Reading Books in Cozy Nooks - Journal Pages With Zekesami Emma Digital Stamp

In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.

Hey there from Nannyland,

When the crisp cool weather of winter begins, one of my favorite ways to relax is soaking up the brisk air as I sit on my patio reading a good book.  A snuggly warm jacket and a cup of warm apple cider are all I need to take me to my happy place.

Emma, the darling girl in this Zekesami digi, looks like she is exactly where she wants to be on a cool, winter's day.  I have colored her with Copic markers using warm citrus green and orange hues combined with cool winter shades of blue.  I fussy cut the image and mounted her on a lacy oval die cut frame and surrounded her with  bejeweled snowflake accents.  I was excited to find tiny matching green brads in my stash to add dimension to the front of her sweater. The dots on her mug were made with green and white fine line markers.  

                                      

I wasn't sure about my color palette when I started coloring, but I really like this mix of cool and warm non-traditional colors.  I'm having such fun branching out from my favorite color palettes and experimenting with some new combinations. The inspiration page was created using the Cricut cutting and writing features. 

Cool and warm, crisp and cuddly, I love all the contradictions of winter.  I hope you are looking forward to the magic of the season as much as I am.

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

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Bee Still and Know Journal Pages - Jeremiah Ketner Honey Bee Digital Stamp

Be still and know that I am God.     Psalm 46:10

Hey there from Nannyland,

One of the best things about being a colorist is that I'm able to sit quietly and let my thoughts wander to lovely places while I serenely add color and shading to my project. The only other pursuit I can think of that offers this kind of rest to my soul is walking in nature. Oh, and maybe quilting. When the world seems to be in a constant state of  chaos, sitting down to color a beautiful piece of art, preferably a gorgeous lady in my case, whispers to me to slow down and breathe. 

I chose a  tranquil image called  Honey Bee by Jeremiah Ketner to sooth my restless inner dialog and it didn't take long before my coloring took me away to my happy place.

I cut a gold foil frame in Cricut Design Space and sized it to my journal page and image. The blooms were created by adhering beaded flowers from my stash to purple foil card stock and then fussy cutting them.  It's always a delight to find treasures in my gem drawer that can be adapted for use on my creations.  A jar on my embellishment shelf is full of punched swirls in every color, ready to add sparkly accents to my flowers in place of leaves for a stylish flair. 

The idea for my inspiration page came from the cute bee necklace my pretty miss is wearing.  The metallic bee accent on the tag was created in Cricut Design Space.

I hope I have inspired you to engage in the things you love that bring you peace and joy.

    

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

Moving Along With The Times Challenge 172

A Pefect Time to Craft Challenge #11

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love to Scrap Challenge #170

613 Avenue Create November Challenge

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #146

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Sweet Picture Perfect Autumn - Spellbinders September 2024 Large Die of the Month

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.
F. Scott Fitzgerald

Hey there from Nannyland,

I'm always excited to snag my Spellbinders Large Die of the Month out of my mailbox each month!  I'm never disappointed at the wonderfully designed dies inside the package.  September's gorgeous set of dies called Picture Perfect Autumn contains dies of all sizes and shapes for creating beautiful fall scenes. The sky is literally the limit.  I chose to use a slimline card format to allow me the real-estate to include some fabulous oversized sunflowers in the foreground to give my scene a fun perspective. 

Sponging and Copic coloring work best for me with my die cuts because it's so easy to create just the right color and texture.  It's also much easier for me to cut the dies out using white card stock instead of hunting for just the right color in my huge stash.   

I couldn't help adding lots of Stickles sparkle to the flowers and trees and I think it adds just the right amount of shine and texture to my already cheerful scene.  The bird and mini flowers are dies from some cute Impression Obsession sets I bought many years ago to add dainty details to my nature scenes.  And, of course, I had to add a little bling to my mini flower centers with small gems. 

Happy fall, y'all.  I hope your world is a beautiful wash of stunning warm hues like the ones I see out of my window in my comfy desert home. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.
I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 
Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)
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Craft Rocket Challenge #119

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Sisterhood of Crafters October Challenge

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The Creative Crafters #81

A Place To Start October Challenge

Dream Valley Challenge #324

Leave a Little Room for Miracles - Mariola Budek Lady Spring digi

Miracles happen to those who believe in them.   Bernard Berenson

Hey there from Nannyland,

It's still a wild ride over here with some pretty intense medical issues going on at our house, but I'm making sure I find time to relax, take deep breaths and color some beautiful inspiration for my art journals.  When it feels impossible to summon my mojo,  I just dive in and get started until the creative juices begin to flow. They have never failed me and  I love feeling like my old self again. I thank God everyday for my magnificent obsession with paper arts and quilting that allow me to escape into a bright, magical world of color and creativity. 

The lovely image I colored here is called Lady Spring from the artwork of Mariola Budek.  I usually have a color scheme in mind, but this time I just started laying down color until I liked what I saw. Instead of using soft, spring colors for the flowers I ended up going with more of a Fall palette and added lots of Spellbinders die cut blooms to add dimension and movement. 

My inspiration sentiment has meant so much to me during these stressful times. I wanted to create something I could look at as I flip through my journal pages and remember the amazing miracles and tender mercies that have lifted me up the past couple of months.  

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                              Playing along with:

Crafty Catz Challenge #681

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Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #81

Ching-Chou Kuik "Love" Digital Stamp - Trust in the Lord

Be still and know that I am God.
Psalms 46:10

Hey there from Nannyland,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart...sometimes that's about all we can do when things get a little rocky on this exhilarating but extremely twisty road of life.  I've had several run-ins with breast cancer in the past 18 years, but this last one has been quite the challenge.  My aged body doesn't take the punches as well as it used to. But I have always trusted God to hold my hand and help me weather the storm and he hasn't let me down yet.  Good thing I can escape to Nannyland and renew my positive, healing energy doing all the things I love. 

This absolutely gorgeous Ching-Chow Kuik digital stamp called "Love" was a delight to color for my journal page, reminding me to be still and listen to the Spirit.  I colored her with Copics in rich jewel tones and adorned her dress and hair with tiny Spellbinders flowers.   

She is framed with a lacy Spellbinders die and mounted on a Ranger Dylusions Journal page. Die cut vellum butterflies are added to the background to complete my tranquil scene. Small gems embellish the flowers and butterflies and a white gel pen was used to add detail to the vines. 

The scripture quote layers were created in Cricut Design Space using the writing and cutting features.  Just a few more Spellbinders embellies finish the design. 

Now I think I'll trust the Lord to keep watch while a take a dreamy nap under my big, bright chartreuse minky blanket!. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                              Playing along with:

Creative Artiste Challenge #109

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Julia Spiri Happy Fairy Journal Page - A Joyful Heart is Good Medicine

“Laughter is like taking a good medicine.” Every day you need to take your medicine. Find something that makes you laugh. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

If you need a warm smile to cheer you up, Julia Spiri's beautiful images are sure to make that happen.  I've discovered the more I laugh and grin, the better I feel, no matter what challenges life sends my way.  This darling girl is called Happy Fairy and you can find her in Julia's shop here. Just look at her adorable dimpled smile and those twinkling eyes.   Could she be any more adorable?  

I love making journal pages that immediately give me a lift as I flip through them.  I challenge you to try and keep from smiling when you look at Julia's magical artwork.  I have a dear friend who is going through a difficult health challenge and I plan to make a card with this image and use the same bible quote from Proverbs: 17:22.

I used a Ranger Dylusion Journal page for this entry and mounted my Copic-colored image to a white Spellbinders die cut frame. I used the same frame layers to create the label for the opposite page.  I created the scripture quote in Cricut Design Space using the writing feature.  I try to keep everything as flat as I can on my pages for obvious reasons, so my pretty Spellbinders flowers are perfect for her luscious locks and as low profile frame embellishments.   Her sparkly jewelry is studded with small gems. 

This little "fae" has cheered me up many times as I flip through my journal, reminding me that healing comes from a happy, blythe spirit. In fact, I think she said her name was Blythe.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                          Playing along with:

Creative Artiste Challenge #108

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Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #259

Word Art Wednesday Weeks #667-668

613 Avenue Create September Challenge

Classic Design Challenge #09-2024

Path of Positivity Challenge #122

A Place to Start September Challenge

A Gem of a Challenge Wk19

Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge #9

Cozy Flannel Self Binding Receiving Blankets for Charity

“Charity is not an act but a way of life, a condition of the heart.”
Robert Millet

Hey there from Nannyland,

I recently hit a little bump in the road on my breast cancer journey and will be starting a more aggressive treatment plan in the next few weeks. I have faith that all will be well in the end, but in the meantime I will be spending more time at home, which translates to many blissful hours in the perfect place for distraction and healing... right here in Nannyland.  I am so blessed to have a peaceful retreat with so many wonderful cheery projects just waiting for me to dive in. 

Nothing can lift my spirits more than sewing projects for charity, especially those for children.  I still haven't settled on the perfect home for my baby quilts and receiving blankets, but I have found very appreciative recipients in women's shelters in the past.  I plan to make many of these fun blankets and I am researching several different organizations and hospitals to make sure I find good homes for them.     

I found tons of beautiful good quality quilting flannel in my stash to start my projects, along with this extremely helpful video tutorial on sewing self binding receiving blankets.  I made several appliqued ones like this one and this one to sell in my Etsy shop years ago, but I really learned some new things in this video that helps them to turn out perfect every time. 

I love using the best quilting flannel I can find for these because it is so soft and sturdy, and they will obviously be washed over and over again.  The cheaper fabric just doesn't hold up the same after washing. 

                                                                                        

The fabrics in my stash are pretty old but some of  the most adorable kids flannel still comes from Robert Kaufman, as seen in most of the fabrics above.  The darling owl fabric is from Riley Blake. I'm always thrilled when I find cute flannel at my quilt shop because it inspires me to get going and create more kid quilts for charity. I can never make too many!!!

These quilts are just the right size and weight to roll up and tie with a bow for a favorite charity or a fun shower for a precious little one. Fast, easy, fun, adorable, useful and they need no quilting.  What's not to love?

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Another Anna Griffin Fashion Show - Anna's Paper Dress Dies

You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life. 

Coco Chanel

Hey there from Nannyland,

A few weeks ago I posted these Anna Griffin dresses  and mentioned I had created enough to assemble cards through the millennium.  In keeping with that prediction, I have enjoyed being able to come up with adorable cards in a flash.  I couldn't resist posting another fashion show featuring some cards I made for some very sweet ladies I recently visited. I added some small changes to the backgrounds and polished up my inside greeting. 

I cut stylish gold foiled card stock to fit the back panels of my cards and I love the elegance it adds to my projects. 

I saved my original "wardrobe" files in Cricut Design Space so all I had to do was access them and cut them out. 

I had fun shopping for the perfect dresses in my humungous, assorted and very chic stash. 

There are two different options for the bodice of the dress, so it was fun to choosing the style I thought best suited my recipient. 

I fashioned either diamond or pearl necklaces to add a touch of elegance to my outfits. 

For the inside, I used water color dp with gold accents, die cut a layered Hero Arts sentiment and added cute Spellbinders sewing-themed die cuts at the bottom. 

I took this collection to Northern Utah with me for our annual 4th of July celebration and hand delivered them to my darling sister and sister-in-laws.  I loved expressing my love for them in this hand-made-with-love way and, from their reactions,  I think they were a hit.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                               Playing along with:

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Colorful

A Cut Above September Challenge

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Love to Craft Challenge #82

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Guest Designer for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #371 - Polkadoodles Winnie's Winterland Card

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Today I'm delighted and very honored for the opportunity to be a Guest Designer for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge 371.  The theme is Christmas and the sponsor is one of my all-time favorite card-making and craft supply companies, Polkadoodles.  

For my card I chose this beautiful digital stamp called Winnie's Winterland to create a frosty Nordic scene.  I colored this darling image with Copic markers, including the drawing and shading of Winnie's facial features.  The original stamp has a very adorable simply drawn face, but I chose to add some personality with a little more detail.  

I backed my scene with digital water color paper to mimic the Northern Lights.  The frame was created in Cricut Design Space and cut out with silver metallic card stock.  The sentiment was also created with my Cricut using the Design Space writing and off-set features.

It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas cards and I'm excited that I have this one to get me in the holiday spirit.  I hope I have inspired you to do some Christmas creating also.  The holidays will be here before we know it! 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                    Playing along with:

Digi Choosday Challenge - Wk 34

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #168

Dream Valley Challenge #321

613 Avenue Create August Challenge

A Gem of a Challlenge Wk17

Allsorts Challenge Wk 795

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Get Up, Dress Up - Lori Holt Millie's Dresses Wall Hanging

 Look your best and you will think and act your best. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

I've been patiently waiting for just the right quilt block to exemplify my life's mantra and I found the perfect one in this beautiful vintage dress block called  Millie's Dresses by Lori Holt.  The minute I saw it I knew I was going to make a wall hanging for Nannyland with a sign above it symbolizing the daily motto I have followed since I was a teenager.

I'm going to confess to what may be a controversial practice in today's "free to be me" climate.  I have been engaging in an obsessive ritual that some might consider compulsive at worst and quirky at best.  I've been getting up every morning, since I was a teenager, dressing in an outfit appropriate to be seen in public, and  completing a full hair and makeup routine.  My daily mantra is always "Get Up, Dress Up."  There, I've said it.  My girls can back me up on this.  No matter what my daily challenge is, be it toothache, earthquake, surgery, cancer treatment, family crisis, girls camp...you name it, I'm going to be looking as spiffy as possible to greet the opportunities and challenges of the new day.  

Now, some of you might be thinking, "Could she be more vain?," but I have found the affect is just the opposite.  Once I've taken care of my own grooming, I don't think about it the rest of the day and I can go about my activities with confidence.  I can smile at strangers and engage with the people I meet, look for ways to do service, welcome visitors to my home without peering through a crack in the door, do errands any time for myself and others, hang with the people I love and just generally be present in the world.

I get this is not for everyone. The majority of my friends and family look and feel fabulous everyday, as they should, without focusing on eye shadow color or hair gel.  And don't get me started on those people with the thick mermaid hair, long dark lashes and glowing skin that don't ever need to look in a mirror!  This is just a ME thing that has helped me get through some difficult times, feeling like I can take on the day with faith and composure.  

I ended up in emergency a couple of weeks ago with some pesky blood clots and was happy that I had on full make up to offset the very unattractive, ill-fitting gown. I'm very happy that not one of my doctors or attendants seemed impressed with my lipstick color, but I, myself, didn't feel like a poor sick old lady who just dragged out of bed, and that meant something to me. The doctor commented on how healthy I was and said he didn't think blood thinners would be a problem for me since I didn't look like a person who falls a lot.  Because I obviously had the wits to apply make up, people! So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Get Up, Dress Up. It's worth the effort, I swear. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Flamingo Anniversary - Spellbinders Grand Tropical Flamingos Large Die of the Month

 A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength. 
Proverbs 17:22 

Hey there from Nannyland,

On August 15 my husband and I celebrated 56 years of wedded bliss.  Don't do the math please, but in our defense, we were very young when we got married.  This year I knew I was going to use these darling Spellbinders flamingos and was so excited to start my fun creation.  Then, as often happens in the aging season of life, I had an emergency visit to the hospital for blood clots (eek) and several stressful medical encounters thereafter related to my breast cancer saga.  I really just wanted to hide under some big pink flamingo feathers and hibernate.  But that's no way to go about life when challenges threaten to take you down.  So, as usual,  I secluded myself in Nannyland and went to work trying to design a card with my limited mojo.

One step at a time, my card came together and I ended up with something that expresses my love for my extremely supportive hubby who bears all my burdens with me with calm patience and optimism.  I cut my flamingos and leaves out of white card stock and shaded them with Copic markers.  The detailed layers on Spellbinders dies make it simple to create stunning dimension without much thought.  I wasn't sure if my Anna Griffin background die was too busy, but I actually like the lattice screen look it gives my card.  I couldn't help zhuzhing up my cute flamingo couple with the crown that comes in the die set and some small flowers from other sets.  I was actually a little shocked that my card came together so easily with stress zapping my energy, but I really like the results and so did my hubby.  

I'm an advocate for the healing powers of creativity.  The blissfully calm hours I've spent creating during some of life's most difficult times have proven to be life savers for me throughout my whole life and especially during my 19-year breast cancer saga.  Thanks to many blessings from a loving God, I'm still here, still creating, and still loving it.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                  Playing along with:

Moving Along With Times Challenge #169

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #231

The Paper Funday Challenge #68

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #474

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Ally's Angels Challenge #85

Morgan's Artworld Challenge #79

Once Upon A Time Challenge #25

PINspirational Challenge #316

Classic Design Challenge #8

Spellbinders Cat Lover's Birthday Card - Have a Purrfect Celebration

 People that don't like cats haven't met the right one yet. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

With two crazy cat lady daughters (they happily answer to that moniker) and several cat-lover friends, I couldn't resist adding this adorable Spellbinders Big Cat die set to my collection. The dies are large enough to create a shaped A2 card and just the right size for my usual preferred 5 x 7 base. The basic die has several layers to create dimension and detail, and the accessory die set has lots of festive add-on's to bring personality to an already charming kitty.

I admit, I have always thought of myself as a dog person, but when a large and very gorgeous disheveled black cat wandered into my back yard many years ago looking for food, I became a duel dog/cat fan. Tawnzie lived in our yard for almost 20 years and I still think of her with heartfelt fondness and miss her tremendously.  I appreciate the  uniqueness of all God's cuddly creations and dearly love my two darling grand-cats.  

My good friend in California has a frisky black and white cat she calls "Trouble," so I knew she would appreciate this card for her August birthday.  I loved dressing him up for a birthday celebration with quirky candle glasses and adding a festive circle die embellished with stars for the background. All the layers fit together perfectly with embossing details to guide with the layering.  I love how this little guy turned out.  So much crafty fun!!!

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                                         Playing along with:

The Paper Funday Challenge #67

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #473

Avenue 613 Avenue Create July Challenge

Crafting Happiness Challenge #185

As You Like It Challenge - Cats or Dogs - (See above)

A Place to Start July Challenge

A Perfect Time to Craft August Challenge

Critter Crazy Challenge #89

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #79

Classic Design Challenge #07

Craft Rocket Challenge #117

Grandma's Flower Garden Quilt - English Paper Piecing

 Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course,
but it also somehow helped her remember who she was
 and where she came from. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Yayyy! I finally finished my Grandma's Flower Garden quilt and I really love the way it turned out, imperfections and all.  I've been sewing the English Paper Pieced hexagons together to create my flowers since the dawn of time and I was excited when I realized I had finally accumulated enough for a quilt.  I used THIS Flowers For Emma pattern by Sherri McConnell for my inspiration because I loved the way she pieced four low volume fabrics to create the backgrounds for her flower blocks.  

My EPP flowers are truly scrappy because I used small, very old scraps from my stash that I had collected over many years and none of my flowers are the same.  I used yellow dotted fabric for the centers to create a unifying element.  

I chose a cute flower pantograph for my quilting to mimic my flowers.   I added white sashing to add some contrast to my blocks and a green Lori Holt "sew cherry" border because many of my fabrics had cherry or fruit motifs.  What's not to like about cherries!   As usual, I added striped binding to finish my quilt. 

Although this quilt certainly has a handsewn vibe with lots of imperfections, it will always be one of my favorites because so much time and affection went into it.  This one won't end up on some careless person's lap in front of the TV in danger of getting snacks spilled on it.  I'll just carefully lay it on my lap when I want to reminisce about all the wonderful years I've spent blissfully playing with beautiful fabric and quilting. And all the fun hours I spent watching Hallmark movies while sewing my hexagons together.  I'm already starting a new batch and can't wait to see where they land. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

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

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)