Vintage St. Patrick's

     OK, I have great news which I've been sitting on for ever-so-long.  I've joined the Design Team at Aud Sentiments and this is my first post as a DT.  I've been playing in their challenges for a couple of years but now I have joined the team so I'll get to make something for each challenge they have.  They actually have one large team but only half of us post the first week of the challenge and the other half post during the second week.  That means each of you have two full weeks to get something made and submitted.  Hope you're going to come and be part of it this time.

     We have two sponsors this time; one is "Add a Little Dazzle" and the other  is "My Artistic Adventure." We have a Tic Tac Toe table for our theme.  I used the middle column; Something pink/ Flowers/ Glitter or bling.

     My images are from the St. Patrick's Postage Stamps collage sheet by My Artistic Adventures.

     Another St. Patrick's card with gingham check papers, wide ribbon, die cut and matted images, and wonderfully glittered flowers and shamrocks (on the ribbon).  The sentiment is hand cut and I added pearls to two corners.  This one is definitely NOT clean and simple!!   

     Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned DP

Craft Your Passion

Cuttin and Stampin

Going Grey with Stamp-Creations

   (ribbon/ die cuts/ pearls)

Outlawz Color

Party Time Tuesday

Perfectly Rustics

Pink Elephant

Shabby Tea Room

SLS Lines

Through the Craft Room Door

Tuesday Throwdown

     OK, how's that for a fancy entrance to the new team?   Perhaps it's even 'over the top' for me, considering that my usual style is somewhat more subdued.  :-D  Come play with us.  Pick a row or column, make something delightful, and enter it at Aud Sentiments.  Don't forget, it has to have a sentiment on it!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Easter Bonnet Chicks

     This has to be one of the cutest ever images and so perfect for girly Easter card!  I made it as my DT card for The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge where we have a perfect theme and twist this week -- both are "Anything Goes."  We're sponsored by Stitchy Bear and these darling chicks can be found in their store.

     The image was printed onto a scrap piece of white CS.  I colored the image with ProMarkers, added glittery sparkle to the mirror and cut the whole thing with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut.  Both are edged with distress inks.

     The striped orange dp is from DCWV and the other two were in my scrap basket so maker is unknown.  The ribbon was also a scrap and I had just enough to wrap around the card front and then make a separate bow.  I always feel so good about using up scraps -- like it gives me permission to buy more goodies or something.  :-D

    Challenges:
City Crafter
Clear It Out
Come and Get It
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Digi Chooseday
Lacy Sunshine
Loves Rubber Stamps
Monday Morning
My Craft Creations
Paper Minutes
Scribble & Scrap
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  You can't miss with an "Anything Goes" challenge and twist.  I'll have another post up in just a little bit with some fun news so be sure to check back, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Easter Lilies

     I'm still working on Easter cards and this image came from the "Easter Lilies" set available at Deedee's Digis.  I love this set; it has beautiful images and sentiments.  I'll add a photo of the set at the bottom of this post.

     This is a really CAS design with just the die cut (Spellbinders) image and the hand cut sentiment adhered to the card front.  No embellishments because I thought the die cut was beautiful enough to stand on its own.

     Challenges:
2 Cute Ink
Craft Your Passion
Design Team Showcase
Love to Scrap
Monday Morning
Not Just Cards
Pink Elephant
Sunday Stamps
Sweet Stampin'
We Do doobadoo

     We're halfway to the weekend again and I can hardly wait.  While I have big plans for getting plants into the raised beds in my garden, I may have to wait until Sunday since predictions are for another bit of rain on Friday night and Saturday.  I wish we were getting enough rain to make a difference in the 4-year drought but I'll just be grateful for every drop we do get.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Morning Glories

     This morning, I've made a card using the new Doodle Pantry set of "Morning Glory" which has now been colored.  The previous set was just outline drawings but now you have a choice of several pre-colored images and of digital papers to match.  There are also several sentiments and even a scripture from Genesis, which I used on my card.  It seemed appropriate for spring, especially when I've been talking the last few days about getting  my garden planted.  :-D

I based my design on the sketch from STAMPlorations.

     I laid out the sentiment scripture first, then added the morning glory image to it before printing.   I die cut it but turned the die just slighty to get the slanted effect.  The lace ribbon came from my friend, Teresa (thanks again!), and the card front has been run through my "Linen" EF.  All the flowers are from my stash.

     The card is really pretty simple although it tends to look more complicated and has a lovely vintage feel to it, which I like very much.  I don't think it took me more than about 15 minutes to complete.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (3d row)
Crafting from the Heart
Digi Galore
DL.ART Thankful Thursday
Sister Act
Stempelsonnen
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'
Through the Purple Haze

     That's it for cardmaking today but I do want to tell you that we had a freak tornado yesterday about 40 miles from where I live, something very unusual in California!  No damage done since it hit in an agricultural area with no buildings or major highways nearby.  But it did give the weatherman something to relate during the local news last night.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

 Morning Glory 25% off it you buy it before February 27!

Lucky Irish Lass

     My second St. Patrick's card for this year and I have another three in the pipeline.  Most people don't make a big deal of St. Paddy's but I make cards and send them to all my grandchildren in honor of the fact that I'm Irish on both sides of my family tree and I celebrate my birthday on St. Patrick's.  :-D

     As soon as I saw this image at AuroraWings, I knew I wanted to use it for a spring green card.  I also knew that the card was going to be vintage and highly embellished, unlike the CAS you've seen from me over the weekend.  Yes, I love learning to do CAS (and do it well) but I also love vintage so when I get to do 'fussy,' I love it, too.

I based my design on the sketch at Crazy 4 Challenges,

but ran my lace and ribbon the other way 

because the card is a vertical A2.

I took my colors from DRS Designs 

but made her a redhead 'cause she's Irish. :-D

  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, and cut with one of my framing dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font and hand cut.  All of the embellishments came from my stash; ribbon and lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon, gold mesh recycled from gift wrapping at Christmas, and the bow came from a craft store originally but has been in my stash for quite a while.

     Challenges:

Artbymiran

As You Like It

Catch the Bug (1st column)

Crafting for all Seasons

Crafty Catz

Di's Digi Designs

Graph' It

Inky Impressions

My Time to Craft

Paper Shelter

Red Rubber Inspirationals

Simon Says Stamp

We Do Doobadoo

     That's all I have for today.  We got a good rain last night and we have bright sunshine today, but it's cold outside despite that.  Not freezing or anything near that, but windy so there's a bite in the air.  Still, I should be able to get some plants in the beds this weekend, unless it rains again.  At least I don't have to water before planting.  And, yes, I'm thinking of all my friends buried under six foot snow drifts.  I'll even put in a tomato, squash, or carrot just for you.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Purple Spring Fairy

     Sunday seems like a good day to do the challenge at Lacy Sunshine and to use one of Heather's lovely and fun images.  It also seemed like a good day for a monochromatic project so of course, it had to be another purple card.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added sparkle to her wings, then die cut it and used chalk to highlight the embossing around the edges.  I die cut another piece for the mat, using dies from Spellbinders for each of those pieces.  I layered them together on a lavender card front, then added the lilac butterfly and the purple bow.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut and matted, and added at the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Allsorts
Chalk N Stock
Corrosive Challenge
Come and Get It
Crafting by Designs (3rd column)
Crafting for all Seasons
Cuttin and Stampin
Die Cut Divas
Digi Galore
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inspiration Destination
Sister Act

     It's been a lovely weekend here and I've gotten so much done.  All the raised beds for the garden are hoed, weeded, raked, and waiting for plants.  They say we may get a shower of rain tonight or tomorrow, and heaven knows we need it!  Just in case we only get a sprinkle instead of a shower, I plan to water the beds really well tomorrow afternoon.  If we get enough rain to soak the beds, I can skip over that step and just plant next weekend.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Watering Can

     Today I chose to do a really basic CAS card after a couple of weeks of doing things on the fancier side.   I must admit that CAS is becoming more and more attractive to me and I'm finding it's a favorite of mine.  Or maybe it's just that I am finally learning how to do CAS that I like as well as the CAS cards I adore when others do them.

     The watering can image is by Sandi Huggett and it's the freebie given for the progressive challenge at The Outlawz.

     It's such a perfect image for a bright birthday card and the purple and green combo is one of my favorites.  I printed the image and sentiment directly onto the card front, then colored with ProMarkers.  The only embellishment comes from the double ribbons and bow for a bit of texture.  I decorated the inside of the card with gingham check dp from Bo Bunny.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft for the Craic
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Card Crew
Digi Chooseday
Inspiration Destination
Pink Elephant
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Scrap & Craft
Scrapper's Delights
ShowCASe Your Style
Simon Says Stamp
Sister Act
Whimsy Inspiration
Word Art Weds.

     We're having wonderful weather today out here on the West Coast.  The sun is shining but it's not too warm.  Perfect weather for getting out the garden tools and starting on the raised vegetable beds.  Spring planting is probably still a week or two away but this will be my first real summer garden since moving into this house so I'm excited about it.  Hope your weekend is going well.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Shy Mouse

     Most of you know by now how much I adore the digis from QKR Stampede and I'm especially fond of the mice and the bears.  For our newest challenge, starting today, we have a theme of "Critters" so I get to show off another sweet mouse, this one called "Shy Mouse" digi 24163.  I did a card which will go in the box of cards I'll deliver to children's hospitals for Send a Smile 4 Kids.  (Did I remember to tell all of you that I'm one of the most recent collection and distribution points for SAS4K?  I collect for and deliver to three different hospitals in the Central Valley of California.  Check out the SAS4K site if you want to make cards for hospitalized kids.)

     I colored this Shy Mouse with ProMarkers, then cut and corner punched a rectangle which would fit into the die cut frame (Spellbinders.)  The little butterfly is also a die cut and is embossed.  I added a sprinkle of glitter across the wings.  I tied a bow from pink ribbon, adding it to her hair as a complement to the one on her tail.  The final touch --  the two teeny-tiny buttons on the bows and the gems on the butterfly.

     Challenges:
Crafting for all Seasons
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Cardmakers
Cupcake Inspirations
Design Team Showcase
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Inky Impressions
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Shelter
Pile It On
Sister Act
Sweet 7

     OK, dig out those digis with critters on them (birds, rodents, bugs, animals) and come play along.  You can use any digi or stamp but remember if you use a QKR Stampede image (digi or rubber), your entry goes into a separate drawing for a QKR winner.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Easel Cards for Twisted Thursday

     This week we have a new theme and a new challenge at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist of "Easel Cards."  We're sponsored by Stitchy Bear and they generously supplied images for each of the DT members to use.  Mine is called "Tree on a Hill" and I see a few of the other gals decided to use it this week, too.

     I added just enough pastel coloring to the image so that it would look like spring was just about to burst through all the dark winter gloom.  I die cut the image with a deckle edge die, then inked the edge.  The doily is cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  I used spring green CS for the card front and added the flower embellies on the front and on the inside for the easel stop.

     Challenges:

ABC Challenge

Cheery Lynn

Die Cuttin' Divas

Digi Chooseday

Going Grey with Scrap Creations (middle column)

Graph'It

Melonheadz Friends

Through the Craft Room Door

Vintage Stamping

    I hope you'll come and play with us this week.  We'd love to see your easel cards if you want to do the twist and if not, you can always do just the Anything Goes part.  However, there is an advantage to doing the twist; instead of only being able to do one entry, you can do two, increasing your chances of winning one of the prizes not only for the Thursday challenge, but for The Outlawz overall.  Hope to see you.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Butterflies and Tulips

     My second post for the day but I was inspired to make another Easter card.  I've been on a 'purple' craze this week, which isn't too hard since it's my favorite color, but part of it has been that I was cleaning up the scraps lying around on my desk and I had a lot of purple ones so....

     This gorgeous image is from Artbymiran and I just love it.  Beautiful spring image and I turned it into an Easter card.

I used the sketch from Digi Sketch.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and took on the task of giving her sunshine blonde hair.  I don't do well trying to color blondes (nor am I talented with black hair), but I gave it a shot and am really happy with the results this time.  I must be learning as I go along.  I die cut the image and distressed the edges with  two ink colors.

     All the butterfly papers came from the Dream Catcher stack by First Edition.  I distressed the edges of each piece with black ink.  The purple bow is one of those I make by the dozen and I added a lace bow behind it.  The flowers all have gemstones added and I glittered one of the white ones and one of the purple ones.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Cuttin' and Stampin'
Di's Digi Designs
Paper Nest Dolls
Party Time Tuesday
Pile It On
Not Just Cards
Sisters of Craft
Vintage Stamping

     I'll see you tomorrow with another post for the challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Showing Off Your Easter Best

     This was such a perfect image for "showing off your best" that it seemded like a natural for an Easter card.  The image is the Lyre Bird from the "Aussie Critters" set found at Doodle Pantry, a new release this month.  Doesn't she look great, dressed in all her finery and feathers?  (Edited to add:  I was reminded that in Lyre Bird cultures, it's the males who have the fanciest feathers.  I don't care.  For my purposes, he's a she!)

     I chose one of my very favorite color combos, purple and turquoise.  I started with a pre-colored image but used my ProMarkers to add yellow to the bird's body and feet, and some lavender to the tail feathers.  I cut the bird with a hexagon die from Spellbinders, setting it so that the feet would be 'out of the box.'  Then I die cut two mats in two colors using dies from the same set.

     The dp was a left over scrap which came from another Doodle Pantry set and I apologize for not knowing which one.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the card front before layering on all the various pieces.  Despite all the layers, it's still a very CAS card design.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts 4 Eternity
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Digi Galore
Kitty Bee Designs
Love to Scrap
Melonheadz Friends
Scribble & Scrap

     Don't forget there's a challenge going on at Doodle Pantry until the 4th Sunday of the month so hurry and enter.  The theme is "Candy."  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring Crocus

    With Valentine's Day out of the way, I'm starting on St. Patrick's and Easter cards for family and friends.  My card today is perfect for an Easter card.  I used the beautiful crocus image which is part of the "Spring Blocks" set from Deedee's Digis.

     This time I used the pre-colored image, added the sentiment, die cut it with one of my square dies from Spellbinders, and matted it with black.  The embossing was done with one of my Darise folders.  The little flowers were hand punched and I added glitter and beaded gems.

     This card was also influenced by the challenge over at Time Out where we have to CASE this card by Kylie.    I was most taken by the flowers and the embossing.  Thanks, Kylie!

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Allsorts
Glitter n Sparkle
Happy Little Stampers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Stempelsonnen

     I'm back from my long weekend and trying to get caught up on email and visits.  I'll be around soon.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fairy Kitten

     As soon as I saw this adorable image of a fanciful Fairy Kitten from A Day for Daisies, I knew I had to have it and get a card made for their challenge.  I also chose to use my favorite color, purple.

     The kitten is colored (barely) with ProMarkers and then I added loose glitter to the wings.  The doily was done with a die from Cheery Lynn and I hand cut the light lavender CS to match the shape of the doily.  The image is fussy cut and popped up with dimensional dots.

     All the papers came out of my scrap basket, including the piece for the sentiment.  The rose has been in my stash for a while.  This whole thing came together in about 8 minutes, not counting the time for the glue holding the glitter to dry.  That took about 6 minutes.

     Challenges:
Corrosive Challenge
Hiding in My Craft Room
Little Miss Muffet
Outlawz CAS
Robyn's Fetish
Simon Says Stamp
Sister Act
Speed Craft

     That's it for today and the rest of the week pretty much belongs to DT projects.  See you tomorrow when I'm back in harness.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Yellow Haired Beauty

     This engaging image is from The East Wind and it's their monthly freebie for being on the mailing list.  I'm disappointed because the camera really changed the actual colors, turning the polka dot paper nearly olive and the pink hexagon almost coral when in reality the papers more closely match the pink and green in the image coloring.  Ah, well, at least you get the design idea.

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds 2,

adjusted for an upright A2 card.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a lovely die from Spellbinders.  I matted that die cut with an octagon die cut (QuicKutz.)   The dp came from Bo Bunny and Authentique and both the ribbon and the bow have been in my stash forever (more or less.)   I added glitter to the heart on her shirt and to the little petal shapes (discards from the frame cut) next to the sequin and gem in the corners.

     Challenges:
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Gals Corner
Cuttlebug Mania
Incy Wincy
Inky Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Papertake Weekly
Scrapy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters
Sisters of Craft

     OK, I'm sure you think I'm home playing in my craft room but the truth is that I'm taking time just for myself this long weekend; not answering my phone, not telling anyone where I am, and definitely not posting or reading e-mail.  So if you see something on my blog, it was pre-scheduled.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kiss Me Quick

     Friday morning and another challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "Lovely Lace" and we want to see lace somewhere on your card or project.  My mind is still in Valentine mode so one more cute card all about love and romance.  I used the image Digi 11501 "Kissed" and the sentiment Digi 10302 "Kiss Me Quick."

     I used ProMarkers to color that love struck little guy, then die cut the image and matted him with black.  My lace came from my dear friend, Teresa, sent to me all the way across two countries, from Prince Edward Island, Canada to the Big Valley of California.  Thanks so much.  :-D  I also printed and die cut the sentiment, then added the sheer ribbon and bow.  The ribbon and the rose have both been in my stash for a long time but they seem to work for what would otherwise have been a very simple card.  Beside, I'm trying to use those things I hoard away or those which I forget I have.  :-D

     Challenges:
Clear It Out
Craft Hoarders Anonymous
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Crazy Challenge
Digi Chooseday
Die Cuttin' Divas
Eureka Stamps
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations
Jellypark Friends
Loves Rubber Stamps
Melonheadz
Passion for ProMarkers
Pile It On
{Pin}spirational
Quirky Crafts
Robyn's Fetish
Sweet 7
Tuesday Throwdown

     OK, this is the unofficial start to the weekend and I hope to see you playing along with us this week.  You can use any image from any company to enter but if you use an image from QKR Stampede, you increase your chances of winning by a huge margin!  We do a drawing from just QKR entries as well as the main drawing so you'd have two chances to win.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Frosty Birthday

     It's Twisted Thursday!!  Well, over at The Outlawz it is.  We're doing another challenge and we have an "Anything Goes" theme plus an optional twist of "Doilies."  Our wonderful sponsor is Stitchy Bear and they supplied images for the DT to use.  The image I chose is called "Frosty Girl" and I thought she'd make a perfect celebration card for a winter birthday.

     As you can see, my card is for the "Anything Goes" side of the challenge.  I just couldn't get a doily to work with this design so I opted not to use one (unless you want to let me count the sparkly little scalloped brad on the bow as a 'doily'! :-D )  

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Calendar
Crazy 4 Challenges
Creatalicious
Digi Galore
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Open-Minded
Party Time Tuesday
Scribble & Scrap
Through the Craft Room Door
Top Tip Tuesdays

     Short and sweet but I do hope you'll come play with us this week.  How can you lose with an Anything Goes theme?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Have a Heart, Hunny Bunny!

     When I saw this sweet image over at Lacy Sunshine and realized that she has a cuddly bunny nesting in her hair, I just had to use it for a Valentine card !  This will probably go to one of my grandkids or great-grandkids (or I may get selfish and keep it for myself.)

I chose the sketch from Feeling Sketchy.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink, then die cut (QuicKutz.)  The polka dot dp was in the scrap basket and you can see from the scalloped edge at the bottom that I'd already cut something else from it.  The lace is one of my newer ones but is still probably more than a year old.  Both the double butterfly and the heart embellie are die cuts, also.  I added a bit of glitter to the heart and a gem stone to the butterfly.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenges
Card Mania
Cards in Envy
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting Musketeers
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Die Cut Divas
Digistamps 4 Joy
Emerald Faeries
Mema's
Natalie and Amy's
Oddball Arts
Paper Creator's Crafts
Tuesday Throwdown

     OK, two posts in one day and it's been a while since I did that.  :-D  We're halfway to the weekend and I'm playing hookey for the long holiday weekend.  I may or may not have posts scheduled during those days depending on how ambitious I am beforehand.  I'll do my DT commitments for the following week but beyond that, no promises.  I'm going to enjoy some time just for myself.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Roses for the Heart

     I have two posts today, both dealing with Love, Hearts, and Valentines.  For this first one, I used one of my favorite rose images which is from Fitztown.  I do love roses, both the real ones that grow in my garden and stamps of roses which I love to color.  I have lots of  rose images but this one is my favorite of all.  There is something delightfully simple about it.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers (rose) and chalks (leaves), and then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  In fact, everything paper has been in my "hoarding" stash and even the butterfly is cut with a die that I've never used in the 3 years I've owned it !   I've used the other two in that particular Spellbinders set, but never this smallest one.  The die cut heart is another one I finally used this year -- having dug out that set and cut a dozen or more hearts in different sizes for use on my Valentine cards.  Even the CS for the card base was in the "hoarded" stack.  :-D

     The border pieces are cut with a Cheery Lynn die, one of my new favorites which I've used lots of times in the last month or so!

     Challenges: (lots of them this time since there are so many with "love" or "hearts" or "Valentines" as the theme.)

613 Avenue Create

Addicted to Stamps

Artistic Inspirations

Bunny Zoe's

Chalk Ah Lot Cafe
Cheery Lynn

Come and Get It

Craft Hoarders Anonymous

Crafty Boots

Crazy Challenge

Cupcake Inspirations

Friends of Speedy TV

Get Creative

Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Incy Wincy

One Stitch at a Time

Pink Elephant

Shabby Tea Room

Simon Says Stamp

Stamp and Create

     Another post will be up this afternoon so I hope you'll come by and have a look at it, too.  I do appreciate all your visits and encouraging comments.  Tomorrow will be time for another of my DT projects for The Outlawz and Friday is always set aside for QKR Stampede.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happiness is...

     Who remembers all the old "Happiness is..." variations?  I think my favorite was one from the Peanuts cartoon which showed Snoopy cuddling with one of the kids and the title was "Happiness is a warm puppy."  That's so true!  Well, the sentiment on today's card is a take-off on that.  :-D

     This fun image is from one of the new Doodle Pantry sets being released today and the set is called "Ants in My Pants."  I love this set.  Great papers and images and sentiments (even though I chose to use my own sentiment this time), all in one set.  There's a photo of the set at the bottom of today's post.

My color palette was inspired by the 

inspiration photo over at 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie.

     This time I used one of the pre-colored images, die cut it with one of my earliest die sets from Spellbinders and matted it with brown CS die cut with larger die from that same set.  The plaid dp was a left over scrap hanging around my desk.  The bow is one of those I sew up by the dozens and put in my stash for use as needed.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Digi Galore
KreativGefluster
ScrapbookersPhD
Scrapy Land
Sister Act
Stempelsonnen

     Don't forget there's a challenge going at Doodle Pantry, too.  This month we have a theme of "Candy" with an optional twist of "Add Ribbon."  If you look at the sets which were released last week, you'll find a fun and wonderful set with lots of candy in it!   Come play along with us, won't you?  NanaConnie  

String of Hearts Fairy by Rick St. Dennis

     Each month I play along in the progressive challenge at Rick St. Dennis, using either one of his images already in my collection or, in the second month of the challenge, using the image provided.  This month, it's the image "String of Hearts Fairy" which was provided to all who played last month.

My sketch came from The Outlawz

and colors came from Pals Paper Arts.

  

    I colored that sweet fairy with ProMarkers, added glitter to her wings, then cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  The edges are embossed.  That lovely lace on the side was given to me by my dear friend, Teresa.  She sent me a whole bushel basket of goodies and I'm going to have so much fun using them.  Thank you so much, Teresa!

     All the flower embellies were in my stash and the truth is that I've been hoarding them.  Every time I dig through my box of flowers, I put those back because they're just too gorgeous to use.  :-D

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Art Impressions
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Fairy Tale
Fussy and Fancy
Hanna & Friends
I {heart} ProMarkers
Miriam's Crafting
Paper Shelter
Pattie's Creations
Scrap & Craft
Scrapy Land
STAMPlorations

     Another short post but I need to take a break from posting and finish a project which has a deadline in about an hour.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not a Valentine!

     OK, you and I and everyone else in the card making world is in the middle of doing St. Valentine cards but I had to take a break and make a St. Patrick's card.  The image came from 2 Cute Ink and is a freebie which comes from their newletter subscription.  Since I was born on St. Paddy's Day, I had to use this adorable "Shamrock Bear" right away.  :-D

I used the sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas.

     The image is not colored, but rather paper pieced and I used the same papers for the background strips.  The image is fussy cut and layered onto a doily which I cut using a Cheery Lynn die.  I added green ribbon, a shamrock charm, and a bit of pearl flourish.

     All the papers are from my stash of scrapbook papers and I hate to admit how long they've been hanging around -- can you say "more than 5 years?"  I'm not sure if those are polka dots on the paper or mold.  :-D

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Clear It Out
Crafting by Designs
Incy Wincy (Column 3)
Loves Rubber Stamps
Not Just Cards
Papertake Weekly
Party Time Tuesday
Vintage Stamping/Flonz

     OK, so this is a short post but I had an appointment this morning and ran out of time to add anything more before I scooted out the door.  Enjoy your weekend and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"H" is for ... Hungry

     Another Friday, entrance to the weekend, and a fun new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "Anything but a Card."   As I was mulling over the projects which I might do, I found myself in front of the refrigerator (where I spend waaay too much time!) and decided it was time for a new refrigerator magnet.  To say this is meant as a reminder specifically for me is probably unnecessary.  :-D  But the image from QKR Stamping (Digi 24204, "Snacking") was just so perfect and who could reisit it?

     I used a combination of Copics, ProMarkers and chalks to color him, then cut out the image and corner punched each corner.  Funny but that simple corner-rounding punch is probably the first one I ever bought and it's still my favorite despite all the others I've purchased over the years.

     I matted it with red CS and rounded those corners, too.  I layered the entire thing onto a sheet of magnet stock and cut it to fit.  I added the flower for some texture.  It measures 3.75" x 4" and is only about 1/16" thick.  Below is a shot of it on my refrigerator.

     Challenges:
CAS on Sunday
Come and Get It
Corrosive Challenge
Glitter n Sparkle
My Craft Creations
Paper Nest Dolls
Simon Says Stamp
Speed Craft
Through the Purple Haze
Whoopsi Daisy

     That's it for us today.  I hope you'll join in the challenge this week.  Remember, while you don't have to use a QKR image to enter, there is a separate and special drawing just for those who do use them and you increase your chances of winning tremendously!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Helping Hands

     Thursday at The Outlawz means a new Twisted Thursday challenge where our theme is always "Anything Goes" with an optional twist.  This week our optional twist is "people cards."   That made me think about people who inspire me for all kinds of reasons and mostly I thought about someone I admire so very much because they are always the first to volunteer to give a helping hand to someone else.  So, this is a card of recognition to tell them how much I admire everything they do for others.

     This adorable image is called "Catch Me" and it comes from our sponsor, Stitchy Bear.  It's colored with ProMarkers, and sparkle-white gel paste on the snowman; then it's die cut.  The large snowflake is punched out and I added polka dots with a blue marker.  The blue bow is one of those I make by the dozens for my stash and the only other embellishment are the three sequins in the corner.  Everything paper came from scraps in my stash.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Clear It Out
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Kit and Clowder
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Open-Minded
Red Carpet Studio
Scribble & Scrap
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Hope to see you playing along this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The End

     I've been fighting the flu for more than a week now and, while I'm on the mend, I still have trouble staying at the computer or the craft desk for very long at a time.  That means that CAS projects have been wonderful for me since they take little time.

     Today's post shares another very CAS idea and utilizes the Digi of the Month from Deedee's Digis.  That's a progressive challenge and if you played last month, you've already gotten the freebie for this month.  If you didn't play but want to try it, you can purchase the DOM for a reduced price, play along, and then get the DOM for next month as a freebie.

     Rather than making a card this time, I did a fast corner bookmark.

     I used the pre-colored image this time and added my own sentiment.  I die cut the bookmark with one of my long rectangle dies (QuicKutz), folded down the upper corners, and added a bit of ribbon.  When I do my corner bookmarks, I fold the corners at different angles because I like to have just a bit of the bookmark sticking out from the page.  The nice part is that when folded this way, the part that sticks out can be at the top of the page or at the side, depending on personal preference. This whole thing took me less than 10 minutes to make.

     Challenge:
4 Crafty Chicks
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafts 4 Eternity
Open-Minded
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Robyn's Fetish
Stempelsonnen
That Craft Place

     Come play along at Deedee's this month.  We're having so much fun with this set.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Be My Valentine

     This morning I want to share with you a card I made with an image from an artist, Joyce Geleynse, whose artwork is new to me and I've fallen in love!   I first saw some of her art because she's sponsoring a challenge I often enter and I went on a buying spree.  :-D  She sells her work through Etsy under the name "Toadstool Printables."  This is the first image of hers I've used but definitely not the last.  Let me show you and you can tell me what you think.

I based this design on the sketch at The Outlawz.

     The image is hand colored with ProMarkers, then die cut with one of my oldest die sets from Spellbinders.  Even though I'm seriously addicted to die cuts, I forget about most of the older sets and some of them go back as much as 4 years.  I matted the die cut image with red CS and added gold photo corners for embellishment.

     My other two embellishments are the sequins and the flower.  The sparkly ribbon (another addiction) is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I added glitter to the edges of the rose in the image and then filled the sequins with Glossy Accents for a tiny bit of shine.  While I tend to have more matte on my cards than gloss or shine, for both Christmas and Valentine cards I think something glittery, shiny, &/or glossy is essential to catch the eye.  :-D

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Allsorts
As You Like It
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Design Team Showcase
Flashback Friday
Friend of Speedy
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Inky Impressions
Mod Squad
Ribbon Girl
Sweet Stampin'
Tuesday Throwdown

     OK, a new week is under way, a new month started yesterday, and I'm getting my DT commitments done so that I'll have a few hours for just plain 'my time' crafting.  The silly part is that I always enjoy my DT projects just as much so it's odd to try to differentiate them.  Ah, well...  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

(Clean and ) Simple Love

     The idea for this card began percolating in my mind last weekend when I found the "Love" embossing folder which had been a .50 cent find at an estate sale a few years ago.  I brought it home, added it to my collection of folders and never used it.  It's larger than most of my folders, square instead of A2 size and I simply forgot about it because it ended up in the bottom of the folders box due to its larger size.

     Let me show you the card and then we can talk details.  I think it's fun that my "background" is also a focal point -- the sentiment.

I saw this sketch (#310) at Sketch Saturday

and based my card on it.

Inspired by Stamping provided some inspiration, too.

  

     Just so all of you will believe that this was a true "Git 'er done" card (love that expression - thanks, Lynn!), I'm going to share with you the amount of time it took to do each step.  I embossed the background piece and used chalk and chalk marker to highlight the letters of "LOVE" (3 1/2 minutes.)  I trimmed that to fit the card front, then I die cut all the hearts in one cut (2 min.)  (Spellbinders die set)

     I used two different embossing folders to emboss the two white hearts (2 minutes) and layered the red and white hearts together, using a dot of craft glue on the back of each one (1 1/2 min.)  I put the layered heart in the middle of the embossed background with dimensional dots, and put the entire thing onto the card front (1 1/2 minutes.)

     I had put out some flowers and brads for embellishments but as I looked at the card, I decided that I didn't want anything else since the embossing was so lovely.  So, total time = less than 11 minutes!   That may be one of the fastest cards I've ever done.  :-D

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
A Vintage Journey
Aud Sentiments
Crafter's Cafe
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Us Girls
My Sheri Crafts
Outlawz PAM
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sister Act
Stamping Boutique
Time Out

     For those of you who may have been following the "Window Seat Competition" between Honey and Molly, here's how I found them at bedtime last night.  I think they've completely resolved the entire issue.  :-D

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie