Craft Fair in 2 Days!

      We're so close to the first of our scheduled vendor events, this one on the 4th of July.  The event is somewhat "local" but not actually in our city.   Since our particular location in the Central Valley of California tends to be one of the hottest spots in the valley, we're happy to be traveling an hour away, up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada where predicted temperatures will be about 85F when home town will be over 100F.  :-D

     We've been putting the finishing touches on our inventory of gnomes and critters, and I just wanted to take a moment to share with you two more cute gnomes and some of my sis-in-law's hedgie critters. 

     Critters first...  

Aren't those adorable?  They're about 5.5 inches high.

Here's the first one she made a few weeks back, about 4.5 inches tall.

     And here's my last gnomes for this event.  I'll probably make a few more between this event and the next one on July 13 (also up in a different part of the foothills where it's cooler - yay!!) but these two are the last ones before the event on July 4th. 

Done with purple felt and gray fleece.  About 7" high.

Made using all burlap, including burlap trim. 9" tall.

     I won't be posting again until after the event so let me wish all of you a wonderful 4th of July celebration and please be safe and sane.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Caroling Hedgies

      Another Penny Black image but this time for another Christmas card.  I told you I was doubling down during this last full week of July.  :-D  I've made another four Christmas cards for the stash in the last 24 hours.  I've been digging through the folder of stamped and printed Christmas images left over from last year, none of which were colored yet, but having them stamped and ready made a huge difference in my crafting energy.

     I adore the Penny Black hedgies.  They are definitely favorites, second only to the cats and kittens.  I colored this image with my Sanjoki markers, then cut it with an octagon die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was already on the image piece when I pulled it from the folder.  I used papers from Doodlebug and Paper Pizazz, both of which were scraps.  I added a tiny bit of heat embossing to the blades on the skates in the background paper.  The embossing powder has a bit of glitter in it so there's a tiny touch of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Di's Digi Designs

Happy...Stampers

Let's Craft and ...

Penny Black Sat.

Polkadoodles

Rudolph Days

Star Stampz

Worldwide Crafters ...

     That's all I have for today but tomorrow I'll have another post.  Do stop by again, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Late for the Party

      I hate to say it but the days got away from me these last couple of weeks and I was late getting a grandson's birthday card done and mailed on time.  I knew when I started this card that it was already too late to mail it and have it arrive on or before his birthday but I knew I had the perfect Penny Black stamp to make a "belated birthday" card.  What do you think?

     I colored with my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a CUTplorations stitched die.  That die is actually a rectangle, but I cut once, then adjusted the die, and cut a second time to make it square.  I added mats to the image and the sentiment so that they would stand out from the background CS.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the blue background.

     The 'ribbon' is actually dyed raffia and I shredded the ends after tying the knot.  

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Country View

Die Cut Divas

Digi Choosday

Happy...Stampers

Let's Craft and ...

Lil Patch of ...

Mirtillamente

Pammie's IP

Penny Black Sat.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Time for Purple & Pink

      We have a new challenge starting over at Crafty Catz this morning and our theme is always Anything Goes but we also offer you an OPTIONAL theme if you want to use it.  This week the option is: Purple and Pink!  I love this combo and purple is my favorite color regardless of theme or season or subject matter so this worked perfectly for me.

     Our sponsor this week is Di's Digi Designs and, while they weren't able to supply the DT with images to use, I did have this one in my collection so used it to do pink and purple.  Aren't those hedgies adorable?

     I colored with my Sanjoki markers and cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was cut with a Die-namics die.  The diagonal strip of dp came from the scrap basket and I'm pretty sure it's made by Doodlebug.  The lace bow was hand tied and added as the primary embellishment.

     This one goes in my birthday stash!  

I chose colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Creative Inspirations

Di's Digi Designs

Dream Valley

Happy ... Stampers

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you'll come and play in our challenge this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgehog Mama

      I hadn't planned on a second post today but it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't done a card for the Outlawz Progressive challenge for April and this is the very last day!  No time for any coloring so I decided right away on a black and white creation and it took me less than an hour, including photographing and editing.  :-D

     This adorable hedgie was drawn by Anne Fenton (I love her art!) and I copied it 4 times, in different sizes, added the sentiment before printing, and cut it with one of my Spellbinders big dies made for the Grand Caliber cutter.  The papers are all from an old stack by DCWV which has been in my stash for more years than I can count - maybe more than 7 years?   Most of them I found in my scrap basket and the largest one for the background I cut to fit this slimline card.

     Challenges:

Snippets Playground

     Like I said, simple and sweet, and created in a flash.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blowing Bubble Hearts

      One more Penny Black stamp from those given to me by my neighbor and, happily, it's another hedgie!  What could be cuter for Valentine's Day than a little hedgie blowing bubble hearts?

     Water colored and then cut with stitched, circle die from Tutti Designs.  The background papers were saved from the scrap pile and the sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The hand tied bow was made with sparkly, metallic ribbon.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog (red/lavender/blue)

Ally's Angels

Classic Design

Country View Craft

Crafty Friends

Heart's Quest

LeAnne's World

Papercraft

Penny Black Sat.

Your Scrapbook Place

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet Hedgies for a Valentine

      Can you tell I was thrilled to discover that the neighbor who gifted me her Penny Black stamps was as enamored with the hedgehogs as I am?   They are all just so cute!   I turned this one into yet another Valentine card, although it will work well in the future for nearly any occasion - birthday, Mother's Day, graduation, any gift giving event, even a non-occasion when someone needs a bit of encouragement or support.  Just add an appropriate sentiment and you're in!

     This image is water colored, then cut with an Unbranded die. The sentiment was hand written.  I wanted it pretty CAS so only added a scrap to frame it, and a tiny Petaloo flower with a teensy gem for a bit of flash and sparkle.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations (old stamp, new to me)

Creative Knockouts

Digi Choosday

Paper Funday

Penny Black Sat

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulip Hedgie

      I think this is the third time I've used this image but she's such a cute little hedgie, how could anyone resist her?  She's from Bugaboo Stamps and I have yet to decide if this is going to be a birthday card, or  for Mother's Day, or just a simple "Thinking of You" card.  Clearly it's a versatile image.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders die

Purple lace from my stash

Background dp scrap

Hand-tied, signature bow w pearl

     Challenges:

Allsorts (blue/purple/green)

Catch the Bug

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Calendar

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Taylormade...

     Happy Crafting all.  NanaConnie

Hedgie Witches on the Move

     I haven't done a tall and skinny card for ages, it seems, but this one for Halloween (done with a Penny Black stamp) just had to be tall to get the effect of the entire scene.  Take a look - you'll see right away what I mean.

     I adore hedgies and finding these two as witches on their broom just made me happy!  I also love making Halloween cards so that made me even happier.  :-D

     I colored the cute hedgie witches on their broom with my ProMarkers and die cut them with a Sizzix die.  I inked the edges with a deep, purple marker.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another Sizzix die.

     The background is done entirely with papers from a Making Memories Halloween stack.  I had to trim things to fit the card size but I loved figuring out the how and where of placement for the papers and scrap bits.

     I decided that I only needed minimal embellishment so I tied a black ribbon bow and added a tiny gem to it.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black Saturday
Penny Black and More
Scrappy Land

     OK, I'm going to take all my happiness to the kitchen and fix some dinner, then do an early bedtime.  I was up at 4:30 this morning, didn't have a nap, and sleepy time is fast setting in.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgies with Poppies

     I think hedgies are my favorite critters (don't tell the cats!) especially for making cards.  Poppies are one of my favorite flowers so this darling image from Di's Digi Designs was a delight to color.  When I checked their current challenge theme, they want to see Fancy Folds so I took a standard gate fold card and turned it sideways so that the 'gate' opens top and bottom.  Sounds weird, I know, but let me show you the pic and you'll immediately see what I mean.

     I used water colors on the image and cut it and the frame with scalloped circle dies from Sizzix.

     I used kraft CS to make the card base and scored an 8.5 inch x 5.5 inch piece at the 1.5 inch line and the 2.5 inch line, leaving the middle section 5.5 x 4.25 (standard A2 size.)  The dp (Recollections) was a scrap and it worked perfectly with the color combo - beige background to complement the kraft and red flowers to pair up with the image and frame.

     I folded on the score lines and adhered the image to the top flap.  I tied a bowtie bow, dyed it red with a ProMarker, and added it to the bottom of the image.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and matted it with a scrap of red CS, then hand cut it again, attaching it at the top of the card.

     My next door neighbor loves poppies - any color, any size, and any variety so I'm giving this one to her for her birthday next month.  That should 'brighten her day' and make it an occasion.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Everybody Art
Hiding in My Craft Room
House that Stamps Built
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     That's all I have for this first day of the work week.  Have a great week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Hedgehog Taxi

     I love this adorable image from Di's Digi Designs which makes me think of a taxi ride for a hedgie.  This little girl pulling her garden cart is so sweet.

I did something new for me - a Double Z Fold card.

Here's a side view photo to show how the two pieces are put together.

     I colored with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then cut the image with a Gina Marie die.  I layered the image onto the top portion of the pink CS, and scored it twice to make the Z fold.  I took the white confetti CS (5 3/4" x 11"), scored it twice, and folded it into a larger Z fold.  The largest part (below the middle fold) is 5 3/4" x 5 3/4", making it a square card when all is folded together.  It will fit perfectly into a 6" x 6" envelope.

     I put the two Z fold pieces together, using double sided tape first at the top of the card, then folded them up together to determine where the bottom of the pink CS should be.  Once I had that, I removed the covering strip from the double sided tape on the bottom of the pink CS and pressed them together.

     I tied a bow tie bow from a bit of leftover lace, wrapping the center with satin ribbon and I added that to the bottom of the pink CS.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it to the bottom of the inside Z fold.

     It took me a little experimenting to figure out how to do the Double Z fold but I quite like it and will undoubtedly do more of them.

    (Edited to add:  As I was adding the challenge links to this, one of my grandkids told me I could have searched PINterest or YouTube for instructions on Z fold cards but I didn't think of that when I was making it.  I checked and both of those are filled with instructions.  lol  Check them out if you think you might be interested in doing one of these.  :-D )

     Challenges:
Allsorts
CARDZ TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles

     That's it for me.  I'm really enjoying my time away and hope you are enjoying the pre-scheduled posts.  I'll have another one on Friday for my DT project at QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie