Friday, November 28, 2014

Post It Note Cover

     It's been a long while since I did an "Anything But a Card" project but that's our theme at QKR Stampede this week so...  I made a cover for my Post It Notes tray.  This image is called "Write Soon" (Digi 12807) and it just seemed perfect for this.


And here it is with the cover open.


     The image is colored with ProMarkers, fussy cut, and adhered to black CS, cut to size for the cover.  Before I made the cover, the note tray was just open and had no cover.

     I picked these up at my local office supply store and will be giving away 2 more of them as little gifts.

     Challenges:

     I hope your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful and filled with family joys.  Our plans changed drastically when my wonderful SIL broke his leg -- a very serious break involving both the bones in his lower leg, high above the ankle.  Orthopedic surgeons refer to this as a classic "ski boot break" since it's common with skiers who tumble and the breaks take place above where their boots hold the foot and leg in a stable position. He had to have surgery on Wednesday afternoon to set both bones for proper healing.  He won't be able to walk for several days and then he'll be on crutches for many weeks after that.

     Since Thanksgiving dinner was planned for their house with about 12 or 13 people involved, we all had to change plans at more or less the last minute.  So, I have a whole roasted turkey with wild rice dressing, some pies, and a raspberry cheesecake still at my house which were originally planned for the Thanksgiving crowd.  :-D  Anyone want to show up and help me eat all that stuff or are you already sick of turkey and pies?  

     Come play with us in our challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Winter Sparkles at Christmas Time

     

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

     I have an announcement today which makes me very happy.  :-D  After more than three years of playing the various challenges at The Outlawz, I've been invited to be on the DT of the Twisted Thursday challenge over there.  

     Today is my first 'official' appearance sharing this card for the challenge.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we have an optional twist each week, too.  This week the twist is "Winter Sparkle for Christmas."  Our fantastic sponsor is Stitchy Bear.  They supplied images to the DT members but I used one which I already had in my own Stitchy Bear collection called "Winter Tree."  Even though it's an older image, it's one which lends itself to Christmas or even just winter cards.

     If you'd like to see the same image used by another DT which looks totally different, visit the Twisted Thursday challenge.  If you haven't joined The Outlawz yet, now is a great time to do so.  Joining is free and we have a different challenge every day plus they are adding a new Progressive Freebie challenge and you can get a new sponsor's image every challenge by signing up and then using it for an entry in the next challenge.


I have another close up photo and it's a much better view of all the sparkle.
It almost looks like Christmas lights, doesn't it?


     I colored the image with ProMarkers and then added a very thin layer of Stickles "Diamond."  I matted the image with various layers of dp and CS (all from the scrap bin) and finally added a dp from DCWV's Linen Closet stack, something I've had for nearly 2 years.  That all went on the card front.  I used dark blue cord, stamped the sentiment, and added the little blue snowflakes.

     Challenges:

     I hope you'll consider playing in our Twisted Thursday challenge this week.  What better time to do that than when you have a four-day weekend?  Yeah, right -- you'll all be out fighting the crowds for Christmas goodies, won't you?  Not me, I refuse to do the Black Friday thing!

     I don't fight crowds, I don't go anywhere near a department store or a big box store between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.  I do my Christmas shopping during the first 8 or 9 months of the year, grabbing things whenever I find something perfect for a particular person and I'm usually done in August.  Whatever may not have gotten done by then, I shop online.  :-D  Enjoy your holiday if you're in the US and have a wonderful weekend anyway if you're not.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friday, November 21, 2014

Kitten from Santa

     I was asked to make a card for a young girl who is getting a kitten from Santa this year.  It'll be her first pet now that she's old enough to care for an animal.  I looked through my images and found this one from QKR Stampede (Digi 7502 - "Sitting Pretty" + sentiment, Digi 14505 - "Hug") and since the new challenge starts today, it seemed a perfect card to use.  The theme at QKR is "Bling It On!"


     I colored the kitten with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a die from a Spellbinders'  set.  Die cutting images is one of my favorite techniques, which you undoubtedly know if you've visited my blog very often.  :-D  I matted that with dark red CS.  I added three, tiny, red gems in each of two corners,one larger one to the bow around the kitten's neck, and then added the pearl snowflakes to the bottom corner of the die cut and to the side of the card.  The red ribbon bow is one of those I sew together by the dozens with a pearl added.  I hope all those pearls still count as bling even though they don't sparkle like diamonds or gemstones.  :-D

     Challenges:

     Don't forget to come and play with us this week.  You can use any company's images to enter but if you use a QKR Stampede image, you'll be in a special separate drawing and that increases your chances of winning more than you can imagine!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friday, November 14, 2014

Feast Day

     I know by now you are all completely ready for Thanksgiving, right?  Pies baked, turkey bought and ready to thaw a day or two before, menu planned, good China and stemware washed and shiny, dust bunnies and cobwebs banished -- yeah, yeah, I know...  Well, this gobbler is ready and waiting!  He looks just like every man I've ever known, of whatever age, sitting at the table, waiting impatiently while the women are still slaving away in the kitchen.  :-D

     Friday means there's a new challenge at QKR Stampede and our theme this week is ""I'm Thankful for..."
My image is Digi 15904, "Thanksgiving Feast" and the sentiment is Digi 13815, "Happy Thanksgiving,"  both from QKR Stampede.  I'm thankful for family, food, and lots of other hands helping in the kitchen.


I based this design on the sketch at Sketchy Colors but reversed
so that the background is square and the image is round,
 and the sentiment piece is on the opposite side..



          The image is colored with ProMarkers and then die cut with a simple circle die from QuicKutz.   The doily is cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The rust CS behind the image and also framing the sentiment are salvaged scraps, as is the polka dot dp.  The ribbon and lace are from my stash, probably originally from a local scrap store.  The rose is from Recollections.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs
Come and Get It
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Delightful Challenges
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dragonfly Dreams
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Glitter 'n Sparkle
House That Stamps Built
Papertake Weekly
Party Time Tuesday
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Hands
That Craft Place

     Hey, folks, it's time for the weekend!  Get your crafting hats on and make something that pleases you.  Then go finish the pre-Thanksgiving chores which still need to be done.  Life's short -- eat dessert first!  :-D  NanaConnie

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Baby Bacchus Counts Blessings

     OK, another CAS card today using only a single layer and one ribbon for embellishment.  The image is by Rick St. Dennis, called "Baby Bacchus."  Isn't he fantastic?  He just looked like he should be on some kind of harvest card.  Since I lived for a long time in both of California's grape vineyard and wine country areas, I thought this would be a perfect California Thanksgiving card.  :-D


I took my colors from the challenge at
MFP Speedy TV -- Rust, Blue and Green

     I loved coloring this image!  It really lends itself to great shading and depth.  It's colored with ProMarkers.  The sentiment is done with a computer font and printed right onto the card front at the same time I printed the image.  I added the rust ribbon and tied a bow.  That was it!  Done in minutes.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Digistamps 4 Joy
Eureka Stamps
House That Stamps Built
Male Room
Outlaws Greeting Cards
Paper Shelter
Through the Purple Haze

     That's it for today.  Hope your weekend is going well and that you have some wonderful "Me" time.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friday, November 7, 2014

Hanging the Star

     I'm so tickled to be able to share with you yet another challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme this week is "Let's Think Christmas."   Mostly I'm tickled with how well the coloring came together on this adorable "Hanging the Star" mouse.  OK, now, I want to hear everyone break out into a chorus of "Deck the Halls."  It's my favorite Christmas carol.  :-D


I based this on the sketch at The Sweetest Thing.


     The image is colored with my always-the-first-to-reach-for ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with CS from my stash.  The sentiment, "Yuletide Treasures," is also from QKR Stampede and I die cut and matted it, as well.  The dp pieces are from DCWV and have been in my Christmas stash forever.  The ribbon I used for the bow was the last scrap I had, just enough to tie a bow.  My final touch was the three little pearls in the lower corner.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Card Crew
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
Incy Wincy
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Ppinkydolls
Quirky Crafts
Ribbon Girl
Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope your week has gone well and that you have wonderful plans for the weekend.  I hope you can find some time to make a card for our challenge at QKR Stampede while you're at it.  Remember, you're not required to use an image from QKR to enter, but you certainly increase your chances of winning if you do since we have a separate drawing just for those who use QKR images.  Good luck if you do come and play.

     Has "Deck the Halls" stopped running through your head yet?  No?  Catchy, isn't it.   :-D

Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie