Easter in Blue

      Hey, guess what?  There's a new challenge starting today at Inspiration Station where we offer a different picture each month for inspiration.  Our challenges begin on the first Monday of each month and  ends on the Saturday before the next challenge begins.

     Here's our inspiration picture this month:

     Of course, it made me think of Easter and Easter bunnies so when I found the delightful image of Mrs. Bunny sporting her Easter bonnet, I had to use it (see card below.)  

     The image was originally a grayscale line drawing but I used blue colored pencil to go over each line and added white gel pen to each of the flowers for a highlighting effect. My favorite technique these days is to color grayscale images!  

     I added the sentiment to a scrap of white CS and mounted the colored image onto it.   Both of those were cut with QuicKutz dies.  That went onto a layer of gray, cross hatch dp.  I doodled around two edges of the dp and added everything to the card front.

     

     Challenges:

2 Sisters...Blog

Crafts Galore Encore

Critter Crazies

Die Cut Divas

Do-Al(l) Kreatives

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for today but I hope to see you playing along in our challenge.  Let us know what in the photo inspired you.  Was it the bunnies, or maybe the sense of spring?  the colors?  maybe the sweet little bunny kiss?  Make something and enter it into the challenge before Saturday, April 5.  Because of the way the dates fall, you get almost a week of extra time before the March challenge closes.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy EASTER !

 May EASTER blessings find all of you.

     I'm sending each one of you the warmest Easter wishes this morning and sharing with you an Easter card I made for our pastor.  I'm hoping this is how he sees his Congregation, even when it's filled with energetic kids looking forward to the egg hunt following the church service.  :-D

     Clip art, printed in grayscale, then colored with Polychromos pencils (still practicing with those but I'm happy with this one!) and water color paints.  Image was cut with a Spellbinders die and the edges were inked with a gray marker.  The dp square (a scrap) was cut with a QuicKutz die, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background CS was embossed using my 'Linen' EF.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

There's a Stamp ...

     That's all for today.  We're off to church to do our best to look just like this bunny family.  :-D  Happy Easter.  NanaConnie

A Pastel Door Hanger Plaque

      If you have kids or grandkids who are into decorating the house (or even their part of the house) for Easter wouldn't this image from Birdie Brown make a perfect door hanger plaque?  I used it on a card because if I did a door hanger, my feline fur babies would just delight in pulling it down.  This image has been in my collection of digis for at least 5 years and I don't think I've used it before.

     I colored the image with my new Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut it with a rectangle die from Tonic Studios.  I used a Fiskars punch to round the top corners.  I found the mint green lace in my stash (another old stash item that's been there well over 5 years!)   I thought it worked perfectly with the green in the image so I used it for the background by layering it onto the card front.  Don't you just love the faux stitching in the image?  It really adds to the delightful "primitive art" look.

     Challenges:

As You Like It (Critters because they are so much cuter than people!)

Craftlandia

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Crafty Gals Corner

Outlawz SAR (It's Spring!)

Outlawz Thurs

Polkadoodles

     Second post done and the third for today will be posted later this afternoon.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet Easter Wishes

     I know I promised you a post yesterday with more bunnies but I was fighting a migraine all day and most of the night, and didn't get anything posted.  But here's the bunnies now; a merging of 2 of 3 newly released images from Conie Fong, just in time for Easter.  There are a total of 4 new bunny sets; Bunny Holding Daffodil, Bunny Holding Egg, Bunny Holding Carrot, and one with all 3 images in it.  I merged 2 of the bunnies from the .png version of 4th set, "Easter Bunny Trio."

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then used a square die from QuicKutz to cut it, and I inked the edges with an ink pad.  The green, fiber CS was also cut with another die from that set, as was the pink, fiber CS for the background.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an old Cutz die.  The textured fiber CS is from a DCWV stack that's been in my stash for at least 8 years!

     Challenges:

Bastel-Traum

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Inspirations

Double D

Happy Little ...

Pammie's IP

Papercraft

Penny's P-C

Worldwide ...

     Don't forget to check out our March challenge over on the Conie Fong FB page.  The theme is always Anything Goes with a Conie Fong image.  Don't have any of her images?  There are freebies available on the FB site, too.  Come play!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter's Over?

      We all know about the Easter Bunny, but did you ever think about how long any one bunny can serve as the Easter Bunny?  I mean, that's a tough job hiding all those eggs and it's hard on the back and legs.  Easter Bunnies get worn out pretty quickly and have to retire to the Senior Bunny Center.  

     That means new (and younger) bunnies have to be trained to become the official Easter Bunny.  Classes of younger bunnies have to show their stuff and their suitability for that lofty position.  The competition is fierce and those who apply only have about 4 months to learn everything and be appointed for the job when there's an opening.  If they run late on their education, they'll miss their chance, and then it's over.  They'll never become the official Easter Bunny.

     I had to tell you that story so that your heart would be touched by this sad image from Beccy's Place.  I'm sure Beccy is one of the few people who already knew the story, as evidenced by this sweet "Little Bunny" image.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The background for the card front was made by coloring with water based markers on wet paper, then ironing it dry to set the colors.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a Cutz die.  It's a CAS design which will work for anyone.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on the ...

Ally's Angels

Classic Design

Crafts Galore ...

Die Cut Divas

Happy Li'l Stamp ..

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

There's a Stamp ...

     See you again tomorrow, probably with another bunny.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Lessons from Dad

      I'd never really thought about how the next generation of Easter Bunnies were trained, or even about the fact that there must be 'next generations' since bunnies (Easter or otherwise) aren't all that long-lived.  But when I saw this image from Beccy's Place, a freebie for their April challenge, I knew immediately that Father Easter Bunny was schooling his children in the Easter Bunny arts.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a QuicKutz die.  The aqua framing was also cut with a QuicKutz die.  Both of the dp came from a Recollections stack.  I left it rather CAS because I wanted the bunnies to be the focus.  I know, I know, many people insist that only "white" open space counts as CAS but I prefer to accept any and all forms of open space, including dp patterns!  I don't believe in excluding all those other lovely colors.  :-D

     I think this one will make a great masculine Easter card.

 I used all 4 colors from 4 Season.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colouring in Scrapland

Cupcake Inspirations

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Get Creative

Inspiration Station

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for this weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Daisy May and Sweet Pea Easter

     My second post of the morning and the third one for the First of the Month (counting the one last night at 9 p.m. my time) and this card is my DT creation for the Digi Doodle Studios April 1 challenge (no April Fool!)   This sweet image is called "Daisy May and Sweet Pea" and worked perfectly for our challenge theme of "Easter or Spring."  I added an Easter sentiment but it could still be delightful spring card for those who don't celebrate Easter.

I was inspired by the photo at Catch the Bug.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Image, card front, & Sentiment cut with Dare 2B Artzy die
Scrap dp from DCWV "Basics" stack
Embroidered flower & raffia bow for a bit of texture

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
My Favorite Things
Outlawz SAR
Simon Says Stamp & Show


     Come play in our challenge and also visit our Facebook site for another challenge and for more inspiration.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Easter Hellos

     I thought this Bunny Block Trio from Bugaboo Stamps was the cutest thing ever and I'm getting a start on my Easter cards for the grandkids and great-grands.  I wanted a 'child-like' look so deliberately cut the image with crooked sides and punched all around the edges without any attempt at lining up the holes. However, I die cut the mat and ran it through my Linen EF.

Colored with ProMarkers
Mat cut with Tutti die
Linen EF used on mat
Sparkle ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand sewn bow
Paper from DCWV 'Basics' stack

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Artsy Stamper
Aud Sentiments
Catch the Bug (3 layers/ image/ dp)
Cute Card Thurs
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Bunnies?

    The thing about bunnies is that they multiply like rabbits!  The problem with Easter Bunny is that he doesn't multiply and, therefore, has to do all the egg decorating and hiding all by himself.  lol  Here's a little gal who's trying to change that.  Image by Bugaboo Stamps.

I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch,

flipped horizontally.

Colored w ProMarkers
Highlighted with Gel inks
Cut with Tutti Designs die (die is square but cut 2X to get rectangle)
Inked edges on image piece
White glitter paper for background
Papers are from the scrap basket
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand tied, triple loop, bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania (critter/die cut/ sentiment)
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown (purple)

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Momma Bunny

     At first glance, you're going to think this is another Easter card, but look again.  It's about a Momma's Love.  :-D  The image is from Whoopsi Daisy and I think it's so precious!

     I used ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I used a second Spellbinders die to cut the frame and I inked around the inside edge before I layered it onto the image piece.  All the little circles were cut with dies from QuicKutz.

     The metallic ribbon was in  my stash and I made a small cut in the frame, wrapped the ribbon around the card front, threaded it through the small cut, then tied it into a bow to secure it.  I printed, hand cut, and added the sentiment across the 3 circles at the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Angie's Digital Stamps
Creations in Pink
Cute Card Thurs.
Dragonfly Dreams
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pile It On
Word Art Weds.

     I hope your week is going well.  Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Last Easter Card for This Year

     I've been scrambling to get all the Easter cards done that I needed and I mailed the majority of them earlier this week.  This is the first one I made but it's the last to be posted since I was holding it to post for my DT card for today's new challenge at QKR Stampede.  I used an image called "Being Silly" and a sentiment called "Easter Is...".  I think it's adorable!

     I colored it with ProMarkers and die cut it with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The two scalloped circles were cut from sea foam green CS with a Memory Box die.  The dp came from a stack by DCWV.

     I found some sheer ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the card front, then tied the ends into a bow.  I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it, inked the edge, and layered it on top of the ribbon.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cuttin' Divas
Elliebelle's Crafty Weds.
Lawn Fawnatics
Outlawz Color
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pile It On
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     The weekend is nearly here!  I'm so ready for some down time.  I feel like I've been on a dead run for the last 6 days with hardly a moment for crafting or relaxing.  I won't have any free time until late into Saturday but I plan to do some crafting then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Egg Delivery

     Two Easter cards within a few hours of each other!  Well, I did warn you last weekend that I was behind on getting Easter cards finished so I've been playing catch up.   This one I did as my DT card for the QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" challenge which starts this morning.

     Bunnies at Easter time have always been my favorites, despite all the cute little chicks and ducklings.   When I was a child, bunnies were more fun because they would sit quietly in one's lap and let you stroke their soft fur while chicks and ducklings wanted to jump down and scramble around looking for bugs or seeds or something-or-other.  The idea of a bunny hiding eggs was a delightful and somewhat unexpected fantasy since bunnies don't lay eggs.  :-D

     On this card, I combined two different images from one of our sister companies, Eureka Stamps; "Bunch of Bunnies" and "Bunch of Eggs."  Remember, even though I give you links to the digi stamps, nearly all the QKR and Eureka stamps come in rubber as well.  These two do.

     I kept this one as CAS as I could.  I colored using ProMarkers, then cut the Bunch of Bunnies with an oval die from Spellbinders, and embossed around the edge.  I fussy cut the Bunch of Eggs, then arranged the images one above the other so that the bunnies were looking down at the eggs.

     I printed and hand-cut the sentiment and put it below the images.  I found one of my Fiskars corner punches and used it on the lower corners.  Finally, I found sheer, burgundy ribbon to wrap and tie around the top of the card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments (ribbon/stamp/die cut)
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
SumMore Fun
Take It, Make It
   
     Have a fantastic first day of your weekend (or last day of your work week) and enjoy some wonderful "me" time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hugs for Easter

     I've fallen behind on getting Easter cards done for my grandkids (most of whom are of an age not to really mind) and being sick for the last week didn't help but I did get a couple done this weekend.

    Let me share the Easter card most recently completed.

     The image is from House Mouse and I used two different polychromos pencils on the individual hairs of the fur and did the rest with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the pink frame with stitched dies from Memory Box.  The purple frame was cut with a die from Sizzix and then I layered all the die cuts together,

     The dp rectangle was cut with a die from QuicKutz and was just a scrap I found in my stash. I think it may have been a paper from DCWV originally.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.  I used one of my hand sewn bows, dyed pink with a ProMarker, and to which I added a button and some twine.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
CRAFT
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Hiding in My Craft Room (top row)
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Tuesday Throwdown

     I have another card with a House Mouse image ready to go but you'll see it later this week.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Carrot" for a Smooch?

     I think we all 'care' for smooches if they come from the right person but this image led me to a bit of word play with the sentiment.  Just look at the expressions on the faces of these two bunnies!

     The image is from Sasayaki Glitter and is for their FB Progressive Challenge.

    The image is colored with ProMarkers, and cut with a stitched square die from Lawn Fawn.  I inlaid the image piece into another die cut piece (QuicKutz.)   This is something new for me.  I've done inlaying of die cuts before but this is the first time I've tried inlays using unrelated die sets.  Always before, I've either used only one die (inlaying it into a background piece also cut with the same die) or used different size dies from the same set.  But this time I inlaid it into a die cut from a completely different company.  I like the results and will probably use this new technique quite a bit.

    I layered that entire piece onto a scrap of grunged-up, 12" x 12" paper left over from another project I finished a week or so ago.  It was still lying on my craft table so I just used it.  :-D  I added sheer, gold ribbon and tied an accordion-fold bow from a little scrap of wide, beige, fabric, ribbon.  The sentiment was printed and put on top of a die cut border piece (also QuicKutz.)

     Challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers
Creates and Makes
Ike's World
Lawn Fawnatics
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Simon Says Stamp
Unicorn

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie