Thinking of You

      In the midst of all the Valentine themed cards I've been doing for the last couple of weeks, I took the time to do this one which features an image by Christine Karron, the January sponsor for the Thursday Twist challenge over on the Outlawz.  I have the honor of being a Guest Designer this month and it was through that GDT spot that I first learned of Christine Karron and her lovely art work.

     Thursday Twist challenges always have an "Anything goes" theme but they also give an optional twist which you can use if you want to enter twice.  The optional theme this fortnight is "Fantasy."

     I used ProMarkers and polychromos pencils to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Die-namics.  The black frame was cut with a QuicKutz die.  The background was done with watercolors.  I tried for an ombre effect but watercolor is often hard to control and I'm not sure I really got the proper definition between light and dark.  But I did love how it turned out so I ironed it dry (medium cotton setting) and used it for the background.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die, added a black mat, and sewed one of my signature, satin bows with a pearl for embellishment.

This is based on Sketch 221 at Sweet Sketch Weds,

turned a quarter turn.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspiration

Dies R Us

Get Creative

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Word Art Weds

Your Next Stamp

     See you at The Outlawz!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Very Cherry Birthday

     I have the honor of being a Guest Designer for the Thursday challenge at The Outlawz.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and there's always an optional twist which you can use if you want to enter twice instead of just once.  The twist this time is "Feminine."  

     There's always a sponsor for the entire month and challenges run for 2 weeks at a time.  This month the sponsor is Christine Karron, a new-to-me artist (whose images and coloring pages I adore) and, as soon as I saw her artwork, I went on a shopping spree at her shop!

     For this card, I used an image called "Sweet Temptation" which was supplied by Christine for the DT to use.  (It's a freebie available on her website - just click on the name of the image above.)  I colored it using my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a circle die from Dare 2B Artzy.  The pink frame was cut with a larger die from that same set.  The background was made with glitter CS from Recollections.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and the bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Lil Patch of ...

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     If you're not yet a member of  The Outlawz, you can join in about 1 minute and it's FREE!   You can play in a different challenge each day of the week ('join' each daily challenge individually from the main home page, then you can play in them whenever), plus there are both a progressive monthly challenge and another one for using up old stash items which are lying about, forgotten, and which need to be used.  Yes, you have lots of those, you know you do!  :-D  

    

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mountain Columbine in Lavender

     I'm guest designing for The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge again and the optional twist on the challenge is to "use one of the sponsor's images."  The sponsor for April is STAMPlorations and I used one of their beautiful floral stamps, "Columbine." 

     I colored this one by looking at a photograph of an actual columbine flower.  Although they come in many different colors, including yellow and red, for me the lavender ones are the best because any shade of purple is my favorite.  Purples are my happy colors!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die.
Die cut behind the image is also Spellbinders
Sparkle ribbon strip is Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sheer ribbon bow tied with bow maker
Everything is laid on grape CS

     Challenges:
Allsorts
CCC Digi Creations
Cardz TV
Crafter's Cafe
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Double D
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     Come play with us.  The challenge runs for 2 weeks so lots of time.  If you're not a member of the Outlawz, you can join free and they have new challenges that run for 2 weeks on each day of the week plus 2 monthly challenges.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Another GDT Spot - Outlawz Twisted Thursday

     I'm serving as yet another Guest Designer and this one is a bit of a homecoming.  I used to be on the DT for the Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz!  Now, I'm playing Guest Designer for the month of April.

     Our lovely sponsor is STAMPLorations (that's one of their images) and the theme is "Maps or Signs."  I did a hand-drawn sign pointing the way to my morning cup of coffee.  There are a lot of mornings when I get up but my brain is foggy and my eyes are half closed.  It's those morning when I could use a good sign pointing the way to the coffee pot.  :-D

     Doesn't this stamp make you think about sitting in a garden on a spring day, sipping coffee, and reading a good book?

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with die from QuicKutz
Pink frame is also cut with QuickKutz die
Lace is a scrap saved from an old sweater
Raffia bow + Hand-sewn ribbon bow
Hand-drawn sign, fussy cut

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cameo in Blue

     Here I am back with the Twisted Thursday Challenge at the Outlawz but this time as a GDT, not a DT.   Either way, it's fun to be back even if it's just for one week.  :-D  The sponsor for the TT challenge this whole month is Digistamps 4 Joy and they supplied a few digis for the DT ladies to use.  I chose this wonderful Cameo image.  The theme at TT is always "Anything Goes" but they usually have an optional twist to go with it and this week the twist is to "Use Punches or Dies."  That's right up my alley -- I love using dies!

     I decided that a monochromatic card would be fun so I used various shades of blue ProMarkers to color most of the image, then dug out two sets of QuicKutz dies and one plain oval die from Spellbinders. The image itself was cut with the oval Spellbinders' die and the two mats were cut with the Round and Square dies from QuicKutz.

     I added Glossy Accents to each of the "gems" circling the cameo and added glitter to her necklace, hair gems, and earrings.  I layered everything together on a blue card base, and added two bows as the only embellishments.  I really wanted the decorative dies to be showcased instead of buried under tons of embellishments.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
A Vintage Journey
Cuttlebug Mania
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Colors
Scrapper's Delights
Sisterhood of Crafters
Take It, Make It

     I hope we're going to see you playing along at The Outlawz this week.  Just grab your dies or punches and make something truly inspired.  :-D  Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Just Peeking In

     This is my last post as a Design Teamie on the Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge.  I'll still be playing in challenges over there because I love the people and the challenges but this is the last day of my DT term.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but the optional twist this week is "Flowers," either in the image or added as embellies.

     Our sponsor for the month of May is Sami Stamps and they generously supplied images to each of the DT members.  This one is called "Flower Hat."  Doesn't she look like the most special lady in the world wearing her fabulous spring hat?  :-D

I used the sketch I found over at Sketch Saturday

modified a little to keep it more simple.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers.  I found that luscious sparkly ribbon in my stash and also the narrow 1/8" ribbon I used to make the double bow.  I think they both came from The Ribbon Girl.   The sentiment is printed with a computer font and fussy cut, then matted with the same CS that I used for the card front.  The pearls were also in my stash.

     Challenges
CAS on Sunday
Catch the Bug
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Digi Choosday
Digi Sketch
Eureka Stamps
Great Impressions
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz PAM
Paper Girls
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl
Sami Stamps
Scrapper's Delights
Stamp and Create
Top Tip Tuesday

      A fond farewell to all my DT mates at Twisted Thursday and I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Don't forget, it's all about "Flowers" if you decide to add the twist which allows you to enter two projects instead of only one, increasing your chances of winning.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Long Stretch...

     It's Thursday and we have a brand new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday where our theme is always Anything Goes but we offer an optional twist.  The twist this week is "Add a Charm."  We have a terrific sponsor this entire month, Sami Stamps.

     The image is printed on a piece of scrap CS and then colored with ProMarkers.  Both the sheer ribbon and the twine are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, but they've been in my stash for a long time.  I decided that it was definitely time to use them.  I used three pieces of twine to tie the bow.  The kitty charm was in my stash.

     CAS and quick to complete.  As my friend, Lynn, (who loves cards done in blues,) would say, "Just git 'er done!"

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
CAS on Sunday
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Digi Chooseday
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Not Just Cards
Paper Minutes
Papertake Weekly
Perfectly Rustics
Scribble & Scrap
Sisterhood of Crafters
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Twisted Thursday "Anything Goes" challenge this week.  If you don't belong to The Outlawz yet, use this link to get to the main page and join up.  It's free and you'll find a different challenge each and every day plus a Progressive Challenge once a month.  The crafters over there are so warm and wonderfully friendly; you'll love the people you meet.  Come join us, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It's a (broken) Mouse Tail

     When I saw this digi over at QKR Stampede, I knew I wanted to use it but couldn't figure out exactly where or how.  So, when the opportunity arose for a Twisted Thursday at Outlawz challenge without an assigned image, I decided it was the perfect opportunity and made another "Get Well" card for my stash.

     Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this week our optional twist is "Texture."

      The image is colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut by hand.  I used a Darise embossing folder on black CS to make the frame, then sanded the embossing so that the white core shows through.  The one word sentiment is my own.  I added the blue bow for a bit more texture and called it finished, a nice CAS design.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Cards in Envy
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Design Team Showcase
Get Creative
Mema's
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb
Not Just Cards
Paper Nest Dolls
Robyn's Fetish
Sentimental Sundays
Sisters of Craft
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope we're going to see you playing along at The Outlawz this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hibernating Birds?

     It's Thursday and time for another fun challenge at Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme and then we have an additional but optional twist if you want to use it.  Our optional twist this week is "Lovely as a Tree."  Our sponsor this month is Bugaboo Stamps and they were generous in providing images for the DT to use.  Thanks, Jodie!

     I'm not sure if these birds think their 'tree' is all that lovely this time of year but that's their fault for not migrating before winter set in, right?

My sketch also came from Outlawz this week.

     I used my ProMarkers (favorites of all the brands I have) to color the image and added a bit of sparkle and white gel pen to the snow.  Obviously, I used some of my favorite color, too -- purple!  The sentiment is mine and I printed it right below the image, then die cut both in the same piece and embossed around the inside edge.  I die cut the blue background pieces and used the waste pieces to make the edging along the right side of the card.  Both die sets are from Spellbinders.  I also used a hand punch on three of the corners.  Almost CAS (but for the layers) with minimal embellishing and lots of open space, even if it isn't 'white' space.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (emboss/stripes/animal)
Corrosive Challenge
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Dragonfly Dream
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Hiding in My Craft Room
Kit and Clowder
Kreativeinkauf
My Sheri Crafts
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Creator's Crafts
Scrap It Girl

     That's all I have for today.  Unfortunately, I'm under the weather with this flu that's making the rounds and I just don't feel like being up and around for very long at a time.  Hope things are healthier at your house.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  DT

New Love for the Young

     (Edited to add:  Sorry this is late today but I've been denied internet access by my provider -- cable box problems -- for several days now and I didn't have this post pre-scheduled.)

     Once again, Valentine's Day looms just over the horizon and in honor of that, I've used a really fun image from Bugaboo Stamps (our sponsor) to make a card for the new challenge at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist of "Use Brads or Eyelets" on your card.  I chose brads and I'll give you a tip on getting brad colors you need but might not have in your collection.  First, the card:

     The image (new to me) is colored in stripes with red ProMarkers (I wanted a black, white, and red monochromatic combo for this one), corner punched, matted and corner punched again.  The two dp are from one of my new stacks by Authentique.  I have been so good for months and months, using up my stash and my scraps of dp and not buying any papers at all but when I saw this particular stack, I simply had to have it!  What's the point of using up what you already have if you don't get to buy something new to replace it?

     I added stitching to the black striped dp and used a red heart brad in the corner.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the scallops are die cuts using one of my new dies (Cheery Lynn) and yes, I am in love with that new die in case you think you've seen it once or twice already.  :-D  Finally, I finished off this celebration of 'New Love' by adding three different sizes of round brads.

     Now, the tip I promised you -- I wanted to match the color of the heart brad as closely as possible but when I looked, I had no red brads anywhere!  I did have some red embossing powder that was really close in color so I embossed the brads.  How, you ask?  I held each brad with very long tweezers (which also have a hard rubber covering on the handle), heated the brad head with my heat gun, then quickly dipped it into the EP, removing it immediately.  The EP melts right onto the brad because the brad is hot.  On a couple of them, I had to do two coats of EP but amazingly, the color was an exact match to the heart brad.  I was so happy.  Never again will I have to worry about having brads in the color I want because I have EP in every color of the rainbow.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Catch the Bug (ribbon/scallops/stitching)
Crafting Cafe
Crafting Musketeers
Crafty Calendar
Design Team Showcase
My Time to Craft
Nataliie and Amy's
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Creator's Crafts
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'
That Craft Place

     I hope your week is going well and that we'll see you playing in the Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

All Downhill for the New Year

    HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

     After trudging doggedly through 2014, feeling like it was a mostly uphill journey adjusting to a new city, a new house, finding my way around unfamiliar streets, and meeting new faces everywhere I turned, I'm looking forward to a downhill 2015!  :-D

     A new challenge starts today on The Outlawz Twisted Thursday where we always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we add an optional twist -- this week the twist is "Winter Fun" and our sponsor for each Thursday challenge this month is Bugaboo Stamps.  They were so generous in supplying the DT members with images to use but since I love Bugaboo and have more than 150 of their digis, I chose this one from my collection (which I have never used before.  Does that make it "new?")

Inside it says "Happy New Year."

I based my design on the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and added a bit of glitter to the snow.  For the snowflakes, I used silver sequins.   The paper is from The Paper Studio.  The bow and the three blue sequins are the only added embellishment, leaving the card pretty CAS and good for a masculine card, I think.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Catch the Bug (image/glitter/choice-sequins)
Corrosive Challenge
Craft a Scene
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Friends of Speedy TV
Glitter n Sparkle
Jellypark Friends
Just Inspirational
Melonheadz
Not Just Cards
Outlawz PAM
Paper Nest Dolls
Pile It On
Scrappy Hands

     I hope we're going to see you over at The Outlawz this week.  If you've never joined over there, you really should think about it.  There are challenges every day of the week, and a new monthly progressive challenge where you can earn freebie digis by playing in the challenge.   Joining is free and easy and there are such wonderful people at The Outlawz.  Give yourself a present for the New Year and come join us.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Sparkles at Christmas Time

     

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

     I have an announcement today which makes me very happy.  :-D  After more than three years of playing the various challenges at The Outlawz, I've been invited to be on the DT of the Twisted Thursday challenge over there.  

     Today is my first 'official' appearance sharing this card for the challenge.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we have an optional twist each week, too.  This week the twist is "Winter Sparkle for Christmas."  Our fantastic sponsor is Stitchy Bear.  They supplied images to the DT members but I used one which I already had in my own Stitchy Bear collection called "Winter Tree."  Even though it's an older image, it's one which lends itself to Christmas or even just winter cards.

     If you'd like to see the same image used by another DT which looks totally different, visit the Twisted Thursday challenge.  If you haven't joined The Outlawz yet, now is a great time to do so.  Joining is free and we have a different challenge every day plus they are adding a new Progressive Freebie challenge and you can get a new sponsor's image every challenge by signing up and then using it for an entry in the next challenge.

I have another close up photo and it's a much better view of all the sparkle.

It almost looks like Christmas lights, doesn't it?

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and then added a very thin layer of Stickles "Diamond."  I matted the image with various layers of dp and CS (all from the scrap bin) and finally added a dp from DCWV's Linen Closet stack, something I've had for nearly 2 years.  That all went on the card front.  I used dark blue cord, stamped the sentiment, and added the little blue snowflakes.

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance

Addicted to Stamps

Bearly Mine

Christmas Cards

Clear It Out

Come and Get It

Corrosive Challenge

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra

Emerald Faeries

Fan-Tastic Tuesday

Hiding in My Craft Room

Jellypark Friends

Just Inspirational

Kreativeinkauf

My Sheri Crafts

Party Time Tuesday

That Craft Place

Vandicrafts Artistry

We Do Doobadoo

     I hope you'll consider playing in our Twisted Thursday challenge this week.  What better time to do that than when you have a four-day weekend?  Yeah, right -- you'll all be out fighting the crowds for Christmas goodies, won't you?  Not me, I refuse to do the Black Friday thing!

     I don't fight crowds, I don't go anywhere near a department store or a big box store between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.  I do my Christmas shopping during the first 8 or 9 months of the year, grabbing things whenever I find something perfect for a particular person and I'm usually done in August.  Whatever may not have gotten done by then, I shop online.  :-D  Enjoy your holiday if you're in the US and have a wonderful weekend anyway if you're not.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie