Spring Foal

     Happy Friday and we all know that means another new challenge at QKR Stampede!  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any kind of image by any company.  If you decide to use a QKR image, your entry will go into a completely separate draw and than increases your chances of winning by a huge margin.  :-D

     If you follow my blog, you know that I usually do some kind of humorous card with QKR images but today I want to share with you a delightful spring foal ("Appaloosa Foal") image which looks like he was just born yesterday.  Isn't he gorgeous?

I was inspired by the color combo at House of Cards.

     I colored him with ProMarkers, added the sentiment, and cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I chose red-brown CS for the card base, layered on the image piece, then added the gingham ribbon and the wrapped, burlap-twine, bow.  I left it very CAS because I intend to use it as a masculine birthday card and I wanted the image to be the focus, not a bunch of embellishments.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Angie's Digi Stamps
Aud Sentiments
Cards in Envy
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     HAae a fantastic weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make a Wish

     It's time for the start of a new monthly challenge at World Wide Open DT Challenge and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  The challenge is sponsored by and we showcase images by Julia Spiri.  Today I'm using "Jasmine" - isn't she fantastic?

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a die from Cheapo Dies.  I dug through my stash of scraps and found both the turquoise and the flowered papers.  Since they made up my favorite color combo of purple and turquoise, I grabbed them right away.  I ran the turquoise through my machine using an embossing folder from Sizzix before layering it onto the card front.

     I had two scraps of sheer and satin ribbons so I used them for the strip between the two papers and also for the bow.  The sentiment was printed and die cut with the smallest die from that Cheapo Dies set.  I'm using this as a birthday card so the sentiment really works.  :-D

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Di's Digi Designs
Everybody Art
Passion for ProMarkers
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations
Unicorn

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this month.  Don't forget that you can also visit the FB page for Julia Spiri and see her new shop here, which features original art and fabulous coloring books!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blame It on the Cat Nap !

     For the newest weekly challenge starting today at QKR Stampede, I made a card I needed for a belated birthday and used the funniest image - "Black Leaning Cat - ES1407" which is from our sister shop, Eureka Stamps.

     The sentiment is my own but is also my excuse for missing the actual birthday and having to send a belated card.  :-D

     Since this card is for a guy, I kept it pretty CAS.  The image is fussy cut (by hand) and the sentiment was printed and cut by hand, then matted and hand cut again. 

     I found the polka dot ribbon with the rainbow dots in my stash and used a scrap of red, polka dot, satin, ribbon to hand tie the little bow.  I added three metal beads to the top and the bottom and called it finished. 

     Inside it says, "I must have napped right through your birthday!"

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Classic DT Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creatalicious
Get Creative
Not Just Cards
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show
SUYP Cats

     I hope you're going to come and play along in our "Always Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  Remember, there's no requirement to use QKR or even Eureka on your projects but if you do, those entries are put into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge amount!  See you there.  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 CD 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

Catch the Bug - Last Day of Birthday Celebration

     Today at Catch the Bug they want us to use an inspiration photo with great colors plus add sprinkles.  Sprinkles are always good for a birthday party and I chose confetti CS to use as my card base, giving me 'sprinkles' of color dots in the background.  I enhanced them a bit with my ProMarkers.

     The penguin with his balloons and cupcake is one of the newer images from Bugaboo Stamps and I colored him with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image.  I mounted it onto Pop Dots, giving it a bit of dimension.

     I printed the sentiment, added dimensional tape to it, and put it in the upper corner.  Twine was my final embellishment and now I've added one more CAS masculine birthday card to my stash.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Aloha Friday
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes

     That's the end of the week long challenges for Catch the Bug's Birthday Bash. Next month, I'll be Guest Designing with them and I'm really looking forward to that.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cupcake Bunny

     Today I want to share with you a card which was a joint effort with a delightful 11 year-old.  I was working with a group of girls ages 9 to 11, who were sharing a play date about coloring.  I was introducing them to markers as a step up from crayons and I had taken with me a couple dozen images on a flash drive.

     I colored a couple of printed samples to show them how alcohol markers worked and this particular young lady was interested in how I did the shading to emphasize a light source and shadows.  She took one of the images and did her own shading on it as I gave her suggestions.  She was so proud of it and wanted to know if it could go on birthday card for her mother.  She even gave me the idea for the sentiment so I printed another image with the sentiment added and she colored it again.  This one was even better!   She chose mostly pink markers this time, using gray markers for the shading.

     I brought her colored image home with me and turned it into this card, then send it to her so that she'll have it for her mom's birthday on January 29.  Since this is the image (complements of Di's Digi Designs) for the Outlawz Progressive Challenge, I'll use this card as my entry over there.

     After she colored the image (ProMarkers and Tombows), I cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I layered that onto a pink card base and tied a simple bow using pink, gingham ribbon.  I kept the card design very CAS so that the fancy frame would be a focus point, along with her coloring.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy #2
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with an Attitude
Di's Digi Designs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Fridays

     I'm so glad you came by for a visit.  Feel free to browse around while you're here.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Never Forget" Belated Birthday

     I know the title of this post is a complete contradiction but I'm using this card for a birthday which I did forget so...  The cute little elephant is an image from Dragon's Lair January Progressive challenge

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a square die from QuicKutz.  The two rectangular pieces of dp are cut with Chain Link dies from Gina Marie.  Both of those papers are from SU.

     The card front is dry embossed with a bamboo embossing folder.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edge, and mounted it onto the card front.  Because this is a masculine birthday card, I did no fru-fru embellishing.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I'm off to get this into the mail so that it won't be any later reaching the recipient.  Bad enough that I forgot to get the card made in time for it to arrive on his birthday!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snail and Turtle

     Today I'm using a brand new image from Sasayaki Glitter and that little snail just makes me laugh!  The turtle is also cute but the silly smile on the face of the snail is just too much.  I decided they looked like they're wearing party hats so I used them to beef up my stash of birthday cards.

I based this on the sketch over at Die Cuttin' Divas

but turned one-quarter turn to accommodate the shape of my image piece.

     As usual, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut both it and the sentiment with Unbranded dies.  I found a scrap of bleached purple CS and another scrap of turquoise CS, embossed with my "linen" folder, and used them on the background.

     I wanted to leave this one very simple so I added only one small ribbon as embellishment.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Gals
Creative Inspirations
Double D
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Simon Says

     This is my first, post-holidays, Saturday and I'm making the most of it.  You're going to find me sequestered in the craft room most of the weekend and I may even completely ignore the dishes in the sink and the dry goods which need to be put away after yesterday's shopping trip to restock the cupboards.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shopping for a Christmas Birthday

     I absolutely love the image from the Sasayaki Glitter Progressive Challenge this month and it's perfect for my daughter-in-law who has an almost-Christmas birthday that often gets lost in the rush of all the holiday festivities.  I try to do a separate birthday card for her every year, in addition to her Christmas card.  I know she'll love the silly sentiment on this one.

     Everything was done with scraps this time, including printing the image onto a scrap of white CS.  I colored the image with ProMarkers, but the gold and silver gift bags are colored with metallic paint pens.  I then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The dark green frame was also cut from a scrap with another die that same set. 

     The sentiment is printed with a computer font, then hand cut, inked along the edges, and mounted onto the bottom of the image piece.  I added a bow, made with a scrap of sheer ribbon and 'dyed' green with a marker, then sewn together with a tiny pearl.

     Challenges:
Color My Heart
Colour Crazy
Hiding in my Craft Room
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
Victorine Originals
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Asian Doll Birthday Card

     I have a very dear friend whom I've not seen since college days but I send her birthday greetings each year and she does the same for me.  Shortly after graduating from college, she married and her husband was transferred almost immediately to a foreign field office in Taiwan.  They were there for nearly 10 years and she grew to love all things oriental.  I thought this image would be perfect for her.

     The image is from Heart Song, a company for whom I designed almost 7 years ago, when I first started blogging.  They have since closed the shop but I still love Leah's images and use them whenever I can.  This one is "Asian Doll."

     I used my Promarkers to color, then cut it and the frame with a die from Spellbinders.  I trimmed a scrap of burlap to fit behind the image, pulling threads to get the fringed edges.  The black CS was a left over scrap, cut with another Spellbinders die.  The "birthday" sentiment was done with a die from Sizzix.  The bow tie bow was tied using my bow maker.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Scrapper's Delights
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I can't believe my weekend is half over and I still have so much to do.  Monday starts another week of full days and busy evenings and I'll be glad when I can just "be retired" again.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Burnt to a Crisp

     There is a running (but gentle) competition between my son and my SIL as to which of them is the best chef.  Needless to say, that includes BBQ foods as well.  So this card will end up being a birthday card for one of them, but I'm not sure which at this point.

I put the birthday sentiment on the inside.

That die cut sentiment was a gift from the lady who sent me 

her card this month in the Card Chain Challenge exchange.

Thanks, Denise!

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image (Bugaboo Stamps), then cut and framed it with a lattice die (Spellbinders.)  The image is actually inset into the frame.  The sentiment was printed and then adhered to another die cut (same Spellbinders set.)

     The card is really CAS but then, it's a masculine card and may have to be mailed if it goes to my son.  :-D

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
City Crafter
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     I'll be home, blogging and crafting, for a couple of days starting this evening, then I'm taking off again for the Labor Day weekend.  First thing I have to do is write up the last of my 4 posts for Friday (3 are already done and pre-scheduled) and then I can relax (?) in the record breaking heat that still holds California in its grip.  I'm thinking fondly of all of you who feel like you've had no summer at all.  And I'm saying prayers for all of Houston and New Orleans.  Happy Crafting to the rest of you.  NanaConnie

Let Us Eat Cake

     This crazy little "Cake Monster" from Gerda Steiner Designs was just too cute to ignore!   It's the image from the monthly Progressive Challenge and I started working on it practically the moment I got it.  :-D

     This is actually a 'window' card in that the card front is die cut (Memory Box), leaving a scalloped hole and the image is on the inside of the card.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, trimmed it to the size of the A2 card and mounted it on the inside.  I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it and adhered it to the card front.  This is another ombre card front.  I bought a stack of ombre CS in various colors and I'm having a lot of fun using them for card bases.

     This time, I decided it only needed minimal embellishment, so I added the sheer, purple-ribbon bow. Because there wasn't a lot of room along the sides of the window, I added a small tab sticking into the window and then adhered the bow to it so that the tab was hidden by the bow.

     1 more card for the birthday stash.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafting by Designs
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Greetings
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Unicorn 

     That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fish Wish

     Can you tell that my visits to the beaches this summer are influencing my crafting?  Yes, it's true but in this case, the fish image came from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz and it's by Tangle Street.  Not that I didn't jump in right away to use it.  :-D

I was inspired by the colors I found at Sugar Pea Designs.

     I printed the angel fish three times, in different sizes, with one of them reversed.  They're all colored with ProMarkers and then fussy cut.  I used a blue card base because it was a perfect color to represent water.

     I got the sheer, sparkly ribbon out of my stash, wrapped it around the card front and tied it into a square knot.  Then I mounted the fish using Pop Dots.  The final touch was the printed sentiment.  Clean, simple, masculine, and easy to mail.  One more birthday card for my stash.

     Challenges:
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
DL.ART Thursday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     That's all I have for today.  I may even venture outside today since the weather predictors are saying that we're going to have a wonderful "cool down" on our temperatures.  They don't expect it to get above 99F !!  And if tomorrow only gets to 98F (as predicted), then we will have ended our 3rd heat wave of the summer which only ran for 18 consecutive days this time.  The record setter was in June when we had a 19 day heat wave, the longest in recorded history for our area.

     And you were wondering why I've been either gone or hiding out so much this summer?  lol

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Perspectives of a 6 Year Old !

     My card this morning is a salute to a very astute, 6-year-old who has four older brothers (ages 13 through 21.)  She's the only girl and the baby of the family, a completely unplanned 'happy'-stance, and wonderfully unspoiled despite being everyone's darling.  :-D  The sentiment is an exact quote - directly from her.

   I colored this adorable Bugaboo Stamps image with my ProMarkers and followed the recipe from Catch the Bug Challenges (3 layers, pink, and scallops.)  The striped dp and the distressed pink dp (cut with the same Memory Box stitched, scalloped circle die) are inlaid so that's really a single layer.  Then I cut another scalloped circle, smaller this time, and embossed it with my Swiss Dots folder.  Finally, I added the image which had been cut with a plain circle die (QuicKutz), making the other two layers for the recipe.

     I used two different grosgrain ribbons to make the bow tie and sewed on a tiny button.  What you need to know is that Dollie, the 6-year-old, has a 5-month-old, Siamese kitten and he wears a red collar with a bow on it that looks like a bow tie.  I thought that made this card perfect for her and I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it when her own birthday rolls around in September.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Day Dreamer
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapy Land
SUYP Cats

     We are barely starting the weekend (depending on where you are in the world) and I hope you have wonderful, restful, plans made which include lots of relaxing crafting.  Stay out of the heat if you are in the midst of a summer heat wave, or indoors, toasty and warm, if you're in the middle of a snowy winter.  Each of those are great excuses for hanging out in the craft room, right?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Birthday Donut for a Mouse

      Oh, Eeek, it's a birthday mouse eating a donut!  OK, not a real one but rather a darling little House Mouse decorating a birthday card for a grandson -- not one of my own but of the lady who asked me for the card.   And, since I'm told that grandson loves donuts, hopefully he'll love this card even if it means sharing his birthday donut with a mouse.

     This image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a scalloped, stitched die from Memory Box.  I used a larger die from that same set to cut the orange frame.  Both pieces of ribbon are left over scraps and the colors seemed perfect for this yellow and orange card.  The design is CAS because it's for a boy but also because it has to be mailed.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Choosday
House Mouse
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Colors
Paper Shelter
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     This is my second post today so be sure to scroll down to see the first one.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rosy Birthday

     Adding to my collection of birthday cards, although this one will be going out fairly soon for a summer birthday.  The image from Lemon Shortbread was so much fun to color and made me think of summer so I used summer-y colors!  One of the 'fun' summer things I get to do is tend my roses, and make lots of rose bouquets for the breakfast bar and dining table.  For me, roses mean summer every bit as much as trip to the seashore.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from one of my sets by Spellbinders.  I layered the die cut onto a coral pink card front and added one of my little hand-made bows, dyed with a ProMarker to get the exact color I wanted.

     The die cut was so detailed and feminine that the card really didn't need any other embellishment so I opted for leaving it rather simple.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Fab'n Funky
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Word Art Weds.

     I have another post in a few hours so be sure to stop back and visit again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cat Out of the Bag

     You can't hide your birthday or your age any more - the cat is out of the bag!  And a new challenge starts today at QKR Stampede, where our "Always Anything Goes" theme is on tap but we also have the optional twist of "Paper Piecing," if you want to use it.  The image I used is "Cat in Bag" and  the sentiment is "Cat is Out."

     I'm using this as a birthday card for a man who many years ago was a co-worker and with whom I still exchange Christmas and birthday cards.  He steadfastly refuses to tell his age but I do know he's at least a decade older than I so he definitely fits into the older end of the senior citizen pool.  :-D

     His favorite color is golden yellow (not the namby-pamby, pastel yellows that barely whisper their name) so, of course, that was the first color I chose.  I found some rich yellow dp in my scrap booking stash and used it not only for the background but also to paper piece the bag.  After coloring that sassy cat with ProMarkers, and adding the paper pieced bag, I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image.  The black die cut was done with another die from that same set, as was the sentiment and black die cut offset behind it.

     The tiny black bow was the only embellishment needed.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creates and Makes
Creative Inspirations
Dragonfly Journeys
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you'll come and play along with us this week.  We do get inspired by what you create and share with us on the challenge.  Hope to see you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hedgehog Celebration

     Today I'm sharing a birthday card, this time with a very masculine color combo.  Last week, I used one of the Penny Black images with mice.  Since I always have trouble deciding whether I like the PB mice or hedgies best, I didn't want any of my hedgie stamps to feel left out.  Hence, today's card with hedgies celebrating a birthday.  :-D

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut (Spellbinders) and matted twice with other die cut layers.  The sentiment is hand cut and matted twice with the same colors.  I love using stripes and polka dots together for kid's cards but I had no striped ribbon in these colors.  Instead, I added stripes to the candle on the cake.  The two birthday hats also have polka dots and stripes so I guess those will have to do.  :-D

     The final touch was to 'dye' two, sheer ribbon bows (using ProMarkers) and add them as the embellishments.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Craft-D BowZ
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Outlawz PAM
Penny Black and More
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'

     Here we are, half-way through the weekend, and I've made 6 new cards so far.  I'm trying to work on things which I can schedule to post during the weeks I'll be gone during the summer.  I'm also working on more Christmas cards, some of which will be sent to the Card Drive for Little Hearts.  I'll have more about that in another post later this week but I made the name into a link to Christina Hor's post about it if you want to go and check it out now.  The card drive starts in July and runs through August.  You could be a part of it, too.  :-D

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Old Pirate

     I'm going all out with Fabrika Fantasy and adding to my masculine birthday card stash at the same time.  I absolutely adore this Parrot Pirate image.  He's just too fun and funny!

I used the colors from the inspiration photo on the 

Tuesday Color challenge at The Outlawz.

     OK, so that silly parrot isn't as elegant as a peacock but I colored him in peacock colors with my ProMarkers, then die cut both the image and the light green frame with a pierced rectangle die from Memory Box.  I die cut the sentiment the same way.

     The lattice background is cut with another Memory Box die and I backed it with yellow CS.  Because of all the die cuts, it looks like a rather fancy card design, but it's really very simple - 4 layers, 3 of them cut with dies.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Fabrika Fantasy FB
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers

     I hope your week is going week and that you find a bit of time for some craftiness.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie     

Coy Kittens

     A really quick post this morning because I'm leaving here very early, will be gone most of the day (much to the dismay of my own two feline fur babies!) and must get this posted.  I'm adding yet another birthday card to my stash and, because I didn't really have anyone specific in mind when I was making it, it's done in monochromatic neutrals.  This is an old stamp from CDS, no longer available because they're no longer in business.  But it is a sweet image and worth using over and over.

     The die cut frame was done with an Unbranded die.  I backed it with a scrap of tan CS.  The polka dot paper came from a stack by Recollections and was a scrap on my table with a hole in it from another die cut I had done but since the hole was going to be covered with the kittens, that didn't matter.  Nobody can tell it isn't a full piece of paper.

     The bow (ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon) is hand-tied with the help of my bow maker.  The sentiment is printed, hand cut, and applied over the image.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Angie's Digital Stamps
Come and Get It
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafting with Dragonflies
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Ribbon Girl
Scrapper's Delights
SUYP
Take It, Make It

     That's it for now.  I'll see you again tomorrow.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie