Welcome back!  Today is the third day of Newton's Nook Designs' June Release and you gardeners are going to love what Jen is revealing today, introducing -- Vegetable Garden stamp set:

Aren't Jen's illustrations gorgeous?  I really loved the font she used on this set too (is that weird?).  The peppers were my favorite image so I focused on them with this CAS card with a bit of masking:

I could totally see folks using these pretty images to label starter seed sets and gardens outside stamped with permanent ink on wooden stakes, creating pretty signs for farmer's markets, scrapbooking pages of your gardening efforts or farmer's market trips, making embellished recipe cards... 

Would you like to win a 'Vegetable Garden' stamp set?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and the Designs Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  you  have until Thursday, June 16th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, June 17th.  

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Gerstner
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Nina-Marie Trapani
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka

Jess Gerstnet is your next stop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy and be sure to come back tomorrow for more NND crafty goodness!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs February Release ~ Day 1

Welcome to the first day of Newton's Nook Designs February Release!  Today Jen is debuting a set that is perfect for scrapbooking your culinary achievements, recipe cards, tags for homebaked treats as well as cards for birthday and other occasions -- introducing 'Made From Scratch':

And it even has coordinating DIES:

Since my birthday card stash is always low, I decided to make a birthday card using the 'whisking you a happy birthday' sentiment (isn't that original?  I just love that!) paired with some patterned paper of the same them from Hobby Lobby:

I just love how the cooking utensils have their own little die cuts!  SQUEEE!  It doesn't show up in the photo well, but the golden elements on the cardstock are glittery IRL - pretty!

Would you like to win a 'Made from Scratch' stamp set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!!

 Here's how to win:

 Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts. Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, February 11th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, February 12th. 

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Gerstner
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Nina-Marie Trapani
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka
Ka Slogski - Guest Designer

Jess Gerstner is next on the hop, I sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy!

~ Crafty Math Chick

In "Love' with Newton's Nook Designs

Hello!  We weathered the blizzard of 2016 here.  Over 2 feet of snow, drifts up to 5 feet in some areas and higher than that after plowing, but we were blessed and didn't lose power or have trouble with the roof (YAAY!) so I can just reap the benefits of all of my yarn organization efforts right before the storm!  (I envisioned the roof collapsing and soaking all of my precious yarn and ruining it - couldn't let that happen!  So almost all of it is in plastic bins now, neatly organized by brand and type, YAAY!  My husband teases me whenever he sees disasters like tornadoes or floods or hurricanes on the news 'There go your stamps Honey, allllll your designer papers just floooooating/blooooowing away... bye bye... neeeeever to be seen again...  Ooops - it's taking your yarn now too!  Oh no!  What will you do!')

I am helping out with a post on the Newton's Nook Blog again today.  I decided to keep it simple and play along with Newton's Inky Paws Challenge 28: Love Theme using Winged Wishes and the new Darling Hearts die set:

I was inspired by the delicate necklaces that are comprised of scripty words and knotted one of of some thin twine and threaded it through the loop of the 'l' and then repeated the process for the loop of the 'e' and let the cute little birdies be lifting the scripty love up that way.  I don't know if I will give this one to my husband for Valentine's Day yet, he already saw it and commented how much he liked it, and he tends to favor CAs style cards, but nothing ever seem special enough for my hubby, I mean he is my HUSBAND - you know?  Do you ever feel the same way about your family members?

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my card.  I hope you have a wonderful week!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs' Holiday Release ~ Day 1

Welcome to the first day of Newton's Nook Designs' October Release!  Jen has created some ADORABLE sets for you this month, you'll want 'em ALL!  Today she has decided to sneak a whimsical set of animal couples - prefect for the holidays, valentine's day, any time to you to let someone know you love them.  Introducing 'Holiday Smooches':

I was inspired by this pretty wreath ornament I saw Chari Moss create years ago to make a wreath ornament (not sure you can really call it an ornament, it is about 5-6 inches in diameter) of my own:

I wrapped a sheer ribbon around the wreath (purchased from the dried naturals department at Michaels) and tied it to create a hanger, then I took a piece of red tinsel ribbon and tied it to the base of the hanger for a pop of color and sparkle.  The 'holly berries' were part of one of those holiday picks - I simply cut off some of the wire stems off and woe them through the wreath (the wire stems bents nice and easily to secure them in place!)  I was going to add punched holly leaves around them but thought it looked better this way.  Then I stamped the bears and doves and colored them with my Copic markers and fussy cut them out by hand and nestled the polar bears into a cotton ball 'snowbank': 

and hung the love birds with a silver cord tied around the wreath so that the mistletoe dangled above them:

So, what do you think?  Would you hang something like this on your door or tree?  Should I make more of them with different critters?  It was really quite easy and fun to make, I hope you like it!

Would you like to win 'Holiday Smooches' stamp set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!!

 Here's how to win:

 Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts. Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, October 15th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, October 16th. 

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Gerstner
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Nina-Marie Trapani
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka
Anette Allen - Guest Designer

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Jess Gerstner is the next stop on the hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy!  

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs' Flower Power Blog Hop

Welcome to the May Flowers blgo hop by Newton's Nook Designs!  What a fun & festive way to celebrate all the fun & pretty floral sets Newton's Nook Designs has to offer!  I decided to show off images from NND's 'Basket of Wishes' set:  

with this pretty spring card:

I selected colors that complimented this pretty floral paper from DCWV's 'Spring Fling' mat stack and had fun coloring in the floral basket with my Copic markers in coordinating colors.  Sentiments were added from NND's 'Simply Sentimental' to turn it into a birthday card (never seem to have enough of those in my stash no matter how many I make!)

PLUS - Newton's Nook Designs is having a SALE!

Do you love NND's flower stamps?  Grab them up and any of your other favorites this weekend with FREE SHIPPING* Now through May 3rd.  Use Code: MAYDAY

* Offer good on new retail orders of in-stock items only, while supplies last.

Expires Midnight CST, May 3rd, 2015

AND a GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a $10 store credit?  Jen is picking 2 lucky winners!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blog hop posts.  Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Sunday, May 3rd at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winners will be announced on the blog post on Monday, May 4th.

Check out all the awesome design team blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs March Release ~ Day 3

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the last day of sneak peeks for the March release of Newton's Nook Designs!  Today everyone's favorite kitty returns with another birthday set, Newton's Birthday Flutter:

As a bird lover/watcher with lots of feeders around my property, the idea of Newton even trying to hurt the birdie upset me (LOL!  Jen assured me the 'keep missing you' sentiment meant that Newton DIDN'T catch the birdie, LOL!), so this one little birdie just spoke to me and I decide to let him & his balloon take center stage in this CAS card:

I added some glossy accents to the balloon and a twine string for a little pop & touch of texture.  

Would you like to win 'Newton's Birthday Flutter'?
This set will be given away to one lucky winner!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, March 19th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, March 20th.

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Kimberly Rendino 
Yukari Yoshioka
Wanda Guess (Guest Designer)

Jess is the next stop on the hop - I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs October Release - Day 4

Welcome back to the fourth day of Newton's Nook Designs October Release. Haven't the sets been AMAZING?!!  The awesomeness continues today with everyone's favorite kitty making his Christmas debut with 'Newton's Curious Christmas':

SOOOO many cute images in this set!  I was really drawn to the one with Santa's sleigh so I used it to make this card:

I tried to brayer the background, but after the mask moved on two different attempts I got tired of wasting paper and decided to create the background with lots of sponging instead.  With Newton & the moon masked I sponged Tempting Turquoise - Pacific Point - Brilliant Blue - Eggplant Envy - Night of Navy to create the sky.  Then I masked the sky and sponged So Saffron and Summer Sun to create the moonglow.  Then I cut several thin strips of Really Rust and punched them with a scalloped border punch and aligned them up to make the roof shingles (that was rather tricky, LOL).  And lastly I colored Newton with Copic markers in his signature ginger hues and cut him out and paper pieced him on the roof (I wanted his tail to stick out).   

Then I got playful and created this card in conjunction with Tuesday's 'Holiday Hounds' set:

Hee hee hee!  The happy-go-lucky dachshund 'innocently' marking the poor snowman with Newton peering from behind to witness the event and wonder if his doxie friend will make the 'Nice List' (hee hee hee I amuse myself!)  The snowman is completely covered in iridescent glitter (SOOOO sparkly in real life!) and his earmuffs are topped with red flock.  This was a fun card to make and I hope I didn't offend anyone with my quirky sense of humor.  :)

Challenge Entered:

The Glory of Christmas Challenge 44: Snowmen on a Christmas Card
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Snowman Fun

Would you like to win 'Newton's Curious Christmas'?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs listed below.  Make sure you check out each blog and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog will be chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Friday, October 17th at 9 pm Central Daylight Time to comment -- winners will be announced on the NND blog on Saturday, October 18th.

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Heather Hoffman (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog to see what I created for you.  I really do enjoy doing it.  Next stop on the hop is Shellye McDaniel I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see - Enjoy!  Happy Hopping!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs October Release - Day 3

Welcome back for day three of Newton's Nook Designs' October Reveal.  Today we introduce a set I loooooooove that you can personalize to fit your family - even your furry family members!  YESSS!!!  Introducing 'Flaky Family':

You see there is a snow PUPPY and a snow KITTY right?  I KNOW!!!  EEEEEEE!!!!!!!  My heart skipped when I saw this set!  And Jen included so many cute winter accessories to dress them up with too!

I made this card, which I think is going to be the holiday card we send out this year, which represents my little family:

I stamped each snow family member separately, masking for the hats, cut them out and laid them on the snow drifts individually to get just the huddled together look I was hoping for.  I can't tell if it shows up in the photo, but I outlined the stitched snow banks & snow family members with a Quickie glue pen and sprinkled some iridescent glitter on top.  I felt like the project needed a little pop of red so I recruited the little Birdies from Winged Wishes, stamped them in red, paper-pieced them onto the background (it is from last year's Recollections 6x6 stack from Michaels) and added some red glitter to their bellies.  If I may say so, I really do love this card, and I love Jen for creating this set for us.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - the large snowman is perfect for those Tic Tac holders I love to make too (I bet other snow family members would work fine as well)

So there you have it:

A cute little duo, no?

Challenge Entered:

The Glory of Christmas Challenge 44: snowman on a Christmas card
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Snowman Fun

Would you like to win 'Flaky Family'?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs listed below.  Make sure you check out each blog and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog will be chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Friday, October 17th at 9 pm Central Daylight Time to comment -- winners will be announced on the NND blog on Saturday, October 18th.

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Heather Hoffman (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog to see what I created for you.  I really do enjoy doing it.  Next stop on the hop is Shellye McDaniel I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see - Enjoy!  Happy Hopping!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Apple Delights Keurig k-cup Holder with Newton's Nook Designs

Hello!  With the lovely autumn weather arriving I have been craving all kinds of apples products - including cider, especially since Newton's Nook Designs' 'Apple Delights' set came out recently:

I have seen lots of folks make these cute Keurig k-cup holders as gifts so I figured I would try my hand at it when I spied this at the grocery store:

I figured it was a sign.  I am not a coffee drinker (I know, 'GASP!' right?) but I am all over hot cider, tea and hot cocoa).  I actually decided make two holders and attach them back-to-back (I found the symmetry visually appealing).  To make a double k-cup holder, you will need the following supplies:

• Newton's Nook Designs' 'Apple Delights' stamp set 
• two slices of 7" by 10" cardstock for the base
• four slices of 1 3/4" x 3 3/4" patterned paper for the four sides
• two slices of  1 1/4" x 3 3/4" patterned paper (if you wish to decorate the handles)
• 1 3/4" circle punch
• oval punch for handle
• Memento Tuxedo Black inkpad
• Copic Markers of choice (I used R24, R27 & R29 for the apple)
• stylus or something to score with
• scissors
• scrappy tape or super sticky tape adhesive
• k-cups
• other embellishments as desired

First you take the 7"x10" piece of cardstock and holding it with the 7" side across, score 1 1/2" from each side, leaving you a 4" space in the middle.  Then turn the cardstock 90 degrees so that the 10" side is horizontal and score at 1/2", 2 1/2", 4 1/2" and 6 1/2".  Cut each of these scores to where they intersect with the 1 1/2" score lines in the other direction and cut out sections at the the four corners entirely, like this:

(I think you can click on the above picture for a larger image if this is difficult for you to read).  The solid lines indicate a cut and dotted lines indicate scoring.  Once everything is scored and cut and the corners are removed it should look like this:

The holes are punched in the center rectangle above that thin 1/2" strip.  I punched a few 1 3/4" circles from a piece of scrap paper to help me determine where I wanted to position the holes and made tiny markings to help facilitate punching in the correct location, then punched them out:

Remember - the above steps need to be repeated for each of the two cardstock bases when making a double holder.  Next, I punched a scrap piece of paper in an oval shape as well to help me determine where I wanted the handle to be placed (the horizontal line helped me make sure the oval wasn't crooked):

Since I am making a double holder I matched up the handle I just punched with the second piece of 7" x 10" piece of cardstock and traced the hole where the handle was so they line up when they were attached back to back at the end:

After that I attached the patterned paper slices to the fronts and handles of each of the holders (it is easier to do when you are working with flat pieces of cardstock, before adhering all the flaps):

Next, use your scrappy tape or another adhesive to assemble each holder - the little 1/2" flap will be folded onto the base under the handle, and it should look like this:

Attach these two holders back to back, and adhere the remaining two slices of 1 3/4" x 3 3/4" patterned paper to the two sides:

Then all you have left to do is embellish it as you choose and fill it with k-cups!  VOILA!

I'd like to thank my friends Lori and Diane who inspired me with their creations.  I hope mine will inspire you to make one of your own!  If you do, I hope you will come back with a link to show me.

Additional Challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Fall (did you know Simon Says Stamp also carries Newton's Nook Designs?  They do!!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs ~ Inky Paws Challenge #14

Hello everyone!  It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge from Newton's Nook Designs!  This time Jennifer decided upon a color challenge:

I used Wagon of Wishes and Winged Wishes to create this card using these colors:

I wanted to just reach out and cuddle the little kitty in the inspiration picture, so I made sure to color the kitten on my card in grey hues with my Copic markers.  I thought it would look pretty if the pretty little birdies were holding up a sentiment banner over him.  The green gingham patterned paper is from the 'Pumpkin Patch' stack by American Crafts and I paired it with some DCWV glittered yellow paper and Stampin' Up!'s Pumpkin Pie which was punched with a cool pumpkin border punch by EK Success that I found for an amazing price at Marshalls last year.  The maple leaves bling is by the paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.

Additional Challenge:

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: anything goes (did you know Simon Says Stamp sells Newton's Nook Designs images too?  Pretty cool huh?)

Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my card.  Make sure to stop by the Newton's Nook Designs' blog and see more inspirational samples from my talented teammates.  I hope you will play along with us!  If you do, you have a chance to win a gift certificate to Newton's Nook Designs - isn't that awesome?!!   Newton's Nook Designs images are required but Jen generously provided some freebies on the blog that you can print out so you can play along too, so please -- join us!  I can't wait to see what you create!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs June Release - Day 1

Hello Friends & Followers!  Time for another great release from Newton's Nook Designs, WOO HOO!  Today we are previewing 'Chicken Scratches' a fun country set with lots of cute chicks:

I wanted to emboss that chicken wire pattern in silver EP but all my EP was already packed up for our move (which we will be in the middle of by the time you read this) so I opted for a CAS style card with a Mama hen and her brood of baby chicks:

(kinda reminded me of the Partridge Family - you have 'Come On Get Hap-py' playing in your head now, don't you?)  If I could make this card again I would have offset the last little chick who is looking down at the ground a bit more, so it looked like it was lagging behind.

Would you like to win 'Chicken Scratches'?
This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, June 19th at 9 pm Central Daylight Time to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, June 20th. 

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Christine Drogt
Samantha Mann
Larissa Heskett
Crafty Math-Chick (<-- you are here)
Danielle Pandeline
Valerie Ward
Tessa Wise
Ria Montefalcon  - Guest Designer
Donna Idlet  - Guest Designer

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have fun hopping to Danielle's blog, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Some Odd Girl August Sketch Challenge (and Taco update)

Hello my friends & followers!  I wanted to get my entry in for Some Odd Girl's August Sketch Challenge before the window of opportunity was completely closed.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my card using SURPRISE! - SOG's Preppy Pups set along with SURPRISE! - My Mind's Eye 'Sunshine' paper collection in my favorite color combination: sky blue & chocolate brown - I used to think this color combo. 
looked funny, but after seeing it plastered all over the campus of my alma mater for four years it kind of grew on me and since undergrad was such a positive experience those warm, fuzzy feelings probably seeped into that color combination as well - I am always drawn to it when I see it in products in stores.  I used Copic colors E74, E77 & E79 to color in the adorable pup.  I am going to start needing refills in my E-family soon with all the pups I color, LOL!  

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  I am also entering this card in the following additional challenges:

• Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge - Favorite Color Combination (sky blue & chocolate brown), 
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Dotty (the light blue paper from MME's 'Sunshine' stack has tiny white dots on it - see?), 
• Tuesday Throwdown - School Colors (my undergrad colors were sky blue & chocolate brown - I used to think my school's benefactors were color blind freshman year until the colors grew on me, LOL), 
• C is for... Challenge - Animals,
• The Crafty Bloggers Network - my favorite things (would I name my blog 'Canines and Card Designs' if dogs weren't among my favorite things?  This is my favorite color combination too),
• The Crazy Challenge - Animals, and
• Inky Impressions Challenge - Animals.  

     I've had some folks inquire about how Taco Papacito is going (for the original story, please see this post). Thankfully, he has found a foster family (even if it isn't mine, sniff sniff!) so he at least isn't living at the vet's office anymore.  I am waiting for more information on the cost of his eye surgery so I will know how much needs to be raised and have already had a BUNCH of really sweet ladies representing several stamping companies step up and offer to help with a blog hop and crafty goodies for blog candy - so please keep checking back!  And a HUGE thank you to those who have already donated (since Taco is now at a foster, it is probably easier to donate to Jansen's Animal Hospital directly if you are interested in helping out - just ask your donation be put toward Taco Papacito's bill for neutering, shots, and boarding fees).  Thanks so much for your concern and support of this sweet little dog trying so hard for a second chance at a happy life!
~ Crafty Math Chick