Smile !

     Over the weekend, I was visiting the Playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop and found this post by Di, in which she describes the steps she took to get a perfect line up of striped paper die cuts and scraps.  I was so fascinated by her technique, I knew I had to try it.  Take the time to go and read her post. The bold words up above are a link which will take you directly there.  I'm not going to try to describe each step here when she's done such a great job of explaining the step-by-step.  Thanks, Di!!

     I woke up super early this morning and had empty time on my hands so I grabbed a patterned paper scrap (DCWV), some dies, and my Cuttlebug.  In under half an hour, this is what I had !

    I know the pattern in the paper triangles doesn't look straight but here's the scrap I cut and you can see the perfect way everything lines up when the pieces are laid into the background CS.

     Dies for cutting the triangles are from a set by Memory Box and the "Smile" die is from Penny Black.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Fingers
Dies R Us
Jo's Scrap Shack
Scrap from Your Heart
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Layered Easter Card

     I'm still working on all the Easter cards I need for next month and this one has a sweet image and sentiment combo which came from Limited Runs.

     Colored with chalks and cut with stitched dies from Die-namics by My Favorite Things.  The border cut was done with a Cheery Lynn die.  Papers are from  Doodlebug and DCWV.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Reindeer are Loose!

     It's Friday and we have a new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.   Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but I stayed with the Christmas theme I've been doing since the beginning of last month.  This time, I used an image from our sister brand, Eureka Stamps, and it's called "Jumping Reindeer ES3202."

     In order to get the sense of a team of Santa's reindeer, I used the image 3 times in a row.  I colored with ProMarkers and Copics, plus white gel ink.  I used a border die from Spellbinders to cut the image, then layered them onto polka dot paper from DCWV. 

     I wrapped that with red, grosgrain, ribbon and added a hand-sewn bow with a tiny button in  the middle.  I printed the silly sentiment because they do look like they ditched the sleigh and are off on a joyriding (joy flying?) trip without Santa.  :-D

     I used my "Linen" embossing folder on deep blue CS, then used that for the card front.  Simple, fun, and flat for mailing!

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Cute Card Thurs.
DL.ART
Double D
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  We do love being inspired by you!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"V" Day at Beccy's

     These last few alphabet letters really take some thinking but Beccy (30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place) does give us some great hints.  Going to her list for "V" inspirations, I chose Vintage, Vermilion, Violet, and Verdigris, then added Vine on my own because of the image I chose to use. 

     It's the "7 Swans a Swimming" image from Beccy's 12 Days of Christmas set, one I don't think I've used before.  Of course, that song is now in my head for the rest of the day!

     I colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image.  The coloring on the Vine round the swan's elegant neck is done with Violet (as is one of the tiny stripes in the plaid paper), Verdigris leaves, and Vermilion berries.  The dp, plus the ribbon and hand-tied bow, are Verdigris and the Vertical strip of dp is Vermilion.  I used a holly shank button on the bow (cutting off the shank before I applied it.)  The two poinsettia flowers are adhered with Pop Dots, giving some wonderful dimension.

     This year, I'm doing some Very special cards which will also be my gifts to those friends and this is one of them.  I have a friend who moved to Arizona last winter and she has collected swan figures and pictures for many years now.  I know she'll love this card! 

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Crafty Catz
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty
Frilly and Funky
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     That's it for today.  If you're traveling home after a Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends, be safe.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Waiting

     It's time for the next monthly challenge at World Wide Open Design Team and, as usual, we have an Anything Goes theme.  I used this sweet image from Julia Spiri called "Little Lori."  It wasn't designed to be a winter or Christmas image, but I used gel inks to add the snow and it made a perfect Christmas Eve image.  Can't you just feel Little Lori missing all those who are due to come for Christmas?

I was influenced by the sketch from My Favorite Things

but I flipped it a quarter turn so that my card would be horizontal instead of vertical

and moved the vertical bow off the image to the side.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used dies from Art Impressions to cut both the image and the frame.  I chose a pre-made card base from DCWV and the "Holly Jolly" design is printed right onto the card front.

     I went through my stash of Christmas ribbons, found two that were gold and glittery, used one to wrap the card front and the other to tie a double loop, double layer bow with the help of my Bow It All.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Fingers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Simon Says Stamp
Words to Craft By

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Off We Go

     Today, I'm thinking of holiday travels - both for Thanksgiving and for Christmas/ New Year.  They are all cold weather traveling and require taking lots of warm clothing layers instead of packing the Bermuda shorts and bikinis.  These two little mice from Sasayaki Glitter's Progressive Challenge have the right idea.  They even come bearing gifts!  :-D

I used most of the colors from Ike's World

missing only my favorite - purple.  The pink seemed 

a better fit for this little lady.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The background papers are from DCWV.  I sewed one of my favorite bows, dyed it royal blue, and added a glittery paper-punched bit to the center.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrappy Land
Unicorn
Word Art Weds.

     I'll have one more post today - yes, you guessed it - for Beccy's Place.  Be sure to stop by again in a couple of hours.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dance of the Snow People

     I'm finally getting my card for the November Outlawz Progressive Challenge posted.  The freebie this month is from Drawn by Krista and it is actually 2 separate images but called Snowman Couple.  I merged them together so they look like they're dancing in the snow.  This is another card made primarily from scraps which were already on the craft table.

I started with the sketch from the Outlawz.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers, Copics, and gel inks for highlights, then cut them with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Makers.  I matted them with a hexagon (QuicKutz die) cut from a dp scrap and I inked the edges with teal ink. 

     The cityscape paper is another scrap, this one from Doodlebug, and the turquoise strip was a scrap from my Christmas stash, probably DCWV.  The narrow, sparkly ribbon was in my basket of ribbon scraps.  The final touch was to tie a bow-tie bow from long scrap of lace and die it with an alcohol marker.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     I'll have a second post again today for the next in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  Check back later today to see it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"I" for Ice Cold

     This card will get me caught up in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place and it's Day 10 with the letter "I" as our prompt, not an easy one!  This adorable snowman from Beccy's Place can explain his own Icy blue coloring.  Just read the sentiment.  lol

     I colored the snowman with ProMarkers (Ice Blue, Cool Aqua, Ice Gray 2), then cut the image with a long, oval die from QuicKutz.  The larger, fancy oval was cut from Indigo CS with an Unbranded die.  The dp with the snowflakes and Icicles came from the DCWV "Winter Magic"stack.

     I layered everything onto an aqua card base, then added the Icy White, sparkly, ribbon and one of my signature, hand-sewn bows.  Finally, I printed and die cut the sentiment and added it at the bottom of the card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
That's Crafty

     That's all for today but I'll be back tomorrow.  I'm feeling better each day now and I should be back to normal by the beginning of the work week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 2

    This is my first of 2 posts today since I'm trying to get caught up on on the Cat Lovers Hop so that I can enter each day between now and Friday.  I did one yesterday for Day 1 but Wednesday is actually Day 3 so this one is for Tuesday.

I was inspired by the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

I turned it a quarter turn to better fit my image.

    It's a really quick post with only the most basic information:  Framing dies from Tonic Studios and CUTplorations.  Butterfly die cuts are out of a large circle die from Spellbinders - the 'negative' bits, if you will, and I added metal brads for the bodies.  (I save, and then use, everything!)  The mouse at the bottom was cut with a Cottage Cutz die.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     That's it for now.  Check back in a few hours for the next post in the Cat Lovers series.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Lead the Way, Rudolph

     Well, for the last couple of weeks, I've been doing Halloween cards with an occasional Christmas card thrown in and today I have one more Christmas card to share.  This one is definitely made for a child and it features an image from Bugaboo Stamps, a fun little reindeer which I turned into Rudolph (from the Christmas song fame) with his bright, red nose.

I started with the sketch at Stella Says Sketch,

although I let the bobble head be the circle shape.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, pencils, and gel ink.  I used red glitter to his nose and colored the shine of its light onto his face.  The image is cut with a stitched die from Die-namics.  The dark blue dp is from DCWV - "Winter Magic" stack.  I used embossed dp for the white strip at the bottom (and filled in the top corner, also), then added the three snowflakes with sparkly, gem centers for embellishment.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug (bottom row)
Color My Heart
 
(Poppy, Pacifica, Nutmeg, Bashful, Crystal Blue, Flaxen, Tangerine)
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     That's all I have for today but enjoy your week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Venitian Masquerade

     We've just started the latest monthly challenge at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and we have our usual theme of "Anything Goes."  The winners from the last challenge have been chosen and you can find them on the World Wide blog.

     We are sponsored by Julia Spiri.  You can find her FB page here.

     I used a beautiful image from the Venice Collection, Mask.  Julia's designs seem to draw the purples and turquoises out of me but since that's my favorite color combo ever, I don't mind.  :-D

     Once again, I colored with my ProMarkers and used a white gel pen for the highlights.   Both the image and the scalloped piece behind it were cut with dies from Sizzix.  However, the dp (from the Juniper Berry stack by DCWV) was just a scrap I saved from the trash bin so it's not a complete circle.

     The other two papers are from Graphic 45 and I put them onto the card front, wrapped the 2 layers of different ribbons (Really Reasonable Ribbon) around, added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, and then layered on the two die cut pieces.

     Finally, I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edge, and added it.  Not overblown with embellishments but not exactly CAS, either.  :-D

     Challenges:
As You Like It (Girly - because I have so many guys in my family that I end up doing masculine cards much more often and it's fun to do feminine creations instead.)
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     That's it for today but since I gave you a twofer, I think that's enough.  If not, check back tomorrow to see what's new.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Whale of a Birthday

     Welcome to September!  Can you believe that nearly 3/4 of the year is gone already?  Since it's the first of a month, we're starting a new challenge over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and, as usual, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter."  Just feature a creature on your project and it qualifies for entry.

     Ike's Art is sponsoring us this month and she supplied the images all the DT used.  Be sure to check out the 2CCC blog to see all of them.  I chose this magnificent whale and used it for a masculine birthday card. 

     I colored the whale with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a die from Gina Marie.  I inked the edges with black ink.

     The background is done with papers from a DCWV scrapbook stash, cut to size for the card.  I enhanced the faux stitching around the swirl with white gel ink.  I added the ribbon bow and a few sequins and left it alone.

     The sentiment is inside and it says, "Have a Whale of a Birthday."

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Cookie Challenge
Crafty Friends
Double Trouble
Fussy and Fancy Fri
Ike's World
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pause Dream Enjoy
Polkadoodles

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Fall Yet?

     OK, I'm done with summer!  I officially hate hot weather, I'm tired of day after day of temperatures over 100F, I'm tired of heat waves, and I don't want to hear the meteorologists tell us one more time to stay indoors because of bad air quality!   That part is really sad because outside is my favorite place to be if I'm not in the craft room.  I want it to be autumn and I want crisp, cool nights, not Hot August Nights. 

     I'm not doing any more summer cards - only fall and winter.  Maybe that will bring in cooler temperatures.  :-D  The image on this autumn card is from Bugaboo Stamps and I love this autumn deer.

I started with the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used one of my Stitched Border dies from Lawn Fawn along each side of it.  I trimmed it top and bottom with a paper cutter and distressed the edges.  Both papers came from one of my DCWV autumn stacks which have been in my stash for more than 5 years now.  I use them up slowly but surely and, while they last, I don't have to buy any new fall paper stacks.  

     I found the orange, polka dot ribbon in my stash, wrapped it around and then hand tied the bow.  I printed the sentiments, cut it by hand, matted it, hand cut it again, then added it to the top corner.

     Challenges:

Angie's Digital Stamps

Catch the Bug

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Calender

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's Paper

Lawn Fanatics (outside)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Well, I went outside to check but fall hasn't arrived yet.  Back to the craft room to make more winter cards.  Maybe visions of snow will help.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cold Days & Hot Coffee

     This is my second post of the day so if you're looking for my DT card for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, please click here.

     The new challenge starts today at SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Favourite Things."  I used the SheepSki image called "Coffee Break" because two of my favorite things are cold autumn nights and coffee.  When those are put together it's a perfect evening!   Just so you know, I'm really tired of the hot, hot, HOT weather we've had for 33 days (in a row) and I'm wishing for autumn and crisp air and coffee.  Does the coffee part make that a 'Warm Wish' ? 

     She's colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I framed the image with a pinhole die cut (Cottage Cutz.)  Both of those are simple square dies turned on point.

     The background paper is from DCWV, pulled from the oldest part of my paper stash, and I used an ink pad to ink the edges before applying it to the card front.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, added it, and then used three small pearls on each side for embellishment, also from the stash.

     Challenges:
CARDZ  TV
Crafting by Designs
Die Cuttin' Divas
Di's Digi Designs
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
TTCRD
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Life can be a Circus

     Happy 4th of July!  Hope your is safe and sane.

     This morning, I'm sharing a card with an image from Sasayaki Glitter for their Progressive Challenge on FB.

     I colored with ProMarkers (don't you love my subtle red, white, and blue?), and cut both the image and the sentiment with  dies from QuicKutz.  I inked all the edges and layered them onto dp from a large, 12x12, DCWV stack.  I added the baker's twine and CAS card which can be mailed easily.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD

     OK, I'm out of here for a day of celebrating freedom and thanking those who keep us free with their service.  Then back home for a couple of days before I take a couple of weeks off.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It's All about the Purr

     My card today uses one of my favorite stamps from Kinda Cute and, of course, it's a cat!  :-D

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and an Unbranded die to cut it. The dp came from a DCWV stack and the baker's twine from The Twinery.  It's been in my stash for longer than I care to admit.

     The little bows were hand tied and I added the tiny glittered flowers for a bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Ching-Chou Kuik
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe (middle row)
Crafty Hazelnut's PP
Die Cut Divas
Fabrika Fantasy
Take It, Make It

     A simple post today to go with a simple card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fairy Princess

    This darling little fairy sitting on her toadstool is from Lemon Shortbread and I'm totally in love with her!  I think she'll be perfect for a birthday card or just to please any young lady who loves fairies, or princesses, or who might love a bit of cheering up.

     I started by coloring the image with ProMarkers, added loose glitter to her wing and her crown, then I die cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I cut the glittered frame for it with another die from that same set. 

    I used dp scraps which originally came from the "Basics" pad by DCWV.  I found some of my favorite sheer ribbon and wrapped it around the card front, tied it, then added one of my hand-sewn, satin bows.  The bow had been white but I 'dyed' it with a ProMarker to get that exact shade of blue.

     The sentiment was printed, hand cut, inked on the edges, and then adhered across the lower part of the ribbon.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Dragonfly Dreams
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Star Stampz

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

'Beary' Sweet Day

The Happiest Mother's Day to all of you who are moms!

     I did one more card which I'm going to use as a Mom's Day card even though the image could work for any occasion or even a non-occasion.  That sweet bear came from Gerda Steiner Designs and was the most recent image for their monthly progressive challenge.  Unfortunately, they've had to drop their challenge but I'm posting the card anyway just because the image is so adorable.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image (printed on a scrap of white CS), then cut it with a framing die from Spellbinders.  The die was longer than I wanted so I covered the the bottom with a scrap of dp from the DCWV Linen Closet stack.  I matted everything with another scrap of navy blue CS and layered that onto a light blue card front.  My signature, hand-sewn, bow is the only embellishment.  This time, the plain white seemed to work best so I didn't even dye it like I usually do.

     I've really been into blues the last three days!  I hope my blogging friend, Lynn, appreciates it!  lol  She totally loves blue; lots of it and any shade there is.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
CCC Digi
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Get Creative
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets

     All you moms out there, enjoy your day and hug your family!  If you can sneak in a crafting hour, enjoy that, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Easter Card for This Year

     I've been scrambling to get all the Easter cards done that I needed and I mailed the majority of them earlier this week.  This is the first one I made but it's the last to be posted since I was holding it to post for my DT card for today's new challenge at QKR Stampede.  I used an image called "Being Silly" and a sentiment called "Easter Is...".  I think it's adorable!

     I colored it with ProMarkers and die cut it with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The two scalloped circles were cut from sea foam green CS with a Memory Box die.  The dp came from a stack by DCWV.

     I found some sheer ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the card front, then tied the ends into a bow.  I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it, inked the edge, and layered it on top of the ribbon.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cuttin' Divas
Elliebelle's Crafty Weds.
Lawn Fawnatics
Outlawz Color
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pile It On
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     The weekend is nearly here!  I'm so ready for some down time.  I feel like I've been on a dead run for the last 6 days with hardly a moment for crafting or relaxing.  I won't have any free time until late into Saturday but I plan to do some crafting then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Goin' for a Ride?

     I remember one of my favorite animals from childhood was a white, toy terrier who had the blackest nose and a black blotch on his otherwise white back.  His name was Buster and more than anything, he loved to ride in cars.

     My dad had his own business building custom furniture and kitchen cabinets so he was able to take Buster with him nearly everywhere he went.  Buster was well known at the local hardware store, at the lumber yard, and even at the fire department which was located 1/2 a block from the hardware store.  All the firemen spoiled him by giving him treats any time they saw him.  Usually, once he had greeted everyone at the hardware store, he made a beeline straight for the fire station.  :-D

     This fun pup, which is the image for the new Progressive Challenge at Ike's Art FB site, reminded me of Buster (although Buster's black blotch was up closer to his shoulder) and that partially accounts for the way I colored this pup.  Based on that coloring, I decided to do a black-and-white, mono card.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the dog.  I layered him onto a black die cut (Spellbinders) which was in my scrap stash.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack called "Midnight Chic."

     I found that black and white ribbon in my stash of Crafty Ribbons stock.  The final touch was the polka dot, bow-tie bow that I tied using my bow maker.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment in honor of Buster who had to go for a  ride at least once every day!  :-D

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Send a Smile 4 Kids
TTCRD

     So glad you came by for a visit today, however brief it might be.  Enjoy a browse around if you have time and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie