Silver Fox

      Maya Silvercat is one of my favorite artists and I've introduced my sis-in-law to her artwork and digital images.  The image on this card was colored by my SIL, using Ohuhu markers (she has so thoroughly mastered alcohol markers in less than 2 months!)  I love how she decided to make the fox a silvery white.  Really masterful !

     I still haven't gotten her to actually make cards (or even scrapbook pages) with her colored images but we have this marvelous collaboration going, and I make cards out of her colored images.  Of course, I continue to color images myself, but this one is another of our collaborations.  :-D

      The image, once colored, was cut with a Tonic Studios die, and I inked the edges.   The background for the image was made by running a piece of charcoal gray CS through my Linen embossing folder. That added a delightful bit of texture.  The birthday sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  For the bow, I used white ribbon, dyed green with a marker, then hand sewn into the butterfly shape.  

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Digi Choosday

DL Art

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     That's all for today but check back tomorrow for another post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Puddle Jumping

      A new challenge is starting over at FarmQuest and our theme this time is "Rain Gear."  Of course, it must always have that farm/country feel to it.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew it was time to dig out one of my House Mouse stamps.  I adore this stamp and will find any excuse to use it, including "Don't rain on my parade" days.  :-D

     This time, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Cuts.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sky blue CS I used for the background was embossed with my Linen folder before attaching it to the card front, just for a touch of texture.   I grabbed one of my white, hand-sewn, signature bows from the stash, 'dyed' it with a marker, and added a sequin before gluing it to the card.

     Pretty CAS, plus nice and flat for mailing.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says (Rainy Days and Mondays)

     That's it for FarmQuest this fortnight.  Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cowboy Jack-o-Lantern

      I've done another Halloween card for today, this time using a cute QKR Stampede image called "Cowboy Pumpkin."  The "Happy Halloween" sentiment is also from QKR.  I colored with ProMarkers, and fussy cut the jack-o-lantern with scissors.  The silhouettes in the background were cut with dies from Memory Box & Die-Versions.  

     I wanted to add some texture to the card so I chose burlap cloth for the background.  Everything was mounted onto a Kraft card base.

This is also my Day 27 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

CRAFT

Creative Inspirations

Inspiration Station (pumpkin)

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper Crafty

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Embossed Dahlias

      I'm still trying new things but this time with an old, tried and true technique - heat embossing.  After all the hundreds of times I've done heat embossing, I still love it.  Nothing else gives the instant gratification of watching the embossing powder change from dull and grainy to shiny and smooth.  :-D  

     The dahlias in the focal image were recycled from an old birthday card (which was partially eaten by the felines before being rescued!) and I have no idea what company made or sold the digital image but I die cut it with an Unbranded die, then inked it by hand with a Versamark pen (not all that easy to do.)  I added sparkly EP  from my stash and heated it until it turned shiny.

     The sentiment was stamped with a rubber stamp (maker unknown) and cut with an Avery Elle die, then matted with a tiny scrap of the leftover CS after die cutting the image.  The dp is a scrap from Colorbok and everything is mounted onto a light pink card base.  The photo doesn't do justice to the sparkle and texture of the 'real life' dahlias!

     Challenges:

Angie's Digitals

Aud Sentiments

Crafty Creations

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Dream Valley

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Dough Maker

      Today's post is a quick one and it features the Dr. Digi image for the Progressive challenge at The Outlawz.  

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Dare 2B Artzy die

'Textured' dp from DCWV

Sparkle ribbon from RRR

     (I love wrapping ribbon around the card front because it's the fastest and easiest way to add ribbon to a card.)

Sheer ribbon for bow (used Bow Maker)

     Challenges:

Angie's Digital

As You Like It

Colour Crazy

Cute Card Thurs

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams (Sparkly ribbon)

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperbabe

Scrapping4Fun

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Welcome Gnome

     Any time gnomes are photographed on a large mushroom, it's a sure sign they have a new home!  They quickly email the pic to all their gnome friends so that the friends will know where they are, and then they disappear into the forest undergrowth so that no humans can find them.  True story - don't doubt me!   :-D

     This darling image came from SheepSki Designs, provided for the progressive challenge at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers & fussy cut
Bird is machine embroidered
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Metal brads for embellishment

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to...
A Perfect Time...
Angie's Digital
Art Impressions
Cardz TV
Crafty Friends
Dare 2B Artzy
Lil Patch of...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Party Hardy

     Day 6, the next to the last day of the week long 10th Birthday celebration at Catch the Bug.  Each day there's a new challenge with a different theme and today we have Colors.  The overall theme is "Down on the Farm" and Bugaboo Stamps has a whole bunch of fun, new, farm animal stamps.  This cute little Party Pig was a freebie (only on Tuesday) but it's still available in the store.  Tomorrow (Friday) there will be another freebie so be sure to check the blog then.

  

Here's the colors.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz dies
2 shades of green CS, embossed with 'Linen' folder for texture
Green, polka dot, grosgrain ribbon
(Back story - I bought that ribbon because it reminded me of a green, polka dot, Easter hat which I had as a child.  I loved that hat, mostly because it was the first hat I ever had, and I kept it in my closet for at least 5 years, refusing to give it up even when it clearly didn't fit any more. The memory makes me smile.)
Bow made from satin, polka dot, ribbon, 'dyed' with ProMarker
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Paperbabe Stamps
Scrapper's Delights
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Milking Christmas for All It's Worth!

     I was in an awfully silly mood when I made this card for the latest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  I used a cute image from our sister stamp company, Eureka Stamps, called "Christmas Cow" and this one is available in both digi and rubber.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image is fussy cut w/ scissors
Mounted onto red frame cut with Sue Wilson die (scrap)
Textured ribbon (scrap)
Hand tied bow (scrap)
Background is sparkly Christmas wrap

     Challenges:
Christmas w/ the Cuties
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Dare 2B Artsy
Die Cut Divas
Double Trouble w/ Artsy Stamper
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Time Out
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Are You Batty?

     Happy Friday!  The weekend is right around the corner and we have a new challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and you may use any image from any company to enter our weekly challenge.  However, if you choose to use an image by QKR (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a separate draw and your chances of winning are increased tremendously!

     For today's card, I chose to make a Halloween card and used both QKR (Bat and Moon) and Eureka (Bat - used 4 times) images, plus a sentiment from QKR (Happy Halloween.)

ProMarkers used for coloring
White gel ink for eyes and highlights
Textured ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Accordion bow 'dyed' with ProMarker
Black CS frame
Kraft card base
Sentiment was fussy cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV 
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Come play along with us this week, won't you?  We love  being inspired by what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gathering Nuts

     It must be fall; the squirrels are gathering nuts!   I'm delighted, for more than just the cooler temperatures.  Check out my card for this week's new challenge at QKR Stampede and you'll understand why.  If you enlarge the photo, you can more easily read that silly sentiment.  :-D   I used the QKR image "Writing Squirrel" and added "Acorn Accent" to give him an armful of nuts.  In the original image, he's holding a pencil.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die, inked edge
Acorns printed twice, hand cut, and added in layers
Background embossed with Sizzix folder
Wrapped burlap-twine bow
Hand cut sentiment, inked edge

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
Paperminutes
Scribbles Designs

     I'll have a second post today and some fun news so be sure to stop by a bit later.  In the meantime, think about creating something to enter into our Anything Goes challenge at QKR.  We love being inspired by the things you enter.  NanaConnie

Feed the Birds for Christmas

     I'm sharing another of my favorite images from Mo's Digital Pencil which has the sweetest little urchin feeding the birds during the cold days of Christmas.  They have a color challenge for the theme this month which includes one of my favorite color combos - purples and aquas.

  

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die
Papers from Doodlebug
Plaid paper cut with QuicKutz dies
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Glitter added to snowflakes
White background paper textured with embossing

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty Christmas
House that Stamps Built (diagonal: die cut/ square card/ blue or purple)
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Hatchlings?

     Here we are on the fist Thursday of a new month and that means a new challenge is starting over at Crafting with an Attitude.  As always, our theme is "Anything goes" and this month our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps.

     Did you ever think when you were hunting for all the eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny that some of them might hatch?  I think that's what happened to this little gal as she was putting all her eggs into her garden wagon.  Now she has a garden blooming with chicks and eggs!  :-D  You can find her by clicking HERE.

     I grabbed my ProMarkers to color the image, adding grass and sky to make it a scene, then cut it with a stitched die from Die-namics (My Favorite Things.)  I printed the sentiment and cut that with a Die-namics die also.  I matted both the image and the sentiment with cross stitch, die cut, papers (Unbranded dies.)

     I used pink CS to make the gate fold card base, leaving one flap very long and the other one narrower but just long enough to tuck in behind the long side.  I embossed the long side with a folder from Couture Creations.  The borders of the long side, both pink and white, were cut with a Poppy Stamps die.  I simply layered everything together onto the long side of the gate fold, playing with the layout until it all looked 'finished.'

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafty Sentiments
Cute and Crafty
Cupcake Inspirations

Double Trouble (Taking Suzanne's suggestion - the cart is wooden!)
Ike's World
Incy Wincy
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Poppystamps

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hatching a New World

     It's a New Year so why not a New World?  We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede and I thought this funny image, called "Top of the World," would be a fun way to play on that idea.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and the prize is always images from the QKR store.

I took color inspiration from the mood board at Crafts Dreamy.

     I started by coloring the image with a combination of ProMarkers and water color pencils, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  I inked the edges and then used another oval die from Spellbinders to cut the large oval behind the image piece.  I inked the edges of that piece, also. 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then made the burlap-twine, wrapped, bow with the help of my bow maker.  I added the mesh 'ribbon' to a piece of dark gray CS and added the die cut ovals on top of it.  Both the bow and the ribbon added great texture to the card.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
a2z Scrapbooking
Ching-Chou Kuik
Craft-Dee Bowz
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Digi Doodle Studios
Do Al(l) Creatives  - 2 ovals

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Anything Goes challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Keeping Warm with Gratitude

     I've become so hooked on the images at All Dressed Up and my Wish List for these long-legged gals is growing each week!   Today I used an image called "All Wrapped Up" so it was perfect for a fall card.  I turned it into a Thanksgiving card with the sentiment.

I used colors from House of Cards.

     I think this is a pretty simple design but one with lots of visual interest.  I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with an Unbranded, oval die.  I had a scrap of plaid paper in my autumn stash and grabbed it for the card front.

     While searching for the dp, I came across the silk leaf and knew it would make a perfect textural piece.  So, I adhered it to the plaid paper, then layered on the image oval, using dimensional tape.  I printed the sentiment, matted it, and used more dimensional tape to mount it onto the card.

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Crafts Dreamy
Crafts Galore Encore
Cupcake Inspirations
Cute N Crafty
Die Cut Divas
Double Trouble
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

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

Forest Witch

     It seems that even the woodland animals celebrate Halloween!   Over the weekend, I shared a card showing how the fairies disguise themselves as toadstools to avoid the witches and goblins on Halloween but today I'm sharing another delightful image from Ching-Chou Kuik showing a gentle witch of  the woodlands.  I guess not all of them are scary or dangerous.  At least, the squirrels aren't afraid.  :-D

I used colors from Outlawz Colors.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and did the sky and ground with water colors.  I cut the image with an Unbranded oval die.  The purple piece is a CS scrap, cut into a rectangle with a simple die from Spellbinders, then framed with a Bo Bunny die cut piece, also a scrap.  Everything was layered onto a scrap of orange CS, including the sentiment, and that layered piece was put onto a kraft card base. 

     I added mesh for texture, then found a scrap of purple ribbon which I wrapped around the card front.  I tied the purple, gingham check, ribbon into a bow and added it on top of the sheer ribbon.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pile It On
{Pin}spirational
Pixie's Snippets
Stamping Sensations
Unicorn

     How can we be halfway through October already?   My daughter's birthday is just around the corner and I haven't even thought about doing a card for her.  OMGosh, I'd better get going on that one!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Back to School Fairy (or Not)

     While all the adults I know are thrilled that school is back in session, there are lots of grandkids (some of mine included) who would give anything to have a Magic Fairy who would let them out of school, even for just a day.  That was the inspiration for this card and sentiment.

     The image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge over at Sasayaki Glitter.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another die from that same set.  I inked the scalloped edges of both pieces.

     I ran a piece of shiny, lavender CS through my "Linen" folder to add some great texture and wrapped that piece with pink, polka dot, ribbon.  All the layers gave even more texture to the card. 

     For a simple embellishment, I made one of my signature bows with a pearl and added it to the ribbon. 

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
If You Give A Crafter a Cookie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrappy Land
Tuesday Throwdown

     If I can get back into my craft room today, I may have a post for tomorrow.  I've been "babysitting" these two delightful, 'great-grand' fur babies (my oldest granddaughter's kittens) for a few days and they are very demanding of my time (to say nothing of being too cute to ignore!)  So very little has been done in the way of crafting for the last few days.  Good thing I had things ready to post.  :-D

Ivory and Ebony (perched where they can watch my every move!)

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tennis Star

     I love Fridays!  It means I get to share another fun card with a silly and delightful QKR Stampede image.  Our newest challenge starts today and will run for a week.  I've used "Playing Tennis."

     I colored the tennis star with ProMarkers and used water colors on the background.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders. 

     I found two scraps of paper in the basket, neither of them big enough to make the frame, so I cut each one (again, Spellbinders) and then layered them together on a diagonal to frame the image.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges before adding it to the card.  I used tiny gems from Stampendous for a bit of sparkle.

     Oh, you want to know what the sentiment means?    You haven't figured it out?   It was on a personalized license plate the first time I saw it.  Give up?  OK, how about "Tennis, anyone?"  lol

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Cutie Pie
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Southern Girls
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD
Words to Craft By

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thinking of You

     I think this is my first, or maybe second, time using an image from All Dressed Up and I think she's just as cute as a bug!

I started with the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday

even though I missed the deadline for their challenge.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  The small, red, hexagon was also cut with another die from that same set.  The card front is dry embossed.  The bits of dp are from my scrap basket.  I love the CAS design allowed by that sketch.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up FB
CARDZ TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I hope your week is going well and that you're finding some time to relax in the heat of summer.  My home town is in the midst of a heat wave defined as 3 or more days of temperatures over 100 F.  Not my favorite kind of weather.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fat Pants for Christmas

     This is the last day of the 30 Days of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place and I've done it!  I've played each and every day!  I've had so much fun this month and I adore Beccy's images so I know I'm going to miss doing that many cards, all with her sweet stamps.  Maybe I'll have to apply to be part of her DT next time she has a space open.  :-D

     Since the alphabet is finished and we have no more letters to use as themes, today we get to use whatever we love.  I fell in love with this silly sentiment which is in one of Beccy's sets (wish I could remember which one but I have too many.)  "It's Christmas - Get your Fat Pants ready!"  I knew I wanted to use that sentiment so I looked through my growing collection of her stamps until I found all these wonderful Christmas goodies with which we stuff ourselves from now until the New Year.  (giggle)

     I found the Christmas Puddings, a bundle of candy canes decorated with holly and ribbon, and a single candy cane, which I printed twice, reversing one of them.

     I used ProMarkers to color the candy canes, the holly, and the ribbons, then I fussy cut all of those with scissors.  I printed the main bundle of candy canes one more time, colored it also, and then die cut it with a lacy doily Unbranded die. 

     I used my paper cutter to cut the large square around all Christmas Puddings and layered that onto the white card front.  I placed the die cut candy cane bundle onto the very middle of the puddings, adhered with ultra sticky tape.  I took the single candy canes and added them to the fussy cut bundle canes.  I used mini Pop Dots and added them on top of the die cut canes.  That not only gave great dimension but also some wonderful texture. 

     I found some lovely sheer gold ribbon, wrapped it around the top of the card front. then added one of my hand sewn bows which I 'dyed' red with a marker.  I inked the edges of the sentiment and added it.  Yes, indeed, definitely time for the "fat pants!"

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
TTCRD

     Thank you, Beccy, for such a fun month of Christmas cards.  See you for the next regular challenge.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Beautiful Bride

     I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Through the Craft Room Door this week and the challenge is being sponsored by Digistamps4Joy.  I used their lovely "Bedazzled Bride" image.

     I challenged myself this time to try doing white-on-white again.  I've tried it a few times in the past and have never been happy with the results.  However, I admit to really liking this one and being proud of it.  :-D

     I did color some of the image with ProMarkers (her skin & hair) and a bit of gold paint pen to highlight the embroidery on her dress.  I used an out-of-the-box technique to die cut the image with one of my oldest dies from Spellbinders.  I layered that onto two more die cut frames, both by Spellbinders, and I used dimensional tape to separate the layers, adding texture and dimension.  Both of the lower layers are "Linen" embossed with a folder.

     I decided that I really wanted to showcase the die cuts so I didn't add any flowers, or lace, or ribbons, or any of the more common embellishments for wedding cards.  I think it's more than enough as it it.

     Challenges:
Color Crazy Craft
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Word Art Weds.

     It would be great to see you playing along at Through the Craft Room Door this week.  Remember, their theme is always "Anything Goes" and you might win a fabulous prize from Digistamps4Joy!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie