Swim or Sunbathe

     More summer fun on its way today with this wonderful image from QKR Stampede and it's all about the running debate every vacation time over whether to swim or sunbathe.  :-D   The secret is to swim until your body gets cold, then go back and sunbathe until you warm up.  Repeat the cycle endlessly until the daylight is gone.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and a bit of sparkle gel ink, with white gel ink on the sunglasses.  The card base is embossed.  The image is corner punched and the mat is die cut.  Sentiment is printed, fussy cut and matted, then fussy cut again.  I added a strip of gauze paper behind the image (a left over scrap). then found a scrap of gingham ribbon for the bow and finally added the three metal brads to the corner.

     Challenges:
A Creative Need
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Crafting at the Weekend
Crafty Calendar
Di's Digi Designs
Eureka Stamps
Little Claire's
Paper Creator's Crafts
Treasured Times

     Have a warm, summer day -- at least in your heart if it's cold or rainy outside.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Flower Ballerina Fairy

     I've done this card for Through the Craft Room Door, where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this challenge is AuroraWings and I totally love coloring their images!   I used this one ("Flower Ballerina") to make a birthday card.

     I used ProMarkers to color the ballerina fairy and a die from Spellbinders to cut it.  All the ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and you can read all the details in the September issue of Through the Craft Room Door magazine.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
Crafty Catz
Crafty Ribbons
Delightful Challenges
Docerela Creations
Little Miss Muffet
MilkCoffee
Outlawz Greeting Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Sassy Studio Designs
Sister Act
Sweet Pea Stampers

     I'm excited to be part of the team at Through the Craft Room Door.  That's been a dream of mine for a long while and I just couldn't wait to say "Yes" when they invited me to join.  Take a look around the TTCRD blog, play in the challenges (the theme is always Anything Goes), and get your issue of the next quarterly magazine by subscribing.  Not only are there lots of fabulous project and tutorials, but there are free digital stamps in every issue.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fishing - Vacation or Sport?

     I had an uncle who insisted that fishing was a sport, but my dad always said a day spent fishing was like taking a vacation.  Since he often took me fishing with him, and it always felt like special father-daughter time when he did, I guess I don't really care which it is -- I just love going fishing.  It brings me such sweet and wonderful memories of him.  :-D

     Here's a card I know he'd love, including the lovable turtle character.  That came from QKR Stampede.

I used the sketch from STAMPlorations

and Citrus/Tropical Colors from Craft Your Passions.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges, typed up the sentiment, and found the three, heart-shaped, buttons in my stash.  I strung them together with baker's twine and adhered them to the dp on the front of the card.  The dp came from Colorbok.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Dragonflies
Crazy Challenge
Digistamps 4 Joy
Eureka Stamps
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
House That Stamps Built
Little Red Wagon
MFP Simple Salutations
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     Hope your weekend is going well and that the weather is decent.  If it's too hot or too cold, maybe you should be inside crafting!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Relax the Beary Wishes Way

     I made this card with an image from Beary Wishes named "Relax" and it's the ultimate in serenity.  If ever there was an entire vacation wrapped up in one card, this is it!  :-D  A trip to the Orient right here in this design.  The best part?  It's a freebie which you can find right here.

     I have no idea who made the background dp because it was in my scrap basket but the striped ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I don't think this needs much explanation because it's so CAS.  Of course, that means it's also a perfect masculine card.

     Challenges:
A Creative Need
Artistic Inspirations
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Deep Ocean
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
My Craft Creations
Paper Nest Dolls
Sailing Pineapple
Sweet Pea Stamps

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

GDT at Crafting by Designs

     I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Crafting by Designs where the new theme is "Use a Die."  How simple is that?  Crafting by Designs is one of my favorite places to play along in challenges and this time, the challenge is sponsored by Oak Pond Creations, some of my favorite digis!!  It all worked out beautifully.  I browsed around in my ever-growing collection of  Oak Pond digis and chose this glorious fat cat.  Don't you love it?  I think this one will just hang on my refrigerator door as a reminder that I don't really need that second helping of dessert and that a glass of no-calorie, sparkling water might be just as good.  OK, not as good as that chocolate cupcake fat cat is dangling from his tail, but healthier. :-D

     The image is colored with Copics and ProMarkers, then die cut with a circle die.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font and also die cut with a smaller circle die.  I die cut 2 rounded rectangles and layered the circles on top.  I added some flat flowers, put gems in the center of those, and added the pearls to each rectangle.  This is a card that's simple enough to be a masculine card, but could just as easily be a feminine card.

     Remember the other day when I said I think I prefer animal images to images of people because they're easier to color?  After the simple coloring on fat cat, I'm absolutely convinced.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
Animal Friends
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Bearly Mine
Brown Sugar
Great Impressions
My Sheri Crafts
Robyn's Fetish
Sisters of Craft

     I'd love to see you playing along in the "Use a Die" challenge this week.  Other than having to use a die, it's wide open so a very simple challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Get Well Cat

     As soon as I saw this digi from QKR Stampede, I thought about a saying my dad always used.  "You're as spooky as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!"  I think this is perfect for a Get Well card, don't you?

I used the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp.

     I colored the image with my favorite ProMarkers.  It's die cut  and matted with inked edges to make it look a bit distressed.  The paper is from Colorbok and both ribbons came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I did the faux stitching with a white gel pen.

     Challenges:

Corrosive Challenge

Crafting at the Weekend

Crafty Catz

Crafty Ribbons

Di's Digi Designs

Graph' It 

Send a Smile 4 Kids
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'

     I hope you got a smile from this one.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Birthday Roses in Black and White

     OK, so I woke up at 4:00 in the Oh, God! morning today and there was no going back to sleep.  Nothing to do but get on the computer, check e-mail, and see what new challenges might bring some inspiration.  I found the new challenge at AAA Cards which I've missed for the last 3 weeks due to being so busy.  I did the first few challenges over there because it's a great way to practice on CAS cards, since that's always the primary requirement regardless of the theme for that week.

     Well, this week's theme was a challenge all by itself to get everything included and still do a CAS card!  Being a glutton for punishment, I decided to add 14 other challenges to it and do one card to fit all the themes.  Let's start with the "MacGyver" recipe at AAA Cards:  string, corrugated paper, plastic, a stamp, and a hole.  Don't forget, we still have to keep it CAS!!  So, what do you think?

   

     The image is from Artbymiran and the coloring on her hair is done with ProMarkers; the 'frame' is actually cut into the card front.  The paper behind the sentiment is corrugated but it just doesn't show up in the first two photos so I took another shot with a bright light shining on it.  

     The button is plastic and I used my string to make the bow (threaded through the button.)  So, I got all the MacGyver items -- but it was a struggle to keep it CAS.  It does have minimal embellishments and lots of open space even though the space has tiny polka dots instead of being all white.  At least give me credit for taking on the challenge and getting something made -- to say nothing of also including the following challenges and themes.  :-D

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Artbymiran

Craft for the Craic

Crafting by Design

Creative Corner

Delicious Doodles

Docerela Creations

Jo's Scrap Shack

Our Daily Bread

Paper Creator's Crafts 

Sister Act

Sisterhood of Crafters

So Artful

Stampin' with the Dragon

     Thanks for visiting, my friends.  Hope your weekend has been filled with inspiration and beauty.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Baby Brother

     I was asked to make a card for a little guy who's waiting for his baby brother to arrive.  He's 3 and adores dinosaurs.  That fit in perfectly with the new challenge starting today at Tuesday Throwdown, sponsored by My Grafico who supplied digis to all the team members.  Even though I'm on leave from the TT team this summer, since I had a My Grafico digi available, I decided to get this made and the post scheduled during a lull in the "busy, busy, busy!"  :-D  My teamie, Lynn, will love this one, too, since it done with lots of blue.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and die cut.  Can you believe that's the first Spellbinders die set I ever purchased?  No wonder it's still my sentimental favorite.  :-D  Papers are from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV and the polka dots are embossed.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
A Gem of a Challenge
A Little Bit Crafty
As You Like It
Bearly Mine
Brown Sugar 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting Musketeers
Delightful Challenges
Ladybug Crafts
Little Miss Muffet
Paper Crafting Journey
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Sister Act
Stamping Boutique

     Quick post today, but I really hope we'll see you playing along this week at Tuesday Throwdown. Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Moonlight Walks on the Beach

     I originally made this card for my daughter to give to her husband for Father's Day but she decided on something different.  I just love the way it celebrates love for Dad in a really masculine style but with humor.  Don't these two look like they're strolling down the beach? Well, that's what the sentiment says anyway.  :-D

     I colored the cats using my ProMarkers, cut a simple rectangle, then corner punched it.  The sketch was an old one I found at Meljen's Designs, where their theme this week is "Dads," and the image is also from Meljen's.

     DP is from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV, probably my favorite papers of all time.  Not only are the colors subtle, they work for either masculine or feminine projects.  This time I used some that I've had in my stash for more than 2 years because I keep stocking up on it when I find it on sale and then the old ones get pushed to the back of the shelf.  In reorganizing the week after I got home, I pulled all the old pads to the front and put the newer ones in the back.

     The flower is handmade from punched flower-petal layers.  I thought that added just a splash of color to what is otherwise a pretty neutral color combo.  No other embellishment because I wanted to keep it CAS.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Make your own embellies
Art Impressions Stamps -- Hip to be square
Crafting Cafe -- Love and marriage
Craft Room -- Sun, Sand, Surf
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned dp -- A/G with dp
I {heart} ProMarkers -- Stripes
Ladybug Crafts Ink -- For him
Natalie and Amy's -- 4 legged friends
Oldie But a Goodie -- Masculine
Sassy Studio Designs -- All about men
Through the Craft Room Door -- A/G
Twisted Tuesday -- 2 animals and dots (around the cats and in the stripes)

     If all goes as scheduled, I should have another post for you this evening.  If it doesn't show up, then I'm going to have to get someone to feed the gremlin in my computer so that he'll let my posts show up on time instead of eating them!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rick St. Dennis Steam Punk II

     OK, here I am trying my hand at another steam punk card (something I do very rarely and not very well) but at least I'm far enough away that I can't hear you laughing at my attempt.  Of course, the card does have a wry humor so maybe that's why you're laughing.  The image is a progressive freebie to all who used an Rick St. Dennis image and played in the first part of the steam punk challenge last month.

     This is the card folded flat and ready for the envelope but I did a new-to-me fancy fold technique called Dutch Fold or Dutch Door.  Here's a photo of the card opened and standing.

     OK, a few card details and then I have a close up to show you.  I colored this fun little monster, called "Nyner," with my ProMarkers.  While Rick's images are very detailed and can be somewhat intimidating to color (especially when you see the gorgeous coloring done by his entire DT!), his shading already drawn onto the image gives you great direction for getting shadows and high lights in all the right places.  As I was working with this image, I grew to love this creepy character more and more, and by the time I finished coloring him, I was truly in love.  :-D

     I still wasn't sure exactly what to do with him but his "Winner" sash made me think of a prize winner and the sentiment (printed on my computer) just popped into my head.  I die cut the image and did the card base (following tutorial instructions which I now can't find or I'd give you the link.)  The papers are from the "Loolah" stack by Iron Orchard.  Then I began searching through my embellishment stash for some steam punk appropriate cogs or gears.  Sigh... Those were seriously lacking because I do so little steam punk but I did find the two metal cogs you see above the image.

     Now, the great part of the story -- On his hat are drawn a few tiny cogs and gears.  I tried coloring them with silver and gold markers but they just didn't show up.  OK, let's go back a couple of weeks.  I was a challenge winner and the sponsor was 7 Kids College Fund.  I used my voucher to order a couple of Elisabeth Bell stamps (you'll be seeing those next week probably) and some little charms in a package called "Watch Parts."  I had no idea of the sizes but it was a collection of metal goodies that would work on steam punk cards.  Those just happened to arrive as I was finishing up the card and voila, perfection!  Let me show you what I mean --

     All those tiny embellies on his top hat came from the bag of Watch Parts.  Aren't they fabulous?  There are other items in the bag which are larger but I just love these tiny ones because they work on the actual images, not just the card.  Scroll back up to see the full card and compare the size with the larger metal embellies.  I'm already doing another card where I'm making a whole pile of the tiny ones to look like a single embellishment.

     Challenges:
Country View Crafts -- Only men allowed
Crafting at the Weekend -- A/G
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper -- A/G w/ dp
Ditzie Digi Designs -- A/G
Ladybug Crafts -- Something for the boys or die cuts
Outlawz PAM -- Junk in he Trunk (use metal)
Rick St. Dennis Progressive -- Use freebie digi provided
The Squirrel & the Fox -- Use metal

     I hope by now you've fallen in love with Nyner, too.  Personally, I'm going to train him to be the watchman around the house when I'm gone.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

For All the Guys

     I have a few masculine/ Father's Day cards to share with you this morning and will also have another one tomorrow.  Each of these cards uses an image from Doodle Pantry, a couple of which are new and one I've had in my collection for probably 3 years, but this isn't the first time I've used it.  OK, here's the first card:

     Since my SIL is an avid fisherman, one of my granddaughters laid claim to this one as soon as she saw me making it.  I hadn't even finished it yet when she said she wanted to give it to him for Father's Day.  This one is a pre-colored image but I used ProMarkers to darken the water and his coat and to make the tackle box a bit more orangey-red.  The background is done with corrugated paper and the baker's twine is from my stash.

     Challenges for this card:
Artistic Inspirations -- All about Dad
Craft Your Passion -- For the boys/Father's Day
Crafty Boots -- Sport
Digi Makeover -- For the men
Digi Sketch -- For the men
Doodle Pantry -- Make it Manly

     Next card, also a Doodle Pantry image --

     I love these fishing lures and this time I hand colored them using Copics and gel pens.  I've used them several times before and even did another card with this same image but used a pre-colored image on that one.  Maybe I'll get time to share it tomorrow.  This one is pretty simple -- hand colored, cut with a rectangle die, edges distressed, and mounted onto another strip of that same corrugated paper.  The stars were in my stash and I thought they worked as reminders of starfish.  :-D

     Challenges for this card:
Crafty Sentiments Designs -- Father's Day
Going Grey w Scrap Creations -- Father's Day
MarkePOP -- A/G
Melonheadz Friends -- Summer fun
Ooh La La Creations -- For a man/boy
Paper Nest Dolls -- A/G
PaperTake Weekly -- For the boys
Pink Elephant -- Father's Day
Sweet Stamps -- For Dad

     OK, if I have a favorite out of these three images, it's probably this wonderful classic car.  I can't tell you if that's a Model A or a Model T, but my dad would have known.  I'm old, but I'm not old enough to have driven one of these.  But they always remind me of my dad who just loved to see one of these marvels driving down the street.  That would bring on stories from him of his younger years and learning to drive (around the family farm) about the age of 12 in one of those early Fords.  Even tho' he's been gone for many years, I still miss him.  :-D

     Pre-colored image again from Doodle Pantry.  This is another one which got claimed by a granddaughter for her dad.  She likes the blue with all the neutral beige and she's a great fan of all things vintage or classic.  I would have bet my fortune (if I had one) that she would chose this card for him.  :-D  

     Papers are from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV and the sheer ribbon was in my stash, probably from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I know for sure that's where I got the polka dot ribbon.

     Challenges for this card:

Aud Sentiments -- Any sentiment for a man

Frilly and Funky -- Special Man  

Hobbybook -- Dad/Special Man

The Male Room -- Father's Day

MFP Simple Salutations -- Father's Day

MilkCoffee -- Father's Day

Penny's Paper-Crafty -- A/G

Rhedd & Rosie's -- Back in time, vintage style

     Well, I hope you've enjoyed this long post which salutes masculinity.  I enjoy making guy cards; always have, always will.  I know, I know, I can hear some of you groaning out there from the bottom of your toes.  lol  Ah, well, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Humbug Owl

     Having not blogged anything in more than a week, I have a ton of cards to share and I'm setting scheduled posts for all this week.  On Saturday and Sunday, I'll be sharing with you several cards I did for Father's Day or with a masculine theme.  But for today, I'm going to share my first Christmas card of the year.  I haven't done anything about Christmas up to now because I made so many Christmas cards last fall that I still have more than enough for family and friends this year!  But, I saw this mopey looking owl over at QKR Stampede and couldn't resist him so doing a Christmas card was necessary.  :-D

     With that look on his face, the sentiment was a natural.  I colored him with Promarkers, corner punched the image piece and mounted it onto two layers of torn CS in red and kraft.  The dp is from SU and I added sparkle to the snowflakes on it.  The bow is tied with gingham ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Very CAS in design, even with the three metal brads.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More -- CAS
City Crafter -- For the birds
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas -- A/G Christmas
Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- A/G
Fussy and Fancy -- Things with wings
Jingle Belles -- Red & green
Loves Rubber Stamps -- CAS
Moving Along with the Times -- CAS
Scrappers' Delights -- A/G + Layers
Squigglefly -- Christmas
Stampin' for the Weekend -- A/G

     OK, I'm off again and will be visiting all your blogs when I return and have some time that's really all mine!  That may actually not be as soon as I'd like but I haven't abandoned you, honestly.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kittens for Birthdays

     I guess my card yesterday with green hair on the image was just practice for the new challenge theme at Tuesday Throwdown this week, which is "Wild Colored Hair!"   Our wonderful sponsor is The Paper Shelter and they provided an image for the team to use.  You need to check out the Tuesday Throwdown blog to see all the different inspiration and colors of hair.

     My card is for a wonderful friend who's celebrating her 79th birthday on Friday, and, no, she won't see it here before then.  I doubt if she even knows I have a blog although she does know about my cards and loves them.  What a sweetie.  :-D

Here's the inside sentiment.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and glitter gel ink.  I used one of my framing dies to cut the image and then used the same die to cut a negative from dark pink CS.  I used that to 'frame the frame.'  It took a bit of planning because I wanted to have the image framed on an angle instead of vertical but I also wanted to angle the darker pink CS on the card base, which is a lighter pink.  

     The butterflies are punched and I added pearls to the bodies, plus I added three pearls to the bottom corner.  Speaking of corners, I used a punch on all four of them.  The bow is made from two separate ribbons, one tied into a triple bow and the other into a double bow and then tied together with a butterfly in the middle.

     Challenges:

4 Krafty Girlz -- A/G

A&T Emerald Faeries -- Flowers, ribbon or lace

A Creative Need -- For a woman

A Creative Romance -- Girly creations

Brown Sugar -- A/G

Craftitude -- Use a die

Fairies -- Ladies

Hanna & Friends -- Dies

Little Miss Muffet -- A/G

Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- A/G

Red Rubber -- More precious than pearls

Sister Act -- A/G

Stamping for the Weekend -- For the girls

Sweet Pea Stampers -- Things with wings

The Squirrel & the Fox -- Girls

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  We had so few entries last week (probably because of the Memorial Day holiday and everyone getting their summer started instead of crafting) that we didn't even have enough people to choose a Top 3!  Of course, that makes your chances of winning the sponsor prize that much greater.  :-D  See you at Tuesday Throwdown.  NanaConnie

Escaping the Doctors

     A week or so ago, I told you how much I dearly love the bears from QKR Stampede (challenge theme: dies or punches) and today I'm using another one for a Get Well card.  I hope this brings a smile to your face.

My design sketch came from the CASE card at

AAA Cards and it has to be CAS.  

I tried to stick with the colors, too, but dulled my background pink quite a bit.

       I colored the bear with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a square die and used a corner punch on all 4 corners.  The background piece I made myself, using an old piece of plastic netting (like you get with a fruit or vegetable bag) and coloring across it with the chisel tip of the ProMarkers.  Aside from the fact that I wanted something close to the background on the CASE card, I really like that effect and will use it again, I'm sure.  That piece is also die cut and punched.

     I dry embossed the brown CS strip with the "Lattice" folder from SU.  The sentiment is my own, printed with a computer font.  My only embellishment on this CAS card is the die cut swirl in the lower corner.  No ribbon, no twine, no string, no flowers, no gems or pearls -- I think I'm finally getting the hang of CAS!!  :-D

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance -- 1 for the boys

Artistic Inspirations -- Dies or punches

Come and Get It -- Bingo: Texture/ Free/ No dp

Crafting from the Heart -- A/G

Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- 1 for the guys

Glitter n Sparkle -- For men or male colors

Graph'It -- Warm colors

Hiding in My Craft Room -- Embossing

Paper Nest Dolls -- A/G

Papertake Weekly -- Ooh, so cute!

Passion for ProMarkers -- die cuts

Speedy Fox & Friends -- No design paper

Wags 'n Whiskers -- 1 for the boys

     Well, this was fast and simple so you did get a post today after all.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Roses for Love

     I have the honor of being a GDT at Through the Craft Room Door this week, where the challenges are always "Anything Goes."  I got to use a digital image drawn by Sandi Huggett, one of my favorite artists.  I first got to know Sandi and her work over at The Outlawz.  Here's one of her incredible flower images.

     I colored the roses with my ProMarkers, then die cut it with one of those wonderful framing dies by Spellbinders.  I cut another frame with the die one size larger, using some dusty pink CS, and embossing it.  The dp is from Crafts, Etc., the "Sweet Pea" stack.  The lovely, sheer, polka-dot ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and is one of my favorites.  I wish I had more of it in my stash.  The frames are so decorative and detailed that I decided to limit embellishment to just the ribbon.  That way, the focus is on the gorgeous roses!

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create -- A/G
A & T Emerald Faeries -- Flowers + ribbon or lace
Addicted to Stamps -- Song inspiration (Paper Roses)
Bearly Mine -- Flowers
Challenges 4 Everybody -- A/G
Dream Valley -- A/G
Fairies -- Mothers
Glitter & Sparkle -- Female
One Stitch at a Time -- Use a digi
Outlawz Greetings -- Flowers
Outlawz PAM -- For a special lady
Outlawz Twisted Thurs. -- die cuts
Robyn's Fetish -- Flowers in the image

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in the challenge this week.  With an "Anything Goes" theme, how can you go wrong?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"Beary" Godmother

    Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in Canada and the US!

      I have to admit that my favorite silly bears are the ones from QKR Stampede.  They're just so quirky and full of attitude.  :-D  Today I combined the "Baking" bear with one of the QKR sentiments about a "Beary Godmother" and I think this is such a fun and funny card!  Here's the card front.

and the inside...

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and die cut it with one of my Spellbinders dies, then distressed it with one of the Ranger inks.  The inside sentiment is cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The A2 card base is made from colored CS.  I used two pieces of scrap brown CS for neutral colored layers (wanting a monochromatic feel to the card), tearing each of them and embossing one.  The blue gems are on ribbon and I wrapped them around the card front.  The bow is one of the ones I make and stash away until they're needed.

     Challenges:
Artbymiran -- A/G
As You Like It -- Favorite fur or feathers & why
Crafting at the Weekend -- A/G
Crafting for all Seasons -- Lots of layers
Digi Chooseday -- Make it for the kids
Di's Digi Designs -- Use markers
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Scraps (all the CS)
Pile It On -- Fuzzy
QKR Stampede -- A/G with twist of gems/rhinestones
Quick Quotes -- Tear it up
Savvy Handmade Cards -- Zoo animals
Sister Act -- A/G
Through the Craft Room Door -- A/G
We Do Doobadoo -- Layers

     How's your weekend going?  I'm having a fantastic time with lots of playing and lots of family.  If you seem to be seeing less of me over the summer months it's because I'm taking a leave of absence from one of my DT positions; 2 of my DT terms are ending, and I'm working ahead as best I can on another team.  I'll be doing my best to make cards and schedule posts when I'm home and can craft but I may be a bit hit or miss between now and mid-September.  Hope you'll continue to visit when you can.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Daisies in a Bottle

     It's been a while since I used an image from A Day for Daisies (add a doily or twine) but when I saw this one while scrolling through my collection, I immediately printed it (which is a story in itself!) and turned it into a birthday card.  I know I've been doing a lot of those recently but my birthday card stash was down to nil, zero, nada so it's time to make several and get stocked up again.

I used the sketch from Sketch & Stash

but it's turned 1/4 turn.  See below for the explanation on that.

     OK, when I went to print the image, I knew I wanted to print directly to my card base because I am going to enter the first challenge at AAA Cards and their challenge theme calls for only 2 layers, plus glitter and "Happy."   Well, only 2 layers means CAS to me (despite the fact that I love to mat everything and have many layers on most of my cards.)  Anyway, back to the printing story -- I thought I had the printing all figured out so that the image would print on the card front with a left hand fold for an A2 card.  Unfortunately, when the card came out of the printer, I hadn't planned it properly or I forgot which way the printer would print onto the paper.  In any case, the only way I could make it work for the sketch was to turn the sketch 1/4 turn and have a top fold, tent card.  OK, so I just went with it.  Next time, I'll practice on plain copier paper before printing on my good CS. :-D

     I colored the flowers and vase with watercolor pencils, and then added Stickles to the vase and flower centers.  I die cut the frame and layered it onto the card front, encircling the image (making my second layer.)  I added twine in two colors, punching a small hole in the top fold so that I could wrap the twine.  That's it.  Totally CAS and other than the time messing around with how to print it, it took me less than 20 minutes to make.  Of course, I had to wait a good 45 minutes before taking the photo so the Stickles would dry.  :-D

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- A/G or Mom
Crafting from the Heart -- A/G
Die Cut Divas -- At least 1 embellie (twine)
Digi Makeover -- A/G (with a digi)
Love to Create -- Flowers
My Craft Creations -- A/G
My Craft Spot -- Spring
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- Use 5 things total (CS/glitter/image/frame/twine)
Stampin' with the Dragon -- Flowers
Sweet Peas Stampers -- Birthday

     What a wonderful Wednesday this has been!  And that means only a day or two until the weekend.  Remember this Sunday is Mother's Day here in the States.  I hope you have your plans all made.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Activity, Feline Style

     Good morning and happy Saturday!  It's the weekend, the Easter festivities are over and summer is just around the corner.  It's time to begin a new challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun with four more fantastic sponsors.  They are: Art by Miram; Kenny K.; Pholkart; and Stitchy Bear.  Our theme is "Sports or Activity."  I used a delightful image from Pholkart.

     I call this card "Window Staring" for obvious reasons.  Since the theme is Sports or Activity, I guess I should explain that "Window Staring" is one of the premier events in the Feline Olympics!  This particular 'Folk Art Cat' has been at it day and night for 2 straight days.  :-D

     The image is colored with Copics and ProMarkers and cut with a rectangle die.  The papers are from Close to My Heart and are also die cut.  The long strip isn't ribbon, it's also dp from the same CTMH set.  I tied a triple bow using cord and added a flower and a rhinestone.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font and then cut with a fancy frame die.  I added distress ink around the filigree edges.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More -- Make your mark (Coloring)
Crafting from the Heart -- A/G
Everybody Art -- Cute card
Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- A/G
Incy Wincy Designs -- Furry friends
Just Inspirational -- Bingo: dies/ Flower/ Glitter/ Twine
My Craft Creations -- A/G
Outlawz Twisted Thurs -- A/G
Pholkart Studio -- A/G

     Come join us in our challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.  If you check out the rest of the DT projects, you'll find all kinds of activities that are a lot more 'active' than Window Staring, but my life is ruled by felines, especially those who love to Window Stare!  Our challenge run for two weeks so you have plenty of time to get something made and entered.  Remember, with four different sponsors, you have four times as many changes to win something great so it's definitely worth entering!  See you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rainy Days for Spring

     OK, so southern California is still in the midst of a huge drought but maybe another rainy day card will bring us some of that moisture from the sky that so many of the rest of you have had.  If not, then this card will be celebrating typical spring days everywhere else.  :-D

I took my sketch from  Tuesday Morning Sketches,

turned sideways to accommodate my tall image.

     The image is from Lacy Sunshine (theme: Feminine) and I colored her with ProMarkers.  Although it's very difficult to see in the photo, the raindrops and the puddle are made sparkly with a glitter gel pen.  I used three different dies from one of my framing sets (by Spellbinders) to cut the image and the fancy frame.  Everything is mounted onto a black card base.  The flower is handmade with three layers of petals and a black brad in the center.  The leaf is another Spellbinders die cut.  Can't see it?  It's cut from navy blue CS and just blends into the black border in the photo.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Monochromatic
Bearly Mine -- Spring
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- Spring
Corrosive Challenges -- Pretty pastels
Crafting Musketeers -- Monochromatic
Craftitude -- Spring
Crafty Catz -- "B" is for... blue
Crazy Challenge -- Spring is here
Creative Card Crew -- Spring
Creative Moments -- Girly
Delightful Challenge -- Add a flower
Digi Haven -- Black, white +1 color (blue -- just for you, Lynn!))
Love to Scrap -- A/G
Ooh La La -- Spring
Paper Shelter -- Spring
Party Time Tuesdays -- Die cuts
Scrapping4fun -- Digi or stamped image

     First card of the weekend and I've already started on the garden.  I have flowers in but am not sure if I'll get veggies in this year.  There's just so much to do, including a complete re-vamp of the sprinkler system all around the yard.  I can always water with a hose but would prefer not to spend hours standing out in the heat this summer to keep the garden watered so the less planted, the better.  Once the sprinkler system is up and running again, I'll plant more if it isn't too late in the season.  Ah, well, no sprinklers means I'll have to craft more and garden less.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring Planting

     I haven't played with a Bugaboo Stamps image in a while and today seemed a good opportunity to play in their Catch the Bug "Spring" challenge.  I've had this fun image for so long but I can't remember ever using it so...  I'm not sure if the cat is chasing the bird or if the cat is protecting his seed pots but either way, I thought it made a great image for spring.  :-D  Hmmm, maybe the bird is chasing the cat?

I also used the sketch from Bugaboo's Stella Says Sketch.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and then die cut it with a Spellbinders die.  I used a plain octagon die (QuicKutz) to cut a mat for the image.  I used chalks to highlight the embossed edges of the image.  The leaves were cut with a Cheery Lynn die and I added some ultra fine glitter to them to give them some sparkle.

     The background dp is from the Loolah stack by Iron Orchid and that stack has been hiding in my stash for more than 2 years!  It was one of those I bought because I just 'had to have it' and have never used a single page of it.  Now I can give up my guilt trip over that since I've used a sheet of it now.  And it's a sheet I really, really love!  My final touch was the Baker's Twine bow.

     

     Challenges:
A Creative Need -- Signs of spring
Add a little Dazzle -- Spring
Craft for the Craic -- Something for spring
Crafter's Cafe -- Spring
Crafty Catz -- Animals
Hobbybook Designs -- 2 or more die cuts
Moving Along with the Times -- Spring
Polkadoodles -- Animal magic

     I hope you've enjoyed seeing this as much as I enjoyed making it.  Our weather is nice -- not too cool and not too hot yet so I may actually put some time in on gardening matters myself.  I have new bulbs to get in the ground and herbs to pot.  If I miss a couple of days of posting this week, you may rightfully conclude that I'm engaged in spring planting.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie