Buzzing Around the Thistle

      New challenge day at Creative Knockouts and our theme this week is "Flower Power."  We are sponsored by Sheepski Designs and the image I chose to use is called "Buzzing."  

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and added some Wink of Stella to the wings, although it doesn't show in the photo.  The blue frame was cut with 2 rectangle dies from QuicKutz, one set inside the other, then dry embossed using my "Linen" EF.  The frame was applied on top of the image.  I decided I wanted a very CAS card design and once I had the image framed, I liked the effect and the simplicity.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Moments

Dies R Us

Double Trouble

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Entertaining the Bunny & Bird

      It's time for a new challenge at Creative Knockouts and this week we have everyone's favorite "Anything Goes" for you to use as the theme.  Our wonderfully generous sponsor is KLM Designs.  Unfortunately, I just found out that the image I used, "Reading Gnome," is no longer available in the Etsy store.  :-(  But there are so many darling images over there that you could browse all day and fall in love with at least 50!  lol

     I merged the sentiment with the image before printing.  I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a Tonic Studios scalloped die.  I chose scrap bits of blue dp from the basket, using them for the background and the top corners.  I'm pretty sure they all came from a Recollections stack.  The bow was hand-tied using crinkle ribbon, also from the scrap basket.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Mod Squad

Outlawz PAM

Paper Dragonfly

Polkadoodles

Taylormadecards ...

Word Art Weds

     Hope to see you playing along this week.  You could win images from KLM Designs and I know you'll be thrilled with any of the designs.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower Moon

      It's time for a new challenge at Creative Knockouts!  Our theme this week is "Anything Goes" and we're sponsored by the fun and fanciful Mirtillamente.  They kindly supplied the DT with images to use and my choice was this delightful "FlowerMoon."  

     Colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Tutti Designs.  The 'chain' on the left was cut with a die from Your Next Stamp.  The card front was dry embossed with my 'Linen' EF.

This card was inspired by Sketch #225 at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Festive Fri

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD 

Word Art Weds

     We really would love to see you playing along in our challenge this time and, since it's Anything Goes, how can you resist?  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Talking to Flowers

      This sweet little lady (fairy? pixie?), who's talking to the "spring flower," is an adorable image from Star Stampz, who just happens to be our challenge sponsor this week at Creative Knockouts.  Our theme this time is "Spring is in the Air."  

     I loved working with this image.  It colored so beautifully.  I used my ProMarkers, then cut a frame using a Sue Wilson die.  In this case, it's the frame which was cut, not the image piece.  I used another Sue Wilson die to cut the frame around the sentiment, and used a QuicKutz oval die to cut the actual sentiment piece.  I do love using dies - clearly one of my favorite things to do!  

     I added a mulberry paper flower to the sentiment frame.  I went a little crazy earlier this week cutting and embossing flower petals from mulberry paper and turning out finished flowers.  I think I've used one on every card this week.  :-D

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Creative Inspirations

Outlawz SAR

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says ... & Show

Stamping Sensations

Star Stampz (cranberry CS)

We Love Stamping

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  "Spring" is such an easy theme this time of year when most of us are so tired of cold, rainy, snowy weather and are longing for those flowers to pop from the earth.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Luck o' the Irish

      Top o' the Mornin' to ya, as the Irish would say.  We're celebrating a new challenge this week at Creative Knockouts and our theme is "Sparkle and Shine."  We are sponsored by LeAnn's World and they generously supplied the two images used by the team.  I used "Luck of the Irish" which I reversed before printing.

     I used both colored pencils and ProMarkers to color the image, adding Stickles to make the sparkly elements.  The image was cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy, and the frame piece was cut with a QuicKutz die.  All of the papers are from a K & Co. stack.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  Finally, I sewed one of my signature bows using shiny, satin ribbon which I dyed gold with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

As You Like It (Definitely NOT interactive cards because the very idea of making them intimidates me!  Besides, I mail the majority of my cards and need them to be flat and simple.)

Colour Crazy

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Keepin' Warm

     Our next challenge has started at Creative Knockouts and our new theme is 2 or more Patterned Papers.  Our fun sponsor is Stamper's Delights and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  I chose "Chibi Freddie" which I think is an adorable image.  :-D

     I used water color pencils and gamsol, plus I did his skin and some highlights with ProMarkers.  The image was cut with a Dare 2B Artzy die.  My plaid dp is from a Recollections stack and my second dp is the frame around the sentiment (from that same stack.)  In the photo, the paper looks solid but it actually has a marble pattern to it.  The sentiment itself was cut with an Avery Elle die.  No fancy embellishments for this masculine card.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colour Crazy

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

We Love Stamping

Your Next Stamp

     We'd love to see you playing with us in this challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

A New Home

      A new, weekly challenge just started at Creative Knockouts and our theme is "Lots of Layers."  We're sponsored by Twinkle Lane Designs and they are offering a gift certificate as the prize.  You can go to their online shop and buy some really adorable images with it.  :-D

     They generously provided images for the DT to use and I chose "Toadstool Homes."  I am perfectly certain that gnomes and fairies must live in them.  I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the image & the frame with dies from QuicKutz.  Using dies to cut images and frames is probably my favorite card making technique.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners.  

     The sentiment circle was cut with a Dare 2B Artzy die.  The large bow was made with 1 inch wide, grosgrain ribbon.  Even though the card has 4 distinct layers of CS, plus the bow, I tried for a relatively CAS design to really showcase the image.

     Challenges:

4-Season

Allsorts

Clever Dexter

Die Cut Divas

Digi Choosday

LeAnn's World

Morgan's Art World

Passion for Markers

     Come and play in our challenge.  Layer up  card and enter it before the week runs out!  

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Best Seat in the House

      We have a new challenge starting today over at Creative Knockouts and we're sponsored by Pretty Cute.  They have some delightful stamps, both photopolymer and digital, and the prize this time is a gift certificate worth $15!  

     Our theme for this challenge is "Anything Goes" and I took advantage of that to make a card using die cuts and scraps to tell a story.  The cats were cut from black CS scraps with my newest dies from Poppy Stamps.  The sentiment was printed onto a CS scrap using a computer font.  I inked the edges of the CS, added the cats and the polka dot bowtie, then layered that piece onto scraps of lavender and lilac CS used to make the background.

     Challenges:

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     We're looking forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week, especially since it's an Anything Goes theme.  What do you have to lose?   Come play and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrating Snow Days !

      It's our first challenge of 2022 at Creative Knockouts and our theme this time is "Celebrations!"  I chose to celebrate every school child's winter wish, a "snow day" when all the schools close.  :-D  Growing up in southern California, I never got to experience snow days but if we'd had one, we would have really celebrated in a big way.

     Our sponsor is Pattie's Creations and, while she provided images for the DT to use, I decided to use the December freebie from Pattie's blog.  Such a cute pair of Winter Mittens shouldn't go unused.  :-D

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  I inked the edges of the frame.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Spellbinders die.  I chose 2 different glitter papers from Recollections for the diagonal-split background.  The sheer, glitter-spotted, wide ribbon was used to wrap around the card front and also to make the hand-tied bow.

I based this on Sketch #201 from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

    I really hope to see you playing along in our challenge this week.  Any kind of celebration will qualify for our theme.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spotlight Puppy

     It's time for you to check out the new weekly challenge at Creative Knockouts where we are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy and our theme is "Winter Wonderland."  I'm using a sponsor image from my own collection called Happy Puppy and it can be found in their Christmas coloring book.

     I know my card isn't filled with snow and ice but, for me, this image of the Christmas puppy brings back childhood memories of the Christmas when I got a puppy and that was all I needed to make the whole living room a 'wonderland' !  My dad had to sleep with the puppy the night before to keep him from whining all night and possibly waking up two, not-so-sleepy, kids who were waiting for Santa.  I think for the puppy that night in a new (and strange) house had the effect of imprinting my dad into the puppy's mind as the human who "rescued" him because he really was my dad's dog from that point on.  Oh, I don't mean that he never came and played with me or slept on my bed, but Dad was always the favorite person for that little pooch.  We named him "Buster" and he had exactly these colors on him - brown body, dark ears and nose, and white feet/legs.  :-D 

     I did a spotlight technique with my coloring.  I printed the image twice, colored a section on one of them with my ProMarkers, cut the section with a round die from Tonic Studios, and layered it onto the black and white second printing of the same image.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  

     I matted both the image and the sentiment with red CS.  I sewed one of my signature bows but this time without any adornment (I usually add either a pearl or a sequin.)  The background dp was a scrap left over from another project I posted yesterday and it came from a Graphic 45 stack.

My card was inspired by the sketch at My Favorite Things,

but I flipped it top to bottom, turned it sideways, and used the area

with the three dots for my sentiment.

     Challenges:

Country View

Crafty Creations

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Inspirations

Dies R Us

Kerst Christmas

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

      We look forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Girl

      It's the start of a new challenge at Creative Knockouts and we have a fun & fabulous sponsor, Twinkle Lane Designs, who provided images for the DT to use.  My card features one called Autumn Girl and the sentiment comes with her.  This is an "Anything Goes" theme this time.

     This card actually is for Thanksgiving, the perfect day to celebrate the gorgeous fall colors in the foliage and all of the falling leaves, so it's also getting posted for the "F" day at the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.

      I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with as CUTplorations stitched die.  The sentiment was cut with a QuicKutz die the edges were inked, and I added it to the image piece.  All the papers and even the dry embossed CS pieces are just scraps from the basket.  It's amazing what can be done with little snippets of this and that, so I never throw anything away.  If I don't go through the baskets f scraps regularly, my crafting 'room' becomes 'no room anywhere' and then it's impossible to craft.  lol

     The tiny single leaf was included in the image set so I printed it onto a scrap of paper, trimmed it to size, and added it on the left side.   I hand-sewed one of my signature bows, adding a pearl this time.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

A Perfect Time ...

Art Impressions

Creative Moments

LeAnn's World

Pixie's Snippets

Stamplorations 

Taylormade ...

World Wide Open

     We really want to see you playing along in this challenge so get things lined up and come join us.  With an "Anything Goes" theme, you can't lose.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Wishes

      A new weekly challenge is starting over at Creative Knockouts today and our theme is "Lots of Layers."  Our sponsor is the wonderful Hetty Clare and I used an adorable image called "Macdoodle Dog."  

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations die.  I added shiny highlights on the balloons with a white gel pen.  Everything else on the card was made from scraps!  I cut 2 tags, one purple and the other yellow, then cut the sentiment out of the purple one with a Dove Craft die (a gift from a dear friend in the UK.  :-D)  I layered the yellow tag behind the purple one and, voila', a bright sentiment peeking through the dark purple!  

     The fancy frame around the whole card front was a leftover which had been cut with a Spellbinders die.  I added the image to it with part of the image behind the frame piece but with one corner peeking out.  I used a scrap of gingham ribbon to make a double layer bowtie and layered everything onto an aqua card base.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

Incy Wincy

Outlawz Tues

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Just put together any kind of design and, if you want, add some layers to it, then enter it into our challenge.  We love being inspired by you and you might win some of Hetty Clare's sweet image.  Go check out her Etsy store if you're not familiar with her art work.  You'll fall in love and then you'll definitely want to play in our challenge.  :-D

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

What a Magical Day is Halloween

      It's Thursday so it must be time for another challenge at Creative Knockouts!  Our theme is "Halloween" or just use the color combo of "Black/Purple/Orange."  Our sponsor this week is All Dressed Up and I've used an image called "Magical Day."  Isn't she adorable with her little kitten and her jack-o-lantern bucket?

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I matted the image with a circle cut with another die from that same set.  The starry paper scrap was cut with a Spellbinders die.  The Recollections border strip is glittery, but that's hard to see in the photo. 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

House...Stamps Built

Mod Squad

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play with us this week!  You can enter anything Halloween themed or with the color combo if you don't do Halloween cards.  Happy Crafting,  NanaConnie

Thankful

      So, another week has gone by, we're closer to the fall holidays, and another challenge has started at Creative Knockouts!   This week, our theme is "Thankful" and our fantastic sponsor is LeAnn's World 101.  I used a sweet image called "Rainy Walk" and out where I live we've had a terrible drought for more than two years now so I'd be really grateful for a bit of rain (or a lot of it!) :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz, as were the two sentiment phrases.  The background paper was water colored.  The pale orange, grosgrain, ribbon came from my stash and I added a flower sequin to the bow.  Pretty CAS design but that showcases the image.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

CCC Digi Creations

Clever Dexter

Country View

Crafter's Cafe

Dare 2B Artzy

Dies R Us

LeAnn's World

Lil Patch of ...

The Four Seasons

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  We love seeing what you create and you could win some really delightful digis from LeAnn's World.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snow Globe Mom

      A new challenge starts this morning at Creative Knockouts and we're sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps.  We have a fun TicTacToe board and I used both the Middle Row and the Right-hand Column.

     I started with the "Snowglobe Family" set from Jan's Digi Stamps.  I merged the Mother Snowman image into the Snow Globe, added the sentiment, and printed the whole thing.  I colored with my ProMarkers and white gel pen, then fussy cut the image.  I mounted the image on dimensional tape before adding it to the background.

     I made the background with a scrap of aqua CS which had been cut with a Memory Box die.  I added a wrap of Really Reasonable Ribbon and found the snowflakes in my Christmas embellishments box.

Inside sentiment, also from the JDS set -

     Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Christmas Crafts AYR (R for ribbon)

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Sentiments

Die Cut Divas

Digi Choosday

Kerst Christmas

LeAnn's World

Outlawz Festive Fri   

Three Room Studio

     Hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Daffodil Card

      A good Thursday morning to you!   It's time for a new challenge to start over at Creative Knockouts and our wonderful sponsor is Laurie Furnell Ink!   She supplied this darling image set for the DT to use and it's called "Little Girl."   It's a great set that has 5 different images and the one I used is called 'Daffodil Card.'  To see more of the images n the set, be sure to check out the rest of the DT projects.  Our theme is everybody's favorite - Anything Goes!

     I printed the image right onto my card front, colored it with my ProMarkers, and used a ruler to draw a black outline around the image so that it looked like a layered card when it actually is a single layer.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut, then inlaid into the space for it.  I added a touch of glitter to the wings on the bee and the sparkle IRL is marvelous!  :-D  It's a really CAS design which looks more complex.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

     Come play with us this week.  It's an Anything Goes week and you can use any image from any company.  If you win, you'll be thrilled with the Laurie Furnell prize, but you can't win if you don't play.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hard Days Knight

    We're starting a new weekly challenge over at Creative Knockouts and our theme this week is "Funny Cards."  Our fun sponsor is Dr. Digi and they provided images for the DT to use on our sample cards.  I used an mage called "Hard Days Knight" and I think the brief, one-word sentiment says it all.  :-D  You do need to look closely and check out the knight's lance.  The poor dragon can't even read his morning newspaper in peace.  I'm sure the knight was trying to impress a fair lady but I doubt he succeeded.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Gina Marie die.  I used my Linen EF on the blue, CS background and found a scrap of starry night dp in the basket.  The addition of sparkle twine was all the card needed to look finished.

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Colouring in Scrapland

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

House...Stamps Built

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     That's all for today.  Edited to add: I'm still suffering from the after effects of my second COVID vaccine (but marginally better - the nausea has stopped) so I'm squirreled away under the sheets for at least another day or two.  

     

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Don't Over-Shop!

      Doing anything for too long without taking a break can be harmful to your health and that includes "Retail Therapy!"  It's time for the start of a new weekly challenge over at Creative Knockouts and this week our theme is "All Stitched Up."  Add stitches; they can be real or faux.  Our fantastic sponsor is the most beloved Hetty Clare and she supplied images for the DT.  I chose "Ladies on a Seesaw" and this card is going to remind me (through an eye-level placement on the craft room door) that taking breaks is a wonderful thing.

     This image was such a perfect opportunity to make the entire card into a scene buy choosing papers which worked for both sky and ground.  I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers, then cutting it with a die from Cuts.  The die has stitching marks and I enhanced them by using a black gel pen on each stitch.

     Once colored, I chose papers from Recollections (green) and Lawn Fawn (blue) stacks which complimented the colors I used on the sky and ground in the image.  I added a wrap of aqua ribbon and tied a double-loop bow for the top of the card.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and the card was done!

     Challenges:

4 Season

Art Impressions

Crafter's Castle

Creative Inspirations

Cutie Pie

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Incy Wincy

Inspiration Station

Outlawz PAM

     Come play with us this week!  You could win a prize from Hetty Clare and we'd love to be inspired by what you make.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Light From Santa

      Another new challenge from Creative Knockouts is looming and the sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter!  They generously supplied the DT with this marvelous image set, called "Santa Leads the Way."  In case you can't tell, our theme is "Christmas in July" and it may be your last chance to do Christmas in July since the month ends on Saturday!  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.

     Please do come and play in our challenge this week.  We love being inspired by you and you could win a fantastic prize from The Paper Shelter!  See you there.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shipwrecked

      Our latest challenge is starting at Creative Knockouts, where our theme for this challenge is "Anything Goes" and we're sponsored by Star Stampz.  They were generous and supplied the images used by the DT for our inspiration projects.  I used a sweet stamp called "Shipwrecked" and I'm going to use the card as a subtle message to my son who lives out of state and who hasn't called his momma in a month!  There's a "Get Well" sentiment inside because he must be sick. lol

     I used ProMarkers and pencils to color the image, then cut it with a Sizzix scalloped circle die.  I cut another scalloped circle with a smaller die from that same set for the sentiment.  The card base is made with kraft CS, and I tied a double bow using baker's twine.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

Passion for Markers

Scribbles Designs

Star Stampz (layers/bow/sentiment + image)

World Wide ...

     That's all for today.  I've injured my wrist and it's in a brace which makes typing very difficult (one handed and for a 'touch typist' that's painful!)  Hope to see you playing along with us.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie