Butterfly Birthday

      We're starting a new challenge at Crafty Catz today.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL theme for those of you who are adventurous enough to try it.  The option this time is "Embellishments."  

     We are sponsored this fortnight by SheepSki Designs.  They provided the team with images we could use but I chose one from my own collection, called "Butterfly Curl."  This card will go into my "Birthday" collection for future use.

     I printed the image, added a birthday sentiment to it, and printed it onto pale blue CS.  I colored a few of the butterflies with Sanjoki markers and gel pens, leaving most of the butterflies as uncolored, outline sketches.  I decided to use my favorite color combo of all times, aqua and purple.  Purple is my favorite color and aqua goes so well with it that I use them together often.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die.

     The two, horizontal, strips of paper came from the scrap basket.  The blue butterfly embellishment is machine embroidered and the purple butterfly is a ribbon bow, tied and trimmed to look like a butterfly shape.  It was white, initially, but I 'dyed' it with a Sanjoki marker.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Cupcake Inspirations

Pammie's IPnull

Pattie's Creationsnull

     Come play with us this fortnight, won't you?  Remember, Anything Goes unless you prefer to challenge yourself to "Embellish" your project.  Be sure to check out all the DT cards over on the main challenge site.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kisses

      Today I want to share one of Conie Fong's most gorgeous image, called "Butterfly Kisses."  I've used it before and each time I color it, I see something new in it.  This time I chose to do a mostly pink pallet with touches of aqua and purple (pink and purple being my favorite 2-color combo.)  I've also done her (previously) in purple and yellow, and in teal with spring green.  They were all delightful but this one pleases me the most.

     I used Sanjoki markers to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations, stitched die.  That die set has been left on my desk the last couple of weeks and I seem to grab it whenever I need a rectangle.  :-D  I also cut the sentiment with a die from that same set but because the set didn't have a die small enough, I cut it twice, adjusting the die in between cuts.  The sentiment is also from Conie Fong but please don't ask me which set because I don't have my Conie Fong files saved in 'sets;' I just keep a separate folder for sentiments.

     The background for this card is double embossed, meaning that I first embossed the entire front with my "Linen" EF, then went back and used a Roses EF from Cuttlebug to emboss all but the bottom portion where the ribbon and sentiment would go.  The sentiment was framed with a scrap of the background CS.  The ribbon is satin-edged, sheer ribbon and I think it's probably my favorite kind of ribbon.  At least, it's the one I hoard the most.  lol  I used my bow maker to tied the double-loop bow.

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Fingers

Scribbles Designs

Star Stampz

Worldwide Crafters ...

     Don't forget that we have an Anything Goes challenge over on the Facebook site. All  you have to do is use a Conie Fong image (there are freebies available on the site so not having a CF image is not a valid excuse!)  If you haven't yet joined the Conie Fong FB site, it's free, quick, and easy to do that.  Come play in our challenge.  We  love seeing what people create.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Roses

      Time to restock the birthday card stash and I've found a new artist (new to me) whose art I really like.  She draws under the name Maya Silvercat but I'm still searching for a website for her.  If/when I find it, I'll edit this post to add a link for all of you.

     This basket of roses was the first of her images I saw and I colored it with my Sanjoki markers.  I cut both the image and the sentiment with dies from QuicKutz.  The golden CS behind the image (which looks brown in the photo) was embossed using my 'Linen' EF.  The lace strip along the side came from my box of scrap lace bits but it fit the card perfectly.  The tiny butterflies, one pink and one white, are the negative pieces which came out of a Spellbinders die.  I saved them after doing another project and they were waiting just to embellish this card.  :-D

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Butterfly  (Briar Rose & Banana + butterflies)

Can You Handle ...?

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

     That's all I have for today's post but I'll be back later this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Birthday

      The other day I made a card with a butterfly gem on it and, as I was photographing that card, a butterfly landed momentarily on my windowpane.  That reminded me that despite the really hot weather we're having this week (including 1 official day over 100 degree F!), it is still a month before spring turns into summer and I wanted to use a few more butterflies before spring was gone.

     I dug through my stash of cutting dies and came up with this die set from Brutus Monroe - relatively new but so far unused.  I decided then and there on a card with all die cuts and no stamping of any kind.  I went and checked on the theme options at The Butterfly Challenge.  What I love most about that challenge is that there are always lots of options, including colors, a theme, and a different card fold.  This time, I've used all 4 of the color options (plum, persimmon, pistachio, & pink), plus the theme (Pearls), plus butterflies, although I skipped the fancy card fold.

     All the papers and CS came from my scrap basket.  The pink dp for the first butterfly came from Stampin' Up, and the pistachio CS for the second butterfly was from Recollections.  I ran it through my 'Linen' EF before cutting it with the dies.  The butterflies themselves were cut from a plum CS scrap.  The sentiment was also part of the Brutus Monroe die set.

     The persimmon paper is a scrap from a Lawn Fawn stack, the back side of a dp with leaves but for this card, I preferred the solid side.   I added a row of small pearls to each butterfly body and then used 3 larger pearls at the top of the persimmon strip.  My final touch was to hand tie a bow using stitched, grosgrain ribbon.  Quite a lot done for such a CAS card with lots of white space.

I based this on the sketch from There's a Stamp for That.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz No Stamps

Outlawz SAR ("Butterfly and bug")

Penny's P-C 

Word Art Weds

     Have yourself a wonderful spring day.  Unfortunately, we're set for another hot, hot, HOT day in my part of the country, but maybe our weather will cool down again before summer actually arrives.  The weather forecasters say we might be back in the low 80s for a short while in another 10 days or so.  I'm hoping they're right!   

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Zinnia

      I'm finally back with a post after a few days off with a cold or maybe a sinus infection, but whichever it is, it has just laid me low with no energy to even get out of bed.  But I'm on the upswing and decided to get this one posted before I forget it again.

     Last month, I was posting my card for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz on the last possible day at almost the last possible hour and I don't want to do that again.  The image they gave us is this lovely zinnia in a bottle and I made another card to add to my birthday stash.

     I colored with a combination of Sanjoki markers, gel pens, and water colors.  Can you guess which part is with which medium?  No, no, I'm not going to tell; I'll just let you guess.  :-D  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and inked the edges with a marker.  The background dp is from a Paper House stack.  The butterflies were cut with a Memory Box die and the "Celebrate" sentiment was done with a Tim Holtz die by Sizzix.

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Creative Inspiration

Creative Knockouts

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Triple B

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow for the new challenge at Crafty Catz.  Do stop by then, won't you?  NanaConnie

Bunny Birthday Card

      Here I go featuring another Mariola Budek image on my card, this one a commissioned birthday card for a young girl who loves bunnies.  I colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The happy birthday sentiment was cut with a die from Sizzix.  The papers are scraps which originally came from a Recollections stack.   (...and, yes, she loved the card!  :-D)

     Challenges:

Butterfly (salmon, sea green, sky blue)

Creative Inspirations

Double D

I Love Markers

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     That's it for today.  See you tomorrow with anther new post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Valentine Couple

      This cute image is from LeAnn's World and I think it's adorable.  It works as a Valentine card but would also be great for an anniversary, a dating couple, or any occasion where LOVE is being celebrated.

     I tried for a 'light line' version of the image but all that happened is the outline got a bit fuzzy.  Nevertheless, I used my water color paints to color the image, then fussy cut the couple using scissors.  The circle behind them was cut with a stitched circle die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I ran that circle through my Cuttlebug, using a new EF I got from Taylored Expressions.  

     The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and the butterflies were cut with dies from a Sue Wilson set.  Everything was layered onto a beige card front so that the pops of pink and red would stand out.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (Damson, Dandelion, Denim & Die cuts)

Can You Handle...?

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Outlawz Friday

Pattie's Creations

There's a Stamp...

     Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Bluebonnets for a Texan

    I have three grandchildren who were born in Texas, to say nothing of several friends who live there.  I have always thought of the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet - from the lupin family, as one of the most fascinating flowers.  I'm just now learning to color them and I have a long ways to go before I achieve perfection, but I used this image for a Texas birthday card.  :-D

     Colored with water colors, and cut with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was also cut with a small die from QuicKutz.  All the paper stripes were scraps bits from the basket.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the navy blue and cranberry pieces before layering them onto an an aqua card front.  

     The patterned ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and I used sheer ribbon to sew one of my signature bows with a pearl.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (Wisteria & Wild Blue Yonder)

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Leigh SB Designs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Have yourself a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Comforting Thoughts

      I hate to say it but this is my last DT post for Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  I have had to resign from most of my Design Teams due to the vision problems I've had over the last 3 months.  There is slow improvement but it takes me a long time to get images colored and ready to make into cards or other projects.  This particular card I had prepared and ready before I resigned from the team.

     Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this week our sponsor is Varada Sharma.  The image I used is called "Comforting Thoughts."  The image was used twice, with one resized, reversed, and merged with the first one, plus merging the sentiment which is also part of the set.  

     Colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a QuicKutz die and the edges were inked with an ink pad.  The butterflies were cut with Memory Box dies.  The purple rectangle was a scrap which I ran through my 'Linen' EF.  I left it rather CAS so that the flowers were the focal point.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Paperbabe

Paper Dragonfly

Penny's Paper-Crafty

We Love Stamping

Word Art Weds

     I do hope we're going to see you playing along with us this week.  There's a wonderful prize available from Varada Sharma and you'll fall in love with her images!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterflies are Free

      I really love the way this card looks now that it's finished.  I had a few moments of doubt when I was deciding on what to use for background and when I was choosing the die for cutting the image.  

     The image is from Ching-Chou Kuik and it's called "Fern & Butterflies."  I'm still doing water colors for painting my images and this was actually one of the first ones I did.  I think my painting has improved over the few weeks I've been doing it but this one was good enough to turn into a card even though it was an early effort.

     The image was cut with a Spellbinders fancy die, embossed along the edges.  The green dp on the right side is from Recollections and the flowery dp with butterflies was in a prize package I received from the Butterfly Challenge.  The bow is one of my signature bows, shaped like a butterfly, and hand sewn with a pearl.  The sentiment was printed, cut with an Avery Elle die, and added near the top corner.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (sky blue/salmon/sage)

Ching-Chou Kuik

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Paperbabe

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterflies

      I'm sharing with you my DT card for the current challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" except on a 5th Monday, and that happens only a few times each year.  Our sponsor this week is the artist Varada Sharma and I've only recently been introduced to her work.  She's really marvelous!  I used her beautiful butterflies, merging them together into an interesting pattern and adding the sentiment before printing.

     I colored with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then cut the image with my Fiskars paper cutter.  I did the corners with Fiskars and Uchida punches.  I added glitter to the butterfly wings and let it dry.  I chose one color from the butterflies and matched (as closely as possible) colored CS to it for the background piece.  I tied a Butterfly shaped, wrapped bow, using 1" grosgrain ribbon, and 1/4" ribbon for the center wrap.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog

Ally's Angels

Country View

Creatalicious

Creative Moments

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

     We really would love to see you join in our challenge; "Anything Goes" and it runs until next Sunday.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water Lily Bowl

      Another Wednesday and that means a new challenge at I Love ProMarkers.  Our theme this time is "Leaves or Flowers" and we are being sponsored by Colour of Love.  I used an image of theirs which is called "Water Lilies - Flower Pot Pretties."

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  The edges were inked with an ink pad before layering it onto a scrap of butterfly dp.  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the image piece and added glitter to the wings of the fairy.  I added a mulberry paper flower and called it finished.   A bit more than CAS and a bit short of fancy.  :-D

     Challenges:

Butterfly (lettuce, lavender, light pink)

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspiration

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Taylormade ...

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge this time.  Dig out those spring time images with flowers and /or leaves and enter them for a chance to win images from Colour of Love!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

You Are Great !

      For the newest challenge starting today at QKR Stampede, I've done a sweet encouragement card for my neighbor to give to her niece.  The image is from QKR and is called "Apple."  Simple enough.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was cut with a smaller oval die from that same QuicKutz set.  The background dp came from a Recollections stack.  The butterflies were cut with a Memory Box die.  I applied Wink of Stella to them for a bit of shine but it doesn't show very well in the photo.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Butterfly (coral, cardinal, & celedon)

Colorful Options

Colouring in Scrapland

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Outside the Box

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Feel free to come play with us this fortnight!  We look forward to seeing what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Valentine Wishes

     We've started another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and since we're back to the first Monday of the month, our theme is "Anything Goes."  Our wonderful sponsor this week is Lawn Fawn.  On my card, although it's rather simple, I've used Lawn Fawn papers.

      The background paper was trimmed to fit a 6" x 6" card, and then I began playing with the dies. I used scrap pieces of Lawn Fawn paper for both the butterfly cut and for the sentiment paper.  The paper for the sentiment was cut with a Gina Marie framing die, filled with tiny hearts.  The butterfly corner was done with a die from Memory Box and I carefully put back in place all the little bits which are intended to fall out.  There were a few which went astray but I simply used a black marker to fill in those open spaces in the butterfly wings.  The deep pink ribbon came from my stash and was an end-of-the-roll scrap.

     This is a pretty CAS card made to look complex with the die cut.  But look at all that open space!  :-D

      Challenges:

Art Impressions

Aud Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Double D

Mod Squad

Outside the Box

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

Three Room Studio

TTCRD

     It would be great if you'd come play with us this week!  We really look forward to seeing what you have to share.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Best Friend's Birthday

      Today I'm sharing another card which features a Mariola Budek image.  She has become one of my favorite artists.  :-D  It doesn't hurt my feelings any when those images have adorable kittens in them.

     This image is in gray scale which makes coloring it an absolute dream!  I used ProMarkers and pencils, then cut the image with a Gina Marie die.  The background is made from scraps that were in the basket of pieces to be either used or tossed and, since the basket was getting full to overflowing, many were going to be tossed.  

     The dark green CS was dry embossed with my "linen" EF.  The lighter green piece was cut with a Memory Box die, used to add a bit of texture from the stitching. The butterflies were cut with the edge of a Spellbinders die and the little cat at the bottom was cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  It's amazing what you can get out of few bits of scrap paper, isn't it?

     The sentiment piece is nothing more than some left over (and rescued) table confetti from a birthday party 3 years ago.

     Challenges:

Butterfly  (Russian green)

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

I love ProMarkers

Pixie's Snippets

Polkadoodles

         Hope you enjoyed seeing this card as much as I enjoyed making it.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Moonflower Lullaby

      I love the name of this fabulous Conie Fong image almost as much as I love the image itself!  It's called "Moonflower Lullaby" and that makes your tongue happy just to say it.  :-D  In the store, the sample is colored in a pink pallet, but for my DT card I've done her in purples, lavenders, and magenta with a tiny bit of quince green in the leaves.

     I used my ProMarkers to color her, then cut the image with an Unbranded die.  The background die with the butterflies and flowers is from Cuts dies.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Unbranded die.  I added quartz gems to the butterfly heads for just the tiniest bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps ...

Butterfly (Quinacridone, Quartz, Quince)

Colouring in Scrapland

Dream Valley

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Greetings

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting and I hope you'll come and play in one of the challenges at Conie Fong this month.  We have 2 each month; one for just coloring of a Conie Fong image and the other for completed projects, like card, with a Conie Fong image.   

NanaConnie

Beautiful Iris

      I just have to share with you the most recent set of images from Beccy's Place which I have added to my collection.  It comes with 3 options for a planter and 3 different plants which can be put into the planter.  I chose the wooden tub and the iris flowers.  

    I colored the image with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I think that was one of the first sets of dies I ever purchased and it's also one of my favorites.  The sentiment is printed and cut with another Spellbinders die. The CS and patterned paper are scraps from the stash (DCWV, I think), as are the glittered and embossed butterflies, which I fussy cut from dp.  I added the tiny gold brads to the square card, and that completed the first column of the TicTacToe option from Beccy's challenge this month (stash items/square card/something gold.)

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Have yourself a lovely day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Face

      Another Monday, another challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  While our theme is almost always "Anything Goes," this happens to be a 5th Monday (in a month) and when that happens we have a specific theme.  So this week our theme is "Butterflies."

     Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and they provided images for the DT to use.  I chose "Butterfly Face" and, much as I love Bugaboo Stamps it's hard to pick favorites, but this has to be my favorite Bugaboo Stamps image ever!  What fun to color.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz die

Circle frame cut w QuicKutz die

Background dp DCWV scraps

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Pearls added to the frame

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Butterfly  (Navy Blue)

Catch the Bug

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Says Stamp

     Remember our challenges run for 1 week and this time you can enter with anything that has one or more butterflies on it.  Come on - we want to be inspired by you and what you create!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Get Well Fowers

      This card was not only fun to make, it allowed me to try some new design ideas.  The freesia image is from SheepSki Designs.   What looks like dp for the background is actually pics of pink freesias which I printed from online to help me decide how to color the flowers in the image.  When I was finished coloring the image, it seemed a shame to just throw out what I had printed so I fussy cut the flowers and added them to 2 corners of the card before wrapping the ribbon and layering on the image piece.

Colored w ProMarkers; glitter on the vase

Cut w Spellbinders die

Large freesias fussy cut

Butterfly embellies colored; glitter added

Ribbon scrap (RRR)

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps ...

Butterfly  (Naples Yellow, NY Pink)

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Uniko

Word Art Weds

     That's all I have for now but check back late tonight (or tomorrow) when the Pammie's Inky Pinkies challenge begins for the upcoming week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Mouse

       It's Thursday and that means it's time for another challenge at Creative Knockouts.  This week, we're sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy and the theme is "Anything Goes."  They supplied images for the team to use and I used the pre-colored, bonus image from the Happy Mouse set.  I needed the shortcut of a pre-colored image at the time I was making this card; I was still in the midst of my COVID recovery.  :-D

Pre-Colored image

Card front embossed w "Linen" EF

Butterflies cut w Press Cut die

Sentiment cut w Memory Box die

Satin & sheer ribbon by Crafty Ribbons

Hand-tied bow

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Get Creative

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Greetings

TTCRD

Word Art Weds.

     Be sure to visit the Creative Knockouts blog t see what all the other designers created this week and than come and play with us!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie