Thanking the Hostess

     It's been several years since I played hostess over the holidays, due mainly to the fact that my kids and their families all lived so far away from me.  It was easier for me, as just one person, to travel to their homes over the holidays than for all of them to pack up kids, pets and packages, and come home.  So, I've become pretty good at doing Thank You cards for the hostess.

     When my DT duties at 613 Avenue Create called for a Thank You card for a hostess, I jumped right on that one!  Our wonderful sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps and they provided images for the team to use.  I used one called "FANSB Thanksgiving."  That stands for Fancy Sunbonnet, and she's always a favorite of mine.       :-D

I chose the sketch from the Wednesday challenge at The Outlawz

and the colors came from the Tuesday challenge at The Outlawz.

  

     I colored Fancy Sunbonnet with ProMarkers, then die cut her using one of my favorite frame dies from Spellbinders.  I matted that with charcoal CS.  I found gold CS to match her dress and layered a square of it onto the dark brown card base, after adding the two bits of lace ribbon to it.  I put just a touch of Stickles in each corner of the frame and the lace has its own glittery sparkle.

     The flower is hand made by piling up punched layers of flower petals, adding a metal flower charm to the center and using glitter on the largest layer of petals.  The swirl is done with Stickles Ice, then I added pearls to it.  I put one final pearl in the upper corner.  The sparkle and shine don't show as well in the photo but IRL, it will just knock your socks off!

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs -- Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons -- Autumn colors
Crafty Creations -- Autumn colors
Cuttlebug Mania -- Autumn
Divas by Design -- Use a Digi
Everybody Art -- Autumn
I {heart} ProMarkers -- All That Glitters
Inky Impressions -- Dies & punches
Just Inspirational -- Glitter
Moving Along with the Times -- Pearly, swirly, girly
Nutcrafters -- Autumn Splendor
Penny's Paper Crafty -- Lots of layers
Ribbon Carousel -- Holidays/celebrations
Top Tip Tuesday -- Seasons

     Well, I hope we're going to see you playing along at 613 Avenue Create this week.  Remember, our challenges are always "Anything Goes" but you can use the optional weekly twist if you like.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Room for Rent?

     I was so tickled when I saw this image in the store at Rick St. Dennis!  If you've never had the opportunity to visit the coastal country of Big Sur in California, you've not only missed some gorgeous country, but have missed out on some of the quirkiest, neatest, toes-to-the-earth-and-head-in-the-clouds, artistic people in the world.  :-D  This "Big Sur Outhouse" image sums it all up!  Only in Big Sur would you have an outhouse that looks like a school with a belfry on top!  Hmmm, come to think of it, I remember an outhouse at a back woods school in Montana that looked a lot like this one.  :-D

     Today starts a new challenge at 613 Avenue Create and Rick St. Dennis is one of our sponsors.  The other one this week is Sassy Studios.  We always have an 'Anything Goes' theme, and a twist.  The twist this week is very simple.  Just use a sentiment.  Mine just adds some humor to this wonderful image.

I used a sketch from Papertake Weekly

and my colors came from the inspiration photo

at Just Inspirational.

 

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and pencils, then die cut the image with a rectangle die and rounded the corners with a punch.  The brown CS (a scrap) is embossed with a folder and, again, I used a punch on the corners.  The flowery dp is also a left over scrap.  I inked the edges of everything with distress ink straight from the pad.

     The ribbon is one of those "What was I thinking?!" purchases that we crafters sometimes do.  Don't get me wrong, I love the ribbon!  But when I bought it, I just knew I'd use it on everything so I bought a 30-yard spool of it which was on clearance at 75% off.  But 30 yards??!!  OMG!   And this is the first time I've ever used it.  Sigh.  Of course, it did get hidden in a drawer and I only located it a week ago during a reorganizing campaign.  :-D  Maybe you'll be seeing it on lots of projects now.  I also shared some of it with a friend of mine so maybe you'll see it on some of her projects, too.

     Challenges:
Crafty Catz -- Pastel colors
Just Add Ink -- Masculine cards
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday -- School (see paragraph 1)
Nutcrafters -- Summer Sunshine Fun
Party Time Tuesdays -- Anything goes
Shelly's Images -- Use your scraps
Sister Act -- Anything goes
The Male Room -- Anything masculine goes

     Well, August is here, the last of the hot summer months.  I have no idea where the earlier part of the year has gone but I know the years are moving faster and faster all the time.  Many kids are returning to school this month, and harvest season is nearly upon us.  Soon I'll be picking the garden clean and eating the last of the fresh vegetables.  Since I'm moving away from here in the next couple of months, it is probably my last summer garden.  A sad thought.  But fewer garden chores means more crafting time so there's always a silver lining.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Wedding Card

     New challenge today at 613 Avenue Create and we're sponsored by the generous and wonderful Paper Shelter!  I am growing my collection of their adorable images and having one more added is a pleasure.  Our theme this week (in addition to the Anything Goes which is always our theme) is "Congratulations" -- any event for which you might wish someone congratulations; wedding, anniversary, new baby, graduation, promotion or new job, ... you get the idea.  I used the "Wedding Couple" image from Paper Shelter.

     The image is cut with a "Fleur de lis" die from Spellbinders and the sentiment was computer printed and then cut with the same die.  For the sentiment, I just cut the top and then shifted the position of the die to the bottom.  That set is all squares and none of them fit the shape of the sentiment so I did some adjusting.  I think the cut is rather interesting.

     I added glitter ink to her gown and veil, pearls to the corners of the fancy die cut, and a bow I made using silver ribbon and a silver bead "pearl."  Although the background looks dark gray, it actually is a light bronze to match the shading in her gown.  But it has a metallic shimmer to it at certain angles and photographing it was a real chore.  Consequently, it looks dark gray in the photo, which is OK because that matches up with his tuxedo.  I've had that paper in my stash forever and still have 3 more sheets of it.  It's taken me that long to decide how to use it.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge -- "O" is for Open
Aud Sentiments -- Anything goes
Bearly Mine -- Dies or punches
Catch the Bug -- Going to the Chapel
Crafting for all Seasons -- Wedding/anniversary
Emergency Crafters -- Pomp & Ceremony
Eureka Stamps -- Wedding
Oldie but a Goodie -- Wedding
Sassy Studio Designs -- June Bride
Shopping Our Stash -- No patterned paper

     I really hope this posts.  I'm having some intermittent problems with my internet connection but I don't know if that's affecting Blogger in any way.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and come play with us at 613 Avenue Create.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Mother's Day with a Lavender Lady

     I want to start by wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating today, either as mothers or as daughters.

     A couple of days ago I shared a Gibson Girl image with you and today I've used another similar image but this time it's a digital image and it's by the sponsor of our latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create, Rick St. Dennis.  This image is called 1935 Hat.  Isn't she just marvelous?
   
     This week, we'd love to see you do shaped cards.  Of course, our challenges are always "Anything Goes" but we always have an option, too.  So, do a shaped card, or come play along with just the "Anything Goes" -- we want to be inspired by your creativity.

     I used a brand new Grand Caliber die set from Spellbinders to cut the card shape from heavy duty CS, folded it in half, and then layered on another die cut of the same shape but one size smaller.  The smaller shape is embossed with a "Linen" embossing folder, and both layers are embossed around the fancy edge.  I bought this die set, the first for my Grand Caliber, specifically because I thought it would make really great shaped cards.  I was right, wasn't I?  Rather different from the usual round or oval or scalloped-something card, wouldn't you say?

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then die cut it, and inked the edges before adhering it to the card front.  The flower embellishment in made by layering together silk petals, silk ribbon, and then a large, mulberry paper rose.  The ribbon was recycled from an old gift bag on which it served as the handle.  

     Challenges:
As You Like It -- Favorite die or punch
Crafting for All Seasons -- Monochromatic
Crafty Creations -- Something old (ribbon), Something new (dies)
Crafty Ribbons -- No designer paper
Divas by Design -- Anything goes
Hanna & Friends -- Mother's Day
Live and Love Crafts -- 50 Shades of ... Lilac
Little Red Wagon -- All about Mom
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Die cuts/punches
Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     By the time you see this, I'll be starting my last day at the coast with my daughter and three of my grandkids.  We're going to take a leisurely drive home, winding our way through some of the coast redwoods, and then through some of the most beautiful wine country anywhere in the world.  I have my camera so if I get some really magnificent shots, I may share them with you this upcoming week.  That will mostly depend on how the weather was.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New DT Member at 613 Avenue Create

     I'm so excited that I get to announce a new DT position I have with 613 Avenue Create.  What a wonderful group of ladies over there.  Some of them I already know and share other teams with them, and others are new to me but they are all so full of inspiration and encouragement.  Thanks for inviting me, Kathi and Chana!

     A new challenge goes up every Sunday morning and this week we have a sketch for you.  I love this sketch and stayed pretty close to it, though I have learned that sometimes interpreting sketches not quite so literally is also OK.  ;-D  Our sponsor is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps, a company I simply adore, and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I happened to use one I already had in my collection (I have tons of Bugaboos!), called "Ava Swing."  I don't know who's more adorable, Ava or her kitten.

Here's the sketch, drawn by Kathi.

  

     I took my colors from Ooh La La where the challenge is to use 'Orange and Green.'  This time my image is colored completely with Promarkers, then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The lacy mat is also made with a die from Spellbinders.  Can you believe that all the papers and card stock on this card were cut from stuff in my scrap pile?  I'm on a mission to get scraps used up and to actually throw out the pieces which truly are too small for any effective purpose.  I've managed to get myself into that "only-4-square-inches-of-working-space" on my desktop again so I need a remedy.  lol

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Anything goes
Creative Creations -- Spring
Cupcake Craft -- Cats or dogs
Forever Friends Biweekly -- Die cuts &/or punches
Marker POP -- Anything goes
Mema's Crafts Monday -- Anything goes
Pink Elephant -- Spring colors
Sarah Hurley -- Projects with Character
Stamp and Create -- At least 1 die cut

     So, if you've never played at 613 Avenue Create, why not come join in.  If you have played there before, you'll love this week's challenge.  It's a fun and fanciful sketch and you can be as literal or as interpretive as you like, as long as we can see the basic sketch in there somewhere.  :-D  Hope to see you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie