Two Quilts and a Little Eye Surgery

 We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Some people love to keep their holiday decorations up until after New Years Day and beyond, so they can  keep the magic of the season alive.  Some prefer to put things away to make room for the shiny new year.  I lean toward the latter.  To the shock and horror of some of my friends, my Christmas decorations are already neatly boxed and put away, and my home is its cozy, Hallmark-less self again.  This year I have another reason for efficiently putting things in order.  I will be having eye surgery for a macular pucker in a few days and will have to have a little restful time to recover.   

I had cataract surgery a few months ago and was happy to find that I could see well enough after each surgery to do some crafting (a few minutes at a time.)  I recently got two quilts back from the quilter and I will be thrilled if I can quietly bind them during my convalescence. Fingers crossed...we'll see how that goes.  This quilt block is called Chimney Sweep and I used an Accuquilt Go die to cut the block shapes, sashing and corner stones.  The fabric is Lori Holtz from Riley Blake. 

I used a Benartex jelly roll to create this colorful fruit patterned quilt.   It's part of a huge stash of jelly rolls I've been trying shrink. 

 

I'll let you know if the "binding with one good eye" thing works out.  If so, I'll happily have two finished quilts to post in a couple of weeks!  And  I'll start the new year viewing the world in a whole new light...literally.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Digi Doodle Studio Pop Up Box Card

Change always comes bearing gifts.   Price Pritchett

Digi Doodle Studios "Bringing Gifts" digi, Copic markers, Lori Whitlock pop up box card base,
Cricut, white gel pen, clear gems, digi snowflake paper, red card stock

Hey there from Nannyland,

This season's handmade cards are finally in the mail and my gifts are all wrapped and ready to deliver.  Since I had a moment to take a breath before all the joyful pandemonium starts, I couldn't resist creating one last holiday card with this darling Digi Doodle Studios image titled "Bringing Gifts." One of the greatest advantages to digi stamps is the ability to size them perfectly to any card base. I found this Lori Whitlock pop up box card svg in my library and exchanged the Santa image for this adorable  gift-bearing shopper. The tree and gift pop ups literally "spruce up" the cool snowy scene.  I found the perfect  "Bearing Gifts" sentiment in the Cricut Image Library.

This card was a fun and simple project to usher out a very eventful and challenging 2021. I'm praying by the time I start my Valentine's cards, our weary world will have some optimism and relief.   Bring on the mushy cards with hearts and cupids. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Christmas Craft Creations December Challenge

Paper Funday Challenge #36

Crafty Sentiment Designs Challenge - December 14

Bitten by the Bug 2 - Any Holiday Challenge

Dream Valley Challenge #260

A Gem of a Challenge #26

Crafty Calendar Christmas Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams December Challenge

Accuquilt Go Oven Mitt and Dollar Store Basket Revisited

Gifts of time and  love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas.
Peg Bracken

Hey there from Nannyland, 

It's that wonderful time of year when we get to express our love to friends and family by bringing small tokens of our affection to their door.  A few years ago I watched this video on YouTube and created this Dollar Store Gift basket for my friends. To my surprise, it was a mega hit.  So this year,  since I  have moved to a new state, I'm excited for  the opportunity to recreate my baskets for a whole new group of friends!  I knew I had to start gathering all my cooking items weeks early because they can't be found in the picked over aisles of the Dollar Store when it gets closer to Christmas. And the same items, like the Betty Crocker cookie mixes, cost much more in the grocery store.   
 

I decided to up my game this year by sewing handmade oven mitts to spruce up my Dollar Store booty.  I used this die cut from Accuquilt Go to cut out the mitt, and then quilted, stitched and bound it, just like I would a quilt.  The most time consuming part was the quilting because I had to mark the hatched quilt lines with a fabric marking pen. The batting is insulated so it's leggit for keeping hands safe from the heat.  

I made eight of them, six for baskets and two filled with kitchen items that made fun smaller gifts on their own.  Although I logged some serious time, they were fun and fairly simple to sew. After I have recovered from my assembly line sewing frenzy, I plan to make others in different themes for future gifts (maybe with aprons to match...too cute).  I love the way they turned out.  I created the tag in Cricut Design Space to inform the recipient the mitt is handmade, but the rest was carefully curated from the Dollar Store. 

Whew!  All wrapped up and ready to go.  Another holiday score with the help of an ingenious Accuquilt die and The Dollar Store! 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

All Is Bright On Christmas Night - The Paper Shelter Follow The Stars Digi

Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high.
Then life seems almost enchanted after all.   Vincent Van Gogh

The Paper Shelter "Follow the Stars" digi, Cricut forest and poinsettia svg's ,digital paper,
 swirl punch, silver card stock, silver glitter paper, iridescent gems,glitter Nuvo Drops,Copic Markers

 Hey there from Nannyland,

I've enjoyed using non-traditional colors for some of my holiday cards this year.  I think these cool blue, green and lavender tones create a beautiful frosty scene for this lovely Paper Shelter lantern lady and her starlit path. 

One of my most daunting design challenges is creating backgrounds for my colored images. I borrowed this white birch tree svg from a Lori Whitlock winter scene that originally had a deer peeking through the forest.  I cut only the back layer (three times) on my Cricut Maker and  glued the layers together to provide seamless dimension beneath my image.  My Cricut is fast becoming one of my favorite inspirational tools because using die cuts in  unconventional ways helps me to create some unexpected and sometimes unique designs.

Digital paper printed on my computer created a mystical starry night sky.  I mounted my finished panel on silver card stock with just a sliver of black peaking from behind.  The poinsettia, from the Cricut image library, was cut in white card stock and colored with the same lavender copics I used to color my image.  I shaped the flower and added a little elegance with some silver glitter swirls and a blue iridescent gem. The sentiment and tag were created in Cricut Design Space and edged, along with the flower and main panel,  with a silver leafing pen. 

I sure hope you're finding some time to relax with all the seasonal frenzy swirling around you. I found some peace today by making time to have lunch with a friend.  Now I'm going to eat some chocolate and watch a cheesy Hallmark movie. A perfect recipe for "calm and bright."  

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Die Cuts and Stencils

Creative Moments Challenge #228

Little Red Wagon Challenge #632

QKR Stampede Challenge #434

Crafty Creations Challenge #428

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge - December/January

A Place to Start Challenge #12

The Corrosive Challenge #12

Classic Design Challenge #12

Morgan's Art World Challenge #12

Lori Whitlock Wreath Pocket Pop-Up Box Card - Gift Card Holder and More

No one has ever become poor from giving. 

Lori Whitlock svg, Copic markers, ribbon bow, assorted gems, dotted blue cardstock,
Cricut cutting and writing, red and white card stock, glitter Nuvo Drops

Hey there from Nannyland,

When I first downloaded this beautiful Lori Whitlock pocket box card, I was confused at a seemingly unnecessary box protrusion. I was delighted when I realized it contained a perfectly-sized  pouch to hold a gift card, cash or a note.  Immediately,  I went to work creating cards for appreciation gifts to my hairdresser and cleaners.  I also made them for friends and family whose gifts have to go through the unreliable mail.   I love the way they turned out!  It makes a  generic gift card a little more personal and festive. 

As usual, I cut most of the pieces in white card stock on my Cricut Maker.  It's much easier to color and shade the small pieces with copics.  It was also much simpler to print the sentiment directly on my front panel with the writing feature in Design Space than to cut out the detailed sentiment in black card stock.   I had the best time adding beads, bows and gems to embellish.  

It's a lot more rewarding to present gift cards or money to my loved ones in a way that shows I care enough to make something special for them.    As it turns out, this pocket pop-up box card has become a favorite and I can see many fun uses for it in the future.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Make My Monday Challenge #163

SheepSki Challenge #57

Crafty Catz Challenge #576

Cut It Up Challenge #240

Just Add Ink Challenge #584

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #137

Through the Craft Room Door December 7

UnstampaBelles Challenge #118

Tidings of Joy From Elizabeth - Julia Spiri Giveaway Image

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” - Elf

Julia Spiri digi image (Elizabeth), Spellbinders frame die,
Cricut Design Space cutting and writing features, gems, pearls,
 Copic markers, red card stock, digital dp for inset on bodice, silver leafing pen

Hey there from Nannyland,

I'm so excited that Julia Spiri. one of my all-time favorite artists, is generously giving her Facebook followers this image as a freebee until December 20.  We are asked to add our colored image to her Facebook Giveaway album, where we will have a chance to win one of her fabulous coloring books.  I'm crossing my fingers because I love her beautiful images so much!

This grayscale image called "Elizabeth" is absolutely stunning.  She was a joy to color with copics in shades of red and green, with silver accents, to create a holiday card.  I added a paper pieced inset to her bodice and green glitter Nuvo drops to her festive dangly earrings.  I cut my lacy Spellbinders frame in white card stock and added  red gems for sparkle.  The poinsettia and sentiment tag were created in Cricut Design Space. The background panel, flower and sentiment tag were lined with a silver leafing pen. I added pearl accessories for a little touch of classic elegance.   

What a delightful surprise this beautiful, generous gift was.  Julia's Etsy shop is full of gorgeous images just like this one.  I think I'll go Christmas shopping in her store for some fun images to add to my Julia Spiri collection.  Merry Christmas to me. (And to you, too, of course.)

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #226

Double "D" Christmas Joy Challenge

Passion for Markers Challenge #621

Colouring in Scrapland December Challenge

Crafting Happiness Challenge #118

Dream Valley Challenge #260

Avenue 613 Create Challenge #12e

Sunday Stamps Challenge SSC271

Classic Design Challenge #12

Morgan's Artworld Challenge #12

Stacked Gifts Christmas Card - Anna Griffin Slimline Dies

 I love the rebelliousness of snail mail, and I love anything that can arrive with a postage stamp.  There's something about that person's breath and hands on the letter.   Diane Lane

Anna Griffin Gifts slimline die, slimline frame die,
 Cricut Design Studio tag, assorted gems, digital paper

Hey there from Nannyland,

Have you spent countless hours every holiday season creating special handmade cards for your family and friends?  Then maybe you can relate to my decision (however flawed) that I would quietly ease out of this custom, starting this year.  Since I've observed that few people send snail mail Christmas cards anymore, I was sure no one would notice if my card didn't appear as usual in their mailbox. My guilt was assuaged by the fact that I would have more time to make handsewn gifts for my tribe. Imagine my chagrin when one of my friends told me she was putting away her Thanksgiving cards to make room for a very special Christmas card she knew she would be receiving from a "certain someone."  Then some of my other yearly recipients expressed excitement over receiving yet another of my "limited edition" holiday cards, which they hang on string as a banner for decorations. Apparently, we cardmakers accumulate some devoted "card groupies" over the years! Who knew? 

So, in a panic, I reconsidered my scrooge-like decision and scrambled to design a card that I could assemble quickly.  I found this stylish slimline stacked-gifts die from Anna Griffin and it turned out to be a happy solution to my frenzied meltdown. I used several digital Christmas prints for the die cut gifts and added fussy cut embossed silver bows.  I created the tag in Cricut Design Space and attached it with silver thread to one of my gifts. Coordinating gems added some holiday sparkle. The silver base panel is a stitched slimline die.  A couple of intense cutting and gluing days later I had twenty cards ready to send to my card-worthy tribe. I still have more to do, but I feel so satisfied that I decided to keep my card making ritual. What was I thinking?  Some Christmas traditions are meant to stay.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Winter Wonderland End of Year Challenge

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #620

The Paper Funday December Challenge

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #146

Die Cut Divas December Challenge

                                                                       QKR Stampede Challenge #433

Creative Fingers Challenge #220

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #330