Celebrate with Selfies

     This all started yesterday when I read the newest challenge title at Double Trouble, which said "Say Cheese."  I immediately thought about family reunion photos and selfies where everyone has to 'say cheese' to get a proper smile on their face.  I ran to my file of printed images, found the one from LeAnn's World for their progressive challenge because it has this fun couple celebrating and taking selfies.

     As it turns out, the 'cheese' was in honor of National Cheese Day and one of the options was to do something with your favorite cheesy food - sorry, no cheesy food at this party.  But the other option was show something which "makes you smile" and for me that would be parties and friends (and making cards.)

     Double Trouble is also partnering with Atlantic Hearts Sketch for the next 2 weeks (with a different sketch each week) so I chose this week's sketch and used it.

   

                             Colors came from House that Stamps Built

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & Sentiment cut with Unbranded dies
Blue CS cut with Memory Box dies
Both blue and orange CS embossed w/ Linen EF
Butterfly is machine embroidered

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Colouring in Scrapland
Double D
Pammies Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land

     This is my first post today and I'll have a second one in a couple more hours so be sure to stop back and check out that one, too.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Hot Cocoa Weather

     When the weather is nasty and the wind is howling, it's time to bring in the fur babies, make hot cocoa, and snuggle up on the couch, leaving the freezing cold outside where it belongs.  This darling image from A Day for Daisies reminded me of "hot cocoa evenings" from my childhood.  How could I resist making a card?

     I started with the sketch from Atlantic Hearts, flipped side to side,

and used the colors from Inspired by Stamping.

  

     The image and sentiment are both printed right onto the card front because I wanted a really CAS card.  I colored with my ProMarkers, added a spatter of glitter to the pompom on her cap, and inked the edges.  I sponged around the borders with an ink pad.  This card was the first done in colors that allowed me to use my brand new velvet ribbon that I got for Christmas.  I'm so crazy about that ribbon and I got it in three different shades of pink.  This one is the darkest and, yes, it's just as soft and scrumptious as it looks!  

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Snowflakes Promise

ArtbyMiran

Brown Sugar
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Everybody-Art
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inspiration Destination
In the Pink

Jo's Scrap Shack
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Passion for ProMarkers

Really Reasonable Ribbon

     I'm really proud of myself for managing a post every day this past week.  I had a miserable bout of the flu last week and it's taking forever to shake it off.  I am up and about most of the day now but I did sneak off for a nap the last two days.  I still have no voice and I tire easily but I've gotten a lot done despite that.

     Be sure to stop by tomorrow.  After a four month break, Open-Minded Crafting Fun is back and I've rejoined the team!  We're going to have monthly challenges now, starting on the 10th of each month.  You won't want to miss our first January challenge, with multiple sponsors for more chances to win!!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It's for the Birds!

     Today we have a new challenge for you over at QKR Stampede and our theme this week is "Birds."  Any bird, flying, standing, strutting, dancing, drinking -- you get the idea.  QKR has a ton of fun bird images and, while you don't have to use a QKR Stampede image to play along in the challenge, if you do use one, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for those who use a QKR image.  That increases your chance of winning immensely!

     I chose to use "Farmer Crow, digi 24241."  Isn't he a hoot?  He's probably the only albino crow in the world.  Or maybe he's really a white leghorn rooster, pretending to be a crow?  :-D

I used this sketch from Atlantic Hearts.

     Albino or not, I had a lot of fun coloring this farmer bird with my Promarkers.  I die cut and matted him, then added a half-piece cut with a die one size larger, layered behind him.  I die cut the long oval and both of those papers are from SU.  For embellishment, I added the 'straw' and the bow.

     Edited to  add:  I've had so many comments about the "straw" embellishment that I guess I should have told the story behind it.  I thought a stick of hay would make a cute embellie but I didn't have any in my stash.   Not even a bit of crumpled raffia was hiding away.  So, necessity being the mother of invention...  I cut a strip of plastic bag, up near the handle where there were already folds, and then folded it over a couple of times lengthwise.  I adhered it (under the bow) to keep it from unfolding, then took a pair of scissors and snipped into each end to make it look frayed.  It actually looks more like straw in the photo than IRL but it's good enough.  :-D

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Cardz for Guyz
Crafting by Designs
Crafting for all Seasons (center column)
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafts Galore Encore
CCC Digi Creations
Deep Ocean
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greeting 
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you entering our challenge this week .  Show us one of your favorite bird images and give us some inspiration.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mushroom Fairy

     It's been a while since I had the free time to use a Delicious Doodles image but their challenge theme of "Myth or Magic" just inspired me so I grabbed this darling Mushroom Fairy and made a card.

I started with this sketch from Atlantic Hearts

and modified it for the size of my image.

     I colored with my yellow ProMarkers because I had done another card earlier using my yellow Copics and posted that I had better choices of yellows in my Copics collection.  But since I always reach for my ProMarkers first, I had to give them equal time.  :-D

     The satin ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and that was the last of it so it's time to order more.  I'm still practicing my CAS designing so I left off any other embellishments and yes, I do like this one.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Cardz 4 Guyz
Color Your World
Craft for the Craic
Craft Your Passion
Crafting with Friends
Creative Moments
Digitally Sweet
Little Miss Muffet
One Stitch at a Time
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Shabby Tea Room
Simply Papercraft
Through the Craft Room Door

     I'm off to harvest things from my garden.  Tomatoes are overwhelming me again, and carrots are ready plus yet another watermelon.  I think my strawberries are about done but there might be enough left to toss on a bowl of cereal.  I noticed yesterday that there were 2 zuchinis ready and they're going into a lunchtime salad today.  Enjoy your day and find some creative time this weekend.  Your soul needs it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie