Best Friend Mermaids

     Tiddly Inks has a freebie this month and it's perfect for a summery, best friend, kind of card.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a stitched Die-namics die by My Favorite Things.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another die from that set.  Both of those circles are inlaid into the circles cut in the background dp and, although it's hard to see, there is stitching on the dp from the Die-namics dies used to cut it.

     I found stitched ribbon in my Crafty Ribbons stash and added it to the background.  The final touch was the mermaid charm at the top.  I added glitter to her for a bit of sparkle. 

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Cute N Crafty
House that Stamps Built
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Word Art Weds

     OK, tomorrow is another DT day, this time at QKR Stampede so be sure to come by and visit.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Barefoot Kind of Summer

     We've had our first two days of temperatures in the 90s (F) and that's just to prepare us for the hot, hot, HOT days just over the horizon.  Today's card is my only salute to high temperatures since I really hate unbearable hot weather.  When it gets over 100, I regret living where I do.

     But, for now, I love this darling little girl from Conie Fong.  She's a classic, barefoot, summer girl.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, then cut the image and the frame with Bo Bunny dies, inlaying them when I adhered them to the dp background.  That paper is from my stash and I have no idea what company made it.

     The ribbon is lavender and has metallic fibers running through it.  Because of the delicate detail in the die cut frame and the print in the dp, I decided that no further embellishment was needed. 

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Addicts
Creations in Pink
Creative Fingers
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Scrap from Your Heart
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Days

     Ok, now that we've had consistently warm days for more than a week, I can believe that summer is right around the corner.  Unfortunately for me, I live in an area where it gets really HOT during our summer months and I hate the heat.  :-(  But I do love summer grilling so this cute image from Limited Runs for the latest Progressive Challenge was just what I needed.  I'll probably use this as a birthday card for my son since he not only has a summer birthday but he's a master at the grill (just ask him - he'll tell you!)

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Sizzix die. The pale yellow circle was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.  I found a bit of golden, satin ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the kraft CS front.  I used one of my signature bows, leaving it white this time, and added only a pearl as I was sewing it.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Potted Roses

     Today I'm sharing another of my 'all die cuts' cards.  I love doing these when I travel and don't have all my coloring tools with me.  It's easy to do a bunch of die cuts of varied subjects and colors ahead of time, then pack them away carefully between 2 pieces of cardboard.  Pop those into a plastic bag, add a glue pen, and you have everything ready for card making on the run.  :-D

     For this one, I cut the roses twice, one green and one yellow, using a die from Cottage Cutz.  The plant pot was cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and the butterfly (both layers) is Impression Obsession.  The "Hello" sentiment was done with a Poppy Stamps die.  I had a scrap of pale green, checked, dp which I used for the background.

     For the roses, I cut the flowers off the yellow die cut and layered them onto the green die cut.  I used white gel ink to highlight them and added tiny gems for a touch of sparkle.  I used the gel  pen on the pot as well.  The butterfly was highlighted with pencil and gel ink before adding gold pearls to the body.

     The sentiment was added last.  I wanted the die cuts to be the focus so no ribbons, no 3D flowers, no embellies, just the dp and the die cuts for something CAS.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
CARDZ TV
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations
Crazy for CAS
Incy Wincy (1 word senti/creature/checks)
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Star Stampz

     That's all I have for this hot summer day.  We've already had more 100F+ days in a row than we normally have all summer long so I'm done with summer!  I'm ready for rain, cool days, falling leaves, and something better than the weathermen saying, "105 again today."  Yuck.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wild Summer Roses

     Wild roses always remind me of summer and the lovely, coral-pink, bushes of them which grew next to my grandfather's cabin in the mountains of southern California.  There were dozens of plants and they seemed to increase each summer.  Though the blooming season was short, they always said "summer" at the top of their delicate, flowery, voices.  :-D

     When I saw this delightful image of wild roses at Beccy's Place, I just had to use it on a card.

I was inspired by the inspiration colors at House of Cards.

     I used my ProMarkers to color  the image and then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The lattice work was also a die from Spellbinders and was actually a scrap from another project.  The dp was left over from a scrap booking page and the bow was tied by hand using burlap ribbon.  The sentiment was printed, hand-cut, matted, and hand-cut again.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Carlin's Card Paradise
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Dreamy
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's PP
Digistamps4Joy
Morgan's ArtWorld

     That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ice Cream at the Beach

     Want to know the perfect remedy for hot weather?  Yep, you guessed it - ice cream at the beach!  And I thought this cute little image from Bugaboo Stamps showed that off perfectly.  :-D

I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel inks (white, silver, and sparkle), then die cut the image and the frame with two of my new dies from Tonic Studios.  I found scraps of dp in my basket, cut the ends of them with one of the scalloped dies from Tonic Studios, and added them underneath the framed image.

     I tied the multi-loop bow using two ribbons on my bow maker.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, matted it, and added it, offset below the image.

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Catch the Bug
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water Spirit

     Most of us are drawn to cool waters during summer's hot days and the coast, with it's crashing waves, is often the first option for a getaway.  Last summer was extraordinarily hot in my area and I headed for ocean breezes as soon as I could.   This spectacular silhouette from Crackerbox Palace says it all.

     I used ProMarkers to color the sky and the ocean, then cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The scalloped frame is also a die cut (Spellbinders.)  I added two more layers of framing, one a simple rectangle and the bottom one punched with two different Fiskars corner punches.

     All of that went onto an eggshell white card base.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, matted it, and added it to the top of the card.  The only embellishment was the one, hand-sewn bow.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to CAS
C.R.A.F.T.
Cupcake Inspirations
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
So Suzy/Crackerbox

     With the weather hot already, I'm looking forward to some time away in July.  The ocean breezes are calling to me.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beach Birthday

     I always envied my school-days friends who had summer birthday because, even though they complained about the lack of classroom recognition of their special day, they could go to the beach for their birthday!

     This cute image from Sasayaki Glitter is my way of celebrating all that summer fun.  Ice cream, the beach, and her kitty - what else could a gal need on a summer day?

I started with the sketch from Tuesday Morning,

turned sideways,

and the Color Sisters had some great inspiration.

   

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I inset that cut into the frame die, also from that Spellbinders set.   I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, matted it with CS, hand cut that, and applied it at the bottom of the image.

     The bow is one of those I sew together by the dozens and toss in my stash for future use.  I mounted everything onto turquoise CS which became the card front.  CAS but more complex looking because of the complexity of the framing die.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Everybody Art
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Catching up on all my 'favorite blog' visits is turning out to be very time consuming!  Even though I checked email pretty regularly, I had more than 200 in my inbox yesterday and that's without Blogger sending me any notifications of comments on my blog.  Whew!  So, I'm working on it but if I leave you one comment on all your posts, please forgive and understand.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Under the Sea

     OK, now that I have all those who read the post title humming that song in their heads...  :-D   This sweet mermaid image is from Lemon Shortbread and this is one of the images I chose when I was a winner at one of their recent challenges.  Of course, I also went on a shopping spree so maybe this is one I bought - I don't actually remember.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter ink to the bubbles, then cut both the image and the dp frame with Wonky Square dies from Spellbinders.  Instead of lining up the frame exactly with the image, I turned the frame a quarter turn which seemed to accent the 'wonkiness' of the die cuts.  I also cut the printed sentiment with the smallest wonky die but this time I had to do it in two cuts, moving the die before the second cut to fit the size of the sentiment.

     I used a scrap of mesh 'ribbon' and I think it added to the ocean theme.  I found the seahorse charm in my stash and used it as the primary embellishment.  I wanted the design to be as CAS as possible so that the image would be showcased.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty!
Work It Weds.

     That's all I have for today but it's good to be back into my normal routine.  I'll be catching up on all my missed visits and comments so bear with me.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fishing Days

     Salute and a good Friday morning, my friends!   We have a new challenge starting over at QKR Stampede today and our theme is always Anything Goes.  It's definitely summer weather around here and I'm getting Father's Day cards done for the three dads in my family (son, SIL, and grandson.)  Anything related to fishing always reminds me of my own dad so I used "Gone Fishing 12601" from QKR for this card.

     He always said that any summer vacation had to include a place to fish and he liked it even better if the entire vacation was planned around every day spent fishing.  :-D

     I started with a simple A2 card  design.  I love A2 and it's probably my favorite card shape and size because I mail so many of my cards and that's a standard size accepted by the post office with no additional postage.  This one will be in the mail to my son.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the octagon shape with a die from QuicKutz.  I added a blue, CS, mat behind the image.

     The card front is embossed, though that doesn't show very well in the photo.  I added the image piece and then wrapped baker's twine around it.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it, and then adhered it at the top of the card.  A CAS design, perfect for a masculine Father's Day card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House That Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Time Out
That's Crafty
Work It Wednesday

     Thanks for stopping by and feel free to browse around while you're here.  I hope you'll come play at QKR this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beach Weather

     Well, they said the really hot weather would arrive last weekend but we jumped from 84F on Thursday to 100F on Saturday and 102F on Sunday!  I know it'll get hotter over the upcoming summer but an almost 20 degree jump over a single weekend nearly wiped me out.  I'm ready for a month at the beach!

     The image from Bugaboo Stamps was in my collection and I grabbed it to use for the Stella Says Sketch challenge (see below.)

Here's the sketch I followed.

     I use ProMarkers to color the image and added some sparkle gel ink to her sunglasses.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show in the photo so it looks like I did nothing.  :( 

     I cut the image with a Bo Bunny die which included the delicate frame that allowed me to inset the image.  The patterned, blue, dp is a left over scrap from a Recollections stack and the chevron dp is also a scrap but I can't remember the maker.  The textured, brown CS came from the scrap pile.  Come to think of it, even the image was printed onto a scrap.

     The bow is one of the wrapped-burlap bows I make but I 'dyed' this one with a purple ProMarker to match her bikini and flip flops.  Overall, this is a pretty CAS design but the dp patterns and fancy die cut make it look much more complex.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Weatherman says we will "cool down" to the high 90s until next weekend when the 100+s will hit us again.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!  I can stay inside and do some Happy Crafting.  :-D  NanaConnie

Ladybug Summer

     Our weather last week felt more like early summer than spring so I'm beginning to work on summer cards.  I had fun with this Bugaboo Stamps image which is actually 2 different images, merged together.  Fancy Sunbonnet is one of my favorite Bugaboo characters and I use her every chance I get.  I think I have nearly every image which features her.

I started with the sketch from Stella Says Sketch 

but turned sideways to accommodate the shape of my image.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added the two flowers on each side of the image.  They are from the second image, cut in half with a middle flower removed.  After they were adhered, I used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image piece.

     I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and added it to the bottom of the image. 

     Making the card base was a bit more complex.  The pink CS part was left over from a die cut I did last week.  It was a large enough scrap to make and A2 size back flap plus enough of the decorative edge to fold over and adhere to a front flap.  I used a scrap of navy blue CS which is smaller than an A2 size but worked as a short front flap to which I could attach the image piece.

     I added tiny, dark blue, Nuvo Crystal Drops along the decorative edge and called it finished.

     I'm sending this one to a dear friend who still lives in my old hometown and I know she'll love it.  She was always the one searching my annual garden for the first ladybugs of summer.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Angie's Digital Stamps
Catch the Bug
Create and Makes
Get Creative 
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Girls
TTCRD

     Thanks for stopping by.  This is all I have for today but I'll be back with another post tomorrow.  Hope to see you then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Snow?

     This month, I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Catch the Bug and that means I get to use lots of Bugaboo Stamps throughout the next four weeks!  Yes, I'm excited about that, just in case you hadn't guessed.  :-D

     My first card is for the "Anything Goes" theme on our Saturday challenge this week and it features an oldie-but-goodie image that I've had for a long time.  I adore sweet little "Abby Umbrella."

     I colored her with ProMarkers, and cut the image with a plain oval die from QuicKutz.  I used another oval die (Unbranded) to cut the deep aqua mat.  The polka Dot dp came from a stack by DCWV.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, then added one of my more-or-less 'signature' bows.  I make those by the dozens and toss them into my stash for future use.  I usually make them from white ribbon and then 'dye' them with ProMarkers to get the exact shade I want.  I did that with this one.

     Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty Circle
Colour Crazy
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     I hope you'll come play at Catch the Bug this week.  You can use any image from any company but if you use one from Bugaboo Stamps and you win, the prize is much larger!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie
     

Summer Joys

     For all of you down under in the Southern Hemisphere, including cousins of mine in Sydney, I hope your summer is warm and wonderful but not overwhelmingly hot.  I've done a card with all of you in mind for my GDT spot over at the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge with a theme of "Summer."  This is a refreshing change from the "Snow" theme of last week and I imagine those of you in the north of the US and in Canada will agree.  Are any of you tired of winter yet?

     I used another House Mouse image and kept my card very CAS, even with the double layer on the card.

     I colored the mouse, the crab, and beach ball with ProMarkers and everything else was done with watercolor/polychromos pencils.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and then cut a dark brown mat for it with a Pinpoint Rectangle die from Memory Box.

     I layered those together and added them to a yellow card base, deliberately putting them at an angle to add a little visual interest.  The sentiment I printed, hand cut, and put on top of the image.  There you are - totally CAS and easy to male.  It's going in my stash of masculine cards for one of the summer birthdays celebrated by several of my family members.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with Attitude
Crafty Friends
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper Crafty
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Burnt to a Crisp

     There is a running (but gentle) competition between my son and my SIL as to which of them is the best chef.  Needless to say, that includes BBQ foods as well.  So this card will end up being a birthday card for one of them, but I'm not sure which at this point.

I put the birthday sentiment on the inside.

That die cut sentiment was a gift from the lady who sent me 

her card this month in the Card Chain Challenge exchange.

Thanks, Denise!

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image (Bugaboo Stamps), then cut and framed it with a lattice die (Spellbinders.)  The image is actually inset into the frame.  The sentiment was printed and then adhered to another die cut (same Spellbinders set.)

     The card is really CAS but then, it's a masculine card and may have to be mailed if it goes to my son.  :-D

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
City Crafter
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     I'll be home, blogging and crafting, for a couple of days starting this evening, then I'm taking off again for the Labor Day weekend.  First thing I have to do is write up the last of my 4 posts for Friday (3 are already done and pre-scheduled) and then I can relax (?) in the record breaking heat that still holds California in its grip.  I'm thinking fondly of all of you who feel like you've had no summer at all.  And I'm saying prayers for all of Houston and New Orleans.  Happy Crafting to the rest of you.  NanaConnie

Last Flamingo on the Beach

     It's a sure thing that summer is coming to a close when you find only one flamingo on the beach, looking for that last drop of sunshine to tan his pink feathers.  Or maybe all the rest of them just got scared away by yesterday's solar eclipse?

I used colors from the Ellen Hutson Pin Sights challenge.

     The image is from the Sasayaki Glitter FB progressive challenge.  I colored with my ProMarkers and cut it with an Unbranded die.  The paper is from an old DCWV stack.  I printed the sentiment and fussy cut it.  I added ribbon from my stash, plus one of the bows I make up by the dozens and have ready as needed, and found an anchor charm which seemed good for the beach theme.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafty Creations
Crazy Challenge
Creative Inspirations
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Friday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wanna Play?

     EDITED TO ADD:  Having been gone all week and with only the most unreliable access to the internet, this is the first time I've been able to connect and correct two pre-scheduled posts which didn't go live as scheduled.  So today, you get to see two posts!  :-D

     I adore this image by Anne Fenton which came to us as the image for the July Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.  Isn't he just the most adorable thing?  He's waiting for someone to come play on the beach with him (which is where I am right now while you're reading this!)

   
     I used chalks to color the dog and ProMarkers to highlight his fur and color both the beach ball and the sand.  I cut the image with a die from CUT-plorations and also cut the embossed blue background piece with another die from that same set.  After cutting it, I used my Swiss Dot embossing folder on it.

     I layered those two pieces together and wrapped them with red, white, and blue baker's twine, tying it into a bow around all three strands.  I thought this made a great masculine card so I left it without any further embellishment.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Catch the Bug
Chalk n Stock
Crea Chicky's
Create with TLC
Cute as a Button
Digistamps 4 Joy
Let's Craft and Create
Love to Scrap

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Buddies

     Those of you who follow my blog and visit regularly will understand why this particular post is such a perfect reflection of what I'm doing today.  lol  Yep, I'm at the beach instead of home in the heat.

     Do you remember those childhood days when you met a new buddy for the first time while you were on vacation or even just a day at the beach and suddenly you were BFFs?  Even if you never saw that buddy again, it was BFF for that day or week or whatever span of time covered the friendship.  I kinda miss those days.  :-D

     This image is from AuroraWings and I love it!  It was fun to color and makes me think of carefree childhood days.

     I used my ProMarkers to color those darling pups, then cut and embossed it with a dies from Sue Wilson.  I found scraps of beige and cocoa brown CS, cut them into strips, and made the background for my card.  Before adding the image piece, I used satin-edged, sheer ribbon (also a scrap), wrapped it around the card front and tied it with a granny knot.  I trimmed the ends into a short diagonal.

     Challenges:
Crazy Challenge
Delicious Doodles
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Let's Craft and Create
Paper Girls
Pixie's Snippets Playground
Ribbon Girl

     That's all I have for today but I want those of you stuck in the heat wave to think of me and how marvelous the weather is along the California coast.  Aren't you jealous?  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Yummy Summer

     I found another adorable mouse - the paper kind, not the real kind!  :-D  This one can live in my house or my garden any time.  This little Strawberry Mouse is the monthly image from the progressive challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs.  He arrived in my e-mailbox just in time to get colored up and made into a card for one of my pre-scheduled posts this month.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers, then cut him and the frame with scalloped oval dies from Spellbinders.    Both of the papers were in a pile of years-old paper which hadn't seen the light of day in waaaay too long.  They were just crying out to be used and I no longer know who made them.

     The pink ribbon is woven through white lace but somehow got overexposed in the photo so it's a bit hard to see.  IRL, it's a lovely complement to the dp.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Kraftin' Kimmie
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope your week is going well.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Beach Combing

     Happy 4th of July, USA!

     Summer is upon us and that means travels to the mountains for some of us or off to the beaches for others.  Today I chose to celebrate the beaches (where I'll be next week!) and chose this fun and fabulous set from MHK Designs.  Beach combing was a bit different back in the day.  :-D

     I actually used two different images from that set and blended them together.  I colored with my ProMarkers, and then hand cut the images to put them together.  They are layered onto a die cut and embossed frame (Amy Designs die) and that went directly onto the card front.

     The textured ribbon is from my stash, as is the sheer ribbon I used to tie the triple-loop bow.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Catz
Delicious Doodles
DL.ART
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Ribbon Girl

     I hope your day is as cool and restful as I'm sure mine will be.  Nothing like getting away from it all.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie