Posting Letters to Santa

      Another Friday, and another challenge starts at Crafty Catz.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer you an OPTIONAL theme and this week it's "Christmas in July."   We are sponsored by Di's Digi Designs and I used a cute image called "Micemas Post."

      I used my Sanjoki markers to color the image, then cut it with a square die from Lawn Fawn.  The hologram paper is also from Lawn Fawn.  I wanted to dress up the square image a bit so I used a Fiskars punch on the corners.  The 'frame' behind the image piece is nothing more than a scrap of red tissue paper.

     The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.  I found a scrap of sheer black ribbon and hand tied the bow.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Double D

Double Trouble

Jingle Bells

Lawn Fawnatics

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

     Hope to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's Anything Goes but with all the "Christmas in July" challenges out there this month, why not try the optional theme, too?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Eight Maids a Milking

      It's the 7th of another month and that means a new challenge over at FarmQuest General Store, where the theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also want to see 'country.'  That means anything farm, farming, farm animals, fields, open country, ranch, country roads, planting, harvesting - you get the picture.

     I'm kind of focused of Christmas cards this month, partly because I love laying in all the "Christmas in July" themed challenges, but also because I'm getting a late start on the 100+ Christmas cards I'm, going to need for this year.  So, today's 'country' card features a line from the Partridge in a Pear Tree carol, and you can't get much more country/farm than milking cows.  :-D

     The image is clip art and I cut it with a round QuicKutz die.  The octagon frame was cut with a die from Lawn Fawn (Lawn Cuts.)  The background is all gold glitter paper.  I found the red and gold sparkle ribbon in my stash and I have no idea where I got it.  The gold ribbon for the triple loop bow came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I used my bow maker to tie it.

     I really love the red and gold color combo and all the sparkle from the glitter paper!

     Challenges:

Christmas Bingo (G- free/ribbon/glitter)

Digi Choosday

Double D

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Happy ... Stampers

Lawn Fawnatics (Milk is food, right? lol)

Outlawz Thurs (Elegantly Rustic!)

Sparkles Christmas

     I hope you'll come and play with us this month.  We love seeing your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Girl with Caterpillar

      I'm back with another delightful Mariola Budek image, this time of a young girl with a caterpillar on an autumn leaf.  I colored it in obvious autumn colors using a combination of Sanjoki and ProMarkers, then cut it on 2 sides with a sawtooth die from CC Designs.  I accented those two sides using a cross stitch die from Lawn Fawn (Lawn Cuts.)

     The background dp is from a textured stack by DCWV.  The sentiment was cut from a K & Co. paper pad and the butterfly gem was a Studio 8 embellishment.

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Crazy Island

       With our strange weather (high 90 degree F days already and for several days in a row - what happened to Spring???), the OPTIONAL theme of our challenge at Crafty Catz this week is perfect - "Summer."  Of curse, we're always an Anything Goes challenge but we give you a fun optional topic if you want to use it.

     Our sponsor for this challenge is Mirtillamente and the image I used is called "Crazy Island."  They are offering a prize of 2 images of your choice from their store.

     I colored the image with Sanjoki markers and highlights were done with a white gel pen.  I cut the image with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  The square frame was cut with a die from Lawn Fawn.  I thought the two different stitched dies worked well together and I like the opposition of a circle and a square.

     The background 'denim' dp is a scrap from a Recollections stack and the flowers came from Petaloo.

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Challenge

LeighSBDesigns

Lil Patch of ...

MFT Outside the Box

Pammie's IP

Paper Dragonfly

Passion for Markers

     

     Come play along with us this week.  You could be the winner!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cake Chef Gnome

     Today I'm sharing another Conie Fong image, one of her newer releases called "Cake Chef Gnome" and the set comes with a total of 4 images (2 gnomes with cakes plus 2 separate cakes) in either jpg or png formats.  

     I remember when Conie was asking the DT if gnomes were really needed because there were already so many artists who were drawing them and the team overwhelmingly pushed her to draw some gnomes!  I'm so glad she did.  I adore gnomes and have many from lots of different artists but Conie draws some of the cutest ones.

     I made this card for a very special lady who is celebrating her birthday today.  It's really special to me that she and I have back to back birthdays (mine is tomorrow on St. Patrick's Day -and I hail from good solid Irish stock on both sides of the family tree!) so making this card brought me great pleasure and I'm sure it'll bring her some pleasure when she sees it.  :-D.

     The image was colored with my ProMarkers and cut with a Lawn Fawn Die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The papers both came from a Recollections stack and the stitched ribbon was in a box of goodies sent to me by another dear friend (who swears she was "clearing out" her craft room!)  I had such fun looking through everything she sent and this ribbon seemed perfect for this particular card.  Thanks, Vicki!

     Challenges:

Bastel-Traum

Creative Moments

Cutie Pie (birthday, baker) 

Digi Choosday

Happy Li'l Stampers

I Love ProMarkers

Lawn Fawnatics

Outlawz Colors (birthday, baker)

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

     Remember, we have a challenge every month over on the Facebook site and all you need to enter is to use a Conie Fong image.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Come play along.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Country Apples

      I absolutely adore this KLM Designs image and chose it from my collection to use on my FarmQuest DT card for the newest challenge starting on March 14.  Our current theme is "Anything Farm Country" and I think an apple harvest fits that perfectly!

     I colored it with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Lawn Fawn.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  All the papers are scraps from the basket which lives on my desk: the textured green is from DCWV; the plaid is from a Paper Studio stack; and the deep olive green with spots on it is also from Paper Studio.  The narrow, polka dot ribbon was a scrap in my stash and I used my bow maker to tie a double loop bow.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on ...

Classic Design

Colorful Options

Die Cut Divas

Double Trouble (all 3)

Happy Li'l Stampers

Inspiration Station (The lovely greens)

Morgan's ArtWorld

Rabisco

Star Stampz

YSBP

     If you haven't played along in our FarmQuest challenges yet, now is the perfect time.  We always require that your entries have an underlying "country" flair but this time you can do anything country, without having to follow a specific theme over and above that.  The challenge will run 2 weeks, until the next challenge starts on March 28.  Come play!  We love being inspired by you.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bella & Benji Kiss

      Here's my first DT card for February, featuring this darling new image from Conie Fong called Bella and Benji Kiss, and you can find it by clicking on the name.  The sentiment is part of that set.

     I colored the image with water color paints, then cut it with a die from Lawn Fawn.  The red frame was also cut with a Lawn Fawn die and the frame piece was embossed using my 'Linen' EF.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The plaid ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the grosgrain bow was tied using my bow maker.  

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...?

Cupcake Inspirations

Dare2BArtzy

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Leigh SB Designs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Simon Says Stamp

There's a Stamp ...

     That's it for today but now that my camera is working again, I'll be posting several cards over the next week or so.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Witch Needs Coffee

      Here it is, the big day itself, the day all witches are expected to fly and create spells and spook mere humans within an inch of their lies!  But this witch can't get anything right until she's had her coffee.  Sounds like me.  ROFL  

     I'm sharing this as my DT card for the November challenge at This is Halloween, where we celebrate all things Halloween or Gothic all year round.  Don't forget, we're sponsored by Lilli Rain Designs.

     The image was a digital coloring page, reduced in size to fit a 5" square card, printed in grayscale, and I colored it with ProMarkers and water colors.  I added sparkle gel pen to the bubbles in the cauldron and in the flask.  The image was cut with a Lawn Fawn, stitched die and I inked the edges with a black ProMarker.  I mounted the image onto neon orange CS and added one of my signature style, hand-sewn bow with a white pearl.  A nice, CAS design this time.

This is also my final, Day 31 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

     Come play in our challenge this month.  I know, many of you feel that you're totally burned out on Halloween by now, but you can also do something wonderfully Gothic that isn't Halloween.  And fewer players will certainly mean your entry has a better chance of becoming the Winner!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Graveyard Cats

      Another post for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop and for the Crazy for Cats challenge.  Both are running this week but the Crazy for Cats challenge will run through the entire month of November so come play along.

     My DT card today features fabulous hologram papers and dies from our sponsor, Lawn Fawn.  You can find them here: LAWN FAWN Hologram dp & LAWN FAWN dies "Lg Stitched Squares."  The sentiment is mine and it was fussy cut.

This is also my Day 28 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

Cat Lovers Hop 2022.

     Challenges:

4 Season

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

     Come play along with us, won't you?  And join in the Cat Lovers Hop, too!  Just make something which features a cat.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Cat

      I'm excited to announce that I have joined the DT at the Crazy for Cats Challenges!  Our first challenge launches today even though it is technically our November challenge.  From now on, the monthly challenges will start on the First Friday of each month.

     But starting today means that we cat lovers on the DT can post our inspiration projects on the Cat Lovers Hop 2022, a fun hop I've played in for a good number of years now.  :-D  

Today is the second day of the six day Cat Lovers Hop 2022.

     For our own challenge, our sponsor is Lawn Fawn and for my card I used Lawn Fawn metallic hologram paper and the image was cut with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Square die.

      I colored with ProMarkers and water color paints.  The image piece was framed with orange CS after I used a ProMarker to ink the edges.  The leafy ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the sentiment leaf is a chipboard piece from Recollections which has been in my collection of embellishments for at least 6 years.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time

Classic Design

Crafts Galore Encore

Creative Inspirations

LeAnn's World

Outlawz Thurs Twist

There's a Stamp ...

Word Art Weds

Your Scrapbook Place

     Come play in our new challenge!  We feature felines, of course, and all the rules are on the new blog.  Think about joining in the Cat Lovers Hop, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy Love among the Gnomes

      Another DT card for the Conie Fong DT, this time using a darling set called "Gnome Sweethearts" along with the merged "Lab Dog," which is included in the set.  Aren't they adorable?  

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it and the frame with dies from Lawn Fawn.  Alcohol markers are my favorite way to color images because the colors blend so well, giving great shading and highlights.  

     The background was made using scraps of dp (also Lawn Fawn), cut into long triangles, then mounted onto a white card base.  I added clear sequins to two, diagonally opposite, corners.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I really liked the visual of the background and image, and decided that no ribbon or bows or other embellishment was needed.

I started with the colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Lawn Fawnatics

Outlawz Festive Fri

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

     Feel free to come and play in either one of our challenges this month.  We have one for colored Conie Fong images only and another for using those Conie Fong images in a finished project, like a card.  Our challenges can be found on the Facebook page.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Candle & Poinsettias

      The idea of candle light at Christmas is one of my favorite things and I love images which allow for coloring the candle glow.  This image is from SheepSki Designs, the sponsor for the newest challenge at I Love ProMarkers which starts right now.  The image is called "Candles and Poinsettias" and our theme for the challenge is "Anything Goes" with an Option of  "No Patterned Design Paper."

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a Lawn Fawn stitched die.  The sentiment was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I framed both the image and the sentiment with green glitter paper.  I used a stencil on the card front, brushing it with glue and using some very old flocking powder from my stash enhance the pink card front.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Dies R Us

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Stash

Penny's Paper-Crafty

SheepSki Designs

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge.  Grab your ProMarkers, FlexMarkers, AquaMarkers, or Trias, color an image, leave out the patterned dp, and come enter your project in our challenge.  You could win some really fab images from SheepSki Designs.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Di's Digis DT Call

      Di's Digi Designs is having a DT call this month and anyone who would like to apply needs to create a post on their blog, sharing 3 of their favorite creations, and if 1 of those featured an image from Di's, that would be great!  

     I've waited for a long time for this DT call!  I love Di's images and was devastated when I lost every one of the images I had bought over the years due to a flash drive crash last year.  There is no way I can afford to go back and repurchase each one I lost but maybe if I serve on her team, I can share some of my favorites with all of you and you'll become customers in my stead.  :-D

     This card has a Di's image and I just completed it so I'm going to be entering it into a few challenges.  I colored with my ProMarkers, cut the image with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn, and layered it onto a circle cut with a QuicKutz die.   The papers are from an old DCWV stack.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used my bow maker to tie the triple-loop bow.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Country View

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Fingers

Die Cut Divas

Di's Digi Designs

Friendship

     This is another favorite card which also features a Di's image and is fitting for the season since Halloween is just around the corner.

     And finally, a card I made just a month or so ago using a gray scale image but not one from Di's; just a favorite of mine since I think the coloring is some of my best.  

     Cross your fingers for me, won't you"  I really hope to make the team.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sowing vs Reaping

      We're all familiar with the phrase "Reap what you sow" but this cute image from House Mouse Stamps makes me wonder about the wisdom of a tiny mouse sowing Catnip seeds!   If, indeed, he reaps what he sows, he may have a field full of cats which isn't really what a mouse would want!  On the other hand, maybe he's just warm and neighborly and believes in taking care of all creatures, friends or foes.  

      Or maybe he's like me and any excuse will do to get out into the garden, my favorite place to be!  :-D

Colors chosen from Color Dare challenge.

Canary/ Mink/ Blue Belle/ Ivy Green w a neutral of Brown

Colored with ProMarkers  

   (my fav coloring medium because of the way they blend)

Cut w Lawn Fawn die

Matted w Cottage Cutz die cut

Texture burlap scrap

Plaid paper from Your Next Stamp stack

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Watering Can charm

Fiber bow

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Cutie Pie

House Mouse

Lawn Fanatics (used LF die)

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     I think I'll get away from the computer and go play in the garden for a bit.  The weather this morning is a perfect balance of warm and still cool enough to be comfortable outside but that is slated to change drastically this afternoon and over the Memorial Day weekend.  We'll be in the mid to high nineties later today and they are predicting a 5 day (or more) run of temps over 100 F starting on Monday.  Yuck!  I guess summer is officially here even though the calendar says it's still 3 weeks away.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Home Tweet Home

      One more card for a progressive challenge and this one is for Stampers Delights.  I merged three of the images and a sentiment from the set for this month and this would make a cute card for someone moving into a new home or coming home after being away for a while.  Come to think of it, it might even work to welcome kids coming home from their first day back at school considering how long they've not been able to go to school.  Of course, having been stuck at home for a year, maybe they are delighted to be back at school.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Lawn Fawn die

CS squares cut w Lawn Fawn die

Sheer, plaid ribbon strip = RRR

Bow tied using bow maker

    Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

Colour Crazy

Crafts Galore Encore

Creative Craft Cottage

Creative Inspirations

Creative Moments

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lawn Fawnatics

Let's Craft & Create

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Spice Gratitude

      Gratitude for what, you ask?  This is another of those Mondays when Jan's Digi Stamps not only starts their own new monthly challenge but also is sponsoring the new weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies so I get to use this one card as my DT inspiration for both of those challenges.  :-D

     I used a combination of Jan's Digi Stamps images from different sets -- The pumpkins are from the "Harvest Scarecrow" set and the wheat is from the "Fall Note" set.  I used the png images and merged them.

I used colors from the challenge at My Favorite Things.

All I'm getting are error messages when I try to 

copy and paste the color picture to my blog.  Sorry.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Lawn Fawn die

Edges inked w ProMarker

All papers are scraps & are from SU

Sentiment stamped & fussy cut

Wide grosgrain ribbon used for bow

Bow tied using bow maker

     Challenges:

All Fun

Artsy Stamper

Coloring in Scrapland

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Inspired By

Lil Patch of Crafty...

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     I'm really looking forward to seeing you play in both of these challenges so don't disappoint me!  Both challenges have "Anything Goes" themes so there's no excuse.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Elephants Never Forget

     Is it Friday again, already?  OMG!  That means it's time for a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is Anything Goes (as always) and you can use any products you wish.  Remember though, if you use either a QKR Stampede or a Eureka Stamps image (our sister company), your entry is put into a separate draw and that increases greatly your chance of being a winner.

     My card today is another one for my stash of birthday cards (albeit, this for a belated birthday) and it features a great QKR image called "Being Silly."

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz square die
Frame cut with Spellbinders Die
Mat behind frame cut w Lawn Fawn die
Card base embossed with "Linen" EF
Silver leaves from my friend, Mia (Thanks, Mia!)
Sentiment printed and fussy cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     I really hope we'll see you playing with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Magical Birthday

     Welcome to another Friday, that magical day when the weekend begins (or at least hopes of it begin.)  Fridays are also the day we start our newest challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and while the DT gals use QKR or Eureka (our sister company) images, you may use any image you choose to enter the challenge.  If you do choose a QKR (or Eureka) image, you increase your chances of winning by a considerable amount because those projects are put into a separate draw.

     For my card today, I'm using "Mouse Magician" from QKR and it comes as either a digital image or a rubber stamp.  This is a birthday card for a 10 year old who has recently been introduced to the Harry Potter books - yes, the books, not the movies, though I'm sure those will follow immediately!  But right now, he loves old fashioned books with pages and covers.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut with Lawn Fawn Stitched die

Sparkly satin ribbon

Signature bow w/ pearl

Sentiment - computer font

     Challenges:

Crafting by Designs

Cute Card Thurs

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds (Blue, Bow, Birthday)

House that Stamps Built (Blue, Bow, Birthday)

If You Give a Crafter Cookie

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Scrappy Land

Tales from the Craft Room

Work It Weds

     Come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Birthday

     Beccy's Place always has an Anything Goes theme for its monthly challenges but they also give an optional theme or inspiration which is just that, optional.  This month Beccy has used a wonderful photo as the optional inspiration.  The brick walk made me think of the seasonal 'Windows' images she has and I used "Summer Window" and the colors for my masculine birthday card.

 Inspiration photo

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks

Cut with Lawn Fawn stitched die

Papers from DCWV "Basics" stack

Handmade accordion bow

     Challenges:

a2z Scrapbooking

A Bit More Time...

Classic Design Team

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Sentiments

Lemon Shortbread

Simon Says Stamp

Southern Girls

     That's it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Wishes

     This card was made using a wonderful freebie image from Beccy's Place.  The monthly challenges over there are almost like having a progressive challenge because Beccy always gives a freebie but even better, you can use the freebie or any other Beccy's image you have.

     In addition, Beccy gives an OPTIONAL twist and this month the option is to CASE yourself.  You can see the card I CASEd by going to my post from May 20.  Not only is it also a birthday card, but it has the same short-side, gate fold card.  I also added a die cut panel to the opposite flap.

ProMarkers
Lawn Fawn dies on image
Die-Versions die on panel
Signature bow

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie