Stencil Christmas Tree

     Last year, when the Linda Simpson Designs blog was still holding challenges and I was part of the DT, I got this wonderful Christmas Tree stencil.  Unfortunately, it arrived in my mailbox when I was off on my holiday travels so I never did get to use it.  But this year, I dug it out and this is my first (but definitely not last) card using it. 

     I used removable tape to put the stencil down on white CS and just colored the tree instead of using it for dimensional pastes.  I started coloring with ProMarkers, then added white gel pen for the 'snow.'  The star and tree trunk are also done with ProMarkers.  I cut the corners with two different Fiskars punches, then matted the image with a scrap piece of red CS.

     The dp came from my Christmas stash of papers and I think it's from Doodlebug.  The burgundy ribbon is also a scrap.  I tied a double loop, double layer, bow using my bow maker.  After looking at the photo, I think I may add a die cut "Merry Christmas" sentiment to the top.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Hazelnut's DP
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Scribbles Designs
So Suzy/Crackerbox

     OK, I finally got a post up for today.  I was beginning to think everything would have to wait until tomorrow.  It seems that every project I started got interrupted with something else which had to be done right then, and that led to another something which required immediate attention.  Ever have one of those days?  Yeah, me, too - too often!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Easter and New Challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Happy Easter to all !

     Today starts our newest monthly challenge over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and, for April, we're sponsored by Linda Simpson Designs.  Check out the post on the 2 CCC blog for all the details.

     I used an image from the "So Heavenly" set and it just seemed to call for flowers and butterflies!

      The image is cut with a die from Spellbinders and I backed it with yellow CS so that the little butterfly 'negatives' would show through.  I used two of the tiny butterflies which fell out, along with two Cheery Lynn die cuts I used to make the yellow, double butterfly.

     I found the lovely spring flowers in my stash and decided to use them along the left side of the main image.  Everything went onto a scrap of wood grain CS for the background.  I printed, cut and added the sentiment and finally found 2 left over pearls which I used as the body of the double butterfly.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cookie Challenge
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
DL.ART

Fussy and Fancy Friday
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Star Stampz
Victorine Originals

     Sorry I was late adding my challenge links but I've come down with a cold and have such a stuffy head and sore throat that I just couldn't sit at the computer any longer.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Stylish Belle

     My eldest granddaughter has developed a true love of old Hollywood, pin-up girls.  She celebrated her birthday this month and, while I didn't have anything from the actual WWII time period she likes best, this image from the "Madamoiselle" collection by Linda Simpson Designs seemed to fit the genre.  She loved the card so I guess it worked.  :-D  She and I also found some archive patterns and we're going to sew some pin-up outfits for her to wear when she volunteers at Veterans' and Honor Flight functions.

     Making the card was pretty simple.  I printed the image, wrapped a piece of black CS with wide, white lace, and added the black bow.  Done!

     Challenges:
Creative Moments
DL.ART
Ike's World
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Star Stampz
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Short and sweet today but I have places to go and things to see.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Joie de Vivre

     The first Friday of the month is the day we start new challenges at Emerald City, using fabulous images and papers from Linda Simpson Designs, and this month I've used a stunning vintage image from the "Madamoiselle" ephemera collection.  Isn't she incredible?

     This one was fast and easy to make.  The image did all the work.  :-D  I cut the image piece into a rectangle and bordered it with black lace on each side.  I put the blue flowers together into a long shape and added them to the bottom of the card.  Honestly, I spent more time fiddling with the flower spray than anything else.  :-D

     I know you're going to see a lot more creations from me using other images and papers from this set!  I'm absolutely hooked on it.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Country View Crafts
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Digistamps 4 Joy
World Wide Open DT

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

So Cute !

     Today is the start of a brand new monthly challenge at Emerald City and I hope you're going to come play along with us.  This box lid is done using a wonderful and fun image from the "So Cute" ephemera collection at Linda Simpson Designs.  In addition to the wonderful images available, Linda Simpson Designs has sets of gorgeous digital papers and I used one of the pink ones from the Nostalgia Set #3.

     While there are lots of sweet images in this particular collection, I had to choose one with kitties, of course.  :-D   I made the lid using a box maker and have yet to complete the bottom.  I ran out of the heavy duty card I used for hte lid and have to get more before I can finish the box.

     I added lots of gems and pearls, plus bits of lace scraps and a wonderful white butterfly.  The "Smile" sentiment was cut with a die from Sizzix.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
A Vintage Journey
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Catz
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     Remember, we always have an "Anything Goes" theme and we'd love to see you create something and enter it into our challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Family Christmas

     If you're looking for the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies DT card, scroll down one post.  It's a busy First Friday of the Month and I'll have a total of 4 posts!

     This is my DT card for the challenge at Emerald City Crafts.  The wonderful vintage image is ephemera from Linda Simpson Designs and came from the Joyeux Noel set.  Although the image is from a time much earlier, it makes me think of childhood Christmas days at my Grammy's house.

     This card looks much more complex in design than it really is 

but I based it on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

    The sentiment, the image, the red striped paper and the sheet of music are actually all part of the image.  I cut that and matted it with red CS.

     I used more red CS on the card front, but cut it lengthwise so that it was only 2.5 inches wide on an A2 card front.  I added a lace doily, then layered on the image piece.  For embellishment, I added the double layer, distressed wreath at the edge of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Ellen Hutson Pinsights
Inspiration Destination
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us at Emerald City Crafts this month.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image from any company.  The challenge runs for 3 weeks, ending at the 3rd Friday, and that gives the DT a week to vote on winners and Top 3, which are announced when the next challenge starts on the first Friday of the following month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Christmas

     We're at the first Friday in November and that means a new challenge over at Emerald City Crafts.  This month I used a beautiful vintage, Christmas image from the "Joyeux Noel" ephemera collection by Linda Simpson Designs.  I love all the winter/Christmas images in this collection (see at the bottom) but this sweet little girl seemed to call out to me to be used first!

    I loved the icy blues combined with the green holly and red berries so carried that through the card design by laying white lace over a strip of blue CS and adhering that to the card front.  I put the image piece on top of that and added the sentiment below it.  

     The dove is die cut (Memory Box) from flocked paper to which I had added the tiniest bit of glitter for some sparkle.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Digi Choosday
Merry Monday
Outlawz Festive Friday
Send a Smile 4 Kids
     I hope we're going to see you play along this month.  It's an "Anything Goes" theme as always.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

In Autumn Beauty

     We're at the first Friday in October and that means a new challenge over at Emerald City Crafts.  This month I used a beautiful bird image from the "Les Beaux Oiseaux" ephemera collection by Linda Simpson Designs.  I love all the images in this particular collection (see at the bottom) but this one seemed so perfect for an autumn card.

     I also decided that this image called for a shabby chic card with lots of layers and plenty of laces, ribbons, and paper flowers for embellishment.  There are several layers to the image piece, then a twill ribbon, plus strips of gray lace all laid on top of a delightful vintage paper.

     The multi-loop bow was made on my bow maker and I added a wooden bead to it, matching the ones in the centers of the paper flowers.  I really love the final look of this card!

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Crazy Challenge
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Fussy and Fancy
Paper Girls
Ribbon Girl
TTCRD

     There will be another post in about 3 hours so be sure to stop by again for that one.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

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Emerald City September Challenge

     I don't have to tell you how crazy I am about Linda Simpson Designs and her Emerald City Crafts Challenge, do I?  I love being part of her DT, a fabulous group of  fun, friendly, and creative ladies!  We do one challenge each month which runs for three weeks from the first Friday, then we take a week off to choose the winner and Top 3.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any kind of image.  Of course, we all use images from Linda Simpson Designs because they are sooo gorgeous, and we truly love it when you use them, too!

   

     This one with the sweet little Hoyt's Perfume girl is from the "So Cute" set and the papers are from the "Nostalgia" set.  I started with a yellow card base, added a matted scrap of the same background dp, and layered on a scrap of white lace.  I put the image piece together by using two of the images, offset against each other and then layered onto the matted background paper.  That whole thing went on top of the lace.

     I chose a pale pink rose and tiny pink bow (one of those that I make by the dozens from scraps of satin ribbon and keep ready in my stash) then called it finished.  How's that for a perfect vintage piece?  :-D

     Challenges:

Come and Get It

Digi Choosday

Glitter n Sparkle

In the Pink

Lemon Shortbread

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

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