Remembering Summer Butterflies

     I have the most exciting news!  For a couple of years now, ever since I was a GDT for their challenge, I've been slipping over to the store at QKR Stampede whenever the budget allowed and I've also played in the challenges over there nearly every week.  I'm really crazy about their images!!  I've specifically used QKR images to improve my coloring skills over the last several months and now I've been invited to join the QKR Stampede DT !  I'm just over the moon about that.  :-D  So, today's card is my first as a DT member.  Our challenge theme this week is the always popular "Anything Goes."

     I did a card in fall colors, using the "Bunny and Butterfly" image as a way of looking back at summer while turning toward a gorgeous fall.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and then die cut with a Wonky Square die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was added when I printed the image.  I cut a second Wonky Square out of dp from my fall stash (two or three years old -- who knows?) and distressed the edges of both pieces.  I used an octagon die from QuicKutz to shape the card itself and layered on dp from SU, then trimmed it to fit the octagon.

     My three finishing touches were the ribbon, the bow and the flower.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Crafty Sentiments Designs (middle row or 3rd vertical row)
Deep Ocean
Die Cuttin' Divas
Fairytale Stampers
Glitter n Sparkle
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
My Craft Creations
Oldie but a Goodie
One Stitch at a Time
Pink Elephant Monday
{Pin}spirational
Ppinkydolls
Quirky Crafts
Scrapy Land
Whoopsi Daisy

     I really hope we're going to see you playing along at QKR Stampede this week.  What better week to play than when the theme is Anything Goes?  You don't have to use a QKR image to enter but if you do, you could be the winner of a separate draw just for QKR Stampede users.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Haunted House for Tuesday Throwdown #215

     Another Tuesday, another challenge at Tuesday Throwdown and this week we're playing with the color wheel to show that "Opposites Attract."   We want to see you use two colors which are opposite each other on the color wheel.  Our sponsor this week is Craft Classes Online and you could win entry into a free class!
 I chose purple and yellow for this spooky Halloween haunted house by QKR Stampede.

     This card is a little different.  Instead of printing the silhouette image onto white CS, I printed it onto lavender paper and then paper pieced the yellow moon.  The light in the windows is done with yellow chalks.  The white on the roofs, trim, and clouds is done with white gel ink.

     I adhered the image to the card front and then doodled with black ink to make the grass go off the edge into the margin.  The purple fibers were in my stash and I honestly have no idea where I got them although I have four or five different colors of them so I must have really liked them or found them on a clearance sale.  The ghost and sentiment are stickers.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe
Craft a Scene
Outlawz Monday Greetings
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pile It On
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Scribble & Scrap
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sister Act
Sweet Stampin'
We Do Doobadoo

     Wow, that's a longer list of challenges than any I've done lately!  But most importantly, I'd love to see you playing along in our "Opposites Attract" challenge at Tuesday Throwdown.  Just in case you don't have a color wheel, work with this one.



     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Candy or Fish?

    OK, so my fur-babies and I were discussing Halloween the other day and I was reminding them that when the ghoulies and goblins come for Trick or Treat, it really isn't necessary for them to try to make a break-out rush through the front door; they are house cats, after all.  HoneyBear, who has the attention span of a gnat, had only one question -- could they expect fish for Trick or Treat this year instead of candy?  So much for my plans to eat all the Halloween leftovers!

     Image from QKR Stampede, colored with ProMarkers, and then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I found a scrap of dp and die cut that for the frame around the image.  Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, glitter from Stickles, and leaves from Jolee's.

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafts and Me

Crazy 4 Challenges

Die Cuttin' Divas

DRS Designs

Fitztown

Going Grey with Scrap Creations

Hiding in My Craft Room

Luna Girl Moonbeams

Melonheadz Friends

Open-Minded Crafting Fun

Outlawz PAM

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Sister Act

     I hope your weekend is relaxing and creative.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Vintage Autumn

     I had no idea I was going to be as thrilled with this card as I am but the result is eminently pleasing.  :-D

     This is a Fitztown image which I colored with ProMarkers and then die cut with one of my framing dies from Spellbinders.  I rarely work with oranges (except for fall color combos) so I had to dig around quite a bit to find the pumpkin CS which I die cut with a plain oval die from QuicKutz.

     At first, I intended to layer the two ovals so that the plain oval would be just a vertical mat behind the image but as I was playing around, I angled it and really liked the way it looked.  I layered both pieces onto the card front and then began adding flowers and pearls.  I didn't have any flowers that pumpkin color but ProMarkers fixed that.  :-D  I'm becoming convinced that I'll buy nothing but white flowers from now on and custom color them to whatever I need.  The bow was also white but dyed with a ProMarker.

     When she was finished, I thought she looked regal and vintage.  I certainly didn't plan the card this way.  I thought it was going to be another CAS card but it's one of those that just took off, apparently having a mind of its own.  This time, I'm glad I let it go instead of trying to control it.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Vintage Journey
Card Makin' Mamas
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Catz
Creatalicious
Dies R Us
Docerela Creations
East Wind
Fitztown
Pattie's Creations
Quick Quotes

     That's all for today and it's been a really busy week so we'll have to see if there's any more time before the weekend for playing.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Puppy Love

     OK, I admit it -- I'm addicted to QKR Stampede images!   I find myself reaching into my collection of them whenever I want something fun or quirky or gently humorous.

     Since I'm a Guest Designer at The Outlawz CAS challenge this month, not only am I getting lots of practice on doing CAS (which I'm really loving!), I get to put on my thinking cap, too.  Our theme this week is the movie "6 Days, 7 Nights" and Pryn's advice is to "think of islands, planes, pirates, castaways, etc."  What I remember most about the movie is that when you take all those things away, it's really all about falling in love.  That meant this adorable image from QKR Stampede was perfect!

There are lots of challenges with an "autumn" or "fall colors" theme this week so

I started with the inspiration photo from Chocolate Baroque.

     The image is colored with a combo of ProMarkers and chalks.  In die cutting the image, I decided to do an out-of-the-box technique with the smaller scalloped rectangle die.  I used a larger scalloped die to cut the brown mat.  The sentiment is cut and matted with the same die set (Spellbinders) but I had to adjust the die to get the right size (cut one side, then move the die and line up the scallops.)

     Everything on the card, including the card front piece, was done using scraps of leftover CS and those scraps have been in the basket for nearly a year.  It was about time to get them used up.  No embellishments; the die cuts and CS mats were enough and this is a CAS challenge.  :-D

     Challenges:
AAA CAS Cards
Bloom Girl
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafty Sentiment Designs
Creative Craft Cottage
Creative Moments
Cuttlebug Mania
Oldie but a Goodie
Outlawz PAM
Vandicrafts Artistry

     Enjoy the last half of your weekend and I hope we're going to see you playing along at the Outlawz CAS Challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Autumn Naps

     It's the second Sunday in September and I'm Guest Designing this entire month over at The Outlawz CAS Challenge.  This week we have a challenge theme of "Girly" or "Feminine."  All right, I've done my share of feminine cards so that's no big deal -- except that I make feminine cards with tons of lace and ribbon and flowers and bling and...  Yeah, you get the idea but this card has to be CAS.

     In case you're wondering, yes, I did have a conversation with myself and it went this way, "OK, I made a commitment to do CAS at Outlawz for this entire month and I'm going to do it!"   First I want to share the card and then I'll tell you the other side of the story.

BTW, those of us who are in the "Autumn" of our years know how sweet an afternoon nap can be.  :-D

     The image is from Rick St. Dennis and he's a great sponsor of challenges at Outlawz.  I knew I wanted to use this image since the pumpkin is a great symbol of fall and harvest and Thanksgiving.  But fall colors are hard for me when I'm trying to think "girly."  For me, pink is the color that says "Feminine," not orange or brown.

     Then I remembered -- a couple of years ago my daughter saw some pink pumpkins for sale.  Not painted or dyed but real pumpkins that are pink when they grow.  The lady selling them was donating the proceeds to Breast Cancer Research.  That was near and dear to my heart since I'm a BC survivor (13 years this month!  :-D )   My daughter and I have already decided that next year we are going to grow pink pumpkins and sell them to donate funds to Breast Cancer Research, too.  You can find more info on the Pink Pumpkin Foundation by clicking on their name.

     So, with pink pumpkins in mind, I looked around and found this wonderful color combo over at Creative Craft Cottage:  

                                                                  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted.  Because I wanted a feminine feel, I decided that some lace with pink ribbon woven through it would make a good single embellishment.  After all, this is CAS not vintage!  :-D  I laid it diagonally across the card front, than added the image piece, popped up on dimensional dots.  I have it on good authority that despite the lace and ribbon this card still qualifies as CAS -- minimal embellishment, lots of open space, and clean lines.

     Challenges:

Bastel-Traum

Bunny Zoe's

Crafts Galore Encore

Ladybug Crafts

Lia Stampz

Paper Sweeties

Ppinkydolls

Scribbles Designs

Vintage Stamping

     Well, my friends, if I can do a feminine CAS card (even without using a really girly-girl image!) anyone can do it.  Won't you come along and show us what it is that makes you think feminine?  Is it colors, images, certain embellishments, maybe flowers?  Challenge yourself as I did and make a girly card, keeping it CAS.  See you at Outlawz.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not Chicken

     I have to combine two of my favorite challenges (and add a few others) with this delightful image from QKR Stampede.  I know I've already posted today but as soon as I saw the Paper Playful list of Friday challenges, I knew this card had to be done right away.  :-D  It's total silliness in honor of All Hallow's Eve and fall.  I'm not sure if the chicken is 'sitting' the pumpkin or if the pumpkin is wearing a 'chicken' hat!

My sketch came from Cardabilities

and the colors came from the inspiration photo at Die Cuttin' Divas.

 

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then die cut with my largest 'banner flag' die.  The orange mat is hand cut since I had already used my largest die of that shape.  The plaid dp is a digital paper and I can't remember who made it.  It was a freebie download from more than 3 years ago and there is no company name on it.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the little bow is one of those I make myself.  I dearly love yellows and oranges for fall color combos.  Funny how little I use them in combo the rest of the year.  :-D

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance

A Girl Who Crafts

Crafts 4 Eternity

Crafty Catz

Creative Moments

Delightful Challenge

DL.ART

Natalie and Amy's

Outlawz Friday Coloring

Sister Act

STAMPlorations

Vandicrafts Artistry

     I hope your weekend is going well and that your weather is cooler than what we have out here in California.  I'm just soooo ready for the cooler temps of fall.  Where are they?   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"Day of the Dead" Fairy for Halloween

     

     Through The Craft Room Door, September 2014 Issue is now available for your viewing in the "Subscribers Only Area" at Through The Craft Room Door website: http://craftrmdoor.ning.com.   It is loaded with paper craft tutorials, tons of inspiration, and projects you can create.  Come see Colleen Schaan's craft room - trust me, it will knock you off your feet - it totally rocks .   Art by Miran is this issue's Featured Digi Artist and has given the subscribers the sweetest digital images to download.  Come on over and join us and try one of the great tutorials! 

     Another challenge starts to day at Through the Craft Room Door, always "Anything Goes," and we love seeing what you create and submit.  We're sponsored this time by AuroraWings (I love their digis!) and I chose to do another Halloween card using an image from their Fairies collection, called "Day of the Dead."

     The details and the materials list for this card are published in the new September/October issue of the magazine and I really hope you're a subscriber so that you can see all the tutorials and projects.  Believe me, you don't want to miss out!  I will tell you that I've used one of my favorite techniques which is to "frame" the image with the negative piece of a die cut.  The purple frame is laid over the image instead of the image being cut out with the die.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
A Girl Who Crafts
Creative Craft Cottage
Fairy Tale
Frosted Designs Friday
Graph'It
Kreativeinkauf
Ladybug Crafts
Natalie and Amy's
Oddball Art
Outlawz Color Tuesday
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paradise Stamps
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Sister Act
Sisters of Craft
STAMPlorations

     What a great Tuesday this is!  I hope your week is going well.  Find some time for yourself, check out the fabulous new issue of the TTCRD Magazine, and then enjoy some Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cinderella Cat

     I am delighted to announce that I've been asked to be a Guest Designer for September on the Sunday CAS Challenge at The Outlawz!   All I can say is that someone has a much better opinion of my ability to create Clean and Simple card designs than I have myself.  I think I still need loads of practice but every once in a while, I get one right.  :-D  Let's hope I get a few of those this month.  Our challenge theme this week is done in honor of the lovely fall colors which will be taking over the northern hemisphere soon, so Use Your Favorite Colors.  But they can be from any season.  I chose to use fall colors because I'm so ready for cooler weather.

     This one uses a darling image from Squigglefly.  I know it's been around for a long time (last year? two years?) but this is my first time actually using it.  Those two kittens with the pumpkin just made me think of what would have happened to Cinderella's coach right after midnight.  Hence, the silly sentiment.

I used the colors from Mema's.

     This is a single layer card, colored with water colors, and I added faux stitching with an orange pen.  The only embellishment comes from the three tiny stars.  Not much more to say given how simple this is.

     Challenges:
A Girl Who Crafts
Bearly Mine
Bastel- Traum
Card and Scrap
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Cutie Pie
Inky Chicks
Oldie but a Goodie
Miriam's Crafting
My Heart Pieces
Paper Sweeties

     Time to put on your CAS hats and get something done to play along with us this week.  I can't wait to see what you create and post at the Outlawz.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Autumn Leaf Frolic

     I'm really flattered to have been invited to be a Guest Designer at Sketch 'n Dies.  I've played in their challenges pretty regularly for a while now and it's an honor to be asked to Guest Design.  The sponsor this week is Scrappiness Designs and they have some of the prettiest papers and kits I've ever seen.  I used papers from their "My Fairy Tale" set.

Here's the sketch.

     The sentiment I used was a freebie I found and I've had it in my collection for so long that I don't know who made it.  If someone recognizes it, please leave me a comment and tell me.  I'd love to give proper credit.  I matted the sentiment with dp and dark brown CS.  All the leaves are die cut with a Cheery Lynn die, either from brown CS or the yellow striped dp.  The flower layers are punched and embossed with a stylus, then stacked together.  I punched a tiny hole through all the layers so I could add the stamen.

     There is one additional decorative die cut (Spellbinders) -- the light brown buried underneath the leaves.  The yellow leaves were somewhat lost against the dp background and that brown die cut helped to distinguish them from the background.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafter's Cafe
Creative Moments
Dream Valley
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'
Sweet Pea Stampers
We Do Doobadoo
Word Art Weds.

       Hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day in the US, and for the rest of the world, a great start to your  new week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Are You Afraid of a Spook?

     Well, I'm definitely into fall this weekend (my favorite season) and am thinking of (and working on) Halloween.  I have done so many cards since Thursday night that I'm doing two posts today because I can't wait to share them.  :-D

     This one uses a fabulous, fun image from QKR Stampede.  They have a 2 week long blog hop and their challenge is an Anything Goes but you have to use either a QKR Stampede image or a Eureka Stamps image this time.

I used Sketch #216 from Sketch Saturday.

My stitched ribbon substitutes for the stars in the sketch.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then die cut it and the two mats (one from dp and one from CS) with octagon dies from QuicKutz.  I love browns and oranges for fall cards and especially for Halloween cards.  They reflect the fall colors we find in nature and tell us there's a quiet end of summer coming.  That makes me so happy because the hot summer weather is over finally!  :-D

     The background dp is embossed and glittered, and both dp are from DCWV, but they've been in my stash longer than I care to admit.  The ribbon came from Joann.com.  Sentiment was printed with a computer font and matted with brown CS.  The bow is one of the ones I make by hand.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
As You Like It
Clear It Out
Crafty Creations
Delightful Challenges
DRS Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Just Us Girls
Moving Along with the Times
Outlawz Coloring
Top Tip Tuesday
Treasured Times

     I'll be back tomorrow with another Guest Designer card but I'm not telling you which team until then.  I am honored to have been asked to Guest Design in September for two different teams.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

When the "Fashionista" Retires...

          The sentiment pretty much says it all on this one!  :-D  Image is from Rick St. Dennis and it seriously looks like I posed as the model for it.  And, since I know so much about this (having posed for it), I can tell you that the three fur babies are known as Bullet, Bluebell, and Buttercup.  They dearly love playing with Bows and they think the fashionista's Bathrobe simply must be covered with loose cat hair at all times.  How's that for a bushel of "B"s?

     Image is colored with ProMarkers and Triads and then fussy cut and adhered to coral pink CS.  I die cut a piece of embossed dp from my stash with a scalloped oval die, and used the negative as a frame for the image.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bows were hand made by me.

     Challenges:
Crafts Galore Encore
Corrosive Challenge
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Greeting Card
Outlawz PAM
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sentimental Sundays
Sister Act
Stempelsonnen

     Halfway to the weekend, folks!  Hope your week is going well.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Play Date for Two

     Good Tuesday morning to you all !  If it's Tuesday, then it must be time for a new challenge at Tuesday Throwdown and this week our challenge theme is "Furry Little Friends."  Oak Pond Creations is sponsoring the challenge this week and they have some adorable animal images.  They provided images for the team to use and I think these two feline buddies are just the cutest ever.

     I colored the image with a combo of ProMarkers and Triart markers, then die cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  Because friends in the northeast keep assuring me that there is a nip of autumn in their air (ours is still very hot and dry), I decided do a monochromatic card using "harvest gold" autumn colors in hopes it will encourage the cooler fall temperatures to get here very soon.  

     The striped and burlap look papers are both from my large pile of old scrapbook papers and it's time to start using those instead of just storing them.  I did use a couple of things I've never used before and those are the two different corner punches.  I love the decorative look they give -- almost like added embellishments.  The bow with the pearl is one of those I make.  I sewed up many more this past weekend when I was without internet connection or crafting supplies.  I did about 2 dozen of them in one sitting, and then another dozen on another evening so now my stash of them is all stocked up.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
Brown Sugar
Craft for the Craic
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafting at the Weekend
Creative Corner
Creative Moments
Delightful Challenges
Graph'It
Little Miss Muffet
MilkCoffee
Pattie's Creations
Scrapper's Delights
Treasured Times

     Come play with us at Tuesday Throwdown this week.  All you need is something that shows a furry friend.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

For Your Vintage Birthday

     I have a dear friend who loves it when I use green & yellow as a combo for my cards and she is always telling me that she's not old, she's simply "aged like a vintage wine."   So, here's the card I made for her birthday a week ago.  I created it as my DT card for Through the Craft Room Door this week and our new challenge has the usual "Anything Goes" theme.  Our marvelous sponsor this week is Oozak.

     The image is from Sandi Huggett (Sandi's Samples), called "Lady Kathleen" and I colored her with a combination of ProMarkers, Spectrum Noir, and Touch Twin markers.  The sparkle in the corners of the die cut is created with Cloud 9 Velvet Glitter from Sparkle n Sprinkle.  For a full materials list, please visit the TTCRD blog post this week.

     I added the birthday sentiment to the inside this time.   Here's a picture:

     Challenges:

A Girl Who Crafts

Bearly Mine

Cards Galore Encore

Delightful Challenges

Docerela Creations

Natalie and Amy's

Oddball Art Stamps

Outlawz PAM

Simply Create 2

Sisters of Craft

Sweet 7

Wags 'n Whiskers

     Come play along with us at Through the Craft Room Door this week.  How can you not want to play in an "Anything Goes" theme?  We're looking forward to seeing what you create and enter.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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