Feathered Friends for AAA Cards

Hello and Happy Friday!

The weather is crazy here in central NC, 75 one day, 65 the next, in two days it's back to 50.  It's like pick a number and stick with it (preferably the 75 one, lol)!  I got some walks in but I don't press my luck so early.  So I got more time in my craft room the past couple days.

I almost forgot I had colored these adorable funny birds while crafting with Bonnie a couple weeks ago and they fit perfectly for the AAA Card Challenge, which ends tomorrow.  I used a different sentiment than what comes with them.  I used one from Ellen Hutson's Pure Magic stamp set.

I colored the birds with copics and then cut the panel down and adhered it to a black cardstock panel for some framing and contrast. 

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment - Pure Magic(Ellen Hutson); Birds - Flock Talk (Unity Stamps).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; Midnight cardstock (Catherine Pooler).

Ink: Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Copics.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Peace & Hugs!

Nance 

 

Wart's Up?

 Hello there!

It's Monday! Hope you had a nice weekend!

I have a quick share for Freshly Made Sketches.  I had every intention of submitting this at least on Saturday, but my weekend blew up from Friday afternoon through yesterday.  I had Friday and Saturday carved out for crafty time and then Date Night with the Hubs to the Carolina Ballet.  Unfortunately, our sweet ole Lab, Ellie, got ill on Friday afternoon and resulted in a trip to the ER Vet on Sat evening.  Thankfully after IV fluids, an x-ray and five hours later, we brought her home around midnight with non-obstructive gastroenteritis.  VERY thankful it was not an obstruction for Ellie's sake and our checkbook's.  And more thankfully that today she appears to be fully back to normal all the way around(knock on wood).  February has not been a good month for her, being this was her third trip to the vet, 2nd to the ER. So today I'm putting other things off and crafting diligently to make up for lost time. 

I guess in light of the weekend, it's good my first card today is whimsy and hopefully brings smiles...

I flipped the sketch for my card so I could create a sunset scene for this cute fly catchin' frog in a pond.  I decided to leave the pussy willows all white for some contrast and interest.  

Freshly Made Sketches #674

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment - Hi - Pond of You(Waffle Flower) & Wart's Up -Ribbit Ribbit (Avery Elle) 

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; 

Ink: Midnight, Cotton Candy, Party Dress, Orange Twist, Catching Rays, Oh Boy, Cummerbund, Fiesta Blue, Lime Rickey, Melon Ice, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Extras: Pool stencil (My Favorite Things); Pussy Willows, Frog, Dragonfly, Fly, Puddle Dies -Inquisitive Frog Dies (Waffle Flower);

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hoppy Monday!

Nance 

Love Kiss

Hello there!

A late post for this very chilly Thursday! Snow is still on the ground.  This is the longest snow has stayed around in a long time.  

I had more "love letters" sitting on my table and the stenciled background.  So, I cut out some lips, ink blended them to match the letters, added an extra sentiment and BOOM, my card was done!  I like it when things come together so easily and quickly. 

For Following Challenges:

February Challenge - Option: Pinks and/or Reds

I chose Pink, Ink Blending and Words of Encouragement/Kindness

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment - Smooches (My Favorite Things)

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; 

Ink: Midnight, Cotton Candy, It's A Girl, Be Mine, Pucker Up, Samba, and Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Extras: Valentine Stencil (Pretty Pink Posh); Love Cover Die (Honey Bee Stamps), Lips die (maybe Taylored Expressions); Stitched Border die (My Favorite Things).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Flutter of Happiness

Hello!  

Happy Wednesday!

It's cold and snowy here in Cary, NC!  Looks like we have maybe two inches on the ground.  It's been snowing and flurrying all afternoon.  This is round three I think for Central NC for "snow" storms this winter. Normally we have maybe one snow "event".  Not really events since they're never more than an inch but makes for messy roads.  It is the south so ya know - southerners "don't do snow".  hahaha We northern transplants just take it in stride.  The hubs always wishes for one good 6-12 inch storm.  Last time we got near that here was maybe 2018.  There's more snow to the north of us and ice to the south and east of us.  I'm hoping the ice misses us.  I had to pack the Hubs up yesterday with sleeping bag, suitcase and snacks since he has to work the next three nights. He's from Michigan so he doesn't mind driving in snow but ice is a different thing(particularly here). He also didn't want to have to skimp on sleep. So, he's camping out at the hospital the next couple days.  It's not the first time in 28 years that he's camped out at the hospital for work during storms. Pre-NC days when we lived in WV, it was almost a given every winter.  Quite frankly, I'm happy to be more south!

So I'm snowbound at home, not that I'm complaining.  Made a pot of chili and been chillin' myself with a little self-care and crafting.  My card here I finished last week but just haven't had a chance to share it.  I love this layered floral stencil, Nature's Frame, by Spellbinders.  Makes for an easy border and card.  It was January's Stencil of the Month.  The sentiment is from the Nature's Dance Stamp of the Month set for January also.  I added a trio of red and gold butterfly dies from my stash to complete the fun.  I'm sharing this at the monthly Triple B Challenge (Birds, Butterflies and Blooms).

I think the table has the most snow. HaHaHa. My froggies aren't thrilled.

For Following Challenges:

Triple B Challenges - February

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment - Nature's Dance (Spellbinders)

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; gold cardstock (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Samba, Coral Cabana, Garden Party, Grass Skirt (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Extras: Layered Floral Stencil - Nature's Frame (Spellbinders); Butterfly dies (Memory Box-medium die, Impression Obsession- large and Catherine Pooler-gold); Gold gems. 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Layered Love

Hello again!  

Here's my second card using that Love cover plate die.

This time, I kind of did things backwards.  I had cut out several of the cover plate die in Neenah Solar White cardstock.  Then I decided to stencil it.  I think it turned out well.  Next time I will definitely stencil first as this was a layered stencil with two parts.  I did bump up the letters several times and made the top layer black to stand out.  Again very clean and simple.

For Following Challenges:

Colorful Options - February

Tic Tac Toe Challenge  #264

I chose the diagonal - Heart/Die Cut/Love Sentiment

Word Power Challenge - February

Card Supplies:  

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; Midnight cardstock (Catherine Pooler). 

Ink: Cotton Candy, It's A Girl, Be Mine, Pucker Up, Samba, and Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Extras: Love Cover Die (Honey Bee Stamps); Layered Heart Stencil(Waffle Flower);

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Sending You Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

I have a few posts for today.  Been a little too busy to post but since it's LOVE DAY, I figure I should share the love!  This is one of three Imade using the same Cover plate die from Honey Bee Stamps.  You will see why I made so many.  I started with one and then the ideas just kept flowing!

The AAA Colourful Challenge inspired me to do some ink blending and ombre style.  This first one I ink blended some cardstock then cut out the cover plate.  I decided to keep it pretty clean and simple just adding the cat die with a red heart between them and the additional sticker sentiment.

For Following Challenges:

Colorful Options - February 

Card Supplies:  

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White. 

Ink: Cotton Candy, It's A Girl, Be Mine, Pucker Up, Samba, and Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Extras: Love Cover Die (Honey Bee Stamps); Sentiment Sticker (Waffle Flower); Cat Die (Penny Black).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Friendship Hearts

Good Afternoon!

One quick post today.  Been trying to get things together to play in the present Color Hues challenge and it is a collaboration with Inkspirational.  I also wanted to play in the JUGS challenge. So it's a Trifecta!

I love this layered heart by Birch Press Designs and I was going through some UFO things and found these red and pink pieces and so I knew it was a sign! LOL. The waves are part of a heart die (underneath the big heart) and I cut it from red and pink.  I wanted a little texture on the background so I pulled out the cover plate, Broadway Lights by Catherine Pooler.  I think it works perfectly or perfectly enough with the heart.

I've been getting the ole mojo back more but sadly it's in pieces.  Pieces as in bits and pieces and not alot of finished projects but that will be remedied soon!

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Heart - Heart Felt (MyFavoriteThings).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White. Light Pink and Red cardstock from stash.

Ink: Midnight Archival Ink (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Extras: Broadway Lights Cover plate (Catherine Pooler); Plain heart die (Sizzix); Layered Heart (BirchPress Designs); Wavy heart die; Small heart dies.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Let's Celebrate Cake

Happy Tuesday!

It's dreary and rainy and cold here in Central North Carolina.  A far cry from the almost 80 and sunny it was on Sunday! If it's going to be dreary and cold, I'd rather have snow than rain.  Rain just makes it bone cold.

Anyway, today's post is a birthday card for the Krafty Chicks Birthday Challenge.  I haven't played with the Krafty Chicks in a long time and I've missed it!   So hoping my crafty mojo is more continual here on out and I can play more often.

The cake I made with the cake die from Birthday Stacks stamp/die set (Catherine Pooler). I cut it three times, ink blended them all the same and then cut down the top two to make the gradual layers.  I embossed them all with the snowflake border (Catherine Pooler) in white. Embossed the sentiment on the cake too.  The balloons I colored with Copics and popped them up. 

For Following Challenges:

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #754- Birthday

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Balloons -Snow-rific Party; Cake stand - I Eat Cake; Cake and sentiment - Birthday Stacks; Snowflakes - Winter Wishes. All by Catherine Pooler Designs 

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White. Patterned Paper - Snow Day Birthday (Catherine Pooler); silver metallic cardstock (LawnFawn).

Ink: Samba, Oh Boy, Fiesta Blue, Something Blue (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark; Copics.

Extras: Cake stand die, Cake part die, balloon dies, Scallop frame die, Stitched die (Catherine Pooler). White emboss powder (WOW).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Foxy Cocoa

Hello Again! 

Another card to share today.  I know - shocking right?  

This card took a slight turn from original conception but I am glad I pivoted. And yes, that's a marshmallow the fox is holding.

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Winter Hat - Winter Vibes(Catherine Pooler Designs); Sentiment - Graphic Greetings Valentine (Taylored Expressions).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White. Grey cardstock; Kraft cardstock.

Ink: Samba (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark.

Extras: Fox Die -Heart Hugs(Honey Bee Stamps);  Mug die - Hot Cocoa Die (MFT Stamps); Falling Hearts Emboss Folder (Simon Says Stamp); White emboss powder (WOW).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

Love - Sasquatch Style

Hello Wednesday!

Ok, so my intentions a couple weeks ago of being more creative got sidetracked again due to getting sick, having to take the dog to the ER vet and the Hubs beginning PT for his shoulder.  Two out of three of us are pretty much well (Hubs TBD the end of the month). I told him we make an interesting trio - he, the dog and me.  LOL

Now it has settled down although I was suppose to be visiting my mom this week but due to all the above that's been on hold for now. So my week is wide open and I am having daily crafty time in my craft room for a change.

I saw the challenge at JUGS this week and knew exactly who I was going to CASE and how.  I've been wanting to play with this Sasquatch die from This Calls For Confetti, a "new to me" stamp company. My card is CASING Elizabeth's card (see below). I wanted to use a speech bubble but it was just too large so I pivoted a bit.  I CASED the colors and background. This card was a lot of fun to make and came together very quickly.

Elizabeth

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment -Born To Be Wild (Catherine Pooler Designs).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White. Kraft cardstock.

Ink: Samba, Wintergreen, Seafoam, Skylight, Sea Glass, DayDream (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark.

Extras: Sasquatch die (This Calls for Confetti); Stitched label (Kat Scrappiness); Wintery Forest Layered Stencils (PinkFresh Studio); White emboss powder (WOW).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Hugs & Luv!

🩷

Nance 

 

Lovin' Hearts

Hello Hello!

It's been a very long minute since I've been creating and blogging.  I managed a few in December but getting sick at Thanksgiving slowed me down more than I wanted. Then Christmas came too fast and I'm still trying to get my footing again.  

The whole year of 2024 was a challenging year for the Salkelds, mostly healthwise and mostly for the Hubs.  We both got Covid (first time for me) and then he had elbow surgery that took a good six months to heal. And now he is dealing with a messed up shoulder from the job (ER nurse) on Christmas Eve.  Thankfully, no surgery needed and workers comp pays for this one.  Just hope he recovers quickly now.  A good thing, he is switching hospitals in February.  Same hospital system, but smaller hospital with less stress.  We both are looking forward to that and hoping less health issues this year for both of us.

At any rate, I've finally messed around in my craft room, got a little creative mojo flowing and actually finished a couple cards!  Here is one of them ----

I may not have been creating but that doesn't mean I haven't been shopping. HAHAHA The cover plate and Love word die are new. I got some nice goodies for Christmas and I may have hit a couple year-end sales as well.  The Hubs knows, it's dangerous when my mojo is low for creating - it means more happy mail for me.  LOL

I got my inspiration for the Inspired By Challenge this week and just squeaking in hopefully. 

NBUS Challenge #70

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Patterned heart (Catherine Pooler); Be Mine and Hug me stamps (Recollections).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White.

Ink: Cotton Candy, Pucker Up, Garden Party, Cummerbund, Something Blue (Catherine Pooler Inks).

Extras: Love word die (Simon Says Stamp); Heart cover plate (Honey Bee Stamps).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Nance 

 

 

Oh What Fun - Are You Sure?

Hello there!

I have a fun and silly post here.  I was playing around with the background stamp, It's Magic, from Catherine Pooler and I had a vision of Frosty the Snowman when the wind whips up and blows his hat off so I took it a little further. When we were first married(a very long time ago), I had bought the Hubs "The Incredible Melting Snowman", which was just a snowglobe with snowman parts swirling around when you shook it. When I saw this die set from Paper Smooches years ago, it reminded me of that snowglobe and I had to have it.  It's an oldie but definitely a goodie! 

I silver embossed the background and then arranged my discombobulated snowman accordingly. The right top corner was perfect for my sentiment too. I also thought it would be a fun card for the mood board this week at Just Us Girls.

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Sentiment - Merrirest Sentiments (Catherine Pooler); Background- It's Magic (Catherine Pooler).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; Black cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Patterned paper - Winter Pick N Mix(Catherine Pooler).

Ink: Midnight, Creamsicle (carrot nose)-(Catherine Pooler Inks).

Extras: Snowman parts (Paper Smooches); Sparkling Snow Emboss Powder (WOW).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Merry Ho Ho Ho! 

🎄

Nance 

 

Bauble Greetings

Good Morning

and 

Happy Tuesday!

Things are hopping around here at the Salkeld's Sweet Suite this holiday week!  I've been crafting and cooking.  Next up is a little shopping and a little traveling today. Taking a short up and back trip today to pick up the grand-dog for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Thankfully we don't have to go all the way to Richmond, just halfway for a Jack pickup. The humans are going elsewhere. Ellie will be happy to have a canine companion and we are always happy to see Jack the Cattle dog. We will see all of them around Christmas so it's all good.  Speaking of Christmas, I'm finally trickling out some Christmas posts.  

This one I did using the color challenge over at Just Add Ink and also for the challenge at Krafty Chicks. It's been too long since I played with the Chicks! I got this Pinkfresh stencil/die set last year and didn't get to use it.  So it's getting lots of love this year. I added some gold gems to the baubles for some extra bling.  These ornaments remind me of some glass ones my mom had when I was a child that were brightly colored with gold trimming.

For Following Challenges:

Krafty Chicks Challenge #743 - CAS

Card Supplies:  

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White

Ink: It's A Girl, Garden Party, Something Blue, Pixie Dust (Catherine Pooler Inks).

Extras: Stencil/Die Combo -Holiday Ornaments (Pinkfresh Studio); Ripple Coverplate (Lawn Fawn).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Merry Ho Ho Ho! 

🎄

Nance 

 

Frosty Bluebird Kisses

 Good Evening!

A quick post tonight for the color challenge over at Color Hues.  And a BIG CONGRATS to my friend, Bonnie, on her permanent spot on their Design Team! Woohoo!  

I chose the Snowman and Friends dies from Waffle Flower for my card.  It was snow much fun cutting everything in pink and aqua. These birds remind me of all the bluebirds that come to our feeders.  I recently got the Hubs one of those feeders with a built-in camera so he can see them up close and personal when he's not outside. 

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies:  

Stamps: Senitment - Snow Cheer Sentiments (Waffle Flower); Background - Candy Stripe (Hero Arts).

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White; Aqua cardstock; Patterned paper - Winter Pick N Mix (Catherine Pooler).

Ink: It's A Girl, Midnight(Catherine Pooler Inks).

Extras: Snowman & Friends Dies (Waffle Flower); Postage Stamp die (Catherine Pooler).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Merry Ho Ho!

Nance 

Sweater Weather

Good Evening

or 

Good Morning! 

It's beginning to feel like sweater weather here in central NC.  The last few days have been chilly and breezy. I haven't transitioned my mind yet from short sleeves.  I mean a month ago I was still wearing shorts some of the time.  Course we could be in shorts again next week.  LOL Not likely but got to love NC weather - hot, cold, hot cold.  It's like its perimenopausal here! 🤣  Anyway, I made my card cozy.  Not that we will probably see any snow here in the Triangle this winter, but we will be able to dress like we might, at least every other week.

 

I recently purchased these alpha dies from Pinkfresh Studio during a sale and they seemed perfect for this card I created for the Addicted to CAS challenge that I'm slipping in.  I used a sweater embossing folder by Taylored Expressions for my background and then for the outline alphas I cut them from some photo paper I had that I smooshed left over ink on some point a while back.  And then the inner alphas and snowflake I cut white.  How cozy and chill is this?

For Following Challenges:

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

Have a warm and cozy day!

💖

Nance

A AAA Colorful Guest Jingle

Good Morning!

 This morning I have some fun news - I am guesting over at AAA Colorful for the next month.  It is part of the AAA card challenges and is fairly new as it began in January 2024.  I came upon it back in early summer but it took me til Challenge #7 to be able to play along and I won!

This next month's challenge is really fun and fesstive - Red, Green and Gold.

I had a lot of fun creating this card after paring down my ideas because they just kept flowing out of my noggin'.  So I will be sharing another card inspired by this challenge and their colors.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

Have a safe and love filled day!

💖

Nance