Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet...

By gosh and by golly, Fall has definitely arrived here! As a matter of fact, I cannot recall in recent years that we have actually turned the heat on in the house quite this early. When we got up on Monday morning, it was 63 degrees. Inside! And the heat has remained turned on, compliments of Sandy. How appropriate a name for a coastal super storm. That should have been our first clue to look at this thing seriously. Thoughts and prayers to all of those so severely affected by this massive hurricane. We pretty much dodged the bullet with high winds being the most disconcerting element. Praise God.

Another occasion to usher in the new Holiday season is of course, Halloween. A perfect setting in these parts, if I say so myself. Crisp, chilly air, a full moon, and the wee ones so very excited. Oh, and Riley learned a new song. See title post above.

Riley has been counting the days until she could go to the pumpkin patch, get and decorate her pumpkin, don her new costume, ring the neighbors' door bells, and shout loudly, "Trick or Treat" and getting candy of all sorts. And this year, she added a new twist. She wanted to GIVE OUT the candy to "the kids", (her words).

So yesterday afternoon, she and Papa decorated her pumpkin, a la "Princess" with her Ms Potato Head parts:

 

 

She was so proud of her handiwork, too! She told Papa, "I love Halloween!" She must have asked us at least forty 'leven times, is it time yet?

  

 

She was dressed and out the door before I could even take the camera off of the charger. She was Merida from the movie "Brave". So much for Nanny getting some cute pics in her costume! I made her promise that she would bring it back so that I COULD take some pictures.  

 

 

 

Then it was time for Capen to get her costume on and show off some:

 

 

Now, isn't she just THE cutest Little Lamb you've ever seen?

 

She is in this Nanny's heart!

 

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you'll come back soon to see what's new with Nanny's two girls...

Take gentle care

 

Fondly,

Riley and Capen's Nanny

 

 

 

 

'Tis the Season...

Even though the calendar says it's Halloween, I wanted to share with you some pics that I took of some cards that I made for the "So Shelli Creative Challenge". The challenge for October was for us to create anything commemorating "The Holidays". So here goes!? (I hope anyway)...

 

 

 

This first card is one that I actually created last year, but never got around to taking a picture of it. I used the Come to Bethlehem stamp set from SU!'s annual catalog. I love this set for so many reasons, one of which is that it makes such a beautiful silhouette card. And I love the peacefulness I feel when I see the image combined with the Bashful Blue and the Night of Navy. And of course, I HAD to use the Brushed Silver card stock to balance the Gold image, right? And since it IS for Christmas, it HAD to be embossed. And the star certainly HAD to be sprinkled with just a touch of Dazzling Diamonds to finish the look.

 

 

 

The second card is one that I made using the Chock Full of Cheer stamp set that is brand new to the 2012 SU! annual Catalog. I like the Vintage feel I see when I look at the ornaments that make me think of the shiny glass ones we had when I was growing up. One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the memories that they evoke of my childhood. It seems that these are the most vivid ones I can recall. We always had large family gatherings with the extended families on both sides. There was always lots of good food to eat, so many cousins to play with; decorations everywhere, especially our tree, and stockings full of candy and fruit.

 



 

 

And this last card just warms me all over. I created the card using the Bells and Boughs stamp set, also from the SU! annual catalaog. I love watercoloring the line art stamps. And I also love the new Glimmer paper in Champagne. And the new Core'dinations card stock in the 2012 Holiday catalog. It adds an extra "oomph" when you dry emboss with it. One of my favorite eras is the Victorian age. It was the beginning of a new century, the styles were very intricate in architecture, jewelry and clothing, and it seemed like the times were a little simpler, slower, or so I've been told. There wasn't all of the automation that controls all of our lives today. Perhaps I was born just a little too late?      

 

I thank you for taking a look at my creations, and hope you'll stop by again very soon. This blogging thing is brand spanking new to me and I'm still learning the ropes. And Riley is not here to help me...

 

Take gentle care...

 

Fondly.

Riley and Capen's Nanny

 

By Jove, I Think I've Got It!

I have come to the realization that I need this blog for so many reasons, one of which is to maintain my sanity.
I enjoy the writing, which promotes concentration. It also takes me to a calm place that I have not visited very much in the longest time...
Being the Baby Boomer, I am neither all that tech savvy nor so tech dependent that I can't possibly conceive the notion that I do not have to be available 24/7 to anyone and everyone that I may come in contact with throughout any given day.
At first, I was of the notion that it was all Gen Y and Gen X beings that thought the whole world was interested in their not so private phone conversations. I have noticed recently that is seems to be rampant in the everyday lives of MANY people I cross paths with out in the work-a-day world.
Why on earth would the lady standing in the Pain Relief aisle at Target think I cared even a little bit about where she was supposed to be going next on her journey? I was looking for the Advil to ease the pain in my mouth from having 6 teeth pulled on Monday a.m. for cryin' out loud. I mean, I'd much rather be living HER life than mine. Not.
I am on a mission to get my health in order so that I can do all of those other things I really miss doing. Like cooking, and baking, and sewing, and smocking, for my two precious granddaughters. I am 4 days post op on the dental surgery, and I'm already beginning to feel so much better!
I think I even want to get to get cracking on my kitchen and clear out all of those things that are simply taking up space that could be put to better use for flour and sugar and eggs all over the floor while the girls and I make us some cookies or cupcakes or whatever else we feel like making! And I think that I will start that task tomorrow!!!

Good night all...Take Gentle Care

Fondly,

Riley and Capen's Nanny

Whew! What I Learned About Photo Editing-Take 4

Holy Cow! I just finished editing 805 photos that were just sitting out there in the black hole otherwise known as my "Pictures" file. It was not as hard as I had imagined it would be. And it only took me 13 days and nights to do it. Ha! or Yippee! Or whatever the correct word to insert there should be...
Now let's see if I can show you some of them. Here's the latest of my 7 month old granddaughter, Capen Leigh...



And here's another one...

 

Her Big Sis Riley put "her" tiara on her for this one...

 

and here's "Miss" Riley as we've called her for over 4 years now...

 

 

She's watching her "show" while she's camping in her new tent on top of the bed and I wouldn't be surprised if she also has her Leap Pad and her DVD player going as well. She really likes to multi-task!

 

Lastly, I would like to share with you some of the projects that I've been working on for Fall...

 

 

A little Thank You gift that I made for one of my neighbors for doing me a HUGE favor...

 

And a card that I entered in last month's Creative Challenge Contest from Shelli Gardner at Stampin' Up!...

 

 

I actually got the inspiration for this card from a dinner plate that I saw in Target one day. The plate was Vanilla with both Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry designs on it. I just LOVED that color combo and knew right away that I wanted to create a card with those colors.

The challenge was to make a card using only 2 layers. And quite the challenge it was. I spent the first 3 weeks of September trying to decide how I could create a card that would include depth, dimension, and texture and at the same time, keep the card to only the 2 layers.

I inked the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and then stamped the image onto the card stock without any embossing, and then used Linen thread for the texture I was looking for. Next I stamped and watercolored the leaves with Watercolor Wonder crayons and blender pens. I wanted to showcase all of the beautiful colors of Fall, so I sponged the edges of the Watercolor Paper to soften the contrast of the Watercolor Paper and card stock. I added the Crumb Cake brads and used paper piercing in the corner of the card to add dimension. So I guess that I met all of my goals for the card and I am very happy with the end result. I hope you like it as well. 

 

I love Fall. Happy Fall Ya'll!

 

So, for now I'll say goodnight all, and remember to take Gentle Care

 

Fondly,

Riley and Capen's Nanny  

 

 



 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                           

Still a Tech Dummy! But Fall's coming...

I have been trying for 9 days now to get back on my blog so I could post some new tidbits for you all. And wouldn't you know it, it's now 12:40am on Tuesday, the 9th and I have a dentist appointment at 9am, so this will surely be brief. And to top it off, I have a headache. Of course!
Well, I have to say that I am SO grateful that Fall has finally arrived here. At least I think it has. It was a little chilly Sunday, and even more so with rain as well on Monday. Yay! Sorry to say to all you hotties out there, but I'm about as interested in hot and humid as I am watching paint dry. Not me at all. Then again, I am considered a "Senior" at some local dining establishments. And proud of it, too! My new motto is "tis better to feel mahvelous than to look mahvelous".
I'm working on getting this blog thing up to snuff so that I can share my creative endeavours with my friends near and far. And if you'd like for me to send you something special that I made by way of snail mail, drop me an email to purplestampinfool@yahoo.com with your physical mailing address, and I would be delighted to do it.
So much for brief, but I'm really feeling tired so I suppose I'll check you all later. Til then, take Gentle care as always...

Fondly,
Riley and Capen's Nanny

User's Manual for Tech Dummies Like Me!

OMG-am I really feeling my age today. Actually, older than that. I am trying very hard to do this blog thing, and I keep fouling it up all over the place. Widgets, gadgets, badges, blah, blah, blah. Now how passe is that?
I am not certain that there are enough hours in the day for me to learn all there is about uploading pictures, blog hopping, publishing, and all else involved in this process.
I have a smart phone, a smart camera, and an HP Net book, and I am not ashamed to say that my 4 year old granddaughter knows more than I do about operating all of them. In fact, none of them even tells you that you have to BE smart to use them. There must be a Users' Manual for Tech Dummies like me! Can anyone tell me where to find it?
Like I said at the beginning, I am feeling my age today. Now I am tired, and I think I will take a nap!
Later...

Fondly,
Riley and Capen's Nanny

A Day in the Life of Riley's Nanny...

Usually begins with a strong cup of coffee, if I get up early enough prior to the arrival of Ms. Riley, a chance to watch Joyce Meyer and The Today Show. That is if I can score one of the 4 TVs at Nanny's house. Most days, the Princess, as her Papa calls her, will be standing at the computer playing Mickey Mouse games, have the TV on and watching "her show", and having a tea party with her doll babies all at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking. I got an email the other day from a regular site on my list that was titled "The Three year old, is she ready for the computer?" Seriously? She's been on the computer since she was less than two years old, and can do some things on it that Nanny still cannot do.
This is a test, only a test, and at 1:53 am, I'll check back later in the am.

Fondly,
Riley's Nanny