Paths, Trails, or Walkways

      Oh, my gosh!  The year is nearly over and today we start our last challenge of 2024 over at FarmQuest.  As usual, we have a theme - a specific one in addition to the "Farm or Country" which is part of every challenge we have - and today that theme is "Paths, Trails, or Walkways."  I suppose I could have searched for a winter pathway but they all seemed to be buried under snow.  :-D  also,  you should know that, starting with this challenge, we are going to a monthly challenge instead of the 7th and the 28th.  So, this challenge will run through January 27, 2025!

     This image is clip art, printed in grayscale, then colored with water colors and pencil.  I cut the image piece with a QuicKutz die, and inked the edges.  The background dp came from my scrap basket.  I used jute cord to wrap the card front and tie a bow.  

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Girlz Creative

     That's all I have for today.  I'm off for the final Christmas family dinner which we delayed until my granddaughter could get home from college in Texas.  I hope all of your holiday celebrations went well and that you're resting from all the hustle and bustle.  

   

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fortune Cookie Birthday

      Here we are with the Crafty Catz new challenge which starts today.  As usual, our overall theme is "Anything Goes" but we offer you an OPTIONAL theme and for this challenge the option is "Masculine."  Those themes are always good for me because we have a ratio of about 3 to 1, boys over girls in our family and that's true for the last 3 generations!  So, today I've done another birthday card for a boy.

     We don't have a sponsor this week so I pulled out one of my favorite House Mouse stamps and stamped it in brown ink.  I colored it with ProMarkers and watercolors, then cut it with a small, rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I framed it with brown CS which had been dry embossed using my Linen EF.  The two papers I used to make the background were in the scrap basket and I thought they worked well together for a simple, masculine card.  They're from an old Recollections stack.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

As You Like It (I love clean cards because they are easier to mail and most of my cards go to out-of-state family.)

Creative Fingers

I Love Markers

Outlawz Thursday

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge this week.  Make something masculine if you want, but remember you can always enter under the Anything Goes theme so no excuse for not entering.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Season of Peace

      Our December challenge has started over at 613 Avenue Create where the theme is "Anything Goes" and our optional theme this time is "Any Winter Holiday."  My holiday is Christmas, the Season of Peace.

     I used a clip art image, printed in gray scale and colored with water color paints.  I cut both the image and the white mat behind it with dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The matted scrap of dp is from an old Doodlebug stack. Everything was layered onto a deep red scrap of CS.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

CCAYR

Crazy for Cats

Dragonfly Dreams

Friendship

Most Magical ...

Outlawz Fri

Outlawz SAR (...the whitened world...)

Peace on Earth

SUYP Cats

     Come play with us in our challenge.  We love seeing what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter's Over?

      We all know about the Easter Bunny, but did you ever think about how long any one bunny can serve as the Easter Bunny?  I mean, that's a tough job hiding all those eggs and it's hard on the back and legs.  Easter Bunnies get worn out pretty quickly and have to retire to the Senior Bunny Center.  

     That means new (and younger) bunnies have to be trained to become the official Easter Bunny.  Classes of younger bunnies have to show their stuff and their suitability for that lofty position.  The competition is fierce and those who apply only have about 4 months to learn everything and be appointed for the job when there's an opening.  If they run late on their education, they'll miss their chance, and then it's over.  They'll never become the official Easter Bunny.

     I had to tell you that story so that your heart would be touched by this sad image from Beccy's Place.  I'm sure Beccy is one of the few people who already knew the story, as evidenced by this sweet "Little Bunny" image.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The background for the card front was made by coloring with water based markers on wet paper, then ironing it dry to set the colors.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a Cutz die.  It's a CAS design which will work for anyone.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on the ...

Ally's Angels

Classic Design

Crafts Galore ...

Die Cut Divas

Happy Li'l Stamp ..

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

There's a Stamp ...

     See you again tomorrow, probably with another bunny.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Teddy Hugs

      My card today features another image from Mariola Budek, one of my favorite artists (whom I discovered in the last year.)  I think this little girl is so sweet, hugging her teddy bear and giving (or getting) comfort.

     The image is colored with water colors, then cut with a pinpoint circle die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I inked the edges of the circle with a ProMarker.  The pale, yellow frame was cut and embossed with a die from Spellbinders.  The background dp came from Stampin' Up.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

LeighSB Designs

Pammie's Inky ...

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     If you're having one of those days, find your teddy and give him a hug.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Best Wishes

      It's time for another "Anything Goes" challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and this week our sponsor is Jan's Digi Stamps.  

     I used one of the images from her "Best Wishes" set.  It's one of the secondary images and I used it once, then layered it in reverse, merged the sentiment (also from that set), and printed it.  It's a pre-colored image but I added my own highlights and shadows using ProMarkers and water colors.  I cut the printed image with a large rectangle die from QuicKutz, then used a Fiskars corner punch on it.  The background papers are simple scraps from the basket (probably DCWV), layered on and trimmed at the edges to fit the A2 card shape.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Stamping Sensations

Taylomadecards ...

     That's it for today.  Come play along and you could win a wonderful prize from Jan's Digi Stamps.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Grow Where You're Planted

      I've finally completed the monthly Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz, using the image provided for this month from Hetty Clare.  It's Called "Flower Pot Hat" and I think it's darling.  :-D  A perfect "I wish it was spring" image!

     I used a combination of my ProMarkers and some water coloring to color the image, then I cut it on an angle with a stitched die from Die-namics.  Once that was done, I decided on a gate fold card and went looking for papers that would enhance the design.  I found the plaid paper in my scrap basket, cut it to fit each of the two panels of the 'gate,' and mounted the image piece.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with a QuicKutz die.  I tied a double layer, bowtie bow, then added both it and the sentiment.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Creases

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble (all 3)

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

      Have yourself a Happy Crafting kind of day.   NanaConnie

It's All About the Salsa !

      I know, all you 'foodies' out there think I'm talking about a new recipe just in time for the upcoming holidays, but this card has absolutely nothing to do with tomatoes or hot chili peppers.  Rather, it's all about Salsa Dancing!  I had to get one more of my dance theme cards shared.  :-D

     The image is water colored (although her skin tones are done with ProMarkers and the white on his shirt is gel pen), cut with a QuicKutz rectangle die, and the corners were done with a Fiskars punch.  The bright red-orange frame was cut with Sue Wilson dies, inlaid back into themselves.  I added scrap strips of textured gold CS, and everything is mounted onto a cocoa-brown card base.  I found three, square, metal brads in my stash, broke off the prongs, and glued them to the card front.  The "Salsa" sentiment was done with a dried-out black marker.

I chose colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

Morgan's ArtWorld

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

     Kind of a short post but my hand isn't completely healed so typing is still very slow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spooky Spider

      Many of you know that since they restarted in March, I've been trying to play along in the monthly (2nd of Month to 28th) "Anything Halloween Goes" challenges at Two Old Bats, a challenge dedicated to year-round Halloween.  I was invited to be a Guest Designer this month and I'm thrilled to share with you a card I made using an image a friend sent to me last fall when I was still suffering from the loss of all my digital images.  Unfortunately, I have no idea who drew the image so can't give full and proper credit.

     The first thing you should know is that I HATE spiders!  They are just so creepy.  My phobia is so bad, I can't even stand to look at pics of them!  But this one is kinda cute with his goofy smile and crossed eyes.  :-D

This is my take on the sketch at Crafty Friends.

Colored w/ water colors & ProMarkers

Cut w/ Cottage Cutz die

Matted w/ white CS scrap - hand-trimmed corners

Sentiment printed and hand cut, mounted on Pop Dots

Mesh 'ribbon' w glitter added

Embossed card front

Tiny spider & cat each stamped on acetate

       (colored w/ 'puff' gel pens)

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore ...

Creatalicious

Digi Doodle Studios

World Wide Open

Your Scrapbook Place

     I hope you'll take time away from your Spring cards this month and play with something Halloween, then come and enter it into our challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

"Flour" Children

      This is my second DT card for April and this one is for the new challenge starting today at Jan's Digi Stamps.  I've used one of the pre-colored images from the new "Flour Child" set, released on April 1.  I chose a pre-colored image this time because it saved me half a day of  'color - take a break - color - take a break' etc.  Thank you, Jan, for such gorgeous coloring!

     I knew it was going to have to be a relatively CAS design because my activity/energy time is still pretty limited but I did die cut the image and water color a scrap as a background piece.

Pre-colored image

Cut w Unbranded die

Water colored scrap

Blue CS scrap

All edges inked w ink pad

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Cardz TV

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe Stamps

Scrapping4Fun

Taylormade...

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  Remember, our theme is always Anything Goes and we have pries for both those who use a Jan's Digi Stamps image and those who use something else so you can win either way.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet Dreams Dragon

      I intended to share this card with you back in February but then I got sick and was hospitalized with Covid-19 and the card never made it into a post.  This was my eldest granddaughter's birthday card this year and she's the one who loves dragons as much as I do.  Yes, she loved it!  :-D  She's also a lover of CAS cards so I kept this one pretty simple; just background, image, and a bit of fiber.

     I'm sorry but I don't remember all the supplies I used to make this one but that might be because I was fighting the early days of Covid without realizing just how sick I was.  I know the sentiment bits were cut with Avery Elle dies and the lighter blue background paper was done with water color paints but that's about all I know for sure.  Oh, yeah, I used a white gel pen to add the highlights to the dragon and the fiber came from an old sweater.

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Allsorts

Aud Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Gratitude Season

      This morning, you get two cards in the same DT post for our newest "Anything goes" challenge at QKR Stampede.  The first one uses an image and a sentiment from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, and the image is called "Fall Harvest."

Colored with chalks, ProMarkers, and gel pens

Edges of card front are chalked

Burlap twine bow, wrapped w fabric

CAS design

     Challenges:

Dare 2B Artzy

Outlawz PAM

Paper Funday

Paper Girls

Scrapping4Fun

Tues Throwdown

     For the second card, I've used another Eureka Stamps sentiment, making it the focus of the card, and it's called "Season of Change."

Sentiment cut w QuicKutz die

Edges inked w ProMarkers

Background pieces are done w fall & winter watercolors

Mesh ribbon is sparkly

2 bows: 1 from satin ribbon, 2nd from sparkle twine

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Arty Divas

Classic Design

Craft-Dee BowZ

Creative Craft Cottage

Digi Choosday

Dragonfly Dreams

Outlawz Tues

Word Art Weds

     I hope we're going to see you playing along at QKR Stampede this time.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any products from any company.  However, if you do use a QKR Stampede image (or one from Eureka Stamps), your entry goes into a completely separate draw and that increases your chance of winning by quite a lot.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Live, Laugh, Love with Roses

      Today I'm using another of the stamped images given to me ages ago by someone in my crafting group.  I really wish I knew which company had made this stamp so that I could give them credit but I have absolutely no idea.  I do know I love the way it colored up.

Colored w water color pencils, blended w Gamsol

Fussy cut w scissors

Green CS embossed w Linen EF

Sentiment stamped w black ink

Hand tied bow, 'dyed' w ProMarker

Background dp scrap from basket

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Artzy Stamper

Chocolate Baroque

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Sentiments

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Paper Girls (flower/polka dots/gold)

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Walk in the Woods

      A week or so ago, I shared with you one of my DT cards for Conie Fong which featured the new Princess Aria Fairytale Cottage image (see that card here.)  Now Conie has released just the Fairytale Cottage Background Scene which is fabulous enough to stand alone or to be used a a mergeable background.  Here's what I did to showcase the image, making it a lovely autumn walk through the woods.

I pulled colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers & water colors

Square background 'marbled' w water colors

Cut w QuicKutz die

Polka dot dp from Stampin' Up

Sheer ribbon & triple loop bow

     Challenges:

Angie's Digi Stamps

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Catz

Inspired By ...

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Stamping Sensations

     Come play with us this month.  You still have time and you can enter either of our challenges; one for just coloring and one for completed projects.  Come to our Facebook page, find the challenge album you prefer, and enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Out of This World

     Limited Runs has it's latest Progressive Challenge going right now and this cute little spaceman is the image for this month.  I went with a CAS design and a masculine theme.  I've just gotten a commission for a dozen or so masculine, encouragement cards for a friend of my daughter who sends a card to her 18 year old son once a week and this one will be a great start.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers, gel inks, & water colors
Image and frame cut with QuicKutz dies
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die
Jute cord wrapped around pre-made card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspiration
Get Creative
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Short post today but I'm still playing catch up from last week and trying to get everything done for all my First of the Month DT commitments.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gone Fishing !

    HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

to all the Dads in the U.S.!

     Catch the Bug Challenge has a fun BINGO board for their challenge theme this week and I picked the middle column:  Stitching, Bugaboo Image, & a Sentiment.  The Bugaboo Stamps image is one of their "Sunbonnet" collection but I decided that because she's dressed in coveralls while she's out fishing, 'she' looked more like a 'he' in a straw hat and I could do a masculine card!  If my dad was still with us, he'd be spending his "Father's Day" on the river bank, wearing his straw fishing hat, with baited hook on the pole.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers, gel inks, & water colors

Cut w/ stitched die from Tutti Designs

Avery Elle die on sentiment

Forest green CS & polka dot dp are scraps

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, also a scrap

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

All Fun

Angie's Digital

Crafty Friends

Dare 2B Artzy

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Pixie's Snippets

Stamping Sensations

     All you dads out there - enjoy your day and find some time to do what you love best.  For those of you who love to craft, whether you be a dad, a mom, a child, a sibling, or just someone who's still observing isolation precautions, be safe and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Have a Wild Party !

          It seems that the decade during which we humans have wild parties to celebrate birthdays or graduations or Father's Day ends just about the time we reach our mid-30s (although it may go on a couple of years more for males as opposed to females) but we do eventually give up acting we are attending a frat party from Animal House.  lol  My oldest grandson is reaching those mid-30s and I just wanted to remind him that it would be OK to have one last Wild(Cat) Party before he bid those days goodbye.  :-D

     Since both his birthday and Father's Day fall in June, I'm sending him this card.   The stamp is from Penny Black.

Cats are colored w/ watercolors

Piano and chair colored w/ ProMarkers

Image cut with die from Spellbinders

Sentiment cut with Impression Obsession die

Brown CS pieces in background were scraps

     Challenges:

Coloring in Scrapland

Crafty Sentiments

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny Black Saturday

Simon Says Stamp & Show

SUYP Cats

     I hope you've had a wonderful week so far and that things are beginning to return to normal around your home.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgie Laundry

     I'm sending this card to a recently-divorced, 30-something, dad-of-young-kids who suddenly became aware that he had no idea how to do laundry!  Inside I added a cute but very vintage list of which days were for which housekeeping chores.

     How many of you remember the old song called "Rest on Sunday?"  My mother and my Grammy taught it to me when I was very young.  It went like this:

Rest on Sunday 

Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Mend on Wednesday, 

Market on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday. 

Then you have all day to Rest on Sunday.

      I remember we had dish towels in our kitchen with the chores embroidered on them, too.  :-D

      This adorable image is from Penny Black.

Colored with water colors & gel pens

Cut with Spellbinders deckle die

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Raffia bow

Green CS background is a scrap

    Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Carlin's Card Paradise

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Friends

Dies R Us

Friendship

Penny Black & More

Penny Black Saturday

     I'll have another cute Penny Black image to share with you later this week but for today. this is all I have.  After three separate posts yesterday, I'm tired!  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Dreams

     Today I have another Conie Fong image to share with you and this one is called "Summer Dreams."  Don't forget that on the Facebook page, Conie Fong has two challenges running each month; one is for just coloring of Conie Fong images and the other is for completed projects using a Conie Fong image.  The themes are always Anything Goes but there are options if you choose to use them.  For May, the optional theme is "Females/Mothers."

     I did a very CAS design, even though it looks more complex.  It's nothing more than 2 die cuts inlaid into each other and placed onto the card front.  No embellishments at all.

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Image and frame cut with dies from Spellbinders
     inlaid to make a single layer
Die cuts are embossed
Frame is DCWV paper
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
All Fun
Angie's Digitals
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Dare 2B Artzy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

     It's a lovely Saturday and whatever the weather where you are, I hope you're going to enjoy some "me" time in the craft room.  Maybe you'll make something to enter into one of our challenges.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dahlia's Blooms

     I absolutely adore this bright, sunny image from Digi Doodle Studios called "Dahlia's Blooms" and think it would also be great in autumn colors but for now, spring reigns!  :-D  I'm sharing this as inspiration for our monthly challenge where the theme is "Flower Power."  You can enter any card which uses flowers, either in the image or as embellishments.  You can use any images by any company but if you use a DDS image, you can win twice as many images for your prize.

     If you use a DDS image, you can also enter the monthly challenge on our Facebook page.

     Here's my DT card:

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
   (Fav spring color combo!)
Image & frame cut w/ Spellbinders' dies
Hand tied, polka dot, bow
Wide ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sentiment printed, edges inked

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs
Dream Valley
House ... Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inkly Pinkies
Paper Funday
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you're going to come join us in one or both of our challenges.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie