All About Love

      I love this CAS card made with the February image from the Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenge.  The 'woven heart' image was given by Cara (on the Outlawz team.)   I love the simplicity and decided to add a bit of lace to it as a contrast to the simple woven design.

     I printed it after carefully measuring it to fit one of my Spellbinders heart dies, colored it with ProMarkers, then die cut it.  I cut a square of red CS, trimmed it to exactly fit the square card front, then I dug some lace out of my stash and used craft glue to add it around the edges of the heart.  I cut it at the top and bottom points to keep it from curling.   The lace adds some delightful texture to the card.  I printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die, layered it on top of the heart, and it was done!

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Inspirations

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

     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

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

Butterfly Princess

      Another day to celebrate spring butterflies (even though we're still stuck in the high 90s F for our weather) and this time I used a beautiful image from Conie Fong called "Butterfly Princess."  I decided on a sweetly feminine color palette of mostly pink.

      The image was printed onto textured, water color paper and colored with water colors and a very thin paint brush.  Even the sentiment was done with a brush and water color.  I cut the image with one of my oldest Spellbinders dies, embossing the edges as I ran it through the Caliber machine.  The background dp is from Stampin' Up and the lace came from my stash.  I finished it with one of my signature bows, hand-sewn with a pearl, and 'dyed' with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ...

Ally's Angels

Crafts Galore ...

Creations in Pink

Die Cut Divas (bottom row)

Happy ... Stampers

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

Rabisco

Worldwide Crafters ...

     Don't forget that we have a monthly challenge running over on the Conie Fong FB site, and you still have plenty of time to color up a Conie Fong image and get something entered.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

May Flowers

      It's Friday and you know what that means - another new challenge at Crafty Catz!  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL twist if you choose to use it.  The twist this week is "Use Ribbon, Lace, or Twine."  Our sponsor is the delightful All Dressed Up and they generously provided us with images to use.  I decided on "Watering Time" but reversed the image before printing it.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  That frame is so delicate, I think it looks like lace.  :-D  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, deliberately set on an angle.  The background paper came from the scrap basket and I think it was originally in a Lawn Fawn stack.  Finally, I wrapped sheer ribbon around the front of the card and tied a triple-loop bow with it, using my bow maker.

     Challenges:

All Dressed Up

Ally's Angels

Crafty Gals ...

Creations in Pink

Happy ... Stampers

I Love Markers

Papercraft

Star Stampz

Worldwide ...

     Won't you come play along in our challenge this week?  If you don't want to fuss with ribbon or lace or twine, feel free to just enter under the Anything Goes theme.  Who knows, you just might win digis from All Dressed Up.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  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

Vintage Sisters

      One last reminder about our This is Halloween October challenge and you still have until the end of the month to add your Halloween or Gothic entry (in the comments section this month.)  We are sponsored by the delightful vintage designs at Lilli Rain.  This is the third image I have used from the "Cute Vintage Halloween Collage Set 2."

     This image is pre-colored and I cut it with a QuicKutz die, then inked the edges with an ink pad.  I layered textured, burlap lace onto a lain card front, then added the image piece.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows (plain this time, no pearl or gem) which was dyed black using a ProMarker.

This is also my Day 20 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

     Challenges:

Country View ...

Crafty Hazelnut's

Farm Quest

Let's Craft & Create

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

Rabisco

Scribbles Designs

There's a Stamp ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunny Birthday

      I'm thrilled to have been invited to be a Guest Designer in the fortnightly challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty.  Our marvelous sponsor is Colour of Love and I used this Sunflower Kokeshi Doll image provided by Heather.  I'm using this as a birthday card for a dear friend.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and water color pencils.  The image and the black frame for it are both cut with QuicKutz rectangle dies.  I used peachy/pumpkin colored CS for the background and wrapped it with white lace.  I found a small scrap of satin ribbon, 'dyed' it peach with a marker, and tied a simple, knotted bow.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Inspiration Station (inspired by the colors)

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Polkadoodles

TTCRD

     It would be wonderful to see you entering the Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge this time around and their theme is always "Anything Goes."  Come play!  NanaConnie

Rose Bouquet

     HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY ! 

     On my card today, I used a lovely image from Beccy's Place.  This is another of the cards I made for the vendor faire I did over the weekend.  Something different than any I had done before and I think I had expectations which were just too high for a 'pop up' event with little advertising or promotion.  Still, I met some lovely people and made some new contacts.  I even had one lady who not only bought a card for her granddaughter right then and there, but also commissioned another one for her daughter who is getting married next month!

     I really love this image.  It always reminds me that I live in one of the rose growing capitals of the world.  In my local area of California, we have roses blooming all the way from late February until nearly Thanksgiving in late November.  South of us, in the Los Angeles County area of Pasadena, they hold the rose parade every January 1.  How's that for a bit of local history?   :-D 

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut it with a Spellbinders die.   I used lace from my stash for the background.  The sentiment was printed and then cut with an Avery Elle die.  Pretty simple, really, but looking much fancier.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Crafts Galore Encore

Digi Choosday

Digi Doodle Studios

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Mirtillamente

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Taylormade ...

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

One Hot Date - oh, yeah!

     This fun and funny image, Valentine Derek, is from Dr. Digi, our sponsor this fortnight at I Love ProMarkers and our newest challenge starts today.  Our theme is "Flowers" and any beau who brings a bouquet like Derek's  (to say nothing of the chocolates!), deserves consideration for a date night.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers, of course, to color the image, then cut it and the frame using Tonic Studios dies.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the pink card front before adding a scrap piece of red lace which had been mounted onto black CS.

I used all the colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Polkadoodles

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

     Come play with us this month.  Remember our theme is "Flowers" and we all know you have dozens of flowers (images or embellishments) in your collections so come on, get busy.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowy Best Friend

      Here it is, already the middle of January and we're starting a new challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  I've used a sweet QKR image called "Best Friends" and I love the idea that if you can't be with your BFF (pandemic or weather or whatever), you can just build one!  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I created the 'snowy' looking background by wrapping a piece of aqua CS with a wide, white lace.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and called it finished.  How's that for a simple design that looks really complex?

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Gem ... Challenge

Paperbabe

Papercraft

     Come play in our challenge.  It runs until the last day of the month so you have plenty of time to enter.  Remember, Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Just for You on Halloween

      The latest challenge at Beccy's Place has the usual "Anything Goes" theme but the optional twist this time is to CASE yourself.  When I sat down to do this card, another Halloween card was sitting on my table and I decided to CASE it.  Here's that card:  

and here's my Beccy's card, using an image

from the "Witch Starter Kit":

I was inspired by the colors in this photo from Archiscraps.

      I reversed the diagonal and used a simple rectangle die from QuicKutz to cut the image.  I inked the image edges with  black ProMarker to make it pop from the background.  The striped paper is also from Beccy's (Little Witch set - which may be retired since I don't see it in the store  <----- Edited to add this note from Beccy: The "Little Witch" paper is actually a freebie that you can find on my blog... it comes with the Little Witch free image. ) and the bat paper came from a left over scrap, maker unknown.

     I added a strip of polka dot, orange, washi tape and a strip of lace (which is purple even though it looks almost black!) before layering on the image.  

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Ike's World

Incy Wincy

Lemon Shortbread

TTCRD

Two Old Bats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Totally Innocent Devil Dragon

      As some of you know (if you visit my blog with any regularity), I have a granddaughter who shares my great love of dragons and I've been using any excuse (birthday, Christmas, Easter, Summer Solstice, start or end of Daylight Savings time, etc.) to send her dragon cards for most of her 22 years now.  Yes, she still loves them even as an adult.  So, this one will be her Halloween card this year.

     It's colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut and embossed with Sue Wilson dies.   The background papers are scraps from a Recollections stack.  The lace strip was in my stash and has been enhanced with suede strips before adhering it diagonally across the card front.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

I was influenced by the sketch at Paperminutes, 

adjusted for a square card.

I did reverse the diagonal line and used a square shape

instead of a circle.

      Challenges:

Cardz TV

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

I love ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Festive Fri

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

Two Old Bats

     That's all I have for today but I'm wishing you a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Walk for an English Lady

      It's time for another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this week is Star Stampz and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose "English Lady" - isn't she elegant out for her first spring walk?

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Frantic Stamper die

Pink lace scrap from stash

Pink dp scrap

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Framed w Frantic Stamper die

Hand-tied, pink lace bow

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Craft Cottage

Creative Moments

Dies R Us

Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this week.  Our sponsor, Star Stampz, has such cute digital images and you could win some of them!  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

Fairy & Unicorn

      Here we are at the mid-week point and I have a darling little fairy and unicorn to share with you.  One of my granddaughters adores unicorns and I try to make her at least one unicorn card each year, though it usually turns into three or four.  :-D  This image is from Polkadoodles and I won it in a challenge.

     I'm still following the "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 above to 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 not only from the stash but from the scrap stash! 

Colors from The Outlawz + "F" for Fairy

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix scalloped die

Papers are all from the scrap basket

Sentiment printed and hand cut

Lace scraps from basket

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

House that Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Birthday Starts a New Year

      I've never figured out why we celebrate only one New Year each year.  I mean, think about it - each time you have a birthday, you are starting a new year of your life.  Every school child starts a new year when s/he moves from one grade level to the next.  Anyone who changes jobs or gets a promotion starts a new year in that position.  So, this card is my salute to a new birthday year.  :-D

     This House Mouse stamp is also new but I spent no money to get it.  I was lucky enough to win one of the House Mouse challenges and I chose this as my prize!  I'm still following the "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 above to 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. 

     I want you to know that these cute little mice looked everywhere, trying to find a 'cupcake' for the birthday cake but all they could find was a box of stale donuts so this has to do as a substitute for the cupcake.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Gina Marie die

Background dp from Your Next Stamp

Sentiment printed & hand cut

Scraps of lace from my stash

Gems from stash

     Challenges:

Crafty Creations

Creative Inspirations

Double D

Double Trouble (all 3) w Color Dare

   

House Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

SSS&S

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Sweet Treat

     I'm finally getting back to my Christmas cards.  I did really well making Christmas cards in July but since then, I think I've only made 1 or 2 and my goal has been to make at least 2 per week between now and November.
   
     Christmas cards are a priority in my crafting because I use between 15 and 20 for my own family and friends but I make an additional 75 to 80 every year which I donate to our local Senior Center for those seniors who can't get out to the Hallmark store to buy cards for their own families.  I'm trying to do even more this year because so many are isolated due to the lock down regulations.

     Today's card uses an image from Angie's Digital Stamps.  Isn't she a sweetheart?

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut w/ Spellbinders die
Scrap of lace added
Sparkle EP strip heat embossed on lace
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Christmas w/ the Cuties
Colour Crazy
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Creative Knockouts
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fri
Time Out
TTCRD

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Summer

     Today I want to share one more DT card on which I used a beautiful fairy from Conie Fong, called "Crystal Fairy 3."  As you can guess, there's more than one version of this image and you can receive them when you purchase the image.  I used the one without the crystals for this card, so the name may seem a bit confusing.  But if you click on the link (image name), you can look at the actual image in the store and that will clear it up for you.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers +
   2 colors of Stickles on wings
Cut w/ Spellbinders die
Green CS (scrap) cut & embossed w/ Spellbinders
Background dp - scrap from basket
Green "lace" - scrap
Sheer ribbon bow tied on bow maker
Sentiment printed & cut with Avery Elle die, inked edges

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Sentiments
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Paperbabe
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Your Next Stamp

     Our July challenge ends today but a new one starts tomorrow.  Actually, 2 new challenges begin at the same time; one is for coloring only and the other for completed projects, like mine.  Both can be found on the Conie Fong Facebook page.  We hope to see you playing long.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flutterby Daisy

     I adore this sweet fairy from Conie Fong, called "Flutterby Daisy."  She comes in a set, both with and without the daisy but I loved her best all nestled into the daisy having a wonderful conversation with the butterfly.  I suspect they're talking about great changes and how to face them.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers & gel inks
Glitter added to wings
Cut w/ QuicKutz oval die
Sentiment cut w/ Avery Elle die
Lace scrap
Background dp from DCWV
Signature bow w pearl

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Angie's Digitals
Arty Divas
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
   (pearls/image/die cuts)
TTCRD

     Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie