Newton's Nook Designs Farewell Post from Crafty Math Chick

Well my friends, they say all good things must come to an end, I am afraid my time as a Design Team member for Newton's Nook Designs has reached that end, at least for now.  Jen has been an AMAZING boss, always supportive and encouraging, and I will always be grateful to her for taking a chance on me.  And I could not have asked for sweeter, more talented Teamies every single term I was blessed to represent NND.  

Unfortunately, I have been faced with some new health concerns, which are also the primary reason I am not returning, and they prevented me from creating something new using Jen's adorable and beautiful designs today I am afraid.  SO I figured instead I would get nostalgic and take you an a trip down memory lane revisiting some of my favorite creations with Newton's Nook Designs stamps and dies.

The first time I ever saw little Newton kitty he drew me into his heart and I made this card for the very first Inky Paw Challenges before I was even a member of the Design Team using one of the first two sets I purchased, Newton's Antics:

And then this one for the same sketch challenge using the other set in my first NND order, Just Say Cheese:

I had so much fun creating my first waterfall card when Jen released NND's Love a la Carte:

I had so much fun creating this little three-dimensional birdhouse using NND's Tweet Talk:

I had fun using Just Say Cheese again to make this fun cheese-slice-shaped card:

I had fun playing with color when Jen released NND's Simply Sentimental with this CAS card ('I'm happy 'around you' - get it?):

did love how this card came out using NND's Spooky Street and lots of fun punches by Martha Stewart and EK Success, doesn't the background just glow?

I really like the elegant appearance of simplicity in Jen's quite ornate designs in NND's Beautiful Blizzard and loved this soft color combination:

I was SO excited when Jen illustrated Flaky Family and included a SNOW PUPPY and a SNOW KITTY in it - THANK YOU JEN!!

Canine Christmas continues to be one of my most favorite holiday sets (hel-LO - Jen included SO many breeds of cute DOGS - and you all know how much I LOVE dogs by now):

As does Newton's Holiday Mischief (my neighbors absolutely LOVED this card - I colored the kitty to look like theirs and had fun designed the front door):

NND's Sweet Summer set still continues to be my 'go-to' set for punny thank you cards like this one:

Fetching Friendship graduation card for our neighbor - I have found that the labrador could easily be turned into a beagle using the right Copic markers:

I have fun thinking out-of-the-box, sometimes my mind goes in unpredictable ways, as it did in this fun card I made when Jen introduced Mermaid Crossing (maybe because I am kind of thinking about Christmas ll year long, even though I am Jewish, LOL!).  The tree was created using a coral image from Tranquil Tides and the crab and fish were from SEAsonal Greetings:

There was just something about this CAS card made with NND's Fox Hollow set that I have always loved (maybe it was because it took me SO many tries to manually cut out the green continents so they looked authentic:

I was PSYCHED when Jen came out with NND's Splendid Stag dies - talk about awesome for masculine cards, which I actually enjoy making, like this rustic one of my favorites (the '#1 Dad' sentiment is from Winston's BBQ):

AS my little furbaby Ty is the sun of my solar system you KNOW I am going to LOVE any supplies that allow me to show him off, like this card using NND's Garden Starter Stamp Set and Garden Window die set (I SO wanted to order a ton of photos of Ty using Shutterfly and use holiday patterned papers and make THIS my holiday card this year!  Maybe next year, if I am lucky.  

Even my husband admits that this card using Newton's Boo-tiful Night was one of his favorites (and he is a tough critic of my work!)  It worked with the DP so perfectly:

A recent favorite used the newly released Serene Silhouettes Stamp and die sets - I love birch trees and all the ADORABLE woodland critters you can incorporate, and the fact that it coordinates with Whispering Pines is a bonus!)

Most recently, I created my birdseed bell ornament tag using NND's Holiday Tweets - this ranks with my most recent favorite as I just love our feathered friends and this beautiful set:

(Okay, so I had planned on sharing my top ten favorites... oops... guess I love Newton's Nook Designs WAAAAY too much to only stop at ten...  sorry for the lengthy post!  But I want Jen to know how much I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of NND, what an honor and pleasure it was to represent NND, to thank ALL Of my Teamies over the terms for all of their inspiration & friendship, and to thank you ALL for all of your kind comments.  I enjoyed reading every single one!  I would LOVE to know which of my cards (here or others I have posted in the past) were YOUR favorites!  It would really warm my heart this holiday season.  :)  PS - it irks me that none of the doxie sets that I love deeply were represented here, sniff sniff!!  

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a very happy & healthy 2017 with lots of crafty goodness to enjoy!  

Warmest Wishes,

Crafty Math Chick

Deck the Halls with Inky Paws 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2016 'Deck the Halls with Inky Paws' Blog Hop by Newton's Nook Designs!  This is when all of us on the Newton's Nook Designs Team, along with a few special guests, have some fun getting our paws inky and show off how much we LOVE NND and inspire you with some holiday themed creations.

Anyone who knows me is aware it is no secret how much I love dogs, so you know I had to feature one in my hop creation:

I used three different sets by Newton's Nook Designs to create this card for one of my doxie-loving friends.  The snow loving doxie, colored with my Copic markers (E07, E08 & E09) and accompanying sentiment are from NND's Holiday Hounds set.  The grateful-to-have-been-undetected bunnies, as well as the playful red birds, are from NND's new Serene Silhouettes set AND purr-fectly coordinating die set.  The snowy trees in the back are from NND's Whispering Pines set; I really love how the images from these two silhouette sets can be used interchangeably to create wintery scenes of all sorts with all the cute critters in Serene Silhouettes as well as the cute kitty & puppy (thanks Jeff!) silhouette images from Whispering Pines. (NOTE - if NND is out of a set  you are looking for - check Simon Says Stamp - they carry NND too!)

Deck the Halls with Inky Paws Sale! 

Newton's Nook Designs is also having a sale starting today! Spend $25 and get a mini tree tag stamp for free along with FREE shipping on US orders ($3.50 off international) Use code TREETAG to redeem this special! Free/Discounted Shipping is valid through Friday, December 16th. Free stamp is also valid through Friday, December 16th or while supplies last. 

Enter to Win! Deck the Halls with Inky Paws Hop Prizes! 

We will be choosing two lucky winners to win a $20 store credit for Newton's Nook Designs online shop! To enter, just leave comments on the Design Team Member and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the blog hop. 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, December 11th at 9 pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the NND blog on Monday, December 12th.

Newton's Nook Designs
Melody Rupple
Lynn Put
Ruby Naz
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Lydia Evans
Jess Gerstner
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick  (<-- you are here!!)
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Naki Rager
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka
Gladys Marcelino
Anika Lerche

I hope you have enjoyed my card and it inspired you.  Stephanie Muzzulin is the next stop on the Deck the Halls with Inky Paws Blog Hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Design's Inky Paws Challenge #38

Hello Everyone!  Time for another Inky Paws Challenge from Newton's Nook Designs!  This month Jen has picked out a fun & festive color challenge to inspire us for the Inky Paws Challenge #38  inspired by this lovely photograph:

Since I am WAY behind on my Christmas card stash for the upcoming holiday, I decided to go with a traditional Christmas card that was CAS yet elegant at the same time using NND's Beautiful Blizzard and Beautiful Baubles stamp sets:

I added some rhinestones and silver sequins here and there and VOILA!  Card complete!  It really is easy to make such pretty cards that are elegant AND mailing friendly with these sets (and that is SO important as the holiday nears closer and closer!).

Now, the question is what will YOU create with this color combination?  I can't wait to see and hope you will play along with us too because the Challenge winner will receive a $10 store credit to our online store and a Inky Paws Challenge Top Pick Badge to add to your blog! AND - If we get more than 15 participants, we will choose two winners so be sure to tell your friends to play along! 

You have TWO WEEKS to play along - until Friday, December 16th, 2016 at Midnight CST to enter. The winners will be announced on the NND blog.  Good luck!  And have a great weekend!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Using Newton's Nook Designs' Holiday Tweets to Embellish Birdseed Bells

Hello Everyone!  Today it is my turn to be featured on the Newton's Nook Designs' Blog - YAAY!  Today I decided to share an ornament/tag I originally tried to complete for Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tag Event (of which Newton's Nook Designs is a sponsor I might add) using NND's Holiday Tweets set:

I decided to create a pretty tag for a Birdseed bell that could easily be taken off and used as an ornament on your own tree after the birdseed bell is hung outside to feed our feathered friends.

I stamped the image and colored it with my Copic markers, punched it out and adhered it to a little nest I found at Michaels (which was tricky).  I attached some sparkly red berries which I cut from a Christmas pick I found on 80 or 90 percent clearance after Christmas (GREAT time to pick up photo props for the following year!).  I stamped the sentiments and attached them to one another using some twine (I liked the 'dangley' effect of it) and thread some holiday colored yarn through the opening on the top of the Kaytee Honeyseed bell.  Now all my neighbor, who is also a fan of birds and has multiple feeders around his yard as well, has to do is just untie the yarn at the top and tie it to the branch of his favorite tree and our little feathers friends are sure to appreciate the tasty meal (if the squirrels don't get to it first).  Then he can hang the nest tag on his own Christmas tree inside if he wants to, as an ornament!  I couldn't resist adding one of those birdies (my favorite is the Chickadee since it is the Massachusetts state bird, but I must admit, since goldfinches seem rare I do get pretty excited with I see little 'Yellow Fellow' as I call him at one of my many feeders.  Am I the only papercrafting birdwatcher out there?  Just curious.  Watching them fly about and eat and sing just brings me such joy.  I have to warn my neighbors every time we move that if they see me in the backyard with a pair of binoculars that I really am just looking at birds, LOL!  I hope they believe me, because it is the truth.  Got to see a cool close up of a downy woodpecker and a white throated sparrow with them!  In addition to my perceious chickadees and cardinals, which I am totally taking advantage of seeing while living in Virginia - it used to be such a rarity to see one, a BIG deal as a child, now it is like 'oh, another cardinal, now pretty' instead of 'LOOK!  LOOK! A CARDINAL!!'  LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate you taking the time to look at my work and appreciate every comment.  Have a great week!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Noook Designs' November Release ~ Serene Silhouettes

Welcome back to last day of Newton's Nook Designs' November Release - and this is going to delight you silhouette stamp lovers, and critter lovers like me!, with a set perfect not only for winter/holiday cards, but friendship and fun as well -- Introducing 'Serene Silhouettes'  and its purr-fectly coordinating dies:

Those of you who already own Whispering Pines will be happy to know the images in this set coordinate perfectly by scale!  WOO HOO!  Don't you love it when that happens?!!  I sure do!  Here is my card:

I just HAD to get the bunnies in there.  I really wanted to use ALL the cute critters in the set, but there just wasn't room on this A2 sized card (one that fits in a business envelope though....  hmmm...).  I just love the look of birch trees in the winter too, don't you?  I see so many possibilities for this set - and I love using that white pre-glittered paper as the snowy ground for them too.

Would you like to win the “Serene Silhouettes” 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 blogs (please see the list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release 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 Wednesday, November 23rd at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, November 24th. 

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

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

Stephanie Muzzulin is the next stop on the hop, I am sure she has created something special just for you!   Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you liked my card!  I hope all my friend who celebrate Thanksgiving have a happy one - I am grateful for ALL of you, and all of my wonderful NND Teammates, and The entire Jackson family as well.  I count you all in my blessings, this time of year and always!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs November Release ~ Fireside Friends & Sweater Weather

Welcome back for the second day of Newton's Nook Designs' November Release!  Today Jen has TWO fun sets to delight you!  I just adore the first set because it incorporates a PUP as well as two cute kittens all cuddling together in front of a cozy fire, which to me embodies the spirit of peace on Earth and good will towards mankind this time of year, though it is versatile and can be used year round, especially in states & countries up north where the winters begin a little earlier and last a little longer.  Introducing 'Fireside Friends':

It was SUPER fun to color too!

I wanted to give my card a more rustic feel, so I used a kraft cardstock base for this one layer card, and colored the adorable image with my trusty Copic markers and framed the sentiment with an EK Success punch and enhanced the country feel using NND's Pines & Holly die set.  It might not show up well in this photo, but I adhered some of Martha Stewart's rectangular shaped glitter in gold and copper to parts of the flames of the fire so it would really sparkle IRL.  

Our next set features several of Jen's signature critters modeling some of their most adorable sweaters and matching accessories (which I think provides a purr-fect opportunity to combine this set with NND's Tag Sampler set if you knit or crochet gifts for family or friends or sell them at craft fairs).  Feast your eyes upon NND's new 'Sweater Weather' and purr-fectly coordinating dies:

When I saw the mitten image I was instantly reminded of some Recollections patterned paper I had that matched so closely - so I used it and tried to match the color combination in my card:

The design that most closely resembled Jen's mittens image was pink & red so I used the kitty image, even though they are ALL adorable.  Since the kitty was wearing pink I gave her little eyelashes and have her holding her mittens (remember that nursery rhyme about 'the kittens who lost their mittens?'  LOL  Not this kitty!) with a piece of twine.  I had fun creating the background paper using the mitten & snowflake images as well.  Do you like creating your own background papers with smaller images in sets?  I do!  

Would you like to win the “Sweater Weather” or the "Fireside Friends” Stamp Set?
Today we will pick two lucky winners, one to win each set!

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (please see the list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release 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 Wednesday, November 23rd at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, November 24th. 

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

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

Stephanie Muzzulin is the next stop on the hop, I am sure she has created something special just for you!   Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you liked my cards!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs' November Release ~ Joyful Tags

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the first day of Newton's Nook Designs' November Release and today Jen has a set that will coordinate puur-fectly with her Tags Times Two Die set but looks great on cards too - introducing 'Joyful Tags':

Lately I have been loving the trend of black backgrounds for holiday themed cards and merchandise, so I incorporated that into my card using the 'Merry & Bright' tag design:

I added some die cut sprigs and a pine cone using NND's Pines & Holly die set as well as an accent and though the gold foil paper from American Crafts would really make the black stand out and I thought this was the PURRFECT opportunity to use some of my favorite tartan red plaid patterned paper!  I added an eyelet (anyone else still use their eyelets?  I still love 'em and enjoy using them on cards).  I threaded a wee bit of white & gold twine through it to complete the look.

Would you like to win the “Joyful Tags” 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 blogs (please see the list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release 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 Wednesday, November 23rd at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, November 24th. 

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

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

Stephanie Muzzulin is the next stop on the hop, I am sure she has created something special just for you!   Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you liked my card!

~ Crafty Math Chick

25 Tags of Christmas 2016 ~ Newton's Nook Designs

Welcome!  Today is the third day of the '25 Days of Christmas Tags Blog Hop' organized by Tracey McNeeley.  There are a lot of amazing sponsors who generously stepped up to sponsor this fun event to inspire you to get a head start on your holiday tags before the holiday chaos has set in (see below) but today Newton's Nook Designs' is the proud sponsor - WOO HOO!  Let's hear it for Jen & Jeff!

And here are the other amazingly kind sponsors too!

Impressive no?  For more information, stop by Tracey's blog.

I decided to make some tags to accompany the blankets and curly cat toys I crochet (and knit, but mostly crochet) for the dogs & cats at the local animal shelter so they will have something soft and warm under their paws to snuggle up to which often can help calm them or make them happy and increase their chances of being adopted!  (If any of you happen to be knitters or crocheters and are interested in some patterns or organizations you can get involved with, let me know!  I am always happy to share.)  So, without further ado here they are:

The tags, which were all created using NND's Tags Sampler stamp set and Tags Times Two die sets, are leaning against the doggie blankets and the red, white & green curly things on the sides are the curly cat toys - I found out about them from the nice lady who runs the 'Mats for Cats' group on Facebook - they are wicked easy to crochet and take only about 20 minutes each (when you aren't on pain meds anyway).  If you were hoping for close ups on the individual tags, you are in luck!

First, here is the puppy:

He is from NND's Flaky Family set.  I still remember how ecstatic I was when Jen revealed a snow puppy and snow kitty were included with this set!  I outlined him with loose glitter using a Quickie glue pen and added a few glittery embellies.  The 'Happy Howl-i-days' sentiment, the I LOOOOVE was stamped using Memento markers from NND's Canine Christmas set.  

For the middle tag I really just focused on using the elements in the Tags Sampler set because I was OVER THE MOON when Jen said she was including not only knitting in the set but crochet as well (THANK YOU JEN!  YOU ROCK!) The little die cut candy cane is from the recently released Ornamental Newton stamp and die set and the paw print shaped rhinestones were by The Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.

And lastly everyone's favorite kitty, in snowman form, also from Flaky Friends.  His sentiment is from Newton's Holiday Mischief stamp set.

I just LOVE how SO MANY of Newton's Nook Designs' stamp and die set coordinate with one another!  Don't you?  

Thanks so much for stopping by, I always appreciate your time, attention and kind comments.  Have a great day!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs' Inky Paws Challenge #37 ~ Cozy Plaids

Hello!  Today it is my turn to be featured on the Newton's Nook Blog - yaay!  I decided to play along with the current Inky paws Challenge - Cozy Plaids since I missed the deadline in my medicated state.

I REALLY LOVE plaids!  In fact, I have so many styles it took FOR-EV-VER to decide on one to use because I had already decided on the layout and that I wanted to make a masculine holiday card using the Splendid Stags die set and wanted to make sure the buck stood out.  So I settled on a subtle plaid and here is the final result:

I am pretty happy with it.  I decided to dress up the Handsome Hunter cardstock a bit so I stamped some snowflakes from NND's 'Fox Hollow' set (which I also LOVE), which is where the sentiment came from as well.

Hope you will play along with our Inky Paws Plaid challenge too - the deadline isn't until this Friday, November 4th at midnight CST.  You have a chance of winning a $10 credit to the Newton's Nook Designs Store and Jen will give away TWO store credits if there are more than 15 participants and at the time I am typing this up there are already 15 so yours could be the one to put them above the requirement! WOO HOO!  You MUST use a Newton's Nook Designs image though - don't have one yet?  Jen has some digital freebies you can print out and use HERE.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you had a safe & happy Halloween!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Desgins' October Release ~ Ornamental Newton, Festive Forest, & their Coordinating Dies

Welcome back to the final day of Newton's Nook Design's October Holiday Release.  And today Jen has outdone herself once again releasing not one, but TWO stamp sets - BOTH with purr-fectly coordinating dies!

The first will delight you Newton's lovers out there - please welcome 'Ornamental Newton' and his matching die set:

Isn't it sweet!  Look at those pawsies!!! AWWWWW!  I just wanna kiss 'em!  I envisioned Newton's & Hobbes creating a little mischief by swinging from some baubles hanging from a decorated mantle (using the previously debuted Pines & Holly die set) so I ran some deep red cardstock through my Cuttlebug with a brick embossing folder and created a little fire in the fireplace using the fire from NND's Campfire Tails set (which was a lot of fun to color with Copic markers BTW!):

Our second set offers oodles of styles of trees to use making festive holiday cards - introducing 'Festive Forest' and it's coordinating die set:

I really had so many ideas that I couldn't decide on just one, but when I found a stack of patterned paper that had foiled TREES in it I KNEW I wanted to use it!  However, after discovering the hard way that foil paper is difficult to stamp on I went with this CAS card instead, and just used the pretty patterned paper on the bottom and a glittery three dimentional star embellishment from Recollections instead, I hope you like it.  

Would you like to win the 'Ornamental Newton' or the 'Festive Forest' stamp set?

We will pick TWO WINNERS - one to win each stamp set!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and the Designs Team 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 27th at 9 pm CST to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, October 28th.  

Check out all these awesome Design Team below to enter: 

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

Stephanie Muzzulin is the next stop on the hop; I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see (she always does!).  Thanks so much for stopping by!  

~ Crafty Math Chick