Nancy Wethington

After 3 days with no computer and no tv . . .

I've had time to reflect on 2010 and the new beginning of the coming year.  Not usually being one to make resolutions, I'm ending this year with promises to myself.

Take more classes and create artful projects.

Eat less junk food

so I can get back down to 130 pounds

and if I do I may just dye my hair blond

and wear a two piece somethin' or other.

 

Travel as much as possible

(in my private jet - ha ha ha ha NOT)

 

and party with friends more.

 
 
What's on your mind this new year's eve?

 

Whatever you do, stay safe tonight!

One trade down and just a couple more to go . . .

 

a little honey

a little mica

a little trade

all ready to go out in the mail

 

In the style of Candy Colwell . . .

I've mimicked what Candy taught in a class recently and made this canvas fold-out booklet with Graphic 45 and Webster's pages.

The class will be taught Saturday, Feb 19  from 10:30 am - 3 pm.  $40.  BYO lunch and watch this blog for supplies needed to complete this book.

Hope you like it!

 

Thanks, Candy, for giving me permission to teach this technique!

Hope your Christmas was merry . . .

Although I've been a bit *under the weather* the past few days, today I'm feeling better so down into the basement aka Nancyland (as Beau calls it).  I don't think I've ever had as many projects started at one time as I have right now.  Started some before the sickies began and then started another one this morning.  That's quite unusual for me as I finish one thing before starting another.  But while lounging around, I read an article that said it's perfectly OK to have several projects going at once. 

So I listened.  And here's what my craft room looks like now:

This will eventually be a March class thanks to Candy Colwell who taught me how to make this!

 
An online trade I'm working on:

and another FKS trade I should start:

 

Thinking about making this a class in March or April:

 

and then there's always this pile of ideas to choose from:

 

Not to mention the DT for Simon Says!

Nancyland is not looking pretty but it is pretty productive!  Can't wait to show you some of the projects I have planned for 2011.

I did take a peek at the class list for my folder-bound book in January and last time I looked there were only 2 spots left.  Update: This class is now sold out. Thank you!  If you'd like to make your reservations, now's the time to do so by calling For Keeps Sake at (314) 487-8131.

 
 

Tip Junkie . . .

Love this blog! Today's post is all about gift wrapping and there are some really cool ideas.

Check it out here:

http://www.tipjunkie.com/how-to-gift-wrap-present/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TipJunkie+%28Tip+Junkie+-+Creative+Inspiration%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Katie (warning) don't look . . .

at this newest challenge from Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog.  Because it is your Christmas present.  So don't read or look any further.

Having that warning to my darling niece out there, here's what I did for this week's challenge

Something from Yesteryear

Months ago, Sonja, Stacey and I were at an outdoor flea market when one of the girls said "does anyone know somebody with the initials *KN*".  Of course, I immediately thought of my niece and bought the book to make a junque journal for her.

The book was written in 1942 by Kathleen Norris and bears her initials on the front cover.

So this was a natural for my niece.  I gutted the book to add my own signatures, saving the inside text for another use down the road.  Glitzed up the intials with Stickles and added very simple signatures (4 signatures total) to the inside spine.  Don't you love all that scroll work on the cover!

Next, I printed out calendars and added three months of 2011 calendars to each signature.

 

When I glued the calendars in, I only adhered on 3 sides (top, bottom and left) to create a pocket that opens on the right.  To each pocket I added a tag with one of my favorite quotes and then ribbon to the tag to make it easy to pull out.  The back of each tag was left blank - more space for Katie to add her own stuff.

Next, each calendar page was slightly decorated with Crafty Secrets cut-outs from their Calendar page. (Love those little guys.)

Added a couple of 7 Gypsies and Maya Road envelopes with journaling papers inside.

 

and the book is complete, ready for Katie to add her own journaling, appointments and photos.  Perfect for a college girl!

This week's challenge will actually run for two weeks, giving everyone a chance to enter during the busy holiday season.  Thanks for our generous sponsor, Simon Says Stamp Superstore, for another amazing prize of a $50 gift certificate to one lucky (randomly chosen) winner. 

Visit Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge Blog to see what my team mates have created this week.  Such amazing works of art!  I'm in awe of their talent as well as some of the beautiful entries we get each week for this challenge. 

 

 

Christmas Row House Swap . . .

One of the swaps we did this month for CYI was a Christmas Row House Swap.

Here's the row houses I received:

Mine:

 
Trish B:

(love the candy cane's guarding the door!)

 
 

Trish's house opened to find one of my favorite quotes inside:

 

This is adorable but alas unsigned.

 

Renee C's:
(Love the porch!)

 

Sherry P:

(Santa and a winning ticket!)

 

Carol B's:

(That teeny door opens into a foyer with a Christmas tree inside!)

 

Nancy C:

(Frosted windows and a decorated fence!)

 

Susie N:

(The door is a teeny domino.)

 

Karen B:

(a tin roof and golden glow in the windows)

 

Barb R's:

(grungepaper embossed roof with an itsy bitsy key hanging from the door knob)

 

Mary June's:

(sugar and spice and every little thing a gingerbread house should have)

 

Oh what fun it was that night!

January Stamp Club . . .

Just in case you missed Stamp Club last night, there's still time (this week) to order the stamp we'll be using in January.

It's one of my faves from Crafty Individuals.  *Fly Me To The Moon* is $12.99.

Here's the card we'll be making.

If you're a member of our Stamp Club and would still like to order this stamp at your Club Discount Rate, please call

For Keeps Sake

(314) 487-8131

and tell them you'd like

Crafty Individuals #95071-M

See ya next month!

Trades, food and other good things . . .

CYI and Stamp Club met last night and it was deliciously good!

First up was CYI (Create Your Imagination).  It was our last get together before Christmas so we all brought treats and stuffed ourselves with dips, chips and chocolate.  We traded Christmas Row Houses (they were all gorgeous) and Steampunk Jewelry Charms (funky and fun!)

After CYI, Stamp Club begins and we created a beautifully sparkly winter scene a la Northwoods Stamps.  We colored and glittered to our heart's content.  Don't know about anyone else, but I had glitter everywhere - even on the soles of my shoes!  'Tis the season eh?

CYI decided to complete a trade in January that I first saw at Silver Bella:  a decorated bottle swap.  I promised pictures and here's a couple I saw at Silver Bella.  Be prepared to be blown away!

 

This was one of the decorated boxes that one of the bottles came in!

and here's two of the bottles:

 

 

Amazing aren't they!

This will be a one-on-one swap so anyone can jump in at anytime.

No need to contact me in advance.

If you want to play along

simply ; ) create your bottle and join us

2nd Tuesday of January at 6 pm

@

For Keeps Sake.

 PS:  I'd say most of the bottles were approximately 7" tall (or more) and most came in decorated boxes of some kind.  Can't wait to see what everyone creates.

 

Due to the possibility . . .

of inclement weather,

please contact For Keeps Sake

(314) 487-8131

before attending CYI and/or Stamp Club Tuesday evening.

Thank you.