we don't have as much homework this coming week. I can only hope. I haven't made a card in about 10 days!

Anyway, this card is a CASE of a swap I got at convention. It is a beautiful card. The blue and white images are a result of using an embossing folder, braying color in the folder, placing the piece of white cardstock in the folder and running it through the Big Shot.

I hope you like the card!
Nancy

I'm Baaaaack!

I'm back. Wow, I didn't realize it had been more than two weeks since I have posted. Hello? Is there anyone out there still looking at my blog?

Time at the beach was spent knitting, walking on the beach and visiting. It was very relaxing. The day after Labor Day I started a night class at the junior college. I'm taking English 112. It is a lot like English Lit. You have to read, analyze, research and write. Right now I'm researching an author for an oral presentation I have to give Tuesday evening. I picked an author that I had never heard of, Kate Chopin; however, I am finding her life quite interesting. So much so that I am reading an entire book about her! And desparately trying to finish it today or tomorrow. I think I have about 100 pages to go. I also have one more chapter to read and take notes on in the book we are using as our textbook.

All that being said, there has not been much time for cardmaking. However, I did have a stamp camp a week ago (seems much longer) and I have pictures of those projects to show you.

This first picture is of a box that uses the matchbox die with the Big Shot. Don't you love it? It is decorated using the daisy die. Four Hershey nuggats fit in the box (if you don't eat them first). The Dusty Durango box is closed so that you won't see that the nuggats are missing. I thought I didn't have any more chocolate in the house, but when I picked up the blue box to photograph, I realized there was chocolate in there! Not for long!

All the people who came to stamp camp got four nuggats for their matchbox. I told them it was up to them if the nuggats made it home.

Enjoy! Look for cards this week!

Nancy

I'll be missing U

This card is an 8 1/2 x 11 inch card that I made for people at my church to sign for someone who had been ill and absent for a while. Once it was signed, I hand delivered the card instead of mailing it.

I'll be away from my blog for a few days, but next week I promise I'll have some new cards to post.

In the meantime, Stampin' Up!'s holiday mini catalog is now on line. You can find it on my Stampin' Up! web site at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/nancyjoclark/catalogs . Scroll down and you will see the Holiday Mini. Enjoy checking it out. It will get your holiday creative juices flowing.

On the same site, click on Home and check out the current promotions. There is a great hostess promotion that involves the Holiday Mini.

Send me email or leave me a phone message with your order or a date you want to host a workshop.

Enjoy the end of summer!
Nancy

Let the Week Begin!

Hello! I'm here! I've spent the weekend stamping! My upline had a Christmas in August stamp camp. She let me attend as well as my three downline and one customer. We had a great time. I just got my third downline while we were at Robin's. That's exciting.

This picture is an old project. I made it as a bouquet of flowers for a friend who has asthma. I put chocolate in the "vase" and stuck the flowers in there. So the whole thing was hypo-allergenic (is that the right word?).

Trashy

When I don’t know what to post, I reach back into old pictures and see what I can find. This picture is from some time ago when Stampin' Up! first came out with rub-ons. I bought this plain, green plastic trash can at Target and decided to see if the rub-ons would work on it. I think they came out nicely on it. I'm still using that trash can in my craft room.

Enjoy!

Fall Layout

So, one of the blogs I follow, http://mycraftyworld.blogspot.com/, had a challenge to do a fall layout page. I don't do much scrapbooking but I decided to take up the challenge. Here is the result. The picture is of my niece and a cousin's two little ones. I think the photo was taken in 1994.

Oops. I forgot to post this Monday evening. Does that mean it counts as Tuesday's post? I think so.

I took last night off and didn't stamp or scrap. Just didn't.

Enjoy!

Ice Cream!

It's Friday! I think I finally have my craft room straightened enough that I can work. Tonight I sorted cardstock scraps by color. It's like filing - I put it off until I couldn't stand it. I already have cardstock scraps sorted by color, but I hadn't filed since I got back from Convention. There were also scraps to sort from last week's stamp camp.

It was very hot and humid here in Virginia today. So, in order to cool off this evening, I made seven of these cards. The card is CASE'd from one I got at convention from Cindee Wilkinson. We also made this card at my stamp camp this past weekend and everyone loved it. I hope you like it, too. My fingers are Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry colors from sponging the pieces. I'm glad it's the weekend. Maybe the color will be gone by Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Things I Love....

This evening I decided to work on the make-n-takes from convention. You see, I didn't do them at convention. I just brought them home so that I could work on them at a leisurely pace - my pace. One of the free stamp sets we got at convention is Things I Love. This scrapbook page is made with that stamp set.

The little boys in this picture belong to one of my nieces. I thought the picture fit nicely on this page. Excuse the bright spot. I'm thinking a new camera might be in my future if I'm to become a blogger.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Frankie

Okay, I know it is not Halloween, but we did two Halloween cards at my stamp camp. I wanted everyone to have time to order what they need to do their cards. Many people have done Frankenstein; this is just a variation. My new downline wanted to put eyelashes on her Frankie so we took the smallest daisy flower and ran it through the Big Shot and then cut it in half. I think Mrs. Frankie turned out nicely.

I'm still straightening my craft room. I actually think I'm just moving things from here to there. I'll have my creative mojo back by the weekend, I'm sure.

Creative Opportunity

First let me tell you whose card I CASE'd on Monday. Her name is Connie Ingram.

The second picture here is one of the cards we made at Saturday's stamp camp. One of the campers (I won't say who) made a little boo-boo in making her card. I told her she could start over and that I would do something with the opportunity she gave me with her initial try.

The top picture here is the result of that creative challenge. I think it turned out very nicely. The pictures don't do the colors justice, but the card base is Soft Suede. I LOVE that color!

I'm new to this blogging and thought I got the right picture loaded first, but oh well. Hopefully you'll get it.

Enjoy!

Monday!

Yes, it is Monday. I had a great weekend. Both stamp camps were fun. This is one of the cards we made. It was a favorite of everyone at my weekend stamp camps. It is CASE'd from one I got at convention, but I can't give credit because there is no label on the back of the card.

I was going to explain CASE to you. CASE - Copy and Share Everything. The reason we swap cards is to get ideas to make cards. We like to give credit when we copy someone else's card if we can. Unfortunately as is the case with this card, I don't know who to give credit to, but everyone loved the card.

I have a busy weekend planned. Tonight I had dinner at Debbie and Roger's house. Saturday I have stamp camp from 1p-4p; then a cook out with the breakfast bunch from church; Sunday is church in the morning, stamp camp from 1p-4p and then a small get together with other friends from church. That get together is to wish some friends well that are moving to the west coast for a while to be near elderly family. We will sorely miss them.

I don't know when I'm going to get the dishwasher unloaded and get laundry done, but I guess I'll get chores worked in somewhere along the way.

As for stamp camp, I don't yet have everything done that I need to do, but I'm going to bed! I'll get up in the morning and get things set up and finish cutting card stock.

This card was one I made earlier this summer to send to my nephew. I cased it from one made by my awesome upline Robin Merriman. My nephew crushed his heel in a rip line (I think that's what you call it) accident. Notice the corner taken out of the piece with the sentiment on it. It makes the little pieces look like the state of Kansas. That's where I'm from and my nephew lives. The stamp set is called Smarty Pants and has several good sayings in it. I have used it quite frequently.

I'll explain "CASE" sometime next week for those of you who don't know what that means.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Birthday CASE

I am getting ready for a stamp camp on Saturday. I finally have all the cards identified, but I don't yet have my house cleaned, the paper cut, accessories identified, etc. Oh! I don't do well with little or no sleep, so I'm going to have to work smartly Friday evening and Saturday morning. And, yes, I would like some cheese with my whine, thank you for asking.

This is one of the cards we'll be making at stamp camp. I cased it from a card I got in the Go-Diva New Catalog swap. The original card was done by Selene Kempton. I met Selene at convention this year. She and Gretchen Barron received Stampin' Up's Statement of the Heart award for helping SU demonstrators who have a need. They are both very deserving of the award.

Back to my card....here is my version of Selene's card. Thanks, Selene, for the inspiration!

SU! Convention 2009

Stampin' Up!'s 2009 convention is now history and many memories. I'll be on my way home in a few hours. My head is spinning with plans and ideas for workshops and camps.

I'm have my tiny computer with me and don't have any photos from convention or of cards I've made. I'll post once I get home.

Hey! Why not book a workshop with me and be the first to learn something new! It will be fun and relaxing at the same time.

Don't forgot to RSVP for my Saturday or Sunday stamp camp. You'll want to see some of the swap cards I received at convention. We'll be making at least one Halloween card; maybe two. If you haven't yet RSVP'd, hop over to my SU! web site using the link on the right and click on Contact Me. Or call me! You'll find the phone number there, too.

More about convention in a day or two. Stay tuned!

SU! Convention!

Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to convention I go! I'm off to the Stampin' Up! yearly convention. It's a fun time with friends and swaps and food and, well, if you become a demonstrator, you can go too! It's only $85 to sign up through the end of August 2009. Go on over to my SU! web site and check it out! http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/nancyjoclark

Here's a picture of one of the swap cards I'm taking to convention. The "dress" is made with fabric. I used Heat 'n Bond; adhered it to the fabric, then to cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot using the circle scallop die. Now that I look at this card I think the one I'm taking to convention is just a little different. I used Burgundy Bravo ribbon. I'll post it when I get back next week.

Don't forget to sign up for stamp camp on Saturday August 15! You'll be able to look at swaps that I bring home from convention. Until then, stamp on!

Birthday Wishes

Greetings! Tonight I am going to work on my blog. I have packed up some of my stamping supplies to take to a friend's house on Saturday, so I won't be stamping tonight. I thought what better thing to do than post something to my blog.

This is a card we made at my stamp camp in June. It uses Real Red and Brilliant Blue and is super easy to make. Why don't you try it?

Success!

I successfully loaded a picture! Yea! I guess I was thinking it took too long, but it worked. Now the purpose of the blog is to post pictures of cards I have been making, but since I posted a picture of one cat, I have to psot a picture of the other one. This is K-Bird. He's 18 1/2 years old, but he thinks he is much younger.

I'll be back to post pictures of cards soon!

Pictures!

I am having a difficult time trying to get a picture loaded here. I'm trying to load a picture of my cats, but the load image just seems to get hung up. I can't figure out what I'm going wrong. But I'll try, try again. The first one is of Sassy.