Cozy, Country Home

      Good morning and welcome to our latest challenge at FarmQuest.  

     Our theme for the next month is "Hibernating Animals."  I chose a bear and found this adorable clip art image which I printed in gray scale before coloring with my ProMarkers.  The sentiment was merged with the image before printing.

     I cut it with a die from QuicKutz, leaving a tiny white border, and then inking the edges with a marker.  I added chunky glitter to a piece of white CS and used that for the background.  I thought it gave the entire card a nice, 'wintery-nap' feel.

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Moments

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

     Remember that this challenge runs until February 27 so you have lots of time to find that perfect image of a hibernating animal (squirrels? chipmunks? burrowing owls? polar bears?) and enter a card into our challenge.  Hope to see you playing along.

    

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bear-ly Old

      Today we begin our latest challenge at FarmQuest and our theme is "Things Found in a Forest."   I interpreted that very broadly and decided to find an animal that would inhabit the forest instead of just trees or plants.  This image of a bear is pencil sketched clip art.  I wish I knew the name of the artist but it came from a book of clip art coloring pages available online and there is no company or artist names on any of them.

     Although it may be difficult to see in the photo, after I printed the image I used a very pale, blue wash of watercolor paint over the entire image, then darkened the sketch using blue colored pencils and gamsol.  

     I cut the finished image with a Tonic Studios die, then printed the 2-part sentiment and cut those with dies from Avery Elle.  Everything was mounted onto a dark blue card front which I had embossed using my 'Linen' EF.  I made this as a birthday card for one of my grandsons who celebrated just a week ago.

      Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Can You Handle ...?

Crafty Calendar

Lil Patch of ...

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

WordArt Weds

     It would be wonderful if you'd come and play in our challenge.  Think of a forest, choose something you might find there, let it inspire your creativity, and enter it into our challenge.  We can't wait to see what you create!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Bear

      I'm still posting Christmas cards which I'm making to get ahead of the late fall rush.  I'll get a few done this month with all the Christmas in July encouragement and that will make me very happy when late November and Thanksgiving hit because the holiday season just gets so rushed right about then.

     The image is from QKR Stampede (one of my favorite of all stamp companies) and it's called "Angel Bear."  I used my Sanjoki markers to color the image, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background was made using a scrap of DCWV dp.  Pretty simple, no embellishments because I thought the dp was eye-catching enough.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

A Perfect Time ...

Carlin's Cardnull ...

Crafts Galore Encore

Kerst Christmas

Mirtillamente

     That's it for today but I may have another post later this week.  Happy July!!

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Eve Bedtime

      I've done a few Christmas cards over the last month or so but haven't gotten very many of them posted, just one which I did for the FarmQuest Country Christmas last week (click HERE to see it.)  But today, I thought it would be fun to show you another of them, and this one will be for one of the newest great-grands this year.

     This is an older image from QKR Stampede, called "Baby Bear" and I colored him in traditional Christmas colors of red and green.  I used my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a Tonic Studios die.  I cut a scrap of dp to make the frame around the image but I can't tell you who the maker of that dp was.  The background was made with strips of paper from an old EK Success Christmas stack.  Some of the strips have gold embossing on them.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Bear" Necessities

      Here we are starting another challenge over at FarmQuest, where we always want to see a country element in your projects and then we give you a specific theme.  Our theme for this challenge is "Bears." No, not 'bare', "Bear."  The kind that roam around in the woods and growl, catch fish from the rivers, and slurp down berries as soon as they ripen.  

     Apparently, based on this clip art image I used, they also need certain necessities when they go camping!  lol  I used a combo of water colors and Sanjoki markers to color the image, adding  few highlights with gel pens.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die.  The starry background was cut with a Unity die from a scrap of dp (Lawn Fawn stack) and I thought that gave it a nice, night-time-almost-'bedtime' look.  I thought the stars were enough embellishment so added nothing else.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Country View

Crafts Galore ...

Friendship

Happy...Stampers

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

Outlawz Thurs (rustic)

Rabisco

YSBP

     I really hope you'll put something together that has a 'country' flair and add a bear, then come enter it into our challenge over at FarmQuest.  We love seeing your projects.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Long Winter's Nap

      It's time for another new challenge at QKR Stampede and, while most of us in the northern hemisphere are really hoping spring will arrive any minute now, this adorable "Santa Bear" from QKR is ready for his winter nap.  Unfortunately, I can't give you a link to it in the store right now because the store is being revamped.  Once that's done I'll update my post with a link to the new store.

     I used water color paints on the image, then cut it with a scalloped die from Sizzix.  I inked the edges with a ProMarker.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and I inked those edges also.  The background paper came from a Coffee Lovers stack which was given to me by my friend, Vicki.  Thanks!  :-D

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

     Come play in our challenge!  It runs through April 14 and the next challenge starts on April 15.  Our  theme is always Anything Goes and we really look forward to seeing what you've created.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Bailey and Bee

      I adore this precious image by Conie Fong called "Bailey and Bee."  This is one of her newest releases and I'm happy to say I had a bit of input in suggesting the design.  :-D  

     I printed the sentiment (also from the set) with the image and used water color paints, then cut it with a Tonic Studios die.  The frame was made by cutting a scrap of CS with a Sue Wilson die.  Everything was mounted onto a pale, sky blue, piece of CS, layered onto the card front.   Pretty simple but it looks really complex due to the filigree design of the die cut frame.

I pulled 3 of the 4 colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Thursday (center row)

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Feel free to come and play in our Conie Fong challenge which you'll find on our Facebook page.  Anything goes but you must use a Conie Fong image.  Conie always has some images on sale and there are even freebies available on the FB site.  Check it out and then come play!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bear Hugs for Christmas

      This sweet Christmas image, called Mrs. Teddy Bear, is from Jan's Digi Stamps and I think it's really precious.  Although I made it before my vision problems got really bad, I'm just now getting around to posting it.

     The image was pre-colored but I added my own highlights using ProMarkrs and gel pens. I merged the holly (also an image in the set) into her pocket and onto her hair bow, then cut the image and punched the corners with Fiskars punches.  The red chevron paper was a scrap from an old Recollections stack and the green CS was embossed using my Linen EF.   The sentiment is part of the Teddy Bear set.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy New Everythings!

      It's a New Day in a New Year and a New Challenge (first one of 2022) over at QKR Stampede.  I've used a "New to me" QKR image, called "Baby Bear."  I'm also celebrating a New Great-Grandson who arrived just in time to be a New tax deduction for the happy, New parents!  

      I used my ProMarkers to color the image, the cut it and the frame with Die-namics stitched dies. The frame is embossed using my "Linen" EF.  The background dp is from Lawn Fawn.  I printed the sentiment, then cut and matted it using Avery Elle dies.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I hand tied the bow.

My colors were inspired by the lower, right hand

photo on this board from Lawn Fawnatics.

     Challenges:

Clever Dexter

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle

Mirtillamente

     Come play in our "Anything Goes" challenge this fortnight.  We'd love to see what you create and it's always fun to be inspired by you.  You are free to use any image from any company, but if you use an image from QKR (or our sister digi company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will be put into a separate draw just for those, and that increases your chances of winning by quite  lot.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Believe

      I think this may be my favorite Christmas card this year.  Image is from Beccy's Place and it's a pre-colored image which made this card very quick and easy.  I made it for my spot this fortnight as a GDT at The Outlawz Tuesday color challenge and Beccy's Place is our sponsor.  The theme is a very easy "Anything Goes" as long as it's inspired by their chosen photo.  Obviously, my inspiration was the little bear.  :-D

     I decided on a gate-fold card and scored each short end of the card base, then folded those inward on the score lines.  I used Memory Box dies to cut the tiny angels from gold, glitter paper, and a Die-Versions Nativity die for the heavenly star, which I cut off the Nativity.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The little bear was carefully hand cut with scissors.  I used up a few scraps of gold paper making this card.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Creative Creases

Creative Inspirations

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scor-Pal

WordArt Weds

     Happy Crafting and don't overdo!  NanaConnie

Catching vs Fishing

      First of a new month and the first day of the latest challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you may use images from any company or artist, just be sure to use an image.  If you do choose to use an image from QKR (or their sister company Eureka Stamps), your card will go into a completely separate draw and that really increases your chances of becoming a winner.  :-D

     I used an cute, summer-time image from QKR called "Father and Son Bear."  I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Memory Box die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Memory Box die.  I mounted everything onto a scrap piece of brown CS, and added a tiny, hand-tied, silver, jute cord bow.  Very CAS but a perfect masculine card.  :-D

     Challenges:

A Bit More ... Extra

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore ...

Creatalicious

Cute Card Thurs

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studio

Friendship

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

     I hope we'll see you playing in our challenge this time.  It runs until the 14th of the month, then a new challenge begins on the 15th.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

All About the Heart

     This is the first of 3 posts today which is what happens when the first of the month falls on a first Monday.  :-D  This is the one for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies but be sure to check back in just minutes for the post for Jan's Digi Stamps and in a couple of hours for the post for QKR Stampede.

     Here it is the first of another month and, since it's February, our thoughts turn to deep friendship or love and things of the heart.  Our latest monthly "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge starts right now at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We are sponsored this month by Beccy's Place, who generously supplied images for the DT.  

     I actually used the freebie image from the January challenge at Beccy's Place.  That challenge has ended but the image is still available.  He's perfect if you still have Valentines to make.  :-D

I used sketch #199 from Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix die

Papers from Neenah

Satin edged ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Mulberry paper flowers from stash

Pink gems from stash

Hand-tied pink bow w gem

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Double Trouble (all 3)

   partner w Heart 2 Heart

Dream Valley

Outlawz Stash

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play this month.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  We want to see a critter featured prominently on your project, not just a teeny butterfly or an almost unseen animal down in the corner.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My First Valentine for 2021

      I know we all wanted the New Year to arrive and for the whole Covid-19 thing to be over and done with the stroke of midnight, but I fear that a good majority of us will still be suffering from lockdowns and government restrictions on our activities for quite some time yet, so I'm already planning to mail Valentine cards to all the grandkids and great-grands in February.

     For my first one (though I have no idea which kidlet will get it), I used this darling Panda Love Drops from Imagine That!'s Progressive Challenge.

I laid this out to fit the sketch at My Favorite Things

but with the sketch flipped.

Single Layer, tent style, CAS card

Pre-colored image

Baker's twine scrap

I also want to tell you about a fun "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link and find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came from the stash!

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Sentiments

Gem of a Challenge 

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Mod Squad

Outlawz PAM

     That's all I have for today but here's wishing all of you Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Baseball Legend

      My youngest grandson, in his earliest teens, is absolutely hooked on playing baseball - Little League, small local leagues -- baseball in any form is his one great passion at this point in life.  So, I don't have to tell you that when the spring and now summer leagues were cancelled, it was a bitter pill to swallow.   His skills have improved over the years (he was about 8 when he started playing) and he really is quite good at whatever position he plays now.  He seems to be something of a natural at it.

     As a consolation for him, small though it may be, I've made a card for him to show him how I feel about him.  :-D  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps.

Colored w/ ProMarkers and gel pens

Image and frame cut w/ Dare2BArtzy dies

Ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hand tied sheer bow

     Challenges:

Catch the Bug

CCC Digi Creations

Creative Moments

Cutie Pie

Dare 2B Artzy

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

LeAnn's World

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Monthly Challenge at QKR Stampede

     I know, change is not something most of us would choose first thing on a Monday morning, but the usual weekly challenge at QKR Stampede is now a monthly challenge for the summer!  We haven't decided whether it will stay monthly beyond that point but for the summer months you'll have plenty of time to enter each challenge.  This one will end on June 30 and our next one will begin on July 1.  :-D

     I'm going to share two cards with you today, one very much a salute to summer, and the other I sent to a friend whose son just made the collegiate wrestling team, in the "Lightweight" category.

     For my first card, I used a fun image called "Snacking Mouse," and I've been chowing down on watermelon for the last week as we suffered through the earliest heat wave (3 or more days in a row of temps in excess of 100 degrees F) we've had in many years.

Colored with ProMarkers
All cuts made with QuicKutz dies
Sentiment printed and die cut
Polka dot paper from DCWV
Hand tied, polka dot bow

     Challenges:

Arty Divas
Coloring in Scrapland

Creative Moments

Mod Squad

Papercraft


     My second card uses an image called "Weighing."

Colored with ProMakers and gel pens
Cut with dies from MFT Die-namics
Image inlaid into frame
Paper from Authentic
Sentiment & mat cut with Avery Elle dies

     Challenges:

Creative Crafters
Double Trouble

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Prika Crafts

Time Out

     This is my last post for today so if you missed the one for either 2 Crafty Critter Crazies or the one for Jan's Digi Stamps, just scroll down - you'll find them.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Naptime Bear

     So we've all been isolating for longer than a bear hibernates and it's getting difficult to find new and entertaining things for the kids, much less the adults!  My advice is when all else fails, take a nap.  :-D

     For we crafters, we can always slip into the craft room and find something to do for hours.  We over at QKR Stampede are suggesting you make something to enter into our latest "Anything Goes" challenge which started today and runs for a week.  I found this delightful QKR stamp called "Snuggle Up" and used it for a very CAS design.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with CUTplorations stitched die
Sentiment printed & cut
Inked edges of image and sentiment
Blue ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand-sewn, signature bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It
Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting (or napping, whichever pleases you at the moment.)  NanaConnie

Get Well Soon

     A new challenge starts today over at Jan's Digi Stamps where our theme is always "Anything Goes" and winners are chosen by a random draw.  I want to show off one of the cutest newly released sets, "Get Well Soon 3260J."  The sentiment is also part of the set.

     I want to share with you a technique I used for coloring this image.  I started with the pre-colored image that comes with the set instead of the black & white line drawing, even though I fully intended to color the image myself.  Before printing it, I adjusted the image to the far side of the gray scale.

     Why bother doing it that way when a B&W line drawing was available in the set?  Because the line drawing didn't have the excellent shadows & shading and the colored version did!  So, I printed the gray scale image, then colored it, and all the lovely shading and highlights came through, making my own coloring look almost 'professional.'  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Memory Box stitched die
Frame cut with QuicKutz die
Background CS old SU scrap
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Signature hand-sewn bow w pearl added
Sentiment hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Love Bears

     These two darling little bears, who are probably in love, came from the Scrapper's Delights Progressive challenge.  They are separate images but I merged them so that they would be looking at each other with their sweet daisies in their hands.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders die
Edges inked
DP scrap from the basket
Embossed background paper scrap from Doodlebug
Butterfly from Spellbinders die cut from a scrap

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Coloring in Scrapland
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
Pixie's Snippets

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweets for a Sweetheart

     Time for a card featuring an image from Beccy's Place where the optional theme is "All About Animals."  I'm doing a few Valentine's since it's early February and I thought this sweet bear was perfect for someone who loves home baked goodies.  All it took was a combo of traditional Valentine colors.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Layered onto rose red and pink CS
Hearts cut with Memory Box dies
Sentiment printed in red and hand cut
Matted with pink CS

     Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania
Dies R Us
Double D
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Memory Box #58
Mod Squad
Paper Funday
Paperminutes
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     Have a very Happy Crafting day.  :-D  NanaConnie

Guest Designer at Conie Fong !

     I can hardly tell you how excited I am today.  I've been invited to be a Guest Designer at Conie Fong's Facebook challenges for February and March!!  I discovered and fell in love with Conie's lovely artwork way back when and being a Guest Designer is such a delight.  Maybe some day I can join the team on a more permanent basis and that would be just as exciting but for today, I'm looking forward to the opportunities to share with you my designs as GDT.

     This sweet image is called Bella with Rose and I thought it made a perfect Valentine card.  Of course, a certain member of my family seem to think it should serve as her birthday card but that's not my intention this time.  :-D

Design based on the sketch at Sketch Saturday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with Spellbinders dies
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die
Papers are scraps from DCWV
Heart is in the dp but embellished with get ink
Hand tied and sewn bow
Metal brads

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Dare 2B Artsy
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Come visit the Conie Fong Facebook site.  We'd love to see you there.  There are both Coloring Only and Completed Project challenges, but you must use a Conie Fong image.  Check out the Etsy store - you'll fall in love.  :-D  Happy Crafting.