Cute Heart Valentine

      I'm posting my DT card today for the challenge over at Star Stampz.  Our themes are always "Anything Goes" with an optional subtheme, which is "Hearts" this month, in honor of Valentine's Day.

     I used the darling Star Stampz image called "Cute Heart Valentine."  I colored her with Ohuhu and Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I added a frame to it, also cut with a QuicKutz die from that same set.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack which has been in my stash for at least 5 years!   The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Aud Sentiments
Cupcake Inspirations

Lil Patch of ...

Neglected Stuff

Outlawz SAR

Pammie's IP

     That's all I have for today.  Wishing you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day on Friday.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Be a Unicorn

      I made two DT cards this month for Star Stampz, where our OPTIONAL theme is "Inspired by a Song."  My first card was inspired by "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and this one is inspired by "The Unicorn Song," sung by the Irish Rovers.  If you click on the song name, it will take you to a YouTube site where you can hear the song (and see all the lyrics) if you're not familiar with it.

     And if you are familiar with it, I can just about guarantee that the refrain is running through your head right now and it will be hours before you can get rid of it!  lol 

     Anyway, my card features the Star Stampz image called "Unicorn Princess" and I think she's adorable.  I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners for some visual interest, then layered the image onto a square of purple CS and rounded those corners with a punch from Uchida.

     The plaid dp came from a DCWV stack and the ribbon was in my stash.  The gold butterfly is a sticker from Stamp On It.

     Challenges:

     That's all for today.  You still have almost a week to join in our challenge and we'd love to see you playing there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Dragon & the Knight

      Guess what?   There's a new challenge starting today at Star Stampz and it's the first one of 2025.  Boy, I'm not used to typing 2025 yet.  I had to go back and correct it from typing 2024.  :-D  Our theme is always Anything Goes with an optional theme.  This time, the option is "Inspired by a Song."

     I took that to heart and went searching for a Star Stampz image that had a dragon because "Puff, the Magic Dragon" was running through my head.  The image is The Dragon and the Knight.  I colored it with my Ohuhu markers, then cut it with a Tonic Studios die, and cut the corners with a Uchida punch.  

     I did the same things to a piece of DCWV dp and used it for the frame around he image.  The background was made with another piece of dp from that same DCWV stack.  I know I tend to use DCWV papers more than any others and part of that is because they are a favorite of mine but also because I own more DCWV stacks than any other brand.  That may have happened because when I first started paper crafting, the craft store where I made my purchases back in those days carried mostly DCWV,  I've used other brands over the years but I still tend to go back to DCWV.  (and I have a HUGE stash of it which I'll never use up, even if I live to be 100!)

     I added a wrap of purple Really Reasonable Ribbon and tied a bow with it also.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

DL Art

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Come play with us in this challenge, won't you?   If you don't find yourself inspired by a song, you can always enter an Anything Goes card.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Patch

      If Linus (from the Peanuts cartoon) plans on sitting in his pumpkin patch this Halloween, waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive, he's apt to run into this adorable witch from Star Stampz.  This is another of those images I had printed last fall which then ended up in a folder waiting to be colored.
     

     So, I grabbed my Sanjoki markers, colored the image, and then cut it with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The background haunted house dp (Paper Pizazz) was a scrap I had on hand, and I cut a crescent out of the image piece with a smaller die from that same Memory Box set of dies.  I chose one which had a round shape because I wanted to cut away enough of the image so that the haunted house would show but not ruin the image.  Cutting a crescent fit the bill perfectly.  

     The orange strip down the left side is actually a scrap of fall ribbon and the bats were cut with dies from Impression Obsession.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time

Archi-scraps

Classic Design

Creatalicious

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld
Outside the Box

SheepSki Designs (Halloween is definitely a fav!)

Two Old Bats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Thankful

      I think this is my first Thanksgiving card this year and the image is from Star Stampz, called Fall Girl Reading, which was provided by them for the Outlawz Progressive Challenge.  I reversed the image before printing it.

     I colored with water color paints, then used 2 different dies from Spellbinders to cut the image.  The larger piece was cut from golden yellow CS and placed behind the image piece itself.  I layered that onto a kraft card base.  The die cut was so detailed by itself that I didn't feel it was necessary to add any embellishments.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die, keeping the entire card as CAS as possible.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Art Impressions

Colour Crazy

Craftlandia

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Gals Corner

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Talking to Flowers

      This sweet little lady (fairy? pixie?), who's talking to the "spring flower," is an adorable image from Star Stampz, who just happens to be our challenge sponsor this week at Creative Knockouts.  Our theme this time is "Spring is in the Air."  

     I loved working with this image.  It colored so beautifully.  I used my ProMarkers, then cut a frame using a Sue Wilson die.  In this case, it's the frame which was cut, not the image piece.  I used another Sue Wilson die to cut the frame around the sentiment, and used a QuicKutz oval die to cut the actual sentiment piece.  I do love using dies - clearly one of my favorite things to do!  

     I added a mulberry paper flower to the sentiment frame.  I went a little crazy earlier this week cutting and embossing flower petals from mulberry paper and turning out finished flowers.  I think I've used one on every card this week.  :-D

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Creative Inspirations

Outlawz SAR

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says ... & Show

Stamping Sensations

Star Stampz (cranberry CS)

We Love Stamping

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  "Spring" is such an easy theme this time of year when most of us are so tired of cold, rainy, snowy weather and are longing for those flowers to pop from the earth.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas FISH ???

      We're starting a new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  This challenge is sponsored by Star Stampz and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  I used one called "Polar Bear" but I had to change the ears slightly to turn him into a kitty.  Whether you're a polar bear or a kitty, fish would be a great way to celebrate Christmas!  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut both the image and the frame with Unbranded dies.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper is from a very old stack by DCWV called "Winter Magic."   I've been using papers from that stack for at least 5 years but I think it's actually more like 7 or 8.

     The ribbon is from my stash and I don't remember what company made it.  It has glittery, silver, circles on it that look a bit like snowflakes.  I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Aud Sentiments

Cardz TV

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

     Come play with us this week.  How can you go wrong with an Anything Goes theme?  Hope to see you there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shipwrecked

      Our latest challenge is starting at Creative Knockouts, where our theme for this challenge is "Anything Goes" and we're sponsored by Star Stampz.  They were generous and supplied the images used by the DT for our inspiration projects.  I used a sweet stamp called "Shipwrecked" and I'm going to use the card as a subtle message to my son who lives out of state and who hasn't called his momma in a month!  There's a "Get Well" sentiment inside because he must be sick. lol

     I used ProMarkers and pencils to color the image, then cut it with a Sizzix scalloped circle die.  I cut another scalloped circle with a smaller die from that same set for the sentiment.  The card base is made with kraft CS, and I tied a double bow using baker's twine.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

Passion for Markers

Scribbles Designs

Star Stampz (layers/bow/sentiment + image)

World Wide ...

     That's all for today.  I've injured my wrist and it's in a brace which makes typing very difficult (one handed and for a 'touch typist' that's painful!)  Hope to see you playing along with us.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Walk for an English Lady

      It's time for another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this week is Star Stampz and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose "English Lady" - isn't she elegant out for her first spring walk?

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Frantic Stamper die

Pink lace scrap from stash

Pink dp scrap

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Framed w Frantic Stamper die

Hand-tied, pink lace bow

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Craft Cottage

Creative Moments

Dies R Us

Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this week.  Our sponsor, Star Stampz, has such cute digital images and you could win some of them!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Firefly Night

     My apologies again for another late post but it's been quite a weekend with my grandson in the ICU with diabetes-related problems and blogging just wasn't my priority.  Things are better and thank you for your prayers.

     This morning, I want to share with you a DT card I did for Pammie's Inky Pinkies using a cute image from our sponsor, Star Stampz, called "Fireflies."

Colored w water colors & pencils
Glitter on the fireflies
Cut w Unbranded, stitched die
Gold glitter-paper frame
Gold sparkly ribbon
White signature bow w pearl
Sentiment cut w Impression Obsession die

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Creative Moments
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scribbles Designs
Simon Says Stamp
World Wide Open

     I hope we're going to see you at our challenge this week.  Always "Anything Goes" and you can enter up to 3 times.  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

O, Holy Night

     This wonderful image is the freebie from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz for December.   It's by Star Stampz and is called "The Conductor."  It made me think of Christmas cantatas with choirs singing O, Holy Night!

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a plain, rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I had a left over Bo Bunny cut frame which I colored with marker and added on top of the image.  Something about framing it that way made the image stand out.

     I found a couple of scraps of white and gold, sparkly ribbon which I wrapped around the card front before applying the image.  I added one of my signature bows with the pearl.

     Challenges:


     That's all I have for this post but I have another one scheduled in a couple of days.  See you then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Reading Journey

     I'm so tickled to be a Guest Designer at Sketch Saturday for the whole month of August!  Our sponsor for this sketch is Star Stampz and "Journey through a Book" is one of their images. 

     I love sketches for inspiration and Sketch Saturday has some of the best ones.  Let me show you my card and the sketch.

And here's the sketch:

     I colored with ProMarkers and the 'sky' is done with watercolors.  Both the image and frame are cut with dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut, then layered onto the CS flag.  I used one of my signature bows which was originally white but I used a ProMarker to 'dye' it. 

     Finally, I added three tiny gems to the left hand side of the image but they're hard to see in the photo.  All the paper/CS on the card were scraps left on the craft table from other projects.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It

      Are you feeling stuck for a creative idea or did your mojo go on vacation?  Try using our sketch for inspiration and then come play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Losing Your Favorite Glass Slippers

     We have a new challenge which starts today at Crafts Galore Encore and one of our sponsors is Star Stampz (the other is ppinkydolls.)  I couldn't wait to color up this adorable Cinderella by Star Stampz.  She looks so distressed at losing her glass slipper, don't you think?  It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the clock striking midnight, right?

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, adding a bit of sparkle gel ink to the lost slipper before coating it with Glossy Accents.  I also added sparkle to the stars in the sky but none of that shows in the photo.  Sigh...

     I wanted the card to be very feminine so I started by cutting the image and its mat with 2 different dies from Spellbinders.  I used wide lace on the card front before layering on the image piece.   I printed the sentiment and adhered it to the upper corner.  Finally, I added the large bow and the two flowers (one made from ribbon and one punched from mulberry paper.)

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Creative Inspirations
Ellen Hutson Pin-Sights
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

    I'll have one more post today as this is my usual 'busy' 1st of the month when I post projects for three of my DTs.  I hope we're going to see you playing at CGE this month.  If you came by looking for my 2 Crafty Critter Crazies project, please click here.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie