Double Spotlight on Flowers

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     Our challenge for May over at Open-Minded Crafting Fun has four sponsors; Dr. Digi's, Julia Spiri, Lemon Shortbread, and Scribbles Designs.   We have a fun theme of "Using Your Favorite Technique."   There are several I really like to use but doing a Spotlight Technique has been a favorite ever since I first tried it.  Recently, I learned how to do a Double Spotlight and I love that even more!

     The image I used is "Flower Pot 2" from Scribbles Designs.

I took my colors mostly from the inspirational photo at

Make My Monday.

     After the image was printed, I printed a second one and colored only the flowers (ProMarkers.)  I cut it with a Scalloped Stitched Circle die from Memory Box, then cut out the center of that piece with another, smaller die from that same set.  I mounted the center piece onto Pop Dots so that it was raised above the main spotlight piece.  Lining up the spotlight pieces with the black and white image underneath resulted in an out-of-the-box technique also.

     With so much detail from the two techniques, I used a very CAS design for the overall card.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and adhered to the background dp which I found in my scrap basket.  I thought the tiny dots in the dp pattern complemented the stitches in the die cuts.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Artistic Inspirations
Card Mania
CAS on Sunday
Classic DT
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Dragonfly Dreams
Eureka Stamps
Incy Wincy
My Crafting Stories
One Stitch at a Time
Scrapy Land

     I hope we're going to see you entering the challenge this month.  Just decide on a technique and make something you can enter.  We can hardly wait to have you inspire us.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It's a Pastel Spring at Open-Minded Crafting Fun

     April is my favorite spring month.  It's the one that has mild weather even if it's raining.  Snow and violent storms are gone and the hot weather has yet to arrive.  I don't mind April showers at all, especially in the midst of the severe drought we've had out here for 4 years.

     For our April challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun we have a theme of "Pastel Colors," another of my favorite spring things.  We're being sponsored by A Random Fan, Crafty Sentiments Designs, Lacy Sunshine, and Maria Medel Illustrations.   I used a sweet Crafty Sentiments image called "Nature Watching."

     I colored it with chalks and ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I wrapped striped ribbon through it and then layered it onto another die cut to frame it, also Spellbinders.  That went onto the card front and I used a Fiskars corner punch to decorate all four corners.

     Challenges:
A Beautiful Mess
A Gem of a Challenge
ArtbyMiran
Brown Sugar
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Docerela
Imagine That!
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Pattie's Creations
Scrapper's Delights
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft

     I hope you're going to dig into your supplies, find something wonderfully pastel to fit with our theme, and then come play with us.  We love being inspired by each and every one of you.  Happy Stamping. NanaConnie
     

Purrr-fect Together

     Open-Minded Crafting Fun starts its February challenge today and it will run throughout February and into March.  New challenges begin there on the 10th of each month.  This month, we have a theme of "Love" or "Valentines."  Even after Valentine's Day is over, we can always do with a bit more Love to share.  We have four great sponsors this month; All Dressed Up, Ppinky Dolls, SLS Lines, and Zuri Artsy.

     I am using a darling image from All Dressed Up called "Purrfect Together."

     I loaded the image once, using MS Word, and then loaded and flipped it for a second image.  I sized one slightly larger than the other so that I could use them as a cute couple.  I printed them onto white CS and then printed them again onto the background dp (I love how it looks almost like wallpaper!), including in that printing the sentiment which came with the image.

     I colored them with ProMarkers, fussy cut them and layered them onto the background, carefully lining up the whiskers and black outlines.  I used my favorite ever sheer ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and then die cut some heart-shaped leaves (Spellbinders.)   I added punched and glittered flowers, putting wooden beads in the centers.  I think this is a delightful Valentine card but would work just as well for an engagement, an anniversary, for someone who just got a new feline fur baby, or for any occasion which celebrates pets or love.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Animal Friends
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Connie Can Crop
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Creative Corner
Dies R Us
Just Us Girls
My Time to Craft
Oddball Art
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Creator's Crafts
Pattie's Creations
Petal Lu
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Show Us Your Pussy Cats
Sweet Stampin'

     Come play along with us this month, won't you?   We'd love to see what you enter.  Remember, we get as inspired by looking at all the entries as you do by reviewing the DT cards.  See you at Open-Minded!  Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

Open-Minded Crafting Fun is Back!!

     OK, we've all been waiting for the return of Open-Minded Crafting Fun which has been on a 4 month break.  They've added some new DT members, taken back a few who were on the team once before (me! Bless their hearts), and several of the ladies who were on the team when they started the long break have stayed on.  Changes include becoming a monthly challenge which will begin on the 10th of each month.

     Today starts our first challenge in 2016 and our theme is "Try Something New."  That might be a new technique, a new product, a new card style...  we just need to know what you used that's new.  We have multiple sponsors for this challenge:  Doodle Pantry ($10 GC);  Imagine That ($10 GC);  Polkadoodles (7.50 Euro GC); and finally Smeared Ink ($25 of digis).  Unfortunately, Smeared Ink closed in December and, while they still will be sponsoring us, I can't link to their store anymore.

     Each of these sponsors provided images for the DT to use and my image came from Imagine That.  It's called "Polar Love" and I think it's just the sweetest thing for a Valentine card.

     My design is pretty CAS but I do have lots of 'new' on it.  First, I used new CS to make the card base and the mat for the image.  Next, the little heart buttons are cut with one of my new punches (Fiskars).  The larger hearts are cut with a new die (Spellbinders).  On the other hand, the corners are rounded with my oldest corner punch and the bow is one of those I make by the dozens and toss into my stash to use in the future.  So, there's a nice blend of old and new.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
As You Like It
Craft-Dee BowZ
Craft Rocket
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Boots
Creative Moments
Lemon Shortbread
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz PAM
Paper Shelter
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Star Stampz
WordArt Wednesday

     I hope you'll come play with us in the new monthly challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.  You have all the rest of January to enter and you just need to show us something new.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Activity, Feline Style

     Good morning and happy Saturday!  It's the weekend, the Easter festivities are over and summer is just around the corner.  It's time to begin a new challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun with four more fantastic sponsors.  They are: Art by Miram; Kenny K.; Pholkart; and Stitchy Bear.  Our theme is "Sports or Activity."  I used a delightful image from Pholkart.

     I call this card "Window Staring" for obvious reasons.  Since the theme is Sports or Activity, I guess I should explain that "Window Staring" is one of the premier events in the Feline Olympics!  This particular 'Folk Art Cat' has been at it day and night for 2 straight days.  :-D

     The image is colored with Copics and ProMarkers and cut with a rectangle die.  The papers are from Close to My Heart and are also die cut.  The long strip isn't ribbon, it's also dp from the same CTMH set.  I tied a triple bow using cord and added a flower and a rhinestone.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font and then cut with a fancy frame die.  I added distress ink around the filigree edges.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More -- Make your mark (Coloring)
Crafting from the Heart -- A/G
Everybody Art -- Cute card
Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- A/G
Incy Wincy Designs -- Furry friends
Just Inspirational -- Bingo: dies/ Flower/ Glitter/ Twine
My Craft Creations -- A/G
Outlawz Twisted Thurs -- A/G
Pholkart Studio -- A/G

     Come join us in our challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.  If you check out the rest of the DT projects, you'll find all kinds of activities that are a lot more 'active' than Window Staring, but my life is ruled by felines, especially those who love to Window Stare!  Our challenge run for two weeks so you have plenty of time to get something made and entered.  Remember, with four different sponsors, you have four times as many changes to win something great so it's definitely worth entering!  See you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Writing Squirrely Notes

     This is set to go live on Saturday morning and if it gets posted as scheduled, I'll be very happy.  We've suffered two power outages this afternoon, one just as I was getting ready to write up this post.  Boom, no power!  Then it came back on for about 10 minutes (just long enough to get everything reset on the computer and fix the two electric clocks in the house) and then, snap, out again.  It's back on now but who knows?  I've set the scheduler first thing and then added the photo and I'm hoping to get the post finished without any further problems.  :-D  But, if you're seeing an unfinished post, it went out again and I'll finish it when I can.

     Today is the start of our next challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun and this fortnight we want to see buttons on your creation.  That's it -- make whatever you like but be sure to add some buttons.  We have 4 wonderful sponsors, one of which is QKR Stampede and I used a fun image supplied by them.  Our other sponsors are:  Digi Darla, Gerda Doodles, and Oak Pond Creations.

     Here's my card using "Writing Squirrel" from QKR Stampede.  I'm probably going to use this card myself to write a real note to a friend.  Shocking idea in this day and age of e-mail, isn't it?

My sketch came from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, and it really isn't done in blues.  Everything except his blue jeans is lavender and periwinkle, including the 'blue' CS.  Oh, well, I tried for more spring like colors but the photography really did that in.  I die cut and layered the image onto a mat which was also die cut.   The papers are from DCWV, but they were left over scraps so I'm not sure of the name of the stack.  The sentiment is computer generated, then around-the-corner-border-punched and matted, and I added my buttons to the sentiment piece.  The little bows in the corners are from the stash of bows I make.  Those are my last brown ones so it's time to make another dozen soon.  :-D

     Challenges:

Digi Makeover -- Buttons

Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- Anything goes

Friends of Speedy TV -- Spring colors

My Craft Spot -- Cute critters

Paper Nest Dolls -- Anything goes

Papertake Weekly -- TicTacToe: Buttons/ free/ punched

Party Time Tuesday -- Anything goes

Vintage Stamping/ Flonz -- Just for you

     I'll keep it really short and hope that power stays on.  Come play with us this fortnight.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

'Tis a Sweet Irish Lassie

     It's Saturday and that means another challenge has started over at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.  We have four more fabulous sponsors this fortnight (Dilly Beans, Flat Friends, The Stamping Chef, and Whoopsi Daisy) and a great new theme, "Something Green."  Well, not only am I getting prepared for the green of spring, I'm thinking of St. Patrick's Day and my own Irish heritage.  Today's card is a tribute to all of the above.  The image is from The Stamping Chef and it's called "Louisa Mae."

I used the sketch from The Outlawz Sketch Challenge this week.

      I tried a new technique on this card which I learned about a couple of weeks ago.  It has to do with "velvet" glitters which I discovered over at Sparkle n Sprinkle (challenge theme -- use loose glitter, EP or flocking), which are micro fine glitters with an incredible look and feel.  Let me tell you about making my card and we'll get to the glittering technique in order.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and then die cut it with one of my framing dies from Spellbinders.   I kept the outer (negative) piece, chalked the edges of it with mint green chalk, then laid it back around the frame piece.  I took a piece of sticker paper, peeled the paper off one side and laid the image and outer piece onto the sticker paper.

     All the open holes in the die cut frame were now "sticky" so I sprinkled on Mountain Mist velvet glitter, burnished it into the sticky holes with my finger, brushed off the excess glitter into a coffee filter I had put under the image piece, and then I cut the outside shape of  the chalked piece to what you see on the card.  Peeling off the paper from the back side of the image piece let me adhere the image right to the card front (after laying down the green newsprint paper, of course.)

     I added the triple bow and the shamrocks (also die cut from sticker paper and glittered), then the sentiment, pearl swirl, and gems in the corners.  I wish the sparkle of the velvet glitter showed up better in the photo.  I guess you'll just have to take my word for how sparkly it is IRL.  I love this sticker paper technique and plan to do a lot more practicing with it.  I want to try some other masking techniques with it as well.  In case you're wondering, yes, I had glitter everywhere!  lol  But that's because I seem to be a glitter magnet when I try to use anything more than the teeniest pinch of it at a time.

     Challenges:
Baffies Kreativladen -- Anything goes
Creative Moments -- Anything goes or swirls/ pearls
Divas by Design -- Sparkle
Digi Sketch -- Anything goes
House That Stamps Built -- Black, white & 1 color (green)
I {heart} ProMarkers -- Die cuts, no punches
Lexi's Creations -- Monochromatic
Paper Pretties -- New technique
Passion for ProMarkers -- Make it digital
Perfectly Rustics -- Shades of one color
Simon Says Stamp -- Pearls

     I have three posts today and one of them is as a new DT member so be sure to check out each one of them.  I assure you, you'll find lots of green so you can pretend it's spring or just celebrate the Emerald Isle.  :-D  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

Melting Snowman

     A happy Saturday to you and yours.  Another new challenge starts today at Open-Minded Crafting Fun and our theme is "Warmth -- Food or Clothing."  We have five different and fabulous sponsors and I've listed each of them with their badges at the end of this post.  They are:  Digi Darla's, Digital Delights, Digistamps 4 Joy, QKR Stampede, and Sentimental Susan.  Most of them supplied images for the DT members to use and you can find lots of inspiration from the team if you just go visit the Open-Minded blog.

     I'm using a wonderful image from QKR Stampede called "Melting Snowman" (digi #13712.)  It's just such a perfect image for the "Warmth" theme.  Even though he's only wearing a scarf and top hat, he's obviously waaaay too warm!  I'm sure he'd prefer more snow and ice.  Come to think of it, most of us out here in drought-worn California would love to see more snow and ice.  When it melts, it would help fill our rather empty lakes and rivers.  We've had record breaking, warm, January temperatures so we fit right in with this theme. :-D

My sketch is from I {heart} Sketches (reversed)

and I took my colors from the Alcohol Markers challenge at Outlawz.

  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with another die cut.  The ribbon is sparkly and is part of a whole bunch of ribbon I bought in the after-Christmas sales.  The paper is from Colorbok and the snowflakes were also part of the after-Christmas shopping spree.  Although it's hard to see in the photo, I added sparkle to the snow, the water drips, and the edges of the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Crazy Challenge -- Cards for men
Cuttin' and Stampin' -- A/G about Winter
Eureka Stamps -- Bundle up
Everybody Art -- Snow
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations -- Snowman
Kaboodle Doodles -- Winter Wonderland
Stamp and Create -- Winter Wonderland
Without Words -- Spots or stripes

     Here are the badges for all our sponsors this challenge.  Just think, five sponsors means five chances to win!  So, dig out those warm images -- those with clothes or food that just shout warmth and comfort -- and come play along with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie