Lavender Fairy & Gnome with Mustache

      It's been almost 3 weeks since I last posted on my blog but I've been really busy getting thing ready for the craft fair & vendor events that my daughter convinced us to "enter."  Between her, my sis-in-law, and I, we decided we wanted to have a minimum of 100 hand crafted items in our inventory.  We have all made items and we're pretty close to that number, thank goodness!  But the crafting time has overwhelmed any posting time I might have had for the blog.

     In any case, I want to share my last two items (made today) in a brief post.  First is a lovely fairy, made from lavender tulle and craft foam with a white pom pom for her head.  She's 9" tall overall.

     Next is another sitting, sock gnome and what's different about him is that he's the first one I've made with only a mustache, no beard.  I think he's adorable!  I definitely want to make more mustache gnomes after looking at him for the last couple of hours.  He's about 6" tall.

     That's it for now.  Our first event is in exactly 10 days and I have another 3 items to complete.  My SIL is finishing another 3 herself, and I guess my daughter has to pick up the slack.  lol

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Artist Trading Card

      It's been a long time since I made an ATC but I was inspired by the free image over at the Conjuror of Dreams FB challenge this month.  That challenge used to e for just tags but now they've changed it to tags, ATCs, cards, whatever.  I adore this "New Beginnings" fairy.

     The image was pre-colored but I love coloring my own images so I printed her in light grayscale, then colored her with a combination of pencils blended with gamsol (the fairy), water colors (the background & sky), and used gel pens for highlights.  I cut the pointed-window shape (I don't know the correct architectural term for that window shape but they are really common in old Gothic era churches), and laid it onto a plain, white ATC.  I inked the edges and called it finished.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

AAA Cards

Addicted to CAS

Coloring w Pencils

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

     That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hug Your Teddy

      In our challenges over on the Conie Fong FB page, we always have an Anything Goes theme as long as you are using a Conie Fong image.  (Haven't joined the Facebook page?  Do it now.  It's quick, easy, and free.  Plus, you can find freebies there, too, so that you can join the challenge if you haven't already purchased some of Conie's images. :-D )  But this month, the DT ladies decided that we'd all do cards using some of Conie's fairies.  There are several and they're all simply darling!  I used one called "Precious" and I love how she's hugging her teddy so sweetly.  I reversed the image before printing it.

      I colored her with my Sanjoki markers, cut the image with a QuicKutz die, and then used a Uchida punch on the corners.  I found two scraps of CS in different shades of blue, both of which are reflected in the coloring, and I used my newest die from Hero Arts to cut and emboss the pieces I used for the background.  When I assembled the card, I tucked the edges of the image under some of the cut leaves and flower petals.  

     The sentiment is also from Conie Fong and I merged it with the image before printing.  My final touch was a hand-sewn bow with a pearl sewn onto it.  It was made with white ribbon, but I 'dyed' it with one of my markers.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Digi Choosday

Friendship

I Love Markers

Lil Patch of ...

Mirtillamente

Pammie's IP (center column)

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play in our June challenge.  You may use any Conie Fong image - it doesn't have to be a fairy.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Most Magical Time November Challenge

      Here we are on the first Friday of November and that means another new challenge at Most Magical Time of the Year where we celebrate both Christmas and Halloween all year around.  Our sponsor this month is All Dressed Up and they supplied the cutest images for us to use.  I chose to use both images (Christmas Tree Fairy and Magical Day) and make two cards.  Our theme is "Magical Fall Colors."

      Both are colored with watercolors but Christmas Tree Fairy has glitter on her wings and is cut with a QuicKutz die.  Unfortunately, when I photographed the Fairy card, the orange colors I used look more red than orange.

     The Magical Day image and the lavender frame are cut with dies from Dare 2B Artzy.  The background paper on the Christmas Tree Fairy card is from a K & Co. stack.  The bow is hand-tied using orange and gold corded ribbon.

     The Magical Day card has one of my signature, hand-sewn bows made with sheer ribbon and a pearl.  The background on that one is from DCWV and the pumpkin & flowers are heat embossed with sparkly EP.

     Challenges:

All Dressed Up

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creatalicious

Dare 2B Artzy

Happy Li'l Stampers

There's a Stamp ...

Two Old Bats

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our November challenge.  Check out the Most Magical Time blog for all the details.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rose Fairy

      One more monthly progressive challenge and this time it's for The Outlawz.  This beautiful image, which I think of as a lovely fairy, was provided by Moon Flower Digistamps.  I thought she'd look great in monochromatic pinks.

     She was colored with ProMarker and gel pens, then cut with an octagon die from QuicKutz.  The plain, pink CS was embossed with my Linen EF, then combined with glitter paper from Recollections for the background.  A small scrap of the glitter paper was cut with a die from Your Next Stamp and the drop out pieces were used to make the trio of embellishments on the right hand side.  Finally, I used my bow maker to tie a triple loop bow for the left side.  The Birthday sentiment was stamped and highlighted with white gel ink.

I based my card on the sketch at Cheerful Sketches,

inspired by the basics but giving it my own flavor by spreading the 

distance of the half-circle embellishments, tilting the sentiment onto a diagonal,

 and using the bow to replace the upright strip on the right side.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Art-Piaskownica

Classic Design

Creations in Pink

Die Cut Divas

Friendship

Morgan's ArtWorld

Polkadoodles

     I'll have another DT post late tonight featuring a card done for the new weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  Then, a couple of hours after that, I'll have one as a midway reminder for the monthly challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps.  Do stop by and check those out, too.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairies & Ladybugs

     I'm playing around today with two things I've not done for a long while: a bendi card and a mini (4' x 4") card, combined into one.  The image was only about 2" x 2.5" which made coloring it a major task in itself.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and water color pencils, then used a Gina Marie die to cut the image.  I used a Spellbinders curved border die to cut the two flaps of the bendi card which tuck in.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used a ProMarker to ink the edges of both the bendi flaps and the sentiment.

     The cute image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I used the color board #449 at Color Dare and chose blue and brown in addition to the required purple.  Note that the fairy's skin was colored with a 'Praline Brown' marker.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Cardz TV

Catch the Bug

Crafty Sentiments

Cute Card Thurs

Digi Choosday

Double D

Lemon Shortbread

Marvelous Minis

     That's it for today and probably for tomorrow, too, but I'll be back with a new post on Thursday so check back then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy & Unicorn

      Here we are at the mid-week point and I have a darling little fairy and unicorn to share with you.  One of my granddaughters adores unicorns and I try to make her at least one unicorn card each year, though it usually turns into three or four.  :-D  This image is from Polkadoodles and I won it in a challenge.

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came not only from the stash but from the scrap stash! 

Colors from The Outlawz + "F" for Fairy

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix scalloped die

Papers are all from the scrap basket

Sentiment printed and hand cut

Lace scraps from basket

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

House that Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Summer

     Today I want to share one more DT card on which I used a beautiful fairy from Conie Fong, called "Crystal Fairy 3."  As you can guess, there's more than one version of this image and you can receive them when you purchase the image.  I used the one without the crystals for this card, so the name may seem a bit confusing.  But if you click on the link (image name), you can look at the actual image in the store and that will clear it up for you.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers +
   2 colors of Stickles on wings
Cut w/ Spellbinders die
Green CS (scrap) cut & embossed w/ Spellbinders
Background dp - scrap from basket
Green "lace" - scrap
Sheer ribbon bow tied on bow maker
Sentiment printed & cut with Avery Elle die, inked edges

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Sentiments
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Paperbabe
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Your Next Stamp

     Our July challenge ends today but a new one starts tomorrow.  Actually, 2 new challenges begin at the same time; one is for coloring only and the other for completed projects, like mine.  Both can be found on the Conie Fong Facebook page.  We hope to see you playing long.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flutterby Daisy

     I adore this sweet fairy from Conie Fong, called "Flutterby Daisy."  She comes in a set, both with and without the daisy but I loved her best all nestled into the daisy having a wonderful conversation with the butterfly.  I suspect they're talking about great changes and how to face them.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers & gel inks
Glitter added to wings
Cut w/ QuicKutz oval die
Sentiment cut w/ Avery Elle die
Lace scrap
Background dp from DCWV
Signature bow w pearl

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Angie's Digitals
Arty Divas
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
   (pearls/image/die cuts)
TTCRD

     Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowflake Wishes

     You know how every once in a while you get a card finished and it looks and feels exactly the way you imagined it would?  Terribly pleasing, isn't it?  Well, that's what happened with this card and I just love it !  :-D

     The image is one of the newer ones from Conie Fong, called "Snowflake Wishes" and I think she's so beautiful.  

     When I first printed this image, I thought about making an entire scene with her rather than just a single-image card.  But I spent so much time on the coloring, adding lots of shading and highlights, that I decided on just the image as the focus.  I find that when it comes to Conie's images, I love to put the detail into the coloring and I rarely make scene cards with them.  

     I did take time to do a bit of water coloring on a scrap of water color paper which I added to the background.  It does look a bit like a stormy sky.  :-D  In any case, here's another card for my Christmas stash.

I used Peacock, Linen, and Mint colors

(plus Peach for her skin)

which came from Color My Heart #396.

Colored with ProMarkers 

Glitter added to snowball, snowflakes, and wings

Cut with QuicKutz die &

     trimmed to show glitter paper

Silver glitter paper cut w/ Quickutz die

Background dp made w/ water colors

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Dream Valley

Outlawz Festive Fri

Simon Says Stamp & Show

Southern Girls

Your Next Stamp

     Conie Fong has two challenges that run every month and they can be found on our Facebook page.  One is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects.  Each challenge requires the use of a Conie Fong image but how can you resist any of her cute images?  I hope we're going to see you playing along.  Don't belong to the Conie Fong FB group yet?  Joining is free so join us and come play.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dandelion Wishes

     This is my last GDT card this month for Conie Fong and I used this sweet image called Dandelion Wishes.  I chose pastel pinks for my monochromatic, color combo and even added pink glitter to her wings.  The sentiment is also from that same set of images which has fairies facing both right and left and has 2 sentiments.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to wings & dandelion seeds
Image cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Background cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Sentiment printed & cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Pink leaves cut w/ die from Cheery Lynn
Ribbon rose from Joann Crafts

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ... 
Bastel-Traum
Craftlandia
Creatalicious
Creations in Pink
Creative Moments
Dare 2B Artzy
Dies R Us
Papercraft
Scribbles Designs
Star Stampz (mid column)

     Happy Sunday, and to those of you under quarantine (mandatory or self-imposed for safety sake), make the most of it and craft your hearts out.  :-D  NanaConnie

A Fairy's Dream World

     Most of you probably know that I'm a Guest Designer for Conie Fong during February and March, and this is my fourth card for them this month.  Each month there's a challenge over on the Conie Fong Facebook page and the theme is always Anything Goes with  Conie Fong image.

     This image is called Sitting Pretty on Mushroom and it's the version with butterflies surrounding the fairy.

Colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils
Glitter added to the butterflies and clovers
Image cut with Tonic Studios die and distressed
Background circles cut with Spellbinders dies
Signature, hand-sewn, bow with gem
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafter's Castle
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Calendar
Creative Moments
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Wishing you a fabulous day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mushroom Fairy for Fall

     This adorable little fairy, sitting in her mushroom garden enjoying the cooler days of fall, is from All Dressed Up. 

     The weather has stayed pretty hot where I live until today when they are predicting 83 instead of 93, and my blogging buddy, Lynn, a Texan from head to toe, says it's stayed awfully warm in her area, too.  So this card celebrates the arrival of fall and if it hasn't cooled off for her yet, maybe the weather is heading from my house to hers.  Hang in there, Lynn!

I chose colors from the middle column of color board #363

at Color My Heart Color Dare, plus I used "Ballerina"

for her face and arms.

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut image & frame with Sizzix dies

Gold CS base

Gold, glittered flower

CAS design

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Outlawz SAR

Pattie's Creations

Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kitten

     You mean you didn't know that fairies have kittens?  They do.  Look at this image from Paper Shelter and you'll see they have butterfly kittens!  :-D  What a delightful fantasy concept.

Colors inspired by House that Stamps Built.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter on the wings
Image & frame cut with Cottage Cutz pinpoint die
Border cuts with Spellbinders die
Paper from the scrap basket
Hand sewn bows w/ pearls

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (Kobe hair)
Cut It Up
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Fairy

     It's taking me a long time to get each project finished but I think the shoulder is getting better on a very slow schedule.  How spoiled we are, expecting everything in life to be immediate.  :-D  Even spring has taken it's time in many regions but this little Conie Fong fairy is doing her best to banish the winter snows and bring on the spring butterflies.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I added sparkle to her

wings and the crystals have Glossy Accents on them.  Here's a close up photo for a better look. 

     The mesh ribbon is a scrap from my stash and the background piece was embossed with a folder from Couture Creations.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matting it with a scrap of CS, and added the tiny, hand tied, bow.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Catz
Cute Card Thurs.
Happy Craft
Time Out

     That's it for today.  An early Happy Mother's Day wish for all the moms out there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Irish Fairy!

     Welcome!  Today I'm sharing a DT card I made for the newest challenge at Crafting with an Attitude.  Our theme is "Anything Goes" (as always) and we're being sponsored by Digi Doodle Studios.  They generously supplied images for the DT to use, and I chose "Pepper Bella Flora."

     Although she wasn't intended to be a St. Patrick's image, I colored her in greens (all pulled from their challenge color palette - see below) and suddenly she passes for an Irish fairy!  Isn't she adorable?

Here's the Digi Doodles color palette for their challenge.

I used all the greens and the palest pink for her skin,

plus bits of gold here and there.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and each of the gold flowers has a center made with golden Nuvo Crystal Drops.  The image and the darker frame are each cut with dies from Cottage Cutz, one stitched and the other pinpoint.  The lighter green square behind those was cut with a stitched, square die from Lawn Fawn.  The lattice piece was cut with one of my newest dies, one from the Memory Box "Distressed Windham Collage" set.

     I printed the sentiment and used one of smaller Cottage Cutz dies to cut it, adjusting the die after I cut the top edge so that I could cut the bottom edge.  The die is actually square (with rounded corners) but I managed to get that shape for the sentiment piece simply by moving the die and cutting twice.  I matted that piece with green CS, hand cut it and added it to the lower corner of the card front.

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Double Trouble  (all 3)
Heart 2 Heart
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Greetings
Scrappy Land
Tales from the Craft Room
Work It Weds.

     Come play along with us this month.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Toadstool Halloween

     This is my first post for today and I'll have a second one in a few hours.  Be sure to check them both.

     I'm excited to be back for another three month term as a Guest Designer at Colour Crazy.  This week our sponsor is Ching-Chou Kuik and our theme is always Anything Goes.  I've used a magnificent Toadstool Fairy image to make a too-cute-to-spook, Halloween card.

      I've heard that on Halloween, woodland fairies costume themselves as toadstools to fool the witches and goblins, and to keep themselves safe.  I think this image is proof the old wives' tale is true!

     I colored with ProMarkers and used a die from Tonic Studio to cut the image.  The cross-stitched rectangle was cut with a die from Lawn Fawn and the rectangle behind it was cut with another Tonic Studio die.  I cut the butterfly and the dragonfly with a die from Cottage Cutz.

     The polka dot ribbon was in my stash and seemed to work well with the Halloween colors mix.  I added tiny, metal brads to the bodies of the bugs, then printed, hand cut, and matted the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Ching-Chou Kuik
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Words to Craft By

     Be sure to come and play along this week.  Because we are a coloring challenge, you are required to color something (can't use pre-colored images) but that's the only requirement.  Come play.  We're having fun!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Back to School Fairy (or Not)

     While all the adults I know are thrilled that school is back in session, there are lots of grandkids (some of mine included) who would give anything to have a Magic Fairy who would let them out of school, even for just a day.  That was the inspiration for this card and sentiment.

     The image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge over at Sasayaki Glitter.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another die from that same set.  I inked the scalloped edges of both pieces.

     I ran a piece of shiny, lavender CS through my "Linen" folder to add some great texture and wrapped that piece with pink, polka dot, ribbon.  All the layers gave even more texture to the card. 

     For a simple embellishment, I made one of my signature bows with a pearl and added it to the ribbon. 

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
If You Give A Crafter a Cookie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrappy Land
Tuesday Throwdown

     If I can get back into my craft room today, I may have a post for tomorrow.  I've been "babysitting" these two delightful, 'great-grand' fur babies (my oldest granddaughter's kittens) for a few days and they are very demanding of my time (to say nothing of being too cute to ignore!)  So very little has been done in the way of crafting for the last few days.  Good thing I had things ready to post.  :-D

Ivory and Ebony (perched where they can watch my every move!)

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gratitude

     For today's card, I've used "Earth Fairy" from Fabrika Fantasy.  She colored up so beautifully!

     I colored with ProMarkers, cut the image with a die from Spellbinders, and backed it with orange CS.  I printed the sentiment, matted it with a scrap of that same CS, and added it to the top of the image piece.

     I made a card base from kraft CS and added a scrap of dp which had been lying on my desk.  I wrapped the card front with some sparkly brown ribbon, then layered on the image.  I cut tiny pumpkins with an Impression Obsession die and added them to the bottom of the image.

     The double layer butterfly was cut with a die from Cottage Cuts and I added pearls to make the body.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cards in Envy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Catz
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations (Bounty, Butterfly, Brown ribbon)
TTCRD

    I'll have another post tonight, around 6:00 p.m Pacific time.  I don't normally pre-schedule my posts for that hour but in this case, I'm guest designing and that's when the Outlawz Monday challenge goes live.  So think of it as being my post for Monday and check back when you have time.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy Land

     There's a brand new challenge starting today called "Creations in Pink" and I'm delighted to tell you that I was chosen as one of the DT members!   In simple terms, the challenge runs monthly on the 15th of each month and the primary requirement is to use lots of pink on your projects.  Other than that, it's pretty much Anything Goes.   How easy is that?

     This month, our sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I used "Water Fairy, who looks so lovely and "summer-y."  Isn't she a fabulous stamp?

     I colored her with ProMarkers and cut her with an Unbranded die.  I cut the pink frame with a larger die from that same set.  The swans are also cut with Unbranded dies.  I added narrow pink ribbon and a pink ribbon bow.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, matted, hand cut again, and added between the swans.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
CARDZ TV
Crafty Sentiments
DL.ART
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz

     I hope you'll bookmark our challenge and come play along each month.  You can also find us on the "By Date, Not Days" list at Challenges for Days, a great resource for finding challenges you may want to enter.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie