Pumpkins Are Fruit

     Yes, my friends, pumpkins are fruit, not veggies!  If you don't believe that, just check Wikipedia.  Or simpler yet, read the sentiment on my card and I'm sure you'll agree.  :-)

     We had a late start with our usual 1st of the Month New Releases at Doodle Pantry but it's here now and to make it up to you, Laurie is running a sale at the Doodle Pantry store.  BTW, if you get over there and get some weird error message, be patient.  The server had a major crash just as Laurie was getting ready to load all the new sets.  Try again in a short while.

     My card today uses both an image and a sentiment from the new "Pumpkin" set.  There is also a single pumpkin, several sentiments, and some gorgeous papers!  This particular set will be the freebie with any purchase made by Sept. 24th.  Aren't these gorgeous?

Sketch came from 2 Sisters.

     This is a pre-colored image which I stippled after I die cut it, then I mounted it onto that lacy frame die cut (Spellbinders).  The papers have been in my fall colors stash for a year and are from DCWV.  Everything is layered onto a kraft card base.  The white CS on which I printed the stamp and the orange bow are both recycled from a Thanksgiving card I received last year.  The white CS was an insert to keep the card flat and the bow tied the envelope shut.

   I thought the little pearls on each side of the frame were exactly the right amount and size of embellies since this card has to be mailed.  I wanted it relatively flat so that it would fit into a regular envelope.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments -- Fav fall colors (green, orange, yellow, brown)
Hobbycutz -- Recycle
Oldie but a Goodie -- Spots & stripes
Pattie's Creations -- Anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Spooled items
Pumpkin Spice -- Anything goes
Speedy Fox & Friends -- Frame it
Sweet Stampin' -- Spots & stripes
Whimsy Inspirations -- Masculine

     Scroll down for a peek at the whole Pumpkin set, then go check out all the rest of the new releases.  Some adorable Christmas sets, and a couple more of Laurie's "Ants."  You know what an absolute hoot they always are!

     And don't forget the challenge which starts at 10 a.m. Eastern time today.  You must use a Doodle Pantry image (not just a sentiment) but you'll get a free set just for playing.  A photo of that set is below also.  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

 Free w/ Purchase Sept 5 - 24

  Free for playing in the challenge

Pig in a Punkin'

     Have you ever had one of those experiences when you see an image and think, "mmm, cute but..." and go on your way.  Then, you'll see that same image on a card or scrapbook page someone else has done and suddenly it becomes a "have to have that!" and ideas begin to flow?

     Well, that's what happened with this delightful Doodle Pantry set called "Pumpkin Peeps" which happens to be the freebie set you can get just for playing in our Doodle Pantry challenge before August 24th.  That's only 2 days so get going!   You will need a Doodle Pantry image to play along, but then you get a set free just for playing!

     I used the piggy but there's also a darling panda bear, some great digital papers, and lots of fun sentiments.  I'll show you a photo of set at the bottom of this post.

I used the sketch found over at Crafting Musketeers (although I'm not entering that challenge because it's sponsored by Delicious Doodles and I happen to be on the DD DT.  :-) )

and the colors came from Annabelle Stamps.  I love the colors and have already used them once before.

  

     The sentiment is part of the set also.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends -- Summer
Cards Galore -- Bingo: sentiment/ summer/ ribbon
Catch the Bug -- Bingo: No dp/ sewing/ flower
Creatalicious -- For the boys
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Animals cards 4 kids
Totally Gorjuss -- Die cuts/ punches

     That's it for today and I'm going away today for the entire weekend.  I doubt that I'll have anything to post again before Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.  I'm going to see what I can find in the way of a new home some 300 miles away from where I live now.  I'm going to miss my old Victorian house but will be so happy to live in the same town as some of my grandkids.  Family is so important to me and my one disappointment is that all my kids/grandkids and their families live so far away.  That's the brightest part of this move.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fairy Glen

     The image on this card is called "Mushrooms in the Forest" and it's one of the new (to me, at least) digital images I found over at Sparkle n Sprinkle, where they have a color challenge this month.  Although I've already done one card for that challenge, I bought this digi and used the colors again just because they seemed to really work for this image.

  

I took my design sketch from The Outlawz.

     I colored the image with my favorite alcohol pens, ProMarkers, then cut and mounted it on a doily.  I used green CS for my card base, added glittery sheer ribbon and a bow, then layered on the image piece.

     The corners are done with a die from Cheery Lynn Designs and those are the punched out, 'negative' pieces which would normally be thrown out.  I added glitter to the corner pieces, though it's a bit hard to see in the photograph.

     The sentiment is my own, computer printed and cut out, then added to the image piece.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More -- Make your mark (Coloring)
Crafty Bloggers Network -- Favorite things (mushroom images)
Get Inky -- Ribbon
I {heart} ProMarkers -- Doily
MarkerPOP -- Anything goes
Paper Girls - Glitter
Paper Playtime -- Lots of yellow
Stamp and Create -- Glitter

     Happy Monday to all of you.  It's going to be a long day at work for me today but I'll get to rest when I get home this evening.  Little time for any crafting much before Wednesday afternoon (my treasured mid-week, half-day off) so you know I'll be looking forward to it.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Get Along Little Doggie

     My post title is the name of this delightful Meljen's Designs image, and I used the colors from the challenge over there, too.   I know, I know, you expect to see only felines on my blog but the truth is I love animals, not just cats.  Shhhh, don't tell my fur babies I said that.  :-D

Here's a look at the colors from Meljen's 

and my sketch came from Crafting Life's Pieces.

  

     I colored him with a combination of ProMarkers and Copics, with a tiny bit of sparkle gel ink.  The papers are all from my stash and the scrap bits from which I made the dove-tailed flags are shiny CS (from Gina K., I think.)

     I added the stitching around the card front and around the image, and printed the sentiment with a computer font.  Everything is matted with Deep Ocean Blue CS.  The little dragonfly is part of the dp and since it was just a scrap, I had to work it some to get it in exactly the right place.

     Challenges:
2 Creative Chicks -- Anything goes for kids
ABC Challenge -- S is for Stitching
Card and Scrap -- Anything goes
Creatalicious -- I {Heart} my pet!
Lady Anne's Stamp -- Anything goes
Live & Love Crafts -- Warm or cool colors
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Stitching
Whimsical Designs -- Bug or animal

     I hope you're having a great day and finding just a bit of inspiration in your travels around blogland.  I may be MIA for a couple of days as far as visiting my favorite blogs but I have a DT card scheduled for tomorrow and maybe one or two others this week so I hope you'll visit even if I don't answer my door when you knock.  There's usually a cold drink in the fridge and cookies in the cookie jar on the counter so make yourself at home while you browse around.   :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Room for Rent?

     I was so tickled when I saw this image in the store at Rick St. Dennis!  If you've never had the opportunity to visit the coastal country of Big Sur in California, you've not only missed some gorgeous country, but have missed out on some of the quirkiest, neatest, toes-to-the-earth-and-head-in-the-clouds, artistic people in the world.  :-D  This "Big Sur Outhouse" image sums it all up!  Only in Big Sur would you have an outhouse that looks like a school with a belfry on top!  Hmmm, come to think of it, I remember an outhouse at a back woods school in Montana that looked a lot like this one.  :-D

     Today starts a new challenge at 613 Avenue Create and Rick St. Dennis is one of our sponsors.  The other one this week is Sassy Studios.  We always have an 'Anything Goes' theme, and a twist.  The twist this week is very simple.  Just use a sentiment.  Mine just adds some humor to this wonderful image.

I used a sketch from Papertake Weekly

and my colors came from the inspiration photo

at Just Inspirational.

 

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and pencils, then die cut the image with a rectangle die and rounded the corners with a punch.  The brown CS (a scrap) is embossed with a folder and, again, I used a punch on the corners.  The flowery dp is also a left over scrap.  I inked the edges of everything with distress ink straight from the pad.

     The ribbon is one of those "What was I thinking?!" purchases that we crafters sometimes do.  Don't get me wrong, I love the ribbon!  But when I bought it, I just knew I'd use it on everything so I bought a 30-yard spool of it which was on clearance at 75% off.  But 30 yards??!!  OMG!   And this is the first time I've ever used it.  Sigh.  Of course, it did get hidden in a drawer and I only located it a week ago during a reorganizing campaign.  :-D  Maybe you'll be seeing it on lots of projects now.  I also shared some of it with a friend of mine so maybe you'll see it on some of her projects, too.

     Challenges:
Crafty Catz -- Pastel colors
Just Add Ink -- Masculine cards
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday -- School (see paragraph 1)
Nutcrafters -- Summer Sunshine Fun
Party Time Tuesdays -- Anything goes
Shelly's Images -- Use your scraps
Sister Act -- Anything goes
The Male Room -- Anything masculine goes

     Well, August is here, the last of the hot summer months.  I have no idea where the earlier part of the year has gone but I know the years are moving faster and faster all the time.  Many kids are returning to school this month, and harvest season is nearly upon us.  Soon I'll be picking the garden clean and eating the last of the fresh vegetables.  Since I'm moving away from here in the next couple of months, it is probably my last summer garden.  A sad thought.  But fewer garden chores means more crafting time so there's always a silver lining.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Raising Teenagers

    I'm really excited to tell you that I'm a GDT at Oozak for this challenge and our theme is Anything Goes/Funny -- either a funny image or funny sentiment.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and you can't go wrong with fantastic humor over there.  I used an image called "STB teenages and flowers" and the sentiment couldn't be more true!   Having raised my own teenagers, I'm sending this to my daughter who is currently raising her own teens, bless her little heart.  :-D

     Stella and the flowers are colored with Shin Han Touch Twin markers (available at Oozak!) and a bit of sparkle gel ink.  The image is already framed and I just matted it with black CS.  the border punch is layered onto purple CS and attached to the bottom of the image.

     The patterned dp is from DCWV's "Violet Leaf" stack, one of my latest favorites.  There's also a faint print in the purple dp.  I punched the corners, added the ribbon and used a second ribbon to tie the bow.  That's a hand punched flower with a gem added which I layered onto the bow.  The final touch was the three purple pearls in the top corner.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps -- Lots of layers
Card Mania -- Summer blooms
Digi Sketch -- Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time -- Anything goes
One Stop Craft -- Add flowers and ribbon
Paper Playtime -- Use patterned dp
Pile It On -- Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish -- Friendship w/ a sentiment
Speedy & Friends -- Tie it up (bow)
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner -- Use a digi
Top Tip Tuesday -- Spooled items (ribbons)

     I'll have one more post this morning since this is the New Release day for August over at Doodle Pantry.  Be sure to check back in an hour or so to see all of Laurie's newest goodies!  Also, come play along at Oozak.  You have two weeks to get something done and enter it.  Won't you share your fun/funny/humorous projects with us?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Beware of Saber-Tooth Smilidon!

     Oh, my, what a fierce creature!  Just look at those vicious fangs!
   
     I'm really crazy about Heather Valentin's digis and use them as often as possible but I found this one in the $1.00 Retiring section on Sunday and without any doubt, it's my favorite of anything she's ever drawn!  I'm sorry to see it retired and am so glad I got it before it was gone forever.  I wish I could talk Heather into doing an entire series with this darling Sabrina Smilidon!  Without further ado --

     Sabrina is colored with ProMarkers and I added clear embossing powder (heat embossing) to the flowers and her little butterfly for the shine.  The image is die cut with a Deckled Rectangle die from Spellbinders.  I ran the card front through my "Linen" embossing folder, then adhered the matted image.  The largest flower has layers punched from hand-made paper and embossed by using a stylus to make the lines in the petals.  The other flowers and leaves were in my stash and I added the tiny pearls and the gem stone for a little bit of girly flash.  CAS but for the flowery embellishments.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenges -- 2 kinds of embossing
Crafty Boots -- Animals
Creative Creations -- Anything goes
Friends of Speedy TV -- No patterned papers
Lacy Sunshine -- Anything goes (must have LS image)
My Craft Creations -- Anything goes
Outlawz Greetings -- Embossing
Path of Positivity -- Caring
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner -- Fantasy creatures (saber-tooth smilidon!)
Through the Purple Haze -- Flowers

     I hope you love this frighteningly adorable smilidon as much as I do.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Naughty List

     This is the next in the daily cards I'm making for the Catch the Bug Christmas-in-July challenges going on through Friday.  Today's theme is "Make us Laugh" and I hope this one does it for you.  :-D

Sketch is from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.

     This Bugaboo image is called "Christmas Cheer" and I'd say she's had a bit more than necessary.  I colored her with a combination of Copics, Promarkers and glitter gel ink.  The die cut is done with a Cheery Lynn frame/border die.  The die cut itself was so fancy that I left the card without any additional embellishments.  I figured the sparkle and fancy borders were enough.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn Dies -- Beautiful borders
Delightful Challenges -- Glitter, bling and sparkle
Eureka Stamps -- Christmas in July
Graph'It Colour -- Candy colors (peppermint and wintergreen)
Loves Rubber Stamps -- Christmas in July
My Craft Spot -- Christmas in July
Oozak -- Texture
Outlawz GCC -- Christmas in July
Stamp and Create -- Christmas in July

     I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday and remember, that means we're half-way to the weekend.  Not that I like wishing my life away but I do love the free time I get on the weekends for fun and play.  However, most of it will be spent indoors this weekend if what the weatherman is predicting comes true -- high temps in the 100s once again.  Oh, yuck!  I so do NOT like hot weather, at least, not that hot.  Enjoy the rest of your week and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer, Flowers, and Bears, Oh, My!

     This delightful little "Tall Flower Bear" is a freebie I found last Friday at Bugaboo Stamps (Catch the Bug --Anything Goes.)  Isn't he just the most precious thing holding his big summer flower?  One look at him, and I decided it was time for another card done in my favorite color of purple.

My sketch is from Incy Wincy

and, as if I needed more inspiration to use purple, 

I took my colors from {Pin}spirational.

 

     The image is colored with a combination of markers, mostly ProMarkers.  The it's die cut and matted (dies from QuicKutz) and mounted on a black card base.  The inside has white paper for a hand written notation.

     The dp is from Recollections and is also used as the mat for the image.  I used sheer ribbon and purple ribbon with a sheen from my stash (could be Really Reasonable Ribbon) to make the dove tail strip, then I found a last scrap of purple gingham ribbon to tie that bow.  I added a pearl to the flower center and then added three more to the lower corner. Despite the patterned paper, the design is still pretty CAS with lots of open space.

     Challenges:
C is for Challenge -- Flowers
Card Makin' Mamas -- Monochromatic
Colour Me Creative -- Anything goes
Cutie Pie -- Cute and Cuddly
Fairy Tale -- Favorite colors
Friends of Speedy TV -- Monochromatic
Graph'It Markers -- Bright and bold
Love to Create -- Ribbon & bling
No Matter Which Challenge -- Anything goes
Outlawz PAM -- Summer
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Diecuts
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner -- Animals
The Ribbon Girl -- Add a bow
There She Goes -- Animals

     I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday!  We're halfway to the weekend and that's fun time.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Blackberries, Yummmmm

     Doodle Pantry has a secondary release this month of some older sets, now available in a colorized version, and a set of fabulous digital papers, called Country Flavors!  Oh, I'm in love with nearly every one of the papers, and since blackberries are probably my favorite summer fruit, I had to do a card using blackberries for my image and two of the new papers.   This just brings back great memories of heading out into the wild with buckets in hand and then picking wild blackberries until we had pounds and pounds of them for eating, freezing, baking pies, and finally making jams and preserves.  Mmmmm, definitely the best of summer!

     Here's my card using the "Blackberries" set.  That set has its own papers, but I chose to use papers from the new Country Flavors set.

I chose my sketch from Sketch Saturday, turned sideways,

and my colors from the challenge at Inkspirational.

  

     The image is printed twice in different sizes, then fussy cut and layered together.  The same thing could be done merging .png images together but I'm still working on how to do merging so fussy cutting is my best option at this point.  The images are layered onto a die cut which is mounted onto another larger die cut, made with one of the Country Flavors digi dp.  That one is backed with white paper.

     I used a second County Flavors dp for the vertical strip and added sheer purple ribbon with a great sparkle in it, then tied a bow.  The sentiment is also from the Blackberries set and it's just printed and cut free hand, with scissors.  It may be hard to see but I hand embossed two lines down the left side of the card, and then used the "Lattice" embossing folder on the right side of the card front.  Obviously, those embossings were done before I started layering everything onto the card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Lots of layers
Allsorts -- Favourite things (blackberries)
4 Crafty Chicks -- Dry emboss
Clearly I Stamp -- Summertime
Jellypark Friends -- Celebrate summer
One Stop Craft -- Anything goes
Rhedd & Rosie's -- Here comes summer
Scrapper's Delights -- Die cuts  
   
     Check below for a photo of the new Blackberries colorized set, and be sure to check out the Doodle Pantry store to see all of the new releases.  Don't forget our challenge.  If you enter by July 24 (must use a DP image), you'll get a free set and you can get another free set with any purchase made by July 24.  There's also a new freebie set called "Viola Ants" on the Freebies page at the store.  How can you lose?

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Baby Shoes

     Today's card is one I ended up really liking but wasn't sure about it when I first started designing it.  I used an adorable new release digi set from Doodle Pantry (see photo below) and believe me when I say that the image wasn't the problem!   In fact, this set came to the rescue and saved the day!  :-D  OK, let me give you the background first --

     I have a new neighbor who moved in next door last weekend (more about her on another post I'll get up this week).  I intended to get a plate of cookies made to take over but my extra busy work week last week just got in the way.  Anyway, she came over, introduced herself, and asked if I might have a light bulb to spare since she couldn't find the box containing hers and she had none for her bedroom lamps.  I had been working at the dining room table and she saw a couple of cards I was making.  I immediately got an order for a new baby card.  :-D

     However, her friend's daughter (the one expecting the baby) is having a boy and hates blue!   She refuses to do the whole 'blue for a boy' thing and is doing the nursery completely in neutrals, which works fine for a boy, but just isn't what we normally do for baby cards.  So, Doodle Pantry to the rescue!

I found the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

     Laurie included wonderful digital papers with the "Baby Shoes" set, including the two I used which are in wonderful neutral tones.  I die cut the image with a die I bought more than a year ago and haven't used recently and also die cut the sentiment (part of the Baby Shoes set) and matted them both with brown CS which has been in my stash for a good, long time.  I also matted the dp with it.

     I added a strip of sheer brown ribbon and adhered the three little pearls to it.  I thought that was still a very CAS design, lots of open space (though not white space,) and with an overall masculine feel to it.  I wasn't sure I was going to like a baby boy card without blue on it, but I am very pleased with it after all.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Male birthday (the actual birth!)
Art Impressions Stamps -- Masculine
City Crafter -- Clean and neutral
Craft Lovin' -- Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons -- Masculine
Digistamps 4 Joy -- Masculine
Little Claire's -- Male theme
Pollycraft -- Anything goes
Shopping Our Stash -- Geometric shapes
Sisterhood of Crafters -- Masculine
Top Tip Tuesday -- Masculine

     Half the weekend is now gone and I've done nothing but spoil myself !  I've done no laundry, no house chores beyond fixing something to eat when I got hungry, and haven't even run a dishwasher.  Guess what, the world hasn't ended and I've not been struck by lightening.  How refreshing.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"My Way" Dragon

     It did cool down somewhat on Sunday but I still stayed in and made cards.  This one had me smiling and thinking of my granddaughter who adores dragons.  The sentiment fits her pretty well, too, and it just seemed to express in words what's on the dragon's face.  :-D  The image is from QKR Stampede and their challenge this week is "Ribbons and Bows."

The sketch came from Sweet Stop.

     I used my Promarkers to color the image and added Stickles to a few spots on his wings and body.  He's die cut, then matted with a die cut a size larger.  The dp is from DCWV, Juniper Berry stack.  The sentiment is mine, done with a computer font and then die cut with a lacy die.  The lace ribbon was in my stash and the bow is one of those I make and keep ready in my stash.

     I know those can be found at Joann's and other fabric shops but they're so expensive that way, and since my mom taught me how to sew those together years ago, I prefer making my own.  That way, I have more variety in colors than I can get at the craft stores.  I did notice that I'm in need of more pearl beads soon, though, so have added that to my shopping list.  What a great excuse to head off to the craft store.  :-D

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- Fantasy or fairies
Crafty Calendar -- Things with wings
Digi Haven -- Anything goes
Digistamps 4 Joy -- To be young again
Heck of a Challenge -- Bingo: lace/ ribbon/ pearls
Natalie & Amy's -- Fantasy
Rhedd & Rosie's -- Ribbons and lace
Scrap It Girl -- Use your dies
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Anything goes for kids
Sister Act -- Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts -- Punches/dies

     We're starting the new work week today and I wish I could stay home instead of going to the office.  Ah well, it's the work days that make the days off more special.  Have a browse around while you're here and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Wedding Card

     New challenge today at 613 Avenue Create and we're sponsored by the generous and wonderful Paper Shelter!  I am growing my collection of their adorable images and having one more added is a pleasure.  Our theme this week (in addition to the Anything Goes which is always our theme) is "Congratulations" -- any event for which you might wish someone congratulations; wedding, anniversary, new baby, graduation, promotion or new job, ... you get the idea.  I used the "Wedding Couple" image from Paper Shelter.

     The image is cut with a "Fleur de lis" die from Spellbinders and the sentiment was computer printed and then cut with the same die.  For the sentiment, I just cut the top and then shifted the position of the die to the bottom.  That set is all squares and none of them fit the shape of the sentiment so I did some adjusting.  I think the cut is rather interesting.

     I added glitter ink to her gown and veil, pearls to the corners of the fancy die cut, and a bow I made using silver ribbon and a silver bead "pearl."  Although the background looks dark gray, it actually is a light bronze to match the shading in her gown.  But it has a metallic shimmer to it at certain angles and photographing it was a real chore.  Consequently, it looks dark gray in the photo, which is OK because that matches up with his tuxedo.  I've had that paper in my stash forever and still have 3 more sheets of it.  It's taken me that long to decide how to use it.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge -- "O" is for Open
Aud Sentiments -- Anything goes
Bearly Mine -- Dies or punches
Catch the Bug -- Going to the Chapel
Crafting for all Seasons -- Wedding/anniversary
Emergency Crafters -- Pomp & Ceremony
Eureka Stamps -- Wedding
Oldie but a Goodie -- Wedding
Sassy Studio Designs -- June Bride
Shopping Our Stash -- No patterned paper

     I really hope this posts.  I'm having some intermittent problems with my internet connection but I don't know if that's affecting Blogger in any way.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and come play with us at 613 Avenue Create.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rooster for Father's Day Birthday

     I had no idea when I first saw this new release "Rooster" set at Doodle Pantry that I'd be making it into a Father's Day card !  Quick story  and then I'll show you the card.

     I was very short on time, having been gone so much of last month so I printed a pre-colored version of the rooster (doesn't Laurie do a great job of coloring?)  I had it lying on my computer desk when an out-of-town friend dropped by unexpectedly.  I was thrilled to see her because it's been nearly 6 years since she moved and we've only been able to e-mail and talk on the phone occasionally.  

     She saw the rooster, asked what I was going to do with it and, when told about my card making, asked if she could get a card for her husband.  His birthday falls on Father's Day this year and she wants to give him a card that works for both occasions.  :-D

     They live in a high-population, suburban area close to Seattle.  It seems that someone, some years ago, let some chickens go free in the hills of their neighborhood and her husband is frustrated by being awakened at the crack of dawn every day by an extremely proud and loud rooster!  LOL

     As soon as she told me this, I had to go back and print the sentiment I used, which is also part of the "Rooster" set.  I hope Rich has a sense of humor about this card.  :-D

Sketch is from Sketch n Stash.

     I die cut the image and matted it with brown CS.  The background dp was in my stash and it was a leftover scrap.  The sheer brown ribbon came from my local craft store.  The sentiment is die cut also and threaded with that same ribbon.  Although it's a bit hard to see in the photo, I just tied the ribbon ends in a know and cut them on an angle before attaching the sentiment piece.

     Since it's a masculine card, I added three brads to each of two corners and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Cards for Men -- Dad
Crazy Challenge -- Use sentiments
Created with Love -- At least 3 layers
Cupcake Craft - Boys
Digi Darla's -- Father's Day
Melonheadz Friends -- Father's Day or male
Ooh La La -- Inspired by Nature
Outlawz Greeting Cards -- Vintage masculine b'day
Songbird -- All creatures, great & small

     OK, that's it for today.  I hope your weekend is going well and that you're finding lots of "me" time, with things fun and relaxing.  If you want to see a photo of the entire Rooster set, see below.  Don't forget that our new Doodle Pantry challenge starts today at 10:00 EDT.   You are required to use a Doodle Pantry image on your entry, but then you get a free set ("Quirky Stork" - see below) just for entering the challenge.  In addition to that, you will get "Vintage Cooking" (see below) as a freebie with any purchase made before June 24.  How can you lose?  Buy a set, get a freebie, use one of the images to enter the challenge and get another freebie set.  Three sets for the price of one, and they all include digital papers, too!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

         

Rain Dance

     This week, Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the challenge at Sentimental Sundays and their theme is "Outdoor Fun."  This is a card I did as a Doodle Pantry DT member for that challenge.  I did it hoping that the area where I live would get a bit more rain; we've had such a dry year that all our outdoor fun is tempered by high fire danger.  So, using "Umbrella Ants" seemed a perfect choice, and they're obviously having tons of outdoor fun!  :-D

     I colored the image with Copics and Promarkers, added "Fairy Dust" paint from Creative Inspirations Paints to the raindrops and puddle, then die cut it and added a die cut frame.  I matted the entire image onto brown CS, leaving one edge free so I could slide the ribbon under it just slightly.  I added everything to parchment CS in the same Creme Brulee shade as the umbrella.  The sentiment is mine, printed with a computer font, and matted with a scrap piece from die cutting the frame.  I used only the three types of embellishment: ribbon, bow, and 3 brads.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Outdoor Fun
4 Crafty Chicks -- Critters
ABC Challenge -- N for Not just one (3 embellies)
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Ribbons
Card and Scrap -- Lots of layers
Color My Heart -- Creme Brulee & Juniper
Creative Inspirations Paint -- Anything goes
DL.ART -- Splash
Hanna and Friends -- Make a scene
Oozak -- AG w/ earth tones
Outlawz Paper Ala Mode -- Anything goes
QKR Stampede -- For the boys
Scrappy Frogs -- Anything goes
Totally Gorjuss -- Water

     OK, a double post for today.  Hope your weekend is going well, my friends and followers, and that you have found time for fun and play.  In addition, for those of you in the US, how about taking a moment or two of reflection on the reason for this holiday weekend?  Say a prayer of thanks to all who have served to protect us in times of war and conflict.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Daisies and Butterflies

     Let me start by saying that I LOVE THIS CARD!  lol  Mostly, I'm crazy about the image -- "Daisies and Butterflies," which is from Delicious Doodles, of course, since this is my DT card for the new challenge starting today.   Our theme is to "Use Lace."

     I'm still in a mood for spring even though the weather has already turned hot.  Those of you in cooler climes, especially those getting rain, count your blessings.  We're hot and dry and our fire season has started already.  Maybe that inspired the colors I chose as much as the color challenge I'm entering.

My sketch came from Digi Sketch, turned 1/4 turn, 

and the colors are from Sparkle n Sprinkle.

 

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then added two different glitters (from Sparkle n Sprinkle) to the butterfly wings.  I used Fire Engine Red and Cyclamen.  The image is die cut with an oval die from QuicKutz and inked on the edges.

     The lace was in my recycle stash and came from an old dress sleeve.  I adhered it on top of red handmade paper, and that was adhered to a layer of white CS.  The ribbon for the bow was also in my stash, and the paper flowers are from Recollections.  I added the gems to the flower centers.  Finally, I dug out two rhinestones for a bit more bling.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Flowers and Lace
Cupcake Craft -- Layers
Love to Create -- Flowers
Marker POP -- May Flowers
Mema's Crafts Monday -- May Flowers
Ooh La La Creations -- Seeing red
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop -- Lace
Songbird -- Flowers

     I hope your week has gone well and that you have great plans for the weekend, even if those plans are like mine -- stay home, craft and play, & cook dinner for a friend.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Red Roses for Love

     It's said that in the language of roses, red ones stand for love.  If that's true, then today's card is just filled with love.  I was visiting favorite blogs last week and ran across this post on Crafting Vicky's blog and thereby discovered a new progressive challenge blog.   The images that have to be used are from Imagine That and each challenge requires you to use the latest free digital image.  Since they were already into the challenge, I had to purchase the rose digi but it's so gorgeous, who could resist.  From now on, as long as I enter the challenge with each new image, I'll get the next one as a freebie.

I used a sketch from Operation Write Home, one of my favorite groups.  You can find out more about them by clicking on their badge on my right sidebar.

I took the colors from Dynamic Duos.

  

     Coloring the image with Promarkers took some effort because I used only my lightest "red" marker.  I just added more color in layers (let it dry between covering strokes) to darken the shaded places.  The darker the red, the more it tends to 'bleed' over so I was very careful to darken it slowly and gently with light strokes.

     I also added touches of white to the rose, and covered the leaves with white after I had used a very light pastel green on them.  I really didn't want any color other than the red to go with the black and white, which was the reason for the white overlay on the leaves.

     The punched black butterfly idea came from Benzi Stampz and I already warned her that I was stealing -- CASEing it today!  I've never punched a butterfly from black CS before but I know I'll do it more often now.  Isn't it striking?  Thanks, Brenda. :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Things w/ wings
Charisma Cardz -- Black & White + 1 color
Color Me Creative -- Anything goes
Flutterby Weds. -- Open, Anything goes
Fresh Brewed Designs -- Flowers
Paper Shelter -- Love
Simon Says Stamp -- Things w/ wings

     Well, I had a marvelously restful and fun Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and grandkids.  I promise to post some photos of the beach house where we stayed, and some of the incredible scenery within either walking or driving distance.  But for now, I want to get this posted so I can get it entered into the Imagine That progressive challenge before it closes tomorrow.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Mother's Day with a Lavender Lady

     I want to start by wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating today, either as mothers or as daughters.

     A couple of days ago I shared a Gibson Girl image with you and today I've used another similar image but this time it's a digital image and it's by the sponsor of our latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create, Rick St. Dennis.  This image is called 1935 Hat.  Isn't she just marvelous?
   
     This week, we'd love to see you do shaped cards.  Of course, our challenges are always "Anything Goes" but we always have an option, too.  So, do a shaped card, or come play along with just the "Anything Goes" -- we want to be inspired by your creativity.

     I used a brand new Grand Caliber die set from Spellbinders to cut the card shape from heavy duty CS, folded it in half, and then layered on another die cut of the same shape but one size smaller.  The smaller shape is embossed with a "Linen" embossing folder, and both layers are embossed around the fancy edge.  I bought this die set, the first for my Grand Caliber, specifically because I thought it would make really great shaped cards.  I was right, wasn't I?  Rather different from the usual round or oval or scalloped-something card, wouldn't you say?

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then die cut it, and inked the edges before adhering it to the card front.  The flower embellishment in made by layering together silk petals, silk ribbon, and then a large, mulberry paper rose.  The ribbon was recycled from an old gift bag on which it served as the handle.  

     Challenges:
As You Like It -- Favorite die or punch
Crafting for All Seasons -- Monochromatic
Crafty Creations -- Something old (ribbon), Something new (dies)
Crafty Ribbons -- No designer paper
Divas by Design -- Anything goes
Hanna & Friends -- Mother's Day
Live and Love Crafts -- 50 Shades of ... Lilac
Little Red Wagon -- All about Mom
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Die cuts/punches
Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     By the time you see this, I'll be starting my last day at the coast with my daughter and three of my grandkids.  We're going to take a leisurely drive home, winding our way through some of the coast redwoods, and then through some of the most beautiful wine country anywhere in the world.  I have my camera so if I get some really magnificent shots, I may share them with you this upcoming week.  That will mostly depend on how the weather was.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Anniversary

     I needed an anniversary card for one of my regular card customers and this image, drawn by Anne Fenton, came from the Creative Freebie Challenge at Outlawz just in time.  She told me brown and yellow were her wedding colors.

I used the sketch from Creative Inspiration Paint FB.

     The image is colored with Promarkers and I added 'Fairy Dust' Creative Inspirations Paints to her "gown" for some shimmer.  I die cut the image, inked the edges, and stippled it with "Old Tea" distress ink.  I added pearls to her necklace and to the middle of his bow tie.

     The brown die cut you see is actually the negative space from a die cut, left in the yellow CS after cutting.  I added the sheer, brown ribbon and then I adhered the yellow piece to the brown card base.   After that, I layered the oval image over the top so that it looks like the brown is a framing mat around the image.  The yellow CS wraps around the back of the card also.

     I tied a bow from that same sheer ribbon and attached it to the top of the oval.  The card front looks rather fancy and intricate but it's really pretty CAS.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments -- Use a sentiment
Creative Craft -- All about animals
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ earth tones
Our Daily Bread Designs -- At least 4 letters from "SPRING": Pearls, Ribbon, Negative Space, & Giraffes
Papertake Weekly -- Anything goes
Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations
Scrappy Frogs -- Anything goes
Vickie's @ Lady Anne's -- Anything goes

     Hey, it's Wednesday and that means we're half-way to the weekend.  Hooray!  In my case, it means only one more work day and then I get to start my long weekend away for Mother's Day, soaking in the beauty of the California coast and playing with grandkids.  What better way to celebrate.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Flowers for Mom

     The first time I saw this image over at Mayzy Arts (challenge theme is "Rainbow" and my rainbow colors are in the flowers), I fell in love with it and bought it right off.  This is the first time I've had a chance to use it and I thought it made a perfect Mother's Day card.   My oldest son and DIL have 3 boys, no girls, and there just couldn't be a better image than this one for her card.  :-D

The sketch came from Crafting Life's Pieces (modified slightly),

and I chose the colors from the challenge at Scrappiness Designs.

  

     The image is colored with Promarkers, then die cut and stippled with both Red Brick and Old Burlap distress inks.  Both ribbons came from Really Reasonable Ribbon but have been in my stash for more than a year.  They seem to get used in the late summer and fall but not other seasons.  I spotted them in the ribbon basket while I was searching for something else and they just begged to be used.  :-D

     I tried adding the two angled pieces to the background but just couldn't make them work.  I don't know if it was the particular paper I selected or what, but they were a distraction from the image, so I took them out.  Apologies to the sketch designer.

     The background paper was also in my stash and I don't remember the manufacturer.  I distressed it slightly by sanding it very lightly with a super fine grit sander.

     Challenges:
Country View Crafts -- How does your garden grow?
Crafter's Cafe -- Mother's Day
Crafty Sentiment -- The letter "B" (boy, blue, bow)
Cuttlebug Mania -- One for Mum
Digital Tuesday -- Distressing
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Name your colors (Blue/brown/orange)
My Sheri Crafts -- Mother's Day
Our Creative Corner -- Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door -- Anything goes


     OK, I'm getting ready for church and will be back later today.  Hope your day goes well and that you find time to refresh and relax.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie