Winter Woods

          I'm still so excited that Deedee's Digis has found a way to stay open despite the changes in the EU VAT tax laws.  I would have missed Deedee's lovely images if she'd had to close permanently.

     Today I'm sharing one of my after-Christmas 'Thank You' cards which I designed using images from Deedee's "Winter Woods" set.  I used pre-colored images, combining two of them into one scene.

     I printed the full scene with the one deer in the snowy forest, added the 'Thank You' sentiment (my favorite post-Christmas words), and then die cut it with a square die from Spellbinders.  I did add some sparkle to the snow in the background and in the trees with some "Diamond" Stickles.  The card base is embossed with a folder but for some reason that doesn't show in the photo.

     I matted the image with black CS and printed one of the single deer, increasing the size so that he was just slightly larger than the other one in the scene.  I fussy cut him (no easy job around the antlers!) and added him to the scene so that he was standing closer and in front of the trees.  Although it doesn't show well in the photo, he's on dimensional dots.  The two bows were in my stash and worked so well together, I used both of them instead of trying to choose one over the other.

     Challenges:
Color My Heart
Craft for the Craic
Di's Digi Designs
Fairy Tale
Frosted Designs
Fussy & Fancy
Just Us Girls
Pattie's Creations
Pile It On
Polka Doodles (top row across)
Word Art Weds.  (Deedee's is sponsoring this one)

     Don't forget that we have a new Digi of the Month challenge going and if you enter it, you'll get February's digi as a freebie.  It's the start of a new year and if you go to the shop (see the information on the challenge post), you'll get the DOM set for free this month.  Use an image from the set to enter the DOM challenge, and you'll get the next one free.  We'd love to see you there this month and many months in the future.  :-D

     That's all I have for today.  It's so nice to be back in my routine after the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  If I haven't visited your blog yet, I'm still getting around to everything I missed over the last couple of weeks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Cheers!

     I have been away from my crafting desk for way too long and really missed it.  I swear I'm going to have to start a "Crafter's Anonymous" group to help with this addiction.  :-D  Today's card is one I've done for the Progressive Challenge at Rick St. Dennis' Sparkle n Glitter blog.  The image is a new one I purchased with a gift certificate Santa brought me and I also used two of my brand spankin' new dies from Cheery Lynn, the frame and the "Cheers."  What a perfect way to celebrate the New Year!

I used the colors from Pals Paper Arts.

Unfortunately, my Navy Blue looks almost black

and, of course, my lavender/wisteria turned blue. :(

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then die cut it.  I cut the frame from lavender/periwinkle CS and then cut the sentiment from the same CS.  I added glitter to the "Cheer" sentiment and to the upper corner of the frame for a touch of sparkly bling.

     That gorgeous sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The little mouse at the bottom is actually a completely separate RSD image which I sized, printed, and fussy cut before adding it.  I think he definitely adds to the party atmosphere, doesn't he?

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
As You Like It (square because it gives the most space for designing)
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Catz
Digistamps 4 Joy
DL.ART
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Just Inspirational
Little Miss Muffet
Little Red Wagon
Passion for ProMarkers (die cut/free/glitter)
Simply Create Too

     The weekend is half over and the reality of post-holiday work weeks looms ahead.  I hope your day brings you some relaxation and creativity.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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New Challenge, New Team, New Sponsor!

     I'm so excited to announce that the first challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends starts today and I'm a member of that new DT!  Woohoo!!  Our challenges are posted on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, run for 2 weeks, and the theme is "Anything Goes."  For those of you in the USA, that means the challenges go live on Saturday afternoons since the challenge is based in Brisbane, Australia.  :-D  Our sponsors for this first challenge are "A Day for Daisies", "Ching-Chou Kuik" and "Ppinky Dolls" -- a new one for me which I got to use.  All the sponsors provided images to the DT.  What fun I had coloring up this adorable little "Pinky with Fluffy Kitten."

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, added loose glitter to the fairy wings for some sparkle, and die cut it with one of my very first dies from Spellbinders, a scalloped oval.  The dp is from my stash and the pink CS I chose for the card base is marbled which gives a delightful effect.  The ribbon for the bow has been hoarded in my stash for several months and I finally decided that it was time to use some of it to make a large, exquisite, home-made bow.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crazy Challenge
Digistamps 4 Joy
Eureka Stamps
I {heart} ProMarkers
Loves Rubber Stamps
Paper Nest Dolls
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper Crafty
Sparkle n Sprinkle
Top Tip Tuesdays

     Come join us at Lil Patch for an Anything Goes challenge!  We'd love to see you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please just ignore the annoying Verification thingy.  You can write and post your comment without entering anything in the box (at least until Blogger decides to change that, too.)  Thank you.

Get Well Wishes

     QKR Stampede has a new challenge today, its first of the New Year, and the theme is everyone's favorite, "Anything Goes."  I admit this card was inspired by my son-in-law's broken leg a few weeks ago.  The image and sentiment can be found here:  Digi 9403 "Ski Accident" and Digi 9105 "MamaSaid."

     I can't tell you how much fun it was to color this image; I used my ProMarkers and a couple of shades of gray from my remaining collection of Copics.  I kept it all very simple since I wanted a CAS design on a masculine card.   I layered kraft and deep blue CS to mat the image and added brads to two of the corners.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Card Mania
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Robyn's Fetish
Scrapper's Delights
Simon Says Stamp
Whimsy Inspirations

     I hope your New Year was terrific and that you survived the cold temperatures if your celebration took you outside.  Did you watch the Rose Parade or any football games?  At least those were good, inside-where-it's warm activities.  :-D  Come play with us at QKR this week, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please just ignore the annoying Verification thingy.  You can write and post your comment without entering anything in the box (at least until Blogger decides to change that, too.)  Thank you.

All Downhill for the New Year

    HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

     After trudging doggedly through 2014, feeling like it was a mostly uphill journey adjusting to a new city, a new house, finding my way around unfamiliar streets, and meeting new faces everywhere I turned, I'm looking forward to a downhill 2015!  :-D

     A new challenge starts today on The Outlawz Twisted Thursday where we always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we add an optional twist -- this week the twist is "Winter Fun" and our sponsor for each Thursday challenge this month is Bugaboo Stamps.  They were so generous in supplying the DT members with images to use but since I love Bugaboo and have more than 150 of their digis, I chose this one from my collection (which I have never used before.  Does that make it "new?")

Inside it says "Happy New Year."

I based my design on the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and added a bit of glitter to the snow.  For the snowflakes, I used silver sequins.   The paper is from The Paper Studio.  The bow and the three blue sequins are the only added embellishment, leaving the card pretty CAS and good for a masculine card, I think.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Catch the Bug (image/glitter/choice-sequins)
Corrosive Challenge
Craft a Scene
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Friends of Speedy TV
Glitter n Sparkle
Jellypark Friends
Just Inspirational
Melonheadz
Not Just Cards
Outlawz PAM
Paper Nest Dolls
Pile It On
Scrappy Hands

     I hope we're going to see you over at The Outlawz this week.  If you've never joined over there, you really should think about it.  There are challenges every day of the week, and a new monthly progressive challenge where you can earn freebie digis by playing in the challenge.   Joining is free and easy and there are such wonderful people at The Outlawz.  Give yourself a present for the New Year and come join us.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Who Prayed for Snow?

     Somebody foolishly prayed for snow and now it's just barely above freezing here in central California!  Hey, weatherman, don't you know it doesn't freeze except in the mountains out here?  Anyway, we have a new challenge starting today at Through the Craft Room Door and our "Anything Goes" theme is sponsored by The Stamping Boutique.  They generously provided the DT with images and I used "Bring It On Snowman," a brand new image.

I used the sketch from The Outlawz,

turned one quarter turn.

     Isn't he adorable with his little bird friend perched on the snowman's hat, complete with his own 'bird-sized' snow shovel?  I colored with ProMarkers and sparkle gel ink (which just doesn't show in the photo), then die cut the image and matted it with a die cut circle of "Winter Magic" dp.  I've had this particular stack of dp for more than 3 years so it might be discontinued by now.  I still love it!  All the sparkly blue snowflakes were in my stash.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font and die cut with a die from Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
A Creative Need
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Card Crew
Friends of Speedy TV
Graph'It
Mema's
MilkCoffee
Loves Rubber Stamps
Oddball Art Stamps
Sparkles Forum

     That's it for today.  I hope you're going to come and play along this week.  If you don't visit here again before New Year's, have a marvelously Happy New Year.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Need a Snow Cat?

     Hmmmm, I think there may different interpretations of "snow cat."  My dear SIL thinks a snowcat is a plow for removing huge drifts of snow or some big transport machine used in Antarctica.  Too much work for me!  Here's my interpretation --

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds. 2

turned a quarter turn to better fit the shape of my image piece.

     The image is from Rick St. Dennis and I colored it with ProMarkers.  I added sparkle to the snow and the snowflake embellies with a bit of Stickles glitter but it just doesn't show in the photo.  The CS is Recollections and the polka dot dp is from Paper Studio.  The lace has been hoarded in my stash since last spring for fear I'd use it all up.  I only have another 2 yards!  lol

     Challenges:
A Creative Need
Artbymiran
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Digistamp 4 Joy
Divas by Design
DRS Designs
Fussy and Fancy
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inky Impressions
Inspiration Destinations
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapper's Delights
Simon Says Stamp
Sweet 7
Whimsy Inspirations
WordArt Wednesday

     I'll be scarce again until after the New Year but I have my DT posts pre-scheduled for the week and there are several of those.  I hope you'll enjoy them.  May you and yours have a prosperous and Happy New Year.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Snowman Birthday

     I hope you all had wonderful Christmas celebrations this year and are looking forward to a safe and sane New Year.  It's Friday and that means another new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "Snowmen or Santa."  I opted for a fabulous snowman (Digi 21201) and made a birthday card with him.  The sentiment is also from QKR and can be found here (Digi 11503.)

     I used Copic markers to color the image, then die cut it and the sentiment.  The blue die cut is part of a corner die from Cheery Lynn.  The full corner piece was too big for the design of this card, but cutting it down gave me a piece the right size.  Doesn't it look like a swirl of winter wind?

     Everything is mounted onto a deep blue card front which contrasts nicely with the white CS.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Corrosive Challenge
Crafty Creations
Crazy Challenge
Digi Sketch
Get Creative
Love to Create
MarkerPOP
Not Just Cards
Scribble & Scrap

     That's it for today.  I sure hope you'll come and play with us this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please just ignore the Verification on the comment section.  You can write and post your comment without entering anything in the box.  Thank you.

Florida Santa

     Another Friday and by this time next week, Christmas will be behind us and we'll be munching on leftovers and dreading taking down the tree and all the decorations and telling ourselves it's perfectly OK to leave everything up until the New Year.  That's one of the advantages growing older brings -- one can go visit all the kids for the holidays and the decorating and un-decorating is left to them.  :-D

     We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede with a theme of "Lots of Layers."  I chose this silly gator image (Digi 9002 Santa Gator) which I thought would make a perfect Christmas card for a friend in Florida.  Do you remember your childhood Christmases being filled with images of Santa bearing a huge sack of presents?  OK, so you probably weren't thinking of a Gator Santa but all those toys and packages bring back a bit of nostalgia, don't they?

     I used a combination of Copics and ProMarkers to color the image, then fussy cut it for an out-of-the-box look, using dies from a set by QuicKutz to cut the rest of the image and the mat.  The striped dp is from DCWV and is both embossed and sparkly.  The final layer is the green CS which is adhered to the card front.  I added three brads to the corner and one to the center of the bow.  For all of the layers, it's still pretty CAS in design given the minimal embellishments.

     Challenges:
A Girl Who Crafts
Animal Friends
Country View Crafts
Craft Garden
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Emerald Faeries
Ladybug Crafts
Mema's
Oddball Art Stamps
Sisters of Craft
Stamp and Create

     Don't forget that while it's not necesary to use a QKR Stampede image to enter our challenge, we do put the QKR image cards into a separate drawing and that really increases your chances of winning.  We also draw from all the other entries and have a winner from those.  I hope we're going to see you playing along this week, despite the fact that you are running out of time to get everything done before the holiday, and that crafting has to take a back seat, and that you barely have time to keep taking breaths.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please just ignore the Verification on the comment section.  You can write and post your comment without entering anything in the box.  Thank you.

Vintage Christmas Hat

     I love this new image by Rick St. Dennis!  It's called "Christmas Hat" and I got it by playing in their Progressive Challenge.  I saw so many really gorgeous color combos from others who were also entering or giving us inspiration that it took me a few days to decide what I was going to use. Ultimately, I decided to stay with the traditional red and green but used shades of those colors which we don't normally associate with Christmas.

I based my card design on the sketch at 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and then cut it out using a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut by hand.  I added the doodles and inked the edges of the card front to mimic the outside borders of the sketch.  Finally, I did three little pearls in two corners, but reversed from the sketch.

     One of the gals in my family will get this card but I can't say which because too many of them read my blog and peek at all the Christmas cards before the day arrives.  Yes, I mean you and you know who you are!!  Shame on you!  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
ArtbyMiran
A Vintage Journey
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Creations
Cuttin' and Stampin'
Cuttlebug Mania
Digistamps 4 Joy  (new digi)
Dragonfly Dreams
Fitztown
It's All About the Vintage
Scrapy Land

     It's a fine Saturday morning.  Are you on your way out the door for more Christmas shopping?  Or are you staying home to finish decorating for the holidays?  Whatever you have on your list to accomplish this weekend, I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Ham It Up for Christmas

     Friday and Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!  Another challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and this week our theme is "Trim the Tree."  I found this fabulous barn yard (or in the barn) image from QKR Stampede (Digi 9609 Christmas Pig) and paired it up with the perfect sentiment (Digi 9806 Ham It Up.)  I just love the fact that he has clearly trimmed his own Christmas tree and is now snuggled inside, out of the snow and ice.  :-D

     I admit to having waaay too much fun coloring this image (ProMarkers) and fussy cutting it before matting it with dark brown CS.  The sentiment is also fussy cut but I matted it with a punched piece for a star look.  The glittery star on the top of the tree is also a punched piece.

     Even knowing that this card was going to be a guy card, I thought the bright red bow and the pearl swirl were still appropriate for a Christmas card.  It's amazing what we can do on masculine cards when they're for a holiday like Christmas.  :-D

     Challenges:
Animal Friends
Cardz for Guys
Catch the Bug
Come and Get It
Crafts Galore Encore
Crazy Challenge
Creative Craft Cottage
Emerald Faeries
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Kreativeinkauf
Ladybug Crafts
Loves Rubber Stamps
Melonheadz Friends 
Mema's
Passion for ProMarkers (Ribbon, gems, punches)
Pile It On
Sisters of Craft

     I love the silly humor on this card and I think the recipient will love it, too.  Short post but I have a ton of things to do today, starting in about 15 minutes.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fancy SunBonnet's Christmas

     I had all my Christmas cards done (although I haven't posted all of them because some are for upcoming DT work) and then Catch the Bug had to run a week-long Christmas Chaos with seven separate challenges.  I'm going to try to get something done for each one but my time is getting short and schedule is getting fuller by the hour.

     I finished this one just a little bit ago and am posting it even though I've already done a post for today.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and the papers were in my Christmas stash.  I colored it with Copics this time.

This one  is for the sketch challenge at Catch the Bug.

     Challenges:

Card Mania

Crafty Cardmakers

Digi Sketch

Di's Digi Designs

Marker POP

Not Just Cards

Showcase Your Style

Suzy B's Bloomin'

We Do Doobadoo

     OK, I think that's it for this card.  I need to get it posted and then head for my bed.  It's been a long day and I really need some sleep.  :-D  Happy Stamping, and remember you can ignore the Verification thingy -- your comment will still post.  NanaConnie

Deck the Halls...

     Today I'm sharing my second card as a member of the Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge.  While we always have a theme of "Anything Goes" we also have a twist if you want to use it and this week the Twist is "Christmas Magic."  Christmas magic happens for me when I get the tree up and start the decorating process.  I usually have Christmas music going so I can sing along with all the Christmas Carols I learned as a child.

     Speaking of which, I want to share one of those funny stories from childhood.  When I was very young and was first learning the carol "Deck the Halls,"  I'd never heard the word "deck" before.  When I inquired of my mother as to it's meaning, she explained that it had to do with decorating for Christmas.  That left me wondering why anyone would decorate just their hallways!?!  Throughout my childhood, I then assumed that "Deck" was an abbreviation of  "Deckorate" and misspelled that word many times before I learned that it was properly spelled without the 'K' - lol.

     OK, back to the challenge.  Anne's Digital Art (Anne Fenton) is the sponsor this month and I used her beautiful Christmas Ornaments image.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut with a QuicKutz die and matted with another simple circle die from Spellbinders.  Once I got those layered together, I decided that the image was a bit lacking in 'magic' so I brushed glue and sprinkled loose glitter onto the ornaments.

     The sentiment is computer printed and die cut, and I inked the edges with distress ink.  The ribbon is from my stash (hoarded for Christmas use only) and the little red pearls are also a hoarded item.  I only have a few more in that deep red color and I hate using them!  I know, I know, why did I buy them if I wasn't going to use them?  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Christmas Card
Corrosive Challenge
Craft-Dee Bowz
Craft Hoarders Anonymous
Digi Sketch
Fairytale Stamps
Fitztown
Get Creative
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jellypark Friends
Just Us Girls
Kit and Clowder
My Creative Moments
Paper Creator's Crafts
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
That Craft Place
Treasured Times
We Do Doobadoo

     After 3 years of drought we've had here in central California, we got rain yesterday -- nearly an inch.  Both south and north of where I live, there's been flash flooding and fears of slides because of the horrible fires last summer which stripped the vegetation and left the earth ripe for mudslides.  It's still raining in many areas of California today but we're clear and bright here where I live.  Our drought is nowhere near over -- we would have to have more than 27 inches of rain over the full winter and spring season to refill the ground water but at least it's a start.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Post It Note Cover

     It's been a long while since I did an "Anything But a Card" project but that's our theme at QKR Stampede this week so...  I made a cover for my Post It Notes tray.  This image is called "Write Soon" (Digi 12807) and it just seemed perfect for this.

And here it is with the cover open.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, fussy cut, and adhered to black CS, cut to size for the cover.  Before I made the cover, the note tray was just open and had no cover.

     I picked these up at my local office supply store and will be giving away 2 more of them as little gifts.

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create

A Little Bit Crafty

AuroraWings

Catered Crop

Crafting Musketeers

Get Creative

My Craft Creations

Not Just Cards

Paper Nest Dolls

Robyn's Fetish

Treasured Times

Vintage Stamping

     I hope your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful and filled with family joys.  Our plans changed drastically when my wonderful SIL broke his leg -- a very serious break involving both the bones in his lower leg, high above the ankle.  Orthopedic surgeons refer to this as a classic "ski boot break" since it's common with skiers who tumble and the breaks take place above where their boots hold the foot and leg in a stable position. He had to have surgery on Wednesday afternoon to set both bones for proper healing.  He won't be able to walk for several days and then he'll be on crutches for many weeks after that.

     Since Thanksgiving dinner was planned for their house with about 12 or 13 people involved, we all had to change plans at more or less the last minute.  So, I have a whole roasted turkey with wild rice dressing, some pies, and a raspberry cheesecake still at my house which were originally planned for the Thanksgiving crowd.  :-D  Anyone want to show up and help me eat all that stuff or are you already sick of turkey and pies?  

     Come play with us in our challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Sparkles at Christmas Time

     

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

     I have an announcement today which makes me very happy.  :-D  After more than three years of playing the various challenges at The Outlawz, I've been invited to be on the DT of the Twisted Thursday challenge over there.  

     Today is my first 'official' appearance sharing this card for the challenge.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we have an optional twist each week, too.  This week the twist is "Winter Sparkle for Christmas."  Our fantastic sponsor is Stitchy Bear.  They supplied images to the DT members but I used one which I already had in my own Stitchy Bear collection called "Winter Tree."  Even though it's an older image, it's one which lends itself to Christmas or even just winter cards.

     If you'd like to see the same image used by another DT which looks totally different, visit the Twisted Thursday challenge.  If you haven't joined The Outlawz yet, now is a great time to do so.  Joining is free and we have a different challenge every day plus they are adding a new Progressive Freebie challenge and you can get a new sponsor's image every challenge by signing up and then using it for an entry in the next challenge.

I have another close up photo and it's a much better view of all the sparkle.

It almost looks like Christmas lights, doesn't it?

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and then added a very thin layer of Stickles "Diamond."  I matted the image with various layers of dp and CS (all from the scrap bin) and finally added a dp from DCWV's Linen Closet stack, something I've had for nearly 2 years.  That all went on the card front.  I used dark blue cord, stamped the sentiment, and added the little blue snowflakes.

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance

Addicted to Stamps

Bearly Mine

Christmas Cards

Clear It Out

Come and Get It

Corrosive Challenge

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra

Emerald Faeries

Fan-Tastic Tuesday

Hiding in My Craft Room

Jellypark Friends

Just Inspirational

Kreativeinkauf

My Sheri Crafts

Party Time Tuesday

That Craft Place

Vandicrafts Artistry

We Do Doobadoo

     I hope you'll consider playing in our Twisted Thursday challenge this week.  What better time to do that than when you have a four-day weekend?  Yeah, right -- you'll all be out fighting the crowds for Christmas goodies, won't you?  Not me, I refuse to do the Black Friday thing!

     I don't fight crowds, I don't go anywhere near a department store or a big box store between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.  I do my Christmas shopping during the first 8 or 9 months of the year, grabbing things whenever I find something perfect for a particular person and I'm usually done in August.  Whatever may not have gotten done by then, I shop online.  :-D  Enjoy your holiday if you're in the US and have a wonderful weekend anyway if you're not.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kitten from Santa

     I was asked to make a card for a young girl who is getting a kitten from Santa this year.  It'll be her first pet now that she's old enough to care for an animal.  I looked through my images and found this one from QKR Stampede (Digi 7502 - "Sitting Pretty" + sentiment, Digi 14505 - "Hug") and since the new challenge starts today, it seemed a perfect card to use.  The theme at QKR is "Bling It On!"

     I colored the kitten with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a die from a Spellbinders'  set.  Die cutting images is one of my favorite techniques, which you undoubtedly know if you've visited my blog very often.  :-D  I matted that with dark red CS.  I added three, tiny, red gems in each of two corners,one larger one to the bow around the kitten's neck, and then added the pearl snowflakes to the bottom corner of the die cut and to the side of the card.  The red ribbon bow is one of those I sew together by the dozens with a pearl added.  I hope all those pearls still count as bling even though they don't sparkle like diamonds or gemstones.  :-D

     Challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Ribbons

Crazy Challenge

Creative Moments

Cutie Pie

Delightful Challenges

Dies R Us

DL.ART Thankful Thurs

Inky Impressions

Inspiration Destination

My Craft Creations

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scrapper's Delights

     Don't forget to come and play with us this week.  You can use any company's images to enter but if you use a QKR Stampede image, you'll be in a special separate drawing and that increases your chances of winning more than you can imagine!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Feast Day

     I know by now you are all completely ready for Thanksgiving, right?  Pies baked, turkey bought and ready to thaw a day or two before, menu planned, good China and stemware washed and shiny, dust bunnies and cobwebs banished -- yeah, yeah, I know...  Well, this gobbler is ready and waiting!  He looks just like every man I've ever known, of whatever age, sitting at the table, waiting impatiently while the women are still slaving away in the kitchen.  :-D

     Friday means there's a new challenge at QKR Stampede and our theme this week is ""I'm Thankful for..."
My image is Digi 15904, "Thanksgiving Feast" and the sentiment is Digi 13815, "Happy Thanksgiving,"  both from QKR Stampede.  I'm thankful for family, food, and lots of other hands helping in the kitchen.

I based this design on the sketch at Sketchy Colors but reversed

so that the background is square and the image is round,

 and the sentiment piece is on the opposite side..

          The image is colored with ProMarkers and then die cut with a simple circle die from QuicKutz.   The doily is cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The rust CS behind the image and also framing the sentiment are salvaged scraps, as is the polka dot dp.  The ribbon and lace are from my stash, probably originally from a local scrap store.  The rose is from Recollections.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs
Come and Get It
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Delightful Challenges
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dragonfly Dreams
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Glitter 'n Sparkle
House That Stamps Built
Papertake Weekly
Party Time Tuesday
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Hands
That Craft Place

     Hey, folks, it's time for the weekend!  Get your crafting hats on and make something that pleases you.  Then go finish the pre-Thanksgiving chores which still need to be done.  Life's short -- eat dessert first!  :-D  NanaConnie

Poppies for Remembrance

     This card was published in Through the Craft Room Door magazine, November/December issue.  The image is from a Doodle Pantry set called "Poppies."   You can find a complete materials list in the magazine but I do want to show you the card and tell you quickly the story behind it.

     One of the things I do is to volunteer time and make cards for a wonderful group called "Honor Flight."   

     Honor Flight is an organization which flies our war veterans from WWII and the Korean War (Viet Nam

Vets will be going soon) to Washington, DC as a way of honoring them for their service. Each Vet has

a companion/guide to assist them during their flight and during the tours of the various war memorials they visit in our capital.  All the costs are covered by donations from businesses and individuals either nationwide or on the local level.

     On the flight home from Washington, DC, a "Mail Call" is done and each Vet on the flight receives a

card or note thanking them for their service to this country.  If you want to get involved in making cards

to honor the individual Veterans from your area or in helping out in other ways, check out this link to the

national Honor Flight website: HONOR FLIGHT.  You can find links to your particular area of the USon that site.

      Thanks to every Veteran who served their country and to our currently serving troops.  You're all heros!

     Challenges:  

Allsorts

Crafty Boots

Friends of Speedy TV

Little Claire's

Not Just Cards

Outlawz Greeting

Path of Positivity

Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Owls to Show Thanks

 I've done so much CAS in the last several days that it felt like it was time for something considerably more fancy -- in fact, nearly overdone.  :-D  I chose this image from AuroraWings, called "The Sisterhood" and decided to make a Thank You card which could also be used as a Thanksgiving greeting.  I'll probably use it to thank my hostess on Thanksgiving Day.  Anything which keeps me from having to do all the prep and clean up for the family Thanksgiving celebration deserves a huge thank you!

I based my design on the sketch from

Sweet Sketch Weds 2.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and chalks, then die cut.  I cut two mats (one from dp and one from CS which I've been hoarding) with a larger die from that same set and offset them slightly.  The sentiment is computer generated and also die cut and matted.  The background dp is from DCWV's "Autumn Melody" stack.  Both gold ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is three separate bows stacked together to make a triple bow.  The lace which is wrapped across the middle and also along the edge was a hoarded scrap that was in my stash.  The flower I added to the bow is from Recollections.

     OK, I admit -- it felt good to make something that wasn't CAS.  I just needed to know I could still do these.  I have come to love CAS but this creation pleases me almost as much as discovering that I CAN do CAS when I put my mind to it!

     Challenges:
Chalk and Stock
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Craft Hoarders
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Delightful Challenge
House That Stamps Built
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
MilkCoffee
Paper Pretties
Scrapy Land
So Artful

     I hope your weekend went well and that you managed to get a lot accomplished.  The holidays are nearly upon us and things will begin to get crazy from this point on.  Time to start thinking about Christmas shopping if you haven't already started.  I'm not going to make you jealous by telling you that mine is already finished.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Baby Bacchus Counts Blessings

     OK, another CAS card today using only a single layer and one ribbon for embellishment.  The image is by Rick St. Dennis, called "Baby Bacchus."  Isn't he fantastic?  He just looked like he should be on some kind of harvest card.  Since I lived for a long time in both of California's grape vineyard and wine country areas, I thought this would be a perfect California Thanksgiving card.  :-D

I took my colors from the challenge at

MFP Speedy TV -- Rust, Blue and Green

     I loved coloring this image!  It really lends itself to great shading and depth.  It's colored with ProMarkers.  The sentiment is done with a computer font and printed right onto the card front at the same time I printed the image.  I added the rust ribbon and tied a bow.  That was it!  Done in minutes.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Digistamps 4 Joy
Eureka Stamps
House That Stamps Built
Male Room
Outlaws Greeting Cards
Paper Shelter
Through the Purple Haze

     That's it for today.  Hope your weekend is going well and that you have some wonderful "Me" time.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hanging the Star

     I'm so tickled to be able to share with you yet another challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme this week is "Let's Think Christmas."   Mostly I'm tickled with how well the coloring came together on this adorable "Hanging the Star" mouse.  OK, now, I want to hear everyone break out into a chorus of "Deck the Halls."  It's my favorite Christmas carol.  :-D

I based this on the sketch at The Sweetest Thing.

     The image is colored with my always-the-first-to-reach-for ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with CS from my stash.  The sentiment, "Yuletide Treasures," is also from QKR Stampede and I die cut and matted it, as well.  The dp pieces are from DCWV and have been in my Christmas stash forever.  The ribbon I used for the bow was the last scrap I had, just enough to tie a bow.  My final touch was the three little pearls in the lower corner.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Card Crew
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
Incy Wincy
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Ppinkydolls
Quirky Crafts
Ribbon Girl
Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope your week has gone well and that you have wonderful plans for the weekend.  I hope you can find some time to make a card for our challenge at QKR Stampede while you're at it.  Remember, you're not required to use an image from QKR to enter, but you certainly increase your chances of winning if you do since we have a separate drawing just for those who use QKR images.  Good luck if you do come and play.

     Has "Deck the Halls" stopped running through your head yet?  No?  Catchy, isn't it.   :-D

Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie