Out for a Swim

     It's Friday again and that means we have a new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.  I'm using this fun QKR image, called "Out for a Swim."   The sentiment is all mine - printed with a computer font and hand cut with scissors.  I admit that's my favorite way to add a sentiment because it allows me to chose the font style and to add the silly sentiments which seem to pop into my head (unbidden, I might add) when I'm choosing images to use.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Gina Marie die for image
QuicKutz dies for dp & brown CS
"Linen" embossing folder (brown CS)
Satin ribbon & hand tied bow
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
House That Stamps Built
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer

     Summer is the time of travel, vacations, trips to the beach, picnics with watermelon, cool drinks served in coconuts, and heat!  I love all of it except the heat.  :-D  My card today is inspired by the inspiration photo at Catch the Bug challenge.   

     I combined two Bugaboo Stamps images to create this CAS card.  Although it looks really busy because of the collage image, it's only the card base and the combined images - no embellishment of any kind.

Colored with ProMarkers
Images are cut with QuicKutz square (out-of-the-box technique) and rectangle dies

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
Path of Positivity
Simon Says Stamp
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

Hope you're having a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water World Mermaid

     A summer card today, despite my recent focus on autumn cards in a desire to get summer over and done.  But this one has a cool color combo so it's almost as good.  :-D

     The image is from LeAnn's World 101 and is the freebie given for their monthly Progressive Challenge. 

I used the sketch again from Sketch Saturday 

but this time flipped side to side.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glossy Accents added to image
Image is fussy cut
Background splash cut with Memory Box die
DCWV background dp
Starfish ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

     Challenges:
CardsTV
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Creative Inspirations
LeAnn's World 101
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gold Medal Diving

     With all the Olympic qualifying trials going on this month, I thought a fun card featuring an Olympic diving hopeful (!?) might bring a smile to your face.  The QKR Stampede image is called "At the Beach" and I used it on my DT card for the weekly challenge starting today.

Colored with ProMarkers and Copics
Fussy cut image mounted on dimensional tape
Framed with Sue Wilson die cuts
Polka Dot ribbon from Crafty Ribbons

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Crafter's Cafe
Creations in Pink
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Digi Doodle Studios
Scribbles Designs
Tales from the Craft Room
World Wide DT Open

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Beyond the Wall

     Scrapper's Delights has started their latest progressive challenge and you have your choice between two images; one a wall, the other a fence.  I chose the wall and I love how the card developed.  :-D  The lovely sunbonnet girl is also one of their images.

Colored with ProMarkers
Wall image cut with Spellbinders die
Sunbonnet girl is fussy cut
Sheer ribbon used for double bow
Green CS pieces are scraps
Pop Dots for dimension on girl

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Colour Crazy
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Dare 2B Artsy
Dream Valley
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrapper's Delights

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Kitten in the Garden

     There's a neighborhood cat (apparently feral, but relatively friendly) who has had a litter of kittens in the next door yard and they are old enough to be out and about.  Two of them visit my garden at least once each day, often three or four times.  They are so cute, and I'm doing my best NOT to feed them.  You probably know how well that's working!

    Anyway, this darling image from Fabrika Fantasy reminds me of them.

Colored with ProMarkers and water color pencil
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Scraps of dp from DCWV
White satin ribbon
Yellow card base

     Challenges:
Ching-Chou Kuik
Country View Crafts
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creatalicious
I {heart} ProMarkers
Papercraft
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Roasted Chicken

     Considering how long I've been on the DT at QKR Stampede (where we start a new, weekly, Anything Goes challenge today), I can't believe that I've overlooked this fun, summery, image.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it during this hot weather we're having.  If he's not careful, we're going to have roasted chicken!  lol  The image is called "Basking."

Colored with ProMarkers
Memory Box dies
Dark Brown stitched ribbon (Crafty Ribbons)
Gold, satin ribbon (stash)
Double loop bow (tied w/ bow maker)
Sentiment - Eureka Stamps (Fun in the Sun)
Kraft card base
Polka dot dp - DCWV

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments (die cuts/image/ribbon)
Colour Crazy
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Happy Craft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Flower Basket

     Today I'm using my favorite image from Conie Fong.  Although I have quite a collection of her images, this is the one I have used the most often, this time for a birthday card.

Coloring with ProMarkers
Fav color combo - Purple and Green
Spellbinders die
Gingham Ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Hand tied satin bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments  (3rd column)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Catz
Cutie Pie
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Life is a Garden

     This beautiful girl surrounded by zinnias is from Ching-Chou Kuik and I've returned to one of my more usual color combos, something with purple, blue, or pink.  However, still in the interest of branching out and trying new things, I added yellow to the pink, a color I rarely use except for fall themed cards.

Although I took a bit of a liberty with it, my card was

 inspired by the 'quilted' background in the sketch at

Sketch Saturday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Sue Wilson die
Background hand-pieced using Spellbinders dies
White satin ribbon
Pink satin, hand-sewn, bows w/ pearls.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Ching-Chou Kuik FB
Crafty Sentiments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Summer of Reading

     I have a dear friend, a retired teacher, who spends her summers as a volunteer working with 1st and 2nd grade school kids, reading stories to them and encouraging them to explore the fun and mystery of books on their own.  Her birthday is next week and I did this card for her as a birthday present.

     The image is from Di's Digi Designs.

I chose 3 of the colors from Coloring in Scrapland - green, blue & yellow.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut and matted with dies from Spellbinders
Stitched ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Signature hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
TTCRD

     I'm posting this early instead of waiting until the witching hour because I have someone here who can link up to all the challenges and that means I can stay away from the keyboard.  I'm still having serious shoulder problems when I try to type.  Coloring and crafting are getting better but there's something about the position in which I hold my shoulder when I'm at the keyboard that aggravates my shoulder injury.

     Happy crafting.  NanaConnie

Lazy Days of Summer

     I absolutely adore this image from Polkadoodles!  What a great image for a summer card. 

ProMarkers for coloring
QuicKutz die for the image
Cottage Cutz die for the cork frame
Sheer ribbon

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today.  NanaConnie

Birthday Wishes

     This card was made using a wonderful freebie image from Beccy's Place.  The monthly challenges over there are almost like having a progressive challenge because Beccy always gives a freebie but even better, you can use the freebie or any other Beccy's image you have.

     In addition, Beccy gives an OPTIONAL twist and this month the option is to CASE yourself.  You can see the card I CASEd by going to my post from May 20.  Not only is it also a birthday card, but it has the same short-side, gate fold card.  I also added a die cut panel to the opposite flap.

ProMarkers
Lawn Fawn dies on image
Die-Versions die on panel
Signature bow

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friendly Seahorse

    The image is from Fabrika Fantasy and seems perfect for a summer card celebrating times near the sea.

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut 'splash' is a negative, inside scrap from a Memory Box die
Image is fussy cut and mounted on Pop Dots
Ribbon is a scrap from my stash

      Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Digi Doodle Studios
Friendship
Prika Crafts
Three Amigos

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

She Sells Sea Shells...

     This one is for the July Crafting with an Attitude challenge and the image was donated by our sponsor, Colour of Love (formerly Lacy Sunshine.)  It's called "Sandi Boo Collecting Sea Shells."

ProMarkers
Alcohol ink used for the hand made background paper
QuicKutz oval dies
3 gems on each side of oval

     Challenges:
Archi-Scraps
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends (beach, babe,blue)
Creative Fingers
Di's Digi Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Taking a Hike

     This card was made for my grandson who is heading off for summer camp in a few days.  My daughter asked for 5 masculine (and somewhat camp related) cards to mail to him while he's there.  I used a Penny Black stamp and modified it to look like a cliff drop-off.  I think it's fun and funny.  :-D

Sketch #565 from Sketch Saturday.

     Colored with Promarkers
     Die cut with Memory Box
     Scraps of CS and burlap
     3 gems

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Addicted to Stamps
Crafts Galore Encore
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Friendship
Outlawz SAR
Penny Black Saturday
Pile It On

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Visit

     I wish my summer garden looked this neat and tidy.  I'm afraid the weeds have taken over during these weeks of shoulder problems and doctor's orders to "do nothing."  I'm healing well now, but not enough to go out and undo the ravages of untended nature.  lol

     The image is from  Lemon Shortbread.

     ProMarkers
     QuicKutz dies
     Gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
   
     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Happy Craft
Passion for ProMarkers
Tues Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Mermaid Summer

     Summer is definitely here in my part of the world, with hot, hot, HOT weather, and I'm already wishing I was a mermaid !  This cute image is from Sasayaki Glitter.

I used the colors from The Outlawz.

     

     Colored with ProMarkers & glitter

     Cut with dies from Spellbinders

     Patterned papers are scraps from my stash

     Hand sewn bow 

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs.

Double D

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.

Scrappy Land

Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Day at the Beach

     It's so hot here that all I can think is we should be at the beach where it's 35 degrees cooler!  This Beach Fence image from Pink Gems is about the best I can do at the moment.

ProMarkers to color
Cut with QuicKutz die using out-of-the-box technique
Stitched ribbon
3 aqua gemstones
Inked edges on image and sentiment

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Angie's Digital Stamps
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Sentiments
Cut It Up
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Take It, Make It
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Day Trips

     I have always loved day trips, beginning with trips to the beach when I was a child and continuing throughout my lifetime with outings for fishing and even photography jaunts.  Mostly, I loved the journeys which had no specific destination beyond picking a compass direction, heading out, and taking the first side road that looked interesting.  It was amazing how the summer exploration adventures unfolded trip after trip.

     This cute image from LeAnn's World 101 reminds me of those days.

     I used:
ProMarkers
Dies from Memory Box
Hand bleached CS
Ribbon
Hand-sewn Butterfly bow

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Butterfly (Granny Smith & Gingham + butterfly bow)
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug (ribbon/ die/ sentiment)
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Sunshine

     Another quickly typed post today, this time featuring a lovely image from Ching-Chou Kuik.  It's taken me nearly the entire month to complete this one due to the shoulder problems.

     Colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut.  I cut two pieces of DCWV dp with a Spellbinders die, inlaid them and added the image.  Everything went onto a kraft card base and I added lace and the sentiment.  I tied two of my signature bows with pearls and added those to the image frame.

     Challenges:
Ching-Chou Kuik
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Dare 2B Artsy
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Paperminutes
TTCRD

     That's it for today but I may have another post tomorrow.  It's been a while since I was able to post two days in a row.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie