Wanna Be Your Valentine

      This is one more Valentine as I'm getting ready for a Valentine themed vendor event on Saturday.  I used an older image from Lemon Shortbread.  I colored it with my ProMarkers, and added tiny, die cut, red hearts to the stars to make it feel more like a Valentine.  The sentiment was printed at the same time as the image.  I cut the image piece with a pinpoint, rectangle die from Memory Box.

      The framing piece was cut from some Neenah Products dp using a Gina Marie die.  The tiny hearts I used on the stars were the bits which fell out of the die cut.  I’ve had the Neenah papers for at least 5 years!  Everything was put onto a deep burgundy card base.  

     I used one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which I make up by the dozens and toss into my stash for future use.  I have come to the point where I only make them from white satin ribbon and then I use markers to "dye" them the colors I want for a particular card.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Dragonfly Dreams

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

Taylormade ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

A Chilly Day

     It's the first Thursday in November and that means we have a new challenge starting over at Crafting with an Attitude.   Our sponsor is Lemon Shortbread and they were so generous in providing images to the team.  I've used one called "Chilly Days" and it's perfect for a fall card.

Colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut
Framed with a leftover negative from a Sue Wilson die
Sheer ribbon wrapped and hand-tied into a bow
Fabric pumpkin added
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Everything mounted onto a burgundy card base

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Cute Card Thurs
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Color Tues
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds
Work It Weds

     I hope you're going to come and play in our "Anything Goes" challenge this month.  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Visit

     I wish my summer garden looked this neat and tidy.  I'm afraid the weeds have taken over during these weeks of shoulder problems and doctor's orders to "do nothing."  I'm healing well now, but not enough to go out and undo the ravages of untended nature.  lol

     The image is from  Lemon Shortbread.

     ProMarkers
     QuicKutz dies
     Gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
   
     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Happy Craft
Passion for ProMarkers
Tues Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

All About the Rain

     Another "rain dance" card today, still hoping that we'll get another half inch or so before the dry days of summer set in.  I love this darling little girl from Lemon Shortbread in her rain slicker and boots.

I used the colors from My Favorite Things.

     She's been colored with ProMarkers, and cut with a scalloped die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and also cut with a QuicKutz die.  The flowers are die cut from mulberry paper (Spellbinders) and I added a tiny gem to the center of each.   What you can't see is that the center flower has been glittered with loose glitter. 
   
     I found two different satin ribbons in my stash of Crafty Ribbons, one white and the other light gray, and I layered them together before wrapping them around the suede cloth card front.  This is the last of my suede cloth and that's a great excuse to go buy some more.  :-D  It gives such a lovely texture to the card.

     Challenges:
CCC Digi Creations
Country View Crafts
Creative Craft Cottage
Dies R Us
Digi Choosday
Double Trouble (2 done)
Outlawz Greetings
Paperminutes
TTCRD

     Halfway to the weekend - woohoo!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Candle Light and Silent Night

     This post is all about the latest challenge which starts today over at Crafting with an Attitude.  As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes" and we have Lemon Shortbread as our fabulous sponsor!  They generously supplied us with images we could use and I fell in love with Candlelight Girl. Candle light at Christmas is probably my favorite thing during the holiday season.

     I think the image may have originally been intended for Halloween but it's so versatile, it worked perfectly for a Christmas card as well.  I think it could make a great birthday card, too.

     I colored with ProMarkers, made the stars with white gel pen, and cut it with a die from Gina Marie.  I used silver ribbon with glittery, silver spots which could be interpreted as winter snowflakes.  Everything went onto a navy blue card front, and I added a tiny, hand tied, bow below the image.  It's pretty CAS but that's what showcased the image.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Cardz TV
Creative Moments
Cute N Crafty Christmas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Southern Girls
That's Crafty!
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Poinsettia Girl

     Look, after all the Halloween and Thanksgiving cards this month, I've actually done a Christmas card!   That beautiful image is from Lemon Shortbread.

I used the sketch at Try Stamping on Tuesday 

for inspiration, but turned it sideways.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added yellow Nuvo Crystal Drops to the centers of the poinsettias, then used a Memory Box die to cut the image.  The dp is from an old stack by K & Co. found in my stash, and the deep, forest green is CS which I embossed with my "Linen" folder.  The leaves were cut with a Cheery Lynn die and I added glitter to them for some Christmas sparkle.

     The card base is made from kraft CS and, after the papers were added but before the leaves or image, I wrapped sparkly, golden, ribbon around the bottom, then added all the other pieces, including the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Scrappy Land
Tuesday Throwdown

     OMGoodness, it's nearly the weekend!  I have lots of crafting planned because the first of the month is almost here and I have DT projects which will be posting that day.

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

Hedgehog Gratitude

     Can hedgehogs be grateful?  Sure, why not?  Give them a few leaves to line their nests before winter hits and their gratitude knows no bounds.  :-D

     I did this sweet card using an image from Lemon Shortbread.

I started with the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

and the autumn colors from Time Out.

  

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with an Unbranded die.  The glittery dots which make up the flourish along the left side and the three on the top right I made by hand punching the dots out of paper which I had glittered and let dry before punching.

     I printed the sentiment, inked the edges and added it above the image.  The bow was hand sewn from sheer ribbon and I put one of the glittered dots on it.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

House that Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Mod Squad

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds.

Words to Craft By

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back tomorrow with something else for you to see.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Under the Sea

     OK, now that I have all those who read the post title humming that song in their heads...  :-D   This sweet mermaid image is from Lemon Shortbread and this is one of the images I chose when I was a winner at one of their recent challenges.  Of course, I also went on a shopping spree so maybe this is one I bought - I don't actually remember.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter ink to the bubbles, then cut both the image and the dp frame with Wonky Square dies from Spellbinders.  Instead of lining up the frame exactly with the image, I turned the frame a quarter turn which seemed to accent the 'wonkiness' of the die cuts.  I also cut the printed sentiment with the smallest wonky die but this time I had to do it in two cuts, moving the die before the second cut to fit the size of the sentiment.

     I used a scrap of mesh 'ribbon' and I think it added to the ocean theme.  I found the seahorse charm in my stash and used it as the primary embellishment.  I wanted the design to be as CAS as possible so that the image would be showcased.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty!
Work It Weds.

     That's all I have for today but it's good to be back into my normal routine.  I'll be catching up on all my missed visits and comments so bear with me.  Happy Crafting.  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

Beautiful Winter Lady

     I was lucky enough to be a challenge winner last week at a challenge which was sponsored by Lemon Shortbread and I could hardly wait to get this image colored up!  It's new to me (and maybe new in the store) but it was one of the images I chose as my prize.  Doesn't she make a fantastic Winter lady?

     I colored with ProMarkers, die cut with a die from Cottage Cutz, and put the image onto an embossed background.  I added the hand cut sentiment, a tiny peacock feather and a hand-tied bow and called it finished.  I wanted to keep it as CAS as possible because I wanted that lovely image to be showcased, not covered up.  :-D

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Delicious Doodles
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz CAS
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Stamping Sensations

     Back to the craft room - I'm still not crafted out.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rosy Birthday

     Adding to my collection of birthday cards, although this one will be going out fairly soon for a summer birthday.  The image from Lemon Shortbread was so much fun to color and made me think of summer so I used summer-y colors!  One of the 'fun' summer things I get to do is tend my roses, and make lots of rose bouquets for the breakfast bar and dining table.  For me, roses mean summer every bit as much as trip to the seashore.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from one of my sets by Spellbinders.  I layered the die cut onto a coral pink card front and added one of my little hand-made bows, dyed with a ProMarker to get the exact color I wanted.

     The die cut was so detailed and feminine that the card really didn't need any other embellishment so I opted for leaving it rather simple.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Fab'n Funky
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Word Art Weds.

     I have another post in a few hours so be sure to stop back and visit again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie