Neutral "Noelle" ;)

Hey all! I am the Guest Star at Jingle Belles for their current challenge! 

Hope you can come play, the theme is "Neutral Noel" to create a 'neutral colors only' holiday card. Lauren was so cute about asking me if she could make a joke incorporating my name! LOL, *of course* it was totally fine! I believe the day I lose my sense of humor will be the day I die, because life isn't worth living without laughter! :D Here's the challenge scoop:

***Create a holiday card which embraces the neutral colors:  white, cream, ivory, ecru, black, grey, charcoal, obsidian, brown, tan, kraft, oatmeal, sienna; use them all together, or choose one and rock the monochrome!  in whatever way you desire, if it's NEUTRAL, it's *IN*!!!  and yes, for the record, we consider gold and silver to be the "bling" equivalent of neutrals, so you may use them all you like!  

When I came up with this prompt (as the Guest Star we have the option to choose the challenge), I was really thinking about how I *love* color and normally use as much color as possible on my cards. However, recently I've found myself really digging on all-neutral cards. When you lose one of your "go-to" tools for adding interest (in my case, color) then you are forced to look elsewhere for ways to add interest. Texture, pattern, metallics, and glitz are all ways to do that without adding color.

Here's my "take one" for this challenge! I'll be back with my second card in a week. I hope you can jump in on this challenge, I really had fun with my cards.

This was a simple card made with scraps of DP, and a dry embossed strip of gold cardstock as well. Simple stamping is used, and a glitzy paper-pieced ornament for the "o." I love adding some sparkle to an all neutral card. It really gives it the POP that I'm missing from no color. I added the die cut snowflake topper in sparkly silver to give this card that wow factor. Some silver gems are the perfect accent and help draw your eye down to the bottom of the card as well.

I used TCP stamp set J*lly H*liday for this card, and also the Holiday Toppers. The banners are all scraps and are all hand cut, no dies used. A small library clip in black and some glittery gems are the finishing touches. I also stamped a little stitching, since I'm so bad about actual stitching, I have to fake it! ;)

That's it for me today! Come check us out at Jingle Belles sometime in the next two weeks? Please? Thanks for popping by my blog! 

big hugs, Noelle

Happy B-earth Day!

Hi all, hope you are well. This is kind of a surprise post today. I actually have several posts already scheduled for the next week and a half, but ended up staying home all day with my youngest today and after I did the workout I promised myself I would do and would *not* bail on, I decided I would treat myself with some creative time. I am worried about my little man, though, it doesn't help that of all my boys he's logged more hospital time than the other two combined! Plus he's the youngest, and he is the only one that (in his lifetime anyway, not during pregnancy) have I been told that he easily could have died from an illness. Every time he gets sick I get anxious... I need to stop worrying. I know it does me (and him!) no good at all. :( I'm sure he is fine. Of course he seems better this afternoon. This morning his face was a white as a sheet and he had these really awful dark circles under his eyes. I actually started to take him to school, and he had to throw up on the way there. I was already concerned, so we just ended up coming home at that point.

Anyhow, back to the card, my desk was/is a mess and I ended up using a bunch of stuff that was already out. I decided to play a challenge this week. This is for the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge. Here's the sketch for this week:

I used Forest Whimsy, Whimsical, and Birthday Buddies. It seems I can always use another birthday card and the sentiment seemed to fit with the mushrooms. This gnome is so cute! I love him :) I paper pieced his hat with some digi paper I already had printed out from CYDI? I know that cut on the newsprint paper is feathered. I really need a new blade! In order to get one, though, I bet I'd have to leave the house! LOL

I added a few accents with some fussy cut mushrooms and tree stump that I cut from woodgrain embossed paper and then colored. 

Well, I hope that you are having a great day! I'm hoping that my worried mood and his illness will be much improved with a good night's sleep tonight! 

biggest hugs, Noelle

Cards for Church Friends

Hey there friends! I just wanted to pop by with some cards I made recently for some folks at my church. You might remember me telling you about this new ministry that I'm working on here. I usually make some cards every week for this, but many of them never see a camera flash since I always send them out right away. But I got these photographed and thought you might want to see. :) I use a lot of Verve stamps for these, love their faith stamps more than anyone else's! I have a bunch of A2 sized DP scraps I pull from for these, and lately have learned it's best to keep them as flat and mailman friendly as possible. :) These are usually simple and quick, a few die cuts, maybe a paper flower, a flat gem and then they are good to go. I'm glad I can send cards to people that need them. :)

Hope you are having an awesome week so far!

Noelle:)

Whaley Neutral Card

Hi all! Wanted to share with you today a card that I made a couple weeks ago actually. I just never got around to posting it! I started by making this for the current TCP Tuesday challenge we have going on, but then realized it wouldn't qualify, because it's only ONE patterned paper you are supposed to use, and I used 3! LOL, way to read the directions, Noelle! ;) Anyway, he's still "whaley cute" so I thought you might want to see...

I paper pieced Mr. Whale and colored his hat red. I stamped the "Sea You!" sentiment in red directly onto the newsprint paper. At the bottom I added 2 red eyelets and some bakers twine for a nautical twist. 

He's a cute little guy, and I'm sure I'll send him off to a friend sooner or later! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 

Take Care, Noelle

Rainy Blues (TCPTUES032013)

Hi all! Great to "see" you again today! We have a fabulous new challenge up for the March TCP Tuesday! Here's the scoop:

*You can use the colors: White, Cream, Kraft, Black + one actual color of your choosing.
*You may have your base card, plus only 2 layers.
*You may only use one patterned paper.

Here is my Rainy Blues card...

This was a REALLY hard challenge for me, since I tend to be a "layer it up and don't forget the multitude of patterns!" kinda gal. In fact, when I was making another card for this challenge, I forgot about the ONE patterned paper part, and I ended up using 3! Ooops.... Yeah, that was a do-over!

But this one was fun, and I found ways to compensate for the lack of my "go-to" techniques. And, that's the fun part of challenges, don't you think? To push yourself, to try and view your whole creative process in a new way!

I was able to use chalk to create the rain for her to walk in, instead of using dies or another layer.

I stamped my sentiment in white right on the DP background, and then heat embossed with white powder, so it would be readable and not add another layer.

I figured the buttons were on the same layer/plane as the girl, so I felt ok about adding those.

All in all, I really LOVE this card! The pops of blue are just my thing, and it is different from my "go-to" style.

How will YOU approach this challenging challenge? Would LOVE to see your solutions! Please link up on the sidebar of Alma's blog, and you can also join our latest thread at Splitcoaststampers.

Big hugs, and I hope your day is NOT rainy or blue! :)

Noelle

A Final card for the ColourQ.... (CQC #179)

Hi friends, I am a little sad today.... I had to make a tough call over the weekend to leave a blog I've been on the DT with for over 2 years. I am saying goodbye to my dear friends at the ColourQ. I am sad, but it's time. I have too many balls in the air right now, and had the realization last week that I'm not very good at juggling. Being kinda "type A" about commitments, it was bothering that I had really begun to slip with comments and voting for the CQC.

And the truth is, I have a whole LOT going on.... I'm teaching theater to kids again, and that commitment will continue to grow next year as I'll be heading up a Theater Club for my school's PTO. I am involved with a card ministry at my church, I lead a book group, I craft, I blog, I'm a PTO Chairperson, and up until Friday, I was DT or Contributor for 3 sites/companies besides my own blog. Then there's my sister's wedding coming up, and did I mention I spend 2 hours in my car 4 days a week just getting Ev back and forth to preschool? Life is crazy, and things are always evolving and changing. Truly, this last few years have been full of major peaks and valleys. I'm getting better about accepting it, I don't "sweat the small stuff" the way that I used to. So, I know that this is right, it's bittersweet because I know I'll have a bit more time for things I'd like to focus on, like magazine submissions, some more home decorating projects, and the race I'm training for. But I will also miss working with the FABULOUS, TALENTED group of ladies that make up that DT! I'll play the challenge whenever I can, though! :)

So, here is the palette for today...

And here is my card, pretty simple, I hadn't inked up this cute SU! set yet. I thought these animals were precious! :)

Do you like the fuzzy/flocked yellow dot? It reminded me of fur, for this cute yellow kitten. :)

And that is all for me, for right now. I will be back in one hour with a brand NEW TCP Tuesday Challenge! Hope you can pop back in later. :)

Hugs, Noelle

Organize your Scraps @ CraftStorageIdeas

Hi all! I had a post go up yesterday at Craft Storage Ideas, it's about organizing your scraps (yes, you heard me right!) Go check it out if you can :) Organize your scraps! See you soon!

xo, Noelle