Thursday, May 26, 2022

It's a Beautiful Day in the Tropics - Kit and Clowder April 2020 Copic Marker Class

Be brave enough to be bad at something new. 



Hey there from Nannyland,

Visions of the exquisite beauty of lush tropical seascapes are still swirling in my head after our recent trip to Hawaii  When I found this gorgeous image in the April 2020 Kit and Clowder marker class, I couldn't wait to learn some new techniques.  I'm happy I had Alyce's video instructions to follow because I wouldn't have known what colors to use or how to blend them.  I always enjoy shading the unique colors and textures of flowers so the variety here gave me plenty of opportunity for practice.   I love how Alyce painted a darker butterfly among the pastel blooms.  A lighter one wouldn't have shown up like this unique shaded one. 
 

I've been finding a lot of opportunities to incorporate my Heartfelt Creations flowers in my cards  lately.  I recently posted a  blog here showing how I got carried away and  made about a million of them.  A die cut Spellbinders frame borders my image and the panel is adhered to a lime green card base.  After adding my flowers, I had limited space for a sentiment so I used a small Tim Holtz rub-on for a subtle message.  

Kit and Clowder April 2020 class, Spellbinders frame die, Copic markers,
Healtfelt  Creations handmade flowers, green enamel dots, Tim Hotlz rub-on

I enjoyed taking a break from coloring my usual "lovely lady" images and now I am ready for a new exciting challenge.  For the next couple of months I have the honor to be a Guest Designer for one of my favorite artists, Conie Fong. Her digital images are exquisite and I can't wait to use them to design some beautiful cards.  Please come back and check them out. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.
I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  
Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)
Playing along with:

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Dreaming Tree Fantasy Flower Cards - Cricut Florals Embellished

 Your story is unique and so, so different...and not worthy of comparison. 


Hey there from Nannyland,

I'm back from a very tranquil and restorative trip to Hawaii and feeling energized to work on some colorful projects inspired by the gorgeous landscapes and flora in one of the most beautiful places on earth. 


My Cricut Maker has been calling to me and I was happy to answer with these cheery 5 x 7 notecards from my Dreaming Tree svg library.  I skipped the wrap-around portion in the design and changed out the flowers for some bright layered flowers from the Florals Embellished image set in the Cricut Library.  


My card base and front panel (which is embossed with the Cuttlebug Decorative Tile embossing folder) are cut from heavy cardstock and the insert is cut from gold foil card stock.  I cut the flower layers in white card stock and colored them with Copic markers.

Dreaming Tree Fantasy Flowers Card svg, Cuttlebug embossing folder,
Cricut Florals Embellished image set, Cricut Maker,
assorted gems, gold foil card stock, colored heavy cardstock


The most enjoyable part of creating these cards was building the flowers and adding sparkle with colored gems.  I'm happy to have some festive all-occasion cards in my stash when I need to send off a quick note and want it to be a little special. 

These were such a relaxing break from my regular copic coloring and card designing. My Cricut always gives me a burst of energy when my mojo needs a boost.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.
I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  
Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

                                             

Monday, May 9, 2022

Tessuti Zoo - Land of Creative Enchantment

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.   Dieter  F. Uchtdorf                   



Hey there from Nannyland, 

I trip to the balmy California coast to visit my daughter wouldn't be complete without a much anticipated visit to my favorite shop in the whole world, Tessuti Zoo.  I have never admired two creative spirits more than I do the owners of this amazing bazaar of creative whimsy.   Emily Owens and Mary Troup have concocted the brightest, most colorful wild and fanciful one-of--kind art, clothing, dolls, creatures, quilts, wall-hangings, and furniture I have ever encountered in my many and varied travels.


Each time I visit, I can't wait to see what new creations come from their gifted imaginations and I always come home with an elegantly packed parcel of unique treasures.  This year I found the most  wonderful tree-like "pin cushion" with a darling felt bird perching on top.  As luck would have it,  the colors match Nannyland perfectly and it looks fabulous on my shelf with Gracie, the monarch butterfly and Hemely, the spikey haired diva.  Also in this picture is the darling spool clock I bought at another visit..a perfect addition to my sewing/craft room wall. 


Tessa, the glamourous sugar scull doll and Tula, the stitch-themed goddess, sit happily together atop my computer cabinet and greet me and my guests when we enter the room.   


Bonita hangs over my window and basks in the warm, cheery desert sunlight. 

                    

Who needs fancy lingerie when these ladies can sew up the most comfy and stylish flannel and cotton night wear imaginable.  

               

Emily always makes an art of wrapping her guests' purchases with all kinds of frills and flourishes.  The room where she creates her magic is whimsical like her creations but is not available to the public. Somehow I always manage to sneak a peak.  



I was devastated when I learned the shop was flooded last year during California's extreme rains, but Emily and Mary's invincible spirits couldn't be dampened.  Their many admirers who adore them  rushed in and helped them rescue a lot of their irreplaceable inventory and happily, they were able to open another shop a few months ago, not far from the original location.  I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw their eye-catching shop right on the main shopping street, Lighthouse Avenue, in Pacific Grove.

                       


                                                      

I'm always over-the-moon the minute I enter this jungle of  enchantment and I leave even more elated,  loaded with  all my stunning finery.  And, at least now I have been there enough times to subdue my screams of delight to low giggles. I love watching the first-time shoppers display their shock and awe. 

Hooray for creatives who bring joy to others with their incredibly imaginative works of genius! May we all bless others with our artistic gifts of the spirit and our heartfelt creations.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.
I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  
Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)





 

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Bloom and Grow - Grazia Salvo Women of Flowers Digi

 Have confidence that if you have done a little thing well, 
you can do a bigger thing well, too.   David Storey




Hey there from Nannyland,

I've just returned from an absolutely heavenly trip to the picturesque Monterey Peninsula to visit my daughter and I'm feeling refreshed and ready for a little blissful coloring time in Nannyland.  I chose this gorgeous  Grazia Salvo Women of Flowers digi to create a feminine card for a May birthday.  While shopping with my hubby at Tuesday Morning recently, I unexpectedly spotted a beautiful 5 x 7 Spellbinders die set.  Score!  I knew the lacy design would make a gorgeous background for my image and was thrilled that it fit her perfectly. I cut it out in white shimmer card stock, edged it with a gold leafing pen, then added gold peel off stickers for a little extra metallic detail. 


I used  Cricut writing and cutting features to create the sentiment tag in Design Space. A couple of handmade Heartfelt Creations blooms add texture and dimension to my bouquet.

Grazia Salvo digi, Copic Markers, Spellbinders frame dies, 
Elizabeth Crafts peel off stickers; Heartfelt Creation stamps,
dies, mold; gold leafing pen

It's always a treat to surround myself with Copics and get lost in a quiet world of coloring and imagination. Now that I'm all centered and relaxed, I'm ready for my next summer escapade!